USA > Indiana > Johnson County > History of Johnston County, Indiana. From the earliest time to the present, with biographical sketches, notes, etc., together with a short history of the Northwest, the Indiana territory, and the state of Indiana > Part 53
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Business Register .- John A. Carvin, Mark Deming, W. H.
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Thompson and E. Sergeant Co., dry goods; G. A. Mutz, J. C. Valentine & Son, Maley, Davis & Co., James M. Carvin and J. C. Freese, groceries; Maffett Bros. and Mutz & Lynch, drugs; Webb & Richardson, hardware and agricultural implements; Compton & Fee, hardware and tinware: A. W. Winterberg, boots and shoes; George E. Wilber, manufacturer and dealer in harness: George Morman & Co., furniture and undertaking: D. McDonal, furniture; Mrs. R. C. Williams, jewelry; G. W. Tucker, agricultural implements; Thompson & Dodge, tailoring and gents' furnishing goods; John Sichler & Co., merchant tailors; J. B. Nickey, boots and shoes; Stephen Schon, bakery and confec- tionery: Frank Winterberg, confectionery; Julia Farley, restaurant ; J. C. Warren, restaurant ; Anton Bossmeier, bakery and confection- ery, William Bogie, manufacturer and dealer in saddlery and harness; Joseph Hughes, George Townsend, George Wills, John Wade & Bro., Mooney & Roth, and James Wade, saloons; Henry Bell, boots and shoes; Sims & Law, meat market; John Wells, meat market; Mrs. Harvey Mitchell, Mrs. Dr. Davis, Mrs. McColgan, and Misses Farrer & Saddler, millinery; N. N. Sims, buyer and shipper of poultry; Charles Sims, cigar and news stand; C. C. Winterberg, confectionery and bakery; Harry Sims, proprietor of Acme laundry ; Samuel Haslan, and Haslan Brothers, barbers ; Joseph Johnson, marble dealer; John Beall, photograph gallery; C. L. Clancey, dealer in fine trotting horses, and proprietor of sale stable; T .D. VanDorn, manufacturer and repairer of wagons, carriages, etc .; Thomas Stein, gun-smith: Edward White, livery stable; H. Mitchell, blacksmith; William Parrish, livery barn: John Schoe- ler, blacksmith; Michael Roth, coal dealer, and agent U. S. Ex- press Co .; Clarence Valentine and D. G. Mitchell, coopers; Austin Wright and Joseph Watson, painters and paper hangers; Charles Smith, blacksmith: William Dowell, railroad agent: Fred Runkle, telegraph operator; E. K. Horsford, postmaster; James H. Dorsey, Edward Deupree and J. L. Herbest, attorneys at law.
This brings us to the end of the sketch of Edinburg. Sixty-six years laden with sorrows and joys, bright anticipations and van- ished hopes, have added both age and dignity to the little city. Many of the old citizens who were wont to indulge in pleasant dreams of what the town would some day become, are quietly sleeping their last long sleep in the city of the dead. The boys and girls of those early days are boys and girls no longer; they have taken the places of men and women in the ranks, and are earnestly endeavoring to perform their part in the great drama of life. The reflections, however, of what they were in their youthful days, can be seen in the many bright and happy faces of the chil-
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dren who daily throng the public schools. During these years up- ward of two-thirds of a century, Edinburg has steadily gained in prosperity and financial strength, and is accorded a place among the solid cities of southern Indiana. Nature, with lavish hand, has laid a golden offering at her feet, but only those found on the sur- face have as yet been realized. Already investigations are being made to bring to light the mysteries beneath, and when once the subtle and powerful agent now sought for is liberated, the town will doubtless experience transformations as amazing as those accom- plished by Alladin and his wonderful lamp.
