Indiana's State Motto: The Crossroads of America - adopted in 1937
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Indiana Becomes a State
In 1816 Indiana looked much different; Knox county and Washington county were next to each other. These two counties were the northern border to the Indian land, along with Jefferson, Franklin and Wayne Counties.
There were 13 counties when Indiana was formed and most of what is now Indiana still belonged to the Indians. The settlers wanted these areas because of the water ways; the Wabash, the White, the Patoka, the Blue, and the Ohio Rivers; because of the travel advantages they offered by eventually leading into the Mississippi River.
Many of the original settlers of Indiana were Revolutionary War Soldiers. Revolutionary War Veterans received 600 acres as payment if they were a private. Essentially Virginia used the Indiana Territory as payment to the United States for the cost of the Revolution. Each state was expected to pay for the revolution and Virginia used its Indiana Territory as payment. The United States then used Indiana to pay its debt to its soldiers. For this reason, you can find many Revolutionary War Soldiers buried in the cemeteries of Indiana.
The first tribe of Indians to leave Indiana was the Delaware in 1820. They opened up central Indiana when they left and settlers moved in quickly. The next tribe to leave was the Pottawatomie who lived in north western Indiana.
==# 1817 - Mississippi gains statehood
==# 1818 - Illinois becomes a state.
==# 1819 - Alabama Becomes a state.
==# 1820 - Maine becomes a state
==# 1821 - Missouri gains statehood
==# 1824 - Joesph Aspdin patents portland cement
==# 1827 - John Walker invents matches.
==# 1829 - W.A. Burt invents a typewriter
==# 1830 - B. Thimonier invents a sewing machine
In April 1831, the steam engine paddleboat "Robert Hanna" actually traveled up the White River and made it all the way to Indianapolis. There were a few successful attempts after that but the White River was too full of debris and too shallow at times to make it dependable travel.
==# 1834 - Jacob Perkins invents a refrigeratior (ether ice Maker)
==# 1836 - Arkansas becomes a state
==# 1837 - Michigan gains statehood
Plans were made to dig 3 major waterway canals that would allow people to transport things from town to town through Indiana and into Illinois, Kentucky and Ohio; or vice-versa. The canal system was a financial failure for the state, but it continued to function until 1870.
In 1838 work began on a railroad from Madison to Indianapolis and in 1847 it was completed.
By 1840 the last big tribe, the Miami, sold all their land to the United States. This would now make creating the canals and railroads in northern Indiana possible.
==# 1845 - Texas and Florida become states
In 1846 soldiers took the Miami to land they were given in Kansas; it was a sad event for both the soldiers and the Indians. It was very hard for the Indians to leave the land they called home for generations, and it was difficult for the soldiers too as it was a very emotional event.
In 1847, Salem Indiana businessmen wanting to ship products to the Ohio River quickly, formed the New Albany and Salem Rail Road; it is considered one of the pioneer lines of the Midwest. It was chartered in 1847 in Providence (now Borden), Indiana. The company purchased the Crawfordsville and Wabash Railroad in 1852 which connected Crawfordsville with Lafayette. A 56-mile stretch between Gosport and Crawfordsville was completed in 1854. Lines were completed from New Albany to Salem on January 14, 1851, and from Michigan City to Lafayette in 1853. In 1859 it was reorganized as the Louisville, New Albany and Chicago Railroad.
The Erie & Wabash Canal, and the Whitewater Canal, were actually built, but a third canal was never built that was to connect the Wabash & Erie Canal with the Whitewater Canal, going through Indianapolis. Other canals planned would have connected this canal system to Lake Michigan.
The Erie and Wabash canals came from Toledo Ohio into Fort Wayne, on to Huntington, Wabash, Peru, Logansport, Delphi, Lafayette, Attica, Terre Haute, Worthington, Bloomfield, Washington, Rogers, Petersburg, and Evansville and to the Ohio River.
The Whitewater Canal ran from Hagerstown to Harrison and then to Lawrenceburg Indiana. Another branch crossed the Ohio River and went on to Cincinnati Ohio.
==# 1852 - The paper bag is invented
==# 1867 - The typewriter is invented
More Indiana History Pages : 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
* Although an item may have been invented, it would be some time later that it would be in use by the general public.
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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Last Updated 06/04/07 03:51:23 PM -0700