USA > Indiana > Shelby County > History of Shelby 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 39
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Harrugari .- In addition to the societies already named, there is in Shelbyville a lodge of this order. It is a German society and it is called Hertha Lodge No. 80, D. O. II. It has been organized twenty-six years and has been reasonably prosperous. The offi- cers are: Frederick Chueden, O. B .; Philip Weimer, U. B .: Conrad Schroder, Secretary; Frederick Stephan, Treasurer. The mem- bership numbers at this time eleven.
The Star Mills .- This building where the Star Mills is estab- lished, was originally erected in 1856 by H. P. Johnson, who was a noted grain dealer and pork packer. The upper, or fourth story, was all in one large room fitted up for a hall, and it was called Johnson's Hall, after the builder and proprietor, H. P. Johnson. The hall was used for balls and theatrical performances, conven- tions, mass meetings, etc. In a few years Johnson broke up and badly worsted many of his former friends, from whom he had bor- rowed money. He went west to Davenport, Iowa, where he en- gaged in business. He was succeeded by the firm of Porter & Dixon, grain dealers, their names were A. O. Porter and James Dixon. This firm was succeeded in business by Jasper H. Sprague,
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who dealt in grain: he is still living in the city quite an old man, infirm, and retired from business. Next came Alonzo Swain and Lewis Neibel of Jackson Township, who dealt in grain and manu- factured hominy. In 1867, Alonzo Swain bought his partner Lewis Neibel out, and became sole proprietor; he put in milling machin- ery and converted it into a flouring mill. He dealt in grain, flour and meal, etc., and ran it successfully up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1872. After his death a company called the Star Mills Co., composed of Squire L. Vanpelt, Sidney.Robertson, William A. Moore, George W. Kennedy, James Y. Stewart and Michael Snyder, of Hendricks Township, bought it, ran it for two years, from 1873 to 1875, and then sold it to Peyton Johnson, who carried on the business until the spring of 1879, when the mill property was sold at sheriff's sale to Samuel Hamilton, banker, of this city, who bid it off for the amount of his mortgage judgment, which was something over $5,000. George W. Kennedy who had the mill rented ran the business until 1883, when he and John M. Brown, a prominent lumber dealer, bought the property of Samuel Hamilton. rebuilt, remodeled and thoroughly reconstructed it, put in the new Roller Process, which was then just coming into use, the first in this town to adopt this new system of mill machinery, and increased the capacity of the mill to 150 barrels in twenty-four hours. The firm of Kennedy & Brown continued to run it until the spring of 1887, when James B. Kennedy, a young man, the son of George W. Kennedy, bought Mr. Brown out, and engaged in business with his father, George W. Kennedy, under the firm name of George W. Kennedy & Son, who are the present owners. They do a general milling business, deal in flour, meal, bran, shorts, grain of all kinds. The main building is 60x100 feet and four tall stories high.
The Water Mill, commonly called the Shelby Mills, the old original mill, to which this is successor, commenced operations many years ago, even before the settlement of the country, before roads were made, and when "going to mill" was an important event in the lives of old and young. Year after year its ponderous wheel revolved, its machinery clanked. Almost a generation was born and passed away, when, having outlived its usefulness, it was torn down, and the present mill, or a part of it, built. The first flour and saw mill in the county was built by Mr. John Walker, in 1822, upon the site now occupied by the Shelby Mills. Early in the year 1842, James Elliott bought the property now known as the "Shelby Mills;" it then consisted of an old grist-mill with two run of buhrs, and the remains of a saw-mill. The latter was im- mediately rebuilt. In the spring of 1844, John Elliott came to
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Yours Truly J. L'Carson.
