Illustrated Historical Atlas of the State of Indiana, Part 101

Author:
Publication date: 1876
Publisher: Baskin, Forster & Co.
Number of Pages: 472

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which was laid out in 1830 by llarinun Davis, has one Methodist Church, onn United Brethren, one Christian, oue Friends', and one Universalist. The Dublin Acailemy is located here. The Dublin Register is published here. There is one Lilgn of Free and Accepted Masuns, one colored Lodge, one Loilge af Odd Fallniss and one Encampment. The Odd Fellows Imre a bignificent hall. The population in 1870 was 1,070. The Pitts- burgh, fincinanti & St. Louis Hailrowt runs through the lown.

HAGERSTOWN,

will n'population in 1870 of 830, is localed al the northern terminus of the White Water Canal, and on the White Water Valley Railroad, and the Richmond & Chicago Dirisinn of the Pillshurgh, Cincinnati & St. Louis Railway, sixteen miles From Richmond.

Engereloin has ane Christinn, one Methodist, one Presbyterian and a fermun Baptist Church, and the lagerstou'n Acadeory, There are also four ilry gooils stores, threeilrug stores, one hardware, one store, one tinware, and six grocery stores, one pluning mill, one machine #bop and a barrel faclery. There are here one (tdd Fellows' Lodge, one Encampment and one Masonic Lodge.

NEW PORT.

in New Garden Township, was laid out in 1818, by Solomon Thomas and Redilen Clinnre. Population in le70-the last census taken-was 343. It lius one Odd Fellows' and one Mogonie Lodge.

ECONOMY,

in Perry Townsbip, is u town of 229 inhabitants. 11 was laid out in 1825, by Charles Osborn. It has one Odd Fellows' Louge.

MILTON.

in Washington Township, has a population of 823. It was Inid ont by John Bell, in 1824. It has a fine pulidie school bouse, oue Friands' meeting bouse inil one Methodist Church. Near the town are soveral other churches, Tho Milton woolen-mills, n knitting factory, several sais und grist-mills and the Huosier Drill Compquy's Works, which manufacture two-borsn wheat drills, corn drills and double-sborel iron cullirutors, giving employment to forty or fifty hands. The town hus also one Child Fellows' and one Masonic Lodge, hoth flourishing.

On Thomas Beard's farm, hic having sefiled here in 1811, a fort wos brill, consisting of three block houses, Mr. Beandl's cabin being taken into The inclosure. This fort was never ullacked, biti near by, Iwo men were shot dowit und sralpeil,

Mr. Beard iras one of the first Board of County Commissionors.

Jolin Beuril, son af Thomas, came trich his filler from North Carolina, and filled sereral important offices of trust in bis county sud State, He irus ansline of the Peace, Receiver of Public Moneys ut the Land Office, under l'resulent Harrison, and member of the Legislature nearly fifteen venrs, doing good service for the State in both brunches, and being instru- mental in the passage of a large butaber of importout meusitres, among tbem Ihr abolition of huprisonment for debl, liberal exemptions of property from execution, investing the Governor ivith poiver to commule capital punish- ment lo imprisonment for life, finnugurating the free-school system, the con- siruction of the Wabash & Brie Cannl, und the incorporation of the Stato Bank, in 1833.

Isnas N. Beard, son of John Beard, is still living, al Joeksousburgh, in this county, and is Justice of the Peace.

RUSHI COUNTY,

TOPOGHI I PUT.

This county is about forty tuiles southeast of Inilianapolis, and ranks fourth in the State, in weallb. In 1874, 261,902 ngres were returned for Inxalito purposes. The county is tivonly. three miles long by eighteen miles lipwid. Ils area is 414 square miles ur 264, 9Git aeres The only parts nol cultivated are the ercek beds andl limbered portions. In Marion County, in 1875, Inud ins valued ul 873 per acre : in Wayne nt $37.27, in Shelby, at 5.34.20, and in Rush, at $31.38.

In Marion and Worue Counties, the cities of ladin napolis and Richmond nul materially in enhancing the value of land, and also in Shelby County. In Rush County, no large cities or buge manufacturing establishments exist, hence the iveilth of the county is mainly in the native fertility of the soil, mul Ibc high sinle of cultivation.

