Fayette County, Indiana - Chapter 12: Miscellaneous, 1885

Chapter 12: Miscellaneous

THE following table exhibits a complete list of all the postoffices ever established in Fayette County, with the dates of establishment, the names and time of service of all Postmasters, the dates any offices were discontinued, with all changes in the names of offices :

Philpotts Mills, Established December 15, 1832

There were according to the United States census taken in 1830, then in the county 17 grist-mills, 16 saw-mills, 4 sets of carding-machines, 2 mills for fulling and dressing cloth and upward of 40 distilleries. The population of the county was 9,111, and that of the village of Connersville 500. The other villages of the county were Waterloo, West Union, Danville and Harrisburg, each with an estimated population- of from 30 to 50. The postoflSces were Connersville, Everton, Harrisburg, Waterloo and Plumb Orchard. There were 5 Baptist and 4 Methodist meeting-houses, besides meetings of various other denominations. The number of working oxen in the county was 282.

According to the census of 1840 the value of granite, marble and other stone produced in the county was $6,216; 28 men were employed in the same. There were 3,790 horses and mules; neat cattle, 9,257; sheep, 15,784; swine, 31,343. The estimated value of poultry of all kinds, $3,534. The number of bushels of wheat, 70,439; barley, 75; oats, 123,815; rye, 7,989; buckwheat, 393; Indian corn, 71 1,855; pounds of wool, 27,235; pounds of hops, 34; wax, 87; bushels of potatoes, 16,794; tons of hay, 4,875; flax and hemp, 4^; pounds of tobacco gathered, 808; pounds of sugar made, 28,721; cords of wood sold, 2,794; value of the products of the dairy, $4,907; value of the products of the orchard, $695; value of home-made goods, $11,813; value of produce of market gardeners, $220; retail dry-goods, grocery, and other stores, 21; capital invested in the same, $89,800. There were three butchers and packers, and in the business $300 was invested. The value of bricks and lime made, $2,385, giving employment to 22 men. In other manufactures was invested $456. There was one fulling-mill in which was invested $1,000. The value of hats and caps manufactured, $9,400; 16 persona were employed and the capital invested was $6,000. There were three tanneries in which were employed 9 men, and the amount of capital invested was $7,300; at these tanneries were tanned 1,280 sides of sole leather and 1,900 sides of upper leather. Besides these tanneries there were 16 other manufactories of leather, saddleries, etc., with the value of manufactured articles $1,567; capital invested, $5,690. The number of pounds of soap manufactured was 134,011; of tallow candles, 11,882. There were five distilleries which produced 20,800 gallons of distilled and fermented liquors, and gave employment to 11 men; capital invested $6,900. There was one printing office, at which was printed a weekly paper which gave employment to 3 men; capital invested $650. The value of carriages and wagons manufactured, $2,492; 8 men employed and amount of capital invested, $1,030. There were 2 flouring mills at which were manufactured 1,700 barrels of flour. There were 6 grist-mills, 14 saw-mills and 2 oil-mills, at all of which were manufactured articles to the value of $14,180; 23 men employed and capital invested $22,325. The amount of furniture manufactured was valued at $4,000; 6 men employed and capital invested, $1,900. That year were built in the county 7 brick and stone houses, and 15 wooden ones, which gave employment to 60 men and their value was estimated at $24,695. The value of all other manufactures was $33,137; capital invested, $7,262. Total capital invested, $60,513.

Statistics

the collection of taxes, afibrds the best means at our command to show the growth of the wealth of the county. It gives by no means the market value, being generally much bolow the selling price. Subjoined are the statistics for several years. Though the table is incomplete it will partially serve its purpose.