Crawford County, Indiana - Chapter 20: Marengo After the War, 1926

Chapter 20: Marengo After the War

Big Springs, Springtown, or Marengo, has a similar growth as English. Before the railroad went through the town there was a cluster of log cabins, one or two stores, a saloon, meeting house or two and a graveyard. In this graveyard lies buried a Revolutionary War soldier who was named Cooper. He was from Germany.

The good people of Marengo, with the assistance of Professor J. M. Johnson, built an academy in old town about the year of 1869. Then Marengo became the center of education for southern Indiana. Many students from far and near attended the Marengo Academy. Professor Johnson did a great work there. Soon a new frame schoolhouse was built just north and east of the Methodist church. This house was the only school building of its kind ever erected in Marengo. The people were proud of it. In it Emmett Taylor and Jesse Breeden taught spring" normals after Professor Johnson became too old to teach school.

On June 10, 1886, men became interested in the rock at Marengo. The railroad was a means of getting the stone away. Joseph Garrow was the first man to undertake to open the quarry. He had a good chance to sell to Wash DePauw of the New Albany Glass Works. The first load

Then Garrow sawed out the rock, which he sold whereever he could get a market. One day in November, 1886, the apparatus blew up, injuring him so that he died. Then his two sons, Joseph and Milton Garrow, took up the work. They did much work and business was running fairly well until a blast failed to go off one day. Later it exploded while Milton was too near it and blew him over a bank and another man over a boxcar which was standing near the quarry.

Other men took shares in the rock quarry and business - went rapidly on with various degrees of success. To-day one can get some idea of the great amount of rock shipped away by the hole in the hill.

The United Brethren, Christian and Methodist churches, and the church over in old town give ample opportunities to all for religious worship.

Back in the nineties Curtis Weathers started a paper in Marengo which he called the Marengo Observer. He was the son of James I. Weathers, a member of the Republican Central Committee, and a very courteous gentleman. This paper met with various successes on different occasions. Often it failed but some good man would begin the paper again. At present the paper is suspended.

help the Leavenworth people construct the pike road, but the success of the company was not assured and the undertaking failed after about two miles of the road was built.

Relative to the telephone. the men were more successful. Captain William Everdon built the first telephone into Marengo and English about 1894. One Sunday morning, when the line was complete, Everdon and Ilenry Summers and Mrs. Ella Murphy were the first ones to use the telephone line. Willett and Weathers were financing the undertaking, while Everdon did the work.

In 1891 the first fair was held in Marengo. That was a great boom to the town. The sidewalks at that time were of board or rock, for conerete was not known or used then. The town was growing steadily. The Indiana Gazetteer for 1895 gives these men and their vocations:

The situation of Marengo is one to commend its beauty. The hills have a charm which appeals to the lovers of art. On August 18, 1883, a few boys, while after a rabbit, made a discovery which added a remarkable charm to the town. In pursuit of the rabbit the boys chased it into some rocks. Not to be baffled in their determination they began to tear out a few of the loose rocks. The opening grew wider and the rocks came loose easier. To their great surprise the rabbit den grew bigger and bigger as they removed the loose rocks, until they saw that they were in the mouth of a large opening in the ground. The boys went back to the town and told what they had discovered. A large crowd of men and boys with lanterns and strings went to the opening to explore it. After getting a few rocks out of the way the men entered the opening which grew larger and larger until they found themselves in the mouth of a wonderful cave which was named the Marengo Cave. The cave is one of the most beautiful in the world. One can go through the cave and come out in about two hours. The walking is not so muddy and slippery as in other caves. To-day the cave is visited by hundreds of men and women from all parts of the country. The cave is near the east end of the cemetery in old town. The new town is built about a mile south and west near the railroad station. The author cannot say whether the boys ever caught their rabbit or not.

One finds the following announcement in the Indiana School Journal, date of 1879, page 329: ''The Marengo Normal will begin July 21 and continue four weeks. J. M. Johnson, Miss Frances Temple and J. W. J. Springston will be the instructors.''

Below is a statement of his normals: ''In 1877 Johnson taught a normal for four weeks, beginning on June 24th. Twenty boys and sixteen girls were present. The tuition was one dollar per week.'' In 1878 and 1879 one finds about the same report.

Professor Johnson was a great help to many poor boys and girls who were working hard to get an education. One time, after he was elected truant officer, while out on duty, he eame to the school where the writer was teaching at Magnolia. IIe became interested in the school and | stayed about all day. When noon came the writer happened to think of Andrew Batman, who was a very gen- erous man. So he took the occasion to tell Professor Johnson to take his horse down there and tell Mr. Batman to feed him and give Mr. Johnson a good warm dinner at the author's expense. That pleased Mr. Johnson very riuch. Mr. Batman was very much pleased to have Professor Johnson call at his home. So they had a delightful visit, but Professor Johnson was back about the time the bell rang. The teacher received many useful suggestions from him that day, one of which was this: ''If I had but five minutes given me to solve a problem, and if it was life or death with me, I would spend four minutes reading the problem. Then solve it in the other minute."'

During the spring of 1900, on May 23rd, the good people of Marengo planned a surprise on Professor J. M. Johnson. Arrangements were made to haul over lumber enough with riders to make a long table out in the grove. The people furnished baskets of dinner. The Marengo band, which was one of the best Crawford County ever had, furnished the music for the occasion. About eleven o'clock the procession formed in Marengo. The band led the way. At Professor Johnson's home dinner was being served. They sat around the table, doubtless never dreaming that it was the forty-sixth anniversary of their marriage. Their frugal meal was eaten in silence. Suddenly the professor heard the band playing as the procession neared his home. Arthur Johnson, who was boarding with the professor, said that the band is out. He knew the plan, but did not tell any of the family. The band came nearer and nearer. Finally Professor Johnson went to the door, opened it and said: ''I believe they are coming here.'? By that time Coen Balthis had turned into the walk to the house, while Arthur Johnson had opened the back door so that the procession could march into the house and out at the back door. The poor old professor came staggering to the door and stood on the little porch with his wife beside him. As the procession went by, he, realizing what the day meant, began to cry, and the crowd, which was a large one, shook hands with the aged couple as each one went by. Meanwhile the tables were being spread down under some beautiful shade trees near the house. The band played some music until the dinner was ready. Then everybody enjoyed a good meal. All went away wishing the Professor and his wife many more happy "anniversaries.

