USA > Indiana > Madison County > History of Madison County Indiana (Volume 1) > Part 15
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in central Indiana. After the death of Mr. Makepeace in 1875 the building was torn down and a business block was erected upon the site.
The Doxey House, which is still doing business at the northeast corner of Ninth and Main streets, was erected by Col. Thomas N. Stilwell and was opened to the public as the "Stilwell House" in 1871 by John Elliott, of Richmond, Indiana. The property was purchased by N. C. Mccullough in April, 1875, from the administrator of the Stilwell estate and a year later Mr. Mccullough sold it to Maj. Charles T. Doxey, whose name it still bears.
In 1878 the Windsor Hotel was built by Cal. Lee at the northwest corner of Seventh and Meridian, and in 1880 the Griffith House was erected by George R. Griffith at the southeast corner of Tenth and Meridian. Both these hotels have gone out of business. A business block occupies the site of the Windsor and the Anderson Trust Company has its place on the corner where the Griffith once dispensed good cheer.
After the discovery of natural gas J. W. Lovett and Dr. H. E. Jones built the Hotel Anderson on North Meridian street between Sixth and Seventh. It is now owned and occupied by the Loyal Order of Moose for the supreme offices and as a club house.
The first newspaper published in the city was the Federal Union, which was likewise the first paper publisher in Madison county. It was started by T. J. Langdon in 1834, but was discontinued after a few months. A more complete account of the newspapers and periodicals of the present day will be found in the chapter on Educational Develop- ment.
The first drug store was started by Dr. J. W. Westerfield in 1843, on the south side of the public square, where he continued in business until 1846, when he sold out to Atticus Siddall. The store was destroyed by the big fire of 1851, which consumed the entire south side of the square. About the beginning of the Civil war Dr. Westerfield again became the proprietor of the store, and during the war the firm was Westerfield & Menefee. Subsequently the place of business-on the east side of the square-became widely known as the Henderson drug store. This concern has been mentioned because it was one of the famous places of rendezvous of the Madison county politicians. Many times have the "pins been set up" at Henderson's drug store for the nomination of some individual for an office, or for the defeat of another who was not looked upon with favor. The old building is still standing and were the walls endowed with the power of speech they could doubt- less tell of many a political intrigue of bygone days.
Shortly after Anderson started on its natural gas boom some of the business men began to advocate some sort of an organization for the purpose of advertising the advantages of Anderson as a location for new factories and in other ways advancing the material interests of the city. The result of this agitation was that on the evening of May 24, 1887, a meeting was held at the court house for the purpose of organizing a board of trade. George Nichol presided and E. E. Hendee was chosen secretary. A committee was appointed to draft a constitution, by-laws and articles of association, which it seems had been prepared in advance,
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as they were adopted the same evening. At a second meeting, held at Chipman & Chipman's law office on the evening of May 31, 1887, George Nichol was elected president and M. A. Chipman, secretary.
At this meeting a communication in the nature of a proposal from a prominent glass manufacturer was read and discussed, but no definite action was taken to secure the location of the plant. Later in the year the board became more active and a number of new industries were established in Anderson under its influence.
An interesting relic of Anderson's early days is now owned by John L. Forkner. For want of a better name it might be called the first city directory. It was compiled by Eli P. Brown in 1876 and is written out with a pen in an old account book, the names being arranged in alphabetical order by wards. On the front page is the inscription : "Centennial Census, July, 1876, by Eli P. Brown." Opposite the name of each person of foreign birth is written in the margin his nationality, and the recapitulation shows 652 Irish, 266 Germans, 21 English, 12 French, 3,116 native born, and 51 colored-a total of 4,118. Of this population 1,195 were children between the ages of six and twenty-one years, and 527 were children under the age of six years.
Following is a list of the mayors of Anderson from the time'it was incorporated as a city to the present, with the year in which each assumed the duties of the office: Robert N. Williams, 1865; John C. Jones, 1866; Wesley Dunham, 1868; Simeon C. Martindale, 1870; William Roach, 1872; William L. Brown, 1874; Byron H. Dyson, 1876; James Hazlett, 1878; Wesley Dunham, 1882; John F. McClure, 1886; John H. Terhune, 1890; Morey H. Dunlap, 1894; John L. Forkner, 1902; John H. Terhune, 1905; Henry P. Hardie (acting), 1909; Frank P. Foster, 1909.
