Logan's Indianapolis directory, 1868, Part 44

Author:
Publication date: 1868
Publisher: Logan
Number of Pages: 416

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(Marion County Seminary.)

south-west corner and opened the school with the finest display of fireworks ever September 1st, 1834, with E. Dumont as principal. W. J. Hill succeeded January, 1835; Thomas D. Gregg, May, 1836; Wm. only for its magnitude and boldness. No Sullivan, December, 1836; Wm. A. Holli- day, August, 1837 ; James S. Kemper, Oc- tober, 1838 ; J. P. Safford, 1843; Benjamin L. Lang, 1844. The seminary was long the leading school in Central Indiana, and subsequently used for military parades, cs- under Kemper, Safford and Lang had a pecially during the Morgan raid, when the high reputation. Many of the present bus-

City Regiment, twelve hundred strong, was iness men of the city were wholly or par- daily and nightly mustered there at stroke tially educated in it. After the city freejof bell, to go through agonizing partings

INDIANAPOLIS FROM 1818.

with mothers, wives and sweathearts, while their twelve hundred martial bosoms

reader, N. Bolton orator. John Hays pro- vided the dinner, which closed with the throbbed, doubtless, with strong desires to usual toasts and speechies. The first public meet the foe.

school examination and exhibition took

The Journal in February, 1827, said the place at the court house October 5th. Dur- town then contained a court house, a Pres- ing the fall squirrels and other animals were migrating in great numbers, and sev- eral bears were killed close to town. byterian church with thirty members; a Baptist church with thirty-six members, worshiping in a small cabin ; a Methodist Hitherto the ladies of the place had been compelled to make their own bonnets and clothes in backwoods fashion, but in Octo- ber the first millinery establishment was opened by Mrs. Matilda Sharpe, and there- after style began to be assumed in the new church with ninety-three members, worship- ing in a small cabin, but building a new brick church, the walls of which were com- pleted and enclosed during the fall. A Sabbath school had also existed for five years, and now contained twenty teachers town.

and one hundred and fifty scholars. There The town improved but slowly from this *were twenty-five brick, sixty framc, and date to 1834. The settlement was mainly eighty hewed and rough log houses in the on Washington street and one or two town. In the fall it stated that rents were squares north and south, with detached higli and houses in demand. The Govern- dwellings on other parts of the plat. The

or's Circle was being built. Six two-story timber had been cut from the greater por- and five one-story brick houses, with a large tion of the plat, but the outlots were still number of frame houses, had been built. It in the woods. Large trees stood in places called for the introduction of steam engines within two squares of Washington street, and home manufacturing, and said nearly and the greater part of the ninth ward was $10,000 worth of goods and provisions had a forest till 1846. All the territory south of been brought to the town and sold during the past year. Among the articles were seventy-six kegs tobacco, two hundred bar- rels flour, one hundred kegs powder, four thousand five hundred pounds spun yarn,

Maryland and east of Meridian streets was unimproved except as farms till 1845, and most of it till 1855. A fine walnut grove existed in the first and second wards north of North street, and Drake's addition was a and two hundred and thirteen barrels of good hunting ground till 1848. Squirrels, whisky. Seventy-one additional barrels of rabbits and turkeys were killed in sections whisky had also been made here and sold.

now thickly peopled. No grading what- A Sunday school census taken November ever had been done, and few sidewalks ex- 25th showed five hundred and twenty-nine isted, even on Washington street. Ponds

white, and thirty-four colored males; four hundred and seventy-nine white, and twenty

along the bayous afforded skating in winter, and in summer were covered by green scum four colored females; total, one thousand and tenanted by countless frogs. The streets and sixty-six inhabitants in the town. Two were semi-fluid in thawing weather, but the hundred and eighty-four barrels of whisky drainage in many places was better than seems a large allowance for this number of since the engineers changed it. The town people, but the water then was doubtless was a dull country village, with no excite- very impure, from the vast quantity of de- caying vegetable matter.

ment beyond the annual sessions, when a little animation was given to society and to

A tornado passed a few miles south of trade. It seemed to have attained its town on the 5thi of April, destroying the growth. Few expected a brighter future, timber but injuring no person.

