Blooming Grove, Indiana

The only village in the townsliip is Blooming Grove, with a present population of one hundred and twentv. It is in the central part of the township, and was platted in section 10 July 2^, 1816, by Surveyor Joseph Allen, for the proprietors, John Xaylor and James Sherwood. During February, 181 7, an addition was platted by the same men, and lots Xos. 18 and 23. were donated to the ]jul)lic for a "school and meeting house." The place was named Greensboro, but some who did not favor the site for a town dubbed it "Greenbrier." Perhaps no better accoimt of the early histor\- here can be given today than to quote what was written by Plenry C. Harvey about 1881 or 1882, which article reads as follows:

Passage source: History of Franklin County, Indiana : Her People, Industries and Institutions, published 1915.

-and changes that have occurred. The olt-repeated statement about the original name of our village being Greenbrier is incorrect. The founders of the village were natives of Maryland and they named it in honor of a town in that state. The township was called Blooming Grove. Some time between 1830 and 1835 (tor want of a mislaid old diary I cannot give precise datej the people of the tcnvnship petitioned L'ncle Sam for a postottice at their village, to be called Greensboro. In due time word came to them that there was already an oftice by that name in the state. Then they sent the name of Blooming Grove and also the name of the man chosen for i>ostmaster, and the petition was granted. The postmaster was an alien, but he made an efficient oflicer. At the next session of the Legislature after getting their postoffice, the citizens petitioned that body to change the name of the town from Greensboro to Blooming Grove, which was granted, and that is the way it all came about. As far back as 1820 the directory of business would have said: Samuel Miller, hotel, west of Mam street: Peter Miller, chairmaker, east of Main street; John Ply, potter, northeast corner of Main and ^Cross streets; Elanthan Cory, tanner and currier, north side. As yet there had been no store in the town, nor was there any until after 1825. Tb.e first store was kept by Beverly R. Voun ; the first wagonshop by Parismis Wil- ;kinson. In iS2(j Martin W. ;Mt)rris, of Ohio, bought and fitted up pr^.pcrty for a store and hotel. He occupied it for a time and then sold the property to William King, who also carried on merchandising and tavern-keeping, subsequently selling out to Coleman & Clements. Some time in 1830 or 1831 James Wliorten, of Cincinnati, brought out a large stock of old goods and remnants and sold them at auction on long credit, greatly to the disgust of the resident merchants. The sale lasted nearly a week. Up to this time there had been no blacksmith shops in town, but shortly afterward Thomas S. Webb, brother of Scpiire John A\'ebb, commenced the business. The first frame dwelling was built by Robert Runyan alx»ut 1834, and is now (1882) -occupied by William Cooper. About this time a lot of 'e.xodusters" from Maryland swooped down upon the town and it began to grow. As yet there was no meeting-house in town."

Passage source: History of Franklin County, Indiana : Her People, Industries and Institutions, published 1915.

Machine-read from a century-old scan, so expect the errors a machine makes: misspelled names, dropped words, stray characters.

Read the whole chapter on Blooming Grove Township - it names this place 1 more 1 time.