USA > Ohio > History of the Ohio falls cities and their counties : with illustrations and bibliographical sketches, Vol. II > Part 83
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INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS.
Jefferson lodge No. 3, I. O. O. F., was char- tered September 4, 1867, by C. H. Paddox, Thomas Humphries, John Applegate, Benjamin Riggles, and Nicholas Kearns.
Excelsior encampment No. 14, I. O. O. F., was chartered July 14, 1848, by John Dixon, William Rea, Alexander Christian, T. J. Howard, John G. Frank, Samuel H. Patterson, and David Dryden.
Tabor lodge No. 92 was chartered January 23, on application of John Dixon, R. H. Gresham, LeRoy Woods, and others.
Tell lodge No. 52 (German) was instituted May 22, 1867, the charter members being A. O. Schuler, Jacob Roos, Christian Seeman, A. Kleespies, Ph. Miller, John Weber, Louis Henz- ler, Leonard Carl, Jr., William Strauss, John Sit- tel, and Henry Sittel.
Thomas Degree lodge No. 6, I. O. O. F., was instituted May 22, 1867, on application of John N. Ingram, A. J. Howard, O. N. Thomas, G. W. Rose, Herman Preefer, J. Johnson, H. N. Holland, and others. The degrees formerly conferred by this lodge are now conferred by the other lodges, and the Degree lodge is now extinct.
Rebekah lodge No. 8 was instituted March 1, 1869, with Herman Preefer, Mary Preefer, R. H. Timmons, M. C. Timmons, H. N. Holland, J. T. Davis, James W. Jacobs, and others, charter members. This lodge is for the benefit of the wives and daughters of members of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, and it gives the ladies the benefit of the fraternal ties that bind their husbands and brothers in the bonds of Friendship, Love, and Truth.
Some years since William Beach erected a two story brick building on the corner of Market and Locust streets, to which the lodge of Odd Fellows added a third story for use as a lodge hall. This was completed about 1856. On the death of Mr. Beach the fraternity purchased the building, the lower part
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HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
of which they lease for other purposes, reserving the upper part for their own use. Their room is neatly carpeted and furnished, the ladies tak- ing great interest in its appearance. It is now occupied by eight lodges, which includes the United Order of the Golden Cross.
UNITED ORDER OF THE GOLDEN CROSS.
This is a benevolent organization, and was originated in Tennessee within the past decade. It admits to membership both males and females, and since its first inception has had a marvelous growth, lodges having sprung up in all sections of the country. Two lodges have been insti- tuted in this city.
Clark commandery No. 57 was chartered June 7, 1879, on application of D. L. Field, T. T. Thompson, James D. Wilson, Sarah L. Thompson, E. M. Goodrich, J. H. Miles, and fourteen others. It includes three degrees, Gol- den Star, Golden Rule, and Golden Cross.
Bain commandery No. 15, U. O. G. C., was chartered October 2, 1879, by R. E. Curran, Lee'S. Johnson, V. D. Jackson, Sallie C. Jack- son, F. A. Seymour, Charles D. Shell, E. B. Jacobs, and fourteen others.
These societies meet at Odd Fellows hall, on the corner of Market and Locust streets.
TEMPERANCE ORGANIZATIONS.
Two lodges of Good Templars have been es- tablished in Jeffersonville, both of which have done much good in the temperance cause.
Ohio Falls lodge was organized April 27, 1866, with Rev. A. N. Marlett, W. C. T., and Mrs. Heaton, W. V. T. Its meetings are held in Becht's hall, on Spring street. Since its organi- zation it has received a total membership of three thousand. The course of many of these members has been followed after they left this lodge to engage in work in other and distant places, and a very large number have adhered to the pledge taken here.
Jeffersonville lodge No. 122 was organized April 7, 1871, with V. D. Jackson as W. C. T., and Mrs. M. A. Johnson, W. V. T. This lodge also meets at Becht's hall. During its existence it has received over two thousand members.
