Madison County, Indiana - Chapter 47, 1897

Chapter 47

In the earl_v histor_v of Anderson there was but very little amusement for the people outside of what they made for themselves. There were no opera houses, no public halls or any other place in which to congregate when occasion presented itself for the assembling of the people. The old Methodist church that once stood on the corner of Eleventh and Meridian streets, immediately north of the present church, was often used for home entertainments of a moral character. One of these took place there on the 16th of March, 1855 ; it was an old-fashioned school exhibition, such as all old-timers remember of having witnessed in the long ago, but which is now a thing of the past. Who of the older people of Madison county does not remember with pride when the last day of school arrived, how they "spoke their piece" and how they longed for the day to arrive ; how many anxious days, hours and minutes they put in committing to memory Patrick Henry's address before the Virginia Convention, "Ben Battle was a Soldier Bold," "The Mariner's Dream," and so on.

These happy moments are gone ; they will never come again. The school children of to-day will never witness these scenes. Whether the present way of training the young mind is an" improvement over those of the earlier period of our free school system is an open question which we do not intend to discuss in these pages. We will assert, however, that the giants of the Madison count}- bar, men who have proven the most successful in their professions ; the old-time doctor, who battled with the ills of the Madison county pioneer, and made a mark in the world, and many of our most influential business men, have had their training in the old-fashioned way. The}' went to country school three months in the year, and worked the balance of the time on the farm, or in the shop. They had to speak their " pieces'" on Friday afterrfoons.

that his early trainhig in that direction lias been a great help to him in his practice. But leaving all of this to be settled by those whose business it is, we return to our subject.

In 1855 the Anderson schools were under the able management of Professor I. N. Terwilliger, one of the most competent instructors of his day. He evidently believed in the custom of teaching the students to speak in public, as is evidenced by an old programme that has been unearthed, which tells the story of one of those enjoyable occasions that took place in the Methodist church.

Many who took part in the exercises are now dead ; some have filled high and honorable positions in civil and military affairs ; some are yet living in Anderson, and look back to this occasion with joy and pride. The programme given below tells the story better than it is possible for one not there at the time to attempt to describe it. It is as follows :

Singing

The above long programine was gone through taking until quite late in the night to complete it. The house being sinall it was impossible for the entire populace to witness the exhibition, so it was determined by the management to repeat the performance the next evening. The audience that greeted the second production was even greater than the first. Many were turned away, who could not gain admission. There were a great many funny incidents that occurred in connection with this affair, as there naturally would be in such an enterprise. There were some of the " stars " who, it seems, wanted to monopolize the whole business, and go outside of the programme, so to speak. Tliis caused the Professor a great deal of trouble and annoyance. Among the number who was persistent in making himself " promiscuous," was Enoch M. Roach. He was one of Anderson's bright young men, and was a leader among the boys of his daj-. Enoch concluded that the audience was dying to hear him speak again, after he had had his turn, and insisted on going before the curtain with W. R. Mj'ers, and repeating the quarrel of " Brutus and Cassius." To this Professor Terwilliger strenuously objected ; warm words ensued, and it was no time until Roach and the Professor were mi.xed in a fight. This came near breaking lip the show. Order was at last restored behind the curtains, but there was much excitement out in the audience ; the people were anxious as to what was going on behind the scenes. Mr. J. R. Reasoner, prided himself on his great ability as an orator. He insisted on going out in front and rendering one of his " tiery pieces," in order to divert the attention of the audience from the affray that was going on among the actors. He had to be sat down upon bj' some one before he would subside. Finally, when all was quiet and serene, the show went on, and the programme was completed, and this passed into history, as one of the great events in Anderson. It hem never been forgtton by those who took part in it as well as those who witnessed it. It never will pass out of their memory. It was one of the occasions that one always treasures up, and looks back to with happy thoughts. Time has caused sad havoc in the ranks of those whose names appear on this old musty programme. Many have gone to their long homes. Those who yet survive, are scattered from the lakes to the Gulf of Mexico.

Among the number who have distinguished themselves in the affairs of life we mention Hon. W. R. Myers, who has been a member of Congress, and thrice elected Secretary of the State of Indiana.

Anderson Brass Band Of 1854

It has been said by the bard of Avon that " music hath charms to soothe the savage breast." The saying is true. Music will sometimes have the effect to quell a riot, stop a run on a bank, or bring order out of chaos on a field of battle.

In the good days past and gone, when Anderson was but a small speck on the map of Indiana, known scarcely a hundred miles away, she had her gallant young men and dashing belles, just as at the present day.

We find that on the 23rd of November, 1854, the j'oung men of Anderson met at the court house and organized a band composed of the following members :

The instruments were purchased personally by the members with the exception of a few small donations, made by enterprising citizens, who helped the boys along, John P. Barnes, the hardware merchant, being one of those who donated.

This became one of the famous bands of Indiana. Each and every member of the aggregation was a musician. There was not a drone among the lot. Their reputation spread abroad and they were often called to adjoining towns to play for the Fourth of July celebrations, Masonic picnics, and agricultural fairs, often going to New Castle, Tipton, Noblesville and many other places.

Geo. W. Kline, who yet lives in Anderson, was the leader. He played one of those old-fashioned key bugles, the present day cornets with piston or rotary valves not having come into use.

It is said that George held the championship of that day for street playing. He had but few equals and no superiorsas a bugler. The first teacher of this band was Prof. William Lybrand, of Ohio. He conducted the band for awhile and gave instructions until they were able to go it alone, when he left Anderson. The boys played by themselves for quite awhile, until an old circus band instructor came along in the person of Prof. Ruhl, whom thej- employed for awhile to instruct them. He did not remain long with them, and from the time he left they were alone under Geo. W. Kline as teacher and leader.

