USA > Indiana > Posey County > History of Posey County, Indiana : from the earliest times to the present, with biographical sketches, reminiscences, notes, etc. : together with an extended history of the Northwest, the Indiana territory, and the state of Indiana > Part 32
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372
HISTORY OF POSEY COUNTY.
BANKING ENTERPRISES.
In the decade of the thirties an attempt was made to establish a branch of the State Bank at Mount Vernon, which failed, owing to the apathy of local capitalists. Hon. G. S. Green, then in the Legislature from this county, was at the head of the movement. Evansville carried off the prize, and much of her subsequent prosperity is due to that fact. In 1854 a private bank was founded by George E. Booker and A. S. Curtis, and conducted by them until 1857, when it passed to William J. Lowery, Rich- ard Barter, John A. Mann, Seth M. Leavenworth and Nelson G. Nettleton, who announced a capital of $14,000, and began to buy and sell exchange, shave commercial paper, etc. Deposits were received, and a limited quantity of the bank's bills were issued. A creditable business was done until 1864, when the bank wound up its affairs, and was incorporated under the new law as a National Bank, with a capital of $50,000, dating from April 5, 1864, with a charter for twenty years. The stockholders were John B. Gardiner, president; Seth M. Leavenworth, cashier; John M. Lockwood, Milton Black, Richard Barter, M. A. Weir, S. S. Dryden, Charles Leunig, John A. Mann, A. G. Crutchfield, James F. Welborn, John R. Evertson, W. M. McArthur, James Carson and Aaron Lichtenberger. September 5, 1865, the capi- tal was increased to $100,000. The bank has been highly suc- cessful, and at present has a capital of $100,000; surplus, $20,- 000; and its officers are as follows: A. C. Williams, president; Milton Black, vice-president; E. W. Rosenkrans, cashier ; George W. Robertson, assistant cashier; A. C. Williams, John M. Lock- wood, Milton Black, James Carson, O. L. McAllister, Michael Harlem and E. W. Rosenkrans, directors.
In 1856 the "Exchange Bank" was founded by Enoch R., De- Witt and C. and Lawrence James, with a capital of $15,000. They did a general banking business until 1863, including the issuance of "shinplasters." In 1863 they retired.
In 1867 the Mount Vernon Banking Company was organized, with the following stockholders: Seth M. Leavenworth, Joseph F. Welborn, Edward T. Sullivan and Charles A. Parke. They "started with a capital of $40,000. Welborn was president and Parke cashier. The latter became president in 1883. In 1868 Leavenworth sold his stock to his partners, and in 1869 Sullivan
.
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HISTORY OF POSEY COUNTY.
sold to Parke & Melborn. In 1876 Melborn sold out, and Alfred D. Owen, William H. Owen, Eugene F. Owen and Horace P. Owen secured an interest each and so remain to the present. Mr. Parke is yet president, and A. D. Owen is cashier. Their capital is yet $40,000, and they do a general banking business, including foreign, and merit confidence and patronage.
The International Bank of Mount Vernon was established August 27, 1883, by John B. Gardiner, M. Harlem & Son, John Pfeffer, Sr., O. T. Schultz, Charles J. Carpenter, Charles F. Leonard, V. Weckesser, C. Mutz and Mark F. Leonard. The only change in the stockholders to the present is M. Rosenbaum has the stock of Charles F. Leonard. The first and present offi- cers are as follows: John B. Gardiner, president; Charles J. Carpenter, cashier; Mark T. Leonard, assistant cashier. The bank has a capital of $50,000, and although comparatively new has a good business and the confidence of the community.
THE PLANK ROAD.
In 1851 a plank road was built from New Harmony to Mount Vernon by a stock company consisting of John Pitcher, presi- dent; Robert D. Owen, secretary and treasurer; N. G. Nettleton, John Sweeney, Enoch R. James, Charles F. Leonard and Richard Barter and Pitcher and Owen, directors. The road was quickly built, toll gates were erected, and a brisker and larger business to the towns at the termini was the result. The population of Mount Vernon, particularly, soon increased 50 per cent, part of which prosperity was due to the plank road. But the travel was not sufficient to warrant the outlay, and after a few years the road was abandoned.
VISITATION OF THE CHOLERA.
