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 40
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George S. Jones, in ISSo, removed the material of the Fair- land Bulletin to Shelbyville, and in the spring of said year began the publication of a paper called the Volunteer. In a few months the office was bought by Frank Drake and Willard Barnes, who transferred its editorial management to Charles X. Matthews now of the Republican. He at once, through the columns of the Tolun- teer began a vigorous warfare upon the Democratic office holders and many of the local party leaders, charging them with extrava- gance in the management of the public fund, etc. After one of the most hotly contested and bitter campaigns in the political history of the county, the Democratic ticket, with probably one or two ex- ceptions was defeated. In the following year Drake purchased the interest of Barnes, and he in time sold to Hoop & Treadway, who sold to the Democratic Publishing Co .. in IS85. The name was at this time changed to the Shelby Times and on the first day of May, 1886, the initial number of the Daily Morning Times was issued. In July of the same year the office was purchased by James Magill, who is now associated with his brother Joseph Magill as publisher. Joseph Magill at once assumed the editorial management, and under
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his guidance the paper has had a rapid and healthy growth. In the newspaper work Mr. Magill has probably had a more varied experience than any one else who has been connected with the press of the county, commencing at the compositor's case he has occupied every position up to that of managing editor. He was for many years connected with the daily press of Evansville, having been city editor of each of the three dailies published at that place. Among other papers with which he has been connected may be mentioned the Cleveland Herald, Chicago News, Chicago Mail, and many others of more or less pretentions. As a writer he is rapid, versatile, trenchant and possesses that faculty so essential in modern journalism, viz .: the power to condense into a short para- graph what others would require a column to express. The Times is bright and newsy, and besides its editorial and local matter con- tains each morning, six columns of telegraphic news, which is fur- nished to considerable extent in plates. The service is a valuable one and the readers of the Times show their appreciation by the way they support and sustain the paper. Harry Griffey, a Shelby- ville boy, is at present doing local work on the paper.
Morristown .- Original town plat of Morristown was laid out by Rezin Davis and Samuel Morrison, May 3, 1828. Surveyed and platted by Meredith Gosney. It consisted of 48 lots 60x132 feet each. Streets sixty feet in width, and alleys twenty feet wide, are unusually broad width for alleys, which are generally one rod ( sixteen and one-half feet ) in width. Main Street was laid out on the Brookville State road, bearing north seventy-nine degrees west at that date. In the original town plat of Morristown, the broad twenty foot alleys were named as well as the streets, which is some- thing very peculiar: for instance, the streets were named Main, North, South, Poplar and Jackson: and the alleys, East Alley, at the east part of town: Pike Alley, between Main and North Streets; and Maiden Alley, between Main and South Streets: North and South Streets were laid out running parallel to Main Street, which included the Brookville State road.
Rezin Davis' Addition .- Addition was made by Rezin Davis, July 3, 1840. It comprised twenty-four lots immediately east of and adjoining the original town plat, surveyed and platted by Joseph B. Nickel. Nancy and Owen Davis' Addition .--- Addition was platted by Eden H. Davis and Owen Davis, with assistance of John Dargin, surveyor. It was acknowledged by Nancy Davis November 20, 1849, and by Owen Davis, August 1, 1851. It consisted of forty- five lots laid off east of the Knightstown & Shebyville Railroad track. Wolf and Kinsley's Addition .-- Made Dr. J. G. Wolf and Calvin C. Kinsley, June 26, 1867. It contained forty-five lots lying
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south of what was then called the Junction Railroad, now the C., H. & D. R. R. It also lay north of Nancy and Owen Davis's Addi- tion, and between a county road on the east and the Knightstown and Shelbyville Railroad track on the west. The John B. John- son's Additions .- First Addition, made by John B. Johnson Decem- ber 23, 1867. Twenty-one lots east of K. & S. R. R. track, and south of Nancy and Owen Davis's Addition. Second Addition .- Made by John B. Johnson, March 31, ISS2. Fourteen lots east of Washington Street and south of Johnson's First Addition. Third Addition .- Made by John B. Johnson, July 9, IS84. Twenty-eight lots east of Washington Street and south of Johnson's Second Addi- tion. Martha J. McGaughey's Addition. Made November 8, ISS6. Seventeen lots lying south of the original town and between South and Johnson Streets. John B. Johnson's Second and Third Additions were incorporated and recorded by the town trustees of Morristown, June 18, 1885.