nor was there any prospect of it till the in- The sale of lots ordered by the Assembly took place May 7th and 8th. One hundred and fifty-three lots (twenty-four of them on ternal improvement scheme was originated. 1828. The spring was very wet with heavy rains, and in May a flood occurred Washington street,) and thirty or forty in White river, rivaling that of 1824, and those of 1847 and 1858. Less damage was done then than since, there being fewer set-

squares of four acres eachi, were offered. One hundred and six lots sold at $180 per acre, and thirty-eight outlots and squares at tlements along the bottom's. There is no $23 per acre. Mr. Knight, commissioner

doubt that White river then had a greater in charge of the National road survey, lo- average depth of water than now, and was cated the line to this point July 8th, and better fitted for navigation. Repeated at- went on westward next day. The Fourth of tempts were made to navigate it, and boats July was ushered in with twenty - four

of good size used. In May, 1822, the keel- rounds by the new artillery company. The boat Eagle, fifteen tons, with salt and whis- procession included citizens and the rifle ky, arrived from the Kanawha, and the and artillery companies, and marched to Boxer, thirty-three tons, withi merchandise, the court house." Ebenezer Sharpe was from Zanesville; and the Dandy, twenty-

LOGAN'S HISTORY OF

eight tons, in May, 1824, with salt and river falling rapidly they returned. In whisky, and many other boats arrived from 1829-30 General Hanna and others took the lower river, and departed loaded with contracts on the National road, and resolved produee. Large flatboats also were built to bring up a boat to haul stone and timber and ran to the southern market, and the from the bluffs for the abutments and" trade was kept up till the dams on the river bridges. A medium-sized boat, the "Rob- interfered with its navigation. The Assem- bly and the people regarded White river as

ert Hanna," was bought, and after some trouble arrived here loaded and towing a a very important channel for heavy freights. loaded barge, on the 11th of April, 1831. Alexander Ralston was appointed commis- She was greeted by the entire community, sioner February 12th, 1825, to survey and and by Captain Blythe's artillery squad fir- report the expense of removing obstructions ing a National salute. A meeting was in it from drift, snags and leaning trees. ealled on the 12th, Isaac Blackford, presi- He made the survey during the summer, dent, and James Morrison, secretary, which and reported that from Sample's Mills in passed resolutions of welcome, asked for the Randolph county to Indianapolis was one improvement of the river, and extended an hundred and thirty miles, from here to the invitation to the boat owners and officers forks two hundred and eighty-five miles, for a publie dinner. Two excursion trips and from thenee to the Wabash forty miles ;

were made up the river on the 12th with a total four hundred and fifteen miles ; and great erowd of passengers. During the sec- that for that distanee the river might be ond one she ran into the trees on the bank, made navigable for three months in the knocking down lier pilot-house and chim- year by expending $1,500. There were two neys, and injuring the wheel-house. The falls, one of eigliteen inches, eight miles passengers were terribly frightened, and slid above Martinsville, and one of nine feet in off in great numbers. The boat was too one hundred yards, ten miles above the high and large for so narrow a river with forks. There was also a great drift at the overhanging trees, and unfit for the purpose Daviess and Greene county line. After this for which she was designed. She started report the Assembly repeatedly memorial- down on the 13th, grounded for six weeks ized Congress, asking for the improvement on a bar at Hog Island, where the captain's of the river, and considerable sums were child was drowned, and did not get out of appropriated from the State treasury for the river till the fall. No subsequent effort that object, the county commissioners along at steam navigation was made till 1865, the river governing the expenditure. In when the Indianapolis and Waverly paeket, 1830-35, John Matthews and others pro- posed slackwater navigation, building lev-

Governor Morton, built by a company at a cost of $11,000, ran a few trips several miles ees, dams and locks, and using steamboats up and down the river during the summer and tugboats for barges, to carry passengers and fall, and following spring. From want and freight from this point to the lower

of water, leakiness, defective construction, river. Mills would be built at the dams, and distrust by the community, she failed to and serve as feeders to the trade, and the realize the hopes of her builders, and was stone, timber, iron ore, eoal and produce of wrecked just below the bridge in the sum- the river valley, could be brought more mer of 1866, after a brief but glorious ca- cheaply to our town than by any other reer.

mode. Matthews pressed this plan for years, and the Assembly in February, 1851,

The first stage line from Indianapolis was started to Madison by Mr. Johnson, in June chartered the White River Navigation or July, 1828. In July the Indianapolis Library Society was formed, the members donating the books, and continued its ex-

