USA > Indiana > Orange County > History of Lawrence, Orange, and Washington counties, Indiana : from the earliest time to the present, together with interesting biographical sketches, reminiscences, notes, etc > Part 15
USA > Indiana > Washington County > History of Lawrence, Orange, and Washington counties, Indiana : from the earliest time to the present, together with interesting biographical sketches, reminiscences, notes, etc > Part 15
USA > Indiana > Lawrence County > History of Lawrence, Orange, and Washington counties, Indiana : from the earliest time to the present, together with interesting biographical sketches, reminiscences, notes, etc > Part 15
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COURT OF COMMON PLEAS.
The Court of Common P'len- was at first of a limited jurisdiction, afterward somewhat extended. It did all probate business, with limited civil and criminal jurisdiction. The first Judge, who took his seat in January. 1873, was the Hon. J. R. E. Goodlett, of Bedford. In 1857 Col. Frenk Emerson succeeded bim. In 1561 he was followed by Ralph
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Applewhite, and, on his resignation two years later, Beaty McClelland tilled out his term. In 1865 Hon. J. D. New was elected, and served four years, when Col. Emerson again became Judge by election. His term of four years lasted as long as the court, which was abolished, and its business transferred to the Circuit Court. These gentlemen were all honorable men, honest and capable. The officers of the Circuit Court were, ex-officio, officers of the Court of Common Pleas in their respective counties.
The writer is indebted to the kindness of the Clerk of the Court and his deputy for assistance in examining the records. and especially to A. H. Dunihue, Esq .. elsewhere noticed in this work. for reminiscences of the courts in days long past.
CHAPTER VI.
TOWNS OF THE COUNTY-PALESTINE-ITS DEVELOPMENT AND DECAY-BED- FORD-ITS SURVEY-MERCHANTS-PORK PACKING - MANUFACTURES - LATER BUSINESS ENTERPRISE -- BANKING -PRESENT BUSINESS INDU', TRIES-SECRET SOCIETIES-ADDITIONS - INCORPORATION-THE PRE-,- STONE INTERESTS- MITCHELL -TOWN PLAT AND ADDITIONS, MER- ( HANTS, MANUFACTORIES -- SECRET SOCIETIES - THE PRESS-PRES- ENT BUSINESS-BONO-LAWRENCEPORT-TUNNELTON-FT. RITNER- HURON - BRYANTSVILLE - SPRINGVILLE - GUTHRIE-HELTONVILLE- LEESVILLE-FAYETTEVILLE-OTHER SMALL TOWN ..
T THE first seat of justice of Lawrence County was named Pales- tine. How it came to be called thus, or by whom, is lost beyond the hope of recovery. The soil where it stood had been the property of Benjamin and Ezekiel Blackwell, Henry Speed and Henry H. Massie. but had been donated to the county upon consideration that the perma- nent seat of justice should be located there. Two hundred acres of land on the north bank of White River and on both sides of the meridian line constituted the donation of these men. At this time, so far as now known, no family lived there except that of Ezekiel Blackwell. who may be considered the first resident of the place. In May. 1818. the County Agent. Robert M. Carlton, employed the necessary assistance and laid out 276 lots surrounding a public square upon which it was designed to erect. a court house and perhaps other county buildings. No sooner had this place become known as the county seat of a new and flourishing and rapidly settling county than capital and enterprise and artisans and mechanics made their appearance. John Lowrey. the first County Clerk, came and erected a log cabin that did duty for his family and for the records and business of his office. This was accomplished before the
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first public sale of town lots on the 25th of May, 1818. For some rea- son the town was popular, as on the day of sale a large crowd was pres. ent. including capitalists and business men of Louisville, Vincennes and perhaps other points. Over 200 lots were sold, many to settlers of the county who desired the advantage of the probable enhancement in the value of such property by the rapid growth of the town and the improve- ment of the surrounding country. Several of the best lots were bought by non-resident speculators, who afterward sold them for a handsome premium. The sale to those intending to become residents was limited. The second sale was in November. 1818, the proceeds of the first two sales being $6,579.38 cash. The receipts from all subsequent sales amounted to only a few hundred dollars.
