USA > Indiana > Montgomery County > History of Montgomery County, together with historic notes on the Wabash Valley; gleaned from early authors, old maps and manuscripts, private and official correspondence, and other authentic sources > Part 39
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It appears that Smith had returned, among other property listed by the county assessor in 1824, "five hundred silver watches," and when the tax collector came around Mr. Smith swore he only owned three watches, and was forced to appeal to the commissioners for a remission of the tax upon 497 silver watches, which in a boastful moment he had claimed to possess, but never owned in fact. This appeal was granted, but Smith's feathers were effectually plucked, and he was ever after very careful in giving in his property for taxa- tion, and in bragging about his wealth.
Maj. Isaac C. Elston and Jonathan Powers were engaged in mer- chandising at an early day, and transacted a large business. Their stores were in the immediate vicinity of Ristine's tavern.
William W. Nicholson carried on a tan-yard where James Lee & Bros' block now stands, and had a number of tanning vats in the rear. He was a very valuable artisan in that day, and made a great deal of leather for harness and foot-wear. He voyaged to Craw- fordsville from Kentucky by water, floating down the Ohio to the Wabash, and poling up that stream and Sugar creek in a flat-bot- tomed boat styled a "pirogue." The voyage ended at the foot of Washington street, and his boat is credited with bringing the pio- neers of a colony of rats that has been growing and prospering ever since that time.
The " Baptist church of Sugar creek" built the first church edi- fice in Crawfordsville, on lot number 100, donated to them for that purpose by good Maj. Whitlock from his original plat of the town. The dimensions of the structure were 24×30 feet. The material used was brick. It was for several years the only building used ex- clusively for religious services, and such was the kindly spirit of ac- commodation governing the brethren in those early days, that all sects and creeds represented in the infant settlement were privileged to use it. All traces of this primitive church building have long since disappeared.
The first school was held in a house that stood about where the gas works are now located, and was taught by a young man named Josiah Holbrook. This was at first a somewhat pretentious and contentious rival of the Crawfordsville Seminary, the latter being
125
UNION TOWNSHIP.
conducted by James C. Scott, beginning its sessions in October 1831.
In 1833 Rev. Caleb Mills began the work of instruction in the "Wabash Manual Labor and Teachers' Seminary," an institution which received a charter from the legislature in 1834, and has grown into the amplest proportions and wide notoriety as Wabash College. The first building occupied was located on the brow of the hill east of the Blair Pork House, and was used for recitations and as a boarding place for the students.
During the first year of its operation forty-one young men were enrolled. The first public exhibition of the students presented the following programme :
"The Science of Music,"- R. N. Allen, Parke county, Iowa. "Biographical Sketch of La Fayette,"- T. W. Webster, Cincinnati, Ohio. "The Obligations of American Citizens,"- F. G. Bur- bridge, Crawfordsville. "The Importance of Character,"- Z. Bai- ley, Montgomery county, Iowa. "The Connexion of Popular Edu- cation with the preservation of Civil Liberty,"- S. S. Thomson, Crawfordsville. "Latin Oration," an extract, - A. McAuley, Hen- dricks county, Iowa. "The Blessings of Liberty,"- E. P. Barlow, Hendricks county, Iowa. "The Prospects of the Mississippi Val- ley,"- B. F. Gregory, Warren county, Iowa. "The Moral Destiny of America,"-R. W. Allen, Montgomery county, Iowa. "The Necessity of High Professional Attainments," -- S. N. Steele, Owen county, Iowa. "Greek Oration," an extract, -T. Newbury, In- dianapolis. "Female Education,"- E. R. S. Canby, Crawfords- ville. "The Spoils of Time,"- J. W. Yandes, Indianapolis.
Of those participating in this exhibition, S. S. Thomson has been for years the honored professor of Latin language and literature in his alma mater. Mr. Gregory is a prominent lawyer at Williams- port, in Warren county. R. W. Allen is a venerable minister in the Presbyterian church now located at Jacksonville, Illinois, while to E. R. S. Canby was reserved the horrible fate of massacre by the savage Modoc Indians in the lava beds of Oregon.
The success of a collegiate institution at such an early day in the settlement of a new country must, to the general observer, have seemed problematical, but the sublime faith of its founders, and the universal thirst for knowledge which not even the hardships of the wilderness could subdue, gave its growth such a start as no vicissi- tude has ever succeeded in checking. What Wabash College now is, and what she has accomplished, will be better told by her present venerable president in another place in this volume.
