Greene County IN Archives History - Books .....Chapter XI  Richland Township 1884
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Book Title: History Of Greene And Sullivan Counties, Indiana

CHAPTER XI.

RICHLAND TOWNSHIP-CREATION AND ORGANIZATION-THE FIRST OFFICERS -ROAD
COMMISSIONERS-FIRST ROAD PROJECTED-PURCHASE OF LAND AND SETTLEMENT-INCIDENTS OF
THE CHASE-THE VANSLYKES-AN INDIAN STRATEGY-EARLY INDUSTRIES, INCIDENTS,
ETC.-BURLINGTON -BLOOMFIELD-DISPOSAL OF LOTS-RESIDENTS OF THE TOWN-BUSINESS
ENTERPRISES-ADDITIONAL INDUSTRIES-MANUFACTURING ESTAB -LISHMENTS-BUSINESS MEN OF
THE FORTIES-RESIDENTS-LATER BUSINESS ENTERPRISES-PRESENT INDUSTRIAL
PURSUITS-LATER MANUFACTORIES-THE BIG FIRE-BANKING-SECRET ASSOCIATIONS-SCHOOLS OF
BLOOMFIELD-THE COUNTY SEMINARY-SCHOOLS OF THE SIXTIES AND SEVENTIES-THE
TEACHERS' INSTITUTE-THE CHURCHES OF BLOOMFIELD-VAN BAYOU AND NEWTOWN-RICHLAND
FURNACE-THE BLOOMFIELD PRESS.

IN the year 1821, when the county was organized by the Board of Commissioners,
the township of Richland was created, and then comprised the present townships
of Richland, Fairplay, Grant and Stockton; but in 1828, all that portion west of
White River was constituted Dixon Township (thus called for the family of that
name), since which time Richland Township has had its present boundaries with
some slight changes. At this time, the necessary officers were either appointed
or ordered elected to administer the affairs of the township. John Fields was
appointed Inspector of Elections, and Zebulon Hogue, Superintendent of the
sixteenth section. In accordance with law, elections were ordered held at the
house of Thomas Bradford; two Justices of the Peace were ordered elected. Hiram
Hay-ward and William Scott were appointed Overseers of the Poor; Solomon Dixon,
James Warnick and Peter C. Vanslyke, Fence Viewers; Richard Osborn, Constable.
It seems that the office of Constable was too laborious for one man, for James
Brown was soon appointed to assist Mr. Osborn. Thomas Bradford was Lister of the
township in 1822.

ROAD DISTRICTS.

   During the winter of 1821-22. the township was divided into road districts,
and the necessary officers appointed and arrangements made for the muddy times
of the approaching spring. James Warnick was appointed, Road Superintendent, and
the following men were ordered to report to him when notified, for work: Thomas
Bradford, Samuel C. Hall, James Brown, Carpus Shaw, Frederick Shaver, John
Bland, John Vanvoorst, Jr., Cornelius Vanslyke, Orange Monroe, Lewis Edwards,
William Scott, William Robinson, Robert Underwood, Thomas Warnick, James Milam,
Anthony Milam, Michael Shepard, Jacob Shepard, Edwin Simpson, Hallet B. Dean,
Augustine Passmore, William Farmer, Thomas Brown, Helton Wagoner, Zebulon Hogue,
William Richey, Henry Martin, James Wilkins, James Vanslyke, William Milam and
Frederick Shepard. Timothy H. Jessup was also appointed Superintendent of Roads,
with the following "hands:" Ebenezer Welton, William Welton, Isaac Workman, Abe
Workman, John Watson, John Davis, Parker Byford, David Watson, William Watson,
Michael Watson, James Vonn, John Good, Jesse Evans and Hiram Long. Edmund Gillam
was also appointed Superintendent, with "hands" as follows: John Mason, Daniel
Garland, Eli Faucett, Hansford Stalcup, Daniel Wasson, William Bannister, Ruel
Learned, Elisha Cushman, Asa Osborn, Richard Montgomery and John Burcham.
Phillip Shintaffer was also appointed Superintendent, with the following
"hands:" John Owen, Anthony Law, Richard Osborn, William Buckles, A. C. Buckles,
Solomon Dixon, Samuel Dixon, Henry Dixon, Nathan Dixon, Seth Fields, John
Fields, Sr., and Jr., Samuel Fields, William Fields, Daniel Fields, John Dixon,
Elias Dilla, John W. Wines, Martin Wines, Richard Beason, William Lemons and
David Smith. The above lists comprise almost or quite all of the early settlers
in old Richland Township, which then included the present townships of Richland,
Fairplay, Grant and Stockton, as noted above.

THE FIRST ROADS.

   One of the first roads petitioned for was projected from Burlington, the old
county seat, westward via Solomon Dixon's "intended" ferry to meet the Carlisle
and Merom road in Sullivan County. The following men were the petitioners:
Zebulon Hogue, Isaac Hicks, Fred Shaver, Jacob Shaver. James Brown, A. Passmore,
S. C. Hall, B. Dean, Daniel Fields, Samuel Fields, David Smith, Joseph Martin,
Jacob C. Moser, Phillip Shintaffer, Richard Beason, William Lemons, Tobias
Moser, E. G. Dilla, Hiram Hayward, Stephen Redenbark, Amos Moberly, Martin
Wines, Daniel Ingersoll, John Fields, Jr., John Fields, Sr., Seth Fields, J. W.
Wines, Samuel Dixon, Henry Dixon, Nathaniel Dixon and Abe Dixon. Emanuel
Vantrees was appointed to survey a State road from the north line of Daviess
County, thence via the best and most direct route to Section 30, Township 9
north, Range 4 west. In 1822, the township officers were as follows: Peter
Ingersoll, Inspector of Elections; Richard Beason and T. H. Jessup. Overseers of
the Poor; Solomon Dixon, William Welton and Peter C. Vanslyke, Fence Viewers.

PURCHASE OF LAND AND SETTLEMENT.