Company for twenty years, but nothing was done, not even a survey, to test the practi- cability of the plan. If at all feasible it istence for six or eight years. The Fourth certainly deserves attention and a survey at of July was celebrated with more display least to test its practicability, for our manu- than usual. The artillery and riffe com- panies, the citizens, and the Sabbath school, which now participated for the first time, faeturers and builders would derive advan- tages from it they can never get from any other work. In 1828 or 9, Governor Noble formed in procession and marched to the becoming convinced that steamboats of a court house. Hiram Brown acted as presi- small size could be used on the river, en- deavored to get some captain to bring. a boat to this point, and offered $200 reward B. F. Morris orator. The Handelian Soci- to the first one who succeeded, and to sell ety (formed in the spring,) furnished the the eargo free of charge. In April, 1830, Captain Saunders with the "'Traveller " reached Spencer, and the " Victory " came

dent, Henry Brenton vice president. Rev. Geo. Bush was chaplain, A. Ingram reader, .

music. After the exercises closed the Sab- bath school returned to the school house, and the military and citizens marclied to within fifty-five miles of this point, but the Bates' grove, east of town, where a dinner

INDIANAPOLIS FROM 1818.

was eaten, with the usual toasts and speechi- it promised a direct route to the East, and es. A military ball at Vigus' tavern, oppo- site the court house, closed the festivities.

its early completion was confidently expect- ed. It was begun in 1830, but from defi- Nine hundred and thirteen votes were cast at the August election, and nine hund- red and sixty-one at the November election, Adams receiving five hundred and eighty- two, Jackson three hundred and seventy- cient appropriations, and the fact that work was carried on simultaneously across the whole State, it progressed slowly, and was abandoned in 1839 before its completion. The bridge here was contracted for July nine. The first cavalry company, David 26th, 1831, by Wm. H. Wernweg and Wal- ter Blake, at $18,000, and finished in the curred this fall, and also during several fol- lowing years, fifty teams per day often pass- ing through town. A similar movement occurred in 1839-40. In December, twen- Buchanan, captain, was organized in Aug- ust. A heavy emigration westward oc- spring of 1834.

1830. The winter was very severe, the thermometor marking five or six deg. be- low zero, and much snow fell. The Legis- lature celebrated the 8th of January, A. F. ty-eight blocks and seventy-two lots in the Morrison delivering an address. For eight old plat were yet unsold, and nearly all the or ten years afterward this celebration con- donation land outside the plat. The winter tinued regularly. A theological debate-the was colder than usual, with mnuch snow in February.

1829. The Methodist Sabbath school,

first one here-on the future punishment of the wicked, began January 21st, between Jonathan Kidwell, Universalist, and Rev.

the second one in the town, was organized Edwin Ray, Methodist. Like all such dis- April 24th with eleven teachers and forty- cussions it settled nothing and roused bad six scholars, and at the end of the year had feelings.

twenty-seven teachers and one hundred and forty-six scholars. Wesley Chapel school

The Indiana Democrat, an administration paper, was first issued by A. F. Morrison in is its present representative, but eight or the spring. The Gazette, which had been nine colonies have left it since its origin.|published since January, 1822, was discon- The Fourth of July hitlicrto had been cele- tinued in the fall, and the Democrat fur- brated by the civic and military procession, nished to its subscribers. The paper was the schools participating for the first time published till 1841, the office being most of in 1828, but this year the school display was the only one. The two town, with five country schools, formed on the Circle, and accompanied by eight hundred adults,

the time in a one-story brick building at 32 West Washington street, and was owned successively by Morrison, Morrison & Bol- ton, Bolton & Livingston, and John Liv- marched to Bates' woods, on East, between ingston. It was sold to the Chapmans July Ohio and Market streets, where the children 21st, 1841, who moved the office to a frame were seated, a hymn sung, and bread and house where Blake's Commercial Row now stands, and changed the name to Indiana Sentinel. The second number of the Sentinel was issued August 4th, 1841, and weekly water distributed. Reverend Jamison Hawkins prayed, Ebenezer Sharpe was reader, James Morrison, orator, and Rev. Henry Brenton closed with benediction, and afterward. In November, 1844, the office the procession returned to town. James was moved to a brick built for it on North Blake acted as marshal, and continued, with but few exceptions, to act in that ca- pacity for nearly thirty years afterward.