Greenwood .- Beautifully situated midway between the cities of Indianapolis and Franklin, on the J., M. & I. Railroad, is the thriv- ing town of Greenwood, the third place in point of population and commercial prosperity in Johnson County. The location is admir- ably adapted for a town, being ten miles from Indianapolis, the same distance from Franklin, and surrounded by a region of coun- try which in all that goes to make up a prosperous agricultural community, cannot be excelled by any other part of Indiana. The country immediately surrounding the town was settled at a very early period, and among the pioneers who located homes in the vi- cinity are remembered: Isaac Smock, John B. Smock, Garrett Brewer, George Noble, Garrett Vandiver, David Voorhis and others, the majority of whom began making improvements upon their respective purchases early in the twenties. In IS25, a Pres- byterian Church was organized at the residence of John B. Smock, and named Greenfield, and a little later a postoffice of the same name was established near the cross-roads where the town was after- ward located. Dr. Benjamin S. Noble, a prominent physician, and brother of Gov. Noah Noble, located near the "cross-roads" in the northern part of Pleasant Township early in the forties. and began practicing the medical profession, in which he was afterward asso- ciated with a former pupil, Dr. W. H. Wishard, who moved to the locality from the village of Waverly, Morgan County. From the most reliable local authority, these two physicians, and Rev. P. S. Clelland, pastor of the Presbyterian Church, who came a lit- tle later, were the first permanent settlers upon the present site of Greenwood. The locality being several miles from a town, or store, the necessity of a trading point for the accommodation of a rapidly increasing community, soon became apparent, and to meet the general demand, one James W. Parker, about the year 1846, opened a small general store, in a frame building which stood on the northeast corner of the public crossing. Mr. Parker came from Ripley County, and is remembered as a fairly successful merchant, in a small way, his stock at the time it was first displayed
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having represented a value of about $300. Contemporaneous with the store was a blacksmith shop, and a little later other mechanics were attracted to the place, so that by the latter part of 1846 it was pretty generally known that Greenfield would eventually become the commercial center of a goodly portion of Johnson and Marion counties. To accommodate such as desired to settle in the neigh- borhood, small lots were laid out from time to time, and sold, but of the original survey, nothing definite is now known, the county records fail to show when, or under what circumstances, the origi- nal plat of the town was laid out. A well-known citizen, who has been a resident of the village for many years, is authority for the statement, that the first lots were never regularly platted, but were simply sold and recorded as parts of the sections to which they formerly belonged. It might be well to state in this connection that the town site lies in the east half of the southwest quarter and the west half of northeast quarter, of Section 32, Township 14 north, Range 4 east, of the congressional survey, the former part purchased from the government, September 7, 1824, by Henry Smith, and the latter, December 15, IS25, by Isaac Reed.
By IS47 the population of the village had increased to such an extent as to render an addition necessary. Accordingly, in Sep- tember of that year, a plat of twenty-six lots was laid out by P. S. Clelland. They found ready purchasers, and in March of the fol- lowing year, the area of the village was further enlarged by an ad- dition of twenty-four lots, east of the original plat, by J. J. Dungan. William H. Wishard's first addition west of the Madison state road, was surveyed December 27, 1849, and his second addition, consist- ing of six lots, bounded upon the east by the above road, was made and recorded May, IS55. In the meantime ( 1851) John B. Dob- bins laid out an addition of thirty-one lots, west of the Madison and north of the Shelbyville roads, which, with the addition enumerated, constitutes the greater part of the whole town. Smock's addition of five lots, in the western part of the village, was laid out and re- corded in 1851. John Rubush's addition north of the last named, was surveyed in 1858, and in December, 1860, he platted a second addition of seventeen lots, which forms the extreme north- east corner of the town. The other additions to Greenwood are Grafton Johnson's eighteen lots south of the Shelbyville road, sur- veyed March, 1869: John Smart's thirty-nine lots north of Dobbin's płat, made April, 1874, and J. M. Wishard's addition of fourteen lots, surveyed and recorded in 1888.
Early Purchasers of Lots .- The following list includes the majority of those who purchased real estate in Greenwood, between the years 1848 and 1852: F. Steuart, S. A. King, H. B. Sherman,
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Orville Bass, William Carder, James Scantlin, C. G. Dungan, Grafton Johnson, P. Bradburn, P. K. Parr, P. V. Luyster, George Crasy, G. D. Eccles, William Martin. J. S. Van Horn, John Brooks, W. Wheeler, O. P. Smith, Mary White, W. Owen, B. S. Noble, William Martin, Gideon Eddy, W. F. Falconer, John C. Burton, L. W. Jones, William McCool, J. B. Searl, W. Wycoff, J. J. Kelly, J. Fitzpatrick, M. J. Noble, F. R. Clark, J. Utterback, S. Graham, C. H. Myers, M. A. Dashiel, F. V. Vanbrough, M. M. Crow, I. Foster and J. White, the majority of whom improved their pur- chases and became residents. In addition to the above were a number of others, who became owners of real estate from time to time in the unplatted part of the town, while several of the parties enumerated were among the earliest settlers in the immediate vicin- ity of the village.