The Marengo Academy students met September 4, 1908, and voted to erect a monument to Professor Johnson. Alson Roberts of English furnished the monument which he bought at Quincy, Massachusetts. He began work on August 11, 1909, and completed the work on August 27, 1909. That day a large crowd of people met to witness the unveiling. Honorable J. R. Duffin and John H. Weathers delivered touching orations. Both had been students and friends of Professor Johnson.

A canning factory was built at Marengo about 1899. The factory canned peaches at times and then tomatoes. The plant is standing down the railroad at the east end of the town. The canning factory opened up a market for the tomato growers, many of whom made a nice sum of money.

The high school at Marengo was commissioned in 1909 by Professor Cooley of Evansville. The new law of 1907 required that beginning teachers be graduates. By hard work Professor Dunn, with the assistance of such workers as J. Benton Pierson, built up the school until the state granted the town a commission. Much credit is due to S. A. Beals, who was the county superintendent.

On April 28, 1910, occurred one of the most destructive fires that ever visited the town. The whole square was destroyed, including Balthis' store, Doctor Luckett's office, Charles D. Summers', Roscoe Stewart's, Mike Fromholtz's stores and William T. Pierson's meat market and _ restaurant. One can not estimate the cost or the amount of insurance now very well. Practically all of the men rebuilt, making the town a much better looking place in which to live. The loss was about $20,000.

Several years after the fire, Mr. Rice of Louisville, in conjunction with A. B. Fenn of Tell City, built a hub and rim factory at Marengo. The location of the factory was down the railroad track west of the town. John Seig was © employed for a time as manager and Benton Pierson was bookkeeper. Later, others took their positions. Many men were employed at the hub and rim factory for several years until all the timber was used up. Then the owners moved away to other towns.

The managers of the fair in 1905 advertised that they would have two real automobiles at the fair. There was a record-breaking crowd. Just about two o'clock in the afternoon, to the great joy of everyone, two automobiles drove into the fair-grounds and circled around the rack track. A mighty cheer rose from the crowd back on the hillside. The men and women crowded down to the cars. In some way, no one now knows how, men got into the cars and the drivers told them they would haul them around the track for a dime. The cars were filled with joy-riders by the time the chauffeurs were ready. When the cars came back the people made a mad rush for them, and away they went again and again. Word, went over the ground that the automobiles had come and the drivers were hauling the people around the fair-ground half-mile race track for a dime. Boys and girls left the ''hot dog'' stands, ice cream counters, and other eating places and rushed down the hill. Men who were selling watermelons and other things to eat were terribly disappointed for their sales were ruined that day. Yet the people enjoyed the sight of the cars, and those who were fortunate enough to get a ride were wild with delight. So these two men were the first men to bring cars to the county. They were from New Albany.

Agitation for a new school house was started about 1910 and kept up until about 1914 when a handsome new brick building was constructed. The men who were in favor of the school used all kinds of tactics to secure the consent of certain people in the town and township. The school cost about $15,000.

The Jenner garage, which was built about 1917, was a fine addition to the city. The structure is of brick with a work shop below and a storage room above. Mr. Jenner, who built the garage, has a large business in automobiles and is one of the best business men in the town. He sells Ford cars and parts.

After the failure of Weathers' and Willetts' bank in Leavenworth in 1897, the branch bank soon fell, too. Many years later the business men of Marengo organized a private bank and chose William Hawkins cashier. No one needed to recommend Hawkins for the position. He had been a teacher all his life and was honest and well liked by all. The bank was a great help to the people of the town in their business relations.

For many years the people of Marengo had been making progress in various ways. The Masons, Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Red Men had organized lodges. The churches were busy with people. Then came a demand for a motion picture hall. So several men who were interested built the Blue Diamond Theater, just across the street from the bank. The building changed hands and is now managed by ''Woody'' Jenner, who is the automobile man of the county. .

One of the last factories to be built in Marengo was the shirt factory. It was located east of the Jenner garage on the Milltown road. When running with a full force there are a large number of girls hired. The building was constructed about 1922.

A few weeks before his death the writer met him as he was returning home from the town to his house. On inquiry how he was the Professor said that he was getting along as well as could be expected for a ''boy'' of his age. The funeral was held in the old town church. Many of his former students were present and several delivered addresses, among whom was John H. Weathers of New Albany.

On June 10, 1901, W. A. Cook's new flour mill caught fire and burned down. The owner's loss was about $3,000. Cook made a very high grade of flour.

On Saturday, February 11, 1912, another disastrous fire visited Marengo. The fire was discovered in the Spencer Hotel early in the morning and the guests barely escaped with their lives. Several escaped by the windows. W. E. Gregory's empty store room burned, too. Uncle Jake Gottfried, who was boarding at the hotel, almost died from suffocation. F. P. Wood's residence also burned. W. E. Gregory began a new hotel which he called the New Grand. It was completed in the fall of 1915 and rented to John I. Stroud, who moved there from Leavenworth, where he grew up. Mr. Stroud was in business there for several years.

The town of Marengo was probably the first town in the county to have a veterinarian. Doctor Lancy Conrad, who had just completed a college course in the best schools of the country, moved to Marengo May 24, 1921.

The leading physicians of the town have been Doctor J. E. Fetzer, Doctor Patton, Doctor D. F. Davis, Doctor Peter Grant, Doctor Luckett, Doctor Jesse Benz and Doctors Edward and George Land.

In May, 1920, oceurred the death of Professor Temple Dunn at his home in Marengo. He was born in Alton in 1846. All his life was spent in service to his fellowman and his country. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and of the Masonic lodge, under whose auspices he was buried at Alton. He was superintendent of the Marengo schools for several years until he resigned in 1913 to accept the superintendency of the Soldiers' and

During the year 1924 and 1925 a Junior Legislature was held at Indianapolis. William E. Jenner of Marengo was elected to the Junior Senate. When the Senate convened at Indianapolis Jenner was one of the most prominent members. He was elected president of the Senate. Marengo High School was proud of her student. Jenner's speech on the child labor amendment won him distinction among the boys of Indiana. Jenner is the son of L. L. Jenner, who is one of the best business men in Crawford County.

