USA > Indiana > The Indiana gazetteer, or topographical dictionary of the State of Indiana, 1849 > Part 30
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VINCENNES, the Seat of Justice of Knox county, is situated on the east bank of the Wabash in north latitude 3S deg. 42 min. and in west longitude 10 deg. 28 min., and is 120 miles south-west of Indianapolis, 56 north of Evansville, 60 south of Terre Haute. 160 east of St. Louis, 110 west north-west of Louisville, and 168 in a straight line west south-west of Cincinnati.
There is more of historical interest about this place than in relation to any other in the State, and in fact its history comprises that of the Indiana Territory mainly, until the removal of the Seat of Government to Cory- don in 1813. It was first known when a Piankeshaw village by the name Chippe Coke, or Brushwood. It was then called Post St. Vincent, or Au Post, or Vin- senne, and finally Vincennes. This name was given as early as 1749, in honor of F. M. De Vinsenne, a brave and gallant French officer, who fell in a battle with the Chickasaws in the year 1736. See the first part under the head HISTORY, as to early proceedings in Vincennes. In 1798, the population was all of French extraction ex- cept twelve families, and though now they are much in the minority, their numbers are still considerable, and many of them are respectable and prosperous.
The situation of Vincennes is very fine, and a large portion of the country around it is very fertile. The Roman Catholics are numerous in the vicinity, the Cathe- dral is spacious and well finished, and the Bishop hav-
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ing charge of the State as a Diocess, takes his title from Vincennes. The Presbyterians, Methodists, Episcopalians, Christians and Africans have also flourishing churches. One of the branches of the State Bank is located at Vin- cennes. The City Hall is a commodious building. : There are in the town about 400 houses and 2,000 inhabitants, and the prospects are now more favorable for its steady growth and permanent prosperity than at any time for many years past. Two of the citizens, D. S. Bonner and H. D. Wheeler have now for about 20 years been exten- sively engaged in manufactures, sometimes with much success, and occasionally encountering difficulties, but never discouraged.
The unpretending but energetic devotion to business and encouragement of industry by such persons is wor- thy of all praise. There are two printing offices in Vin- cennes which publish Weekly Newspapers. One of them, the Western Sun, was conducted by E. Stout for about 40 years, and until the last five years. See the articles in the first part of this Book as to the Catholics and as to Colleges, and also the heads Ohio and Missis- sippi Railroad, and " Wabash Navigation Company. In regard to both these matters, the citizens of Vincennes appear not only able to talk, but willing to act.
VINCENNES, a western township in Knox, embracing the county seat.
WABASH NAVIGATION COMPANY. This company was chartered by acts of the Legislatures of Indiana and Illi- nois, the former passed in 1846 and the latter in 1847, by which liberal provisions were granted by the two States to a company that might be organized for improv- ing the navigation of the Wabash, and for the use of the hydraulic power to be obtained by the improvement. Stock books were accordingly opened in May, 1847, and $74,350 of stock was subscribed as follows: at Vin- cennes $49,550, Terre Haute $1,000, Lafayette $2,600, Mt. Carmel $10,700, Lawrenceville $4,250, Palestine $2,500, York $3,750. The Company has been organized and the work is progressing rapidly towards completion.
BURCH & HANNAH
BURCH & HANNAH
MARKET STREET,' VINCENNES.
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The officers are A. T. Ellis, President, Wm. Burtch, Tho. Bishop, H. D. Wheeler, Joshua Beal, Samuel Wise and J. G. Bowman, Directors; John Ross, Secretary and Treasurer, and Sylvanus Lothrop, Engineer. The ob- ject of the Company is first to surmount the difficulties in the way of Steamboat navigation at Grand Rapids, Hanging Rock, Ramsey's Ripple and Little Rock, where an aggregate fall of ten feet, over a substratum of sand- stone rock, produces, in low water, strong ripples or slight falls, and by imparting an increased velocity to the cur- rent, has worn away the banks and enlarged the water way, so as to reduce the depth far below the requirements of navigation. Adam of Il feet and a lock 250 feet long and 50 wide will, with the use of machinery contrived for the purpose, enable large Steamboats to pass through in about five minutes. When this work is completed, a few other points in the Wabash will require to be deep- ened at an expense estimated not to exceed $10,000, and that stream will then be equal to the Upper Ohio in a low stage of water. This work will contribute largely to develop the resources of the Wabash valley, a tract of country susceptible of vast and varied improvements. The water power, when the dam is erected, must, if pro- perly improved, be of immense value.
