Shelby County, Indiana - City of St, 1909 (part 1 of 2)

City of St

! population has. trebled since those days back in the eighties, wh.cn these industries first kindled their fires as factories whose useful products are to be found I and sold at retail in all sections of the United States.

Havin.g been made the county seat in 1822, it has always l.iccn the seat of I justice and this of itself has brought it in touch with the outsiile world as

- the standing of Shelbyville at that remote day will be found in th.e following ; account written of it centennial year. 1876, by one wh.o had formerly resided up nt the niercliniits refcrrccl to. couuly nfficials. lawyers, (loctnr.v. no prcachors. except one local Methodist, and quite a nuniher of mechanics in a small way. The only church buildinj^- in the place wa^ a weathcr-licaten frame of small dimensions, innocent of paint outside or in. where some thirty or forty Methodists w.ir>hipcd when the two 'circuit riders" made their calls alternately in two weeks. I remeniher that year one of the itinerants died, leavin.q- only one in charg-c. and of course the congregation then fasted longer between their spiritual meals. The salaries paid then tn pa^f-r-; were verv (hminutive c<anpared to the present time (1876). This i)reacher. I was credibly informed, receiyed lor Iiis salary only one hundred twenty dollars during- the whole year, and he with a family to support : and what was particularly hard on him he'lost, in the meantime, a horse wortli some tlfty or sixty dollars. The Presbyterians, some twenty or thirty in number, had meetings in the court-house once a month, and Rey. Mr. .Monfort. of Greensburg. supplied them with preaching. There was nothing- in the shape of a market house; the citizens depended on yegetables raised on tlie ample sized lots of rich soil, which eyery citizen cultiyated with great care. As yet there were no butchers to furnish meats, and the r;nly supplies to be (ibtaincd in the summer were on each Saturday afternoon, when a number of 'shootists' would assemble on the commons east of the mill, and having procured a live lieef. often a miserable scrawny-looking bovine, and ha\ing divided the costs into a certain number of 'shoots' correcsponding- to the nuniber who desired to participate, they would take shares and shoot for beef. When it was decided whr, had won the prize, the beef was slaughtered and cut up before it was cold, the citizens standing around, each waiting for a piece, and fortunate was he if he could procure anv part of the animal that was digestible. I have gone there and found such a scramble for pieces of the coveted 'fresh meat' that I would retire in disgust without any. There was no newspaper published in the place \\hile T was a resident; the people obtained their news mostly through. Indianapolis pajiers. J can call to mind only a few of the more. prominent citizens; Dr. S. P.. ^Morris. County Clerk, and Doctor Robbins, Recorder, two excellent men. David Thatche;'. merchant and a leading member of the .Meth.odist church; ]\[essrs. Kennerly & Alayhew. merchants, the former also a Probate Judge, both first class citizens; Royal Mayhew and William J. Peaslec. lawyers of good standing; Cummings & :McCoy, leading physicians of the old school, and Doctors Hombcrg. brothers, from Germany, homeopathic. That mode of practice then just being introduced into this country, was subjected to much ridicule, and it was but natural that the people should slightly change the pronunciation of th.eir names, calling it "Humlnig," which was freely done, and sometimes to their great annoyance by rude boys in tiie streets hallooing to them. One of the brothers, a bachelor, reputed to have been well educated in his own country,

'J'lie staralard <<{ im Tality. and panicularly temperance, was far helow the present, had as it is siip-posed to he n.>\v. Perhaps four-fifths of the people then drank inioxicaiini;' licpiors, ihc alniv^st universal bc\-era.^-e bcin_s^ ulii.sky. At g-atherin.qs of every kind, such as 1. q-nillini,'S, iiousc-raisi'i.s:s, harvcsiin.a", and especially at elections, tlic whi.-ky hMtiie was one invariable accompaniment. Those candidates who pro\ed most hheral election dav were most likely to succeed, as one who \\('uld not treat was regarded illihcr.'d and me:in. or Avhat was worse, a temperance man. To show the influence that whisky had on elections. I will here mention two incidents: The year previou.s lo my sojourn in Shelhyville. a gentleman was elected Senator, he Ijeing a decided Whig-, when the county was largely Democratic. T enquired how- this came about, and was informed that l1ie Senator-elect, lieing wealthy, had fiu-nished each poll with liquor, far bexnnd the ability of his opi)onent to do. and thus he prevailed. The next year, among the candidates for the Legislature was John Hendricks, fatlier I believe of the late \"ice President. lie was an intelligent, religious, temix-rate man. and e\-er_\hi:)dv aci<nowledged his r|ualifications (or the office, but h.e had declared in advance that he wijuld not 'treat.' Soon after he was denounced all over the country as a 'temperance man.' and he was defeated l)y a Jarge vote. \\'hile such was the prevailing sentiment throughout the county, yet in the town of Shelbyvillc there seemed to be a strong undercurrent of opiKisition to the traffic, as one circumstance will show : A grog.gery keeper, wishing to renew his license, and it being required that he present to the commissioners a petition with a certain number of free-holders, twenty. I think, he sought the town o\-er and failed in getting the required nuinber. But this did not defeat him. He resorted to the trick well known among liqui^r men at that day. of deeding a sqimrc foot of gromul off the rear of his Int to the number of persons requiring to be on his petition as 'free-h.i.'ldcrs ( ? ) . Although it was evidently a great piece of frau'l. it was decided gO(jd bv the commissioners."

Milton Ro'ohins. M. D.. rlenlcr in (Irugs ami medicines, northeast curncr of public square, as read his card. Hendricks & Mori^an. drugg-isis: George Lnpton. suri^'eon and. dentist, "all work gu;iranteed." Strong & I-"ninkel. wholesale and retail manufacturers I'f a.Il kind- .)f gentleman^ wearing ajiparel ( -n.re north side \>u\>\'x S(iuare) : W. C. Miller oc Cmniiany. retail tlealers in fnreigr. and domestic dry goods, groceries, hardware, boots and slu^es: James Tin anas. retail dealer in domestic dry goods, hardware, etc: G. W. Toner S: Company, dealers in dry goods, groceries, boots and .shoes (at I. Sorden's old stand) ; J. <!t 'M. Levinson, manufacturers and retail dealers in clotln'ng. then adjoining the Masons' and Odd Fellows' block; W. H, Comingore. dealer in staple and fancy dry gdnds. boots, shoes, etc.. east side of public square, one door .south of the INIasonic Hall. Other dry goods dealers (general stocks) were carried bv J. an^l ].. Freeman, on Harrison street. A variety store was operalerl liy F. J. Faivre. wh.o also made candy and sold tobacco and cigars, fire-works and drugs. Another firm was bioits & Hul)beil. who carried family groceries and provisions. One card read "Go to VAtnr 6c FUiritt's for dry goods, at ^lasonic Hall." J- S, Camplicll was a merch;nit tailor who also sold gentlemen's furnishing grnifls. M. D. Stacey was a jeweler on the north side of public square : also D. yi. Burns in the ^ame line. Another advertisement read; "Stoves, stoves, stoves, at ]\IcEIwee's: call for the Clima.x, best in the market." W. M. &- L T. I'.rown. stove dealers and manufacturers of all descriptions of tin. Copper and sheet iron ware, sr.uthwest of public square. I. E. Wood, sad.dler; \\'. ]\1. Parrish. fancy and ornameiUal plasterer and cistern builder. Joseph Smithers. maker of tomb and ornamental work: J. Cummins, furniture wareroom on \\"ashin.gton street ; J. T. Ross, steam manufacturer of all kinds of furniture: J. H. Sprague. manuf.acturer of flr.ur barrels and staves; A \\'ilkinson. i^icture gallery, over Gorgas's store: Johnson & Letherman. ambriay])e and daugerrean artists: Shelby Bank - "prepared to buy and sell eastern exchange, gold and silver and itncurrciit bank note^ : interest <-<u deposits" - Elliott Hill & Company.

These and possiblx' a inmilier u\ others carried on the business of Slielb}- ville in 1856. .-\s one views the signs and reads the old nev.- .-paper aihertisements, still to l>e seen in the hies of the city local papers, and then walks about the present-day business streets and seeks to purchase goods of almost any grade and variety, from out tlie numerous and extensive exclusive stores, in the several lines formerly bunched in one "general stock." they are reminded of vast changes in retail trade, to say nothing of the wholesale and manufacturing business seen in Shelby ville in 1009.

The city officials serving in April. 1909. were as follows: Mayor, B. F. Swain: Clerk, Harry J. Clark; Treasurer, Georg-e X. Robbins : City .Attorney, John Walker; City Engineer. J. H. Phillipi; Secretary of the Board of Health, B. G. Keeney; Street Commissioner, J. M. Goodrich; Custodian of City Building, Sturlcy Carruihers. Councilmen - From First ward, E. B. Thompson; from Second ward, 1-rank Bass; fr<:;m Third ward, John Rinchart ; from Fourth wanl. H. H. Walker: from Fifth ward, J. L. Showers and Edward Comstock.

City Hall

Clous city buildiiiL; wa< completed at a cost of fit'iv thousand dollar- Tlie same stands on the old city buildin- site, as well as on additional ^nnind- purchased by the city. It is a handsome yellow brick structure, which has an'plc rooms for all city bu.^iness. besides an immense public hall and r.pcra lK,u-e hi connection. The hater part of the city building- is now leased to prixate parties for opera li,-,use purposes. This building is one of the best in tlie' entire city and is the pride of the enterprising- populace. Mere the records of the municipality can be properly cared lor and presen-ed.

In 1S74 a first class steam fire engine was ]nirchascd, tooeihcr with reel and one thousand feet of hose, at a cost of six thousand dollars. In 1876 Wilham Aforgan w,-,s the engineer an<l at that date reported that the equipment had iiLiiiy times j-aid for itself bv valuable services at fires in Shelbwille ihis was long before the city water works had been constructed and the firefightmg service was not what it has since Ijeen advanced to. but was o,,, d for Its kind, and tlie times in which it was adopted. The first f,re cno-Tne j-st nientioned. was named in honor of ^[aj. J,:,bn Hendricks, who demand a part 01 the land on which the city now stands. It was called '\Major Hendrick- " and was a conspicuous figure in the fires of the seventies and eighties.