126
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
On October 18, 1831, the initial number of the first newspaper was published in Crawfordsville. It was called the Crawfordsville " Record," and was edited by Bryant & Wade. Only two bound books of its files have been preserved by the veteran editor, Isaac F. Wade, covering the period from October, 1831, to June 1836. It was a folio of twenty columns, published weekly. A perusal of its pages furnishes a striking comparison of old-time conservative news- editing with the telegraphic, inquisitive and irreverent style of the present day ; and while the "Record " is an admirable epitome of political history during the years of its publication, it fails to present much of the domestic and local news of the town and county, and is consequently not a mine of treasure to be worked by the historian of our city. From its advertising columns we learn the names and business of the enterprising citizens of the day, and occasionally, by seeming accident, a transaction is mentioned or some statistics given that compensates somewhat for other omissions.
At the time this paper was begun the county contained nearly 10,000 inhabitants, and a census of Crawfordsville, taken only a short time previous, showed a population of 422, while the subscrip- tion list of the paper contained less than 200 names.
The first advertising patrons of the "Record " were Isaac C. Elston, postmaster, with a long list of uncalled-for letters ; Benjamin Spader, dry-goods and general merchandise; divers estray notices from J. P's in the county ; a few legal notices from John Wilson, clerk of the circuit court; dry-goods advertised by Henry Crawford, William Binford, and Jonathan Powers; sundry tax-collectors' no- tices, and a prospectus of the Indiana "Journal " and the Cincin- nati " Mirror."
The foreign news speaks of the war in Belgium and a rebellion in China. Home affairs comprise a report of the anti-Masonic con- vention held at Baltimore on September 28, where William Wirt was nominated for president, and Amos Ellmaker for vice-president. The editors express their gratification at the election of Henry Clay to the United States senate over his competitor, Richard M. John- son.
In their issue of November 26, 1831, the editors write as follows of the town :
" The number of houses in Crawfordsville must considerably ex- ceed 100,- some of them splendid buildings, and would do honor to any city.
"House rent is even higher in Crawfordsville than in many old- settled towns, and much higher than in Hamilton and Lebanon in
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UNION TOWNSHIP.
the State of Ohio, and much greater demand for houses here than in either of those towns. Some have supposed 100 houses might have been rented to applicants more than have been rented during the last summer and fall. Every house is full, and some have two and even three families in them. Our court-house is not yet up .* It is under contract, however, and is to be completed next fall. This building, being on the most elevated lot in town, will add greatly to the appearance of the place.
"Our churches, three in number, Baptist, Methodist and Presby- terian, are large and commodious buildings, and the highest compli- ment we can pay our people is, that meetings are better attended here than in most places of our acquaintance.
"The Crawfordsville school, which at present is conducted in a manner highly creditable to the town, is kept in a spacious brick building erected solely for that purpose.
"Our houses for the accommodation of travelers and boarders are four in number, and yet, from experience, we know some of them are very much crowded, and we believe all supper and lodge a goodly number of travelers every night. Besides these houses of accommodation there are other private boarding houses, one of which we know has six boarders. The ordinary price of boarding is $1.50 per week. The tables of these houses are crowded with all the dainties of old countries to an overflowing abundance. Our chief complaint is, that we are fed on too many dainties. When we have the exquisite pleasure of sitting down to a meal served up with corn bread, which happens but seldom, we are at the summit of epicurean joy. We are doomed, however, to live on wheat bread, which is here the staff of life. All kinds of vegetables appear upon our tables. Horticulture, for which our soil is admirably adapted, is well understood by our citizens, many of our gardens displaying a neatness and taste that would not suffer in comparison with those of the east.
"Our town has about the usual number of professional men in places of this size. Our citizens are not very quarrelsome, and the lawyers generally follow some other business in connection with their profession. The people are seldom sick, and the doctors, though learned and skillful, have but little to do. Our mechanics are generally the best of workmen. Our hats manufactured here are good, made quite to a point at the top like they are in the east, and our boots are square-toed. The ladies dress cap-a-pie in the cos- tume of the east, with the exception of tight lacing. About $75,000
* The reference is to the old brick court-house, removed to make place for the present structure.
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
worth of goods are sold here annually. Money, though tolerably plenty here, is worth more than at any place we have ever been. It is seldom loaned for less than fifty per cent, which shows that busi- ness is lively and the purposes of money numerous.
