USA > Indiana > Marion County > Indianapolis > Logan's History of Indianapolis from 1818. Giving a carefully compiled record of events of the city from the organization of the state government > Part 12
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20
57
INDIANAPOLIS FROM 1818.
burned in October and rebuilt November, Iron manufactures have taken the lead- 1:59; Builders & Manufacturers' Associa- iing rank at this point, and promise still tion, Delaware street, 1866; Carpenters' Association, South and Meridian streets, 1866; Emerson's, near the canal, 1863; Beam's, west Washington street, 1865; Behymer's, east Market street, 1864.
Shingle mills, Evarts, south Pennsylva- nia, 1857; Smock's, east Washington, 1858. Of furniture and chair factories, John Ott, west Washington, 1855; Sloan & In- gersoll, 1850; Espy & Sloan, 1848; John Vetter, Madison depot, 1857, burned 1866; Philip Dohn, south Meridian, 1565, burned and rebuilt, 1867; Spiegel and Thoms, east Washington, 1855, and East street, 1863, enlarged to double size, 1866, and the first five-story house built in the city ; Helwig & Roberts, canal, 1857, burned and rebuilt ' first to use it in a foundry here. He man- 1800; M. S. Huey, west Washington, 1855; Field & Day, Vermont street, 1850; Wilk- ens & Ilall, west Washington, 1864; C. J. Meyer, east Washington, 1860; Cabinet- makers' Union, east Market, 1859. ufactured plow points, skillets, and other small castings, remaining there till 1852, when he built a large foundry on south Pennsylvania street, and failing iu busi- ness the building was applied to other pur- Of coopering establishments, there have been Defrees, on the canal, Murphey's and May's on East street; Careys aud Breunon's, near Soldiers' Home; MeNeeleys, near La- fayette depot; Kingans and others. poses, and burned up in November, 1958. Taylor, Watson & Co., in 1848 built a small foundry in the low ground south of Pogue's run, aud first began to make steam engines here in 1849. This establishment subse- Of peg and last factories, Crawford & Os- good, south Pennsylvania street, 1848, and burned 1851; Osgood & Smith, south Illinois, 1552, burned and rebuilt once or twice afterward ; Yandes & Kemper, south Illinois, 1867. quently passed into Hasselman & Vinton's hands, who built the present foundry, boiler and machine shops in 1852. The firm suffered heavy losses in May, and also in July, 1853, from fires. In 1865 the es- tablishment passed into the control of the Of wagon or carriage manufactories, Iliram Gastou, Kentucky avenue, 1853; Lowes, east Market, 1863; Drews, east Market, 1852; Shaws, Georgia street, 1866. Of spokes and felloes, Osgood Smith & Co., south Illinois, 1852. Eagle Machine Works Co., who now carry on a heavy business in the manufacture of castings, boilers and agricultural imple- ments, their trade extending over a large territory, and employing a heavy capital. In March, 1854, Wright, Barnes & Co., af- Of woolen mills, Geisendorffs, on the canal, 1852; Merritt & Coughlen, in Han- naman's old mill, on the river, 1849 or '59, were burned out in January, 1851, and re- built in May, 1851; West's, 1839; Younts, 1849, on the canal. terward Ira Davis & Co., built a foundry on Delaware street and Pogue's run, which burned down in 1857. Curtis & Dumont began the manufacture of boilers on south Pennsylvania street in 1852, next north of Underhill's foundry, and Kelshaw & Sinker began the same business at about the same time, just south of the same foundry. Their shop was burned in December, 1853, and Of cotton mills, West, canal, 1839, and the Cotton Mill Co., on the river, 1867. rebuilt in 1854. Dumont & Sinker became partners, continuing the business, and add- ing a foundry. In 1863, Dumont left, and the establishment, now greatly enlarged, is carried on as a foundry, machine shop and boiler factory, on the site of Underhill's old City Foundry, by Sinker, Allen & Yan- des. In 1851, Deloss Root & Co., built a small frame stove foundry, south of the Gas Works on Pennsylvania street. It was burned up in January, 1560, but soou re- built of brick on a much more extended scale, and stoves, heavy castings and boil- ers, are now largely manufactured by the
3. Of paper mills, Sheets, on canal, 1839; Gay & Bradens, canal, 1862; McLeau & Co., river, 1861.
Of agricultural and farm implements and machinery, W. M. Gause, 1856; Beard & Siuex, and Beard & Forsha, Tennessee street, 1857; Hasselman & Vinton, south Meridian, 1852; Chandler & Taylor, west Washington, 1859, burned and rebuilt 1863(?); Binkley & Co., south Tennessee, 1860; Beard & Starr, north Tennessee, 1860; Agricultural Works Co., south Ten- Lessee, 1864.