October 24. 1S99. the first ordinance looking toward the establishment ot a regular fire department for Shelbwille was passed It was bv Mayor Roth and II. G. .Montgomery. City Clerk. The fire companv^vas to consist 01 eighteen members, to be elected bv the chief and approved b\- die City Council. Such a company has thwarted the plans of the fire-ficiid' in a majority of cases, so that the loss by conflagi-ation in Shelbwille ha-- been kept to the lowest possible point. In fact the --run.-;" made t,.'fire calK i^ave been made in as liltlc lime as has been lound in ni.ist. paid fire companies in the larg-cr cities. 'J'here are now thirty tire call-bo.\es; tiiree stations wlierc fire-lltjiiting apjiaralus is kept in the best of order Ijy tlie IrustN'. \-olnmcer men. Tiic water is n]itaincd by the watcrw. -rks direct l)re^sure at hy(b-anls thn.r,j.;hoiit the city, to which the hose is attached. Th.cse c\er alert hremen arc ihe only class of men ImKling office within the munici])aliiy who do not work en stated salary, but fur the good of the property-h.oUlers of the city. Day and nig'ht these men are read}" to respond to the call of the alarm Ijeli which locates the scat of the lire to which they are called.

llie amount of i)nipert}' sa\ed liy this cumjiaiiy is hard tn determine. IvUt runs u]) into the hundreds of thousands of doli^irs. since its organization.

[Many cii the leading citizens have been meiiibcrs fnan time \.o lime. Its officers have been from out the rugged, cool-lieaued business factors, among whom ma}- l)e named in this connection tlie present worthy chief. W'ilHam Xeu, who has served various terms and in an acceptalile maimer.

The city does not onn and maintin its own fire or engine houses, but such stations are located at livery barns, the pnijirietors of wliich are under contract to furnish rorini and teams, when needed for the work of the cnni-

Aside from certain exem])iions, such as not having to ser\e on juries, pay pMJI tax and be subject Xo military dut_\-. the llremen of \oIunteer cmipanies derive no benefit for the dangerous, hard services that are required at their hands.

'Jdie records of post-ol'fices are generally not ]ireser\-cd many \ears in the local ufhces. as their repurts to the Department at Washington each qitarter is all that the go\ernment requires and for this reason the early history of tlie Slielbyville office cannot well be traced. It was, however, one of the first institutions of the town. Even a complete li.=t of postmasters is impossible at this date, as "red-tape"" obtains to such an extent at Washington that a list cannot lie furnished. The men who have served as postmaster since 18S2 are as follows: Alfred P. Bone. 18S2-S6; S. L. Major. 1886-90: George Dunn, 1890-94: Ed ^lajor. 1894-98: Thomas Xewton. 1898-02: O. E. Lewis, 1902- 06; A. V. Randall, 1906 and still in office.

This has been a second class pjst-office more than twenty vears. The serial number of money order issued April 10, 1909. was 113524, showing a large and rapidl_\- increasing nuney order business for this <;iflice. the same i-ia\'- ing doubled in the last few years. It now runs over one hundred thousand dollars per year.

The rural free devilery service ccmmcnced in Shelljy ci'>unty in 1896. and there are now (1909) twenty-six country routes. a\eraging iwenty-fi)ur

Shclby\ille was hrst lighted by gas ..n the exening of April 26. 1874. The original gas plant having been constructed in the spring of that year by Messrs. Luce & Brother, of Aslitalmla. Ohio, the works passed into the hands of another gas company July i. 1S74. The amount of capital stock in 1S76 was twenty thousani.l dollars, which was held at par value. Ofticcrs of sucli company were: John H. Leefers. president: G. W. Kirk, secietary. In 1907 the company was reorganized and called the "Shelbyville Cas Comjianx" - specialty liglit and cooking gas. The present of^.cers are: E. A. Potter (Chicago) president: John H. Leefers. vice-president: G. H. Dunn, treasurer: Albert D. OgbiTrn. secretary, live- at Xcw Castle. Indian.

Lighted By Klectkicity

It was in the year 18S7 that Shelbyville was first lighted by electricity. The city ordinance was passed granting the franchise for setting poles and otherwise using the streets and alleys of the city by the Electric Light and Power Company. The fran.chise was to continue f "ir twenty years and has been renewed since the date lA its termination in 1907. I-iglu bv tin's comiianv is furnished to individuals and to the city for illumi'.iating purp;:;ses. With it is also connected the water- v.orks system now in use in the city.

Streets First P.Wed

At an early day, owing to the general lay of the land in and about the city of Shelbyville. the public roads and streets were in a deplorable condition - next to iinpassable. As the country de\-eIoped, the water was taken awav bv drainage and natural causes. The streets were then better cared for and fairlv good streets were provided for the use of the traveling public, but not until 1906 did the city attempt to do veiy much at paving its streets. Since then several of the principal streets have been substantially paved. Eroni 1904 on, the city took more advanced vievv's on its internal improvements and mone\- was spent in large sums. Imt all to a q. .od purpn-e. Amop.p^ llic impn ivcnu'iits made since that year may he irimed the ])Utting' in (^f much needed ';ultcis, curliing and sewers: the paving in a most highly satisfactoiy manner, a.nd tlie public square and streets crossing the same for a great distance nut. It is estimated that at this date ( Ajiril. i()oi)) there are about twenty-tour miles of cement, nr cmucrete side-walks within Shelb}\ille. These walk's, llunigh costing much lucney to lot owners, have gi\-en the place'a decided city-like appearance and wdl doubtless remain inip.ci lor many ye:n-s t') conic, even he walked upon and duly appreciated by a generation yet unborn. ]^roni ihc I'act that these walks were all put down, under the direction of a compeieut city engineer, and at aljout the same nerioil. ihe\- are more uniform in grade and width, than if they had been the work of \arious engineers and contin.uing through a brnger number of years, as has been the case in many of the older cities wiiliin tlie state. In fact there are few cities of Indiana, of the population (if Slielb_\\ilie. that have anywhere near as good streets and walks as this city.

City Police Dep.Xrtmkxt

In order in pre-erxe tlie peace an<l general dignity of any municipality it is necessar}' to ha\e a well rej^ulaied police fiMxe. as a distinct department of such city. There was a time in the history of Shelbyville v.dien the baser element ran h.igh-handed and uncontrolled by proper peace officers. But as the place grev>- in industry and general pr<jsperity. its better citizens set about correcting a long existijig evil. For many years after the place had been incorporated as a town its chief peace officer was the Town ^Marshal, wlio had a feu assistants, but when the city really began to know the real importance of such officers, and the place with a majority . f its tax- payers and worthy citi;^ens. so elected, a new onler of things iirevailed. The present system of jio-lice was instituted in 1902. th.e first pr)lice gi'ing on duty in August of that year. The first police were James M. Meloy. City Marshal: John E\'ans. deputy; John J. Marsh. Lincoln Radican. patrolmen.

Tlie present police department is made up as folkjws : Chief. John J. Marsh: ijolicemen. James Jack^on. Andrew J. Starkey. Benjamin F. \\dialey and Ciem-ge W. td;i>s. 1"hese men have been in offiee since May 2. 1006. ddie city has not yet added the modern call box s\"Stein. but eniplo}- the excellent telephone system for transacting their business throughout the city. Two men are on dut}' at flaytime and four at night.

When the pre.-ent system went into effect in 1902-03 the citv had an element within its b'.r(Kr> that cau>ed much trouble and disturberl the peace and quietude of the place. The first policemrui. not having much experience in the handling of this bad element, soon resigned or were laid off by the authorities, and others took their places. But it was not long before the violators of law and wholesome city onlinaiices found they were to tleal with nitn of courage and stability and since that date the city has been (me of <>nlcr and good conduct, for tlie nmst i)art. The present chief of police. Mr. .Marsli. ha? long- been Cdunected with ilie f.)rce rui.i handles his men with ahilitv and is well liked In- his felliw citizens wli.i^e interests and rights lie is always readv to protect. In this city, as in mo.^l all cities of its size, politics enters into the selection of city ofhcials largely, but perliaps not lo the detrimen.l of the masses.

From the earliest day up to ]S8(') Shelbyville depended on river and well water. The supply of water in any given location, whether in country or city, has always had nnich to do witii the health, convenience and comfort of the people in such community. Without pure water no people are at their best. However, the properties of the ordinary well water in this section of Indiana is excellent. For city water a greater supply was found necessarv in 1S85, when a stock conipany was formed by the following gentlemen, the same being capitalized for S75.0CO: John Blessing, president: Hcnrv S. Byers, secretary ; Lyman B. Martindale, of Indianapolis, treasurer. These men represented the stock comjjany that was granted the first waterworks street franchise. The ordinance was passed August 31. 18S5. Fi\e vears later this corporati' m sr.ld out to what was known as the Indiana Water and I-ight Company, the most of the stock being held abroad. The electric light of the city was soon coupled with the waterworks under one company, as it stands todav, and is knpwn as the Citizens' ^\'ater and Light Companv.

The sujiply of water is derived from an inexhaustible well situated near the banks of the Blue ri\er in tlie city. It is a peculiar well, in that it is Init twenty-two feet deep and twenty-five feet in diameter. It sinks into an underground current of living, pure water, coming from a strata below the ri\-er"s bed. It boils up in the bottom like a great spring and has never failed. Its purity has been tested by scientific men and engineers and found to be the purest and most health-giving of an_\- water supplying waterworks in the United States. A suitable pumping station was \)u{ in operation liv the original company with two engines and pumps which originally forced the supplv of water to tlie height of one hundred and twenty-five feet into a stand-pipe but latterly this is not employed, but a direct pressure from the pumps is used. In 1S87 the record shows that there had l>een put in eight miles of mains or water pipes in the city: seventy-five hydrants, so as to insure plentv of accessable water in case of fires in any part of the city: there were then but one hundred and seventy-five private water consumers in the i)lace. The daily capacity of the works at first was two million gallons.

