USA > Indiana > Fountain County > Past and present of Fountain and Warren Counties, Indiana, Volume 1 > Part 12
USA > Indiana > Warren County > Past and present of Fountain and Warren Counties, Indiana, Volume 1 > Part 12
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agreement with patrons. Sight drafts and other paper will be bought and sold on New York. Office hours from 10 A. M. to 4 P. M.
"Attica, Indiana, February 8, 1854.
"J. D. NUTTER, Cashier.
"Notice: References are-Hon. John P. Duuns, Auditor of State: G. W. McCollom, Esq., president of Stock Savings Bank, of Danville, Illinois; Messrs. John Wooley & Co., Bankers, Indianapolis; John Thompson, Esq., New York: Messrs. F. P. James & Co .. Bankers, New York : Merchants' & Mechanics' Bank of Chicago, Illinois."
To show the change in banking systems that obtain today and that of 1857, the following is extracted from the files of the Williamsport Republican of January, 1857: "The Gramercy Bank has failed and with it the Shawnee Bank of Attica went down. It was a branch of the Gramercy Bank, was under the control of the same men and its capital (if indeed it ever had any) was embezzled by the same hands and for the same purpose.
"We regret to learn that a number of the citizens of this county will sustain a heavy loss in consequence of having deposited large amounts in drafts purchased of the bank above mentioned. We are of the opinion that the citizens of Indiana ought to assume towards the denizens of Wall street, New York, the same position the inhabitants of Samaria did towards the Jews, 'Have no dealings with them.' for until this rule is adopted they will continue to send their broken-down graceless scamps out among us, with no other view than to plunder and rob us of our homes and moneys. For our- selves we have no confidence in the fidelity of Wall street."
SO-CALLED BANKS.
Here in Fountain county, which was settled many years before the state and United States banking laws were anywhere near the present state of safety and perfection, the first "banks," so-called, were simply private places, in some store or real estate exchange, where one might procure a draft, or deposit his money within a supposed fire-proof safe and where no interest was usually allowed. It is believed that one of these so-named banks was first established by George Aylsworth in Attica about the breaking out of the Civil war, possibly as early as 1849, and continued until it failed in 1864. About the same date J. G. Hardy & Company, of Covington, who transacted an extensive general merchandise and produce business, opened what they called a bank department to their other business. They had a large safe and
128
FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, INDIANA.
issued drafts and kept money for those who wanted to entrust them with it. After going out of merchandising. in 1877, Mr. Hardy, with Benjamin Gardner and Sampson Reed, established the private banking house of J. G. Hardy & Company. But still prior to this, and about 1864. the First National Bank of Attica was established, but later surrendered its charter. In 1867, at Covington, Gish & Nebeker established a regular banking house, in which they were highly successful for a number of years. This was known as the Farmers Bank of Covington. So it will be observed that the banking business was first started in Attica, a little later in Covington, both being private con- cerns, and that the first regularly organized bank was the First National of Attica, and that was soon followed by the Farmers Bank of Covington.
In 1912 the following banks were all doing a safe, prosperous business in Fountain county :
ATTICA BANKS.
Central National Bank, established in 1887 ; has a capital of $50,000; sur- plus and undivided profits, $36,000; deposits, $406,000. The president is Jesse Martin ; cashier, W. B. Schermerhorn.
The Farmers and Merchants State Bank was organized in 1884; has a capital of $72,000; surplus, $18,000; deposits, $600,000. The president is T. Reid Zeigler; cashier, B. S. Orr.
CATES BANKING.
The Cates Bank was established in 1907 ; has a capital of $10,000 ; depos- its of $23,000. W. W. Layton is president and George B. Pevey, cashier.
COVINGTON BANKS.
Citizens' Bank was established in 1837; capital, now $30,000; undivided profits, $51,000; deposits, $383,000. Its president is Daniel C. Reed; cashier, Worth Reed.
The First National Bank of Covington was established in 1894; has a capital of $50,000 ; surplus, $4,200; deposits, $210,000. Its president is W. W. Layton ; cashier, H. E. Mayer.
The Fountain Trust Company of Covington was established in 1908; carries a capital of $25,000, with deposits at present of over $72,000. Its presi- dent is W. W. Layton ; secretary, J. M. Wilkey.
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FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, INDIANA.
HILLSBORO BANKING.
The Hillsboro State Bank was established in 1895; has a capital of $25,- 000; deposits of $124,000. The president is J. J. Williams; cashier, J. W. Frazier.
KINGMAN BANKING.