In no section can uncultivated farms be purchased nt less than from Spit tu $60 per acre, while cultivated farms riuge iu price from 580 to $200 per nere

In ISja, the value of the latil, returned for taxable purjioses, I'my 85,141, 190; the improvements iberean at $119,i's ; the value of town lois ausl their improvements uns $539, 8'i0, anil the value of personal property Ins $3,76'1,470, making a total ruine of taxable property of $18, 236,945.

The soil is composed of the allurium of aneiont river beds and sand, bence its great friability and fertility. There is hardly an acre in the entire enmity untiltalile. Some of the richest land was originally covered with swntrip-oak aml underbrush, aud often with water to the depth of two or Three fret, Of Inte years, n system of under-draining has been practiced, highly beneficial to the county, especially to these swampy lands, thereby rendering them tillable apel avoiding attacks of chills and fevers, or diseases ineideut lo malarinl localities, in many ponces these draius are from tuo to four miles long, hinring braurbes extending in all directions.

TEVHIER.

The county iras originally one vast foresl. Giant onks, poplar, hickories nudl wdhumts abundeil in unluid numbers, aud many a tree was sacrifieed in Ihr Ing-heap which troubl now be uf much value to the manufacturer, and put money in the furmer's pookel. Beech aud sugar maplo irere plentiful. and ionuy groves of the laller still alund, which furnish, annually, butn. ilreils of gullvos of maple syrup nul large quantities of tuaple sugar, In many cases the urlunt, puplar and hickory timber altainel immense size, and greis to heights of from forly lo sixty feet without a limh, straight as a line und youtul to ibe henri's core. The iarxorable demand for more land enusedl theso seutsuels of the forest to fall before the woodman's ax aud perish in the burning log.henp. The timbered portions of the county are uau fruced in and used for pasturage, producing blue grass plentifully and ulFording rich sustennneo for stock.

STONE.

Oulerops of Ningara stone appear in ono or ino places. Near the south- era line of the county, u fory miles below the town of Milroy, stone, similar lo that quarried below Greensburg. Decatur County, appears. This stone is

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I'xleusively used in the creation of large hufblings, and is shippedto Inilinna- upolis nud Cincinnati, being used in the new enart house in the former Flare, muil in the United States enstom hanse in the latter.

Cluy for file and brick exists in munny loculities, mid u good article of These is prodnerd There ar ou stone buildings, but fonndnljons are built of it. The majority uf houses in the country, including business blocks, urp of brick.

Apples grou in perfection, and are fine flavored Peaches, pears nasil the mare leader fruits du not gron so well ny in the Sentbern porlon of the Sinte No ridges exist in the county tu pratrel suel fruits,

Farming nul slack-raising nrv the main occupations of the people of lush Pinnty, forn is to main article enltiruled, and is used in freding stork. Wheni grans well an high and ralling grauml, or on ground well drained or fullaring corn The objectian to sowing it on low, ilrained Inuds is, that the gruurth of The straw is so rank that no grain grows; andl, soon falling dann, iv almost impossible ta harrest. This difficulty ix nhvinted by enlti- rating corn on such Innds far sommy years after opening it for cultivation. By which twins the great strength of the land is rrineed, aud profitable crops uf this cereul are riiseil

The Agricultural Spejely was organized as a buddy curparale in 1872, with n membership of 100. The shares were fixeil ni $40 ench, each shareholder teirg allen ed the privilege of attending the four nithinnt paiving un entrance fre, I'nior In This time, the fuir iris an organization belonging to the count}, mir held meetings snailar la all anch canul organizations About the year 1471 The membership is increased Ho, The mauer arising from this increase of stock was used In purchase ten deres of food mljoining the grums, on the west The fair ground, thereley, was my to contain thirty neres, mol is mbant one und om-fourth miles east of Rushville The Cin- rionali, Hamilton & Indlinnapolis Railroad passes the grounds on the north, und during the sessions of the fair-generally held in September-this rond Tillis a train to nud from Rushville erery hour of the ilny The Rushville & Cunnervrille gravel road jest4 the groumls on the suutb, nud a line of hacks riis on this in opposition lu the railroad, By means of these tiro compiling liure of travel, necess to the fair is made remarkably may The gudinde uf this society are uming thy hral in thir Sinte, und are often nseil Ty pleasure unities from the enunty und the lou ns therein, und from the city of Indianajedis.