L. L. Jenner visited Ford's automobile factory at Detroit in 1926. He said that he had had two days of the most interesting education of his life. He says the glass plant was capable of turning out 12,000,000 square feet each year, while the other machine shops were capable of doing a great amount of work.

The theater was built by J. A. Blackford, who was superintendent of the Rice-Fenn hub mill at Marengo for some time. When the factory was sold to Turley he moved with the factory to English. Later he moved to Paoli, where he committed suicide Thursday, March 11th. For some time he had been in poor health. His people had arranged to take him to the hospital that very day, but he secured a shotgun and killed himself. Later Jenner changed the name of the motion picture theater to the

L. L. Jenner sold the first automobile to Willis Pierson in 1910. He sold the first manure spreader to Jack Archibald, who also bought the first Delaval cream separator ever sold in the county.

The town of Marengo has always been a patriotic town. Many boys joined the Union Army from there. The following letter was written home by a Marengo boy in the Civil War. By special request it was furnished the writer.

''We arrived here last Monday, the third, after a delightful and pleasant trip from Portsmouth, Virginia. We embarked on the steamer Kennebec at Portsmouth at three o'clock on the morning of July 31st and arrived at Fortress Monroe at daylight, where we stopped to take on water and ice, And at nine o'clock we left the shores of the Old Dominion for South Carolina's sunny clime. We did not get entirely' out of sight of land that day. We could see the North Carolina coast and the white sand banks washed up by the old ocean's wild waves far to the west in the hazy distance. Ilow grand and sublime was the scene! I watched the restless motion of the ocean's swelling billows until long after twilight and then went to bed. I was soon lost in slumber, for between the gentle rocking of our boat and loss of sleep the night before, it did not take me long to go to sleep. I arose early the next morning and looked out upon the ocean and I confess I felt a little queer when I could not see land in any direction. But I soon became use to it. You can not form the faintest idea of the beauty of the ocean and the rolling blue waves.

'""We had remarkably fine weather and the sea was smooth, though the swells were heavy. The waters of the ocean are never calm and still and it was perfectly delightful to ride the waves. At times we would be right on top of a big wave and a huge hollow below us. It would look as though we were going right to the bottom of the briny deep. I can not describe the loveliness of the ocean for I can not find words to express its beauty.

'"This island does not fill my imagination of the Sunny South. It is covered with palmetto and pine trees and low, scrubby shrubbery of different kinds. There is a good breeze stirring all the time in the open, but in the woods it is hot almost to suffocation. The water is most miserable, but what makes me think so more than I otherwise would, I have been slightly ill since we landed here. I am about well now.

'"The siege of Charleston is progressing favorably, and with every prospect of success. You needn't have any fears of any more desperate charges being made on Fort Wagner or any other fort, for they are going to be reduced by regular siege. Heavy batteries are being planted within 300 yards of Ft. Wagner and our sharp-shooters prevent them from working their guns now. When General Gilmore gets ready to open again on Sumter, Moultrie and Wagner, they will fall. I am anxious for the time to come. I want to see proud and haughty Charleston humbled. It will be a proud day for the nation when the old flag waves again over Sumter's walls and the rebellious citizens of Charleston. There is where treason and secession was first nursed and there is where it must fall.

'Mother, I would like to know what you all are doing at home to-day. Perhaps you have visitors and I guess, a good dinner. Maybe young potatoes, beans and roasting ears. Wouldn't I like to be there tho, to see for myself! I would like to have a piece of your good lightbread and butter and some sweet milk or a glass of sparkling water from the bottom of the old well. How often I have thought of that since I have to drink this detestable water! But never mind, this is August and it will soon be gone and then I only have eight more months to stay. How short the time is growing! My time expires the 22nd of next April. I guess we will be apt to stay here the rest of our time. If Charleston soon falls I won't care if we do.

'How is Ike? I haven't had but one letter from home since June and I'm looking for some in the next mail. We only get mail here every ten days. Tell Sam he owes me a letter.

'Well, Mother, I believe I have written all the news, so will close. Much love to all and be assured of the love and devotion of your obedient son.

Milltown After The War 433

The town of Milltown had grown by 1895 to 400 population. At that time the leading business men were; C. W. Rawlins, postmaster; Christian Atz and brother were blacksmiths; Doctor George W. Baylor was a leading physician; J. M. Beaty was a leading saloon keeper; Beatty and Funk ran a sawmill; the Blue River Lime Company was doing a@ big business; A. W. Funk was a leading lawyer; Ed. Bush was a carpenter; John E. Funk and sons were grain dealers and also sold agricultural implements; A. EK. Gerrish kept a restaurant; Gibbs and Spencer kept a hardware store; F. E. Hancock kept a general store; William Henriott was a carpenter; the Holland Hotel; C. A. Hostetter was interested in poultry; Ed. and E. F. Ilostetter ran a flour mill; Joseph Igert was the shoemaker ; Indiana Contract Company for crushed stone; Johnson and Bye ran a general store; I. L. Lewis was the barber; L. G. Patrick was a cooper; I. G. Pennington was a cooper; C. W. Rawlings was selling cigars; John Rawlings was selling furniture; William Solbrig was a saloon keeper; A. J. Sonner ran a grocery store; Speed and Company had a lime business; A. J. Summers was a carpenter; J. G. Summers was a photographer; R. Summers was a milliner ; W.S. Swartz was interested in confectionery; C. P. Teatter kept a general store; Scott M. Walts was a druggist.

Probably the greatest lime and' rock industry in the state is the Speed Company at Milltown. The company began business about 1885. At first old stone kilns were used but the heat soon ruined them. The crushers were built in which stone was crushed for markets over the state. The Hichels Company was bought after a few years. Gas-producing kilns were built in which the com- pany produces the gas used. Two new steel kilns, each of which is about thirty feet in diameter and one hundred and twenty feet high were built. The objection to the old stone kilns was that the enormous heat burned up the kilns. A plan was devised whereby water might cireulate in such a manner that the heat was kept from melting the steel kilns. Harry Lemmons has the eredit for thinking out the device.

The ground has been stripped back and enormous quantities of rocks blasted out at a time. Tons of powder and dynamite mixed have been put into the holes. The discharges may be heard many miles away. The terrible jar often ruins cisterns in Milltown and knocks the windows out of the houses in some instances. Yet with that tremendous explosion at a time not many men have been killed. A premature explosion killed W. 8. Engleman, Neal Miller and James Miller several years ago. Besides the enormous lime industry the company now has a large rock crusher which will take rocks as large as ordinary barrels. These rocks are picked up by steam shovels and dropped into the crusher. One has estimated the amount of erushed rock turned out each day to be about fifty to sixty car loads, each car holding about forty-five yards or loads of stone.

