USA > Indiana > Grant County > Fairmount > The making of a township, being an account of the early settlement and subsequent development of Fairmount Township, Grant County, Indiana, 1829 to 1917, based upon data secured by personal interviews, from numerous communications > Part 27
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CHAPTER XXVIII.
ORGANIZATION OF BANKS-DEVELOPMENT OF NATURAL GAS-BUILDING THE WATER WORKS-LOCATING INDUSTRIES.
TN 1883 Dr. A. Henley and Levi Scott. perceiving the need of local banking facilities, proceeded to organize the Fairmount Bank as a private institution. They purchased ground on South Main Street and erected a two-story brick building.
On June 24, 1886, the capital stock was increased to twenty-five thousand dollars and the bank was reorganized and incorporated under the laws of the State, and became known as the Farmers and Merchants State Bank, with Dr. A. Henley, President, and Levi Scott, Cashier. The directors met in 1887 and decided to increase the capital stock to fifty thousand dollars.
The institution continued to operate successfully as the Farmers and Merchants State Bank until June, 1893, when the panic of that year brought disaster to many enterprises throughout the country. carrying this bank down in the general crash.
On July 15, 1893, the Citizens Exchange Bank was organized with Nixon Winslow, President ; John Selby, Vice-President, and W. C. Winslow, Cashier. Other stockholders were A. A. Ulrey, John Seale, Sr .. and William J. Leach.
On June 10, 1911, this bank was reorganized and incorporated as a State Bank, with John Selby, President : Charles F. Naber. Vice- President, and Victor A. Selby, Cashier.
The Fairmount Banking Company was organized as a private insti- tution on December 18, 1902, with Aaron Morris, President ; John Flanagan, Vice-President : R. A. Morris, Cashier, and C. R. Small, Assistant Cashier.
In 1905 the bank was organized under the laws of the State and the name changed to the Fairmount State Bank. John Flanagan was elected President ; Aaron Morris, Vice-President, and R. A. Morris, Cashier. The present officers are W. F. Morris, President ; R. A. Morris, Cashier, and Tony Payne, Assistant Cashier.
On March 4, 1887, the Fairmount Mining Company was organized for the purpose of making explorations for natural gas. Other commu- nities in Grant and adjoining counties had formed similar companies for this purpose, and the results were such as to encourage local men
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The Making of a Township.
to believe that the Fairmount field offered as good prospects for devel- oping this fuel as others that had been successfully opened up.
LEVI SCOTT
Former prominent Fairmount citi- zen and business man, is a native of Wayne County, Indiana, where he was born January 21, 1846. His par- ents, Stephen and Mahala (Arnett) Scott, were among the pioneers of Liberty Township. Levi Scott passed the early years of his life working upon his father's farm, at- tending the common schools in win- ter. August 1, 1863, at seventeen, he enlisted in Company C, One Hun- dred and Eighteenth Indiana Volun- teer Infantry. At the conclusion of his service in the army he returned home, engaged in farming, and later in retail merchandising in Hunting- ton County, in which he was success- ful. Disposing of his stock of goods he. purchased a farm near Pleasant Plain, and once more followed agri- cultural pursuits. In 1865 he was united in marriage with Miss Emily Davis, daughter of George Davis, of Liberty Township. They were the parents of twelve children, namely : Melissa M., Alvin B., Irvin, Arthur D., Lillie, Lemuel, Eliza A., Alonzo, Charlotte, Clelia, Elois and Harrison. Melissa, Arthur and Lemuel are de- ceased. The wife died in 1891. For his second companion he married Emily R. Hill, of Carthage, Indiana. Mr. Scott, in 1877, engaged in general merchandising in Fairmount, entering actively into the support with his means, his time and his influence of various enterprises promoted for the good of the community. In November. 1882, with surplus funds not otherwise invested, he established the Fair- mount Bank, giving local people their first banking facilities. This institu- tion did a general banking business, dealing in exchange, receiving money on deposit, discounting notes, etc. He built Scott's Opera House in 1884, with a commodious stage, scenery and all necessary equipment to accommodate the best theatrical troupes touring the smaller towns and cities of that day. The Fairmount Bank was later reorganized under the laws of Indiana and became known as the Farmers and Merchants State Bank. The business grew as Fairmount increased in population and industry. In 1893, as the result of a liberal policy adopted by the bank toward the encouragement of local manufacturing enterprises, a policy which in time proved to be tin- wisely generous, owing to the panic of that year, the financial drain became too great for its resources and the institution was forced to close its doors. This action became necessary on account of the inability of the management to quickly realize on paper then in its possession. In 1896 Mr. and Mrs. Scott disposed of their interests here and moved to Missouri, then to Texas, and later to California, where they are comfortably situated.
