History of Vigo county, Indiana, with biographical selections, Part 49

Author: Bradsby, Henry C
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago : S.B. Nelson & co.
Number of Pages: 1032

USA > Indiana > Vigo County > History of Vigo county, Indiana, with biographical selections > Part 49

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They were succeeded in this house by John Burson, who had been packing in a cheap wooden structure, which he had erected on the south side of Wabash street, below First. Alexander Mc- Cune packed at Burson's old house for a time. Daniel Johnson and Ralph Wilson did business for some time in a frame house they built on the north side of Wabash street, on the lot once oc- cupied by J. M. Davis' wagon yard. Hogs were packed also on the premises now occupied by Dr. Pence's residence. Jacob D. Early, after packing for some years with Joseph Miller, opened a house of his own in the cooper shop built by George Hamer on the south side of Mulberry street.

This house continued to be used as a pork-house for some years, when it was converted into a theater, where our old citizens were wont to be entertained by the performances of old Aleck Drage and wife, Sam Lathrop, Sam Burgess and others who wore the buckskin professionally, and also by the histrionic efforts of "na- tive talent."

Chauncy B. Miller erected a pork-house in the year 1841, on the lot on the corner of Canal and Water streets, where he did a commission packing business until 1845, when Jacob D. Early, who had been packing since 1836 with Joseph Miller, rented his estab- lishment. Mr. Early purchased the premises in 1848, and built his large pork-house the same year.

James Johnson built a packing-house on the alley between

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HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.

First street and the river, in 1843, and did a large business for some years.

James Farrington, Israel Williams and John Boudinot, under the firm name of John Boudinot & Co., built the first pork-house on the ground afterward occupied by Linn & Reed, in 1842. They were succeeded by H. D. Williams & Co., who erected a larger es- tablishment in 1848.

The other pork-houses of Paddock & Co. and William B. Warren were erected, the former by Levi G. Warren and John Boudinot, in 1849, and the latter by George R. Wilson and William B. Warren, in 1850. Benjamin and Samuel McKeen packed for years at the former house, in which they were interested. John Duncan, father of Will Duncan, who was well known to the trade on the Wabash as a packer of English meats, commenced the business here in 1856, with H. D. Williams & Co. Later, he occu- pied a part of the establishment of Jacob D. Early & Son.

It was the custom in those days, before railroads had grown to their present prominence, to send the corn and pork to New Orleans and points along the Mississippi in flat-boats. These products found ready sale there, while the lumber of which the boats were made was just as easily sold. The lives of these flat- boatmen were full of hardships and suffering, but there was an element of romance in it that attracted the hardy spirits. The development of the railroad system of the land, gradually injured the business of the flat-boatmen.

After the close of the war the pork-packing industry was still an important one here in Terre Haute, but that peculiarity of freight rates by which a farmer had to pay more for a haul of two miles than he does for one the full length of the road, increased the disadvantages and decreased the profits of the business until it was finally discontinued. The last season that a house was in ope- ration here, was in 1878 to 1879, but the product was small as compared to that of former . years. An effort was made later to organize a company to engage in the business here. The gentle- man at the head of the enterprise had been engaged for several years with one of the largest establishments of the kind in the West, and he thought that with the hogs raised in this section and with the corn for which this region is famous, an establishment could be maintained here all the year round.

But he soon discovered that the difference in freight rates pre- vented competition with Chicago, Kansas City and Cincinnati, and the project was abandoned. Terre Haute might once have been called " Hogopolis " and would be glad of that title now. We hear sneers at the cultivation of the hog center of the country, but the profits that come from the despised hogs are not to be sneered at.

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HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.

Some of the most substantial fortunes in Terre Haute were made by pork, in the days when Terre Haute was yet a town. Those days are over, and the fortunes that are to be made here must seek some other channel.

The history of Terre Haute, from its founding, has been one of steady and regular growth and advancement, and most fortunately has never been disfigured with that modern invention called a "boom" -a species of advertising a place purely for purposes of real estate speculation. From Early's little first store, exchanging from his general assortment for fur skins, beeswax and whisky-the staples at one time-to the great wholesale house of Hulman, and many others nearly as important, is a long distance, but the ground has all been passed over step by step. No balloons have been used in the voyage. A vigorous but healthy growth is by far the best. It may seem slow to-day, but look to-morrow and the slow but sure has passed the boomer that lies collapsed and dead, strewn with broken fortunes and ruined hopes. The boom town is a modern growth, a hot-bed plant, as unsubstantial, often, as the night's mushroom.