In 1851 and 1852 the cholera visited Mount Vernon, as well as the county in general, and carried off about thirty-five persons in all. It again came down like a wolf on the fold in 1873, and for two dreadful months spread sorrow and death in all direc- tions. People generally fled from it, but several instances of heroism are on record. Coal was publicly burned, and lime pro- fusely scattered on the streets of Mount Vernon. , The following persons died: Joseph Pickles, Miss Muncy, Mrs. William Mil-
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HISTORY OF POSEY COUNTY.
ler, Mr. Robert's child, Mrs. Sload, John Caldwell (colored), Lucy Kirk, Miss Snyder, Mrs. Collins, Mrs. Grant, Thomas Cald- well (colored), a negro woman and a pauper, Miss Sheldon, Miss Gordon, Mrs. George Wilbrenner, Miss Reichert, Mrs. Barker, James Werks, three of the Bells, Mrs. Helen Gordon, Larkin Duncan, Alvin Hovey, Mrs. Conrad Shertz, William King, a child of McLain, Robert Peters, Mrs. S. Huff, Taylor Woody, Orrin Johnson, child of J. C. Woody, Henry Osborne and wife, Robert Lyon, a pauper, Lewis Barton, Mrs. J. C. Woody and child, Joseph Harris, Mary Shertz, Mrs. Barton, a son of Bonenberger, Kate Shertz, Mrs. Grace Crow, Litter Watkins (colored), Mrs. Timmons, Dr. A. Matzdorf, Mrs. Robert Lyon, Mrs. McLaughlin, Miss Eva Hovey, Lizzie Haas, Cook's son, Dixon's son, a negro, Miss McDowell, Davenport's son, Anton Haas, John Quick and wife and child, Mrs. J. D. Hinch, Mrs. Musselman, a pauper, Mrs. Latham, Jeff Hopkins, Isaac New- ton's child, John Tier, Charles Kreis, Robert Moore, Mattie Stein, Henry Washington (colored), Joseph Clemmons and an unknown man; total, seventy-six.
ADOPTION OF A CITY GOVERNMENT.
December 7, 1865, an election was held to decide whether the town should assume the dignity of a city government, 219 votes being cast for, and 130 against the proposition. The first officers and all since are mentioned elsewhere. The city was divided into three wards as follows: First Ward, all east of Main and south of Fourth; Second Ward, all north of Fourth Street; Third Ward, all west of Main and south of Fourth. In February, 1866, a city seal was adopted. 'The pest house was sold. The city ordi- nances were revised and new ones adopted. In April, 1866, a board of health, consisting of John Conyngton, M. D., Marcus L. Blunt, M. D., and Edwin V. Spencer, M. D., was established. In May, 1867, the town debt was $14,449.32, which included the wharf debt of $4,500. In May the school board asked for an appropri- ation of $15,000, to build a new schoolhouse. Extensive improve- ments were made on the streets. January 31, 1868, the council was petitioned by 285 persons to issue city bonds to the amount of $100,000, to aid in the construction of the Mount Vernon & Grays- ville Railroad, The petition was granted. In May, 1868, it was
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HISTORY OF POSEY COUNTY.
estimated that the new schoolhouse east of the creek would cost $17,269. About this time, R. B. Whittlesey contracted to supply the city with coal gas; he failed to keep his contract. In July, 1868, the council issued and sold $10,000 worth of schoolhouse bonds, realizing about 96 cents on the dollar. In December, 1868, the council was petitioned to aid the Mount Vernon & Graysville Railroad with $200,000 in the city bonds; granted, and the bonds ordered issued; and the former order for the issuance of $100,000 rescinded. For the fiscal year 1868-69 the receipts were $24,- 291.81 and the expenses $15,921.55; balance, $8,370.26; debt, $11,913.33; debt less balance, $3,543.07. In July, 1869, R. Fisher & Co., contracted to supply the city with gas, but failed to meet their contract.