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Shelbyville and took a half interest in the property, and the same year a woolen factory was built just above the race bridge, and between the race and river. In 1846, the saw-mill was removed and the present flouring mill was built upon its site, and in 1856 enlarged to the present dimensions and its capacity increased to six run of buhrs and an output of 100 barrels of flour per day, besides meal and feed. In 1850 the property passed into the hands of Jacob Vernon and W. O. Rockwood. The latter was soon suc- ceeded by Evans Elliott, and under the name of Elliott & Vernon a steam mill was added to the water-power and the capacity of the mill was greatly increased; but owing to an accident caused by the machinery, Evans Elliott's health failed and he was compelled to retire from the business. The mill passed into the hands of Alex- ander Cory in the year 1859. and continued in his hands up to the time of his death, in 1864. David Kemp afterward purchased it, and ran it for some time. In the year 1865, William Elliott, David P. Campbell and A. O. Porter purchased the property and carried on the business under the firm name D. P. Campbell & Co. In 1866. J. M. Elliott became a partner, and still retains a one-third in- terest in the same, though compelled to retire from the active busi- ness of the concern on account of ill health. In 1868, George W. Kennedy succeeded D. R. Campbell as part owner, and in the same year A. O. Porter retired, selling his interest to the other proprietors. The firm was then known as Elliott, Kennedy & Co. In 1870, G. W. Kennedy sold his interest to John Messick, now president of the First National Bank, and business was carried on under the firm name of Elliott & Co. In ISSI, George E. Kent became a partner. In 1883, William Elliott retired, disposing of his interest to George E. Kent and J. M. Elliott, and the firm name became Elliott, Messick & Co. During this year the mill was re- modeled and roller machinery put in to take the place of buhr stones, the kind that have been in use since the earliest history of milling. In 1884, John Messick disposed of his interest to George W. Senour, and the firm now consists of the following equal part- ners, viz .: J. M. Elliott, George E. Kent and George W. Senour, under the firm name of Elliott, Kent & Senour, and is doing a pros- perous business. The mill building covers an area 50x80 feet, and is four stories high.
The Shelbyville Distillery was first built in the year IS57. It has been owned and run by a number of persons since its original erection. In 1872, it became the property of John Beggs, who con- tinued to run it up to May 9, 1SS3, when the main distillery build- ing was burned down; the office, warehouse, cribs, cattle pens and all outbuildings were saved. Immediate steps were taken for re-
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building the distillery department, on the foundation of the burnt buildings, and the whole concern was rebuilt during the summer of 1883, in an enlarged and more substantial manner than before. A change of ownership was also effected by vesting the proprietor- ship in a company called the Shelby Distilling Company, consisting of five persons, to-wit: John Beggs, former proprietor; John E. Beggs, commonly called "Ed" Beggs, son of John Beggs; Henry W. Beggs, brother of John Beggs; Reuben D. Harshman, an old distiller, formerly of Dayton, Ohio, and Robert M. Frazer, of Cincinnati, Ohio. The company was organized July 28, 1883, as follows: John Beggs, President; Reuben D. Harshman, Vice President; Henry W. Beggs, Secretary and Treasurer, and John E.
Beggs, Superintendent. They commenced running the distillery again November 2, 1883, and have continued to run it ever since. At the present time they are engaged in manufacturing cologne spirits and alcohol. Their capacity is 3,000 bushels of corn per day, but are not in the habit of running to their full capacity, as that would require the enormous amount of 1,095,000 bushels of corn per year. They can put in the market 15,000 gallons per day, on which the revenue tax at 90 cents per gallon, would be $13,500 per day, or $4,927,500 per year.
In addition to the main distillery building proper, they have erected a new distillery for manufacturing high wines, a rectifying house where high wines are purified by filtering through charcoal; a re-distilling house where the fusil oil is extracted, leaving the liquor perfectly pure; and a new cistern room and malt house. They also own the large warehouse on the north side of East Washington Street, immediately east of the C., I., St. L. & C. R. R. depot, which has been remodeled this year and its facilities for dumping corn very much improved, as well as its storage room en- larged; its capacity in that line now being 23,000 bushels, besides the machinery for elevating and shelling corn rapidly. The storage for corn at the distillery building is 85.000 bushels; making a total storage capacity or cribbing room for 108,000 bushels of corn in the ear, which of course requires much more space than the same amount of shelled corn would. The government tax paid from August 1, 1886, to August 1, 1887, was $847,413; besides 480 barrels of alcohol were exported to Europe, on which no tax was paid: a barrel of alcohol usually averages about eighty-seven gal- lons proof; and a barrel of cologne spirits forty-seven gallons proof. The proof is tested by the government officers in charge of the revenue business, of whom there are four storekeepers and three gaugers. The number of hands employed by the distillery .company will average forty-five men. Said company last year
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bought and consumed of corn raised in Shelby County alone, the very large amount of 210,000 bushels, always paying the highest market price for the same, and very frequently from one to two cents more on the bushel than the city dealers in grain were giving.