   The first sale of lands in Greene County took place in 1816 at Vincennes, but
only a comparatively few entries were made, owing to the remoteness from settled
localities. One purchase was made in old Richland Township by Solomon Dixon, who
afterward became one of the most prominent citizens of the county, and whose
descendants are known far and wide even to this day. Another entry was made by
Peter C. Vanslyke, who had come from "down East" and located at Washington,
Daviess County. Permanent settlers were in the township in 1817, though they
cannot be indicated with absolute certainty; neither can the dates of their
settlement. Among the first were the families of John Vanvoorst, Daniel Carlin,
John Vanverse, Peter C. Vanslyke, the Dixons, James Warnick. Reuben Hill,
William Robinson, William Scott, Carpus Shaw, Lewis B. Edwards, Levi Fellows,
Norman W. Pierce, Oliver Cushman, E. P. Cushman, Ruel Learned, Eli Faucett,
Alexander Clenny, S. C. Hall, Oliver Lockwood, Jeremiah Lockwood, John Jones,
John Mason, Barney Perry, John and Peter Hill, Isaac Anderson, Adam Stropes,
John Shryer, Orange Monroe, Ebenezer and William Welton, W. and J. Watson,
Timothy Jessup, Robert Baber, Jacob Lakely, Jacob and Joshua Dobbins, Solomon,
Joseph and Daniel Burcham, William Russell, Benjamin Turley, William and John
Watson, Kelly Heaton, John Terrell, Abraham Workman, George Milam, John Herral,
Samuel Smith, Charles Turle3r, David Heaton and others.

INCIDENTS OF THE CHASE.

   At the time of the first settlement in Richland Township, the country was a
wilderness filled with bears, wolves, panthers, deer and other wild animals of
size and courage. Wolves could be heard almost any night during certain seasons
of the 3-ear; deer were shot from windows and doors; bears came boldly into
clearings around the cabins when pressed by hunger, and the wailing, half-human
voice of panthers filled the breast of many an old settler with alarm. Bands of
Indians roved about, camping for short periods on the streams to secure their
precarious subsistence, or to revive their old war and scalp dances enjoyed by
them with savage delight but a few years before. John Terrell, who settled on a
tract of timbered land but a short distance east of Bloomfield at an early day,
was a famous hunter and trapper. He was a sure shot with his old flintlock
rifle, and is said to have bought no lead for his bullets. It was asserted that
he found his lead in a native stale somewhere along Richland Creek, and that
from this crude ore he separated the lead by heat, with which he molded his own
bullets. If this is true, his lead repository was lost at his death. He followed
the chase much of his time, and derived no little revenue from the sale of deer
skins and hams and the skins of bears and furs of minks, etc. One day in winter
he is said to have killed four deer in the eastern part of the township, one of
which he was unable to get to his cabin before night, and which was eaten before
morning by wolves. He was in the northern part one afternoon hunting for deer,
and while walking along on a ridge saw below him in the hollow two bears, which
did not observe him. He concealed himself to watch their motions, and saw that
the priming of his gun was ready and fresh. He saw them climb a tree, and by
their peculiar movements soon saw they were after honey, with which a hollow
place about fifty feet from the ground was stored. While they were thus engaged
he approached them with his rifle ready, and arrived within easy shot of them
before they saw him. His appearance did not seem to alarm them greatly, though
they stood still on the branches above and eyed him curiously. When he was close
enough to be sure of his shot he took careful aim, pulled the trigger, and
brought one of them crashing to the ground dead. He quickly reloaded his rifle,
and while the other was in the act of descending fired and gave it a mortal
wound. This old settler was a noted bee hunter, and could find hives of honey
where others could observe no signs. When out hunting, he carried a provision
bag across his shoulder filled with corn bread and fat pork or wild meat. On one
occasion, he found a tree which contained over a barrel of fine honey, a portion
of which had become candied. Stories like these might be repeated without limit.

THE VANSLYKES.

   It is said that when the Vanslykes came to the township in November, 1818,
there were then but two settlers in all the neighborhood for miles around. A
rude log cabin was erected near Aden G. Cavins' present residence, in which Mrs.
Vanslyke and her children were domiciled. The men returned to Washington,
Daviess County, whence they had come, to get their personal property and settle
up their affairs before coming for good to their home at Bloomfield. Mrs.
Vanslyke, whose maiden name was Edwards, and who is yet living at the county
seat at the advanced age of ninety years, was left alone with her small children
in the log cabin which had no door except a blanket, no floor except the bare
ground, and no window except a hole about a foot and a half square on one side
of the building. As the time drew near for the return of the men, Mrs. Vanslyke
became anxious. One night soon after dark, while she was outside the cabin, she
heard what seemed to be the distant halloo of a man far down on the river bottom
southwest of the cabin, and thinking it was the voice of her brother, Lewis B.
Edwards, she returned the call as loud as she could and started a fire on an
elevation to guide the belated man on his way to the cabin. Again she heard the
call a little nearer, and again she answered, and this was repeated several
times, the voice each time getting louder and nearer. She thought the voice
sounded very strange-such a prolonged and plaintive wail-yet she had no
misgivings. At last the call ceased for a time, and while Mrs. Vanslyke was
considering what had become of the man, suddenly, within a few rods of the
house, there arose such a wild and alarming scream-half human, half beast -that
the frightened woman sprang back into the cabin and hastily barricaded the door
with the best means at command. She looked out of the little window and saw
bounding across the clearing a large panther, which, afraid of the fire,
continued out into the woods uttering its horrid cries until they were lost in
the distance. In a few minutes, Mr. Carlin, who lived not far away and who had
heard the screams of the panther, came hurriedly to the cabin with a flaming
torch of hickory bark to see that the animal had done no harm to the Vanslykes.
He was an experienced hunter and was not deceived by the cries which from all of
the feline family have a tone so like a distant human being in distress. Many of
the early settlers were deceived by the cries as Mrs. Vanstyke was.

AN INDIAN STRATEGY.

   The Indians were quite numerous, though friendly. They came often to the
cabins for food, or to barter furs and trinkets for pork or vegetables. They
were not conventional in their habits, as they entered cabins without warning or
invitation, lighted their pipes of tobacco or dried willow leaves, (called
Killikinick), and smoked on as if no one except themselves was in the room and
as if they were lords of the rude mansion. Sometimes they came intoxicated to
the cabins, and were then very dangerous. They took great delight in frightening
the women. When Henry Vanslyke was yet a toddling boy, they sometimes came
cautiously to the cabin, entered the room while Mrs. Vanslykes' attention was
engaged outside, stole the little fellow from his cradle and then with enough
noise to arouse the startled mother, causing her baby to cry very likely, they
would run away with the child in their arms followed by the screaming, crying
woman. Or very likely, they would draw their knives or tomahawks and with their
wild scalp halloo made by the peculiar motion of the hand upon the lips, would
act as if they intended to brain or scalp the crying child. When they had
carried their joke far enough, they would return the boy and laugh heartily with
Falstaffian mirth over their act. After a time, they found they could not scare
her. In a short time they left the country for the far West.