The streams ol Flul Ruck, Hurricane and Bhw Pirer's and Beu DaLis L'reek rnorse thrungh !! w cupnly from north In santh These, with their Inmuches dann erery juction of lush Paunty, utforling bur sites for mills and feeluries, and abundant malve for block und form purpose. The sur- face of the county, in the mann, is suchetruly modulating to allon a drainage of the minority of The pains nos summaps Where this does not occur the Tile iInius are an nrrangel us to entry off all surplus wuler.

Springs of the best quality me found in very part of the county Orriog in the influence of these, the inter courses are seblom, if erer, dry, unil at in inur is the former comprihul lu drieu jus stuck In unter, or the mill and

Dirth is unkoutro here, und the most incesante falls af ruin preduce little variation in the crops,

Uh The banky af Ben Daris I'reck a Deluirury Inthe of ludinns, for many . man," but their Inning grubuds, und the stream derired its Antur from De pluief, who went by the English cogommen of " Ben bravis."

EARLY NETTLE HINT-

The filel culr's of lund irus made lo Henry Sadinge., trhu enme in 1818. Almost identical with his settlement uns Thul nf Isone Willianis, Richard Thornlerer, Clins Poshat, Jehut Perkins, Dr. Wilhain B Laughlin oud 1sam Welk The hauer of being the first nhite man lu settle pertongently, bos doen disputed hy some of these, und although rhimed b) srieral, has nerer freen anti. factarily settbyl. It is probable the settlement of those mentioned. ns nell as mou utbers, dittered ludt n ten months,

Stephen Sims, nhu wohl the first low u have lived bears record in flash 1'aunty, sittled on the Winds uvis orengoed as the poor furm and the four g nutpls, his house standing near tho locution of the ronaly asylum.

Juhu Aruold locatel au the farm non nivoed by his son, Dr. John, who for munny years has practiced medirige in the conuty. It d'us ou this form thnl The murder of Elias Clark, n muuels respecleif vilized, by Edward J. Sirau- poh centred, This homicide Imppeupl al the eluse of nu October muster, in 1828 Surnuton was a famous lilian lighter, und n mon possessed of mu uu. gavernoble temper. lle held suur gradge ngamust Mark, in arcordance with his porineiplo, us nu Indinu highnur, nud his cruel nuil revengeful disposition (11 huy heen his best that he never nllered an insult to gn unpunishedl, mul thud he hud hilled mure lodians that our other mnu be knew). He shot him just as Ir ius leaving the story of Wr. Arnolil. Hr escapeit for the time, and, owing In his skill und experience os & bu kiruodsumn, eluded aB pursuit. lfe, bon - ever, uns finally capiared, while sleeping by a burning log-heap, by Jerry Wu-bnmi, ichun discovered him. Securing nud, Washmu buund him with curd -. jul lum in a dragon, und, delivering him lo the authorities, obtained the reuurd. Hemos hangel ou the 11th of May, 1822 The exception laking place in Rushville. The galluus uns erreteil on the spol of ground, buir the alley, erossed hy the railroad in the reir of Dr. Willinm Pugh's resi- dence Al his trial, W W Wick, formerly Judge, was l'roseenter. The lufruse uns conducted hy Charles Il. Tesl

John Sadores settled in Fuion Tanuship in 1819, on the east bank of l'lutrook l'reek.

I wwwe Willinms settled in Namje Tewuship, near where the town of Neu Kalem new is,

lahu Clark nud Themuns Hill settled in lliplur Turnghiy,

In 1821, Eher Inhn 14. Thompson, n erluheuted Heformed minister, sented ueur tho present Fint Huck Church, in Noble Township, on Innil wow wowueil hy duyeph llenten. Here ho Iuhered fer many years us a carpenter iluring the werk, nud ne a minister an thy Subluth das.

"The oldl Flat lock Muydist Church street on the larus now otraed hy lohu Muradi. The church hns long since youe tu dreay, and The meuthers nuwy living no ull in other churches.

