USA > Indiana > Madison County > History of Madison County, Indiana, from 1820 to 1874 : giving a general review of principal events, statistical and historical items, derived from official sources > Part 2
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The colored population in 1850 was 14, in 1860 it was
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MADISON COUNTY.
60, in 1870 it was 91, and at this writing, 1874, it is estimated at 125.
The number of citizens living in all the towns in 1850 was 1,733, in 1860 it was 3,814, in 1870 it was 5,769, and at this writing, 1874, estimated in round numbers at 8,000.
The number of acres of improved land in 1870 was 133,190. The number of acres of woodland was 87,521; other improved land, 1,173.
The cash value of farms in 1870 was $9,399,441, value of farm implements and machinery $242,571, value of orchard products, $70,262.
Value of all live stock, $1,229,996. The number of horses was 7,677, of cattle, 12,882; of sheep, 22,820; of swine, 29,885.
The number of bushels of wheat was 541,669; of rye, 3,804; of corn, 1,028,150; of oats, 74,637; of barley, 2,650; of buckwheat, 904.
The number of pounds of tobacco was 4,930, the number of pounds of wool was 73.475, the number of bushels of potatoes was 62,184, the number of tons of hay was 10,385, the number of pounds of butter was 322,487, the number of bushels of flaxseed was 15,537, the number of pounds of maple sugar was 18,493, the number of gallons of sorghum was 30,782, the number of pounds of honey, 12,160.
In 1870 there were 2,288 farms of all sizes in the county. The number of farms over 500 and under 1,000 acres, was 1; over 100 and under 500 acres, 356; number over 50 and under 100 acres, 741; over 20 and under 50 acres, 965; number ever 10 and under 20 acres, 175 ; under 10 acres, 49.
The number of school houses in the county in 1872 was 132; the total value of grounds, houses, maps, charts', globes, etc., $93,430. The number of volumes in the town- ship libraries, 3,733 ; the number of teachers employed, 115 at an average compensation in the primary department, male, $2.12; female $1.75; in the graded schools, males, $2.89 ; females, $1.87. The amount paid out to trustees for managing educational matters, $1,265.50; the number of school children in 1870 was 8,319.
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HISTORY OF
The number of miles of railroad finished, 46; number of miles in progress, 48; the number of miles of pike, 200 at an average cost per mile of $1,400.
Number of Masonic lodges, 11, and total membership, 566. Number of Odd Fellows lodges, 6, with a total mem- bership of 279. Number of Granges, 50, membership 1,200. Number of local preachers, 28.
Number of grist mills, 15, valued at $125,000, with a capacity for making 624 barrels in twenty-four hours. Number of saw mills, 60, valued at $160,000, with a capacity for making 240,000 feet of lumber per day.
Church membership, 6,000; physicians, 51; lawyers, 31; banks, 4; harness shops, 16; shoe shops, 29; carriage shops 5; wagon shops, 15; express offices, 5; photograph galleries, 4; dry goods stores, 31; drug stores, 15; hard- ware stores, 11; general assortment stores, 40; shoe stores, 8; marble shops, 2; chair manufactures, 2; founderies, 1; pump shops, 5; tile factories, 8 ; hotels, 11; postoffices, 16; printing offices, 3; precincts, 18; plauing mills, 4; tan- yards, 4; jewelry stores, 4; tailor shops, 5; warehouses, 12; woolen factories, 2; spoke and hub factories, 1 ; agri- cultural warehouses, 3.
The number of Sabbath schools, 60, with an average attendance, including officers and teachers, of 3,274 ; amount paid out for books, papers, etc., in 1872, $731.25.
The taxable property in the county is put down at $12,- 000,000, but its real value will fall a little short of $20,000,000, including railroad companies, corporations, etc.
These statistics, of course, are general, and many of importance are left out. Enough is given, however, to give a general idea of our wealth and prosperity. We will dwell more minutely on some of the above under different subjects or heads, as this is only intended as a general out- look of the county.