Xatui-a! gas was fii-t used in tlie eiiy ,,t Sliell.yville aliMui iSSt. Ga.s wells were prnvided ahdu twn and a half miles cast of the city on the Ten^ ant farm. ,.n the old Michi-an mad. .\ company was l'. .rme.'l 'an.l ('.perated ahwut two years, then .s,.ld t.. an eastern s\ndicaie. known as the '-Southern In.hana Xatmal Cas Cnmpany." The gas failed in thi.s section of the countv and pipes were laid from llancMck county, a distance of about nineteen miles', and the natural gas conveyed to Shelhvville. The company raised the rale to consumers and the i^ecple of the city w^uld r.n toler;Ue what Xhvv letnie.l extortion m rates. Indignation meetings were frequently held in Shelby vilie and finally what is now known as the "Citizen's XaturalGas Company." was formed by many share-hol.lers of the ciiy. The shares were held at'tweiity-five dollars and each sharediojder was entitled n. one fire the year round. It was a mutual af^"air and a protit wa.-, not loolced I'or. In later years the meter .system was put in operation. l!,,th of the natural gas companies named are still opeiating plants at Shclbyville at this date. Two lines of piping come from the gas fields of Hancock county, .some extending as far as twentysix miles from the city of Shclbyville. This gas is userl largel> f.,r cool.-v'oand heating pnrpn.ses. Th.e date' of the r,rgan'ization of the Citizen's Natural Gas Company was December 17, 1S90, and in 1909 this company sells gas at twenty-five cents per thousand cubic feet, in quantities less than ten thousand feet and at fifteen cents for all sums over that amount, used each month. This company has about two thousand four hundred share-hoidcrs. and is capitalized at sixty-the thousand five hundred dollars. Its officers are 1. H. Deitzer. president : John II. Tindall. vice-president: A. T. Tlnirnon. treasurer^ and Cornelius .Means, secretary. This plant is now known as the "Citizens' Natural Gas. Oil and \\'ater Company."

The ofTicers of the "Southern Indiana Natural Gas Comp;niy" at this date are: CrawlV.rd Fairbanks. Terre Hanle. jire-ident : B. F. Failcy, Terrc Haute, secretary and treasm-er: P. G. Kemp. Shelbyville, general mariagcr. The head ufiice,-, are locate<l at Terre liaulc. and they operate plants" at "Greensburg and Shelbyville. This pipe line is thirty-'five miles in length. The chief gas territory now used is witiiin Hancock onintv.

That the true spirit of Christian charity and Irwe has been manifested by the people of Shelbyville and the county at large, the case of the founding of the County Children's Home need only here be cited as one of the many stlikciiadwick's iiiSTORV OF siiEi.r.v CO., ixn. 2S9 ing- illusirations. It was by tlie nohlc generosity oi L.codonis Gonlcm, \\\\o in about 1900. donated a fine tract of land, valued at two thousand ilollar.s, lying' ju.-t to the east of the principal part of the city of Shelbyvillc, on the Michigan road, for the purpose of founding- an irrplians' home. The county erected a four-story building', which in^^titutioji was opened for service January 11. 1902, the same being' built at a cost of twent\' thousand flollars. It is a red brick structure, faultless in architecture, save for the fact that it was built more than two stories in height. Public buildings for such purposes should never be higher than two stories, and this for many reasons, two of which may be named the difficulty in getting to and frrmi tlie various floors and the liability to conflagrations. Within recent years this institution is lighted by electricity and seam healed. In this humane institution are taken and reared, educated and cared for until twent}"-one years of age, both boys and girls, living within Shelby county, who ha\'e no suitable homes of their own, be they orphans or even with parents living, but who are unable to rear their offspring or have by hard-heartedness abandoned their children. Here the children are properly cared for, some taken in mere infancy, and when old enofigh to attend school are kept in the district school for the regular school year period. They are taught to work and are trained in religious matters. They attend Sunday scliool regularly, being accompanied to services by the faithful, self-sacrificing matron. \\'lien old enough and proper families can be procured, these children are placed liy adoption, or otherwise, in such homes and kept until of age. when they are well fitted to go forth into the busy world and live to honor the institution where they sjx^nt their earlier years. The home is, as is every such institution, under th.e direct inspectorship of the Board of State Charities, whose duty it is U:> in.spect the place frequently.

There are now nineteen boys and eight girls at this hr>nie. During the last four years there ha\'e been placed in good homes sixty cif the inniates of the place. Since it was founded three hundred homeless children have been thus cared for and started in life and are now excellent citizens of this and other states.

There is a hospital building connected v> ith the home - this is situated four blocks from the main building and has eight rooms, while the main building contains thirty-two rooms.

This institutiim is under the management of a board and full set of officers. The first board was made up of the following persons: Mrs. Jane Day, Mrs. Helen Major, Mrs. John DePrez. Mrs. Lizzie Weist. Mrs. Clara Patterson, Mrs, F. D. lilanchard. ]Mrs. John Messick. Mrs. Haymond, Mrs. James Parrish, :^Irs. S. B. Morris, ^Irs. Crist Huston.

Up to tlie date of his death in 1902. John Blessing was the superintendent, havin.g faithfully served for sixteen years. The first president was Mrs. George Dnmi, who served five years. Mrs. Bettie Williams was the original secretary; irensiirer, and Cyrcnis Bishop, con-f.-jiondiiiir secretary. The lit of tlic l>-)ard i.-; Mrs. John DePrez and Mrs. .Mimi Dodd is the iiliful nuilron. wlio lias had her heart on ihc work of tlie home and l.rcn iis matron for fixo _\ears. jn.; ])rcccdin,q her nas Mrs. .i>t liefMic her was Emma I,. Morrow. Tlie cost t I the lax payers for each child per day is at present thirtv-five cents - a sum well and wisely expended for so hnmanc a cause.

A glance at letters and reports from tlie many children who ha\e gnne out from this home, t.i live lii'ii. irahle. virtuous and n-efiil lives, rexeals the fact that this has indeed heen a W( n'k well callin.t;- for the aniount expended on the part of the people and has long- since repaid the founder. Mr. Gordon, for his noble forethought in donating- property f^r >uch a purpose. Sigiiiiicaiit. indeed, is the beautiful oil ijainting- of a widow holding her little fatherless cliild, which picture was the production of r\lrs. Idemir.g, .if Shell)>ville. and presented to the honie. It is life size, and adorns the wall of one of the reception rooms at the h. piue.

\\'hile other public in=tituti"iis have much difhculty in securing proper matrons and wardens, and are constantly making changes in these olVlcer^, this institutii;>n has been (|uite fortunate in having proper ones in charge. Tliat Mrs. Dodd. the present matron, is the right person in the place of great responsibility, goes almost without >aying with the people of the county, who take pains to visit the hc-'ine and kn.iw of her thoroughness, as well as her Christian training; of those in her immediate keeping. She is a mother to them all. and is proud of her well-bichaved family of unfortunates. Her life seems wrapped up in this work of love, which, however, is not without much care and labor.

First Skttlkks

As a record for future generations to read, the names of the first to niake settlement in Shelbyville will here be inserted, as they cover the chief number of pioi-ieers here, who set the first wheels of business industry revolving by their labor and intellect :

Slielby\ille has k^.g been headquarters in this section of the state for civic orders, the chief of which, fraternities is mentioned at length under tlteir

In 1S77 P\i!lou [,. .dge o.f tlie .\ucient Order of United U'orkmen (fraternal ir,^iu-;mce and social order) was organized at Shelby ville with charter memliers ui the person of; Solomon Auerbach, Francis Flaitz, D. P.. Wilson, J. P. Springer. Roliert Montgomcrv. ]ohn C. Edwards, Frederick Stephen, W. H. Colescott. J.dm T. Grier, .\. \-. Rohbins, Royal Jenmngs and A. A. Louch. hi 18S6 the record shows the lodge had forty-five members, but in Indiana, he it stated with deep regret, the order did not prosper, and other fraternal insurance life companies took the field, hence the lodge here went down, while it is th.e oldest of all such orders in the CMUinrv. and nearlv everv other state has its many thousands oi members. Puliiina has not succeeiled in keeping up.

Another society was that known as the Marrugari. P was a German society and in Shelby\ille was known as Hertha Lodge, \"o. 80. Daughters of Harrugari. and was formed in i8fiO and for twenty-six rears was fairlv sticcessful, but finally su>pen.(led operations.

There are no cities of the size of Shelbyville. where the idea of fraternal and civic society relations obtain to that degree found here, even throughout all Indiana. P"or example the Improved Order of Red Men. which uow numbers over four hundred members, ami includes the most prominent business men of the city. The Masonic. Odd Fellows and Knights of Pvthias are very strong orders at Shell.iyville and truly exemplify the teachings of their orders. Of ljene\olent fraternal ord.ers tl.cre is almost no end. but the more important ha\e l)een named.

Few, if any, cities within the commonwealth of Indiana have better pul;- lic school facilities than Shelbx vilie. The teacher here is an imp'ortant fact.-.)r in the unbuikling of the conimunitv. Danicd Wcltstcr once said: "If we work uixni iiiarhlc. it will jxTish: if wo w. ak up.'U l-ra.-s, time will eflacc it; if we rear teniiiles, they will crunihlc i.-> dust: Inn ii wc w^rk upon immortal minds, it we imhuc them with iirinciiiles. with tlic ju^.t lear of (i.'d and luve of our fcllnwmen. we en-rave nn those tahlet> soniethiiiL;- which will brighten to all eternilv."

From the earliest date in the hi>t..rv of Shelhyville this iJiinciple has been earried out. (.iood .-^ehools ha\e alway.s lecii the rule. Mver since pioneer lames Wilson taught school at >cventy-hve cents a sch-.lar in the hrst school-house in Shelby county, at the village of .Marion, in the eady twenties, the matter of educating the ri.Mitg young has been alni.isl a part of the religion of this peoi)lc.

Other schoohhou^e aco .mmudaiioiis were provided, and finally the brick building known as the "Shelby ville Seminary." was constructed ni the forties." the same costing thirtv-five thousand dollars, and there the hnglish and higher branches were taught. In 1S52 the building was burned and in 1866 re-built. In 1S76 there was an average attendance of eight hundred children in the Shelbvville schools. At that date there was a classical academy for vouths and misses, where the music of the great masters and ancient and modern languages were taught successfully. Prof. J. Martin was the proprietor and principal of this institution. W ith the coming and going of these vears other buildings were erected. Coming down to a more recent date it should be said that the pul^l.c school building in lOOO nunibered si:c. These were built at the dale and in the location indicated by the tollowmg .

No One school buildir.g. locate.l on Franklin and Pike streets, is what was earlier known as the "Seminarv." It is a brick building-the hr^t m the citv for school uses, and was erected in 18-. costing as indiaited beiore-- thi'rty-five thousand dollars. It has been remodeled and still does good .erxicc in the cause of" education. c- , u --

\o Two is the two-slorv brick building, located on South Harrisoi street and this was built iust at the close of the Civil war. and is now used bv the colored people and known as the '"Colored School. - ' Xo Three is a beautiful and massive structure, located on a sightly campus, on Tavlor and Miller streets. It is two stones m height and co^t twentv-one thousand dollars. This building was completed m 18S2.