GROWTH OF PALESTINE.
At first, the settlement of the town was rapid, but after the popula- tion had reached about 300 the growth was comparatively slow. John Brown, who, in 1819. became the first Postmaster, located there in 1818. Robert M. Carlton, County Agent, established himself at the town in 1818. Audrew Evans came in early, as did also Isaac Mitchell and James Benefield. The latter furnished house room for the courts. Samuel MI. Briggs, who was one of the first County Treasurers, was a journeyman tanner, and worked in the shop or tanyard of Joseph and Wier Glover, which was built about 1819. This was one of the largest industrial enterprises of the place, and gave employment to five or six band -. There were twenty-five or thirty vats. The hides were sold mainly in Louisville. William Kelsey was one of the first residents of the town. In the fall of 1818 the first store was established by Samuel F. Irwin and Isaac Stewart. They brought in about $800 worth of a general assortment of goods, which was placed in the hands of Mr. Irwin, Stewart being a non-resident. In 1819, Patrick Callen also started a store, and sold whisky as well. Dr. Winthrop Foote located their in 1819 and was the first resident physician. A little later, begin- ning about 1820, he practiced law with success. Rollin C. Dewey was the first resident attorney, coming in 1820. Winston Crouse, who dug the well on the public square, was an early resident. Henry Parsell kept a boarding house or hotel and sold liquor. Joseph Anderson was an early resident. In about 1820 or possibly 1821, John and Samuel Lock. hart erected a large log cabin (all the buildings were built of logs) and placed therein the necessary machinery and began carding wool on quite ALI extensive scale. Edward Johnsen worked for them in some capacity. They carded on shares; did the spinning of their share, which was kept for sale. Ezekiel Blackwell opened the first cabinet shop in 1818; or really he did work of that kind before the town was founded. Samuel D. Bi-bop was a carpenter of unusual skill. and it was under his super-
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vision that many of the buildings. public and private. were erected. Richard and Calvin Evans, Able and Foley Vaughn. Smith Mounts. car. penter, Thompson H. Biggs, Richard Kinnick, Lemnel Barlow, William Templeton. Alexander Walker, Stephen Shipman. James S. Mitchell, a carpenter, Nathaniel Vaughn. hotel keeper and liquor-dealer, H. Wyman, B. Banks, Vingard Pound, Isaac Farris. John Anderson, Willis Keithley, Samnel Dale. John Sutton. James Gregory, H. Boon. B. Reynold -. J. S. Roberts, Thomas Fulton. G. G. Hopkins. William Gooldy, harness and saddles, John J. Burt and others were early resident ..
In the spring of 1819, there were about fifteen families living in the county seat. At this time it was determined to incorporate the town. The citizens could not boast of their numbers, but doubtless hal aristo - cratic notions. and were proud of their town, and accordingly were deter- mined to tie on as much red tape as was appropriate. in order. very likely. that their advertisements of the sale of lots in an incorporated town sent south and east might influence mechanics. artisans, capitalist- and immigrants to come there for permanent location. Accordingly, pursuant to notice, an election was held with the following result.
PALESTINE. Monday, March 1. 1419
At a meeting of the qualified voters of the town of Palestine. Lawrence ('o .. Ind .. agreeably to the first section of an act providing for the incorporation of lowis in the State of Indiana approved January 1. 1817. we, the President and Clerk of said meeting. do certify that the polls stand thus: Eleven votes in favor and none against being incorporated.
JOHN BROWN, President. WILLIAM KELSEY. Clerk.
An election of five Trustees was ordered, the result of which is shown by the following certificate:
PALESTINE, March 8. 1919
We do hereby certify that the following gentlemen were duly elected Trustees of the town of Palestine for one year, to.wit: Alexander Walker, William Kelsey. Lemuel Barlow, William Templeton and Stephen Shipman. Given under our hands and seals the day and date above mentioned.
