Madison County, Indiana - Chapter 62, 1897

Chapter 62

The older inhabitants of Madison county will remember the old Jackson flouring mill that stood on the banks of White river at the ford near the farm of Samuel Myers east of the city. The mere mention of the name of this mill calls to tile minds of the old-timers the times when they "toted" their grists to mill long before there were any turnpikes in Madison county, and when they would have to travel a distance of eight or ten miles, and the trip would often consume two days or more. When they got to the mill they would have to wait for the grinding of their grain and then return home with the grist the next day. This mill was built by David Williams in 1832, and did good work from that time until its destruction. It was an old-fashioned water power, and was the first to be built in this section of the country. It enjoyed the patronage of ahnost the entire county at onetime, and it is said that often persons would have to wait and stand in line a day at a time in order to get their grist ground. Andrew Jackson purchased and operated it for a long time, and in the year 1857 sold it to his son David B. Jackson, who ran it until the day of its destruction. The cause of the conflagration seems to have been as follows : A yoimg man working about the mill had put afire in the stove in the morning and in building it dropped a piece of coal into a decaying place in one of the floor sills. At noon that day the fire was discovered in the foundation timbers. One of the millers was attracted to it and saw the smouldering coals which he put out as he thought, and no further attention was paid to it. At 11 o'clock that night the family was aroused by the cry of fire by the neighbors. Upon looking out the building was found to be in a sheet of flames. Nothing could be done to extinguish the fire, and the structure was destroyed. And thus ^vas wiped out one of the old landmarks of Madison county. The dam above the mill remained for several years, but was finally torn away. No sign no^v remains to mark the spot where the mill once stood except the rippling of the water over the few straggling stones left where the dam once stood.

Burning Of The Eagle Chair Factory

At the corner of Eleventh and Meridian streets in Anderson, once stood one of the largest of Anderson's industries. It was known as the Eagle Chair factory, and employed a large force of hands. Its products went through the length and breadth of the land. It was established in 1868 by Hollowav & Jackson, ^vho began the manufacture of bent wood for chairs. The business was carried on by them until 1871, when a stock company was organized composed of Elisha B. Holloway, Enoch M. Jackson, David W. Swank, Minor Barrett, Isaac D. Bosworth, and others for the manufacture of chairs and other articles of furniture. The most approved style of machinery was purchased, and the factory was equipped in first-class style. From 50 to 75 people were employed, and a very extensive business was transacted.

After the concern had run for two years under the management of the above named gentlemen, several of the stockholders disposed of their interests to Alfred Walker who eventually became the sole proprietor.

On the 6th of May, 1880, the sound of the whistle of this busy hive of industry announced to the sleeping citizens, that the place was on fire. The people at once hastened to the scene, as was usual in those days, with buckets and other appliances for extinguishing fires, but with little efl'ect, in this instance, as the building was filled with dry, combustible material, and it was but a little while until all the interior of the structure together with its contents was devoured by the raging flames, leaxing nothing to tell where this thrixing factory had once stood. The residence of M. A. Bosworth which occupied the site where the home of E. E. Newton at present stands, was also ignited bj- the flames, and burned to the ground. The large three-story brick building in which Johnson, Gates & Canaday are now conducting a furniture business which was then run as a planing mill, sash and blind factory by Bosworth & Bro., also took fire at several times, but was, by heroic work on the part of the inen, saved from destruction. The old church building occupying the ground immediately north was also on fire, but was saved from destruction by the courage of a man of the name of James Stilly, who, at great peril to himself, crawled up the steep roof, to a height of about fifty feet, and threw his coat over where it had ignited, and thus put out the incipient flames. This daring act of Stilly's was applauded by loud shouts of approval from the people below. Hereceived their thanks and was properly rewarded for his brave act by Mr. John W. Pence, the owner of the building.

The ground on which the Eagle Chair Factory stood subsequently passed into the hands of Hester tt Sons who converted it into a barrel, stave and heading factory, which they operated for a considerable time.

The fire was supposed to have been the work of an incendiary, and two persons who were seen loitering about the railroad depots were placed under arrest, one of whom gave his name as William Wilson of Ogle, Illinois. The name of the other individual has passed out of the recollection of the writer. Wilson was a Norwegian by birth, and claimed to be a printer by trade, lie gave a good account of his whereabouts at the time of the fire, and also stated what his business in the city was. There being no positive evidence against him, he was released from custody.