The toll bridge was, wlien built, a great institution, always presenting a safe road across the river for the people and the trade desirous of coming to Terre Haute. But its days were passed, and it became imperative that the people should have a free bridge, and the county commissioners purchased the entire franchise of W. K. Edwards, paying therefor $75,000. An expensive new iron draw has been put in place of the old draw.

Under Mayor Cookerly's administration, August 3, 1867, the first street car was run over the Terre Haute street railroad. The entire line then was from First street to the Union depot. The Terre Haute Street Railway Company was organized as a stock company April 10, 1865. From the day of its opening two cars were kept continually running. The company now have eight miles of streets, and much of this is double tracked, and this part of the improvement is being constantly pushed. Officers: R. W. Rippe- toe, president; William Kidder, vice-president; L. D. Thomas, sec- retary. Mr. Blake's street railway connects on east Wabash street with the Terre Haute street railway track, and runs west to the fair grounds, passing by the front gate, and continues east to Highland Lawn cemetery. The length of this street track is over two miles.

During the sixties the city realized that it wanted free access furnished the people in their coming and going. The bridge was purchased, and as the old plank road was about worn out, a system of graveled roads was commenced. And now the old dirt roads are graveled, and iron bridges have taken the places of the old wooden

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HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.

ones, and all the principal highways leading to Terre Haute are first-class graveled roads. Thus, in the slow course of time, the town and county have been permanently lifted out of the mud- and all are free to the world.

Banks .-- The Terre Haute branch of the State Bank was estab- lished November 4, 1845, and most fortunately Mr. Curtis Gilbert was chosen president. This was, from a money standpoint, a great advance for the town. One of the regular old-fashioned State bank buildings now stands on the south of the public square, with its huge columns that extend to the gable of the roof. It is an exact pattern of all the national bank buildings erected in many of the States in that day. They all looked alike when newly built, and they continue the same likeness in extreme old age. Mr. Gilbert was succeeded by Levi G. Warren, in 1853, having retired on account of ill health. The old bank was wound up by Mr. Gilbert at the expiration of its charter in 1856, and it was one of the few that was so managed that it paid every creditor in full.

The First National Bank was first chartered in 1863, for the period of nineteen years, and during the life of its charter grew and prospered with the ever-widening field presented by the growth in business and wealth of the city. Its present charter dates from 1882; capital, $200,000; surplus, $200,000; officers, D. Deming, president; B. McCormick, cashier; Frank Teel, assistant cashier. This was one of the first banks under our present national system, its charter bearing the number 47.

The Vigo County National Bank was established November 1, 1888; capital, $150,000; surplus $7,000. B. G. Hudnut, presi- dent; Charles W. Conn, cashier. Directors: Willard Kidder, M. Quinn, A. Z. Foster, J. P. Crawford; Wright L. Kidder, C. A. Busch, Elisha Havens, B. G. Hudnut and Max F. Hoberg.

National State Bank of Terre Haute .- The State Bank of Indi- ana, brauch at Terre Haute, was organized in 1836, chartered for a term of twenty years. Upon the expiration of its charter it was organized by the parties who had controled the first bank (the Bank of the State of Indiana) in 1856, also chartered for twenty years. This continued in business until 1865, when the new general sys- tem went into operation, when it gave up its old charter and was reorganized and became the present National State Bank, and contin- ued in business until the expiration of the twenty years, when its charter was extended for twenty years. Its capital stock is $200,- 000; surplus. $56,000. Officers: Preston Hussey, president; Charles M. Warren, cashier. Board of directors: Preston Hussey, G. W. Bement, Theodore Hulman, A. J. Crawford and W. S. Rea.

Prairie City Bank .- A State bank was organized under this name in 1852. It long since ceased to be a chartered institution,

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HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.

and is the banking house of Mr. John S. Beach. It has long been one of the important and leading financial concerns of the city. A regular banking business is conducted, and under its careful man- agement it is widely known as a strong and reliable concern.

Savings Bank .- On the corner of Ohio and Sixth streets is one of the responsible and leading financial institutions of the city. It is under the same general control as the Prairie City Bank.

McKeen's Bank .- Though a private concern, this bank is one of the most solid institutions of the city.

CHAPTER XXVII.

TOWNS AND VILLAGES.

