Shelby County, Indiana - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 9 of those read), 1909

Chapter with an unread heading (no. 9 of those read)

There is no instnimeiuilit}'. not even excepting the pnlpit and the bar, which exerts such an influence upon the society as the press of this country. It is the great lever tliat ni.ives the world The talented minister of tlie Gospel on the Sal.ibath day preaches to a few hundred people: on the following morning his thought.- are reproduced in the minds and thoughts of a thousand persons, perhaps read and discussed throughout the entire country. The attorney at the bar may make an eloquent appeal to a Judge and jury and a few bystanders, but througti the medium of the press his words are sent flashing over the wire.- far and near. The wiley politician takes the platform and will ably discuss politics an hour before a few score of men. but the new-i)apcr coming forth dampened from the press at daylight is read by thousands of persons whose vote may have been changed by this politician's appeal - the press must ha\-c the credit, however. It is said upon good authority that a single paragraph in the daily press defeated Hrm. James G. Blaine for the Presidency.

The power for good or evil of the press today is almost unlimited: the shortcomings of politicians are made known through its o ilumns : the dark deeds of the wicked are quickly exposed, and each fear its power alike. Indeed, the controlling influence of a nation, state or county is its newspapers, and the character of them determines the destinies and general character of the people who read them. This is especially forceful and true in a land where free speech of people and press obtains.

The local press is justlx' considered among the most important institutions of every city, town and village. The people of every ci.>mmunity regard their particular newspaper as of special value, and this not merely on account of its being their "In ime jjapcr," but because these journals are the repositories wherein are stored facts and events, the deeds and sayings, the undertakings and achievements, that go to make up final history. One by one these are gathered up and placed side by side in cold type; one by cme tliese papers are issued : one by one these papers are gathered and bound, and another volume of local, general and indi\idiial history is laid away imperishable. The volumes thus collected are sifted by the experienced historian into books for library use, to perpetually be carving a part in the literary and historic world.

The local press of a country or city reflects the temper and make-up of its patrons largely. Judging from the files of the newspapers now preserved.

<is al)0\c indicated, in .'-^helby counly. one nuisi neod.^ he iniiiressed with the S[)irit and true enieri)ri--e. patriotism and excellence of lier ])- 'i)ulace. ]>leniarkahle as tlie tact that tlie city of Shelhyville now supp. .its fnur daily newspapers, with a population of ahoul twelve lIiLiusa.nd peuple. it niu-i ni it he forg-otten that the weekly papers published under many discoura-in^- dilViculties, for many d.ecades. have paved the way for their success. The good ol<llashioned weekly newspaiier, ])rinted on tlie old-style hand-press on [lure rag pa])cr, was indeed the forerunner of the daily of the twentieth century in Shelby c mnt}-.

The First Xewsp.M'Ers

More than three-quarters of a century a.c;"o the first attempt at establishing a newspaper in Slielby county was made by \\'. H. Ileslip. a Pennsylvanian b>- birth, he being- a iiractical printer an>i thoroughgoing journalist, as was counted at that day of journali-m. The date of his coming to Shelby county was in 1832. He brought his entire cfhce fixtures with him from the East, the type and presses having been purchased in Philadelphia. I'nder the title of the "'Shellnwille Argus," his first issue of a weekly paper made its appearance in mid-sinnmer of that year - sevcnt}'-seven years ago. Two }'cars of constant struggle for existence finall_\- tlrove the first newspaper man from this field and he returned to a more thickly settled portion of the home of his childhood - wiser, but it should not be supposed richer.

That Shelby county was destined as the home of newspapers was felt assured when in 183S a five-column folio, called the "Recorder," was established by Kendall & Clntrchman, two acti\-e voung men. but possessed little newspaper experience, and who. after a few months allowed the paper to go into the hands of Coleman & ^laymen, who published it until 1S42, taking an active part in the famous historic campaign of 1S40. In 1842 the office was purchased b}- John P. Wood, and he changed the name of the paper to that of the "Indiana Sun." This name not causing it to materially brighten its prospects, the old name of was again adopted.

In 1844 the "Recorder" was bought by Judge David Thatcher, a man of learning and great popularity among the people of this section of Indiana. He was a vigorous writer and elevated the paper to a high standing at once. After two years the name was changed to the "Xational \*olunteer," it then being a newsy, good mechanicalh- wrought pajjcr. of the se\en column folio style, vigorous in its editorial style, and an outspoken, fearless Democratic organ. This paper served its party well for nearly forty years. Judge Thatcher continued to edit it until 1857, when declining health caused him to surrender the pen and retire. He sold to William Xorris and John White, who in a short time sold it to Smith &- Randiall, who in the winter of 1858-59 transferred it to the Democratic party, which organizatirm in Shelby county.

In SciHenihcr. 1850, tlic oince was pnrchas(?d by an experienced printer and able writer, named Reuben Spicer, wlio greatly improved the paper. In May, 1871, John Hoop lx)ught a half interest and in August that year purchased the remaining half. Mr. Hoop continued to conduct it until 1880, when the oflice material was sold to Ray & McCorkle.

"The success of the papers in oiiposition to Democracy in this county has been varied. Many of them were ephemeral and hardly deserve notice in this It is probable that the first of these was tbe 'Lancet," a campaign sheet, published in 1S4S. with Hon. IMartin 'M. Rav as its editor. During the Pierce-Scott campaign W. H. Colescott an<l J. W.' Elliott e^ta1)lishe<l a Whig paper, called the 'Grape-Sh.it." After the campaign ha.l ende.l. Mr. Colescott withdrew, leaving the papei in the bands of Mr. Elliott, and a joint stock company was formed ami the name was changed to the 'Hawk Eye," and thus it continued until its sudden death. It is probable that ]vlr. Ray, one of the most prominent Whigs r.f Central Infliana. an aljle law}'er and forcible \\Tiler, did much to help its editorial columns."

In 1850 what was styled the "Independent," was published by a Mr. \'augbn. The "Scissors and Quill"" was published a little later by Edward Painter. In 1853 was commenced the publicaton of the "Banner,"" by Bainbridge & We.ikle_\", continued a year and wheti Weakley sold his interest to bis partner, who conducted it a short time, a stock- company was formed and Colonel Colescott was placed in editorial charge. In 1S55 the "Banner"" was bought by Solomon Alter: in 185S or 1859 he sold a half interest to \\'. B. Gordrin. This plan continued a short time, when Gordon sold to Alter, who continued to publish the paper until 1861. when he received an appointment in one of the departments at Washington. D. C, and tb.e paper was suspended. In 1862-63 a yir. Hall, of Rushville, commenced the publication of a paper. again taking the name of the "Banner," which was editorially conducted by D. M. Cantril. After a short career Hall disp<jsed of the property to James Thompson, wlio in a few mr.nths sold to George ^\'. Stubbs. After the political campaign of 1864 the paper was suspended. In 1866 j. ^I. Cumback, of Germantown, Ohio, established and liegan publishing the '"Shelby Union," a seven column paper. The name was soon changed, however, to the "Shelliy Republican Union,"" and the size enlarged to that of an eight column paper. The word "Union"' was soon dropped and was known thereafter as the "Republican."' For eight years and nine months Mr. Cimiback continued to conduct this newspaper, and in December. 1S74, sold to Simeon J, Thompson, now of Shelbvville.

