History of Hancock county, Indiana; its people, industries and institutions

Dedication

To THE People of Hancock County, Who Have Honored Me with Their Confidence During a Long Term of Service, this Volume is Respectfully Dedicated.

— The Author.

Author's Preface

This \-olume has been prepared with one oljject in \ie\v — lo trace the growth of the county from a wilderness to what it is today. In this development, difficulties and obstacles have been surmounted. All the elements of human nature, the progressive, the conservative and the ultra-conservative ; the liberal, the public-spirited and the selfish, have l)een thn)\vn together in the melting pot. Differences of opinion have caused bickering and strife. They may have checked for a season, but they have not stayed, the growth of the institutions which constitute our richest heritage toda}'. Our roads, our drainage, our churches, our schools, all of which seem so natural, have been provided by the people who have persisted and won in the struggle for better things. If this volume awakens trains of pleasant reminiscences in the older people; if it awakens a new sense of appreciation in the younger generation; if it impresses on them the fact that the choicest blessings of the present have been provided through the constancy and labor of men and women who have gone before and by those upon whom has fallen the pure while snow of years, then the author will have accomplished his entire purpose.

This volume represents much more than simply the labor of the author. The material for practically all histories of churches, lodges and clubs has been submitted by members or committees of such organizations. Many of these sketches have merely been edited. In this connection, acknowledgment should .be made of the assistance given by Jared C. Meek, John Hardin Scott, Mrs. Permelia Thayer, Mrs. Frances Snow, John Fielding ;\Ieek. John Beeson, Reuben F. Cook, Claud Poer, O. J. Coffin, Alpha Smith. Charles Vetters, Iduna Barrett, Marshall T. Smith, Lizzie Harris, Effie Reed, Fern Trees. Dr. Earl Gibbs, Mrs. John Page, Fletcher Brooks, J. K. P. Martindale. Robert \\'illiamson. Dr. Mary L. Bruner, Xoble Troy, Rev. John Heim, George Burnett, Myrtle Schreiber, Nancy Meek, Hazel D. Mitchell, Gertrude Ashcraft, Arthur Gunn, Charles Herrlich, Emma Herrlich, Charles Ballard. Charles F. Richman, Rev. F. Markworth, Edward Fink, Oscar \\^ood, \\'right Boring, John F. Eagan, Jacob Feaster, Lawrence ^^'ood, Horace E. Wilson, Elden A. Robb, Charles N. Warren, Mrs. Allen Cooper, William I. Garriott, Leora Beagle. Mrs. L. A. Binford, Ernest \\"arrum, Samuel Trueblood, Elwood Barnard. Ada O. Frost, Samuel \\'allace, Eli R. Gant, Samuel J. Stokes, C. F. Fred

Preface

John T.' Rash, A\'. R. Rash, Thomas M. Fred, W'aker R. Griffin, L. W. Crouch, Quincy A. Wright. Gus E. Stuart. Hayes Thomas, Omer C. Tucker, Oscar Bever, Eva Dobbins, Leonard V. Hopkins, Grace J. Slocum, Charles Shull, J. W. Trittipo, O. L. Morrow, John D. LesHe. Kate Reeves, Rev. Charles Anderson, Rev. A. J. Duryee, Mary Rose Quigley, John F. Shelby, Effie Ostermeyer, William T. Leamon, William A. Hughes, George H. Cooper, Nathan C. Binford, General Jackson, Christian Fink, W. S. Walker. Mrs. Florence Larimore, William B. Bottsford, Mrs. Charles Henricks, E. E. Davis, Daniel Bohn, I. J. Kennedy, Martha J. Stubbs, Marshall Hittle, R. C. M. Smith, William M. Coffield, Henry C. Garriott. Assistance has also been given by scores of others whose names might be added to the list.

Reference has so frequently been made in the context to official records, that it is unnecessary to discuss further the use that has been made of them. One of the best sources of material has been the complete file of the Hancock Democrat from iS6o to the present. The ^Mitchells have extended every courtesy in giving access to this file. It is only fair to say that without this aid, the history in its present form would have been an absolute impossibility. Unfortunately, the file of the Greenfield Republican has not been kept complete except since Mr. Spencer has had charge of the plant. ^Iw Spencer, too, has given free and complete access to all files in his office.

To Miss Ruth Amick, Mrs. Ada Frost and Mrs. Anna Phillips, who have done all the stenographic and clerical work in preparing this volume for the printei", I wish to express my profound appreciation.

GEORGE J. RICHMAX.

Greenfield, Indiana, June i, 1916.

