Brookville Township (part 1 of 2)

Brookville Township

Brookville is situated in the picturesque valley of the White Water river, between the forks of W^est and East l^ranches of this stream. It is in sections 20 and 29, in the center of Urookville township. The town site is about evenly divided into the ridq^e and valley districts, the business portion at this time being chiefly on the ridj^e, but formerly occupied the valley of the East Fork to the east. A semi-circle of high hills, almost approaching to small mountains, surrounds the town from the northwest to the southeast. The natural scenery is distinctive and beautiful and whether one views it in midwinter or in the summer sunshine, it is ever a feast to the eye.

When first visited by prospective settlers, the United States land office was located at Cincinnati. On December 4, 1S04, the southeast quarter of 'section 20 was entered by Amos Butler. The northwest quarter of section 29 was entered by Amos Butler and Jesse Brooks Thomas, July 3, i<So5. The northwest quarter of section 29 by Josiah Allen. July 6, 1805. The southwest quarter of section 20 by Amos Butler, IMarch 18, 1S06. The northwest quarter of section 20 by Amos Butler, April 4, i8'o6. The southwest quarter of section 29 by Amos Butler, October i, 1806.

The town of Brookville was platted August 8, 1808, by Thomas Manwarring and took its name from the middle name of one of the proprietors, Jesse Brooks Thomas, whose mother's maiden name was Brooks. At first it was called "Brooksville," but soon the "s" was dropped and ever since it has been Brookville. The plat was recorded January 8, 181 2. In 1820 Brookville was a military post and was garrisoned by a company of United States soldiers under command of Captain Grovenor of the regular army. In 1S23 the land office was established here with Lazarus Xoble as receiver. The office was first kept in a frame house on Court street and later in tlie building now occupied by Doctor Garrigues. The office was removed to Indianapolis in 1825.

Butler paid the greater part of the purchase money for the tract on which the town was laid out, but Thomas, who seems to have been sort of a trickster, succeeded in having the patent issued in his name. Butler and Thomas were soon at loggerheads and Butler instituted suit against Thomas. which was responsible for the postponement of tlie lot sales. A compro- (13) mise was effected by which IJullcr was given a deed for part of the land and the lots were then i)ut on sale. Thomas later removed to Illinois, became a United States senator from that state and was the author of the fatnous Missouri Com])r<iinisc. Puitler lived at P.rookville until iSi8 and then moved to Hanover. Jel'ferson county. Indiana, where he died and was buried. To Amos Dutler lieion,q;s the honor of entering the first land on which the town of Brookxille stands and to him belongs the honor of being the first settler.

The first town lot was sold on the southwest corner of Walker and Main streets. Jt was l(jt numljcr 47. the deed for which was dated March 7, 181 1.

In May, 181 2, the plat was resnr\eycd by Samuel C. Vance. John Allen, a Quaker ])y parentage, came in and entered the northea.st ((uarter of section 29. July 6, 1803, and lie too, like lUitler. had aspirations. He built a mill, platted an addition and began selling town Icjts. His tract is situated in the southeast jiortion of the town, extending across the river. But LUitler, not wishing to lie out-rivaled, entered the quarter secti(jn inmiediately north of the Thomas tract and to the west of his own section. B(>th lot owners were in the market with town lots at the same dale. May 2''). 1812. Both Butler and Allen started their mills at about the same date; some place Butler first, while others, seemingly as correct, place Allen first.

In 1807 there was but a single land entry, f^.ve were made in 1808, none in 1809 and only six in r8ro. It was too near the 1795 Indian boundary line and the troublesome Indians to be a desirable .stopping place. .\!nong the first to engage in business was James Knight, who entered land north of the town, but soon engaged in trade in the village. His place of business was at the corner of Main and James streets, where now stands the jail. He kept a tavern and also had a stock of merchandise. It was Knight who built the first jail and the first brick court house, but died before the completion of the latter. From an old account book which he kept, the following items were entered :

Fraxkli.V County, Ixuiaxa

Fully two-thirds of the day-hook entries were for whisky. The date of the ahove entries was Octoher 12. 18 10. The building in which Knight had his store and tavern was originally huilt in 1808 as a block-house, to which he made additions. It was known as Knight's Tavern, and was remodeled and later known as the ^'ellow 'I'avern. It was torn down in 1861. The first tavern license issued in Br(;okville, or Franklin county for that matter, was to James Adair, whose house stood on lot 30 in Butler's plat. In 181 1 tavern-keepers' licenses were granted to Samuel Henry, William Eads. James Knight and Stephen C. Stephens.

With the flight of so many years it is impossible to trace the comings and goings of the various "first dealers'' in sundry goods, but the subjoined extract from the old State Gazetteer, ])ublished in iSrj, will give a correct setting for the town at that date :

"At the close of i8t2 Brookville contained but ten or twelve houses. In July, 181 7, there are u|)war(ls of eighty buildings, exclusive of shops, and outlmildings. These buildings are of frame, and a great number of them are handsomely painted. There are within the precincts of tlie town one grist-mill, two saw-mill^, two fulling-mills, three carding machines, one printing office, one silver smith, two saddlers, two cabinet-makers, one hatter, two tailors. ff)ur bout and shoemakers, two tanners and curriers, one chairmaker. one cooj)er, five taverns and seven stores. There are also a jail, a market house and a hantlsome brick court house.

"Markets - Wheat is 75 cents per bushel: flour. $3.00 per hundred; corn and oats, 25 cents; rye, 40 cents; butter and cheese, from 12 to 25 cents ; honey. 50 cents per gallon ; maple sugar. 25 cents ; salt. S2.00 per bushel. European goods somewhat high."

Of the first prime movers at Rrookville. it should be recorded in the annals of the place that Amos Butler, a native of Chester county. Pennsylvania, first entered land in Dearborn county in 1803. He had some means and after entering his land returned to Penn.sylvania. and upon his return found his lands overflowed with the waters of the Ohio river. He at once sought another location, and, coming to the present site of Brookville in the autumn of 180.] on foot, he decided to set his stakes here. As has been said, he remained here until 18 18. when he removed to Hanover, Indiana, where he died.

John Allen was also a Pennsylvanian. He came here with his two sons. Solomon and Josiah. in 1805. They went back and spent the winter in their native state. In the spring following the two brothers, with a fiatboat load of gcxvJs and mill machiner}\ came down the Ohio, and finallv reached Brookville; the mill-stones were brought in this cargo. The remainder of the family came later in the season. Allen and Butler were rivals both in town-site and milling interests. Allen was probably the first justice of the peace here. He had too many irons in the fire and finally, when hard times set in, he failed and moved to Blooming Grove, where he died, and was buried on the Hayes farm, formerly owned by John Allen, Jr. A brother-in-law of tavern-keeper Knight, already named, came with Allen and was later one of the treasurers of Franklin county.

Lismond Baysea, a Frenchman and a silk dyer by trade, came in 18 10 or 181 1, entered a quarter section of land and established a store on the old "White Corner" in 18 12. He is credited with having built the first regular store building in Brookville, but he was too "Frenchy" for the town and soon retired. Another settler in 181 2 was Ruggle Winchell, who erected the first frame house in the town. Nathan D. Gallion, a soldier of the Twenty-eighth Regiment United States regulars during the War of 1812, came to Brookville in 1814 with a stock of goods which he sold at the corner of Main and Claiborne streets - the "White Corner." He died in 1865 after having been in business o\er forty years. James McGinnis, partner of James Knight, opened a tannery east of Brookville. possibly the first in this county. He committed suicide, being the first to take his own life within the town.

Early Business Men

Among the early business men of the new town was William H. Eads, who kept a store on Main street, near the location of the present Brookville bank. He also operated a tannery just south of the present railway station. Another early character of the town was Thomas C. Eads. a brother of William H., and father of the now famous Captain Eads of Xew Orleans "jetty" fame and the builder of the great St. Louis bridge. William Major, a brick-layer and mason, came in 1815 and was a leader in his honorable craft. Joseph Meeks, the cabinet-maker and wood-working genius, came from New York city in 18 18. He built on North ]\Iain street, where his daughter, now among the oldest women of the city, still resides in the same house erected by her father almost a century ago. There are many pieces of his handiwork to be seen in the homes of Broola-ille people today.

Samuel Goodwin, a leader in early Methoiiism. came from Pennsylvania. He was a tanner and carried on his trade here many years. His place was near the foot of Claiborne street. The John family, also from the Keystone state, were prominent here in the first decades of the town's history. Jehu Jolni and sons, Robert, Enoch D., Jehu, Jr., and Isaac, were all men of rare ability and force of character. In about 1817 Miles C. Eggleston, father of the noted preacher and author of "The Hoosier Schoolmaster," came here; he was an al>1e lawyer and once judge of the circuit courts. George W. Kimble came from Maryland in iSifr, he was by trade a tailor and engaged in merchandising and manufacturing a number of years. Early traders at this point were Michael Pilky and Charles Telier, partners in a store on the bank of tiie East Eork, where an abandoned graveyard will lie recalled by the older citizens of Brookville. Telier died in 1815 and was buried near the store. Tliere is a tradition (but nf-t \erihed by facts), that these men were here when Amos Butler located.

John Beaty, a merchant, located here in 181 5 on the east side of Main street near the old Gallion corner. Andrew Wallace became the proprietor in 1818 of a hotel where the Valley House now stands. His card of that date reads: "If his liquors are not such as will exquisitely suit the taste, they are as good as can be procured in the Western country." His son, David Wallace, entered the military academy from Brookville, graduated with honors and became governor of Indiana. David Wallace studied law here under John Test. Thomas Wallace, another son, entered the United States navy. Gen. Lew Wallace, author of "Ben Hur" and a gallant Civil War general, was the son of Gov. David Wallace. His birth place was in the old brick house which stood on tlic corner lot north of where the Catholic priest residence now stands.