Shelbyville's first daily paper was llie "Dailv Republican," fiumdcd bv the weekly paper just referred to above, tb.e property of Mr. Thompson, who started the daily some time in January, 1S70. Its editor was Simeon J. Thompson and J. J. Wing-ate was its business manager, as well as its rejKirtcr. In June, 1S84, the otlice was sold to a joint stock company, organized under the name of the Shelby Printing Company. Its ofikcrs were: Charles X. Mathews, president: James Caughey, secretary and treasurer: ]. |. Wingatc, business manag"er. The weekly was a six-column quarto, while the daily was a six column folio sheet. IMr. Mathews became editor of the paper. He was a Virginian, and a man of exceptional ability as a writer of much experience and force at word-handling. At one time or another he has been connected with all the papers in Shelby county, almost. He was at one time 'Tndianapolis correspondent" for the Cincinnati "Enquirer" - a natural born newspaper man, and at one date a strong journalist. He now resides at Indianapolis. where he does special literan,- work.

The "Republican" changed proprietors in 1905, wlien Mr. W'ingate retired. It is now owned and published by the Shelby Printing Company, and published and edited by Frederick S. Bugie, Both a daily and semi-weekly edition are issued by this paper, each week day being the daily issue. There are no Sunday joumals within Shelbyville, but tlie matter of excellent dailies - four in number - for a place of the size is an uncommcai occurrence.

In 1S72 the "Shell:)yvil!e Indejicndent" (no connection 'if the one by this name founded in 1S50) was established by Reuben Spicer. It only existdl until 1S75.

The "Shelby Democrat," as known today, is not the successor of any other Shelljy county newspaper venture, but was established June 13, 1878. Its founders were Bellamy S, Sutton and \\". Scutl Ray. In X'lvember of that year Mr. Sutton sold his interest to Albert }vIcCorkle, then SheiilT, and it was published under the name of Ray & McCorkle. until the death of the latter gentleman, which occurred October 10. 1880.

This paper was established ^Nfay 4, 18S0, as a fi\"e column folio journal, but later changed to tlial r>f a seven column folio. As a p(jlitical factor W. Scott Ray was a bold, independent writer of editorial matter. His assaults upon President Cleveland's civil sen^ice law enforcements were widelv lu^f^vV^ TT^^-- "^' ''^i»S '-e^idents of tlm eountv. and all atlihated with the Democratic partv. while John D. Deprep has a contn.lhnointerest m sucli shares and is the secretary and'treasnrer. The president .-f the coipoiation IS and has been since organization, Dr. W" M Fo,-,! and F (i Kcnip, v,ce-preMdenl. while Mr. Deprez is the e.litor. and thronoh hi. vu^y.^- go.d management and party popularity, as well as being the warm friend of'di outside his own political party, has built up a business that had been badlv rmi down, to a first class journal, which is recognized bv partv lea<lers both in Shelby county and the Sixth congressional district of Indiana \fter the new conipany had been termed, about seven thousand dollars were added f, the equipment of the plant, which is now second to none in Shelbv cnuntv -V daily and weekly edition is run and the circulation in this section of the staic IS large. 1 he job .lepartment ,s well equipped with all modern printing appliances. ' '^ '

In 18S0 George S. Jones removed the material ,.f the "Fairland F.ulleiin " a paper ot bairland. this county, to Shelbvville, and in the spnp.- of tint veir commenced the publication of the paper stvled the which within" a tew months was sold to Frank Drake and WMavd Barnes, and tbeV made Charles A. Mathews (before mentioned) its editor. Fie, in an e<b-lorial wav only possible by one of his genius as writer, opened up a warfare aoainst Deniocratic ofhceholders and party leaders, charging them with extrrn-agance in be matter ot handling public fun.ls. That campaign was one of the bitterest local fights ever had ,n Shelby county, and resulted in the defeat of all but one or twoot the Democratic candidates. The following vear Drake purchased Barnes interest, and he in turn soon sold to Hoop &>'readwav. who sold to the "Democrat Publishing Company." the date of this transfer beino- 18S:; Fhe name was then changcl to the "Shelbv Times." and Mav 1, 18S6 the initial number of the "Daily Morning Times" was issued. In'lulv. the same year the office ^vas sold to Jan.es Magill. and later he took fo; a partner his brother. Joseph ^lagill. who at once assumed the editorship. L, real ne^^-spaper work Mr. Magill has probably had more and varied experience than anyone connected with Shelby county newspapers, from first to last with possibly one_or two excei-tions. Fie l)egan at the case and learned the "art preservative step by stei). For years he was associated with the Evansville newspapel^, als. connected in various capacities with papers at Cleveland. Chicao-o etc. ^Fr. ^lagill finally let his paper suspend and smu-Iu other fields, and at last aeci Hints was empl'ved in [Milwaukee on a le.adini;- journal of that city. Snnie of the material of his old paper here went into the oftice of the Democrat.

A DeniMcratie orqan. known as tlie "JelTersonian," was cstal)lished August lo, 1899, hy A. C. 13radrick. who sold Scptemher i. looi, to Louis H. w-ho conducted it until Fchruary i, 1906, when he sold a half interest to J. J. \\'ingate. a \eteran newspaper man of Shelhyville, hefore mentioned in connection with the publication of the At this time the name of the paper was chan.^ed to that of the 'Ahirnin^- News." and its iir)litics to that of an independent paper. The "Jeffersonian" had established a daily paper here September 5. 1899. The present morning- paper of Shelbyville is the "Xews." a very creditable daily, devoted to the interests of Shelby county and the city of Shelbyville. Its editor, Mr. \\'ing-ate. is a careful, correct man. whose long- c.\i)eriencc as a journalist has peculiarly fitted him for tlie pri^^ition he iK.iw occupies. The "INburning Xews" is the last newspaper started in Slielby county.

Among the last newspapers established in the city of Shelbyville is the "Liberal," founded July 15, 1903, by George Vi. Ray. who formed a stock company, he having a controlling interest at this time. He is the editor of the paper, w-hich is issued in daily form evei"y afternoon. A job department is connected with this olttce, as is the case w-ith all printing ofiaces of the city. The size of the "Liberal" is a four page. seven-Ciilunin publication, it is a newsful journal, gathering news from all possible quarters.

The "Morristown Sun." published at rvlorristown. in the northeastern part of Shelbv countv. was established in 18S0, by Luther Hackleman. later owned by Frank Johnson, H. B. Patten. Joseph A. Zike. GcM-ge A. Moorman. \\'alter Kaler. \V. D. LLtrlow. and t'le present owner. Ora McDaniel. who purchased the ofhce Xovember 16, 1908. It is a six column, foui- pages local news and four pages patent. It is independent in politics.

Without question, tlie most imiiorlaut calling- f anul ani( iij;- men lias ever been, is now and will ever be, the tilling of the soil and the production of such tilings as the race must of necessity subsist on - food and clothing. In almost any section of tlie country, the farm has been originally, at lea^'t, the base of all other indu-lries. This has lieen true from the "rock-hound coast of New England." on over the later settled states and territories. e\en to the Golden Gate, kissed by the breezes and bathed in the far away I'acific ocean. Seven-twelfths of all our American population are directly or indirectly connected with the independent life of a farmer. The trend of the earliest industries of a country, is, however, the result of ilie circumstances under which those industries are de\cloped. The atlentinn of the ])ioiieer settler is conlined almost solely to the supplying of the immediate wants of food and shelter and clothing. For this reason the first settlers of auy given country become farmers, trappers and hunters, according to the easiest means by which their families can lie supplied with the nessities of life.

For many decades, in this, as well as older countries cm the globe, it has been conceded that intelligence is as necessary to succeed in bringing forth from the soil the best _\ieids and greater profits for the lab'or expended, as is the case in any other branch of the world's various and multiplied industries. "Scientific farming" not many years ago, however, by a thoughtless class was scorned, but today but few are counted worthy the name farmer wb.o do not believe that as much skill and training should be given the youth who seeks to make his way through life as an agriculturist as though he was to be fitted for someone of the other useful and honorable callings. The man who best studies the condition of the soil and watches the plant life with the return of eacli season, is he who is crowned with abundant success, while the haphazzard farmer, who perchance "plants his crops in the moon" is usually heavily in debt and is a discontented farmer - hence a menace to his calling.