" Land is bought up here with astonishing avidity. The sales at this office for 1830 amounted to $367,146.39, and during this year the sales have been $283, 164.44."
Willis Hughes kept the first livery stable, and furnished horse, saddle and bridle for fifty cents per day.
Ira Crane manufactured fashionable wedding garments for ex- pectant grooms and cut out the clothing for all who had no female tailor at home ; John M. Fisher manufactured saddlery of all de- scriptions ; Thomas Messiek made cabinet ware, and C. S. Bryant was the only attorney who advertised his desire for clients.
The market is reported as follows :
Hay per ton 8 00 Beef per lb. . 2 to 3
Oats per bu . 25 Pork per cwt. 2 00 to 2 50
Flour per cwt. . . . . 2 00 to 2 50
Butter per lb. 10 to 12
Corn meal per bu .. 37 to 50 Apples per bu. 87
Corn. 25 to 37
Wood per cord . 75
Wheat per bu. (cash) 62
A great temperance wave swept over the country in 1831 and 1832, and having reached Crawfordsville, caused the organization of a regular society, the first officers of which were John Gilliland, president ; Caleb Brown, vice-president ; Francis Miller, secretary ; and Benjamin Spader, James C. Scott, B. F. Irvine, C. S. Bryant and W. R. Winton, managers, with sixty-six members. This so- ciety existed for nearly ten years, and undoubtedly accomplished much good, despite a hot and bitter opposition.
The " Seventh District Medical Society," of which Samuel Fullen- wider was secretary, had a flourishing existence of several years, but finally disbanded on account of scholastic differences.
The first Sabbath-school ever held in Crawfordsville met in the brick school-house on Sunday, May 6, 1832, and was organized mainly by the efforts of Rev. James Thomson, now deceased.
Books were opened at the clerk's office in Crawfordsville on July 15, 1832, for subscription to the capital stock of the Ohio & La Fayette railroad. The road was to extend from New Albany to La Fayette, on the line of what is now the Louisville, New Albany & Chicago railroad. The shares were placed at $50 each ; one dol- lar of which was required to be paid at the time of subscribing. This was the starting point of our present railway system, of which
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UNION TOWNSHIP.
more will be said in another place. Beebee Booth, of Salem, was chosen president ; Samuel Peck, of Salem, treasurer, and Israel T. Canby and John Wilson, of Crawfordsville, were appointed agents to solicit subscriptions in Montgomery county for the enterprise.
From 1832 to 1834 the citizens of this county were kept in a con- tinnal state of dread and alarm by reason of the ravages of cholera, from which numerous deaths occurred in adjoining towns, but fortu- nately the disease never visited this county, a fact doubtless attributable to the pure water and perfect drainage to be found in all the settlements. Crawfordsville has been remarkably exempt from epidemics of every kind from the date of settlement up to the pres- ent time.
It was the custom of the merchants in those days to keep whisky for their customers, and all who traded were free, to imbibe without charge. An empty whisky barrel would be set up on end in front of the counter, having small holes bored in the head to drain the glasses. On the barrel was placed, invitingly, a large case-bottle holding a half-gallon of whisky, a bowl of maple sugar, and a pitcher of water, and, in cold weather, a tumbler of ground ginger. A stock of merchandise comprised everything from a log-chain to a cambric-needle ; from a matlock to a silk dress pattern ; from a sack of coffee to a barrel of whisky ; calico, jews-harps, molasses, mink- traps, gun-flints, wool-cards, dye-stuffs, and all the conceivable arti- cles called for by the exigencies of frontier life.
The credit system prevailed to an extent that would, if allowed in these times, bankrupt a merchant within a year; but the buyer paid a price for his goods that provided large profits, and the peo- ple were generally honest, so that when settling-up time came, generally on New Year's day, the accounts, were cleared up and the merchant started east to make new purchases with a pocket full of money.
Cincinnati, Buffalo and Louisville were the leading wholesale markets, and our merchants traveled thither and hither on horseback and by stage-coach, while their 'goods were conveyed in wagons. There were several grain buyers in the town whose accumulations were wagoned to Chicago and sold, when their teams brought back salt from the Saginaw country, and general merchandise.
