Illustrated Historical Atlas of the State of Indiana, Part 97

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

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Lawrenceburg was incorpornieil os n eity, umler n special ael af the Leg- islature of 1846, entuled on uct "granting tho citizens of Lawrencemirg And Mindisou, city ohurterg." After incorporation, the city was divided into two words-First nivì Second. Millon Bench was the first Coupeilmon of the First Ward, and Gardiner Elliut, first Councilmuni of the Second Waril. David Maoy wny electeil firat Mayor of the city.

Lawrenceburg was the county seal of Dearbarn County from tho organl- zntion of the county up to 1836, when the county scai was removed to Will- mington, in llogan Towruship. But by the efforts and energicy of citizens of Lawrenceburg and vicinity, it arns brought back again in 1813.

It is pleasantly situated upon the bank of the Ohio River, firenly- livo miles from Cinnionali. It is fuvnrohly located, in this, That it stands on an oval plat of ground, thus affording nulurn] drainngo, and al no season of the year ilo the streets gel uupleasantly indily.

The first newspaper publishel in Lawrenceburg way the Dearborn Gazette, foumled in 1817 by a moun named Brown. Mr. Brown published the paper but n shorì lime, and was succeeded by n Mr. Langdon, of Cincinnati, who

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COUNTY HISTORIES .- CONTINUED.

changed its namo to the Indiano Oracle. It was published about two years by George II. Duun und lohu MePike. January 1, 1825, they were suc- ceciled by Darid B. Cully and Milton Gregg, who changed its naine to the Indiana Palladium, Mr. Gregg published the Political Bearon from 1887 to 1844. The Indiana Whig was published in 184]. In the fell of 1841, its nome ivas changed to the fuchonu Register. This again ivus changed to the Democratic Register, James Goble and II. S. Browu established the LAW- roureburg Press iu Ootoher, 1850. The present city pupers are the Register, very ably conducted by Edward F. Sibley, and Lairrencoburg Press, J. P. Chew, editer.

TRAVELING FACILITIES.

The Ohio & Mississippi Rulrond passes through Lawrenceburg (enst and west through the county), and the Initinnapolis, Cineiunnti & Lafayotte Rail- rent north through the county from Luivreuceburg. In addition to these tive railroails, two stenmlionts pass up the river, noil tivo ileivn, dnily, rain by the United States Mnil Line Compuny, betweeu Cincinonti awul Louisville, Two mails lenvo daily for Ciuolunnti, tive for indianapolis, two for Louis- rille aud ture for St. Louis.

There are ciglit churolies in the city-two Lutheran, ene Catholic, one Germau Mothedist and tire Amerienn Methedlist, one Presbyterian and one Episcopal Church.

There is a fine gradril school in the city. 1. R. Frisler, Superintendent of rity schools. Thero are 100 schools in the county, outside the city of Lawrenceburg- George C. Columbia, County Superintendent of public schools.

The population of Lawrenceburg is 4,500. 11 is a pleasant little city, and one among the best business points on the Ohio River.

OTLLEIL TOINA,

AURORA

was laid out in 1819, by Jeise Holmuu. It is situated in parts of Sections 32 noi 33, Town 5, Range ì ivest.

The alut was owned by a company known as the " Aurora Associatiou for Internal Improroment." The land was conveyed by Jesse Holman, in trust, to this company, the 14th of January, 1810,

The pint was acknowledgeil hefore James Dill, as Recorder, oo the 30th dny of January, 1819, and recoriled the same day.

The ground upon which this city is built cost this company, at this enrly day, the sum of twenty thousand ilellars.

Aurora wns incorporateil us a city in 1813, by special act of the Legisla- turo, introduced by the lion. William S. Holnian. It is to-day a pleasunit little city of ihreo thousanil inhahiinnts, and n business point of considerable importance.

DILLSBOROL GI

is fourteen oules from Lawrenceburg, und one nud n half nules from the O. & M. R. R.