JOHN BROWN, President. WILLIAM KELSEY. Clerk.
The total amount of the sales of lots in the town of Palestine was $17,410. of which $15, 719.78 was cash or its equivalent in credits. This large amount was a great help to the county, and removed from the shoulders of the settlers the heavy burden of taxation to meet current public expenses. In the autumn of 1819 there were about twenty fam. ilies in the town, and in the autumn of 1520) about thirty. The number steadily increased until in 1824; it reached about sixty families, beyond which it did not get, owing to the re-location of the county seat. One of the early business enterprises of the town is shown by the following certificate to the County Board:
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We the undersigned do certify that Nathaniel Vaughn is of good moral charac - ter, and do believe it would be for the benefit and convenience of travelers for the said Vaughn to be licensed that he may retail spiritous liquors and keep a house for public entertainment in Palestine.
PALESTINE, September 4. 1819.
Vingan Ponnd. James Gregory.
I-aar Farris. Thomas Fulton
John Anderson. John Sutton.
William Templeton. James Conley.
Willis Keithley.
Weir Glover.
Jobn J. Burt.
Joseph Glover.
Samuel Dale.
G. G. Hopkin-
Ezekiel Blackwell.
From the start Palestine had been a very sickly place. At times the whole town was shaking with the old iron-clad regulation ague. from which. if they ever recovered, they were left " long, lean and yellow." Combined with the ague were malignant malarial fevers, which took deep root on the strongest constitutions, and consigned persons less robust to pioneer cemeteries. Towns remote from the river were healthy, and it was soon the opinion of all residents of Palestine that the prevailing sickness was due to the location on the river. This view going abroad had much to do with the slow growth of the town during 1822, 1823 and 1824. At last it was determined to change the county seat, which was done, as fully told elsewhere. The real estate owners were privileged to receive corresponding lots in Bedford in exchange for those they owned in Palestine, Several so changed, but many left the town and county. The removal of the county seat killed Palestine almost immediately. All the residents soon left and the land was thrown out into the adjoin- ing farins and so remains to this day.
THE TOWN OF BEDFORD.
The town of Bedford owes its origin to the relocation of the seat of justice of Lawrence County, in 1525. Had it not been for that event, there would have been no Bedford. The site was located by the Locating Commissioners early in March. 1525, and comprised 200 acres in a tract 200 rod- long north and south, and 160 rods wide east and west. on Sections 14 and 23, Township 5 north. Range 1 west. This land was donated in consideration of having the county seat located there, by Samuel F. Irwin. Joseph Glover. John Owens, Reuben Kilgore. Moses Woodruff and I-aac Stewart. The proceedings of the Locating Commissioners were completed on the 9th of March, at which time they made their report. The legislative act concerning the re- location provided that lot-holders in Palestine should have the privilege of exchanging such property there for lots correspondingly >itnated in the new county seat, and further provided that the new town should be laid out in all respects similar to Palestine a- regarded the -ize. number and location of lots and the loca-
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tion of the public square. The Locating Commissioners also took from the donors bonds with good and sufficient surety for the construction of a temporary log court house and a public well, within six months from the survey of the new town. The County Board fixed upon March 30, 1825, as the day to begin the survey of the town. It took several days to accomplish this, but when the work was completed the plat was a fac simile of that of Palestine.
LOT SALES AND EXCHANGES.