MYRNA .- One of the oldest outlying villages was Smyrna, appropriately named for one of the oldest towns in the world, and about whose casements it is probable the bats and owls beat their wings when the slaves were chipping the rocks to build the pyramids-the pyramid renaissance, so to speak. This particular Smyrna in Vigo county was laid out in 1818 by Caleb Arnold. It was where Honey creek empties into the Wabash river. People set- tled there and commenced to build a town. The "shakes " took a few turns, and its ruins were "shuck" out of existence.

Greenfield was platted and laid out in March, 1819, by Otis Jones, Henry French, Amos P. Balch and Jeremiah Raymond. It was exactly square, and had a public square in the center. It is long since but a memory of the good old times of the "fever- 'nager." It was more appropriately a shaker-town, not a religious kind of shaking, but the quality that needs " boneset " tea, quinine, etc. It has long since been simply a "green field." The old de- serted cabins were more than a generation ago either hauled off or have rotted down.

Brownsville was platted in 1836 by Johnson Clarke. It started life with great expectations, but that was about as far as it ever got. It was in Section 35, Township 11, Range 8.

Atherton was laid out and platted October 7, 1871. It is on Section 1, Township 13, Range 9, in the northeast corner of the northwest quarter. The plat is signed by Newton Rogers, Sarah A. Denny and Mary J. Rogers. The line of the north part of the plat is the county line, dividing Vigo and Parke counties. It is a station on the E., T. H. & C. R. R. It has two streets running parallel with

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HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.

the railroad, north and south, Main and Parke streets, and from First to Fourth inclusive, cross streets. Population, 123.

Centerville (post-office name Lewis) was laid out September 9, 1838, in Section 36, Township 10 north, Range 8 west, by Addison Williams. It is in Pierson township, and in the southeast corner of the county, and on the county line, on Sections 35 and 36. It is on the Centerville wagon road. It gets its mails by pony express. One would hardly think, looking at it, that it was big enough for two names. The place is Lewisburg, but to get a letter there you must direct to "Lewis." Joseph Stutman made the first improve- ment-a tannery. In 1842 Charles Stewart built the first house- log; then the Buskirks opened a cabinet shop, and John B. Smith a blacksmith shop. A log school-house was the only public meet- ing place for many years. Dodson & Jenkins opened a store in 1844. It reached its greatest importance in the canal days. Popu- lation, 125.

Soonover lies northwest of Centerville (Lewis) on the same wagon road, about two and a half miles. This is merely a post-office and little store.

Hazel Green, laid off July 4, 1836, by Nathaniel Donham, on Section 21, 11, 8, non est. Whom the sylvan gods love die a bornin sometimes.

Harrison was platted August 4, 1837, on Section 33, Township 13, Range 9, by Ann Potts. This was on the west side of the river from old Fort Harrison. Never became more than a paper town. Even Lincoln's resolution about "the particular spot" would have some difficulty in finding it now.

Lockport (Riley P. O.) was platted November 23, 1836, by Nathaniel Donham; post-office name is Riley. The place is nine miles southeast of Terre Haute, on the Evansville & Indianapolis Railroad. This is the largest village in the county. Its name indi- cates it was to be a canal town. During the actual building of the canal this was an important business point. At times the town has had important manufacturing interests-mills, saw-mills, tan- nery, etc., but all were burned at different times. It has remained a noted grain market; population, 266.

Middletown (Prairie Creek P. O.), laid off August 24, 1831, by James D. Piety, on Sections 26 and 27, 10-10, is sixteen miles south of Terre Haute, on the old Vincennes road. The near- est railroad station is six and one-half miles. The post-office name is Prairie Creek. Daniel Ryerson opened the first hotel in a log house, where he kept a drug store-happy combination of feed and physic. Jonas P. Lykins made the second improvement, a frame; here he opened a store. Z. J. Hunt opened a hotel; in it was the old stage stand, many years. Hiram Hight built a steam-mill in

Charles Crush

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HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.

1847. Jacob Ernest built the first brick house, in 1849; popula- tion, 151.

Pimento (formerly Hartford) is a station on the Evansville & Terre Haute Railroad; is the shipping and business point of Lin- ton and the most of Pierson townships, is quite a little business place. The name was changed when it became a railroad station. It was laid out in 1852 by Israel French. Thomas French made the first location in the place, and put up a store. The next year came Harvey Weeks, and he became a partner in the store. N. B. Bennett began his drug store in 1865, and then a grocery store. A large flouring-mill was erected in 1877. A tavern, large dry goods store, and blacksmith shop soon followed. A town-house was erected in 1858, and the lower part used as a school-house. The little village has lost in business and population of recent years.

