Lawrenceburg Township

Lawrenceburg Township

Capt. Samuel C. Vance, a soldier under Washington, an aid to Gen. Anthony Wayne and by marriage a grandson to Gen. Arthur St. Clair, being familiar with the nature of the ground at' all the prominent points along the Ohio river in the Wayne Purchase, conceived the idea that the location just below the mouth of the Great Miami called for the site of a city. On July 23, 1801, shortly after the land office at Cincinnati was opened, he entered the land on which the city of Lawrenceburg is located; which is fractional sections 13 and 14 and section 15 in congressional township 5, range 1 west of the Miami river.

In April, 1802, bringing James Hamilton and Benjamin Chambers with him, he came down from Cincinnati and proceeded to survey and plat the town site of the city of Lawrenceburg. The plat comprised one hundred and ninety-six lots and lies facing the Ohio river, which runs in a southwesterly course at that place. The streets on that account parallel the river and run northeast and southwest, while the cross streets run northwest and southeast. The town site was bounded on the northeast by Elm street and on the southwest by Mulberry street, to the northwest by Partition lane, since about 1882 called Center street, and on the southeast by the Ohio river.

The town site was originally on a rather level bottom with one or two sloughs or indentations where during the spring months water would stand. At the time it was laid out, it was thought to be above floods from the Ohio river. The years have, however, shown the citizens of this fair city that the Ohio, when it reaches high flood, inundates every foot of the original plat.

In addition to the tract of land on which the town site was laid out, Cap¬ tain Vance entered fractional section 13 and section 15, but it was said that he was unable to pay for them, so on December 3 of the same year Benjamin Chambers re-entered the three tracts and received the patents for them. On the river front the plat called for a street called Front between which and the river there was at one time a common. Vance provided for a public square which is the present site of the court house. A cemetery was provided just outside the town at the foot of High street.

erected the first house in the autumn of the same year, 1802. Vance having great confidence in the future of the place reserved for himself the very desirable location for a residence where the Tousey house is now located,, and here he made his home until his death years later. Early additions were made to the infant city as desirable lands were called for, for building purposes. Captain Vance married a granddaughter of Gen. Arthur St. Clair, a lady by the name of Lawrence, and he gave the newly platted location the name of Lawrenceburg, after the family name of his wife.

Like the western country generally at that time the infant town grew very slowly. In the year 1806 it is said that the principal buildings were the ferry house, on the bank of the river above Walnut street, and a warehouse below Walnut street. The residences were those of Benjamin Chambers and Gen. James Dill on the bank of the river. James Hamilton and Michael Jones lived on the alley by the Fitch livery and undertaking establishment. New street at that time went by the name of Second street and on it lived Dr. Jabez Percival, Jesse B. Thomas, Captain Vance and Elijah Sparks. Below Maple street, on High, lived Rev. Baldridge. William Cook was jailer and the jail was a log building on the public square. On the northeast corner of Vine and High streets lived James Foster, who was a chair manufacturer. John Gray kept a store on the corner of Short and High streets and Jacob Horner a tavern in a log house on the corner where the Grand Hotel now stands. On the Parry corner William Morgan lived, and on the opposite corner where the Gordon store now is he carried on a blacksmith shop. Judge Isaac Dunn lived on the comer of Elm and High streets near where he died in 1866. The houses were then, six years after the town had been laid out, built almost altogether of logs. A newcomer would land at the river front, locate a lot and in a few days have a log hut erected, where in a short time he would be found confortably at home. Buckeye was very plentiful, and it is claimed that on account of the ease with which it was cut with the axe most of the houses were erected out of this material. If this was true it would only be a few years until they would decay, for this timber was short-lived. If cut in the spring they would sprout and the first summer would make quite a pictur¬ esque appearance.

Jabez Percival was the first doctor to serve the sick in the new town and Jesse B. Thomas, Elijah Sparks, James Noble and Michael Jones were the first attorneys. The first school house was built on the public square, and the early teachers were Rev. Baldridge and a Mr. Fulton. The courts of that day were held ill the house of William Morgan, on the Parry corner, and were presided over by Benjamin Parke, district judge, who lived at Vincennes. Benjamin Chambers was the associate judge, Samuel C. Vance, cleric of the court, and David Lamphere, sheriff.

Some Early Citizens

The Dearborn county history says that the principal citizens of the town in the year .1813 were: Samuel C. Vance, Benjamin Chambers, James Dill, Stephen Ludlow, Isaac Dunn, Benjamin Piatt, Dr. Jabez Percival, Jacob Horner, hotel proprietor; John Homer, blacksmith ; Walter Armstrong, inn¬ keeper; Samuel Fancher, constable; Timothy Davis, James McLeaster, shoe¬ maker; Charles Lee Brashear, hatter; William Cook, jailor; Mr. Kimball, wheelwright; John Cox, William Chamberlain, horse mill proprietor; Dr. Ezra Ferris, Chambers Foster, Zenas Hill, school teacher; Mr. Shaw, Mr. Thombury, James Hamilton, William Caldwell, justice of the peace; and David Gerard. At that time there were two brick houses, one of stone and five frame houses. Samuel C. Vance, Benjamin Chambers, James Dill, Stephen Ludlow and Isaac Dunn were the owners of frame houses. The court house, which burned in March, 1826, was built in 1810. Dr. Percival had a brick house on the comer of New and Vine streets back of the present Methodist Episcopal church. It was tom down about thirty years ago. Of the young men prominent at that time Walter Hayes, Andrew Morgan, Davis and John Weaver and Samuel H. Dowden are all that can be recalled in the reminiscences of Samuel Morrison.

In Daniel Drake's picture of Cincinnati and the Miami country, published in 1815, it is stated "Lawrenceburg, having occasionally suffered inundation, has grown but little, and a new village called Edinboro has been lately laid out on higher ground, about one-half mile from the river, but it is not a place of much promise. The inhabitants of the counties of Dearborn, Franklin and Wayne received their supplies of foreign goods almost exclusively from Cincinnati, but little mercantile capital being employed at Lawrenceburg, and there being on the Miami no depot of merchandise for the region." Two years later, 1817, the author of an emigrant's directory says, "In traveling seven miles through the woods of Dearborn county I counted two bears, three deer and upwards of one hundred turkeys. In the course of the day I missed my way and wandered several miles in the wilderness."

Real estate, about the time of the War of 1812. was not moving very rapidly. Neither was it bringing very high prices. May 5. 1812, Samuel C.

Vance sold to William Remy lot 84, on the corner of Mary and William, just opposite the Baltimore & Ohio depot for $50. January 3, 1811, Samuel C. Vance sold to Stephen Ludlow for the sum of $300, lots 161, 162, 163 and 164. These are the lots on the south side of;High street between Short and Elm - the Fitch comer to the residence of Clarence Hunter. March 5, 1812, Samuel C. Vance sold to Stephen Ludlow for the sum of $100, lot 43 in the original plat, which is the lot which the residence of George Volkert and the office of Givan & Givan now occupy. January 4, 1811, Samuel C. Vance sold to Stephen Ludlow for the sum of $200, ten acres just above and join¬ ing Elm street and extending to the river. March 14, 1810, Samuel'C. Vance sold to Stephen Ludlow f<3r $10, lot 1, at the foot of Walnut street, on the west side. The Big Four occupies the ground at present. June 29, 1812, Samuel McHenry, of Hamilton county, Ohio, sold to Stephen Ludlow for $200, lots 41 and 42, which are the lots on the comer of Walnut and High, from Walnut street to the alley, known as the Parry comer and extending tc the alley at John F. Homberger's. McHenry purchased the lots in 1810 from Thomas O'Brien at sheriff's sale. June 6, 1813, Jonathan W. Lyon sold to Stephen Ludlow lots 167 and 168 for the sum of $150. These are the lots extending from Stockman's comer to the alley at W. S. Fagaly's. October 10, 1808, Samuel C. Vance sold to James Smith, Jr., & Sons, of Philadelphia, to satisfy a claim the parties had against him, four hundred and forty-nine and one-half acres in section 15, and thirty-nine acres just east of the cor¬ poration. It was sold for the sum of $4,339. Zebulon Pike and James Findlay were appointed commissioners to view the personal property and they allowed Vance the corn that was grown on the property that year. February 1, 1811, Samuel C. Vance sold to James Hamilton for the sum of $150, lots 71 and 72 of the original plat, being lots on William street between Vine and the Baltimore & Ohio depot, where George H. Wood resides, to the alley.

