Anderson Township (part 3 of 3)

He has been credited with being one of the smoothest politicians Madi¬ son county ever produced. William C. Fleming, editor of the Demo¬ cratic organ of the county and a warm personal friend of Mr. Hazlett, was wont to allude to him as the "smoothing iron" of the Republican party. Mr. Hazlett also held the offices of county clerk, county treas¬ urer and county commisioner at different times. At one time he was a large property holder and was once a partner with William Crim in the grain business. Hazlett 's addition, in the northwestern part of the city, is upon land once owned by him. About 1888 he removed to River¬ side, California, where he died some years later.

John F. McClure was elected mayor in 1886 and at the close of his first term in 1888 was reelected. It was during his two administrations that Anderson made her phenomenal growth following the discovery of natural gas. Mayor McClure was one of the active spirits in organ¬ izing the board of trade and was one of the first men to advocate the paving of the streets with brick. After retiring from the mayor's office he was a member of the city council; was twice elected judge of the Madison Circuit Court, and is now serving as a member of the Indiana Railroad Commission.

John H. Terhune, who was elected mayor in 1890, 1892 and in 1905 for a four-year term, was one of Anderson's largest manufacturers. He was a man of fine executive ability, a shrewd business man and just as shrewd in politics as he was in business matters. He was the owner of several business blocks and was always ready to contribute of his time and means for the promotion of Anderson's interests. As a member of the Indiana legislature he acquitted himself with credit, and his admin¬ istration as mayor were marked by that progressive spirit which was so characteristic of the man. His death occurred in 1909, before he had completed his last term.

Morey M. Dunlap, who was elected mayor in 1894, was the only man who has ever served eight successive years as mayor of Anderson. Before locating in Anderson he had served for one term as mayor of Blooming¬ ton, Indiana. He was always alert to every movement for the benefit of the city, was public spirited and companionable and his administra¬ tions have passed into history as clean and business like in all respects.

John L. Forkner was elected mayor in 1902 and at the close of his first term was reelected. His administrations are notable for the re¬ building of the electric lighting plant, the improvements of the water works by the installation of the filtration system, etc. Mayor Forkner was fortunate in having a city council composed of men who were always ready to lay aside political differences when the welfare of the city was concerned.

Henry P. Hardie was appointed city controller by Mayor Terhune and upon the death of the mayor early in 1909 Mr. Hardie became mayor by virtue of his office. He served out the unexpired term in a manner that was entirely acceptable to the people, but at the end of the term did not ask to be elected to the office as many expected and hoped. Mr. Hardie was at one time one of the police commissioners and is now postmaster.

diana State University and one of the prominent members of the bar of Madison county, having been engaged in the practice of law for many years. As Madison county's representative in the lower branch of the state legislature his counsel was sought on all important meas¬ ures that came before that body and he has been a factor in the public and political life of Anderson ever since becoming a resident of the city. He was elected mayor in 1909 for a term of four years, which expires in January, 1914.

According to the United States census for 1910, Anderson is the seventh city in Indiana in population, being exceeded in that respect only by Indianapolis, Evansville, Fort Wayne, Terre Haute, South Bend and Muncie, in the order named. In 1910 the population of Anderson was 22,476, an increase of nearly 12 per cent, during the preceding decade. The city has 6 banking institutions, 29 religious organiza¬ tions, lodges of all the leading fraternal orders, 10 public school build¬ ings, the high school building being one of the finest in the country, several good hotels, a large number of well stocked mercaptile estab¬ lishments, several fine office buildings, well paved streets and concrete sidewalks, neat residences, a public park, which was dedicated on July 4 , 1913, a fine public library building, and a number of large manu¬ facturing concerns described in another chapter. The property of the city was assessed for tax purposes in 1913 at $10,226,745.

One thing that impresses the visitor to Anderson is the large num¬ ber of shade trees that line the streets. From the tower of the court¬ house the city looks like one vast grove, with here and there a house visible among the trees. Cleveland, Ohio, once rejoiced in the name of the 44 Forest City," but never in her history was the streets of that city as well shaded as those of the residence sections of Anderson at the pres¬ ent time. Among the residents there is a spirit of friendly rivalry as to who can keep their lawns and shade trees in the best condition, giv¬ ing the city an air of comfort and prosperity.