History of Madison County, Indiana ; a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests, Volume I, Part 31

Author: Forkner, John La Rue, 1844-1926
Publication date: 1970
Publisher: Evansville Ind. : Unigraphic, Inc.
Number of Pages: 918

USA > Indiana > Madison County > History of Madison County, Indiana ; a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests, Volume I > Part 31

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).

In Alexandria. First Baptist, West Church and Canal; Christian Seience Society, Odd Fellows' hall : St. Paul's Episcopal, Monroe and Harrison ; Evangelical Lutheran, Washington and Black ; First Christian, Berry and West; First Methodist Episcopal, Canal and Broadway; German Intheran, Central avenue and Broadway ; Joyce M. E. Chapel, Park avenue and Fifth street; Colored Methodist Episcopal. Berry and Black : Mission church, Ilarrison and Polk; New Light, Scott addition ; I'nited Brethren, Innisdale addition ; St. Mary's Roman Catholic, Madi- son and Belmont ; First Presbyterian, Harrison and Broadway.

CHAPTER XV CHARITIES AND CEMETERIES

EARLY METHODS OF CARING FOR THE POOR-MADISON COUNTY'S FIRST POORHOUSE-LATER POORHOUSES-THE COUNTY INFIRMARY-OR- PHANS' HOME-ASSOCIATED CHARITIES-ST. JOHN'S HOSPITAL- SKETCH OF ITS FOUNDER-COUNTRY GRAVEYARDS BY TOWNSHIPS- GROVELAND CEMETERY AT PENDLETON-ODD FELLOWS' CEMETERY AT ALEXANDRIA-PARK VIEW-ELWOOD CEMETERY-GRAVE ROB- BERY-ANDERSON CEMETERIES-MAPLEWOOD ASSOCIATION.

In the early years of Indiana's history the unfortunate poor were taken care of by the townships, each township having one or more officers known as overseers of the poor. It was customary for these overseers to "farm out" the panpers under their charge. The results obtained by this method were not always humane, as the one who bought the services of a pauper was more frequently interested in "getting his money's worth" than in the welfare of his bond servant. To the credit of Madison county, it can be said that the practice never prevailed here to any great extent, though a few such cases are on record. The minutes of the county board for the Jannary term in 1834 contain the following entry :

"Now comes John Berry, one of the overseers of the poor of Ander- son township, and reports that, after due notice, he did, on the 11th day of December, 1833, farm out to Nathaniel Chapman, Lydia Passons, a pauper, for the term of one year for $11.75, he being the lowest bidder."

About this time the first steps were taken to build a poorhouse for the county. At the May term in 1834 the commissioners received the report of Joseph Shannon, county agent, which was as follows: "To the honorable Board of Commissioners of Madison county, building of a house advertised on the 26th of February and sold on the 7th day of April, 1834, to the lowest bidder, to wit: Jacob Shaul, for $20.00, he giving bond and approved security to have the poorhouse finished on or before the 5th day of May, on Section 15, northeast quarter, town 19, N. R. 7 E. JOSEPH SHANNON, Agent."

The report was approved by the board and the county auditor was ordered to draw a warrant for $20 in favor of Jacob Shaul for build- ing a poorhouse. This poorhouse was located on the road later known as the Fishersburg pike, about two miles of the public square in Anderson. On December 7, 1847, William Sparks, James Bell and Bazaliel Thomas, county commissioner, sold to John Davis the east half of se northeast

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quarter of seetion 15, township 19, range 7, for $400, the order stating that the tract thus transferred was the poor farm.

Four years before that sale was made, the commissioners had pur- chased two acres of ground in what afterward became the South Park addition to the city of Anderson, the tract extending from Main to Pearl streets, between Nineteenth and Twenty-third. John Renshaw, county agent, awarded to John Jordan a contract for the erection of a "county poor house, 20 by 30 feet square, two stories high, with a stone chimney,' for $100. This was an improvement over the $20 building erected in 1834, and with several additions and other improvements served the county as a home for the poor for over a quarter of a century.