Immediately after the survey of the lots the exchange of property from Palestine to Bedford was effected. The first public sale of the town lots not covered by the exchanges was held on the 12th of June, 1826, over one year after the transfer was effected. and after the lapse of the year fixed by the Legislature as the limit of the right of exchange. The proceeds of this sale were $1,849.25, a portion of which in the form of notes was not realized. Among the first residents of the town were John Lowrey. Clerk and Recorder; Henry Lowrey. merchant, of the firm Lowrey & Simpson, the latter being a non resident: Samuel F. Irwin, merchant; Joseph Athon. hotel keeper; Rollin C. Dewey, lawyer; N. L. Livingston, lawyer; John Vestal, merchant; Samuel D. Bishop, carpenter, John Brown, postmaster; Jacob Mosier. Methodist Minister: Samnel Wilson, laborer; Richard Evans, miller: Gotleib Byrer, hatter; David Borland, tanner; Joseph Cowan, stone-mason: Turner Sullivan, wagoner; William Sullivan, blacksmith: Joseph Cuthbertson, cabinet- maker; Henry Parsell, laborer; William Benefield, hotel keeper: William Kelsey, Deputy Sheriff and Constable; Henry Hendricks, saddler; John Quackenbush, carpenter; Henry Quackenbush. laborer; Jacob Huff, wagoner; Winthrop Foote, physician; A. H. Dunihue, merchant for Isaac Stewart; Andrew Hattabaugh, liquor dealer. These men and their families and perhaps a very few others were the residents of Bedford one year after the town was founded-that is to say, the spring of 1826. Among those who located in the town within the next five or six years, were: William Templeton, Elbert Jeter, Hugh C. Redmon, Horatio Jeter. Amos Leech, Matthew Borland, N. R. Brown, John Edmundson, Benjamin Grayson, Robert Mitchell, Francis Williams, Thomas L. Carlton, William B. Slaugh ter, Seth Lunsford, William Mitchell, P. G. Pangh, E. C. Moberly, Joseph Rawlins, T. H. Biggs. E. P. Kennedy. William Gooldy, Moses Fell, William McLane, John Thatcher, Alfred Athon, Nathaniel Milton, Wier Glover, Russell Mitchell, William Cooke, Able Vaughn, Moses McBride, William Toon, James Critchtield, Jacob Martin, John Wade, James Woody, Hugh L. Livingston, and a little later yet came E. G. Thompson, Mortimer Bostick, William H. Pro, Isaac Rector, George G. Dunn. W. M. Humston, Joseph Stillson, James Wilder, William Danley, John Geiger, Mitchae! A. Malott. D. Francis,
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William Mason, Elisha Simpson. James W. Glazebrook, D. R. Dunihue, James C. Lynn, H. Ballard, H. B. Richardson, Enoch Franklin, A. C. Hamm, Thomas Ogg and others. The above lists, with a few names omitted, comprise all the early residents of Bedford.
THE EARLY MERCANTILE HOUSES.
The firm of Irwin & Stewart, Samuel F. Irwin and Isaac Stewart. the latter a non-resident, was the first mercantile house in Bedford. They occupied the first frame building in the town on the present site of Dr. Ben Newland's office, and carried a stock valued at about $4,000. A. H. Dunihue, who came to Bedford in 1S26, entered this store as clerk and continued in that capacity for several years. In 1830 this store was sold to Joseph Rawlins, who conducted the mercantile pursuit in the town for a period of over thirty years, amassing a large fortune. The firm of Lowrey & Simpson opened a store soon after the above in a log building which stood on the present site of Dean's hardware store. They did a good business for many years. Andrew Hattabaugh opened the first " grocery " or liquor store in 1826, soon after the town was laid out, in a log building on the east side of the square. Moses Fell, a man of unusual prominence and worth, moved to Bedford in 1827 and opened a general store, which he successfully conducted until his death in 1840). William McLane, who had been a militia or "cornstalk" colonel, and who, as early as 1815, had conducted a general store at Orleans, Orange County, located in Bedford in 1827, where he remained many years. actively engaged in business. For a time he was President of the branch of the State Bank of Indiana located at Bedford, and was the owner of a large wholesale dry goods house in Louisville. He amassed a fortune of $150,000, and abont 1834 ir wved to Texas, where he died in 1873 at the age of eighty-five years. In 1823, John Vestal, who had previously been in business at Springville, opened a general store on the southeast corner of the square, and continued many years, dying in 1873. His widow, a resident of Bedford, survives him at the advanced age of ninety years. William Benefield opened the first tavern in 1825. David Kelly opened a liquor store in 1827. Brown & Moberly sold liquor. William Kelsey began to sell liquor in 1829. Foote & Fell also began selling liquor about this time. The following is a copy of their " recom- mnend " :
BEDFORD, January 4, 1930.