Business Men .- As already stated, James W. Parker was the first person to engage in the mercantile business in Greenwood. He carried on a reasonably successful business for about two years, and was then succeeded by Grafton Johnson, who brought a large stock, and enlarged the capacity of the building. Mr. Johnson subsequently erected a commodious brick business house, and in time became one of the leading merchants of Johnson County. He was a successful trader. an upright and honorable gentleman, and during a long and prosperous business career, accumulated a large fortune. He was identified with the mercantile interests of the town until the year 1882.
Another early merchant was James M. Dixon, who erected a frame business house on the lot now occupied by the store building belonging to the Johnson heirs. He sold goods for a period of about five years, but of his success in trade little is now known. J. B. Whipple & Bro. carried on a fairly successful business at an early day, in a building south of the Johnson store room, and about the same time. or perhaps a little later, Eber and Hosea Sherman be- gan merchandising on the corner southeast of the crossing. The latter continued only a few years. William McLean, of Madison, brought a stock of goods to the town at an early day, which was offered for sale by a clerk by the name of Ruddick, who carried on the business for some time. Messrs. Wishard & Scott effected a co-partnership in the general mercantile trade in 1851, and continued the business quite successfully until 1861, when the firm dissolved, Wishard retiring. Scott ran the store three years longer, and then disposed of his stock and left the place.
Conspicuous among the successful merchants of the town, is N. E. Noble, who began selling goods in 1862 in a building which stood on the northwest corner of the crossing. He subsequently
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erected his present large brick store on Main Street, and is still in business, the oldest merchant now in the place. J. J. Dungan be- gan merchandising many years ago in a building near the railroad. He also platted an addition to the town, and is remembered as a reasonably successful business man. His building was afterward destroyed by fire.
Other Merchants .- Additional to the foregoing, the following men and firms were identified with the commercial interests of Greenwood at different times, namely: Malon Draper, Capt. D. W. C. Hopkins, Marcus Justice, Grafton Peek, who is still in the town, Bass & Cook, Rosengarten & Scott, Armstead Hollo- way, William F. Kinnick, Francis E. Clark, G. W. Storey, Will- iam Carlisle, Tague & Randall, F. M. Teague, Jacob Bishop, Henry Powers, S. Justus, Powers & Justus, James McGuire, A. G. Pruitt, Jacob Comingore, William Comingore, George Clark, Theron Hopkins, Joseph Tompkins, Dr. Wells, and others whose names cannot be recalled.
Early Mechanics .- It is not known who was the first mechanic in Greenwood. Soon after the town was laid out, however, two brothers, Robert and William Todd, erected a shop where Dr. Noble's house now stands on Noble Street, and began working at the cabinet-maker's trade. They were good workmen, and found abundant opportunities for the exercise of their skill in manufactur- ing furniture for the early settlers of the town and adjacent country. They continued to supply the local demand for about twelve years, and were reasonably successful in their business. Samuel Graham was an early mechanic, and worked at his trade, blacksmithing, several years in a small shop which stood south of the Johnson store building. The following were also among the early mechan- ics of the town, namely: Nathaniel Beezley, blacksmith; Henry Sponberg, cabinet-maker; William Owen, shoemaker; Michael Sullivan, wagon-maker; Thomas Howard, William Clark, and Clark, blacksmiths, and William Wilson, shoemaker.
Physicians .- Dr. B. S. Noble, an early settler of the town, was the first man to practice the medical profession in Greenwood. He moved to the locality from Lawrenceburg in an early day, and for a number of years ranked among the leading physicians in John- son and Marion counties. He practiced until 1853, a part of the time with Dr. W. H. Wishard, and then went west, locating in Iowa. His sons, N. E., Dr. T. B., Rev. Samuel and Noble, are among the leading citizens of Johnson County at this time. Dr. W. H. Wishard, to whom reference has already been made, moved to the village from Morgan County, and read medicine under the instruction of Dr. Noble, with whom he also practiced for some-
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time. He followed his profession in Greenwood until 1861, and later moved to Indianapolis, in which city he now resides. Among other medical men of the town from time to time, are remembered the following: Drs. Deashiel, McCann, McCorkle, Turner, Feree, Hibbs, Guthrie, Wells, Gabbard, Hendricks and Curry. The phy- sicians at this time are: Drs. T. B. Noble, J. M. Wishard and Z. Carnes, all of whom are experienced in the profession, and have large and lucrative practices.