The Bank of Kingman was organized in 1898; has a capital of $10,000, and has deposits amounting to $96,000. E. S. Boone is president, and R. A. McCord is cashier.
The Citizens Bank was established in 1904; has a capital of $10,000; deposits amounting to over $80,000. Its president is C. H. Ratcliff ; cashier, R. A. Boone.
MELLOTT BANKING.
The Mellott Bank was established in 1901; has a capital of $10,000; deposits of $63,000. The president is John A. Dagger ; cashier, C. E. Huff.
NEWTOWN BANKING.
The Newtown Bank was established in 1904; has a capital of $10,000; surplus, $4,500; deposits, $65,000. The president is Horace Gray ; cashier T. C. Shultz.
VEEDERSBURG BANKS.
The Farmers Bank of Veedersburg was established in 1888, with a capital of $10,000. It was succeeded in February, 1912, by the Farmers State Bank, with a capital of $25,000. Its officers are : Freeman Dice, president; William Madigan, vice-president ; John L. Osborn, cashier; J. R. Ratcliff, assistant cashier.
The Veedersburg Bank was established in 1902 ; has a capital of $25,000; surplus, $5,000; deposits, $122,000. Its president is W. H. McCord; cashier, J. W. Hayes.
WALLACE BANKING.
The Farmers Bank at Wallace was established in 1907; has a capital of $10,000; surplus of $2,400, and deposits amounting to about $42,000. The president is A. W. Lawe; cashier, Jacob E. Fine.
The grand total of bank capital in the county is about $300,000, while the deposits amount to $1,980,000. There are thirteen banking institutions in the county at this date, August, 1912.
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CHAPTER N.
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.
Under this head will appear several topics which, in and of themselves, are not sufficiently long to constitute a full chapter, and as many of them are related one to the other, they are here grouped together under the above head- ing and then properly indexed.
RAILROADS AND CANALS.
The pioneer found no highway to transport him and his belongings into the county, but those who came after him have had the benefits of these in- ternal improvements which have kept pace with the true spirit of civilization. First, the marketing all had to be accomplished by means of freight wagons to far distant points, but finally, in 1847, the Wabash & Erie canal was com- pleted through the county, and this gave a fine outlet to Eastern and Southern market cities and put the people of Fountain county in touch with the great outside world of commerce. The first excavation on the canal mentioned was in 1842 at Lafayette, and by 1846 it had been finished to Covington. Money being scarce, a large amount of canal scrip was issued, which the Covington merchants exchanged for goods, taking the same at par, and agreeing to wait until the completion of the canal was finished to Covington. This paper de- preciated until it was sold for forty cents on the dollar, but the men of Coving- ton made good their pledges, all honor to their sterling integrity. Joseph L. Sloan endeavored to weather the gale, with the destruction of his fortune, from which he never recovered. Doctor Hamilton lost thousands of dollars, while many more lost heavily. The ultimate failure of the canal added more disaster. When the Civil war broke out, to hurl death and desolation broad- cast, Covington was nearly as large as it was in 1885, twenty years later.
The Indianapolis, Bloomington & Western Railroad was built in 1869, and this gave a death blow to canal business and at the same time started a new growth in the county, so long depressed.
The last canal boat to "clear" at Covington through from Lodi to Toledo, was the "Rocky Mountain," cleared by Dave Webb, collector of toll, October 26, 1872. The last local traffic done at this point was the clearance of the boat
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FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, INDIANA.
"Goodman," November 13, 1875, bound from Lodi to Lafayette. So it ap- pears that this county had transportation by canal, and the typical old tow- patlı, for almost thirty years. Thousands of boats passed through this artifi- cial watercourse and millions of tons of freight were transported to distant points through its medium, which in its day was con dered fast enough, but with the practical introduction of steam cars, it soon had to abandon its once profitable business enterprise.
The history of "paper roads" in this county would be an interesting chapter, if the "truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth" could with propriety be published, but with the lapse of so many years since the first routes were surveyed through Fountain county, the poor memories of living persons and poorer records of such enterprises, it is next to impossible to give much information concerning these roads that were projected before and im- mediately after the Civil war, but which were never constructed, and by which numerous citizens were involved and lost much property by the schemes of designing men, and other unfortunate circumstances. It is probably sufficient to know that this county now has roads of unquestioned capital and are man- aged. by men of brains, on business principles, for which the average citizen should be thankful.
The first railroad completed in this county was what has for many years been known as the Waba: (the Toledo, Wabash & Western). It reached Attica in 1856, when the towpath grew up to grass and looked green with envy upon the shining iron rails of the newly-built steam highway, now so well and favorably known.
