USA > Indiana > Shelby County > History of Shelby County, Indiana, from 1822 to 1876 > Part 2
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It is often apologetically said, that railroads pass through the least attractive portions of a country. Such is not the case with Shelby County, Indiana. The stranger who may visit us, may enter our borders by either one of our four railroads, and in neither direction need we have the slightest anxiety as to putting the best foot foremost.
The face of the country is diversified. Around Norristown there are large and beautiful fields that skirt hills of gentle slope. Around Mt. Auburn there is land that resembles the rolling prairies of the tar famed Upper Missouri. Around Morristown you can see highlands and lowlands, studded with farms that will bear comparison with any portion of the United States. Along the Flat Rock again you behold a variety of scenery, hill and dale, plateau and undulation. And over this entire scope-embracing 261,120 acres, the soil will bear the close scrutiny of actual test. It is rich and produc- tive and the very best evidence of its capacity may be seen in the fact which will meet the eye of the observer, that out of that soil the settlers of Shelby county have made a large and substantial prosperity. The men who settled this fair domain fifty years ago possessed little or nothing of this world's goods, and now the taxable property of the county amounts to $15,- 000,000.
This county is never in peril from the drouths that so often impede the prosperity and distress the inhabitants of other sections. Streams of water, clear and fresh, that pass over pebbly beds, traverse the country in every direction. There are eight of these water courses within our bounds, with a total length of 140 miles. They furnish ample drainage and suf- ficient water for agricultural and mechanical purposes. And it will give a more vivid picture of the situation, to bear in mind that these rivers have on each of their banks broad bot- tom lands of the richest and purest soil.
One who has never seen them before will be sure to be in- tensely interested in the noble forests we have. Up to this time can boast of Walnut, Ash, Oak, Hickory and Elm in
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abundance. The Oak, Ash, Hickory and Sugar Tree, pre- dominate in the uplands, while the prevailing timber in the bottoms is Walnut, Ash, Hackberry, Poplar and Linn.
Near the pleasant village of St. Paul, there are extensive quarries of a superior article of Limestone, These beds of rock extend to a distance of four to five miles around that locality, and are an inexhaustible and convenient resource for the future building wants of the great cities that surround us.
The principal produce consists in Wheat and Corn. During the season large quantities of hogs are shipped. Cattle dealers from abroad purchase many beeves here, But a stranger would be especially surprised to see how many head of horses are forwarded hence to the Eastern market.
The entire county is in every direction dotted over with im- provements, some of them very handsome, and all comparing favorably with the older sections of the United States.
The river beds furnish us with a most excellent substance for the construction of turnpike roads; and to what extent our people have availed themselves of it may be seen in such facts as these, that fifteen different gravel roads centre in Shelby- ville, and that there are almost two hundred miles of turnpike in the county! It may be questioned whether there are many sections in which there is such fine driving, and where a good road leads to every neighborhood.
The advantages of our county it will thus be seen are SOLID AND PERMANENT, such as no crisis can sweep away and no panic shake. Our resources are based upon the inexhaustible wealth of our soil, and the singular felicity of our location.
Such is the Shelby County of to-day. It is truly one of the favored spots of the earth. These facts speak for themselves. Our lot has been cast in a locality where prosperity abounds, and where nature has provided all that man could reasonably ask in the way of productive soil, genial climate, magnificent forests, pure and limpid water, and exempt from those de- vastating eruptions of nature and death-dealing epidemics that
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hang as a dark and forbidding back-ground over some por- tions of the earth. With the poet we may say,
" I have traversed many a lovely strand, Abroad and in my native land; Climed many a crag, Crossed many a moor, But by my halidom, A land more bright, more fair than this, It has not been my lot to pass."
THE GEOLOGY OF SHELBY COUNTY.
A very general impression prevails that this locality is de- pressed. It is probable that the level character of much of the surface of our land has given rise to the opinion. The very re- verse, however, is the truth. While the city of Cincinnati is but 432 above the ocean, Shelbyville has an altitude of 757 feet. Our position is nearly one hundred feet higher than that of Indianapolis and nearly 250 feet higher than Lake Michi- gan. We are therefore upon an elevation from both sides of which, to the North and to the South, there is a slope.
