Illustrated Historical Atlas of the State of Indiana, Part 112

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

USA > Indiana > Illustrated Historical Atlas of the State of Indiana > Part 112

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The county is well supplied with ueut nud substantial school houses, and nil the publie property und improvements-such ny the county bridges nud highways-are kept in good condition ; furthermore, the county is out of debt, and the money jurested in school houves, und other public buildings nud property, neroriding to enroful eutanates, is equnt to n dividend of $5 on each aere of farming Imul in the county. A flourishing County Agricultural Society is in existonce, anil held its tenth annunl exhibition in 1875. Tho Presidonl, for 1876, is Ancob Winsell,

NEWSPAPERS.

The first newspaper in the county wny the l'errysville Bonner, devoted Io thio eniiso of the Democracy. It was sturled in Perrygrille, by J. R. Jones, ubout 1838. Its numre iras next chinngeil lo Perrysville Republican, Austin Bishop being the uililor. Next it wuy known ns the Perrysville Eagle, Robert Dickinson, editor, followed by Jamrs Suongrass. It ceased publication about 1848.

Tho Hugeno News Letter was sturteil uhuut 1840, by R. M Waterman, but lins long since censeil to oxisl.

The lirst paper published in Newyorl uns the Ohve Branch, starteil about 1854, hy James llood & Andrew .1. Ailuniy, Their successors have been M. Vaul, William K. Lirongood, J. B. Cheaille au S. B. Daris, who adopled the uame of Hoomer State for lus japer, nuil has since been its sole conductor.

The Clinton Exponent is the only remaining paper in the county. It way slurteil in 1874, S. B Bluekledge, editor.

RAJI-AVAIS.

ATutil 1470, Vermillion County was without milway fucilities. In that yeir, however, the Inulinuupolis, Bloomington & Western line was finished through the northern extremity of the county, and a short time afterward the Erausrille, Terre Haute & Chicago Rond, running frum Terre Haute to Daniille, was built through the conury, from north to south. Still later, the Indiann & Illinois Central Rond weng completed to the Wabash, which it strikes in the southern part of the county. Of these, the Terre Haute & Chicago line is the most important in the county. Josephus Collett, of Newport, bas heen identified with the rowvl, as its Presidenl, since its first inception, a position still beld by him at this Time ef uriting Vermillion County, unil indiridunl residenty therein, hnvo inrested, in all, about a quarter of n million dollars in the enterprise, nud all the lon ns in the county lepend mion the rond for un outirt.

PIRRINVIIIF.

According to The census of 1870, this town irns, at that time, the most ppulous in the county, containing s population of 600. It is beautifully silunteil in the upper part of the county, on n bend of the Wabash. The tiiu was laid out in 1826, by James Blair, a soldier in the unr of 1812, and mutuel, by him, in honor of Coin. Perry, nudler whom he had served 08 1 marine. Perrysville wuy, for muny years, tho principal ilepot for the receipt nod distribution of suppliey for the upper part of the county, and for n con- sinlerablo section in Illinois. Tho tourn was, for a number of years, fur ahead of Daurille, in comutnercint importunce, a suprenincy which ivus held until the construction of the ruiliny liney through the lost named tou'n.

VI APORT.

The sent of justico of Vermillion County, is located nenr ils center north and south, nud nearly tivo miles from the Wabash River. Like all the pleasant little villages in the county, it is finely siluuted in a rich formning country. The toru tras laiit out in 1834 by Stephen S. Collett, and was early chosen ns the county sent. The population, in 1870, iras 400. It was incorporated Iu 1871. The President of the Town Boned in 1873-6 is B. Dullis. There a hero n fino fluring mill, a bank-the only one in the county-a graded school and tro churches.

EIGENE

is u pretty village in the upper part of the county, and near tho Wabash. it irny laid out in 1827, by Stephen S Collett. It has a population of nearly 300

located five miles northwest of Perryu ille, was laid out by nud named after Robert J. Gessio, in 1872 11 is growing rapidly.