Stephen Ludlow seemed to be the principal purchaser of real estate about Lawrenceburg at that time. There was little business going on and no demand for produce. August 4, 1815, Jesse Hunt, of Cincinnati, sold to Stephen Ludlow, four hundred and forty and one-half acres adjoining Law¬ renceburg, it being the Ludlow grounds just north of the corporation, much of it still belonging to Mr. Ludlow's son, Omar T. Ludlow.

As it became evident, in the year 1815, that the war was not going to be carried into the Ohio Valley, real estate commenced slowly to improve in price and the demand grew proportionately: January 4, 1820, James McLeas- ter sold the lot where the Carnegie library now stands, being the west half of lot 47, for $500. Farm lands about Dearborn county began to sell on account of emigrants pouring in from the East and transfers of real estate were plentiful.

A number of substantial buildings were erected about this time. Among the principal business people of the town in the period from 1815 to 1820 were David P. Shook & Company. Samuel C. Vance, John Gray. John H. and Benjamin Piatt, David Guard. Isaac Dunn, John Eads & Company, Will¬ iam Pvne, Stephen Ludlow, John Gibson. Israel J. Canby, Andrew Morgan. Frederic Lucas, James W. Weaver, David Rees, William Ewing, Joseph H. Coburen, Jacob Brashear, Collins Fitch. Ephraim Hollister, James Hallowell, Harris Fitch, Jesse Hunt, William Tate. Benjamin Stockman. Walter Armstrong, Thomas Shaw, John Bates, Noah Noble & Company, Mary Brooks, milliner; Jared Evans, justice of the peace; and David Bruner, barber.

Stringent Boat Regulations

In 1817 it is claimed that a paper was published by a man named Brown. The Dearborn county history telling of those times says. "Dennis Duskev ran a trading boat from here to Cincinnati, leaving even' Monday morning." Duskev was a peculiar character and the history narrates. "Evenattention was given to goods committed to his care, and every accommodation possible afforded to passengers. There was no bar on this boat, and smoking was positively forbidden, and the first person caught playing cards was at once set ashore." It continued facetiously to say, "The captain reserved the right to indulge in profanity whenever the occasion required it." It was probably a keel boat.

This first paper published in Dearborn county was published by B. Brown and was called the Dearborn Gazette. The office was located in a building on the west side of the alley where the residence of Edward Hayes now stands. The motto of the paper was "Equal and exact justice." During Mr. Brown's editorial career the following incident occurred. Mr. John Jackson was the mail carrier. His route was from Cincinnati to Madison. He lived at Georgetown and made Lawrenceburg a way station and would bring the mail matter, tied in his red cotton handerchief, from Cincinnati and George¬ town. Brown took him to task for his seeming carlessness, which irritated the courageous carrier, who was a man of great physical strength, and as brave as he was powerful, and he determined to chastise the impertinent editor. Brown was a small man, but did not lack courage. When Jackson entered the office to inflict the punishment he was engaged busily with his ink balls in hand, printing his paper, and as soon as Jackson had come within striking distance, Brown struck him in the eye with the ink balls and suc¬ ceeded in making a "good impression." Jackson was so astonished at the mode of defense and the weapons used by the Yankee printer, that he retired from the contest blinded and blackened, proclaiming he could whip his weight in "wild cats" but always preferred to pass by the small odoriferous animal whose defense was more effectual than a Chinese stink pot.

During the period from 1815 to 1820. a bank was organized under the name of the Farmers and Mechanics Bank. Isaac Dunn was its president and Thomas Porter, father of ex-govemor Porter, its cashier. This bank, it is claimed with good authority, did business on the north side of High street next door to the former residence of W. D. H. Hunter, now the residence of Louis Schusterman. Its board of directors elected at the annual election, January 3, 1820, was Isaac Dunn. Ezra Ferris. Isaac Morgan. Walter Arm¬ strong. John Weaver, David Guard, Lazarus Noble, Stephen Ludlow, Levi Miller, Moses Schott, George Weaver, Samuel Bond and Amos Lane.

The town seemed to have its quota of physicians, for records show that at least seven practiced upon the woes of the people to relieve their suffer¬ ings. The list obtainable is Dr. Jabez Percival, Dr. John S. Percival. Dr. Ezra Ferris. Dr. Marmaduke E. Ferris. Doctor Finch, Dr. Abraham Brower and Doctor Easton. If there were any disputes to be settled by law there was no difficulty in finding an attorney to present the matter to court, for a list of twelve attorneys of more or less ability is given as follow: James Dill. Jesse B. Thomas, Elijah Sparks, Thomas Wardell, John Lawrence. Amos Lane, James Noble, Jesse L. Holman, Stephen C. Stephens. William Hen¬ dricks, Daniel J. Caswell. Moses Hitchcock, Isaac S. Brower and George H. Dunn. Some of these, however, only practiced here and resided in other county seats. The system in vogue at that time was a circuit court of a num¬ ber of counties and attorneys would ride from one county seat to another to get their practice, often riding in the course following the circuit, hundreds of miles.

Prices of merchandise were different from now. On some things for which we now pay a stiff price, at that time the price was ridiculously low, while other things were very high. Muslin was seventy-five cents a yard. Calico at sixty-five cents a yard would now be thought too high to wear. Indigo was four dollars per pound. Coffee at seventy-five cents per pound made it a great luxury. Tea was two dollars and fifty cents per pound ; salt four dollars and fifty cents per barrel ; flour five dollars per hundred ; potatoes fifteen cents per bushel; com fifteen cents per bushel; pork one dollar and fifty cents per hundred; eggs six and one-fourth cents per dozen; butter twelve and one-half cents per pound.

George Weaver ran a saw-mill in Newtown by horse power or oxen. It is probable that not many hundred feet were sawed in a day. The hotel at the comer of Walnut and High streets was partly built at that time. It is prob¬ able that the residence of Louis Schustermann, owned by Mrs. Conrad Stumpf, is the oldest house in the city and the comer part of the Grand Hotel is the next oldest.

Jesse Hunt built the hotel and Benjamin Stockman was the brick mason. This hotel building lays claim to being the oldest three-story brick building erected in the state.

First Sunday School Organization

Lawrenceburg was, if anything, more of a religious town then than it is now. January 6, 1820, the ladies of the town met at the house of David Guard, when they proceeded to organize a Sunday school society. Mrs. Frances Dunn was chosen chairman and Polly Lane, secretary. The com¬ mittee on constitution and by-laws was Miss Elizabeth Brewer, Miss Mary Brooks and Mrs. Elizabeth Percival. Those appointed to have charge were Mrs. Elizabeth Percival, Mrs. Frances Dunn, Mrs. Polly Lane, Mrs. Rebecca Wright, Mrs. Elizabeth Rice, Mrs. Elizabeth Brower, Mrs. Ann Eads and Mrs. Huldah Gardner. Class teacher? were Mrs. Mercy Porter, Miss Mary Brooks, Miss Elizabeth Brower, Miss Mary Ann Brower, Miss Lucretia Earl and Miss Electa Wright. Mrs. Beulah Guard was elected treasurer and Miss Elizabeth Brower secretary.

The men of. the town, not to be outdone in well doing, met on the 24th of December, 1819. It seems that the men were the first to see the necessity for religious instruction, for their meeting was about two weeks earlier than that of the women of the town. At the men's meeting to organize a Sunday school society, Dr. Jabez Percival was made president and George H. Dunn, secretary, David P. Shook, treasurer; and Dr. Ezra Ferris and Dr. Abram Brower, superintendents.

Literary matters too were not neglected and the town, even that far back in its history, was the possessor of a public library. It is recorded that during the winter of 1820 the directors of the Lawrenceburg Library Company were John Porter, John Weaver, Joseph H. Cobum, Isaac S. Brower, Jabez Percival, Janies Dill and George H. Dunn.

The infant city felt some hope of future prosperity, for the town council that same year assumed an indebtedness of three thousand five hundred dollars for the purpose of digging public wells and filling High street Some of the dug wells now in existence date their existence back to the year 1820. High street, in the business portion, has had little filling since that time. The coun¬ try west of Lawrenceburg commenced to fill up so rapidly during the period following the peace with Great Britain that Lawrenceburg became a town of first importance in the state. Emigrants began to swarm in to the "New Pur¬ chase," as the Grouseland purchase from the Indians was then called. These settlers commenced to raise a surplus of produce and Lawrenceburg was the nearest town where money could be obtained for it The Lawrenceburg mer¬ chants at that time were very enterprising and an extensive trade was main¬ tained with New Orleans and the country along the lower Mississippi. Flat¬ boating, which had ever since the first settlers came, been the best method of transporting the products to market, commenced to be an important factor in the commercial life of the town. Hay boats, cattle boats and boats of every description and kind could be seen at the Lawrenceburg wliarf. The New Orleans market governed the prices of all kinds of farm products. As the settlements extended farther and farther in the wilderness of central Indiana the amount of farm products received and shipped south via. the flatboat route increased. River men were in evidence in the town everywhere.