Besides the lime and rock business a plant for manufacturing hydrate lime that manufactures a patent plaster which is ready to use by mixing it with sand and water. Ilarry Lemmons is superintendent of this great work and Robert Proctor, who has spent many years laboring for the company, is assistant superimtendent.

Milltown After The War 435

The old Presbyterian church was bought about 1917 and remodeled by the company and given to the Milltown people for a community house. The people appreciated this gift.

Milltown at one time was named Leavenworth's Mill, because Seth Marshall Leavenworth built a mill there in the early history of the county. A dam was built across the river, which backed the water up sufficiently to run the mill by water power. Many years after Leavenworth died, Captain Edmund Hostetter and Emanuel Hostetter built a large sawmill on the site of the early mill. Later the sawmill was sold and Ed. Bennett, Fred Bye, Jim Jackson, W. 8. Daniels and Shelby Ross started a flour mill, which later was bought by Ollie Boldt, Henry Boldt and David Stroud, who now own the mill.

Nolan Atz, son of Christian Atz, deserves mention here. He attended the University of Louisville for some time. Then he started a chicken hatchery about four years ago in which 150,000 eggs are hatched at a time. This is probably one of the largest chicken hatcheries in southern Indiana.

The fathers and sons banquet, which was given in the Community house at Milltown March 17, 1922, under the auspices of the Woman's Community Club of Milltown, was one of the most. enjoyable affairs ever given in Milltown. There were about one hundred and _ sixty-nine fathers and sons present, each one of whom enjoyed the splendid affair which they will remember as one of the most enjoyable occasions of their lives. The tables were decorated with green and white. The music for the occasion was furnished by Dryer's Orchestra of six pieces from New Albany. Two piano solos were also given by Mrs. A. N. Bobbitt of English. Addresses were delivered by Doctor John MeMillian of Louisville, John Mallon of Louisville, Kenneth Boldt of Milltown, while E. R. Gentry of Speeds acted as toast master. Much praise is due these fine women of Milltown for the success of the banquet.

The Republicans of Crawford County held a district convention at Milltown on June 30, 1900, and nominated James E. Stewart for prosecutor. The Airline Republican Club met at Milltown, too. on August 16. The English and Marengo bands furnished the music for the occasion. The special train carried eleven coaches filled with Republicans. Jerry L. Suddarth of English delivered the oration of the day.

On September 1, 1900, Doctor Charles Ross entered the United States service as an army doctor. He was the son of W. S. Ross of Milltown and had married Miss Edith Conn of Leavenworth. On Friday, February 15, 1901, word came that he was shot from ambush in the Philippine Islands. Nothing more was heard about the affair until Mrs. Edith Ross received a letter on April 12, 1901, from BE. J. Williams, First Lieutenant Fifth United States Infantry Commanding Post. In this letter he gave the details of the battle of Batiatis on February 2, 1901, in which Doctor Ross was shot through the neck about one o'clock in the day. He died in about two minutes. The remains were brought back to the United States and buried at Leavenworth in 1902.

accident while running the elevator buckets at the Milltown quarry. He was cut under the chin by one of the buckets and his head dragged to the rock pit. Friends rushed to his assistance and dragged his body away. Williams was a descendant of Addison Williams, who mapped out the town of Magnolia, but had for many years made his home with M. C. Froman, near Pilot Knob.

August Atz was found dead Monday, June 9, 1901, out where he had gone to cut some grass for the calves which he had bought recently. He came from Germany and located at Milltown. He was one of the best citizens of Milltown.

A very serious accident occurred at Milltown on June 16, 1901. Steven Reichert, who was drilling a hole in the quarry, had both hands terribly mangled so that it became necessary to have his hands amputated. Doctors McNemer, Happer, Rhoades and Baylor assisted in the operation.

On September 2, 1901, William Mills was severely cut while sleeping in bed at the Fitzpatrick Hotel. Doctor Morton, who was under the influence of liquor, slipped into the room and slashed him about the head and thighs. Later Morton learned that Mills was not the man he wanted, but in the dark he slashed the wrong man.

The people of Milltown built concrete walks during the year of 1905. The basement of the Methodist church was dug out till it was fifteen feet by thirty feet, which was much needed. The school board painted the schoolhouse and papered the walls that summer.

William House of Marengo and William Beaty of North Marengo came to Milltown July 2, 1905. While there they engaged in a fight. On their return to Marengo that evening House became seriously sick. Doctor Grant was called. He found House with his right arm paralyzed. He grew worse till he died at four o'clock the next morning. The case seemed to baffle the doctors.

The people of Milltown were thrown into excitement on December 10, 1905, when they heard that Edmond Walts had committed suicide in the woodshed of Scott Walts. He had been demented for some time, but they had kept a watch over him fairly well until one day he took a revolver and climbed into the woodshed and shot himself. Later he was found by the blood which had dripped down from the loft.

The people of Milltown have always been interested in good schools. While Ed. Funk was superintendent in 1916 the state commissioned the high school.

David J. Murr started to publish a newspaper at Milltown during the spring of 1907. The paper was named the Milltown Record. Murr had worked on the Paoli paper a while and was well prepared to do the work but the paper was not a success.

In the summer of 1907 Sheriff Hanger raided a blind tiger at Milltown which was run by Buck Shaffer. Hanger found a barrel of booze. Shaffer escaped but ''Micky'' McDonald was arrested and fined fifty dollars.

W. S. Ross, who had been sick for a long time, died at his home in Milltown Saturday night, February 15, 1908. Mr. Ross had been elected clerk two terms in Crawford County. He was buried by the Masons on the next Tuesday. In politics Ross was a Democrat. After the death of his first wife he married a daughter of Albert Conn of Leavenworth. To this union was born one son, William

S. Ross, Jr., who furnished the author the account of his experience in the World War. He was one of the best students in Crawford County. During his school days he never missed a day in twelve years.

