USA > Indiana > Montgomery County > New Ross > History of New Ross and vicinity, 1829-1967 > Part 2
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but they all 3 worked together, Mr. Mays, Mr. Hulett and Mr. Dorsey, to change name). Later the postoffice was moved to present site of New Ross, in Brownings blacksmith shop). Han- nah Dorsey Peterson said she had many times put money away for men who were spending the night at the Inn, on way to buy land in some area; also she said that 4 horse-drawn wagons, loaded with gold, had stopped one night, on way from Cincin- nati, Ohio on west. (Shades of TV)!
So these two people, Hannah Dorsey Peterson and Henry B. Hulett have given the true story of the naming of New Ross, from original Valley City.
The first grocery store was owned by John Hodgkins, and first dry goods store by Oliver Wilson and company.
Many wagon beds had the name "Valley City" on them in 1910's and I remember these so well, and also I remember my father sayinghe was going to "Valley City" as a joke, 45 years after the name had been changed.
In 1866, William J. Inlow, born Dec. 6, 1883, at Ladoga, Indiana, son of Abraham and Susan Sparks Inlow, natives of Kentucky, married on March 15. Emmarine Sparks, daughter of William and Catherine (Knox) Sparks from Nicholas Co. Ky., Emmarine born 11-2-1833 Ky.,. On April 1866 William and Emmarine Inlow came to Valley City. There were only the seven cabins at this time. He bought a small stock of goods, and using a shed belonging to Dr. James Dunbar, one of the seven inhabitants of one of the cabins. He used this shed as a store, and· commenced his business. In the spring of 1867 he built a larger building, and moved his stock of goods into it and he had a nice store. When the Anderson, Lebanon and . St. Louis Railroad (or Midland) was projected, William was ap- pointed solicitor for stock and right of way for Montgomery and Boone Counties.
Thus the little village began to grow into a town, with many inhabitants and different businesses.
To go back to the beginning, James B. Jessee built a log school in 1836. This school was taught by Christopher Walkup in 1836. He was the son of John and Jane Allen, Walkup, who entire christopher b181 ginia, and died July 28, 1897. Another log school, built a little 124.
time. Other early teachers were James Stephenson and Squire Routh, who used the rod! James B. Jessee 's daughter Martha, his eldest, attended the school on his land, about 50 yards west of his flouring mill. The Browning school was built on northeast corner of section 35. (Through John Beard, born N. C. Jan. 4, 1795, and who came to Montgomery county 1823, and who was in Indiana General Assembly for 15 years, every boy and girl is able to enjoy the benefits of free schools, instead of sub- scription schools. He died in Crawfordsville, Indiana, Septem- ber 29, 1874. )
Prof. Gronert, in his Sugar Creek Saga, says "the log school house with its puncheon floor, backless benches, and goose- quill pens" . · "had no modern lighting or artificial light- ing of any kind, no good heating" and thus described all the early day schools.
In 1868, John A. Browning, who had platted the 50 lots of Valley City, went to Centrapolis, Kansas. He helped build a county road before he left here in 1868. In January, 1874, William J. Inlow laid out 49 more lots, as all addition to New Ross.
Another early settler was Mrs. Ira Mclaughlin.
In 1868, the Big Four railroad came through New Ross. In 1858/59 a saw mill was erected by Arthur Thrall. In 1870 John Jones built a saw mill; as did Jasper Weaver, who also had a grist mill; and A. C. May and his father, under the supervision of T. C. Munhall, built a stave and head factory. A flour mill was built by Bell and Click. John Bell, owner of tlic mill, was born October 18, 1828, in Augusta Co., Va., to Samuel N. and Sallie Bowman Bell. Samuel was a shocmaker. He died in November 8, 1864 and Sallie died November 18, 1853, John
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Bell married Charity Beck in November 18, 1852, daughter of Anthony and Elizabeth Davis Beck. The Bells and Becks had first settled north of New Ross, in an area. called Beckville. John and Charity had one son, Calvin, who died 1863. Eli Fra- zier, who also had a store at Beckville, moved his store to New Ross, same time that John H. Bell came here. First cooper shop was owned by Henry Wench; and there was a William W. Lock- man Hotel. Mr. Lockman came here 1863, age 30. William and George Howard came here in 1868 and opened stores. George Howard, born August 19, 1848, died January 14, 1881, was a son of John and Letitia Lafollette Howard, who also lived in New Ross. He married Dec. 12, 1862 Mary M. Wren, and they had 5 children.