\o Four is situated on Colescott and Tompkins streets. This was erecte> with "all' modern-dav improvements, in 1892, at a cost of eigltteen thousand dollars. In many ways! including the architectural beauty of the structure, this surpasses anv other in the city.

Xo Five is'located on the corner of Pennsylvania and Hamilton streets, was built in 1S95. and cost eight thousand eight hundred and seventy-five

No. Six is what is known as the "W'allverxille" !)uildin,l.,^ and was hiiiit in 1900, at a c.'^l t^f aU.nt th.rLO ihuu-ar.d di'llars. It is a i me-storv structure, built of brick, moied with slate. It is in what was District Xm. 9.

The high school building, locatetl ("> the corner of 'roni[)kins and Broadway streets, in the central portion of tlic city, is truly a modern school. Tb.is is a fine, large brick structure, erected in iSu^. at a cost of fourteen tlious.nnd one hundred sevenly-tive dollars. I.^ven this' large, well pl;nir,ed building is now being locked upon as too small for the purpose for wliich it was intended, and the school board is loiiking into the near future with tljc \ie\v of having to build larger buildings to accommod.-ue the jniitils of the advanced grades. This s]»lendid In. use was crecteil at a time when material was low and cost niucli less than it could be coii.-tructed l"or now.

The schools ha\e had a .steail;,- growth for many year>. The report of 1906 shows: 1,098 lx>ys and 1,080 girls, making a total of 2,178 pupils. In 1S94 there were only thirty-one teachers employed, as against abc^ut fifty at this date - 1909. Then there were only sixty-eight students in the higli school, whereas today there are over two hundred enrolled.

An account in detail will lie given of the \-arious churches and religious denominations of Shclbyville in the cha])ter on "Religion." or "Churches of Shelb\- Count}-." Nearly ever_\" denominati'.m is here found represented and the religious zeal and standing of the churciies is especially good in this city. Really a city of beautiful homes and fine churcb.es.

"The Citv of the Dead" has from the earliest day in the vicinity of Shclbyville been a subject that has been in the minds of all reflective and good citizens. Indeed the respect shown the departed in any community is but an index. if the intelligence and refinement of the inhabitants. The two cemeteries princiijally u-ed liy the people of this immediate neigb.borhood are the eld cemetery and "Forest Hill." both well kept burying places. Within these sacred enclosures lie buried the joys and sorrows of three generations. Here rest the remains of many of the old pioneers. Here the early settler has bent, ofttimes, over the coffined form of a darling child, who li\ed but to lisij jjcrhaps a single wrird, then was plucked like a spring dower and transplanted into another sphere of existence. Others ha\-e grown to young manhood or young womanhood, and then by wasting disease been laid low and finally found rest from pain ;nid sufYering in this silent city. Funeral processi':in after funeral proces^i. in has wended its way slowly through these burying grounds and deposited the remains of their l.ived ones, while the years have

In 1S24, at the secund sale of lots eonipi-i.-in:;- the d.in,iti..n ot' M;ij(ir John Ilendrieks and James Davisun, four acies of the extreme northeasi corner were purchased ])y Arthur :Major, and donated to the eiiv as a burial place. He paid the price but did not call for a deed. In (he seitlemeiu of his estate, after death, these facts were elicited and duly reeor>led ; and then the county made a deed direct to the city. Sub>f(iuenilv the citv added several acres more to the cemetery. Jluriny the first few decades nianv a i)ioneer and his family were buried within these sacred grounds, and rested with graves unmarked by suitable monuments, but as the country settled and people were aide and had facilities for so doing, they erected manv costlv and trulv befitting monuments, including those fashioned from pure marble and Scotch granite. The plot has long \ears been protected bv a substa.r.tial iron fence made in a graceful and attractive fashion. One bv one, the Las within this enclosure were used by the citizens of the place and surrour.ding countr_\-, until it was found necessary to seciu'e other grounds.

In 1SS4 what is km.nvn as "Forest Ilil!" cemetery was founded and in 1S93 ineorpoj-ated b}- forty-li\e Slielb_\\ille citizens and one residing in. Baltimore, ^ilaryland - a Mr. M. II. Goodrich. The names of the incorjiorators were as fo'llows : L. J. Hackney. John Blessing. G. W. F. Kirk, lohn C. DePrcz. H. C. .Morrison. C. Bishop. J. B. Randall. William H. DePrcz. ]. \\\ Rucker, Charles :\Iajor. John Elliott. S. B. ^^lorris. William A. Powell. F. P.. Wing-ate. S. A. Kennedy. F. Small, William Price. G. H. Duim. William Flliott, Mrs. C. S. Gorgas, I.c^ttie Green Tatman, jacol, G. IX-Prez. :\Irs. Fnetla Dunn, John X. Fellers, William F. Blakely, "Thomas W. I'leming. O. G. Glessner, Charles [Morrison, B. F. Fove. Da\'id F. Cornc}". James S. Jetters, John M. Byers. H. F. Schortmeier. :\Iilton B. Robins, D. 1!. \\'ilson, Chris. Steinh.auser. M. R. Senour. John Beggs. B. F. Swain. W. E. Talbert, John Messick, John Sheik. Charles Birely. m\ H. Goodrich (Baltimore. },laryland).

The association was under authority of the act of the Indiana Fegislature, ajiproved March 7, 1SS7. The original board of managers consisted of Leonard G. Hackney, John Blessing, George \\". F. Kirk. John DePrez and Harry C. Murrison. "Article XX\T" of the articles of incorporation of this association reads as follows :

"The distinct and irrevocable principle on w hich this association is founded and to remain forever is, that the entire funds arising from sale of burial lots and the proceeds of any investments of said funds shall be and they are specifically dedicated to the purchase and improvement of the grounds of the cemetery and keciring them durably and permanently enclosed and in perpetual repair through all future time, including all incidental expenses for ap- proaches to the cemcU-ry ami the prrjper manaqxiiient of t1ic same, and that no part of sucli fumN shall as dividend, piufu i n" in any manner whatever innre to the cnrp'-ratirs."

Ani'ther jirnvisi.'n is ihai no lots shall ever lie s^ld rd le-s tliuii ^-;; cents a square fool, hut no lots were ever snld at anywhere this Inv a riL^airc. .\lso the rnles ]>r(ihihit any kind. of seats, settees, stu^ls. etc., and also have it specificallv understM. :d that no trees, shrubs, ilmvers. etc., are to be planted and grown on the grounds. The lots are carefully cared for b_\- a jiroper Se.xton and today there is no cemetery better planned in Indiana and better order carried cut. To some, it may seem that many of the rules are very advanced and somewhat rigid in character, but when it is considered that these sacred grounds are not to be used as the lamls of a public park would be. the same then seem reasonable. The unsightly scenes of ordinary cemeteries, such as emblems, decaying tlowers, half dead trees and shrubs, and senseless urns filled .with all sorts of relics and emblems of various orders and societies, owing to the whim of the li 't owner, are not to be tolerated, and in fact are never seen within "l-'orest Mill."

This cemetery i-; located across the Blue river, to the northeast of the city, i)roper, and is on a commanding tract of land which has been highly improved. ?ilany beaiuiful, and .some costly monuments grace the grounds which are ever kept with great care and have come to be the pride oi the citizens.

The Catholic cemetery is situated between two divisions of the "Forest Hill" cemetery of the Protestant people. This is a well kept burying ground and among the objects that attract the passer-by is the almost life sized crucifix in the center of the plot of ground used by tlie people of th.is religious faith. This was purchased and platted after the first sections of the Protestant "grounds had been improved some years. Later the Protestants purchased additional land to the south, thus being situated on both sides of the Catholic groitnd at the present time. At first the Catholic people located a cemetery a mile or more out in the country, lait on account of the soil, the moisture, etc.. at many seasons of the year, it was finally abandoned and the groimds just named were purchased and the improvements made thereon,

M.Vxcfacturixg Ixdu.Sthies

Aside from being the couiny seat and oldest place of mercantde busienss within Shelby countv. Shelbyville has of recent years been widely known as a manufacturing center for numeo us things that go for the consumption of the masses. The fir.st manufacturing plant aside from the milling industry, ^vas - the planing mills originally built by Joseph R. Stewart in i(S53. This was destroyed by fire, but its owner then engaged in business on a much larger,

In 18S6 the leading industry of the city had c aue to be tl'c Cornev . Waller and DePrez Inu'niture Company. They were the milgrowth of a business established in 1874. It v,as incorporated under the sinte laws in 1883. with a capital st ick of Sioo.ooo. all of which stock was piid up at the time. In 1885 their factory en West street was burned, but bv pdv ..f the same year had been rebuilt and on a larger '^cale than at first. The new building- was fifty by tsvo hundred and thirlv feet in size. .\ wareliouse was also provided near the public square, which was sixty by two hundre'l feet and three stories in height, with numer.'us otlier Iniildings in the city used for finishing- and storage piu-p. ^es. The products of this plant consisted ( if elegant and new desigr,5 in walnut furniture and reproductions of cheaper furniture materials, which were sold in all parts of the United States and the territories. An avei-age force of a hundred and twenty skilled workmen in woorl were constantly employed, and iti i88r, the sales amounted to considerable in excess of two hundred thousand dollars.

The meml)ers and, ofiicers of this fir^i great fict.'u-y in Shelbyvillc were: D. L. Conrey. president; Z. B. \\'aller. vice-president: John C. DePrez. secretary. These gentlemen were all old citizens of the place and highly respected

It may he said in passing that the foundation of this factr^ry wa« the little talile factory started by 1). L. G^nrey on the hank^ of I'lue river, to the west of the city many x'cars ago.

The manufacture of household and oft:ce fiu-nilure is the chief business industry cf Shelbyville. The dozen and more separate plants work in distinct lines, and the total goods maile and distributed throughout the country surpasses anything in the world, for a city of its size. It has been alluded to as the "Furniture City of the ^Middle West."' The originality, the beauty of design and final finish, has pl.aced the highest standard of merit ui)on the output of these immense factories, wlien in direct compeliti m with other much larger cities.

There are mirror factories here, a wrench and steel-range factory. .\lso two up-to-date macln'ne sli .ps. where all kinds ni fine mechanical work - new and repair - can be furnished. At this date ( April 1909) there is being set in opcratirm a cloth gl.-.ve factory which is to be conducted on a large scale. New industries are being induced to locate in Shelbyville. which affords the working man a most excellent place in which to li\ e and educate his children.