PUBLISHERS' PREFACE

All life and achievement is evolution ; present wisdom comes from past experience, and present commercial prosperity has come onlv from past exertion and sacrifice. The deeds and motives of the men who have gone before have been instrumental in shaping the destinies of later communities and states. The development of a new country was at once a task and a privilege. It required great courage, sacrifice and privation. Compare the present conditions of the people of Hancock county, Indiana, with what they were a century ago. From a trackless wilderness and virgin land, it has come to be a center of prosperity and civilization, with millions of wealth, systems of railways, educational and religious institutions, varied industries and immense agricultural and dairy interests. Can any thinking person be insensible to the fascination of the study which discloses the aspirations and efforts of the early pioneers who so strohgly laid the foundation upon which has been reared the magnificent prosperity of later days? To perpetuate the story of these people and to trace and record the social, religious, educational, political and industrial progress of the community from its first inception, is the function of the local historian. A sincere purpose to preser\'e facts and personal memoirs that are desei"ving of perpetuation, and which unite the present to the past, is the motive for the present publication. The publishers desire to extend their thanks to those who have so faithfully labored to tliis end. Thanks are also due to the citizens of Hancock county for the uniform kindness with which they have regarded this undertaking, and for their many services rendered in the gaining of necessary information.

In placing the "History of Hancock county, Indiana," before the citizens, the publishers can conscientiously claim that they have carried out the plan as outlined in the prospectus. Every biographical sketch in the work has been submitted to the party interested, for correction, and therefore any error of fact, if there be any, is solely due to the person for whom the sketch was prepared. Confident that our effort to please will fully meet the approbation of the public, we are,

Respectfully,

THE PUBLISHERS.

Chapter I— Geology, Topography, Etc. 33

Natural Resources — Surface — Drainage — Streams and Valleys — An Abandoned Valley — Traces of Glacial Action — Economic Geology — Gravel — Water Supply — Climate — Temperature and Precipitation — Frosts — Agriculture — Crops — Animals and Poultry — Dairying — Obstacles to Successful Agriculture — Origin of tbe Soils — Soil Types — Meadow Land — Muck — Suggestions tor Increasing the Productivity of the Soil.

Chapter Ii— Early Influences 50

Location and Boundaries of the County — Early Claims to the Territory of which Hancock County Is Now a Part — The Virginia Cession — Its Survey, as Provided for by Ordinance — The System of Land Surveys — Original Survey of Hancock County — Locating Corners — "Witness Trees" — The School Fund — Indian Treaties — The "New Purchase" Tract — Legislative Description of Hancock County.

Chapter Iii— The County Government 58

Legislative Acts Creating Hancock County — Organization of the County — First Court in the County — First Grand Jury — First Probate Court — First Meeting of County Commissioners — Division of County into Townships — Election of First Justices of the Peace — Trustees for School Sections — Wolf Bounty — Report of Commissioners Appointed to Locate County Seat — Early Care of the Poor — First Tax Levy — First Petit Jury — Judges of the Hancock Courts — Early Licenses — County Examiner — County Superintendent — County Assessor — County Council — Board of Children's Guardians — County Road Superintendent — Clerk- Recorder — Auditor — Robbery of County Safe — Treasurers — Roster of County Officers from Organization to the Present Time — Prosecuting Attorneys — Representation in the Legislature.

Chapter Iv— County Buildings 85

History of the Court Houses — Laying of Corner-stone of the Present Building — Jail History — Care of the Poor — The Old Apprentice System — County Farm — A Suggestion to Convert the County Farm into a Boys' Training School.

Chapter V— General Development Of The County 102

Earlier People and Their Relics— Little Evidence of the Mound Builders — White Settlers — Clearing Away the Forests — Artificial Drainage — Incorporated Drainage Companies — Roads — State Aid in the Construction of Early Highways — The National Road — County Roads — Changes in Location of Highways — Turnpike Companies — Purchase of Toll Roads by the County — "Three-mile Roads" — Bonds Issued Therefor in the Various Townships — Early Life in the County — Early Water Mills — Early License Fees — Market Prices, 1845 — Taverns — Tax Levies — Survey of County in 1840, Etc. — Development and Decline of Farm Crops and Products — County Bible Society — County Fairs — County Sunday School Associa-

COXTEXTS.

tion — Old Settlers' Meetings — Addresses by Rev. William Nichols, Rev. Davis Caudell, John P. Banks and Noble Warrum — Railroads. Interurban Lines, Etc. — Proposed Railways — Local Aid for Railroad Construction — The Grange Movement — Patrons of Husbandry — Farmers JIutual Benefit Association — Farmers Insurance Association — Detective Companies — Natural Gas — Farmers' Institutes — Storms, Cyclones, Etc. — Epidemics — Society for the Prevention of Tuberculosis — Federation of Country Clubs — Newspapers — Aerial Navigation.