Robert N. Williams, the first mayor, was elected soon after the city was incorporated in the summer of 1865 and served until the next general election in the spring of 1866. His administration was uneventful as there but little to be done except to preside over the deliberations of the city council and occasionally impose a fine upon some offender who might be brought before him as judge of the city court. He was the first postmaster of Anderson, served as county clerk, auditor and re- corder, and was at one time a large holder of Anderson real estate. He was also one of the leading members of the Madison county bar for many years. Mr. Williams was a Republican in politics, but by his popularity as a citizen was chosen the first mayor by common consent, without opposition. The first political contest for the mayoralty was when the next general election took place in 1866, at which John C. Jones defeated Mayor Williams for reelection.
John C. Jones, the second mayor, was a Virginian by birth, but came to Madison county a few years before the beginning of the Civil war and was one of the pioneers of Boone township. His first appearance in politics was as deputy sheriff under his brother-in-law, Benjamin Sebrell, who was elected in 1860. While in this office he made many acquaintances and was elected mayor in 1866. His administration of two years, like that of his predecessor, was uneventful. Mayor Jones
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was good-natured and good-hearted, and frequently sent some poor man to his home after a lecture instead of imposing a fine.
Wesley Dunham was elected in 1868 and served until 1870. During his administration the first street in the city to be improved on an established grade was made passable. This was Water street (now Central avenue). He believed in municipal progress in the way of public works, and though this led to some criticism he was again elected mayor in 1882 and reelected in 1884. After retiring from the mayor's office he served several years as justice of the peace.
Simeon C. Martindale, who served as mayor from 1870 to 1872, was the first Republican to be elected to that office, as such, defeating Wesley Dunham and Andrew Jackson. He was born in Henry county, was ad- mitted to the bar in 1860 and was for many years a prominent figure as a member of the bar of Madison county.
William Roach succeeded Mayor Martindale in 1872 and served one term. He had previously served as deputy sheriff and sheriff of the county and had a wide circle of acquaintances. He was one of the pio- neer merchants of Huntsville, in Fall Creek township, and was recog- nized as a sterling citizen. In 1874, when he was a candidate for reëlec- tion, the temperance crusade, which swept over the country, struck Anderson. Women paraded the streets and erected booths in front of every saloon, where they held prayer meetings from the opening to the closing hours, keeping tab on all who entered the places. Although Mayor Roach was a temperance man, he yielded to the importunities of the business men and issued a proclamation prohibiting public demon- strations upon the streets or the holding of prayer meetings in front of the saloons. Then the guns of the crusaders were turned upon the mayor with such effect that he was defeated for reelection.
William L. Brown, the temperance candidate, was elected in 1874 and served for two years. In 1875 he took all the members of the city council and a number of the leading citiens to Union City, Indiana, to inspect the water works that had recently been established in that city, with a view of awakening sufficient interest to induce Anderson to follow the example. Nothing came of the effort, however, and it was not until eleven years later that the Anderson water works were con- structed. Mr. Brown was public-spirited and was instrumental in securing the building of the road from the Pan Handle tracks to the cemetery, as well as other public improvements. He subsequently re- moved to Sterling, Kansas, where he died.
Byron H. Dyson succeeded Mayor Brown in 1876, being the young- est man ever elected to the office in Anderson. At the time of his elec- tion he was just from college and was a law student in the office of Judge. W. R. Pierse. As mayor he presided with dignity and tact and was in all respects a good chief executive. After serving two years as mayor he entered the field of journalism, was connected with the local press and served as correspondent for some of the metropolitan papers. In the early '90s he collaborated with John L. Forkner in the compila- tion of a work entitled "Historical Sketches and Reminiscences of Madi- son County."
James Hazlett was mayor from 1878 to 1882, serving two terms.