We. the undersigned subscribers, do certify that Winthrop Foote and Moses Fell are men of good moral character.
JOHN BROWN. NELSON R. BROWN
ROBERT M CARLTON. WILLIAM TOON.
WILLIAM KELSEY. ELBERT JETER.
SAMUEL F. IRWIN ROBERT MITCHELL.
WILLIAM GOOLDE. E. C. MOBERLY.
JORN LOWREY.
DAVID BORLAND.
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GROWTH DURING THE THIRTIES.
During the decade of the thirties, the town of Bedford was very prosperous. In 1834, the first newspaper was founded, and a year or two later the branch of the State Bank was established. It is also said that the town was incorporated during this period, but nothing to clearly establish this fact was discovered by the writer. The presence of the bank made ready money plenty. This fact brought capitalists in to encompass the vast trade in pork and grain which found an easy ship- went to southern markets by flat-boats. This was probably the most active decade in the history of the town. John Vestal. Samuel F. Irwin. William McLane, Moses Fell, Simpsou & Lowrey, Joseph Rawlins were leading merchants and business men. Gotleib Byrer sold liquor. Busiek was his partner in 1831-32. Malott & Clark opened a store in 1531. Foote & Fell conducted an extensive liquor establishment aud made much money. Vaughn & Moberly dealt extensively in liquor. William Loug and Ephraim Trabue were also liquor dealers; so were Nathaniel Miller. John Wade, William and Charles Gooldy, Seth Lunsford. I. N. Glazebrook, W. M. Mason, William Pro. James Hays. William Hackett. R. M. Carlton, Preston King, and perhaps others. It would seem that all the early merchants got their start by selling liquor. The name of A. H. Dunihue is the only one of all the earliest at Bedford not con- nected with the sale of liquor, or even attached to a recommendation of good moral character of some resident seller. Ou the contrary. the name is found on every remonstrance against the sale of liquor in the town or elsewhere in bold and conspicuous letters. However. the sale of liquor in those days was not enveloped iu the obloquy of the present. Good, moral, religions meu countenanced the sale, and even conducted " groceries" (as they were called) of their own. Other merchants dur- ing the thirties other than those above, were: E. C. Moberly. D. R. Dunihue, Lankford Trueblood. John Brown, Mason & Harvey. Jacob Clark, Medicine, Vestal & Crooke, M. A. & W. H. Malott, F. W. Dixon and others.
EARLY MANUFACTURING EST ALISHMENTS.
As early as 1826, Samuel F. Irwin erected a log building adjoining the towu, and fitted it up for a steam distillery. At the same time he started a horse-mill to supply his distillery with ground grain. He did not grind flour and meal for the citizens. The horse-mill and the distillery combined were important industrial enterprises and received extensive patronage. At that day there was scarcely any market for corn other than at the distilleries. Corn was fed to hogs, which were packed and shipped in enormous numbers South on Hat.boats. Corn that was not fed to hogs and thus made valuable, found no market worth mentioning except at the distilleries, where often the cash was paid for it, or otherwise it was manufactured into liquor ou the shares. Large quantities of corn
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found a ready market at Irwin's Distillery. and the whisky and brandy made were sold mainly in Louisville. An average of about three barrels of liquor were turned out each day. This represented the consumption of about thirty five bushels of corn in that length of time, and as the dis- tillery ran steadily, its annual capacity was about 10.000 bushels of corn, or about 800 barrels of liquor. This distillery, then, although it did not reach these figures. furnished a steady and valuable market for corn and rye. The liquor usually sold for 12} cents a gallon. After about ten years mill and distillery were abandoned.