In February 1899, money was donated by taxpayers for an interurban, and this also came through New Ross. . First run was made by interurban from Crawfordsville through New Ross July 7, 1907, by Omer Glover, motorman, and it was disbanded in 1930, and Omer Glover, motorman, made the last run October 31, 1930.
There were many blackmsiths in New Ross, first one was John A. Browning in 1841; James B. Jessee was also a blacksmith, but may not have worked at that trade here; Philip Johnson; Samuel Chambers; William Walters, grandfather of writer's husband; David Norman; George Gaithwright; George Templin; Henry Jessee; James Cunningham, Lem Heath, and many others, mentioned in other pages.
Thomas T. Munhall, merchant, was born in Zanesville, Ohio, June 5, 1841, son of Samuel (Pa) and Sarah. Wiggins (N. J. ) Munhall, and he had operated a stave factory for A. C. May in Indianapolis for three years 1872-1875, and he was sent" to New Ross to take charge of Mr. May's stave factory here, and in 1880, he also took charge ofa store of Mr. May's in New Ross. He married June 7, 1871, Mary E. Makinson, born Mar. 2, 1845 Sullivan Co., Indiana, daughter of George and Sarah Crowthers Makinson (or Mathinson). Her father was an English barrister, farmer, merchant, and he came to America 1840 .. Mary E's grandfather Rev. Jonathan Crowther was one of the most popular ministers of Methodists Episcopal Church in Eng- land, and his wife, Mary's grandmother, received baptism by John Wesley in 1790. Mary Munhall died, aged 95. Thomas and Mary had a daughter, Sarah G. Munhall, born June 23, 1873.
In 1859, James H. Kellys' mother Nancy Brown Kelly mai- ried a second time, to James Evans. He died, and she lived in New Ross. James H. Kelly engaged in fruit business from 1871 to 1873, and he also sold goods for Inlow and Hulett. Then to- gether with William Emmert, they engaged in the hardware business until 1879, then he became a member of a grange store, known as Turner, Kelly and Company.
Two Vancleaves, brothers, had stores in New Ross. William Vancleave, born 1840, son of Rev. Mathias Mount Vancleave and wife Nancy Nicholson Vancleave, from Shelbyville, Ky., William N. married March 10, 1861 Louise Summers, Parke Co., Indiana . . Their children were Mrs. Frank Gillespie; Laura M. Rosa; John M; Walter; and Maud Vancleave. Wil- liam's brother, Samuel, also had a store in New Ross, and he married Mary Johnson, 1865.
In May, 1875, the citizens of New Ross decided to corporate the town, under State Corporation Act, and a town board was elected on June 1, 1875, and they met on June 4, 1875. Those present were William Vancleave; William McGuffin; George W. Day; and Henry B. Hulett, secretary or clerk; James M. Jessee, treasurer; and George Day was named Chairman; Abra- ham Frazier, assessor; and Joseph Hesler, marshall.
Sometime before 1873, the Disciples had erected a church, under Rev. Warren of Brownsburg, Indiana. The first organ an early resident is said to have seen and heard here, was played by Stephen Gott, in this church.