Conrey, Wallar & Deprez .- The amount of capital invested in the furniture business in the United States, and the number of hands to whom, either directly or indirectly, it furnishes employment, ren- ders this one of the most important factors of our national and com- mercial systems. One of the leading houses of Shelbyville, and one of the most extensive of its class in the State, making a spec- ialty of manufacturing every description of chamber and dining room furniture. from the plainest to those of the most highly orna- mental and elaborate designs, is that now conducted under the style of the Conrey, Waller and Deprez Furniture Co., the outgrowth of an enterprise inaugurated in this city upon a comparatively small scale in 1874. The business was materially increased, and the facilities considerably enlarged in 1883, at which time a reor- ganization was effected, and the present company was incorporated under the laws of the State of Indiana, with an authorized capital stock of $100,000, all paid in. It is one of the most complete and thoroughly equipped establishments of its class in the State. In January, ISS5. the factory at the west end of town, on the western extension of Washington Street, commonly called Washington Avenue, was burned down by fire from the iron smoke pipe, a high wind prevailing at the time. They immediately went to work rebuilding, and pushed the work so energetically that it was rebuilt and again reoccupied July Ist, 1885. The new building is a solid and substantial brick structure 50x230 feet in dimensions, containing three stories and basement, supplied with all the latest improved designs of wood-working and labor- saving machinery, for the economical and expeditious prosecution of the business upon an extensive scale. The office and ware-rooms of the company, located on East Washington Street, near the pub- lic square, occupy a commodious three story brick building 60x200 feet in dimensions. extending through from Washington to Jackson Streets; also another room 40x90 feet, south of Jackson Street; a portion of which is also used for the finishing department. The products of this company consists of new, elegant and original de- signs of walnut furniture, and re-productions in cheaper materials of the most elaborate and ornamental styles, which are sold by them to dealers. and shipped in car load lots to the principal cities in all sections of the United States and territories. An average force of fully 120 experienced workmen is regularly employed in the differ- ent departments, and the sales for the year 1886, amounted in
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round numbers to $200,000, an increase over preceding years, while present indications point to a gratifying increase for the present year. The individual members and officers of the com- pany as at the present organized, are: D. L. Conrey, President; Z. B. Wallar, Vice President and John C. Deprez, Secretary. These gentlemen are all old residents and well known citizens of Shelby County, and possess a detailed and comprehensive knowl- edge of all branches and departments of the furniture business, from the time the raw material reaches the workman's hand, un- til it emerges from the finisher's touch, in all its beauty and ele- gance of design and ornamentation.
The city hall of Shelbyville, is situated on the north side of West Washington Street, near the intersection of Tompkins Street, with said West Washington Street, is a handsome brick edifice, two stories in height, with dimensions of 30x60 feet. It is surmounted by a cupola for the fire alarm bell. The first floor contains the en- gine room for the fire department. The second floor, the mayor's office and council chamber, which are comfortably arranged for the transaction of municipal business. Its original cost was about $2,800, about $300 has since been spent upon it in the way of im- provements. In 1874, a first-class steam fire engine was purchased, together with reel and 1,000 feet of hose, at a cost of $6,000, and it has already more than paid for itself many times over, by value- able services in extinguishing numerous fires and thereby saving large amounts of property from destruction. It is called the Major Hen- dricks, in honor of Major John Hendricks, one of the original donors of the town site.
The Shelbyville gas works were built in the spring of 1874, by Messrs. Luce & Bro., of Ashtabula, Ohio. The city was first lighted on the evening of April 26, 1874, with gas. The works soon passed into the hands of the present company, July 1, 1874. The amount of capital stock is $20,000 and it is held.