Chapter Vi— Education 1s2

Basis of School Fund — Sale of School Lands — County School Commissioners — Township Government Prior to 1859 — District Management Prior to 1S59 — District Meetings — Manipulation of School Funds — The County Seminary — Greenfield Academy — County Library — Township Libraries — Young People's Reading Circle Libraries — Free School Question — Teachers, Course of Study. Etc. — Teachers' Remuneration — School Houses — Improvement of School System — County Board of Education — Course of Study for Township High Schools — Teachers' Associations — County Normals — Attempts to Procure Higher Institutions of Learning — County and Township Institutes — Terms of School — Enumeration of School Children — Consolidation of Schools and Organization of High Schools — Customs of Different Periods — ''Last Day"— Spelling Schools — Township Commencements, Oratorical Contests, Etc. — County Exhibits — Teachers' Unions — Lincoln Fund — Compulsory Education — Boys' Corn Club — Vocational Work — Parent-Teachers Association — Teachers, 1915-lG.

Chapter Vii— Military Annals 255

The Mexican War — Enlistments from Hancock County — A Letter from the Front — Last Mexican War Veterans — The Civil War— Roster of Men Who Enlisted from Hancock County — Incidents of the Struggle — Letters from Soldiers — Home Guards- — Patriotic Sentiment of the County — Work of Women and Girls — Mass Meetings, Resolutions, Etc., Pertaining to the Conduct of the War — Loyal Attitude of the County Government — Care of Those Left at Home — Enlistment Statistics — Bounty and Relief — Southern Sympathy — Current War-time Phrases — Decoration Day^ — Sham Battles — Grant Memorial Services — Spanish- American War — Militia Companies— West Point Graduates — Frlen B. Atherton.

Chapter Viii— Politics 329

First Election of County Officers — Early Political Leaders — Thomas D. Walpole — Joseph Chapman — The Civil War Period — Party Utterances — Election of 1860 — Political Conventions and Resolutions — Union Mass Meetings — Results of War-time Elections — Period of Reconstruction — Democratic and Republican Tickets — National Union Convention — David S. Gooding — Later Movements — Greenback Movement — Election of 1876 — After 1876 — Election of 1S86 — Mitchell-Mannix Contest — Prohibition Party — People's Party — Farmers Mutual Benefit Association — Bryan and Free Silver — Hancock Politicians — Election Contests — Relative Strength of Parties — The Progressive Movement — One-term Sentiment — Township Politics — County Chairmen.

Chapter Ix— Temperance 393

Liquor Traffic a Source of Revenue — Early Licenses — Sons of Temperance-^ Beginning of the Temperance Fights — A Newspaper Editorial of 1861 — Active

CONTENTS.

Crusade Against Saloons in the Seventies — The Temperance Alliance — Era of Ribbon Societies — Woman's Christian Temperance Union — Liquor Regulative Ordinance — Fundamental Principles as Expounded by the Two Sides to the Controversy.

Chapter X— Literature And Art 424

Lee O. Harris — James Whitcomb Riley — Will H. Glascock — Rev. Charles L. O'Donnell — Adelia Pope Branham — Alma Martin Estabrook — Leroy Scott — Richard Brown Black — The Vawters — Minnie Belle Mitchell and Others Who Have Been Prominent in Literary Work.

Chapter Xi— The Hancock Bar 438

Relation of Our Lawyers to the General Progress and Development of the County — List of Attorneys Admitted to the Hancock County Bar — Organization of the Court — Rules Adopted by the Hancock Circuit Court in 1S29 — Early Court Houses — Disbarment of Walpole — Court Stenographers — Stenographers in Law Offices — Law Library — Lawyers as School Examiners — In Politics — Temperance Campaign of 1874 — Resolutions of Respect — The Practice — -A Retrospective View — Roster of Attorneys, 1915 — Sidelights.

Chapter Xii— The Practice Of Medicine 4g5

Early Physicians of the County — Reminiscences by Dr. J. W. Hervey — Characterizations of Some of the Early Physicians — Hancock County Medical Society and Minutes of Some of Its Meetings — Licensed Physicians in 1SS5 — Social Functions — District Meetings — Fee Bill — Fraternal ism — Answering Calls — Present Physicians — Change in Medical Treatment. >

Chapter Xiii— Blue River Township 490

Organization — Description-^Natural Features — Early Settlers — Stores, Mills, Factories, Etc. — Railroads — Petersburg — Westland — Schools — Miscellaneous — Trustees — Justices of the Peace — County Officers — Heavy Taxpayers — Physicians — Mooresville — Temperance Activity — Hancock County Insurance Association — Township Hall — Westland Cornet Band — Churches — Literary Societies, Clubs, Etc.