In November, 1870, the council, pursuant to petition, ordered issued $110,000 worth of city bonds to aid in the construction of the Evansville, Carmi & Paducah Railroad. Soon afterward this order was so altered that $102,000 of aid was issued [and $5,000 for the right of way, in all $107,000. Of this amount $95,000 bore 10 per cent interest and $12,000 bore 7 per cent. These bonds were all issued. In 1871 bonds of $3,000 were issued to build a schoolhouse west of Mill Creek, they sold for $2,820, while the house cost $4,501.80. Certain manufacturing establishments worth over $20,000 were ordered released from taxation for seven years. In June and July the cholera came: over 200 pounds of copperas were sprinkled in the streets. In August, 1874, bonds of $4,000 were issued to pay the school debt. In June, 1875, bonds of $5,000 were issued for schoolhouse purposes. Salutes of guns were ordered fired July 4, 1876. In May, 1877, there were issued $25,000 worth of bonds to be used temporarily for school pur- poses. In September, 1877, the city agreed to compromise her rail- road bonded debt for 25 cents on the dollar. J. B. Gardiner was appointed agent to negotiate. In June, 1878, the city endeavored to prevent the removal of the iron from the Graysville Railroad. In September, 1878, the citizens subscribed $358 to be used in dis- infecting the city against yellow fever, etc. May 11, 1880, the council agreed on a compromise of $52,167 to settle the railroad bonded debt. New bonds to that amount were ordered issued and all old bonds called in. As yet the city had paid nothing on the debt but interest, had virtually repudiated her obligations, and
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HISTORY OF POSEY COUNTY.
by so doing had forced the holders of her bonds into this unfair compromise. This amount, $52,167, was made to cover all out- standing bonds to the amount of $137,000. The following sug- gestion from Mayor J. B. Gardiner, was spread upon record and duly acted upon: "That, as all the old bonds have been received with the exception of about $5,000 or $6,000, and that would be received in a few days, the Fourth of July be set apart as a day of rejoicing; and that all the trades and professions turn out on that day to witness the burning of the old bonds, in honor of the great achievement of securing a compromise of our great bonded debt; and that the council confer with the citizens, call a meeting and make the necessary arrangements for that occasion." Great achievement! It appears to the historian, that the deliberate repudiation of a just debt should be no cause of rejoicing in a community as intelligent, wise and just as that of Mount Ver- non. One-fourth of the bonds were to be paid in five, ten, fifteen and twenty years, respectively. In December, 1880, $1,100 was paid for a fire engine and $352.80 for 500 feet of hose and other apparatus. The receipts of 1881-82 were $24,144.15 and the ex- penses, $23,986.70, leaving on hand $2,421.68. In July, 1882, bonds of $4,000 were issued to redeem outstanding city orders. School bonds of $2,000 were issued in November, 1872.
CITY OFFICERS.
Mayors .- William Nettleton, 1866; Otto Schaeffer, 1866; J. H. Burlison, 1867; W. P. Edson, 1868; J. H. Burlison, 1868; U. G. Dawson, 1872; J. H. Burlison, 1874; Oliver C. Terry, 1878; John B. Gardiner, 1880; Elwood Smith, 1882; Sylvanus Milner, 1884; William P. Daniel, 1885. Treasurers .- Adam Litchen- berger, 1866; James B. Campbell, 1866; Oliver C. Terry, 1868; William F. Burtis, 1878; H. A. Brinkman, 1882. Clerks .- Will- iam H. Whitworth, 1866; David King, 1868; William Wimpel- berg, 1870; Van B. Jolly, 1878; Charles C. Baker, 1882. Mar- shals .- Edward S. Hayes, 1866; Jacob Piper, 1868; E. S. Hayes, 1870; Michael Musselman, 1878; E. S. Hayes, 1880; John P. Paul, 1882. Assessors .- W. F. Stiehl, 1866; W. H. Stritter, 1866; James F. Ferguson, 1870; W. F. Stritter, 1872; Elwood Smith, 1876; W. F. Stritter, 1878. Judges .- Jonathan H. Bur- lison, 1868 to 1869 and then the office was abolished.
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HISTORY OF POSEY COUNTY.
FIRES, ETC.