What was originally styled the Indianapolis, Bloomington & Western railroad, sometimes called the Crawfordsville & Danville line, was started on the subscription plan, in 1854, by A. J. Williams, of Hillsboro. The work of. construction was commenced in 1855, and continued until 1858, when opera- tions suspended. The grading was well along, but no rails had been laid. The financial condition of the country caused the company to go into bankruptcy and its paper was sold at forty-five cents on a dollar. It finally fell into the hands of Benjamin Smith, who completed it in the autumn of 1870 and trains ran regularly in 1871. This road runs from its bridge crossing of the Wa- bash river, at Covington, easterly, through Veedersburg and Hillsboro. It is now known as the Big Four, a part of which great system it is.
The Indiana North & South (later the "Chicago Block Coal") Railroad was opened for business at Attica in the month of May, 1872. It extended from Attica to Veedersburg, this county, where it connected with the Big Four system. It is now known as the Chicago & Eastern Illinois, and runs
·
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FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, INDIANA.
from Momence, Illinois, to Brazil, Indiana. It was completed through this county in 1882.
The Attica, Covington & Southern Railroad was built on the old tow- path of the canal from Attica to Covington and was completed in 1881. It is a branch of the Wabash system. While it is a convenience to the public, it can- not be called a first-class road.
The Toledo, St. Louis & Western road, running from St. Louis to Toledo, through Veedersburg, this county, was built in the eighties, and touches the territory in the central and southwest portion of this county.
RAILROAD MILEAGE IN THE COUNTY.
The last report made to the state authorities gives the following mileage of the various steam roads within this county in 1912: The Toledo, St. Louis & Western, twenty-five and one-half miles; the Brazil division of the Chicago & Eastern Illinois, twenty-four and one-half miles; the Chicago, Cleveland, Cincinnati & St. Louis ("Big Four"), the Peoria division, seventeen miles ; the Attica, Covington & Southern branch of the Wabash system, fourteen and one- half miles ; the main line of the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific, nine miles. This gives a total of inileage in the county of ninety and one-half miles.
What was known as the Chicago. Danville & Vincennes railroad, but during its existence had many titles while engaged in the litigation that finally destroyed it, was constructed in 1872. It was virtually a coal road, but got into serious trouble, including riots, strikes and bankruptcy. In the absence of the presiding judge, who was away in Illinois and could not be located, in- junction papers could not be filed, and as a result the road was torn up and never rebuilt. It ran from Bismark, Illinois, to Snoddy's Mills, Wabash town- ship. It was a good road and it was an unfortunate stroke that it was dis- continued. This road was operated about eight years.
AGRICULTURE.
Agriculture is the base of all prosperity, in this as well as almost every part of the country. The nines and mills and banks and the thousand and one industries thrive only when the earth yields forth its products, in grains and vegetables and fruits. The plow is the instrument which preserves life and maintains all nations and peoples. When the soil fails, for any reason, to bring forth the ripened harvest, famine stares the people in the face. Of all vocations, agriculture is the most dignified, health-giving and independent.
133
FOUNTAIN AND WAARREN COUNTIES, INDIANA.
True, all cannot be farmers and horticulturists, but the all important class of the toiling millions are farmers, and in the United States seven out of twelve men are engaged, either directly or indirectly, in farming and kindred pur- suits. Fountain is distinctively a farming county, and always has been. The once dense forests have given way to the well cultivated fields of corn, wheat and other grains. It was through maturing of the crops that the first band of settlers in each of the eleven townships in Fountain county were enabled to maintain themselves. The census of 1870 gave the county a population of 15 .: 41. The number of acres of land within its borders is 250,120, very littke of which may truthfully be called waste land. It was originally rich in timber and has undeveloped mining interests that will be appreciated with the passing generations, as the coal measure has only just been touched at its outer edges. In 1879, the average yield of wheat was placed at twenty-two and one-half bushels per acre; corn at twenty-eight and a fraction bushels ; oats at twenty-six bushels. In wheat yield this county ranked, at that date, sixth in Indiana. The county thirty-three years ago had 6,700 horses, 1,260 mules, 14,866 head of cattle, 15,000 sheep, and 31,000 hogs over six months of age. In 1880 there was raised here on Fountain county soil 474, 114 bushels of wheat, from 30,000 acres. It also raised that year 1,424,888 bushels of corn, from 47,000 acres. In 1878 the potato crop amounted to 25,000 bushels. and 22,000 bushels of fruits. The same year there was produced here 585,000 pounds of bacon, 270,000 pounds of lard. Added to these was given in the assessor's reports, 47,000 pounds of wool, 3,237 pounds of tobacco, 2,600 pounds of maple sugar, 7,000 gallons of cider, 6,000 gallons of vinegar, 785 gallons of wine, 8,720 gallons of sorghum molasses and 5,100 gallons of pure maple molasses. In 1879 the county had 8,700 acres of meadow land, producing 12,000 tons of hay, besides 27,000 acres of pasture land. In 1880 the county owned one hundred and forty pianos, two hundred and ten melo- deons and parlor organs, and 1,800 sewing machines. Only fifteen out of the ninety counties in Indiana had more musical instruments and only eighteen had more sewing machines than Fountain county.