One of the first merchants was R. A. Toal who opened a stock of goods in a log house that stood on the hill near the present site of Dr. Salisbury's residence. Soon a frame addition was built and the stock largely increased. This was for many years the princi- pal business house of the town, and was occupied by many of the early merchants. Seth M. Cole and son. W. B. Cole, deserve to be named among the early business men. Joseph Stafford, Isaac Miles, Alex Hargrove and James Osborne complete the list of those who may be classed among the pioneer merchants. There was very little business done at this point until the Edinburg and Knightstown R. R. was constructed, in 1848: but no real impetus was given to the growth of the town until the completion of the C., H. & I. R. R., in 1866. Since that time it has grown rapidly and is at present the second in size and commercial importance of the towns of the county. Almost every branch of trade is repre- sented, and the stores and business houses are large and commo- dious and would do credit to a place of much more pretentions. As a shipping point it is third in importance on the entire line of the C., H. & I R. R. Morristown at present numbers about 700 souls.
The Morristown Lodge No. 193, F. & A. M., charter was dated May 27, 1856, and the first officers were: Abram Reeves, W. M .; Wareham W. Woodward, S. W., and Augustus C. Handy, J. W. Present officers: Wesley Talbert, W. M .; Marion Moore, S. W .; Dayton Gates, J. W .: F. F. Whetzel, S. D .; Doctor Carter, J. D .; W. W. Woodyard, Secretary; M. Meyers, Treasurer, and M. A. Sleeth, T.
Navarre Lodge No. 157, K. of P., was instituted in ISS6, with twenty-six charter members. The first officers were: T. C.
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Wrenick, P. C .: M. C. Burt, C. C., S. W. Deibert, V. C .; A. F. Kinsley, P .: U. Stackhouse, M. E .: George O. Handy, M. F .; Isaac Kaufman, K. of R. & S .; Quincy Johnson, I. G .; T. K. Graham, O. G., and T. C. Wrenick, Representative. The mem- bership is about sixty. The present officers are: S. W. Dei- bert, P. C .; A. F. Kinsley, C. C .; U. Stackhouse, V. C., and Vernon Johnson, Prelate.
Valley Lodge No. 627, I. O. O. F., was instituted February 24, 1887, by the members of the Shelbyville, Rushville and Green- field Lodges. The number instituting. thirty-seven. The first officers were: O. F. Fitch, P. G .; S. W. Deibert, N. G .; G. B. Jorden, V. G .; J. M. Tyner, R. S .; H. W. Buck, P. S .; John Sleeth, Conductor, and E. T. J. Jorden, D. D. G. M. The present membership is forty-seven.
Lodge No. 281, Daughters of Rebekah, was instituted August, 1887, with fourteen charter members, but has in this very brief period grown to a membership of thirty-two. The officers are: Miss Hattie Fox, P. G .: Mrs. Frances Deibert, N. G .; Mrs. J. Johnson, V. G .: Miss Fannie Buck, R. S .; Mrs. Hannah Justus, P. S .; Mrs. Anna E. Williams, Treasurer; Mrs. A. Fox Conductor; Miss Mary Sleeth, Warden.