The surface deposits are principally derived from the Glacial Drift, subsequently modified by fluviatile action. Hence, while the soil is composed of fine impalpable clays, extensive beds of sand and gravel are found beneath the surface, and in the valleys and streams.
At the close of the Glazial Epoch this region was very deeply covered with Bowlder Drift, as is plainly indicated by high mounds and ridges of gravel and bowlders, reaching in heigth the summit level of the county. They indicate the enormous EROSIVE agencies, which have swept from North to South in this locality, and which have carried away the clays and finer materials. and left behind them the bowlders and gravel as indices and monuments of the depth which these le- posits originally had.
In the western part of the county the soil is somewhat modified by admixture of DETRITAL matter from the underlying shales, and hence its dark color and tenacious character, In
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the central and eastern parts it is modified by a generous ad- mixture of calcarious material from the lime rocks beneath.
Thus while the soil produces good crops of corn and wheat, it is magnificently adapted to the growth of grasses. "Blue- grass the Gold-finder of Indiana," flourishes with unrivalled luxuriance, and other grasses equal the production of the most favored regions.
The Rocky beds in the county comprise the Devonian and upper part of the Silurian formation. The black slate of the former, under-runs the west and south-west sides of the county and is seen only in the beds of the deepest streams. The lime- rock beds of the Devonian contain but few fossils, and the whole exhibit a thickness of from 80 to 150 feet.
The rocks of the Silurian period, succeed in age and come out to the surface from beneath the Devonian formation in the central and eastern parts of the county, and exhibit a thick- ness of from 40 to 70 feet. They contain a great many inter- esting and well-preserved fossils, which illustrate the life of the ancient Ocean, whose deep waters rolled over this region and upon whose muddy bottom these animals lived and per- ished.
The St. Paul and Waldron beds have long been a school to the Scientists of the world, illustrating the Geological Reports of many neighboring States, and filling Museums and Cabinets with beautiful and interesting trophies of the long-past.
An extensive business in stone is carried on at St, Paul. The stone varies in color from a bluish dove to a light gray, and is in strata of from a few inches in thickness to several feet, averaging about 18 to 20 inches. The colored stone has a great capacity for resisting fracture under weight-and is used for piers foundations, lime-work, water-tables and monumental bases. The gray stone is equally compact and adapted for door and window-caps and casings, columns and ornamental masonry. Subjected to the severest tests known to science this stone in endurance and all qualities required by the architect, is fully equal to the best, and acknowledges no superior. It
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has been used in many of the costly public buildings in this region of our country, and a demonstrative example of its merit and excellence may be seen in the new Court House, at In- dianapolis, the modest colors contrasting well with the neutral tints of other lime stones. This building material commands a ready market in the cities of the North, South, East and West, and tests the full capacity of the proprietors and railways to meet the demand. The shipments for the last year were 4,489 cars.
SHELBYVILLE IN 1876.
It is a source of great satisfaction that our county-seat has become one of the most beautiful and interesting places in the State. Its present population is 4,000, and the amount of tax- able property $1,630,920. For a long time its growth was very slow. Not until January 21st, 1850, was the town incor- porated by a special act of the Legislature. George Caruthers, Sr., was elected MAYOR, and J. S. Campbell, James M. Randall, Wm. H. Coats, James H. Elliott, and E. H. Davis -- COUNCILMAN. 156 votes were cast. The second election under this charter was held April 3d, 1852, and resulted in the choice of John Morrison, MAYOR; and Woodville Browning, J. M. Randall, S. Midkiff, Joseph Cummins, J. T. Bullock,-COUN- CILMAN. 241 votes were cast. Population, white 1,407, and colored 17. July 25th, 1853, the office of Mayor was discon- tinued, and the present city organization dates from May 16th, I860.