On the 12th day of February, 1874, a large number of ladies met at the Methodist church to take concerted action against the growing evil of intemperance. The call for the meeting was
issued by Mrs. Sallie C. Jackson. At this meet- ing an organization was perfected, which was known as the Women's Christian Temperance Union, and was one of the first, if not the first organization of this name established. On Saturday of the same week the crusade was be- gun in earnest. A band of near a hundred women passed along the streets, stopping at each saloon, singing, exhorting, and praying, urging the dealers to abandon their traffic. Some ım- pression was made, but aside from deterring per- sons from entering saloons after drink, but little apparent progress could be seen. A week later more than two thousand saloon-keepers and their parasites came over from Louisville deter- mined to frighten the women away. They brought with them plenty of beer, which was passed in kegs over the heads of the praying women, the roughs singing vulgar German songs to try and drown the voice of prayer. The services were kept up by the ladies until darkness caused them to withdraw. The result was almost a drawn battle, the ladies having maintained their ground as long as they cared to hold it. The warfare was kept up with the local saloon-keepers to their manifest disadvantage. Several were starved out, and one sold his stock to a commit- tee of the ladies, and removed to Lexington, Kentucky, where he again opened a saloon. During the progress of the crusade and after its close many signed the pledge and have remained sober men.
KNIGHTS OF HONOR.
Eureka lodge No. 3, K. of H., was instituted November 6, 1873. The charter members were James W. Jacobs, Dr. J. Loomis, John W. Weber, Henry A. Horn, Max Edelmuth, C. Kreutzer, and George Eyrish. This is the third lodge of this order organized, No. I and No. 2 being instituted in Louisville. The organization has had a marvelous growth since its inception, lodges being now established in every State in the Union. The grand secretary for this State, James W. Jacobs, has his office in Jeffersonville.
Harmonia lodge No. 88, K. of H., was insti- tuted March 19, 1875, with I. E. Plumadore, E. V. Staley, S. S. Cole, W. G. Raymond, and nine others as charter members.
Barbarossa lodge No. 146, K. of H., was in- stituted August 24, 1875, with L. Becht, A.
57
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Laun, F. Dietz, M. Killgus, and six other charter members.
Mystic Tie lodge No. 7, Knights and Ladies of Honor, was instituted December 12, 1877, and received its charter April 1, 1879. The first members were E. V. Staley, Eva Staley, Mary A. Dean, C. M. Carter, Leslie Carter, and twenty-seven others. This organization came into existence a few years later than the Knights of Honor, and was designed to provide a sys- tem of insurance in which the wives and daugh- ters of the members of the former organization might also have a part.
Eden lodge No. 240, K. & L. of H., was insti- tuted January 17, 1880, the charter being issued on petition of Margaret S. Jacobs, Sarah S. Thompson, Elizabeth J. Moore, Dr. Thomas A. Graham, E. W. Berry, Nancy Berry, and thirteen others.
Helvetia lodge No. 306, K. & L. of H., was instituted March 3, 1880, by J. W. Jacobs. The charter members were J. W. Weber, Theo- dore Bachly, Michael Bourk, James Pierson and seventeen others.
All the above lodges meet at the hall on the corner of Spring and Maple streets.
ANCIENT ORDER OF UNITED WORKMEN.
Anchor lodge No. 39, Ancient Order of United Workmen, was instituted March 20, 1878. Charter was issued to Thomas J. Edmonson, P. M. W .; William H. Shaffer, M. W .; J. M. Wil- liams, G. F .; Thomas V. Hewitt, O .; William K. Gray, recorder; D. L. Field, F .; John M. Tot- ten, receiver; L. H. Jenks, G .; Henry Resch, I. W .; William P. Finn, O. W.
Falls City lodge No. 8, Ancient Order of Unit- ed Workmen, was organized November 13, 1866, with the following officers: G. W. Finley, P. M. W .; C. L. McNaughton, M. W .; W. H. Langdon, G. F .; George Green, O .; W. H. Balti- more, G .; A. A. Mallingro, F .; Simeon Resch, R .; I. W. Robinson, O.
These lodges meet in the hall occupied by the Knights of Honor, corner of Spring and Maple streets.
KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS.
Hope lodge No. 13, Knights of Pythias, was chartered July 25, 1871, the members being H. Preefer, C. H. Kelley, W. H. Northcott, S. B. Halley, W. S. Bowman, and twenty-five others.
Myrtle lodge No. 19, Knights of Pythias, was chartered July 24, 1872, by A. L. Eggleston, C. H. Kelley, W. H. Bowman, J. B. Piper, O. W. Rodgers, G. W. Prather, W. E. Rose, and thirty others, who came out from Hope lodge to or- ganize an additional lodge.
Samson lodge No. 32, Knights of Pythias, was also organized by members of the two previous lodges, July 22, 1873. The members were Wil- liam H. Myers, W. S. Bowman, W. W. Crocker, R. M. Hartwell, J. E. Finch, Charles Rossler, G. W. Ware, E. A. Barnett, and M. Myers.