Macksville, platted by Samuel McQuilkin, November 22, 1836, on Section 19, Town 12, Range 9, was named by taking a part of the proprietor's name. The first building was put up in what became the town, in 1833, and in 1834 McQuilkin opened a store. It was made a place by the forces working on the National road. It now has a population of 240. John Griggs and his son, Edward, put up a flouring-mill in 1867, which was burned in 1870. It is merely a suburb of Terre Haute, separated by the river and the strip of low land on the west side thereof.

Bloomtown was platted and laid out in 1858, by Hiram Bloom. It is six miles west of Terre Haute, on the old Paris road, a short distance north of the Van road. It once had a saw-mill and a grist- mill. They were both destroyed by fire, and the place has gone into innocuous desuetude. When the . Vandalia Railroad was built, there was nothing for this place to do, but move down, and it did move, and Nelson was started into existence. It is a station on the Van road, a post-office, and is situated on the State line dividing Indiana and Illinois.

New Goshen was platted and laid out May 17, 1853, in Section 7, Town 13, Range 9, by Hamilton Smith, William Ferguson, George Smith and John Hay; population 180.

Seelyville is a post-office and station on the Van road, in Lost Creek township, east of Terre Haute nine miles. The place came into existence by the opening of a coal bank, one of the earliest oper- ated in the county-the McKeen coal shaft. After passing through several hands, the mines closed operations in 1879. The town was laid out by J. Seeley. H. C. Dickerson opened the first store here in 1878, and about this time a post-office was established.

Otterville was subdivided March 17, 1873, in Section 28, Town 13 Range 8, by William Campbell. 30

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HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.

Prairieton, laid out July 22, 1837, in Section 25, Town 11, Range 10, by Robert Hoggatt; is in Prairieton Township, and on Honey Creek and the old Vincennes wagon road. For years this place was known as "Hoggatt's store." It became incorporated as a town in 1870. Moses Hoggatt, and after him his son Robert, were the first storekeepers. It has a population of about 250. The Quakers were the predominating influence in this prairie in the pioneer days; population, 236.

Urbana was platted October 9, 1838, in Section 17, Town 10, Range 8, by Jacob Kester.

Glendale (Glenn P. O.) is in Lost Creek township, a flag sta- tion on the Van road, where it crosses the National road. It is sit- uated nearly one mile southwest of Seelyville; post-office was es- tablished March 10, 1887-a post-office, store and hotel, all in one.

Winston, laid out December 11, 1838, by Wines & Ball, is situ- atèd on Section 22, Town 11, Range 8.

Youngstown, subdivided and made a village March 31, 1868, on Section 26, Township 11, Range 9, by Chauncey R. Carr. Ten or twelve houses are all there is of it. It is in Honey Creek township, and is a station on the E. & T. H. R. R., about seven miles south of Terre Haute. George Planett built the first business house in 1868, when he was made the first postmaster. Population, 39.

Tecumseh is merely a post-office. It was once known as Durkee's ferry, on the Wabash, and in Fayette township. At one time in its history there was considerable business done here-a small hamlet of five or six houses.

St. Mary's is a station near the school, on the I. & St. L. R. R. It is hardly more than a station and a cluster of houses as supply for the Catholic school and church. Population, 200.

Ellsworth (Edwards P. O. ) is a station on the C. & E. I. R. R., six miles northeast of Terre Haute, in Otter Creek township. The straw board factory is located here. When this is in full operation it employs 125, and gives an excellent market for the farmers' straw. The population consists of the factory employes.

Otter Creek Junction is at the railroad crossing, on the same line of Ellsworth, and about a mile and a half northeast of that place. Only a flag station.

Heckland is a station and post-office on the L. & T. H. R. R. in Otter Creek township, and about twelve miles northeast of Terre Haute, nearly a mile south of the north line of the county.

Markle's Station is on the I. & St. L. R. R., in Lost Creek town- ship, and about seven miles from Terre Haute, northeast. No post- office. Flag station.

Grand Station .- No post-office. Flag station at the crossing of the I. & St. L. and the C. & E. I. Railroads.

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HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.

Coal Bluff .-- This place grew to be a hamlet in consequence of Webster's coal mine, one of the first in the county being opened. Webster sold to the Coal Bluff Mining Company, and hence the name of the place. It is exclusively a mining town. Has a post- office and railroad station, on the I. & St. L. R. R. Population, 176.