HIGHLAND, DAVA. BONG AND SEMMIT GROVE,

ure small towns in Clinton Township.

WALNUT GROVE,

is a stution on the K., T. I. & C. R. R , in Eugene Tarruship.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

This county, situated but a little to the northwest of the geographical cen- tor of Tho Stato, is ono ut' thu largest of the ciril dirisions in Indiana, con- taining in all ou uren of [0] square miles in 1870, it humul u yupulation of 13,508.

The gouera surfuce of the county is thut of an elernteil and nearly leiel table laud, sufficiently ralling, as a rule, 10 afford umtural drainage, nud cut hy the deep deprowsious in which low Sugar Creek, Ruccoon Covek und their tributaries. The formor flows in u southwest course, passing noar tho cruter of tho county, and is the largest strentu within its borders ; formerly it irus kumru as Rock River, Init there being mother stream of the samo nume in Illinois, the present appellation was nt last adopteil Raccoon Creek Anil ita tributaries ilrain tho southern portion of tho county, nul Coal Creek drnius tho northnrstern ports, in which it henils.

The county in rich in agricultural resources, having n produelire goil, mul being, ny n rule, healthy." Numerous powerful springs are fonuil, some af uhich, in tho vicinity of Crawfordsville, aro of sufficient volume to drire n till.

COUNTY HISTORIES,-CONTINUED.

There is no consideraldo uren af exposed rock, but a fair quality of sand- stone for huililing is found in the county In the southern part there is ecal, but no reins of aufbeirut richness to repay working have so fur been opened. The distance to the Soul "'reek mines is, however, not grent, And here fuel is mined in abundance.

About one-twelfth or more of the county is prairie, the most considerable areas heing found near the Clinton, Tippecanne aud Fountain County bound. aries. The remainder of the county was originally heavily timbered with such trees ns are common to Central Indiana, the more valuable varieties of which greir in great profusion, aul in many instances to remarkable size.

THE LARLY SETTLEMENT.

There way but little immigration into irlint is now Montgomery County, until the time the county organization went into effect, in 1413. The high ground along Sugar Creek aud about Crawfordsville, it is Irue, had unusual attractions for the pioneers, as hero iny found a compralire immunity from that universal scourge-lho fever and ngue- se prevalent in all parts of the State ut ity curly settlement Still there was u rast expunge of territory open in 1823, from which the seltlors could choose at will, and by the time that the immigrants distributed theinvelres over a territory containing mill- ious of ueres, but feiv iwould he foundl in any one particular locality.

In 1821, the only higuye betiveen the commonly Irarelel roule between White River and Sugar Creek wyny Ihint of oue Wischart. Crawfordaville was then the ouly torn between Terre Haute anil Fort Wayne, both of which were iusiguificaut little outposts in the triblerness. Lafuyetto was not then in existenec, and with the exception of a feir elenrings in the woods and a trailing pout here nud there along the Wabash, the entire region north and ivesl of Montgomery County irnan wilderness

The locution of the lond office at Crawfordsville made it an important point for business, ny is wny nt this office the settlers were obliged to enler their lunils, anil hore the Anles tere hell. The Register ivas Williamson Dunn, and the leccirer, Muj, Ambrose Whitlock, an old army officer who, with Dunn, were the proprietors and owners of the town site. The name, Cmaur- fordsville, isas adopted at the suggestion of Whitlock, in honor of William H. Crawford, a former Secretary of War.

A writer, irhou as in Montgomery County in 1>24, shortly after Craw- fordsville way chien for the county seat, gives the following list of settlers in and around the place. from which it will be readily perceived that people were not iu those ilays crowdleil for want of room. West of town there uns n sinnll neighborhood in which lived John Bearil, John. Isane and George Miller, Isaac Beeler, Joseph Cox, John Stilt and Jobo Killen ; east of town the settlers were ,John Dewey nul four other families, the Whitlocks, Baxters, McCulloughis and Caterlins, irhite some distance further off, in the same direction, lired Juilge Stitt, Jacob Beeler, W. I'. Ramey, the widoly Smith, and the MeCafferlys nud Elmores. Near the Fallen Timber lived the Scol19, Burbridges, Cranes atul Cowen", Nerth of Sugar Creek, the writer says there ivere no inhabitants to his knon ledge, except tivo settlers Dumed Farlow and Harshiburger, leury aud Robert Nicholson, Samuel Brown and Abraham Miller.

