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Preface | Ch1 | Ch2 | Ch3 | Ch4 | Ch5 | Ch6 | Ch7 | Ch8 | Ch9 |Biographies

CHAPTER VII.*

HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF THE COUNTY—WASHINGTON--EARLY PLAT AND ADDITIONS—LOT BUYERS—EARLY RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS MEN—LATER GROWTH—INCORPORATION—THE CITY CHARTER—SECRET SOCIETIES—NEWSPAPERS—IMPORTANT INDUSTRIAL ENTERPRISES—PRESENT BUSINESS—BANKS—EARLY TEMPERANCE MOVEMENTS—MONTGOMERY— ODON—CANNELBURG —RAGLESVILLE—ELNORA—CORNETTSVILLE—SOUTH WASHINGTON — LETTSVILLE — EPSOM -- PLAINVILLE —ELDON — CHELSEA —CORBYTOWN — TONE'S HUDSONVILLE— SMILEY—FARLEN— CUMBACK—MAYSVILLE—GLENDALE ALFORDSVILLE.

WASHINGTON comprises portions of Sections 26, 27, 28, 33, 34 and 35, Township 3 north, and Range 7 west.. The original town of Washington, according to the county commissioners' plat, consisted of 136 lots, each lot being 80x132 feet in size. Lots 5, 35, 40 and 65 belonged to Emanuel Van Trees, and Lots 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 45, 50, 55, 80, 85 and 90 to Peter Wilkins. The public square, lying between Walnut and Main. and Second and Third Streets, was not to be sold, and the rest of the plat was to be sold for the benefit of the county. The map of this plat was made and finished March 31, 1817. Main Street in this plat is now Hefron Street, and the boundaries were substantially Van Trees and Flora and Meridian and East Sixth Streets. Four squares and four lots, however, lay west of Meridian Street.

ADDITIONS.

The first addition made to this original town was laid out by Peter Wilkins and Emanuel Van Trees. This addition consisted of 165 lots, each 65x120 feet. It lay south of the original town, extending from the west line of Location 159 to East Sixth Street, and south to the section line. Peter Wilkins was proprietor of the lots east of Second Street, and Emanuel Van Trees of those west of Second Street. The map of this addition was recorded August 18, 1817, and in connection therewith on the

The sketch of Washington was prepared by Prof. John Wooldridge of the historical force. The sketches of the remaining towns were prepared by Charles G. Gefrit, of Washington,records is this memorandum- , " This town was formerly called Liverpool, but now, as it is added to Washington, it is called Washington."

The laying out of the plats was, however, considerably prior to the recording of them.* The first lot was sold November 13, 1816, by Emanuel and Juliana Van Trees to Samuel J. Kelso, for $50, the lot being No. 49, on the north side of Walnut Street, midway between Fourth and Fifth Streets. Four lots were sold June 5, 1817, by Joseph Miller to Michael Wiley, on condition that Michael Wiley appear in court and pay a certain debt adjudged to be due to Sholts & Read from Joseph Miller. The price for these four lots was $200. On the 9th of June, 1817, Emanuel Van Trees sold, for $150, four lots, 24, 25, 193 and 200, in the town of Liverpool, to William Chapman, and-on the same day William Chapman bought of John Aikman, for $820, the southwest quarter of Section 10, Township 2, Range 7, " which had been deeded to John Aikman by James Madison, President of .the United States, at Washington, January 13, 1816." On the 24th of May, 1817, David and Sarah Flora sold to James G. Read Lot 15 for $100, and on September 25, 1817, Lot 16 for $100. Lot 16 lies on the southeast corner of Van Trees and Second Streets, and Lot 15 adjoins it on the east. On. the 11th. of June, 1817, John Allen, as agent for Daviess County, sold to Richard Palmer, for $32.50, a certain lot (69) of ground in Washington. This lot fronts north of Hefron Street and lies midway between Meridian and East First Street. June 10, 1817 Emanuel Van Trees sold to John allen and Isaac Blackford lot 65 southwest corner of Hefron and Second Streets for $100.

*Upon the question of the original ownership of the town site of Liverpool, about which there has been some controversy, the following extracts from certain deeds may throw a little light :

"William Morrison purchased 100 acres of land of Louis La Violette and his wife, Jeannette, by deed, dated July 10, 1813, lying in Sections 27 and 34, Township 3, Range 7, and sold this land to Emanuel Van Trees, through his attorney, Mr. McIntosh.

"David Flora, July 13, 1813, bought 400 acres of land, for $133.33, of Francis Racicot and other heirs-at-law of Marie Anne Romagone, who, on or before 1783, was the head of a family. This land appears to have joined that of William Morrison on the west, and to have had the same south line for a boundary. October 16, 1815, David Flora sold to Isaac Galland and George Curtis, for $1,474, forty-nine and sixteen-hundredths acres of this land, which is described in this deed as follows : All and singular of a certain tract of land beginning at the southeast corner of a tract of land of the said David Flora, and being the southwest corner of a tract of land belonging to William Morrison, and running thence north twenty-nine rods and four links ; thence west along the State road 160 rods to a stake ; thence south twenty-nine rods and four Links ; thence east to the place of beginning."

Galland and Curtis and David Flora then proceeded to lay out the town site of Liverpool on this forty-nine and sixteen-hundredths acres of land, and the plat of the town is thus described in the Knox County records :

"A plan of the town of Liverpool, in Indiana Territory, as laid out in the forks of White River, in Knox County, by Isaac Galland, George Curtis and David Flora. It contains 186 lots, each one being sixty feet in width and 120 feet in length, each street sixty feet wide, to remain open and common highways forever; Lots 61, 62, 63, 64, 97, 98 and 99 to form a public square, to remain for the benefit of the public forever."

The deed was recorded November 11, 1815, and on May 9, 1816, Isaac Galland sold to David Flora one-half of this same tract of land (forty-nine and sixteen-hundredths acres) for 51,474, the same price for which David Flora had sold the entire 'tract, seven months previously, and in the deed the land is described as being "the land sold to said Galland and George Curtis by said Flora, by deed, dated October 16, 1815, and being the tract of land on which the town of Liverpool is now located."

The deed to Galland and Curtis by David Flora, of October 16, 1815, as David Flora could not sign his name, was witnessed by Emanuel Van Trees, William Wallace and John Wallace in Washington. This lot fronts north on Hefron Street, and lies midway between Meridian and East First Street. June 10, 1817, Emanuel Van Trees sold to John Allen and Isaac Blackford Lot 65, southwest corner of Hefron and Second Streets, for $100.

PUBLIC SALE OF LOTS.

A great sale of lots occurred at Washington on the 9th and 10th. of June, 1817, a list of which is here appended as showing the names of those desirous of owning property in the town which had such bright prospects before it, and the price at which the lots were sold:

Name of Purchaser.            No.  Price.   

Emanuel Van Trees       1    .$30 00  

John Allen              56   53   00

Joseph Hobbs..........   3    31   75  

David Killion           57  28     25

Samuel Smith........     4    23   25  

Robert Magers.          58  60     50

William Samples.....     6    60   00  

William Ballow          59  80   00

Willis Miller.          7    51   50  

John Allen....          61  84   00

James G. Read.          8    43   50  

Robert Myers           62  73   00

Samuel Bachelor         9    55   50  

John S. Allen.         64  191  00

Josiah Wallace         11   47   00  

James G. Read....      66  82   00

Elias Myers, Sr .      12   55   00  

William Hawkins ...... 67  91   50

Fsedrich Myers         13  49   00  

William Perry          68  57   00

Elias Myers, Jr        14   30   25  

Richard Palmer.        69  32   50

Samuel Potts........ . 16 57   12  

James Steel........    73  40   00

Abraham Beegher....... 17  27   00  

Benjamin Hawkins       74  65   25

Samuel Bachelor.        18  40   00  

John McClure &Blackford 76   78   00

Solomon Stiplee         19  35   00  

Abraham Perkins........ 77 109  00

Alexander Bruce.        21   35   50  

Thomas Bradford, Jr     78     123  00

Henry Stewart..         22  27   25  

John McClure &Blackford 79   235  00

Henry Stewart           23   53   00  

William Ballow          81   130  00

Solomon Wallace........ 24   68   00  

McClure & Blackford.... 82   113  00

John Wallace, Jr....... 26 64   00  

John Allen....          83   101  50

Jesse Smith             27  68   00  

John Allen.             84  30   00

James G. Read           28  42   00  

David Ellis....         86  90   00

James G. Read........... 29  129  00  

Wesley Wallace           87  35   25

George McKinley........  30   63   00  

John Allen               48   50

Valentine Routt......    127  25  

Dennis Clark             90  26   00

Henry Cruse              32  207  00  

Morgan Wallace.         91  35   25

Ebenezer Jones ........ 33 136  00  

Joseph Cole.            92   40   50

Emanuel Van Trees       34  62   00  

Robert Elsey            93  56   00

James G. Read           37  40   50  

John Aoret              94   49   50

Andrew, Berry & Barton .38     33   50  

Solomon Suplee..   .... 95     40   00

Andrew Berry & Barton.. 39   33   00  

John W. Miller.         84   00

Isaac Chancelor.        41   77   224 

Josiah Culbertson...... 97 93     00

Abraham Perkins. ...... 42  95   00  

James A. Steel          98  110  00

Joseph Cole             43   88   62  

Berry & Barton          99   115  00

McClure & Blackford ... 44    108  00  

McClure & Blackford....100   104  00

George H Keith          46  80   30  

Josiah Wallace     ..   101     75   50

James G. Read.          47   73   00  

Robert P. Wycoff........102  75   00

John Perkins..          48  77   00  

Ninian Steel           103  25   00

Abraham Perkins........ 49   76   00  

Robert Magers          104  20   50

George McKinley........ 51   57   00  

John S. Allen.          105  25   00

Amos McKinley           52  37   00  

James Steel.           106  15   00

Samuel Bachelor........ 53 41   00  

James Street.          107 10   00

William Allen           53  98   00  

James Street           108  25   00

William Bachelor........ 54  42   12-}         

FIRST RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS MEN.