Shelbyville Water-works Company was organized September 9, 1885, by the election of John Blessing, President; Henry S. Byers, Secretary, and Lynn B. Martindale, of Indianapolis, Treasurer. These men are still in office, by re-election. The capital stock is $75,000. They have eight miles of water-pipes, or mains, as they are called, laid in the streets of Shelbyville: seventy-five hydrants established, and so well distributed, as to fight fire successfully in any part of town; also, 175 private consumers, having water plugs on their premises for their own use. The capacity of the water works system is in excess of 2,000,000 gallons every twenty-four hours. The well at the water-works building is twenty-five feet in diameter and twenty-three feet deep, deriving its supply of water
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from a lower stratum than the bed of Blue River, as the water comes into the bottom of the well from an underground current or channel, flowing from a southeast direction and rising like the water from a spring. The water stands eleven feet deep in the well at its normal standard, and is considered one of the best water-works wells in the United States by all the civil engineers who have seen it. It is equipped with ample machinery for producing a liberal supply of water to the city, having two large engines for running the machinery and a stand-pipe 125 feet high.
The Press .- It is now more than half a century since the first newspaper was established in Shelby County. The county had been organized but ten years, and the people who had come to found homes in the newly acquired territory were poor and illy pre- pared to support such an enterprise. The field to the ambitious journalist was certainly not inviting; but a few of the leading citi- zens recognizing the influence of the press in giving tone and char- acter to society began to search for a journalist of experience who was willing to try his fortunes in the new field. Such a man was W. H. Heslip, a Pennsylvanian by birth, a practical printer and an experienced journalist. Mr. Heslip came in 1832, bringing with him from Philadelphia the material and equipments for an office. The first issue of this pioneer venture made its appearance in the summer of that year, under the title of the Shelbyville Argus. After a bitter struggle for probably two years, its publication was suspended and its projector returned to his native State, rich in ex- perience, but poor in that which is most essential to the success of such enterprises-money. Undaunted by the experience of their predecessor, Messrs. Kendall & Churchman, two active young men of but little experience, began issuing, probably in 1838, a five column folio called the Recorder. After a few months the paper passed into the hands of Coleman & Maymen, who continued its publication until 1842, taking an active part in the famous campaign of 1840. In 1842, according to the best information obtainable, the material of the office was purchased by John P. Wood, and the name of the paper changed to the Indiana Sun. The name was considered unpopular, and in a short time was changed back to that of Recorder.
In 1844, the Recorder was purchased by Judge David Thacher, a man of great personal popularity, an able and vigorous writer, under whose guidance the press of the county was raised to a higher plain, and its usefulness more generally recognized. After two years the name of the paper was changed to the National Vol- untcer. The paper was a seven column folio, artistic in its make up, newsy, and contained much editorial matter. It was a vigor-
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ous Democratic journal, and served its party well for nearly forty years. Judge Thacher continued its publication until 1857, when, in consequence of declining health, it became necessary that he should retire from business, and he sold the office to William R. Norris and John White. They, in a few months, sold to Smith & Randall, who, in the winter of 1858-9, gave it over to the Demo- cratic party. The party voluntarily contributed enough to put it in running order, and placed it under the editorial management of Thomas A. McFarland.
In September, 1859, the office was purchased by Reuben Spicer, an experienced journalist and practical printer, and under his man- agement the paper was much improved and the plant became quite valuable. In May, 1871, John Hoop bought a half interest, and in August of the same year purchased the remaining half. The pub- lication was continued by Mr. Hoop until 1880, when the office ma- terial was sold to Ray & McCorkle.
The success of the papers in opposition to the Democracy has been varied. Many of them were ephemeral and hardly deserve mention. It is probable that the first of these was the Lancet, a campaign sheet, published in 1848, with Hon. Martin M. Ray as editor. During the Pierce-Scott campaign, W. H. Colescott and J. W. Elliott established a Whig paper, called the Grape Shot. After the campaign Mr. Colescott retired, leaving the paper in the hands of Mr. Elliott and a joint stock company, who changed its name to the Hawk Eye, and under this appellation it soon died. It is probable that Mr. Ray, who was one of the most prominent Whigs of Central Indiana, an able lawyer and forcible writer, did much of the editorial work on these papers.
