Illustrated Historical Atlas of the State of Indiana, Part 119

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

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Lenvenuurth wos loid out in IN[N, by Zebulon henvenwurth and his brother. The first mentioned und Willinin 31. Wilher built log cabins ou the sito in the spring of 1818. In the spring of 1819, Xeluilon Lenvenivorth nnil tohn J .. Sinith openedl tho first stores in the place. Tho Methodists organ- med n religious society in Ib10, nud huilt n ohutreh eilifice in 1825. Simul- tourously with the founding of the first religious society, n Mr. Rning opened a school, tho first school house heing ereeteit thut year.

Kelulou Lenvenirorth, iu 1930, establishedl n ferry neross the Ohio River at this point.

The town uns incorporated iu May, 1873, with the following Trustees oud officers: 1\T. E. R. Hawn, R. 11. Sanils oud Alexander Byerly, Trustees ; R. F. llynu, Clerk ; John R. Tucker, Treasurer ; onil William Bennett, Marshal. The present municipal board ore: Dr. F. It. IInnn, E. D. Newbill ant M. M. Kendall, Trustees; Dr. Ilowen. President ; 1. A. Peckinpaugh, Clerk , Jesse M. Craig. Treasurer ; Thomas Marsh, Marshall.

The principal merchunts of the town ure Messrs. MeCullum & Kelso, A Byerly, tohn N. Bahr, J. R. Robinson. Ianes M. Mansfeld. John Bense, J Il. Collina. M. D . W. M. Temple, Johu R. Tucker, Jucoh Rosenficht utul Josinh Shon.

Lenretirorth line one taunory, que curdling machine, one hub noil spoke factory, threo cunper shops, three blacksmith anil wengun shups, tiro churches -a l'rushyteriau und Methodist-utul n good gradeil school. Tho bnikling is uf brick, nowly erected, nuil cost some $1,600.

There is one newspaper published nt Leavenworth, viz., tho Crateford County Democrat. It is n weekly und has a gooil patronnge.

FREDONIA

14 situnted uu the Ohio River, n few miles helow Leavenworth. It hus n population of about eight hundred and is a considerable business point. The town was Inid out by General Thom, in 181>. It has a good graded school and tiro churches. Among the first settlers were Captain l'osey nud Henry Conrad.

Alon, Beechwood, Doun Hill, Kuglish, Grantsburgh, Magnolia, West Fork, Marengo, Mitfin, Milltown, Mt Prospect, Indora, Pilot Knob, Sulphur Well and Wickliffe are small towns, villuges anil post offices in Crawforit Chunty.

JOIINSON COUNTY.

This quuuuty lice about tiventy miles south of lodinuspolis, and is one of the wealthiest in tho State.

It embraces no oren of about 200,000 neres, of which number 106,081 were assemned for taxation in the year 1876. These were valued, not incluil- ing improvements, at $32.12 per nere. The total value of the tax lunils, Including the improvements, was $7, 272,067 ; the value of lols and improre- ments, was $9]0,613, while the personal property nus returned at the value $1,416,370, thus innking the entire wealth to be $11, 137,640.

In the immediate vicinity of the county sent, land cannot be purchased nt less than $100 per nere-that niljoining the city limits being worth three and four times that omount. In the Hoperoll neighborhood, improred Inroie range in price frou $50 to $160 per nore.

This is n strong Presbyterian luenlity, atul uno of the finest cultirated portinus of lodintin. It is shout two miles wrest of Troukliu, and is settled try some of the most enterprising niut ureulthiest citizous uf tho county. Tho frubility nud fertility of tho soit hero are nnsurpassed.

Tho water courses uro tho streuins of Big Bine Wirer, Sugar Creek, Young Creek, Mooro's Creek, Burklinrt's Creek, luiinn Crork, Freemna's Creek nud Stott's Creek. Theso, with their numerous atlluents, drain all portions of the county, nffording on ubnunnuce of unter for all ordiunry purungey.

Tho timber remaining consists of the varieties of iralnut, oak, beerlı, hickory, mnplo, ash nnil sugur tree. Iu the southern portion adjoining Brown County, onk is the principal kind foutu !. The ivaluut hns, in u lunjority uf cayes, been cut down to satisfy the ilemauil of trade, most of it being used in the mionufneturo of musical instrument enses by Eastern houses. Onk and hickory aro the most valuable kinds remaining.