Illinois street. In November, 1846, John S. Spann became a partner. Chapman & Spann dissolved May 20th, 1850, and June

The Sabbath school celebration continued a 1st W. J. Brown bought the paper and leading feature till 1858, but the number of moved it to 8 West Washington street, Ellis schools and scholars became so great that & Spann retaining the old job office. In the general celebration was abandoned. The exercises were always of the same character. August, 1852, the office was moved to Tom- linson's new building, and published by A. During the war the military displays were H. Brown (Wm. J. Brown, editor,) till the chief attraction. Since that date the March 2d, 1855, when Walker & Cottam firemen's processions and picnics have been became proprietors, Walker and Holcombe the chief features of the day.

editors. Spann & Norman bought it De- There was much sickness during the sum- cember 4th, 1855, and sold to Larrabee & mer and fall, and many deaths, an unusual proportion being young married people. and W. C. Larrabee being editors. Larra- The Indiana Colonization Society, Isaac Blackford, president, was organized in No- Cottam January 24th, 1856, A. F. Morrison bee, Bingham & Co. became proprietors August 25th, 1856. Bingham & Doughity vember, and continued its operations for bought it January 13th, 1857, and moved many years afterward. In September and the office to the old Capital House. On the October contracts were let on the National 7th of April, 1857, the office was nearly de- road. The people were much rejoiced, for stroyed by a boiler explosion, which killed

LOGAN'S HISTORY OF

a boy and badly injured one or two others, Among its animals was a "Rompo," doubt- and the paper was suspended till April 21st. less a relative of the "Guyascutas." The The office had just been completed and the summer was hot and dry, with considerable engine put in motion for the first time, and sickness and many deaths. The Indiana the explosion entailed a heavy loss. The Historical Society, Benjamin Parke, presi- paper was then published by the Sentinel dent, B. F. Morris, secretary, was organized Company till July 31st, 1861, when it was December 11th, at the court house, and con- tinued its existence for many years. The T. J. Langdon, who offered the Indianapo- lis Hotel, opposite the court house, as the first prize, to be drawn December 30th.

moved to the old Locomotive office in Hub- bard's block, the Locomotive discontinued first gift enterprize was started in the fall by and merged with the Sentinel, which was then published by Elder, Harkness & Bing- ham. A new three-story brick office was built for it in 1863, on Pearl and Meridian The winter of 1830-1 was steadily and streets, where it was issued till 1865, when severely cold. The snow fell twelve to the paper was bought by C. W. Hall and eighteen inches deep in February, and the moved to the old office, 16 East Washington thermometor fell to 18 and 20° below zero, street, where it has since been located. The by far the coldest weather since the settle- ment. name was changed to the Indianapolis Her- ald, and published by Hall & Hutchinson till October, 1866, when it passed into a re- ceiver's hands and was bought by Lafe

1831. M. G. Rogers, the first portrait painter here, announced his arrival in Feb- ruary for a few weeks' stay, at Henderson's Develin in January, 1867, and published tavern. In the same month, Samuel Hen- by him till April, 1868, when R. J. Bright derson, who had been postmaster since Feb- became the owner and changed the name to Indianapolis Sentinel. Joseph J. Bingham appointed.

The Chapmans issued the first daily pa- per in the place, the Daily Sentinel first ap- pearing December 6th, 1841, and continu- ing during the session. The second volume began December 6th, 1842, for the session, and the third began December 6th, 1843. lis, and Ohio & Indianapolis railways. Sur- Semi-weekly editions had been issued dur- ing the sessions before and after these dates. The present daily began April 28th, 1851, and appeared regularly till April 7th, 1857, when the boiler explosion destroyed the of- fice and suspended the paper till April 21st. It has since appeared regularly, under the names of the Sentinel and Herald.

The Fourth of July was separately cele-

ruary, 1822, was removed and John Cain has been the chief editor for over ten years.

Several railways had been projected in 1830, and the Assembly on the 2d and 3d of February chartered the Madison & Indi- anapolis, Lawrenceburgh & Indianapolis, Harrison & Indianapolis, Lafayette & Indi- anapolis, New Albany, Salem & Indianapo- veys were made on them in following years, being completed on the Madison, Lawrence- burgh, Jeffersonville and Lafayette roads in 1835. Several were rechartered in 1834-5, and some work done on them. They were revived in 1835-6, and State aid given them, but stopped with the State work and were not built until 1849-53.