Directlv and indirectly, these great factories have come to be the pride of this section of the '-tate. The tonnage by rail, of lumber and coal and other materials required in such plants, gives a large railroad business, and affords much Avork. even lor the day. r.r common lal^orer. Another peculia'- feature of this city is the fact that with all these multiplied industries, it is a non-union city, and strikes of any considerable proportions have never been known at these factories, where all is paid that the work and current prices will afford, from year to year.

Blanchard-Hamilion Furniture Company: C. IT. Campliell Furniture Companv; Ccnrev-Davis Manufacturing Company: the Conrey & P.irley Table Company: The D. L. Conrey Company: Flodeli Fm-niture Company: Root FTirniture C'lmpany: The C. F. Schmoe Company: Shelbyville De-k Companv; Shelbyville Wardrobe [Manufacturing Company: Spiegel Furniture -Companv. These make up their share of one hundred and fifty-nine such factories in Indiana.

These large factories represent large fortunes and furnish employment to many hundreds of wrnkmen. The majority of the proprietors reside in the city and own beautiful homes. The worthy objects of the city always receive their attention, and manv of the churches owe their splendid edifices to the existence of these ir.en an.d their successful operations. Some of the owners have banded together with others in a tithing pledge - to give to the work ot the church one-tenth of all their income. However, it should he recorded that nnt all have yet come to he that lil^eral in their support of puhlic enterprises.

Another industry of this city is the plant of the Slicllivville Mirnir the output wln'ch is eagerly smight for. hccau-e of it,-, <upori.jrity and c 'Uipleteness of fiui>h. Their goods find a market all over the cii\niirv. It is an incorporated husiness. the incorporators being Frank J. Remhu^h and Enos Porter, whise capital stock is $6,500. Thirty persons find employment in these works. The date of starting- this enterprise in Shelbwille was 1899: its original proprietors were J 'hn Ainsley and I'rank J. Rembu-h. who really managed it until looi. when it was legally incorj)orated. Mr. Ainslev retired in 1904. It first started out with finishing hut forty factory mirrors a day. but now the daily output is fciur Imr.dred. Tlic raw material is purchased both in this country and Ijelgium and l' ranee. The latest improved silvering, a secret held by this company, is used on their present output of goods. The old methods of using quick-silver are abandoned and where oiily sixty-five per cent, of reflecting power was formerly obtained, now ninety-tlve per cent, is obtained.

Besides the-e extensive factories, may be added a cotTin, or burial casket factory and a bent-wcod factory, both doing ;i prosperous bu-ine^s. The I'ormer is conducted by th.e ]\IcLarcn Lumber CL'mpany, and the latter bv Messrs. Fretchling & ]\b irner.

Other Slielbyville industries are the Sodav.-ater Fountain Manuf.actory, the Silver Leaf I'.aking Powder. Shelliyville Canning Cijm]);niy. two cigar factories, an incubat(.>r factory, cement goods in an endless variety, including a recently patented concrete hen's nest, which is proving very popular, as it is cool in summer, warm in winter and always free from mites and lice. Also two bottling works, the "Best" gate factory, Deprez Artificial Ice Plant, the Shelliyville Wood-working Compau}', and n.umertnis lesser factories.

Fortunate indeed is the city that has within its borders good hospitals and sanitariums. Slielbyville, at this date can boast of both - one the private hospital of medicine and surgery, belonging to Dr. T. C. Kennedy, at Xos. 24 and 26 East Broadway. This is a brick building, with ample appliance- for the treatment of all cases in surgery and chronic cases, in general. It was founded by D.k'U'v Kennedy, June I. iqoo, nnd has hccn in successful operation ever since. Wliile niM-t of the w^rk of this iiosi)ita] is in connection with local - Sliell.yville and Shelby c .unty patients, there are from time to time, others from remote pans of die state who come heie for treatment.

Perhaps the institution that leads all others in the L'uited Statc>. for actual cures fi-om the dread drug and liquir haljit. is what is kiKuvn as the "I lord Sanitarium", where a positive cure is g-uarautccd for neurastcnia. nervous and mental diseases, includino- the liquor .'ind drug addictions. This is purely a Shelbyville euterpri.se. ba.sed upon scientific and huMue-^s !)riucii)les. and was founded October i, 1900. by John 15. Stewart and L. J. Hord. June 1. i.)oS. Mr. Stewart withdrew from the institution and it is now managed bv T,uther J. Hord and his father. K. M. Hord. better known as Juilge Hord.' both of Shelbyville. and wdio liave e-lablished a reputation in vari<nis and reiuote sections of the country for doing just what they claim to do - etTect a cure for the drug and liijuor habits.

This institution r.ccui)ies one of the most sightly and charming spots within the city of Shelbyville. It is the o],l jiomestead- the country homeoriginally built by John ]-dliott. who founded the i'irst Xational' flank of Shelbyville. It was erected in i86_' and wa< then a half nnle outside of the town, but now it is built up thickly all about it. except to the north, w-hich overlooks the Blue river front. It is situated on a two an.d a half acre plot of ground completely parked and adorned by both shade and fruit trees, with flower gardens all about the premises. It is an ideal place and is a successful institution. Its street location is Xo. 360 West Franklin street. With it is an "Annex" of twenty-two rooms and a neat cottage of six rooms, wdiile the main building aiul offices occupy about twenty desirable rooms.

Jaither J. Hord. a collegiate, and master in chemistry, while living in the far southwest, made a special study of this matter and through his being posted in chemistry, finally discovered a true and sure cure for both the awful drug and the liquor habit. That this is true it oidy needs to be added that he does not ask any pay unless within alxmt three weeks the patient - man or w-oman - is salislied of a cure. Both Judge Hord and his son. who discovered these remedies, are life-long residents of Shelbyville. A visit to this sanitarium will convince the most skeptical.

It came aliont in this wi^e: It was in 1S51. when the late ex-\'ice-Presidenl Thomas A. Hendricks h;ul been nominated at Indianapolis, for the olhce of Congressman. One day while riding to fill an appointment in Hamilton count}- and reaching- the neighborhi ( uj in which he was to speak, he alighted from his horse to assist a man who was trying to get a heavv log on a logheap. The task was great for one. but quite easy for the two men. Mr. Hendricks got on his horse and vrent on his journey, not making himself known, or even telling- him his business in that section. The second day after this he spoke in Boxleytown. Hamiltr.n county, and at the conclusion of his speech a man came forward and said to him:

'A\'ell. that settles it." said the man of toil. "W'e thru it was yni. and I want to say to you. stranger, that any man es will neiglil>or with a feller that way and not be bio win' 'bout such important business to hisself es runnin' fur Congress, is just our kind of a man. That feller you helped is my son-inlaw. He and another son-in-law. my son and me are all \\'higs. but every darned one of us intends to \-ote fur }-ou.''

It will go without saying that the tally sheet showed a change of eight votes in favor of Hendricks. Since that date the man who gets out am'nig th.e people, iningling v.-itli them as neighbor and friends is called a "log-roller."

Since the close of the Civil war at various tinies. irregularly, there have been held old settlers' reunion.s. Along in the eighties these meetings of pioneers and their children were largely attended and fraught with much pleasure and were the means of drawing together people frurn ditterent sections of the county as well as some from adjoining counties. It was sometime in the earlv

These arc the remarks made by Re\-. Elephlet Kent, so well known in connectio:; with the hisior} of the Presbyterian denomination in Shelby county. He caiue tn this camty in iS-'9 and lived to be about ninety years of age. Pie spoke thus :

"It is now luore than half a ccr.tury since T came to Sludl)y\ ille. I had left the theological seminary in 1S29; and feeling that it w^uld be important for a minister to he suitably married, upon my return home. I turned luy artcntion in that direction. I met my first wife and proposed successfully. Her father's favcrite luaxim upon tlie suijjecl of luarriage was that daughters should be luarricd. i>ir and not on. W'iien my wife ami I \vere read}' to start for our Illume mis.-ion t'leld in the tlitn far West, it seemed as if iii'= daughter had been niarrie<t /en f\ir off.' The trip to Indiana at that tiiue was an immense affair, an undertaking of far lucire luag-nitude than a jiairney to Europe would be in our day. It wa'S a sad leavirig, and we parted with many tears. \\"e came down the Ohio river on a steamboat and arrived at Madi.son at night. I preached for the pastor tw'o Sundays and then went far oit out into the missionary field. I purchased a horse, saddle and bridle, paying the sum of thirty-five dollars. My wife rode in the stage. In this way we reached Bartlrolomew county. Idier.ce we entered iv.to Shell)}' county and reached the home of John Conover. While there James Hii!. the grandfather of ]\Irs. Teal, sent his s. -n. James, with a h.orse for my wife. 'I'his family was better off than lU'iSt of the ea.rly settlers, for they had a log cabin with two rooms. From there we went to Shelbyville. to the house of Major Hendricks. We were well received everywhere. I was now upon mv field of ministerial labor, and engaged boarding in the house of Dr. S. B. Morris. There were two roijms in his residence, and one of iheni. ten b}' sixteen feet, became the parlor, study and bed rooiu for my wife and my-e!f. After three tnonths we movetl in.to a small two-story brick building, ju<t ilni-hed. In l!ie lower ro, .m ni}' wife iiumediately opened a school, and we lived upstairs.

"As 1 stand Itere lud.ay and Ic ik hack, I feel that it i> very difticult to realize the changes that have taken place within this time. The limits of the town were then very small. From Hendricks street to Franklin, and from Tompkins to Pike was all there wa> of it - and that sjiace was occupied hv but a few small caliins. .\t srmie seas'i-is it was extremely mudd}'. Vvim where I now live it v. as often impossible to reach town on accunur of bad roads.

"Once a- young- minister. ^Ir. Danforth. and I, had been preaching in the country and were iivertaken by niglit. It was so very dark and the creeks were so high that v,e cc>nclu(led to remain all niglit. Sn we hitched <iur horses and entertained ourselves the best way we culd : and if I have ever in niv life danced to keep warm, it was then. Early in the morning we started, imt knowing what direclinn to take, but sorm found a pig path, which led up t.i the hou.-e of r\Ir. Curran wlio had been at our meeting the day before. lie ]iil(-'ted us un to Shelliyxille.

