Rosston, Indiana

Thirty years ago it was not then known that sufficient gravel could be found here to construct a system of gravel roads in the county. In 1864 a company was organized to construct a gravel highway from Thorntown to Darlington, to connect and extend to Crawfordsville. This was the first gravel road enterprise in the county. It and the Rosston gravel road, on the old Michigan road, are the only toll collecting highways in the county. In the year 1867 the Lebanon and Royalton and the Lebanon and Sugar Creek Gravel Road companies were organized. At first these two roads were toll collecting, but in the year 1884 were bought by the tax-payers living along them and turned over to the county. as a part of the free gravel road system. Under the legislative act of 1877, petitions for free gravel roads were filed before the board of commissioners, at a called session held August 6, 1879. The first road ordered constructed under this act was the Lebanon and New Brunswick, followed in quick succession by the Lebanon and Dover, Middle Jamestown, Lebanon and Noblesville, Thorntown and Bethel, Kirk's Mill and Sharon, Kirk's Mill south to Crawfordsville road, Lebanon and Thorntown, east end Noblesville, Elizaville, éleven roads, which exhausted the limit allowed by law, the limit being one per centum of taxables of the county. "In the construction of these roads gravel was found in sufficient quantities to build and maintain them with only one exception. The roads constructed were highly satisfactory. The contractors on the Lebanon and Elizaville found materials of the poorest and in smallest quantities. Bad as it was when completed, it is now by careful management as good as the best. Gravel road building was started anew by the bond limit being increased from one to one aud a half percentum and the Thorntorn and Sharon and Whitestown's two roads, and Zionsville's two, the Lebanon and Fayette, Dover and Shannondale, Lebanon and Ladoga, Lebanon and Slabtown and Thorntown, Hazelrigg and Lebanon roads were ordered constructed. At this time twentyfour free gravel roads have been built, aggregating 181 miles, costing $189,100. The first issue of bonds for this public improvement was redeemed by the treasurer in February, 1886, and from his report he has ample means to redeem all that become due during the present and ensuing years. It will be seen that where gravel was considered so scarce, with many other seeming obstacles in the way, our roads have cost on an average of $1,181 per mile. Much of this can be attributed to the good management of our county board. Once constructed, the keeping of so many miles of road in proper repair has been no small task. These roads are managed by the county commissioners as a board of free turnpike directors. They first organized as such July 15, 1881, being Nathan Perrill, William Curry and James Coombs, with Charles L. Wheeler asclerk. This board meets quarterly. Hach commissioner has especial charge of all free pikes in his district, and each road has its superintendent of repairs. Once each year these superintendents meet with the turnpike board and receive orders for repairs for the year. The present board of directors are W. C. Crump, Ben. C. Booher and Jacob S. Miller. The expenditures on account of repairs to the several roads in the county, to the present time aggregates $46,824.71, which includes the re-building of the Lebanon and Royalton and Lebanon and Sugar Creek roads. Including the extensive repairs to the roads last named, our roads cost us near $60 per mile each year.

Passage source: Early Life and Times in Boone County Indiana, published 1861.

The Masonic Order is represented in Boone County by the following Lodges: Boone, No. 9, Lebanon; Thorntown, No. 113, Thorntown; Zion, No. 197, Zionsville; Hazelrigg, No. 200, Jamestown ; Celestial, No. 525, Whitestown; Rosston, No, 528, Rosston; Lebanon Chapter, No. 39; Boone Council, No. 45. Boone Lodge, No. 9, was first chartered as Thorntown Lodge, No. 9, and place of meeting was at Thorntown. The charter was granted May 29, 1845, to Harvey G. Hazelrigg, W.M.; Silas M. White, 8. W.; and Joseph D. Davis, J. W.; and was continued there until 1849, when the place of meeting was changed to Lebanon and name to Boone Lodge, No. 9. 'The first meeting of that lodge in Lebanon was in the second story of a frame building situated on what is now known as the Halfman corner, and continued there until William Zion built the two-story frame building on the Zion cor- ner, and in the upper story of this frame building was fitted up one of the handsomest lodge rooms in the state at that time. It was in fact a blue lodge, the walls being beautifully frescoed in blue, upon which were painted all the symbols of the order, and with its starry, decked ceiling and light in the east it truthfully represented a lodge of symbolic Masons. Here they remained until this building was destroyed by fire, in which most all the property of the lodge was lost. In the spring of 1866, with a membership of worthy citizens, at this time they determindd to build a lodge room, and accordingly made arrangements with Silas A. Lee and David Kenworthy, who were then proposing to build on the lot owned by them on South Lebanon street, to add a second story, which was done, and they have now one of the best arranged and furnished lodge rooms in the state. Dr. John L. Smith is believed to be the only surviving charter member of this lodge as instituted at Thorntown. James Coombs is the oldest continuous member of Boone Lodge, No. 9, being made a Mason January 5, 1855. Among its prominent members were Harvey G. Hazelrigg, Wm. Zion, R. G. Dormire, L. C. Daugherty, Alijah Robison, F. M. Busby, Chauncy King. Major Hazelrige was for nearly twenty years Worshipful Master of the lodge and retired only when he refused to serve any longer. In 1862 he was elected Senior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge. In 1863 and 1864 he was elected Deputy Grand Master, and in 1865, '66 and '67 was elected Grand Master of the Grand Lodge. He was also at one time Eminent Grand Commander of the Knights Templar of the state. In the work of the order he was very proficient, and few ever excelled him. His knowledge of the Masonic law was such that his decisions were quoted in other jurisdictions as authority and he occupied a very prominent position in the order. This lodge has experienced a revival and now has a membership of about 140, composed of active and prominent citizens. Thorntown Lodge was chartered May 30, 1851, and now has a membership of about seventy. Zion Lodge was chartered May 28,

Passage source: Early Life and Times in Boone County Indiana, published 1861.

1846, and has at present about fifty members. The lodge has lately had the misfortune to lose. by fire, their finely furnished lodge room, but they are now making preparations to build a room of their own. Hazelrigg I..Jge was chartered May 26, 1857, and now has a membership of aboui fifty. Celestial Lodge was chartered May 23, 1876, and now has a membership of about twenty-five. Rosston Lodge was chartered May 23, 1875, and has a membership of about thirty-five. Of Royal Arch Masons there is but one chapter in Boone County, and that is at Lebanon. It has a membership of about sixtyfive, composed of prominent and influential citizens of the county. They meet in the hall of Boone Lodge No. 9, and have lately purchased an elegant outfit for its purposes. There is also but one council of Cryptic Masonry in the county, and it is located at Lebanon. Several residents of this county are also Knights Templar and Scottish Rite Masons. According to an ancient and well-established rule of the order ladies 'can not become Masons, (although there is no objection to their becoming wives of Masons) and for the good of the brethren, their wives, mothers and daughters, the beautiful order of the Eastern Star was organized, and of this there is a

Passage source: Early Life and Times in Boone County Indiana, published 1861.

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 Zionsville Town - it names this place 2 more 2 times.