The agent was directed, February 9th, to brated by the schools and citizens. Consid- divide the donation into outlots, fix a mini- erable rivalry existed. Demas McFarland and James Blake, the respective marshals, addressed the crowds on the street corners, calling for adherents. Rain being threat-

mum price, and sell them publicly in May. The subdivision was accordingly made, and nearly nineteen hundred acres in and out of [the plat offered in lots of two to fifty acres ened the schools went to the Methodist at a minimum price of ten dollars per acre, church, where the usual exercises took but a part only was sold.

place. The citizens went to a grove near the present central engine house. Isaac Blackford was president, W. W. Wick, ora- tor, and A. St. Clair reader. A dinner was spread and . the usual toasts given. The cannon was taken to fire salutes, but the ar- tillery officers being with the schools, inex- perienced men were handling the gun, and at the third fire Andrew Smith lost his arni. The accident put an end to the exercises and threw a damper on such celebrations for several years afterward.

The Assembly on the 10th of February resolved to build a State house. A com- mittee had reported in its favor at the last session, estimating the cost at $56,000, and estimating the value of the unsold donation at $58,000. James Blake was appointed commissioner to superintend it and procure materials, and $3,000 was appropriated therefor. He was to offer $150 for a plan (to be reported at the next session) compris- ing a Senate hall for fifty members, Repre- sentatives' hall for one hundred members,

McComber & Co.'s menagerie, the first Supreme Court and Library rooms, twelve show here, exhibited at Henderson's tavern committee rooms, &c. The building was July 26-7th, and on the 23d-4th of August not to cost over $45,000. Blake bought another exhibited at the same place .- some stone and other materials, and re-

INDIANAPOLIS FROM 1818.

ceived a plan from Ithiel Town and I. J. first three-story brick house in town was Davis, of New York City, which was adopt- ed by the Assembly January 20th, 1832, Noalı Noble, Morris Morris and Samuel

erected at 4 and 6 West Washington street, during the summer, and is still standing. The Methodist conference held its first ses- Merrill were appointed commissioners Feb. sion here October 4th, with a full attend- ruary 2d, 1832, to superintend the building ance. The summer and fall were the according to the plan, to employ an arehi- healthiest since the settlement of the place. teet, and use the material already bought. The house was to be completed by Novem- ber, 1838, and examined and approved by

The Indianapolis Lyeeum or Atheneum was organized in the fall, giving lectures and scientific discussions, and continued its a committee of five from each House before existence for several years. The winter being accepted. They contracted February was cold and snowy. 19th with Ithiel Town for its erection, at

1832. News of the Indian outbreak $58,000. It was begun in the spring of under Black Hawk was received June 3d, 1832, and by great exertion finished in De- and one hundred and fifty mounted volun- cember, 1835, in time for the annual session

teers from the fortieth regiment were called beginning on the 7th. It is generally Doric for on the 4th, by Colonel A. W. Russell, in style, but contains a large rotunda and and the same number from adjoining eoun- dome, surmounted by a cap ornament mod- ties. They rendezvoused here June 9th, eled after the tomb of Lyeidas. The brick armed with rifles, tomahawks, knives, a work was well done, but the stone used in pound of powder each, and balls in propor- the foundation was not durable. The house tion, and were organized in three compan- was stuecoed inside and out in imitation of ies, under Captains J. P. Drake, J. W. Red- sandstone, and though well done such work ing and Henry Brenton, and marehed for is not durable in this climate, and always Chicago the same day under Colonel Rus- looks ragged. The building eost about sell. The cannon was fired on the day of $60,000, and was regarded with great pride rendezvous, and by a premature explosion as the finest in the West. The feeling has William Warren, an Irishman, lost both arms, shedding the only blood here during since diminished. The roof has several times been partly stripped off by winds, and that war. After reaching Chicago the bat- in December, 1867, the ceiling of Repre- tallion marehed round the south end of the sentatives' Hall was thrown down in a lake to St. Joseph, and returned home with- storm, erushing the desks and injuring the out accident July 3d, participating in the building. A new structure is needed, one celebration and dinner of the 4th as veter- in which the materials and construction will ans. defy time and bad usage. The square was filled to a depth of nine feet in 1834, and the trees now growing on it were planted in 1835-6.

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Logan's Indianapolis directory, 1868, Part 44

Author: Publication date: 1868 Publisher: Logan Number of Pages: 416

Author:
Publication date: 1868
Publisher: Logan
Number of Pages: 416