Gellettsburgh .- In early days there was a town laid out one- half mile west of Morristown, next to Big Blue River, on both sides of the Brookville State road. It was called Gellettsburgh, and its proprietor, who had it surveyed and platted, rejoiced in the almost unpronounceable jaw-breaking cognomen of Augustus Eitelgeorge. He not only laid out an original town plat, but he afterward made an addition thereto. We are informed by some of the old residents of Morristown and vicinity, that in the early settlement of that region, Gellettsburgh was a formidable rival to Morristown; there were stores, blacksmith shops, wagon shops, taverns, and all the paraphenalia of a flourishing pioneer town on a well travelled thoroughfare. But the fates were against the pre- tentious Gellettsburgh, it went into inevitable decay, and naught remains now to mark its whilom whereabouts, except two farm houses. But its old-time rival Morristown, hung on to life tenaci- ously, and since the construction of the C., H. & D. Railroad, running through it, has prospered and grown to be a live, energetic town of not less than 700 inhabitants, and is the second best town in the county. Another illustration of nature's law, which decrees " the survival of the fittest."
Fairland .- Original town plat of Fairland was laid out by Henry Jenkins and Isaac Odell, October 21, 1852. Daniel Brad- ley's Addition, made by Daniel Bradley, March 26, 1857. Isaac
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Odell's Addition, made October 31, 1865. Granville S. Harrell's Addition, made November 8, 1866. Richardson & McQuiston's Ad- dition, made by David Richardson and John C. McQuiston, July 9, IS72.
Fairland is six miles by railroad northwest of Shelbyville, it is the capital and principal business point of Brandywine Township. It was founded about the time of the construction of the I., C. & L. R. R. When that railroad was located and its building became assured, the said Isaac Odell, who was then selling goods in Shel- byville, established a general supply store at that point, selling large quantities of goods to the hands engaged in the construction of the railroad as well as the neighboring farmers. Isaac Odell, after selling goods for several years, engaged in banking and estab- lished the Fairland Bank, a private bank, loaning and discounting money, shaving notes, etc. The people elected him Justice of the Peace, this turned his attention to the study of law; having abund- ance of means, he procured a good law library and engaged in the practice of law, soon becoming the best Justice of the Peace lawyer in this part of the State. He was a formidable opponent in a law suit, managing his cases with such consummate skill as to be dreaded by the city attorneys, who frequently encountered him before Justices of the Peace. His ability before a justice of the peace was so great that the celebrated jurist and politician, Hon. James Hester. of the "State of Brown," pronounced him the " Prince of Pettifoggers," the Judge himself having been worsted in a forensic fight with Odell. He took an interest in politics and represented Shelby County one term in the legislature from 1869 to 1871. He practiced law to the day of his death, literally dying in the act of making a speech. with a law book in his hand, in Squire Mitchell Han's court near Fairland. Other leading merchants and business men in the early days of Fairland were Joseph D. and James Lacey, who sold goods and dealt in grain. Joseph D. Lacy is now a resident of Shelbyville and engaged in the United States service at the Shelbyville distillery: his brother James, still lives at Fairland and follows the trade of carpenter, contractor and builder. Captain Wiliam Judkins, who was in 1866, pro- prietor of the Fairland Mills, dealer in grain, flour, seeds, etc. He now resides in Indianapolis, where he has served as Justice of the Peace for some years. Whalen Gibson, father of C. A. Gibson, sold goods in Fairland for several years prior to his death. Will- iam B. Elder, who kept a general dry goods and grocery store, and who probably sold more goods and made more money in the same length of time, than any other business man ever did in the town. He died suddenly, many years ago, in Lawrenceburg, while on a
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visit to his relatives, seeking relaxation for the benefit of his health, but too late. Dr. S. J. Lewis, physician and surgeon, dealer in drugs and medicines: he enjoyed a very extensive practice, and though not a highly educated medical man, seemed to be a born doctor, as his remarkable success in the "healing art" abundantly evidenced. He died quite a number of years since, leaving a reputation second to none in the county as a doctor.