The tourn was Injil out by Matthias Whetstone, in 1830. The first geitler was Darid Gibson, who settled here in 18440. The first church uns built by the Metbodiats, in 1838 The first post office iras established in 1838 William Glenn uns the l'ostminster.

There is n gooil school at this point, tivo churches, seren stores, a furni- ture filetory, ouo steain inill, nud u population of seven hundred.

HARRISON

is situated on the White Water, on the " Valley Railroad." It is diruled by the State line. The post office is on the Ohio side. lobn Allen nad Peter Ilannun Inid off the Indians side, in 1813, and named it in honor of Gen. llarrison.

The first post office was established bere in 1Sì5. The same year Brecken- ridge & Purcell built the first fouriug-mill. The year following (1816), John Wikoff built the first hotel.

It now lins four hotels, three flouring-mills, u lurge distillery, and a popu- Iation of treuty-fire hundred,

WILMINGTON

ivay Inid out by Robert Moore iu 1816, unud incorporated in 1838, The county seat Ivas loonteil hero in 1836, at which time a substantial court house Hiul jnil irere built. The county seat was removed again to Lawrencehurg. iu 18-18. Population, three hundred.

MOORE'S HILL

was laid out by Moore & Sterens, in 1839, It was formerly known As " Moore's Mill ;" but in ostulilishing the post office, by mistako it was called ". Moure s Dill," nud has been so called orer since.

Moore's llill College is situated within the corporate limits. It was or- ganized in January, 1864, with the following Trustees: John C. Moore, Res, T. C. Ilolliday, Richunt Kelloy, ttenty .1. Borrors, Mortun Justice, Duvid .A. Brooks, William H. Meere, James S. Stovens and Chestor Faulkner.

The huibliug is of brick, three stories high, capable of accommodating several hundred stuilents, It is a place of rohuement uud culturo. The natural, ns woll uss tho moral atmosphere is good here, the place heing u very healthy our. Pupulation, fifteen hundreil

There nte six other towns iu the county, namely : Morgantown, L'ur- ronerrille, Derer, Weisburg, Now Alyneo und St. Leon, ull nice little rillages, with a population of from tivo to four huuilred.

Mergintown was laid out by Jonathan Lurronco, in 1835; Lnivrence- ville, ly his brother Jolin, sowie vrar.

Warburg is on the I. C. & L. R. R., soventeeu miles from Lin renceburg. 11 hny three stores aud post office, amil a population of one hundred and fifty.

SPENCER COUNTY.

TOPOGRAPHY.

This county is uearly in the southirest portion of liuliund. By somto it was oneo iuoliuleil in the " pocket," but this enu hurilly be snill of it, us it is orer one lumuilrud miles from the mouth of tho Wubash Riror. Its southern liue is the Ohio Rirer, thereby enjoying geoil shipping facilities. Que Ruil- rond, from Ilockport to Eluntingburg, in Dubois County, eunbles its furmors to seud their produce to the county seat, theneo on tho rirer to Louisville or Brunsrille, This rna is intended to connect with the Ohio & Mississippi Railrundt at Longantec, in Martin County, whou u northern route will be opened to other markets.

The county containa four hundred nnil uinety-eight square miles, nuit in 1876 there were nhout 276, 720 ueres cultiruteit, producing nearly a half mill- ien hushela of grain, uenrly eight thousand tons of huy, and about nuo huy- dreil thousnull busbels of fruit.

Nearly sixty thousand head of live atopk were supperted, nuit oue-linll' of them hogs, which are the nutu "stunil-by " of the farmers, requiring lurgo ameunty of corn for their Tuttening.

The soll raries in structure. Tho bettom Inni, lying along the Ohio Rirer, is the most productive portion of lho county. It contains u largo por ceut.

of vegetable matter, with n mixture of light snudd anil porous clay; contain- ing, in evory respect, the highest elements of fertility.

Some of these Inuds hare prodluerd fine crops for lifty successive years, Ivithout the use of fertilizers of any kind.