WABASH RIVER, rises in the State of Ohio, where its tributaries interlock with those of the Miami and St. Mary's. It runs first north, then north-west, then west, and then south-west, until it falls into the Ohio 140 miles from its entrance into the Mississippi. Its whole length exceeds 500 miles, and there is but a very small portion of the distance that does not present an inviting soil to the agriculturist. Its principal tributaries from the south and east are the Salamonie, Mississinewa, Deer Creek, Wild Cat, Coal Creek, Sugar Creek, Rackoon, White River, and Patoka. From the north and west come Little, Eel, Tippecanoe, Vermillion, Embarras and Little Wabash rivers, besides several smaller streams.
The name in French was OUABACHE, and this stream appears to have been discovered before the Ohio, and in
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maps before the year 1730; the Ohio at its mouth was called the OUABACHE. Settlements were made at a very early period at Vincennes and at the mouth of the Wea or Ouiatenon, where the Jesuits had their missions and schools, and the bark canoes of the Indians and French, at certain seasons of the year, passed from Lake Erie to the Mississippi, by the way of the Maumee, a short port- age to Little river and the Wabash.
WABASH COUNTY, organized in 1835, was named from its situation on the principal river in the State. It is bounded north by Kosciusko, east by Whitley and Hunt- ington, south by Grant and Miami and west by Miami, and it contains 426 square miles. The civil townships are Chester and Pleasant in the north, Lagro and Noble in the centre, and Liberty and Watts in the south. The population in 1840 was 2,756; at this time it is esti- mated at about 14,000.
There are no high or steep hills in the county, though the land is rolling or undulating near the Mississinewa, Salamonie, Wabash and Eel rivers, and their numerous branches. At the heads of the streams the land is gene- rally level, and there are many large bottoms on the rivers of the same character; but as a whole, the face of the country of Wabash county is very pleasantly diver- sified. North of Eel river are about 40 sections of bar- rens, intermixed with small prairies; the bottoms are at least 75 sections, the balance is heavy timbered forest land. The settlements in general are so recent that the surplus products exported give but little evidence of what the county is capable of producing. They have not heretofore exceeded $65,000 a year. Within five years they will probably be five-fold that amount.
There are in the county seven grist mills, 13 saw mills, 31 stores, eight groceries, 10 ware-houses, one printing office, nine lawyers, 21 physicians, 12 preachers, 11 churches, of which three belong to the Methodists, two to the Christians, three to the Baptists, two to the Pres- byterians, and one to the Catholics. The mechanics are 60 carpenters, 40 shoemakers, 12 Blacksmiths, 15 tailors,
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eight cabinet-makers, four chair-makers, two wheel- wrights, three mill-wrights and three wagon-makers. The taxable land amounts to 217,029 acres.
WABASH, the Seat of Justice of the county of the same name, is situated on the north bank of the river, 90 miles north-east of Indianapolis, 4S south-west of Fort Wayne, and 32 east of Logansport. It was first settled in 1835. The situation is very pleasant, partly on the first and partly on the second bottom, elevated near 40 feet above the first. It contains about 200 houses of which one-fourth are brick, and 1,000 inhabitants.
WABASH, a southern township in Adams, population 375.
WABASH, a western township in Fountain, population 1,250.
WABASH, a western township in Gibson, population 350.
WABASII, a north-east township in Jay, first settled in 1830 by O. Perry, population 300.
WABASH, a western township in Parke, population 1,050.
WABASH, an interior township in Tippecanoe, popula- tion 1,100.
WALKER, a western township in Rush, population 1,200.
WALNUT FORK of Eel river, rises in the south-west part of Boone, runs through Putnam and joins Mill creek, or the main branch of Eel, in Clay county.
WALNUT FORK, a large tributary of Sugar creek from the east, that falls into it near Crawfordsville.
WALNUT, an eastern township in Montgomery, popu- lation 1,050.
WARREN COUNTY, organized in 1828, was named in honor of Gen. Joseph Warren, of the revolution, who fell in the battle of Bunker's Hill. It is bounded north by Benton, east and south-east by Tippecanoe and Foun- tain, south by Vermillion, and west by the State of Illi- nois, and it contains about 360 square miles. The civil townships are Medina and Pine in the north, Mound and
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Steuben in the south, and Warren, Washington, Liberty, and Pike in the centre. The population in 1830 was 2,S34, in 1840, 5,646, and at this time is about S,000.