On the night of December 26, 1885, about half past 12 o'clock, an alarm of fire was given when it was discovered that the extensive jewelry store, owned by William Roth, ^vhich occupied the building where Daniels' drugstore is now situated, on the corner of Ninth and Main streets, was on fire. All efforts to stay the devouring flames were unsuccessful and in a short time the building with its contents was destroyed. The hook and ladder companv did good service, and the wind being favorable, this was the only building destroyed on that side of the square. The roofs of the adjoining buildings were covered with men who were kept constantly dashing \vater on the flames and thus allayed the fears of many who felt that the entire square would be burned.

The fire was of mysterious origin and it was thought by many to have been the work of an incendiary, but there was no proof of the fact. Among the heavy losers were : William Roth on his stock of jewelry; Captain A. I. Makepeace, and Jesse L. Henry, who owned the building; Mrs. Wentworth, who had a milliner}- store in t!ie adjoining building, also lost quite heavily.

On Saturday night September 10, 1890, at about the hour of 10 o'clock, the alarm of fire was given, and in a few moments it was heralded throughout the city that the Meridian street plant of the Pennsylvania Glass Company was on fire. The department was soon on hand, but there was so much combustible material in the building that such a thing as subduing the flames was impossible, and the structure and contents were destroyed, entailing a loss of !{i40,()(H). The company carried on the plant and stock, nearl\' the same amount of insurance, so the loss was mainly on the insurance companies, aside from the time lost in replacing the buildings, and equiping them ready for use.

The establishment was originallv the property of the American Glass Company, which came to Anderson in 1889, from Martin's Ferry, Ohio. This company failed in business in 1891, and the factory was sold to the Pennsylvania Glass Company, which has operated it since. It is one of the best factories in the county, having given employment to a large number of men, and runs the year round. It is a cooperative company, nearly all of the operatives being stockholders.

The officers at the time of the fire were Thos. J. McMahan, president ; John L. Forkner, vice-president ; John Schies, secretary and treasurer, and Fiery Toms, manager.

The pUmt when first established manufactured fancy decorated ware, lamps and lamp flues, but the business from some cause did not prosper, and the companj' went to the wall. After the Pennsylvania Company acquired the property, it was converted into a bottle factory, and manufactured all kinds of glass specialties. The fruit jar season is a profitable time for this establishment, and it enjoys a large trade in this line. In connection with the plant wals also a mould shop, where all of the moulds for this and manj' other factories were made. It was one of the severest losses to Anderson while the factory remained idle, and many employes, as well as merchants and business men, felt it very keenly. This factory has been rebuilt in a substantial manner.

On the mornmg of September 20, 1884, a disastrous fire visited Anderson at about 2 o'clock, consuming the Handle Factory owned by Charles T. Doxey & Company, situated on Meridian street south of the Bee Line Railroad, with all its machinery and stock. The origin of the fire was a mystery but was supposed to have been the work of an incendiary. It was first discovered in the northeast corner of the building upon the second floor in the part used for storing handles, and remote from the engine room. Work had been suspended at the factory during the week previous, in order to make repairs, and no fire had been built in the boiler-room and there was no possible means of the fire originating from the furnace. Part of the walls of the building fell in and the remaining portion stood in a toppling condition until they were torn down. There \vas stored in the building at the time 9,000 dozen handles ready for shipment. Mr. H. E. McCandliss, present street commissioner in Anderson, was manager of the factory and a large stockholder therein. The loss was supposed to be in the neighborhood of !fil5,000, covered by $9,000 insurance. After this disastrous fire the building was never rebuilt nor was the business resumed bv the company.

tween Ninth and Tenth, in the city of Anderson, was discovered to be on fire. The flames were issuing from the basement and in a few minutes the whole structure was enveloped in flames. The efforts of the fire department proved futile, and all attempts to save the building and its contents were without avail. The building ^vas occupied by "The Banner Store," owned by Messrs. Rawlings, Haynes & Co., and by Maag & Son. shoe dealers.

The building was insured in the sum of $14,0()0, and the stocks were covered by $30,000. The loss was much more than the insurance on the stock of Rawlings, Haynes & Co., while Maag's stock was thought to be fully covered. This was the third time this building was destroyed by fire. The first time in 1884, when it was known as the Doxey Opera House, when it was burned without any insurance, the loss being nearly $80,000. It was again burned in 1893, when it was known as the Doxey Music Hall, being covered by insurance. An account of these conflagrations last named are given elsewhere.

The community displayed its sympathj- without stint for the unfortunate victims of this fire, and assisted in every manner in trying to help them in their distress.