USA > Indiana > Rush County > History of Rush County, Indiana, from the earliest time to the present, with biographical sketches, notes, etc., together with a short history of the Northwest, the Indiana territory, and the State of Indiana > Part 60
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The town had increased in population and business importance but little until the completion of the Shelbyville & Wrightstown railroad, in about 1848. This gave a new impetus to the town for a short time, but from lack of sufficient patronage the road was abandoned in a few years. But notwithstanding this lack of ship- ping facilities the growth has been healthy and gradual, until they now claim a population of 1,000 inhabitants.
Carthage Lodge No. 255, I. O. O. F., was instituted March 23, 1866, by J. T. Hederick, District Deputy Grand Master, with B. White, Caleb A. Ball, Isaac Stewart, Levi Lauback, and J. T. Draper, charter members. Those initiated into the mysteries at the first meeting were: W. S. Hill, G. W. Love, Benjamin Faust, W. Hobbs, J. C. Campbell, D. Holt, W. S. Johnson, Noah Small, C. W. Overman, G. W. Sonders, W. A. Bodine, George Wiltse, T. P. Burch, J. G. Holt, W. L. Walker, Elisha Munden, William Sanders, J. Leisure and Samuel Harvey. The first officers were : Isaac Stewart, N. G .; Levi Laubach, V. G .; D. Holt, Cor. Sec .; C. W. Overman, P. Sec .: J. T. Draper, Warden; George Wiltse, Conductor; W. S. Hill, I. G .; Noah Small, O. G. There are at
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present about eighteen members. The present officers are J. H. Hill, N. G .; T. R. Wetherel, V. G .; John Street, Sec. The lodge has about $Soo in property and money.
Bank of Carthage .- Among the influential financial institutions of this section of Indiana, the Bank of Carthage deserves mention because it is one of the most prosperous, solid and ably managed. This institution was organized in the fall of IS75, and occupies its own building, which was completed soon after the organization. The directors were: Charles Henley, William P. Henley, Thomas Newby, S. B. Hill, and Theodore Morris. The bank was organ- ized with an authorized capital stock of $100,000. The first offi- cers who are still serving, are: Charles Henley, President, and Samuel B. Hill, Cashier. A general banking business is transacted in loans, deposits, discounts, collections and exchange. The stand- ing of the institution is evidenced by the large annual deposits, amounting to about $90,000. The discount business amounts to about $125,000.
Present Business .- One of the principal industries of the place is the woolen mill which was first established is 1850. It has since been rebuilt but is not operated at present. The flouring mill owned by Holt & Rider is one of the best equipped mills in the State. Their business is quite extensive and their shipments very large. The pump factory owned by Hill & Bundy was built in 1856, by Ilill & Small. Mr. Small, of the firm, claims to have been the owner and operator of the first portable engine built in America. Ilill Bros. are manufacturers of wagons, and Sylvester Talbert and Will- iam Shafer, blacksmiths. Merchants and other business firms are as follows: Morton Barber, Levi Binford, E. T. Coffin, Johnson Bros., William Johnson, William Davy, J. L. Hubbard, Willculls Bros., E. S. Coffin, Ilill & Cook, Mrs. Nona Newsom, Logan Stinger, E. N. Hill, Miss M. E. Hill. Joseph Hubbard, B. F. Mc- Carly, J. Todery and W. Minor. H. C. Phelps is proprietor of the Carthage Hotel.
The Natural Gas Company with a capital stock of $5,000 was organized in September, ISS7, and at once began prospecting. A well which was drilled to a depth of 830 feet now supplies gas to answer all the purposes of the town.
Society of Friends (or Quakers) .- The pioneer of this society in Rush County was Dayton Holloway, who cut out the road from some point east of Knightstown down the east side of Big Blue. River to the vicinity of where Carthage now is; he moved there in 1821. Thomas Hill, and Tamar Hill, his wife, came six weeks later, a short time after the establishment of "Indiana Yearly Meeting," at Richmond, the head organization of this society.