During the past centun,- the agricultural societies of the United States have been doing a wonderful work in the interchange of ideas and bringing about the rhost superior methods relative to farm life.

The agricultural societies did not flourish in early days in Indiana as they have in the last half of century, from the fact that tlie aid, in a financial sense, was not granted by the state until the act of February 14, 185 1, was passed whicli made a provision for the organization and support of such

It was at il;e in the summer of 184s, in Shell)\ villc. wlicn aciiMH was taken in the matter .-f forming a society for the fni-th.erancc of agriciihnrc. .\t th;it time forty acres <.f land soutlicast of the old distil'.crv was pin-chased hy the association th.ere f.irmed. Tlie llr^t fair wa. held cilh'cr the -following (certainly not later then the secrmd) antnmn froni then - 1848. After the slate enactment had hccome a law the Shelhv coinitv association was reorganized to conform to the in-ovisions wf that law. ' Fi-om a historical paper on tlie society, written l)y secretary. L. J. Hackney, in 1854, ii is learned that the first presiding officer of the Shelhy County Agricultural .\<sociation was Rev. David Whitcomb. and the secretary cliosen was Davi<I 'f hatcher, then editor of the \" .lunteer. 'J~he date of the real organization was Xovemlier i. 185 1, when the veneraljle Judge J. Af. Sleeth reported a constitution, and Thomas A. Hendricks - later vice-pi-esident of the United State.s - Afartin AI. Ray. and janies l^lliott reported by-law-s. The sjiccial feature was the appointment of a librarian, whose duty it was to subscribe for all such books and periodicals as might be needed liy the members of the society. Such correct account lacing kept of who took this, that or the other paper or book out to read and \vhen the same \\-as returned. A comn-iittee was required to

A'olunteer. and the librarian ordered to suliscribe f<-.r numerous farm j.iunials, including the Cultivator, Horticulturist, the Plow, I^airie Farmer, Plow, Loom and Anvil, Western Hn-ticultural Review-, Ohio .Xgriculturi^t. Pennsvlvania Farm Journal. American Farmer. Indiana Farmer, Ohio Cultivator and other pulilicatii^ns l)earing on agricultural sulijects.

From an old crumpled record book, eight by ten inches in size, it is learned that the tlrst annual fair of the Shelby County Association gave ])reniiums whicli were easily described on four pages of this record book, and they included those aw-arded on crops, stock, fruits, farm implements, flowers and domestic maun I'actu res.

For the best planned farm within the county a silver cun, valued at ten dollars, was given. In 185J and 1853 much tnailjle w-as experienced w-ith. the conduct of hucksters about the grounds. hi 1853 the premiums offered arnountetl to one hundred and eighty-eight dollars and the an.^ount paid on the same was four hundred dollars. Silverware and books were the chief premiums in those days, 'fhi-; was liut the beginning of what came to be a great agricultural society in Shelby cunt}-. It began right and h;is been for the

In 1.^7-1 a new order of thir,L;s was ushered in and a stock company was formed, with a lucmher.-hip of something- over three luindrcd per-ons, or shareholders. While the county owned the ga-ounds just outsi.le the city of Shelbyville u-ed for fair iiurpo-es, this joint stock assi'ciation owned all the improx'ements iherc-on. and there many interesting and highly prot'ilahle cxhihitions were given.

From the "Centeiniial History" of Shclhy county, puhli-^hed in ^Syh. the suhjtiined is extracted: "I'ortv-five acres of ground admiral>ly adapted for the jiurpose. well shaded, an abundance of pure water acccssaljie, one half mile east of our city, was purchased in 1872 and fenced. Since th.en tlie necessary buildings and improvements have been made. 'I'he race track, one half mile in length, is one of the finest in the stale. The lloral hall is fifty by eighty feet. buiU in good taste, light, airy and graceful. Agricultural and mechanical halls, each thirtv fiv tiftv feet, are well planned ftir the purpose for which intended."

With each returning autumn time these fairs have been sustained. Perhaps no oth.er county in Ituliaiia has kept its agricultural S'.'cicties up every season as has county. l"he\- ha\'e never failed of pa\"ing out even and manv venrs had large sums left on hand. The wdiole nnass of citizens have vied one with another in making the Ijcst possible -h.c.v.ing in way of exliii);ts and good business tnanagenient.

There is now in po^se^sion of the present secreta.ry. Erastus Mcf^aniels. a valuable souvenir in way of the bill or poster gotten out by the old agricultural societv, in i860 - it consists of a mammoth slieet advertising the fair that autumn, and around it is a wide (ten inch) illustrated border, showing the most exquisite designs of tlowers. grain, fiaiit and live stock-. The entire poster measures about six by seven and one-lialf feet. It is now intended to suital.ilv frame behind glass and place in the court-house rotunda at the semicentennial of the original organization, which date will be 1910.

The Shelby County Li\e.-tock As-ociation was organized in 1886 with H. E. Cole as president, D. H. Thompson, vice-president; Walter Elliott, secretary, and William Kinsley, treasurer. Annual stock sales in the county followed the organi7,ati';m of tliis society and much interest was engendered l)y its operations and general influence.

The Agricultural Association has a f.ne half-mile track, on which has been i\mn more than five thousand dollars. Close to the two minute markin time has been recorde<l here.

J he othcers ,n 1009 are : Adam ]--. >ray. president : William Bass, superintendent; E. \y. .McDaniel, secrcary. The usual time holding annual exinbns IS the hrst Tuesday in September, hut this vear. on account of the state lair, will he held beginning August 31st.

I'nultry fanning was commenced on a broad and advanced plan in this county m the early eighties, and has gnnvn to prodigious pr. .portion^ The honor ot starting this branch of industry, so useful an,l profitable in this section. IS due to Sid Conger, who began fancy poult rv raising on a large scale after first experimenting in a more modest manner. He reallv be^-an in 1875 with two Partridge Cochin pullets given him bv a friend. He added a fine cockerel, and thus laid the foundation for one of the most extensive business concerns m the entire \\-est. Other breeds of chickens were added from time to time, and in 1877 .he began making his exhibits at the Indiana fairs Still later he exhibiied at the chief fairs in the United States, and in 18S5 won the great prizes at the Xew Orleans World's Fair.

The reputation was so built up by Mv. Conger that he commanded immense prices, a smgle chicken selling for one hundred fiftv dollars, while a pen of six hens and one male sold at {\xe hundred dollars' This gentleman commenced on a small borrowed capital: in 18S6 sold nine thousand dollars worth of fancy eggs and enjoyed a trade extending into all states and territories. Canada and England.

Other men who engaged in poultry business and became important factors m the industry were ^Icssrs. T. E. Goodrich. Justus Clapp. James K Bowers. Robert Hale. Charles Cage and Frank Corv

111 1865 there were one hundred elcxen ?cli'>,,l hou.-es in Shelliv countv ; in 1870 there were one hniKh'ed k.iirieen ; in ii>j(') there were one luindred thirty, the total value of which at the last named dale was $140,000.