There were doubtless several inhabitants in the town of Washington previous to this great sale, but their names and the location of their residences have not been preserved. The first house, however, that was built was probably located near the site of the present high school building, and was of hewed logs. James G. Read opened the first store in 1817. The building was a. one-story log house, standing at the southwest corner of Main and Second Streets. Joseph Warner and Seth Rodick, under the firm name of Warner Sr Rodick, bought the store in 1818, and continued in the business until 1825. In 1818 there were about seventy-five people living in the place, all in log houses. A second store was opened this year by a Mr. Van Camp, from Kentucky, about 100 feet from the southeast corner of Main and First Streets. In 1823 the town had so grown as to require and sustain four store's, the population being about 100, located mostly along Main Street. Friend Spears is believed to have been the first blacksmith to locate in Washington. William. Bratton and Thomas Brown came about the same time. The first shoemakers were Isaac Hedden and Stephen Belding, the latter the father of the present editor of the Daviess County Democrat. The first hatters were William Ballow, James Calhoun and Robert Stephens, the latter of whom came from Pennsylvania, reaching Washington Ma:- 15, 1822.

The first hotels in Washington were opened and kept by Alexander Hinton and Alexander Bruce in 1818. Mr Hinton's hotel was located near the southwest corner of Main and East Second Streets, and Mr. Bruce's at the corner of Main and East First Streets. The first physician was Philip Barton, whose name figures prominently in the early history of the county. Among those living. in Washington, in 1822, along Main Street, were the following persons: Samuel Miller, a wheelwright; Aaron Grider, a shoemaker; Col. Berry, who kept a boarding-house; Richard Weaver; Thomas Tuning, a saddler and harness-maker ; George Bruner, who kept a meat market and whisky-shop in the old block-house; a family named Blankenship, two of whom assisted "Uncle Dick" Palmer to kidnap Sam, the colored man; George Bradford, who kept a small store; A. C Kinney, the lawyer who procured the freedom of the two colored boys, Isaac and Jake; and Emanuel Van Trees, who moved from Hamilton County, Ohio, in 1815, to a "sugar camp," about two miles north of Washington, and who, in 1810, moved to Washington; John and Michael Murphy, merchants; Capt. Kelso and John Trauter. There were still other inhabitants living on Van Trees Street, Walnut, Sixth, and other streets, in all probability about 100. Among them was a Mr. Carr, who built a tread-wheel grist-mill on Walnut Street, near Friend Spears' blacksmith-shop, operating it with a yoke of oxen.

The professions were well represented in those early days. In the ministry there was a Rev. Mr. Pipher, an Episcopalian, and a Dr. Holland, who, besides being a local preacher in the Methodist Episcopal Church, was also a physician. The Washington Circuit, in 1823, was in charge of the Rev. Mr. Ray, from Kentucky. The Rev. Mr. Martin, of the Presbyterian Church, and Rev. Hiram Hunter, of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, became residents of the town in 1825. The law was represented by Judge Call, Judge Dewey, Judge Blake, John Ewing and A. C. Kinney, all able men and of upright character; most of these, however, were foreign attorneys.

SUBSEQUENT GROWTH OF WASHINGTON.

Still after the subsidence of the first impetus given to its growth, Washington increased in population but slowly from 1825 to 1857. The roads were not the best, and no railroad reached the city until the last named year. The products of the farm were shipped in flat-boats to Memphis, Natchez and New Orleans, and merchandise was brought in on wagons from Louisville, Evansville and other points. Merchants conducted their business at large profits on long credits, and few became excessively wealthy compared with the general population. The stage coach was the principal means of travel to distant places. The construction of the Ohio &*Mississippi Railway through the town in 1857 changed the economy of the city and county. Means of travel, of carrying freight and communication almost instantly changed. New men and fresh capital came to Washington and instilled new life into the town. Lands adjacent to the city that had for years been devoted to the growth of agricultural productions were suddenly surveyed, laid off into additions to the town and transformed into village lots, as it was a much more speedy way of acquiring wealth to sell off small parcels of land at a great advance upon the price paid, than to depend on slow accumulations by farming methods.

A period of forty years elapsed with but one addition being made to the town plat, from 1817 to 1857, and in this latter year the only addition made was Bradford's, on December 22, in Location 160, adjoining the original town of Washington on the north. In 1858 three additions were made—Myers' First Addition, part of Location 131, consisting of ten acre's; Myers' Second Addition, extending from the center of the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad to the Lashley line, and from the Petersburg to the Troy Road, September 5, and Turner's Addition, in Location 134, made September 24. In 1859 the following additions were made: .January 19, Cable's ; February 14, Cassidy's, in Location 134; February 18, Hyatt's Western, in Location 250; March 14, -Hyatt's Eastern, in Location 159; April 25, Ayers' First, in Location 135; August 24, McTagart's First, in Location 131; November 18, Conant's, in Location 135. In 1860—December 1, Turner's Second Addition. In 1861—July 6, Kinsella's. In 1864—December 9, Ayers' Second. In 1865—April 26, McTagart's Second, in Location 131; October 16, Ayers' Third. In 1866—October 23, Bath's Addition. In 1869—October 6, Tranter's. In 1870—.J une 14, McTagart's Third, in Location 131. In 1872—May 17, Wright, Cabel & Wilson's ; September 16, Read & Thompson's. In 1874—December 21, Doherty's, and Turner's Third Addition. In 1875—Wright, Cabel & Wilson's Second Addition. In 1877—January 31, Graham's. In 1884—November 10, the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad Additions. In 1885—May 14, McTagart's Fourth Addition.

THE INCORPORATION.

For a number of years, probably about fifteen, Washington was afflicted with a certain form of government, consisting of a board of trustees. This board so neglected its duties as to be severely criticised by press and people, and on March 15, 1867, was dissolved by the court. But it was found exceedingly inconvenient to, live without some form of government for the place, to make needed improvements and to keep the disorderly classes in some kind of restraint. Hence a movement was immediately made to reincorporate the town, or to obtain a city charter if upon the taking of a census a sufficient number of inhabitants were found. A brief extract from one of the papers published at that time will serve to show the feelings of the citizens with reference to the trials they were undergoing, and to illustrate the fact that under a Republican form of government it is frequently impossible to secure order and protection to peaceful people:

" Our citizens have tried the beauties of a corporation for some time past, and have found to their sorrow that it was impossible to find men for the various offices that would see the law strictly enforced. A seeming dread that they would get into difficulty, or that the corporation was not sound, would take possession of their minds, and violations of the law were disregarded by the officers and the law set at defiance by rowdies. We hope that a census of the population of Washington and its additions will be taken, and if we have sufficient population to entitle us to a city charter let us have it; and if not, revive the corporation and 'grin and bear it' until we are entitled to a city charter. By all means let us have law and order in our town!"

Whether the proposed census was taken or not does not appear, but at all events a meeting of citizens was held April 18, 1867, at the court house, for the purpose of taking steps toward the reorganization of the corporation. The result of this meeting was that a petition was circulated, and, having received a sufficiently large number of signatures, was presented May 13 to the board of county commissioners, praying for an election on the question of corporation or no corporation. An election was ordered to be held May 29, at which 229 votes were cast for the reincorporation of the town, and forty against it. An election was then held June 18 for trustees and other officers, under the new organization. This resulted in the election of the following officers by the vote appended to their respective names:

Trustees.—First Ward—J. H. O'Neall, 293; Second Ward—J. C. Spink, 297; Third Ward—S. D. Wright, 302; Fourth Ward —J. E. Thompson, 314; Fifth Ward—Elisha Hyatt, 314; Sixth Ward—Wilson Keith, 314; Seventh Ward—A. B. Bruner, 304; clerk—William E. Thompson, 365; assessor—W. W. Feagans, 85; treasurer—George Kauffman, 301; marshal—John McCarty, 96. There were eight other candidates for the marshalship. On the 25th of June the trustees met and organized by the election of Elisha Hyatt as president. On the 6th of August William Sanford, treasurer of the old corporation, ,turned over to the new treasurer, George Kauffman, all the money belonging to the town, $76. September 3 W. W. Feagans, assessor, resigned, and John McCarty was appointed to fill the vacancy. January 10, 1868, James C. Spink succeeded to the presidency of the board of trustees. March 14 T. R. Palmer became assessor, and on May 11 clerk. November 10 J. H. O'Neall became clerk, and on May 11, 1869, W. J. Puett.

THE CITY CHARTER.

In the spring of 1871 Washington had so grown as to be entitled to a city charter, and to have a mayor and six councilmen_ D. J. Hefron was elected mayor, and J. C. Spink, William Trauter, Sr., Albert Logan, Henry Walter, John Hyatt and Elijah Eskridge, councilmen, the city having been divided into three wards, and two councilmen having been elected from each ward. The First Ward embraces that part of the city north of the railroad and east of Fourth Street; .the Second Ward all north of the railroad and west of Fourth Street, and the Third Ward all south of the railroad. W. D. Bynum was elected clerk. In the spring of 1875 W. D. Bynum was elected mayor; in the spring of 1879, James W. Ogden; in 1882, Arthur Beddoe; and in 1884, William P. Ellis, the present mayor. In the spring of 1875, James W. Ogden was elected clerk; in 1877, Thomas B. Laycock, who served until August, 1881, when he was succeeded by Eugene O'Brien, who served until September; 1885, when he was succeeded by George F. Signor, the present clerk. The treasurers of the city have been as follows: Philip Spink, 1867-71; C. W. Levings, 1871-75; George A. Foster, 1875-77; Hiram Hyatt, 1877-81; and William R. Thompson, from 1881 to the present time. The population of the city in 1857 was 1,500; in 1870, 2,901; in 1880, 4,323; and in 1885 it is estimated to be 5,000.

SECRET SOCIETIES.