With the exception of the juhabitauls of Crawfordsville, it is said there irere hot hulf & dozen families, including hunlers and troppers, for a circuit one hundred miles in diameter around the place.

The center of this little columunity irus Crawfordsville. Here hired the Register auil the Receiver of the laud uthee already named : Magnus Holmes nnil Thouuns M. Curry, the first physicians; Darid Vunce, the first Sheriff; und Jobn Wilson, the first Clerk of the county, Major Ristine, the first tavern keeper, aud Jonathan Parvers, the first grocer.

There ivere tivo stores ; ono kept by Isonc C. Elston, the other by a man nnmed Smith ; nod besidles these, the entire manufacturing and commercial interests centered in the cabinet shops of Murk & Scott, the smith shop of Geurgo Keys und u suur- mill on the south bank of Sugir Creek, outside of toun.

Tho ilirectory of tho tou'n, it must be neknowledged, i'd- not extengire in 182.1

Besiles llill's mill, Judge Slitt had one some ilistance cast of town ; und Jolin Stilt another, west of it, some tivo miles. Zachariah Gupen had a stuall inunrry in the vicinity of the Kinsworthy and Lee settlement. These incluiled the entire ninnumneturiug interests of tho county at that time.

The land sale, in Is44, brought a largo Routing population to the town, and permanent residents also began to locale, hutb in town and country, so that the vicinity of Cruwyfordsville soon begna to be regarded as n base of ope- rations for those who unteruard seltled an the Patta wattomie lands north and ivest of the Wabash.

The tiro solitary luiryers nere, in course of lime, reinforced by Jacob Auglo, Isone Naylor, Henry S Lane, & C. Wilson, Joseph E. MeDonald and others, until the bar of Montgomery County was second to none in the Slute.

Business gren, from the fon little trading posts named, and expanded so that, for n unmber of years, the town iras ahead uf Lafayette-a superiority which uns maintained until the Wabash & Erio Canal irus built, giving the supreiner 10 the Initer.

The Baptists nud Methodists irere in the hold about the same time, gath. ering the pioneers into churches. The former usually held their meetings at the house of John Lee.

The Baptists irerr The first to oreet u honso of irorship, about 1861, until which timo ilivine uurship ins hold in the court house, at Crawfordsville, and iu prirale houses.

Though the I'resbyteriuns umy have been n little tardy in organizing n church, They irece unt ut ull remiss in educational watters, and, in 1842, fuid the foundation of Wabash College, nu institution of which the citizens of the State way be justly prawut. A sketch of its organization and progress is given under its appropriato lend.

POLITICAL HISTORY.

The County Counuissouers met in session for the first time in Moutgont- ery County March 1, 1923. Tho members present troro Willinun Offield, Antes Blereus nuil John MeCulteugh, who hail heen duly chosen at the first county election, hell n short limus before.

John Vanter was appointed Clerk pro teis. William P. Ranicy was up- poiulei County Agent, maul was ordered to gire notice of o publie sale of towu lots, belonging to the county, nt Cranfundlgrillo, the seat of justice; the saure to take pluce Mundny, Juno 1, 1823. James Slitt irns appointed the first Conuty Trunsurer.

Tho rate of taxulion in May, 1823, uns Gred as fullons: On each horse, mille, ar malo per-ou orer 21 years of age, 25 cents ; on each yoke of oxen, 182 cents; und un rach siher natoh, 124 cents. The Assessor, Williani P. Rumtoy, was allowed ihreo dollars for nasessing the entire list of taxables in the county.