Endowment Rank No. 59, Knights of Pythias, was organized December 29, 1877, by William T. Myers, R. M. Hartwell, Alexander Sample, Charles H. Kelley, and ten others.
AMERICAN LEGION OF HONOR.
Eureka lodge No. 271, American Legion of Honor, was organized by M. Cohn, W. M. Staley, Sarah Tibbets, Thomas B. Rader, and eleven others, August 26, 1880. This is purely a social and benevolent society, and admits members of the gentler sex.
INDEPENDENT ORDER OF FORESTERS.
Court Morning Star No. 3, Independent Or- der of Foresters, was instituted under special dispensation granted Seprember 14, 1877. . Its charter is dated October 19, 1877. No list of charter members or officers is given in the charter.
Court Cohn No. 4, Independent Order of Foresters, was chartered September 17, 1880, with sixteen members. The officers were I. B. Walker, C. R .; James McPherson, V. R .; George Sigler, treasurer. The lodge received its name from Mr. Morris Cohn, who has been in- strumental in organizing a number of benevolent secret orders in Jeffersonville. Meetings are held at the Ohio Falls school-house.
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HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
CHAPTER XXX. JEFFERSONVILLE-INDUSTRIAL.
Newspapers-Banks-Ferries-Canal-Woolen Mill-Ship Building-Railroad.
NEWSPAPERS.
The first paper issued in the county was pub- lished before 1820 by George Smith and Na- thaniel Bolton. The name of this paper cannot he recalled, and it is probable not a copy is now in existence. Their office was in their resi- dence on Front street, near the river. In 1821 they removed to Indianapolis, where they estab- lished the first paper in that city.
In about 1848-49 Joseph Usher published a paper called the Jeffersonville Democrat, which he controlled a year or more. In 1850-51 Wil- liam S. Ferrier published a paper here, but whether he continued Usher's paper is not known. Ferrier sold to William M. French in 1854, who remained in charge until about 1856. Mr. Ferrier went to Charlestown where he now publishes the Record.
THE JEFFERSONVILLE REPUBLICAN,
a weekly political journal representing Demo- cratic principles, was established in Jeffersonville about the year 1837, by Robert Lindsey. Not having means sufficient to carry out this enter- prise, Dr. Nathaniel Field and others became his sureties for the payment of the material needed, and at the end of five years of alternate disappointment and encouragement he was obliged to abandon his paper, which came into possession of Dr. Field as the principal surety. The doctor continued its publication some three years at a financial loss, though making a very acceptable journal. He then closed the estab- lishment and sold the press to J. M. Mathews, of Bloomington, who moved it to that place, and for some time Jeffersonville had no paper published within its borders.
THE NATIONAL DEMOCRAT.
In 1854 William Lee established a weekly news- paper in Jeffersonville with the above title, which he conducted with ability two years. At the end of that time he sold to T. J. Howard, and the pub- lication was continued by his son A. J. Howard, the present warden of the Indiana State Prison South. Mr. Howard retained its management two years when he sold to H. W. Rogers, and some years later it came into possession of Henry
B. Wools. During his possession Rogers had the entire legal advertising of the county, and made money from the publication, as there was at that time no other paper in the county. Reuben Darley purchased the office from Wools in 1872, and has since continued the paper, en- larging and improving it. He was not satisfied with a weekly edition, and on November 18, 1872, issued the first number of the
DAILY EVENING NEWS
in the form of a hand-bill, the sheet being printed on one side only. It had but three columns of reading matter and advertisements, and was published at the price of five cents per week. It was not long until the paper was enlarged, extra help procured and steam presses employed. Now the paper is printed on a sheet 22 x30 inches, in a six-column folio form, at a yearly subscription price of $5.00. The weekly is published at $1.50 per year.
THE DAILY EVENING TIMES,
edited and published by Armstrong & Fitzpatrick, was first issued in February, 1880. The editors are workers, and are using their best endeavors to build up a good paper. They also publish a weekly edition of the Times from their office, corner of Chestnut and Spring streets. The first Monday of January, 1882, they issued a double sheet, containing much information concerning the business interests of the city. The subscrip- tion price of the daily is ten cents per week, and $5.00 by the year. The weekly is $1.50 per year.
BANKING.
The fact that a bank was started in Jefferson- ville in 1817 is known to but few of the present citizens of the place, but such is the case. In that year Beach & Bigelow established a bank here, and issued currency that was a great con- venience to the people of the county at the time. The bank was continued until after the failure of the canal, and strange as it may appear, re- deemed all bills that were presented, and some came in many years later. It is said that a pas- senger on one of the ferries enquired of a boat- man if a ten dollar note he held on that bank was good. He was informed that he would do well to enquire of one of the original members of the firm, and on presenting it it was cashed without hesitation. Mr. Beach came to this
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HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
vicinity from New Jersey, and to the time of his death was known as Judge Beach, though he never held that office here.