. Owing to the large mincunts of vegetable matter in the composition of the soil, wheat could not bo raised uutil within a few years. This, however, has bron obviated by the continuous groirth of coru, ondt non it is grown with guod returus mid profit,

Olio Townsbip-in which Rockport is situated- contuius u larger body of productive laud thau any other towoship in the county, and large amounts of groin, tobacco, bay and garden regetables nre annually ybipped ta the South, by steamers noil in thet-boats. Nearly all the lonit in this part of the county is in u high state of cultivation, nuil ranges in price from thirty to oue hun- ilred and twenty-fire ilollars per nero.

In tho soutbirest part of the county, in Luce Township, the Innd is low, nud was, for many years, uuproductive. Subsequently it lins been drained, nud is nois becoming desirable.

lu Itammond and Hurrison Townships, especially the latter, the grape is successfully cultirated, nud good wine made. Its cultiration is not yet futly dereleped, but sufficientty to insure profitable returns.

lo Tuff Township there is n fine body ef land, known as "Corn island," whirb proiluces moro cora to the ucre than any other land in the county. In all, the entire county offers excellent and profitable returns to the skillful agriculturist,

MINERALS.

The county is abundantly supplied ivith sique, elay for hrick, and coa], The latter is inexbnustible, and of a superior quality. The grological sur- reys, tonde from time to time, by Professors Owen, Cox, Delafontaine und Foster, establish, beyenil a doubt, its nbunlance and good quality.

There are sereral miues in operation, amil more only await ruudy trans. portation, to he doveloped,

This county is well filled with manufacturing establishments, muuy of irlich ure run by water-power. These hure been entired here by the cheap freiglits on the river, and enjoy good trade with the South, More could be easily sustainel, uud the opening of solditional lives of railway is very much needed, as the county is able to support many more factories. Shous of erery kinil fiud cheap fuel, plenty of timber, and only aurait methods of more rapid transit to other alid larger cities thou those to which they are at preseut cowpelleil to ship their mierehandise.

Inexbuustible beils of sandstone ure abundant, furnishing gued building Dinterial. Clay, for brick, is plenty, und their muufucture is carried on quite extensively.

Spencer County, in commou with all southwestern counties of Indiuua, needs more citizens isho irill ut once open these mines, work up these ferests, builit forges and furnaces, und offer iuducements to foreigu capitol that will cause it to How iu.

EARLY SETTLEMENTS.