The New Orleans Trade

Almost every dealer in merchandise of any description carried on a trade with the South. Hogs and cattle, hay, com, potatoes, apples, poultry, in fact every conceivable product of the country, brought a ready market on the lower Mississippi. This brisk trade was much encouraged by the advent of steamboats. Formerly the return journey was made overland, via the Natchez trail, Nashville and Louisville, from New Orleans, and few cared to undertake it. John Callahan, Walter, Joseph and Jacob Hayes were some of the hardy boatmen and traders who were ready in those pioneer days to undergo the hardships and dangers of such a trip. The boatmen would, after selling out their cargo, purchase a horse and start out, generally with what money they received for their produce on their person. Desperate characters were plenti- ful along the route, who would commit most any kind of a deed in order to secure the hard earned earnings. In order to prevent such outlaws from rob¬ bing them the boatmen, if possible, came home in squads of eight or ten rand were amply ready to take care of themselves.

The produce was brought in wagons, or if live stock was driven in, and the town in these brisk commercial days presented a lively appearance. It is probable that from a commercial standpoint the volume of country business far exceeded what it is today. This brisk commercial prosperity brought here many noted characters, men of strong intellects and broad minds. Keen business men and bright active men of affairs were here, brought from all quarters of the East on account of the great volume of business caused by the opening of the new country. Some of them were merely birds of passage staying only a few weeks, others remained for some years; but the majority in time moved on to find other and more promising fields, for their abilities.

It is probable that if the city had been laid out on ground not subject to overflow, that the period between 1815 and 1820 would have been the starting point for a large city. It was the natural outlet for all the country northwest for many miles, before the railways were built; but the overflow and the poor roads in time gave other river towns a chance to compete and divide the business.

Among the characters that the influx of population and trade brought into the growing town was a man by the name of Brown. The early "Deartom County History" thus tells of him : "There were many noted characters here in the zenith of the town's commercial prosperity, many whose names have come down to us, brilliant with the memory of their many good deeds and acts, and whose reputation was co-extensive with their young and rising state, and who did much with laying the solid foundations upon which we have builded, while there were some, as in this day, noted for their dark and infamous deeds; of the latter class we will mention one, Daniel Brown, and there are quite a number of our elder citizens living today who will remembei him well. He is said to have been one of the most powerful men of his time, nearly six feet in height, straight as an arrow, and very active, at all times appearing in a smiling mood, subtle and courageous as a lion. He was an active business man and a member of the county board of supervisors. He kept a store on High street in a building situated about where John Roehm's store is now. He traded on the river in addition to his business at the store, as most business men of the town did in those days. He was a noted counter¬ feiter and gambler and in one of his trips south he got into difficulty with gamblers at a noted place known in those days to all river travelers as 'Natchez Under the Hill' and killed one of them. He succeeded in making his escape and proceeded to New Orleans, where he at once entered largely on counter¬ feiting, and was very successful, and it was some time before he was detected. He was placed in jail with others of the gang and some reports said he died, while others claimed he succeeded in making his escape. Be that as it may he was never heard of by citizens of Lawrenceburg after that time."

In the period from 1820 to 1830 the town continued to prosper and small fortunes were made by the active business men of the period. Captain Vance completed what is now known as the Tousey house during that period. Other houses that are yet in existence were erected. Business began to take on a more permanent character. Flatboating increased. Sugar, molasses, rice and other products of the Louisiana country were brought up on the steamboats that now began to ply between the upper Ohio ports and the lower Mississippi, and these were exchanged for the foodstuffs of this country.

List Of Goods Exported

To give an idea of what the volume of business was in those days we quote from an article in the "Dearborn County History" from the pen of a Mr. John Scott: "Some idea of the commercial and growing importance of this town and the country adjacent can be formed by the following statement of pro¬ duce shipped at the river for the Missippippi and lower country market, from the 1st of January, to the 1st of May, 1826, four months. In giving this statement we have confined ourselves almost exclusively to the produce of the neighborhood of the town, not having it in our power to give the whole amount of produce exported from the county, which would, it is believed, swell the sum to $80,000 or $100,000.

"The writer said he made no mention of small articles, such as oats, hooppoles, flax seed, etc., etc., which he thought would run up to $6,000.00 or $7,000.00 additional. He also informed us that it required twenty flatboats to carry this freight at a cost of at least $100.00 per boat. He placed the population of Lawrenceburg at that time at 700. It had 150 handsome brick and frame residences, nine stores, five taverns, six lawyers and three phy¬ sicians, with a number of mechanics of various professions. There was, he said, a storehouse of five stories which was considered the best between Cin¬ cinnati and the Falls, there is also an extensive silk-lace factory established in the town that supplies a large district of country with the article and the only one of the kind west of the mountains. Also a printing office and a Masonic lodge."

Floods Regarded As Beneficial

In 1828 a description of Lawrenceburg published in a current geography of the time was as follows : "It stands on the north bank of the Ohio twentythree miles below Cincinnati and two miles below the Big Miami, which is the eastern limit of the state. This town is in the center of a rich and deep bottom. The ancient village was built on the first bottom, which was fre¬ quently exposed to inundation. It is not uncommon for the water to rise four or five feet above the foundations of the houses and stores, in which case the inhabitants remove to the upper story, and drive their domestic animals to the hills. Visits and tea parties are projected in the # inundated town, and the vehicles of transport are skiffs and pirogues. The period of flood, from ancient custom, and from the suspension of all of the. customary pursuits, has become a time of carnival. The floods, instead of creating dis- ease, wash the surface of the earth, carry off vegetable and animal matter that would otherwise putrify, and are supposed to be rather conducive to health than otherwise. The old town built on the first bank has been station¬ ary for many years. New Lawrenceburg has: been recently built on the second bank and on elevated ground, formed by the bank of Tanners Creek. Since the commencement of this town, few places have made more rapid progress. Many of the new houses are handsome, and some of them make a splendid show from the river. Its position in relation to the river and the rich adjacent country and the Big Miami is highly eligible. It has a number of commencing factories and promises to be a large town."

In March, 1826, the court house burned and all the records up to that date were destroyed. It was during the freshet of that year and the water was several feet in depth around the building. It was so cold that the next morning after the fire, ice was frozen all around the ruins. It was thought to have been the work of an incendiary.

The people of Lawrenceburg were not lacking in patriotism in those early days. The Fourth of July was the favorite time for holding celebra¬ tions, in which twisting the tail of the British Lion was the favorite pastime. It was only a few years since the War of 1812 and it had not been forgotten. Many of the public men of the time had either been active participants in the struggle, or had taken part in the St. Clair and Wayne campaigns and were imbued with much bad feeling against the conduct of the British in their deal¬ ings with the Indians during those campaigns. Captain Vance, General Dill and many other of the leading citizens were bitter against the British and whenever occasion offered never forgot to deal in severe terms with our cousins over the water. Many of the people were either Revolutionary soldiers or sons of soldiers of that struggle, and patriotism was rampant on such occasions as the Fourth of July or the 22nd of February. July 4, 1825, a celebration was held jn which "Major Longley was marshal; Major Spencer, assistant. The procession proceeded to the Methodist church. The Declara¬ tion of Independence was read by Captain Vance, an oration by George H. Dunn, after which the procession proceeded to the hotel of John Gray, where a dinner was had. After the. ladies had retired, the patriotic old gentlemen proceeded to drink twenty-four toasts, and acquitted themselves heroically, as they did every task imposed, and with unfaltering courage never shrank from any undertaking, and the record of that day no doubt did no discredit to their valor. With patriotism swelling in every bosom, they closed the scene amidst many cheers ; in response to the following toast : 'O. H. Perry, the Hero of Lake Erie.' (16)

The Indiana Palladium of December 9, 1826, published a report of the county treasurer showing that the volume of business done by the county at that time was nothing like that of the present day. It says : "The following is an account of the expenditures of the county of Dearborn from the date of the former exhibit, believed to be the 7th of November, 1825, until the 8th of November, 1826, inclusive ; together with an account of the amount of the county debt at that time, with the receipts of the present year, showing the situation of the county debt at this time :

One peculiar advertisement is found in this issue of the Palladium r.s follows : "Adverse scenes in domestic life and the cruel interference of others in my family circle, compels me publicly to state that the woman who is by law my wife, has been, induced to leave my family. Although I can not con¬ sent hereafter to be responsible for her contracts, it is far from my feelings to wage war with women, or add a stain to the reputation of her with whom I have lived with affection. A serpent hath beguiled my Eve; a worm con¬ temptible in its native dust has prevailed to corrode a flower which I once deemed fair for domestic bliss."