Other early business men were George and Robert Breckenridge, who were merchants many years; Edward Hudson, a chair-maker, came in 1815. Subsequently, he became a shipper of produce and made trips down the rivers and to the West Indies. He lost his life on such a voyage, by shipwreck in which his cargo was sunk. Nathaniel Hammond, a justice of the peace in 1820, afterward kept the old "Yellow Tavern." The hies of old newspapers disclose the fact that the Brookville Inquirer was conducted by Charles Hutchens in 1817. Others of early years were John Jacobs. 1S16; Henry Jenkinson, justice of the peace in 1815; Daniel ^lason. v.-ho came in 1817 and run a tavern; Thomas Smith, a tailor, in 1816: Thomas Winscott, a carpenter, 1815; Thomas W. and James S. Colescott. settlers in 1816. who were men of much activity. Still another whose name should not be overlooked was Sampscm Powers, an old-time merchant, who was a brother of the world-famous sculptor. Hiram Powers. The mother was buried in the cemetery near the "brick meeting-house" in March. 1S25. Eugene Cory was a tanner and operated a tan-yard. It is thought he was interested in the water-power with Amos Cluirch after estabhshing his wheel shop.

The Brookvillf. Land Office

The Brookville land office was estaliHshcd in the autumn of 1820, and continued here until 18^5, being tiien removed to Indianapolis. The following is a fac si)iiilc of a land advertisement taken from the liles of the Brookville Inquirer;

Robert

The lands in this district were all in the New Purchase, and outside the boundaries of Franklin county: the tract was nearly square and included congressional townships in the present counties of Rush. Decatur. Bartholo-

Franklix Couxtv, Ixdiaxa

While the United States land ofiBce Avas located here the town enjoyed good business, but with its removal in 1825 things took a sudden turn. People then realized that sumethini; must be done except trying to live on the money that land speculators and iiumigrants brought in. or the death knell of Brookville would be the result. They turned their attention to legitimate business callings, new factories and mills were installed; better farming methods were introduced ; and with the canal ten years later the town again enjoyed prosperity. However, the taking away of the office was a blow which has been felt to this da}-, for had it remained here vast amounts of money would naturally have been in\csted in this county instead of going on to western counties, where, i)ri!)r to that date, there was no general settlement. But such was in the very nature of things to be. The location of the old land office was on lot Xo. -^2 of Amos Butler's platting of Brookville. where now stands the iMasters block. It was torn down in October,

A Critical Period

The ten years which elapsed between the time that the land office was moved to Indianapolis and the White Water canal was projected were a critical time in the history of Brookville. It was during this time that Fayette (1819) and Union (1821) counties were organized and this took away from the county much of its most valuable farming land as well as hundreds of its most prosperous farmers. With the land office there went hundreds of people to the new capital and to adjoining counties which were being organized. ^^lany of the most adventurous spirits departed for newfields and the net result was a condition in Brookville which must have bordered on the tragic.

The loss of so many excellent citizens in this ten years was a blow from which the town recovered but slowly. A few of these men should be mentioned. Harvey Bates, Noah Noble, David Wallace and scores of others settled in Indianapolis. Jonathan McCarty was mainly responsible for the organization of Fayette county and he became the first clerk of the new cotmtv and several years later represented this district in Congress. John Test and Enoch D. John removed to Lawrenceburg ; Miles C. Eggleston located in Aladison; Stephen C. Stephens moved to \"evay and later settled in Madison. Isaac Blackford, one of the greatest lawyers of the state before the Civil War. went to Mncennes and later became a member of the supreme court of the state, holding: tlie ])osition longer than any man since his time. Centerville attracted Alexander Moore, Edward Hudson and Thomas G. Noble; Robert Rreckeiiridge took charge of the land office at Fort Wayne at the time of its estaijlishment. Ouen Riley became a merchant in Greensburg; Mason, who had conducted a tavern in Brookvillc for many years, removed to Harrison and opened a tavern. Charles Test found a new home in Rushvillc and later served as clerk of Rush county. These are only a few of the more promineiU men who left Brookville never to return. Hundreds of farmers entered land in the new counties and there were thousands of acres which had been opened for cultivation that now became overgrown with underbrush. Scores of houses were empty in the town of Brookville, business was at a standstill and the once prosperous town seemed on the verge of ruin. Those who remained were in many cases too poor to buy the property left in the town and this added to the general feeling of desolation. It has been said that there was a time in this decade (18:25-1835) when one house in every five was empty an<l many of these were the most pretentious dwellings in the town.

But a better time was coming. With the prospect of a canal down the White Water, things began to inipro\e and a marked revival of business in Brookville. The great German immigration to the county began in the middle of the thirties and within a few years thousands of acres of fresh land, as well as land formerly tilled, were brcnight under cultivation. The completion of the canal ushered in a new era in the growth of the county and the next two decades saw scores of factories rising up along the canal. Saw and grist-mills, cotton and woolen factories, distilleries and breweries, porkpacking establishments, carriage and wagon shops and various other industries were located along the canal and at other parts in the county. With the closing of the canal the railroad was built through the county and this afforded e\'en a better means of reaching markets. As the years went by, better farming methods were introduced, the farmers received l>etter prices for their products and a stable prosperity was established which has continued down to the present day.

The historian who is interested in economic changes can not help but wonder why so many of the prosperous factories have long since disappeared. Where there were once no less than seven cotton and woolen mills, there is today not one; the person who at one time could stand on the top of a hill at Laurel and count the smoke stacks of seventeen distilleries, would today find not one; the pork-packing establishments have disappeared, along with the other industries; only one paper mill is left; of the scores of grist, flour and saw-mills, only a very few are left. The economist looks for a reason for the abandonment of the once nourishing' industries and a number of causes present themselves. .Most of the factories along the canal and on the water courses depended for their power on water and each flood that came along meant a temporary cessation in their ojK-ration. As the hills along the streams were denuded of the nati\e timber, Hoods became more frequent and much more destructive. The two floods of 184S worked great havoc with all the industries ahmg the canal ; dams were washed out, mill races were demolished and many mills were practically ruined. Owners were loath to rebuild; the risk of having an industry literally wijjed out over night was one of the main reasons for the disappearance of many mills and factories. By 1861 the usefulness of the canal was at an end; rejjcated floods had so damaged it that it seemed a waste of money to attempt to put it in condition to resume traffic. Then, again, the building of a railroad through the county was being agitated even before i8'6r. An old map of the county published in 1858 actually shows a railroad cutting through the northeastern part of the county - a railroad, by the way, which was not constructed until six years later. From 1861 until the building of railroad through the county in 1866 all manufactured goods had to be hauled out of the county. This meant that the factories could not compete with others more favorably situated and it was during these few years that manufacturing interests suffered a sharp decline. - The Civil War helped to disturb conditions and added not a little to the gloomy situation. Figures are not available to show how many industries closed during the sixties, but it is known that man)- of them closed down never to reopen.

With the opening of the railroad, conditions, of course, began to improve, but in a few years another factor entered the situation. It was found that small factories could not successfully compete with larger establishments; gradually the small factories of the county were either absorbed by larger plants or else forced out of business. It was the trust which secured hold of the big distillery in Brookville.

In 191 5 there are but two mills in the county run by water power, the paper mill at Brookville and the flouring mill at ^letamora. The paper mill also uses steam power in addition to water power. The breweries at Brookville, St. Peters and Oldenburg have all closed ; the cotton and woolen mills, the pork-packing establishments and scores of other industries have disappeared. Now, the paper mill, the furniture factory, four planing mills, a buggv' factory, a saw mill and two cigar factories are all the manufacturing industries left in I'rookville. ' There is not even a flouring mill left, the last one having burned down in the spring of r9r5. The following pages give a detailed account of the many and varied industries which have flourished in Brookville during the jiast century.

Butler's mill, on the East I"<jrk, was among the earliest mills in this county, the date of its construction being 1804. It was at first a log building with rude machinery for grain grinding. Soon after a saw-mill attachment was of>erated in connection with the Houring-mill. A second grist-mill was built by pioneer Butler; this stood on the site of the old log structure. The last mill was a frame building and had excellent machinery for those times. In 1818 the property was sold to Backhouse & Breckenridge. who operated it until 1822, when it was burned, causing the death of an employe who was sleeping in a bunch of bran sacks in the basement. The mill was immediately re-built on borrowed capital from Cincinnati, and this loan caused the financial ruin of the mill owner. James Speer then bought the mill and remodeled it and made a good merchant mill of it. The saw-mill part was dispensed with and in its stead was erected a paper-mill in 1835. This was the second dr\--roll paper-mill west of the Alleghany mountains. Later the dam went out and the fiouring-mill stood idle. It was torn down in 1905, after having been pointed out as a landmark for so many years. It was built from poplar and walnut timber and was a solid frame of the olden type - strong and substantial. It was finally sold to William Bonwell. Jr., a thrifty farmer near by, who converted it into a barn. It was this ancient mill that came into national prominence through its having been made a model for "The Old Mill" by artists of no less renown than Steele, Forsythe. Adams and others. With its mossy roof and pitiful windows staring one in the face: its majestic, colonial style of architecture and setting of wooded hills for its background, it appealed strongly to the artistic love of the beautiful of those who have sought glory and fame in reproducing on canvas the scenery in the Whitewater valley.

The Allen mill was on the East Fork near the iron bridge and was built by John Allen, one of the founders of Brookville. " By some it is believed to antedate the old Butler mill, just described, but this has not been definitely established. It was a rude. jKiorly-constructed mill and had inferior machinery. It was run in connection with a distillery for many years, even after Allen had left tlie count)-. Jesse B. Thomas, one of the founders of the town, built a small mill in the spring of 1805.