Near the present town of Maxwell, a settlement was made in the year 1802. It was made on ench side of Anderson Creek, now the diriding line between l'erry and Spencer Counties, and part of it was on the site of the present tou'n of Troy, in the former county. A ferry was established between these two settlements (afterward kept by . Abraham Lincoln). The ismilies of Judge MrDaniel, Capt. Wright, Aquillu Jones, Ezekiel Anderson and Uriuhi Lamar ( afterward Sheriff of the county ) settled there in that year. Mr. Foivell, father of Ezekiel and Jatues Porvoll, crossed the Ohio Rirer ibe same your, at the mouth of Blackford River, and settled one mile east of the pres- ent tourn of Grand View. Shortly uftrrwurd, Abraham Harmar cleared! n feur nerey on the bluff, back of ishere the town of Enterprise now stands, and near irbere it horso mill way yoon afterward built, to tho great relief of the settlers, irlio, before this, wore compelleil to go to n Mr. I'nnada's, in Ken- tucky, for grinding, loab Garrett cleared six or eight neres near what is knowu is the Baldwin l'ond, u short distance up the river from the present site of Stryker's ferry. Knoch Berry setiled on a farmu nbout two miles west of Rockpart, south of the Evnusrillo Road, John Smothers cleared several seres where Juwies S. Greathouse resides, And lired there seme time. The first land cleared in what is known as the " Jonathan Parker settlement" iry by Jesse Tinker and James Abshier, William -Spencer and David Hurker settled in what afterward became Luce Township, and Daniel Grass, Representative in the Legislature afterward, settled in Obio Township, in 1807. Ezekiel Ray settled in 1811, and Samuel Lamar noil Reuben Grigsby shortly after. The spring of 1814-16 murks the advent of Mr. Thomas Lincoln and his illustrious son, Abraham, who wns ileseribed by his neigh- bors as the " ganglienest boy they ever see," but thoroughly "good natured" and university esteemed. So Spencer County and manny of hor citizens claim the honor of oneo knowing "Abo Lincoln," and relnte maur interesting stories of thut bero. Mr. Lincoln moved from Hardin County, Kentucky, and settled on Anderson Creek, Perry County, nowy the iliriding line belireon the tivo counties. It uns at the pluce familiarly known As " Lincoln's Ford," iu Huff Township, at which place be anil " Ahe" kept ferry, until the fill of 1817, when Mr. Lincoln entered eighty nores of lund (pour Lincoln City), amil ut onre remored to it. He was a member of the Baptist Church, ut Little Pigeou, tuo miles east of Gen- tryrille, and one mile south of his form This church was organized in 1816, ami was the first churrb in the county. The members com- meneed tho erection of thoir "inceting house" in 1819, eceupring it in the yumuier ef 1820, As Mr. Lincoln ins n carpenter, and always worked nt his trado at intervals between planting und gibbering his props, lw anil "Abe" diil all the carpenter work on the little log church, which was thirty feet loug, twenty-six feet wide, one util a bulf stories high, with a chimney at each end, and wiudews twenty by thirty inches in size. But littlo chungo wrus erer monde in this house, and the carpenter work still stunds as they left it. Mr. Lincoln joineil tho rburch, br letter, in 1823, Juue 7, and was dismissed by letter in 183], " when joined to an- other church of the surue fuith unil oriler." In all church councils where prudence, piotr nud sound judgment wero requirel, his name nppeurs on the chinroli recordy, shotring the esteem in which he was held. He is describeil ns a large, henry minn, und of dark complexion. Ho sold his farm in 1880, and, with his family, removed to Illinois thut year. Mrs. Lincoln iras of minlille size, hund bluck buir, Luzel eyes, aud was slouder in forul. By ull who knew hor sbe ivas highly esteemed, and wa derotedly pious. She

died in the full uf 1818, unul irns burieil ou u hill ubout 200 yurils south of tho direlling, in a spot corered by u dense growth of forest trees, Juost of which has been out miray, lenring s growth of suuller trees and shrubs. Sho left two children, Abraham and a daughter, Sarah, or "Sully," As slo iras calleil, who afterward married a man hr the name of Anron Grigsby, nul died, learing ne rhildreu. No stour marks the last resting place uf Mrs. Lincoln, but the deeds of her son, who went up to Heaven bearing the broken shuekles of six million frer min, mike a monument moro enduring than minrblo. At the age of eight years, "Ahe" iras considered, by the teachers ivho " baurdei ronwul," os & " prime reniler ; " and it "spellin' miatolles " it iras oulloiredl that uono in all tho eouimunity could spell Abo iloiu." At the age of fincen, he would study Into ai night by a fire-plice, and for his slate, he useil a poular beurd, which, when he had corered it with figures, he would share off with his knife, unil begiu aners.

Amung the first iniuisters irere Sunuel Bristpe, Charles Ilurper, Adam Shoumaker, Isaac Veatch | whose son is uew n government officer in Evans. ritle), Iter. Jnbu Walls, for sowo timo Presiding Eller hero, nud Benjamin Keith, now liring nt La Rne, Kentucky, nud occasionally preaching, though

eiglity. five years of age; alse " Uncle Jimmy Langford," as he wna called, who first settled at Rockport, ten yenra before there was a white man living there.

The last bear chose way in February, 1820 er '21, " Uncle Jimmy," Mathew Rogers and Col. Ilewell participating. It was through briar thick. ets, grapevines and the cow pond in Luce Township, and eight of the nine benra were caught, though it was not cousiderul by those stalwart Nimroda ag & rery good itny for brars either.