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He has been credited with being one of the smoothest politicians Madi- son county ever produced. William C. Fleming, editor of the Demo- cratic organ of the county and a warm personal friend of Mr. Hazlett, was wont to allude to him as the "smoothing iron" of the Republican party. Mr. Hazlett also held the offices of county clerk, county treas- urer and county commisioner at different times. At one time he was a large property holder and was once a partner with William Crim in the grain business. Hazlett's addition, in the northwestern part of the city, is upon land once owned by him. About 1888 he removed to River- side, California, where he died some years later.
John F. McClure was elected mayor in 1886 and at the close of his first term in 1888 was reelected. It was during his two administrations that Anderson made her phenomenal growth following the discovery of natural gas. Mayor McClure was one of the active spirits in organ- izing the board of trade and was one of the first men to advocate the paving of the streets with brick. After retiring from the mayor's office he was a member of the city council; was twice elected judge of the Madison Circuit Court, and is now serving as a member of the Indiana Railroad Commission.
John H. Terhune, who was elected mayor in 1890, 1892 and in 1905 for a four-year term, was one of Anderson's largest manufacturers. He was a man of fine executive ability, a shrewd business man and just as shrewd in politics as he was in business matters. He was the owner of several business blocks and was always ready to contribute of his time and means for the promotion of Anderson's interests. As a member of the Indiana legislature he acquitted himself with credit, and his admin- istration as mayor were marked by that progressive spirit which was so characteristic of the man. His death occurred in 1909, before he had completed his last term.
Morey M. Dunlap, who was elected mayor in 1894, was the only man who has ever served eight successive years as mayor of Anderson. Before locating in Anderson he had served for one term as mayor of Blooming- ton, Indiana. He was always alert to every movement for the benefit of the city, was public spirited and companionable and his administra- tions have passed into history as clean and business like in all respects.
John L. Forkner was elected mayor in 1902 and at the close of his first term was reelected. His administrations are notable for the re- building of the electric lighting plant, the improvements of the water works by the installation of the filtration system, etc. Mayor Forkner was fortunate in having a city council composed of men who were always ready to lay aside political differences when the welfare of the city was concerned.
Henry P. Hardie was appointed city controller by Mayor Terhune and upon the death of the mayor early in 1909 Mr. Hardie became mayor by virtue of his office. He served out the unexpired term in a manner that was entirely acceptable to the people, but at the end of the term did not ask to be elected to the office as many expected and hoped. Mr. Hardie was at one time one of the police commissioners and is now postmaster.
Frank P. Foster, the present incumbent, is a graduate of the In- Vol. 1-8
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diana State University and one of the prominent members of the bar of Madison county, having been engaged in the practice of law for many years. As Madison county's representative in the lower branch of the state legislature his counsel was sought on all important meas- ures that came before that body and he has been a factor in the public and political life of Anderson ever since becoming a resident of the city. He was elected mayor in 1909 for a term of four years, which expires in January, 1914.
According to the United States census for 1910, Anderson is the seventh city in Indiana in population, being exceeded in that respect only by Indianapolis, Evansville, Fort Wayne, Terre Haute, South Bend and Muncie, in the order named. In 1910 the population of Anderson was 22,476, an increase of nearly 12 per cent. during the preceding decade. The city has 6 banking institutions, 29 religious organiza- tions, lodges of all the leading fraternal orders, 10 public school build- ings, the high school building being one of the finest in the country, several good hotels, a large number of well stocked mercantile estab- lishments, several fine office buildings, well paved streets and concrete sidewalks, neat residences, a public park, which was dedicated on July 4, 1913, a fine public library building, and a number of large manu- facturing concerns described in another chapter. The property of the city was assessed for tax purposes in 1913 at $10,226,745.
One thing that impresses the visitor to Anderson is the large num- ber of shade trees that line the streets. From the tower of the court- house the city looks like one vast grove, with here and there a house visible among the trees. Cleveland, Ohio, once rejoiced in the name of the "Forest City," but never in her history was the streets of that city as well shaded as those of the residence sections of Anderson at the pres- ent time. Among the residents there is a spirit of friendly rivalry as to who can keep their lawns and shade trees in the best condition, giv- ing the city an air of comfort and prosperity.