Of oil mills, J. P. Evans & Co., south Delaware, 1802.
more rapid growth in future. The interest has risen in the last fifteen years from a very small beginning. The first steam en- gine ever built here, a small affair of three or four horse power, was completed in June, 1848, by Mr. Sergeant, at Bardwell's shop, in the basement of Crawford & Osgood's factory, on south Pennsylvania street. The first foundry in the place was started in July, 1832, by R. A. McPherson & Co., near the bridge, west of the river. Joshua Glover had been doing some iron work on a small scale in 1831. Underhill, Wood & Co. started a foundry in July, 1835, on north Pennsylvania street, and in 1838, Under- | hill applied steam power in it, being the
58
HISTORY OF
establishment. Wiggins & Chandler, in June, 1859, built a small foundry and machine shop on the Canal and west Washington street. It was burned in 1863, (?) but soon after rebuilt on a more extended scale by Chandler & Taylor, and has since done a large business. In 1858, Redstone, Bros. & Co., started a foundry and machine shop on Delaware street south of the Union track, making small castings and sawing machines. Spotts & Thompson started a foundry near the same place in 1859, but both establisments were shortly afterward burned. The Hoosier Stove Foundry was built in 1861, by Cox, Lord &
Peck, on Delaware street and Pogue's run, October 29. The owners became involved
and was operated by them for two or three years and then discontinued. It passed into the hands of A. D. Wood in 1867, and is , now carried on by him. Ruschaupt & Co. built a large foundry and machine shop on South Meridian street in 1835, but as they soon afterward became interested in the Eagle Machine Works, the establishment was vacated, and is now used by the Car- penter's Association. Frink & Moore start- ed the Novelty Works in 1860, for the man- ufacture of small castings, and have done a good business. A foundry was started in 1863, on East Market street, by some one. (unknown to the writer, ) and has since mainly been doing railroad work. B. F. Hetherington & Co. started a foundry and machine shop on south Delaware street in 1866 or '67 and are still located there.
Jos. W. Davis & Co, started a brass foundry in 1855, on south Delaware street, and has since added steam and gas-fitting, building up a good business. Garrett & Co., in 1858, started a brass and bell foun- dry, on the railroad between Meridian and Pennsylvania streets, but failed a year or two afterward.
In 1856, Williamson & Haugh begin the manufacture of iron railings, and jail work, on Delaware street opposite the Court House, and at a subsequent date B. F. Haugh & Co. removed to south Penn- sylvania street, erecting new buildings and continuing the business on an enlarged scale.
In 1857, E. C. Atkins began the manu- facture of mill and other saws, in the old City Foundry building on south Pennsyl- vania street, but being burned out in 1858, he built a small shop near by, which was also burned in June, 1853. A new shop was then built on south Illinois street, a com- pany formed in 1863 or '64, and the busi- ness and buildings have since been greatly enlarged, and a heavy trade carried on. In 1867 Farley & Sinker built a shop and be- gan the manufacture of saws on south
Pennsylvania street, and are doing a good business.
Cottrell & Knight, in 1855 or '56, began the copper-smithing business on south Del- aware street, and have since built up a large trade.
In addition to the foregoing, other es- tablishments exist or have existed, and the different railroads have nearly all had re- pair shops of greater or less extent at this point.
The Indianapolis Rolling Mill was built by R. A. Douglass & Co., and a railroad track down Tennessee street constructed to it, in the summer of 1857, and work began in the spring of 1858, and for some time it was doubtful whether the works would be continued, but the mill was purchased shortly after by a new company. with John M. Lord as president, and has since been much enlarged and profitably ope- rated. The company have purchased coal and iron mines in Clay county, have erect- ed a furnace to supply their mill with iron, and have also supplied coal for the use of the citizens. The success of the company stimulated other parties, and dur- ing the summer of 1867, the White River Iron Company was formed, and a rolling mill was erected on White river, at the foot of Kentucky avenue, and put in operation in April of the present year, for the man- ufacture of bar iren, about $100,000 of capital being invested in the enterprise.