The surface of tho couuty is generally lere] AAt Ninereh, in the south- ern port of the county, uenr tho centor, east anil west, a range of hills sweeps up fromu tho south, thence henring off in n northivest direction, oxteuil- lug tu tho westoru houndary, irhiero it intersects the conuty line, six tuiles uurth of the southwrest coruer, nuil fromy thonco its courso is in n northerly lireetiun, until it reaches the hints of White llirer, where it terminates, All the territory in Johnson County, sunth nul wrest of this range, is broken, and corers uhout one-tenth furt of the whole. The reminder is slightly undulating, nud occasionally tolling, but is generally olasseil on lovel lands. The churnoter of the soil, in the grenter part of the county, is u durk louin, vxecedingly rich and productive. This portion proinees as good coru or irheut ns the best bettom louds of the Stwie. In the broken part of the county, hetore mentioned, the soil is n henry olny, nilnpted ouly to the grou th of grass and fruits. The bottom Innils along Blue River aro as rich and

proiluctive na any lands of this class in Indiana These in the vicinity of Edinburg are valued at from $100 to $150 per nere.

The chief productions of the county are corn, wheat and fine stock. ,Iolinson County stands first upon the list for stock mising, and, we believe, at this time, has os fine stock ny there is in the United States. Within the last year, Messrs. Hazelett & Mathes have imparteil a feu of the celebrateil horses froin Clydesdale, Scotland. They nro considered, by good juilges of lorses, to be the finest in the worlil. As to fine cattle, ire have no longer to go to Kentucky to purchase, for thry nro found in this county As thorough- breil as thero is in this country. Dr. Forsythe unil Mr. Woodruff have been importing fino cattle for i number of years. The stocks of sheep nul loge Are ulso improveil, ond are as good as enn be found.

The geologienl formation of the county is the white limestone of the Upper Silurian. None of this is found in the county except in the south. irestern part. Seven miles southwest of Franklin, the county seat, a very fine bed of this stone has been openeil. It was also reported that at Amity, five miles south of Franklin, a fine heil of the best quality of roofing slate lund heen iliscovered. A company has been organized for the purpose of Ivorking anıl developing this sinte bed, of which they claim to have an inex- haustible supply.

EARLY SETTLEILENTS.

In 1818, tho Indian title was extinguishel by treaty, to the Johnson County Innils, and in 1820, they abandoned it in accordance with the treaty stipulations. The same year (1820), the Innils ivere surveyed, and thrown into murket.

In the year 1818, Jacob Whitzel obtained the consent of the Delaware chief to eut n " trail" from his home in Franklin County, Indiana, to the hituffs of Whito River.

So far ne can be learned, he nnil his yon Ezra were the first white men ever in Johnson County, for the oldest settler kucirn did not come for two yenre after Whitzel eut his trace through the county.

In Murch, 1820, John Campbell came from Tennessee, and built a cabin one-half milo south of the present location of Edinburg, near the Bartholo- mew County line.

About the same time, Abraham Selle came from Ohio, and settled. He entered the county by Whitzel's trace, and located nt the mouth of Pleasant Run. It is a disputed point, among all settlers, which of these two was the first to settle in tho county, but the evilenee seems to point to John Camp- bell.

Moon after John Campbell settled, the following persons, with their fami- licy, located : . Joseph Bishop, Simon Shaffer, George Cutsinger, Samuel ller- riot, William Williams, Joseph Townsend, Arthur Robinson, William R. Ilins- ly, William Foster, Jesse Wells and Isoso MInrahull. These all settled near Campbell, in ivhnt is now called Blue River Township, near the present town of Edinburg, aljoining the Bartholomew County line.

The next settlement in the county was in White Iliver Township, near the cabin of Abraloin Sells, at the mouth of Pleasant Run, in the spring of 1821 Thomus Lorno, George Doty, James Ritehoy, Daniel Bonz, Jude Frauklin, und a number of others, with their families, that year became permascot citizens.

