History of the Ohio falls cities and their counties : with illustrations and bibliographical sketches, Vol. II, Part 27

Author: Williams, L.A., & Co., Cleveland
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Cleveland, Ohio : L. A. Williams & Co.
Number of Pages: 680

USA > Ohio > History of the Ohio falls cities and their counties : with illustrations and bibliographical sketches, Vol. II > Part 27

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

I 54

HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.

The above-named were the first roads located in the county, and gave New Albany abundant outlet to the interior. The roads in the county will compare favorably with any in the State. Mr. Cottom, in his work on the interests of New Albany, thus writes regarding the turnpikes:

While New Albany is well provided with river navigation, her citizens have not been unmindful of their connections with such portions of the interior as are inaccessible by river or rail. With a liberal enterprise that has always been a characteristic of our wide-awake people, they have provided excellent turnpikes in several directions, that give the citizens of the county and neighboring towns facilities for reaching the city, and afford splendid drives for those having leisure and inclination to take advantage of these well-paved roads. More turnpikes are needed, but these will doubtless be pro- vided in due time, as there is a willingness manifested on all sides to engage liberally in such public enterprises as mak- ing good macadamized roads; and the law of the State is very favorable to such improvements, providing that the lands benefited by them shall be especially taxed to aid in their construction.

Regarding the great railroad bridge connect- ing the two cities of New Albany and Louisville, the same writer says :

New Albany is united to Louisville by the magnificent iron bridge that spans the Ohio river at the Falls. Trains cross this bridge from New Albany and Louisville, on the Louisville & New Albany railroad, every hour in both directions, and so great is the travel by this route between the two cities that it will be hut a short time until the trains are run every half hour, and perhaps oftener.

The Ohio river bridge is probably the finest structure of the kind in America, and was built at a cost of over two' mil- lions of dollars. Another bridge is projected to span the Ohio between the east end of New Albany and the west end of Louisville, and there is little doubt that this bridge will be opened for travel in a few years. It is contemplated to give tracks for steam cars, street railroad, vehicles, and footmen. The two bridges will virtually make New Albany and Louis- ville one city in interest, if not in identity.

The above was written in 1873, and now (Oc- tober, 1881) the corner-stone of the new bridge has just been laid with imposing ceremonies. There were some six or eight thousand people present to witness the ceremony, which com- menced at 3 P. M., October 29th.

Colorel Bennett H. Young, president of the bridge company, delivered the introductory, after which Charles W. Cottom, city editor of the Ledger, was introduced, and delivered the in- augural address, which was followed by the lay- ing of the corner-stone by the Masonic Grand Lodge of Indiana, Right Worthy Grand Master Calvin W. Prather, of Jeffersonville, conducting the ceremony. Lieutenant Governor Hanna, of Indiana; Hon. Henry Watterson, of the Courier-

Journal; Colonel R. M. Kelley, of the Louisville Commercial; General James A. Ekin, of Jeffer- sonville; Mr. N. T. DePauw and Hon. J. J. Brown, of New Albany, and Hon. G. W. Marr, of Louisville, followed with brief addresses.

THE JONES TRACT.

Epaphras Jones was one of the most eccentric, perhaps, of the early pioneers of New Albany. As before stated he, by virtue of being one of General George Rogers Clarke's soldiers, owned one hundred acres of land joining the Whitehill tract on the east and bounded on the south by the river. This eccentric person attempted to build up a town in opposition to New Albany, calling the place Providence. Of this "neck of woods," including also the Whitehill tract, Mr. Thomas Collins thus writes:

At that time (1822) the town limits were Upper and Lower Fifth streets for the eastern and western boundary, with the river on the south and Oak street on the north. The adja- cent grounds were fields for farming purposes or forest.