At a very early clay two brothers named Lattcrett pr.t in a cardinjf machine for wool carding just ahove the old canal bridge crossing the East Fork south of Rrookville. where a raceway was cut through the solid rock by which water was conveyed to the overshot wheel that turned the machinery. The mill stood partly fncr the stream, it is said. It is thrjught this was the earliest carding machine in I'Vanklin county. It was known for years as "Latterett's Rock," on account of the peculiar conglomerate formation of rocks at that spot. It was indicated as such on the early Indiana maps. The race above mentioned was du^ and blasted by Richard Tyner and Abner McCarty.

What was termed tlie "Company Mill,"' situated on the main stream of the river, about three miles south of Brookville, was doubtless built in either 1826 or 1S27. It operated successfully until the construction of the canal and feeder dam, which ruined the water power at that point. It was the property of Cummings brothers, who received seven thousand dollars in state "script" as damages for ruination of their water power. Coffin brothers bought the old mill and mo\ed it to tlie canal basin and there it was converted into a warehouse. Then it was bought by Tyner &: Roberts, who converted it into a mill for flouring purpcses, and it was for years known as the Champion Flour ^lills and was owned and am by Joseph A. Fries for several years. This was the mill that was burned in 191 5 and not rebuilt.

The Jeremiah Woods flouring-mill was built near the north end of the old canal basin in the early days of Brookville. Before that he had run a small grist and cotton-mill in the old canal basin to the s<xitheast of the present paper-mill site. The last mill ^-enture of Woods was a failure and in a short time the building was converted into a machine shop and cotton factory combined. The machinery was moved from Woodsville, in part section 24. This, too, was a failure financially, and was at last abandoned. While the White Water railroad (now Big Four) was being constructed, this old building was used for a boarding house. It w^as in 1865 that Hanna & Ay res utilized it for a paper-mill, later selling to the Stewart I'aper Company, who operated it till 1870, when it was burned.

The Kimble mills were situated where now stands the south end of the Thomson-Xorris paper mills, at a point where the road crosses the bridge to the city cemetery. This mill seems to have been put in operation about 181 1 by Jeremiah Corey, who operated a carding machine and probably a fulling-mill. North of the Corey mill Pegg & Davis fitted up a mill for dressing cloth. This firm also owned a large tan-yard, adjoining the mill lot on the east; they were also interested in the mercantile and real estate business. In the winter of 1821-22 tlie mill was burned, after which the firm dissolved. John Pegg then rebuilt the mill in part, while the tannery was sold to William H. Eads. who ran it al<;ng with his mercantile house and other sundry speculations in which he was interested. The newly-built mill was of brick and had good machinery. In 1826 the property went into the hands of George W. Kimble, who rented the brick building to one Henrie for a hemp-mill and rope walk.

In 183 1 Air. Kimble built a frame cotton-mill a few rods north of the hemjp-mill, and in 1S44 he tore down the brick hemp-mill and erected a large four-story flouring-mill on its site. .Vfter 1847 the waters of the canal were used as a mill power for this mill. In 1871 the pnjperty was sold anfl converted into Stewart's paper-mill, an account of which is given in this chapter. It was burned on ]vlay 29, 1876.

The Sylvan factory was a mile or so above town. <jn the north bank of West Fork. It was built in 1819 by Jacob, John and Xoble, and Enoch D. John was its manager. \\'hen the canal was dug the mill had somewhat run down and this waterway ruined it.

The White Water cotton factory was on the point of the lx)undary hill. Sims & Clements tirst built a grist and saw-mill at that site about 1817-1S. It changed hands, as is seen by deed records, until, in 1S23, it was in possession of William C. Rogers, of Cincinnati. Later it v.as owned by Jeremiah Woods and a 3.1r. ]\Iiller. It is said to have been an extensive milling plant for those early days. In P'ebruary, 1S33, under management of Agent Lewis S. Ingals, it was turning sixteen hundred spindles and a dozen or miOre power looms. After 1840 the dam washed out and the mill was abandoned. Jeremiah Woods removing the machinery, as elsewhere stated, to the old canal basin, south of town. In the eighties it was written of this location: "This place was called W^oodville; one or two stone chimneys, and a few yards of crumbling masonry, overgrown by a rank thicket of shrubber}% is all that now remains of Woodville." There are left the cellars of at least half a do.^en buildings, which may still (191 5) be plainly seen.

In December, 18 12 - one hundred and three years ago - began the history of what was styled the "Halstead ]^Iill." Chilon Foster and John Test were granted permission to erect a small mill in section 3. township 11. range 23, which mill site was opposite the mouth of Yellow Bank creek, at the mouth of Snail creek. This mill became one of the leading mill^ in Franklin county and continued U> serve custom trade many years. John Halstead finally purchased the property; later a great flood in this valley swept it away and it was never rebuilt.

In 1817 Moses Green, a York-state Yankee, commenced building a sawmill on a lot to tlie north of Brookville, on the East Fork, a few rods north of the old toll-gate. On returning down the Ohio from a trip to Pittsljurgh, where he went for his family, the Iwat capsized and he was drowned. The mill was completed by others, run a few years and then abandoned.

A distillery, on a small scale, was built by Johnston & Miller about 1862-3 o" th^ site of the old Linck & Farquahar grain house. Then F. A. Walz became the owner, and in 1870 he erected a large stone warehouse and commenced the manufacture of the celebrated "Walz Bourbon." In 1878 the property passed into the hands of Kuhlman & Teepen, who made it one of the largest distilleries in this section of the country. It was operated by them until 1S90, when the still and warehouse were sold to the present owner, Peter Werst, the deed being dated }^Iay 23, 1893. ]Mr. Werst immediately tore away the still and erected a fine brick building on the front end of the lot. The old still proper was located in the rear building, which was partly brick and partly frame, and which was demolished by the flood of March. 19 13. The old stone warehouse, erected in 1870, together with the building erected by Mr. Werst, serves him now as his extensive grain and seed houses ; he also deals in lumber.

The changes in ownership of the distillery property are indicated by the deed records and disclose the following chain of titles : Miller & Martin sold to Walz; the latter to Billingsly & Morgan in 1878; the new owners transferring to Kuhlman & Teepen in the same year; in 'Slay. 1893. P^ter Werst became the owner. The old distillery went into the '"trust" and hence was discontinued at Brookville, although it Avas a profitable business at the time it was taken over by the "trust." There were several small distilleries in the immediate vicinity of Brookville. but most of them only ser\-ed local customers.

A brewery was established by Gotleib Seibel in 1865 and operated until 1873, when it closed down. It stood where now stands the brick warehouse of the Thomson-Norris Paper Company, and opposite the old still-house property, now the seed house of Peter Werst. Another brewery was established by Weidener and, after his death, a man by the name of Moritz Schlenck married his widow and continued to operate the plant. Moritz

Tollitson's forge was situated on the East Fork, half a inile above the VVhitcomb tunijjike bridge. It was built by Mr. Tollitson and derived its power from the river. .\ huge rock formed the foundation for the anvil on which the trip-hammer worked. Its owner died of consumption soon after he started the enterprise, and it was never carried on afterwards.

About ly.S- llenr\- Kimble erected on the site of the old livery barn, at the top of the street leading from the de|)Ot and fronting on Main street, a roller flouring-mill, in which the best of modern machinery was installed. It was successfully operated until it wa^ l)urned, in the spring of 1915. This is said to have been the first roller mill in Franklin county. This mill was styled the "Xickle Plate Mills."

A hub factory was started in Brookville in 1905, largely by local capital. It was situated in ''Stavetown,'' on the flats, and the following notice appeared in a local paper concerning it : "The new hub factory at Stavetown begins operations Monday. It will give employment to ten men. Sufficient logs are already on hand in the yard to keep the plant running for the next two months and there is an untold amount of good hub timber within drawing distance in the woods about here.'' This plant was washed away by the great flood of 19 13 and never rebuilt.

French Brothers, the large creamery tirm of Cincinnati. Ohio, established a creamery at Brookville on the grounds o])posite the George Morise residence property, in the northeast part of town, overlooking the valley of the East Fork. This was in 1906. Fi\-e hundred cows were pledged the company in February of that year. The plant cost about five thousand dollars, and was successfully operated for a time. Of late years it has not made butter, but is simplv a milk and cream-gathering station, the product being shipped to the company's plant in Cincinnati.

In the nineties there was a patent folding-befl manufactured in Brookville by John Baker, the present well-known architect and wood-worker, of the place. This was an ingenious bed, which, when folded, resembled a wardrobe, for which purjjose it was used in part. It was rather complicated in its construction, and was manufactured only about two years. Some of these beds are still in use in and around Brookville.

Paper-Making Industry

This industry was among the early ones in Brookville, though at first it was run on a small scale. It is now the leading enterprise of the town.

Near the "Ilerniitage" was erectt;d a new nouring-mill in 1822 upon borrowed capital from Cincinnati. The builders failed and tlie l^ank foreclosed the mortsi^aye and the property was sold to James Speer, wiio tore down the saw-mill altachment and there built a small frame paper-mill, about thirty by eighty feet in size. This was put in operation July i, 1835, and the event was marked by a tlourish of local trumpets by tlie good citizens of Brookville. Later a large brick building was erected and what was known to papermakers as the "iMjurdinicr" system was introduced. During the last years of its existence it was the pro]!erty of f'hillips & Speer. 'j'his firm failed in business and had t(j abandon their cheri>hed enterjjrise. Rags were carted from Cincinnati t(j this mill and paper taken back by the same teams.

The third paper-mill was installed, (m the site of the old Kimble flouring-mills, near the present passenger station. In 1847 the mill commenced to take its water from the canal, while the cotton-mill, operated in connection with it, was propelled b\' the waters of the river. Mr. Kimble, owner of the property, dispoed of it in 1851, and about 1871 it became the property of the .Stewart Pai)er Company, who converted it into a pafjer-mill, which was burned 'Slay 29, 187C'). The loss was fifty thousand dollars, with twenty-nine thousand dollars insurance.