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Nathan Hill and Robert White came early in 1822, and then Jona- than Hill. The first "Friends' Meeting" was held in the summer of 1822, at the house of Nathan Hill, attended by the "heads" of four families, with three or four children. The next year Benjamin Cox, Jonathan Jessup, John Hill, and perhaps Pearson Lacy came; in 1826, Jesse Hill came. Dayton Holloway was disowned by the society because he accepted the office of Justice of the Peace.
Milton Hill, son of Thomas and Tamar Hill, was the first child born, viz., 1822. About 1823, a small log meeting house was built south of the present Walnut Ridge Meeting House, in which meet- ings for worship and business were regularly held. Benjamin Hill, from Richmond, Ind., built a saw mill at the point on Big Blue River, where Carthage mills now are, in 1826, and a flouring grist mill in 1828, his father, Robert Hill, was the owner. This grist mill, known as Hill's Mills, supplied by the never failing waters of Big Blue River, ground the corn and wheat for a large territory in pioneer times. Henry Henley came in 1828, and John Clark about 1832. They laid off and platted the town of Carthage in north- east corner of northwest quarter of Section 19, Town 13, Range S, 18th August, 1834, and John Clark for some years owned Hill's - Mills. Walnut Ridge Monthly Meeting was established the 16th of January, 1836, from Duck Creek Monthly, and White Water Quarterly Meeting. The number of members then was 447, inclu- ding children, sixty of this number then lived at Little Blue River, some ten miles south. In March, 1836, a meeting was granted at the latter place, and a preparation meeting January, 1842, and a monthly meeting in 1866 under the name of Carthage, and so con- tinued until 1884, when Little Blue River Monthly Meeting was established. Statistics of 1887 show 170 members. . Franklin Barnard taught the first school at the meeting house. John Kinley, trom Wayne County, preached the first sermon. The first settlers were: Moses Coffin, Thomas Macy, Thomas Swain, William Worth, Zaccheus Stanton, Asa Barnard. Soon after, in 1835, William Barnard and Hezekiah Clark came, and then John Barnard, Reuben Macy and George Swain.
Milroy .- Situated near the southern boundary of the county, and almost at the geographical center of Anderson Township, is the village of Milroy. In the midst of an extensive district that is unsurpassed for the fertility of its soil and surrounded by large farms, the owners of which have grown rich and prosperous, Mil- roy has become the center of trade for a large community, and has attained prominent rank in commercial matters among the towns of the county. Occupying, as it does, a commanding site on the bank of Little Flat Rock River, and encompassed by a region of
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flourishing agriculture, the thriving town seems to have obtained the kindest favors of fortune.
The first recorded history of the place begins with the year 1830, when Nathan Julian and Nathan Tomkins laid out the town and offered the lots for sale. Before that time the settlers of this locality had been doing most of their trading at Benson's in Decatur County. William J. Brown kept a small stock of goods about one mile south of the present site of Milroy, before the town was laid out. That was at a place known in the early times as Miller's Mills. In the southwest part of the township John Julian did a huckstering business about 1828. Wilson Stewart had also started a small store prior to those in Milroy, a short distance west of the town, in a log house that is still standing. But when the stores were started in Milroy, these straggling places of trade were soon . abandoned.
The first merchant in the town was Nathan Julian, who con- tinued a general merchandising business for a period of about five years. His successor was Thomas J. Larimore, who afterward took in his son-in-law, John Corbin, as a partner, and later, Harvy Hedrick. Others who have been in almost a direct line of succes- sion were: Seneca E. Smith, Richard Robbins, Samuel Green and George B. Elstun, Reuben Johnson, John L. Robinson, Aaron Vankirk, James Cox, Alexander & Thorne. Other stores have been kept by Wesley Morrow, Alonzo Swain, Frank F. Swain, Joel F. Smith, John Barton, William Burton & Son, George B. Elstun. The principal merchants at the present time are: Robert Dorste, Simon Pink, Joel F. Smith, N. E. Tomkins, William C. Barton, Edwin Innis, W. A. Blair, Mormon & Moster, John Thurston.