John Pankey, who was one of the oldest and best known men in Crawford County, died at Milltown on August 21, 1915. He was elected sheriff of Crawford County two terms, from 1872 to 1876. In 1882 he was elected treasurer of the county for two terms. That morning in August he was seen walking along the railroad track carrying a traveling bag. When he reached the center of the railroad bridge over Big Blue River, he was seen to fall or jump into the river and sink. This happened about ten o'clock on the above date. Search was made for him but the body was not found till the next Thursday when William Borer and Mr. Bline located the corpse in a bunch of drift near Ollie Boldt's farm, several miles south of Milltown. Pankey was eighty-five years old at the time of his death.

The Methodist people of Milltown built a new church during 1923. This church is one of the best in southern Indiana. Much praise is due the good Christian people for the support they gave their pastor.

The schools of Milltown for some time were crowded so that agitation for a new high school arose. Much credit is due Superintendent Ferguson with his school board and Trustee Vance for the help they gave in the matter.

A site for the new building was selected some distance out on the rock road which leads to English. The cornerstone was laid in June, 1923, and by Christmas of that year the school was being taught in the new building. One of the men who worked so hard to secure the new school building was Superintendent J. O. Ferguson. The school board was composed of Harry Lemmons, Luther Flannigan and Martin Lynch, while Trustee Vance assisted materially in securing the school. Speed and Company have been generous to donate to the school.

The first schoolhouse ever built in the town stood near where the Home Bakery stands. It was a one-room building. Late in the nineteenth century a new addition was built to the old house. By 1900 it became necessary to build a new house, which was a four-room structure on the hill. In 1912 an addition was built to the house.

That year steps were taken to organize a four-year high school course. By 1916, when Mr. Funk was superintendent, the school received a commission which it has kept.

The school board and the trustee agreed in 1919 to erect a new joint high school. Much opposition arose from various quarters and many of the school men were discouraged. The rooms were so crowded that the Community House was used for school purposes. Chester Boss spent one winter in the Community House trying to teach. By 1923 the difficulties were out of the way and a beautiful new house was built. The house cost about $40,000. It will need about $10,000 more to complete it.

The house is 55 x 105. It has a beautiful recitation hall which is 36 x 55. There are twenty-four rooms in all. In paying for the school the town pays two-thirds and the township pays one-third of the expense and maintaining the school; both corporations pay according to the enrollment.

The Milltown schools under the leadership of J. O. Ferguson have made a wonderful advancement. During the year of 1925-1926 the school published an annual called the Millwheel. The staff of editors were: Effie Boldt, Violet Sieg, Madge Kirsch, Irene Swarens, Stanley Proctor, Fred Ferguson, Fern Satterfield, Floy Benz, Kathleen Boldt and Pauline Carroll.

William L. Lee began a new garage in Milltown in 1917. The building was thirty-four feet by sixty-four feet and cost about $4,000. Mr. Lee lived on Pleasant Ridge for a number of years before he located at Milltown. He was a candidate for sheriff on the Republican ticket in 1922. but was defeated in the primary. Lee has made guod at Mill. town.

The Milltown basketball team of 1925 and 1926 represented Crawford County Saturday night in the sectional tournament at Tell City. Despite the fine team work exhibited by the Bristow boys, Milltown held them down to a score of 26 to 20. There were fourteen teams at the tournament, which was held at Tell City March 6th. These boys were on the team: Stanley Proctor, Kedric Harvey, Jesse Heishman, Cleo Deweese, Paul Stephenson, Fred Ferguson, Norman Murr, Charles Deweese, and Mr. Young was coach.

cated west of English about six miles. There are probably one hundred and fifty people in the town. The town has a Christian church, a Methodist pastor, a very good school building, and several stores. In 1882 one finds that John L. Mathers was given a license to sell liquor for one year in Taswell. Later Welk Huff obtained a license on September 5, 1883, and ran a saloon there until the fall of 1885 when he moved to Marengo. Henry Goldman also was given a license on September 4, 1884, to sell liquor in Taswell.

Back in the vicinity of Taswell the Knights of the Golden Circle had a castle or lodge. Men say that the members used to meet in a cave near Taswell and other places nearby. At one of their meetings a few boys, who were out hunting, came upon them without being seen, and just for mischief rolled several rocks down the steep hill where the members of the Golden Circle were in a secret session. Thinking that the Union soldiers were upon them, the company vanished from view like a magic scene of some kind. Before they had run a mile they saw that no one was after them and then their hatred toward Wood Cummins and Hall Golden burned hotter than ever.

Farther west from Taswell about four miles is the little town of Eckerty. For a long time it' was named Boston, but the name of Eckerty was finally chosen in honor of the Eckerty's who live there.

The leading merchants who have been in business there for some time are Michael G. Real and Porter Eckerty. The town has two churches, a postoffice, flouring mill, and other stores. For a long time it was a shipping point for lumber and ties and other products.

North of Eckerty about two miles and west is the little town of Wickliffe. There is a store, school, and a few houses here. It is off of the railroad about three miles.

South of Taswell about two miles is the little town of Mifflin. Benham, near here, in the early days, made much salt. One salt well is still running not far from Mr. Senn's store. There is a schoolhouse, a store, and a few houses here. The town is on Otter Creek. In recent years coal has been mined near here.

South of Mifflin several miles is the little town of West Fork. This town was on the old Princeton Trail. There is a school, a store and a few houses. Much fine timber grew in this part of the county. The coming of the state roads will be a great help when they are complete. State road No. 16 will pass through West Fork on the way to Tell City.

An effort was made by the people of the north and west parts of the county to locate the county seat here in the eighties, but the effort failed.

Fredonia Since The War

When the seat of justice was moved from Fredonia to Leavenworth by an act of the General Assembly in 1843, Fredonia lost much of its prestige and hope of future growth. The jail was soon gone, but the court house stands after one hundred years looking back across the century. The huge locust trees still remind one of the days gone by.

Allen D. Thom, who had been a prominent figure for many years, died in January. 1862. There was a deep snow on the ground and men hitched to a log and dragged it up and down the streets to break the snow drifts so that men could attend the funeral. John EH. McFall, who lived in Fredonia then, gave the information.

For many years William H. Conrad was one of the leading business men in Fredonia. He moved to Kansas many years after the war, where he died.

Fredonia that year had about one hundred and seventy people. That was the maximum of its glory. The oneroom school was crowded with about sixty pupils of all ages, from twenty years downward. Perey Allen, who was one of the leading teachers of the county, was their popular teacher.