EARLY INDUSTRIES, INCIDENTS, ETC.

   The first water mill was built in 1819, by William and Ebenezer Welton a
short distance below the mouth of Beech Creek. After running a number of years,
it was burned to the ground, soon after which the site passed to Alexander
Craig, who rebuilt the mill and improved the dam. It was afterward owned by
Benjamin Turley and others. It was very useful to the early settlers. The next
was built on Richland Creek, near Bloomfield, in 1820, by Col. Levi, Fellows,
and in its day was the most famous in all the central part of the county. It was
a saw mill and grist mill combined, and of course was operated by water-power.
All the old houses at Bloomfield and near there were built with lumber from this
saw mill, and all the old settlers and their children were fed by the grist
mill. Lumber for the old court house was obtained at the Fellows Mill. Another
early mill was built on the Tibbett's Mill site by Peter Lester. The first
blacksmith shop was built by Thomas Bradford, at his house, just south of
Bloomfield. All the early courts and elections were held at Mr. Bradford's
house. Peter C. Vanslyke started the first horse m ill and distillery, an
account of which is found further along in this chapter. Joshua Dobbins taught
the first school in the eastern part of the township. Children from the families
of the Walkers, Dobbinses, Heatons, Turley's, Roaches, and others, went to him.
Fannie Cushman taught the first school in a small log cabin near the Fellows
Mill. Joseph Scott was probably the first child born. The first weddings were
Carpus Shaw to Sally Vanslyke, Thomas Warnick to Lydia Gilam, Samuel Smith to
Lydia Kossolow, Jesse Branham to Elizabeth Johnson, James Stone to Mahala
Heaton, Andrew Johnson to Elizabeth Lawrence.

BURLINGTON.

   This town was the first county seat of Greene County, and was located on
Sections 9 and 10, Township 7 north, Range 5 west, by Amos Rogers, Abraham Case,
Charles Polk and William White. State Commissioners, early in the month of
March, 1821. The first action taken by the County Board looking to the
laying-off and platting of the town was in May, when James Galletly was
appointed to survey the donation of land which had been made the county by
Frederick Shaver, in consideration of having the county seat established at that
point. Donations either of money, land or labor had also been made by Zebulon
Hogue, Thomas Bradford, Frederick Shepard, and perhaps others. Detailed
instructions were given the surveyor as to how to lay out the town. It was at
this time, when the order for the survey was made, that the town was named
Burlington. Thomas Bradford donated sixty acres in one place and forty in
another; Frederick Shepard donated twenty acres, and Zebulon Hogue donated
twenty more, making in all 140 acres. In addition to this, these men and others
donated certain services and moneys to be used in the construction of the county
buildings to be erected at the county seat. The town was laid out in accordance
with the directions of the County Board, and David Smith contracted to clear the
public square of timber for $47. Augustine Passmore was paid $12.75 to clear a
lot upon which county offices were to be erected. The first sale of lots
occurred in June, 1821, and among the few purchasers were Zebulon Hogue, Thomas
Bradford. Ephraim Owen, Frederick Shepard, Augustine Passmore, Zebulon Jenkins,
Solomon Dixon, Peter C. Vanslyke and others. The second sale was in October or
November, and was almost a failure. In November, the County Agent, Ephraim Owen,
reported $11.60 as the total cash receipts from the sale of lots at the county
seat up to that time. The sale had been advertised in the papers at Vincennes,
but without material effect as far as sales or receipts were concerned. In
November the court house was ordered built, and all the lots of the town then
unsold were ordered sold at the best figure, whatever that might be, they would
bring. The destruction of timber on the town lots became so great that it was
found necessary to appoint Zebulon Hogue, Superintendent; to see that the
slaughter stopped. Who built the first house in Burlington cannot be named with
certainty. Augustine Passmore was one of the first. He opened a tavern, and
brought on a stock of liquor and groceries to a limited extent. Zebulon Hogue
probably built the first house; he was the village blacksmith. Frederick Shaver
lived there, and James Brown also. In the spring of 1822, a large pond on the
streets of the town was ordered "dreaned," but an interdiction was laid against
projecting the outlet to White River in an angling direction across the lots.
Thomas Warnick "cried" the sales of lots, and furnished free whisky, by order of
the County Board, to be paid for out of the county treasury. Burlington saw
serious trouble from the start, owing to the want of good water. A well was
ordered dug, and the work took much money and time. It was found, eventually,
that even the well was inadequate to meet the wants of the town, and talk of
changing the county seat was freely current. All the citizens worked on the well
until they were tired and disgusted. Upon petition, the Legislature passed an
act during the session of 1833-24, to re-locate the county seat of Greene
County, and when this became known the County Board ordered that no more timber
should be cut on the town lots, as it was seen that the property was to revert
to the former owners. In February, 1824, the Commissioners appointed by the
Legislature to re-locate the county seat-G. W. Demies, John Allen, John Johnson,
Henry Ruble and Andrew Berry-met, and after viewing the various sites,
established the new county seat at Bloomfield.

BLOOMFIELD.

   Peter C. Vanslyke donated sixty-two acres where Bloomfield now stands and on
the bluff southwest, near the river. At this time, there were living upon the
present town site or in the immediate vicinity the families of Mr. Vanslyke,
Daniel Carlin, John Vanverse, Thomas Bradford, William Robinson, William Scott,
James Warnick, Peter Hill, Isaac Anderson, John Mason and others. The first
settlers on the scattering town site were the families of John Vanverse and
Daniel Carlin. They had come from Washington, Daviess County, as the tenants of
Mr. Vanslyke, who had purchased a considerable tract of land at Bloomfield in
1816, when the land sale took place at Vincennes. Late in the autumn of 1817,
before cold weather had permanently set in, these men had come to the land of
Mr. Vanslyke with his permission, had erected themselves rude log cabins in the
southwestern part of Bloomfield, and had begun the work of clearing a piece of
land for the crop of the coming year. They remained there at hard work all
winter, "baching," and living on wild meat and fat pork and bread brought from
time to time from Washington. In the spring of 1818, the families were moved
out.^ These families raised small crops of corn and vegetables during the
season, clearing in the meantime quite a tract of land for Mr. Vanslyke and
themselves, and in November, 1818, the Vanslykes came on. These were the first
efforts to subject the wilderness around Bloomfield to the cultivation and
civilization of white men.

