History of Lawrence, Orange, and Washington counties, Indiana : from the earliest time to the present, together with interesting biographical sketches, reminiscences, notes, etc, Part 90

Author: Goodspeed Brothers
Publication date: 199-?]
Publisher: [Salem, Mass. : Higginson Book Co.]
Number of Pages: 954

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 90
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 90
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 90

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.

MANUFACTURING ENTERPRISES.

The first to engage in this line of business was William Lindley. Early in the year 1814 he erected a horse.mill on Lot 37. It was soon enlarged and a horse-power carding machine added. Stephen Coffin erected a horse power carding and spinning-mill on Lot 46. The Forsey Brothers erected a cotton factory in 1825. For many years it was pro- pelled by the old fashioned tread-wheel. The same brothers built a " potash factory " on the side of the hill, across Brock Creek, and just opposite and west of Dr. Paynter's residence. The building consisted of a long shed running north and south. From the entrance on the north to the exit south was a bench, sloping inward, and on these benches stood large tubs into which ashes were thrown, from wagons. The potash enterprise was not a success. The first steam engine put up in Salem was in the oil. mill built by Woodridge Parker in 1832. It was located on West Market Street near the bridge across Brock Creek. It had a set of buhrs for corn. The first woolen-mill was erected and operated by David G. Campbell. Only rolls were made, the women spinning and weaving, after which the factories would full and dress the cloth. These mills gave Salem a great notoriety over the State and farther west. The Forsey Brothers, owners of the cotton-mill, spun cotton yarn. at that time the only mill of the kind in the State. William Smith was a pro- fessional weaver. He wove jeans, satinets, coverlida, etc. There was a horse-mill in rear of Lot 106. Elias Davis carried on a wagon factory on North Main Street on Lot 52. Tonis Nixon and Daniel Knight had a steam spinning-factory and wool-carding machine on North Main Street. In 1830 Beebe Booth built a cotton factory on East Market Street. It was run by steam. The machinery was afterward taken out, and the building used as a Lutheran Church, Masonic lodge, and subse- quently as a district schoolhouse. Many of our present citizens will remember it, as it was there they first started to school. DePauw's 'Mill. now operated by W. S. Persise, was built in 1834. About 1850 an apparatus for manufacturing shingles was attached, but did not continue a great while. The first steain grist-mill, however. built in Salem, was erected by Tonis Nixon, Foster Nixon and John Nixon on Lot 136. It was built in 1833, and is now owned and operated by that veteran miller. Gayer Knight. David B. Platt came to Salem in December 1855, and formed a co-partnership with Absalom Martin and John Gordon for the purpose of manufacturing wagons and carriages. They purchased Lots 29, 30. 121 and 122. The machine shops stood where Mobley's machine shop now stands. The wheel department was two and one-half stories high, 60x30. The smith shop was the same and contained nine forges. The second story was used for a wood shop, for making gears and bodies. The paint and trim shops stood where Mobley's repository is now. This firm employed constantly about forty hands. They manufactured hubs.

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spokes and felloes. Shipped immense lots of finished wheels south. An approximate of the number of new jobs turned out annually may be placed at 1,000. The buildings, together with much of the stock, were totally consumed by tire, February 21, 1859. Loss about $30,000. Salem sustained a heavy blow in the destruction of this enterprise. C. W. Mobley is the owner of the lots at this time, and besides a large foundry, is manufacturing wagons, carriages, etc. John F. Keys carried on a chair manufactory at an early day, and John Cooper and William Walker were wheelwrighta Mr. Kittery manufactured wagons. In 1867 Lee W. Sinclair built the largest woolen-mnill at that time in southern Indiana. It was built on Lot 135, three and one-half stories high. He subsequently built a large and convenient house for the manufacture of clothing. and a storehouse. It was the pride of the town for many years, and gave employment to about 100 persons. The main factory, together with all the machinery and a large amount of stock, was wholly destroyed by fire on the night of the 4th and morning of the 5th of December, 1883; loss $80,000. This was another terrible drawback on the town, from the effects of which she has not yet fully recovered. Many of the employees were driven away, forced to seek employment at other points. The clothing department is still in operation, we believe.