Chapter Xiv— Brand Y^'ine Township 513

Location — Boundary Lines — Drainage — First Settlers — Mills — School Land Leases — Schools — Miscellaneous — Trustees — Justices of the Peace — County Officers — Brass Bands — Churches — Women's Clubs — Heavy Taxpayers — Carrollton.

Chapter Xv— Brown Township 526

Organized — Description — Natural Features — Earliest Land Entries — Mills and Factories — Schools — Miscellaneous — Justices Of the Peace — County Officers — Taxpayers — Churches of the Township — Warrington — Secret Societies — Physicians — Race Track — Nashville — Willow — Wilkinson — Banks — McCray Cemeter.v — Clubs — Band — Shirley — Business Development — Public Utilities.

Chapter Xvi— Buck Creek Township 556

Organization — Changes in Boundary Lines — Drainage — Land Entries — Mills, Factories, Shops, Etc. — Social Spirit in the Township — Schools — Miscellaneous

LON'TKN IS.

— Township Trustees — Justices of the Peace — Older Families and Larger Taxpayers — County Officers — Physicians — Highways — Railroads and Interurbans — Agricultural Exhibits — Mohawk — Mt. Comfort — Churches.

Chapter Xvii— Center Township 577

Organization — Description — Changes in Boundaries — Natural Features — First Land Entries and Settlers — Mills and Factories — Schools — Trustees — Miscellaneous — Justices of the Peace — County Officers — Larger Taxpayers — Mohawk — M§,xwell — Clubs — Berlin — Binwood — Bands — Nurseries — Lilly Biological Plant — Churches.

Chapter Xviii— City Of Greenfield 595

Original Plat and Additions — County Seat — Greenfield as a Village — Incorporation as a Town — Street Improvements — Ordinances — The Town at the Close of the Civil War — Business Interests in 1870 — Incorporation as a City — City Officers to the Present Time — Brick Streets — City Lights — Fire Department — City Building — Waterworks — Schools — Honor Rolls, 1870 — High School Commencements — Superintendents, Principals and Teachers — City Library — The Liberty Bell at Greenfield — Mills, Factories, Etc.- — Commercial Clubs — Fires — Charity Organizations — The Colored Folk — Cemeteries — Business Directory, ISSO — Telephones — Indianapolis & Greenfield Traction Line — Banks — Building and Loan Association — Publishing Houses — Business Directory, 1916 — Heavy Taxpayers — Street Fair — Fire Department Horse Show — Chautauquas — Boy Scouts — Mail Delivery — Old Gooding Tavern — Old Masonic Hall — Music, Bands, Orchestras, Etc. — Literary Societies, Clubs, Etc. — Lodges — Churches.

CHAPTER XIX— GREEN TOWNSHIP i 700

Location — Area — Organization — Natural Features — -First Land Entries — Industries of the Township — Charleston — Eden — Jlilner's Corner — Schools — Miscellaneous — Trustees — Justices of the Peace — County Officers — Physicians — Heavy Taxpayers — Barnard Family Orchestra — Eden Cornet Band and Other Bands — Lodges — Churches.

Chapter Xx— Jackson Township 714

Organization — Changes in Boundaries — Natural Drainage — Land Entries — Water Power and Mills — Early Industries — Schools — Miscellaneous — Township Trustees — Justices of the Peace — County Officers — Heavy Taxpayers — Cleveland (Portland) — Charlottesville— Educational Association — Lodge? — Clubs — Leamon's Corner — Stringtown — Railroads — Churches.

Chapter Xxi— Sugar Creek Township 7-41

Description — Natural Features — Land Entries — Early Roads and Settlements — Mills — Tanyards — Tile Factories and Brick Yards — Schools — Miscellaneous — Township Trustees — Justices of the Peace — County Officers — Railroads and Interurbans — German Settlement — German Churches — Cornet Band — Philadelphia — Spring Lake Park — New Palestine — Industries — Water System — Bank — Mail Service — Temperance Campaigns — Town Lights — Fire Department — Explosion of Acetylene Light Plant — Churches — Cemeter.v — Lodges — Bands — Clubs — Gem — Church — Taxpayers of the Township.

CONTENTS.

Chapter Xxii— Vernon Township 783

Organization — Original Area and Subsequent Changes — Natural Features — Early Land Entries — Mills, Factories, Shops, Etc. — Schools — Miscellaneous — Township Trustees — Justices of the Peace — County Officers — Heavy Taxpayers — Highways, Railroads and Interurban Roads — Churches — Woodbury — McCordsville — Lodges — Cemeteries — Temperance — Irish Settlement.