The last wolf " yielded" to the unerring aim of Christopher Borklart, who tanned the hide of this wolf and made several pairs of slippers for the young builies of bis neighborhood, who, doubtless, carried them to the deer of the log church, and then put them en, as was the custom of these days. The county paid a reward for the scalp of his wolfship, the proceeds of which paid for n log chain, made by W. K. Turper, who then bad a black- smith shop in Rockporl.

William Bennett mored to the rounty in July, 1817, and brought the second wagon with him to the county. It ninrked an era, is it was quite an improrement on the old style, whose wheols were no end of a rounil log sawed off, about feur inches thick, n rude axte connecting the wheels, aod a rough tongue, with & rougher slali box for a bed. They were generally called " truck wheels," and if n famity desired to make a visit iu one to a neighbor, their coming was announced by the loud squeaking uf the wheels, so that by the time the visitors " bore" in sight, the bear steak could be prepared nad the toilets of the family maile, ready to receive their visitors.

Though the manners of the frontiersman and pioneer ivere rough, their visnge und garb uncouth, yet their unys ivere frank, their hospitality hoon- liful, and a bearty ivelcome given to all irlo camo to see them, and atnong them some of our truest and noblest men and irumen were found. They had few, so called, refinemenia, ergo, they had few vices. And though they had many ways not to be copied after, they bad just as many the present generation would do well to follow. If some of their prompt measures in ferreting out and punishing crime were followed yet, erime would diminish, as in the case irhere i mian was caught stealing, sirnightway taken before a Justice and sentenced to be whipped at once.

ORGANIZATION.

Spencer County was organized by an net of the Legislature, in the session of 1817-18. Its organization al that time was owing to the influence of Daniel Grass, the Representative from Warrick County, who lived in what is now Ohio Township, and saw that a county could be formel between Hendersou Creek on the east, and Pigeon on the ivest, and north to Dubois County. Ile had it named " Spencer," in honor of fapt. Pierre Spencer, a gallant Kentucky officer, who fell at the fight at Tippecanoe, on Norember [, 18]], and was honombly mentioned in Gen. Harrison's report of the engagement. He iras a very wurth frienil of Daniel Grass,

Like Posey, it contains a kind of " pocket" in the southwestern part. Politically, it is divided into nine townships, which irere settled in the following orler :

Obio Township, by Daniel Grass, May 9, 1807. Luce, by William Spencer, June 15, 1807. lluff, by Samuel Lamar, March 10, 1811. Hammond, hy Ezekiel Ray, October 11, 1811.

Clay, by Reuben Grigsby, October 21, 1815. Curter, by John James, April 9, 181i. Jackson, by William Stark, April 1, 1818. Harrison, by Daniel Fry, September 19, 1915 Grass, by Sumnuel Brown, October 6, 1818.

This settlement of the townships was the first upon the publie lands in each, although settlers were located prior to the settlements given : but, principally, they located on what iras knowu .is " Congress lands." On ibem they paid ao tax, and when they left their custom was to sell the un. procementa turule, but the title remonined in the United States until they were lawfully enlered.

In the year 1818, the records of the county nere destroyed by tire, and in 1827, the court house was burned from the carelessness of a teacher and his pupils, irbo occupied s root in the building.

The first Circuit Courts were held about five miles north of the present town of Rockport, at the house of A. W. Dotser, ludge William Prince presiding ; John Morgan, Clerk, and Jobn M. Brady, Sheriff. Fer some time it was expected the county seat would be lousted there, but other influ- ences prevailed, and the owner of the land and his neighbors were dissp- pointed in securing the town.

On June 6, 1818, the surrey and plat of the present seal of justice were recorded and the couris removed to it.

The first court house nas of briek, and ins erected near the present one (in the same square). I'rerious to the builling of this, court was held iu en old two-story log house, which stood on the hill, not fur frum the house of Judge Laird. When this uus found inadequate for the county offices and court business, several small buildings were built, or roums rented for the use of the officers. These irere insecure, and liuble to he destroyed by fire. This occurred ouce or twice in the history of this county, hence the difficulty of obtaining reliable information concerning the progress of the county. Judging from the growth of the rounty, it is sery that improrement was slow until after tho lato war.