Several pork and beef packing estab- lishments have been built since 1847 .- Blythe & Hedderly began the first one, on Fall creek race in the fall of 1847. It was afterward carried on by Blythe & MeNeely. Mansur & Ferguson built one west of White river in 1850. It was burned and rebuilt in 1858. Their packing establish- ment was located at the Madison depot .- Macy & McTaggart built one near Terre
Ilaute railroad bridge in 1852. Gulick & Tweeds was built just north of it in 1854-5. Allen May's was built north-west of the city in 1855, and burned in 1858. Kingen & Co., built in 1864, on the river bank, the largest and best packing establishment in the country. It was of brick, five stories high, slate roofed, and finished in the best style. They were putting mill machinery in it in the spring of 1865, intending to use it as a mill in summer and packing house in winter. It was filled at the time with lard and pork, on storage, when it was fired by an incendiary and utterly de- stroyed, involving a loss of $250.000 to the insurance companies, and being by far the largest and most destructive fire that ever occurred here. It was rebuilt in 1866, but not so large or expensively as before. Want
59
INDIANAPOLIS FROM 1818.
of space prevents further mention of the different manufactories of the city. They are almost wholly the growth of the past fifteen years, and with proper encourage- ment and enterprize could be easily doubled in the next ten years.
The first wholesale dry goods house in the place was started in 1847 by J. Little & Co., at 28 west Washington street. It was burned May 14, 1848, when owned by Little, Drum & Andersons.
1848. It was announced about the middle of December, 1847, that Andrew Kennedy, an ex-member of Congress from Indiana, was ill of small pox at the Palmer House, and he died in January, 1848. ! Many members of the legislature having visited him before the disease was known, a panic ensued and the assembly adjourn- ed. This act excited much ridicule at the time, but as a number of other cases occur- red in January and February, the mirth soon ceased, and panie seized the citizens. The conneil ordered a general vaccination, estab- lished a board of health, and authorized the construction of a hospital. A lot was accordingly bought, material collected and a contract made with Seth Bardwell for a frame house, but before its erection the disease and panic subsided, and a citizens' A merchants' exchange was formed in June, for the reception of dispatches and the transaction of business. C. W. Cady being secretary, K. Homburgh, treasurer. It failed in a few weeks for lack of money. A citizens' meeting was called at College Hall in August, 1853, to revive it, and af- ter discussion it was resolved to form a board of trade. N. McCarty, J. D. Defrees, Ignatius Brown, R. J. Gatling, A. H. Brown and J. T. Cox, were appointed to prepare a constitution, circular and map, and solicit funds. D. Maguire was elected president, J. L. Ketcham, secretary R. B. Duncan, treasurer. Funds were subscribed meeting protested against further taxes for hospital purposes. The conneil in April gave the contractor $225 with the mate- rial, to give up the contract; the lots were sold, and Bardwell built the Indiana House, on west Market street out of the material. A citizens' meeting in the summer of 1847, had recommended the building of a hospi- tal, and parties had then offered to advance the necessary funds. In July, 1849, anoth- er case of small-pox ocurred, and as the cholera was prevailing severely on the river, another first class panic ensued. A citizens' meeting recommended the eutting of the dog fennel in the streets, and ap- and a circular and map, prepared by Mr. Brown, were published and sent over the several miles south of town, and remove country, calling attention to the advanta-
pointed a committee to quarantine the ears, the cholera and small-pox patients who might be on board. The plan was very brilliant, but failed for the want of a suf- ficiently self-sacrificing committee. The board of health also recommended dog fen- nel mowing, general sanitary precautions, and the erection of a hospital. The mow. ing was accordingly done, but the dog fen- nel was found to be worse when cut than when standing. This recommendation hav- ing failed, no hospital was erected, and but few sanitary measures taken. Many German emigrants were arriving at that time, and the first fatal case of cholera bap- pened among them, July 18, 1849, and sev- eral of them subsequently died. The Pres- ident appointed the first Friday of August,
1849, as a fast day, on account of the cholera. It was generally observed as such throughout the country.
On the 14th of February, 1848, the as- sembly passed an aet chartering telegraph companies, and on the 26th, Henry O'Reilly advertised for subscriptions to build a line from here to Dayton. It was constructed immediately afterward, and the first dis- patches sent to Richmond, Way 12th. The first published dispatches appeared in the Sentinel May twenty-fourth. The of- fice in the second story of Norris', now Hubbard's block, was crow led by excited natives, who doubted the genuineness of the invention; and the first operator, Isaac HI. Kiersted, was greatly worried in ex- plaining it. In 1850, Wade & Co built a second line, which was consolidated with the first in April, 1853, and since that date other lines have beon built by companies and railways, till twenty-nine wires now centre at the office in the third story of Blackford's block, all under one corpora- tion, with Jno. F. Wallack as superintend- ent. Isaac H. Kiersted, J. W. Chapin, An- ton Schneider, Sidney B. Morris, J. F. Wil- son and J. F. Wallack, have been chief op- erators and superintendents at this point.