In 1870, an Old Settlers' Association was loutued. His incerings are aonunlly held on the fair grounds, and ure largely ullended lis objects nre to gather logel her old settlers, und in speeches nud e-says lo rehearse the days of thvir privution and toil in building up the country Ilsulheers aren President, John M Kiplinger, and Vice P'residents, ono from each tounship, Secretary. Jesse J. Spmun; Treasurer, Thouie M Link, and Sintisticinn, Rev. D. St. Stewart.

Ou the prorel rond from Rushville to Milroy, near Hurrienne Creek, is The ofil church-yard, fast going to desny, of the " Dog Fenuel" Church; near Ins aduce Richard Thoruberry und North lurker settled.

Wusb County was originally que vust forest, Herds of deer, tiochs of Inrkeys and swarms of squirrels aboutled. The lofter were somewhal migra- tury in their luabits, nudl ney their migrations occurred generally in the autumn, flir enth corp suffered from their travels Bunting parlies would be orgiu- ired, nud, as was usual, tu'a purtirs would engage al the same lime, nud often cousuleralle rivolry would ext.l.

COUNTY HISTORIES .- CONTINUED.

Fur several years nfer the selflomout the Indinns wern plenty, and no nucommon sight uns the Indian hunter, in all his nativo ugliness, as he wended his way through the forest, or ereeled his tent un the river banks.

POUNTY ORGANIZITION,

Prior lo the year 1822, The loud comprised in Rush County was attached lo Franklin County for judicial purposes, thu Innd office for this district being then at Brookville, In this year the county was organized, uml at the suggestion of Dr. William B. Laughlin, was anmed in honor of Dr. Benjamin lush, of l'hiladelphin.

Tim first County Commissioners' Court was held mi the house of John Perkins, nhnnt fire miles southeast of the county soul This conri com ened on the first Monday of March, 1822, and was composed of the following members : lehu Perkins, Amaziah Morgin and John Inlion. These pre- senied their certifientes from John Inys, Shoriff. Robert Thompson cate before the bonnil and presented his certificate from loonthun Jennings, Gov- ernor of the State, as Clerk, atul, " being only snorn," entered nt once upon his duties Ily hell the offire-Clerk of firenit Court-for three terms, of seren years ench, in succession. At this meeling the county nas divided into six townships, Inspectors appninteil, und un election ordereil lo he held in each on Thu 27th day of thesame month. Thuy agnin mel in Muy, appointed Consinhles nnd Viewers of Ronds, unil ariterril another elertion to be held, anil nppointed Benjamin Sailors Lister.

A calleil meeting was held on the 17th day of Inne to hear the report of Robert Lace, Samuel Jnek, Truin Calharell ani Jumes Delanny, Commissioners appointed to loente the county seat, Thivir report iras adopted, and Conrad Sailors irus appointed Collaty Agent, On the following ilny the order for the surrey of the town uns passed, and the anle of lots nus orileredto take place an the 20th ilay of July. This sale of lots wvas advertised in the Brookville and Indmuapolis paperz.

The next merling was held on November 13, and a jait of the following pinn irus ordered to be built : " The timbers to be of onk, hened one fool square, nolehet so as to fit closely together ; the lower Hoor to he of the snar sized timbers, one course of such to be laid crossing the other, thus mnking a four livo feet thick. The building to he two stories high, the naper story in be divided into livu rooms, one far women, and one fur debtors." This ins lo be covered with a strong, shingle roof, and sluod on the south- ensi side of the public square, h remained till the year 1818-1, when a brick one wie Intill on the southeast corner of the square. This stood till this year 1814, when a slone juil was ereeled on the north side of the square, in front of the present Rushvillo National Book This proving inadequate, in 1KG, the present jail and Sheriff's residence wrre construeleil. These ure Imilt on The Inteat approved pluns, and rust the county a little over

The bund ulsą ordered the Conuly Agent la poreriise far bids to clear uff Il' public square The builder was required lo ent ibe Trees down, gather them tula heaps nud burn them, atl no slip nas to be uf a height greater than the diameter of the tree itself.

By this time the sessions of all courts wvere hull al The house of Robert Thompson, in Rushville.

in February, 1623, the Board nopted the pinu of the court house, aud ordered its erection, It iras lo stand in the center of the public square, atul IFn- To lie furty feel sybare.