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MADISON COUNTY.
FIRST COURT HOUSE IN ANDERSON. (Copy.)
JANUARY SESSION, 1831.
Ordered by the Board that the agent of the County of Madison sell to the lowest bidder the building of a Court House, to be built on lot No. 17, in the N. E. square in Andersontown, to be built on the following Plan, to-wit: One story high, thirty-six feet long and twenty feet wide, to be elevated one foot from the ground and underpinned with stone; the story to be ten feet between floors; the building to be well weatherboarded and covered with good joint shingles; to have a good brick chimney in the west end with a large fireplace therein; ten feet of the end to be partitioned off and the rooms to be partitioned as to make two ten feet jury rooms; all the partitions to be run of good seasoned plank-each of said jury rooms to have a door to open into the large room-the said house to have three twelve lite windows in the S. Side and three in the N. Side; the windows to be so placed that the large Room shall have four and each of the Jury Rooms one; the under floor to be laid in a good work- manlike manner, the upper floor to be laid of loose planks; house to have one door in the front to open near the partition; the windows to be in, the outside door hung and the house enclosed on or before the second Monday in May next, and the whole work completed according to the above plan on or before the second Monday in Nov. next; the sale to take place at Anderson town on the 3d Saturday Jany. Inst .; the said agent taking bond of the contractors in double the amount for which the work is taken, conditioned for the comple- tion of the work against the 15 day of Nov., 1831.
At the Jan. Session, 1832, the viewers appointed to view the new Court House, make a report discounting the contractors $30 for failing to fulfill the contract.
FIRST DIVISION OF THE COUNTY INTO DISTRICTS FOR COMMISSIONERS.
ORDER MADE AT THE MAY SESSION, 1831.
1st District, Union and Adams townships.
2d District, Anderson and Jackson townships.
3d District, Fall Creek and Green townships.
Ordered by the Board of Commissioners at the September Session, 1831, that the license to vend wooden clocks, be six dollars per annum.
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HISTORY OF
At the January session, 1832, John Berry was appointed by the Board Agent to borrow $100 of the Commissioners of Marion county for a period not exceeding one year, with the privilege to Madison county to pay it sooner if so much money be in the treasury before that time.
SESSION SEPTEMBER 1ST, A. D. 1828.
1. " At a meeting of the Board of Madison County Justices began and held in the house of John Berry, in Anderson Town, on the first Monday in September, Anno Domini, 1828, Present of said Board, as follows, To-wit: William Curtis, John Busby, Amasa Makepeace, Jacob Hiday, Thomas M. Pendleton, William Nelson, Daniel Wise and William S. Penn."
2. "And the Board now proceed to appoint a president, and William Curtis is Elected accordingly, without opposition, to serve the following year."
5. "Ordered by the Board that Jesse Lain, Dickinson Burt, George Hodgins, Abraham Adams, Stephen Corwin, John Wynn, (com- monly called Short John Wynn) and William Perkins, be, and they are hereby exempted from paying a poll tax for the present year."
15. "Ordered that William Ramsey have a lisance to vend foreign groceries, for six months, for the sum of two dollars and fifty cents, he having complied with the requisitions of the law."
16. "Ordered that Samuel Cory be allowed the sum of five dollars as an additional allowance for whisky and crying the sale of lots in Anderson town."
(At this term they made an order for a new Court House, but revoked it in July, 1829.
WILLIAM CURTIS, Pes't. ANSEL RICHMOND, Clerk.
NOV. TERM-IN SESSION, 1828.
" Present, William Curtis, William S. Penn, Amasa Makepeace, John Busby, Thomas M. Pendleton, Daniel Hardesty, Daniel Wise and Richard Kinnaman."
(At the same session the county agent was instructed to sell lot 12 in the S. E. sqr. of Anderson to Dickinson Burt, for five dollars, to be paid in three years or to revert to the county.)
