Boone County IN Archives History - Businesses .....Historical Sketch Of Boone Co. 1874 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/in/infiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com August 28, 2007, 1:21 am HISTORICAL SKETCH OF BOONE COUNTY. BOONE COUNTY is situated near the center of the State, and is 24 miles long from east to west, and 17 miles wide. It contains 418 square miles, or 267,520 acres. It is bounded by Clinton, Hamilton, Marion, Hendricks and Montgomery counties. Boone county was named in honor of the celebrated "Indian fighter," Daniel Boone, whose name will ever be held in high esteem by frontiersmen. The county was organized in the year 1830, the population at that time being only 630. In the year 1840 it was 8,121, and at this time (1874) it is about 30,000. The county is divided into twelve townships—Worth, Jackson, Harrison, Perry, Eagle, Union, Center, Jefferson, Sugar Creek, Washington, Clinton and Marion. The southeastern, western and northwestern portions of the county are gently undulating; the other portions are level. The soil in most parts of the county is a dark loam, deep and very rich. It is remarkably well adapted to the production of all kinds of grain, grasses and vegetables common to Indiana's climate. Timber is very plenty and of the best quality. Boone county is composed of the summit lands dividing the waters of the Wabash and White Rivers. This accounts partially for the level wet lands so common on almost all dividing ridges. They are called "summit levels," and sometimes are composed of many ponds and little lakes, with only here and there a ridge or hillock. Boone county, however, is susceptible of being drained. The county is watered by Eagle Creek, White Lick and Walnut Fork of Eel River, which empty into the former, and Big Raccoon and Sugar Creek, which empty into the latter. Owing to the level surface of the country where these streams have their source, they are sluggish and comparatively of no value in the way of propelling machinery. The dense forests of heavy timber and low wet lands of Boone county were not sufficiently attractive to bring within its borders a class of men of peculiar refinement and means; consequently it was first settled by men of stout constitutions, iron wills, and but little financial resources. It required a vast amount of labor and untiring effort to clear away the heavy forest trees preparatory to raising a crop. Many of the early settlers cleared out a little "truck patch" sufficient to raise some "roasting ears," beans and other "garden sass," after which they applied themselves to hunting, fishing and ginseng digging. The settler who could command a good rifle, two or three dogs, a cow, and one old horse, with the means to buy powder and lead, was considered supremely happy. In these early days there was abundance of wild game—deer, bear, wolves, turkeys, pheasants and quails. The currency of the country was the skins of deer, raccoons, mink, and wild honey. This county was once the home and hunting-grounds of a tribe of Miami Indians; upon the banks of the streams were their tepees and the graves of their fathers; here lie the remains of many a brave hunter and warrior. The present site of Thorntown was once the habitation of nearly five hundred Indians and French traders. About the year 1833 most of the tribe were removed from the reserve at that place, which was purchased by the Government in 1828, being the last Indian reservation in the State. There are now scarcely any visible marks of their ever having existed in that section of country. Thorntown, in the northwestern part of the county, was once a lively Indian trading post; since that time it has become a lively place, with a civilized home trade. The old landmarks are obliterated; old and rude customs have given place to refinement and social communication. Only a few years ago the county of Boone was a wilderness, so densely covered with heavy timber and underbrush that the rays of the sun were almost entirely cut off from the earth in the summer season. Lonely and desolate must have been the feelings of those who first traversed these woods, when naught but nature's uncultured sounds greeted the ear—when the eye could see no heavens, for the intervening foliage—when serpents and lizards, frogs and hornets, and wild beasts were possessors of the land. Forty years have wrought a mighty change in the county. Then, no .cleared fields were visible from one neighbor's to another; great lakes of water, backed up by huge trunks of fallen trees, were visible on every hand; but now the lake has become a fertile field, great farms have been opened, the eye can see for miles over green fields of corn; the uncouth song of the bull-frog is scarcely heard in the land; the howl of the wolf is no more; the bear, wild-cat and panther infest no more the forest; the cabin superseded the wigwam, and the neat cottage has superseded the cabin in many places. Time, that mighty-event worker, has brought out of the wilderness a land plenteous with good things. Lebanon, the county seat, is located near the center of the county, in a rich and productive section. The town is not as large as it should be for so wealthy a county as it represents. The improvements, however, are' of a substantial character; many fine brick business blocks and cottage residences may be seen by the observer, ail going. to show that the citizens are awake to the interests of the city. The population of Lebanon is about 3,000, composed generally of first class men and women, who regard civilization and refinement as the legitimate destiny of man. The people are energetic, alive to business and hospitable to strangers. The I. C. & L. R. R. runs through Lebanon; it passes through the county from the southeast corner to the northwest, thus giving to the county an easy outlet for the shipment of its various productions. Were it not for the attractions and inducements of the great city of Indianapolis for manufacturers to locate at that place, Lebanon would now