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CHAPTER VIII CITIES AND TOWNS
EXTINCT TOWNS AND VILLAGES-INCORPORATED TOWNS-ELWOOD- ALEXANDRIA - PENDLETON - SUMMITVILLE - FRANKTON - LAPEL -CHESTERFIELD - MARKLEVILLE - INGALLS - ORESTES - SMALLER VILLAGES - ALLIANCE - EMPORIA - OVID - LEISURE - HUNTSVILLE -HALFORD-PERKINSVILLE-FLORIDA-LINWOOD-FISHERSBURG-LIST OF POSTOFFICES IN THE COUNTY-RURAL ROUTES.
Since the formation of Madison county as a separate political divi- sion of the state in 1823, a number of towns or villages have been estab- lished or projected within her borders. Some of these have survived and have become industrial centers of considerable importance; others move along in "the even tenor of their way" as neighborhood trading points or post-villages, and still others have succumbed to the inevitable and are no longer in existence. In the chapters on township history will be found mention of most of these extinct towns, as well as a few of the minor villages still on the map, but for the convenience of the reader a list of these places is here given, to wit :
Victoria, Rockport and Omaha, in Anderson township; Independ- ence, Forrestville and Clarktown, in Boone; Menden, in Fall Creek; Alfont, in Green; Nancytown, an Indian village, in Jackson; Keller's Station, in Lafayette; Gilman and Osceola, in Monroe; Dundee, Monti- cello and New Madison, in Pipe Creek; Moonville, Pittsborough, Mount Pleasant and Prosperity, in Richland; Graber's Station and Johnson's Crossing, in Stony Creek; Slyfork or Branson, in Union.
Anderson, the county seat and largest city, is treated in the preced- ing chapter. Next to Anderson, Elwood and Alexandria, in the order named are the largest and most important centers of population. Other incorporated towns are Chesterfield, Frankton, Ingalls, Lapel, Markle- ville, Orestes, Pendleton and Summitville.
ELWOOD
Elwood had its beginning in 1852, when William Barton opened a general store there. On March 1, 1853, the town was regularly laid out by James Anderson, J. B. Frazer and Mark Simmons and named Quincy by the founders. Soon after that a postoffice was established with William Barton as postmaster. As there was already one post- office in the state (in Owen county) called Quincy, the one at Elwood
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was named Duck Creek. The confusion arising from having one name for the town and another for the postoffice often was the cause of both ludicrous and serious embarrassments, but the condition continued for more than fifteen years, when Captain F. M. Hunter, who was then postmaster, enlisted the cooperation of some of the citizens in a move- ment to change the name of both town and postoffice to Elwood, the new name becoming effective on July 21, 1869.
In December, 1872, Elwood was incorporated as a town with the following officers : G. W. Rupp, John Ross and Huston Clendenen,
CITY BUILDING, ELWOOD
trustees; J. H. Hunter, clerk; George Ross, treasurer; J. M. Parsons, marshal. The population was then between three hundred and four hundred and the principal articles of export were lumber and cooper- age materials. The town boasted a brick school house, a fine flour mill, a hotel, several well appointed stores and a bank. The last named insti- tution had been established by William Barton in 1870, about two years before the incorporation.
Although Elwood continued to grow steadily, its development was comparatively slow until after the discovery of natural gas in the im- mediate vicinity in 1887. Then it experienced a boom. Within two years the population and business interests had increased to such an extent that some of the more enterprising and progressive citizens began
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to advocate the establishment of a city government. As a result of the agitation an election was called for April 27, 1891, to give the voters an opportunity to express themselves for or against the incorporation of Elwood as a city. The whole number of votes cast at the election was 523, of which 377 were in favor of the proposition and 146 against it, a majority of 231 in favor of a city government. As soon as the customary preliminaries were complied with, the city was divided into four wards and an election for city officers was ordered for the 9th of June.