The next venture at paper-making in Brookville was made in 1S65 '^Y Hanna vt .\yers, who converted the old cotton factory and machine sho]) of Jeremiah Woods at the old canal basin, in the southeast part of town, into a paper-mill. After a short time they disposed of the plant to the Stewart Paper Company, who operated it until it was burned, in November, 1870.

In 1869 F. M. -Stone commenced paper-making in the old mill near the canal basin and after a few years became insolvent. His creditors then formed the Stewart Paper Company and continued, the same being conducted by Hanna & Ayers till it ])urned down, in 1870. with a loss of forty thousand dollars. Sixty men were employed in the mill at the time.

The pulp-mill that stood near the first canal lock, to the northwest of town, the ruins of which may still be seen, was built by the paper company in i86g. Thomas Lindsey had charge of this enterprise a number of vears. It was one of the best concerns in this section of the state. Thirtr hands turned out a daily output of si.xty-five thousand pounds of newspaper stock. The flood of 1898 ruined this plant, which had been destroved bv fire at least twice for ]\Ir. Lind.sey, who died after the last fire.

For many years the entire output of the Stewart paper mills was consumed by the Cincinnati Enquirer. After failures and fires, the Stewart Paper Company went into the hands of a receiver and was operated bv the receivers until about 1849. In 1898' the Thomson & Xorris Company purchased the remains of the old Stewart company, including their lands alon;^ the canal, witli their pulp-mill to the northwest of the town, and the canal basin southeast of town. The new company operated the pulp-mill until 1903, when it was abandoned, but still stood there and was totally ruined by the great flood of iVlarch, 19 13.

The Thomson & Norris Company own plants at Brooklyn, New York, Boston, Niagara Falls, Brookville and Chicago. They manufacture at the Brookville plant only light .strawboard, from which is made corrugated paper and boxes such as are used by shippers of glass, millinery and parcel-post packages. They now employ about one hundred and twenty-five men. The power of this plant is one thousand horse-ixjwer, of which two hunrlred and fifty is derived from the waters of the old canal, while the rest is steam power. The raw material, which is straw, is largely shipped from four adjoining counties, Shelln', Decatur, Rush and Bartholomew. Each fall they intend putting in a stock of from three to four thousand tons of straw. The daily capacity of the mills is twenty-five tons.

The manner of producing strawboard in this mill is interesting. First the straw is cooked in large steel vats about fourteen feet in diameter. These are filled with straw and lime water, and cooked at a low pressure for about twelve hours. The stock is then conveyed by carriers to the "beaters," which remove the lime and grind the straw to a fine pulp, which is passed on to driers and through .rollers, making sheets about two by four feet in size. These are shipped to the markets of the country, and to the branch plants at Boston, Niagara Falls, Chicago, Brooklyn and New York.

The flood of 19 13 materially injured this plant, but all has been rebuilt and it is now running full time. The buildings, both factory and warehouses, are large brick structures. On December 23, 191 1, a fire burned a portion of the four-story building, causing considerable confusion and loss, otherwise the plant has been highly successful and quite fortunate in its operation imder the present management.

Brookville Furniture Comp.Vny

Among the leading manufacturing enterprises of Brookville is the extensive furniture manufactory established in 1882 by C. A. Bishop. A. W. Johnstone and A. M. Tucker, in a brick building that had been erected in 1873 for the old Brookville machine shop, the owners of which failed. The first-named gentleman manufactured a line of walnut bed-room suites, witli various grades of oak furniture. Mr. Johnstone's health failed, after which Bishop & Tucker conducted the business until 1894, when C. A. Bishop acquired the sole interest and organized the C. A. Bishop Company. The company continued until i8(j6 and then failed. The mortgage on the property was then foreclosed by the bank holding it and in 1897 A. M. Tucker and others formed the .\. AI. Tucker Furniture Company, which operated until 1907, when Tucker sold his interest to J. C. Shirk. The business was then reorganized as the present Orookville Furniture Company. They now make a high-grade of walnut and mahogany furniture, chielly bed-chamber suites, some of which, in the fifteen-piece sets, retail as high as si.x hundred dollars. Distributing depots are maintained at Philadelphia, Xew York, Chicago and Boston. The output of the factory is valued at about one hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars annually. The building, which was erected in 1910, is a fine brick structure, forty by one hundred and twenty-five feet, and four stories high. The machinery is run by electric motors, with a central plant of their own. The average nun:ber of men employed is alx)ut eighty, and the annual pay-roll is fort3'-fivc thousand dollars. Goods are sold in all parts of the United States.

The present officers of the company arc as follow: J. C. Shirk, president and treasurer; J. Buckley, vice-president; J. H. Bishop, secretary and salesman; William Otto, superintendent; Samuel Shirk, director and traveling salesman.

Planing Mills

There are now four planing-mills in Brookville. One has a saw-mill in connection. One of these mills is situated on the hill in the main part of town, on Sixth street, and was established in about 1890 by William Fowler on grounds now occupied by the paper company near their straw yards. He sold to Ferris & Son and in about 1900 they sold to Fieber & Holmes, who continued in business in the above place about three years. They then moved to their new quarters on the hill and at the same time the saw-mill department was abandoned. This firm has furnished, as contractors, fine wood work for many public and private buildings, including the depots for the Big Four Railroad at Brookville, Cedar Grove and New Trenton, to take the place of the ones washed away by the floods of 1913; the school building, Methodist parsonage, the Sisters' school and many fine residences at Brookville; the fire station at Muncie, etc of Brookville, on the site of the old carriage factory, and where originally stood an excelsior (Hljer) mill. This firm di^es general contract work. They have a thirty-five horse-power coal-oil engine, run at an expense of nine dollars per week. Alembers of this firm had been in the wholesale lumber trade a number of years before en.^aging in the present business.

Of the old excelsior mills it may be said that they were established by Baker & Reynolds, who operated only a short time. Then the plant was converted into a furniture factijry I)y Baker, Reynolds & Schiltz. The last industry, like the former, was not highly successful and went down. Then Schikz was manager of the Rro()k\ille Buggy Company. After his death it was sold to Eugene Horn, who moved the plant to Main street, and Ferris began operating the present planing-mill and wood-working jjlant.

Another planing-mill and saw-mill is located in the west part of town, near the old canal and railroad tracks. About 1895 Dudley & Gettig put in operation a saw-mill and planer and were followed, after they had failed, by Bcckman brothers, who purchased the plant of the receiver who had been appointed for the first firm. The Beckman brothers came into possession of the property in 1914, and now have the only saw-mill in the town.

Still another mill is that of Albert J. Cooksey, an expert mechanic, in the north part of town, who started what is styled the Brookville Xovelty Works in about 191 1. He does general hard and soft-wood work, contracts and does a creditable business.

The Scenic Valley Ice And Dairy Product Company

Another lively industry of present Brookville is the Scenic \'alley Ice and Dairy Product Company, owned by John Webber, late of Xewport, Kentucky, who, in 19 13, purchased the old canning factory plant, in the valley at the foot of the ridge in this town^ and converted it into an artificial ice plant. It has a daily capacity of producing twelve and a half tons of pure ice from deep-well water. This ice finds ready sale at home and supplies the majority of ice consumers in Brookville. The average price for this superior ice is five dollars and fifty cents per ton. In connection with the plant is a modem ice-cream factor}-, which makes a greater part of all the ice cream sold in the c unity. The ice is delivered daily in the ice season by teams owned Ijy Mr. Webber. The building is now a one-story brick, but formerly was a three-story structure, when used for canning and candy factory purposes. It was destroyed by fire a few years ago and reroofed as a one-story building. Every modern facility for producing ice and ice cream is here installed. After the fire burned tiie ]>lant out. the premises were again used as a vegetable canning factory for a time before it was sold to its present owner.

Another ice house is that of Joseph Seidling, which is located at the foot of Main street, near the canal basin. Here one linds a large ice house in which is stored natural ice. the most of. which is consumed by the various saloons of Brookville. who purchase beer of the proprietor. Mr. Seidling also conducts a bottling works on the hill near the Catholic school. This industry was founded about twenty years ago by Mr. Seilding.

The Brookville Produce Company, which is managed by W'ilbert Rogers for the owners at Cincinnati, Armacost & Riley, was established by T. J. Buckingham in 1893. Buckingham operated it nine years and then sold to Bloom & Dreifus, who continued five years and sold to a Mr. Lloyd, of Greensburg, who was its owner till he sold to the present owners about 191 1. The !)usiness is carried on at the foot of the hill, southuest of the Catholic church. The buildings are partly frame and partly brick. During the ll'^^d of 1913 the brick building was partly ruined, causing a loss of about six hundred and fifty dollars, while there was a total loss in stock on hand amounting to one thousand one hundred dollars. This concern handles poultry, butter and eggs, which are shipped to Cincinnati. Wagons are rufi through the surrounding country to gather the produce from farmers. Hucksters also sell much to this company. The business for the last five years has amounted to about three hundred and fifty thousand dollars. The warehouse is located on a convenient spur of the Big Four railroad.

Brookville Marble And Granite Works

The Brookville Granite and Marble Works were established about 1S98 by Frank X. Seibert and A. J. Cook, who continued until 1904, when ^Ir. Seibert took full control, and, with his son, both expert stone cutters and monument makers, has since handled the business. They import granite and marble from Scotland, as well as large quantities from Xew England and Wisconsin. Their designs and artistic workmanship are to be seen and admfred in many oi the "silent cities" of Franklin and adjoining counties. The excellent lettering on their tombstones and shafts will stand as a record for them when future decades shall have passed away.