J. P. Winslow, T. J. Nixon, C. R. Small, Levi Scott. Dr. W. H. Hubbard, M. Mark, John Flanagan, Kimbrough Bros. and Dr. A.
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Henley were the original stockholders. The Board of Directors con- sisted of Dr. A. Henley, President ; T. J. Nixon, Secretary ; C. R. Small, Treasurer ; J. P. Winslow, W. C. Winslow and Levi Scott. On March
JOHN SELBY
Is the son of Otho Selby, born in Pennsylvania, September 24, 1805. Otho Selby entered one hundred and sixty acres of land near Lake Ga- latia on May 30, 1837, subsequently, on August 20, 1838, adding by entry forty acres adjoining. Before he came to Grant County he had sold a tract of land in Franklin County, which he had entered there on Au- gust 14, 1834, this tract comprising eighty acres, southeast of Indian- apolis. He owned the Fairmount Township farm until his death, Feb- ruary 16, 1881. Otho and Jane (Allen) Selby were parents of three children, John, Mrs. Sarah Smith and Mrs. Emma Compton. John Selby was born June 10, 1846. He attended the common schools and re- mained on his father's farm until fifteen years of age, when he learned the tinner's trade, following this vo- cation in Jonesboro and Fairmount. In 1864 he enlisted in Company F. One Hundred and Thirty-ninth In- diana Volunteer Infantry. Upon his return from the war Mr. Selby again engaged in the stove and tin- ware business, remaining in this line until he went back to the farm. In 1894, associated with others. Mr. Selby organized the Citizens Exchange Bank, with the late Nixon Winslow as President and himself as Cashier. June 10, 1911, this bank was reorganized under State laws, the name changed to the Citizens State Bank, and Mr. Selby was selected to serve as President, a position he has filled acceptably ever since. The officers of this strong institution are: John Selby, President; Victor A. Selby, Cashier. Directors are John Selby, A. A. Ulrey and Charles F. Naber. Mr. Selby owns one hundred and seventy acres of the farm originally entered by his father. In politics he is a Democrat, and a member of the Congregational Church. He was married in 1874 to Miss Hattie M. Allen, born in Ohio in 1853. To this union two sons were born, namely: Victor A., who is married and resides in Fairmount, and William A. Selby, deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Victor A. Selby are the parents of two children, namely, Victor A., Jr., and Virginia.
9 the Secretary was directed to contract for the work of putting down a well.
Pursuant to instructions, Mr. Nixon contracted with W. A. Walley, of the firm of O'Neill & Walley, of Muncie. Mr. Walley placed Steve A. Irwin in personal charge of the work. The big derrick was speedily erected, equipment secured and operations commenced.
On Tuesday, April 26, the drill penetrated Trenton rock at a depth of 965 feet. The well yielded an abundance of gas. Professor Orton,
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The Making of a Township.