The first leri of the Montgomery County Circuit Court was held May 29, 1×13, nt the house of William Miller The Hop. Jacob Call, Judge of the First Jullieint Circuit, producent his rommission, signeil by Gov. William Benilrieks, and entered upon the ilischarge of his judicial duties. John Wilson was appointed Clerk of the Court new tem., und lucob J. Ford Pros- eentor on behalf of the Stale, after which the court adjourned until August following. At the seotud term of court, the first grand jury wus impaneled, eunsisting af Suunel MeClurg, foreign; Jones Dungau, Richard MeCafferty, James Scott, Jumues Stitt, William Willer, lobert Craig, Samuel Braun, l'lias Moor, George Miller, Joseph Huhn, William P. Mitchell, Wilson Claypool and John Furlow. But one indictment uns returneil, that being for nasault nud butlery. The grand jurors wero ntiowed 75 cents each for

their services The first Sheriff of the court was Samuel D. Maxwell, and he was allowed the sum of $16 for his services up to the lime of bolding the second session of court.

The first attorneys admitted to the bar, of which ony record is made, were Thomas 11. Blake, James Farington, George R. C. Sullivon and Edgar C. Wilson.

The first will admitted to probate was al the May lerm of court, 1814. The testator was Robert Stin, who appointed as his executor James Slitt, one of the Associote Judges of the court. Ilis colleague ns Judge war William Burbridge.

COUNTY BUILDINGS.

The Commissioners advertised for proposals to build a temporary court bonse, in .lune, 1823. The specifications were that the house should be erected on Lot 118, to be two stories in height, and to be built of good logs, tiventy- five feet long and tivealy feet wule. The county fathers were par- ticular in specifying that the doors should bo hung on bults; that they should also have locks, "the enmons on the floor of the Land Offire," and showved a general disposition to go in regardless of expense. Tho con- Imct was awarded to Eliakim Ashton, for $295. The contrast between this pioneer structure and the new court house, couldl the two be seen side by side, ivolild inileed be remarkable. Yet the contrast would be for short of that between the wealth, intelligence and culture seen in 1876, as compared with the meager showing in this respect in 1823. Until the completion of the temporary court house, most of the official meetings and courts were held at the houses of William Miller and Heury Ristine, in Crawfordsville.

The specifications for the first jail in the county ivere adopled in February, 1821 The builling stood, irlien completed, on the northeast corner of the public square, and was the same size, ou the groundl, as the temporary court house. It was built of atout white oak logs, principally, and these were laid up in double rows. The entire structure cost but a few hundred lollors. Prisoners occasionally tried to hura their way out, bul no case is on record of any evit doery breaking out of the primitive structure, which, indeed, seems to have been much more secure than the fifty thousand dollar edifices of a later day. This way afterward burned down, and nnulher wooden building erected. The second jail was in turn replaced by the brick struc- ture, standing a square ivest of The court house.

The first permanent court house was a squorr two-story brick building. on the site of the new building begun in 1815. Il was fifty by fifty feet, and of that romantie style of architecture known as the pod-suger style. The total cost was $4,200. The specifications provided that the building be completed in November, 1881. The building was torn down in 1874, to make room for an imposing new building, of which the corner stone was laid in 1875. The building is to be built of brick and Beren sandstone, imported from Ohio. It is lo hare the county offices an the first floor, ond a splendid court root above. The building irill be one of the largest and finest outside of ludianapolis, and ivill cest, when complete, not far from $150,000.

The county officers, in 1876, here ns follow's: Vuditor, James IT. Watson : Clerk, T. D. Brown; Sheriff, S. D. Smith ; Treasurer, John A Hardee : Recorder, T. N. Myers ; Superintendent, John G. Orertou ; Commissioners, James Lee, James Mcintyre and Salauel M. Ilutton.

ZAILWATS.