There are now two cigar factories in Brookville. One, operated by F. J. Baker in the northwest part of town, was estahhshed as revenue number 528, in 1893, and now works eight cigar makers. Mr. Baker sells special brands of cigars known as "LaFolda," "Baker's Perfecto," "Chief Executive," and "No. T129." These goods find ready sale in a radius of Brookville of about one hundred miles. The factory puts out a half million cigars annually.

The oldest cigar factory, however, in Brookville is the one on the corner of Main and Fourth streets, owned and operated by F. M. Hathaway, who came from Rising Sun, in March, 1883, and established a business in the same quarters which he is now occupying. It is styled the "Spot Cigar Factory," and is No. 22 in district No. 6 of Indiana. The name was derived from a beautiful coach dog the proprietor owned and he took a picture of the dog and from it made his trade-mark, so familiar to smokers in this section of the country. He runs as high as seventeen cigar-makers and has made upon an average of a half million cigars annually for twenty -nine vears. These goods are sold chielly in Indiana. Kentucky and Ohio. The raw material is largely from the tobacco fields of Cuba, Connecticut and a small part from Wisconsin and Ohio. The brands include "Spot." "Hath." "Hathaway's jNIonogram," "Robert Walker," "Indiana Queen" and "Telephone." His pay-roll has amounted to about one hundred and fifty dollars per week since the establishment of his business, twenty-nine years ago.

Telepiioxe Lines

Telephone lines now reach nearly every corner of Franklin county and according to the statistics of 1914 cover a total of 518.69 miles. There are twelve lines of this wonderfully useful utility in the county and four connect with tljg. central station at Brookville. The principal company is known as the Brookville Telephone Company, which was organized in April, 1S95. Its franchise has recently expired and a new one has been applied for. This company has six hundred subscribers, and makes direct connection with Cincinnati, via the Bell telephone system.

The other local corporations operating telephone lines include the Laurel Telephone Company, organized a few years ago by Ray Goudie and his mother. This company has one hundred and fifty subscribers. Mr. Goudie and his mother also operate a line from Brookville to Oldenburg, having about forty instruments in use. The Brookville & St. Peters line is owned and operated by I-'rank \Vrii;iit and others, twenty-five of the twenty-eight shares which is held by -Mr. W'ri^tjht. This line operates one wire and serves fifteen patrons in a satisfactory manner.

The value of tlic telephone system of today cannot be estimated to the people of the country. Great is the contrast since a line of the old-fashioned vibratory 'plione system was in use from the foot of Main street to the foot of the hill near the old canal basin district, which was considered a gfreat achievement in the early eij^hlics. With the invention of the electric telephone, distance has almost lieen annihilated. In the spring of 191 5 President Wilson talked from his office in Washins^^on, D. C, to the manager of the Panama E.xposition at San Francisco.

Ten years before the Brookville Telephone Company was organized, in 1895, there was a private telei)hone line in the town. A man by the name of Cassius Alley put up a line in 1884 between Koeber's two bakeries on Main street. They were about four blocks ajjart, yet the vibratory boxes which Alley installed at either end of his wire were so well installed that conversation was carried on very satisfactory over the line. Alley later put in private wires from the stores of Doctor Buckingham and L(juis Hornung to their respective houses. Those were in use until the electric telephone was installed in the town in 1895.

That Franklin county is well supplied with telephones today is evident from the following tabic which sets forth the various telephone companies having lines within the county. This shows that the Brookville Telephone Company has more nu'les of lines than any other company in the countv :

In this connection it might be stated that the Western Union Telegraph Company operates seventy-four miles of lines within the county. Adams Express Company does business on U.HH miles, while the .\merican Express Company controls 31.05 miles. The Pullman Sleeping Car Company oper-' ates 10.13 miles of track. 6.88 of which is on the Chesapeake & Ohio lines and 3.25 on the Chicago Division of the Cincinnati. Chicago Central 8c St. Louis. The White Water division of the Big Four docs not run sleeping cars.

Municipal Ixcorporation

Preparatory steps were taken to incorporate Brookville on the first Monday of September, 1838, but nothing materialized definitely until March 4, 1839, when C. F. Clarkson and Jeremiah Woods appeared before the board of county commissioners, Samuel Shirk, Robert Templeton and Thomas Flint, and there presented a pclilion containing the names of se\enty-scvcn of the voters of the town, this being over two-thirds of the legal voters of Brookville, praying that Brookville be incorporated. Later in the same month there appeared in the American and Dcuwcrat, local newspapers of the town, notices stating that on Saturday, March 23, 1839, an election would be held for the purpose of electing five trustees preparatory to incorporating the town. The election was held and the board of trustees there elected met on ^March 25, 1839. At first, districts were designated instead of wards, as now known, which system did not obtain until 184S. The first trustees, representing districts of the newly formed incorporation, were as follow: Rufus Hammond, first district ; Ransel Curtis, second district : John ^L Johnston, third district ; C. F. Clarkson, fourth district : William T. Beeks. fifth district. These officials were sworn into office before Daniel St. Juhn. a justice of the peace.

A temporary organization was effected by calling Rufus Haymond to the chair and appointing George Berry, clerk; George Holland, treasurer: R. P. C. Barwick, lister; Samuel Sheppard, marshal and collector, all to serve for the term of one year.

"Section i. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Indiana, that the petition of the inhabitants of the town of Brookville. in the county of Franklin, to the board of commissioners of said county, for the purpose of incorporating^ said town under the act entitled, 'An act for the incorporation of thi; town,' approved I-chruary 17, 1838, the proceedings of the said b(jard of commissioners, and the election of trustees for said corporation be and the same are herein- legalized, and that the said town of Brookville is hereby declared iiic(jrpt>rated under said act, provided, that nothing therein contained shall be so construed as to affect the riglit of individual suit or prosecution commenced prior to the passage of this act.

"Section 2. Tlic funds arising from licenses granted by said corporation under and by virtue of the nineteenth section of the above cited act shall be appropriated for the use of said corporation as the money belonging to the same.

"Section 3. So much of the nineteenth section of the aforesaid act as comes within the perview of the second section of this act as far as regards the corporation of the town of Brookville, be and the same is hereby repealed. "This act to take effect and be in force from and after its passage.'" Approved February 10, 1840.

In 1849 cholera visited Brookville, causing the death of a number of citizens. A hospital was established in the old Yellow tavern and Doctor Raymond was placed in charge of it.

In 1850 the jail, which had been built in 1827, was set on fire by the inmates and burned, after which Benjamin Remy, contractor, erected the one which was torn down in 1883.

In June, 1872, the board of town trustees directed the town clerk to sell the old market house to the highest bidder, and A. J. Folmsbee purchased it for twenty dollars.

On July 27, 1872, the corporation was enlarged to its present boundaries. On September 22, 1872, the board met to consider the propriety of building a town hall. Bids were later advertised and Thomas Barton submitted plans and specifications for the cellar of the hall, which were accepted, and the letting of the building of the hall was ordered to be held October i. 1872. The contract was let to Patrick Ryan. John Burkhart and Jacob Smith for finding the material and building the basement.

On August 31. 1875. the plans and specifications of Parsons & Richter, of Indianapolis, for the hall were adopted and the letting directed to be held September 5. but later changed to October 11, when the contract was awarded to John AIcKenzie, of Indianapolis, for twelve thousand three hundred dol- lars, to be ccjniplcled Decc-nilicr 15, ii<y6. 'Ihe corner-stone of tlie hall was laid March 4, i.SjO, Col. William .M. .McCarthy delivering the address. The trustees who erected the hall were: '['. PI. Crown, Paul Ileasom, Jacob Gerber, William Dunz, Sr., and Thomas Carton.

On March 13, 1876, Thomas I'artcjn was ordered to procure a seal for the town of Brcjokville and such .seal was adopted .\pril i. that year.

In October, 1881, the trustees decided to procure street lamps, and on November 26, that year, reported having located about thirty lamps in various parts of the town.

In June, 1884, the town paid George Schlapp and Christian Koeber forty dollars for a lot on which a calaboose was erected that month, at an expense of one thousand one hundred and twenty-five d(;llars. Louis Ilonecker being the contractor. The calaboose was used after September 25, 1884.

In May, i8'87, A. W. and I. Crist were granted permission to lay pipes for natural gas in the streets of Brookville. In June, of that vear, a survey of the town was made and grades established.

In November, 1889, the coutity comtnissioners were allowed one hundred and fifty dollars for the town's share toward putting up the town clock.

On February 11, 1890, the Brookville Electric Light and Power Company was allowed permission to erect poles, wires, etc., i-n the streets and alleys.

Electric lights were first turned (jn in Brookville. from the plant using the power deri\ed from the Speer paper mill. March 24. 1891, but, the s\ stem being a failure, it soon was shut down by the town. A few months later the Eau Claire (Wisconsin) company had their lights in operation and since then the town has had lights from electricity - night service onlv.