Sugar Creek Lodge No. 279, F. & A. M., was located at Boggstown, under charter dated May 27, 1862, with. James W. Smelser, W. M., Eli Johnson, S. W., and Moses G. Tull, J. W. This lodge was subsequently transferred to Fairland and now num- bers forty-eight members.
Boggstown .- Laid out by John McConnell and Armstrong Gibson in the spring of 1867. Acknowledged by Robert McCon- nell, administrator of John McConnell's estate, March 4th, 1869, and by C. A. (Armstrong) Gibson, February 17th, 1869. Twenty- four lots at the intersection of the Fairland, Franklin & Martins- ville R. R. with the Bluff Road. Range line No. 5 east, runs through the town north and south, and is marked variation 4° 17' east, by William R. Norris who surveyed and platted the town. This town is at the geographical centre of Sugar Creek Township, and is the precinct for voting, and the general point for all public business in the township. It was named in honor of Joseph Boggs, one of the pioneer settlers who lived one-quarter mile north of the present town site. It is eight miles northwest from Shelbyville. The original Boggstown of pioneer days consisted of a general country store, post office, blacksmith and wagon-maker's shops, and an extensive tobacco manufactory about one-quarter mile north of the present town. The tobacco factory was established by the said Joseph Boggs, and manufactured all the tobacco raised in the neigh- borhood into plug tobacco; tobacco at that time being a staple crop in that vicinity. The tobacco was peddled out by several large wagons which perambulated Middle Indiana, Eastern Illinois, and Western Ohio: it had a great reputation. The Boggstown brand was considered a guarantee of good qualities, and it met with ready sale. The earliest merchants were: Joseph Boggs, William H. Man- warring, Hugh McFadden, an old Pennsylvanian, father of the three McFadden brothers, to wit: James B. McFadden, attorney, and William G. McFadden, M. D., of Shelbyville, and " Uncle " Hugh McFadden, a prominent farmer of Sugar Creek Township. They were succeeded by Simon D. Rohrer, John McConnell, Dr. James W. Smelser and others, of whom I remember the two Pher- sons, James and George, a Mr. Hamilton of Franklin, also the firm of Thomas Keightly and James N. Judd, Dr. Stephen J. Lewis .
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William H. Mannwarring is remembered as the highly educated and polished school teacher, who had the reputation of having studied grammar and being able to teach arithmetic beyond the double rule of three, which at that time was considered the ne plus ultra of preceptorial accomplishments. He was " high larnt for them days." But he soon gave up wielding the beech, not the birch, nor the ferule, for the " beech gad " was the teacher's favor- ite weapon for the enforcement of discipline in his school, and was promoted to clerkship in the Boggstown store, where he made himself so useful and such a successful salesman. that he became a partner, and sold goods for many years, until the building of the Madison & Indianapolis R. R., made him desirous of a more eligi- ble location, when he sold his interest in the Boggstown store and migrated to Franklin, the county seat of Johnson County, ten miles southwest of Boggstown, whither many of his patrons fol- lowed him to buy goods, when they desired a big supply of family stores. and wanted to see the railroad. He sold goods for many years in Franklin, dying at an advanced age, an old man in busi- ness, and a highly respected citizen. Hugh McFadden, after sell- ing goods for many years at Boggstown, purchased a large farm about three miles north of Boggstown, to which he removed, and devoted the last years of his life to agriculture, and the improve- ment of his farm, which is now owned by two of his sons, viz .: Dr. William G. McFadden, of Shelbyville, and " Uncle " Hugh McFad- den, as he is generally called, because of his many genial qualities, who resides on the old homestead. An influential citizen of North Sugar Creek, John McConnell, was a farmer, and served one term as county commissioner, he died in 1868, I think. Thomas Keightley, after several years in the goods business at Boggstown, went back to Franklin, Johnson County. Ind., whence he came: thence to Indianapolis, where he lived, and was elected joint repre- sentative for Marion and Shelby counties. Stephen J. Lewis went to Fairland, where after a successful career as physician and drug- gist, he died full of years and honors. James N. Judd is still living and resides at Fairland. engaged in tobacco culture. Simon D. Rhorer, in early days a successful business man in Boggs- town, retired to his farm in the south part of the township, where he resided many years. After the death of his first wife he seemed to lose that shrewdness in financial matters which had distinguished him when younger, and in a few years lost all his property, dying a very poor man. The Mr. Hamilton, of Franklin, was a decidedly dressy man for a country merchant: he sold out and returned to Franklin, where he engaged in business successfully: is still living, I think. The two Phersons - one, James, the elder, died at Boggs-
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town: the other, George, left there: I have lost all trace of him. Dr. James W. Smelser was at one time the most prominent citizen of the township: he had become quite wealthy for that section, by marrying well, and shrewd business dealing in selling goods and buying real estate, and the large income that accrued to him in the practice of his profession: he also took an active interest in politics, and was a good average stump speaker; he became dissatisfied during the war, sold out in 1863, purchased property in Indianapo- lis, removed there, and after the war was over went south, where he died a few years later.