On the river there is an average width of bottom for half a mile, then come the bluffs from 60 to 200 feet in height, very much broken and precipitous, then follows a gently ascending and undulating surface to the Illinois line. The strip of timber along the river averages six miles in width, being much the heaviest near the river, and it runs out into points on the prairies along the bor- ders of the creeks, and there are also occasional groves in the prairies. At least half the county is prairie, con- sisting of arms of the Grand prairie, which have uni- formly a rich, loamy soil, generally sandy. About half the timbered land is either so hilly or so poor, as not to be profitable for farming; the balance of the timber land has a rich soil.
The surplus products are wheat, corn, oats and grass, and pork, beef cattle, horses and mules estimated to be worth $200,000 annually, and this amount must soon be largely increased. There are in the county 13 saw mills, six grist mills, three woollen factories, 14 stores, six ware- houses, two groceries, five lawyers, 13 physicians, 14 preachers of the gospel, 25 carpenters, 45 blacksmiths, 15 saddlers, eight shoemakers, 25 tanners, 14 wagon- makers and eight cabinet-makers. There are also nine churches, of which four belong to the Methodists, two to the United Brethren, one to the Campbellites, one to the Baptists, and one to the Newlights.
The taxable land in the county amounts to 179,S93 acres, and about 30,000 acres still belong to the United States.
Near Williamsport is a remarkable fall. The water of Fall Branch is precipitated over a perpendicular rock 70 feet, into a wild glen, surrounded with steep rocks, pine trees, &c. A pathway appears to have been made by some convulsion of nature, by which persons can de- scend in single file to a platform half way down the pre- cipice, and there have a good view of the scene ..
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There is a Chalybeate spring in a deep ravine below Williamsport, much resorted to by invalids. The Grand prairie, and much other wild and romantic scenery within on hour's ride, must make this place very pleasant as an occasional residence. Schoonover's Hotel also affords other inducements.
WARREN, a northern township in Clinton, population 750.
WARREN, a north-west township in Huntington, popu- tion 300.
WARREN, a small town on the Salamonie, in Hunting- ton county, 15 miles south of the county seat; popula- tion 150.
WARREN, an eastern township in Marion, population 2,000.
WARREN, an interior township in Putnam.
WARREN, a small town in the north-west of St. Joseph countv.
WARREN, an eastern township in the county of same name.
WARRENTON, a small town in Johnson township, Gib- son county.
WARRINGTON, nine miles north-east of Greenfield, in Hancock county.
WARRICK COUNTY was organized in 1813, and was named in honor of Capt. Jacob Warrick, a brave sol- dier and much respected citizen, who fell at the head of his company, in the battle of Tippecanoe. It is bounded north by Gibson and Pike, east by Spencer, south by the Ohio river, and west by Vanderburgh and Gibson. The contents are nearly 400 square miles. The civil townships are Boone, Ohio, Skelton, Anderson, Owen, Hart and Campbell. The population in 1830 was 2,973, in 1840, 6,321, and at this time near 10,000. The face of the country is mostly rolling or undulating, though there is a range of hills back of the river bot- toms, and there are large tracts of flat, wet land at the head of Pigeon and other creeks with which the county is watered. The soil of the bottoms, many of which
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are large, is very rich, and immense crops of corn are produced there. Much of the upland is of a good qua- lity, and more tobacco is raised in the county than in any other in the State, and the average crops of wheat, corn, oats, hay, are such as to afford annually a large surplus for exportation.
Coal is found in abundance, but as yet it has not been used to much extent. The streams run sluggishly and afford but a small amount of water power.
There are in the county five grist mills, three of which are propelled by steam, three steam saw mills, 30 stores and groceries, four lawyers, eight preachers and nine churches, of which six belong to the Methodists, two to the Cumberland Presbyterians, and one to the Congrega- tionalists. The Delany Academy, at Newburgh, has about 60 students, and schools are taught in most of the districts during winter, and in a portion of them through- out the year.
The taxable land amounts to 144,630 acres, and near 100,000 acres still belong to the United States. The largest portion of this, however, must be of but little value.
WARSAW, the County Seat of Kosciusko, is beautifully situated on Tippecanoe river and near two of the fine lakes of which there are so many in that county. It contains good county buildings, two commodious churches and a population of 400. Warsaw is 110 miles east of north from Indianapolis, 38 north of west from Fort Wayne, and 40 north-east of Logansport.