A settlement was also commenced in the southu estern part of the county, during the asme yenr Robert Worl made the first opening in this port, in tho spring Before the coming winter, he ins fullowed by Benjamin Crens. William Strain, Joab Woodruff, George Blaukinship, Phillip Moor, James Jacobs and Jobn 8. Miller, with their families.

During the same year (1$21), tho first settlements were made at or near the present location of Franklin, the county seat, by William and David Burkhart. During the full, they were followed by George King, Leri Moor, Joseph Young, John Smiley, Elishn AIumas, Isune Voris, Robert Gileriss aud ottiers,

Iu 1826, Richard Hensley moule tho first path to the present Hensley Tou nship, named in honor of him. Soou he bad for neighbors the Curls, Sturgeons, Rogalales, MeNutt amt Bridges faunlies.

In 1826, Mrs. Utterbuck, nith her eight solta, settled in Union Township Before tho close of the year 1827, shirly families were living in this settle. ment. From this time forward, settlements wers monde rery fast, and but few months elapsed ere there were a thousand people in the county.

EARLY INCIUINTS.

John Logan, a Baptist minister, iras the first preacher in Johnson County. HIe commenced preaching about tho yeur 1822, us in the spring of 1823 the Blue River Baptist Church was organized, aud Logan is said to have preached some time before the organization.

The first Presbyterinn Church in the county was built in Franklin, in 1824 The second one was organized at the present location of Greenwood, tho Zil ilny of December, 1825.

A man by the name of Kelley huilt the pioneer cabin in Franklin, in the spring of 1814. It stood ou the wrest side of the public square.

The first brick house in tho county wus built on Main street, in Franklin, by Georgo King, in 1830.

Elizabeth Campbell (daughter of lohn Campbell, the earliest settler) wns the first white child born in the county. Ifer birth occurred February 10, 1821.

The earliest mechanics wero Isaac Collier, a blacksmith, who erected the first mill in the county, alul Allen Williams, a carpenter.

In the year 1822, a notoriously cruel min, onil hanlened criminal, Jolin Beard, fastened a negro woman to a stump and left her to perish. It being in the winter, and exceedingly coll, the woman was found, the next day uffer, frozen dead. So intense was the indignation that, had Beard been caught, he would have speedily ntoned for his erinte. Ho had, luinever, feil tho country, us he seemed to fear justice wouldl overtake him. He was not cupturul, and the crime is supposeil to have gone unpunished.

At the first tuceting of the grand jury, vo business appears to hovo liron dono, us the only order of that session of court relating to that body, reails: " Orilereil that the graud jurors ho phil the suut of seventy five cents for thoir perricey."

The first divorce case ins presenteil by Elizabeth Shields ngninst Robert Shichiis, nt the October term, 1824. l'lea . " Atinndonment aud cruel trent- ment."

Johnson County (bumed in honor of John Johnson, a Supreme Court Judge) was organizeil ander an net of the Legislature in 182. In accord- auco ivith this act, the Circuit Court met at the house of John Smiley, on Thursday, August 16, 1823. Present, tho I'resuling Judge, William W. Wick, Judge of the Fifth Judicial Cireuit ; Associnte Judges, Israel Watts umul Dauiel Boaz. Davul B Wick, brother of the Judge, was appointed l'rosecuting Aitorney.

The first grand jury of the county ivas composed of the following gentle- mou : Juliu Israel, foreman ; Willinin Barrett, Thomas Donn, John Ilunter, Georgo King, C. Palmer, John White, Johu A Moore, Joub Woodruff, William Faster, Juhin Jacobs, John S. Miller, S. Shaffer, Jofferson D. Joues and John Frazor. Theso nro nll dlead hut une, Jefferson D. Jones, who is still living. n rory olil but highly lugored uuid respectrdl munu. Ile is in his eightr-second yenr.

The following were the first county officers : Clerk nad Recoeder, Sammel Herriott ; Treasurer, John Adams; Sheriff, John Smiley.

The organization of this county seems to linve heen u little irregular, or nulike that if uther counties. The conuty business, from the organization tn 1820, was performed by the Circuit Court, and from 1826 to 1887, br s baund, called n " Board of Justicea."