This town has been singularly free from great fires until within the last two decades. There was a considerable fire in 1845, but no very valuable property was destroyed. In the win- ter of 1872-73 four large business houses standing near the cor- ner of Main and Water Streets were destroyed. On the 26th of February, 1873, the large mill and distillery owned by Munchoff & Wolflin was burned. October 19, 1880, all the buildings fronting Main, between Second and Third Streets, were burned, except the one on the corner of Main and Second, entailing a loss of $150,000, of which $100,000 was covered by insurance. The owners of the property destroyed were Mount Vernon Banking Company, Tuher, Boyce & Co., George Henrich, Elwood Smith, Henry Moll, John D. Hinch, E. W. Rosenkrans, C. F. Leonard, M. Harlem and Mrs. John Burtis.
PRESENT BUSINESS OF MOUNT VERNON.
In the decade of the fifties were the following business houses : J. Lowery & E. R. James, Richard Barter, Rosenbaum & Bro., Richard Barter & Son, Hector & Noble. Craig, dry goods, gro- ceries, etc .; John H. Barter, blacksmith shop; flouring-mill, D. C. James & George Muggs; saw-mill by Sarvers; hotel, Turner Nel- son. During the war period there were: Dry goods, Richard Barter & Son, Craig & McAllister, Rosenbaum & Bro., John A. Mann, E. T. Sullivan and J. T. Welborn; grain and stock, John A. Mann, Washington Boyce; wharf-boat, G. W. Thomas & Son; groceries, G. M. Weilhenner; blacksmith shop, wagon and buggy factory, John M. Barter; mills, Munchoff & Wolflin and Henry Schnur; boot and shoe-makers, Zimmerman and C. Stallman; merchant tailors, C. S. Fuelling; drugs, M. Cronbach & Bro., and Black & Conyngton; banks, First National and Mount Vernon Banking Company; saddler, H. Schneidel; saw-mill, Charles Springer; grain dealers, Thorp & Pefferday.
Business men of the last decade and the present have been as follows: Dry goods, groceries, clothing, etc., Rosenbaum & Bro., Raben & Naas, A. M. Lewis, A. C. McAllister, A. W. Uri & Son, Jacob Naas, S. Jarodzki & Son; groceries and provisions, Raben & Naas, S. & N. Hartung, Frank Smith, V. Weckesser, M. Rosen- gart, Rosenbaum & Bro., G. P. Waller, P. Espenscheid, Phillip
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HISTORY OF POSEY COUNTY.
Yunker, G. M. Weilhenner; blacksmiths and wagon-makers, Miller & Pearson, George Thompkins, Magill & Bro., Cralley & Greenfield, Louis Kaiser, John H. Barter (forty years), Eugene Wilson, Acuff, & Hieronemus & Dugan; mills, Henry Schnur (Belleville Mills), Pfeffer & Traudt, and Mill and Elevator Com- pany; hardware and cutlery, H. Brinkman & Son, Barter, Neal & Fuelling; stoves and tinware, S. H. Gronemier; Barter, Burtis & Templeton and E. B. Schenk; bakeries, Henry Dex- heimer and G. H. Franck; cigar factory, A. Fogas; saddlery and harness, C. Kreie, M. Scheidel and Charles Schmutz; boot and shoe-maker, Zimmerman, R. Leukroth, Charles Gronemeire, C. Stallman and William Beste; fancy goods, Miss E. Tischendorf; merchant tailors, C. S. Fuelling, H. Kluga, Phillip Mann, M. Harlem and Conrad Maier; barbers, George Feldman, J. McFall, George Henrich, Collier & Barter and W. S. Hinch; dry goods, clothing, boots and shoes, Rosenbaum & Bro., Raben & Naas, S. Jarodzki & Son, Jacob Naas, A. M. Lewis and A. C. McAllister; photography, L. W. Jones; fruits and confectionery, Odestin & Eaves and Preston Loveland; musical instruments and sewing machines, E. W. Noel; sewing machines, S. Potter; insurance agency, Union Insurance and Collecting Agency, A. Hutchinson and L. L. Rosenkrans; dentistry, Elwood Smith; newspapers, Mount Vernon Democrat, Western Star and the Sun; mil- linery, Mrs. Dismer, Miss Wagner & Co.,. Mrs. S. C. Will- iams and Mrs. Uri; clothing, boots and shoes, Myer Rosenbaum; butcher shops, Ike Wolf, L. Hueffling, John Pfeffer and Henry Kreie; hotels, Brettner House, St. Nicholas, Central House and Kahn's European; livery stables, J. K. Gregory and W. S. Spill- man; boarding houses, Farmer's House, G. P. Waller and Mrs. Overton; brickyards; Ed. Browne and Charles Fors chee; grain Union Elevator Company, Rosenbaum & Bro., Thorp & Pefferday and Henry Schnur; notions, boots and shoes, Peter Imboden and B. F. Chenem & Co .; bottling pop, John Forthoffer; drugs, W. L. Hollis, M. Cronbach & Bro., William McArthur and Thomas M. McArthur, W. H. Fogas & Co. and C. P. Wier; banks, Inter- national, Mount Vernon Bank and First National Bank; seed and feed stores, Henry Schnur and H. Zell & Co .; tin shop, John Sheperd; marble works, C. & G. Loerch; saw-mills, Ford & Mc- Gregor and Charles Springer; coal dealers, Thomas & Bro. and W. T. Peckinpaugh ; coal and lumber, tile, H. Brinkmann.