According to the report made to the county, hv the superintendent of public schools, in and for Shelhy dunty. in 1908. the f.illowing appears, concerning the enrollment of pupils and school huildiiigs in the several townships and corpnralinns :

All but two of the school -houses in Shelby county in 190S were brick structures - those two were frame buildings. There are a number of school

Till? ira.iniiig- scIk^. i] is iiiuler the directioii of the Seventh Day Ailventists of Indiana. ;;n(l was cstahlished at r.':'.ef!;:st.'v,vn. Shelliy county, October 29, 1902. It was Tn^t nanicil after Bc.Qg^towii. inn in 1007 ti>i>k (.n the name of the heautiful natural grove wherein it is .situated at the present time. At first this institution occupied three rented buildings. The lirst principal was Prof. B. F. Machlan. who had hut twenty pupih' the lirst schu. i] \car. The wurk f;f erecting suitable .sclnol buildings went forward. William .\pplegate donated the sex'en-acre li_>t and C'linrihutions all o\x-r the c inference were sent in. Xcarly every conference worker was interested: it was no uncommon thing to see ministers. Bible workers, canvassers, farmers, and in one instance a dentist, laboring together, with one c 'mmon object - the building of a school where might be taught th.e Indiana vnuth.

Before tlie close of the hrst year it had been tietcnnined to locate at Beech.wood instead of Boggstown. This was done and conference tents were procured and set up in the grove and there utilized as recitation ni.nns, tlormitories, etc. A well had been provided that was one hundretl and twcntv-six feet deep. The autumn of 1903 still found the academy buildings unfinislied and Professor Machlan's family still lixin.g in tents, where thev remained until after snow fall. The students, however, lived in new quarters. About the grounds the unsightly stumps were blown ( ait tn the ground by means of dynamite and the campus provided in the spring with beautiful flower beds and shrubs. Xurseries donated, or sold at a reduced rate, peach, pear, cherrv, and apple trees: also grape vines, currants, and berry bushes, and a fine orchard and vineyard was the happy result. T^dav this sp^t is among the most truly charming within SIiell)y county. The academy bui'dings were completed in 1904: a well-house was built, and a gasoline engine installed and an eight room cottage provided new for the professor.

The year 1905-06 o])ened with a faculty, as follows: Prof. B. F. Machlaii. principal: IF F. Bens( n. preceptor: Mr<. F(,u Kirby-Curtis, science: Xcttie A. (Dunn) Saxl>y, preceptress: .Mrs. Mertie I. Maciilan. sewing and dress-making: Mrs. Cora L. Strickler, music; and Elizabeth Bailey, matron.

At the close of that year H. F. Benson went to Japan as a missioirary and there entered a Japanese college to master the language of that countn*. There has been changes in the faculty, but the work goes on and at this writing there are over sixty ])upils and all drying good work. This school is located near Fairland. in Brandywine t'ownship.

In early days railroading in Shelby county was not what one finds it today. Then the locomotives, small affairs, were all wo'id-hurners. and had to be su|'plied e\'ery ten lo the saying- "wchhI up", scng-ers. if in much of a get out and assist in tlin then received two d'Jllar^ thing as o\-ertime antl a t the trip, he it early or late.

This was at a time when steam injectors were unheard of and liie engine had to be in mulion en the track in order lo pump water into ih.e 1> liler. Engineers were then supp<.ised to make all repairs on the engine they run, but now they kick at tightening up a bolt and want the .shop men to see to small things as well as large undertakings in re])airing. Xo block system then either, and when two trains run against each other on same line of track, they would start from opposite directions and run to a po^t painted white which was usually set half way between two station ]ir)inis. If one arrived fii'sl the\- waited a half hour and if the opposite train did m.^t put in its appearance, th.e first train arriving at th.e central "white post" would take chances and sneak in. liut frequently had to liack up. as they would meet the lielated train midway.

Afany times th.e throttle would not wC'rk and steam could not be shut off in time to stop the train, and in such cases the engineer liad to open \\p his pumps from the tank and fill his boiler up with cold water in order to reduce the steam so the locomotive would stop for want of power.

In the old time freight service if a train was supposed to carrv fifteen freights it had to draw that number whether filled with straw or stone, it made no difference, hut now all is changed - the horse-power and diameter of the drive wheels are the base and the freight is drawn by the ton weight and each engine has a given capacity and is seldom ri\-erloaded or '"stalled."

Men still living in Shelbyville remember well when in going over the olfl Knighlstown stra])-rail road, how they had to assist the train crew in wooding up and watering the IjcouKitixe between stations.

Siielhy c'unt}' was early in the \-anyuai'd experimenters in \arinus railroad prnjccts. JMuni the date cf the ori;anizati<)n uf the county, fi^-warcl lor a nunilier of }ears. the suiiject ni interna! iniiinnenients was upjiermost in the minds "i the more entcrprisin.i;- and intclii^ent classes. In i8jj the GoN'erncir in !)!> niessa,L;e ad\.icated tlie speed}- c^iiislniction of state r^ads. improvement of ri\ers, etc.. to facilitate transp' -nation, .^lu-lhy county joined the advanced march of progress in tlie early tliirtics. Among its citizens at that date was Judge Peaslee. living at Shelhyville. He was the projector of a road e.xtending from the lop of the liill to the soullicastcrn i)art of tlie city, to f one mile and a half. Tlie ro.id was constructed enheing pulled by horses. It was put in operation July were taken the '"round trip" f^r twenly-hve cents, the conductor. Thi- wa> tlie licginning of wliat the l)e a line to Cincinnati. l>ut capii;di>ts did not seem to take very kindly to the unique project, hence the scheme was abandoned. It should he stated, in passing, that if this can be justly termed a railroad, that it was certninly the first attempted on the conlinent, west of the Alleghany mountains.

The first real steam railroad in the county, as well as the second in Indiana, the third in the I'nited States, west of Cincinnati, was constructed in 1S46, and completed in 1S49-50. It was known as tlie Shelhyville Lateral Branch, connecting Shelhyville with the IVIadison & Indianapolis road, at Edinburg. Its total length was sixteen miles. Its president was :\Iaj. John Hendricks. The first in order of construction of these earlier roads was the Madison & Indianapolis, while the Louisville & Portland was second.

Shelbv county's second steam road was the Rushville & Shelhyville line, with a total mileage of nineteen miles. This was built in 1.S47, and completed about the same date as was the first road in the county. The Knightstown & Shelhyville line was built about the same date, and was twenty-fi\-e miles in length.

After a few years the branch connecting Slielbyville and Edinburg was abandoned, as was als.i the Knightstown line. At al)out that date the Cambridge City branch of the Jeffersonville. }vIadison & Indianapolis road was completed, 'i'his road intersected the main road at Columbus, and the Pan Handle Railroad, at Cambridge City, all being under the management of the Pennsvlvaiiia Company, furni.4ied many advantages to both passengers and shippers of various commodities.

The Cincinnati, Indianapolis & St. Louis road ^>f the "P.ig Four" system of today) was commenced in the autumn of 1849 and cmpleted through Shelby county in 1S53. At that date it was styled th.e "Indianapolis, Cin- cinnati & LataycUe Railroad." Its projecim- and fn-Jt president was Hon. George H. Dunn, of La\\Tcncel>urg, who did more tor llic cause of transportation than any dozen men in Indiana. Before the huilding- of this railroad corn wa^ a drnc;' at ten cent.'^ a bushel: wheat thiriy-fn e to forty cents: jK-.rk one dollar fifty cents to two dollars per hundred ijounds dre;?ed. net. .\t the same time good beef steak could be purchased at less than three cents, while other produce bore a corresponding' market jirice in Slielby county.

This company's lines (owned or controlled) connected Shelby county with four of the most important cities in the West - Chicago. St. Louis. Cincinnati and Indianapolis. Thus the ]v.-odncis of farm, workshop and stock yards were bn;ught in close touch with the real consumer in far distant places, where greater prices always prevailed. Idie paj.senger service was made more complete and travel began to rapidly increase, and has never ceased to do so e\-en today \\itli the man}' fast flying steam and electric trains through the county. Up to 1886 there was a niileage of sixty-five miles of railroad within this county.