Incorporation .- In June, 1864, the citizens of Greenwood agi- tated the question of erecting and maintaining a municipal corpo- ration, and to decide the matter an election, was held on the 25th of that month, the result of which was a majority in favor of the project. The corporation consummated, the town was divided into five wards, and a council consisting of the following persons elected, namely: E. C. Smith, F. S. Wilson, T. B. Hungate, S. Mayfield and A. W. Gilchrist. The other officers were: F. M. Teague, clerk; James McGuire, marshal: W. H. Thornton, as- sessor, and A. Holiway, treasurer. The corporation has been maintained ever since, with decided benefit to the town, as is at- tested by numerous improvements which have been inaugurated and carried out. The municipal officers for ISSS, are as follows: E. C. Smith, N. S. Maitz and J. W. Prewett, councilmen from the First, Second and Third wards, respectively; W. H. Bishop, clerk; C. R. Milburn, treasurer, and Jacob McClain. marshal.
Industries .- Among the early residents of Greenwood was Ly- sander Adams, to whom is due the credit of starting one of the first manufacturing enterprises of the town, a saw-mill, which stood near the railroad, a short distance south of the corporate limits. Mr. Adams manufactured a great deal of lumber for the local and gen- eral trade, much of which was shipped to various points through- out the state. The mill was operated by steam power, and was a fixture of the village for a number of years. A saw-mill was erected on the creek a short distance south of the town, a number of years ago, by John Smart, who after operating for some time, sold out to other parties. Messrs. Bass & Rice owned it at one time, and it was afterward moved from the neighborhood. Darby Brunnamer engaged in the saw-milling business near the depot, several years ago, and is said to have manufactured a great deal of lumber. He subsequently abandoned the business, and his mill was moved to other parts. One of the earliest manufacturing enterprises of the town, was a carding machine, erected as long ago as IS47 or IS48, by one Richard M. Steen. The building, a very primi- tive affair, stood a short distance east of the Presbyterian Church on Bluff Street, and was supplied with ordinary
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machinery, operated by a large tread-wheel, horses furnish- ing the motive power. The mill was well patronized by the neighboring farmers, but being constructed upon quite a limited scale, did not prove financially remunerative to the proprietor. It was in operation, about three or four years. A second carding ma- ehine was erected about the year 1854, and though a small affair, was a decided improvement upon the one described. It stood on Bluff Street, was operated by steam, and did a fair business until 1856.
The first manufacturing enterprise of any considerable magni- tude attempted in Greenwood, was an iron foundry, established about the year 1850 or 1851, by A. G. Searle. A reasonably suc- cessful business was conducted until about the year 1862, when, owing to the small demand for work, and the necessary expenses required to operate it, the proprietors saw fit to discontinue the foundry and remove the machinery from the town. Later, the building was secured by Allen Donelly, who fitted it up with ma- chinery for the manufacture of gloves, which business he com- menced upon quite an extensive scale, giving employment to about twenty hands, the majority of whom were required in the factory, while the others did sewing at their residences in the village. Mr. Donelly made the manufacture of buckskin gloves a specialty, and such was the superior quality of his goods, that they soon had a large sale among the dealers in Indianapolis and other cities. The factory was in operation about two years.
The Greenwood steam flouring-mill was erected about the year 1855, by Messrs. Henderson & Smith, who operated it successfully until 1862 or 1863. During that time it was extensively patronized by the people of Johnson, Morgan and Marion counties, and it is stated that farmers living within two miles of Indianapolis came to Greenwood for their flour. Mr. Henderson purchased his part- ner's interest in 1863, and operated the mill until about the year 1868, when, meeting with financial reverses, he was compelled to abandon the business. Subsequently the property passed into the hands of other parties, and it was run by different ones until 1873, at which time it was purchased by Charles Dixon. N. S. Martz became owner in IS84. He operated it until 1888, and then closed out to the present proprietor, who, the same year, completely re- modeled the mill, and supplied it with the latest improved machinery for the manufacture of flour by the roller process. The mill has a good custom trade, besides manufacturing for the general market.
Fruit and Vegetable Packing House .- A detailed account of the mammoth canning house of J. T. Polk, the largest and most complete establishment of the kind west of Baltimore, would alone
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fill many pages of this volume, hence but an outline of its history and development is here given. Mr. Polk began the fruit canning business in a small way in 1872, his first work being merely experi- mental, his wife doing nearly, if not quite all, the canning, at their residence near the village. Meeting with encouraging success in the venture, Mr. Polk, the following year, engaged in the busi- ness upon a more extensive scale, fitting up a barn for the purpose, in which, with the assistance of hired help, he packed about 26,000 cans of fruit, which found ready sale. In 1878, a large building, 45x288 feet in area, was erected a short distance east of the town limits, and supplied with all the necessary machinery and appliances. In the meantime Mr. Polk engaged in the business on the home place, near Greenwood, but in the fall of 1879, established a busi- ness in St. Louis, and a little later refitted the building here, and for some time carried on the trade at both places. Owing to financial reverses caused by a partial failure in the fruit crop, Mr. Polk, at the end of about two years, was compelled to close the establish- ment at St. Louis, and for a time discontinue the business, but in IS81, he resumed operations at Greenwood, and has since carried on a large and successful trade.