(On the 13th day of December, 1828, Morgan Shortridge and Zenas Beckwith reported the route of a road running from New Castle to LaFayette. They were appointed commissioners to do that by the legislature of 1828.)
(Jan. session, 1829, Bicknel Cole was appointed treasurer of Madi- son Co. for the year ending on the first Monday in January, 1830.)
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MADISON COUNTY.
"Ordered by the Board that the agent employ a surveyor to survey the donation made to the county by Capt. Berry, and establish the east line of the donation and then to sell the remaining lots belong- ing to the county, on the 1st of April, 1830, and give notice by post- ing three written notices in the county and three notices in three adjoining counties."
"The clerk was ordered to make out and put up at the court house door of the county, a fair statement of the expenses of the county for the present year."
FIRST GRAND JURY.
" And the Board now selected the following persons from the assessment Rolls to serve as Grand Jurors at the October term of the Madison Circuit Court, for the year 1829, To-wit: Thomas Snider Jonathan Stanley, Collings Tharp, Robert Virtue, I. N. Elsberry, Henry Rees, Stephen Noland, William Stanley, Adam Elsworth, John Martin, Elias Hughs, William McCarty, John Cookman, Samuel Bodle, Elisha Layton, John Markle."
TRAVERSE JURY OF THIS SAME COURT.
" Peter Chodrick, John Shimer, Jesse Shelton, Moses Mills, Elijah Gardner, Samuel Lambert, Henry Russell, John Drury, Solomon Adamson, Charles McCarty, Henry Hughes, Joseph Carpenter, Samuel Shimer, Isaac Drury, Moses Shawl, Thornton Rector, Eli Hodgins, John Davis, Elisha Conner, Daniel Poe, William Williams, John Hoover, Samilton D. Boyle, Philip, Van Devender."
MAY SESSION-1829.
"Bicknel Cole was granted an order for $3.123 for crying sale and furnishing whisky at the last sale of Anderson lots."
JAIL .- The Board of Justices at the July session, 1829, ordered the county agent to let the contract for a Jail in Anderson, and agreed to appropriate $200. The rest was raised by subscription as the record shows-at least that was the agreement.
(At the September special session, 1829, Thomas McCartney, Henry Sybert and John Berry produced certificates of elections and were sworn in as Commissioners of Madison County, being the first Board of commissioners.)
"Ordered, that for the purpose of raising a County Revenue for the present year, the following rate of taxation be laid, to-wit: On every hundred dollars worth of Town property, exclusive of improvements, 0.75; on Polls, 0.37}; on work over, 0.25; on horses, over 3 years old, 0.50; on land, at the rate of fifty cents on 100 acres of first-rate land 40 cts .; on 100 acres of 2nd-rate land, and 30 cts. on the 100 acres of 3rd."
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HISTORY OF
ADAMS TOWNSHIP.
THIS township is situated in the southeast corner of the county. It is seven miles from north to south and five from east to west, and contains thirty-five square miles. The township derived its name from Abraham Adams, who was one of the first settlers, coming here in 1823, and locating near New Columbus. Among the other first settlers we find the names of John Adams, Reason Sargent, William Penn, John, Andrew, and David Ellsworth, Levi Brewer, Thorn- ton Rector, William Nelson, Manly Richards, Stephen and James Noland, Peter Jones, Bridge, Sawyer and Hudson, (the three latter of the Indian murder.) Of those who came soon afterward, and located in different parts of the township, we find the names of Thomas Bell, Hiram Birch, Joseph Smith, David Rice, John Coopman, John and Moses Surber, John Blake, William Sloan, Stephen Norman, Isaac Cooper, Thomas, William and Garrett McCallister, Ralph Williams, John Markle, James Collier, Stephen and Henry Dobson, Morris Gillmore, Thomas Shelton and William Stanley.