No place in the county, outside of the county seat, was better known in early days than Boggstown. It was situate on the Bluff road, eight miles northwest of Shelbyville, on the direct route to Indianapolis, and on a much better road in the wet season than the Michigan road. This drew a large amount of travel that way. I am also informed that the old pioneer firm of Joseph Boggs, Hugh McFadden, and William H. Manwarring, heretofore mentioned, not only sold immense quantities of goods and groceries to the neigh- boring farmers, but sent their tobacco wagons as far north as Chi- cago and Milwaukee. on Lake Michigan, which were then only flourishing small towns.
Waldron. - The original town plat of Stroupville, now Waldron, was laid out by George Stroup, March 27. 1854. It consisted of twenty-four lots, and was surveyed and platted by John Dargin, who was then the county surveyor. The Alfred H. Haymond Ad- ditions: First addition, made as guardian, September 16, 1855. " Laid out north of Stroupville." Second addition. made March 4, 1856, by said Haymond as guardian. Third addition, made May 10, 1864. Surveyed by J. M. Elliott, November 25, 1864, varia- tion north and south four and a half degrees east. Fourth addition, made April 9. 1870. Milton Coffin's Addition, made December II, 1863. Surveyed by J. M. Elliott, November 18, 1863.
Waldron, when first laid out, was called Stroupville or Stroup- town, after George Stroup, who owned the land on which the original town plat was staked off. It was in subsequent years changed to Waldron by petition of the citizens to the State Legis- lature. It is located on the line of the C., I., St. L. & C. R. R., in Liberty Township, about eight miles south of Shelbyville, and sur- rounded by a country of unusual fertility. Its history dates from the completion of the railroad and the establishment of a station. To George Wooden belongs the credit of being the first merchant. He brought here a small stock of goods and began selling in the frame house now occupied by J. & K. Haymond. The stock con- sisted of boots and shoes, hats and caps, dry goods, groceries,
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notions and hardware. J. J. Curtis followed in the same line and kept at the present site of Chapman & Laremore's store. Then came Robinson & Stroup, Haymond & Curtis, Thompson, Trees & Co., Hahn & McCain and Bryant & Row, which constitute the list of early merchants.
The first of the manufacturing enterprises was a saw-mill which was operated very extensively by Messrs. Graw & Newton. John Farren became their successor, and in response to an almost uni- versal demand for a grist mill Mr. Farren built such an attachment to his saw-mill and the two mills were operated more or less suc- cessfully until some time in the sixties, when they were removed from the place. Richey & Pearson began the manufacture of car- riages in the fall of 1854, which developed unto a prosperous busi- ness, but was discontinued after a few years. The post office was known and officially recognized as Conn's until about ten years ago when it was changed to Waldron. The first post master was T. K. Short, who served for more than ten years. Prominent among those who have been engaged in the practice of medicine at this place are: Drs. J. C. Richey, R. R. Washburn, C. B. Kennedy, D. C. Skull, J. S. Parsons and J. R. Jenkins. Waldron has grown very rapidly in the past few years and now has a popu- lation of about 450 people. There are seven stores, a saw and planing mill, lumber yard, two blacksmith shops, three saloons, a wagon shop, two restaurants, two barber shops, an undertaker shop, a hotel and a feed and sale stable.