The foundations nere ta be of sinne, sunk oue foot in the earth, und lu be Inu feet above the surface. On Theor the walls, of brick, were lo be raised to n height of thirir- luro feet, and to be sereuleen inches in thickness. Thir tinikling was to include two stories ; the lower in contain the eouuly ullives, anil the upper the court room and jury rooms.

It was eurered will u shingle roof, nud slond till the year 1-48, when the present me, similar in ull respects, sare size, wng erected.

Al the Muy session of 1823, fareru rates, us folluis, were ordered lo be charged: Whisky, 0} cents; foreign spirits, 373 cents; and peach ond que mienl of victuals, 18{ ceuta ; for bel one night, Gf cents; outs of coru per gallon, 124 eruts; aud for keeping one harse iner night, 18{ cents,

Ju 1824. this Board gave place ion Board af Justices, tiro of u hnm cobre from each township, and for three years perfurmed the affice of County Com- unsstoners. In 1827, the lau was again changed, aul the old system adupl- ml, wluch is still in force.

The first deed on record is Jaled June 4:47, 184), aud uns recorded in Vuion Couuly. I was for eighty neres of hunl, sold by John Cox und Martha, bis nife, tu Thomas Motfont , thr consideration being $INI,

On October Ist, 1522, Stephen Sims Buld to William B. Langhlia eighty here« of lund in the county for $200. The deed fer this property heing the first reendul bearing date in Rush County H uns nekmuurledged before Willinin Junken. Noihoniel Marka uns The Sheritt , Lieut, Gor, Railitf Boone uns neling ns Gurernor of Ibe Stute.

The fral Term of Circuit Conrl was bell ut the house of Stephen Sims, nn Thursday, the Jih duy of April, 1822. Willinm W. Wirk urns the Presid- ing Jinlge (Judge of The Sixth Judicial Circuit Court of hudonu), nud Eling l'oston mul North Parker, Associules.

Al this court their commissions were presented. nul u county seal adopted. They uljourneil to meet in the afternoon af finy aume iny, nl Iwo o'elork, al the house of Jehu Perkins, There Diram M. furry nus mlmilled to the practice of hair, the brsi aHorney in Rush County, umnl irus al onee muade l'rose- culor.

The Sherif, John Huys, returned the names of the fire) grand jury im- paneled, of whom Jehu Perkins was foreumu. This hour, binding no bills of indictment, nere allowed hurenty- fire cents each for their services and dis- misset.

In Ocioher folloning, the court met al The house af John Luier. Ml this session the Associate Judges presided. Charles II Tert ( non Julge ut ludinnapolis), Martin M. Hay and Joseph A. Hopkins were udmilled lo the hir, nnif the firel enze ins tried. Il uns un action for divorce, brought by Thomune Calvert against his wife lluchuel Cali ert (hling Annes), nham he cinimed hnd left him without any cause. Itis plen uns granted.

In April, 1823, the grand jury brought their hrst bill of indielment ngninst one John Roy, for larerny und bog-nurhing. The Intter was n toinmun offense Iben, as the hogs ivery allowed in run wild, oud mrere ouly kunun by cortuin marks, which their owners urre required to record. This session was held at the house of Rubert 'Thompson, in Rushville, where epuri entilinued to build sessions till 1825, when the court house was finished, At this April session Churles II. Test ins made Prosecutor.

This court and fixed the lavern license at Sto, and a majority of the hey tried hefore il wore for against persons for " Helling intoxicating liquors wil huul heense,"

(my of the most important cases was the suit of the " Anti-means" against the " Means," Juo divisions of the Baptist Church called by those umucy.

This occurred about The year 1848, and wns hrongh! in dechile which of The parties was the true Baptist Church

The sull atimeteil much attention from all parts of the country, aud iras decided in favor of the latter party It wns friedl hefore a jury.

There have been several homicide cases triel in the emuty, Int none terminated in conviction, save in the case of the inurder of Ellas Clark by Kluund | Sunusnu.

The court is nowy presuled orer by William A Cullon, Circuit Judge, undt The Stuly And Peuple are represented by the Prosecutor, Dliver S. Moor.