"To me it is very pleasant tu look back upon those days gone b_\'. I felt that I was the liappiest of men. My wife, too, enjoyed the missionary lab-ir we were engaged in, and on her d}ing bed said she never regi'etted coming here. Tlie Prcsliyterian- were anxious to have preaching in their own faiil;. and treated us with the greatest of kindness. I would often take my wife with me on Sunday to my jireaching places. \\'e always fuund the latclistring out. It is true that tliei'e was generally bntt one room in the luiusc. When we would sugg-est that perhaps it would ni.'t be convenient f'.r them tu let us remain c>\-er night, they would in\'ariably reply that it was entirely convenient. At bed time, the one bed would be made into three or foiu". and then the task was \v w to get in. This was a little mortifying to my young wife at first, but after a time we got used to these unavodiable inconveniences of a new country.

"Shelby county is secnd to none in almost everything that goes to make up a prcispemus commnnit}- avid a hai^py and contented peojile. But the people of the present generation must know that they owe a debt of gratitude to those who opened the avenues that have led to their success. Energy and perseverance have peopled every section of her wild lands, and changed from a wilderness to gardens of beaitty and profit, where but a few years ago the barking of the wolves and the screaming of the panthers made night hideou.> with th.eir wild shriek-, now is only heard the Ii^wing of domestic animals. On the spot where but little more than half a century ago the savage pitched his tent, now ri^^e the palatial dwellings, school-liouscs and church, spires. The transformation has been brought about by the incessant toil and aggregated labor of thousands of tired hands and anxious hearts, and the aspirations of such noble men and women as make anv countrv great.

It is to be deeplv rei;rettcd that for the last twenty years not much attention has been paid to these old settlers' meetin,<^s and no regular society is now in existence.

At an early da}- the pioneers in rii.me of our Indiana counties needed such institutions as hanks. The people were poor and traded such commodities a.s the}- p)r(jduced for the necessities of life in way of a trade, exchange or barter S3'Stem. Ihe earl} -day merchants who had [o eni])lo}- some ca.sh in the transaction of thiir hii-iness. cspeciall}- when they weiU to inari:et for the buying of a new annual, or semi-annual, supijl}- of goods, and thien the}' usuall}' carried their mone}- in a i)air of saddle-ljags to Indianapolis. Cincinnati or other large cit\'. Stich was the method empk.iyed for tlie first third of a centur}-. at least up to iStI, when the banki'ig business was commenced at Shelby ville by the establisliment of the hankingdiMuse i<i Messrs. John Elliott. J^m^'* Hill and Alfred ^Nlajor, under the tirm name of Elliott. Hill S: Company. Out of this g;re\v, in 1S58. the two banking concerns known as the Shelby Bank, of Samuel Hamilton, and the banking house of Eliiott & iNlajiir, which transacted business until i8(.5. then sold id the Elliott Hank, who merged their interests into the lirst Xalional Ijan.k, which is still an important and lhi.»roughly up-to-date financial institution of Shelbyville.

In contrast there is a wide difference between the days when coon skins and other jjelts went current for a medium of e.xchrn-ige in Shell)}- county and those of this the first _decade of the progressive tw.-entieth century, wlien every tOAvn of much importance has need and possessees a first-class Ivink. wliere depoits and savings can be securely placed at a fair rate of interest : where drafts and foreign exchange can he procured for a mere trifle - less than letter postage once \\-as in this county in 1825.

To give a clearer understanding of the presei-it bank-ing business of the entire county, with Shelbyville as the con-imon center, the following is given as the banks doing a successful Inisincss in April, 1909:

At Shelbyville. the banking business is entrusted to the follr.wing sound financial institutions: Shelby National Bank, established in 1855. as a banking house. It has a paid-up cash capital of $100,000. Its president is Thomas W". Fleming; cashier is Frank E. Wilson.

The First Xatioual Bank, cslablisiicd m iF^.;. is one of the great banking concerns of tiiis section of Indiana. It lias a paid-up casli capital of $100,000; surplus and undivided profits. .-^136.000; depMsiis ,,f $('.67,000. Its president is John Me>sick-: its ca.-hier being John .\. ^'oung.

The .yvrristozcii riiimi State Bank wa.-, establislied in 1894, with a caj.ital of S_'3.oco, and carries on a successful i^enera! banking business. Its president is William .M. Pier.son ; cashier is C. T. Williams.'

Among the explosions occasioned by the use of gas, in the city of Sliellivville, may be j.roperly mentioned Iiere, that <,f Xoveniber G, 1906, on East Pennsylvania street, at the re>idence of ]ve\ . G. G. A\"inter. pastor of the Evangelical Protestant church, and a time lior.ored pioneer of the county, whose name figures in many sections of this work. It was on the annual election day and happened at about one o'clock in the afternoon, as a result of gross carelessness on the part of two amateur plumbers who were employed bv the local natural gas company, Im put in a gas meter at tlie parsonage where Dr. Winter and family lived. That th.-y were grossly careless, it only needs to be added that they turned on the gas in the basement of the front part of the building and were at work in tlie same, with a lighted candle, unprotected from the fumes of escaping natural gas. It occurretl on annual cEction day, voting going on next door.

At the time of the terrific explosion Doctor Winter and .son, Emil. now a physician of Indianapolis ('then a student, home from college to cast his first vote) : also his mother, so greatly beloved within Shelby county for her manv sterling (lualities of both mind and heart, were present in the house. The father and son were in tlie fn-nt v(nm. or the d.ictor's -tudy and library. Tlic father was hurled upwards, as tlie ceiling and rojf parted. He wa> sent in a westerlv direction and was tlirown to the ground witli great violence, and at the same time, while in mid-air. was struck upon Iiis head by some of the timbers of the falling roof.

family, and tried to gain an entrance to the liasement. hut in the removal of some hrick, can>ei_l an ojiening which allowed the ga?. then on the, to ?e\ercly burn him. The son was thrown into the liasenient. in attem])iinf:^ to get to the north iiart of the house to rescue his mother, who had fared worse than cither the father cr himself, for she had been pinned down beneath die falling; walls and collapsing roof of the main part of the hiuse. The son did not reach his mother. Ijut was fright full}- Inirnetl and .-ustained serious injuries on his hand and arm.

The word soon spread and the great throng of men and women from all parts of the cit_\- somi came to th.e rescue and remo\-ed Mrs. \\'inter. who with her husliand and son., wa-^ many weeks laid uj) and suffered intense jiain. The mother has never. prolKibly never will, fully recovered fnm the awful shock and from injuries sustained by her body.

The house was totally wrecked and had to be rebuilt. The library and many priceless articles were destroyed b}' the explosimi. ddie workmen - plumbers who were the cause - also sustained injuries severe and lasting in their nattu'e.

Dr. Winter and family never received any damages from the gas ccimpany, who at that date seemed unable to pay. Even the doctor's bill and jiroperty actually destroyed were not even made good to the family.

It seems almost a miracle that none were killed outright, for the collapsing building, with its brick walls, was reduced to fragments, while the rei>ort was heard a great distance.

The Gas Explosion At Waldrox

August II, 1890. there occurred a terrific natural gas explosion, at and around the Ogdcn graveyard, in Liberty townshi[). Fountains of lire and water burst fortli from the earth. The bed of Fbtrock river was burst asunder and rent in many places Ijy the frightful explosion, which witnesses and later by scien.tific men, including the state geologist, stated was caused by the fracture of the strata of lime rock that had been a day or two before shattered by use of explosives such as giant blasting powder and dynamite, at the stone quarries at St. Paul and nearer points. This made fissures, or openings in the solid rock for several miles and included the bed of the river and Conn's creek which forms junction at the place where the worst part of this explosion occurred. This opening in the rock formation, which lay over (in thin strata) a natural gas pocket, where the ages had been storing away gas in great quantities, and this, it is belie\-ed allowed the natural gas to make its escape. Not many hours before the explosion, men had been burning brush and timbers within a short distance from the sp^t, and so it would seem that the solution of the occurrence would naturally be that this fire ignited the escaping gas.

The scene was between two and three miles from \\'aldron. where tlie IHatrock makes a horseshoe bend, the same being a part of the Kdninnd Cooper farm. The Ogdcn graveyard is directly acn ss the river and one citizen relates how he went to the cemetery and there lieheld the tlames rising lo the altitude of fully two hundred feet. Fifty or more fountains of fire and smoke, mingled with mud and water were violently hurled skyward. There were also eight distinct geysers. The river bed was lorn to pieces and huge fissures in the eaiih and rock}- formation were \isilile. These openings were receiving the waters of the river, while great sheets of Hame were sweeping on the surface of the water as it was lost in the crevices below. This included more than an acre in extent. In one place a huge hole presented itself to view and from this opening came a terrific roaring and rumblin.g. that caused many lo believe it was the work oi a volcanic eruption. For eighty rods along the river, the bed had been rent into many immense fissure-. Stones the size of a large dwelling were hurled fn-m thi~ spot. The grave yard was badly broken up. and upon good authority it is stated that in several instances the cracks had exposed the boxes holding caskets, which could be plainly seen. Gas flamed furiouslv from a tract covering about ten acres. Up and down the river, for a long distance, the trees and brush \\ere literally Inirnt and scorched. One stately tree was totally uprooted from its place and the large ro.jts snapjied asunder like mere threads. The theory is that as so^n as the escaping gas became ignited on the surface it worked back into the p'.icket in which a great volume of it was stored in the earth.

The road bed along the river, in places, was completely wiped out and cracks crossed the highway, so wide that spectators had to step long in order to cover the opening. Corn fields near by were roasted, stalk, ear and all. Blue shale was thrown up in a moistened state and from this manv people made imitations of books, while the shale was yet in a plastic state, but which soon hardened, and are held in different jilaces in the countv todav, as relics of the calamity.

By nightfall the flames mostly subsided, but the heat was still intense, and smoke was seen escaping from the ground, which still led some to think it was of a volcanic nature. It is stated that the first and loudest report was heard a distance of six nn'les.

It is n a til he wondered at that people in tliat vicinity lielie^ed tliey were on tile xerL^e of n aiie awful calamity, a.s ;i in;in siaruis .as liel|)le>s as a newborn babe in the jiresence of the great forces of nature, hut luckily U' >ne were injured and soon the peace and order of a toiling- people were resumed and today but little is thought oi the strange ami interesting iihenomenon.