Town Officer

The following is a list of the presidents and clerks of the town board of Brookville since its incorporation in 1839. The list is complete as to who was elected, but there are a few instances where another served out a part of the term of oflice. In the main the list shows who has been at the head of the town government for the years from 1839 to 1915, inclusive:

Lewis \i\'^i:;s. president. Gcorc^e r.erry, clerk; 1846-50, R. M. McCleery, president, I. I). Ilcnvland. clerk; 1X50-5J, A. W. McCleery, president, E. Haymond, clerk; 1S52-53. (Jeorge .M. Byrani, president. Alfred Ward, clerk; 1853-55, C. B. Bentley, president. Alfred Ward and others, clerk; 1855-56. I. D. Howland, president, John F. Hazzard, clerk; 1856-57, M. \V. Haile. president, E. Winscott, clerk; 1857-58. M. W. 1 laile, president. C. C. Bentley, clerk; 1858'- 59, Wilson Morrow, president. Hioinas I. Lyner. clerk; 1859-60. Wilson Morrow, president. R. AI. Goodwin, clerk; i860, Joseph R. Clark, president, Milton Cullum, clerk; 1 860-61, C. B. Bentley. president. John Adair Smith, clerk; 1861-63, Daniel Ivnrrer, president. William H. Bracken, clerk; 1863-64, H. H. Schrichte, president, B. H. West, clerk; 1864-67, I. H. Inid.ije. president. J. W. Hutchinson, clerk; 1867-69. Ed Mayer, president. F. S. Swift, clerk; 1869-71. J. V. Bennesdeffer. president. F. S. Swift, clerk; 1871-74, Jacob Gerber, president, F. S. Swift, clerk; 1874-76, Jacob Gerbcr, president. Stephen E. Urmston, clerk; 1876-77, Thomas Barton, jjresident. E. S. Urmston. clerk; 1877-78. Adair B. Line, president, S. E. Urmston, clerk; 1878-79, M. \V. Haile, president. S. F. L'nnston. clerk; 1879-80, M. \\'. Haile. president. A. H. Rockafellar. clerk; r88o-8i, Jacob Gerber, president, A. H. Rockafellar. clerk; 18S1-84. S. S. Herrell. president. James B. Kidney, clerk; 1884, S. S. Harrell. president, M. P. Senefeld, clerk; 1885. D. \V. Mc- Kee, president, M. P. Senefeld, clerk; 1S85-86, J. D. Fieber. president. P. R. . Hendrickson. clerk; 1S86-88. Charles Bishop, president. P. R. Flendrickson. clerk; iS'88-89, .\aron B. Line, president, H. E. Xeasley, clerk; iSScj-ijo. J. D. Fieber, president. H. E. Beasley. "clerk ; 1890-91. Theodore H. Brown, president, John W. Gates, clerk; 1891, John D. Fieber, president. John W. Gates, clerk; 1891-92, Theodore H. Brown, president. \V. E. Schoonover, clerk; 1892-93, Abe Bossert. president. W. E. Schoonover. clerk; 1893-94, M. C. Arnistron£]f, president. G. FT. P.ogart, clerk; 1894-95. M. C. Armstrong, president. George L. ^^'ise. clerk; 1895-99. Peter Werst. president. E. H. Wiley, clerk; 1899-1900, Peter Werst, president, W. AL Geis. clerk; 1900-03. Peter Werst, president, FL West, clerk; 1903-05, ^L C. Armstrong, president. Joseph Dacey. clerk; 1905-06, :\L C. Armstrong,* president. Arthur O. Gates, clerk; 1906-07, Frank X. Seibert, president. Joseph Smith, clerk; 1907-10, John W. Eye. president. Joseph Smith, clerk; 1910-13. Abe Bossert, president. Joseph Smith, clerk; 1913-15, Henry Rusterholz, president, Albert Trichler. clerk.

The full set of officers in Brookville in 1915 is as follows: The board is composed of William Burkhart. president; Joseph, Hannan. Clinton E. Grist. Clarence Moore, Abe Bossert; clerk, Albert Trichler; treasurer.

Of the indebtedness of the town, it should be stated that had it not been for the flood of 1913, the town would now have enough in funds with which to install a -new electric lighting plant, but as it is, it owes five thousand dollars for its expense in protecting the river-front, etc. This is the town's only indebtedness.

Fire Department

The town is protected by a well-trained volunteer fire company and the direct pressure waterworks, which has its large reservoir on the high hill overlooking the town from the nortiieast. The reservoir affords a pressure of about eighty-five pounds to the s(|uare inch in the bottoms, which will throw a strong stream as high as the clock in the courthouse tower. There are now fire-plugs to the number of sixty, with six miles of water mains through the town. There are five hose houses located in the various wards, and in them are kept sufficient hose and other fire-fighting apparatus to protect the town in any ordinary conflagration. The town owns five thousand feet of good hose, there being a duplicate amount for each hose cart, so that one set is always dry and ready for use. The firemen are paid a nominal sum for each fire alarm turned in, while the chief, who is Adam Peter, a nightwatchman, gets extra pay for the extra work he has to do. No fire has succeeded in getting to a second building since the waterworks system was installed, so efficient is the company and its appliances.

Very few of the present generaticin are aware that a system of waterworks was in operation in Erookville as early as 1820. They were the first in the state and, st3 far as known, the first in the Northwest.

The situation of the town made it impossible to dig a well through one hundred feet or more of glacial drift. Cisterns at that time being an unknown luxury, all the water used for domestic purposes was hauled or carried from springs that were found along the river's edge. The spring that furnished the greater part of the water used was found on the bank of the West Fork, about where the water tank is now located. This spring was quite famous years ago. , Two barrels were sunk in the ground and were always filled witli an abniulance of clear cool water. Lar;^e trees grew near and cast a pleasant shade o\ er the spring making it a pleasant place to rest.

If the old sijrin,!^ could burst forth again, we wonder if it could not tell us many interesting stories of tlujse who carried its waters to the Adair tavern, which is still an old landmark on .Main street; of the mothers who carried a bucket of water in one hand and led a child with the other; of the men who talked politics by its side, and of the lovers who strolled there in the twilight and made promises of love that bound them together for life.

The early inhabitants of Brookville were a live, energetic and progressive people. Carrying water from springs along the river proved too much of a task for the i)eople. Some local genius thought of some system of waterworks (perhaps some n{ the good housewives first suggested the idea) by which the water from the s[)rings north of town, now known as '"Butler springs,'' could be made to convey their water through pipes into the town. The system was not such as we are going to have at the present time; they had no pumping station, except nature's and no iron pipes conducted the water through the town. The pioneer system was constructed of the materials furnished by the forest. The mains were sycamore sajjlings of a three-inch bore, prepared at Amos Church's mill, on the East Fork, by W'illiam Adams, a practical pump-maker of that day. He was paid by the foot for his work.

As is the case today, the people want the water as cheap as possible, and in order to obtain it at a low figure the town put in the plant. Enoch Mc- Carty and Saul Allen represented the town and superintended the work. They paid Amos Butler for the water and right of way five hundred dollars - no small amount in those days, but water they must have, let it cost what it would.

The mains were all laid under the ground. The reservoir was made of oak planks and was eight or ten feet deep. It was located in the high ground where A. W. Butler now lives. From the reservoir the mains extended south to the stock-pen, which was located about where the Catholic church now stands. Only one family - one of the Nobles - could boast of having the water piped in their house. All the other people obtained their water by some outside arrangement. Watering troughs were located along Main street at various places, to water the stock and horses of the fanners, who came in to trade.

Tradition has it that those who lived under the hill and had wells, considered the inhabitants of Main street as being very aristocratic, and. to get a stray dog or cat was occasionally deixjsited in the reservoir.

The system did not prove to be a very great succcs.-: The pipes were made of green sycamore and allowed to lie in the sun for some time before they were laid, which caused them to split at the ends and leak more or less of the water. Then the pressure was scj great that the ]jipes were continually bursting. With these misfortunes, the s\stem only remained in operation from 1820 to 1823 or 1824. After the system was abandoned, the people again carried their water from the spring mentioned above, until twenty years later, when it was discox'ered that rain water caught in cisterns, was just as. good as sjjring water carried freni the river.

The Prf.Sf.Xt System Of Watf.R Works

The question of supplying the hi.^her levels of the town with water had been discussed every season of drouth, hut never took definite shape until July 14. 1890, when, according to the town records, Charles A. Bishoj) appeared before the hoard of town trustees, at their regular session, and. in an earnest appeal, urged the l)oard to submit the ([uestion of building a water works to the people of the town at once. Thereupon the board appointed a committee c«>nsi.sting of James F. West and John Butler, who were instructed to consult with George F. O'Byrne, attorney of the town, as to the proper legal mode of procedure, visit the water plants of the different cities and towns within a radius of one hundred miles, and report ways and means at an early day.

The committee reported at a special session of the board. July 21. 1890. On August II, 1890, G. Henri Bogart presented before the board a petition from the resident freeholders of tlie town, asking that the board call a special election for the purjiose of submitting to the legal voters of the town the question of building water works. The petition contained the names of a majority of the resident freeholders of the town. Upon due examination of the petition, the board ordered that a special election be held on the 13th day of October, 1890.

At the regular session of the board, August 16, W. E. Kennedy, of Rockport, Indiana, was employed to make surveys and estimates for the proposed water works. His report was submitted on September 11, when he was ordered to prepare plans and sjjecifications and report at an early day.

The committee heretofore appointed by the board visited six or seven different waterworks plants in neighboring towns and cities, and deduced from observations made that the direct pressure system with a small standpipe, would be best adapted to the needs of Brook ville.

Frankux Coun'Tv, Indiana

On October 13, i8f;o, the fiuestion of building waterworks was decided at the polls by a vote oi three hundred anfl three for and eighty-four against.

On January <S, 189 1. .\. H. Kennedy presented his completed plans and. after due examination, the board rejected them by a unanimous vote. At the same meeting John Burkhart was employed to make surveys, plans and specifications. On ^larch 9 the new plans were examined and approved, and finally received and ad(Ji)tcd as complete, May 2.

On May 14 surveys were made of land rc'iuired for waterworks purposes, the land was condemned, and viewers were ordered to assess damages. On June 13 a letting was advertised to take place. On July 23 two bona fide bids were received - one from Sheehan & Dunn, of Detroit, Michigan, at $26,497.30, and other from James Madden & Company, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, at $27,100. The amount i>f the lowest bid being a greater sum than the town could legally become liable for, both bids were rejected.

It was now proposed to modify the plans so as to bring them within the limit, viz : two per cent, on all the ta.Kables of the town, and, to place the second venture on a more secure footing, a subscription list for donations to make up the excess that might occur was circulated am(»ng the citizens of the town. The people responded generously and one thousand six hundred and two dollars were subscribed, Messrs. Bishop and Tucker heading the list with five hundred dollars. Every dollar subscribed was paid promptly.