The election was first held at the house of Abraham Adams then at the house of Manly Richards. About the year 1830, the precinct was permanently located at New Columbus. The second precinct was established at Mar- kleville in 1870. The following have served as trustees : William Sloan, Jacob Festler, John Boram, J. H. Dailey, Randall Biddle, Nelson Prichard and John Justice. There are ten school houses in the township, eight frame and two brick ; the former are twenty-two by thirty, and cost $600 apiece ; the latter are twenty by forty, and cost $1,200 each.
The total number of school children in 1858 was five hundred and eighty-four, and the total number in 1874 was five hundred and thirty-eight. The number of polls in 1872 was three hundred and twenty-three, of which one hundred and forty-one were cast at New Columbus, and one hundred and eighty-two at Markleville. The population
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MADISON COUNTY.
of the township in 1850 was one thousand three hundred and nine ; in 1860 it was one thousand four hundred and fifty-three, and in 1870 it was one thousand five hundred and seventy-six.
The number of acres of improved land in 1870 was ten thousand nine hundred and seventeen. The total value of farms and farming implements for the same year was $759,- 257; value of live stock, $117,282; and value of all productions, $208,969. The number of bushels of corn raised in 1870 was ninety-one thousand one hundred and sixty-three. The number of miles of pike finished is fifteen. The number of Maconic lodges is two, with a total membership of sixty-nine. The number of Granges is four, with a membership of one hundred and ten. The number of post offices two; the number of saw mills, three; grist mill, one ; physicians four ; churches, seven ; local preachers, four.
Fall Creek and Lick Creek pass through the township. Among the prominent men that have filled county offices from this township are Thomas Bell, Thomas McCallister, Joseph Peden, Peter Festler, John McCallister and G. W. Hoel.
The hilliest part of the county is in this township, on Fall Creek, between Columbus and the Henry county line. In this township lives the oldest man in the county, John Coopman, aged ninety years. It was in this township that the noted Indian murder occurred in 1824, which caused so much trouble to the infant settlement. The first marriage that took place in the township was in the year 1825, the parties being Adam Ellsworth and Sally Rector. The first school teacher was C. Hudson; the first physician Dr. Horn. The first meetings were held at the private houses of Abraham Adams, Peter Jones, and Reason Sargent. There was a meeting at the house of Peter Jones on the day the Indian bodies were discovered. Among the first preachers were James Havens, Mr. Hoel, Saul Reger and D. F. Stright.
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HISTORY OF
Those serving as Justices of the Peace, are as follows : Hiram Birch, William Nelson, Moses Surber, J. M. Zeke, M. Armstrong, Thomas McCallister, Joseph Peden, Jose- phus Poindexter, Andrew Bray, Samuel Williams, G. W. Hoel, John Justice, Edgar Poindexter, James Moneyhun, and J. A. Sebrell. The last two are now serving.
We omitted to mention in the proper place the names of George and William Sebrell, who also served as justices. Otherwise the list is thought to be nearly or quite correct. There are but very few of the early settlers of the town- ship now remaining in it. Among those few are Kitty Williams, daughter of Abraham Adams, John Coopman, John Blake, Ralph Williams, Thornton Rector, William Sloan, J. F. Collier, and Morris Gillmore.
ANDERSON TOWNHSIP.
THIS township is six miles square, and is the only square township in the county, excepting Van Buren. The number of inhabitants in 1850 was one thousand three hundred and forty-six ; in 1860 it was two thousand five hundred and thirty ; in 1870 it was four thousand seven hundred and thirteen, and in 1874 estimated at five thousand five hun- dred. In 1870 it had three hundred and seventy-one foreigners and ninety-one colored persons. The number of acres of improved land, in 1870, was one hundred and six thousand six hundred and eleven ; the value of farms and farming implements, $1,049,974; value of live stock, $97,053 ; total value of all products, $207,899. The num- ber of bushels of corn raised in 1870, was ninety-six thous- and one hundred and forty one. It has fourteen school houses, five of which are brick. The total value of school property, including grounds, houses, etc., is $14,300; value of school property in the city of Anderson, $8,000. The number of school children in 1858, including Anderson, was eight hundred and fifty-four. The number in 1874, including
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MADISON COUNTY.