WASHINGTON COUNTY, organized in 1813, is bounded north by Jackson, east by Scott and Clark, south by Harrison and Crawford, and on the west by Orange and Lawrence. It contains about 510 square miles. The civil townships are Monroe and Gibson in the north, Franklin in the east, Washington central, Jackson in the south, and Posey, Vernon and Brown in the west. The population in 1830 was 13,072, in 1840, 15,269, and at this time about 18,000.
The county of Washington presents more variety of
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surface and soil than any other part of the State of equal size. The range of hills called the Knobs, described in the first part of this Book, passes along the east line of Washington, separating it from Clark and Scott, until they lose themselves in the bluffs of the Muscackituck and White river. In the south are extensive barrens, parts of which are thickly matted, almost, with brush and grubs; other parts have wild grass only, and other parts are curiously diversified with sink holes, varying in shape and size, but all showing the cavernous nature of the earth underneath. In other parts of the county are swelling ridges ever changing their features as you advance along them, presenting beautiful groves of wal- nut, sugar tree or chestnut, and having a fine clay soil on a limestone basis.
From 1820 to 1830, the writer of this article occa- sionally passed through different parts of Washington county, and he still retains in his memory a vivid im- pression of the beauty of its scenery, the apparent healthiness of situation, and the taste and elegance with which many of the farms were laid out and improve- ments made, and he has no doubt that many beneficial changes in these matters have since taken place. He is aware, too, from general information, that manufactures have been established, that railroad schemes are agitated, that much that deserves praise has been done to promote education, and that the Presbyterians, Methodists, Friends, and other religious denominations, have enlarged their spheres of influence and activity; but he has been fur- nished with no statistics on these or any other subjects so far as Washington county is concerned, although his employer has attempted through various sources, ten times and again, to procure this information. The good people of Washington, Knox and Shelby, who are alike in this respect, seem to be too busy to answer inquiries.
The taxable land amounts to 264,673 acres, and there must be still near 50,000 acres belonging to the United States, the most of which is probably very poor land.
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INDIANA GAZETTEER.
WASHINGTON, an interior township in Adams, popula- tion 700.
WASHINGTON, an interior township in Allen, popula- tion 900.
WASHINGTON, a north-west township in Blackford, population 350.
WASHINGTON, a northern township in Boone, popula- tion 1,600.
WASHINGTON, the central township in Brown.
WASHINGTON, a township in Carroll, population 350.
WASHINGTON, a southern township in Cass, pop. 580.
WASHINGTON, an eastern township in Clay, population 1,800.
WASHINGTON, a western township in Clinton, popula- tion 1,000.
WASHINGTON, a western township in Daviess, popula- tion 3,200.
WASHINGTON, the Seat of Justice of Daviess county, is well situated, four miles east of White river, on the road from New Albany to Vincennes, 84 miles from the former and 20 from the latter, and 106 miles south-west of Indianapolis. The country around is fertile, rolling and pleasant. Washington was laid out in 1817, by Emanuel Vantrees and Peter Wilkins. It contains 20 stores and groceries, 50 shops for various mechanics, three churches, three clergymen, four lawyers and eight physicians, good county buildings, the land office for the canal lands, and 1,400 inhabitants.
WASHINGTON, the central township in Decatur, popu- lation 4,500.
WASHINGTON, a north-west township in Delaware.
WASHINGTON, a township in Elkhart, population 700.
WASHINGTON, a northern township in Gibson, popula- tion 700.
WASHINGTON, a northern township in Grant, popula- tion 750.
WASHINGTON, a central township in Greene, population 325.
WASHINGTON, a western township in Hamilton.
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WASHINGTON, a southern township in Harrison, popu- lation 1,100.
WASHINGTON, an eastern township in Hendricks, popu- lation 1,370.
WASHINGTON, an interior township in Jackson, popula- tion 900.
WASHINGTON, a township in Kosciusko.
WASHINGTON, a north-east township in Knox.
WASHINGTON, a northern township in Marion, popula- tion 2,400.
WASHINGTON, a southern township in Miami, popula- tion 850.
WASHINGTON, a northern township in Monroe, popula- tion 960.
WASHINGTON, a central township in Morgan, popula- tion 2,700.
WASHINGTON, a south-west township in Noble, popula- tion 560.
WASHINGTON, an interior township in Owen, popula- tion 1,550.
WASHINGTON, an interior township in Parke, popula- tion 1,200.
WASHINGTON, a northern township in Pike, population 1,300.
WASHINGTON, an eastern township in Porter, popula- tion 500.
WASHINGTON, a south-west township in Putnam, con- tains 54 square miles.