Hard Times

In the decade from 1830 to 1840 Lawrenceburg suffered from the great flood of 1832 and from the nation-wide financial depression of 1837 to 1839. But the prosperity of the town was only checked, not stopped. Buildings were erected on every hand. The row of buildings from Short to Elm on the south side of High street were all built during this period. Much of what is called Germantown was built at that time and many of the business houses and the private residences were erected during that time. Schools commenced to flourish and the town took on more of a permanent appearance.

George H. Dunn commenced the promotion of the railway to Indianap¬ olis. It was first a vast dream for those early times. It was to be called the Charleston, South Carolina & Upper Mississippi railway. It was projected to be built from here to Indianapolis as a part of a great railway trunk line leading from Charleston, South Carolina, to the Ohio river at this point and thence to Indianapolis and on to Fort Snelling. Much of this was talk and dreams, but the road from here to Indianapolis took on a definite character. Many of the monied men of the town and vicinity were interested in the mat¬ ter. The road was surveyed, in various places along the route work was commenced as early as 1835. The chief engineer, a Mr. Vandegraff, died about this time and the tightening of the financial affairs of the country caused it to lapse, only to be taken up again by Mr. Dunn and carried on to success some ten or more years later. But the postponement of the undertaking meant a heavy loss to the stockholders and the business of the town.

The flood of 1832 was a record breaker and up until the flood of 1883 was looked upon as a flood that would perhaps never be paralled in the years to come. Much property was destroyed but there was little suffering among the people.

An Aid To Industry

The White Water canal was constructed during this decade and it brought some additional business to the town. Manufactories were erected and business houses. The old flour-mill at the foot of Elm street was erected at that time and the river bank at Elm street was lined with warehouses. The canal was brought down to Elm street affording considerable water power, that was made use of to run the mill. Brown & Lamping manufactured furni¬ ture on the corner of Short and William. The A. P. Hobbs distillery was built during this time. A foundry was built in Newtown by Edwin G. Pratt. John JB. Carrington was manufacturing steam engines. George H. Dunn and John Test were trying to promote a cotton factory, unsuccessfully. Much pork was packed. The New Purchase and the Big Miami bottoms brought to the town thousands of hogs that the merchants slaughtered and packed The new flour-mill, under the management of Enoch D. John, was stimulating the wheat production and the state road out through Manchester and to

Greensburg, Shelbyville and points still farther, began to be crowded with farm wagons loaded with grain for this market. Money in those days was scarce and it was claimed that at this point, where a good bank was located, made it the only point where money could be obtained for the farm products.

The following is taken from the Political Beacon of December n, 1839: ''During this period some of the business men of the town were John Ferris, druggist; Frederick Lucas, jeweler; Lewis and Hobbs, ready-made clothing E. P. Bond, M. D. ; J. F. Crider, saddlery ; William Tate & Son, lumber ; E. S. Close, druggist; John Wymond, merchant; Stephen Burr, boots and shoes; John Hunt, insurance; T. C. Thorp, tinware; Norval Sparks, merchant; James T. Brown, and Daniel S. Majors, attorneys; Warren Steele, jeweler; Dr. Ezra Ferris, William Brown, furniture; Lane & Holman, attorneys at law; George B. Sheldon, tinware; N. N. John, agent for the Rising Sun foundry; C. S. Stevenson, wholesale grocery; J. J. Mayers, bakery; D. T. Laird, ready-made clothing; E. McNealy, butcher; E. Morehouse, butcher; J. P. Ulrey, dentist; William G. Monroe, county treasurer; John Weaver, deputy treasurer; W. H. Vaughan, grocer; James A. Morgan & Company, books and stationery. M. Gregg, as treasurer, offers for sale the furniture in the office of the defunct railroad company. Cyrus and Uel Armstrong announce a dissolution of partnership in the manufacture of chairs, and the latter announces he will carry on the business."

An article in the paper is a criticism of the report of the shipments on Whitewater canal as compared with the report of shipments on the twentytwo miles of railway, just completed from Madison out to Jennings county. The editor of the Beacon was Milton Gregg. "It appears by the message of Governor Wallace that the tolls collected on the Madison railroad for the six months it has been in operation amount to $8,470, and that the tolls col¬ lected on the Whitewater canal for the same time amount to only $620, and on the Wabash and Erie canal $4,248. Now we would like to know how it happens that there is such a great disparity in the proceeds of these works. Can it be possible that there has been, within the last six months, twice the amount of goods and produce transported on the twenty-two miles of railroad which has been completed, than there has been on the entire length of the Wabash and Erie and Whitewater canals combined ? Does the poor and sparsely settled county of Jennings ship off more produce than the rich and populous valleys of the Wabash and Whitewater? We hope Mr. Lane, the vigilant chairman of the Committee on Canals and Internal Improvements, will call for a bill of particulars. Let us know the nature and the amount of the shipments which enter into the account, and whether the tolls have arisen from the legitimate business of the country, or otherwise. All may be fair in the matter, but we confess, to our imperfect vision, it looks very much like a tub thrown out to the whale."

In the same paper E. G. Brown, as master of the steamer "Indiana," announces that the boat will make regular trips between Rising Sun and Cincinnati, leaving the former place on .Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The Beacon announces that the agents of the boat line are Luke Evil at Wilmington, Daniel Bartholomew at Aurora, Craft & Lynn at Rising Sim, Lewis Mason at Hartford, Thomas Guion at Guionville, Jacob C. Egleston at Dillsboro, Mark McCracken at Manchester, William S. Ward at York Ridge. George H. Dunn and Philip Spooner announce that they are prac¬ ticing law with an office over the Lawrenceburg Insurance Company, corner of High and Short streets. J. Meyer & Company advertise that they are doing stone cutting and engraving on the corner of High and Walnut streets, opposite the Jesse Hunt Hotel. County Treasurer William G. Monroe adver¬ tises four hundred and eighty-four shares of the capital stock of the Branch of the State Bank of Indiana at Lawrenceburg, for sale on account of the non-payment of taxes.

Growth As A Trading Point

The census of 1830 gave Lawrenceburg a population of eight hundred and ninety-five: the census of 1840 found one thousand four hundred and fifty, and the town was full of enterprise and business. In 1846 the town was incorporated as a city under an act "granting the citizens of Madison and Lawrenceburg a City Charter." The first election was held at Lawrenceburg on April 6, 1846. The city grew and the census of 1850 showed a population of two thousand six hundred and fifty-one.

During the decade between 1840 and 1850 the business of the place had grown rapidly. Pikes had been constructed which added to the com¬ mercial life of the town. The broad highway leading out towards Ripley county had been macadamized as far as Manchester during this period. A stage line was operated regularly between this city and Greensburg, and from there the traveler could continue on to Indianapolis and to other points. The merchants were ready to purchase from the farmers of the interior country anything that was offered and pay for it in good money This stimulated trade and the state road was thronged with farm wagons loaded with wheat and other products for the Lawrenceburg market. These wagons would return carrying salt, sugar, molasses and many other articles needed in the household. A few years back men could be yet found as far west as Greencastle, Lebanon and Danville who had driven their teams to Lawrenceburg with wagons loaded with wheat, where it would be disposed of ; and returning would bring home articles necessary in the household economy.

This extensive business brought considerable money to the city and in¬ creased its growth and fame. Many of the houses now standing were built during this decade and perhaps the most of them in the early part of this ten years. Some of the business men who were prominent during this period were George Tousey, C. G. W. Comegys, John Gray, Craft & Company, Lemlv & Dunn, Wymond & Ferris, Hauck & Wedelstadt, J. Gysie & Com¬ pany, R. & A. Parry, L. B. Lewis, James S. Heath and John Ferris & Com¬ pany. The attorneys at that time were George H. Dunn, Amos Lane, Philip L. Spooner, John Ryman, Daniel S. Majors, Abram Brower, David Macy, W. S. Holman, James T. Brown, James H. Lane, James S. Jelley, and Theo¬ dore Gazlay. The physicians were Ezra Ferris, Jeremiah H. Brower, Elisha Morgan, Myron H. Harding, E. P. Bond, Milo Black and William Starm.