The State of Virginia, just before the cession of the land belonging to her and known as the Northwestern Territory, by Legislative enactment made a donation of the lands com- mencing near what is now Upper Ninth street, on the river bank, and running north to a short distance beyond what is known as the Muddy fork of Silver creek, thence north of east through Clarke county, to within a short distance of the Scott county line, thence south to the river, to General George Rogers Clarke and the soldiers of his command. A considerable portion of these lands remained in a wild state until within the last few years. The one hundred-acre tract immediately outside the town limits, originally belonging to Epaphras Jones, was covered heavily with timber, some of the trees measuring from five to seven feet in diameter. This forest in later years afforded delightful promenade grounds and conveniences for public gatherings of all kinds. In these woods, and within the two squares above and below Eleventh street on Main, the Whigs had their barbecue in 1840, just prior to the election of General Harrison to the Presidency. In 1842-43 the clearing of the land began, and in 1844 Hon. Benjamin Hardin, of Kentucky, made the last political speech upon these grounds and under these grand old trees. The entire one hundred acres, and perhaps four times as much more adjoining on the two sides, are now a part of the city.

The spot upon which the barbecue was held is now the site of some of the finest residences of the city, and the De- Pauw American Glass Works now covers the ground upon which Ben Hardin made his speech. On the grounds on that occasion were George D. Prentice, of the Louisville Courier Journal ; Charles N. Thurston and William P. Thomasson, both popular lawyers of the Louisville bar, and many other celebrities. This was in 1844, during the contest between Henry Clay and James K. Polk for the Presidency, in which Mr. Polk was the successful candidate. The canvass of 1840 inaugurated the thorough organization and drilling of parties, the public processions and gorgeous displays that have since continued to be the prominent features of both parties during the canvass prior to a Presidential election. The organization of parties by the foundation of clubs in

¥55

HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.

wards and townships was then first adopted ; and the first club of which the writer of this had any knowledge was formed in this city and called the "Tippecanoe Club," in honor of the battle of Tippecanoe and of General Harrison and his comrades. Within three months from the time of its organization there were clubs to be found in every county in this State and in most of the States of the Union.

Epaphras Jones built his house toward the northern end of his hundred-acre tract, upon the hill overlooking the river and a vast scope of level country in every direction. Such is the view at present ; but when Epaphras Jones flourished here, the view was much obstructed by forest trees in almost all directions. It was a beautiful spot, however, upon which to build a house, being a little south of where Graham's nursery now stands and west of Vincennes street.

David Hedden's house, as before mentioned, stands upon the spot. Jones' house was a long, low frame building. Fortunately, just before its removal for the purpose of erecting the present fine and commodious residence, one of Mr. Hedden's daughters made a drawing of the old Jones mansion, which the family have carefully preserved. It is a long, story-and-a-half frame. It was first boarded up and down, then subse- quently weather-boarded over this ; some fine old forest trees stood in front of it. Jones had been a drummer-boy in the army of Washington dur- ing the Revolutionary war, and in fact possessed a good deal of military spirit, having been con- nected with the army many years, and was with General Clarke in his Vincennes expedition. For this last service he received the land, and settling here he called the place Providence because he felt himself providentially cast on this spot. He was eccentric on the subject of religion ; consid- ered the Indians as the lost tribes spoken of in the Bible, and consequently almost worshiped them. He regarded them as far in advance of the white race in many things. After his retire- ment from the army and settlement here, he ap- peared as a " gentleman of the old school" -- that is, he was quite dressy, wore a blue coat with bright metal buttons, gaiters and knee-buckles, powdered wig, ruffled shirt-front, cockade, cane, etc., etc. He had been a traveler in Europe and nearly every part of the world, was well edu- cated, a good conversationalist, polite, genial, good-hearted, religious, and in every way, bar- ring a few eccentricities, a companionable and