In 1813, ilir taxable property wus $2,008,964; in 1863, $3,:141, 880, and in 1973, 86,206,450, showing an increase of hut little over oue million in the first ten years, und an increase of nearly three times that amount during the last teu years,

Tho presoni court house was erected in 1864-5, and is a rery substantial brick edifice. A good briek jnil stands immediately south of it, in tho some square. It was erecied about the same time.

The county officers are: Auilitor, B. F. Bridges: Sheriff, A. Stevenson ; Treasurer, Henry Kramer ; Clerk, I. C. Richardson ; Prosecuting Attorney, E. B. Hatfield ; Judge of Court, David T. Laird, and County Superintendent of Schools, .I. Wytteubach,

The county finances are in a very good condition, the indebtedness being for contingent expenses.

ROCK PORT.

the county seat, is in the southern part of the county, on the west bank of the Ohio River (the river here courses to the south ), noul is the largest town in tho county.

The first settlement urus made here in the yeurs 1807-8, by " Uncle Jimmy Langford," as ho iras ealled, who Innded from his canoe where the upper lamling now is. The laudiug then bad the name of " tho Hanging Rock," ntso called " Lady Washington's Rock." This lafier was an immense boulder, since " blown up" to make a way for ressels to como ucarer. It was then a beautiful, picturesque place, the banks near 200 feet high, of massive stono curiously curre by the netion of the water, and ailorned with all manner of Iulian pictures. " Uncle ,limmy " maite n sort of care, und, with his wife and little daughtor, lived in it for some time. Hu gained his main living for the first two years by hunting, nud unterward settled on n fare near the Tip- pecuoe Church, becamo n " powerful " Methodist minister, aud onty thirty- one yrare ngo ions Inid nuray to rest.

Some years afterwurd, A. W. Durery built the first house near where the residency of Judge Lainl now is (probably the one iu irhuch the first courts irere bebl).

Shortly after tho organization of the county, the Governor appointed three Commissioners to locate the sest of justice for Spencer County. These were lsano Montgomery, John Johnson and Joseph Paddock, who, "after

292

him ing explored the renhly, onil being antisfinil with the comlity of the soil, number of inhabitants, ele., do fix upon Huckport on the lunds uf W Il. Itin's, Wright & Griffith, and Griffith & Mosely."

Donutiolis id' lots were smule by these men, noil money to ereel n bridge neross Jakr lirain lo enable the citizens in the upper part of the comity lo ullwind courty or Irade at the new town. On Inne 6, 1818, thesr men maile their doustion of land lo the town. It irns surveyed by Jumes W. Johnson. lingirl Gross was County Agent, and soon after this the sale of luts look pince, nitemed by many from surrounding rounties, andl from Kentucky. Bidding was good, nm] a ready salo effected. The town of Huckport, proper these donatinay irere adilitions|, is ilescribed os follows . " A few streets irere Inid ont, midd some half dozen honses ereeled. The streets were pur- nully elenred, und the town platled, exteniling into the tuods on every siło. The bonses were of logs, seallerel on The bluft, and u sumli store HAS kept by Haniel Grass und Stephen F. Ogden, which was probably the fral sture in town

1 W. Denney and J. B. Greathouse built the first tannery, which simed north of Main street The place is vorant nou,

The first hotel was built in 1819, hy Conrad Broivo, anil stimul nenr u here The present Spencer house is.

The court house was commencent in 1818, unl courts were held fur sonie line in the hotel,

.Immes Wokehell, toho Morgan, Thomas Simpkins, M B. Snyder und .Inincs finker were among the enrliest pelilers. The Ialler carried stakes und druve them ul the surroy of the town, und being on The binff when n aleaimer clinneed to come ilorn the river, he und his companions nerer har- ing scen or henry of one before, conelitiled it isas a portion of the " miferunl Irglous," and precipilately ded to the woods. The growth of the foun con- linned not to be prosperous.

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Illustrated Historical Atlas of the State of Indiana, Part 97

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

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