At the March term of the commissioners' court in 1853, Neal Hardy, William Sparks and Evan Ellis were appointed a special committee to examine farms for sale, report upon the prices for which they could be purchased, the character of the buildings thereon, and whether living water was plentiful upon such farms, with a view to establishing the county poor farm in a new location. If this committee ever carried out the investigations for which it was appointed, the records do not show the fact, but it is probable that nothing was done, as the poorhouse in the south part of Anderson continued in use until 1868. In that year it was sold and the commissioners purchased a farm in Richland town- ship of John Nelson and the paupers were removed there. In purchas- ing this farm an agreement was made with Mr. Nelson to act as super- intendent of the farm and keeper of the poor and he continued to act in that capacity until the board decided to purchase another farm, in a more desirable location, and erect a permanent poorhouse. This farm was afterward conveyed back to Mr. Nelson.

At a special session of the commissioners, held on July 5, 1877, the board purchased of Berryman Shafer 212 acres of land in Union town- ship, about four miles east of Anderson, and there permanently estab- lished the county infirmary. At the time of purchase there was a large brick residence on the farm and this was converted into a residence for the superintendent. Plans and specifications were advertised for, and on July 18, 1877, those submitted by Edwin May, an Indianapolis architect, were accepted. On September 3, 1877, the contract for the erection of a building was awarded to William B. Wright, of Anderson, for $7,200. It was completed in January, 1878, when the panpers were removed to the new institution, which was placed under the charge of A. J. Ross as superintendent, his wife at the same time being appointed matron. Re- cent improvements have been made, which gives Madison county one of the best infirmaries in the State of Indiana.

Some feeble attempts were made to care for the orphans and friend- less children of the county prior to 1885, but it was not until March 6, 1885, that any official aetion was taken by the board of county com- missioners. The records for that date contain the following entry :

"It is ordered by the board that a home for the friendless and orphan children of Madison county, Indiana, be purchased and established at such place in said county as said board of commissioners may designate."

On December 4, 1885, it was "ordered by the board that in all appli- cations for admission to the orphans' home, the application must be

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accompanied by the recommendation of the township trustee where the child resides that such child is a proper subject for relief in the county asylum."

This was followed on December 8, 1885, by the appointment of a visiting committee, consisting of B. W. Scott, Mrs. Edward Roberts and Mrs. Leah M. Craven, though up to this time no home had been estab- lished. On March 17, 1886, Decatur Vandeventer and wife transferred to the county of Madison ten acres in the west half of the northwest quarter, section 19, township 19, range 8, for a consideration of $1,000, as a site for an orphans' home. This tract is located in the southeast part of the city of Anderson, fronting east on Columbus avenue and north on Twenty-fifth street. In September after the purchase of the property Thomas J. Lyst was paid $63 for building a cistern, the first improvement made by the county. The old residence was used as the "home," Mrs. Henry C. Brown, Mrs. Allen Richwine and H. J. Blacklidge were appointed a visiting committee, and Mrs. Celia Hockett was installed as matron. She resigned on December 18, 1886, and Mrs. Mary C. Robertson was appointed in her place. Mrs. Robertson remained as matron for several years.

At first, the plan for caring for the children was to pay the matron so much daily for each inmate. The contract made with Mrs. Robert- son, when she first entered upon her duties, shows that she was to receive twenty-five cents per day for each child under her charge, for which she was to supply them with wholesome food and the necessary clothing, and to send them to the most convenient public school, the commissioners to furnish the books and other necessary school supplies, and to pay the matron's salary quarterly. This system was continued until in 1901. Late in the year 1900 a movement was started to organize a Childrens' Home Association, the principal object of which should be the finding of permanent homes with good families for orphans, friendless or abandoned children. The organization was completed in January, 1901, when the county commissioners turned over the buildings and grounds of the orphans' home to the association, which assumed control of the institu- tion on February 1, 1901, and is still in charge.

The present officers of the association are : Mrs. Wallace B. Campbell, president; Mrs. Isaac E. May, vice-president; Mrs. H. D. Webb, secre- tary ; Wallace B. Campbell, treasurer. W. A. Harris is the superintend- ent of the home and Mrs. W. A. Harris is matron. Since the association took charge of the home the commissioners have annually made an appropriation for its support, Several essential improvements have been made in the property and the institution has been placed upon a more substantial foundation than under the old regime. From forty to sixty children have annually been placed in good homes, where they will be cared for and edneated. None of the officers or members of the Chil- drens' Home Association receives a salary, their labors being given for the good of humanity, and through their systematic and unselfish work the orphans' home of Madison county has been improved in character until it will compare favorably with such institutions elsewhere.