Nothing was of more importance in an early day to a com- munity than hotels, or taverns, as they were then generally called. Men were passing through the new country almost constantly in search for good lands on which to found a permanent home. Their impressions of any locality were moulded much in accordance with the hospitality of the people. The pioneer town was the headquarters for all the latest news as to the prospects for new settlers. Every early comer was anxious to have his particular part of the world rapidly settled and usually constituted himself a com- mittee of one to present in the best possible light his own neigh- borhood to a chance traveler through the country. The first hostelry kept in this portion of the county was by Nathan Tom- kins, one of the first proprietors of the town. This place was for many years the leading resort for the transient. Other men, who are remembered in this capacity, were: Hugh Smith, "Nace"
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Friend, Wes Morrow, Charles W. Gwinnup, Andrew Bartlett and Donald Stewart. The present landlords are: Nathan Tomkins and Henry Spradling. The former is a son of the first hotel keeper of the town.
In the pioneer days of Indiana the physician was an indispen- sable factor in every community. No single individual had more influence within the range of his acquaintance, or was looked up to with deeper awe than the " family doctor." The first to fill this important role at Milroy was Robert Scott. Since his time there have been the following : Doctors Barber, Reynolds, Robb, Bracken, Bussell, Nathan Tomkins, Robert Innis, and the present physicians, Samuel Thomas and Samuel Riley.
The first mill erected in this part of the county was kept by Gossett & Miller. It began operations late in the twenties, and after changing hands several times, it was abandoned about 1845. The motive power was supplied by the water of Little Flat Rock, which flows near the town of Milroy. The second mill was built by Thomas J. Larimore about 1832. From that time to this there has been a mill in almost constant operation at the same site. The present owner is J. G. Bickhart. It is a first-class mill fitted up with roller process machinery, and provided with both steam and water power. In 1865, or thereabouts, a steam grist mill was erected by Mount & Powers, but it did not continue long. A saw mill is at present operated at the town by Austin K. Smith.
When the railroad was completed through Milroy, there was but little time elapsed before the town entered into competition with the larger places in buying grain. A large elevator was erected by Elstun, Emert & Foley. Charles B. Riley afterward became owner, and he was succeeded by Brown & Root, the pres- ent proprietors. The railroad was finished through the place in the fall of ISSI.
The blacksmiths have been: Samuel McGinnis, James Tooley, McIlwain & Bell, William McGinnis, Newton Richey, Christian Sack, Height, John Jackman, William Innis, Jacob Lemasters, Josephus Henderson, Thomas , Van Camp, Solomon R. Smith, Charles Gwinnup and Mason Maxy. The carriage makers are: Fisk & Innis, James & Frank Richey.
In secret societies, Milroy is represented by two, the Masonic and the Grand Army of the Republic. Milroy Lodge No. 139, F. & A. M., was chartered May 27, 1852. The officers at that time were: William W. Riley, W. M .; G. W. Marsh, S. W., and William Bracken, J. W. This lodge has always maintained a good mem- bership, and its finances have been economically administered. It now owns its lodge room, the third story of the school house, and
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in addition to this has some money in its treasury. The present officers are: W. L. Barton, W. M .; H. C. Owen, S. W .; W. W. Innis, J. W .; Luther T. Stewart, Treas .; G. W. Rowe, Sec .; F. A. Higgins, S. D .; J. B. Johnson, J. D., and Charles S. Gwinnup, Tyler. The present membership is about fifty.
