Vigo County, Indiana - Chapter 13: Terre Haute's Neighbors, 1908

Chapter 13: Terre Haute's Neighbors

As a century of history has proved, the county seat and town located in the vicinity of Fort Harrison has always been the central city of Vigo county. The other centers of population have remained small, and with the development of interurban communication it seems likely that the small towns will continue to be of local importance. The coal industry has been responsible for the formation of several villages in the county, and from the nature of this industry a grouping of population and a few stores and other features of town life accompany the establishment of a colliery.

In the earlier vears of the county were several places that assumed the name and some dignity of towns. Where Honey creek empties into the river, Caleb Arnold in 1818 laid out a townsite and called it Smyrna. The name is all that remains, and it is a sentimental interest that recalls' it and gives it a place in this history. Another similar town enterprise was Greenfield, which was laid out and platted in March, 1819, by Otis Jones, Henry French, Amos P. Balch and Jeremiah Raymond. Some deserted cabins marked the site to the older residents, but all have long since gone. About 1836 Johnson Oarke platted Brownsville in section 35, town II, range 8. The plat books show these townsites, and those whose business it is to examine and record land transfers and titles are familiar with the names and locations, but the average citizen might live in the county many years and not know that such places ever existed.

On the north line of the county is Atherton. This town belongs within the railroad area, was laid out on what is now the C. & E. I. Railroad, and has therefore had fewer of the vicissitudes of existence than the old towns above mentioned. The plat, made in October, 1871, was laid in section i, town 13, range 9, and is signed by Newton Rogers, Sarah A. Denny and Mary J. Rogers.

I30 Greater Terre Haute And Vigo County

An interesting site is Tecumseli, on the west side of the Wabash river. Those familiar with the early history of the county will identify the locality as Durkee's Ferry, which was its former name. Durkee's Ferry was once one of the main crossing points on the river, and as such established the basis of a widespread fame.

Not far awav, inland from any of the railroad lines, is the settlement called New Goshen, which was platted by four enterprising town builders - Hamilton, Smith, William Ferguson, George Smith and John Hay - in May, 1853. It lies in section 7, town 13, range 9.

At the state line, on the Big Four Railroad, a little settlement began forming in 1854 after the completion of the railroad. Subsequent years have continued its existence, and Sanford still remains one of the towns of \'igo county.

The traveler whose view of this county in 1816 has been quoted on other pages tells us that Moses Hoggatt, about 1818, had established a postoffice in section 25, town 11, range 10, known as "Hoggatt's." It was the old A'incennes wagon road, and from its location and the presence of a store there it had considerable importance from the beginning. The town plat was made in July, 1837, and in 1870 is was incorporated under the town name of Prairieton. This was the center of the Quaker settlement of the early years.

The A^incennes road was one of the arteries of traffic before canals and railroads, and along its course from Terre Haute south were many scenes of activitv that have long since disappeared. Near the south side of the countv, on sections 26 and 27 of Prairie Creek township, was formed a little settlement in the early days, which was finally made into a town bv the laying of a plat in August, 1831. The postoffice name was Prairie Creek, though it was also called Middletown. James D. Piety was the one principallv concerned in the making of the plat. A tavern was one of the principal features of the place, and the first landlord mentioned was Daniel Rverson. A steam mill was built in 1847, ^ut with the nearest railroad state six miles away the town has in recent years suffered from its inland situation.

Pimento, which was formerly called Hartford, was laid out in 1852 while the Evansville & Terre Haute Railroad was being constructed, and has depended almost entirely for its prosperity on its importance as a shipping point, .\bout 1877 ^ flouring mill was erected, and this with one or two stores of former vears and with occasional additions to business activity, has made it a quiet little market place for the surrounding country. The interurban line came within recent years.

Greater Terre Haute And Yigo Couxty

known as Riley. While the canal was being built, much work was centered at this point, and mills, stores and other activities were attracted. The Evansville & Indianapolis Railroad passed through, and has been the means of upholding some of the former prosperity of the old town. Lockport was platted in November, 1836, but when the postoffice was established the authorities gave it the name Riley. A few years ago this was the largest village in the county.

Among the villages that had their origin in the coal mining industry are several that are now the most populous in the county. The IMcKeen coal shaft in Lost Creek township was responsible for the establishment of a postoffice and little business center. A town was laid out by J. Seely, and the p>ostoffice established about 1878 under the name Seelvville. .Seelyville has more than held its own in the rivalry between villages, and a few months before this writing voted for incorporation.

The Coal Bluff Mining Company through the operation of its numerous mines in northeastern Vigo and the employment of large numbers of miners, has the credit of founding two of the county's important towns. Coal Bluff and Fontanet. Fontanet was once known as Fountain Station.

Some of the changes in postoffice names during the next ten vears also indicate changes in other ways. The list of postoffices in 1902 was as follows :