In the early part of 1903 there were a number of unemployed people in Anderson, many of whom were both able and willing to work, but were

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unable to find any remunerative employment. These conditions led to the organization of the Associated Charities, which began its labors on May 7, 1903, with the following officers: W. H. Stanton, president; Mrs. George J. Manning, vice-president ; Mrs. C. W. Hooven, secretary ; W. S. Poling, treasurer; Miss Anna Doan, general secretary. The plan and purpose of the organization is similar to those of organized charity work everywhere-to assist the worthy poor by giving them opportunities to find employment where it is possible to do so, rather than by dispensing charity with a lavish and indiscriminate hand.

Headquarters are maintained at 425 Union building, where the gen- eral secretary is in attendance every afternoon, except Sunday. Most of the work devolves upon the general seeretary and in the ten years that have passed sinee the Associated Charities was first organized, this office has been held by four persons, viz : Miss Anna Doan, Miss Maud Prier, Miss Gertrude MeCleery and Miss Leafy M. Wharton. The last named has held the position sinee June, 1912. In September, 1913, the officers were : Mrs. C. W. Ilooven, president ; A. W. Brady, vice-president ; Mrs. G. A. Lambert, secretary ; E. E. Luee, treasurer ; Miss Leafy M. Whar- ton, general seeretary ; Earle Young, chairman of the finance committee.

Anderson has one charitable institution of which her eitizens may well be proud, and that is St. John's Hospital, situated between Brown and Jackson streets, the grounds extending from Nineteenth to Twenty- second street. This hospital was made possibile by the generosity of "Unele" John Hiekey, who on March 31, 1894, deeded the old Hiekey homestead, oeeupying the above mentioned traet of ground, to "the trustees of the corporation of St. Mary's Academy, for the use and benefit of the Sisters of the Holy Cross." The Ted of conveyance also contains the provision that if it should ever become necessary, for any reason, to sell the property the trustees shall invest the proceeds of sueh sale in other property, within or adjacent to the eity of Anderson. Immediately after the eonveyanee was made and the trustees eame into possession of the property a hospital was opened in the old frame resi- denee. The next year a two-story briek building, 65 by 95 feet, was erected and equipped with every modern hospital applianee for the treat- ment of diseases or the performance of surgical operations. This build- ing was so designed that it could be added to, should the oeeasion ever require, and in 1900 it was improved and extended, making the hospital one of the best in the state of Indiana. Although the institution is the property of and under control of the Catholic Sisters of the Holy Cross, many publie spirited citizens of Anderson contributed to the building fund, confident in the belief that the hospital would be impartially managed. And this has been the case. Its doors and bene- fits are open to the afflicted, without regard to raee, social condition or religious affiliation.

John Hickey, the founder of this institution, was a native of County Wicklow, Ireland. HIe eame to Anderson in 1853 and there aeeumu- lated enough of this world's goods to give him a competence. In giv- ing the old homestead for a hospital site he might have perpetuated his name by a stipulation that the institution should bear the name of "Iliekey Memorial Hospital," or some similar appellation. But this

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he did not do. He gave the ground to an organization of the church in which he had been reared, confident that the benefits of the hospital would be administered in that broad catholic spirit which has always been a distinguishing trait of hospitals of this character. "Uncle John" Hickey, as he was affectionately called by his many friends, died a few years ago in Anderson. Ifis familiar face is missed upon the streets of the city where he so long made his home, but the hospital he established is an enduring monument to his unselfishness and char- itable disposition.

In the settlement of a new country, one institution that must be established, yet one that the settlers are loath to see make its appear- ance among them, is a burial place for the dead. Scattered over the county of Madison are a number of country graveyards, most of which have no special history. When the first death in a community would

ST. JOHN'S HOSPITAL

occur some one would donate a piece of ground for a burial place and this would be the beginning of a cemetery. Frequently no deed of such a traet was made to trustees and entered upon the records. As the old settlers died or moved away these graveyards often fell into disuse, were neglected and in many instances only a trace of them remains. As far as possible a list of these country graveyards is given by town- ships, and where any one of them has a recorded history it is noted.

In Adams township there is a small burial ground on section 10, near the northeast corner of the township. The Gilmore cemetery, on section 17, was laid out in 1833, on ground donated for the purpose by Hugh Gilmore. His wife, Lucretia, died in February, 1833, and her remains were the first to be interred upon the tract set apart by her husband as consecrated ground for a neighborhood cemetery. On sec- tion 18 there are two cemeteries. One near the Lutheran church, near Ovid, and another a short distance further southwest, on the John S.