Of those who were members of this musical organization there are but three yet living in Anderson : George W. Kline, Alonzo I. Makepeace and S. D. Van Pelt. H. B. Makepeace lives at Indianapolis and is trustee of Center township.

On the 4th of July, 1851, the first railroad train that ran into Anderson made its appearance. It was an excursion train from Indianapolis over what is now the Big Four road. It was then known as the Bellefontaine road, and later on as the Bee Line.

That was the day this division of the road was formally opened for traffic, and it was a big feather in Anderson's cap. The train was not one of those swift-flying luxurious affairs that are the pride of so many great railway corporations of the present time. It consisted of three plain, unvarnished coaches, about which there was a decided absence of show or ornamentation. The seats were not upholstered in satin or plush but were ordinary bench-like affairs. The opening of the road for travel was an event that had long been looked forward to by the people, and when at last an excursion was announced to be run from Indianapolis, the town made preparations for a grand, gala day. Many people through this section of the country had never seen a railroad train, and so anxious were they to get a glimpse of the curiosity that for two days before the Fourth, they rolled into town, some of them coming long distances. All the boarding house and hotel accommodations were readily taken, after which strangers began to camp about town waiting the arrival of the train.

At the old ford, where the iron wagon bridge now spans White river, at the Anderson cemetery, there was quite a settlement of sight-seers camped, waiting for the big day to roll around. The curiosity to see the train was not confined to country people alone, for the " town folks " were equally as anxious for the appearance of the " covered cars." A number of Andersonians who were acquainted with the lay of the country walked out as far as Omaha, now known as Mc- Cullough's gravel pit, between this city and Pendleton, in order to get the first glimpse of the great curiosity. When the steam engine puffed into sight, sizzing and snorting under the load of exxursionists, many lookers-on viewed the huge iron horse with wonder mingled with distrust. Suddenly the engineer gave a few vigorous yanks at the whistle, which responded promptly in a shrill voice, and that settled the curiosity of the sight-seers scattered along the track. There was a general stampede to the hazelbrush and swamp grass, and it is related of one man who was more frightened than the others, that he never stopped running until he got to Anderson. The train was received in Anderson with all the " pomp and circumstance " of the times, and after the curiosity of seeing a train of cars had worn away, people all joined hands and had a big celebration.

On July 4, 1855, the first train over the Pan Handle railroad reached Anderson. It was an excursion from Richmond, which at that time was the leading city of this section of the country. The train consisted of four cars, all well filled, and that occasion was another big day in Anderson. There was a big celebration at which speeches, foot races, wrestling matches and jumping contests were the chief features. A " sheepskin band " was procured for the day, and the plunking of the players sounded just as musical in the ears of the old pioneers as the piano-like strains of the most expert band of the present day. For several days before the arrival of the excursion, the hardy backwoodsman and his family kept rolling into town to join in the festivities, and it is safe to say that near!)- everybodj- in this immediate section of Indiana was in Anderson that day.

The First Drug Store In Anderson

In the early settlement of jMadison county such a thing as a drug store was not dreamed of. People who wanted a little " Spirits Frumenti " or a little quinine with which to fight the chills usually went to the corner grocery, where a general stock of drugs, groceries, whisky, turpentine, boots and shoes, and quinine were kept on sale. The phj'sicians of the county knew nothing whatever of the practice of writing prescriptions for sick patients. Every physician had a large pair of saddle bags, filled with long-necked bottles in which they carried their specifics for the cure of all ailments, being composed principally of a bottle of calomel, a bottle of quinine, and a lance with which to bleed. In those days, the doctors used these remedies for nearly every ill to which human flesh is heir.

The pioneers of Madison county, like the settlers in all new countries, lived, suffered and died under the treatment of these medicine men until the enlightenment of science caused them to throw aside the lance, and to abandon the use of calomel for purging and salivating.

One day in 1838, a tall, handsome, young physician made his appearance in the quiet village of Anderson. He not only engaged in the practice of medicine, but opened the first drug store in the place in 1843. This was no less a personage than Dr. J. W. Westerfield, \vho died here in 1895. Dr. Westerfield originally located at ^loonsville.

He was the sole dispenser of drugs and medicines for about three years when Atticus Siddall, in the spring of 1846, purchased the store and became VVesterfield's successor. Siddall, continued the business alone for eleven years, in the meantime sufi'ering greatly from a big fire which in the fall of 1851 wiped out the entire south side of the public scjuare.

In 1857 the elder Siddall associated his son, P. F. Siddall, in business with himself as an equal partner under the firm name of Siddall & Son. In the following year Siddall, senior, died, and Dr. Westerfield became his successor and the partner of P. F. Siddall, the style of the firm being Siddall & Westerfield. The business was continued until the year 1860, when Dr. Westerfield retired from the firm, giving way to A. A. Siddall, and the name of the firm was changed to Siddall & Bro. A. A. Siddall remained in the business but a short time when he sold out to Dr. Westerfield, who con- tinued in the firm until the year 18GS, when the business was sold to Dr. J. F. Brandon. This was not only the oldest drug store in Anderson, but remained the longest of any in the same place, it being located for over twenty years in the room now occupied by the Cassel Bros., on the east side of the public square.

Several eminent physicians of Madison county were at different times interested in this old drug store. Besides Drs. Westerfield, William A. Hunt, E. H. Menefee, late of Alexandria, and G. N. Hillogoss, there were many others whose names the writer does not now recall, who were at times behind the prescription counter, dealing out medicine in this temple of pharmacy.