Since then our city has made rapid advancement in wealth and importance. Excellent and commodious business houses have been erected. Blessing's Opera House will compare favorably with any building of the kind in the State. The hall proper, while it may be surpassed in size, is not excelled in finish, convenience and ventilation. The National Bank Building, the Shelby Bank, Phoenix Block, Dr. Robbins' cor- ner, Odd Fellows Hall, Fastlaben's, the Jackson Hotel, and other substantial brick buildings may be specially mentioned.
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Among our best residences are the homes of Alonzo Blair, John Elliott, John Blessing, William E. Teal, Mrs. Loretta Corey, S. Hamilton, Mrs. Mary Montgomery, William S. Major, and J. C. Wagner. These are spacious and solid brick edifices. It would be impossible to enumerate the graceful and ornamental frame residences that loom up in every direc- tion and indicate the comfortable circumstances and taste of their owners.
Shelbyville is remarkable for its popularity throughout the county in every direction. Often our streets present an ap- pearance of crowding, and thrift, equal to a large city. There are more houses in demand than the supply. In railroad, tele- graphic, post-office, and gas facilities, and in protection against fire, as well as in advantages of access by fine roads and the pleasures of driving amid pleasant landscape, Shelbyville stands second to no place of its size in the wide world. Our streets, graded, graveled, smooth as a floor, and thor- oughly drained, owe much to the rare skill of Mr. Charles Magee, at present and for many years our Street Commis- sioner.
Now, as in the past, the mercantile interests of Shelbyville largely out-weigh its manufactures. However much this fact is to be deplored it is nevertheless true. It is not because there are not manufacturing facilities. Upon every hand are large forests of timber suited to manufacturing purposes. Already we have furniture, carriage and wagon shops, but not upon the scale that should exist. Abundance of walnut and ash for all grades of furniture can easily be obtained and manufactured here; and with Cincinnati, Louisville, Indian- apolis, St. Louis, and Chicago as distributing points, will com- mand a ready market throughout the west. The same holds true in regard to other branches. Competition in railway freights secures cheap transportation, and wood and water are in abundance. Even the facilities of a HYDRAULIC are within our reach. At a point six miles above town a canal can be built at a moderate cost, conveying water along the base of
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the bluff upon the north of town, giving a fall of from forty to fifty feet-sufficient for immense manufacturing purposes. The proposed route has been carefully surveyed by Mr. J. M. Elliott, who has pronounced it practicable. He also estimates the cost of the work at from $50,000 to $100,000-according to the manner in which it is done, the character of the bridges, &c. Conceding the immense power to be thus with comparative ease acquired, and conceding the fact that Shelbyville has lost its ability of ADVANCING A SINGLE STEP IN WEALTH OR POPULA- TION UNLESS MANUFACTURING INTERESTS DO CLUSTER HERE, what deduction must be drawn? Clearly none other than that the Hydraulic should be built. These facts, properly im- pressed upon the minds of capitalists, should result in develop- ing the nucleus we already have into larger schemes, employ- hundreds of men and scores of thousands of dollars, making the air resonant with the busy hum of machinery; the clank- ing of anvils, the ruddy fires of many førges, the noise of looms and spindles would then be familiar sights and sounds ; and better still, THE MORE THAN HALF A MILLION OF DOLLARS AN- NUALLY SENT AWAY FOR AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS WOULD THEN BE EXPENDED HERE.
III.
TABULAR.
We next present the following TABULAR EXHIBIT of the History and Con- dition of Shelby County.
FIRST SETTLERS OF MARION.
David Fisher,
Adam Rhodes,
John Forman,
John Sleeth,
Caleb Sleeth,
Balser Fox, James Grier,
William H. Sleetk,
Benjamin Hodges,
John Smith,
Benjamin Kaster,
Abel Summers.
Bennett Michan,
James Wilson,
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FIRST SETTERS OF SHELBYVILLE.
Campbell, Joseph
Mayhew, Elisha Sr
Davison, James
Mayhew, Elisha Jr
Gatewood, Henry
Mayhew, Royal
Goodrich, William
Morris, Sylvan B.