Ohio State Geologist, after much difficulty, succeeded in making a test of the pressure. He found that its flow was eleven million five hundred thousand cubic feet every twenty-four hours, or, in the language of
JOHN FLANAGAN Is a native of Preble County. Ohio. where he was born August 10, 1853. His father, James Flanagan, was born in County Mayo, Ireland. about 1820, came to the United States in 1848 and settled in Grant County in 1865. He died in 1880, at his home northeast of Fairmount. John Flanagan was educated in the common schools of Preble County, Ohio, and in Grant County. attend- ing a Normal School later, teaching in winter and farming in summer. April 1, 1879, he entered the mercan- tile business with E. N. Oakley, a
partnership which continued for three years. In April, 1882, he joined the firm of Henley & Nixon, grain dealers, and took over a grain ele- vator at Summitville, operating this enterprise under the name of John Flanagan & Company, for one year. The same firm. Flanagan, Henley & Nixon, bought the stock of merchan- dise at Washington and Main streets and conducted this store from 1883 to 1888, when the firm name was changed to Flanagan & Henley, Mr. Nixon having retired. The two- story brick building was bought in , 1880, and the business has continued at this corner ever since. In 1893 Mr. Flanagan bought Dr. Henley's interests and he has since conducted the business as sole proprietor. In addition to his mercantile interests Mr. Flanagan owns considerable land. For six years he was President of the School Board. He was one of the organizers and for seven years President of the Fairmount State Bank; a director and Secretary of the Fairmount Mining Company, which put down several productive wells in the oil and gas districts of this section: President of the Commercial Club during the period of its greatest activity; President of the Fairmount Building & Loan Association for several years, and for many meetings of that organization he was an official of the Fairmount Fair Association. In politics Mr. Flan- agan is a Republican, and while not a member of any church he has always contributed liberally of his means to the support of all. He was married to Miss Sarah E. Winslow, daughter of Levi and Emily ( Henley ) Winslow, on March 8, 1860. Mr. and Mrs. Flanagan have no children.
Professor Orton at the time, "nearly sufficient gas to supply the three largest cities in Ohio."
The well was located on the south side of East Washington Street. near the old brick elevator formerly owned by Winslow & Beals.
In the fall of 1888 a special train bearing James G. Blaine and a
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Banks-Natural Gas-Water Works-Industries. 329
party of friends stopped nearby. The pressure was turned on and the distinguished Maine statesman expressed astonishment and admiration as the well roared thunderously and the gigantic flames leaped skyward.
The pressure was so great that it was with considerable difficulty
ROBERT A. MORRIS
Cashier of the Fairmount State Bank, was born at Milton, in Wayne County, Indiana, May 16, 1877. His paternal grandparents were George and Rhoda Morris, natives of North Carolina, and his maternal grand- parents were Lewis W. and Pris- cilla M. Thomas, Pennsylvania peo- ple. The parents of Robert A. Mor- ris were Aaron and Martha M. Mor- ris, the father, born at Milton, No- veinber 23, 1834, having died Feb- ruary 15, 1907. The mother (who was a direct descendant of Thomas Lloyd and Samuel Preston, both councilors of William Penn, Lloyd serving as first Governor of Penn- sylvania ), was born February 3, 1839. and now resides at Pendleton. Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Morris were the parents of four children, namely : Lonella Burdsall, of New York; WV. F. Morris, of Pendleton, Indiana; Robert A. Morris, of Fairmount, and Elizabeth Lantz, of Pendleton. Rob- ert A. Morris was educated in the public schools at Milton, his home, and at Earlham College. Early in life, at nineteen years of age, he entered the banking business, being associated with his father in the Pendleton Banking Company. In 1902, with his father. he came to Fairmount and assisted in organizing the Fairmount Banking Company, this institution being later incorporated as the Fairmount State Bank, under which name it is now doing business. Mr. Morris is a stockholder and director of the Pendleton Banking Company, of which concern he is President; director of the Citizens Telephone Company, and a director of the Fairmount Commer- cial Club. In politics Mr. Morris is a stanch Republican, and a member of the Hicksite Friends. He has served his party as Treasurer of the Grant County Republican Central Committee, and was a member of the Grant County Council. He is an active member of Fairmount Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, No. 635, having served the local lodge in all the chairs. being now a Trustee. On October 21, 1908. Mr. Morris was married in Fairmount to Miss Artie Suman, a native of Fairmount Township, and daughter of Harry and Rachel ( Lewis) Suman, now residing at Hunter, North Dakota. Mr. and Mrs. Morris are the parents of one son, William Suman Morris, born January 2, 1913.