SALES OF LOTS.

   As stated above, the town was laid out in February, 1824, and the first sale
of lots was ordered advertised for the 22d of April. One or more other sales
took place the same year. The following men were the buyers this year: Augustine
Passmore, George Milam, P. C. Vanslyke, Thomas Warnick, Ruel Learned, Thomas
Bradford and others. Among those who bought in 1825 were Benjamin Harshaw, Peter
Hill, Hallet B. Dean, Benjamin Turley, Daniel Wasson, Nathan H. Cochran, Otis
Hinkley, Peter R. Lester, Edward W. Rose, Zebulon Hogue, John B. Kelshaw,
Cornelius Westfall. After this and prior to about 1835, the following additional
men bought lots: Thomas Brown, James Coffin, Thomas Plummer, Joel Benham,
William Milam, Oliver Cushman, E. P. Cushman, John Hill, Ephraim Owen, Duncan
Darrock, Norris & Ayton, John Owen, Willis D. Lester, Elijah Atkinson, Joseph
Davis, Moses Bitter, Hugh L. Livingston, John Inman, James Boyd, Benson Jones,
Marcus Clark, Hilton Wagoner, John Moore, Benjamin Brooks, Thomas Patterson, J.
H. Lawrence, Tyre Laffoon, John Freeland, Samuel D. Chipman, Alexander Downing,
Andrew Downing, Thomas Linticum, W. T. James, J. W. Dobson, W. C. Hicks and
Samuel R. Cavins, and a little later Frederick Slinkard, Samuel Simons, William
Watson, William Ferguson, John Shirley and others. Not more than half of these
men ever lived in Bloomfield. After the laying-out of Bloomfield, Peter Hill
built the first house. A total of 168 lots was laid out besides a block for a
public square and another for the county seminary. These blocks were where they
are at present. The surveyors of the town were Hansford Stalcup and John
O'Neall. By the 6th of August, 1831, a total of $1,670.06 1/3 cash, had been
received from the sale of town lots, and $69.93 was yet outstanding. Of these
amounts, ten per centum belonged to the county library.

RESIDENTS OF THE TOWN.

   Among the first families to live in Bloomfield, or what is now Bloomfield,
were those of Peter Hill. Thomas Bradford, Augustine Passmore, Peter C.
Vanslyke, Thomas Warnick, Otis Hinkley, Hallet B. Dean, and a little later
Willis D. Lester, Moses Bitter, H. L. Livingston, James Boyd, Elijah Atkinson,
Hilton Wagoner, Thomas Warnick, James Warnick, Elisha P. Cushman and others.
Augustine Passmore was called the "general purpose" man. He followed the county
seat from Burlington and opened his tavern and small store of groceries and
liquors in Bloomfield in the spring of 1824. The new court house was ordered
built in May, 1824, and the workman soon filled Passmore's tavern. It is
wondered now why the county seat was located at Bloomfield, but when it is
considered that the "hole " south of the court house was then a beautiful slope
covered with green grass, and that at the bottom was a fine spring of pure cold
water, and when it is further considered that in that day the tendency
everywhere in the new country was not only to locate on springs of good water,
but also on high, and even sandy, hills, the selection of the locating
Commissioners must not be wondered at. It should be noticed also that much, or,
perhaps all of the sand on the streets around the square has been washed down
the hill from the north. The public spring in the "hole" was curbed and put in
excellent condition, and kept so at considerable labor and expense. The records
show that Nancy Gillam, Hansford Stalcup and others besides Mr. Vanslyke made
donations to the county when Bloomfield was located. The donators agreed to
furnish the timber for the court house, and in May, 1825, they were called upon
to comply with their contract. John Hill built a stray-pen on the northwest
corner of the public square, and Augustine Passmore, the general purpose man,
was appointed Pound Keeper. As soon as Bloomfield started into life, Burlington
was abandoned by the half dozen families living there. Even the court house
there was torn down to be used in building the new. The County Justices in 1825
met at the tavern of Augustine Passmore, who kept the first public house and
sold the first groceries and liquor, beginning in 1824, and paying a license of
$5 per annum. In January, 1825, Otis Hinkley brought to the town about $800
worth of a general assortment of goods, and was thus really the first
storekeeper. He also took out a license to sell liquor, which he kept in the
back part of his store free for his patrons. At this time, the winter of
1825-26, there were about ten families in the little village which proudly
sported the sounding title of "county seat."

BUSINESS ENTERPRISES.

   Otis Hinkley was the first merchant. He kept calico, muslin, linen goods,
prints, a few notions, such as thread, needles, ribbon, hair-pins, etc.,
hardware, some queensware, boots and shoes, hats and caps. Within a year after
commencing, his stock was increased to over $1,000, as shown by his old license.
He sold glass, nails, etc., that were used in the construction of the court
house at Bloomfield and in the construction of many of the dwellings. In 1826,
James Greene opened a small store, but did not continue many years. It was in
this year also that Duncan Darroch started a store. He opened in July with over
$1,000 worth of a general stock, and was required to pay a license of $10. About
the same time, William M. Norris & Co. opened a store of goods worth about
$1,500. This stock was afterward doubled, and finally tripled and quadrupled. In
1827, M. Rust opened a tavern and sold liquor at his bar. The office of a hotel
was then always called a bar-room, and you will hear old settlers from habit
call it that yet. It was during this year also that Elijah Atkinson started a
small store. He did not continue many years. In 1828, Moses Ritter & Co. opened
a store with over $1,000 worth of goods. These stocks were nearly all brought by
teamsters from Louisville. Samuel Brooks commenced keeping tavern, and, of
course, sold liquor. By 1828, it is probable that Hinkley, Greene, Darroch had
retired from the mercantile business, having made their fortunes. Ruel Learned
began selling liquor and keeping tavern in 1828. Atkinson had so increased his
stock by this time that he was required to pay a license of $15 on his sales of
merchandise and liquor. In 1829, John and Robert Inman started with about $1,000
worth of goods. In 1830, the Inmans, Atkinson, Norris & Co. and Ritter & Co.
were the merchants. The town was by this time a thriving little place. A
schoolhouse had been built several years before; the Methodists and the
Presbyterians had small, though flourishing classes; a postal route from
Princeton via Petersburg, Washington, Bloomfield, Martinsville to Indianapolis
had been established as early as 1825, and put in action the following year,
with Willis D. Lester as the agent of Uncle Sam at Bloomfield; blacksmiths,
carpenters, coopers, lawyers, doctors, ministers, mechanics, artisans and
prospectors had come, a few frame houses and one brick house had been built, and
the population numbered about thirty families. Besides this, there was a
tannery, a distillery and a prospective carding mill and horse grist mill. As a
whole, the town had reason to be proud of its progress. The public spring in the
"hole" had begun to cause much trouble, and a few years before this a well had
been dug on the public square.

