Clark County, Indiana - Chapter 14: The Eleventh Decade I9oi-I9io, 1909

Chapter 14: The Eleventh Decade I9oi-I9io

On February 3, 1801, William Henry Harrison, the first Territorial Governor, created Clark county by gubernatorial proclamation. The centennial of this date was marked by no celebration, but the celebration of the centennial of the founding of Jeffersonville, June 23. 1902. was an event of county wide interest. A great parade of societies, exhibits, b.nnds and citizens was a feature of the day, followed by exercises at the court-house, where Col. James Keig\vin, Hon. Jonas G. Howard, and Hon. Frank Burke delivered speeches.

To the ladies of the Daughters of the American Revolution belong all the credit for this centennial. The parade in the morning was divided into divisions and were commanded by Jeffersonville soldiers. Col. John Ingram, a veteran of the Mexican war, commanded one division. Col. James Keigwin. Capt. John Hoffman. Col. Isaac Brinkworth, and Capt. C. \\\ Coward, veterans of the War of the Rebellion, commanded other divisions; while Maj. D. C. Peyton, Capt. L. C. Baird, and Capt. James W. Fortune, of the Spanish war, commanded others. In the evening a concert by a military band was given on Front street, and this was followed by a display of fire works from a barge anchored in the river.

On September 19, 1903, the corner stone of the new Jeffersonville Carnegie Library was laid by the most worshipful grand lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Indiana, with imposing ceremonies. Fifteen thousand dollars had been provided by Mr. Carnegie for the building of this structure, and one thousand five hundred dollars per year had been pledged for its support. At the ceremonies. Grand Master William E. English, of Indianapolis, presided, and Brother E. L. Powell, of Louisville, made the principal address.

One copy of Daily Courier Journal, dated September 19, 1903. One copy of Daily Herald, September 19. 1903. ' One copy of Daily Evening Star, September 19, 1903. One copy of Daih" Evening News, September 19, 1903.

Baird S History Of Clark Co., Ind

Roster of officers and members of the Forty-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry in war of 1861-5, furnished by (and in his own writing) Col. James Keigwin, its commanding officer.

Roster of officers and members of Company E, One Hundred SixtA^-first Indiana Volunteer Infantry, in war of 1898-99, by Capt. Lewis C. Baird.

List of officers of First Presbyterian church, 1903, with history of the organization of the church and photograph of the Rev. John S. Howk, pastor.

List of officers and members of the Methodist Episcopal church. South (Morton Chapel), and its history from the organization, by Rev. J. B. Butler, pastor.

Li December, 1903, St. Augustine's Roman Catholic church was burned with a loss of about thirty-five thousand dollars. The congregation immediately took steps to rebuild and on Sunday, October 2, 1905, it was dedicated by Bishop Francis Silas Chatard.

In February, 1904, occurred the death of a distinguished educator of Indiana, Prof. A. C. Goodwin, the superintendent of the JefTersonville public schools.

On May i, 1904, the last mule car was seen in Jeffersonville ; the line was discontinued for a short time, and a new electric equipment was installed. This line extended up Market street to Jackson street. Port Fulton, and down Market street to Ohio avenue. There was also a line on Spring street from Front to Court avenue, up Court avenue, to Meigs avenue, and out Meigs to the government depot.

On July 12, 1904, the City Council of Jeffersonvlile granted a franchise to build an approach to the Big Four bridge from Court avenue, and on September 13, 1905, the first car was taken over the bridge.

In August, 1904, the re-dedication of the old Bethel meeting house, three miles south of Charlestown, took place in the presence of a large concourse of Methodists. Bishop Walden, of Cincinnati, presided.

In May, 1903, the state of Indiana acquired two thousand acres of land near Henryville and established a state forestry' reservation. This tract of land was acquired to show that seven hundred thousand teres of so-called worthless knob land in Southern Indiana could be made of value. Here also were to be raised seedling trees to distribute all over Indiana to make the state again an extensive and commercial hardwood producer, and thereby retain many of the wood working concerns which would have to eventually leave the state unless a new supply of timber could be grown. It was also established to teach forestry. On the summit of the knob in this tract six hundred feet above the plains of northern Clark county and one thousand twenty-six feet above sea level one can look down on the most promising farm lands of the

Baird S History Of Clark Co., Ixd. I33

On August 25, 1904, Jeffersonville lost one of her oldest and best known citizens in the death of Col. James Keigwin. late of the Forty-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. Always proud of Jeffersonville and Clark county he belonged to that class of men who made a community better by living in it. He was a gallant soldier and in his day was widely known and connected with most of the enterprises of the city.

In August, 1904, the Jeffersonville and New Albany Chautauqua Assembly was held at Glenwood Park. As the president and seven out of eleven directors were Jeftersonville men it may fairly be called a Jeffersonville enterprise. This meeting was held at Glenwood Park on the bank of Silver creek and a program of entertainment for eleven days was offered. This Chautauqua has been held every year since and it affords clean, wholesome and intelligent entertainment at a very reasonable cost.

In September, 1904, the new Spring Hill school was opened in Jeffersonville. This school is a modern, handsome, commodious and convenient building, and marks an epoch in school building in Clark county. The standard of excellence set here is to be surpassed by the erection of a new high school at a near date. Two of the old original schools of Jeffersonville were torn down about this time. The old Mulberry street school, at the lower end of Chestnut street, was torn down in the fall of 1904, and the old Blue school on Watt and Maple, was demolished later.