superior gentleman. He was born in New England-one authority says in Rhode Island and another Connecticut-and was twice mar- ried, bringing his first wife from New England, who died here. He subsequently married Miss Ann Silliman, of this place. He was very ener- getic, fussy, and full of business. He proposed building up a town in opposition to New Albany, and considered that, being nearer to Louisville, he had a better prospect of making his town a respectable suburb of that city than had New Albany, then a little village a mile or more below his residence. But he had the Scribners to work against, and the opposition was too formidable ; his town never grew to be anything, hardly a petty hamlet. He was nervous over the progress of New Albany, and used to walk down to that village every morning, ostensibly for a morning walk, but really to see how much New Albany had grown during the night! He cleared a road through the woods from his house to the river and established a ferry, which, Mr. Hedden says, amounted to no more than a skiff for carrying passengers. He tried hard to make his ferry a success, however, hoping to get people and freight from Louisville in the way of crossing there, instead of at New Albany. He also, after a time, built a warehouse on the river and a sort of landing called Jones' Landing ; and a little later induced some one to erect a saw-mill near by, which, however, did not prove a permanent success. In order more effectually to cut off New Albany, he secured the right of way through lands to the north of his tract, and attempted to build a road from his ferry to intersect the State road or Indian trail in the northern part of the township. The whole country was then densely and heavily wooded, and this was no small under- taking ; but he put hands at work cutting the trees down even with the surface of the ground, and making a broad track through the forest for a distance of two miles from the river. He was compelled to give up this project, however- probably it was two expensive. It never became a road, but Vincennes street, of the present New Albany, occupies the line of this old road, and his ferry was at the foot of that street. He had his town regularly surveyed and platted, and some of the streets graded. He succeeded in selling a few lots and gathering a few settlers around him ; but after a time, when New Albany

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HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.

began to grow more rapidly, he gave up this scheme of building a town.

Later in life Mr. Jones undertook the produc- tion of silk from silk worms, but death overtook him before he was enabled to make this a suc- cess. He was buried on his own ground, and the place was subsequently known as "Jones' Graveyard," at the upper end of Market street. He talked on religious subjects a great deal for a few years prior to his death, and would get much excited over the subject of the "New Jerusalem."

THE WHITEHILL TRACT.

During the days of his struggles to build up a town, the Whitehill tract was lying a desolate waste, full of frog-ponds and malaria, between his residence and New Albany. Whitehill never occupied the land, and died somewhere in the East. The property was held by his heirs and continued to increase in value as New Albany grew, until the town began to grow around it, when it was cut up into lots and sold. This was between 1830 and 1840. It was conveyed by an agent of the Whitehill heirs named McBeth, and most of it was purchased at first by Judge Charles Dewey, of Charlestown (then State su- preme judge), Mason C. Fitch, and Elias Ayres. They subdivided it into smaller tracts and lots to suit purchasers, and the ground, as well as that of Jones, was long since swallowed up by the city.

NEW ALBANY IN 1849.

The following is from the Indiana Gazetteer, published in 1849, and gives a picture of New Albany at that date:

New Albany, either the first or second town as to popula- tion in the State, and the seat of justice for Floyd county, is beautifully situated on the Ohio, two miles below the falls, in latitude thirty-eight degrees eighteen minutes north, and longitude eight degrees forty-nine minutes west. It was laid out in the summer of 1813, with wide streets running nearly east and west parallel with the river, and others crossing them at right angles, the most of which have been well mac- adamized and the sidewalks paved. In 1834 the population of New Albany was estimated at two thousand five hundred; in 1840 it was four thousand two hundred and twenty-six; and at this time is over seven thousand. The number of houses is about twelve hundred, of which one-fourth are brick. Steamboat building and repairing is carried on to a large extent there, and in the different kinds of mechanical business connected with it, about five hundred hands are constantly employed. There are in the city three iron foun- dries and machine shops on a large scale, for the manufact- ure of 'steam engines and machinery; one brass foundry; one patent bagging factory for the manufacture of hempen cloths, which cost fifty thousand dollars; and a marine rail-