Charity Lodge, No. 30, A. F. & A. M., is one of the oldest Masonic lodges in the State. The Grand Lodge met at Salem, Ind., October 2, 1826, and on the next day, upon the presentation, by Joseph Warner, Worshipful Master of Charity Lodge, then under dispensation, of the workings of said lodge, and upon his petition for a charter, the charter was granted to the lodge as Charity Lodge, No. 30. The officers named by the Grand Lodge for Charity Lodge were Joseph Warner, W. M. ; Nathan Bascomb, S. W. ; and Cornelius Berkshire, 3. W. The names of the other officers do not appear. In 1829 this lodge had fifteen members. During its earlier history it did not prosper, and in 1833 it was stricken from the list of lodges by the action of the Grand Lodge. On the 25th of May, 1842, upon the petition for a dispensation by Joseph Warner and others, such petition was granted, and Joseph Warner made First Master; John Van Trees, S. W., and James Calhoun, J. W. One year afterward, May 23, 1843, a charter was granted free of cost to Charity Lodge, No. 30, and thus after the lapse of ten years was the lodge revived. The officers appointed were Joseph Warner, W. M., James Calhoun, S. W., and Stephen Belding, J. W. From this renewal of the charter, Charity Lodge, No. 30, has been in continuous existence, and though experiencing varied fortune, has been on the whole prosperous. In 1860, while occupying a room in the Cruse Building, a fire occurred which destroyed the building, and a similar calamity occurred in 1866 while the lodge was domiciled in Commercial Row. While it has suffered from these misfortunes it had the good fortune to receive from Joseph Cruse, after his death, by his will, nearly his entire property, consisting of real estate and money to the aggregate amount of from $15,000 to $20,000. With this money and other moneys previously saved, the lodge erected on the lot bequeathed to it by Joseph Cruse, what is now known as Masonic Building, on the north side of Main Street, between Second and Third Streets. This building is worth about $22,000, and is rented for stores and other purposes, bringing in a handsome annual income. In their lodge room in this building appropriately hangs a portrait of Joseph Cruse. The membership is now upward of 100, and. the following are the officers: J. J. Glendenning, W. M. John D. Wilson, S. W. ; Hiram Hyatt, J. W. ; J. F. McGhee, Secretary; S. J. Kelso, Treasurer; Robert Russell, S. D. ; James Carnahan, J. D. ; and C. M. Prentiss, Tyler. Thus, after years of vicissitude, has Charity Lodge, No. 30, by the patriotism of its members, attained to a condition of prosperity, financial and otherwise,' seldom reached.

Liverpool Lodge, No. 110, I. 0. 0. F.—A meeting was held July 8, 1852, at Washington, Ind., to organize an Odd Fellows Lodge. The meeting was presided over by Edward S. Hussy, D. D. G. M. The first members were Charles Childs, James D. Riggs, Thomas A. Baker, John S. Ledgerwood and Joseph W. Briggs. The following officers were appointed: James D. Riggs, V. G. ; Joseph W. Briggs, R. S.; John L. Ledgerwood, Warden; Thomas A. Baker, 0. G., and Charles Childs, I. G. The first member initiated was William Helpenstine, and on the same night (July 8, 1852) the following officers were elected: Charles Childs, N. G. ; Thomas A. Baker, V. G. ; William Helpenstine, R S. ; John Beckett, Treasurer. Ever since that time the lodge has been in active operation, and notwithstanding numerous vicissitudes, has succeeded in accumulating property to the amount of $17,686. It has 131 members in good standing, and has the following list of officers: Joseph Gill, D. D. ; James E. Waller, N. G. ; John Hyatt, V. G. ; James W. Ramsey, R. S., and Albion Horrall, P. S. Meetings are held regularly on Tuesdays each week. The property owned by this lodge consists of the Opera House, Oak Grove Cemetery, and a lot on the corner of Main and Second Streets.

Mount Nebo Encampment, No. 70, I. 0. 0. F., was instituted July 18, 1865, by D. D. G. P., J. A. Skinner, assisted by the members of Mount Olive Encampment, No. 10, L 0. 0. F. The Encampment worked under dispensation from this time until November 21, 1865, when the charter was granted by the Grand Encampment. The following were the charter members: J. Covert, G. T. Barr, James R. Clark, E. Shaner, William Tate, W. E. Hopkins and Zelick Hopkins. The following officers were chosen for the first term: J. Covert, C. P. ; George T. Barr, H. P. ; E. Shaner, S. W. ; W. E. Hopkins, J. W. ; James R. Clark, Scribe; William Tate, Treas. ; Zelick Hopkins, Sent. Petitions for membership were received on the night of the institution from the following persons: T. Jones, W. T. Prewitt, W. Keith, W. Helpenstine, W. P. Hilton, George A. Waller, L. Heinzman, A. W. Meredith, G. T. Hayes, H. H. Hyatt, G. Beitman, James Mount, Isaac Rothschild, John Kempf, James Cosgrove, Josias Allen and J. H. Seny, all of whom were admitted, making the total membership, at starting, twenty-four. The present membership is fifty, and the present officers as follows: Albion Horral, C. P. ; Charles Colbert, H. P. ; John W. Dunbar, S. W. ; Robert Schofield, Scribe; Joseph Gill, Treas. The assets of the Encampment according to the report made June 30, 1885, was $1,402.06.

Eureka Lodge of the Independent Order of the Daughters of Rebekah, No. 78, was organized May 29, 1865. The first officers were Elizabeth Hoffmaister, P. S. ; Mary Clark, V. P. S. ; Carrie Hopkins, Sec. ; Maria Covert, Treas. This lodge was re-organized and chartered February 10, 1872, the following being the charter members: S. R. McCormick and Mrs L. M. McCormick, Joseph and Mrs Mary C. Gill, John T. and Mrs. Annie Sparks, George T. and Mrs. Nancy Barr, H. C. and Mrs. E. F. Hall, James and Mrs. Lucinda Cosgrove, George Barber and George A. Waller, Sen. The first charter officers were as follows: S. R. McCormick, D. D. ; George Barber, N. G. ; Mrs. Lucinda Cosgrove, V. G. ; H. C. Hall, Sec.; Annie Sparks, Treas. The present officers are J. A. Rodarmel, D. D.; J. W. Dunbar, N. G. ; M. E. Ellis, V. G.; Robert Schofield, Sec. ; Hannah Schofield, Treas., and Joy Hannemeier, F. S. The lodge has now a membership of about sixty, and is in excellent financial condition.

The Ancient Order of Hibernian was organized March 2,1874. The first members were Patrick McAdams, Neal O'Kane, Charles McGinaghy, Patrick O'Kane, Archie McCleran, John McFall, Charles O'Neils, Patrick Curran, Martin Cahill and Owen Mooney. The first officers regularly elected were as follows: County Delegate, James E. Maher; President, P. T. Garaghan; Vice-president, Patrick Grimes; General Secretary, Martin Cahill; Assistant Secretary, Eugene O'Brien; and Treasurer, Stephen Maloney. The order meets in the Mooney Building, on the corner of Main and Third Streets. Its present officers are as follows: County Delegate, Martin Cahill; President, Hugh McGuire; Vice  President, John -Flannagan; General Secretary, James Farrell; Assistant Secretary, John Downly; and Treasurer, John P. Cavanaugh. The society now has fifty members, has benevolence for its object, and is in a prosperous condition in all respects.

Washington Chapter No. 92, R. A. M. was instituted under dispensation January 7, 1875, and was chartered October 21, 1875. The following were the charter members: C. M. Prentiss, I. W. McCormick, D. M. Wilson, Hiram Hogshead, W. W. Lemmon, A. H. Doherty, William Helpenstine, J. Q. Davis, J. E. Bradford, S. J. Kelso, J. W. Bartlett, Robert Russell, J. J. McLauchlin and W. T. Fry. The first officers were the following: W. T. Fry, H. P. ; B. T. Meredith, King ; A. H. Doherty, Scribe; Robert Russell, C. H. ; Stephen Belding, P. S; James Carnahan, R. A. C. ; E. F. Meredith, G. M. Third Vale; M. L. Bonham, G. M. Second Vale; S. J. Kelso, G. M. First Vale; Edward Wise, Sec. ; S. J. Kelso, Treas. ; Hiram Hogshead, Guard. The present officers are as follows: Robert Russell, H. P. ; Hiram Hogshead, King; S. H. Ragsdale, Scribe; R. M. Carr, C. H. ; J. J. Glendenning, P. S. ; James Carnahan, R. A. C. ; J. L. Moore, G. M. Third Vale; George Signor, G. M. Second Vale; John    G. M. First Vale; J. F. McGhee, Sec. ; S. J. Kelso, Treas; C. M. Prentiss, Guard. The chapter is in excellent condition, and has a membership of forty-four.

The Ogeechee Tribe No. 58 of the Improved Order of Red Men

was instituted on the 18th day of the traveling moon, G. S. D. 385, and received its charter on the 27th day of the cold moon, G. S. D. 385 (January, 1877). The charter members were S. White Chappell, J. J. Glendenning, Joseph Bogner, Peter Flimwal, B. F. Kilgore, Robert Schofield, John Walls, W. T. Fry, Hamlet Allen, James H., R. W. and B. T. Meredith, James Cosgrove, Hiram Hyatt, M. G. Bonham, Lucius F. Corning, James V. Whitten, Charles W. Thomas, James M. Campbell, E. G. Bondurant, Hiram Hogshead, 0. H. Brann, John A. Rodarmel, S. D. Belding, Samuel H. Taylor, John Hawkins and John Q. Traylor. The present officers of the Tribe are the following: J. H. Akers, Sachem; Joseph Small, Sr. Sagamore; Joseph Church, Jr. Sagamore: Robert Schofield, Chief of Records; Willis Dunbar, Keeper of Wampum, and Signor Eckhouse, Prophet. This is a beneficiary and social order, and meets every Friday evening in its own hall. It has forty-nine members in good standing, and is in a prosperous condition.

The German Independent Benevolent Society was organized June 5, 1879, with sixty-four members, the leading spirits in the movement being George M. Myers and Philip Schuck. The first officers of the society were George M. Myers, President; Charles S. Peterman, Vice-president; Stephen Peterman, Treasurer; Theodore Himburg, Secretary; J. H. Willman, Financial Secretary; Trustees—Philip Schuck, Andy Kocher and Henry Herr. The present officers are Louis Keller, President; Henry Klohr, Vice-president; Claude Schwartz, Treasurer ; Philip Schuck, Secretary. Trustees—William Reckes, Adam Walter and Peter Mangin. The society meets on the first Monday in each month in the city hall, and has now a membership of fifty. Each member pays an initiation fee of $2, and a monthly due of 25 cents. In case any member needs assistance from the society, such member is allowed $3, per week. The society has no property except cash, of which there is $500 in the treasury.