In 1832, Rev. Thomas J. Brown, a native of Lee Co. Va., was the earliest Methodist minister. His first meetings were held at John Browns, Clark Township, one mile northeast of New Ross, in a log cabin, in Boone County, called Browns Chapel. He preached there until 1860, the year he died. Other early ministers were Daniel DeMotte; Rev. Hargrave; John S. Smith and Joseph White. Some of the early members were Browns, Kellys, Jessees', Dorseys, etc. In Feb. 1874 a meeting was held at Browns Chapel about building a new church. In 1878 a brick church was erected in New Ross on State Street, and dedicated 1880 by Dr. Godfrey. Trustees of church were James B. Jessee; Benjamin F. Walkup; Dr. B. F. Adkins; and George T. Dorsey. This church was 36'x60' and cost $3, 000. On the stained glass windows of this church, following names are in- scribed; Hannah Lewis, 1816-1902; Nancy A. Imel 1829-1900; Docia Dorsey 1840- and her husband George Dorsey Jr., 1833- 1884; Linnie Peterson 1845-1900; Benjamin W. Walkup 1832- 1895; Lane Conner Walkup 1837-1917; Henry M. Miller 1837- 1897; and Nancy Jessee 1800-1874. (My mother, Dora Linn Randel joined this church in her teens, and my grandparents, James W. and Belle Humbert Linn were members here, and my great-grandmother, Mary Jane Joh Humbert was also a mem- 'ber. ) in 1954, an addition was added to the church, 30'x62'. It has a modern kitchen, restrooms, and a dining room, which will seat 120 persons. Cost of this addition $15, 000.
Christian Church was originally held at Concord, and called Church of God, (Montgomery County History books say meet- ings were held at Harshbarger Schoolhouse). Officials of Con- cord church were William W. Mills, Matthew P. Bowen, Jesse H. Routh S. Andrew J. Routh served as clerk. This was prior to 1870. This was very inconvenient so in 1870 they decided to build a church in New Ross, other church was south of New Ross. A meeting was held on September 3, 1870, and a notice was to be put in Crawfordsville Journal that members would meet at the Harshbarger school house on October 1, 1870 at 2 p. m. , to elect trustees, and church would be known as Church of Christ. Notice was published September 8, 1870. Jacob Stoner, J. H. Routh, J. N. Kelly and W. J. Inlow let the contract to Agee and Wren, contractors, who were early settlers here. This church was 36'x 60', and it was a wood frame building. It cost $2, 500. It was dedicated by the minister, Elder L. C. Warren February 1871, assisted by Oliver Wilson. They had 85 mem- bers. Officers were W. W. Miller; elders Matthew P. Bowen and Jesse H. Routh, and deacons were Allen Morrison, Abraham Inlow, and Francis Marion Stoner. Ministers were Oliver W. Wilson, Peter Mattior, William Anderson and Abraham Plun- kett. Sunday school was organized in 1871, with Andrew Jack- son Routh as superintendent. One church had Sunday school in morning, other in afternoon in New Ross. My mother-in-law and her daughter Opal were members of the Christian Church here. (My father-in-law belonged to Methodist Church). Now our son, Robert Walters, and his wife, Mary, and sons Jeffrey and Larry belong here. On May 27, 1907, trustees and other of- ficials met and agreed to rebuild the church, and soon, so part of frame work of old building was used to build this new church. Electric lights replaced gas lights in this new church, repair work and remodeling has been done, and now they have oil furnace, and carpeting, etc. In 1960 the church builtan annex on east end of building. Then in January 1965 more work was done. In 1960 a kitchen, rest rooms, and a large dining area, which can also be used for Sunday School classes. This addition cost $10, 250, with furnace donated by Secret Service Class, and curtains by Christian builders class. In 1965 . . a new front door was installed, also a fiberglass baptistry, plus other noted improvements. An organ was purchased for the church, and the Bradley family dona ted a new piano in memo- ry of James and Bertha Ryrd Bradley; Dell Byers Thompson gave a Communion table in memory of her husband, Silas Thomp-
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son; communion chairs were given in memory of Mrs. Sparks; Lectern and flower stand in memory of Pearl Linn by Ernest Linn; pulpit chairs by Mrs. Maud Wallace Dickerson Jarvis; guest register and stand, Mr. and Mrs. Harold Thompson; drapery for baptistry, Mr. and Mrs. Horace Routh; Flower stand, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Amos, and window drapery Secret Service Class; Bradley boys donated lamp for piano, and many donated labor. Dedication was held on July 11, 1965. Sermon dedication by Rev. Paul Eddingfield, a former member of the church. Harris and Coddington had built the first bapistry in the church in 1897, finished it in December. In 1944 property was purchased from Ernest Linn for a parsonage. There have been 24 ministers served the church up to present time, one of whom was Rev. Homer Dale.