way, which cost forty thousand dollars. 'There are also two printing offices, a branch of the State bank, about one hun- dred and twenty stores and groceries; two Methodist, two Presbyterian, one Christian, one Episcopalian, one Lutheran, and three Baptist churches; and the means to facilitate the instruction of the young and the communication of knowl- edge are highly creditable to the public spirit and liberality of the citizens. Anderson's Collegiate Institute, chartered by the Legislature; the Old-school Presbyterian Theological seminary; two large district school buildings, erected at the public expense at a cost twelve thousand dollars; a city school endowed by the original proprietors, and a large num- ber of private schools, are in operation, and all generally well conducted. The railroad to Salem, and intended to be car- ried still further, will soon add largely to the business and prosperity of New Albany. The enterprise, industry, mo- rality, and public spirit which have heretofore contributed so much to its growth, will not fail to carry it onward hereafter.

The following extract is from C. W. Cottom's pamphlet :

In 1814 a large number of families removed to New Alba- ny, and from that time forward, notwithstanding the near- ness of Louisville and the start that town had gained in pop- ulation and business, the contiguity of Jeffersonville and Shippingport, and the laying-off and settlement of Portland on the opposite side of the Ohio, with the active competition those towns offered, New Albany had a steady and substan- tial, though not rapid, growth.

July 14, 1839, New Albany was incorporated as a city, P. M. Dorsey being the first mayor, Henry Collins the first re- corder, Hon. John S. Davis the first city clerk, Edward Brown, Sr., the first treasurer, David Wilkinson the first col- lector of taxes and city marshal. Of these officials Hon. John S. Davis only survives, and has risen from the position of city clerk to be one of the first lawyers in the State.

The first councilmen elected in 1839 were Patrick Crowlay, James Collins, Israel C. Crane, Edward Brown, Hezekiah Beeler, Samuel M. Bolin, Henry W. Smith, Randall Craw- ford, Absalomn Cox, William Underhill, Preston F. Tuley, and E. W. Benton. Of these Hezekiah Beeler is the sole survivor.

The valuation of the property of the city for taxation in 1836 was $1.760,735. and the rate of taxation sixty-five cents on the $100 of valuation. The population was four thousand two hundred. At this time New Albany was famous, as at present, for the healthfulness of her situation, and began to grow more rapidly, many important establishments in me- chanics and manufactures, steamboat building, and mercan- tile interests having sprung up. In 1839 an eminent citizen of Boston visited the town and wrote back to the leading newspaper of that city as follows: "The scenery from the hills surrounding this charming town is beautiful and grand beyond description, and cannot fail tu entiance and enrapture the traveler. The wide expanse of country, the sparkling La Belle Riviere, winding tortuously on its course from a point ten miles distant up the stream, to an equal distance below the city; the falls, with their never-ceasing yet musical roar; Jeffersonville and Louisville at their head; broad fields crowned with the glories of a golden harvest, and forests wreathed in carmine-tinted and yellow and green foliage; the Silver hills stretching away to the northeast, and intervening slopes and fields, and densely wooded glens, with the river hills towering from four to six hundred feet skyward to the west, form a view of grandeur and beauty such as is nowhere else to be witnessed and enjoyed in Indiana."

157

HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.

In 1850 the population of the city had increased to eight thousand one hundred and eighty-one, and the increase in the material interests of the city was proportionately ad- vanced; in 1860 the population was twelve thousand.

THE STATUS.

At the present time (1882) the population of the city is about eighteen thousand. The follow- ing extract regarding New Albany is from a directory of the city published in 1868:

The city is situated at the foot of the Falls upon a high bench above the overflow, except by extreme high water, such as that in 1832. At that time that portion upon the immediate bank of the river was inundated, but all the rest, forming the greater portion of the city, was then and always will be free from overflow. At the lower end of Main street a spur of the knobs overlooks the city and surrounding coun- try, and would furnish a site for waterworks of unsurpassed utility and general fitness. * * * * *

New Albany being at the foot of the Falls, it was early seen that she possessed some natural advantages, in respect to trade on the river below, which could not be held by her proud sister at the head of the Falls and on the other side of the river; and, notwithstanding the many disadvantages incident to her close proximity to that wealthy and powerful city, whose shadow chilled and perhaps stunted her growth for a time, she has gradually grown apace, gained strength, and developed her proportions. As a shipping point the ad- vantages of New Albany have long been acknowledged, and since the completion of the New Albany & Salem railroad to Michigan City, that branch of business has greatly increased.