ges held by the city for manufacturing and wholesaling. Active efforts continued for about two years, and did much good, but the interest died out, and the effort was suspended. The board was again revived in 1856, and for two years actively dissem- inated information concerning the city .-- The establishment of the rolling mill here was owing to its efforts. It again sus. pended for want of funds. In 1864, the chamber of commerce was formed. T. B. Elliott, (succeeded in 1865 by W. S. Pierce, ) president, Jehiel Barnard, secretary, and has since continued operations at its office in Vinton's block, though not supported as it should be. The merchants and manu- facturers' association was formed in the
60
HISTORY OF
spring of 1868, ' with objects substantially similar to the old board of trade, and open- ed an office at 16 south Meridian street.
A new engine was demanded by the Relief Company, and subscriptions being scanty, the Council ordered an election in June, for a special tax to buy one. The decision was ngainst it, as also at another election in July, ordered for the same ob- ject. The first foreign paper published here, the Indiana Volksblatt, a democratic weekly journal, edited and published by Julius Boetticher, appeared from an office at Temperance Hall, in September, and has since been regularly issued under the control of Mr. Boetticher. It is now pub- lished at 166 east Washington street.
The companies commanded by Captains Lander and McDougall having returned from Mexico, a procession and barbecue in their honor took place, October 4th, in the woods where the Soldiers' Home was afterwards located. Senator Hannegan, Thomas J. Ilenley and others, were the speakers.
The Central Plank Road Company was formed in November, contracts let May, 1849, and the road finished from Plainfield to Greenfield, in April, 1851, on the old National road, which, with its bridges, was taken by the company. Gates were located at the east and west ends of Wash- ington street, and tolls charged on the bridge. Citizens' meetings were held, de- nouncing this action on the part of the Company, and the Council finally procured the removal of the eastern gate, by releas- ing the Company from all liability for improving Washington street.
The railroads being desirous to connect their several depots by rail, the Council, on the 20th of December, prescribed by ordinance the conditions on which they might lay the present Union track, and in the following August the Companies formed the Union Railroad Company, and laid the track in 1850.
1849. The street improvement or- dered in 1847-8, had caused a debt of about $6,000, and William Eckert, Presi- dent of the Council, ordered an election June 9th, to authorize a special tax of ten cents to pay it. Two hundred and fifty- eight votes were cast, and the tax carried by eleven majority. The people grumbled greatly that the tax was now forty-five cents on the one hundred dollars. H. C. Newcomb was elected Mayor at the April election, succeeding Samuel Henderson, the first incumbent of that office. The population this year was found to be 6,500.
Much improvement was taking place, three hundred houses were supposed to have been built, shops and factories were
started, and steam engines were at last made here.
The Central Medical College, a depart- ment of the Indiana Asbury University, was organized during the summer. with J. S. Bobby, Richard Curran, J. S. Harrison, George W. Mears, C. G. Downey, L. Dun- lap, A. II. Baker and D. Funkhouser as Professors, and began its first session, November 1st, (lasting four months.) in Matthew Little's two.story brick dwelling, south-east corner East and Washington streets, which had been fitted up as the College Buildings. Twenty or thirty stu- dents were in attendance the first session, and several were graduated in March, 1850, President Simpson delivering the diplomas. Annual sessions were held for two or three years, when the institution was discontinued. The Assembly, Janu- ary 21, 1850, authorized the sale of one acre of University Square, at its appraised price, to Asbury University, for the build- ings of the Central Medical College, but the selected acre being appraised in April at $8,566, the price was thought to be too high, and opposition arising to the sale, it was abandoned.
The Court of Common Pleas of Marion county was organized, and began its first session, on the second Monday of July, 1849, under a special act of the preceding session, Abram A. Hammond being first judge and ex-officio elerk. Ile was after- wards succeeded by Edward Lander, who served till the Court was abolished, in 1851-2. About fifty cases were on the docket at the first term. The present Court of Common Pleas was established by the revised laws of 1852, Levi L. Todd being elected by the people first Judge, in August, 1852. His successors since have been Sam'l Corey, David Wallace, Jno. Co- burn, Charles A. Ray and Solomon Blair.
The Widows and Orphans Society was organized early in December, 1849. The receipts for the first year were $113.16, expenses $98.30. It has been mainly sustained by private contributions, and by fairs and exhibitions held for its bene- fit, and has steadily grown in usefulness and importance. Two lots in Drake's ad- dition were donated to the Society by Allen May, and a third bought in 1852. A neat brick building was erected on the property in 1855, at a cost of about $3,000, and the affairs of the society have been successfully administered to the present date. The thanks of the community are due to the noble women who struggled against every disadvantage in the incep- tion of this great charity, and direct and sufficient aid should be annually given them by the city government. For the last
61
INDIANAPOLIS FROM 1818.
two or three years small appropriations have been annually voted to the Society by the City Council.