At a late dny, as compared with many other laws in the State, Crowv. fordsville and Montgomery County became largely interested in railwayy. The county lown, in 1872, became n railrond center of to inconsiderable im- portance, irbile the couuly itself has iron railway's traversing ils every corner, affording an easy outlet for its products.

The first lino of railirny in the county uns known as the Crawfordsville & Wabash Road, nad was built 10 1874, from Crawfordsville to Lafayette. Afterward a lino of road was built lo the south, formuiug n connection with the New Albany & Salem Rouil, und the entire liue consolidated as the Louisrille, New Albany & Chicago Railroad.

The next romul huilt ivas the Inulinoupolis, Bloomington & Western, or ruther the two sections eniling nt Cruirforilsville, which now fortn that line. This was completed through 10 Danville, Illinois, in 1870, and has ever since beeu a great benefit to the people as an enst und west line.

The Logansport, Crawfordsville & Southwestern Railway is the latest out- let for the county, Rud was completed in lai1.

The three lines of railduy radiuto in six different directions from the county seat. The county in each rase hos gir en a donation of $123,000 to the companies building the rondways named, except the New Albany line, in faror of which but $100.000 iras gi'en.

THE I'REX.

The first newspaper printed in Mouilgomery County was known as the Crawfordsville Record. It iras Whig in politics, and was first issued in 1832, by Wade & Bryant. It contiuned in exisleuce for about two years, and was edited the greater part of the time by Issac Naylor. The next paper irns the People's Press, begun in 1841, and edited by William Bousman, afterward one of the editors of tho Alta California, of San Francisco. The Press wna merged into the Journal in 1850, since irbich lime it has been conducted by Themas W. Fry, George W Suriler and McClain & Talbot, the last named editors and proprietors in 1476.

The first Democratie paper iu the county ivas the Crawfordsville Eraminer, Phillip E. Engle, editor and proprietor. lu 1840, the name was changed lo that of the Crawfordsville Rerwie. George W. Snyder succeeded Engle in 1844, and in 1449 gave irny to B. W. Engle. C. H Bairro, in 18+0, followed the last unmed, nud, with The exception of a short lime, continued us editor until 1870 Collins & Voris irere tho ounery until 1872, in which year John h. Miller, editor anl proprietor ut this time of writing, look control. The Star started in 1872, by J. Keeney. It is independent in politics. The Saturday Mercury, sturted in 1874 br C H Bowen, is Democratic.

M'ABISH COLLEGE.

Nearly surrounded by the city of Cran fordsrille, anil in a noble grove of forest trees, stunds Wabash College, the leading denominational institution of learning in dudinua.

The real estuto, endowment funds, library and rarious possessions of the institution could not be replaced fur less than half a million dollars, and her song are found all over the State, und in nearly every part of the Union. "These splendidl institutions hu e bren huilt up, and the fino property and naqilianees of learning have all been accumulated in less than half a een- tury.

The organization of a college il Crawfordsville ins resolved upon in November, 1832, by a four members of the Presbyterian denomination.

The first meeting nas composed of Three elders and fivo ministers, and ions held at u private house in Crau tonlsville.

The ilny following ibis rouferenare, : public meeting iras beld to enlist the people in the u ork, und ou the 2311 of November, the five ministers who took part in starting the work, walked aut to u here the college now stands, nud thero, on bended knees, sought tho blessings of the Almighty for their enterprise.

Que hundred und sixty ueres of land were purchased of Williamson Dunu, for irbat iras then considereil the enormous price of Sfi, UN(N).

In 1833, the primary department of the college was organized by Prof. Mills, erer since connected with the college The entire number of pupils, when he began, was but freire. An agent ing sent East in 1839 and the year following, but bo wet with such poor success, thal hr was on the point of resigning. As a last resort, ho appesled to the country churches in the East, auil succeeded in raising woreral thousand dollars. In the meantime, n collego charter lind been granted the institutjou in the winter of 1833-34.