INCORPORATED AS A CITY.

The following is an extract from the Act to in- corporate the city of New Albany, and to repeal all laws in force incorporating the town of New Albany, approved February 14, 1839 :

SECTION I. Be it enacted, etc., That so much of the county of Floyd as lies within the following boundaries, to wit: "Beginning on the Ohio river at the mouth of Falling Run creek, thencc up the centre of the channel of said creek to the bridge at the Boiling spring; thence in a right line to the southwest corner of the Griffin tract; thence with the west line of said tract to the northwest corner thereof; thence with the north line of said tract to the northeast corner there- of; thence in a right line through Leonard's spring on the Shilby tract, and onwards until it meets with the pro- duced line of Jones' clay turnpike; thence southerly along said produced line and the middle of said clay turnpike, to the Ohio river, and thence with said river to the place of beginning, extending across said river as far as the jurisdic- tion of said State extends, and the persons residing within said boundaries, are hereby created a body corporate and politic, by the name and title of the city of New Albany, and by that name may have perpetual succession, sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded, defend and be defended against, at law and in equity, in all courts and places, and in all matters whatsocver, contract and be contracted with."

The above boundaries have been changed and extended to meet the requirements of the growth of the city. Changes were made January 26, 1847; February 14, 1853; February 6, 1854;

March 7, 1854; September 4, 1854, and July 22, 1867.

CITY OFFICERS.

The following is a list of the officers chosen by the people of New Albany to administer its af- fairs and execute its laws, from the time it was incorporated as a city until the present:

MAYORS.

P. M. Dorsey. 1839-40

Shepard Whitman. 1840-43

Silas Overturf. .1843-44

James Collins . 1844

William Clark. 1844-47

William M. Wier. 1847-49, 1850-52

John R. Franklin. 1852-53, 1859-63

Joseph A. Moffatt

1853-55

Jonathan D. Kelso . 1855-56

Franklin Warren. 1856-59

Dumer M. Hooper. 1863-65

William L. Sanderson

I865-68

William Hart 1868-71

Thomas Kunkle 1871-74

William B. Richardson. 1874-75-77

Solomon Malbon. 1877-79

Bela C. Kent 1879-81

COUNCILMEN.

FIRST WARD.

Patrick Crowley. 1839-40

James Collins. 1839-40, 1855-56

E. W. Benton. 1839-40

Leonee Hoover. 1840-45

William C. Conner. 1841-42

G. C. Shively. 1842-43

John Austin. 1842-43

John Miller. 1842-43

Thomas Sinex 1843-46

James E. Sage 1843-44

George Gresham 1844-48

Oliver Cassell. 1845-47

Thomas Conner. 1846-47

William Clark. 1847-48

Peleg Fiske. 1847-48

A. P. Willard. 1848-49

Alexander McCartney 1848-49

Isaac Hunt.

1849-50

James B. I

1849-50

Martin H. Ruter.

1849-50

James C. Mordy. 1850-53

James Montgomery. 1850-51

I. P. Smith. . 1850-51

H. R. Mathias 1851-52

Blaine Marshall

1851-52

Apollos Cassell.

1852-53

Stewart Sanford.

1852-54, 1856-58

Charles Van Dusen.

1853-54

Hiram Wilson.

1854-55

V. A. Pepin.

1855-56

J. B. Powell. .

1855-56

L. G. Mathews.

. 1857-58

Benjamin Lockwood .. 1858-60

John McCulloch. 1862-64

Daniel Sittason 1862-65

158

HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.

E. M. Hubbert I865-67

Christopher Fox.

1867-69

John S. Davis.

1869-77

Henry Wagner

1869

James Pierce.

1860

George Beck.