OTHER INDUSTRIES.

   In 1831, Andrew Downing opened tavern and a bar-room with liquor. Did all the
old settlers get their start by keeping tavern and selling liquor? Peter Hill
followed this business, beginning in 1832. In 1832, the Inmans had a big store
for so small a town; they established a branch at Fairplay. Soon after this, the
attention of merchants was turned to the profitable business of running
flat-boats down the river with loads of pork, grain, flour, etc. The Vanslykes
and others engaged in the business. John S. Moore opened tavern in 1833. Andrew
Downing brought on a stock of groceries in 1833, which he sold in connection
with his liquors. Benjamin Brooks started a small store in 1834.

   Early in 1835, Norris & Downing formed a partnership in the mercantile
pursuit. Lester, the Inmans, Brooks, Norris & Downing were the merchants early
in 1835, but later the same year Johnson & Wright opened a general store, and
James H. Hicks a tavern with liquor. Brooks increased his stock of goods to some
extent. In 1836, Norris & Downing seem to have dissolved partnership, for the
firm of Norris & Cushman was formed and launched into business. It was this year
also that Shryer & Shryer commenced merchandising. These men were William Shryer
and Marcus H. Shryer, the latter being the present banker and excellent citizen
of Bloomfield. In 1838, Thomas Patterson opened a store, and Lester S, Jones did
likewise. In November of this year, Hill & Terrell brought about $1,200 worth of
goods to the town and commenced selling. Andrew Downing seems to have started
again in business without a partner about this time. In 1839, Edward West
commenced selling from a general stock of goods worth about $2,000. In 1840, the
business men were Andrew Downing, O. T. Barker, L. S. Jones, John B. Stropes,
groceries; John Inman, Edward West, whose license was $20, and perhaps others.
The population at this time is said to have been about 250.

MANUFACTORIES.

   The tannery at Bloomfield had been built as early as 1823, by Cornelius
Vanslyke, and soon became well known and patronized. He tanned many deer skins,
and large numbers of skins of domestic cattle. He also tanned a limited number
of bear, wolf, coon, and skins of other wild animals. There were twelve or
fifteen vats, and the tannery ran twenty-five or thirty years, and was a
prominent feature of the early business enterprises of the town. It was owned by
various persons, Franklin and Anderson being two of them. Peter C. Vanslyke
started a small horse mill and a distillery at an early day, that were operated
with profit for a series of years. The mill was built to supply the distillery
with meal, and did not extend its usefulness much beyond that design. The
distillery had a capacity of about twenty gallons per day, and furnished a
market for corn that was appreciated by the early residents. Everybody drank
liquor then; it was regarded as one of the necessaries of life. The Vanslykes
and others ran flat-boats down Richland Creek, and thence down the rivers to
Southern markets. Considerable flour and grain were shipped from the old Fellows
Mill. Boats from up the river were daily passing, loaded with all kinds of
produce; and from numerous points of Greene County others were launched during
the flood seasons, and large quantities of pork and grain were sent down to
Southern markets. This did not take place from Greene County, however, until the
forties, and comparatively late at that.

   The carding mill at Bloomfield was erected early in the thirties. Mr.
Bannister is said to have been the builder. It was a rude affair, but did
considerable carding for a large section of country. Its machinery was operated
by horse-power. The venture did not get farther along in the business than
carding. The mill was afterward owned by Moses Ritter, Reuben Edwards, Mr.
Padgett, W. K. Routt, Hugh Livingston, John Cole and others, or, at least, these
men at times had some claims upon the property. It was abandoned about the year
1846. About the time it started, a saw mill was also built in the town, and was
operated for many years by cattle or horses walking in perpetual pain on an
inclined plane. Its usefulness and patronage were limited. These enterprises
gave the little town quite an aspect of thrift in the year 1840.

BUSINESS MEN FROM 1840 TO 1850.

   The merchants and grocers during the decade of the forties, in nearly the
chronological order, are as follows: O. T. Barker, L. S. Jones, John B. Stropes,
Andrew Downing, John Inman, Edward West, John Jones, Jr., 1845; Stephen
Lockwood, John Cole, Shelton Franklin, Augustus H. Johnson, 1846; E. M. Stanard,
Jeremiah L. Stropes, W. D. Lester, 1848; Moses Ritter, 1849; Dighton Bennett,
1849; and James Vanslyke, 1849. Several of these men sold nothing but liquor.
The leading merchants were L. S. Jones, Edward West and Augustus H. Johnson. No
manufacturing enterprises of note sprang into life in Bloomfield during this
decade. The old furnace was the center of attraction.

   It was during the forties, probably about the year 1846, that the citizens of
Bloomfield took steps to have the town incorporated. No definite information on
the subject could be found by the writer. It is said that the incorporation was
effected, and that a full quota of municipal officers was elected and regularly
installed for the transaction of business. Some work was done on the streets and
a few sidewalks built. A series of town ordinances was adopted, and their
enforcement begun, but within a year or two the municipal scheme was abandoned.