During this decade of 1840 to 1850 the Methodist Episcopal church was erected at a cost of ten thousand dollars and other improvements were made about the town. The seat of justice for the county, which in 1835 had been re¬ moved to Wilmington, was again located at Lawrenceburg. Its incorporation as a city, among the few cities of that period in the state, gave the place quite a prestige ; and the volume of business increasing with the improvement of the highways, the new era of prosperity began to take on an air of permanence, until many of the citizens were convinced that the place would be the metrop¬ olis of* the state. Its mercantile business grew with its commerce; steamboats and flatboats carried the produce of the farmers to the lower river markets. The city became a rendezvous for men following the river. The Mexican War period was during this decade and Lawrenceburg was prominent in recruiting and equipping several companies for that struggle. It furnished the officers for several companies and a number of the regimental officers besides privates and non-commissioned officers. The discovery of gold in California found many of those who had seen service in Mexico ready to go to that far-away country in search of fortunes.

During this period the flood of 1847 visited the Ohio valley, causing much loss to the people, and Lawrenceburg was inundated. However, the city recovered from it with apparently little trouble, and business was only temporarily suspended.

Coming Of The Railway

In the period from 1850 to i860 the railway came to the city. It was during that period that both the Ohio & Mississippi and the Lawrenceburg & Indianapolis railways were built. The latter was largely built by Lawrence¬ burg capital and Lawrenceburg energy. George H. Dunn, who had been the father of the earlier attempt to construct a railway, revived the project, and very early in the fifties succeeded in completing it through to Indianap¬ olis. Thus Lawrenceburg bade goodby to its stage lines, its caravans of live stock and long trains of produce. At first, with the advent of the railways, it was thought that the city would grow by leaps and bounds, and it would command the trade of the interior of the state, but before the decade ended it became evident to the far-seeing merchants and business men that the railways would be the means of building up, in a commercial way, only the centers of trade, and that the smaller towns would contribute.

Accordingly, business men who were dealing largely with the country planned to get out of business here and remove to the larger centers of trade and distribution. Year by year the country trade was cut off from the city by reason of the changes in lines of communication and business. The city has been prosperous, but its business has ceased to be largely a mercantile one, and it has gradually become a manufacturing center. The merchant of today no longer expects to deal with a customer who has spent from a day to a week on the road with his load of produce, and who in return for the money received for his produce will purchase supplies that will perhaps fill a wagon. The country trade is limited to the immediate vicinity of the city, within a radius of some ten to twenty miles, owing to the direction. People living farther out soon found a market on the railway ^nearer home and the business that had formerly come to Lawrenceburg was transferred to nearer towns.

Yet with the coming of factories and the development of the nearby country, the little city continued to show a growth and an increase in business. In 1870 the population had increased to three thousand one hundred and fifty-nine, and in 1880 to four thousand six hundred and fifty-four. During the decade from 1880 to 1890 the city suffered three disastrous floods, which caused the citizens immense loss. The water in the flood of 1884 reached a height never before known, and many of the factories and business men never fully recovered from the losses entailed. By 1890 the population of the city had increased to four thousand two hundred and eighty, and in 1900 it was four thousand three hundred and twenty-six. In 1910 the census showed a population of three thousand nine hundred and thirty. The business of the city has somewhat slackened, but still shows great vigor. The great flood of 1913 caused a loss of an incalculable amount, but the manufactories are rapidly recovering and a few years will doubtless bring the city back to its old-time vigor.

Fire Department

For many years Lawrenceburg had no fire department, depending on the vigilance and willingness of her citizens to rally to the assistance of the town when a fire occurred. *For years it was the pride of the town to be able to say that very citizen was an active member of the volunteer bucket brigade. It had been at all times vigilant and ever ready to respond when an alarm was given. The bravery and heroism of this patriotic unorganized brigade was admirable, but it was found by the great fire of July 4, 1866, when property estimated at a value of sixty thousand dollars was destroyed, and the fire on the comer of Short and High streets in the spring of 1882, that it was necessary to find more efficient means of fighting fire. Accord¬ ingly a fire department was organized and equipped with two companies and two fire engines. The companies were for years organized on a volunteer basis, with an exemption of five hundred dollars on their property for taxes. This fire department continued for thirty years and the company was dis¬ solved in 1910 and a new company organized that is alert and ready to go at a moment's notice when duty calls.

The chief of the fire department is Drewry Northern; assistant, Peter Endress. The officers of Fire Company No. 1 are : Captain, William G. A. Schneider; first lieutenant, Philip E. Jackson; second lieutenant, John M. Fichter; surgeon, Edward J. Emmert. As an organization it also has for president, Emil Kestner; vice-president, Isaac Cappel; secretary, William Kaffenberg; assistant secretary, Oliver Fowler; treasurer, Adam Vesemmeier. The officers of Fire Company No. 2 are: President, Henry M. Poollman; vice-president, Henry A. Menke; secretary, John Beinkamp; treasurer, Jacob Spanagel; captain, William J. Sicking; first lieutenant, Frank Schindler; first engineer, Frank Sedler; second engineer, John Beinkamp.

The business men of Lawrenceburg during the decade from 1850 to i860 were partly as follow : B. T. W. S. Anderson, boarding house keeper ; Leon

Adler & Company, merchant tailors; Henry Adler, dry goods; George Huschart, marble and freestone works ; George W. Moore, dr}' goods ; Heifer & Woodward, carriage manufactory ; John Wvmond, grocer and commission merchant; J. P. Ulrey, dentist; T. & C. Gazlay, attorneys-at-law; Gaffs Sc Marshall, millers and distillers; Alexander Beckman, commission merchant and wharfboat proprietor ; Farmers' Hotel, George Meyer, proprietor, corner Main and Third streets; Adam Kastner, baker; Ludlow & Tate, sash factory, C. H. W. Wemeke, cigar factor}-; Lewis & Moore, dry goods; D. S. Barckdell, cooperage; Metcalf & Fagan, lumber; Henry R. Helmuth, dry goods; A. Bookwalter, editor of the Register; Henry Godert, boots and shoes ; Ferris & Abbott, drugs; Orville & Origen Thomson, editors of the Hoosier State; Piatt & Reid, attorneys; Amos Bolander, proprietor of Bolander House; George W. Ferguson, house and sign painter; J. P. Chew, insurance; John Ferris, insurance: David E. Sparks, insurance; Mrs. T. E. Dunn, ambrotype artist; James T. Brown, attorney; Spooner & Schwartz, attorneys; Philip L. Spooner, attorney ; George D. Tate, carpenter ; E. G. Burkam, president of the Branch Bank of the State of Indiana; C. B. Burkam, cashier; George Brodbeck, confectioner; George P. Buell, produce dealer; Chapman & Son, grocers; William E. Craft, notary public: Philip Dexheimer, blacksmith; George S. Duncan, Ohio & Mississippi ticket agent; George B. Fitch, proprietor of Fitch House; M. H. Harding, physician; Jacob Gysie, grocer; Nichols Harbold, boots and shoes; John Isherwood, news depot and carrier; John G. Kennedy, bank teller; Henry Kirsch. cigars and tobacco; Lewis & Eiclielberger, millers; Thomas J. Lucas, watches and jewelry; Joseph McGranahan, grocer; Daniel S. Major, attorney; Mathias Miller, coal dealer; Joseph Mooney, clothier; R. H. Parry, dry goods; Frank Riddell, postmaster; George Preston, carpenter; Robert Rodgers, livery; Hugh F. Smith, grocer; Norval Sparks, grocer; William Tate, Jr., physician; Omer Tousey, land dealer: Charles Walters, physician.

Old Landmarks

The first brick house built in Lawrenceburg is thought to have been erec¬ ted by Dr. Jabez Percival. The building was the old two-story, heavy-walled dwelling house that stood some twenty-five years ago back of the Methodist Episcopal church at the foot of Vine street. It was a well-built, deep-win¬ dowed, well-lighted brick, with a third story that was used for some years by Lodge No. 4. Free and Accepted Masons, for their meeting place. After the Percival family had all departed from Lawrenceburg, it fell into other hands and was a tenement house until the Methodist congregation purchased it and tore it down. The walls were nearly three feet in thickness and it had the appearance of being erected for defense. The building was thought to have been erected about 1806.

The residence now occupied by Louis Schusterman and owned by Conrad Stumpf, on the north side of High street, next door to the Dr. W. D. H. Hun¬ ter residence, is probably the oldest brick house now standing and probably the oldest house of any description in the city. The Farmers & Mechanics Bank occupied it for a banking house in 1817, and it had probably then been erected for several years. The corner portion of the Grand Hotel. High and Walnut streets, was erected by Jesse Hunt in 1819 and has been occupied as a hotel ever since. It is claimed that it was the first three-story brick house built in the state of Indiana, which may probably be true. It was considered at the time as a wonder, and it was a common remark of the people, "What in the world is Jesse Hunt going to do with them rooms away up there?"

