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 55
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cessful merchants of Johnson County. John T. Ragsdale erected a store-room opposite the Morgan building, and was for a short time engaged in the mercantile, undertaking and harness business. The following business men and firms were identified with the mercan- tile interests of the town from time to time, to-wit: Wesley Vandi- ver, D. M. Foster, John White, Mr. Cronon, Hill & Co., of Mor- gantown, C. M. Eaton, Willan Bros., Daniel Davis, William Thompson, Aaron Jolliffe, William R. Shoemaker, McCoy & Co., W. R. Willan and William Dawson.
Manufactures .- Trafalager is essentially a commercial town, consequently but little attention has been given to manufacturing enterprises. As already stated, one of the earliest mills in the vill- age was for the manufacture of lumber, erected as early as 1848 or 1849, by Messrs. Bridges, Hicks & Cottell. The mill did a flourishing business for many years, as the manufacture of lumber became an important industry soon after the completion of the rail- road. The business has been carried on at different times in the village by the following persons, namely: I. Clark, Bridges & Alexander. A. B. Clark, Adams & Cottell, John Scott, Thompson & Campbell, White & Co., David Campbell, J. J. Moore, John T. Ragsdale, Landers & Co., John Ellis & Co. The only saw-mill in the place at this time is operated by John T. Ragsdale. The first mill was destroyed by fire several years ago.
About the year IS56 or 1857, Jackson High and H. Goodman, built a large three-store frame flouring mill in the southern part of the town, which has been in operation ever since. It has been owned and operated at different times by Morgan & Voris, Peters & Buckner, Cottell, Wilson & Co., William Vickerman, and oth- ers, the majority of whom were reasonably successful in the busi- ness. The present proprietor is J. J. Moore, who operates it for the custom trade only. The building has been remodeled and en- larged from time to time, and is now a very substantial structure. The planing mill was started a few years ago by J. Forsyth, who did a fair business. It is still in operation.
Physicians .- The following list comprises nearly, if not quite, all the men who have practiced the healing art in the town of Trafal- gar: Drs. Hlibbs, Ream, Netherton, Conn, Brenton, Oardan, Ful- ler, Ross, Admire and Bergan. The physicians at this time are: Drs. J. B. Ream, E. B. Willan and R. D. Willan.
Incorporation .- About the year 1870 or 1871, the citizens of Trafalgar desiring to ascertain whether public sentiment was in favor of erecting and maintaining a town corporation, called an elec- tion to decide the same. A vote was cast with a small majority in favor of the measure; accordingly the village was duly incorporated
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and municipal officers elected. For some time the workings of the corporation progressed favorably, but after the lapse of three or four years, a difficulty arose concerning the erection of a school building in the town, the result of which was a division of the pop- ulace upon the question of taxation. The plan of the building contemplated was upon a scale entirely too expensive to suit a num- ber of property owners, who, rather than submit to being taxed for its erection, determined, if possible, to bring about the destruction of the corporation. The controversy between the two factions aroused no little feeling among the citizens of the town, and it was finally agreed by those most interested, to decide the question of continuing the corporation by a vote of the people. Accordingly an election was held, the result of which was a small majority in favor of abandoning the municipality. The wisdom of this step has never been made apparent, but upon the contrary, the village has evidently suffered in many ways for the want of proper muni- cipal management.
Fire .- Like many other towns of its size, Trafalgar has been visited at different times by fire. The last and by far the most de- structive conflagration from which the village ever suffered, took place on the morning of May 10, 1881, when property to the amount of over $20,000, was converted into a mass of smouldering ruins. The fire originated in Willan's drug store, two doors north of the railroad, and when first discovered, at about 4 o'clock in the morning, had gained such headway as to render futile all attempts to check it. The fire spread rapidly, and within a comparatively short time, the buildings, east, north and south of the burning struct- ure were enveloped in flames and doomed to destruction. The citizens were soon aroused and did all they could to check the de- vouring element, which, despite their every effort, continued to spread, until within the short space of an hour, the business portion of the town, and several residences and other buildings were laid in ashes. Among those who suffered seriously by the fire were Messrs. Davis, Shoemaker, Foster, Willan Bros., and J. J. Moore. The loss of Mr. Moore was especially severe, exceeding that suff- ered by any other man in the burnt district. His dry goods, gro- cery and clothing stores, warehouse, tin-shop, butcher shop, scale house, and other buildings, were completely destroyed, as was also the greater part of his stock, his loss alone aggregating over $6,000.