F. F. Swain Post No. 456, G. A. R., was organized at Milroy in the spring of 1886, with about eighteen members, and W. A. Blair, Post Commander. The present officers are: Thomas Foley, Commander; W. A. Blair, S. V. C .; S. R. Smith, J. V. C .; Jo- seph E. Taylor, Chaplain; Robert Dorste, Adjutant, and C. C. Thomas, Q. M. At this time there are about forty-five members, and the finances are in first-rate condition. The post is in good working order.
The first newspaper published in Milroy was known as the Ad- vertiser. It was started early in IS82, and was of but little im- portance. The owner was C. F. Pollitt, who in the fall of the same year changed the name to the Times. In January, 1887, the paper passed into the control of Mr. G. W. Rowe, who has successfully managed it to the present time. In July, 1887, he changed the name to the Milroy News. It is a five column folio, has a good pat- ronage and is a flourishing country newspaper. In politics, it is in- dependent. The interests of Milroy are faithfully advocated and the paper is rapidly gaining influence as a precursor of public opinion.
The natural gas excitement which has so largely prevailed throughout portions of Indiana and Ohio during the past two years has had its reflex in Milroy. During the summer of 1887 a num- ber of the leading citizens, believing that Milroy was situated within the " gas belt," took steps toward definitely settling the matter. The result was a well about 1,000 feet deep from which there is a strong flow of gas. Modern improvement has done nothing more beneficial for the poor than that which introduces natural gas to the homes as a fuel. The town is being piped and all the latest appliances are being introduced for the safe use of this subtile ele- ment of economy.
Situated as Milroy thus is in the heart of a prosperous com- munity and favored by nature beyond the neighboring towns, the future of the place is full of promise. There are here many per- sons who located in the vicinity when this was an advance post of civilization on the western frontier. Year after year they have watched the constant change which their industry and enterprise have so largely contributed to bring about and of them it may well be said,
" How blest is he who crowns, in shades like these,
" A youth of labor with an age of ease! "
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Manilla is the third town in commercial importance in the county, is located in Walker Township, on the line of the Cam- bridge division of the J., M. & I. Railroad. The town was originally laid out January 4, 1836, by Elias Murphy, Jonathan Murphy, Jacob Mull and J. Edward. The first plat consisted of twenty-eight lots. The town was given the name of Wilmington, in honor of the birth- place of many of the North Carolinians, who located in and around the village. William Wells, it is claimed by some, was the first resident. The first house was a small log cabin built of round logs and was located on the present site of the residence of Dr. Trees. The first merchant was Jacob Mull, to whose enterprise and public spirit does the town owe much. This store was kept in a small house that stood on the hill near where the King Wouse now stands. The stock consisted of all kinds of merchantable goods, among which one of the most staple articles was whisky. It is said that in those days it was seldom taken as a beverage, but its medical properties were universally conceded.
The date of the opening of the first store is not definitely known, but it is supposed to have been early in the thirties. In 1835, Mr. Mull sold his stock of goods and began farming, but in the fol- lowing year returned and built near the present residence of Dr. Trees. A few years later in partnership with Dr. J. W. Trees the store house now occupied by Mr. Stein was completed. In 1837, Riley & Frame embarked in the mercantile business, and in the spring of 1843, a man by the name of Woodfolk began a business career which lasted for many years. In 1848, a saw mill was lo- cated here for the purpose of furnishing the necessary lumber for the construction of the Shelbyville & Rushville Railroad. This road was completed to Manilla in 1850, the first train running to Manilla, July 4, of said year. To the success of this enterprise, Dr. James Trees contributed more than any other citizen of Rush County. The first grist mill was built in 1860. This was suc- ceeded a few years later by a large and well-equipped flouring mill built by James Fouch. This mill was destroyed by fire in 1882. In 1841, a tannery was established and for several years supplied the demand of the neighborhood for leather.
Manufactories are as follows: William Creed, wagons, buggies and road carts; Barnum, Mohler & Mull, heading factory, formerly owned by the Co-operative Manufactory Company; James Smart, carriage and general blacksmith shop; Edward Edwards, blacksmith; Frank Melser, saw mill. One of the most important enterprises of the town is that carried on by Cyrus E. Trees. He is the proprie- tor of a large elevator, by means of which he handles annually
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more than 75,000 bushels of grain, and his shipments of lumber aggregate millions of feet annually.
