Russellville Historic District

Daniel Anderson, who ministered unto tlie people of ,the township during the years 1821 | and 1825, Mas their first preacher. He was i followed by William II. Smith, Lorenzo Dow j and others of the noble band which they j represent. The iirst school-house .was built on the farm of John Foaher in 1823, in j which the first school was taught the same j year. The Iirst mill in the township was I built by Jacob Beck, and was long known as j "Beck's Mill." This was erected in 1820 j and 1821. The burr's of this mill were made j bv John Guy, from a bowlder which lay near j the mill site. The next was -Swank's Mill," j bnilt in 1823. James Secrest opened at Blakesburg the Iirst store from which .goods were sold in Russell Township. In 1823 John Fasher established a tan-yard on Bam p Creek, which was the first- in this portion of the comity. ' (Jolonel James Blake erected a | » 'Sang factory " at the "same place, and operated it from 1820 to 1830. This factory gave employment to all who were not otherwise employed, in digging "'sang," which found a ready market. Jesse Blake, also, who is. still. living in the vicinity, had an interest in this factory. The iirst church was built at Russellville in 1880. When the town was laid out in 1828 arrangements were made for the erection of a church, which was completed two years later. The first Fourth of July celebration/ was held on the' farm of John Dougherty, near Portland Mills, in 1828, General George K. Steele acting as marshal of the day. Drs. James B. Clark, Copeland, Winslow, Rogers and John Slavens were the1 first practicing physicians in this Community.

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

In the year 1828 the town of Russellville was laid out by Jacob Durham, who was the first merchant and carried on the first blacksmith-sno'p. Dr. Striker was the first physician who resided there. The educational and charitable interests are provided for by a graded school, and a very large, prosperous Masonic lodge. The Methodist church was the first organized in Russellville. It now has aboil t' 300 members, and a remarkably large and ' Well-conducted Sabbath-sehool. The population is about 175.

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 Russell Township - 1,491 words on its settlement, mills, schools and churches.