As early as 1856 Shelby county enjoyed the benefits of three railroads - the Indianapolis & Cincinnati line; the Shelliyville & Rush\'ille line and the "Shelbyville & Columbus Railroad, later known as the Canibridge City branch of the Jeffersonville, }vIadison & Indianapolis Railroad: also the Edinburg. Shelbyville & Knightstown Railroad. The last named road ran along the Smithland pike, passed through the town of Shelbyville on Broadway street, out by the fair grounds, then on to Knightstown. in Henry county. Indiana, It was a curious old flat bar railroad, ever (jut of repair an;! never profitable to its owners. During the period of the Ci\'il war the rails were taken up by the governnient and shipped South, to be used in the constructii-^n of teniporary railroads for transportation of trooi)s and munitions of war. This road was never re-constructed in Shelby county, and nothing but the cuts and parts of the old grade have been visible for many years.

At the tinie just named - 1856 - when Shelbyville h.ad three raih'oads. she also had six dirt roads entering the place, instead of the present fine rock graded roads.

In the march of tinic. with the searching eye of modern science, and the studying out of many useful inventions, the transforniation of public conveyance (form the old stage coach and ox team methods), the country has become a real wonderland of switfly flying vehicles, propelled b} steam, gas and electricity, which go hither and yon. at the will of the would-be traveler, whether it be for pleasure, or upon professioiial and strict business errands. The horse car has ser\'ed well its time and laid by as a relic. The stage coach likewise filled its early-day mission, but is no more to be lieard thundering over hill and dale. The heavy freight wagon.s of the oldcn-tinic are now onlv seen Avithin city and town limits. Steam and electricity have changed all former methods, and yet who shall say that we are not yet in our infancy, c\ en in these matters which tinlay seem so perfect.

The first attempt at introducing the electric cm-rent as a motive power within Shelby county was in 190 j, when the enterprise of the following Shelbyville business men tmdertook the business and org:niizcd a company for the purpose of building a line of electric railway from Shelbyville to Indianapolis. These men were - Ed. K. Adams, Albert Deprez, Joseph Deprez, John R. Messick, Arthur Thurston and T. E. Goodrich, llie right-of-way having been secured the first shovel of dirt in the matter of constrtiction was thrown Saturday afternoon, October 27, 1901, at a point just north of the city limits, in a cut. The line \vas finished and opened to the general public the first week in September, 1902. and continued in the hands of the original incorporators until June. 1903, wh.en tlie first company sold their interests to the present corporation - tlte Indianapolis & Cincinnati Traction Company, whose line now runs between the two great cities.

Upon the opening of the line from Shelbyville a brass band was engaged and accompanied the oHiccrs and invited guests to Indianapolis, where they were royally welcomed by an enthusiastic city. September 11, IQ02. the road was declared open fc^r general travel and ever since has been known as one of the finest lines of electric road within the state of Indiana. Train service to and from Shelbyville is frequent and satisfactory to all concen'.cd.

Boggstown, platted liy John ]\IcConnell and Armstrong Gibson, in 1867, was at the geograpliical center of Sugar Creek township and named in honor of Josepli Eoggs. a pioneer settler of this county. It was eight miles to the northwest of Shelbyville. It is situated, as originally platted, on twenty-four lots at the intersection of the Fairland, Franklin & ^lartinsvil'e Raihoad. with the Bluff road. It had at one time a good general store, post-office, blacksmith and wagon shop and an extensive tobacco maiuifactury, using the tobacco produced in the vicinity. The tobacco was peddled out by large wagons that plied the roads in Indiana, Illinois and Ohio. The "Boggstown brand" was counted the best to be obtained and demanded good selling prices.

The earliest merchants there were Joseph Boggs. ^^'illiara FI. Manwarring, Hugh [NIcFaddcn, who was an old Pennsylvanian who had three sons of prominence - James B., an attorney; William G., a physician of Shelbyville, and "Uncle" Hugh ^McFadden, a prominent farmer of Sitgar Creek townsltip. Of yiv. ]\Ian\varring it should here be added that he taught school and later engaged as a clerk in a store, becoming a partner in the same and there sold goods for a long term of years, but upon the construction of the Madison & Indianapolis Railroad he sold out and moved to the county seat of Johnson county, ten miles distant from Boggstown. He there engagerl in merchandising and held many of his former customers. v>ho would come many miles to trade with him, for he was a sagaciotts merchant, who cave value received. He continued in trade until his death, which was at an ad\-anced age. Hugh McFadden, the other pioneer merchant of Boggstown, finally sold and engaged in extensive farming operations.

Outside of Shelbyville, at an early day, no town was better known than Boggstown. The highway on which it was located surpassed any other, enroute to Indianapolis, hence the trade was very large. . The tobacco wagons sent (lut from this place made man_\" points as far out as }vIiKvaukec. \\'isconsin ; Chicago, Illinois, and other now great cities, which at that day were but small towns, or little cities. In 1909 there are at Boggstown an elevator, general stores, a ^Methodist Episcopal church, a Presbyterian church, an Advent church and a seminary of this den<;)mination near. Also an agricultural implement house and the post-office.

M>uu\. Aiil)iini wa-; platted as a villa.crc l)v ImIiii Warner. Ch^i^tol)!lC^ .M. Allen. Daniel A. Allen an<l William I". Recnr,l<. The date (.1 jilat filingwas Jannary iS. 1S37. when thirty-two lots were surveyed off f^r village uses. It was at the e'lniiunn earners ol' seetion 17. 18, U) and jo. tiwnship 1 i. ranye 0 ea-i. Later additi'.ns were made. It was in the exael center of jacksou township, making- it just tweK'e miles to the southwest of Shellw ville. The original name of the place was Illack- Hawk, after an old Indian warrior. The first to sell merchandise there was a Mr. lIulTm.an. who lived in the same ImiMing - a small affair Init large enough for the Imsiness he carried on. A. Barnctt was next to come in. then came Sylvester Delano and Calel) Sanders. It was in 1S39 that Joseph Hageman located his saw mill at this place, or hard h.y it. In 1841 a "corn-cracker" was added and went hy tlie more dignified name of tloin- mill. A tanricry was also an im])ortant atljunct of the town and there the domestic and wild animal skins were tanned and the leather used for domestic uses. In i88n the town had a iyi]Milation of one hundred and seventy-fi\e people and has alrait that numl.ier at this date - 1909.

Waldron. originally called Stroups\'illc. was laid out by ricorge Stroup. March 27. 1854. It comprised twenty- four town lots, ti/ which there were made several sul.)sequent additions. It is situated <jn the line of the railroad in Liberty township, eight miles south of Shelbyville and is in the midst of a fine agricultural section of the county. George Wooden was the pioneer merchant here and he handled a good and complete stock of general merchandise. He was followed by J. J. Cintis. Other dealers were Messrs. Chaijman. Laremore, Robinson, Stroup. Haymond, Thompson, Trees, Llahan and McCain. Graw & Xewton operated an extensive saw mill industry. This was followed by a g-rist mill built by John Ferren. In 1854 a carriage shop was started by Richey & Pierson. The post-office for mrire than ten vear^ was known as Conn's, but finally changed. The first postmaster was T. K. Short, who held the position ten years. Physicians of the jjlacc have been. Doctors Richey, Washburn, Kennedy. Skull, Pearsons and Jenkins, in the earliest period of the town's history. In 1S85 there was a population of aljout four hundred and fifty and the i)resent population is about five hundred.

