Bunker Hill, Indiana

The first house built on the origiaal town site was a small dwelling erected in 1851, by James Myers on lot 13, which is in north Bunker Hill, and ie known at present 43 the Sammy Galbraith property. Dr. Hubbard was one of the earliest settlers of the town. He was aot only a practicioner of medicine, but was the first merchant in Bunker Hill. His building was located on Elm street near the Galbraith property. 'The Dr. was a singular genius. He was a great trader, and it is said that often, when called in a hurry to see a patient, he stopped on his way to buy a yearling calf or trade horses. Returning from a sick call, he would dismount from his horse anywhere near home, pull off saddle and bridle throw them on the ground, and let his hurse run, and upon being called again he would hunt up the fragments, put them together und off he'd go to see his patient, provided no one bantered him for a trade along the way. He was the first and only doctor [ ever know who carried his medicines in a quart tin pail. But with all his eccentricities he made money. In the year 1858, Bunker Hill numbered ten or a dozen houses. On the 23rd of April of that year when { located in the village, the only business building was a blackmith shop owned by R. T. Jones and Charles Mason. Leonda was, at that time, in its zenith, and it was very humiliating for Bunker Hillians to be compelled to go there for their mail, tobacco, coffee or any of the necessities of life. But 'tis said +-Distance lends enchantment to the view." We had plenty of enchantment, for we went four miles to vote and a mile to church, while our log school house was way out in the '*bush." But this state of affairs soon changed. 'Fhe postoffice was moved to Bunker Hill in 1859. Ewing & Howard sold goods in 1861 at the corner of Fourth and Main streets, in the building recently owned by J. G. Hederick. This building was for years continuously used by different merchants, viz; D. Duckwall, J. Arnold, D. H. & John. Cain; A. Bell, James Cain, Frank Hartman and Simon Kalter.

Passage source: History of Miami County, published 1896.

In the meantime John Finney had erected a building at the corner of the L. E. & W. Railroad grounds and Fifth street, which was occupied as a store room by Eli Hochstedler, and afterwards used for a postoffice By dae Liston, P. M. About this time Bunker Hill began showing signs of prosperity and the prospects for the building of the Pan Handle R. R. began to brighten. The origioal survey had been made some fifteen years previous, and the citizens: had given up all hopes of its completion, but rumors became rife that the road would be built and from 1866 to 1873, Bunker Hill was on a boom, and more veal estate changed hands during that time than did before and since in the history of the town.

Passage source: History of Miami County, published 1896.

The following is a list of names of some of the earlier business men of the town since the completion of the Pan Handle road: C. T. Miller started the first hardware store in 1871, and afterward sold the same to Patterson & Meek. In, August, 1871. Kalter & Keegan started the first boot and shoe store; Patterson the first drug store. Other business men were identified with the commercial interests of Bunker Hill from 1868 to 1873, viz: W.T. Wilson, S. J. Hockman. D. T. Gilmore, J. B. McKinney, N. W. Trissal, J. F. Busey, S. Somers, T. Scott, J. F. Reynold, G. W. Biue, and others.

Passage source: History of Miami County, published 1896.

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 Pipe Creek Township - it names this place 12 more 12 times.