1850. An earthquake, which was felt 1
all through the west and son h, occurred at 8 o'clock A. M. on the 4th of April, shaking the buildings.
The City Treasury receipts for the year ending April 25th, were $2.327, expendi- tures $7,554. The total taxables for 1850 amounted to $2,326, 185. The school fund was slowly accumulating, amounting to $3.295, the receipts for the year being $2,385. Polls, 1,243, an increase of 400 over last year. The population, as shown by the census in October, was 8,097, an increase of 1,530 over 1849. The wealth had increased about $300,000. There were twenty-five physicians, thirty law- yers, and one hundred and twenty indus- trial establishments.
Governor Crittenden and suite arrived May 28th, on invitation of Gov. Wright, and a Union meeting was held in the State House yard on the 29th, when reso- lutions were passed, and speeches made by the Governors and others.
A union funeral service was held July 27th, by all denominations and parties, for President Taylor, Rev. E. R. Ames deliv- ering an uble eulogy on the deceased President.
Many German emigrants were arriving this year, and brought the cholera with them, nine or ten of them dying during the summer. There was no panie, how- ever. and the disease did not spread.
The Christian Church was built during this and the next year, on the south-west corner of Delaware and Ohio streets.
The Indiana Statesman, a weekly, demo- cratic paper, was first issued September 4th, by Ellis & Spann, from the old Sentinel office, on Illinois street. It was merged with the Sentinel in September, 1852.
Chapel, for about $16,000, and a church will shortly be erected there by that con- gregation, at a cost of seventy-five or eighty thousand dollars.
1851. The Toledo Theatrical Com- pany, uuder Mr. Shires as manager, with H. A. Perry, Robert Buxton, Mrs. Coleman Pope and other good actors, gave a series of dramatic performances, January 7-26, in Masonic Hall, and though sadly embar- rassed by lack of scenery and stage room, did themselves credit, and drew large and enthusiastic andiences.
The Indianapolis Gas Light and Coke Co., (originated by John J. Lockwood, ) was incorporated by the assembly in February 1851, for thirty years, with $20,000 capi- tal. Stock books were opened March 6th, and on the 26th the Company organized with D. V. Culley, President; W. W. Wright, Secretary and H. V. Barringer, Superintendent. The City Council, by or- dinance, March 3d, gave the Company the exclusive right, for fifteen years, of sup- plying the city and its inhabitants with gas, prescribing the conditions on which pipes might be laid in the streets, and stipulating that gas should be furnished for the street lamps at the price then pre- vailing in Cincinnati. In July the Com- pany bought a lot on Pennsylvania street, south of Pogue's run, and built & retort house and gas-holder during the fall. Mains were also laid on Pennsylvania and Washington streets. The works were fin- ished in December, and gas was first for- nished for consumption on the 10th of January, 1852. In the following April 7,700 feet of pipe had been laid. Thirty bushels of coal were daily consumed, 675 burners employed and 116 consumers using gas. Before the construction of the I gas works, the only building in the city lighted by gas was the Masonic Hall, which was furnished with a gas-making apparatus, and the first street lamps in the city were the two in front of the hall, supplied from its apparatus. For two or three years the Company was unsuccess- ful, the machinery and works being de- fective in construction and the Superin- tendent inexperienced in the business. An additional sum was then expended in modifying the works. Christopher Brown was appointed Superintendent, an in- creased pressure was put on the mains, more gas was consumed, and the Company began to prosper. The mains were exten- ded on additional streets, and further im- little gas was used by the city until within the last ten years. The first lamps were put up on Washington street, between Me- ridian and Pennsylvania streets, in the fall
The Indiana Female College was or- ganized, and the house and lot on the south-east corner of Ohio and Meridian streets purchased during the summer, and the school opened there in the fall by Rev. T. A. Lynch. His successors in the Pres- idency of the institution have been Rev. Charles Adams, G. W. Iloss, B. H. Hoyt, O. M. Spencer and W. H. Demotte. The college was suspended in 1859, but in 1865 the old lot and buildings were sold, and the lot and buildings of the former Mc- Lean Female Seminary bought and used from that date by the institution. The | provements were made in the works. But school was well conducted aud prosperous. but was closed with the June term, 1868, and in that month the house and lot was purchased by the trustees of Wesley
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.