Linden Lodge, No. 2351, Knights of Honor, received its charter August 2, 1881. Following are the names of the charter members: William D. Bynum, Francis A. Anderson, John C. Billheimer, John W. Dunbar, William H. Farris, Ernest Grief, Elisha L. Hatfield, James M. Haynes, Joseph D. Feirs, Simon Joseph, Jackson L. Moore, Samuel H. Mulholland, Alonzo Mills, Joseph F. Nichols, James K. Page, John A. Scudder, John T. Sparks, William F. Trantor, John W. Sullivan, and Edward F. Waller. The first officers of this lodge were the following: William D. Bynum, P. D.; J. L. Moore, D.; E. L. Hatfield, V. D. ; J. C. Billheimer, R. ; S. H. Mulholland, F. R.; William Farris, Treasurer; John T. Sparks, Chaplain; S. Joseph, Guide; Joseph Heirs, L G.; J. W. Dunbar, 0. S.; J. A. Scudder and J. L. Moore, Physician's, and Alonzo Mills, E. L. Hatfield, and William B. Trenter, Trustees. The present officers are John H. Akers, Dictator; John W. Dunbar, Vice-dictator; John A. Scudder, Reporter; Alonzo Mills, Financial Reporter; William P. Ellis, Treasurer ; Jackson L. Moore, Chaplain; Joseph Gill, Guide; Joseph Nichols, Sentinel; Elisha Hatfield, Past Dictator. The lodge at

the present time has twenty-nine prompt paying members, and is consequently in a prosperous condition. Two members died in 1884—Frank A. Anderson and J. J. Routt—each of their widows receiving without unnecessary delay the amount of insurance ($2,000) they were carrying upon their lives. The lodge meets regularly on Wednesday evenings in Redmen's Hall.

Catholic Knights of America, No. 206, were organized in 1881. The charter members were Rev. J. W. Doyle, William M. Hayes, M. J. Hayes, George Kauffman, Jeremiah Agan, Michael Madden, Alexander Mattingly and Stephen Ryan. The first officers were Jeremiah Agan, President; William M. Hayes, T. ; M. J. Hayes, R. S. ; Stephen Ryan, F. S., and Alexander Mattingly, S. at A. The present officers are Alexander Mattingly, President; William M. Hayes, T. ; John D. Kelly, R. S. ; M. J. Hayes, F. S., and Stephen Ryan, S. at A. The society now consists of ten members, and meets on the first and third Sundays at St. Simon's Schoolhouse. The main object of the society is to insure the lives of its members, each member being permitted to carry $2,000 upon his life.

The Charles Howard Lodge, No. 2284, G. W. 0. of 0. F., was chartered November 17, 1881. The charter members were as follows : George Washington, Elias Washington, Eli Washington, James Washington, David Howard, William Hawkins, William Washington, Andrew Hatwood, Enoch Baskin, Jesse Washington, William C. Stewart, Christopher Clayborn, Samuel Spencer, Moses Gates, William Ballow, Ames Ballow, Charner Hawkins, Joseph W. Stewart, Washington Hawkins, Jackson Carr, Henry White, William W. Corten, William A. Grigsby and Amos Hawkins. The first officers were Elias Washington, N. F. ; Washington Hawkins, P. N. G. ; George Washington, N. G. ; Eli Washington, V. G. ; Amos Ballow, E. S. ; W. C. Stewart, T. ; J. W. Stewart, P. S. ; James Washington, Chaplain, elected December 19, 1881. The present officers are Stephen Clay,N. F. ; ilayden Culbert, P. N. G.: John W. Berryman, N. G. ; Jefferson T. Nubles, V. G. ; Warren Nichols, E. S. ; J. W. Stewart, P. S. ; George Washington, T. ; Eli Washington, Chaplain. The present membership of the lodge, which is in a flourishing condition, is forty-three. Its assets, according to the last report, made July 31, 1885, amount to $532.88. Meetings occur regularly, on the second and fourth Monday nights, in Murphy's Block.

U. S. Grant Post, No. 72, G. A. R., was organized May 25, 1882, as Garber Post, after Col. Garber, of Madison, Ind., who was colonel of the Twenty-fourth Indiana Regiment during the war of the Rebellion. After the death of Gen. Grant the name was changed to U. S. Grant Post. The charter members were William P. Ellis, S. F. Horrall, H. H. Hyatt, B. McCafferty, P. R Kellenberger, Joseph Bogner, John A. Scudder, J. L. Moore, T. C. Meredith, Joseph Kendall, R. E. Hawley and William Cox. The first officers were William P. Ellis, Com. ; J. H. Akers, Sr. 'Cora.; P. B. Kellenberger, Jr. Com.; James Ramsey. Adj.; George W. Moran, Quar. ; Joseph Bozner, Officer of the Day; George W. McBride, Officer of the Guard, and R. E. Hawley, Chaplain. The present officers are James Ramsey, Cora. ; William P. Ellis, Sr. Com.; Willis Dunbar, Jr. Com. ; Edward Kennedy, Adj.; George W. Moran, Quar. ; James A. Barr, Chaplain; J. H. Akers, Officer of the Guard, and F. M. Haynes, Officer of the, Day. The post has 133 members, is in a flourishing condition, and meets on the first and third Thursdays of each month in Redmen's Hall.

Knights and Ladies of Honor were organized May 20, 1884, by D. W. Bennett, of Brazil, Ind., Deputy Grand Protector. There were thirteen original members, as follows: J. H. and Mrs. Sallie Akers, George W. and Mrs. Mary E. McBride, William and Syrena Ingram, Mrs. Mary E. Conlin, Mrs. Mary Tommy, Mrs. Amanda Yager, Richard Yager, Richard Summers, John Kellems and Mrs. Carrie E. Smith. The first officers were as follows: Mrs. Carrie E. Smith, P. P.; George McBride, P.; Syrena Ingram, V. P.; Bent McCafferty, Guide; J. C. Robertson, Chap.; Miss Dora Henry, Sec.; J. H. Akers, Finan. Sec.; Mrs. Mary Tommy, Treas. ; Richard Yager, Sentinel. The present officers are J. C. Robertson, P. P. ; George McBride, P. ; Syrena Ingram, V. P.; Mrs. Sallie Akers, Chaplain ; Edward Kennedy, Sec. and Finan. Sec.; Mrs. Mary E. McBride, Treas. The meetings of this society take place on the second and fourth Saturday nights of each month, in Reclmen's Hall. The benefits are of two classes, A and B. Members in Class A are permitted to carry a benefit of $1,000. Those in Class B. are permitted to carry a half-rate benefit of $2,000, or a full rate of $3,000, at their option.

Pythagorean Lodge, No. 118, Knights of Pythias, was organized May 20, 1884. The charter members were the following": Louis P. Beitman, H. H. Hyatt, C. P. Scudder, C. S. Slayback, A. C. Barber, C. H. Jones, Harry Bray, J. W. Clark, G. C. W. Geeting, 0. E. Bondurant, Frank Colyer, Isadore Beitman, Louis Hess, Cliff Murkle, Nathan Beitman, Gus Levi, John T. Neal, W. F. Hoffman, E. J. Yager, W. W. Marmaduke and John P. Mathew. The first officers were as follows: Louis P. Beitman, P. C.; H. H. Hyatt, C. C. ; C. P. Scudder, V. C. ; C. S. Slayback, P. ; A. C. Barber, K. of R. & S. ; C. H. Jones, M. of E. ; W. F. Hoffman, M. of F. ; J. W. Clark, M. at A. ; G. C. W. Geeting, I. G. and 0. E. Bondurant, 0. G. Trustees were J. T. Neal, Nathan Beitman and Gus Levi. The present officers are H. H. Hyatt, P. C. ; S. C. Eskridge, C. C. ; W. F. Hoffman, Y. C. ; Fred A. Mills, P.; A. C. Barber, K. of R. & S. ; 0. E. Bondurant, M. of E. ; G. C. W. Geeting, M. of F. ; E. B. Ginckle, M. at A. ; John M. Sweeney, I. G. ; J. H. Sullivan, 0. G. ; Trustees: C. G. Sefrit, Nathan Beitman and J. T. Neal. This lodge has now forty members, is in a flourishing condition, and meets in Redmen's Hall every Tuesday evening.

NEWSPAPERS.

The first newspaper published in Washington was the Philanthropist, by William C. Berry & Son. It was established in 1836. The. Chronicle was the second paper, succeeding the Philanthropist, and was published by William C. Berry & Son until 1840. The Ilarrisonian was the third, published by Terry & Smith. This was, as its name implies, devoted to the principles of the Whig party. The Jacksonian Democrat was published also during the Harrison campaign by Jeremiah Young. The Hoosier was published during the year 1842 by James J. Marts. The Pilot was established in 1843 by Charles G. Berry. This paper was succeeded during the same year by The Saturday Morning Expositor, which was published by Jones & Trowbridge, which was also succeeded in 1843 by the Literary Journal, published by John Brayfield & Co. This paper was continued until 1853,when upon the death of Mr. Brayfield, it was sold and the name changed to the Washington Telegraph, J. M. Mason, editor. In 1855 the Telegraph was sold to James Stell, who published it in support of the principles of the Know-nothing or American party until 1858, when he sold it to S. F. Horrall. Mr. Horrall published it until 1861, when it passed into the hands of Lewis & Gardiner. It is now necessary to trace another line of newspapers down to this time.

The Sun was started in Washington as a Democratic paper by the Rev. Hamilton Robb, a Baptist minister. Soon after its establishment James Wilkins obtained possession of it and changed its name to The Bee, and in 1856 sold it to Upton & Schaffer, who shortly afterward left the office in charge of Oliver F. Baird, who changed the name to the Washington Democrat and in 1858 sold it to T. T. Scribner, who published it until 1861 when he sold it to Lewis & Gardiner. Lewis & Gardiner consolidated the Democrat and Telegraph on an independent basis and called the new paper The Washington Conservator. The first number of this paper was issued October 11, 1861, and the last number March 7, 1862. In the last number of the paper the editor promised to fill out the unexpired term of the five or six_ who had paid for the paper either with the numbers of a new political paper he expected would be started in a few weeks, or refund them their money.

The Washington Telegraph was revived soon afterward by Dr. W. A. Horrall and William Chapman, the former retiring March 28, 1863, Jake Covert taking his place. Mr. Chapman retired September 9, 1863, and Mr. Covert ran it alone until September 28, 1864, when E. A. Lewis became the editor, and in 1865 J. M. Griffin became the proprietor. Mr. Griffin moved the paper and material to Mitchell, Ind., when it ceased to be a Washington institution.

The True Union Spirit, published by J, H. Keys & Co., had an existence of ten weeks during 1865. The Age was published during 1872 and a portion of 1873 by Samuel Sawyer. The Enterprise was published during 1873 and 1874 by John Geeting. The National Ventilator was published during a portion of 1878, by Parks & Sanford. It was in favor of the Greenback party.

The Washington Commercial was published a few months in 1881 by S. F. Horrall. The Washington Republican was published a short time during the fall of 1883, and the following winter by Dr. W. A. Horrall.