1872-74, 1877-79

M. M. Hurley.

.1874-76

George F. Penn.

1876-80

A. J. Kistler.

1879-81

SECOND WARD.

Israel Crane. 1839-40

Edward Brown 1839-40

Hezekiah Beeler.

1839-40

P. C. Smith.

1840-42

James Brooks 1840-41

Silas Overturf.

1840-41

Jacob Loughmiller.

1841-42

William M. Wier 1841-45

1842-45

John P. Frank.

I843-44

H. M. Dowling 1844-45

P. M. Wilcox

1845-47

Stephen Beers. 1845-46

V. A. Pepin 1846-47-1852-53

John S. McDonald

1847-48-49-50, 1852-53

John Loughmiller.

1847-48

P. M. Kent. 1847-48

Samuel H. Owen. 1848-50

Alfred S. Rager

1848-49

Oliver Dufour.

1849-50

John S. Davis

1850-52

Francis Jennings.

1850-51

George V. Howk

1856-57,

1859-63

Henry Turner.

1851-52

William S. Culbertson

1851-52

Bela C. Kent.

1853-54, 1856-57

Adam Knapp

1854-55

George Gresham

1855-56-57-59

David Crane.

1855-56-57-59

John Renshaw 1859-61, 1863-65, 1869

John H. Lee. I861-65

G. C. Carmon. 1865-69

Prof. James Brown.

.1867-69

Edward Ford. 1871-73

Edward M. Hubbert 1872-76

Sherman Frisbie 1873-75

Emery L. Ford. 1874-76

H. A. Gifford. 1875-77

Jacob Hangary. 1876-78

1877-81

Frank Dishman 1878-80

Louis Vernia 1881~

William Dunbar.

1881-

THIRD WARD.

Samuel M. Bolin. .1839-40

Henry W. Smith. 1839-40

Randall Crawford. .1839-40

Peleg Fiske 1840-41

Henry Rogart. 1840-42

William L. Sanderson . 1840-42

Thomas Danforth 1841-42

C. A. Dorsey 1856-57, 1858-60

E. Q. Naghel. 1857-58, 1859-63

Benjamin South.

1857-58

John W. Girard. I861-62

David M. Hall.

1840-42

John Evans. 1840-41, 1848-49

1840-41

William Plumer. 1841-42

John Thompson. 1841-44, 1846-49

Charles Tyler.

1842-43

Seth Woodruff.

1843-44

Peleg Fiske.

1844-46

John Q. A. Smith ..

1844-46

Joseph A. Moffatt.

1845-49

Andrew Schollars.

1846-47

T. C. Shiveley.

1846-47

John B. Anderson.

1849-50

Louis H. Brown. 1849-50

William Jones. 1850-51

John Miller. 1850-53

James Pierce 1850-53

William B. Lent.

1854-55

Peter R. Stoy

1854-55

S. S. Marsh. 1855-56

John F. Anderson 1855-56

A. W. Bentley 1856-57, 1858-61

J. M. Morrison. 1842-43

John Sloan. .1842-43

Jobn C. Conner 1842-43

John G. Hoff

1843-45

Abram Case. .1843-48

Benjamin Gonzalles

1843-44

N. H. Cobb

1844-46-47-49

William Plumer

I845-48-49-50

Jacob Hise.

1846-47

George H. Harrison

1848-49

James Brooks

1849-50

John K. Woodward.

1849-50, 1852-53

George V. Hawk

.1850-51

John McBride 1850-52

Peter R. Stoy

1850-51

William B. Lent.

1851-53

William H. Fogg

. 1851-52

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History of the Ohio falls cities and their counties : with illustrations and bibliographical sketches, Vol. II, Part 27

Author: Williams, L.A., & Co., Cleveland Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Cleveland, Ohio : L. A. Williams & Co. Number of Pages: 680

Author: Williams, L.A., & Co., Cleveland
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Cleveland, Ohio : L. A. Williams & Co.
Number of Pages: 680