Goodrich, Nathan
Walker John
Goodrich, George
Walker Francis
Hawkins, William
Wilson, Isaac H.
Hendricks, John
Wingate, Smith
Lee, James
Williams, Benj.
Little, William
Young, John M.
McCabe, Ezra
OUR OLD INHABITANTS.
THE YEAR THEY
THE YEAR THEY
NAME.
CAME.
NAME. CAME.
Bassett, Jonah
1821.
Johnson, John B.
1825.
Bassett, Sylvester
1821.
Johnson, Elias
1825.
Booker, A. C.
1825.
Kaster, Samuel
1825.
Cherry, Andrew J.
1823.
Kaster, William
1821.
Cherry, John
1822.
Law, William
1821
Cherry, Thomas J.
1825.
Mayhew, Elbridge G.
1821.
Cherry, William Collins. Allen
1823.
Moore, John
1823.
Collins, Anderson
1823.
Mowery, Jacob
1825.
Collins, Eli
1823.
Nail, Obediah
1821.
Conover, Obediah
1825.
Nail, Samuel
1821 ..
Davis, George W.
1821.
Parish, Levi
1821.
Davis, John C.
1820.
Patterson, James
1822.
Davison, James
1821.
Rice, Michael
1826.
Fleming, Thomas H.
1826.
Robertson, Samuel B.
1825.
Gatewood, Peter D.
1821.
Robertson, Sydney
1825.
Gatewood, William H.
1821.
Robbins, Milton
1821.
Goodrich, Nathan
1821.
Sleeth, Andrew
1821.
Green, Absolom
1825.
Sleeth, Caleb
1820.
Green, Henry
1825.
Snyder, Albert
1821.
Goodrich, Thomas
1821.
Snyder, David
1821.
Hankins, William
1821.
Snyder, Daniel A.
1821.
Hinds, Michael
1825.
Snyder, Peter
1821.
Houk, David
· 1825.
Vanpelt, Squier L.
1826.
Houk, John
1825.
Wilson, Isaac H.
1818.
Hoffman, Fountain
1825.
Winterrowd, Joseph
1824.
Johnson, John
1823.
Worland, Leo H.
1825.
THE FIRST GRAND JURY, OCTOBER 10, 1822.
Jas. Gregory, Foreman, Jesse Bird,
Abel Cole, Zachariah Collins,
Henry Shearer, Zadock Plumer.
1
1823.
Montgomery, Samuel
1825.
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County Officers from 1822 to 1876.
STATE SENATORS,
James Gregory, 1825-31.
George W. Brown, 1853 -- 57.
Thomas Hendricks, 1831-34.
David S. Gooding, 1857-61.
William Fowler, 1834-36.
Martin M. Ray, 1861-65.
John Walker, 1836-40.
James L. Mason, 1865-69.
Joseph B. Nickall, 1840-43.
Thomas G. Lee, 1869-71.
John Y. Kennedy, 1843-46.
Oliver J. Glessner, 1871-75.
Augustus C. Handy, 1846-49.
R. M. Slater, 1875.
James M. Sleeth, 1849-53.
UZAHAT
REPRESENTATIVES IN INDIANA LEGISLATURE.
Thomas Hendricks, 1823-26.
In the session of 1840-41, Wm. W. McCoy and Joshua B. Lucas.
Lewis Morgan, 1826-27.
John Smiley, 1827-28.
John Hendricks, 1841-42.
Sylvan B. Morris, 1828-29.
Fletcher Tevis, 1842-43.[[
Rezin Davis, 1829-30.
Augustus C. Handy, 1843-45.
John Smiley, 1830-31.
James R. Sleeth, 1845-46. James M. Sleeth, 1846-47.
Sylvan B. Morris, 1831-32.
Rezin Davis, 1832-34.
Jacob Shank, 1834-35.
John Walker, 1835-36.
George W. Brown, 1849-51.
William Major, 1851-54.
Samuel Donelson, 1853-55.
Thomas A. McFarland, 1855-59.
Jacob Mutz, 1861-65. James Harrison, 1865-67.