A more discouraging and unsightly outlook than the little vill- age presented after the fire, would be difficult to imagine, but the people, with the energy which has always characterized them, soon rallied from the effects of the conflagration, and began rebuilding their property. A better class of buildings took the places of the
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old ones, and within a year or two over $25,000 was expended in improving the burnt district of the town. Among these improve- ments are the large two-story brick store building and other struc- tures erected by Mr. Moore, several buildings put up by W. R. Willan, and the business houses of C. M. Eaton, John Stevens, Pitcher & Foster, and others. This spirit of improvement still continues, and it is now a question whether the conflagration which gave it form, was not really a blessing in disguise.
Churches and Schools .- The citizens of Trafalgar have always displayed commendable zeal in the cause of education, as is at- tested by the presence of the large and commodious two-story brick school-house, representing a capital of nearly $3,000. This building was erected in 1880-I, and is one of the best houses of the kind in the southern part of the county. There are three churches in the town: Methodist, Baptist, and Christian, all of which have comfortable and commodious temples of worship. These buildings are frame structures, well finished and furnished, and the societies which meet in them are among the most aggres- sive religious organizations in the county.
Odd Fellows. - The Odd Fellows fraternity is represented by Trafalgar Lodge No. ISI, which was re-organized from an old so- ciety of the same number, known as Hensley Lodge. Hensley Lodge was instituted a number of years ago, and for some time en- joyed a reasonable degree of prosperity. Owing to deaths, re- movals and other causes, it finally became very weak, and several years ago the charter was surrendered to the Grand Lodge. A few of the members and others subsequently petitioned for a new charter, which was granted under the name of Trafalgar Lodge, which now has a membership of about forty in good standing. Among the charter members were Singleton Hunter, C. R. Ragsdale, J. T. Ragsdale, D. M. Foster, G. R. Sims, William H. Lawson and James M. Stout. Meetings were held for one year in the hall over J. J. Moore's store, and later Forsyth's hall, on Main Street was secured, and here the lodge held its sessions about three years. A few years ago, the lodge purchased a good hall which had been erected for the purpose, and have since met in their own property. The hall is neatly furnished and the lodge is in good condition.
Masonic .- Trafalgar Lodge, No. 314, A. F. & A. M., was chartered May 24, 1870, but worked about one year previous to that time under dispensation from the Grand Lodge. The first offi- cers were Cornelius McFadden, W. M .; Reason W. Slack, S. W., and Elijah Bradley, J. W. The hall in which the first sessions were held, and which the lodge owned, was destroyed in the fire of ISSO. Since that year, meetings have been held in a hall be-
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belonging to W. R. Willan. The membership at this time is thirty-two.
Present Business Interests of Trafalgar .- As a mercantile and shipping point, the town of Trafalgar is second to no place of its size on the Martinsville & Fairland Railroad. It is a good grain and live-stock market, and outside of Franklin, ships more lumber, timber, ties, etc., than any other town in the county. The population at this time is about 600, and the business is represented by the following register: Joseph J. Moore, large general store, also railroad and express agent: G. W. Buckner, general store; C. J. Slack, groceries; C. L. Van Cleve, groceries; William H. Collier, groceries: C. M. Eaton, hardware, furniture, undertaking and agricultural implements, Alonzo Ragsdale, drugs; James M. Stout, harness and shoe store, also proprietor of hotel; Julia Philips, millinery. The mechanics are: W. HI. Kelch, John Simp- son and C. Durmen, blacksmiths: Elisha Slack, wagon-maker, re- pairer, and general wood workman. Additional to the above, there are a livery stable, cooper shop, photograph gallery and barber shop.