The Daviess County Democrat was established Deceinber 1862, by T. R. Palmer and Stephen Belding, as a six-column folio, with the subscription price at $2 per year, and with the motto, " The Union, the Constitution, and the Enforcement of the Laws." On June' 4, 1868, the paper was enlarged to a seven-column quarto, a patent inside being adopted, and the motto? dropped. October 17, 1868, Col. Palmer sold out to Mr Belding who was the sole proprietor until October 23, 1869, when Elias F. Widner was admitted to partnership, and the name of the firm. became S. Belding & Co. The office of publication, which had up to this time been on Van Trees Street in the rear of the post-office, was removed, June 10, 1870, to the Gallagher Block, opposite the postoffice. At this time Mr. Widner sold out to Mr. Belding, who has since been the sole proprietor of the paper. The patent inside feature was discarded November 13, 1869, and on April 8, the subscription price was reduced to $1.50 per year. July 1, 1876, the paper was enlarged to an eight-column folio, its present size. In 1873 a power press was set up, and afterward a mailing machine. February 20, 1881, the establishment was moved to its present convenient and pleasant quarters on Third Street a short distance from Main. The paper has always been Democratic in politics and has ably devoted a proper amount of attention to local interests.

The Washington Gazette was established in February, 1865, by Jacob Covert and George W. Colbert, the office at first being in a small building on Fourth Street belonging to Col. John Van. Trees. The paper was a six-colmnn folio. In 1868 Mr. Covert sold his interest to John A. Rodarmel, from which time to 1870 the firm name being Colbert & Rodarmel. They were known. as the " juvenile publishers " of the State. During their management the editorial work was done by John Evans, an attorney, now deceased ; William Thompson, also deceased, and by Dr. W. A. Horrall. S. F. Horrall purchased the paper in 1870, and published it until 1876, when he sold. it to Malachi Krebs.

Mr. Krebs conducted it about eighteen months, doing good work in the campaign, but making many enemies. The office then fell into the hands of his sureties, H. C. Brown, 0. H. Braun, Henry Hyatt, M. L. B. Sefrit, N. H. Jepson and William Armstrong. This company continued its publication until 1880, with John A. Rodarmel as editor and manager, and Thomas Meredith, now deceased, as local editor. In this year the paper was purchased by John A. Rodarmel, William Martin and H. C. Brown. In February, 1881, Frank A. Myers purchased the interest of William Martin, and in 1884 Mr. Brown's interest was assigned to Mahe. Hyatt, who in December following made a general assignment and his interest was purchased in February, 1885, by Heber H. Allen. The proprietors, therefore, at present are Frank A. Myers, John A. Rodarmel and Heber H. Allen. The Gazette is an eight-column folio, entire home print, Republican in politics, and is devoted to the interests of Washington and Daviess Counties.

The Washington Advertiser was established October 14, 1884, by Alexander ChomeL It is a neatly-printed seven-column Democratic paper, and devoted to home interests, like all the papers of the city. The Washington:Daily Enterprise was started also by Alexander Chomel, October 13, 1884, as the Daily Jacksonian. The name was changed June 1, 1885, to The Washington Daily Enterprise. It is a five-column patent-inside daily, and is Democratic in politics.

PRESENT BUSINESS INTERESTS.

General stores—Cabel, Kauffman & Co., Neal & Eskridge, John McCafferty, Volmer & Klee, Fred. Archer, William McDougal, Mrs. F. H. Harris, Myers & Thompson, William Brown and Jacob Hoffmaister. Grocery stores—Beitman Brothers, M. J. Hayes, Zack Jones, John Meredith, 0. H. Brann, R. L. Miller, Eastham Brothers, A. W. Cloud, Randall Nutter, Mrs. Anderson and Gus Keifer. Hardware, stoves and tinware—R. S. Beeson & Son, J. E. Thompson & Bro., J. E. Maher, Alexander H. Doherty and Smith & Carnahan. Dry goods—T. J. Axtell & Co. and J. F. Lindley & Son. Clothing and gent's furnishing goods —L. Loeb, R. & E. Beitman, G. Beitman and Simon Joseph. Drug stores—John M. Smith, John Thompson, Mensel & Co., J. N. Jones, H. H. Burrell and W. L. Jackson. Agricultural implements—Hatfield Sr Palmer, James R. Feagans, Volmer & Klee and Nicholas Hartig. Sewing machines—Hatfield & Palmer and the Singer Manufacturing Company.

Blacksmiths—Haley & Keiff, Riley Woods, Stewart Ballow, Samuel Ragsdale, G. Maynard, Volmer Si Klee and Hartig Bros. Wagon-makers—William C. Fitz and David Solomon. Tailors—Robert Aikman, Frank Gillick and Terrence Gillick. Confectioners—Zack Jones, Seth Berry, J. H. Akers, Henry Klohr and Jacob Sum. Boots and shoes—John Reinsel and Shirley Bros. Books, stationery, etc.—Horrall Bros. and Mensel & Bro. Photographers—J. W, Berghotzer and Henry Popp. Jewelers—R. E. Geeting & Bro., N. H. Jepson and T. D. Cloud. Grain dealers—L. W. Beddell, James Beeler and Henry C. Brown. Furniture dealers—S. H. Mulholland, Bonham & Gill and William Foster. Harness- makers—John T. Backus, E. R. Eskridge and Waller & Prentiss. Bakeries—August Kauffman, Charles Clapper and Henry Klohr. Livery stables—William R. Meredith, Eli Thomas, H. L. Lochridge and Thomas Meredith. Real estate—Alexander Leslie and John E. Williams. Brick yard—Joseph Kratz. Wholesale liquors—S. Eckhouse. Twenty-one saloons, each paying an annual license of $25. Insurance agents—Thomas & Signor, A. C. Barber, B. T. Meredith, John Williams, J. H. McCracken, H. Backus and John H. Slater. Hotels—Meredith House, Hyatt House and McCafferty House. Physicians—John A. Scudder, Charles E. Scudder, Henry Gers, F. M. Harned, A. L. Sabin, John Fitzgibbon, Dagley & White, J. L. Moore and W. H. H. Strouse. Dentists—E. M. Redman and J. A. Dale. In addition to the above there are five painters, four meat markets and four millinery establishments.

LEADING BUSINESS ENTERPRISES.

The Eclipse Mills were erected in 1855 by Richard Bruner,William Wilkins and George Ballow. The building is a three-story frame, and worth, including the machinery, about $15,000. In 1861 they were sold to Joseph Pollock, who in 1866 sold to H. C. Brown one-half interest, and later in the same year the other half to Albert Bruner. In 1868 Mr. Bruner sold his half to Mr. Brown, who ran the mills until June, 1885, when they were purchased by George F. Signor and Dr. F. M. Harned, who now manage them under the firm name of George F. Signor & Co. They have five run of buhrs, and two sets of rollers, thus  being run on the combination plan. Their capacity is 125 barrels of flour in twenty-four hours.

The Washington Mills were built by J. C. Spink and Stephen D. Wright in 1857. In 1860 they sold a third interest to J. C. Veal, and in 1861 Spink and Veal bought Mr. Wright's interest. In 1863 they built a woolen factory, running it in connection with their flouring. Both these enterprises were carried on by Messrs. Spink (Cr Veal until 1875, when in consequence of heavy losses caused by a flood in the White River, Mr. Spink made a compromise with his creditors, and John Hyatt took his place in , connection with Mr. Veal, and they ran the business for some time, when George Hyatt purchased the entire property and conducted it until 1885, when it was destroyed by fire, the loss being in the aggregate about $12,000, upon which there was an insurance of $7,000.

Lee's Mill is located on Walnut Street and a branch of Hawkins' Creek. It is a three-story frame building upon a brick basement. It was built by Clement Lee and Stephen D. Wright in 1866, and cost about $20,000. It contains five run of buhrs, propelled by a sixty horse-power steam engine, and has a capacity of fifty barrels of wheat per day and seventy bushels of corn. The flour manufactured is known as Lee's Straight Grade flour. Mr. Wright finally retired from the firm, since which Mr. Lee has been sole proprietor.

The City Mill was erected in 1880 by A. E. Spink & Co. It is a two-story and basement brick building, and is very strongly built, standing on the corner of South and Second Streets. It cost, including the machinery, $10,000. It has four run of buhrs and one set of rollers, and manufactures a patent roller brand of flour. Besides these it has one run of corn buhrs, all propelled by a sixty horse-power engine. The capacity of the mill is fifty barrels of flour per day, and it is managed by J. C. Spink. The Washington Engine Works were started in 1865 by Spink & Veal, who erected a frame building for the works.

In 1871, this frame building having burned down, they erected the present brick building, a one-story brick 240x40, with an L 40x60 feet. In 1875, when Mr. Spink made a compromise with his creditors, the engine works passed into other hands, and after three or four changes in proprietorship, became the property of George Hyatt & Co. In 1884 C. H. Roberts, formerly of Evansville, purchased the property, and in May, 1885, took into partnership Albert Rat-cliff, and the firm name became C. H. Roberts & Co. They manufacture steam fan engines, and a full line of frogs, switches, crossings ; etc., for mines ; coal mine bottoms; castings and wheels for coal cars, and winding, portable and traction engines, and automatic cut-off side-valve engines, the latter being a specialty with the firm. They also make all kinds of castings, and do general repair work. City Foundry and Machine Works, were erected in 1880 by Adam Greenfield. The building is of brick, two stories high, with a one-story brick foundry. There is also a blacksmith and general repair shop in connection. Mr. Greenfield ran the works until he was killed by the cars in 1883, and some time afterward William E. Cole, the present proprietor, purchased the property, which is worth about $7,000, and has since conducted the business. At these works are made coal-car wheels and various kinds of small castings, steam engines up to twenty-five horse-power, and a general line of engineers' supplies.

The Washington Furniture Manufacturing Company was started in 1879, by S. H. Mulholland, using a bniiiiing known as Hogshead's Mill, south of the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad, between Second and Third Streets. In 1883 he erected a building on the corner of the railroad and Mill Street. This is a large two-story frame building, which, together with the machinery and planing-mill in connection, is worth about. $10,000. In March, 1884, Mr. Mulholland organized a stock company, with the above name, and with a capital of $7,000. The officers of the company were at first, and are still, S. M. Smith, president;. William R. Thompson, secretary, and John C. McCafferty, treasurer, Since the incorporation of the company their works have manufactured about $10,000 worth of furniture, their specialties being common bedsteads and extension tables.