The town was incorporated on Tuesday, October 14, 1834. The first meeting of the trustees was held at Maj. Ristine's tavern, and Henry Ristine was chosen president and Isaac Naylor secretary of the board. The trustees for the first year were Chilion Johnson, Jacob Angle, Caleb Brown, Henry Ristine, and Isaac Naylor. Fran-
9
130
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
cis Miller was subsequently chosen treasurer, and required to give bond in the sum of $500.
The first ordinance passed by the board related to licenses to sell intoxicating liquors "by the small " in the town limits, and the license fee was fixed at $8.
In 1835 a census taken by order of the board of trustees shows the population of Crawfordsville to have been: Males over eigh- teen years of age, 269; females over eighteen years of age, 221; males under eighteen years of age, 226; females under eighteen years of age, 261 ; persons of color, 17; total population, 994.
The primitive court-house proving too small to accommodate the largely increased business of the county, the commissioners con- tracted with John Hughs for $3,420 to erect a two-story brick build- ing on the lot where the present edifice stands. The building was of the prevailing style of architecture, specimens of which may yet. be seen in a number of the older counties of this state. It was square, forty-five feet each side, with a square cupola in the center of the roof, with four large interior columns of stuccoed brick, hav- ing seven windows on the lower floor, eleven in the second story, with outside shutters. The building was completed in 1833. At first the county officers were domiciled in the rooms of the upper story, but eventually separate one-story brick buildings were erected, as east and north wings to the main building, and occupied by the auditor, treasurer, clerk, sheriff, and recorder.
In 1873, after several years' accumulation of a building fund by taxation, the county commissioners, James Lee, James McIntyre, and James F. Hall, having accepted architectural plans, made a con- tract with McCormack & Sweeney, of Columbus, Indiana, to erect a new court-house of Berea sandstone, brick and iron, to be heated with steam, and provide a spacious court-room, with offices for all departments of the county's business and jury rooms, the whole to cost $124,000. The old buildings were at once removed, and work went forward rapidly and continuously until May 1877, when the present noble structure was completed. The extra work, together with the large clock in the tower, finally ran the cost up to $150,000. With but a single exception (the court-house at Indianapolis) the building is probably the most elegant and convenient of any in the state used for similar purposes.
. The public school building contains thirteen large rooms, fur- nished with modern school furniture and apparatus. The number of school children has so largely increased as will demand the erection of an additional building in the near future.
131
UNION TOWNSHIP.
The City Hall is a strikingly beautiful structure, located on Green street between Main and Market, and furnishes ample ac- commodations for all departments of the municipal government.
There are eight church edifices in the city, owned by congrega- tions as follows :
Regular Baptist, a one-story brick building, very plainly con- structed after the old fashion, with the pulpit between the entrance doors, located on Walnut street, between College and Jefferson.
New School Baptist, a handsome frame, with spire and belfry, located on the northeast corner of Pike and Walnut streets.
Christian, small frame church, with belfry, on the northwest corner of Wabash avenue and Walnut streets.
Methodist, a large brick edifice standing on lot number 160 of the original plat of the town, donated by Major Whitlock to the congregation. Connected with the church is a comfortable two-story frame parsonage. This church is erected on the northwest corner of Water street and Wabash avenue.
Saint Bernard's Catholic, an imposing pile, after the Gothic style of architecture, built upon the southeast corner of Pike and Wash- ington streets. The building is lighted by mullioned windows of stained glass, and, when the bell tower and spire are completed, will constitute one of the most conspicuous structures in the city.
Saint John's Episcopal, a neat frame building, situated on Green street, between Pike and Wabash avenue.
First Presbyterian, a plain brick edifice, with lecture-rooms in basement, located on Water, between Main and Pike streets. This is one of the earliest church buildings erected in Crawfordsville.
Center Presbyterian. The congregation of this church have recently completed an elegant and commodious building on the southwest corner of Wabash avenue and Washington street. The new building contains all the latest improvements in seating, heating and lighting, and with its numerous beautiful memorial windows, and graceful contour, is decidedly the finest church edifice in the city.
The leading congregations of the city, in point of numbers, may be mentioned in the following order: 1. Roman Catholic ; 2. Meth- odist ; 3. Center Presbyterian. Besides these churches above de- scribed, the colored citizens have congregations of the Baptist and Methodist faith. Nearly all the churches carry on flourishing Sab- bath-schools. Religious services have been conducted every Sab- bath afternoon at the college, by the college presidents, for a number of years.