the flow of gas was harnessed and gotten ready for use. Excursion trains came loaded with passengers from every direction to see the well. In a few weeks, because of its enormous capacity, which was said to be greater than that of any other well in Indiana, it was given the name of Jumbo, so called after Barnum's elephant.
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The Making of a Township.
The gas was finally put under control and piped, and the expense of light and fuel for many years did not exceed twelve dollars per year for each family for domestic purposes. Walker Winslow was the first man in Fairmount who introduced natural gas for cooking purposes, and it was not many months before its use was general among Fair- mount people.
Attracted by the cheapness, cleanliness and convenience of the new fuel, several glass factories located in Fairmount. By the year 1890 the town began to increase in population and grow in industrial impor- tance. In 1894 the census showed approximately five thousand inhab- itants.
Foreign corporations, seeing the opportunity presented, began to lease land in the neighborhood. Lines were laid and gas was trans- ported into Chicago by means of great pumping stations erected for the purpose. These stations pulled strongly upon the entire field, dimin- ishing the supply, and finally exhausing the entire territory.
Far-seeing men wisely discouraged people from leasing land to out- side syndicates, but the advice went unheeded and the pressure began to weaken and then gradually to disappear.
The discovery which promised at the outset to dot the gas belt with connecting cities eventually came to naught. There are now but few scattered families in this part of the State using natural gas.
Fairmount had reached the point in population and industry by 1894 where the need of a system of water works seemed imperative.
The Board of Trustees of the corporation at this time consisted of Dr. J. W. Patterson, President ; M. S. Friend, Jason B. Smith, William R. Pearson and Gabe Johnson.
Immediately upon his election as Trustee, Dr. Patterson began an agitation for water works. At first he encountered considerable oppo- sition among citizens. However, after considering the matter with care, the Board decided to investigate the question. Dr. Patterson and William R. Pearson were named as a committee to make a thorough investigation and report back to the Board. The committee visited a number of towns, inspecting many plants and examining closely details relating to operation and construction. A public meeting was called. This meeting was held in Parker's Opera House. It was addressed by Dr. Patterson, who made an exhaustive explanation of the plans by which the system could be installed.
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A petition was circulated calling for an election and the required number of signatures secured. The result of the election which fol- lowed showed a practically unanimous sentiment favorable to the propo- sition, there being but thirty votes registered in opposition to it. Work was started immediately after the bonds were sold, and the plant was soon in operation.
H. H. Wiley came from Jonesboro in 1876, and located a saw and planing-mill near the railroad, which he operated until he retired from active business.
In 1882 Cyrus Winslow and Lemuel Pearson bought the saw-mill which had previous to that time been owned and operated by Winslow, Pearson & Beidler. The mill was located north of Fairmount.
William S. Wardwell came to Fairmount in 1876 and took charge of the Woolen Mills,* which for many years had been operated previous to his arrival. Mr. Wardwell manufactured blankets and stocking yarn. He later moved the machinery to Converse, Indiana.
In 1878 C. A. Wood and son, Mark, built a stave factory east of the Big Four railroad. The business flourished. In the year 1879-1880 the factory dressed two million oil-barrel staves, made from timber obtained in this locality.
In 1881 J. P. Winslow and son, W. C. Winslow, bought the build- ing vacated by the Woods and installed a flax-mill. The venture proved to be a profitable enterprise until people quit growing flax. The mill was then abandoned and the machinery shipped to Odebolt, Iowa.