RESIDENTS IN 1845,

   In 1845, the following men, besides a few others, lived in Bloomfield: Samuel
Cavins, James Ferguson, W. D. Lester, Moses Ritter, E. P. Cushman, Joseph
Eveleigh, Hilton Wagoner, Henry Vanslyke, Adam Stropes, John B. Stropes, Edward
West, John Cole, William Scott (on poor farm), Dr. W. C. Smydth, Ruel Learned,
W. M. Norris, M. Rust, John McCarty, Samuel Brooks, John Jones, Benjamin Brooks,
A. L. Rhodes, A. H. Johnson, William Johnson, Drayton Ritter, L. H. Rousseau, R.
H. Rousseau, H. L. Livingston, Dr. William Freeland (east of town), John
Vanverse, Carpus Shaw, Thomas Patterson, Baum Bros., L. B. Edwards, S. H.
Lockwood, Shelton Franklin, John Anderson, James Hunter, E. M. Stanard, James
Vanslyke, Dighton Bennett, W. H. Yancy, William Mason, John Scott, Thomas
Anderson, A. J. Franks, John Knox, John Raper and others.

LATER BUSINESS ENTERPRISES.

   Early in the fifties, the business men of the town were about as follows: W.
D. Lester, James Vanslyke, Ed West, W. H. Yancy, John Cole, John Jones, Johnson
& Co., Stropes & Mason, Slinkard & Co., and many others too numerous to mention.
By this time the mercantile pursuit had become so extensive that no attempt will
be made to name the merchants. During the decades of the forties and fifties,
Bloomfield, then a little town of from 250 to 400 population, suffered much from
its not being on the canal, which began operations early in the fifties, and
from the fact that Richland Furnace was during that entire period the center of
attraction at the expense of the county seat. Reference to this furnace will be
found farther along. Immediately after the last war, when it became certain that
the present I. & V. Railroad was to pass through the county, strong efforts were
made to remove the county seat from Bloomfield, but although the town lost the
road, it managed quite easily to retain the seat of justice. The question is yet
agitated from time to time, and when a new court house will be erected lively
times may be expected. It was soon after the war that the town began to grow at
a more rapid rate. In 1870, the population was about 650. By 1880, it had
increased to almost 1,000, and at the present time (January, 1884), numbers
nearly 1,200. Efforts were made about the year 1874 to revive the corporate
status of the town, but nothing lasting was done. The completion of the Narrow
Guage Railroad in 1875 gave the town quite a boom, as will be seen from the
increased population in 1880. By this date (1880), many substantial brick
buildings had been erected, and Bloomfield, considering all things, was a good
trading point. In 1883, the following were the business interests of Bloomfield.

PRESENT BUSINESS INTERESTS.

   General merchandise-T. D. Huff, L. H. Stalcup, Gainey & Co., Combs, Warren &
Co., W. G. Jones, Hatfield & Lehman. Groceries-several of the above and Myers &
Co., and M. E. Slinkard. Hardware-Shryer & Co. and Huff & Rankin. Drugs-S.
Stalcup, A. Bryan & Co. and R. E. Eveleigh. Harness-George Hogle. Furniture-Ryan
& Lehman. Restaurants-F. Hubble, S. Edwards, Hains & Kaser, Thomas Warnick, E.
Hartzell, E. W. Adams. Milliners-Mrs. Hogle, Mrs. Brooks, Mrs. Lyons.
Saloons-Vanslyke, Livingston, Geddes. Hotels-National House, Exchange Hotel,
Commercial Hotel, Blount House. Livery-Hardy & Harris, G. R. Hartzell. Grain
Buyers-Dugger, Huffman & Co. Flour Mill-Newsom & Whetstone, Planing Mill-Shryer
& Templeton, William Fuller, Williams & Sons. Saw mills-W. W. Templeton and
Williams & Sons. Shoe-makers-T. C. Murray and John Landers. Barbers-H. Knauer
and William Himes. Marble Shop -L. T. Tate. Cabinet shops-Simon Lehman, Thomas
Ryan, C. B. Knapp. Meat Markets-Walker Bros., T. J. Woods. Banks-Bloomfield
Bank. Churches-Baptist, Methodist, Episcopal, Cumberland Presbyterian,
Christian, Lutheran (no building), Catholic (no building).

LATER MANUFACTORIES.

   The present large frame grist mill was erected twelve or fifteen years ago,
and was built by a company, some of the members being Col. Stough, W. W. Gainey,
Elijah H. C. Cavins, T. D. Huff, M. H. Shryer and others, and cost not far from
$10,000. It is well patronized and furnishes first-class flour, and is a credit
to the owners and the town. Templeton's saw mill was started ten or twelve years
ago. Its present capacity and patronage are very great. The Williams Saw Mill
was put in operation two or three years ago, and is actively at work. Each saw
mill has a planing machine at-attached. [sic] These are the leading
manufacturing establishments in late years.

THE FIRE OF 1883.

   On Christmas night, 1883, the fire fiend visited Bloomfield and devoured up
all buildings on the north side of the square except those on the corners. It is
supposed to have originated in the kitchen of White's restaurant. Among the
losers were W. G. Jones, dry goods; S. Edwards, Rose & Short, lawyers; S. W.
Axtell, lawyer; S. C. Cravens, building and drug store, heavy loser; Cravens &
Rankin, physicians; W. A. Robinson, building; R. A. Blount, sample room; G. H.
Geddes, on building and liquors, heavy loser; John Edwards & Son, dry goods; A.
Bryan & Co., drugs, heavy losers; John White, restaurant; W. F. Gallimore,
lawyer; J. R. Baxter, lawyer; J. O. Burbank; G. W. Osbon; M. H. Shryer, on
building, heavy loser; Bloomfield Bank, on building, heavy losers. The total
loss was estimated at $15,000, about two-thirds of which were covered by insurance.

BANKING.

   The "Bloomfield Bank" was organized in October, 1873, as a private bank, with
Marcus H. Shryer, T. D. Huff, F. M. Dugger, E. H. C. Cavins, Eli Farnham, Oscar
W. Shryer, Simeon Smith, Godfrey Shryer, E. West, H. V. Norvell and others as
stockholders. Marcus H. Shryer was President, and Oscar W. Shryer, Cashier. At
the expiration of five years, the stock company was dissolved by mutual consent,
and M. H. and O. W. Shryer continued the business as equal partners, under the
name of "The Bloomfield Bank." These gentlemen yet hold respectively the same
offices to which they were first elected under the old banking company. From the
beginning, the bank has enjoyed satisfactory prosperity and the unlimited
confidence of its correspondents and the county. Its management as a private
bank enables the proprietors to extend to its patrons more liberal terms than
are profitably offered by organizations under the National banking system.

SECRET SOCIETIES.