MECHANICS AND ARTISANS.

The earlier carpenters were Samuel Peck, Henry Young, John G. Henderson, D. T. Weir, John Mills, William Phelps, Elias Albertson, Alexander Hinkle and Frank Huston. The early shoemakers: Thomas White, Ed Vermilya, Samuel Wilkerson; but Wright Vermilya was the shoemaker and mender. His shop was the resort of all the boys, and his good humor was invincible. Of course the shoes were never ready at the time promised, but then as now, people were credulous, and went again and again, full of expectation. Vermilya employed a great many hands, the Tellers, St. Clair, Collins and Roger Martin among the num- ber. The fastest band he had was Martin, who was said to make a pair of boots in a day. He carried on his shop long after Vermilya's death, ran for Congress and was in the Civil war. A keener wit and brighter native intellect perhaps never lived in Salem than Roger Martin. The first, or among the first to embark in the tavern business was Allen McAllister, in 1815. In 1819, Lyon & Malott, afterward Parker & Hardy. At this time all tavern-keepers in Salem paid a license of $15 per annum, and the Board of Commissioners regulated the prices that such keepers should charge. In 1815 these were the rates: breakfast, dinner and supper, 25 cents each; whisky, 12} cents per one-half pint; apple and peach brandy, 183 cents per half pint; rum, French brandy and wine, 37} cents per one-half pint: cider 12} and beer 12} cents per one-half quart; porter per bottle or quart, 37} cents; lodging per night, 12} cents; oats

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or corn, 12} cents per one-half gallon; horse to hay per night, 25 cents, Other early tavern-keepers were: Marston G. Clark, William Baird, Andrew Weir, Thomas Cooley, Andrew Naylor, John Mills and Joseph Green. The Baird tavern was on South Main Street. Near the close of the year 1820, Henry Clay stopped there and remained over night. He was on his way to Vincennes, where his son Tom lived. The Whig boys got together, formed a procession and started for the tavern-to give "Harry" a reception. The boom was irresistible and the Democratic boys fell in and kept step to the music. Halting, they formed a column in two lines at right angles close np to the side-walk, in front and along the south side. Three rousing cheers were given for the distinguished visitor-in which the Democratic boys joined in as boisterons a manner as their brother Whigs-and immediately "Old Hal" came out, lifted his bat and said: "You are a set of very patriotic young gentlemen."

THE "GROCERS."

The early liquor dealers were numerons, aud well patronized. In those days the places where liquor was sold were known as " groceries." Bartlett Scott, the genial, fun-loving old citizen, was among the first to engage in this class of business. His qualifications for the office were never disputed, as he proved himself to be one of the most popular and successful bar-keepers of his 'day. He was full of jokes, and would miss a meal any day to play one. An instance: the sides of Scott's grocery fronting on the square and street were sheltered by sheds resting on natural round posts planted in the ground. A printing office was on the floor above the stair entrance, which was in the rear of the building as seen on the two fronts. One summer day the windows of the office looking out toward the street and over the shed roof being open, a stranger rode up and inquired of Scott, standing at his grocery door, how people managed to get into the printing office. "Oh, they just climb up the post here on to the roof and go through the window," replied Scott. The man hitched his horse, and with generous help from Scott, got on to the shed roof through the window into the office, and having transacted his business there, went out the way he got up, remark- ing to Scott when he reached the ground: "This is a pretty hard way you have of getting into the printing office." "A little hard at first," said Scott. "but nothing when you get used to it." The boys above were of course mum, knowing Scott was at the bottom. He had a big heart. At one time Billy Rowland was his only competitor in the gro- cery trade; Rowland was a poor man and had a large family. On pub- lic occasions, when the town would be crowded with people, Scott would shut up his shop, put the key in his pocket and loaf around town. If asked why he was closed up, he would reply: "All for the benefit of Billy Rowland." William W. Wade early embarked in the liquor busi-

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ness. He called it a "coffee house." It was the resort of all the fast young men of the town. Jonathan Urmy kept another in what is now McMahan's Block. Hi. Malott still another. Other dealers were: Peter Yaw, Woodbridge Parker, William Rowland, Alexander Attkisson and Joseph Green.