In August, 1877, the farmers in the New Ross vicinity, and several citizens of New Ross, held an exhibition of the products of the soil, both field and garden. It was held south of New Ross, in a grove. (Land now owned by Denver Feltner). Among the members were R. F. Bruce, George Sanford, B. F. Williams, Christopher Walkup, and W. H. Stewart . . No premiums were given at the first fair. They made an attempt to organize an Agriculture Association. Shares were $25 each, and there were twenty buyers, so organization was completed in 1878. Twenty acres was leased from James B. Jessee for 10 years, March 15, 1879 to March 15, 1889. Officers elected were as follows: J. N. Dooley, pres., Perry Yelton, vice-pres. ; W. H. Stewart, treas. ; W. W. May, sec .; and a board of 15 directors. They fenced the grounds, and held four more exhibitions, then they sold 61 more shares to 57 stockholders, and they did $4, 000 worth of improvements to the grounds. In 1880 they had a very success- ful fair, proceeds were $4, 000, and no entry fees were charged for produce entries. They had a half mile track and had good horse racing, and they also had good accomodations. A clause in the constitution said no intoxicating liquors were to be served on the grounds. They had fairs at this site for several years.
In 1871, a new school was built in New Ross. It was a two- story, twodepartment building. This school was used until 1899. It was 24'x 36' and had two rooms. In 1881 there were 192 stu- dents over six and under 21 going to this school. Total cost $9, 000. Prof. Tilghman Brown principal . . His wife Thalia Walters Brown, also taught here. This building was sold to George Sperry for $70, June 1899; another building here sold to Isaac Golliday for $85; the lot to C. O. Routh for $125. Furni- ture was reserved by the trustee, Charles Minnich. According to picture in Crawfordsville Journal, May, 1916, this is the way the school looked:
In 1899, Trustee Charles Minnich let a contract for a new school for $5, 698 to W. Carr of Crawfordsville. Building was to have four rooms. In February 1899, Mr. Minnich bought 3 1/2 acres of Ed Inlow for $500, between Big Four Railroad and State Street, for the new building. Hankins did brick work on building. This building was dedicated on October 20, 1899; address delivered by R. Riley. (My mother, Dora E. Linn Ran- del graduated here in 1906. ) It was only a three year non-com- missioned school when she graduated. New Ross became a com-
missioned school in 1910-11, and had an eight month school term. It may have been remodeled before, but in 1930, an ex- tensive remodeling was done on the building, and a large gym- nasium, separate from the school building was built, but it hasn't been used for last few years, only for practice; for school plays; and other entertainments. (More on schools later).
· In 1962/63, the Mace elementary school was disbanded. Children from the New Ross vicinity attended this school . . A new building was erected two miles northwest of New Ross, a thoroughly modern building. Land was purchased from Claud Quigg, off of highway 136. It was started under trustee Ralph Miller, and finished under trustee Robert Walters, and their ad- visory boards, Robert Walters, Thomas Evans, Kenneth Bay- less, (Mr. Millers) and Delmas Chadwick, Damon Crumm and Lloyd Carter, (Mr. Walters). This building includes a gymnasi- um for elementary ball games. It serves students from kinder- garten through eighth grade. All high school students 9 through 12 go to New Ross school, but before this new elementary building was built, the 7th and 8th grades went to New Ross. This new elementary school was dedicated August 25, 1963, with dedicatory speech by Richard Ristine, of Crawfordsville, Indiana, Lieutenant Governor of Indiana at the time. The pre- sentation and acceptance of the building was by Gordon Gibbs, Architect-Engineer of Louis C. Kingscot Associates; Dorman Harris, School Building Corporation, and Robert Walters, Trus- tee. The DAR presented a flag to the school, and later Mrs. Robert Bush gave a flag to the school in memory of her hus- band, who had been very interested in the new school. Her mother, Dorothy Harris Claypool was a native of New Ross. The Robert Turner Post No. 427 of New Ross, American Legion had the flag raising ceremony. Don C. Patton was first principal. The invocation and benediction was given by Stanley Hicks, Christian Church minister, and Del Sexton, Mace and New Ross Methodist minister. Eual McCauley, county school superin- tendent, introduced Mr. Ristine.