Anderson, was sixteen hundred and forty-four. It contains five grist mills, eight saw mills, three planing mills, two heading and stave factories, three cooper shops, four wagon shops, two chair manufactories, one spoke and hub factory, two furniture rooms, two lumber yards, three harness shops, two tanyards, two hardware stores, three hotels, eight dry goods stores, fourteen groceries, four drug stores, four shoe stores, eight general assortment stores, five churches, one post office, twelve physicians, eighteen lawyers, five local preachers, one telegraph office, two express offices, three stove stores, three agricultural warehouses, three grain ware- houses, two printing offices, six shoe shops, one carriage shop, one wagon and carriage shop, three wagon shops, one foundry one pump shop, one marble shop, two photograph galleries, two bakeries, three banks, one flax mill, five blacksmith shops, two jewelry stores, one revenue office, two Masonic lodges, one Odd Fellows lodge, six Granges, three building and loan associations, three millinery establishments, one gun- sinith shop, one wholesale liquor establishment, three livery stables, four butcher shops, one temperance society, I. O. G. T., and one book store.
This township was settled about the year 1820. Among the first settlers were William and John Allen, John Berry, Alford Makepeace, Dr. Wyman, William Curtis, N. Berry, Andrew Jackson, Joseph Howard, R. N. Williams, W. B. Allen, G. T. Hoover, William Beard, John and Thomas Harmison, W. G. Atherton, William Roach, Judge Mer- shoon, J. W. Westerfield and Joel Blackledge.
Among those who have served as Justices of the Peace, we find the following : John Berry, John Allen, J. M. Zeke, Oren Todhunter, Henry Wyman, Joel Blackledge J. P. Sharp, David Williamson, John Renshaw, P. H. Lemon, G. W. Bowen, Henry Whitmore, W. H. Mershoon, Andrew Jackson, Asa Pratt, William Roach and Edward Schlater.
Among the first merchants in Anderson were Connor & Makepeace. The first lawyer was C. D. Henderson. The 3
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HISTORY OF
first blacksmith was Mr. Bane. The first hotel was kept by John Berry.
White river passes through this township from east to west. Kill Buck comes into the township at the north and empties into White river near the railroad bridge. Prairie Creek has its source in this township, and flows south into Fall Creek, near Pendleton. There are three miles of the hydraulic canal in this township, which terminates at Ander- son. It contains twenty-five miles of pike and seventeen miles of railroad. In this township is Anderson, the county seat, which will be spoken of more fully in another place. The general surface of the county is level, with the excep- tion of a few bluffs along White river and Kill Buck. The fact that this township contains the county seat will keep this ahead of the other townships as far as population and business is concerned; the soil, however, is no better than is found elsewhere.
BOONE TOWNSHIP.
This township derived its name from Daniel Boone, of frontier notoriety. It occupies a central position in the north tier of townrhips. It is six miles from east to west, and five from north to south, and contains an area of thirty square miles.
Among the first settlers were Thomas Brunt, Wright Smith, John W. Forest, John Tomlinson, Dudley Doyle, John Moore, William Rieves, Peter Eaton and Robert Webster.
The population of the township in 1850 was two hundred and ninety-nine; in 1860 it was six hundred and seventy- eight ; in 1870 it was ten hundred and seventy-eight ; and in 1874 estimated at twelve hundred. It contains eight school houses valued at $3,150, including grounds, maps, etc. In 1858 it contained two hundred and ninety-six
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MADISON COUNTY.
school children ; in 1874 in had three hundred and ninety. The number of acres of improved land in 1870 was seven thousand three hundred and eighteen ; value of farm and farm implements, $1,049,974; value of live stock, $83,240. The number of bushels of corn in 1870 was fifty-four thousand seven hundred and forty-eight; number of churches, two; of Sabbath schools, two ; of physicans, two ; steam saw mills, three ; blacksmiths, two; tile factories, one ; local preachers, three.