Fontanet (formerly Fountain Station ), on the I. & St. L. R. R., nearly two miles west of Coal Bluff, is an important mining town, worked and operated by the Coal Bluff Mining Company. Has a post-office, and is an important railroad station. Over 300 miners live here. The mining company has a large general store. Full accounts of these mines are given under the head " coal" in a pre- ceding page.

Malcom is a railroad station five miles west of Terre Haute, on Van road-flag.

Sandford, a post-office and brisk village on the Indianapolis & St. Louis Railroad, and at the State line between Illinois and In- diana, was made an important business point by the building of the railroad. It had its commencement in 1854; population, 250.

There are twenty-seven post-offices in Vigo county, as follows: Atherton, Coal Bluff, Fontanet, Gilbert, Hutton, Libertyville, Nel- son, Pimento, Riley (Lockport), Sandford, Soonover, Terre Haute, Vigo, Burnett, Edwards, Glenn, Heckland, Lewis (Centerville), Macksville, New Goshen, Prairie Creek (Middletown), St. Mary's Seelyville, Tecumseh, Vedder, Youngstown, Prairieton.

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HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

MANUFACTURING AND OTHER INDUSTRIES.

THE chief requirements of our advancing civilization are the creation of manufactures, and the building of those industries that dot the land with their flaming forges and their flying spindles, whose whistles call the "bucket brigade" to the hours of work, and bid them rest from toil. The great plant, with its tall chimneys and thick rolling black smoke, and its whirring wheels, and its hum, and clang and roar, may be traced back in its slow development to the first savage, fighting his way on the borders of brute creation, who learned to rub two sticks together and start his camp fire in the jungles of the deep forests. All this industry we see about us is man's response to man's increasing desires. The utter savage has no more wants than the brute-the partially perfected man wants not only the earth, but the infinite, and one man dreams, another thinks, and all work, and the whirligig of time, and the rush and whir of the busy struggling generations go hand in hand through the centuries and the eons.

The little old first water-mill in the county, of Lambert & Dick- son, on Honey creek, was a vast advance on the old stump and the horse mills, that in their slow and imperfect way, had furnished the people bread. As utterly trifling as this old mill would be now to the country, when it was washed away, not a great while after being built, it was a real calamity to the people in a wide stretch of country. This water-mill was built in 1816.

The next year, 1817, Maj. Abraham Markle built his much better and more substantial mill in the north part of the county, on Otter creek. This was a great improvement for the time. On the same spot now is a fine roller-process mill, owned by the Major's grandson.

A "float mill " was built on the Wabash in early times. This was nearly three miles below the city, and was built by Mr. Bennett.

A steam saw-mill was put up in Terre Haute by the Wallace brothers some time about 1823. The people subscribed funds and gave it to these men to build their mill here. These brothers were the sons of the preacher who came here at an early day and preached in the court-house.

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HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.

David Linton built his famous old brick mansion on the corner of Sixth and Ohio in 1830. At first it stood near the center of the block, but afterward was moved out to the street. It was "a long way out of town " then to his house.

Judge Deming built the old frame, First and Ohio, that became in time a part of the Meyer hotel, in 1825.

Mrs. Deming's and Mrs. Chauncey Warren's residences were the first built on Sixth street.

But returning to the subject of the growth of manufactures and industries. As stated elsewhere, as early as 1824, Mr. Gilman started in Terre Haute the business of pork-packing. A history of the coming and final departure of that industry is given on another page.

John F. King built the firstdistillery. This was out on the com- mons and not far from where is now the Polytechnic. It was burned and was among the first noted Terre Haute fires. A landmark for a long time, even after it was destroyed by fire, by the tall chimneys left standing as sentinels over the ruins, were the chim- neys of Charles Rupp's old mill. In its early day this was the greatest institution in the country. It stood away a mile out of . the city northward on the big sandy common where the town milch cows disported themselves and nibbled the dainty dog fennel blos- soms. This is now a built portion of the city, and its neat cot- tages tell of the thrift and happy homes of many of the working- men of the place.

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History of Vigo county, Indiana, with biographical selections, Part 49

Author: Bradsby, Henry C Publication date: 1891 Publisher: Chicago : S.B. Nelson & co. Number of Pages: 1032

Author: Bradsby, Henry C
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago : S.B. Nelson & co.
Number of Pages: 1032