The hatter business was for many years quite a large one in Salem. The first to embark in it was John Curry, who was the Postmaster of the town for many years after. Then James Duncan, Henry Manzey. Col. Baird and John L. Menaugh, each one of whom was a character. A recital of the jokes and anecdotes that could be told of those men would fill a large book. Among the blacksmiths we mention: John Atton, Isaac Thomas, Joseph Hoggatt, Davis Boswell and Leonard Shull -who, though more than eighty years old, still shoes horses at his shop on Water Street. In the line of cigars and tobacco, Mr. Murphy was prob. ably the first to embark. He manufactured plug and pig-tail tobaccos and cigars, and did an immense business. Others followed, and for many years John Rife did a thriving business He was the last. The early tailors were: John McMahan, Alexander Crooks. Nat. Albertson, Peter Snyder, Gustavus Clark, Robert S. Mills and J. R. M. Allen. E. V. Hagan and Henry Manzey embarked in the tinning business at an early day. The bakers were: Adam Ribble, John Mills, Jonathan Urmy and John Arnold. The painters were: Risden Charles, Townsend Cut- shaw. Brick-makers and layers: John E. Clark, Russell Allen, Norval F. Kennedy, Elijah Kennedy and John Drake. On the 12th day of May. 1824, the Board of Commissioners made the following order: "Ordered, That John McMahan make brick on the public square, provided, he leaves the ground in as good order as when he commenced."

EARLY PUBLIC BUILDINGS.

The public buildings in Salem in 1520 were strange looking struct- ures. The old court house, called " the stilted castle of justice and equity," stood upon arches built of brick, rising above the ground to a height of a twelve or fifteen-foot story, leaving the whole space on the ground floor open, to be used for a market-place. But in this its ancient architects did not calculate well, for the cows, pigs, geese, and every other stray animal took undisputed possession. Fleas, lice and other vermin and filth soon rendered it unfit for a market-place. and until its removal the animals occupied the fort. The structure above and resting upon the arches was one story and finished off for public offices. The approaches to this floor at the north and south entrances were composed of hewn logs rising from the ground to the main doors on the second floor, thus forming a stairway. This strange old building was torn down in 1827, and the erection of the present court house commenced. The brick in the hotel building now kept by Palmer Gray are the same

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old brick that were in " the old stilted castle of justice and equity." The present court house was commenced in 1827 and completed in 1829. Before its completion, and when the frame-work of the cupola was up, a Jackson meeting was held in town -January 8, 1829. Old Amos Coombs was a red-hot Jackson man. He climbed up one of the corner posts of the cupola, stood upright upon the beam and shouted as only he could shout, " Hurrah for Gen. Jackson in the highest degree of honor and promotion." He then descended as quietly as he ascended. The first rooster placed on the court house was made by John Mills, under the direction of Jeremiah Rowland. It was the original intention to put au immense arm in lieu of the rooster, which, as an old resident remarks, " would have been a hideous object." The public square about this time caused our ancestors much trouble. It was "gullys and ravines," and "ravines and gullys." At the corner of Dawson Lyon's store a large ditchi had formed, and in times of a big rain the water would wash a man away if he gave it a chance. To remedy these eye-sores the citizens erected a market house east of the court house, graded off a plat and built a solid brick wall around the court house three feet high. This wall stood for many years. The first jail was built of hewn logs, one story high, and was torn down a few years ago, after having ren- dered valuable service as a jail, storeroom and stable. The old stray pen was north of the jail. Here all quarrels and difficulties were set. tled. It was enclosed with a high board fence, the boards set upright and close together. so that persons from the outside could not see the show in the pen. Cock-fights and dog fights often amused the intelli- gent citizen in this old pen, while it was a general play ground for the boys and girls and a courting spot for lovers. The second jail-which is now used as a residence-was built by Benjamin F. Huston, at a total cost of $3,456. It was commenced July 6, 1844, and completed Decem- ber 2. 1845.