Many years later the Methodist people bought the old court house and remodeled it for church purposes. The point was in the Leavenworth charge, whose pastor came down and preached for the people there.

The leading business men of the town to-day (1925) are Perey Allen, Herschell Rainforth and Joseph Rainforth. They are managers of the leading stores. Percy Allen is postmaster.

To-day Fredonia has about fifty people, three stores, a schoolhouse, with about fifteen people to attend, while scenes on all sides remind one of the beauty of the site and the faded hope of the town. On the eighteenth day of October, 1921, County Superintendent Pleasant, in company with Benjamin Burris, state superintendent, brought the Governor, Warren T. McCray, there to visit the schools. Mrs. Joseph Rainforth's daughter gave the Governor a beautiful rose. He was much pleased with the beauty of the location, but lamented the fact that the school was in such a poor condition. At the time one from _the group of visitors pointed out a shed which was sided up out of pure yellow poplar lumber. After cutting the board with his knife Benjamin J. Burris saw that the lumber was poplar. Then he was informed that poplar was very common in the early days of the county.

In 1923 a new rock road running from the Peabody crossroads to Fredonia, was built by Samuel R. Bird. Mr. Bird being a good reliable man, constructed the road well. So Fredonia is now on a rock road and can be reached from Marengo easily. Many places of interest may be seen there, one of which is ''Thom's old well."'

Leavenworth After The War

A general view of Leavenworth after the Civil War will now be made. The following is the list of business men who were in Leavenworth in 1866:

At that time Leavenworth was the shipping point for much of the southern part of the state. It was still the best business town in southern Indiana.

happened many years before the Civil War: On October 1, 1842, the President of the Leavenworth Savings Company, with the directors, sued James Harrison and William F. Williams for $27.60. On October 11, 1842, the court gave them judgment and Robert Whitten levied two stacks of hay, one cow, four hundred feet of lumber, one plow and one hoe. He offered the things for sale on October 26, 1842, but no one would bid on them. After a few days the people paid the bill and the matter was settled.

On September 4, 1873, the board of county commissioners ordered the town of Leavenworth incorporated. The majority of the people had, at an election, in September, 1873, voted for incorporation. The election was held on September 22, 1873. The board met at nine o'clock A. M. and elected David A. Breeden, William F. Clark and Thomas Marsh inspectors. They selected one of their number clerk and held the election in a lawful way. After the votes were canvassed it appeared that 112 votes were cast, of which sixty-four were for incorporating and fortyeight were against incorporation. On September 3, 1875, the town board of Leavenworth filed a petition with the board of commissioners, praying that the corporation boundary of Leavenworth be extended to include these boundaries. Commencing at the north side of the Corydon road a a point parallel with Wood Street, thence north 35° east six rods; north 1414° east seventy rods, to the northeast corner of the cemetery, thence north 75°, west five rods to the southeast corner of William L. Temple's Jland. Thence north 414° to one-half degree west along road at a point parallel with Wood Street, thence north 59° west to Paoli road thirty-six. Thence north 48° east eight rods to center of Paoli road. Thence north 66° west 12% rods; thence north 78° west fifteen rods, south 81° west 38 rods, thence north 81° east twenty-eight rods, thence south 30 rods; thence south 36° west eighteen rods to the original plat of Leavenworth. The board ordered that tract joined to Leavenworth on September 3, 1875.

On October 2, 1876, J. S. B. Kelso reported that George A. Doolittle had a shortage in the common school revenue of the town of Leavenworth for a sum of $116.19 and $67.91 in the special school funds. George Doolittle, who had died, was trustee of the town of Leavenworth. The board ordered Kelso to make proceedings to collect the above sum from his estate.

At the March meeting of the board in 1878 Frank Campbell made application for a license to sell liquor in a room known as Mary Sharp's property on the southeast corner of lot 129 on Nelson street in which Tracewell's had their law office. Ile filed a bond with the board, but E. M. Tracewell filed a remonstrance against him on the ground that he is not a fit person to fill such a position since he had violated the liquor law before. At the same time Colonel D. L. Gibbs made a motion to have the remonstrance set aside. After listening to the argument on both sides the board decided this: The remonstrance of Jen- . nings township versus Frank Campbell. The commissioners ordered the clerk to summon Peter Oberbacker, Torrence Connor, Alex Byerly, Joseph Cooper, Lee Gilmore, Joseph Schionharst, Frank Campbell, John Benz, Ben F. Allen, Walter Morgan, Putman McCullum, R. F. Clark, John Clark, Sam Scott, Merrill Breeden, W. L. Temple, Charles Ellsworth and James Mansfield. The matter was argued thoroughly, but Frank Campbell asked permission to withdraw the application, which was eranted him. Two days later he appeared and fled another application which was about the same as the old one but had a few corrections made. The board being fully advised in the matter decided that the application ought not be granted since during the previous year HK. M. Tracewell had filed a petition containing forty-four names. Frank Campbell had withdrawn his petition, and then they. had withdrawn the remonstrance, too. But now since the remonstrance had not been filed against it, it really held for another year. Then William .\. Parr signed his name to the papers, refusing Campbell a license.

The temperance forces were somewhat active in 1879. William H. Dean appeared before the board on June 38, 1879, with his attorney, W. T. Zenor, and files his application for license to sell whisky, but E. M. Tracewell files a remonstrance against him. After due consideration the board overruled the remonstrance. The case was then before the commissioners. Then E. M. Tracewell moved that the applicant show the court that he is a suitable person to sell liquor. Mr. Dean objected because the petition or motion was not filed in due time. Dean now appeared, and through his attorney, W. T. Zenor, files a motion to strike out certain parts of the remonstrance. The board overruled part of the motion and sustained the other part. Then Dean files a motion that the remonstrance be,made more specific. Board overruled Dean's motion. Then Dean files a demurrer to the third paraeraph of the remonstrance, but the board overruled the demurrer.

Tracewell came now and files certain interrogatories propounded to the applicant. The board heard the case, and being fully advised, decided Dean complied with all the points of the law, and therefore ought to have a license. His saloon was to be in Mary Sharp's room on lot 129 on Nelson Street.