In referring to these churches it has been exceedingly difficult to
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
obtain data upon which to write an extended historical account such as they deserve. The recent removal of the Center Presbyterian congregation from their old home on the northwest corner of Pike and Washington streets, furnished occasion to Alexander Thomson, Esq., to prepare an exceedingly interesting account of Presbyte- rianism in Montgomery county, from which we excerpt the fol- lowing facts :
The first sermon ever preached in Crawfordsville was by Rev. Charles Beatty, now of Steubenville, Ohio, in the year 1821, and this was likewise the first ever preached in the county; on the afternoon of the same day, the reverend gentleman solemnized the first marriage in the county, the high contracting parties being Col. Samuel D. Maxwell, the first sheriff of Montgomery county, and Miss Sarah Cowan, an aunt of the writer of this sketch.
In June, 1824, Rev. Isaac Reed organized the Presbyterian church. In 1829 the church began to build, and in 1832 finished a church edifice. In 1838 the disruption of the Presbyterian church took place, and the " old school " branch retained possession of the present property of the First church, on Water street, while the "new school " began the erection of a large frame structure on a lot purchased of Judge James Riley, situated, as before stated, on the corner of Washington and Pike streets, where they con- tinued to dwell until the recent completion of their "New Center Church."
Lest it may seem that too much prominence is given here to the history of the Presbyterian church, it will be well to remark that Crawfordsville has, from a very early day, been distinctively a Pres- byterian community. The college being founded and fostered by that denomination has made the town a center of church influence and directed the faith of a large percentage of its citizens.
ORGANIZATION OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT.
May 11, 1865, 134 voters of the town petitioned the board of trustees to have Crawfordsville incorporated as a city. The town marshal, C. E. Vanarsdal, was ordered by the board to ascertain by a census the exact population of the town. That census, taken on June 29, 1865, showed the aggregate resident population to be 2,316. An election was ordered to be held on August 10, to de- termine the wishes of the majority in the premises, which resulted as follows : Whole number of votes cast, 215 ; in favor of incor- porating, 188; opposed to incorporating, 27.
The board of trustees, then consisting of John Hoover, David
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UNION TOWNSHIP.
Divine, William Enoch, Charles M. Steele, and William S. Fry, with T. D. Brown as clerk and William Burbridge treasurer, pre- pared for an election of officers for the new government. The ter- ritory embraced by the town limits was divided into three wards, as follows :
" Ward one : All that part of the city west of a north and south line, running along the center of the alley, running north and south between Walnut and Washington streets.
" Ward two: All that part of the city lying between said north and south line, running along the center of the alley, running north and south, between Walnut and Washington streets, and a north and south line running along the center of the alley running north and south between Green and Water streets.
" Ward three: All of that part of the city lying east of the east- ern boundary of ward two."
These boundaries, as then defined, have not since been changed, except as they may have been extended to include additions to the territory of the city.
On September 4, 1865, the first election for city officers was held, with the following result :
For Mayor :
Wilson H. Laymon received 221 votes.
George W. Snyder
130
66
For Clerk :
T. D. Brown.
337
For Assessor : John A. Shanklin 66
190
66
For Treasurer:
William Burbridge
66
341
66
For Engineer :
Daniel G. Roderick.
343
For Marshal and Street Commissioner : John W. Ross
66
287
James Nolan.
58
For Councilmen, first ward :
Benjamin Wasson
114
J. W. Cumberland.
106
66
John Speed.
1
66
James Lee.
3
Charles M. Steele
1
David Divine
1
134
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
For Councilmen, second ward :
William C. Vance
received 89 votes.
William S. Fry.
94
John W. Blair.
64
Z. B. Richardson.
53
For Councilmen, third ward :
William M. Epperson.
71
Washington Holloway
66
52
Chilion Johnson
22
John W. Burk.
6 6
7
James Epperson.
3
The precise vote as distributed between the several candidates is given here for the purpose of showing hereafter what the gain of the respective wards in population has been since this original elec- tion.
The next election was held May 1, 1866, and the following were the municipal officers for that year: Wilson H. Laymon, mayor ; T. D. Brown, clerk ; William Burbridge, treasurer ; John W. Ross, marshal and street commissioner. Councilmen, first ward, B. Was- son, L. A. Foote ; second ward, William S. Fry, William C. Vance ; third ward, William M. Epperson, J. P. Campbell. Roderick H. Galloway, city attorney ; Albert C. Jennison, city engineer.
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