PROMINENT EARLY RESIDENTS.

Rural as was Salem at the date we are now writing of the population was exceedingly intelligent. The lawyers, physicians, merchants and mechanics were generally well educated. Noah Wright, Levi Wright, Josiah Spurgeon and Christian Prow were from North Carolina, and con- trolled the elections for years.

Judge Parke, perhaps, was by common consent the first citizen of the place, not that he made any claims to superiority, for he was entirely unassuming, and plain in his habits and manners. But he had been one of Gen. Harrison's aids at Tippecanoe, was a member of the convention that framed Indiana's first Constitution, and Parke County was named in honor of him. He first lived in a house that stood where McMahan's corner now is, then he bought of Nathan Trueblood the house in which he lived and died, now owned by our enterprising business citizen H. H.

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Routh. As Judge Parke was the most distinguished citizen of those times Ro Jonathan Lyon was the richest. He was a man of decided char- acter, a liberal thinker, and decidedly honorable and exact in all his business transactions. To children he was genial and kind, and they loved him. Such expressions as "Good morning; is the country all safe!" "Go ahead, and you will yet be a man before your mother," pleased the young. They were gleams of sunshine in the hearts of the youth of Salem. Perhaps the most popular man was William H. Carter. He won the hearts of all who approached him. He was a Virginian by birth, and having met with business reverses removed to Salem. There was a charm in his manner that is rarely seen in any one else. Another note. worthy citizen was John H. Farnham. With the exception of Judge Parke's, his was the largest library in Salem. He graduated at Harvard University in the same class with Edward Everett. He was not a popu- lar man. In the first place he was a Yankee, and a Boston Yankee at that. He spent his winters at Indianapolis, and there turned an honest penny by writing the speeches of some of the bucolic members of the Legislature, and it is said on good authority that he wrote the welcome to LaFayette at Jeffersonville, which was delivered by His Excellency, Gov. James Brown Ray. Farnham married a Miss Leonard, of Harrison County. Another one of the Leonard girls was married to Dr. Charles Hay, and John Hay, their son, who wrote "Little Breeches," was born in the house where George Telle lives. Farnham was one of the many who died with the cholera in 1833. Elijah Newland was a North Car- olinian, and is still living, a resident of New Albany, Ind. Zeb Stur- gus, of the Interior Department, tells the following: "The Newlands lived next door to my mother, and I was a good deal in their shop, which was often so full of tobacco smoke that it was not easy to recognize any one. On one occasion Dr. Elijah Newland had bought some persim. mons, which he had spread on the grass in the back yard to get the ben- efit of the frost. Happening in there, and; supposing they had been thrown away, I fell to, and had pretty nearly made way with them when Dr. Elijah discovered me and my depredations. Quoth the Doctor: 'You little rascal, what are you doing, eating up all my persimmons?' I managed to gasp out (for I stood in mortal awe of him) that I thought he had thrown them away."

Isaac Blackford was among the early settlers. He lived and died a bachelor. He was Judge of the Supreme Court for thirty-five years. He owned the lot where the Catholic Church now stands. Other early residents are: John G. Henderson, Samuel Peck, John I. Morrison, Burr Bradley, Beebe Booth, E. W. Malott, John E. Clark, Townsend Cut- shaw, William Rodman, David G. Campbell, James G. May, John McMahan, John L. Menaugh, E. V. Hagan and John Curry, all of them well known for their earnest devotion to the moral and material interests

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of the town and county. The list could be augmented by many more sterling names.

THE SALEM LIBRARY ASSOCIATION.