George C. Thacher, 1867-69.
Isaac Odell, 1869-71.
James J. Curtis, 1871-73.
Samuel D. Speellman, 1873-75. William Patterson, 1875.
CLERKS.
Hiram Albridge, from 1822 to 1829. S. B. Morris, from 1829 to 1843.
Jacob Vernon, from 1843 to 1855.
Alonzo Blair, from 1859 to 1867. Jacob G. Wolf, from 1867 to 1871. John Elliott, from 1871 to 1875.
Alexander Miller, from 1855 to 1859. B. S. Sutton, at present. Wm. C. Miller, 1858-1859.
SHERIFF'S
Sevier Lewis, 1822, died in office-Isaac Templeton appointed to serve unex- pired term. John Walker, from 1824 to 1828. S. L. Vanpelt, from 1854 to 1858. H. H. Bogess, from 1858 to 1860. Henry Doble, from 1860 to 1864. Howard Lee, from 1872 to 1876. E. B. Amsden, from, 1864 to 1868. John Hoop, from 1868 to 1870. Ithamer Spurlin, from 1870 to 1872. Jacob Shank, from 1828 to 1832. Elisha Baker, 1832-36. John Stewart, from 1836 to 1840. Apollio Kinsley, from 1840 to 1844. William Wood, from 1844 to 1850. Alex. Miller, from 1850 to 1854.
William J. Peasley and Erasmus Powell, 1838-39.
William W. McCoy and Joshua B. Lucas, 1839-41. In the session of 1839, Wm. J. Mc- Coy and Balis Coats.
William Major, 1847-48. Thomas A. Hendricks, 1848-49.
Erasmus Powell and Edward Gird, 1836-37. William J. Peasley and Joseph B. Nickoll, 1837-38.
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RECORDERS.
William H. Sleeth, from 1822 to 1835. David Louden, from 1850 to 1867. Milton Robbins, from 1835 to 1842. Cyrenus Bishop, from 1867 to 1871. John S. Campbell, from 1842 to 1855. Thes. J. Cherry, from 1871 to 1875. Jamcs Millesen, from 1855 to 1859. A. V. Robins, at present.
AUDITORS.
Vorohes Conever, from 1840 to 1847. John H. Stewart, from 1847 to 1851. Robert W. Wiles, from 1867 to 1875. George W. Isley, at present.
TREASURERS.
William Davis, 1822 -- 23.
Elias M. Wilson, 1856-60.
Andrew J. Winterowd, 1860-62.
William M. Phillips, 1862-66.
Fountain G. Robinson, 1866-70.
John Cartmill, 1844-50.
James M. Sleeth, 1870-74.
James O. Parrish, at present.
COMMISSIONERS.
Wm. Goodrich, V. Conover,
Calvin Kinsley, John Sleeth,
Alexander Vanpelt, James Robertson,
Elias Millikin, W. A. Doble,
Henry Buck,
Edmund Cooper,
Moses P. Higgins, St. Clair Ensiminger,
David Fisher, George Conger,
Joseph Dawson,
Jacob Fox,
J. J. Curtis,
Adam Mow, John Kern,
Ashbel Stone,
Gideon Stafford,
John McConnel, Geo. W. Davis,
CIRCUIT JUDGES.
Wm. W. Wick, 1822 to 1826. B. F. Morris, 1826 to 1833.
Jas. Morrison, 1833 to 1840.
Win. W. Wick, 1840 to 1847.
Wm. J. Peaslee, 1847 to 1853.
Wm. M. McCarty, 1853 to 1858. Reuben D. Logan, 1858 to 1865, Jerry M. Wilson, 1865 to 1868. S. P. Oyler, 1868 to 1870. D. D. Banta, 1870 to 1876.
ASSOCIATE JUDGES.
John Sleeth, Jos Dawson, 1829-1836. David Thatcher, Calville Pierce- John Sleeth, A. Williams, 1836-1843. office discontinued. Ira Bailey, Thos. Cotton, 1843-1850.
PROBATE JUDGES.