Thirty years ago the county had 637 miles of wagon roads, upon which was being expended $17,000 annually. It then had fourteen large bridges over its numerous streams, costing $50,000. The wagon road system had up to 1880 cost $260,000. There were at that date fifty-one miles of steam rail- road track in the county, with an estimated cost of $2,780,000. The estimated value of all roads, school houses, churches, public buildings, bridges, etc., in- cluding the permanent school fund, was $3.035.000.
I34
FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, INDIANA.
These figures, dry statistics though they may appear, tell of what the county was and what it possessed in wealth a third of a century ago. Since then vast changes have taken place and many tracts of land then con idered worth- less have been reclainied and made to bring forth its annual fruitage. The price of land has materially advanced, a better set of buildings now adorns every farm within the limits of the county ; most of the farmers are out of debt and have placed to their credit much valuable property. Fruit and stock raising have gone forward at a wonderful stride. Better shipping facilities have come to obtain, hence the tiller of the soil is no longer looked upon with pity, or disdain, but really as the ruler of all that goes to make the county great among the remainder in the rich, well improved commonwealth.
For nearly a third of a century this county has maintained an excellent county fair, and the same is looked forward to with much interest by the citi- zens, both farmers and business men. The annual display of all that is valna- ble as products of farm, garden and orchard, with live stock and fast horses, is scen as a result of the efforts of the directors and managers of the associa- tion.
TOWN AND VILLAGE PLATS.
The following is a list, with locations, dates of platting and proprietors' names, of all the towns and villages platted within Fountain county from the earliest date to the present time :
Attica was platted by David Stump, March 19, 1825, on the west half of the southeast quarter of section 6, township 21, range 7.
Cates was platted May 23, 1903.
Coke Town (now defunct) was platted November 24, 1894, by Gish, Nebeker & Company.
Chambersburg was platted November 18, 1828, by Frederick Dice, on section 6, township 19, range 7.
Covington was platted December 24, 1828, on sections 35 and 36, town- ship 20, range 9, by Isaac Colman.
Fountainville was platted October 30, 1886, on sections 35 and 36, town- ship 18, range 8, by John M. Russell.
Fountain City was platted October 26, 1857, on section 25, township 23. range 7, by Thomas Julian.
Harveysburg was platted by Henry Lindley and Charles Markins, July 14, 1857, on section 23, township 18, range 8.
Hillsboro was platted July 21, 1826, on section 12, township 19, range 7. by Jesse Kester.
I35
FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, INDIANA.
Jacksonville (now Wallace) was platted by John and Henry Bowman, September 25, 1832, on section 19, township 18, range 6.
Kingman was platted by David J. Rateliff, January 19, 1886, on section 25, township 19, range 8.
Maysville was platted in section 20, township 25. range 24, by 'Z. Wade, June 15, 1835. .
Mellott was platted on section 24, township 20, range 7, by John B. and Syrena C. Mellott, October 7, 1882.
Newtown was platted on section 6, township 20, range 6, June 30, 1829, by Aaron Hetfield.
Portland was platted April 26, 1828, by Whitlock & Miller and Bernard Preble, on section 33, township 21, range 8.
Rice's Station was platted on section 19, township 20, range 6, by William M. Rice, October 6, 1882.
Rob Roy was platted on section 30, township 21, range 7, July 24, 1828. Rynear (now defunct) was platted by John Campbell and Rynear Rynear- son, September 13, 1871, on section 3, township 19, range 9.
Silverwood was platted on section 35, township 18, range 9, by Cale W. Waterman, September 7, 1881.
Sterling was platted on section 6, township 18, range 7, by Joseph H. Orear and George H. Patterson, August 26, 1871.
Stone Bluff was platted by Henry Crane, Nancy Boord, Samuel Morgan and John M. Meeker on section 19, township 20, range 7, August 7, 1873.
Veedersburg was platted May 2, 1872, on section 6, township 79, range 7, by Peter S. Veeder, Christopher Keeling, William L. D. Cockran and Franklin Yerkes.