On August 14, John Burkhart presented a petition signed l)y a majority of the resident freeholders of the town ])raying the board to build a reservoir system of waterworks, and authorizing the board to create a bonded indebtedness within the constitutional limit.

On July 25 the plans and specifications were revised and modified so as to reduce the cost and bring it within the tovvn's limited means and a readvertisement was ordered August 24, to be let on the 17th day of September. Three bids were received for the whole plant, viz : Madden & Company, of Fort Wayne, $27,700: Codogan ]Moran, of Chicago. Illinois, $22,821. and Thomas A. Hardman. of Olney. Illinois. $22,500. Mr. Ilardman being the lowest bidder, the contract was awarded to him, he agreeing to accept $21,250 from the town and $1,250 out of the citizens' donation fund, making a total of $22,250 for the whole plant complete, tested to the satisfaction of the board of trustees and superintendent. Contract was entered into September 21, 1 89 1, and first ground was broken on the work on September 26. John Burkhart was appointed superintendent of construction.

Details of the plant were as follow : The well sunk on the bank of the East fork of White Water is twenty-five feet deep, twenty feet inside diameter and twelve feet below low-water mark in the river; it is walled with stone laid in hydraulic cement. The pump house is a substantial brick iniilding^, twenty-ei<i[hL,.lj|>: thirty-six fcc-i. built (jn concrete anrl stone foundatifms. with cement floor and slate roof, situated eight feet west of the well. The steam plant consists (jf a fil'ty-horse-power steel lx)iler and a standard compound duplex pum])in:j: eni^inc of twenty-five thousand gallons capacity per hour. The whole stream jjlant i>i one of the best ef|uipped in the state. It was built by the Laidlaw & Dunn Company, of Cincinnati. Ohio. The pump has a mean lift of ei.L,diteen feet throui::h an easy bend, eicrht-inch suction pi[)e thirty-five feet lomj. and the dischar<4e-])ipc is six inches in diameter, one thousand eiqlit Iniiidrc-d feet lont.;-, and has a vertical rise or pressure-head of two hundred and two feet, deliverin;:^ the water into the reservoir near its bottom, and is connectefl with the outflow, or town-supply main, inside of the reservoir basin and equijiped with valve gates so that at will the water can be delivered directly into the supply mains of the town independent oi the reservoir, and a direct pressure can be maintained. The reservoir is lined with stone and is plastered with Portland cement, having a three-foot artificial-stone walk all around the basin. The basin is fifteen feet deep and will hold three hundred and sixty-two thousand gallons of water, equal to a four-day supply for three thousand inhabitants, each using thirty gallons per day. The reservoir is romantically situated and. when nature has carpeted over the rough surface made by pick and shovel, it will be one of the most beautiful places around Brookville. The pleasant dream is indulged by many of our enterprising citizens that some day not far distant the wiiole of the hill and its broad sides may ])e owned by the city and converted into a park, thus furnishing a pleasant retreat during warm weather. The eminences at and above the reservoir furnish fine views of the citv and the valleys stretching out from it and it would be gratifying if it could be dedicated to the people as a pleasure resort.

Brookville Postoffice

A postoffice was established at Brookville in April, 1813 - one hundred and two years ago. Just where it was kept for the first decade and more is not known, but long before the Civil War it was kept at the old "White Corner," on .South ]\Iain street, where now- stands the Franklin County Bank building. Before that it was in the McCrady block, from which place it was removed to the John King building, and from there, in 1S77, it was moved to its present quarters in the city building, or town hall.

It is now a second-class jMstofticf, its receipts being in excess of eight thousand dollars. The change from third to second-class was made (the last time) in 19 14. It was anvMig the early money-order points in the state, and was made a savings deposit office SeiJtemher i, 191 1. Its deposits have run as high as two thousand five hundred dollars, but at present TApril, 1915), are one thousand eight hundred and fifty-two dollars. There are now eight rural free deli\eries routes running to outlying districts and villages. The business of the office fur the last fiscal year, outside of money-order transactions, amounted to eight thousand eight hundred and sixty dollars. One of the postmasters of this place, T. J. Tyner, was a relative of Postmaster-General Tyner, once a resident of Brookville.

Brookville Commercial Club

Originally, this club was known as the Brookville Business Men's Association. It was organized January 17, 1889, and its objects were set forth at that date as follows, in part: "To develop the resources of Brookville and vicinity; to encourage the establishment of factories, and to agitate the matter of abandoning all the toll roads leading into the town, making all public highways free to the traveling public."

The association started out with eighty-nine members and had as its officers: President, Albert H. Kaiser; secretary, James B. Kidney; treasurer, Isaac A. Popper; vice-president. Z. T. Hutchinson.

The association did much good work and saw many results. On April 5, 1912, by a vote, the name was changed to "The Brookville Commercial Club.'' When the electric roads were being agitated, the association and club did all in their power to brins; such a line throujjh the countv, but so far the work has been in vain. \\ hen the great Hood of March. 191 3, cast jjloom and sorrow throu.^liiuU the community, the members of the club worked da}- and night to relie\e the unfrjrtunate sufferers and had charge of the relief fund. When the new court house was dedicated they took charge of many of the things connected therewith. They backed the establishment of the Chautauqua system, now so much enjoyed in the town. They took money from their treasury ant! had made se\eral hundred comfortable seats which are annually used within the mammoth tent that is furnished by the Chautauqua company. The club is now in a flourishing condition and has ample funds on hand. The members pay a stipulated ami>unt as yearly dues to maintain the organization.

The present officers of the Brookville Commercial Club are: I. M. Bridgman, president: J. C. Shirk, vice-president: Will M. Baker, secretary'; George E. Dennett, treasurer; directors. W. D. Bradt, F. L. Hornung, George Dickson, A. J. Shriner, H. B. Smith, James B. Kidney, John C. Shirk. M. P. Hubbard and Will M Baker.

Public Library

Brookville is indeed fortunate in possessing a good public librarv. Of its foundation, the first mention in print is the organization of the Brookville reading room, September i. 1S95. There were kept for free public reading such papers and magazines as could be obtained by members of the society and friends of the enterprise. The president of that organization was Mrs. W. H. Bracken and the secretary was Mrs. S. S. Harrell. This ran quite satisfactorily tor a time, but "what was everyone's business was no one's,"' and it went down.

In 191 1 a library association was organized under the state laws of Indiana, a subscription circulated by which funds were raised, and the lot immediately north of the old .Amos Ijutler homestead, on Xorth ^lain street, was purchased. Then, after much correspondence on the part of John C. Shirk with Andrew Carnegie, the latter gentleman finally consented to donate ten thousand dollars with which to erect and furnish the present handsome red-brick public library. This building was dedicated September 18. 19 12. with appropriate ceremonies. Demarchus C. Brown, state librarian, delivering the address.

This library is designed especially for Brookville township, which includes the city, and both are taxed annually for its support - the last levy being seven mills on a dollar, in the city, and five mills in the outlying township. Books are furnished for reference to students for school work in other townships in the county, free of charge. About six hundred dollars worth of books are annually added to the shelves of the library, the remainder of the tax levy going toward maintaining the library. There were on hand March i, 1915, two thousand three hundred and ninety-seven books and fifteen regular periodicals, besides various local newspapers. One-third of the books are designed for the iu\ enile patrons and two-thirds for adults.

The present library officers are: John C. Shirk, president; Mrs. M. P. Hubbard, secretary; :Mrs. S. S. Harrell, Frank Geis, William H. Senour, Louis Fedennann, Harry Stoop and Frank Deutsch, board of trustees. The librarian is Mrs. ]\Iaye Charni, who has served ever since the opening of the library in 191 2. The library is well patronized and much appreciated by old and young of the township. It stands as another monument to the good sense of the community as well as a lasting memorial to Mr. Carnegie.

Cemeteries Of The City

Nothing speaks better for a community than to know that it cares well and tenderly for its departed dead. While it is true that some of the pioneer burying grounds in this vicinity were anything but inviting spots and have long since been almost forgotten and sadly neglected, those of modern years show due care and excellent taste in the manner in which they are kept.

According to an article written and vouched for by John C. Campbell in 191 1, the first white person laid away to rest in Brookville soil was under the following circumstances: About 1804 two families, named Marshall and Henry, immigrants from Pennsylvania en route to the neighborhood of Connersville, arrived as far as the present site of Brookville, when the elder Marshall, the father-in-law of Mrs. Sarah Marshall, was taken ill and was unable to proceed farther. He was cared for as best they could care for one without proper remedies, but he died. The Indians w^ho then occupied the valley had a buiying ground on the bluff where the park is now situated. along the Fairfield avenue, where later the Younts and Bogart residences \vere built. The Indians gave permission to bury Mr. Marshall there, and stated to the sorrowing pilgrims that "this is the first pale face ever buried in this neighborhood." The travelers continued on to the north and settled near Columbia.

The next cemetery was situated at the corner of Tenth and ^^ill streets, and in its center stands the old hrick church erected by the Methodist people in 1822, and now occupied by the Lutherans. It is said that the first burial there was WiUiam H., the two-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan Colescctt. This cemetery has been well tilled with graves of several generations, many of the head-stones and tomljs antedating the twenties.