McKernan's Planing-Mill was established in 1875, by Samuel and Hugh Rogers, under the name of Rogers & Bro. They sold it to Hugh McKernan in September, 1884, who still owns it. It is located in a brick building belonging to the Elisha Hyatt estate, on Third Street. The machinery consists of a planing-mill and machinery for the manufacture of sash and doors, and is propelled by a thirty horse-power engine. The entire establishment is worth about $6,000.

The Washington Gas Works was incorporated as a stock company in the summer of 1877, by John M. Woodson and George W. Updyke, of St. Loris, Mo., with a capital of $35,000. In the fall of that year buildings were erected, consisting of a two-story brick building for the manufacture, purifying and measuring of the gas; gas office and private dwelling, and also a reservoir with a capacity of 22,000 cubic feet. About Christmas, of that year, the company commenced operations with 175 customers, which number has since been increased to 255. C. E. Gray, as contractor, erected the works. Joseph C. Lord had charge of the gas-fitting and plumbing departments, and was soon after the erection of the works placed in charge as superintendent, which position he still retains. The city of Washington was lighted during the years 1878, 1879, 1880 and 1881, at first with fifty lamps and later with seventy-five. In the latter year, on the ground of economy, the council decided to dispense with gas upon the streets, and the company took up most of its posts. There is a fair prospect at present of an arrangement being made by which the streets will again be lighted with gas, a consummation which will be hailed with delight. Hyatt, Levings ? Co., Bankers.—This banking firm was start

ed June 1, 1868, by William Sanford, Frank Overton and C. W. Levings, under the name of Sanford & Co. & Levings. Mr. Sanford was president of the firm, and C. W. Abell, cashier, in the interest of Mr. Overton. The capital stock of the firm was $10,000. June 1, 1869, J. W. Levings bought out his brother, taking a half interest, Sanford (Sr Co. retaining a half interest. In 1870 Mr Sanford sold out to Mr. Overton, when the firm became F. Overton & Co. In 1870 Mr. Overton sold his interest to Elisha Hyatt, and the name became Washington Exchange Bank.

At the expiration of about one year two partners were taken in, Dr. A. M. Whitten and Elliott McCullough, each of whom contributed $5,000 to the capital, increasing it to $20,000. After about two years Mr McCullough died and his interest was withdrawn, and one year more Dr. Whitten withdrew, by which the capital of the bank was reduced to $10,000. In 1874 Hiram Hyatt, who bad been book-keeper in the bank since 1870, invested $1,000 in the business, thus raising the capital to $11,000, the name of the firm remaining Hyatt, Levings & Co., to which it had been changed in 1871. This firm continued to conduct business until November 17, 1884, when the doors of the bank were closed on account of the impossibility of making collection of the money it had out at interest. The failure of the bank involved Elisha Hyatt's personal estate, and in order to make a settlement he submitted to his and the bank's creditors the proposition to pay his own creditors in full, and 70 cents on the dollar to those of the bank, an extremely liberal and altogether unusual proposition.

The Washington National Bank was organized August 28, 1872, the original stockholders being F. W. Viehe, Joseph Campbell, M. L. Brett, W. M. Tyler, W. J. Williams, C. Lee and S. H. Taylor. The first board of directors were F. W. Viehe, W. M. Tyler, S. H. Taylor and M. L. Brett. F. W. Viehe was the first president and M. L. Brett the first cashier. The capital stock was $50,000. The presidents of the bank subsequent to Mr. Viehe have been M. L. Brett, John N. Breese and E. W. Thompson, and the cashiers, subsequent to Mr. Brett, have been S. H. Taylor and R. N. Read. There has been no increase of the capital stock, but at the present time the surplus amounts to $10,000, and the undivided profits to $2,315.92.

The Peabody Rifles were organized February 19, 1883, with thirty-eight members, and was mustered into service by Adtj.-Gen. Carnahan, on the 27th of the same month. The captain of the company was Hale Clark; first lieutenant, C. H. Jones; second lieutenant, John Downey; orderly sergeant, C. P. Scudder clerk, A. C. Barber ; treasurer, P. A. Palmer. The Rifles were mustered

as Company I, Second Regiment of the Indiana Legion, and were armed with the breech-loading Springfield rifle furnished by the State, each member furnishing his own (regulation) uniform. The company held meetings and drilled about two years, attending in the meantime, in the summer of 1883, the annual encampment at Indianapolis, and in the fall of that year the fair at Loogootee. They disbanded in February, 1885, because of the failure of the Legislature to pass the militia bill to pay room rent and other current expenses of such organizations; and shipped their arms to the auditor of State. At the time of their organization they were presented with a very handsome silk banner, which cost nearly $200, by President W. W. Peabody, of the Ohio & Mississippi Railway Company, and were in consequence named the Peabody Rifles.

The Washington Literary Society was organized on Saturday evening, January 12, 1884. Dr. A. L. Sabin, Rev. T. C. Danks and J. W. Ogden were the principal movers in bringing about the organization of the society, which now has about forty members. The first officers of the society were Dr. A. L. Sabin, piesident; John Spencer, secretary, and J. W. Ogden, treasurer. The first meeting was held in Redmen's Hall. St. Simon's Church was used as a society- room for some months, and finally the county commissioners' room in the court house was secured, and is now used. The exercises consist of declamations, essays, orations and debates, and occasional criticisms and reviews of standard literature.

Gabel, Wilson & Co.—This firm originated in 1867, and was then known as Spink, Label & Co. It was organized for the purpose of mining and selling coal. Previous to that time there had been some mining done by several parties—by a Mr. Sawyer, two or three Germans named Kellar, and by a Mr Wilson, familiarly known as "Mack" Wilson. These three parties were bought out by Spink, Label & Co., in order to start their business. The main difficulty experienced by this firm was to find a market for their coaL At that time the Ohio & Mississippi Railway Company was burning wood in their locomotives, and Mr Spink went to see the president of the road, W. D. Griswold, for the purpose of inducing him to burn coal instead of wood. Mr. Griswold at first objected that it would be necessary to change all the locomotives, entailing a heavy expense, but was at length prevailed upon to change one locomotive. Thus was begun the burning of coal on the locomotives of the Ohio. Sr Mississippi Railway. The experiment with the one locomotive was so satisfactory that gradually locomotive after locomotive was chinged, until all on the road were burning coal, with the saving of -50 per cent on the cost of fuel, as President Griswold said. In five years after the experiment was made the Ohio & Mississippi Road was taking from Spink, Cabel & Co. from thirty to forty car-loads per day. In 1873 Mr. Spink sold out his interest in the firm, and Thomas Wilson was taken in his place, since which time the firm name has been Cabel, Wilson & Co. On the 19th of November this company was dissolved by mutual consent, Mr. Wilson retiring, and the company at present is Cabel, Kauffman & Co. They operate the following mines in this county: Dutch Bank, Sulphur Springs, Eureka No. 4, Eureka No. 5, and Maple Valley, and employ nearly 500 men.

The amount of coal shipped by this firm in 1874 was 115,334 tons; in 1879, 132,272 tons, and in 1884, 119,184 tons, or an average of 122,263 tons per year. This amount is about nine-tenths of the coal shipped from Washington, and does not take into account the quantity consumed in Washington and the rest of the county.

The Washington Board of Trade was organized mainly through the instrumentality of 0. H. Brans. The first meeting was held over the store of Mr Braun, and its subsequent meetings were held in the City Hall. Alexander Leslie was elected president, Alexander Chomel, secretary, and 0. H. Braun, treasurer, and they yet remain in their respective positions. The membership of the board increased rapidly from the first, and a great deal of interest was manifested in its operations. Public matters were discussed, such as the improvement of the public highways, the building of bridges, manufactories, etc., and its objects were to encourage trade, commerce, and agriculture, and thus foster and build up the material interests of the entire community. After a time, however, meetings ceased to be held, and it became affected by the prevailing lethargy. Its organization, however, has been maintained intact, and the prospect is that with the revival of business energy, which is apparent in connection with the completion of the Evansville, Washington & Brazil Railway, and the prospect of securing the Ohio & Mississippi Rail way machine shops, its work will be again taken up, and result beneficially to all concerned.

The Ohio & Mississippi Machine Shops.—At least as early as 1867 there existed hope of securing the machine shops of this railroad to this city, but not until November 17, 1885, was there received a definite proposition from the railway company upon which the citizens could take action. On that day a communication was received by Mayor Ellis from W. W. Peabody, president of the Ohio & Mississippi Railway Company, proposing to concentrate their machine shops at Washington, provided this city would donate sixty acres of land for a site, and $75,000 in. cash. On November 19 a meeting was held, at which a committee was appointed to confer with President Peabody with reference to the terms of the donation, this committee consisting of Judge W. R. Gardiner, Dr. F. M. Harned, Mayor W. P. Ellis, Joseph Cabel, and J. H. O'Neall.

AN EARLY TEMPERANCE SOCIETY.

The first temperance society in Daviess County was organized in 1832, by Rev. Ransom Hawley, at Washington. It was named the "Washington Temperance Society." Following is the substance of the society's constitution:

Article 1 merely determined the name of the society as given above, and Article 2 the conditions of membership.

"ART. 3. The members of this society, believing that the use of intoxicating liquors, is, for persons in health, not only unnecessary, but hurtful, and that the practice is the cause of forming intemperate appetites and habits; and that while it is continued the evils of intemperance can never be prevented, do therefore agree that we will abstain from the use of distilled spirits, except as a medicine in case of bodily infirmity; that we will not allow the use of them in our families, nor provide them for the entertainment of our friends, or for persons in our employment, and that in all suitable ways we will discountenance the use of them in the community."

Article 4, provided for the officers of the society, and Article 5„ prescribed their duties.

" ART. 6. When the executive committee are, from a respectble source, informed that any member has violated Article 3, of this 'constitution, it shall be their duty affectionately to admonish him, and use all suitable means for his reformation; but if all such means fail to restore him, he shall be expelled by said committee or society, at the option of the accused, at a regular meeting of the society."

Article 7, provided for quarterly meetings of the society, and Article 8, prohibited alterations in the constitution, except at annual meetings, by a two-thirds vote of the members present.