Vicksburg (now defunct) was platted on section 34, township 19, range 9, June 30, 1831, by Robert Duncan.
Wallace was originally old Jacksonville-see above.
Yeddo, on section 12, township 18, range 8, was platted by George F. Sines, B. Bayphole, William Myers and Jacob Sample, April 15, 1881.
Of these twenty-five plattings in the county, all are in existence as vil- lages, hamlets and towns, save four, Coke Town, Rynear, Vicksburg and Maysville.
The last named village was at one time a place of much importance to the county, being situated as it was on the river and boating was depended upon for freighting and for mail service. Independence and Maysville were said to. be the "jumping off" place for most of the carly settlers of this county. Here were general stores, hotels, shops, saloons, and many things to attract the pio-
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FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, INDIANA.
neer. Here many came for their supplies for years. Maysville, at one dat-, bid fair to become a place of nuich importance, but the changes in the country, the transportation by rail and other changes brought the village to a mere col- lection of illy constructed houses. Today it does not in fact exist as a trading place, or have a place on the more recent maps. The unwritten history of the village, as seen in the forties and fifties, would indeed make an interesting volume. But long since the actors in that village have been sleeping in pio- neer burying grounds. There is not a house on the platting today. All but one were burned at different fires. At one time it had more than six hundred people ; a distillery, a large, well-kept hotel, numerous stores, shops, etc. Mr. May erected the hotel and it was run many years by William Worthington, a physician.
POPULATION OF FOUNTAIN COUNTY.
The following shows the population by townships, towns and villages, according to the United States census reports for three decades, 1880, 1900 and 1910:
1880.
1900.
1910.
Jackson township
1,272
1,322
1,139
Cain township
1,806
1,537
1,403
Troy township
3,986
3,366
3,050
Shawnee township
1,105
1,128
898
Van Buren township
2, III
3,271
3,241
Richland township
2,592
1,869
1,904
Fulton township
1,128
1,330
1,105
Davis township
798
773
702
Logan township
2,609
3,536
3,871
Wabash township
2,296
1,176
1,049
Mill Creek township
1,830
2,145
1,987
TOWNS AND VILLAGES.
1900.
1910.
Wallace
116
not given
Stone Bluff
J
I
1
1
300
325
Veedersburg
1,688
1.757
Newtown
400
410
Covington
2.069
Riverside
I
1
J
1
1
50
60
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
F
1
1
1
1
I
.
1
1
1
J
J
1
1
1
1
I
1
J
1
1
1
I
1
1
1
I
1
1
1
J
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
137
FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, INDIAN.A.
Attica
3,005
3.335
Kingman
535
550
Hillsboro
1
1
1
1
1
500
528
The total population of the county in 1900 was 21, 446 and in 1910. 20.439.
CIVIC SOCIETIES.
Fountain county has its full quota of fraternal societies, including many beneficiary orders, by which safe life insurance is guaranteed to its policy holders. From an early date civic fraternal societies have had a representation in the county. Nearly every town and city now has some one or all of the following secret orders, and the data here given rela .. only to some of the earlier ones organized, and from which the others have sprung up with the passing of the years :
Free and Accepted Masons-At Attica in 1844; Covington, 1847: Cain township. 1869; Jackson township, 1873; Veedersburg, 1873.
Independent Order of Odd Fellows-Covington, 1845; Attica, 1816; Richland township, 1856; Cain township, 1867: Jackson township. 1874; Veedersburg, 1876.
Knights of Pythias-This order was first organized in Covington in 1873.
THE COAL MINING RIOTS OF 1878.
Fountain county was the scene of a great strike and riot among the col- ored and white coal mining workers at Stringtown and Snoddy's Mills. It oc- curred in April, 1878, over differences between the white and colored miners, and was made the worse on account of a lawless element and much intemper- ate use of intoxicating liquors, then sold from saloons at those points. In December, 1877, Thomas Kelley murdered a man. His trial came on and he was sentenced to the state prison at Michigan City. The next April the two races got into serious difficulty and five negro miners were killed, for which at the trial in June, that year, fourteen men were indicted by the Fountain county grand jury. Many witnesses were present, but after a protracted trial all were acquitted, having made it appear that they were absent when the black men were killed. The number of colored miners engaged at the mines then was ninety, while the white miners numbered two hundred twenty-five. Gov- ernor Williams was telegraphed to and he sent a company known as the Wabash Guards to try and keep peace and, if possible, restore order at the mines. He also sent Captain Tipton, attorney-general, to see that his orders
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