There is no recoril of any Board of Justices before Mny, 1826. The olilest recoril, on this subject, in the County Auditor's office, shows that on " May 1, 1826, the Board of Justices doing county business" were the fol- lowing gentlemen : Archibald Glenn, President ; Joab Woodruff, David Dur- hin, Jolin Ismel, Thomas Lowe, Patrick Colvin and Spencer Barnett.

The first business shown by the record was the receiving and acting upan the petition of twonty-four respectable citizens of Edinburg, asking the " honorable Board to gront n license to Thomas Carlin, to keep & tavern in the said town of Filinhurg."

Tho enrliest case called in the first Circuit Court tras " Ilenry Hines, Assignco of the Edhils Brothers, against William Ilunt." Judgment was takro for arventy-seren dollars.

The Attorneys admitted to practice law in this Circuit Court were: Sam- ucl B. Wick, James D. Lary and Calvin Fletcher.

COUNTY BUILDINGS.

The first court house of Johnson County was built in 1823, of hewed logs. It wa erected on the cast side of Main Street, one-half square north of the public square. This building ivas used for the holding of courts until 1825, when it was abandoned, and a two-story brick court house constructed, on the west side of the public square.

In 1830, this building was burned.

saved. The records were, however, all

In 1931, the county comtneneed (for that day) a very fine coort house, in the center of the public square, und completeil it in 1972. This building remained until the full of 1874, when it burned, and again the records were sred complete.

After this last fire, a temporary structure was built- at & cost of $8,000- on the south side of the publie square, in which the courts are at present held,

The first county jail was built of logs, in 1824. This edifice stood opposite the public syunre, on the nest side of the street.

Ju 1835, the county built a jail of stone, in the southwest corner of the pollic square. This jail was used until 1869, when the present magnificent jail and Sheriff's residence were erected, nt o cost to the county of $50,000.

COUNTY INSTITUTION".

The poor form of Johnson County is situated one mile west of the county seat. It contains 160 acres of land. The builling is of brick, (wo stories high, modern in all its arrangements, anil cost the county $20,000. The number of inmales-as shown by the report of the last Board of Visitors to the County Commissioners-was twenty-eight.

The Johnson County Agricultural Society was organized in September, 1669. Tho society held its seventh nunual fair in September, 1875, at its grounds, henr Franklin.

An inilependent agricultural society liny heen holding fairs at Edin- burg, in tlus county, for the past ten years. The stockholders are citizens living in the southern part of this and the northern part of Bartholomew County, who felt that they were too far from their respective county seats to attend tho fairs beld there.

RAILROADS

The county contains a little over forly-one miles of railroad; twenty miles of the Cincinnati & Martinsville and twenty-one miles of the Jeffersun- ville. Mailison & Indianapolis Itulroads. These roads intersect at Franklin. The present county officers are: Clerk, Isaac Thompson ; Auditor, Edward N. Woolen. Recoeder, George M. Demarce , Sheriff, James H. Putney, and Treasurer, Jolin W. Ragsdale.

The present County Commissioners are John Kirlen, John Cloer and Reason Reggs.

THE COUNTY SEAT.

The uct of the General Assemlily, authorizing the organization of the county, also authorized the appointment of Commissioners to select a suitable location for the county seat. The Commissioners selected the present locality. Georgo King donated forty acres of land (the same a portion of the city is now built on).

The Circuit Court, at its first term, appointed John Campbell Connty Agent, and authorized bim to proceed immediately to survey into Iots, and to offer the same to the highest bidder on the 2d day of September 1823. The County Agent employed Williamtu Auebry to survey the town.

At the sale of the lots, September 2, 1873, 18} cents' worth of whisky was furnished hy the county to the bidders, for which the county paid. The old vouchers for this whisky are now in the hands of Judge Banta.

Lots numbered 38 anil 34 were the first sold. They were bought by John Smiley, the first Sheriff of the county. The lots sold from nineteen to fifty dollars eoch

Nicholas Schaffer received the contract, from the County Agent, to '' grub" the public square; for which he received the sum of sir dollars and fifty cents

The original town, as laid off by County Agent Campbell, contained ninety lots-eight lots to the square-surrounding the public square. It is situnteil n little to the east and south of the center of the county.