In about 1836. a company consisting of William McLane, Samuel F. Irwin. Moses Fell. John Vestal and perhaps others erected a cotton fac. tory in the town. They bought the machinery in Lexington, Ky .. and hauled it to Bedford in two two-horse wagons. H. B. Richardson was installed as Superintendent of the factory with about six workmen. The cotton was purchased in the South, shipped to Louisville, and hauled out by wagoners. Large quantities of yarns were manufactured, and sold over a wide section of country, but beyond that the enterprise did not advance. No cloth was made and in abont 1840 the factory was sold to Campbell & Booth. of Salem, who removed the machinery.
In about 1834 Barker & Phelps started an ashery which they con- ducted abont three years. They bought large quantities of ashes for from 3 to 7 cents per bushel and manufactured a fair article of black salts which was hanled to Louisville and sold. Connected with this was a shingle factory owned and operated by the same men. This factory was propelled by steam. A considerable quantity of rough shin- gles was manufactured from native woods, and found a ready sale at home. This enterprise was conducted about three years. As early as 1826 Richard Evans built a tread-power saw-mill at or near Bedford. which he conducted until about 1830. The mill at first was well patron- ized.
As early as 1826 David Borland built a large tannery at Bedford. which was conducted fifteen or twenty years. It consisted of about forty vats, and did a large business, the leather manufactured going mainly to Lonisville. About a year after this enterprise was founded. Samuel and Thompson Biggs also erected a tannery consisting of about twenty vats. and conducted the enterprise with profit for about fifteen years, when the property passed to Biggs & Young, who operated the yard until about 1855. At the best seasons these tanneries gave employment to about ten men.
In 1826 Thomas and Robert Carlton bought the machinery of the Lockhart woolen factory at Palestine, and removing it to Bedford started a woolen factory there. Carding in all its forms was as far as the factory advanced. At this, however, an enormous custom business was done from May to September. about six hands being employed. The wool
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raised over a large section of country was brought here to be carded and then returned to the families, where it was spun and woven into cloth. The Carltons also bought considerable wooi, which they sold in Louisville. This important industry was conducted several years. In about 1834, James C. Lynn started a carding factory which continued in operation about twelve years. This factory was even more important than that of the Carltons. He gave employment to about the same number of work- men. but advanced beyond carding to falling and coloring without dress- ing. His work was known by it roughness, its warmth and its wearing qualities.
There were three important cabinet shops in Bedford at an early day. the owners being Matthew Borland, William Templeton and Josephi Cul- bertson. Each manufactured tables, stands, bureaus, cupboards, chairs. bedsteads, coffins, etc., though the business was not extensive, two or three workmen only being employed by each. One or two of these ran for many years.
THE PACKING AND SHIPMENT OF PORK.
The most important and extensive industry of early years was the packing and shipment of pork. The principal men thus engaged were. William McLane. Samuel F. Irwin. Joseph Rawlins and David Borland. Michael A. Malott packed on a small scale for a few seasons. McLane & Irwin began the business about 1827, when they erected a log building on Leatherwood Creek below town. This structure was about 120 feet long by 30 feet wide. and was occupied by these two men, each doing a separate business. Hogs were bought over a large section of country on credit. for which payments were made after the sale of the pork in south- ern markets. There was an enormous demand on the sugar and cotton plantations of Mississippi and Louisiana for the corn and pork of the famous White River country of Indiana. Here it was that the products of Lawrence County found ready sale. The packing season extended from about the middle of November to the middle of February, and dur- ing this period these two men, each with from twelve to twenty workman. slaughtered and packed from 5,000 to 9.000 hogs, sufficient to load about tive or six large flat-boats. Joseph Rawlins and David Borland each had a packing house on Salt Creek. where they did a business about as large as McLane & Irwin. It is said that for many years from 9,000 to 12.000 hogs were packed annually by the above four men, residents of Bedford, and shipped South on flat-boats. It required about eight boats to carry the 12.000 hogs. These boats were built as needed. from native lumber, at the packing houses. and soll in the southern markets after the cargo had been disposed of. It is also said that during the years when this extensive packing was being done. an average of about seventy. five flat-boats loaded with corn and produce was sent annually from the county. During the busy months forty or fifty men were employed by
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