Whiteland .- The thriving little town of Whiteland is situated nearly midway between Franklin and Greenwood, on the J., M. & I. Railroad, and is the center of one of the oldest settled and richest agricultural portions of Pleasant Township. The village lies one mile north of the Franklin Township line, two miles west of Clark Township, about four and a half miles northwest of the county seat, and embraces within its present limits parts of Sections 22 and 27, Township 13 north, Range 4 east, of the congressional survey. As early as 1858, the locality came into prominence, on ac- count of a small country store and two shops, erected about that time at the "cross roads," but the idea of establishing a town was not entertained by the owners of the land, until some time after that date. The store referred to was opened by one Jackson Thorpe, who erected a small frame building a short distance west of the railroad track, on land purchased for the purpose from J. D. Brewer, one of the original proprietors of the place. Mr. Thorpe engaged in merchandising upon a limited scale, his stock consisting of a miscellaneous assortment of goods, such as is usually found in country stores. Henry Freeman began blacksmithing about 1858, and the same year one George W. Walker purchased a lot and opened a wagon and wheelwright's shop. in which trades he is said to have done a fairly remumerative business. The nucleus of the town thus formed, other settlers came in from time to time, and it was not long until the place became noted as a very prosperous and promising local trading point.
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To further the interest of the village and advertise its advant- ages to artisans and tradesmen, Messrs. J. B. White, Jacob Varner, Thomas Walker, George W. Walker and Amazon Booth, in March, 1863, laid out a town plat of about forty lots, quite a number of which were at once purchased and improved. A goodly portion of the village was never regularly platted, but additions were made to the original survey from time to time, the best of which was Brewer's addition of six lots, surveyed and recorded July, 1883. As already stated, Mr. Thorpe kept the first store. After carrying on business a couple of years, he disposed of his stock to Joseph White, who was identified with the mercantile interests of the town for a period of three or four years, during which time he succeeded in establishing quite a lucrative trade. Additional to Messrs. Thorpe and White, the following men and firms sold goods in the town at different times, namely: Miller & Foxworthy, Myers & Wilson, Jacob White, Tracy, Stewart & Wilson, Clark & Voris, Green, Brooks & Co., Brooks & Smock, Smock & Combs, Isaac Jelf, M. B. Draper, Green & Draper, Fisher & Fisher, Miller & Brooks, T. P. Davidson, C. Springer, George Ransdall, Ransdall & Bro.
The above list constitutes nearly, if not quite, all the merchants from the founding of the town to the present time. Some of these men met with gratifying success in their business ventures, while others were not so fortunate, several failures constituting a part of the town's history. A postoffice was established late in the fifties or early in 1860 or 1861, with Jacob White as first postmaster. The original name of the office was Wheatland, which was after- ward changed to Whiteland on account of another and older office of the former name in one of the eastern counties of the state. Since the expiration of Mr. White's official term the office has been held by the following persons, to-wit: Archibald Graham, Dalton Wilson, M. J. Tracy, Lewis Clark, A. Brooks, William Smock, and the present incumbent, J. F. Smithey.
Whiteland is essentially a mercantile town, being heretofore thought too near the cities of Indianapolis and Franklin, to justify the investment of capital in manufactures of any considerable mag- nitude. At this time, however, a large fruit packing house is in the process of construction which, when completed, will be one of the most extensive enterprises of the kind in Indiana. The main building is 45x156 feet in size, 96 feet of which is one story high and 60 feet two stories. The boiler and process rooms are 30x60 feet, and the entire structure is situated in the northern part of the village, on a plat of two acres of ground, adjoining the railroad track. The building will be supplied with the latest improved ma-
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chinery and appliances for the canning of corn, peas, tomatoes and other articles usually prepared by first-class packing houses, and the capacity is estimated at 10,000 cans per day. Fruit and vegetables will be furnished by farmers in the vicinity of the town, and the production of 150 acres of land have already been engaged. This mammoth establishment is being erected by a stock company, which was organized on the 10th day of December, 1887, with a paid up capital of $20,000. The officers of the company are as follows: President, Matthew J. Tracy; secretary, Samuel Brewer; treasurer, Albert R. Brooks; directors, M. J. Tracy, Joseph Dar- rell, William A. Brooks, Daniel A. Brewer and Samuel E. Brewer.