Eleven adilitions to the originat town have been made, As follows :

King's addition, May 30, 1830. King's second addition, November 12, 1835.

llerriott's addition, December 23, 1837. Fulton & Murgan's addition, April 1], 1838.

llieks & Beard's addition. January 4, 1836.

B. Ilamilton's addition, April 10, 1847.

Henderson & Telford's ad lition, July 11, 19%0.

Ilicks & Ilomilton's first addition, Mar 2, 1861. llicks & Hamilton's second addition, February 1, 1858.

Charles Snowy's addition, November 22, 1853. Gilleress' nillition, November 10, 1813.

Fast Franklin uns Inid out by S. Morgan. November 16, 1837. It is a subdivision of part of Section 23, Township JI, north of Range + east. The following udditions hinre beeu mode to East Franklin:

Peggs & Co.'s addition, September 9, 1849.

King's nildition, April 11, 1851.

King & lourin's addition, June 17, 1858.

Finch's addition, September 23, 18;1.

Drake's addition, January 5, 1853.

King's second addition, November 12, 1852.

The western part of the city was Ind ont hy William H. Penney, in No- vember, 1~19. It was called by him " The Far West Plat." It was a part of Section IS, Town 13, north of Range 3 cast.

The city was incorporated, under the general Iniv, as a city, September 2, 18lil. It was divided into three wandde, and nn election ordered to be held on Monday, September 10, 18G1, in the soveral wards, for the purpose of electing city utheers, viz .: Muyor, Marshal, Treasurer, Clerk and two Coun- cilmen in each ivned. The organization was fully completed, and the first meeting of city officers met September 24, 1861.

l'resont-Mayor, Benjamin Davis; Clerk, J. O. Martin ; and Council- meu, William Basset, F. M Furgerson, R. W. Clark, Samuel C. Dunn, A. B. lunter and George King.

The present city officers nro: Mayor, Chinrles W. Poston : Clerk, William 3. Conner ; Treasurer, Duke Hamilton; Cily Attorney, R. M. Miller. The Councilmien aro: Leland Payne, W 11 MeLauchin, R. A. Alexander, R. Sturgın and W. B. Ellis.

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Franklin is on the J., M. A. I. R. R , twenty two miles wealth of Indiminp- olis. The Martinstille & Cincinnati Railroad crosses here. Two mails go north nnd lwo south un thay J., M. & 1 Rond, and une muil, each way, on lbo other rand daily Franklin is n fine business point, conlining Ihrer llonring.mills, lorge pork-pekiug establishment, three drug stores, liftren dry gonds stores, birelve grocery store " and several munufeluring establishments. The city is lighted trilb gns.

The city liny four regular churches, viz .; Christian, with chinroh properly valunt at $20,000; Methodist, church properly volumil nl $29,000; Mission- ory Maplist, church properly valued ul $B,ANH1; und Presbyterian, church properly inhned nl $8,1KW).

The city schonl building in fine und romunddious, cesling $60),000. The city school is in good condition, nuder the charge of d. Il. Yurtin. Tho Superintendent of county srboots is H. F. Kennedy .

WIS fammiled in 18.1-4, os n Baptist - Manual Labor Institule. In 1814, thy institution was changed lo n college, writh Rev. Georgo C. Chandler ne Presi- drnl. In the year 1874, n nulminul rodinyment fund of $60, 000 ires raiseil, luil, from many combining causes, not half the umount uns wer realized. In ENny, il suspended. hu INi, the Inand again resumed control, and raised an etlamment fund of $24,10x1. At this time, a large cuilny of money ins neerskiry, sm1, as the incunie wus nd romul lo the expenses, nghiin, under Ibe malministralien nf Het, I. S. Woylund, D. H , il mspemileil The Baje tisIs of the Sinte were uut willing il should fail, nudl, in less than six months, un epowinni fond of $0,000 nos puised The institution at present is in beller condition Ilino rier before. Mou ements ure un feel, which, Hur Presi- dent of the institution snys, will make the entbou ment found $100,000 by the Ith of July, 1876, There are Inn building4, each 80 hy Ill fret, Ibree stories high. The campus conlains Ivelru neres of land, braunfully shadeil.