The brick house on the corner of Main and Third streets belonging to John A. Bobrink, county treasurer, is said to have been erected in 1820. It has been occupied as a place of business ever since it was built, and is still in a good state of preservation.

What is called the Tousey house, now belonging to the Lawrenceburg Roller Mills Company, was erected about 1820, by Capt. Samuel C. Vance. It was claimed to be, for many years, the finest residence on the Ohio river between Cincinnati and Louisville. The visitor in looking through its spacious rooms and critically examining its front walls, will be impressed with the justice of this claim. The ceilings are high and the walls thick. The hall stairway is a wonder for modem mechanics, with its spiral staircase reaching from the cellar to the garret. The front is massive, for those days, with freestone steps and arched doorway. It was the home of the Vances until the death of the Captain in 1828. Afterward Doctor Pinckard used it as a college. Dr. T. B. Pinckard married Catherine Vance, daughter of Captain Vance, and was a practicing physician and a druggist. He was also a man of considerable culture, and after Captain Vance's death he undertook to promote a college in the residence. It was called "Washington Agricultural School," and he advertised that with the site of the college building was some twenty-five acres of land which he proposed to make into a botanical garden where the students could study agriculture at first hand in a practical way. He carried on the school for several years and as administrator of the Vance estate sold the property to Omer Tousey.

The old frame house back of the Methodist church on New street was occupied by Amos Lane as a residence in his palmy days, and was probably built early in the last century. His law office was on High street next door to the Methodist Episcopal church, and the front of it up to the first story is the same frame that composed the office.

The Town Council

It is recorded that on the first of April, 1833, pursuant to an official call, the qualified voters of the town of Lawrenceburg met at the tavern of Jesse Hunt for the purpose of electing a president of the town board and five members of the town council. Fifty-six of the qualified voters of the town were present and voted, electing David V. Culley president of the council, and George Tousey, John Shook, Thomas Palmer, John Saltmarsh and James W. Hunter councilmen. These held their offices for a term of one year and were elected to succeed Arthur St. Clair Vance, president; Thomas Palmer, John Saltmarsh, D. V. Culley and Jabez Percival councilmen. At that time Charles Spooner, grandfather of Ex-Senator John C. Spooner, of Wisconsin, was clerk of the board and remained in that position for several years afterward. David V. Culley was president of the board until April, 1837; he was followed by Green Sparks, who served until No¬ vember, 1837, when he resigned and was succeeded by William Brown, who in turn was succeeded by Philip L. Spooner, who served until April, 1839.

Isaac Dunn was president of the board of the town council following Spooner from April, 1839, until April, 1840, and was succeeded by William Steele, who served until April, 1843, when he gave up the presidency to Jeremiah Crosby, who served until April, 1846. At that time the town was granted a city charter and David Macy was elected its first mayor. Mr. Macy served as mayor until April, 1849, when he gave up the position to Sidney L. Sandford, who was mayor until July, 1850, when he resigned and was succeeded by Jabez S. Ferris, who served until July, 1852, and was followed by Jeremiah Crosby, who served until July, 1855. Joseph McGranahan served from 1855 to May, 1856, and was followed by James H. Swope until May, 1857, who was succeeded by John Schwartz, who served the city from May, 1857, to May, 1861 ; he was succeeded by Francis Riddell, who served until October, 1861, when the place was declared vacant, Mr. Riddell having gone into the army.

unexpired term and then he was elected continuously until May, 1869, when James H. Swope succeeded him, serving two years, until May, 1871. Mayor Swope was succeeded by Richards, who served for two years, giving way in May, 1873, to Johann J. Hauck, who served three terms, until May, 1879, when he in turn was succeeded by George M. Roberts, who was mayor for six years, until May, 1885, giving way in turn to William H. O'Brien, who was mayor until 1894, when he was succeeded by Thomas Winegardner, who served four years, until 1898. In 1898 William H. O'Brien was again called to the position and was mayor until 1902, giving way to Charles J. Lang, who served until May, 1904, when he in turn gave up the position to Edwin M. Lee, who resigned in September and by virtue of the state law, Joseph F. Frazer, city clerk, was made the mayor. Mr. Frazer served until September, 1906. when he was succeeded by Estal G. Bielby, who was mayor until Jan¬ uary 1, 1910, and was succeeded by Leonard Axby, who served until Jan¬ uary 1, 1914, when he gave way to Estal G. Bielby, who is now mayor.

The city has had some very able men at the head of its government, and its citizens may well be proud of the list herewith given. As the city grows older and the state laws relative to city affairs become more strict, the amount of legislation transacted in council sessions grows more and more lengthy and of greater importance.

When the town government was first installed it was the custom, and perhaps the law, to issue a call for an election signed by the president of the board for an election some certain evening. The meeting would be much after the fashion of the political caucus of the present day, or the Massachu¬ setts town meeting. They would assemble and a chairman would be selected : the candidates placed in nomination and balloted for. In the meeting of April 1. 1833, it was stated that the meeting was legally called and fifty-six qualified voters were present and the result was as stated that D. V. Culley was duly elected president of the board to serve for one year. This method seemed to have continued up to the time the town was given a charter as a city, when the office of mayor was filled by an election the same as it is today.

In 1830 John McPike was the president of the town council and under date of March 17 of that year he advertised, in the capacity of president, for bids for the construction of a wharf for the embryo city, said wharf to be between Walnut and Short streets. John P. Dunn also advertised, as the clerk of the town, that there would be an election held on the evening of the first Monday in April, at the house of Jesse Dunn, for the puq^ose of electing a president of the council and five select councilmen.

Donation To The Railroad Company

In 1835, when the railway fever was strong, and George H. Dunn was endeavoring to secure money sufficient to finance the road, a meeting was called which was attended by a number of representative citizens, at which meeting a resolution was unanimously adopted that the town council be re¬ quested to appropriate the sum of three thousand three hundred and fifty dol¬ lars, which was to be donated to the railway company with the understanding that it was to be used altogether within the corporation limits in construct¬ ing fills and culverts. It was met by the usual counter, which was in the shape of a petition urging the town officials not to donate a cent until it was clearly understood that the engineer had made a survey and the estimate of the cost filed. This was also signed by a number of representative citizens, thus showing that the business of "knocking" was abroad in Lawrenceburg even at that early day.

The select council and its president voted the three thousand three hun¬ dred and fifty dollars in stock at their next meeting, with the proviso that it be used in construction work within the town corporation. At the meeting of council that ratified the action of the railway meeting, the following per¬ sons were present and endorsed the action of the council : Asa Smith, Edward Hunt, J. H. Brower, William Tate, T. L. Percival, Isaac Protzman, J. P. Dunn, D. Springer, William Brown, Omer Tousey, Philip L. Spooner, Walter Armstrong, James Salmon, George Cable, J. Rees, John Wymond, Morgan Welsh, David Guard. James Jones, Isaac Dunn, John Binegar, John Saltmarsh, George W. Lane, John Ferris, George Tousey, Jacob P. Dunn, Arthur St. Clair Vance, George H. Dunn and Ezra Ferris ; twenty-nine in all. The monied men of the town and many of the wealthy farmers of the vicinity were heartily in favor of building the road, and if it had not been for the stringent financial situation that came on shortly after the contracts were let at several points, the road would have been completed at that time - some fourteen years previous to its final completion. What would have resulted in Dearborn county, by having a railway to enter the rich farming country in central In¬ diana, in the way of trade and commercial activity, is hard to decide at this length of time since it was attempted.

At the time that George H. Dunn and others were agitating the proposi¬ tion of building a railway from Lawrenceburg to Indianapolis, the railway business was in its infancy. There were only three or four railways in the United States and they were short ones. Xo one even dreamed of the great trunk lines of the present day and George H. Dunn and others favoring the project were thought by many to be dreamers only. Looking back at it from the present it is easily seen that if the railway had been pushed to completion at that time it would have redounded to the advantage of Lawrenceburg more than can even now be estimated. To show the interest taken in the project at that time and that Lawrenceburg had the usual per cent, of objectors in those days; there is appended here the doings of the town selectmen of the time :

A Division Of Sentiment

"Thursday, June 2, 1835. Council met pursuant to adjournment. Pres¬ ent, D. V. Cully, president; J. W. Hunter, D. Nevitt, George Tousey, James M. Darragh and John Saltmarsh. Mr. Hunter, from committee on tax, re¬ ported the assessment as made by and under the authority of the marshal amounting to two hundred and twenty-two thousand four hundred and eightyseven dollars, and same was considered formal and accepted by council. Mr. Hunter presented the proceedings of a meeting of a respectable portion of the citizens of the town of Lawrenceburg held May 22, 1835, requesting the coun¬ cil to subscribe a certain portion of stock to enable the Lawrenceburg & In¬ dianapolis Railroad Company to construct said railroad within the limits of said town, which, with a remonstrance presented by J. M. Darragh, signed by L. W. Johnson and others, after having been read were laid on the table and ordered spread on the minutes. Minutes of a meeting of the citizens of Lawrenceburg, as presented by J. W. Hunter to the select council, as follows :

" 'On motion of Major J. P. Dunn it was unanimously resolved that George H. Dunn, Esquire, preside over the meeting and Arthur St. Clair Vance act as secretary of said meeting. On motion of J. P. Dunn it was re¬ solved unanimously, the question being taken by the ayes and nays of all the citizens present ; that the select Council of our town be requested to subscribe three thousand three hundred and fifty dollars of stock in the Lawrenceburg & Indianapolis Railroad Company, to be paid in four installments - six, twelve, eighteen and twenty-four months from the 28th of last February - on the same principle some individual subscriptions have been received, and that the money be applied within the corporation of Lawrenceburg ; and that the ayes and nays of the citizens present be required.