A large frame flouring-mill was erected at Whiteland about the year 1867, by a Mr. Graham. After operating it a short time he sold an interest to Mr. Dixon, and the two, under the firm name of Graham & Dixon, did a lucrative business for some years. Mr. Dixon finally purchase his partner's interest, and ran the mill quite successfully for some time. His flour failing to compete success- fully in the market with flour manufactured by the roller process, Mr. Dixon finally abandoned the business, and converting his mill into an elevator, began dealing in grain, which he still carries on. He has given his entire attention to the grain business since 1887, and is at this time the largest buyer and shipper on the J., M. & I. road, between the cities of Indianapolis and Franklin.
. An early industry of the town was a stave factory operated several years by the Dolan Brothers, who, in addition to making staves, manufactured barrels for the mill, when the latter was in operation. The great demand for drain tile in this part of the county, has induced a number of people to engage in its manufac- ture within the last few years. A large factory was established at Whiteland, some time ago by Messrs. Leech & Maxfield, who in ISS5, sold out to C. E. Peggs. The latter subsequently moved the establishment from the village. While in operation at Whiteland, this factory turned out a greater quantity of tiling than any other establishment of the kind in Johnson County.
In March, 1886, the citizens of the village called an election to decide the question of creating and maintaining a town corporation. The project was carried by a small majority, after which a board of trustees was elected, composed of the following persons: D. W. Brewer, A. Boon, and William Smock. The other municipal offi- cers were: M. B. Fisher, clerk, and T. P. Woods, marshal. The town board for ISSS, is as follows: D. W. Brewer, L. A. Wheel- ing, and Dr. G. W. Covert. M. B. Fisher, is clerk, and Joseph Darral, marshal. While not a place of very great business import- ance, Whiteland commands a fair proportion of the current trade,
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and will doubtless remain as it has been in the past, one of the best grain and live-stock markets in the county. Its business for the year ISSS, may be summarized as follows: General stores-W. E. Fitzpatrick and G. W. Combs; groceries -J. F. Smithey; grocer- ies and drugs-A. R. Brooks; drugs-G. W. Fisher; black- smiths-W. J. White and B. F. Corley; contractors and builders- W. H. Wheeling & Son. The physicians are: Drs. P. K. Dobyns, James Beebe and A. M. Miller. Mrs. J. B. White affords enter- tainment to the traveling public by keeping one of the best little hotels in the county.
The Methodists and Presbyterians have flourishing organiza- tions and neat houses of worship in the village, and the presence of a large and elegantly furnished graded school building is ocular evi- dence that the intellectual welfare of the juvenile population has not been neglected.
A history of Whiteland would be incomplete without a sketch of its superb military band, at this time one of the largest and most successful musical organizations of the kind in the west. The credit of bringing about the organization and making it one of the leading bands of Indiana, belongs to S. E. Brewer, through whose efforts the original organization was perfected, in October, 1884, with sixteen members. Under the directorship of a skillful musi- cian, the band made rapid progress, and in July, 1885, scored its first success by winning first prize over three competing bands in a musical contest at Lebanon, Ind. September 13, 1885, it was awarded third prize in a contest with six bands at Madison, and in October of the same year competed with four bands at Edinburg, where the second prize was secured. In the contest at Seymour, June 5, 1886, when five of the leading bands in the state entered the list, it was awarded the palm of excellence over all its competitors, and a still greater honor was achieved in September of the same year, when it captured the first prize over eight bands at the mu- sical tournament at Terre Haute. Its record was further brightened July 4, 1886, by being awarded first prize at Shelbyville, Ind., four other bands competing. In addition to the above series of successes, the Whiteland band has played in nearly all of the larger cities of Indiana, and, in 1887, was selected to furnish the music for the state fair at Indianapolis. The present director of the band is Prof. R. B. Rudy, of Indianapolis, a graduate of the leading musical in- stitutions of the United States, and one of the most skillful musi- cians at this time in Indiana. He meets the band twice each week, and feels justly proud of the superb organization. Twelve of the original sixteen members are vet with the band, and the entire number now in the organization is twenty-three.