Early in 1818 the Salem Library Society was started with Jonathan Lyon as Treasurer. and J. Rowland, Secretary. The Board of Commis- sioners tendered the association a room in the court house, and there the library was placed. It contained many rare and valuable works, and was in operation many years. It was the first library association started in Salem, and so far as we are informed, the last. This winter, too (1818), was a remarkable one on account of its mild weather. There was but one snow and very little frost, and in the month of January vegetation began to put forth. The prices of produce about this time were as fol- lows: Eggs, 3 cents per dozen; chickens, 75 cents per dozen; butter, 5 cents per pound; pork, $1.50 per hundred weight; beef, $1.00 to $1.50 per hundred weight; wood, 50 to 75 cents per cord; lumber, 50 cents; board- ing. $1.00 per week.

INCORPORATION.

The first steps taken toward incorporating the town were on the 18th of January. 1531. The Legislature of 1826 had passed an act author- izing the qualified voters of the town to meet at the court house on the first Monday in March, 1826, and proceed to elect by ballot, seven Trust. ees, to be known as a Board of Trustees, whose office should expire on the first Monday of March in the year 1827. It gave them full power and authority to sue and be sued, to ordain, establish and put in execn- tion such by-laws. ordinances and regulations as should be necessary to keep in repair and remove any obstruction in the streets, alleys and com- mons in the town: and generally, to do any and all things required to be done for the good order of the government and health of the town. The limits of the corporation by this act embraced the original plat of the town, together with any additions which had been made, or may hereafter be made. Why it was this act was neglected and its provisions not car- ried out until nearly five years after, we do not know. But it is quite certain that there is no record of any meeting on the subject, until Jan- uary 18, 1831. At this date a meeting of the qualified voters of the town was held at the court house, " to decide whether they will be incorpo- rated or not." From the returns it appears that thirty one votes were cast in favor and none against the incorporation. An election was held on the 24th of January, and Foster Nixon, Micajah Newby, John G. Hen- derson, William Baird, and Gustavus Clark were elected Trustees to serve until the first Monday in March, 1832. On the 7th of March, 1849, a lengthy petition was presented to the Board, praying for the incorporation of Salem. This petition sets forth that the territory pro- posed to be incorporated includes the original survey, together with the plats in addition thereto. of Zachariah Nixon, Micajah Newby, Charles

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Hay and Roger Martin, with all other lands and lots on the east side of said town, and west of the railroad from Mulberry Street to the depot. The Commissioners ordered the election, which was held on the 24th of March, 1849. It carried, and Salem again and for the second time became an incorporated town under this incorporation; the first Trustees were: George Attkisson, James J. Brice, James P. Banta, Elijah Newland and Harvey L. Aston. On the 13th of September, 1853, just three years after the second, the third petition was presented to the Board, praying for relief, etc. An election was held on the 30th of the same month, and they voted for the incorporation as usual, by a large majority. It Trustees were elected we fail to find any record of it. And this is all the history we are able to give of these three incorporations. The rec- ords in the Town Clerk's office begin with the present incorporation, and he and his predecessors in office know nothing of former books. While on the subject of incorporation, we may as well dispose of the present one, although it seems like jumping a great many years. On the 1st of June, 1868, a petition was presented for incorporation. The territory embraced in the petition, and which is the present corporate lines of Salem. is described as follows: "Commencing at the northeast corner of the northwest quarter of Section 17, Town 2 north, Range + east. and running thence south 84}", west 43 chains; thence south 64°, east 88 chains to a poplar tree; thence north 845°, east 63 chains and 50 links; thence north 63°, west 88 chains; thence south 84} ?. west 20 chains and 56 links to the place of beginning, containing 559 acres and twelve rods." The entire number of voters in the town at this date was 27S, and the entire resident population residing within the boundaries of said terri- tory, was 1,177. The election was held on the 15th of June, 1868, at which time there were cast ninety seven votes, eighty.five for and nine against the incorporation, three votes having been rejected for informalities. The election for officers was held on the 13th of July, 1868. The fol- Jowing persons were declared elected: First Ward, Edwin T. Telle, Sr .; Second Ward, George R. Harris; Third Ward, William W. Weir; Fourth Ward, John Manley; Fifth Ward, Henry Streaker. These were the Trustees for the wards indicated. For Treasurer, A. J. Parker; for Assessor, R. L. Mitchell; for Clerk, E. W. Menaugh; for Marshal, Charles G. Chapman. The corporation under this organization has been a prosperous one. and accomplished a great deal of good for the health and morality of the town, besides making many public improvements of which we shall speak hereafter.

