Roachdale Historic District

Roachdale, in the northern part of the township, was laid out in the autumn of 1879, by Elijah Grantham, on the southeast quarter of section 1. It was named in honor of the late Judge Roach, of Indianapolis. The first buildings (a store and a dwelling) were built by Mr. Grantham. Both have been since burned. The first blacksmith shop was built by S. B. Sweeney, who still owns and runs it. The first hotel was begun by William Atkins, of Green castle, and completed by E. Grantham. It is the present McCoy House. The first harness shop was started by its present proprietor, W. 11. Rich. The postoffice was established in 1880. The first livery stable was established in 1882, by J. R. Miller. The first physician was Dr. J. T. Seller, who died in 1884. The village now claims 350 inhabitants, and has two drug and grocery stores, one harness shop, one hardware store, one implement store, one furniture and implement store, one shoe shop, one barber shop, two hotels, one restaurant, three blacksmith shops, two livery stables, one wagon and repair shop, two millinery shops, one flonring-mill, one sawmill, one grain elevator and two physicians. The village is incorporated, and has (in 1887) the following officers: Isaac Edwards (President); J. W. King, J. W. Sutherlin and W.

Passage source: Biographical and Historical Record of Putnam County, Indiana .., published 1887.

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 Franklin Township - 2,008 words on its settlement, mills, schools and churches.