The Cincinnati, Wabash & Michigan Railroad was constructed as far south as Fairmount in 1875. This station remained the southern terminal point until 1876, when the line was extended to Anderson. Jonathan P. Winslow and Jesse E. Wilson were active in promoting this railroad. The latter served as one of the directors for a time. A. G. Wells secured the contract for the construction of the road from Wabash to Fairmount. The line had previously been extended from Goshen to Wabash. In 1893 the Big Four Company took over the property, and since that year the road has been known as the Michigan Division of the Big Four. The property has since been acquired by the New York Central system, and is now operated by the New York Central people, having been extended to Louisville, Kentucky, on the south, from Ben- ton Harbor, Michigan, on the north.
*The Woolen Mills occupied a two-story frame structure which stood at the southwest corner of First and Sycamore Streets. Prior to 1878 this industry had been owned and managed at different times by Vincent and William Wright, Jesse Reece and Elwood Haisley.
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The Making of a Township.
The Chicago, Indiana & Eastern Railroad was built from Matthews to Fairmount in the year 1892. In 1901 the line was extended from Matthews to Muncie. In 1898 it was extended from Fairmount to Swayzee; in 1899, from Swayzee to Converse, where connection was established with the Pennsylvania line to Chicago. In 1907 the road was taken over by the Pennsyl- vania Company, and is now oper- ated by this company as a short line from Muncie to Chicago. The Chicago, Indiana & Eastern was projected by Harry Drew. man- ager of the Matthews Land Com- pany, and the surveyor of the line was Frement Wilson, who was afterward elected Surveyor of Grant County. For a consider- ible period the line had headquar- ters in Fairmount, and the exten- GILBERT LARUE sion work west to Swayzee was Was one of the successful manufac- largely carried on from the offices here.
turers and business men of Fair- mount. He was part owner of a saw- mill at the beginning of his career. In 1876 the amount of taxable corporation was seventy-nine thou- sand five hundred and fifty dol- lars. later engaging in the manufacture of excelsior. He installed in Fairmount property located within Fairmount the first electric light plant, which furnished light for commercial and domestic use. Governor J. Frank Hanly, impressed by Mr. La Rue's rep- ntation as a builder and practical me- chanic, appointed him Superintendent In 1885-1886 Brady & Allred Bros. owned and operated a chair factory cast of the railroad, north of the Big Four depot. of Construction of the Southeastern Hospital for the Insane, located at Madison. The building of this insti- tution by the State involved an outlay of more than a $1,000,000. The build- ings stand as an enduring monument to the skill and executive ability of Mr. LaRue, who was in personal charge of their construction. Mr.
La Rue died in December, 1910.
In 1885 the Fairmount Machine Works was established by J. H. Harrington and M. A. Hiatt. Later Mr. Hiatt retired from the
firm and was succeeded in the ownership by Elwood Davis and Wiliam Fink.
In January, 1881, Gilbert LaRue, associated with two brothers, came to Fairmount from Anderson and started a saw and planing-mill, which
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Banks-Natural Gas-Water Works-Industries.
was later converted into an excelsior factory. The enterprise pros- pered under the management of Mr. LaRue, who in the meantime had purchased his brothers' interests.
In January, 1885, Kimbrough Brothers established a saw-mill. which operated for many years, supplying dressed lumber in large quantities to the Graham & Morton Transportation Company at St. Joseph, Michigan, owning and managing a line of vessels on Lake Michigan plying at that time between St. Joseph and Chicago.
The Fairmount Manufacturing Company was incorporated Feb- ruary 2, 1886, with a capital stock of three thousand dollars. This company was organized for the purpose of manufacturing the Lan- caster corn planter and ditching machine. The officers of the com- pany were J. P. Winslow, President ; C. R. Small, Secretary, and Levi Scott, Treasurer. There were twenty stockholders.