THE CHOLERA.

We must now go back several years and talk of a mournful subject- of that terrible scourge, the cholera, that swept down upon Salem in 1833 and again in 1851. There can be nothing new said upon this sub-

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ject, as it has been written up time and time again in the columns of the Salem Democrat, but our history would be incomplete without it. About the 25th of June. 1933. Mrs. Goodwin died of cholera and the next day Miss Fenning and Daniel Neal. He was a singularly eccentric man, and in his life-time pledged his body for anatomical purposes to Dr. Robert C. Newland. Then a child of Matthew Allen died; next Mirs. Gustavus Clark, then a child of Maria Jones. On Friday, June 28, Matthew Coffin died. These died suddenly; the excitement became intense, and the people commenced to flee the town, and it was almost depopulated; but few were left to look after the sick and dead. The merchants closed their stores and left, turning the keys over to those persons who intended to remain, and telling them to take such things as might be needed. On Saturday, the 29th, there was only one death, that of Stephen Coffin. On Sunday, June 30, there were frequent heavy showers, and then it would clear off and the heat of the sun was intense. It was a gloomy time for the few left in town. On that day Joseph Green, Col. Harrison, Judge Barton, W. Parke, MIrs. Morgan, Mrs. John Allen and Samuel Hobbs were suddenly stricken and died. By this time the few who were left to attend the sick and dead had worked themselves into a system. The coffins were made at David Weir's cabinet shop, usually of rough poplar boards, and placed on the outside, where the man who drove the dead cart could get them. After the bodies were placed in them they were taken to the cemetery and buried by the sexton. One of the noble few who remained and waited on the sick was Robert S. Mills, now of Mason. Ill. He tells of a sad case-that of a young man who was the very picture of health and muscular vigor. His name was Perrine. Mills and Perrine were called to see a case of cholera on North Main Street. on the Ist of July; he was dead. They remained with him until 12 o'clock, locked the door and went to their respective lodging.places. Next morning Mills received a message that Perrine had the cholera. He made all haste to get there and found him lying on the floor, he hav. ing been dead three- quarters of an hour. Besides the one Mills and Per. rine locked in bis room on the Ist of July, George W. Drake, Jonathan Armufield and Mrs. Nancy Laforce yielded to the fell destroyer. July 2, young Perrine and a child of Mrs. Hartman. July 3, Wednesday, the disease appeared more violently again; Mrs. Hagan, James Henderson and Matthew Allen died. There were no new cases, and the afternoon was clear and pleasant. People believed the crisis past. But the Wednesday night and Thursday, July 4, presented a scene that baffles description. The grim monster death had with his scythe cut down eleven during the night of the 3d and the morning of the 4th of July, 1833. On that day and morning the dead were: Samuel King, Francis Hagan, Mrs. Green, Reuben Morgan, Willie Hite, Milton McCoy, Samuel Henderson, John Forsey, Mr. McCowen, Henry Hoke and William Bare. After this

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History of Lawrence, Orange, and Washington counties, Indiana : from the earliest time to the present, together with interesting biographical sketches, reminiscences, notes, etc, Part 90

Author: Goodspeed Brothers Publication date: 199-?] Publisher: [Salem, Mass. : Higginson Book Co.] Number of Pages: 954

Author: Goodspeed Brothers
Publication date: 199-?]
Publisher: [Salem, Mass. : Higginson Book Co.]
Number of Pages: 954