Present Merchants: John Grass, general merchandise: Charles Taylor, groceries; Robert Craig, drugs; Jasper Vancleve, grocer- ies: F. E. Haehl, hardware; W. T. Emmons. general merchandise; E. S. Jarrett, drugs and groceries; Hiram Stein, dry goods, gro- ceries and notions; Harvey Cowing, harness; Jasper Heolr, hotel and meat market; Marshall Heaton, bakery; R. T. Stewart, hotel and livery; Jacob Siers and Joseph Shook, shoe makers.
Among the more prominent physicians who have practiced here the following deserve mention: John Westerfield, J. W. Houston, James W. Trees, Dr. Ramey, Dr. Armstrong, J. J. Inlow, J. Spur- rier, Ephraim Spencer, Edward Barnum and L. A. Louden.
Equity Lodge No. 565, F. & A. M., commenced work under a dispensation granted by the Grand Master, in ISSI. This lodge was the outgrowth of Manilla Lodge, No. 34, which was instituted about 1865, with G. M. Collins, W. M .; D. Linnville, S. W .; Thomas True, J. W., and J. W. Parker, Secretary. This lodge, after several years, surrendered their charter, but was reorganized under the above. The new lodge has a membership of twenty- eight and own their own building, which is probably worth $1.500. The present officers are: W. F. Robertson, W. M .: F. A. Mull, S. W .; William C. Mull, J. W .; L. A. Louden, S. D .; John Rice, J. D .; James Smart, Secretary, and Arthur G. Gates, Treasurer.
Arlington, formerly Burlington, was laid out April 12, 1832, by James Collins and Levin Birt. To the original plat three impor- tant additions were soon made, viz .: that of Fletcher Tevis, 1836; C. C. Lee, 1854, and J. W. Green. The first store was started by Joseph Hamilton; Levin Birt was the first Justice of the Peace; the first blacksmith shop was by Peter Sapp. Levin Birt was probably the second merchant. A grocery store was kept at a very early day by Henry Birt, who was also the first Postmaster. A few years later Levin Birt built a carding machine near the present site of the Christian Church. To this burrs were attached, and corn sufficient to supply the settlement with meal was ground. In this mill one of the first casualties of the settlement occurred: Addison Veeder, a boy of about fifteen years, a stepson of the proprietor, while playing around the machinery was caught by the wheels and instantly choked to death. In an early day Jefferson Arnett built a tannery a short distance west of where Jacob Beck- ner's residence now stands. Near this he opened a store and sold goods for a short time. Robert Ford, a harness maker, may be classed among the pioneers of Arlington. The following are en- gaged in business at the present time: A. Geyer, groceries, boots
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and shoes; Henry Magur, general store; Owen L. Carr, hard- ware; G. Spurrier, drugs; William Dickenson, drugs; R. H. Moore, general store; Shepard & Osborne, saw mill; Beckner & Ball, planing mill; Conaway & Meredith, general store: Thomas Taylor, blacksmith; Gust & Tom Smith, carriages; Mr. Frederick, blacksmith; Henry Smith, shoe shop; Downey & Andrews, meat market; Barton & Kingcaid, livery and feed stable; Elizabeth Havens, tavern; Robert Hutchinson, grain dealer, and Jacob Beck- ner, elevator. Beech Grove Lodge No. 399, I. O. O. F., was in- stituted at this place, June 25, 1872. The charter members were: George W. Clark, Alfred Swain, O. C. Hackleman, J. T. Draper and A. Geyer. It was due to the interest taken by Mr. Geyer that the lodge was established at that time. The first officers were: George W. Clark, N. G .: A. Geyer, V. G .; Alfred Swain, Sec., and O. C. Hackleman, Treas. What is known as Odd Fellows' building is the property of the lodge, and is worth probably $1,200. The present officers are: W. F. Spradling, N. G .; E. Frank, V. G .; L. J. B. Thompson, Sec .; Robert Hutchinson, Treas .; Owen Carr, Representative, and A. Geyer, Deputy Grand Master. The pres- ent membership is thirty-five.