This is the olilest tout in the county, and was loid out in 1818, by Will- iAm Harris. The first post office in the eouuty wus established here, with Durid Futton ns Postmaster. The first mill in The county irus also erected not fur fron here, in 1919, by John Benrd. The first church iras built iu 1831, by the Presbyterinas. Tho population, in 1870, m'as 564

310

In December, of the site year, the Hov. Ilihn Baldwin, of New York, Los elected President of the infant establishment, The first Faculty, consist- ing uf I: D. Hovey, in the chair of rhetoric and belles lettres, Caleb Mills. languages, and John S. Thmpson, mathematics, was chosen, nnd Wahash College entereil apon ils mission

Dr. Baldwin died in 18h1, universally regretted. but the the first-named Profes: ers are still ennuected with the college.

The principal building nas burned, in ISI9, 10 the dismay of many of the friends of the institution, but il quickly recorereil from the shock, ant, in a few years, was stranger than erer

The campus enmains thirty three neres, and near hy are the benses of The l'resident und must af the members of the Faculty. The rollege build- ings, surrounded by beautiful forest trees, are near the center of this cam- pus. The principal structure, known ns Center thuill, contains the President's lecture room, the cabinet, library, society hull, the chapel, eight recitation rooms and the chemical and philosophienl rooms,

The Academy building contains the recilution rooms of the preparatory depurimral nud'n public hall.

The Pidytrehnie building coutoins tho topographical room, un armory- for company drills, elr .- n reading room-open to all sindents, and ivell with opparutu4. This rhom is TIN? feet square.

The rollegr lins a fair equipment in the wny idf chemieal, philosophien] und inrehonical apparalus.

The library, including hooks of the college surichies, numbers 16,INI colunes,

The cabinel is noll supplied with specimens of plant, and shells, and is esprriolly rich in ores und chofer minerals from reery important locality iu The United Sintes

Eleien degrees aro given in the classical unil scientific cmrses of study, besbles which there is a Preparatory, in English nnil a Merenntile course Military instruction is also gicru. The lains number of sindents, al the Beginning of 1871, tres 2011

The Freulty for IsTu was constituted as follows Rec, Joseph F. Tuille. D. D., President, aud Beccher l'rufessaruf Moral and Intellectual Phila- ophy : Elmundo. Horcy, P D , Huge Professur of Chemistry and Geology : Caleli Mills, V S , Lafayette Professur of the Greek Language and Literature. Snunel S Thunpson, M. N , Willinios I'rofessur of the Latin Language and Literature ; Johu h. Compiell, I.L. D., Inlinin Professor of Mathematics, Natural Philosophy and Astronomy , Willinin C. While, A. A., I'rofessor of Rin torie, and Teicher of the flerun und Freuch Languages ; Col. Henry B. Carringlou, I.L. IT , U S A., I'rufiasnr of Military Science, hy nuthority of United States flovernment : Daniel \ Basert1, 31. 3., Principal of the Pre- jurabury Deparbucal ; Matthew \. Whileford, W. A., Associate I'rineipul of the Preparatory Hejarturul , Henry R Thompson, M. A , Associole Pro- fewvor of themistry ; Henry %. Mebnin, A. A., Associate Professor of Greek

(RAWIDRISVIL.LE.

This laten wus carly chusen ut the county sent of Montgomery County, ils Turation heing such flint thero l'us bul little opposition. The proprielors, Duun & Whitleck, begun by laying uff eighty neres into lola, supposing thot These uvuld supply of the demand there would erer ho fromn purchasers. The lon'n plut Herr couinny 1,200 hores of land, showing that the original proprieters did not eulenlle it closely us they might hmo done. Of the ciglily acres Inid uff into lots, one- half irere giren to the county, and the Caunty Agent weus justrieten, in 1841, to ndierlise these for sale in the Stofr Journot nl Indianapolis, in the qinpers of Frankfort, Keulneky, and in number of surronmibug loendlities Iv wny also instructed to sell to lol for less than $111,

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Illustrated Historical Atlas of the State of Indiana, Part 112

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

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