   Bloomfield Lodge, No. 84, F. & A. M., was chartered June 1, 1849, by E.
Deming, Grand Master, with the following partial list of charter members and
first officers: M. H. Shryer, W. M.; William Eveleigh, S. W.; William Mason, J.
W. This lodge is yet in existence, with a large membership, and with valuable
property. It owns its hall and building, and its present officers are: Dr. H. R.
Lowder, W. M.; J. N. Irions, S. W.; Theodore Mengis, J. W.; L. H. Jones,
Treasurer; William M. Moss, Secretary; W. W. Gainey, S. D.; Riley Spainhower, J.
D.; G. W. Osbon, Richard Huffman and H. S. Slinkard, Trustees. The early records
of this lodge cannot be found.

   Bloomfield Lodge, No. 457, Odd Fellows, was instituted by Past Grand Master
T. G. Beharrell on the 7th of July, 1874, the charter members being T. D.
Welker, F. M. Dugger, John W. Gray, Franklin Brown, D. S. Whitaker, James
Flater, Aaron Swords and H. S. Slinkard. The first officers were: T. D. Welker,
N. G.; D. S. Whitaker, V. G.; J. O. Burbank, Secretary; F. M. Dugger, Treasurer.
The lodge has been prosperous, has a present membership of fifty-five, and has
property worth about $1,000. The present officers are: George Calvert, N. G.;
John White, V. G.; George Hartzell, Secretary; Samuel Axtell, Permanent
Secretary; Emerson Short, Treasurer; Ed Eveleigh, S. C. Cravens and Emerson
Short, Trustees.

   In December, 1879, Lodge No. 1941, Knights of Honor, was organized with
twenty-seven charter members, but owing to too severe assessments, and other
troubles, real or imaginary, the charter was surrendered in 1882.

   On the 17th of June, 1871, Richland Lodge, 441, K. & L. of H., was organized
with twenty charter members. The lodge has run down much since the origin, but
still exists, with about half its original membership.

   Alcolade Lodge, No. 63, K. of P., was organized July, 1875, with the
following charter members: B. T. East, John W. Gray, S. Stalcup, George Geddis,
Frank Brown, Israel Stough, W. G. Jones, L. H. Jones, H. V. Norvell, J. H.
Irions, T. D. Welker, James R. Lester, A. H. Dobbins, J. H. Stalcup, W. I.
Baker. And the following charter members and first officers: H. R. Lowder, C.
C.; J. H. Irions, V. C.; W. I. Baker, K. of R. & S.: J. T. H. Brown, M. F.; B.
T. East, Prelate; John W. Gray, M. of Ex.; Israel Stough, M. of A.; George
Geddis, I. G.; James R. Lester, O. G.; A. H. Dobbins, H. V. Norvell and S.
Stalcup, Trustees. The last meeting of this lodsre was in the summer of 1876.

THE SCHOOLS OF BLOOMFIELD.

   The first school taught at Bloomfield is usually credited to E. P. Cushman,
though according to the oldest and best authorities incorrectly so. According to
the Vanslykes and Mrs. Lester, two or three or more terms were taught before Mr.
Cushman began. Mrs. Lester says the first term was taught near the cemetery the
second winter after the town was laid out- which would be the winter of
1824-25-in a log cabin, by a man named Bradford, who was probably not a relative
of Thomas Bradford. Mrs. Lester's maiden name was Tate, and at that time she was
twelve or fourteen years old. She went to Mr. Bradford, and as this school was
about the only one she ever had the fortune to attend, she no doubt recollects
the name of her teacher, as well as the date and circumstances. The children of
the Scotts, Robinsons, Vanverses and perhaps others attended. Probably the next
school was taught, as the Vanslykes think, on the hill east of the Hartzell
House, by some young attorney whose name cannot be recalled. They think another
school was taught there before Mr. Cushman began. Mr. Cushman probably taught
next, and really taught the first school of much interest or value. His school
was attended not only by the children near the town but by grown men and women
from several miles away. On Saturday, the teacher would work hard all day
hauling wood with oxen to last the coming week. In about 1827, the old log
schoolhouse was built, in which Mr. Cushman is said to have taught the first
school. This rude building was used continuously until about 1838, and was
taught in by Carpus Shaw and his brother, Nathaniel Shaw, Alfred Edwards, Mrs.
Alfred Edwards, John C. Brown, Mrs. Levi Fellows, Mr. Dobson and others. All
these schools were taught by subscription wholly or partly, for, in about 1830,
a small sum began to be realized annually from the sale of the sixteenth
section, which was used toward supporting the school.

   In about 1838, the brick schoolhouse which stood in the western part was
built, and was used continuously until about 1856-57, when the old county
seminary building took its place. John C. Brown is said to have been the first
teacher in the brick schoolhouse of 1838. Mr. Conant from Scaffold Prairie,
taught, it is said, in the old log house, and also in the brick. It seems that
Mr. Brown had some claim upon the brick building which was used for a short time
as a store. No doubt Mr. Cushman taught the best schools in the town prior to
the commencement of the series of terms by Mrs. Harrah, wife of Mr. Harrah, of
Worthington, in about 1843. It was at this time, for the first, that two
teachers were necessary to instruct the youth of the town. Mrs. Harrah was the
first to introduce modern modes of punishment and instruction. The old beech
whip, seasoned in the embers of the fire-place, was abandoned, and children were
controlled by moral suasion, and a well-graded condition of the school was
effected, thus adding scholastic system to the educational ritual, and thorough
discipline to the departments. Mrs. Harrah was a lady of fine culture. She wrote
a drama for a public exhibition of her school. The brick building was about
30x40 feet, and in the one room Mrs. Harrah and her assistants, Miss Latham and
Mr. Scott, Professor of Mathematics, held forth. Miss Bannister, nee, Mrs. Levi
Fellows, was Mrs. Harrah's assistant for a short time. They had at this time
about 100 scholars. Some of the higher branches, such as advanced analysis of
the English sentence, higher arithmetic, astronomy, natural philosophy, history
of the United States, algebra, Latin, etc., were taught by this talented lady,
and a thorough preparation was given students desiring to enter college. Aden G.
Cavins was thus prepared, as well as many other persons afterward eminent in
county and State affairs. After about 1845, the school lost much of its
usefulness and prestige, though it retained a standard that would compare well
with other schools of that day in places of the same size.