There were two churches in Leavenworth in the early days. The Methodists had one as early as 1847. The Presbyterian people built their church about the same time. The high water of 1884 destroyed the Methodist church, but a new one was built about 1886. It is still standing. The old one was used in the Civil War to put the captives in. The company of Captain Hines was kept in it after their capture at the Upper Island. They left the church full of body lice.

The old seminary building was used for a school till the town outgrew it. About 1870 work was begun on a new school building. Elias Leavenworth sold the town a lot on which the house might be built for £500. At that time the house was one of the best in southern Indiana. There were about three teachers employed till up in the nineties when one taught high school and the other teachers the grades. The terrible storm blew down parts of the walls when the building was under construction. That same storm blew the bridge down at David Cole's Ferry on Big Blue River.

Late in the fall of 1890 Leavenworth was visited by a very destructive fire. Many of the leading business men were burned out. The Hawn Hotel was burned down, also the Democrat Publishing Building with all the files of the old newspapers, which was a terrible loss to the students of history. Hellback's suffered heavy losses and many others, including Lafe Fleming's store, M. M. Kendall's tin shop, Dr. Collins' store, A. M. Secott's store, W. L. Temple's drug store, Hawn Hotel, P. M. Overbacker's store and Doctor Hawn's drug store. Lyman Davis, who was a porter at the Hawn House, had just come from the river where he had met the James Guthrie, a large river boat. A gentleman, with whom he had talked for a few minutes, asked if the moon was not rising or something because it was becoming so light. On investigation they discovered the fire. All means were 'taken to stop the progress of the fire, but in vain, till the main part of the town was burned.

The Royal Spoke and Hub Company began business at Leavenworth in the nineties. Ruel Arnold was one of the chief men in the enterprise. Besides the men employed an outlet for lumber, spokes and staves was thus provided.

On January 6, 1897, the town board voted to bond the town for $1,000 to build a waterworks system. The reservoir was situated on a high hill east and north of the town. The mains were well laid. This water question was a difficult one during flood time, for the river generally filled all the wells with dirty water so that one had to clean the wells out when the river went down again.

On January 1, 1897, the town board agreed to buy twenty hydrants for three hundred dollars to be used in ease of fire. This was the beginning of the Fire Department in Leavenworth. Sam Wright, Clark F. Crecelius and A. T. Lewis were members of the town board. Since the disastrous fire of 1890 another one occurred on Nelson Street. So the town board was rather fearful of fire.

A vacaney occurred in the first ward for trustee in 1898. The following men petitioned the town board to appoint William B. Allen trustee and save the expense of an election: Robert Mode, Jesse Melton, J. M. Mansfield, J. J. MecCullum, S. D. Miller, L. P. Shaw, J. S. Miller, Pres Arwick, A. B. Robinson, Guy Straud, J. J. McIntosh, N. M. Barnett, O. E. Hawn, E. E. Robinson, M. D. Gibbs, C. M. Callahan, W. H. Callahan, Lee Gilmore, H. W. Davis, T. T. White, Joe Bell, J. W. Pritchard, J. M. Mix, Josiah Shaw, Frank Conrad, Sam Woodford, Arthur Ward, P. M. Overbacker, E. L. Lindsey, Andrew Mock, J. D. Wilkins, M. G. Perkhiser, S. E. Grimes, George Woodford, Reece Conrad, Wick Gibbs, O. N. Whitcomb, Lewis Beers, Uriah Green, Lewis Woodford, W. S. Summers, J. J. Lindley,

Sam Jenner, and many others. The Leavenworth town board received the petition on May 5, 1897, and appointed William B. Allen, S. A. Beals being the clerk.

On May 20, 1897, the town board sold all of its one thousand dollar stock in the waterworks to Richard H. Willett for one thousand and thirty dollars. Thus the water system became a private affair.

At the same meeting the board appointed a fire board of five members: S. E. Grimes, O. A. Adams, 0. N. Whitcomb, 8. E. McFall and John Ott. A series of by-laws were drawn up:

On October 8, 1897, an ordinance was enacted against throwing snowballs, using bean-shooters, flobert rifles, airguns and pitching baseball on the streets.

The town board received a petition from over fifty citizens of the town asking that a turnpike be allowed to use the streets of Leavenworth and an election be held to ascer- tain whether the citizens desired to build a pike at the tax payers expense. The board ordered an election held and the petition was granted.

September 16, 1903, the board extended the corporation west and north for school purposes. The school at that time was one of the best in southern Indiana. In 1900 the school board elected Charles W. Dotson of Tell City principal of their schools. He was a strong school man and worked very hard to get the schools on a high plane of efficiency.

On February 25, 1904, the town board issued a quarantine against English and Sterling township on account of a smallpox scare. Bill Mood, who had been doorkeeper of the Senate at Indianapolis during the term of the Legislature in 1903, came back home with his clothes smelling with strong odors of various kinds. Word was soon out that Senator Jeff Gibson of Crawford and Perry Counties had died from smallpox and when the body was shipped back home many cases of the disease were contracted.

In 1902 Doctor Isaac Doolittle conceived the idea of putting a button factory at Leavenworth. Assisted by friends, he established the factory in the old court house at Leavenworth. Cutting machines were installed and soon a new vocation was started for the boys. Men caught the mussel-shells with brails dragging along on the musselshell bar. They were then ''cooked out'' and the shells cleaned. Various names were used for different kinds of shells, such as ''Sand Shell,'' ''Nigger Toe,'' ''Wash Board'' and ''Skipper,'' besides many others.

A creamery and a bank were started in Leavenworth after 1904. The creamery was not a success, but the bank was. Mr. Elmer Merrilees, who had been cashier in the State Bank at English, was employed after Mr. Shrewsbury left. He built up a big banking business.

The morning of December 4, 1918, when Elmer Merrilees, who was the cashier of the Leavenworth State Bank, entered the bank at eight o'clock, he found that bandits had been there the night before. They had secured entrance at a window in some way. The vault to the bank was blown open by a charge of nitroglycerin. The safety boxes in the vault were stored with government bonds and war savings stamps. The bandits worked away unmolested till they secured about $35,000 in bonds. They never got the bank safe open. About two o'clock they left in an automobile. When they arrived near William Fesler's farm the car ''went dead.'' They could not get it to run. Then they evidently intended to steal Mr. Fesler's new car, but they could not get it started so they called him out and hired him to take them to Milltown. When he went into his garage he saw the doors open and found that some one had been tinkering with the car.' He drove them to Milltown. Here they paid him twenty dollars for the trip. Their old car was left in care of Mr. Fesler. At Milltown the men hired a taxi to drive them to a town over in Washington County where they escaped on a train.