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Union village, a small hamlet in Union Township, was laid out October, 1835, for Willis Deet and Calvin Utterback, proprietors. The village is situated in the northwest corner of Section 14, and the northeast corner of Section 15, Township 12 north, Range 3 east, and consists of thirty-two lots and two streets, Franklin and Meridian, each forty-nine and one-half feet wide: the former run- ning east and west, and the latter north and south. The locality was settled in a very early day, and the village is merely the out- growth of a neighborhood's demand for a trading point. From the most reliable information obtainable a man by the name of Johnson was the first person to engage in the mercantile business. This was some time before the village was founded, consequently Mr. Johnson's store must have been one of the earliest mercantile es- tablishments in Johnson County. Of the nativity of Mr. Johnson, and the extent of his business, little is now known, as over a half- century has dissolved in the mists of the past since he erected his diminutive shanty and began dealing in merchandise. He carried on business for a short time, and exchanged his commodities for peltries, wild honey, ginseng, feathers and various other articles which answered the purpose of money among the sturdy pioneer families of the community. The " fire water" doled out over Mr. Johnson's counter was of a very cheap, if not vile, quality, and from the amount used, the place was early known as " Rot Gut," which euphonious name clung to it for a number of years. The death of Mr. Johnson, which occurred within a short time after he commenced business, is said to have been one of the first events of the kind in Union Township. Austin Jacobs, in a very early day, started a small general store in his residence, about 200 yards north of the village limits, which was highly prized by the citizens of the neighborhood. He carried on a small business for several years, and is remembered by the older citizens as an humble, though not a very progressive, merchant. It is not now known who followed Mr. Jacobs, but the local chronicler claims that the village, with one or two brief intervals, has been the scene of mercantile trafic ever since Mr. Johnson opened the first store early in the thirties.
Among the business men in a later day was a Mr. Palmer, after whom came Pressley Glassgo, who sold goods with fair success for some years. Joshua Harris began merchandizing early in the six- ties, and a little later, Harvey Jackson started a general store, in which he subsequently took a partner, in the person of one J. C. Drummond. Henry Wylie was identified with the business inter- ests of the place several years, as were also Messrs. Perry & Deer, and Perry & Harris. Perry subsequently purchased the in- terest of Mr. Harris, and after continuing the business some time,
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sold out to John M. Simpson, who, in partnership with Jacob Dresser, now owns the only mercantile establishment in the place. Dr. Whipple began practicing the healing art at Union village, many years ago, and is remembered as a reasonably successful physician. Dr. Wright was also an early physician, and some time in the fifties Dr. L. C. Garr became a resident of the place, and soon had a large and lucrative practice throughout the eastern part of Johnson County. He practiced several years by himself, but about the year 1867, began practicing with Dr. William Provine, to whom he afterward sold out. Dr. Provine has been the resi- dent physician since the above year, and is now one of the success- ful medical men of Johnson County.
In the early days of the village when the country was new the manufacture of lumber became an important industry, and saw- mills were among the first enterprises of the locality. A company composed of ten stockholders was organized a number of years ago, for the purpose of manufacturing lumber at Union village. A good steam mill was brought to the place, which, after being op- erated by said company for some time, fell into the hands of Peter and John Shuck, who ran it successfully for some time. It was finally purchased by Joseph K. Titus, in whose family it has since remained. As a trading point Union village has always been a place of considerable traffic, but if the projectors of the town ever dreamed of it becoming a populous city, their dreams were des- tined to remain forever unrealized. At no time in its history has the population of the place exceeded 200, and at this time, the number of inhabitants will fall far below those figures. As al- ready stated there is one general store kept by Simpson & Dresser, who report their business good. The other business of the place is represented by two blacksmith shops, kept by William T. Clark and Thomas Montgomery, and one wagon and general repair shop, by Cornelius Gilmer.
The Masonic Lodge at Union village was organized January 16, 1877, with the following members: Samuel Harris, Jesse W. Knox, James N. Robinson, Jesse T. Harris, W. B. Garr, William Rivers, Daniel G. Doty, William Reeves, Jordan Utterback, William M. Province, David Glassburn, Henry Weye, and L. E. Townsend. The first officers were Samnel Harris, W. M .: William M. Pro- vince, S. W .; Jesse W. Knox, J. W .; James N. Robinson, S. D .; Jesse T. Harris, J. D .; W. B. Garr, secretary; Daniel G. Doty, treasurer (pro tem.), and William Rivers, tyler. Financially, the lodge is in good condition, the hall and lodge property being valued at $700. The membership is about thirty.
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