379
HISTORY OF POSEY COUNTY.
NEW HARMONY.
There is no place in Indiana, perhaps no place in the United States, about which there centers more historic interest to the scientist, the socialist or the moralist, than about New Harmony. The place has been praised by some in effulgent, and at times by almost fulsome, eulogies; at other times it has been traduced by the tongue of scandal. This has all occurred from the different views of its very peculiar society. Situated as it is in a bend of the Wabash, and surrounded as it was at first, by the forest pri- meval, with scarcely a single tree removed by human hands, and no human inhabitants save a few lingering red men who remained as monuments of almost extinct confederacies, it might seem strange that such a place was chosen as the abode of an intelli- gent and prosperous people. The founders of the place were the Rappites, and the leader and the moving spirit of this peculiar people was George Rapp. No history of New Harmony would be complete without a history of George Rapp and his people. George Rapp was the son of Adam Rapp, a farmer of Wurtem- berg. He was born October 28, 1757, and was married to Chris- tina Benzinger. He was the father of Rosina and John Rapp. Rosina died of old age in 1849 at the home of the society at Economy, in Pennsylvania. John Rapp was the father of Ger- trude, who is still living in the society.
The story that John Rapp suffered a nameless punishment even to death, at the hands of his father, is most bitterly denied by the society. From a manual or history sent out by the soci- ety it is learned that John Rapp received a severe strain while working at the company's warehouse, which threw him into a quick consumption, of which he died in 1812. A post mortem was held on his body and the testimony of witnesses was taken, all of which showed the above mentioned cause to have led to his death. Frederick Reichert, who is known as Frederick Rapp, was really no kin to George Rapp. He was a stone-cutter by trade, and, when on a visit to the neighborhood of George Rapp, became acquainted with him, and was soon an earnest and zealous follower. George Rapp saw in Reichert the mechanical skill and business qualification necessary for carrying out the scheme he then had under contemplation. Reichert soon became the busi- ness manager and confidential agent of Rapp, and was known as
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HISTORY OF POSEY COUNTY.
his adopted son, and was always called Frederick Rapp, and he so signed his name to legal documents. These were days of great religious intolerance in Germany, and Rapp became a dissenter from the doctrines and practices as taught by the Lutherans of Wurtemberg, and not being willing to submit to the persecution necessary in carrying out his ideas of religion and practice of do- mestic economy, determined to seek a home more suited to his plans. In 1803 he came to America and purchased 5,000 acres of land of Dr. D. Basse, of Butler County, Penn. In the spring of 1804 the "Aurora" sailed from Amsterdam for Philadelphia with 300 immigrants; six weeks later the "Atlantic" sailed with 300 more, and in the fall of the same year the "Marquette" brought the remainder. They, however, did not all settle in the same locality. The evil eye of their neighbors was upon them. They lived down suspicions and calumny by well-doing, and soon made the wilder- ness around them blossom as the rose. In 1807 they adopted celibacy, but this could not have been rigidly enforced, as will be shown further on. In other things they were far from being ascetics. Music, painting, sculpture and other of the liberal arts flourished under them. Their museums and gardens were the wonder and delight of those around them. Desiring a warmer climate and other more favorable influences, in 1812 Frederick Rapp visited six of the Western States and Territories, and was so favorably impressed with Posey County that he concluded to move the colony to what is now New Harmony. They accordingly sold their possessions in Pennsylvania, amounting at this time to about 6,000 acres of land, with their flocks of sheep and herds of cattle, and their factories; for these they obtained about $100,000. In 1814 a part of their number arrived at New Harmony, and in 1815 the remainder came, consisting of about 125 families and about 700 persons. Here they bought vast tracts of land, the most of which was in Harmony Township, but they obtained some in Bethel and a considerable amount in Point. They also held lands in Illinois and some in Knox County. All these . lands were entered in the name of George Rapp and associates, or in the name of Frederick Rapp, individually.