Waldron is favored, and has been ever since 1888. by being in the center of a iiatural gas licit which has been greatly developed within the last few years. Not fewer than twenty-five gas wells are to be seen within a radius of one niile the tc 'wn. Gas sells to consumers at twent\- cents i)er thousand cubic feet. Houses, both in town and country around aljout are supjilied with this product, and used as fuel ami fcir illuminating purposes.

This place has never been incorjionited, Init it is a well reirulited town of about five hundred peaceful inhabitants. It^ churches are: the :\Ielhodist Episcopal, whose brick buildinq- erected in 1S5S is still doing service: the membership is one hundred forty-seven. The rec^nlar Baptist church, occupies a church building- erected in 1003. The Se\enth Day A(hentisis have a small c-iigregation or class at WalilrMU, and. worship in a frame building built in i.'-JSS.

The school building- is a brick structure originally built in 1873 aiul rebuilt in iSqq - has four rooms and a teacher for each departn-icnt.

The W'aldron post-office is a money order oflice. and has two free rural delivery routes going out from it - Xos. 1 and 2. Jerome Spark- is the present postmaster;

This is a station p' lint on the Cincir.nati. Indianaiiolis & St. Louis Railwav line, situated in the southwestern part of ?^Liral township, near the county line. Situated in the southwestern p'art of Moral township, near the county line. As a po-t-office it succeeded Pleasant \'iew. Tt was plotted Xovember 2A. iS.C'7,. bv Robert INIeans and J. Dearnian. It began its his<ory as a trading point in the fifties, after the com|ileiion of the railroad. The pioneer merchant was John Tovce. who continue"! in trade until iSoo. and was at that date succeeded bv E. H. Stanlev. In 1869 a grain \vare hrmse v,-as converted into a mill, of which ^Ir. Stanlev was the half owner. For more than two decades the firn-i of Mean- & Stanley were tlie leading;- mercantile fact'ii-> of the p!,-:cc. The business of this vilhiye in lyoci was as follows : a ,t!cncr;il store In- a Mr. r.amcs. a saw-mill hy the estate of Thomas X'ahdiverc. receives mail over rural route: it also has a brick T.apiist chtuvli edifice and a one m.'mi school house. This with a blacksmith shop run by John Means constiiiues all the p'ace contains at this writing.

This hamlet was platted by Andrew Snyder and Isaac Springer, August iS, 1835. and contained fifty town lots: twenty-five on the north side of Main street, and twenty-five on the south side of the same street. It is in the northeast corner of Liberty township: is ei.qlu miles east of Shelbyviile : it is situated on a hill and has higher hills all aixauid it. The post-ofi"ice at this poin.t was long known as Blue Ridge. It was named by James Marshall, in honor of his native place in Kentticky. The pioneer merchant there was John Youngman, who sold goods there as early as 1S33. Other dealers, remembered by some who were then boys, are: S. Robinson, John De \'aul. aI. Crail, and A. Jarrell. D. Fox built a saw-mill at this point in the carlv thirties. Other business factors were: \\". C. Yeager, I. W. Inlow, Jaco].) Querv. I. W. ^^rarshall. J. X. ^larshall, Aaron Austin and James Stead. An Odd Fellows ledge was instituted there. November 22. 1877. A grange flourished here at one rime, but finally, after operating a store a short distance from the place, went into decay. The place now has about three hundred population. The interests of today are: two general stores - Yager & Marshall and I. W. Inlow: two confectioneries - John Gahimer and Samuel Fessler: William Ensinminger. farm implements and telephone exchange, with one hundred and fifty sub^-criber3 : a steam saw-mill by Richard Marshall; a blacksmith shop by X. Yager; a harness and shoe repair shop b}- John Gahimer; a hotel by Oliver Harlam I'nm fifeen years by Jacob Ouerry): a ]Mehodist Episcopal and "'Christian Union" church: a tliree room school building: an Odd Fellows and a Knights of Pythias lodge, both of whom own gor-d lodge roijm buildings of their own. Tiie post-office was discontinued when the nu-al free delivery system went into eft'ect in that part of the county.

This village is situatdl in the heart of one of the finest agricultural sections of this part of Indiana, and land has gone from sixty dollars an acre, in i8c)6, to c>ne hundred and forty to one hundred and fifty dollars, vrhich is the selling price now - 1909.

Doblestown was platted by A\'illiam A. Doble, October 3, 1837. fSec Deed Record Book "G." page 597.) The platting included something over twentv acres. A main street was located on the Michicran road one hundred feet wide. A note i? attached to the plaiiincr. i-e.ading- t!iu< : "The pn.prietr.r of this town ,-;liall uot be ol^hged tn open the streets and alleys in Dohlestow n anv further, nor any soon than the adi'uning lots are occupied." This was a wise provision, as the town never ]5rospered much. 2^1 r. D-jhle conducted a tavern and there was a woolen mill below town on the western bank ot I'.ii;- Sug-ar creek. For several decades the town site has been abandoned and marked "defunct." The lots have many years yielded up their treasures to the husbandmen, who have tilled the soil.

Brandvwine was platted by Lewis Morgan. June 14. i83_'. It was situated a fourth of a mile beyond where the ^lichiyan roail crosses the Ihandywine creek, about live miles northwest from Shelby ville. and one mile northeast of Fairland. The place has frequently been called by reason of the earlv settlers being too poor to obtain proper tishing tackle, they improvi.sed hooks from common brass pins, Avith which they caught many fine tish of the smaller species. At that date tlie fishes in all streams of Shelby countv were very plentiful and easy to catch. For a time goods were S'.ld here, but not for a great number of years.

Fairland Avas originally platted l)y Henry Jenkins and Isaac Odell. October 2i?^852. Daniel i^radley's addition was made in March. 1S57, and Isaac Odell's addition in October, 1S65. Another addition was made by Granville S. Harrell. November, 1S66; Richardson's S: McOuiston's addition followed in July. 1872. This hamlet is located aboiit six miles by rail, nortliwest of Sheibyville. It was many years the capital and chief trading mart of Erandvwine township. :\Ir. Odell, one of the proprietors, settled there when the railroad was being constructed through the county and sold large amounts of supplies and general merchandise to the graders and track men, as well as to the farmers. He finally, having secured sufficient capital, engaged in the banking business, establishing the Fairland Private Banking House. He was also elected a Justice of the Peace and studied law. He purcliased a good law librarv and soon l^ecame known as a successful lawyer and justice. He was styled the "Prince of Pettifoggers," and was a terror to higher grade attorne'vs. He dabbled in politics somewhat and represented his county in the Legislature in 1869-1871. He cntinued practice until overtaken by death - actually making a speech, with his law bouk in hand when he died.

Of other 'business lights in this town at an early day may be mentioned the names of Joseph D. and James Lacy, m.erchants and grain dealers. Capt.

William Jiidkins nwned ai.il siiccos fully operated a mill at this ]v.int in i8(",6. W'halen Ciibsoii als.i was miiiiU'i-ed amuiig the sturdy and enleriirising- dealers of the )>lace. William B. Elder, pr(M)al.l_\ sold mere .i;(>od> and made more money in the same length oi time than any cith.cr single dealer there. Dr. S. J. Lewis practiced the "healing art" and cemd.ncted a country ilrug store, in which two callings he was accounted a success.

This town was laid out at an early day. a half mile west of Morristown, tiear the Blue ri\er. on the Bror.kville State n.iad. Its proprietor wa> Augll^tus Eitelgeorge. The "town" was at one time a rival, real and true, of }.lorri>- town and shone brightly anKnig the early stars of Shelby count}- as a sprightly village. It finally went the way of all the earth and became numbered as many another burg of the count\' - defimct.