" 'On motion of Isaac Dunn, resolved that a committee of ten be ap¬ pointed to go round among the citizens and obtain the sense of the citizens on the subject of the foregoing resolution ; and the meeting adjourned sine die. George H. Dunn, chairman ; Arthur St. Clair Vance, secretary.

" 'On the resolution to subscribe three thousand three hundred and fifty dollars of stock in said railroad the ayes were : John Weaver, Joseph Boon, N. Sparks, G. Sparks, Wrexhan West, W. B. Snyder, E. F. Test, John Gattenby, H. McNeely, Reuben Hathaway, Cyrus Clarke, Moses Seeds, Ellis Brown, Eph Sutton. Milton Beach, Andrew Morgan, W. T. Chappell, John McPike, Samuel Craft, John Bowen, Joseph Daniels, Enos Musgrove, James Thomp¬ son, Jesse Colshire, E. Morgan, A. R. Hinkley, W. A. Rodney, C. R. West, J.

" 'To the president and select council of the town of Lawrenceburg - Wc, the undersigned citizens of the town of Lawrenceburg, do respectfully repre¬ sent to your honorable body that we have understood that you have been re¬ quested by a part of the citizens to subscribe, in the name of the corporation, the sum of three thousand three hundred and fifty dollars shares of stock in the Lawrenceburg & Indianapolis Railroad Company, for the pur¬ pose of commencing the embankment for said railroad at a point from said town of Lawrenceburg. We therefore respectfully request your honor¬ able body not to subscribe for any stock until the survey shall be completed, its location fixed and the estimates reported. (Signed). L. W. Johnson, F. Lucas, George Johnson, Daniel Bedford, W. H. Runyon, George W. Ward, Thomas Blythe, Samuel Packer, T. C. Shaw, Joseph Fitch. William Cook, Elias Conklin, John Garnett, Richard Orchard, A. H. Dill, J. M. Darragh, T.

Additions To The City

The original plat of the town of Lawrenceburg comprised all that por¬ tion of the present city that lies between Mulberry Row, as it was then called, to Elm Row on the east, and Partition Lane on the north, to the Ohio river. Besides- this there were north of Partition Lane, extending along the entire north of the town, out lots numbering from 21 to 55. As the years sped and other promoters saw opportunities, other plats or additions were added to the town. The first attempt of the kind was done with the idea of laying out an¬ other and a separate town. Pinckney James, afterwards of Rising Sun, about 1809, purchased the land where that part of the city of Lawrenceburg called Newtown lies, and platted it. He gave the name of Edenborough to his proposed town, and meeting with no demand for lots, in the year 18 11 sold the ground to Stephen Ludlow, George Weaver, John Weaver and Thomas Porter. This included the pond and on this side of the depression to Tate street. The exact description was from Tate street in a direct line to the meanderings of Tanners creek, to a point where the north line of the old graveyard struck it, thence east to where the old fence north and south used to divide the new addition from the city dirt lot. Isaac Dunn being elected a member of the Legislature then meeting at Corydon, got the town of Eden¬ borough vacated. But some years afterwards a demand being found for lots in that locality, Stephen Ludlow, who was already a large lot owner in the original town of Lawrenceburg, had the old plat, with the exception of the two southern tiers of lots, re-reoorded, and reinstated as a town under the stat¬ ute and then incorporated as an addition to the town of Lawrenceburg. The new addition consisted of lots from 1 to 128 and provided for a park and a lot for school purses. The re-recording of the plat was done on April 6, 1819.

It was several years after this plat was filed before other additions were added. In 183 1 was added what was called Elliott's addition, which was a few lots at the foot of Elm street. In 1835 Elliott added several more in the same locality. In 1835, Stephen Ludlow filed a plat for the extension of Short street to the wharf. In 1839 W. T. Chappell made an addition laying off some lots extending from Short street north of Center. Guard, Dunn and Gibson's addition was also added about the same time. Other additions were Morgan and Spooner's, Enoch B. John's, Daniel S. Major's first and second additions; David Guard and Jabez Percival's addition, Pius Frederick's ad¬ dition; Eichelberger and Lewis' addition; Omer Tousey's addition and George H. Dunn's addition, Ross's addition, Ludlow's extension and Homberger's ad¬ dition.

In the original plat it was provided that a cemetery was to be laid out at the west end of High street, joining Mulberry Row. This was used for a number of years, but the plat filed by Isaac Dunn in April, 1819, provided for (i7) a cemetery which seemed to be a better location : and the first burying ground was in later years abandoned, and the latter was used for that purpose until the new cemetery of Greendale was laid out in 1867. Since that time the burials in the old cemetery have gradually ceased until now it is only occasion¬ ally that a burial is made there. The flood of recent years has inundated it and the monuments have been badly wrecked, which further hastened its aban¬ donment as a cemetery.

Earlier Industries

The blacksmith, the carpenter and joiner, the shoemaker and the tailor, represented, in general, the manufacturing interests of Lawrenceburg up to the decade between 1830 and 1840. During that period internal improvements became the watchword in the state and was an issue between the political parties of the time. The building of the Whitewater canal and the unsuccess¬ ful attempt of George H. Dunn and others to build the Lawrenceburg & In¬ dianapolis railway, together with the advent of the state bank, aroused among the people a great interest in their ability to manufacture articles in a larger way for the trade. It was realized that the town possessed advantages as a distributing point and at once the manufacturing interests were stimulated. About the first to engage in it was Enoch D. John, who erected a flouringmill at the foot of Elm street, where he availed himself of the water power derived from the wasteway of the canal. In connection with Dr. C. G. W. Comegys, afterwards of Cincinnati, he built a three-hundred-barrel flour¬ mill. A small distillery that would make two barrels of whiskey per week was erected, in 1809, near the present site of the W. P. Squibb & Company plant, by Isaac Dunn and Stephen Ludlow. This concern seems to have been aban¬ doned in a short time. The Hobbs distillery was destroyed by fire in 1839, but was rebuilt by Hobbs & Craft soon after. It was again destroyed by fire in 1850 and never rebuilt. Other distilleries have since been erected and run very successfully, until today Lawrenceburg is known far and wide as one of the most successful locations for the manufacture of alcohol and spir¬ its in the country.

Other Manufacturing Plants

The manufacture of furniture was, for a period, an important part of the manufacturing interests of the city. The E. B. Dobell Furniture Company, with a manufacturing plant in Greendale and warerooms in Lawrenceburg, was established in 1863. It was destroyed by fire in 1873, but was rebuilt at once and continued in operation for ten years longer, when Mr. Dobell get¬ ting old, retired. The Miami Valley Furniture Company, with a capital stock of twenty thousand dollars, which was afterwards increased to forty thousand dollars, was organized in 1868. The stockholders were George Hodel, Jr., John Christena, Henry F. Wencke, Adam Schleicher, George Schleicher, Gus¬ tav Schoenberger, Herman H. Woehla, John F. Sembach. Philip Dexheimer, George Hodel, Sr., Johann J. Hauck, Samuel Dickinson, John Bookster, Levin B. Lewis and Alexander Beckman. The officers of the company were George Hodel, Jr., president; Harris Bateman, secretary; Levin B. Lewis, treasurer. The company erected the extensive building now a part of the James & Meyer Buggy Company's plant, and continued a successful business until about the year 1888, when it discontinued.

The Lawrenceburg Furniture Company was organized on February 13, 1868, and had at its start a capital stock of seven thousand dollars. This was increased to sixty-three thousand two hundred and fifty dollars in 1876, by successive votes of the directory. The officers when first organized were Con¬ rad Sanders, president; Chris Lommel, secretary and treasurer; Frederick Kleinhans, superintendent. This concern continued in business until along in the nineties, when it too closed out.