September 12, 1905, the first electric car was run over the Big Four bridge, thus opening the whole of Southern Indiana to Louisville. The trip across the bridge was the occasion of a great demonstration by the officials of the three cities.

In December, 1906, Judge C. P. Ferguson's death removed from the bar of Clark county a distinguished jurist. A friend and companion of many of the early leaders both in law and politics, and a student of men and measures, he rose to the front of the profession in Clark county.

In 1906 Charlestown celebrated her centennial with appropriate ceremonies. This old county seat town, and one of the most attractive towns in Southern Indiana retains the quiet refinement and characteristic sedateness which befits its age. A more picturesque place than Charlestown does not exist, and with the historic memories of her past and the many points of interest in her near vicinity there is no reason why the little town on Falling Run could not be made a summer resort of great popularity. Fern Grove, on the river at the mouth of Fourteen Mile creek, is but two miles away and here a continual stream of excursionists are found all through the summer. Other attractions near Charlestown are :

On July 3T, 1905, the old Utica "bus" made its last trip from Jeffersonville to Utica, and on August ist the first rural free delivery of the mail in Clark county was inaugurated on the route formerly covered by the "bus."

In the year 1907 the city of Jefifersonville made three improvements, the Seventh street sewer, Maple street sewer and Spring street improvement. W. O. Sweeney was the contractor in each case. The following shows the interesting figures connected with each, the total cost of all improvements amounting to forty thousand two hundred and sixty-six dollars and eighty-one cents :

Seventh street sewer: Material, vitrified tile; length, one thousand seven hundred and ninety feet ; cost, two thousand seven hundred and fifty-six dollars and forty cents; contract approved November 5, 1907; final assessment approved February i, 1908; covers sixty-nine property descriptions, effects forty-four property owners ; city share, two dollars and twenty-seven cents.

Maple street sewer: Material, vitrified tile; length, two thousand fiftyfive feet ; cost, two thousand one hundred and forty-four dollars and fifteen cents; contract approved August 29, 1907; final assessment approved January 10, 1908; covers one hundred two property descriptions, affects sixty-five property owners; city share, one hundred sixteen dollars and fifty-six cents.

Spring street, from Court to Fourteenth: Material, vitrified brick; length, six thousand four hundred thirty-seven and twenty-six hundredths feet; total cost, thirty-two thousand three hundred sixty-six dollirs and twenty-six cents; cost per lineal foot, two dollars seventy-eight cents; contract approved April 29, 1907 : final assessment January 15, 1908 ; cover two hundred seventyfive property descriptions, affects one hundred eighteen property owners.

Apjjrtipriations of twehe thousand dollars for purchasing the turnpike running from Jefifersonville to Charlestown, and fourteen thousand two hundred fifty for Inlying the toll road between Jeffersonville and Utica and to a point a few miles beyond there, where it intersects the first named highway for an outlet to Charlestown, was matle by ihc County Council of Clark cciunty in April, 1907.

Bairds History Of Clark Co., Ixd

On February 10, igo8, a limited car service was established between Louisville and Seymour, Indiana. These cars ran every two hours, and the running time between Jeffersonville and Seymour was one hour and thirtynine minutes.

In November, 1907. the famous Chalyljeate Springs, which once made famous the "Springs'" in Jeft'ersonville in the forties and fifties, were destroyed by the Big Four Railroad in making improvements.

July 18, 1907, the corner stone of the new county poor asylum was laid by the grand master of Masons of Indiana, Calvin W. Prather, acting grand master presiding. This ceremon}- was under the auspices of Blazing Star Lodge, No. 226, Free and Accepted Masons. The building when completed cost twenty-tive thousand dollars, and is one of the finest in the state of Indiana.

One of the important dates of late years was that of 1907. The river had reached a high but not dangerous stage. The residents of the lower end of Jeft'ersonville had been alarmed at reports of the weakness of the Pennsylvania fill at the junction, and at the ringing of the fire bell, when a break seemed imminent, pandemonium broke loose. Wagons, carts, buggies, wheelbarrows and ever)- other available vehicle was pressed into ser\'ice to haul household and other goods to high ground. It was the record breaking evacuation, notwithstanding the fact that the water would have reached few of the houses should the fill have broken. When the river had subsided the town of Clarksville, together with the Pennsylvania Railroad, reinforced the dike and Jeffersonville is today the safest and dryest river town from Pittsburg to Cairo.

In the centennial decade Charlestown began the improvement of her streets with granitoid sidewalks, and besides adding to the beauty, attractiveness and convenience of the town, it has added to the value of real estate. The spirit of municipal progress which gave Charlestown improved streets, a fine creamery, an electric lighting plant, good telephones, cement and wall plaster factory, and electric cars, will manifest in other lines, and the coming generation may expect to see the most Ijeautiful residential suburb around the Three Falls cities. Her old attraction will always remain, and to the lovers of rural beauty and historical association she will always remain one of the choicest spots on Indiana soil.

Borden in like manner is growing in prominence on account of its industries and improvements, but particularly from its strawberry shipments. This town has become one of the principal berry shipping points in the West, no less than twenty thousand gallons being shipped to Chicago annually.

The shipment of fruits and berries to other cities is growing and this trade will soon be one of far-reaching importance to this section of the state.

Improvement seems to be the order of the day throughout Clark county, and Jeffersonville has within the last year taken great strides towards rejuvenating herself and advertising her advantages in every quarter. With the resumption of business at the car works and the returning confidence of the people in the stability of business in other lines Clark county and her various towns have indeed a bright future before them.