Middlctown was platldl by William HanmiMiul and Daniel iM'ench June 19. i8ji^ - ciL^hty ycar> a^n. It was in Lihcrty t. .unship. I'ridr to the IniiMino- of the railrnail it was a ]i\cly Imsiness eenler. At lirsi the railway was gi-aded through the place and many ccstly (for that day) hnuses were erected, in anticipation of coming prosperity, hut sudilcnly the coni[)any changed its course and left the place off the route, which fact killed the town. Some of the early residents of the hamlet were the Moses, Haymondes, Frenches and Eulianks. Jiiseph Cummins ojierated the tirst general store, ami was Justice of the Peace. Samuel lla.vter \\as a gnixl l.ilacksmith and of ntuch genius and inlegritw In 1877 a distillery wa^. Iniilt there and succec^led for ;i numijcr of years. At this date there is nothing save a general sti>re and a few small business concerns.

The attention of the reader is resiiectfully called to an interesting reminiscence by Capt. T. L. Haynmnd. in which he gives much concerning Middlctown. as it was in its ]ialmy days.

This village was platted by Th'imas W'oi'lley. January 4. 1S55. and consisted of forty-two lots. It is in the extreme southern part oi Shelby county. in the southwestern portion of W'ashitigton township. It is situated on the line of the Jeffersonville. Maflison & Indianapolis Railroad. It has alwa}-s been a good trading point and took advanced steps about 18S0 and grew rai)idly. The John and William Xading's grain warehou.se was one of the important adjuncts of this thriving tnwn at an early day. .\mong the earlier business men were Wesley Xading. C. P. Isley, general ilealers: Akvin ]\fo.ii-e. saw mil! ; Drs. Pettigrew, Connelly, Xorris. Free. Benham, Kennedy, Lytic, Hand}- and Jones, who at one time or anotlier practiced here.

The ])eople who had to do with the moulding of the business and societ}- of Flatrock were of a \ery enterjjri-ing tyjje, and stond for all that was gnod and law-abiding. In the eighties there exi>ted a novel horsethief detective association at I'latrock. The members imited in helping to bring to justice tlie numerous horsethief gangs tlien going through Indiana, and uj^on failing to secure the stolen horses, the member> agreed to replace the value of the horse stolen, by per capita assessment, making it really a horsethief insurance company on the mutual plan.

The present business and other interests of the village are the following: Two general dealers. Ray Miller and I. .\. Fndicott; grocery store. E. D. \Vrigln; liardware. William :\Ir,rris: livery barn. William Russell: lumber and grain. Simon Xading Grain Companv : village h'jtel, George Hildcrbrand :

Smitiil.Vxd

This was another of the early-day i^lattings in Shelby comity. The filing for the plat of this village was made October 2,8. 1851. by Hezekiah Smith. It contained sixteen lots of a nuarter of an acre each. It was situate<I on the line of the old Edinburg & .Slielbyville Railrc.ad. Its geographical location in Hendricks township. Austin Clark opened the first store in the i)lace. Aaron and Jesse Siuilh were very early merchants. McCain iS: Smith built a saw luill in the fifties, whicli did an exten.->ive luiuhcr business. Hiawatha Lodge. Xo. 193, IndeiK-ndent Order of Odd Fellows, was instituted first at i\Iarictta, but owing to the great number of men who responded to Lincoln's call for troops to sup]3ress the Civil war. the charter was surrendered. After that conflict had ended a new lodge was instituted at Smithland. witli I,. Jones as its noble grand.

Li 1S58, in the mrmth of May. a INIasonic kjdge was instituted at Waldron: later. Lodge Xo. 197. Independent Order of Odd Fellows, ua^ f.^rmcd there and has flourished ever since. An encampment was also formed in iSSo.

This place was once the liveliest tr.wn in the northwestern part of Shelby county. It was platted in ]\Ioral township, July 6. 1S36, by Alexander ?kleans. The place really began its existence as a trading point, in 1S3;. when Frederick Thatcher moved there with a small stock of goods. Being on the old ^Michigan road and a stage station, it became a lively place at which in gather and exchange jM-oduce for goods. There were two .good hotels in the town, several stores and numerous shops. Here the d'lCtors seeiued to center and thrive in their profession. At one time the v.-oolen factor}- industr\- \vas successful here, but with the conslntction of the railway through the countiy the town was seen to be doomed and all of its early prospects blighted.

Xorristown was platti-d Xuvcmuer 22, 1831, by Da\iM Wintcrrowd am! oihcis, includiuL;- llcr.vy Dciwcn. U \va? platted in \\"a?hini;lon lown-h']) and is now amoni;- the defunct places of die ccunty. Henry Deiweii. llie first mcrcliant, came as early as 1S45 ^'^ ^^^^^ point. William Winterrowd commenced merchandising alx>ut 1S30. Other early dealers were Sylvester Tilson, David Tuel, Dr. W. A. B^wdine. and John Xewton. The physicians of the hamlet were D.-ctor Kennedy and James M. Xorris: the trnvri was named in honor of the last named doctor. In 1S53 a }>Iasonic lodge was instituted at Xorristown. with David Conger as worshipful master. In 1SS6 this lodge had a membership of over sixty and was counted among the strongest lodges within this part of Indiana, for a country lodge. The Grangers and Red ^Mcn of America both sustained lodges at X'orristown in its palmy day. The ]\Iasonic lodge is still kept up at this point. The business is confined to a small retail store and a shop or two. The Methodist Episcopal church is still flciurishing there.

This village was platted by James A\'ray. June 19, 1S39. and to this were made several small additions. It was located in Hendricks township. The first to embark in merchandising at this point was William Cooper. The first general store was that of S. Robertson. Later merchants were Pvush & Engler, Samuel Elliott. B. F. §turgis, Thomas [McGarren, Lafayette Davison, William Higgins, Harry Xorton. "Bud" Snapp. ^\'illiam Cochran. Abner Richey, Harry Hageman. Lewis Conner and James French. About the date of building the railroad, a saw-mill v>as jjut in operation by ^Iv. Heistand. who \vas a large lumber cutter until his mill was finally destoiyeil by lire. D. H. Slagel also had a saw and grist mill, being the grist mill built by Samuel Elliott long before the Civil war. In the eighties Marietta had several business houses and was prosperous. It has hardly held its own v.dth other villages in Shelby countv. Today there are two general stores, several shops, a graded schoril. the Methodist Episcopal church and the Knights of Pythias and Red 'Men lodges, both owning their halls.

Fountaintown was platted by pioneer Matthew Fountain. December 23, 1S54. and to it was made an addition in 1S6S by Richard r^Iilbourn. There had been some Inisiness hou.ses at Fountaintown before the village was plaited. The Fountains and Benjamin Freeman were amcmg the early merchants. Up to 1867 the town grew slowly, but upon the conii>k'tion of the Cincinnati,

G\vynne\"ille was laid out as a village l)y Alexander D, rolliti. Jaiuiary 25, 18S1', and to the .riginal plat Mv. J'ollitt added more lots in May, 1881. This town was nametl in ln'iiur nf O'Brien Gwynn.e. a nierch.ant and excellent business man of Cartilage. Ru-h county. Indiana, who had large landed interests in this vicinity. It was platted in Hanover township, on the Brookville road. The varicus business interests have been re])resented here, inchuling general stores, shops, etc. The first merchant v.-as Warren King, who commenced selling goods iiT October. 1881. Folli^wing him came William M. Swain and Robert }ileriditb, partners; the next was W. \\'. Wilcoxen and William Leisure. J. E. Earnest was the first blacksmith to wield the sledge at his glowing forge. A saw mill also furnished mitcli valuable Itunber to the surrounding ci-nniuunity. Tile and brick were made at this point in large quantities. At this date the ljn>iness is confined chiefly to a saw and planing mill, owned by W. W. Wilcoxen; a general store; a United Brethren and Methodist churches are also foun.d prospering there. Good natural gas wells have been developed around Gwynneville. supplying the \illage with abundant gas for fuel and illuminating purpo.ses.