In 1886, an addition, 45×144 feet in area, and four stories high, was built on the north end of the establishment, and the fol- lowing year a large boarding-house, 24x90 feet in size, containing rooms for the accommodation of employes, was erected. The packing house is said to be the largest establishment of the kind in the west; and the capital invested is over $25,000. Mr. Polk makes a specialty of canned corn and tomatoes, but puts a great many other goods on the market also, such as canned beans, peas, pumpkin, etc., all of which have a wide-spread reputation, and an extensive sale. In ISS7, the crop was estimated at only about one- third of what is generally raised, yet during that year the product of the establishment was over 2,000,000 cans, or three train loads of twenty cars each. Since then the facilities for packing have been greatly increased, so that the capacity for the present year (ISSS) will be in excess of 5,000,000 cans. One hundred and fifty farmers, representing 1,500 acres of land, supply the enormous amount of fruit and vegetables required, and during the busy season, which lasts from June to November, about 550 hands are employed, the majority of whom reside in the town and vicinity while a large number come each day from Indianapolis, in a special chartered train for the purpose. The employes consist of men, women, boys and girls, who earn fair wages, the pay being in proportion to the amount of work accomplished. Heretofore Mr. Polk has pur- chased all of his cans in the east, but in December, 1887, began to
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manufacture cans, which are now turned out at the rate of 10,000 per day. In the management of his large business, Mr. Polk dis- plays superior ability, and his mammoth establishment is a credit, not only to himself, but to Johnson County as well.
Odd Fellowvs. - The history of Odd Fellowship in Greenwood dates from the year 1857, at which time Greenwood Lodge No. 198, was instituted by William Johnson, of Franklin, with the following members: L. P. Crasey, Joseph Brannaman, Simeon Frazier, August Vaught, E. C. Smith and Dr. J. M. Wishard. Of the above members, Dr. Wishard is the only one now living in the town. The records of the lodge at one time contained the names of over forty members in good standing, but owing to deaths and removals, which have made serious inroads upon the order, the present membership is only about half that number. The organi- zation is in good financial condition, and although weak numerically, is one of the best working lodges in the county. The members are among the substantial citizens of the town and country, and the society bids fair to continue in the future, what it has been in the past, a potent factor for good in the community.
At one time there was a flourishing Masonic lodge in the town: Greenwood Lodge No. 128, organized sometime in the sixties with a good membership. The lodge grew and prospered for several years, but eventually internal dissessions arose, which re- sulted in disorganization and a surrender of the charter.
James N. Waggener Post No. 177, G. A. R., was organized in May, 1883, with the following charter members: D. S. Whitenack, George Whitenack, W. H. Fisher, W. H. Bass, J. F. Griffith, Presley Griffith, Z. Carnes, Sylvester Justus, J. N. Featherston, J. M. Clem, James Purdieu, Jacob McClain, William League, J. F. Neiman, W. H. Wydman, W. C. Hendricks, Frank Stone, Thomas Baugh, Irwin Robbins. The first officers were: D. S. Whitenack, post com- mander; N. S. Smartz, S. V. C .; John F. Griffith, J. V. C .; W. H. Fisher, adjutant; W. H. Bass, Q. M .; J. M. Clem, O. D .; J. M. Featherston, O. G .; Zachariah Carnes, surgeon. The growth of the post has been steady and substantial, and is now in the en- joyment of a reasonable degree of prosperity, with the names of thirty-five members upon the roster.
Captain Fisher Camp No. 96, Sons of Veterans, was established January 12, 1888, with the following charter members. G. W. Robison, Mark Bass, William German, Charles Martz, Austin McLean, John McClain, Ilarry Whitenack, George Rodgers, Sylvester Polk, Harry Carnes, George W. Shycock, Bradley Clark, Charles League, Frank Polk, Arthur Wishard, Peter McClain, Edward HJ. Hurst, Charles A. Ferree, W. 11. Whitenack
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