WASHINGTON, a southern township in Randolph, popu- lation 1,350.
WASHINGTON, an eastern township in Ripley, popula- tion 900.
WASHINGTON, a north-east township in Rush, popula- tion 1,500.
WASHINGTON, a north-east township in Tippecanoe, population 1,050.
WASHINGTON, an interior township in Warren.
WASHINGTON, a central township in Washington.
WASHINGTON, a south-west township in Wayne, popu- tion 2,700.
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INDIANA GAZETTEER.
WASHINGTON, a southern township in Whitley, popu- lation 310.
WATTS, a southern township in Wabash, population 400.
WATERFORD, a manufacturing town in Elkhart county, on the river, two and half miles above Goshen, popula- tion 150. The Messrs. Hawks have a large flouring mill here, and there is also a distillery, saw mill, and carding machine.
WATERLOO, a north-east township in Fayette, popula- tion 950.
WATERLOO, a small town east side of west fork of White Water, in same county.
WAVELAND, a pleasant village in the south-west cor- ner of Montgomery county, 14 miles from Crawfords- ville, population 200.
WAVERLY, a small town in the north-east corner of Morgan, on the east bank of White river at the feeder dam, 14 miles from Martinsville and 17 from Indian- a polis.
WAYNE COUNTY, organized in IS10, was named in honor of Gen. Anthony Wayne. It contains 400 square miles and is bounded north by Randolph, east by the State of Ohio, south by Union and Fayette, and west by Fayette and Henry. It is divided into 14 civil town- ships, viz. Wayne, Centre, Jackson, Boston, Washington, New Garden, Franklin, Jefferson, Clay, Abington, Dal- ton, Green, Harrison and Perry." The population in 1830 was 23,344, in 1840, 23,290, and at this time it ex- ceeds 30,000. The south-east part of the county is somewhat hilly, but the most of the land is pleasantly rolling. The two forks of White Water, fed by numerous branches, pass through the whole county from north to south, and supply abundant water power to every part of it. Between these streams, usually from one to four miles apart, the land swells gradually, so that from the summits in each direction the most delightful prospects are everywhere presented. The forests have disappeared except such as have been reserved for timber, and at
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least three-fifths of the county is in cultivation. The soil is generally a rich loam, bedded on clay, with a light mixture of sand and lime-stone commonly beneath, and is well adapted to wheat, corn and grass, and in fact, the abundance and variety of its productions are such that it can challenge competition with any part of the west. The natural advantages have been so well improved by skill and industry, that Wayne county is generally re- garded as a model for imitation to the farmers in other parts of the State. On many of the best farms it is customary to have one-fifth in wheat, an equal amount in oats, one-fourth in corn, and the balance in grass, principally clover. The surplus articles exported are flour, pork, beef, and marketing of various kinds sent to Cincinnati mostly, and horses, mules and cattle driven off, and their value has been estimated to amount to $400,000 annually. There are on the east fork of White Water and its tributaries, 19 flouring mills, 21 saw mills, four woollen factories, two cotton factories, four oil mills, one paper mill, one peg factory, one foundry and several turning and carding machines, all driven by water, and there is about an equal amount of machinery on the other streams in the county. The manufacturing of carriages, wagons, and a great variety of machinery and farming utensils is carried on extensively at Richmond and other places, so as to supply the neighboring coun- ties; but it is not easy to form any correct estimate of their value. Among the establishments for education are the Friends' Boarding School, near Richmond, already described in first part of this Book, the " White Water School," organized by the Friends, in the suburbs of Richmond, which has about 60 students, the White Wa- ter Female College and White Water Academy, at Cen- treville, under the care of the Methodist Conference, which now has funds to place it on a permanent basis, and there are about 100 school districts in the county, in each of which there are school houses. There are five printing offices in the county, each issuing weekly papers. . The taxable land amounts to 253,483 acres. In exca-
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INDIANA GAZETTEER.
vating the cut for the National road through the bluffs on the west side of White Water, near Richmond, an excavation was found in the lime-stone rock across the road at nearly right angles, which had all the appear- ances of being a work of art. In depth and width it resembled a canal of the present day; its sides had the same shape, and appeared to have been washed by water for a long period.
The tax paid by Wayne county annually exceeds that paid by 14 of the smaller counties.
WAYNE, an interior township in Allen, population 6,000.
WAYNE, a southern township in Bartholomew, popula- tion 1,200.
WAYNE, a township in Fulton.
WAYNE, an eastern township in Hamilton.
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