The school staff consisted of Mr. Patton, principal, Eulalia Meek, grade 1; Mary Duncan and Hulda Helmick, grade 2 Joan Miller, grade 3; Jean Hostetter, grade 4; and grades 5, 6, 7 and 8, departmental, were Lowell Anderson, Math; Science and Physical Education; Denver Feltner, Social Studies; Robert O'Kelly, Agriculture; Thelma Parnell, Language and Arts; Ber- tha Mount, Art; and Barbara Hunsicker, Music. The school secretary was Marjorie Plunkett Wright; custodians, Emory Jar- vis and Norwin Linn; and cafeteria personnel, Naomi Burk, Cry stal Haffner, Edith Hatch, and Ruth Morrison. (Mrs. Hatch only worked a few days, then Maybelle Bannon took her place. )
The school lunch program in Walnut township was started ir 1940's. At that time, they had one cook in New Ross school, and two mothers would come in each day and help out. I was one of the mothers who did this. At present time, no food is cooked at New Ross School, but all lunches are prepared at Walnut Township Elementary School, in their modern kitchen and transplanted in a clean, sanitary, enclosed truck, with dishes in a closed cabinet, and foods in thermidor containers which keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold, until served, and food is taken care of at New Ross by one or two ladies. This was started under jurisdiction of Robert Walters, Trustee.
In 1965, Montgomery County schools were consolidated, and three units were formed, The North Community School Corp- oration; the South Community School Corporation, and Craw- fordsville School Corporation. New Ross and Walnut Township Elementary schools are in the South unit. They had to name interim boards to serve January 1, 1966, to July 1, 1966, and Robert Walters, Trustee, was named president of this board. The board selected Robert J. Tandy as superintendent over all south unit schools, including not only Walnut township schools,
but Ladoga K through 12; New Market, K through 12; Wave- land and Alamo the same grades, but Alamo school was dis-
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handed at spring term 1967, when the permanent school board was elected in the May primary 1966, Damon Crumm was elected on the board from this area. Ron Howard was re- :ained as principal, and Clayton Mullen as an assistant at Wal- lut township school, 1966-1967 term, but for 1967-1968 term Ron Howard was retained as principal at New Ross, but schools were separated, and Claud Cope was named principal of the Walnut Township school.
Now in 1967, the South Community School Corporation board is busy with plans for new $3, 000, 000 building, and if this is lone, more schools in this unit will be disbanded. This is con- idered as progress, but there have been many people from a one room school building who have made quite a mark for themselves in this world.
In 1881, Dr. Edward Routh bought old carding mill of Elder Mathias Mount Vancleave, north of Crawfordsville, and moved it to New Ross. In July 1910, New Wall and Mr. Creasy bought elevator from J. M. Martin and H. T. Woods for $6, 500.
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In June, 1897, the streets of New Ross were improved. Seven- ty years later, 1967, all streets in New Ross are blacktopped.
3, The town of New Ross began to grow after 1870, and the small storerooms began to be replaced by brick buildings. Wil- liam J. Inlow made many improvements in the town, then he moved to west edge of New Ross, on a farm, and reminisced about the changes in the town from the time he came in 1866. He laid out five more lots in 1875, making a total of 54 lots platted by him.
The Bell-Atkins grist mill was 36' x 48', two stories, with three sets of burrs, in western part of New Ross, . . The B. F. Atkins and T. N. Atkins store, built by B. F. Atkins was : 20' x 80'. Their storeroom was the largest one in 1889.