The library pussesseen large number of mulunble works. The laboratory is furnished with a very respectable supply of philosophical and cheunical

Itey. W T Sloh i- President, nind Professor of Mutal and Intellectual Philosophy, I. J Thompson, Professor of Muthemolics: R $ Hopkins, Professor of Latin nad Natural Sciences, and 3Ir- Bell R Stoll, Teacher of Mugir ntul Printing.

With such institutions, the public will understand that the eily ef Frank. lin is n jince of refinement uml enlinre. This feature, in connection with The beautiful location of the city, Innkes il n very pleasant joace in which lo live. The gronoit in The city is slightly undulating, giving suthejeut drain. ngy The city contains a population of 1.000

..........

irns luid out by Lewis Bishop, in Iszl T'here hne berb fifteen milddivus lo Ibr original ydet, meto The present time It is jensonily siupled un the hank of Blur Biker, thirty Hiro mihy smith of Indinubpolis, un tbe .l., M. & 1. It. Il There are bie dry goody stores, Herrn groceries, Iwo drug stores nul Inrge slorch nurks, that nsp JAD,pin bushels of torn annually. The Blue Itu er " Grupe Sugar Works" uru lecated here, sud one of the largest llonring- mills 10 The Sinle.

Thr juthhe sehenl bnilding is u hine tww-story brick, large enough to nr. remmoduly Had stilenis. Il cust SI,poIt.

There nro fire churches in lalintenrg, with church properly rulned us Jol- lows. Melliodist, properly rabied nt 621,IK01; Christian, prupuits rained ul $1,000 ; Treshorlerinm, properly summed nl $1,000; St. John Lutheran, property inluml nl $0,000; mel O'nthulin, property rained al $6,000

Eiliburgh contains A population of 2,000 The alreyls nro bro.nl, henit- filully shaded min hurd with finy residenres. The Inin oernpics a position int thu center of u circle, contuining ns muny fin furtus as my ofher loralily in the Stale

silunled in Section 6, Township 11 Hinge a cost, ins Inid out by Jubu Aitoins, June 16, 1865. It contains & llonring-mill, story, church nil school house, musil a population of 11H1, h is on the J , M. x 1. R. H., five miles &mlb of Franklin

silunied in Section 1, Townshsp 12, Hange ", in4 laid unt by Jefferson Ilni. ger, February 17, 18;d :. It contains n wore, church, schonl honse und poyl office, und a populalieu of lap.

Blunted in Section #, Travuship 1}, Unnge 4, nas luidl ant by Joli B. Dob- bin, August 30, 1853. It contains tiva churches, a fine school building, Ihrer Flores, a large flouring-inill und a post office. Ii is ou lhe J., M. A I K R., Ien miles south of Indintmpoli- Population, 400

strumed iu Section 12, Toiruship 11, Hauge 3, ans land out hy Gro. Brilges, Felirunry ld, 1813.

May 19, 1×1, A. M Bachner laid out n plul here ank elled il, in his recurited dal, " Liberty." When Bridges laid out his plat ( February ]]>, 1833), he recorded il as " llensley Town ' On April IT, ISUT, Joseph Moare Inid ont n plat. mnl called il "Trafalgar," and soon afterwurd the names, " Liberty " nud " Hensley Town," nere abandoned, aml, by proper authority, chungell lo Trafalgar

Ii coninius two dry gouds aleres, u drug store, n will, three churches nud « goul schoul builling. It is on tho Concinnuli & Martinsville Raihoud, six milr& guuthurey nf Frankhn. Populalien, Sitt.

dos Init out by Daniel Masselimu, Muy 21, 18444. The post ofhe is unmedl "Ninernh." Il coulnins Ihrve alurvs, llonring and sau mitl, Ino ihnrches aud n gnol school building W is situated on a grarel pund, six tuiles nesl of Franklin Population, Hall,

u'ny laid out boy Joel 1] White, Jncub Vurner, Thowny uml livorgr W. Walker, March 11, 1800. Ii containa u Hunring-mill, Three atures, church miul schmol beise. 11 in on the .1. W. & 1 K. Il., fre miles north of Franklin l'opn. bolin, 21ht

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Illustrated Historical Atlas of the State of Indiana, Part 119

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

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