be but a city in embryo; as it is her close proximity to a place offering so many superior advantages will undoubtedly cripple her future prospects. Indianapolis makes a draw upon the country for a circle of many miles, and Lebanon is a considerable distance within that circle, being only 28 miles from the State capital; yet it is safe to calculate that Lebanon will attain to considerable importance, from the fact that it is surrounded by a district of country possessed of a wealth of forest and a productive soil that is not surpassed in the State. Hundreds of thousands of staves are annually shipped put of the county, while the farmers are enlarging their fields and multiplying their products. Thus the county is growing in wealth. The citizens of Lebanon are wide awake to scholastic and church interests. It is an admitted fact that the status of a community may be measured by its facilities for learning. Lebanon has a graded public school, thoroughly organized, and presents to the advanced students many superior advantages. It is managed by a competent corps of teachers. The school is divided into various departments—Primary, Intermediate, Grammar and High School—securing efficiency and thoroughness. The city is amply supplied with churches, there being five church organizations and four church buildings. As has already been remarked, Boone county was but a few years ago an absolute wilderness, and to one who is familiar with its early history it is a matter of great surprise how in so short a time so many good and permanent improvements could have been made. The public improvements are of a substantial character. The Court House at Lebanon is an honor to the citizens of the county. The school houses, bridges and gravel roads all indicate a lively interest on the part of the people in the welfare of the county. We must not leave this part of our history without calling the reader's attention to personal enterprises. Boone county has within her borders more than 150 manufacturing establishments —woolen mills, grist mills, saw mills, stave factories, heading factories, wagon shops, carriage and buggy shops, and many others which we have not space to mention. There are 53 steam engines and 6 water-wheels in the county. The manufacturing interests give employment to near 1000 men, and work up annually about $600,000 worth of raw material, producing nearly $1,000,000 worth of manufactured goods. These figures are a monument of honor for Boone county. Forty miles of railway traverse the county. The improved farms are estimated to contain 129,940 acres of cultivated land, valued at about $9,000,000. There are 7902 horses, 650 mules, nearly 6000 milch cows, 50 work oxen, 24,000 sheep, and 29,000 head of swine, estimated at a value of $1,507,000. The value of all fatm products is about $4,000,000 per annum. The value of Boone county can not be less than $25,000,000. FIRST SETTLERS IN BOONE COUNTY. Old Mother Howe and the Widow Cross came to the county in 1824—are now living at Zionsville. The Lane family, John Lowe, Frederick Lowe—the first, John Lowe, was a trader among the Indians; Frederick Lowe was the Indian Agent. Jesse Lane settled in the year 1825, five years before the county was organized; he now lives in Eagle Creek township. John N. Fall settled in Washington township at a very early day. Robert Allen settled in Center township in 1832, two years after Boone became a county. Elisha Riley settled one year before the county was organized. James M. Smith was a settler in 1834—his post-office address is Lebanon. Daniel Hoover settled in Zionsville very early. Robert H. Thomas, one of the early settlers in Eagle township, Boone county, claims to have been one of the number composing the first jury made in Boone county, which was about October, 1832. Mr. Thomas is still living. Benjamin Cox, another one of Boone county's first settlers, still remembers when it was necessary for him to go forty miles to get his milling done, requiring four to six days' time. Mr. Cox has not forgotten the time when the wheat market for Boone county was at Lafayette or Lawrenceburg. He hauled his wheat to the latter place, receiving only forty cents per bushel. With Mr. Cox's mule team it required from ten to twelve days to each trip. The roads at that time were full of brush, chunks, roots and stumps, besides many "sloughs" and pond-holes. Many a spring night has Mr. Cox had a free bullfrog serenade. Other early settlers encountered the same difficulties. It is very interesting to the young people of this day to hear such men as Mr. Cox relate their early trials and triumphs in Boone county. COUNTY RECORDS. The first Court held in the county of Boone was at the house of Daniel Hoover, where Zionsville now stands. It was a log house surrounded by thick woods of heavy timber and underbrush. The first Recorder was James McCan. First Treasurer, John B. Nesbit. First Sheriff, Austin Davenport. First Commissioners, Frederick Lowe, J. T. Hunt and James Van Eaton. First Representative, Austin Davenport. First Clerk, David Hoover. First Justice of the Peace, Jacob Sheets. The first church house in the county was a log house on Eagle Creek, in Eagle township, built by the Regular Baptist denomination. The first water mill was built by Jacob Sheets. The first steam mill by A. H. Longley. The first school teachers were F. Hare and a Mr. Laughlin. Additional Comments: Extracted from: THE PEOPLE'S GUIDE A BUSINESS, POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS Directory of Boone Co., Ind. TOGETHER WITH A COLLECTION OF VERY IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS AND STATISTICS CONNECTED WITH OUR MORAL, POLITICAL AND SCIENTIFIC HISTORY; ALSO, A HISTORICAL SKETCH OF BOONE COUNTY, AND A BRIEF HISTORY OF EACH TOWNSHIP. BY CLINE & McHAFFIE. INDIANAPOLIS: INDIANAPOLIS PRINTING AND PUBLISHING HOUSE. 1874. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/in/boone/directories/business/1874/historic527gms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/infiles/ File size: 12.3 Kb