Among those who have served as Justices of the Peace, we find the following: John Tomlinson, B. Carver, W. Doyle, J. W. Forest, Thomas Clark, A. J. Seward, and E. H. Peters.
The surface of Boone township is level, and when prop- erly ditched this township will be one of the most fertile in the county. Duck Creek passes through the southeast corner. Lily creek has its source in this township. Boone was originally one of the finest timbered townships in the county, and here some of the finest oak trees are yet stand- ing. It also has had some fine walnut and poplar groves, but they have disappeared to a great extent.' Forestville is near the center of the township and was named in honor of John W. Forest. There was a post office here kept by J. W. Forest, but it has been discontinued. The elections are held here in school house No. 7. The people of Boone are somewhat destitute of merchants, mechanics and a post office. Forestville should maintain a good store, a post office and five or six mechanics. This would materially add to the convenience of the citizens of the township. The pioneers of this township had a hard time to make a start and nothing short of heroism and untold persever- ance would have succeeded. The land was naturally low and wet and covered with a dense forest. There were no roads no mills or other conveniencies. In this gloomy picture a few pioneers pitched their tents about the year 1842. Little by little the forest has been removed and the water has been confined to ditches. Roads have taken the place of bridle paths and Indian traces, school houses and
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HISTORY OF
churches have multiplied and other conveniences have been introduced as the times would seem to demand. Boone, however, is not yet finished. Thousands of acres yet remain to be ditched and put under proper cultivation. When this is done Boone will take rank with some of her other sister townships. The presenttrustee is William D. Brunt.
DUCK CREEK TOWNSHIP.
This township is situated in the northwest corner of the county. It is six miles from north to south and four from east to west, and contains twenty-four square miles. This is perhaps the newest township in the county. There yet remains a large amount of uncultivated land which is covered with excellent timber. Duck Creek, from which this township derived its name, passes through the south- eastern part. About two-thirds of this township was originally embraced in the Miami Reserve. Independence is situated on the north line adjoining Grant county. This township was originally embraced in the territory of Pipe Creek, but was made an independent township in 1851. The population in 1860 was four hundred and ninety-eight : in 1870 it was seven hundred and eighty-nine, and in 1874 estimated at one thousand. It contains six school houses valued at $2,500. In 1858 it had two hundred and five school children, and in 1872 it had two hundred and sixty- two.
The number of acres of improved land in 1870 was five thousand eight hundred and twenty-four. The number of bushels of corn raised in 1870 was forty-three thousand seven hundred and twenty, value of live stock, $61,415.
Among the first settlers of this township we find the names of David Waymire, Amasa Clymer, James Gray, Elliott Waymire, Thomas Castell, Fielding Sampson, D. B.
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MADISON COUNTY.
Newkirk, Arthur Purtie, Isaac Doughty, John Quick, Samuel Purtie, Isaac Wann, and A. Minniek.
Among those who have served as Justices of the Peace we find the names of Elliott Waymire, Amasa Clymer, D. V. Newkirk, J. C. Wardwell, David Trambarger and A. J. Ross.
A vast amount of lumber has been shipped from Elwood and Independence, which was sawed at the mills of William Hedriek and Henry Cochran.
Duck Creek township, though wild, and to a great extent uncultivated, will in time make a good farming country. With its inexhaustible soil and valuable timber, nothing is needed but time to make it an average township. Already good barns and dwellings are found here, as in older settled localities.
We omttted in the proper place the name of John Har- mon, who has been a prominent citizen of this township for many years. We have, however, a communication from Mr. Harmon, which will be found in another part of the work and will doubtless be read with interest. In this communication Mr. Harmon dwells at some length on the early history of Duck Creek, which will account for this short and imperfect sketch.
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