The people at Leavenworth had seen the strangers around the town for a day or two. One worked on the car part of the day before the robbery. Several men heard the

The heaviest losers were thought to be 8. D, Alexander, Joseph Bell, Peter Overbacker, Will Conrad, Henry Collins, Alvin Tower and many others. The matter was in court a long time. Finally the Leavenworth State Bank paid the losers about fifteen per cent. of the amount stolen. The losers were glad to get back that much of the loss. The bank is to be commended for the compromise. The people who bought bonds and war savings stamps endured many hardships and sacrifices to save the money. Several sold eggs and cream for the money which put Crawford County over the top. One may imagine that there were some mad men in Leavenworth that day, when they learned that the bank was robbed.

Mrs. H. H. Deen had a five hundred dollar bond in a big envelope with her husband's life insurance policy. The robbers opened it and saw the policy and threw it down. Many others were fortunate, too, in that their bonds were not found or were overlooked by the men in their haste.

In 1913 the town was visited by a very high water. Much damage and suffering occurred in the town. The people of California sent to the flooded city a car load of potatoes and many other things which were of great help to the people.

The school of the town was commissioned so that the graduates from Leavenworth might go out and enter the teaching profession. An addition to the building was constructed and the work of the school was put on a high plane. Among the men who worked so hard to secure success for the school one should not omit these: W. W.

The leading physician in Leavenworth is Doctor Heol. Deen, who was born in Perry County. He graduated from the Louisville School of Medicine in 1906. That year he located in Leavenworth. During the World War he was a commissioned officer as Lieutenant of the Southwest Station of Texas and Oklahoma, 1918-1919. THe has done postgraduate work in medical centers like New York and Chicago. He now holds a captain's commission in the Medical Reserve Corps. He has done much to get the state to build roads in the county.

The leading business men of the town are Charley Austin, George Dodson, Hugh Friedly, Roy Melton, Joseph Lee, Chester Elliott, A. Mock, Otho Mock, J. E. Stephenson, Boone Richardson, Willie Wilkins, Mark Froman, Fred Kirsch, Thomas Stephenson, George Mix, Alva Mix, Captain Everdon, H. O. Bunch and W. J. Sacksteder.

Leavenworth is the home of the oldest Masonic Lodge in the county. The charter shows that Posey Lodge No. 188 was organized about 1856, while the Independent Order of Odd Fellows established their lodge about 1854.

8. D. Alexander a few years ago built a new button mill in the town. The factory was under operation a few months when the doors were closed. That left only one

In 1921 Lyman Rainforth was appointed postmaster to succeed Tilden H. Gobbel, who had been postmaster for eight years. Rainforth, who was a popular baseball pitcher, was well liked by all the people. Tilden Gobbel opened up a law office in Leavenworth since he retired from the postoffice.

One of the best school meetings ever held in the county occurred at Leavenworth Saturday, January 21, 1922. The church in which the meeting was held was taxed for standing room. Superintendent E. G. McCullum of the Jeffersonville city schools was present. He took the floor and in his usual manner carried the audience with a storm of applause. He spoke of the needs of the school, the signs of the times and what our parents must do to meet the needs of the state. At noon a bountiful dinner was served to a large audience. The ladies who had charge of the dinner are to be congratulated for the way the patrons and friends were served. The high school orchestra, under the direction of Mrs. Mae Baker, furnished delightful music. The county agent, Horace Copeland, was present and talked to the people on club work. Superintendent Beals of the English schools started for Leavenworth but the ice was so bad that the car was damaged and he did not arrive. E. G. McCullum spoke again in Mr. Beals' place. He delivered one of the best speeches ever heard in Leavenworth. The large audience agreed to support the school to make it seore the fifty points demanded. The people did support the school which scored the fifty points in due season.

day night, April 15, 1921, the Crawford Lodge No. 470 of English with a grand fish fry. About forty of the members from English attended. Over two hundred pounds of fish were fried. The members were pleased with the entertainment. Joseph Bell secured the steamer Richard Rhea and took the visitors for a ride on the beautiful Ohio up as far as the new Government Dam No. 44. After the return of the boat the Crawford lodge conferred the Master Mason degree upon Marsh Jenkins of Leavenworth. The English members were pleased to learn that Posey Lodge, which is the oldest lodge of Masons in the county, was in good condition financially. Besides the English members, many attended from Alton, Marengo and Milltown.

On January 10, 1921, Thomas P. Ellsworth died at Leavenworth. He had been sick but a few hours. He was born in Leavenworth March 2, 1850. He enlisted and served as a corporal in Troop F', Eighth Regiment, United States Cavalry for five years during the Indian campaign in the West. He was discharged in 1875.

He was a member of the Masonic Lodge at Leavenworth and a charter member of the Order of the Eastern Star and helped organize the chapter in 1912. Ellsworth was Worthy Patron and his wife was Worthy Matron when the chapter was organized.

The funeral was under the auspices of the Posey Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, and all that was mortal was laid to rest in Cedar cemetery.

Ellsworth was one of the prominent lawyers of Leavenworth. He never grew tired of relating his experience with the Indians when they were on the ''war path.'' On one occasion about twenty-two Indians were captured by the soldiers, one of whom was a Mason. About sunset one day the Captain called him out and ordered him to do picket duty from twelve at night till day. The orders were given to him in a queer way. He never knew just why, but he did picket duty as best he could till he was relieved next day. That morning the guards examined the Indians and one was gone. He was the old Indian who was a Mason. He went by Ellsworth some way on his beat that night. When the Colonel heard about what had happened he was very angry, but no one was courtmartialed.

With this narrative of Leavenworth the author leaves the town to its fate. As one stands on the high hill overlooking the town he sees the beautiful Ohio sweep by in grace and beauty around the bend at Indian Hollow. The great boats of the sixties are gone; the Shotwell, the Ben Franklin and the Eclipse run no more. Occasionally one may see a little gasoline boat pass. The glorious days of the past, the hopes of the town and wishes of the people have faded. On the other hand, the motor truck, the sixcylinder car, and the roadster on the state road leave a cloud of dust behind them.