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Davis farm. On section 20, on the south bank of Lick creek and about half a mile west of the Big Four Railroad, is another graveyard, and the Collier cemetery is situated on section 35, on land donated by J. F. Collier in 1836 as a burial place in connection with the Baptist church. Mr. Collier's son Amos, who died on January 3, 1836, was the first one to be buried in this cemetery.

In Boone township the plat books show a cemetery on the old Dickey farm, near the center of section 10, and another on section 21, near the site of the old village of Forrestville, which was laid out in 1850. It is probable that this graveyard was established about the same time.

In the southern part of Duck Creek township, on the line between sections 2 and 35, is a cemetery that was evidently established at an early date, as is shown by the fact that when a public highway was established on the section line a detour was made to the southward around the graveyard to avoid disturbing the resting place of some of the old pioneers of the township.

There are a number of burial places in Fall Creek township, where the first settlements in the county were made. As recorded in chapter V, the first deaths in this township were those of a Mr. Martin and his wife, who were buried in one grave, near a large oak tree, in the western part of the present town of Pendleton, though no regular cemetery was ever established at that place. A short distance east of the village of Huntsville, near the center of section 15, is an old bury- ing ground, on what is known as the Aiman farm. Just a mile west of it, on section 16, is the old Falls cemetery, which is now controlled by the Grovelawn Cemetery Company.

Samuel Irish donated a tract of ground here for burial purposes and the Falls Cemetery Association was organized on December 16, 1864, with Dr. M. G. Walker as president; T. G. Mitchell, secretary ; J. O. Hardy, treasurer; W. A. Baker and David Bowsman, directors. The cemetery established by this association is immediately south of the old Falls graveyard on the tract donated by Mr. Irish, on the northeast corner of the southwest quarter of section 16.

The Grovelawn Cemetery Company was incorporated on July 25, 1902, with a capital stock of $22,500. Of this stock $7,500 is known as common stock and the remainder is preferred stock. Ample provisions are made in the articles of incorporation for the redemption and can- cellation of both the common and preferred stock of the company. Soon after being incorporated the company purchased fifty-seven acres of land immediately across the Anderson pike from the old Falls ceme- tery. In an announcement by the company it is stated that "A satis- factory arrangement has been made with owners of lots in the old Falls cemetery, in which there are no longer any lots for sale, whereby these old burying grounds, which are adjacent to the new grounds and only separated from them by a highway, become a part of the grounds of the new association and governed by its rules. These old cemetery grounds compose about eight acres of land, and the grounds purchased by the new association fifty-seven acres, thus making sixty-five acres in all under the ownership and care of Grovelawn Cemetery Company. The needs of the community for burial purposes, it will therefore be seen, have been amply provided for for more than one hundred years."

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R. Ulrich, a landscape architect of national reputation, was engaged to prepare plans for the walks and drives through the grounds and make such suggestion as his knowledge and experience might dictate for otherwise beautifying the grounds.

One thing has been done by the Grovelawn Cemetery Company that deserves especial commendation. Thomas M. Pendleton, the founder of the town that bears his name, was buried upon the farm he owned at the time of his death. The new company removed his remains from the neglected grave and reinterred them in a prominent place in the new cemetery, marked by a "beautiful monument purchased by voluntary contributions from persons who were pleased thus to honor his memory."

The officers of the company in 1913 were: W. F. Morris, president ; J. Q. Reid, vice-president; W. H. Aiman, secretary; A. B. Taylor, treasurer. These officers and J. D. Kinnard constitute the executive committee and all are members of the board of trustees. The other trustees are C. L. Henry, W. HI. Lewis, D. J. Williams, O. W. Brown- back, G. D. Barrett, Elmer Hester, T. M. Hardy, George P. Frank, George P. Longnecker and O. H. Burdett.

Another old country graveyard in Fall Creek township is situated in the southeast quarter of section 22, near the old Friends church established there many years ago, and still another is on the south bank of Lick creek, near the site of the old village of Menden. Here Ralph Williams, Mrs. Manly Richards and other Fall Creek township pioneers are buried.