Jeffersonville suffered through the unlimited circulation of "wild cat" money for many years, and it is not an uncommon thing for bills on some of the banks of that time to be sent to one of the banks now located here, with an inquiry as to its value. But the history of these institu- tions is too well known to need repetition here. Their day is long past, and it is devoutly to be hoped that the time may never again come when such a system will be allowed to exist.
CITIZENS' NATIONAL BANK.
A branch of the Bank of the State of Indiana was established at Jeffersonville in 1857, with a capital of $100,000. The officers were Captain James Montgomery, president ; W. H. Fogg, cashier. James Montgomery, Thomas L. Smith, H. N. Devol, S. H. Patterson, and Dr. W. F. Colluni, constituted a board of directors. Under the system of State banks this branch was in ac- tive operation eight years, when it was incor- porated into the Citizens' National bank, which is now represented by John F. Read, president ; John Adams, cashier ; F. W. Poindexter, assist- ant cashier.
THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK
was organized in April, 1865, with J. H. Mc- Campbell president ; W. H. Fogg, cashier; Sam- · uel Goldbach, Abraham Fry, S. C. Taggart, John Biggs, and J. H. McCampbell, directors. The capital stock is $150,000. The bank is located in the finest block in Jeffersonville, which was built for the purpose. The second story is ar- ranged for offices, and the third is fitted as a fine hall. This story was originally intended for use as a Masonic hall, but for some reason is not so used, and at this time is unoccupied.
FERRIES.
Among the first and most important industries was the establishment of numerous ferries across the Ohio river for the transportation of immi- grants and viewers of land from one shore to the other. Jeffersonville had a full share of these ferries. Though Isaac Bowman, in his sale of the original one hundred and fifty acres compris- ing the old town, reserved the exclusive right of ferriage from the town across the river, he seems never to have claimed the right for himself and
heirs. Consequently nearly every person who purchased a lot bordering on the river, claimed the right to establish a ferry. During the first few years of the existence of the town licenses were issued to several persons by the court, granting the right to run a ferry. The first of these licenses recorded was granted to Marston G. Clark in October, 1802. In 1807 Joseph Bowman was granted a ferry license, and in 1820 George White was also granted a license. Clark sold his ferry right in 1816, to James Lemon. Dr. Meriwether also owned a ferry right across to the mouth of Beargrass in the same year. These ferries were very simple affairs, in many cascs being a skiff or flat-bottomed boat. The larger ones were flat-bottomed, and easily car- ried a team and loaded wagon, the propelling power being oars and poles. An improved ferry was run by horse power, some employing two horses, and others four, a large cog-wheel under the deck communicating power to the wheel. In times of high water it was frequently a hard task to propel the loaded boat across the swift current.
Soon after obtaining his ferry-right in 1820, George White went to Corydon, at that time the capital of the State, and procured the passage of an act consolidating the several ferries at Jeffer- sonville. The same kind of boats were used under the consolidation until about 1831, when a single steam ferry-boat was placed on the route. This boat was used a portion of the season, but in the fall exploded its boiler, killing three men, and wounding several others. This boat was re- placed by another. In 1832 the ferry was owned by Wathen & Gilmore. In 1838 Shall- cross, Strader and Thompson bought Gilmore's interest, and about 1850 placed on the route two steam ferry-boats. As the city of Jefferson- ville increased in size, the ferry became more important, for many years everything being trans- ported across the river over this route. During the war the traffic was great. The building of the railway bridge across the river at the rapids has taken off some of the passenger traffic, but the ferry does a large business at the present time, and probably will continue so to do.
Some years since an effort was made to es- tablish a rival line, but the projectors were bought off, some receiving stock in the Jeffersonville & Louisville Ferry company, as it is now called.
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HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
The first ferry was run from the foot of Spring street directly across the river to Keiger's land- ing, the island now located near the Kentucky shore at that time being no obstacle, a small sand bar only being visible at extremely low water, where the boys used to go hunting after turtles' eggs, the waters near by being a favorite bathing place.
FORT FINNEY.