In 1890's there were 30 stores and shops in New Ross. Some of these were John Kelly, a saloon; George Sperry bought Harry Gotts' restaurant in August 1897; Robert Harris and Smith Con- ner had a saloon 1897; Madison Rettinger sold his meat market to Hobson and Johnson in December 1893/4 and post office was in property of E. M. Graves. William McVey postmaster in 1899. Emory Graves bought back his drug store he had sold to William Joseph, in 1898. In March, 1899, Miss Debbie Schutt opened a milinery store, and F. J. Boohers tile factory was started. This tile. factory was at west end of town and there were several round brick kilns on the site, but these have been gone several years, and the marshy land has been filled in with cobs from the elevator, and no one would suspect a tile factory was ever there. Dorman Harris owns the farm, and Homer Wil- liams and family reside on the farm. A. W. Smith had a hard- ware, first on State Street, then on Main St.
Web Bowers was a merchant in New Ross; George Lewis had a grocery store; Web Bowers sold school books in his drug store; the E. M. Graves drug store was later operated by Forest Graves, and he too, sold school books; Karl Kratz had a bakery; Wil-
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at liam McCalment had a grocery store; Thomas Bronaugh had a drug store and saloon, but he moved his drug store to Browns- burg, Indiana in May, 1916, after 30 years in New Ross. He also started a bicycle factory here in 1893.
Grocery stores have also been operated by Albert Lasleys', they had a general store, and he came here 1916; William A. Wall; Melvin Crowder; Everman family; Albert Walker, and now the only grocery store in New Ross is the Fredericks IGA market. . .
Francis Marion Stoner had coal, and in May, 1892, he bought a machine to dehorn cattle; David Turner had a hardware in 1897; also in 1897, Hayton rebuilt the flour mill; W. H. Cod- dington had a grain elevator; other elevators have been Martin- Wood, 1 Wall-Creasy, the Walter Whitecottons, wwho still own the elevator, operated by Dorman Harris, great grandson of the Samuel Stillwell Harris I; W. S. McIntire had a line of buggies, and T. J. Moore had a grocery store. (The years of ownership
VI SIE Of Wiese places are not known by me).
In 1912, O. P. Crouch had a restaurant called the "Ben Hur"; Homer Gillespy had an ice cream parlor, near where Fredericks store is now. They had the type of ice cream tables and chairs that many people are trying to find now. I especially remem- ber of eating ice cream in there one time, for I had gone to New Ross with my father, and mother had told me not to get out of the buggy, as I wasn't dressed quite like she thought I should be, to be in the stores, but Mrs. Warner Linn and daugh- ter Christine came along, and asked me to go into Gillespies to get some ice cream, and I went !! Knowing I was disobey- ing, so that's why I remember it so well! Later Mr. Gillespie built a place across the street, but it later burned down. Harry Whitely worked for him. July, 1916, issue of Crawfordsville Journal said, "Harry Whitely, counterman at Gillespies rest- aurant was first to pass medical requirements for those who serve foods in restaurants. He has the necessary certificates. "
Mrs. Sam Smith had a millinery store, and her store was in back of Gillespies Ice Cream Parlor, and I can remember go- ing there with my mother, and as we came out of the millinery store, we could see inside of Laura Beck's house, who lived across the alley, as her door was open, and we could see her dirt floor, which was something I never forgot. I presume this was one of the early homes in New Ross. She was a familiar figure around New Ross, and could be seen pushing a cart around town. Later she built a home west of Christian Church. This was a small home, and it has now been remodeled and en- larged.
Bob Mullendore had a barber shop, as did Charley Morgan, Milton Atkins, Charles Gott, Wall and Lasley, and others. Bro- naugh and Lane had a real estate business and James Cunning- ham and son were blacksmiths; Matt Chambers owned a meat market; Raymond and Mary Huffman had a restaurant in 1930's. When highway 34, (which was called Dixie Highway, came through New Ross on State Street, was changed to go through New Ross on south side of town), it became highway 136. This new road was on south side of elevator. New businesses sprang up. A filling station operated by Charley and Bertha Gott; a garage by Dawson Feathers; a barber shop, owned and operated by Raymond Routh; and a small restaurant owned by Mr. and Mrs. Carl Shelley, called Kozy Korner. West of the elevator is the Whitecotton Lumber yard, Scout and Mary Morrison have a tavern and restaurant on Main St.
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