To William A. Dehority belongs the distinction of having been El- wood's first mayor. He was born in Elwood (or Quincy, as it was then called), on October 24, 1868, and was therefore in his twenty-third year when called by his fellow townsmen to be the city's first chief executive. At the time of his election he was the youngest mayor in the state of Indiana, but his energy, fine educational qualifications and inherent executive ability soon made it manifest that no mistake had been com- mitted by the people when they intrusted him with the important duty of inaugurating the new municipal regime. Mr. Dehority was also Indiana's first chief state accountant, appointed by Governor Marshall. The other officers elected at the same time as Mayor Dehority were O. A. Armfield, clerk; T. L. Dehority, treasurer; F. M. Hunter, Jr., marshal; G. W. Boyer and Jacob Kraus, councilmen for the first ward; Martin E. Goode and Hugh Lyst, for the second; Daniel Heck and S. H. Cochran, for the third; and John Frith and W. B. Willets, for the fourth.
One of the first acts of the new city administration was the passage of an ordinance granting a franchise to a company to put in a system of water works. This ordinance was approved by the mayor on July 27, 1891, work was commenced on the plant immediately afterward, and water was supplied to a part of the city by the close of the year. The source of supply is fourteen, eight-inch deep wells. A reservoir with a capacity of one million and six hundred thousand gallons forms part of the system, the water being forced through the mains for ordinary pur- poses at a pressure of forty pounds to the square inch, which may be increased to one hundred pounds in case of fire. The quality of the water is above the average for cities of Elwood's size, and the quantity has always been sufficient to supply the demands.
About the time the franchise was granted to the water company an electric lighting company was also granted a charter. Some years later the equipment of this company, with patronage and good will, was trans- ferred to the Indiana Service Company, which controls electric light and power plants in a number of cities through central Indiana.
When natural gas was first struck near Elwood, the people were so elated over the prospect of securing cheap light and fuel that a company was formed and mains laid through the streets and alleys at pleasure, without the formality of asking for a franchise. After the city govern- ment had been in operation for some time, this company sought and obtained a franchise giving it the right to extend its mains, etc., and also regulating the rates to be charged for gas.
The first electric cars appeared upon the streets of Elwood in the
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summer of 1893. The privilege of laying tracks upon certain streets had been granted by the city authorities some time before, but the work was delayed by the opposition of both the Lake Erie & Western and the Pennsylvania Railroad Companies, which tried to prevent the street railway lines from crossing their tracks. The street railway system is now owned by the Indiana Union Traction Company.
On April 1, 1892, the first Elwood fire department was organized. It consisted of two regular men, eight volunteers, one wagon and two horses. In 1895 six paid men were added to the department, which was still further strengthened by the addition of two more in 1899, after which time volunteers ceased to form part of the department. The city now has two hose wagons and a hook and ladder truck, housed in good buildings and provided with everything that contributes to efficiency. The working force consists of a chief, an assistant chief and eight men who give their entire time to the city and are always ready to answer calls.
Soon after the inauguration of the city government the marshal gave way to an organized police department, which in 1913 consisted of a chief, a sergeant and seven patrolmen.
In 1899 a city hall was erected at a cost of $35,000. In the base- ment are located the heating plant and cells for the city's prisoners. The main floor is occupied by the municipal offices and the mayor's court, and in the south wing quarters are provided for the hook and ladder truck and one of the hose wagons. The inscription on the cor- ner-stone shows that at the time the building was erected F. M. Harbit was the mayor; J. J. Davis, city clerk; W. A. Hupp, city treasurer; John Finan, city engineer; Phil Hamm, J. L. Ringo, Lute Douge and William Davis, councilmen; T. F. Harnack and E. Rummel, building committee, and that J. E. Alexander & Son were the architects who designed the building.
'The city government in 1913 was composed of Austin Brumbaugh, mayor; John Nearom, city clerk; V. M. Maines, city treasurer; A. R. Foland, chief of police; Frank Toler, sergeant; Herman Barber, chief of the fire department; J. H. Snyder, assistant chief, and the council was composed of five members instead of eight as when the city was first incorporated. At one time Elwood was divided into five wards, but in recent years the number has been reduced to three, each of which elects a councilman and there are two councilmen at large. . The pres- ent council is made up of C. C. Haworth and Edmon H. Peters, coun- cilmen at large; Albert L. Klapp, representing the first ward; W. E. Clymer, the second, and E. B. Weismantel, the third. These officers . retire in January, 1914, except the members of the fire and police de- partments.
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