As early as 1786 the work of constructing a series of forts extending down the Ohio river to Louisville, for the purpose of securing the settlers from attacks by predatory bands of Indians, was begun. Major Finney, an officer of the United States army, was employed in the construction of several of these works of defence, and from him the old fort at the Falls of the Ohio derived its name. Another fort in the chain having the same name, this was soon called Fort Steuben, and as such is known in history. A map of the Falls of the Ohio, published in London, England, in 1793, shows the location of the fort, which is there designated as Fort Finney. This was an important post for the defence of the growing settlement of Louisville in 1786, and was from that time until 1790, in command of Colonel John Armstrong, who was an officer in the regu- lar service. In 1790 three hundred Virginia militia were gathered here to go to the attack on Vincennes. In 1791 it contained a garrison of sixty-one soldiers. The fort appears to have been abandoned not long after that date, as no further record can be found regarding it.
This old fort was situated on the river front, at the foot of Fort street, a commanding location, from which a full view of the rapids was had, as well as a view of the river for some distance above. Colonel Armstrong, when in command, erected works of defence farther up the river, commanding the crossing at Eighteen-mile island, which furnished still further protection against savage marauders crossing the river to attack frontier settlements in Kentucky.
The site where stood the old fort cannot be traced, though a very few of the old residents remember playing among the ruins when children.
THE CANAL.
In 1818 the project of building a canal through Jeffersonville to a point on the Ohio river below the falls at the mouth of Cane run was decided
upon. Just who was the originator of the scheme it is hard to say, but John Fischli and Messrs. Bigelow and Beach were interested in its success. The Legislature authorized a lottery by which to provide funds, and a large amount of. money was secured from the sale of tickets. Contracts were awarded for opening the canal, Michael I. Myers being engaged to do the work of removing the grubs, etc., from Spring street to the old corner post of the town allotment. The ditch was opened and a strong dam built across Cane run, which backed up the water that was to wash out the bed of the canal to its upper end near Barmore's mill. Several ponds were also tapped to contribute their contents to the same purpose. The waters carried out a small quantity of loose dirt, but when the blue clay was reached had no effect, and had it continued running to this day would not have made a canal. The project was finally abandoned, and the old ditch is mostly filled up. What became of the lottery drawing is unknown, but certain it is, a considerable sum of money was expended with no practical results.
BRIDGING THE OHIO.
As early as 1837 a project was started for building a bridge across the Ohio river to con- nect Indiana with Kentucky. Who were the formulators of this enterprise it is now hard to tell, but it took such definite form that work was commenced down the river near the ancient town of Clarksville, and a foundation made on which to lay the abutments. This was near the old mill, which is also a thing of the past. Great enthusiasm was shown when the laying of the abutments was commenced, but lack of funds soon forced a cessation of work. This was in- tended to be a carriage and foot-bridge, no rail- road being thought of at that early time.
During the war the Government built a pon- toon bridge across the river, the end on this side being near the foot of Fort street. This was built about the time Bragg's army was threaten- ing Louisville, and was used only for the trans- portation of military stores and troops. As soon as the emergency passed it was abandoned.
WOOLEN MILL.
The first manufacture of woolen goods was at the penitentiary, during the years 1849 to 1856, when Mr. S. H. Patterson contracted for the
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HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
labor of twenty convicts, and engaged in the making of coarse jeans and linseys for the South- ern market. This class of goods was much used as clothing for slaves, it being made very strong and firm, capable of long wear.
In 1858 Mr. Patterson built a large two-story brick building for use as a woolen mill, near the old pork house beyond Canal street, and sup- plied it with machinery. This mill he placed in the hands of Mr. J. W. L. Mattock, who had formerly managed a mill of like kind in Dan- ville, Indiana. In 1863 the mill was sold to Moses G. Anderson, who run it some two years. In 1865 it was bought by J. L. Bradley, Dillard Ricketts, and S. H. Patterson, who conducted it under the firn name of Bradley & Co. During the following year and a half the firm lost con- siderable money, and closed up the mill, selling the machinery to various persons. Since then the building has remained vacant a portion of the time, and at others has been used as a storage room and workshop.
SHIP-YARDS.
From an early day Jeffersonville has held a prominent position as regards the ship-building interests of the Ohio and Mississippi valleys. Many of the finest steamers that ever floated on the rivers were built and furnished here. The first large steamer built was the old United States, which was launched in May, 1819. She was a famous vessel in her day, and has been well represented by others since that time.
In 1831 or 1832 Robert C. Green had a small yard at the upper end of the city, where he made a few boats, but did not continue the bus- iness long. Green started a foundry where the glass works now are, and paid more attention to making engines and machinery than to boat- building.
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