The next Protestant cemetery was the present one. which is situated on the west side of the West fork of White Water river, about a half mile from the city. The land from which it was platted originally belonged to the last Franklin County Agricultural Society, which went down in 1880, and soon thereafter the Odd Fellows of Brookville purchased it and platted it into a cemetery. The lodge managed it for a time, when it was transferred to the present Maple Grove Cemetery Association. At present the records show that s(3mething over twelve hundred bodies ha\e been buried in this sacred enclosure. The first to be laid to rest there was Mrs. Allison Cummins, nee Angeline W'oodworth, June 10, 1883. This is a well-kept cemetery, having most of the modern im])rovements and is cared for by a competent sexton, who spares no time and pains to make it attractive at all seasons of the year. Here one sees numerous costly and tastilv-designed monuments. Recently, an addition has been made to the grounds to the southward, making in all about six acres to be used exclusivelv for burial purposes. The present sexton, W'illiam Rockwell, has been in charge ever since the grounds were opened, thirty-two years ago. Frank X. Seibert is the present secretary and has the records of the association in detail.

Of the Catholic cemeteries, it should be said that the first was on grounds where now stands the Catholic church, the land for which was deeded to the bishop of that church on January 23, 1845, ^'""J- according to an earlv writer, a Mr. Bauer was the first to be buried there, the date being either 1S47 or 1848.

The first section of the present Catholic cemeter\-, Iving in the extreme northeast part of the city, was deeded to the church on June 10. 1860, while other parts were deeded on January 19, 191 1, and Januarv 15. 191;. It is believed the first to be buried within this hallowed ground was Annie, infant' daughter of William and Catherine Hart, August 13. 1869. The recent improvements in this cemetery show much good taste and the place is robbed of much of the gloom that usually characterizes such places.

There were possibly two other family burying grounds here at a verv early date, in which a few of the pioneer citizens were buried. The records of the present-day cemeteries, both Catholic and Protestant, are kept in ex- cellent shape, so that, years hence, names, (kites anrl loeati<>ns of Lodies can readily be ascertained, as well as the birth and death dates and the disease of which the departed died.

From August 31 to Se[)tenil)er 6, 1908, occurred the great hume-coming centennial celel^ration at Brc^^kville, the city then having reached its hundredth year's history. The opening day was announced in the afternoon hours by the shrill blowing of whistles and clanging of many bells. The week was full of interesting programs, including "Governor's Day," "Woman's Da}-," "Reminiscence T)ay." "I'armer's Day," and "Centennial Services" at the Methodist Episcopal church, on the Sabbath. There was a large attendance from all i)arts of the county and other far distant states, including si)eakers as follows: Hons. J. Frank Hanly, Thomas R. Marshall, John W. Kern, S. \V. Haynes, candidate for governor on the Prohibition ticket, and many others of less renown.

This was a week long to be remembered by the citizens present, and their children and children's children will read of the occasion with interest and delight.

Shortly after twehe o'clock, Friday night. September 14. 1901, the bells of Brookville commenced tolling, in consefjuence of the intelligence having been received that President William McKinley had died at r)ufTalo, New York, as a result of the shots fired at him by his dastardly assassin. Early the next day Hags were displayed at half mast, many of them heavily draped in black crepe. The most of the business houses in town were closed and all seemed at a standstill. Handbills were printed and freely circulated Saturday morning, announcing a joint memorial service at the ^tlethodist Episcopal church, Sunday evening. The church was full to overflowing, many not gaining an entrance. Short, pathetic addresses were made by Messrs. J. C. Carnes, F. S. Swift, C. F. Jones, J. B. Kidney, Ed. O'Hair and Alexander McMillan.

The Flood Of 1898

Up to 1898, the greatest flood at Brookville and the White Water valley in general, was the one of March 22, that year, .\fter many days of hard raining, the climax came on- that night, when bells rang out loudly and the

Steam whistles blew witli a very alarmiiifj sound. The citizens were soon out to sec what was wroni:; at the river. The mad waters of the East fork were raging in fearful Inrrcnts in tlic valley section of the town. Fifty families were ohli,t,a*d to abandon their homes and seek safety on higher lands among their friends. Rescues were effected by means of l>oats, wagons, buggies and on horseback. The only available lights were those from flickering lanterns, from one in the morning till daylight. The west end of Whitcomb bridge was weakened, letting it down to the water's edge. The next day many came as sight-seercrs from the surrounding country. The Brookville canning factory was destroyed by this flood. The Standard Oil Company's tanks were floated from off their foundations and swept some distance. The public schools were dismissed, on account of the great excitement and disorder in the town - all wanting to see the flooded districts. There were two men drowned, Philip Schuh and Bert Osgood.

Great Flood Of March 25, I913

The flood of March 25, 1913, was the greatest in volume of water, destruction of property and loss of life, of any that has ever visited this part of the White Water valley. Hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of property was destroyed and fifteen lives lost. Six hundred people in Brookville were rendered homeless and scores of dwellings swept away and torn to pieces. This flood was the result of many days' rain, and every rivulet and creek in the valley was a roaring torrent, which went sweeping down the two branches of the White Water river. The heaviest blow was sustained at Brookville, where the two streams unite. Both valleys - that of East fork and West fork - were submerged in many feet of water. At the depot and paper mills the water was fully twenty feet above the tracks.

The earliest intimation of danger was soon after midnight on Monday and about tAvo o'clock A. ]\I. the scenes in Brookville were beyond description. The electric light plant was under water and all lights were put out, so that lanterns had to be brought into use by the hundreds of people who had been startled by the shrill steam whistles and the clanging of church bells. People in the flats were warned and as fast as possible conveyed to safe places, while their property was swept away and lost forever. When daylight came the scene was one of desolation. The only land to be seen in all the valley part of town was a narrow strip from the Christian church to the old bank building. Men and w^omen were seen perched on house-tops, waving distress signals from windows and clinging to wreckage.

The water continued to ri.^e until it reached its chmax on Tuesday morning at nine o'clock, when it reached a point ten feet higher than any previous flood record.

The work of rescue went forward all day under a heavy down-pour of rain, and some had not been rescued when nightfall came on. A relief committee was appointed and went to work at once. A kitchen was set up in the basement of the town hall, where food was served.

Reports soon came in and confirmed what had been rumored earlier - that the greatest loss to property in the county was its bridges. The railroad bridges at Laurel and Brookville, the one over Salt creek, the one over Duck creek, at Metamora, the paper mill bridge at Brookville, the old Stringer Ford bridge, the "Old White bridge," and the new concrete bridge. Also the bridge at Xew Trenton, and those over the White Water and Big Cedar rivers in the southern portion of the county were swept from their abutments.

After the flood had gone down and the survey could be carefully made, it was found the loss to be much greater than at first believed. The loss sustained by the railroad company, the paper mills and other local factories and mills in Brookville was great. The farmers in the county also came in for their share of loss, in way of washed-away fences, barns, outbuildings, grain, hay and stock.

The list of dead and missing was as follows : John A. Fries. Mrs. J. A. Fries, John Fries, Jr., Paul Fries. ^Margaret Fries. Hedwig Seiwert, Mrs. Margaret Bunz, 'Sirs. Sophia Buckingham, Isaac Osgood, Mrs. Margaret Fries, Alargaret Colebank, ];Irs. Elizabeth Seiwert, John Stearns, John Schuster, John Houston (Xew Trenton).

This was the county's greatest calamity. The many homes broken up, the furniture, clothing, money and rare keepsakes of so many scores of families dwelling on the lower portions of Brookville were all swept away and the pretty gardens and comfortable homes of a happy, contented populous section, in one short night were ruined and the hearts of the men and women to whom they belonged were all but broken. Now. after two years, the traces of this awful flood are still to be seen.

Perhaps the saddest incident connected with this flood was the drowning of the entire John A. Fries family and the inmates of Mr. Fries' mother's home, which stood close by her son's, both being in Stavetown. on the flats to the south of the town. This is the old brick and tile district, where for so many years these families had lived in two old land-marks, both of which were swept away. The hours at which these houses were washed awav is not known, but sometime after midnight. In these two homes all eight of the occupants were drowned, including nicniljcrs of three ^fenerations - the grandmother, eighty years old, the son, and the granddaughter, Margaret, a prattling babe of six months. The funerals were held at St. Michael's Catholic church on M(jnday following the tlfjod. All business places were closed during this sad ceremony. I'our hearses conveyed the remains to the Catholic cemetery. The body of grandmother Furies was never immd.

The report of the relief committee shows the following facts: The Hood of March 25, 1913, affected residences in the town of lirookville which furnislied homes for eight hundred and seventy people, or two-fifths of all in the town. Fifteen lives were lost, all bodies but one being recovered. Eleven residences were washed away or totally wrecked. Twenty-four other residences were badly damaged. A large number of outbuildings, hen houses, barns, storage houses, smoke-houses, etc., were washed away or totally ruined. Ninety-eight of such Ijuildings were subsequently restored to their original places and repaired.

The state of Indiana, under Governor Ralston, gave assistance in the amount of five thousand dollars in cash and five hundred dollars in supplies sent. The relief committee in their report, which is published in a beautiful booklet form, profusely illustrated, gives due credit to many of the noble citizens who ' rendered personal service in rescuing the lives of their neighbors, special mention being made (jf I. X. McCarty, Charles F. Winscott, Dr. C. E. Case. Aloysius Seibel. Harry Chambers, Joseph Strunk, Thomas Feltz, and Jacob Helmer, who all risketl their lives and by their skilful manipulation of the boats which were hastily constructed for their use, effected the rescue of those marooned in their homes. Father Schaff and Rev. F. L. Priest, with scores of others, are specially named. There was a total of $39,906.16 subscribed and paid through the relief committee. Of this large amount. $19,550 was furnished by the .American Red Cross Society; $5,500 by the Indiana relief fund; eight $500 donations were given; seventeen hundred-dollar subscriptions : and others ranging from one hundred down to one dollar. This is a record of which the state, county and Brookville should be proud.

This company was organized }k[arch 16, 1900, with the following officers: John S ]\{artin. president : Clem Conn, vice-president : John C. Shirk, secretary-treasurer. These officials, with the addition of L. J. Wilson. \\'. J. Templeton, S. S. Harrell and Edward Goff, constituted the first board of