One of the most nuled singing clre^-es. pri'ljahly ever fnrmed. and conducted successfull_\ for more than seventy years, and still in existence, is the one known as the "'^lissouri Harmony" class, organized imt later than 1S3S at Alorristown i (jr in a log schoul building near by), by Dr. McGaughey. the pioneer doctor of that section of Shelby count}. Besides beir.g an cxccller.t physician, as that term was undei"stt"M! in the Inng-agit da}-s of the thirties, he was also a musical prodigy. He was an excellent and highly cultivated singer. Avho it is said could carry any jiart in the musical scale, drifting from one part to the other, as he saw his special voice was needed in the class, and at concerts.

;\Iusic running in only iVair notes and designated, by musicians as "Missouri Harmony"' was very popular in early times and. he taught a large class of pioneer singers after this peculiar fashion iif singing. It really became a fad and spread tliroughmit the entire musical wurld. With the return of each May, for all tliese multiplied, years. :io season has passed without a genera! meeting of the people fmm various -ections e'f the I'nited Slates (many of whom had been the good doctors early-day pupils) and for a solid week music of this class was the sole thought of the people of Morristown and Shelby county. Immense throngs wouhl come from far and near - some from ?klissouri, seme from lowri, some from Ohio and Kentucky and Illinois, all uniting in swelling the grand chorus, after the old and charming style of four-note music. The roads entering ?\Inrristown were filled with teams and vehicles for a mile either way. on the annual weeks of musical festi\-ity and right hearty good cheer. Shelhyville and her lovers of the sweet strains of vocal music were ever present to swell the throng.

It was early in the fifties that Dr. ^vlcCiaughey formed the ''Old F<dks Singing Class" to wliich lictween forty and fifty people bchmged. The last of tliese are now dead (with possil)ly ime exception). W. W. WVi.idyard. ulvi was a great bass singer, and wh.o A\as of this class, died in 1908 and is supp^ised to be the last of the class. After the older members died others were added to the class and in time the "[Missouri Harmony'" style was superseded by tlie cliajiason music, using all eight (<i the musical notes.

The annual gailierin!;'-s ui tlii^ cla^^ are still kcjU up at M< .rristown. indeed it is a special feature of tlic town and is looked forward u> witli the return of each May-day.

The \\'('nian's Club is the name of one of the clubs in Shelbvville, at the date of the pulilicatiMn of this work. It is the name of the (-'Idest literary club in the city. rre\ious to its oroanizati.ni there had been a clas.s formed under the tintion of Miss Catherine Merrill, a s'itted lady of Indianapolis, and later a club was farmed hearing her name. There had also been a few persons who met together as Chautauquans, but tlie Club"' was the first organization in the county formed in response (if the enthusiasm of the club wave that swept over the o-'untry nearly twenty-rive vears ago.

This W( man's club was iVninded liy Miss Carrie A. Powell, then a teacher in our public scIt. ils. in October, iSS'j. The membershii. was limited to thirty, and the list has always been filled throughr>nt the twentv-five vears of the existence of the club. At present only ten of the charer members belong to the clubs, while of these eight have l.ieen member- continuou-lv. One because of serious illness, another on account of removal from the city, were for a time not connected with the club.

The Woman's Club has always been a study club. It- motto, "Mind Unemployed, is Mind Unenjoyed," is ilie keynote of its existence, and the complimentary sentiment, "Xot because I raise myself above something; but because I raise myself to somethi;ig, do I approve myself," shows that the object of the club, as stated in its by-laws, mental improvement and social enjoyment is well taken.

The study of history was the work of the clitb for the first fifteen years, and is still pursued in a slightly modified \vay. Six years were spent in English history, tracing the interesting course of England from the ancient Bi-itons. of Druidical worsb.ip. down to the middle of the nineteenth century. Then coming naturally across the seas, American history from the earliest times to the jsresent time was considered. This study covered a period of eight years of the club's life and was followed by one year de\'oted to the ''Louisana Purcha-e" ; this year being the exp-osition year of the one hundredth anniversary of this notable event, made the woi'k doubly interesting. Tlien a year was gi\'en to the profitable study of our own Indiana, followed by the years of "Glimpses into Jewish History," delightful and helpful they proved to be. In 1007-0S the study was quite different, and yet allied in thought, being "Modern American Literature an.d Art."

The social side of the club is most enjoyable: five open meetings are held each vear, to which many friends are invited, atid which all seem to appreciate. Usually the regular program of the club is carried out, thus giving the guests of tlie (lay an op]iortnnity to enjoy a t;-liinp>e oi the work we arc aiming to do. At the first meeting- in Octohcr. 1900. the cUib will eelebrate its twentieth anniversary.

The \'\'oman"s Clnb is a member of the "Indiana Slate Federation of Clubs." and hopes by this relati.jn to Ijrdaden and deepen its own club life, and to extend its influence outside its r.wn little circle.

Since the organization of this club about seventy-five dilYerent women have been connected with it. The membership varies from vear to year, unavoidably, but the \acancies are filled whenever th.ey occur, often the application? for membership exceeding the vacancies.

In 1S96 our gentle founder. Carrie A. Powell, passed from mortal ken. Three other names are written with hers on the memorial page. ];!ut we

The Wihub Circle

The modern social problem involved in the severed interests of man and wife in lodges and women's clubs is sometimes a trying one. The husband likes not cold suppers nor does the wife like to remain alone at night while the husband goes to lodge. It was some such considerations as these that influenced ]\Irs. R. X. Flarrison in the summer of 1892 to suggest to some of her friends the frirmati..n of a literary-social club, into wh.ich both husbands and wives could enter. "The Wihub" (wives and husbands) was the result. Its first meeting was held in Octoljer. 1S9J, with Mrs. R. X. Harri^^on, the first president, in the chair.

The membership was composed of fifteen couples of Shelbyville's best, the charter members being: Mr. and Mrs. \\'. E. Blakely. ]\Ir. and rvirs. Isaac Carter. Dr. and :\Irs. J. R. Clayton. Mr. and Mrs. C. \\'. Culbertson. ^h. and Mrs. II. H. Daugherty, Jmige and :Mrs. L. J. IlackncN-. ^Ir. and Mrs. R. X. Harrison. Mr. and :\Irs. J. D. Pngh. Mr. and Mrs. .M.' B. Robins, Dr. and :\Irs. J. W. Rucker. Dr. and ^Irs. H.' C. Sexton, ^h: and Mrs. F. C. Sheldon, Rev. and Mrs. E. B. Sc^field. Mr. and ^Irs. E. E. Stroup, ^Ir. and Mrs. A. I-. \\"ray.

Of these original fifteen c mples only three couples now retain their membership intact. Death has invaded the ranks of the "Wih.ub Circle" n:any times, choosing manv shining marks in the course of thet.r'.^anization's seven-

Many liright, interesting men and women have been loyal members of the W'ihvib and have added much to its intellectual enjoyment, l-'r^jm out it-^ ranks have sprung tw'^ full ne<lged authors. Eet'ore ever the vorld heard of Mr. Charles Major, the Wihub enjoyed numerous essays from him and still takes pride in the brilliant record made in the world of ficlicn by th.at Wihub member. The other author, Mr. H. H. Daugherty, now a resident of Asheville, North Carolina, has produced a mr)St charming b^.-k of essays entitled, "The Young Lawyer and Another Essay."

Other members now living at a distance but who still dwell in the fond memor)- of the ^^'ilntb. are Judge and ]\Irs. Hackney, of Cincinnati, Ohio; Mr. and :\rrs. E. B. Scofield, of Lidianapolis : Mr. and AL's. W. X. Ewing, of Fort ^^'orth, Texas; Mw and }vL-s. Joseph Chez, of Ogden. Utah; Dr. and ^Irs. Rucker, of Greensbin-g, Indiana.

The club's membership i> limited to fifteen conjdes. Its programs consist of essays, reviews, debates, reading and music. Considerable original matter in the way of short tales anil poetry have been presented. One important feature of each meeting is the dinner, for \\'ihubers believe not in the mortification of the flesh. It has been h.eld by them that intellectual and g;astronomical enjoyment are not incompatil'le and they have e\"er acted upon that opinion.

As early as the year 1824 a public library was l>egiin in ShelbyviUc. It grew to considerable size and value: was long known as the "^rechanics' Library," antl had connected with it a thriving lyceum in whicli the citizens of that day expatiated u<)on the exciting topics ol the times and some trained themselves for eminence at the bar and on the fnrum. In 185-' tb.e library was destruyccl in the conllagratir.n of the old seminary building.' In the centennial history of this county, compiled in 1S76, a small booklet, though very valuable, it Slates that there were at that date the following libraries in Shelhyville : The township, the :\rediodist Sunday school library, the Presbyterian Congregational. Robbins Circulating and the public schcujl libraries.' Besides these there were at that date school libraries in each township within the countv. Thus it will be seen that the people here have ever been on the alert for all that was excellent in the training of the mind thrcnigh good literature.

Tliough it has other institution^ of n(.te. the pride of Shelbyville is its public lil)rary. Beginning in a small way, it has grown bv degrees until no city in the state of the same size has a hand.-omer structure or a better ordered interior. The idea had its origin in the minds of the members of the City School IVjard. when the high school building was in the jtrocess of erection in 1895. Two small rooms were set aside for literary purposes, which proved to be the germ from which at a later period grew a tine establishment equipped with all the best appliances. After the completion of the high school building in iSg6, subscrii)tions of money and books were taken to the amount of something over one tliousand dollars. A small tax was levied to maintain the embryonic library, which was formally opened to the public on November i, iSgy. From the beginning there had been a gradual growth and upon the opening day there were one thousand volumes on the shelves since which time the number has grown to six thousand. A happy selection of librarian was made in the person of Miss Ida Lewis, to whose competent work and indefatigable zeal the success of the enterprise has been largely due. and she has an efitcient assistant in [Miss ]\Iay \\'ood. The library .soon outgrew its first humble quarters and in 1901 an appeal was made to Andrew Carnegie. January 23, 1902. This famous iihilanthropist sent a favorable reply through his secretary, ottering a donation of Inc thou-^and dMlIars to be used for the construction of a ]il)rary. and this gift was later increased to twenty thousand dollars. The City Council jirMmptly accepted the offav provided a site lot on the corner of Broadway and Tompkins streets, an.d a guaranteed annual maintctiance fund could be ol:>tained. Plans and ^pecificatiorjs were prepared by

IS let i^ir t]ie constructinn of the May ;ind in Au-ust the cornerby the -Masonic Order oi the city, the adilress. Tiie buildiui;' was by good judges a g-enuine work of art. The architecture style is Ionic, the material Betlfird stone, the interior furnishing being of rpriner -awed oak. with frescosed walls and ceilings. The work and all the a]>pi:intnicnls are of the best. The first board of education having charge of this artistic impri:>\'enient consisted of Harry C. ]\Iorrison, president; Frank Bass, treasurer; William E. Blakely. secretary: J. H. Tomlin, superintendent. The selcciing cnimittce were J. H. Tunilin. cliairmau. Mrs. A. D. Williams Isaac Carter. Miss Aurilla Jeffers. H. S. Downey. Ida Lewis, librarian, and ^lay Wood, assistant. The classificati.m of buoks of the library is as follows: fiction, general works, philosophy, ethics, religion, church history, mythology, sociology, jiolitical science, pi >litical economy, law and constitutional liistory. administration, educational and internatii .nal educational series, customs and folklore, science, mathematics, astrrinomy, physics, geology, biolog}', botany, zoolrigy, library of useful stories, useful arts, medicine, fine arts, architecture, sculjjture, drawing and painting literature, American essays, American miscellany, foreign miscellany. English poetry. English miscellany; Tra\-el - in Eur^jpe, Asia. Africa. Xcrih America. ?\IexicM. and the West Indies: United States, South -America: biogrriphy. .\merican men of letters. Oceanica and polar regions, artist liii'graphers. English men of aciitni. English men of letters, famous women, juvenile literature, state and gijvcrnment reports, etc.