Freeport was platted by Ira Bailey. Alexander Ritienhou,->e and John Mc- Cormick. March 17. 1836. This is in Har.over township. Other additions were made by Mr. Bailey in 183S. Bailey's mills on the present site of Freeport, at an earlv date drew many peo])le thither for their bread-stuffs and made a desirable trading point as well. John Corell was the first gentleman to open a store, it is claimed by some, while others think that the honor belonged to John McCormick. Xathan Prince, Alexander RittcnlKiuse and Judge Ira Baiiev were also pioneer merchants there. Toward the close of the eighties the town only supported a flouring mill and a geiteral store. It n.ow .sustains a general store and a good mill. There is a fine stone dam at this place and it is frequently sought out by fishermen, who there find much .<port and heavy catches.

This .village was platted in Xoblc township (the post-office being known as Sulphur Hill) by Lewis Cline. October 28. 1S53. and consisted of thirtytwo lots sixty by one hundred and twenty feet in size. As a business point it has never amounted to any considerable importance. At an earlv day Gibbs and Johnson sold goods there. In tlie eighties a grist mill and lime kiln w^ere successfully operated at this point. The village has a strong Pythian lodge, with a membership of more than one hundred hity, the order having a fine two-story brick building. The village has a Methodist Episcopal \diurch, gradc<l school, stores, black-miih shoj). dc.

The village of London, in }iIoral township, cliietly located in section 25, and the original and subsequent plattings of the village were made by Aaron House, in July, 1S52, being surveyed by J. :M. Elliott and John Dargin. Prior to the construction of the railroad, in the fifties, no business enterprises had been attempted, but soon thereafter Jesse Oaks opened a small store, remained a short time and owing to failing health, sold out to McDougal & T\IcI\ay, who continued in a prosperous business for several years, and were followed by Oliver L. Means. C'nnn &- Jeffries came in soon after the railroad was finished and traded for a time. Perhaps the most successful merchant ever living and operating in this village was Thomas Francis. The palmy days of the place began to wane and notwithstanding every possible efl:"nrt at fielding trade and building up various industries was carried out, }et all seemed to be under the rough hand of fate. About 1S56 a large building was erected for a seminary, but after a few school years it failed. Xathan'^Earlywine should be remembered as being the pioneer blacksmith. Dr. Thomas R. Rubish was practicing medicine there in 1SS7, but soon the place was lost in the march of other enterprising towns and now is among the many earlier village plats of Shelby county, where but little business is transacted today. It is a station point on the traction line; has general stores .:>iicrated by \V. A. ]^Ieans and David Tucker; a grade<l school, a ^dethodist Episcopal church, and grain elevator. It has a population of one hundred. The Pythians and Red Men have lodges here.

Prescott. in Shelby townsliip. was laid out by S. L. Dorsey, June 28. 1867, and to it was made an addition in i86<). Like Lewis Creek. St. John's and Ray's Cro^sin^:. on the line 01 the Jeffersonville. }*Lidison &: Lidianapolis Railroad. Lre-c tt i- but a way ^tati m. Tlioe vir.a,£,a-s have all had their part in the g-eneral buildiiii: up vi Shelby county. Inu jiossess no g-reat amount of local history to be recorded in tliis work, being pulilished at the opening of the twentieth centiuy.

As previously stated Marion was the first place platted in this county, the date being December 27. 1820. while this county was yet a part of Delaware countv. It was laid out by John Sleeth and James Wil-on and was originallv filed in Franklin county at Brookville, the seat of justice. The original town had fifty-six lots. The early iiihabitants of Marion were persistent in their efforts to have the county seat of Shelby county located, there. The location is excellent, beautiful and high. After the county seat w-as lost the j-i'ace went into decay and part of the town lot^ were vacated -and reverted l;ack to the original owners, (jr to their legal lieirs.

The original town plat of ^b.rristown was laid out by Rezin Davis and Samuel Morrison. ^^Lay 3. 182S. It was surveyed and platted by Meredith Gosney. It consisted of forty-eight lots sixty by one hundred and thirty-two feet each. The streets are sixty feet in width, and alleys twenty feet. The main street was laid out on the Brookville State Road. Rezin Davis" addition to the town was mad.e July 3. 1S40. and, comprised twenty-four lots immediately east uf the original jilat. Otlter additions were subsequently made. Tliis place is situated within Hanover township. One of the first merchants of this place was R. .A. Toal. who opened a stock of goorU in a log h.nise near where Dr. Salisbury's residence later >l..i.Ml. Si on a frame add.iti. .11 v.a- iJrovided ai;d Ills stock greatlv increased. I-"or many }ears this was the princijKil bu>iness

Of ^lorrisiown in 1909 it may he red rd.ed that from tiic best obtainable infornialioii it consists of eme tluju-and ptonie. of the Imsiling, bustling, wideawake type, who always make things ut i\ e to the tore-front. The curren; telephone direct(jry gives the number of pa.tror.s at ?v[orristown as three hundred and eighty, which shows that the people there have freriuem comnninica-ioni with themsches and side towns, vj a degree second onh- 10 Shelby ville.

l"he first pottery in Shellw crniiUy was located one mile east of Morristown, as early as 1830. Here Rewis Johnson made en ck-. jar-;, etc., fi-.r some time.

The milling business is now handled by an exchanL;e. The old mill tliat had served long was burned in 1908 after having run ab^ait fifteen years.

Ami.'iig the new enterprises of ^lorristowii may be mentioned tlie condensed milk factoiw nriw being put in operation, and which Ed. Handy is at the head. This is a fine plant and will add much life to the tov,-n.

The town is inccirporated and has fnr its preser.t eounci' - W. li. ^vliller. C. S. Patten, and H. B. Cole. The Town Clerk is .Vrthur F. Pass and the Marshal is F. R. Swift. The Treasurer of the incorporatic'U is C. II. Sterling.

!\Iorristown has churches at present as follows: ?klethridist Episcopal, worshiping in a church erected in 1S75 and has a membership of two hundred; Methodist Protestant. v>hich worships in the edifice erected in 1856, and tlie Christian church, \\hich is mentioned in another place in tlie wurk.

The educational element always predominated in Mi'rristown and mo-t excellent schools ha\e ever obtained. There is now a tlr.e five department brick school building, originally erected in about 1S90 and t'j which was largely added in 1904. The property cost 815,000.

Natural gas is furnished to the town's people by what is called the Home Light and Fuel Company. The gas is derived from wells within Shelby county and was first utilized abjut 188S.

Another remarkable feature of this town is tl;c pre^el;ce at this date, of twenty-five flowing we'ls of the rarest purity of water. The first of these stran,ge, but highly valuable v.'ells of living, he:dth-giving v.aters, was discv- ered nii^ro ilian a quaner of a ct-.Uury a^o. These wells are olitaine(l at abuut the depth of from fifty eo eighty feet helow ilie surface and seem inexhausiible in their ?upi)ly. One well of this type is situated near the curliing on tlic principal street and for years has been the pride of the tmvn. Here both man and beast ha\e secured the cording waters fr 'in a source that bespeaks of no disease or impurity. Another more recent tluwing well is that utilized with much good results at the condensed milk plant.