Tho county officers nre: Auditor, Alexumuler I'osey ; Treasurer, Francis firmy ; Sheriff, George W. Hall ; Clerk, J. W. Smith, and Recorder, Jalu Il. Hironn.

TIIL. L'OUNTI' I'I'SS

Prior to 1882, n paper was published by an eccontrio individual named Wickham. Far a press hy werden heury polo, one onil of which was fastened la a tree. Under the end of tho pole near the tree he wronhl pinco the forms, nnd nsing il (the pale) as n lever, he wrouhl strike off une sulle nf his paper, distribute that to his patrons, u hin, when they hodl real il, wouhl return H, nud get the remaining side publishert. He enlled his paper The Dog-Femme! Gazette, mul coudneteil it unly n few months. His "office," ne hr called it, stood urar the present site uf lohn Chrmichael's mill.

About 1AJ2-3, the presen) Rushville Repngheou uns established, under the name of the Indiana Herald and Gazellen. In 1840, ils naine uns elinuged to the Hooner, und it was canlucleit as u Demuoratie organ. Nol long nfer, its unme was nguin changed to its present one, util it irns mnede the urgan of the Republican party, whose politics it still achecales.

"The Jacksonion u ay established in 1844, by Brocas & King, who published il Ino uml o hall yenrs, and sold in Samuel S. Braliun, nho conilneted il till the brenking ont uf the Mexican wur. During this time it nas edited by Findley Bigger. A Mr Norris then purchased it, who relaineil Mr. Higger as editor, and published il till 1845, when he suld lo George W. Hurgett, wan coudicleil it une yenr, when his death occurred. In ISati, his brother sinried it and published it tilt 1861, when he anhl to William A. Cullen (now Circuit .Indge), who soon sahl to o Mr. Hall, n Republicun, who rhungrd its polilies. Hlv issned n for ummhers, und sold to i stock company com. posed of the lemling lemuerats in the eonly, wba employedl John Comp. bell to edit il, und it was again made the organ of That jurly. He renmined in charge till 1&ra, when it was sold to any Buker, wrhu at uhry soll to Cunde & Moody, who kejd n till 1873, when it uns purehosedl hy Puntomy & Wallace, the present proprietors, the former acting as editur.

THE COUNTY SPIT.

Al The session of the County Commissioners' Court, held nt the house of Dr. Willing Il Langhlin, un the Jith ilay of Inne, 1822, the report of Robert Lace, Samuel Jurk, Train Caldwell and Intars Deluney, ne Commise missionets, Appointed In loente the sent of justice for Bush I'nunty, nus beanl. These Commissioners chose the present loentner uf Rushville, und tho board adopted their report, To secure the county sent, Dr. Junghlių gare Twenty-hire neres nul Zachariah Hodges forty-live. The loration is iu the central portion of the connty, anil on the right hank nf Hig Fini lock Crrek

On .livo Isth, 1812, the bourd met and authorized Conrad Suilors, Canty Agent, 10 employ n surreyar, and Iny onl the foun into nut less than 140 nur mure than 200 lots, uml to lucate the public square in the most convenient parl. It uns ordered that the side of these Ints should commoner on the bh day of July, and continne from any to day till a majority of the Ints isere shlil. Ih. Willinto B. Laughlin was then Government Surveyar, nnil was employed by Sillors In survey the town. In thuis he une nusisted by Zachariah Inilges. At the sale, John Smith purchased the first lot

The first house huilt in Rushmille iros the residener uf Pr langhlis, u hich stond wu the bank uf the greek just irest of whore Mr. John Car- michnel's grist-mill bur slsuils, und near n strong spring. Robert Thump. sou, w'bo serred the rouuly so long nud faithfully os Clerk of Circuit l'ourl, erected u Iwa-story house ou the west side of The jinblir squme, weer the spot uor neupied'in Cox & I'ngb's drug store. Here entirts were held natil The erection of the court house, in 1825.

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Illustrated Historical Atlas of the State of Indiana, Part 101

Author: Publication date: 1876 Publisher: Baskin, Forster & Co. Number of Pages: 472

Author:
Publication date: 1876
Publisher: Baskin, Forster & Co.
Number of Pages: 472