In 1850 The Independent was published by a man named Vaughn. The Scissors and Quill was published later by Edward Paine. "In IS53, Brainbridge & Weakley began the publication of the Banner, which was continued but one year, when Weakley sold his interest to Brinbridge, who continued but a short time, when a stock company purchased it and Col. Colescott was put in editorial control. In 1855, the Banner was purchased by Solomon Alter; in 1858 or 1859, he sold one-half interest to W. B. Gordon. This arrangement continued but a short time, when Gordon re-sold to Alter, who continued its publication until 1861, when, he receiv- ing an appointment in one of the departments at Washington, the paper was suspended. In 1862 or 1863, a Mr. Hall, of Rushville, commenced the publication of a paper, again taking the name of Banner, which was under the editorial control of D. M. Cantril. After a short career, Hall disposed of the Banner to James Thomp- son, who was in a few months succeeded by George W. Stubbs.
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After the campaign of 1864, the Banner suspended. In 1866, Mr. J. M. Cumback came from Germantown, Ohio, and established and began the publication of the Shelby Union, a seven-column paper. The name was soon changed to the Shelby Republican Union, and the paper enlarged to an eight column. The word Union was soon dropped, and called as now, the Republican. Mr. Cumback con- tinued the control for eight years and nine months, and in Decem- ber, 1874, sold out to Simeon J. Thompson," now of Lebenon, Indiana. While under his management the Daily Republican was first issued, January 3. 1879, with Mr. Thompson as editor and J. J. Wingate, business manager and reporter. In June, 1884, the office was sold to a joint stock company organized under the name of the Shelby Printing Co., by which it is still owned. The officers of the company are: Charles X. Matthews, President; James Caughey, Secretary and Treasurer; J. J. Wingate, Business Manager. The Weekly is a six column quarto, the Daily a six column folio. The latter is an evening paper issued every day except Sunday. Under its present management Mr. C. X. Matthews has had exclusive editorial control and it is largely due to his ability that the Repub- lican has taken high rank among the more ably edited and pro- gressive newspapers of the State. He has had much experience in newspaper work, having owned and edited a paper in Wythe- ville, Virginia before coming to this State. He has been editori- ally connected with each of the local papers of Shelbyville, and was for more than one year the Indianapolis correspondent for the Cincinnati Enquirer, and for a time traveling correspondent for the same paper. As a writer he has but few equals, and is by nature a journalist. In thought he is independent, in combat bold and aggressive, never at his best except when attacking, and then woe to the victim on whom his unsparing lash may fall. The repor- torial work of this paper is done by Mr. James Caughey, who is by education and experience well fitted for this department of news- paper work.
In 1872, the Shelby Independent was established by Reuben. Spicer and continued till 1875. The first daily published in the county was the Republican, which was begun September, IS75, and continued for a short time. A paper named the Shelby Democrat was published as a campaign paper in 1872, by Robertson & Wolf and edited by H. C. Conner. The Shelby Democrat is not the legit- imate successor of any other paper, but was rather an independent venture of Messrs. Sutton & Ray, by whom it was established June 13, 1878. In November of that year Mr. Sutton sold his interest to Albert McCorkle, then Sheriff, and it was published under the firm name of Ray & McCorkle until the death of the latter, which
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occurred October 10, ISSO. Since that time W. S. Ray has been sole proprietor and editor. In May, 1880, the Daily Democrat was established, its first issue appearing on the 4th of said month. It was started as a five column folio, but has since been enlarged to a seven column folio. Mr. Ray has not only given his personal at- tention to the general business management but the editorial page has from the inception of the paper been supplied almost entirely from his pen. From the beginning it became not only a valuable local organ, but one of the most aggressive, outspoken political papers of the State; indeed, one of the most ably conducted, and consequently one of the most popular of its class. As a political journalist Mr. Ray has always been fearless in the expression of opinion, a bold, yet somewhat independent writer almost command- ing public opinion by the force of his editorial comments on party issues and party leaders. His assaults upon the present Civil Service law as enforced by President Cleveland have been so gen- erally approved by his conferees and his comments so unusually copied by the press of the country, including many of the great metropolitan journals, that he has become the most widely known of all the Indiana editors and his paper one of widespread popular- ity. Charles Sprague has been connected with the Daily Democrat in the capacity of city editor since April, 1881. As a news gath- erer he is energetic, watchful and ever on the alert. He writes with a facile pen, and possesses that rare faculty of arranging his matter in an attractive and readable maner.
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