Erasmus Powell, 1822 to 1836. Wm. H. Sleeth, 1843 to 1850. Jacob Kennerly, 1836 to 1843. Cyrus Wright, 1850 to 1853.
James Rule,
Thomas Clayton,
Wm. S. Ensley, C. Girton,
Sam'l Montgomery, Geo. Senior,
Elijah Tyner, Hugh Campbell,
Alex. Cory,
Louis Fessenbeck, Ithamer Davison.
Elijah Mawhew, 1823-39.
Thomas H. Fleming, 1839-42.
Levi Lainger, 1842-44.
Alexander Miller, 1850-54.
Isaac H. Wilson, 1854-56.
Squier L. Vanpelt, from 1859 to 1867.
John J. White, from 1851 to 1859.
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COMMON PLEAS.
James M. Sleeth, 1853 to 1861. O. J. Glessner, 1865 to 1869. Richard L. Coffey, 1869 to 1873.
The Bar. IN 1822.
Brackinridge, A. Dolany, James Test, Charles
Curry, Hiram W. Fletcher, Calvin
IN 1876.
Adams, E. K.
Higgins, A. J.
Mitchner, Louis T.
Adams, Thomas B.
Haymond, James W.
Morrison, C. W.
Berryman, N. B.
Hord, Kendall M.
Norris, Richard
Blair, Alonzo
Mockman, James T. Odell, Isaac
Daugherty, H. H.
Love, Benjamin F.
Ray, H. C.
Conner, William Z.
Major, Alfred
Ray, W. Scott Wells, R. S.
Feibleman, L.
Major, Stephen
Fuget, I. W.
Major, S. L.
Whitcomb, Harry
Glessner, Oliver J.
Mayhew, Elbridge G.
Wilson, D. L.
Hart, James C.
McFadden, James B.
Wright, Geo. M.
Harrison, James
McGuire, James E.
Wright, J. T.
The Medical Profession of Shelbyville in 1876.
Clayton, J. R. (dentist)
Long, Henry
Rice, J. S. (dentist)
Day, S. D. Leach, Ellet W.
Robbins, Milton
Green, William F.
McFadden, W. G.
Robbins, James P.
Fleming, George W.
Parrish, J. W.
Slocum, John C.
Kennedy, Samuel A. Perry, John
Walker, John C.
Mayors of Shelbyville.
George Caruthers, John Morrison, Sr.
Wm. Hacker,
James Elliott, James E. Maguire, John S. Campbell,
Fletcher Meredith, Stephen Allen, George C. Morrison.
The Clergy of Shelbyville in 1876.
Bassett, Miles-Baptist. Eshmeyer, J. H- Presbyterian, Harrison, Thomas-M. E. Jolly, William T .- Baptist, Kent, Eliphalet-Presbyterian, Kent, Joseph H-Presbyterian, Morrison, Samuel-Methodist.
Reece, John-Baptist, Roberts, John A .- Christian, Roberts, Robert-M. E. Rudolph, Francis J. - Catholic Sluter, George -- Presbyterian, Tucker, Daniel-M. E.
George A. Buskirk, 1861 to 1865.
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Official Directory-1876.
COUNTY OFFICERS.
Wm. Patterson, Representative,
St. C. Ensminger, Com'r Ist District,
E. T. Keightley, Joint Representative, Ithamar Davison, 66 2d
B. S. Sutton, Clerk,
Edmund Cooper,
66
3d
66
T. H. Lee, Sheriff,
Chas. F. Webster, Surveyor,
Geo. W. Isley, Auditor,
John Maholm, Coroner,
J. O. Parrish, Treasurer,
S. L. Major, County Superintendent.
Alf. V. Robins, Recorder,
Hon. David D. Banta, of Johnson County, Judge of the 16th Judicial Circuit. W. S. Ray, of Shelby County, Prosecuting Attorney of the 16th Judicial Circuit.
Circuit Court convenes on the first Monday of March, fourth Monday in May, fifth Monday in September and third Monday in December, and continues seven weeks each term.