In 1887 T. J. Nixon owned and operated the flouring mill located where Ulrey & Company's mill now stands. Mordecai Nixon was in personal charge of the mill.
In the same year T. J. Nixon and Dr. A. Henley composed the firm of Henley & Nixon, grain dealers, who carried on an extensive business among the farmers. This firm had, in 1881, purchased of Robert Bogue the grain elevators. New machinery was bought and installed and the equipment improved.
Jonathan P. Winslow and Enoch Beals, under the firm name of Winslow & Beals, in 1887, occupied the two-story brick elevator at East Washington Street and the Big Four Railroad. The building was erected in 1875. In addition to the grain business the firm handled salt, lime, hair, flour, etc.
In 1887 various means were adopted to induce manufacturing indus- tries to locate in Fairmount.
Levi Scott and W. C. Winslow were appointed a committee to solicit donations of money to be expended in properly advertising the town and presenting its claims to the attention of parties desiring locations for factories and other suitable enterprises.
Dr. W. H. Hubbard and John Flanagan were selected by the Fair- mount Improvement Committee to solicit donations in the way of real estate to be offered for the location of shops, factories or other indus- tries that would be of benefit to the town.
The owner of the Nixon Winslow land offered ten acres to an insti- tution that would employ one hundred and fifty persons.
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The Making of a Township.
ALVIN B. SCOTT
Manufacturer, is a native of Fairmount Township, where he was born March 27, 1868. His grandparents were Stephen and Mahala (Arnett) Scott and George and Charlotte (Baldwin) Davis, and his parents were Levi and Emily (Davis) Scott. Alvin B. Scott was educated in the common schools of Fairmount Township.
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The owners of the Wilson farm offered eight acres for a factory that would employ one hundred men.
Levi Scott offered five acres for one hundred hands.
Allen Dillon offered four acres for desirable factory or shop.
J. P. Winslow offered ten acres to shop or factory working one hun- dred hands.
Others stood ready to co-operate when necessary.
In 1888 William H. Lindsey built a planing-mill and saw-mill. Aft- erwards, Lindsey and Julian Swaim owned a lumber yard under the firm name of Lindsey & Swaim.
In 1888 W. C. Winslow, John Rau, Frank Taylor and Charles Tig- ner established a bottle factory.
In 1889 Charles Tigner, Allen Dillon and Frank Taylor built a fruit- jar factory, which became known as the Dillon Glass Factory.
In 1890 F. B. Ziegler, Harry Gable and Al Reed built the Big Four Window Glass Factory.
In 1890 Dr. A. Henley and Charles Tigner started what was known as the "Dinkey" Bottle Factory.
In 1893 John Borrey and others started the Bell Window Factory.
In 1894 Headley & Co. started a window house.
In November, 1906, E. C. McKever, a representative of the T. A. Snider Preserve Company, arrived in Fairmount looking for a factory location. After he had satisfied himself as to the adaptability of the soil for tomatoes, coupled with the best class of farmers, who gave their earnest support, the Snider Company, at a special public meeting, made known their proposition.
The offer proved to be a satisfactory one, and it was speedily and successfully handled through the co-operation actively of a number of the leading business men, among them being Dr. J. W. Patterson, John H. Wilson, John Flanagan, E. M. Baldwin, Hill Brothers, R. A. Morris, James F. Life, Charles T. Parker, John Selby, Goldstein Bros., Xen H. Edwards, David G. Lewis, J. W. Parrill, and all the business and com- mercial interests of the community. The following named farmers con- tributed their part, which was considerable, toward the success of the enterprise : John W. Cox, W. V. Cox, Joe Shane, E. J. Seale, Nixon Rush, John H. Caskey, Hiram Harvey, Wick O. Leach, Elsberry Payne, Thomas Winslow, Joe A. Winslow, Harvey Trader, Charley McCoy, Will M. Jones and John L. Weaver.
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