New Salem .- The first house on the present site of New Salem, was a rude log hut, built early in the twenties by Moses Thomp- son, who, in February, 1831, had the town platted and laid off into twenty lots. Dr. Anthony was the second inhabitant. Soon after the coming of Dr. Anthony, Reuben Runion built a blacksmith shop, and Israel Knapp, a wagon maker, scon followed.
It is said by those best acquainted with the early history, that . Thomas J. Larimore was the first merchant. He kept a small gen- eral stock. Jameson & Salla soon followed in the same line, but dealt more extensively. Among the later merchants, the follow- ing were prominent: Robinson & Miller, Richardson & Marsh, Andrew & George Griffin, Wallace D. George, and Brown & Willman.
One of the first enterprises of importance to the town was a steam saw and grist mill, built in 1859 or 1860 by Nathaniel Moore. This mill was moved to Rushville in 1866. A saw mill was built in the western suburbs of the town a few years later. This mill stood until ISS5, when it was destroyed by a cyclone. The present merchants are: Miller & Morris, and A. P. Wellman; saddlery and harness, Charles Cowing; blacksmith, W. H. O. Goldsmith; wagon shop, John Huffman; lime kiln, John Gearhardt. The town has a population of about 160 souls.
Glenwood, a town of about 300 inhabitants, is located on the line dividing Rush and Fayette counties on the C., H. & I. Railroad.
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The town, which was laid out June 23, 1882, by Jefferson Helm, Samuel S. Durbon and John Morris, was called Vienna, the post- office for a time called Steels, in honor of the first Postmaster. The first merchant was Alfred Thompson. His store house was a rudely constructed log and frame building that stood west of the present site of the Methodist Episcopal Church, on the present site of Ochiltree's planing mill, the two brothers of Alfred Thomp- son, Thomas and Henry S., built a blacksmith and wagon repair shop. The first tavern was kept by Mr. Steel, first Postmaster. This was located on the line of the old Rushville and Connersville State road.
Among the early settlers, in addition to those above named, were: John Gatterell, Moses Wiley, wagon makers; Gideon Klink, saddler; John Jack, merchant; Jonathan Woodcock, plasterer; Samuel Boden, carpenter; John Langley, merchant and preacher; Robert Johnson, preacher and tailor; George Kirk, saloon; G. Clawson, shoemaker, and Thomas Smiley, Joseph Clifford, Ward Williams and a Mr. Messick, Thomas Ochiltree and Henry Cline. Jefferson Helm was the first physician, and John Arnold was the second.
The principal business of the present by the following individ- uals and firms: Jesse Murphy, dry goods and groceries; Taylor & Crawford, hardware; Sisson & Chew, hardware; James Stiltz, gro- ceries; Bert Combs, dry goods; H. W. Nichols, saw mill and lumber yard; C. H. Alger, grist and saw mill: James Reed and Jonathan Banks, blacksmiths, and Thomas Ochiltree, planing mill. Drs. Elliott and Orr are at present the only representatives of the medical profession.
Falmouth .- Although Falmouth was not laid out and platted until July, 1832, it had been for several years prior to that time, a business point of no small pretensions, and having considerable neighborhood trade. The original town was located for the most part in Fayette County, and that portion lying in said county was laid out probably as early as 1824. It is now believed, although disputed by some, that David Drummond was the first merchant. The building was small and primitive in its construction. About the year 1825, several Kentuckians came and settled in and around Falmouth, prominent among whom were John David and Daniel Baker. Joseph Piper was also an early settler of the town.
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