Waldron Lodge, I. O. O. F., No. 197, was chartered May 20, 1858, with the following members: W. V. French, Greenville Wilson, William Newton, Milton Corvin, Aaron Lewis, A. G. Thompson, George Canull, J. P. Knott, J. Deem and E. O. Wal- lace. Prior to that time the lodge had been working under dispen- sation for about six months with George Canull, Secretary, and W. V. French, N. G. Its present officers are: Joseph McCain, N. G .; J. I. Wharton, V. G .; E. L. Armstrong, Secretary; S. P. Stroup, Treasurer, and H. M. Cotterman, Per. Secretary. The lodge is flourishing, and it has at this time more than $1,600 in the treasury and thirty-eight members. Charity Lodge No. 52, Daughters of Rebekah is also in a prosperous condition with forty-six members. The Waldron Encampment No. 154, had for its first officers: L. T. Haymond, H. P .: S. P. Stroup, C. P .; H. M. Cotterman, S. W., and L. S. Young. J. W. It was organized May 19, 1880, and at this date has a membership of seventeen. Its officers are: A. H. Wood, C. P .: C. E. Cotterman, H. P .: Milton Corvin, S. W .; J. C. McCain, J. W .; H. M. Cotterman, Scribe, and S. P. Stroup, Treasurer.
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The Masonic Lodge at Waldron was chartered May 25, 1858, with John C. Richey, W. M .: John Lewis, S. W., and David W. Fossett, J. W. This lodge has now a membership of fourteen. The room in which it meets is owned by the lodge, and it is out of debt. The officers at this time are: Ira A. Chapman, W. M .; Israel Buell, S. W., and George W. Stroup, J. W. A lodge of the Eastern Star was at one time instituted, but never flourished. Middletown. - Laid out by William Haymond and Daniel French. Acknowledged by Haymond June 19th, 1829, and by French September 30th, 1838, consisting of twenty-nine lots laid off. Main Street laid out on the Michigan Road from the land east seventy-four and a half feet, from the bend northwest seventy- one feet eleven inches. The other streets thirty-three feet wide; alleys ten. Joseph Cummins' Addition was laid out March 30th, 1838, by " Joseph Cummins as Commissioner of the Probate Court of said county, for the heirs of Thomas J. Euband, deceased." Surveyed by John Hendricks, January 31st, 1838, consisting of ten lots laid off north of the original town plat. Michigan road runs north 28° west, 100 feet wide, next to Conn's Creek on the west. The Moscow road in this plat is made a street forty feet wide. This is one of the oldest towns in the eastern part of the county, and prior to the construction of the C., I., St. L. &. C. R. R. was a business point of considerable importance. The road was at first sur- veyed and graded through the town. The citizens, to meet the de- mands of a supposed increased business, built large and commodious houses, which, when the route was changed, depreciated at least seventy-five per cent. in value. The town has never recovered from the blow, and at present has but a dry goods, grocery, drug and milinery stores and blackshith shop. The Moses, Haymondses, Frenches and Eubands were some of the early residents of the town and vicinity. The first stores of any consequence were kept by Joseph Cummins and David Lovett. Samuel Baxter was an early blacksmith. He also kept tavern. G. W. Bliss was a cabi- netmaker. J. J. Bliss sold goods a few years later. About ten years ago a distillery was built near the town by Miller & Powell, but later the firm name was Powell & Feaster. The capacity is now about one barrel per day. Business has been suspended for the past two years.
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