TOWN OF THE RAPPITES.
On the bank of the Wabash they laid out the city destined to
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HISTORY OF POSEY COUNTY.
be their future home. Their home in Pennsylvania had been very properly called Harmonie, i. e. Harmony and this new home for the same reason was called New Harmonie, New Har- mony. They at once entered upon the work of clearing away the forest and building houses, and putting in place machinery, and making such other improvements as were necessary for the prosperity of a vigorous and prosperous colony. An extensive water-mill was erected at the "cut off " about two miles below the town, this not only did the work for the community but furnished meal and flour for the entire surrounding country for several years. The place was well selected'for a mill site as the fall in the river gave excellent power. A large vineyard of eighteen acres furnished an abundance of the finest grapes, these grew on the hills south of the town, and Strock, the vinedresser, care- fully economized the fruits of his labor. He is said to have re- mained after the departure of the Rappites and is still remem- bered by the old settlers. Not far from the vineyard was the wine-press, this consisted of a circular tank or trough in which the grapes were placed and a large circular stone was rolled upon them to bruise them and to extract the juice. The remains of the old press are still to be seen. The wine was stored in cellars. near by to await a suitable market. At the head of Brewery Street stood a large brewery from which the street was named. They also had a distillery for making whisky. Possibly not very consistent, yet while Rapp encouraged the manufacture of wine, beer and whisky as an article of commerce, he rigidly prohibited intemperance in the community.
INDUSTRIES.
The large flocks and herds were watched by old Straheli the herdsman, who rode to the pastures in " Noah's Ark," a small house as it were placed upon wheels and drawn by cattle. In this Sträheli. sheltered himself and tended his flocks and herds. These were driven to the fields, to the hills south of town, and to the island for pasturage in the daytime and at night they were driven into. the barns and sheds for protection. A large steam grist-mill was built about 1820 near where Mott's house now stands; to this. was added a cotton and a woolen factory for spinning; coloring, weaving, dyeing and fulling cloth. A cocoonery and silk factory
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HISTORY OF POSEY COUNTY.
was in operation for a time and some very fine articles of silk were made. There was also a saw-mill a short distance southeast of town, the power being from a stream running down the hill- side; vast quantities of lumber were sawed by hand with "whip saw." About two and one-half miles from town on a small Creek stood an oil-mill for the manufacture of castor oil; there was a brickyard in the south part of the town. Instead of grind- ing the mud by wheel or mill it is said that men tramped the mud in the pit.
They had blacksmiths, masons, tinners, physicians and men of almost every craft. They raised almost every article of produce from the garden or orchard to extensive fields of grain. They cleared away the forest, and ditched the land. They built houses and barns and fenced their fields. They were slow in movement, painstaking, orderly, industrious. They were taciturn and courted not the society of strangers except for business. They were peaceable; in the main honest and sober, little given to literary pursuits, yet not wanting æsthetic tastes, as evidence of which they built a conservatory near where Dr. Owen's residence now is, in which were to be seen orange and fig trees and many rare orna- mental shrubs. The most curious of all was the labyrinth, which was located across the street not far from Mr. Wheatcrof's resi- dence. This was entered by mazy, winding passages which made several circuits before reaching the center, where was placed a curiously carved rustic house. The passages were enclosed by espaliers covered by hedges of currant, hazel and various fruit and ornamental trees. In addition to the buildings already men- tioned they erected many private residences and a large brick house for Father Rapp. This stood on the ground were Dr. Owen now resides, but unfortunately the Rapp building was burned a few years ago. They also built a frame church not far from Father Rapp's residence, this had a tall steeple in which was placed two bells for calling the devoted followers of Rapp to worship.
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