Commissioners Court convenes on the first Monday in March, June, Septem- ber and December, and continues nine days each term.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
Levi Runshe, Joe. W. Sandefur, Jackson Township.
Wm. M. Deiwert, Jno. Clark, .
Washington "
S. H. Gregory, M. L. Copeland, Thos. J. Jones, Noble 66
J. L. Midkiff, Thad. Lewis, . Liberty 66
A. J. Higgins, Michael Posz, L. Feibleman, R. Norris, Addison 66
Jesse Shaw, Wm. F. Higgins, Hendricks $6
Wm. P. Holdon, Jno. Fraser, .
. Sugar Creek «%
J. L. Monjar, T. B. Carey, I. D. Tull,
. Brandywine “*
Sampson Meiks, Michael Rice, .
Marion 66
Thos. Moberly, E. W. Hester, Union 66
Samuel Stiers, M. A. Sleeth, . Hanover 66
Samuel Martin, Jno. F. Room,
Van Buren
A. J. Smith,
Moral 66
TOWNSHIP TRUSTEES:
Thomas Stine, ..
Jackson Township.
Wm. E. Deacon,
Washington
F. W. Avery,
Noble
Jasper Heck,
Liberty 66
Conrad Schroeder,
Addison 66
Henry L. Ross,
Hendricks 66
Ben. Farmrbough,
Sugar Creek
Wm. Goodwin,
Brandywine 66
Alfred Fox,
Marion 66
L. H, Branson,
Union 66
M. B. Chadwick, Geo. W. Davis,
Hanover
Van Buren 66
Dan. B. Smith,
Moral 66
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IV.
STATISTICAL.
The statistics of our County we give under the following heads :
THE TOWNS.
NAMES QF TOWNS.
Dates of Organization| Population
2
in 1875. 1
Shelbyville, .
Sept. 8 23, 1822,
Morristown,
May 10. 3, 1828,
225
Middletown, .
June 19, 1829,
150
Mt. Pleasant,
June 2, 1831,
Brandywine,
August 6, 1832,
15
Gelletsburg,
January 17, 1833.
Savannah, .
June 9, 1834,
Cynthianna,
August 19, 1835,
100
Scottsville, .
Feb. 23, 1835,
Freeport,
March
7, 1836, 60
Pleasant View, . .
July 6, 1836,
50
Blackhawk (now Mt. Vernon),
January 18, 1837,
.89
Dobletown, . .
October 3, 1837,
IO
New Holland,
April
29, 1837,
Houghburg (now Boggstown), .
July 16, 1838,
Vinton,
March
20, 1838,
Marietta,
June 19, 1839, 175
Smithland,
October 28, 1851,
50
London,
July 21, 1852,
100
Fairland,
October 21, 1852, 500
Brookfield,
Nov.
26, 1853,
75
Geneva, . .
October 28, 1853,
40
Fountaintown, .
Dec.
23, 1854,
260
Stroupville (now Waldron),
March
27, 1854,
400
Flatrock,
May
2, 1855,
30
St. Paul,
April
4, 1856,
100
Prescott,
June
28, 1867, 25
Boggstown,
Feb.
17. 1869,
75
POPULATION OF THE COUNTY.
1840
12,502
1860
19,360
1850.
15,671
1870. 21,981
The increase in population has been more rapid during the past four or five years than any previous period of equal length, and the enumeration of school children 8399 indicates a population of at least 24,000.
HU boaanq
.
.
.
.
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TAXABLE PROPERTY.
The increase in valuation of taxable property has exceeded the increase in population, viz :
Lands and Improvements.
Per. Property.
Total.
1850
$1,658,636
$753,845
$2,412,481
1860.
5,237,200
1,816,875
7,054,075
1870.
8,376,065
2,941,585
11,317,650
1875
11,157,980
3,115,495
14,313,475
ACREAGE OF THE TOWNSHIPS.
Jackson,
21,066 Hendricks,
22,774 Hanover,
17,092
Washington,
21,352 Sugar Creek,
14,777 Van Buren,
17.597
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