Following are the names of the first officers of the society: President, D. P. Barton; vice-president, Abraham Wise; secretary, Ransom Hawley; managers, William Bratton, Col. John Flint, James Carnahan, Stephen Martin and W. G. Cole. The _names of those who subscribed to the constitution at the time of the organization of the society were as follows: Hiram A. Hunter, William Bratton, Theodore Granger, Friend Spears, John Brat-ton, Wyley R. Jones, Harvey Jones, Richard Graham, Samuel Rodarmel, Stephen Masten, James Calhoun, Jacob Freeland, Anthony Johnson, Henry Brennan, Harrison Mulholland, Robert Raper, Robert Ewing, Preston Ewing, Betsy Ewing, Samuel Kelso, Benjamin Peachy, Philip Barton, Thomas Donaldson, S. R. Chase, Solomon Frank, Mary Johnson, Jeremiah Allen, John Flint, George Lashley, Thomas Meredith, Samuel Smith, James Buzan, John Melieus, Jefferson Berry,Toliver Colbert, Betsy Kelso, Rachael Granger, Betsy Ball, Eliza Graham, Margaret Frank, Betsy Logan, William Graham, Dolly Flint, Michael Porter, Margaret Heinman, James Ball, Amy Colbert, John Stringer, Lewis Fitzgerald, David Baker (colored man), Thomas Case, Rhine Davis, John Pry, Abraham Wise, Henry Edwards, Mary A. S. McJunker, Alexander Bruce, James Mulholland, Elizabeth Mulholland, Julian Mulholland, John Mulholland, John Tichenor, Rawley Scott, Edmund Thomas, Miss Sarah Ball, James Spears, John Wykoff, Jr., Henry Chase, Allen Buzan, E. H. McJunkin, David McDonald, R. IV. McCormick, Thomas Brown,W. C. Elliott, R. W. Bratton, Joseph Bratton, William McFee, Julia Rodick, W. D. Merchant, James Grant, William Kelly, Mary Ball, Matilda Goodwin, Sally Berry, Jacob B. Wykoff, James Dant, William Gilly, A. Cosby, W. Williams, L. D. Stringer, Mary Bratton, A. S. Goodwin, James Clark, James B. Carnahan, Lewis Spears, Stephen Mastin, Jr., John Anderson, Jacob Benedick, Samuel Parsons, William White, Solomon Brennan, William C. McCor- mick, Barton Peek and Mrs. Sarah White.

MONTGOMERY.*

The town Of Montgomery is located in Barr Township, on the line of the Ohio & Mississippi Railway, seven miles east of the county seat of Daviess County. It was laid out by Valentine B. Montgomery, on land owned by him, in 1865. The town dates its rise and progress from 1854, at the time when the Ohio & Mississippi Railway was being surveyed through Daviess County. The first house in the place was built by James C. Montgomery, a brother of Valentine, who used it for a dwelling and store. This building is still standing, and is occupied by the man who built it. When the railroad was completed through the town, in 1857, there. was then a population of about twenty, occupying four houses. The 64toun" was then literally " in the woods," a heavy growth of timber surrounding it on all sides. Valentine Montgomery then bought grain at the station, and shipped it to Louisville and Cincinnati, doing an immense business for that time. After the advent of the railroad, considerable business impetus was given to the place; houses sprang up on every side; the mechanic, the merchant, the dealer in country products found Montgomery a safe place in which to carry on their various vocations, and at once, as it were, the little town commenced forming its part of the history of the county named after one of the martyrs of Tippecanoe. Among the first marriages to take place in the town was that of Patrick McCarty and Elizabeth Morgan, daughter of Col. James S. Morgan, one of the most prominent citizens of the county. Mr. McCarty, the groom on this important occasion, afterward represented the county in the Legislature. The first child born in Montgomery was James McCarty, son of James and Elizabeth McCarty, whose marriage is referred to above.. His birth occurred in 1857. He did not remain long in his native town, but moved with his parents to the West, where he still is. In 1869, while Lloyd Clark was trustee, the first

•The remainder of this chapter was prepared by Charles G. &frit of Washington.

public schools of Montgomery were founded, and they are a credit to any of the schools in the county. The Catholic Church of Montgomery, St. Peter's, was built sixteen years ago. It is a large brick structure, and has a parsonage and schoolhouse in connection with it. From its infancy to the present time the congregation has been presided over by Rev. Father Piers. In March, 1870, .the town was incorporated, the record in the commissioners' court showing its location to be in Section 26, Town 3 north, of Range 6 west. The first officers of the town failed to leave any record of their advent to office, consequently we cannot give their names, though careful search was made for some memorandum that would shed some light on the matter. The town at present has a population of over 500, the number having been largely increased within the past six months, or since the Wilson Coal Company opened their extensive mines on land adjoining the town. The mining industry is in its infancy yet at. this place, but it promises to become one of the most important coal mining towns on the line of the Ohio & Mississippi. Montgomery is situated in the center of an excellent farming region. Its agricultural resources are great, and almost as much grain and stock are shipped from this point as from any other place in the county. This is due to the fact that the place is located in the geographical center of the county. It is also exactly midway between Cincinnati and St. Louis, the termini of the main line of the Ohio and Mississippi Railway. The business men of the present day are J. C. Harris, miller; Crane & Grannan, James Farrell, James H. Fanning, general merchandise; Samuel J. Scott and 0. B. Hixon, druggists; J. W. Perkins, hotel; Elias Hill and John Bradley, restaurants; Henry Rudolph, saddler; Matthews & Perkins, agricultural implements; W. C. Willeford. and A. W. Bigham, physicians. The postmaster is James Farrell, and the town officers are: Clerk, 0. B. Hixon; treasurer, Elias Hill; marshal, William Mitchell; trustees, John D. Montgomery, Joseph Cheever, Edward Matthews.

ODON.

The town of Odon, in Madison Township, is the next important in size to the city of Washington. It was laid out in 1846, by John Hastings, on the land formerly owned by Dr. J. Townsend, and was called Clarksburg. Dr. Townsend was the first settler. It contained thirty-six lots, according to the original • plat, and was surveyed by P. S. Agan. The following additions to the original plat have been made: Kohr's, in 1866, by Henry B. Bohr, nineteen lots; Crook's, by Howard Crook, in 1867, sixteen lots; 01ly Crook's, by Oily Crook, 1868, eleven lots; Garten's by Z. V. Garten, 1877, eight lots; McCoy's, by Hugh McCoy, 1875, forty-two lots. The postoffice was called Clark's Prairie until 1880, when the name of the place was changed to Odon, the post-office name being changed at the same time.

In 1885 the place was incorporated. Odon is a thriving little town, situated in the center of a splendid agricultural country, and only needs a railroad to develop it wonderfully. It has three churches, an excellent graded school, and a population of 500 souls. There is an old Odd Fellows' lodge in active existence. Following are its officers: J. W. Burrell, D. D. ; Henry Correll, N. G. ; William HWaggy, V. G. ; J. W. Neall, P. S.; J. W. Burrell, R. S. The lodge was organized in 1872. A Masonic lodge was organized at this place, but it was short-lived.

The first town officers of Odon, elected in 1885, were: Town board—Dr. John Dearmin, Samuel Dunlap, John Simley; clerk, W. L. Stoy; treasurer, C. L. Pearson; marshal, Wiley Edmundson. The town was incorporated in September, 1885. The people of Odon are religiously inclined, go to church regularly, and are very much opposed to saloons. Attempts to establish a saloon in the place are met with the bitterest opposition, and none have yet proven successful.

The first merchants of Odon were Howard Crook and Z. V. Garten, who were merchandising there in 1855. A business directory of the town at this writing would be as follows; John Haig & Son, J. M. Crooke & Son and C. L. Pearson, dry goods; W. L. Stoy and William Burdette, drugs; H. Smiley & Son, tile-makers ; Sam Dougherty, tanner ; B. J. Smiley, livery and hotel; J. C. Potts, cabinet-maker; Hugh McCoy, groceries; Edmundson & Callahan, blacksmiths; Alonzo Caughy, carriage-maker; William Odell, barber; Crooke & Burrell, furniture; G. D. Abraham, hardware; N. F. Dougherty, billiards; Joseph Seneff, Leighton Love, boots and shoes; H. C. Correll, tinner ; E. Redman, J. H. Redman, William Dearmin, carpenters; D. J. Smith, A. K. Lane, John Dearmin, S. 0. Calmer, M. C. Kent, B. Sears, physicians; Rev. G. F. Culiner, Rev. John Breden, ministers; Mrs.. H. C. Correll, Mrs. John Burrell, Mrs. J. M. Crooke, millinery and dress-making; H. Crooke, J. D. Laughlin, attorneys; James Watson, bricklayer; Sam Dunlap, lumber.

There is a weekly newspaper published, at Odon, by John V. Smith. It was established in 1885, and is called the Prairie Scorcher.

Cannelburg, one of the three incorporated towns of the county, was laid out by the Buckeye Cannel Coal Company—A. J. Shotwell, L. C. Harris, and Anthony Moots. September 26, 1872, -ten blocks were platted, divided into 102 lots. An addition of forty-four lots was made to the place in 1884. The town of Cannelburg sprang into existence on account of the extensive operations of the Buckeye Cannel Coal Company. It has a population of 350, a good school, and is steadily growing. There are two mines near Cannelburg, one being worked on the co-operative plan by the order of Knights of Labor. The cannel coal mined here has no superior in the State, and immense quantities of it are taken out each year. Both cannel coal and bituminous coal are worked from the same vein, the cannel overlying the other. The vein is from two and a half to five feet thick. The Buckeye Cannel Coal Company's mine was opened in 1870 by A. J. Shot-well and Clapp & Bailey. It was purchased by the present owners—Washington and Cincinnati capitalists—in 1881. One hundred and twenty-five men are worked, and from seventy to ninety cars of coal are mined weekly, each car averaging about fifteen tons of coal. Austin F. Cabel, of Washington, is the company's secretary. Most of the property in the town is owned by the company, and the only store is kept by them, W. F. O'Brien being its manager, and also the postmaster. George Rudolph keeps a hotel and boarding house. In the winter of 1881-82 the small-pox was epidemic in this place, and a large number of deaths occurred. Cannelburg was incorporated in 1884, and its town officers are: Clerk, W. F. O'Brien; treasurer, Mark Cavanaugh; marshal, Enoch Davis; trustees; James Foote, Edward •Tolson, Daniel Davis.

706 •     HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY.

RAGLESVILLE.