Pleasant Valley Methodist church, located in the northeastern part of Green township, was organized in 1841. In 1857 William A. Wil- liamson donated a tract of land near the church for burial purposes and this is known as Pleasant Valley cemetery. The first to be buried here was a little daughter of J. W. Ford, who died on March 30, 1858.

Beech Grove cemetery was established in the latter part of the year 1871, when the German Baptists of Beech Grove church pur- chased two acres of ground from David Richards, in the southeast quarter of section 21, near the church, and set the tract apart as a graveyard in connection with their church. The first. to be interred here was Washington Pettigrew, who died in the fall of 1872.

At Mount Carmel Methodist church, near the present town of Ingalls, a cemetery was laid out in 1862 on land donated for the pur- pose by James Jones. In July of that year George Clayton, a private of the Second Indiana Cavalry, died while at home on furlough and his remains were the first to be interred in Mount Carmel cemetery. He was buried with military honors.

On the Doty farm, about two miles west of Ingalls and not far from public school No. 1, in Green township, is a small graveyard where some of the early settlers of that locality are buried.

Four country graveyards are marked on the plat books for Jack- near the southern border of section 13, which is the northeast corner son township. One is on the bank of a little tributary of Pipe creek, section of the township. The second is on the Foland farm, near Pipe creek and public school No. 3, in the northwest quarter of section 27. The third is situated on the south bank of White river, a short dis-

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tance southeast of Perkinsville, and the fourth is about half a mile east of the little hamlet of Halford.

When the Pan Handle Railroad was built through Lafayette town- ship in 1856, John Keller started "Keller's Station" about a mile and a half northwest of the present village of Florida. A little east of the station a graveyard was established on the southwest quarter of section 15, where several of the early settlers are buried. Keller's Station did not long survive and the graveyard is now seldom used, except by some family whose relatives were buried there at some period in the past.

About four miles northeast of Alexandria, on the south bank of Pipe creek and in the southwest quarter of section 10 is a small ceme- tery that dates back to the settlement of that part of Monroe township. There is another little cemetery about a mile southeast of the old vil- lage of Osceola, on a small tributary of Lilly creek. A third is located on section 22, a short distance southeast of Orestes, and near the north- west corner of the township is the old Mount Tabor cemetery, which was established in connection with Mount Tabor Methodist church, about 1850. There is also a small graveyard. just east of the road running from Alexandria to Anderson, near the southern border of the town- ship.

There is a small cemetery between Jackson and Monroe streets, just east of Harrison, in the city of Alexandria, though there have been no interments here for several years. In the early '70s Necessity lodge, No. 222, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Alexandria, realizing the need for a cemetery conducted on modern principles, purchased a tract of ground south of what is now Fourth street and east of Park avenue, laid out the walks and drives, and put the property in charge of a board of trustees composed of members of the lodge. Subsequently some additional ground was purchased, extending the cemetery south to Sixth street, and including in all about twenty-five acres. Burials in this cemetery are not confined to members of the order, but are open to the general public. This is the only cemetery in the county owned and managed by a fraternal organization and it is one of the prettiest in Madison county.

On March 13, 1908, the Park View Cemetery Association, of Alex- andria, was incorporated with M. M. Walker, president; Harry M. Adams, vice-president ; Virgil S. Day, secretary, and Vernon H. Day, treasurer. The capital stock of the association was fixed at $5,000 and a tract of ten acres, immediately south of the Odd Fellows' Cemetery, was purchased and laid out for burial purposes. This is one of the newest cemeteries in the county, and while there have been but few burials so far, there is every prospect that it will become one of the most beautiful, as the association is exercising great care in looking after the grounds and keeping them in the best of condition.

In Pipe Creek township there are two graveyards near Frankton- one south of the town, near the township line, and the other north of Pipe creck, not far from the Pan Handle Railroad. There is also a small cemetery on the Shell farm, in section 11, near the southern boundary of the township, and another in the northeast corner of the same section. Other old-time graveyards in this township are in the

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History of Madison County, Indiana ; a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests, Volume I, Part 31

Author: Forkner, John La Rue, 1844-1926 Publication date: 1970 Publisher: Evansville Ind. : Unigraphic, Inc. Number of Pages: 918

Author: Forkner, John La Rue, 1844-1926
Publication date: 1970
Publisher: Evansville Ind. : Unigraphic, Inc.
Number of Pages: 918