The Dearborn Furniture Company was organized in 1873 w^h a capital stock of eighteen thousand dollars. It erected a three-story building on the lot that had formerly belonged to the father of W. T. Durbin (W. S. Dur¬ bin), now the property of the G. H. Bishop Saw Works. This plant was in business only a few years, when it dissolved, and the factory was used by the Lawrenceburg Chair Company. It continued for only a short time and was purchased by the George H. Bishop & Company, saw manufacturers, who have used it as part of their plant ever since.

The Miami Stove Works was located at the upper end of William street, between the tracks of the Big Four and the Baltimore & Ohio railways. It was established by Samuel L. Yourtee & Company. The city of Lawrenceburg donated to this concern twenty-seven thousand dollars. Shortly after it was erected the firm made an assignment and a stock company purchased the plant, with Fred Naeher, president; John E. Wameford, vice-president; Benjamin Ruthman, secretary. The concern was very prosperous for a time, employing ed as many as one hundred and fifty men, but misfortune overtook them and they closed out. The plant was shortly afterward taken over by A. D. Cook, as a place for manufacturing well supplies. The main building burned and Mr. Cook removed his plant to Greendale. The buildings were sold to the Batesville Veneer and Lumber Company, who now occupies it.

Cigar factories were a source of much commercial business to the city during the decade ending with 1880. Jacob Rief & Brother ran a large fac- tory for the manufacture of cigars on the comer of Walnut and New streets. They commenced business in September, 1869, and continued it until about 1885, when it was gradually discontinued. William Huber commenced the manufacture of cigars in 1866. He continued the business very profitably for several years but gradually closed out, and several years before his death, in 1905, had entirely discontinued the manufacture.

The Lawrenceburg Woolen Mill Company was organized in February, 1866, with a capital of fifty thousand dollars. Its president was £. S. Biasdel ; secretary, E. D. Moore ; directors, E. C. Hayes, Walter Hayes, John H. Gaff, Isaac Dunn, E. S. Blasdel, Levin B. Lewis and C. B. Burkam. They purchased the site opposite the court house and erected the present three-story building. The venture proved unprofitable and it suspended in 1870.

The Lawrence Gas Works was organized in 1868 with a capital stock of twenty-eight thousand six hundred dollars. Its first board of directors was John H: Gaff, Theodore Gazlay, Omer T. Stockman, Zephaniah Heustis, Andrew A. Heifer, J. Giphard, J. B. Shephard and John Homberger. The first gas was used for lighting the city, October 12, 1868. This concern was several years ago taken over by the present management.

When Captain Vance laid out the city of Lawrenceburg he stated in his filing that he had provided for a cemetery adjacent to the plat and adjoining it to the south and west. This was the cemetery at the west end of High street, just below Mulberry. It was used as a burial place from the time the town was laid out until after the addition of Newtown was added by Isaac Dunn. Even after that, and until as late as 1840 and perhaps later, the site was used. But it gradually came into disuse and the cemetery in Newtown was the burying ground up until the time when Greendale cemetery was incorporated in 1865. Since that the Newton cemetery has also gradually been aban¬ doned, until at present only a few of the lot owners bury there. The Newtown cemetery, it was found, was subject to overflow, and on that account was not desirable for a burying place for the dead. Yet the early residents are all buried there. The tombstone of Capt. Samuel C. Vance can be found in a conspicuous place. The floods of recent years have wrecked many of the monuments and few of those buried have descendants to look after them.

On account of the smallness of the Newtown cemetery and its being subject to overflow, the citizens of Lawrenceburg, as the place grew in wealth, population and importance, saw that a larger and more desirable location was needed. Accordingly a number of the citizens of Lawrenceburg organ¬ ized and purchased thirty acres of ground from Joseph Hayes north of the town of Greendale (now a part of the village) ; on a beautifully located high bottom overlooking the valley. It was tastefully laid out by Benjamin Grove, an engineer from Louisville, Kentucky, and the landscape planning was done by a Mr. Ihle, who was an artist in such matters. The articles of association of the original incorporation in their first two sections state the object as follows :

"Section 1. Under the laws of the state of Indiana, Ezra G. Hayes, Andrew A. Heifer, Edward D. Moore, Thomas J. Lucas, Myron H. Hard¬ ing, Omer T. Stockman, William Eichelberger, George Huschart, Zephaniah Heustis, John Ferris, Kendal M. Lewis, Henry H. Meyer, Levin B. Lewis, E. Sparks Blasdel, John H. Gaff, Joseph H. Burkam, Alexander Beckman, DeWitt C. Fitch, John Anderegg, Theodore Gazlay and Daniel S. Major, agree to associate themselves together, and they, or their successors, are hereby associated as a body politic, a perfect corporation under the name and title of the Greendale Cemetery for providing within appropriate dis¬ tance of the City of Lawrenceburg, Dearborn county, Indiana, suitable grounds for the burial of the dead.

"Section 2. The distinct and irrevocable principle in which this asso¬ ciation is founded, and to remain forever, except as hereinafter allowed, is that the entire funds arising from the sale of burial lots and the proceeds of any investments of said funds shall be, and they are specifically dedicated, to the purchase and improvement of the grounds for the cemetery; and keeping them durably and permanently inclosed and in perpetual repair for all future time ; including all incidental expenses for approach to the cemetery and the proper management of the same, and that no part of such funds shall, as dividends or profit in any manner, inure to the corporators."

The desirability of the location and the taste with which it was laid out, together with the strict management, has made it a very desirable place for the burial of the dead; and the citizens of Dearborn county, that live conveniently near have purchased lots from the association and bury their dead here. It has been counted one of the most beautiful spots for burial purposes in the county. The first person buried in the new location was Hugh F. Smith, who was laid away on September 19, 1867.

Each year the incorporators of this cemetery elect, from their number, a board of managers consisting of seven members. They in turn organize by electing a president, secretary and treasurer. The first board of managers was elected on August 25, 1866, and were E. G. Hayes, T. J. Lucas, A. Beck¬ man, John Anderegg, A. A. Heifer, O. T. Stockman and D. W. C. Fitch. They organized by electing E. G. Hayes, president; Henry H. Meyer, secre¬ tary, and Omer T. Stockman, treasurer. One of the local papers of the time had this to say in regard to the incorporation of the cemetery:

"The necessity of this community is a first class cemetery. Experience has taught us not to establish cemeteries on too small a scale, or in localities where it is neither possible nor desirable to extend them. The cemetery for this community must be commenced large enough; must have proper man¬ agement, and must be established upon a plan making it perpetual - The Greendale Cemetery Association has been called into existence for this pur¬ pose. The articles of association, as published, will give as good an an idea of its object as can be given. The citizens of Lawrenceburg and vicinity are now being called upon to assist with their means in this undertaking. Let none stand back, but let each do all that is in his power to make this cemetery a success. All that is necessary is to raise sufficient means to buy the place, and pay for surveying and laying it off into lots; when a sale of lots will enable the board of managers to go ahead with the improvements. All monies subscribed will be considered as a loan to the association, bearing six per cent, interest, and the amounts so subscribed may be applied to the purchase of lots. A more desirable location cannot be found. The soil is dry and of a sandy quality and the surface slightly undulating. The dis¬ tance from the city is about a mile and a half, just about far enough."

The association spent nearly twenty-two thousand dollars in the pur¬ chase of grounds and ornamenting and laying out the same. Yet in the report of 1880 an indebtedness of only three hundred and sixty-four dollars and one cent was reported. This was all paid the next year. The present corporators of the cemetery are Jacob M. Bauer, A. D. Cook, P. J. Emmert, W. S. Fagaly, George Fahlbush, E. G. Hayes, E. P. Hayes, \V. N. Hauck, J. F. Homberger, Frank J. Henn, Henry Hodell, O. S. Jaquith, George Kunz, Omer T. Ludlow, W. H. O'Brien, Victor Oberting, John Stahl, George H. Wood and George Willers. The board of managers are J. M. Bauer, P. J. Emmert, O. T. Ludlow, A. D. Cook, Henry Hodell, W. H. O'Brien and George Kunz. The president is Omer T. Ludlow ; secretary, Archibald Shaw; treasurer, William H. O'Brien. E. G. Hayes, venerable and vigorous, the first president of the organization in 1866, is now, at the age of eighty-eight, the president of the board of corporators. The concern has been managed well and its financial condition such that it will be able to perpetuate itself as the years go by. On the 18th of August, 1915, there had been forty-one hundred and eighteen burial permits issued and that many persons had been laid away in this city of the dead.