The library stibscribes to twenty-six ntonthlies. eight weeklies and eight dailies. The books used in the library were eight hitndred thirty-five, and those loaned thirty-six tlKjusand thirteen, the total being- thirty-six thousand eight hundred forty-eight. 'J"i ital immber of books in the library at the present time is nine thousand four hundred fifty-four volumes. The Dewey classification in the library and all books are catalogued by author, title and subject, and references are made to chapters in each. book. In preparation for the shelves each book is handled about a dozen times and in circulation frrjm three to six times, there has been an increase of about four hundred per cent, in the circulation since the beginning. The juvenile circulation is very large, often exceeding the circulation of the adult fiction books, which is regarded as an important item as fiction generally constitutes about seventy-five per cent, of the total reading. The present board of education and oversight consists of the following named ladies and gentlemen : Dr. S. P. McCrea. president ; George H. Meiks. treasurer: Isaac Carter, secretary: S. C. Eerrell. superintendent. The committee on selection are S. C. Eerrell. chairman: Mrs. E. C. Sheldon, I^lrs. John D. Pugh. H. C. Morrison and Edward Lewis.

This library openol with .nie llmu^and volume, upon the -helves aud Miss Ida Lewis was aiipninted lil.rariau. She is a -raduate of the Shelbvville public schools and f^r several years previ.^us to acceptmce of this important position had been a teacher in the scho,.ls.

She received her in-tructi.ai in librarian.diip at th.e Tcrre Haute State Normal and spent tlu'ce monihs the bx.ks previous to the openin? 01 the library. The b,..-,k, are cla^^ihed and catajoo-ned bv the Dewev system and a dnectory catalooue gives the books by author, title and subject.' References are also made to chapters in books and articles of ten pages or more in length, so that the contents (of the library) are promptlv available.

\\ hen the library was moved into the new building (in June, 1903,) access was given in the children's room to a limited number of books iii nonfiction and a record kept for several months to see the growth of this kind of literature. In three months it grew to three limes wha't it had been before. Soon access to the shelves was given to the general public and has proven highly satisfactory to both patrons and librarian.

Perhaps the process through which a book passes in preparation for the shelves will be interesting and instructive, showing the labor put upon theni before they reach the public. When a new order is given for books, each book IS entered upon an order card and these cards are filed aphabeticallv by author. The source of the order is from a list kept throughout the year by the librarian and her assistant, also lists from each member of the selecting committee upon subjects assigned them by the chairman of that committee"! These lists are placed on the order cards, with author, title publisher, price, person approving, etc., and the cards arranged by subject. The list is then copied from the order cards and sent to the ]nib]isher.>, the order cards being retained as a check-list when the books come. When the books arrive they are placed on the shelves in the librarian's office, checked from the bills and order (list) cards, examined for damage and the date of bill, price, firm of whom purchased noted on the reverse of the title page. The books are then arranged by subjects, alphabetically by author for accessioning. When. entered in die accession - book, the author, title, place of publication, publisher, date of publication, size, binding, source, cost, and number of volumes, or copies are given. In this way this record forms a complete history of die book. The books are then stamped and pocketed an.l arranged by subjects for classification. A shelf of twenty-five or thirty books is then studied and a number given each according b> its subject, this number is then compared with the shelf list to avoid duplication ami placed on the pockets in the tnok. To catalogue each book five cards are written for it. except in fictiiin. which has four. These cards are an author card, a title card, a suliject card, a printer's list- card ami a slielt-list card. The referencci are al^' ni:ide v.hicli my require twenty-five entries. The charg'ing' card i.s written cintainin,- cIa>siiication, author, and title of the bo,jk and placed in the puckei of the bouk tu remain while the book is on the shelve.-^ and act as a charge when it is in circulation. Tlie books are then labeled, the list written for die ncw.-^papers, the cards placed in the card cata]oi.::ue. and the books are n<iw ready for the shelves. In this process cacli bouk has been handled at least a dozen times..

In addition tu the preparation of the books for the shelves, a set ol records is kept as for any other business. This with the circulation and reference department constitute the wijrk of our library of today, if fully up to standard.

The Shelbyville lilu'ary now contains over ten thousand \-olumes. exclusive of g-overnment reports and publications circulated. During the week beginning February i, 1909. one thousand seven books - tb.e lai'gest during any one week - were circulated.

For three months, diu'ing the summer of }QOj. Miss Lewis, tlie librarian, visited relatives in Fngland and INIiss Lillian Ilenley, now of the state library, substituted for her. At the same time. Miss ^^'ood, assistant librarian, having resigned her position. Miss Bertha Bcwlby was appointed to fill that position.

This library had always co-operated with the public schools and given them many special privileg-es and the pupils, in turn, have been among the best patrons. A graded course of supplementary work will scon be issued for the schools and from time to time new features will be added to make the librar}- more efficient.

In 1857 the Shelbyville di?tillcry was built and was owned and operated by various persons from time to time. In 1S72 it became the property of John Beggs, who continued to run it up to May, 1SS3, when the main building was burned : the office, warehouse, criljs. cattle pens and all outbuildings were sa\'ed. Immediate steps were taken for rebuilding the distillery department, on the foundation of that which had been destroyed by fire. In 1883 die whole structure was rebuilt and enlarged. A change of ownership was also affected after which it was known as the Shelby Distilling Company, made up of the following persons: John Beggs, John E. Beggs. a son of the original proprietor, Henry Beggs, Reuben D. Harshman, an old distiller from Dayton, Ohio, and Robert Frazer, of Cincinnati. This company was organized July 28, 1883, with John Beg-gs as president, Henry W". Beggs, secretary and treasurer. Distilling was resumed by this coiupany in Xovcmber. of that year. The capacitv of the plant was three thousand bushels of corn per day, but it was seldom run tcj its utmost capacity, as that required the great amount of over one niilli.Mi buslicls cini per >car. The}- could i>ut in the market fifteen tliousand gallons per day. on wliieli the internal revenue lax was, at ninety ccnts per i^allMH. thirteen thousand, five hundred diollars per day. or four million nine hundred twenty-seven thousand five hundred dollars per year.

Later an adtlition was made to the plant in which hi.£;!i wines and rectifying bv a charcoal process of filteration was carried on. They also had a corn warehouse on the railway tracks that had a capacity of twenty-three thousand bushels. This was in addition to the storage for corn at the distillery proper, which amounted to eighty-five thousand bushels.

The government tax paid from August t. iSS6, to August i, 18S7, amounted to eight hundred f<irty-seven thousand four hundred thirteen dollars, besides four hundred eighty barrels oi alcohol that was exported to Europe, on which no tax was jjaid. The government officers connected with this distillery were four store keepers and three gangers. The n.umber of hands employed in this distillery in 1SS7 was an average of forty-five men. In 1886 this company bought and consumed two hundred ten thousand bushels of corn in Shelby county alone.

After the last named date the plant went through various changes and hands, sometimes suecessl'ul and sometimes adverse. It was finally merged with the National liquor tru^t. ran for a time and finally closed. Xo licjuor has been distilled here since then.

When the Grange movement struck the county it had many zealous devotees in Indiana, and the first lodge of farmers in this order in Shelby county was organized in 1873 and known as Pioneer. Xo. 152. Within three years there had been instituted in the county thirty lodges or granges, as they are known now. At Shelbyville was located Pomona Grange, which was of the fifth degree class in the order. Its object was the highest elevation of husbandry, and it also had the [nwers and functions of a high court. In 1S76 the total membership of the patrons of husbandry or granges was something in excess of two thousand. They represented a capital of from three to five million dollars. These granges were of lasting good in many ways to the communities in which they were located, but so far as doing away with "middle men" in trade and commerce, they were not a success, and after a few years the stores and grain houses conducted under their supervision, went back into private hands. There are but few. if indeed any, more patrons of husbandry lodges, or granges in the county or state, and if so are occupying a legitimate sphere in building up agriculture by association with one another, thus producing the best results.

Next to a suitable cabin in wliich to live, tlie matter of a place to obtain milling- was uppermost in the mind of the early settler in Shelbv couiitv. These first settlers must at least be supi>lied with bread stuffs once a year from other sources than their own hands. The first crops, be thev c\cr so abund.ant, qave only partial relief, there being- no n-iill.-. within the c niniv. Hence the necessity of grindnig by hand power, and man}- fan-iilies were but poorly provided with means for thus doing. The tin "grater" was used by many, and in n-iany cases the "iK-miny-block" was resorted to. It was more than three rears after the first seliler set his stakes here in Slielljy county here before a mill was put in oiieration fir the grinding- of corn and wheat. Hence home-made lluur was used, unless the settler took the time t.i "go to the mill" at White Water, Franklin county, forty miles away and wait days at a busy season of the year in taking his ttn-n to get his wheat ground. A little later a mill was built and known as the "Quarry's Ml]]." near .Afoscuw, Decatur county. Xext came the home mills in Shelby county.