A pretty village of perhaps 200 inhabitants, called Raglesville, is situated near the center of Van Buren Township. It has a church, schoolhouse, several stores, a flouring-mill and a brass band. It was laid out under' the name of Stanford, June 21, 1837, by Ozias Crooke, and consists of forty-eight lots. The first settler in the vicinity was Asbury Sims, in 1832: Ozias Crooke was the first school teacher, and also the first merchant. He kept a general store there in 1840. Among the Raglesville business men of the present day are T. W. Casey, dry goods; Logan Allen, drugs, also postmaster; Thomas McCord, flouring-mill.

ELNORA.

This village, in Elmore Township, sprang into existence with the completion, in 1885, of the Evansville & Indianapolis Railroad, though a postoffice and two or three stores had been on the site of the new town for several decades of years. The name of the postoffice was Owl Prairie, but the hamlet was called Owl-town. Elnora was laid out September 25, 1885, by William C. Griffith and A. R. Stalcup, with nine blocks and fifty-three lots. It promises to become an important point for the buying and shipping of corn and wheat, and other farm products, A number of new buildings have recently been erected at this place. The postoffice name on the 1st of January, 1886, was changed to Elnora. The business men of Elnora are A. R. Stalcup, general store and livery; Taylor & Williams, druggists; George D. Abraham, dry goods; John Edmundson, blacksmith. David H. Taylor is the postmaster.

CORNETTSVILLE.

This post village of Bogard Township was laid out by John F. Myers and Samuel Cornett in 1875, and has a population of 100, a schoolhouse, postoffice, several stores and a blacksmith shop. Two or three churches are in the immediate neighborhood. The place is nine miles northeast from Washington. It has thirty-seven lots, and is very pleasantly located in an excellent farming section. Among the business men of the place are William R. Baker, general store and postoffice; John N. Killion, blacksmith, and Dr. J. M. Achor. The handsomest public school building in the county, outside of Washington, is located at Corn ettsville.

SOUTH WASHINGTON.

This village is situated on the Petersburg road, one mile south of Washington, and has 150 inhabitants. Its population is nearly altogether made up of the employes of Cabel Kaufman's coal mines. It draws its supplies from Washington, and has no. postoffice nor church building, but one of the township school buildings is located here. Thirty-two lots were laid off at the site of the town by Levi D. Colbert, in 1874. Ministers of the Christian, Methodist and Presbyterian Churches sometimes preach here. The place is commonly known by the euphonious. title of Lickskillet; given it in days gone by, before it was dignified by the name of South Washington.

LETTSVILLE.

Lettsville is another hamlet of Daviess County that is much oftener designated by a vulgar cognomen bestowed upon it in bygone years, than by its proper name. Years ago at Lettsville a low-down saloon was kept in the basement or cellar of a dwelling. There was no outside door to the cellar, and the proprietor of the doggery, to remedy the defect, knocked out enough bricks from the wall to make a passage large enough to admit a man. On account of this circumstances the place took the name of "Hole-in-the-Wall," which clings to it to this day. A postoffige is maintained here, but there is no business house and but two. or three dwellings. One of the township school buildings is. hard by.

EPSOM.

Two miles from Cornettsville, and in the same township, is Epsom, which consists of a half-dozen dwellings, three stores, a postoffice and a schoolhouse. The vulgar name of the place is " Tophet." The present name was given it because the water from a well in the hamlet that was dug by a Mr. Page was thought to resemble in taste the famous Epsom salts. The first settlement was made away back in 1815, or 1816, by Peter Yount. Considerable business is done here during the winter season, when the bad roads make it difficult to get to and from Washington. Among the early merchants were Joseph Brown, John Kendall, John Hyatt, Dr. David Carter, William J. Wilson, Hiram Myers, David Young and others. Among the physicians who have practiced and are now practicing here are Drs. David Carter, T. G. Ray, T. V. Norvell and David R. Carter. An organization of I. 0. 0. F. once existed here, but it was abandoned several years ago. There are now three small stores carrying lines of general merchandise.

PLAINVILLE.

The completion of the new railroad., the Evansville & Indianapolis, through Daviess County has given the village of Plainville, in Steele Township, ten miles as the crow flies north of Washington, quite a business boom, and a number of new buildings were erected in the fall of 1885. Plainville is on the line of the old Wabash & Erie Canal, and was quite an important business point twenty-eight years ago, with a number of stores and a good flouring-mill. It went down, however, like hundreds of other towns, with the ill-fated canal that cost so many millions of dollars and hundreds of lives to build, only to be abandoned very shortly after its completion. Plainville continued to be a trading point, with one or two stores and a postoffice. The new road has made it of considerable importance, and it has doubled in population, while the price of town lots has very visibly increased. The place was laid out by W. D. McCleskey and Stephen D. Wright December 19, 1855. Its present population is about 300. . Of the business men of the place William F. Killion is a grain buyer; Frank Killion, hotel; William Hildreth, general store; Thompson Cox and Carr & Gillin, blacksmiths; David Carter, 0. H. McKittrick, E. D. Millis and Harry Faith, physicians. The Evansville & Indiana Railroad has a neat little depot at the place, and considerable shipping is done.

ELDON.

In 1857 David H. Kennedy, William S. Turner and Seth H. Cruse laid off, in a very elaborate manner, a_town at the intersection of the Wabash & Erie Canal and the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad and called it Eldon. The plat showed eighteen streets and fifty-six blocks of lots, but the owners were disappointed in their arrangements, for the canal went down, and the scheme for_ making a metropolis of Eldon was a flat failure. A single dilapidated shanty marks the spot where the bright hopes of Eldon's founders, in that particular direction, melted into thin air.

CHELSEA AND CORBYTOWN.

Another magnificent enterprise that "died a bornin' " was the effort to build up a city at the conjunction of the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad and the proposed ".Straightline." A town of fifteen streets and sixty-four blocks, divided into lots, was laid out by the projector of the Straightline, Willard Carpenter, in 1857, and called Chelsea. The Straighline proved a failure; so did Chelsea. Corbytown was another town laid out on the proposed route of the Straightline, in Veal Township, six miles south of Washington. Like Chelsea its prospects faded with the failure of Willard Carpenter's railroad enterprise.

TOM'S HILL AND HUDSONVILLE.

These villages are a collection of dwelling houses, a saw-mill and stave factory located near the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad on the west branch of White River. The place and all its surroundings belong to Elisha Hyatt's estate. The inhabitants of Tom's Hill are all tenants, and were employes of Mr. Hyatt. Hudsonville, a hamlet of Harrison Township, was laid out in 1856 by Nelson and Daniel Jackson. It never amounted to anything, however, and has no business.

SMILEY AND FARLEN.

Smiley is a postoffice in Van Buren Township, and Farlen, a postoffice in Madison Township, that are of very recent date. Farlen has two or three dwellings and a Baptist Church. W. N.McFarlen has a general store there, and Paris Keck is a black-smith. Cumback, another postoffi.ce, is located in Veal Township.

MAYSVILLE AND GLENDALE.

This town was laid out in 1834 by John McDonald, on the land of the late Charner Hawkins It contained seventy-two lots,its situation being on the Wabash & Erie Canal, four miles southwest of Washington. During the days when the great canal flourished Maysville was the most important business place in the county, but it went down with the canal, and to-day nothing remains but a few tumble-down houses, relics of a once thriving town's departed greatness. Glendale is in Harrison Township, and is a little hamlet eight miles southeast of Washington. There are half-a-dozen dwellings, a schoolhouse, a church, and three stores. The merchants are A. M. Ragsdale, A. T. Conley, and Dr. George W. Willeford. There is a Masonic lodge at this place. There are two secret societies at Glendale, both of which are in fair working condition. Glendale Lodge, No. 461, F. & A. M., was organized in 1878. There is a present membership, and the society owns a two-story frame lodge room and business house valued at $1,200. This building was put up in 1879. The officers of this lodge are as follows: J. W. Clark, W. M. ; James McGeehee, S. W. ; James Porter, J. W. ; Stewart Harrod, Sec. ; William Clark, Treas. Star Lodge, No. 236, I. 0. 0. F., has been in existence since 1862, at which time it was organized at the house of A. T. Conley. In 1865 the society built a two-story frame building, the upper story of which is used for a lodge room, and the lower story is leased by the Methodist Episcopal Church. The principal present officers are: James Arthur, N. G. ; Alfred Meads, V. G. ; John Arthur, Sec. and District Deputy.

ALFORDSVILLE.

Alfordsville, in Reece Township, is the principal village in the southeastern portion of the county. It was laid off on June 3, 1845, by Isaac Harris. An attempt was made to incorporate it a few years ago, but failed for some reason. The original plat of the place shows sixty-four lots, but to these an addition of eight lots was made by Joseph A. McCord in 1867. The first settlers of the vicinity were James Alford, James P. Gully and James Allen. These families came from North Carolina about the year 1828. Fifty years ago James Alford built the first house that stood on the ground now occupied by Alfordsville. The house is still in existence. The first resident school teachers of Alfordsville were Tol Bartl and Barton Alford. The first merchants were Florian Bard, T. H. Kyle and Joseph McCord. The latter is still in business at Alfordsville. At present the place has a population of about 175, two churches, a schoolhouse and a number of business houses, among which are those of Joseph A. McCord, H. P. Summers, Joseph Allen, Charles Allen and T. J. Alford, general merchants; Baker Bros., blacksmiths and wagon-makers, and P. A. Horrall, flouring-mill. The village of Alfordsville is near the Martin County line and is sixteen miles southeast of Washington.

Index

Preface | Ch1 | Ch2 | Ch3 | Ch4 | Ch5 | Ch6 | Ch7 | Ch8 | Ch9 |Biographies

This information is the research of many people across the United States and may contain errors. It is presented as the best information to date. Like all of those whose work I have incorporated herein, my research is a work in progress and subject to change without notice. A special thanks to Marlene Ricci of CA, Dwayne Meyer of CA, Jacqueline Bean of TX, Debbie Dick of IN, Milus Miller of IL, Carol Hendricks Miller of IN, Clarence Miller of IN, and Harold Glen Miller of IN. There are numerous others too; many of which are unknown, but their findings and stories are still much appreciated. Much of this would not have been possible with out their information. Also this website includes historical facts gathered from Washington County History, Indiana History, Rowan County and Salisbury North Carolina Historical sources and other US Historical sources.

James A. Miller- Great -Great -Great -Great Grandson of Adam Miller and Hannah Sheets.

©2007 The Millers of Washington County

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