THE COUNTY SEMINARY.

   The old County Seminary building, two stories high, about 25x60 feet on the
ground, with two rooms below and two above, and hall between, and with long way
from north to south, was never used, so it is stated, as a County Seminary. It
was fully finished about the middle of the decade of the forties, and for a
series of years was used as a residence by Ruel Learned and others, as a Masonic
hall, and was not brought into use as a schoolhouse for the town of Bloomfield
until early in the fifties, and was not occupied continuously for that purpose
until about the time the old brick schoolhouse of 1836 was disused, or perhaps
two or three years before. It is said that in about 1854, or perhaps 1853, the
Methodists of the town obtained control of the building, and established what
became known as the Bloomfield High School, and placed in charge of the
institution (probably) Rev. M. Forbes, who, with one or two assistants, taught
something of a denominational school. A course of study was adopted, and printed
circulars were struck to advertise the merits of the high school-really an
academy. One or two other Principals had charge of the institution, one of them
being Rev. Mr. Keith. In 1857, the building and grounds seem to have reverted to
the county, as J. R. Baxter, in the autumn, became Principal of the school, with
which event the denominational character terminated. Mr. Baxter had three
assistants, and kept the high school, or select high school, or academy-, up to
the high state of excellence established by the Methodists. He commenced in his
room with seventeen scholars, and ended with about thirty, each of his
assistants having about the same number. A few students from abroad boarded in
the town and attended. The following April, the school gave a public exhibition
in the church, a large crowd being present. Declamations were delivered and
compositions read, and a school paper was read by its editors, Emma Ritter and
Eliza Vanslyke. Geometry, astronomy, higher mathematics, Latin, Greek, etc.,
were in the course of instruction in the school. At this time, Mr. Edwards
taught a district school in the town. Among the teachers who taught in the
seminary building, before or after Baxter's school, were Henry Vanslyke, Anna
Wines, Polly Lester, Mitchell Bond, Joseph Scott, Susan Cavins, one or more of
the Cavins boys, Aseneth Downing, Ivan Eveleigh, Joseph Eveleigh and many
others. Public money paid part ot the expense of these schools; this was true
when Mr. Baxter taught, at least. This proves that the schools were not wholly
select, but were, to a certain extent at least, open to the children of the
Bloomfield district.

THE SCHOOLS OF THE SIXTIES AND SEVENTIES.

   In 1863, the building and grounds were sold by the County Agent to the
Trustee of the district, and thus, at last, the property was really owned by
Bloomfield. Rev. P. B. Cook became Principal, and Misses McCord and Hunter,
Assistants-winter of 1863-64. They founded the present excellent school. Steady
growth in interest, discipline, method and attendance has taken place from that
time to this. The writer would willingly give a statistical outline of the
development of the school, but as no records could be found, none having been
preserved, this, unfortunately, cannot be done. Among the Principals, though not
given here perhaps in order, have been Profs. Bond, Mitchell, Odell, Johnson,
McIntire, Sturgus, Cullison, McLaughlin, Allen, Menges, and the present
Principal, Luther Frame, a graduate of the State University. The Assistants are:
1. J. H. Shields; 2. William Cushman; 3. Viola Hulse: 4. Mrs. Menges; 5. Mrs.
Backenstoe; 6. Mrs. Isenhower. The enumeration of the district in 1883-84 was
429, and the enrollment of the public school was 375. The present brick school
building was erected in 1877, at a total cost of about $8,000, by Moses Tatout,
contractor. The building is two stories high, is large, airy, well-ventilated
and seated, and is a credit to the town. A portion of the old seminary was used
in its construction.

   The first County Teachers' Institute was held in 1863 at the county seat in
the old seminary. It was organized by J. R. Baxter, Theophilus Jackson, Napoleon
Rainbolt, R. J. A. Corbley and others, who met in February of that year,
prepared a constitution, elected officers, and fixed the time for the first
institute in the following September. The attendance at the institute was not
more than eight or ten, and the interest was at a low ebb, and continued so for
several years, or until the School Examiner assumed control. Since then, and
since the Legislature has made provision for paying the expenses, County
Institutes have been held annually, with increasing interest and numbers.
Township Institutes have been organized in some portions of the county.

THE CHURCHES OF BLOOMFIELD.

   The following sketch of the Presbyterian Church was furnished by Col. E. H. C
Cavins: "The Bloomfield congregation of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church was
organized by Rev. A. W. Downey, on the 9th day of August, 1823, at which time
there were no regular pastors. Among the early ministers who preached
occasionally for the congregation was Rev. Hiram A. Hunter, who for many years
was a noted pulpit orator and revivalist in Northern Kentucky and Southern
Indiana. He preached at Bloomfield before and after the organization of the
congregation. He died in 1883, at an advanced age. The Rev. William McCluskey
was pastor as early as 1837. He was followed by Rev. Ephraim Hall, who preached
for the congregation, sixteen years in succession, and was afterward called for
shorter periods. He was followed by Revs. R. J. P. Lemmon, J. A. McMahan, W. T.
Ferguson, W. A. Medcalf, B. H. Blackwell, N. F. Gill, S. P. Marshall, and R. W.
Norris, the present pastor. Rev. Arthur Hicks, a local preacher of the church,
came to the county in 1829. His son, William C. Hicks, was one of the leading
men in the church, and for many years was a local preacher in the county. He was
noted far and near for his zeal as a Christian worker and his hospitality as a
citizen. It was mainly through his efforts and contributions of labor that the
church known as Hicks' Church was built. He died in 1876. Revs. William Turner
and W. T. Ferguson were sent out from this congregation, and are doing a good
work in their Master's vineyard. Sufficient records have not been kept to enable
one to give the relative eras of prosperity. During the four years and three
months of pastorate of Rev. Marshall, over 100 persons were received in the
church. There was $2,598.46 contributed for pastors' salary; $398.78 for
incidental expenses, benevolent purposes, missions, etc., and $140 for new
church fund. The congregation has never supported a pastor without the
assistance of neighboring congregations, and has never had the exclusive
services of a pastor. The church was built about 1850."

   It is believed that the Methodist Church at Bloomfield was organized about
the year 1825, though meetings were probably held a year or two before. The
organization was at the house of Elisha P. Cushman, and the first members were
the Cushmans, the Robinsons, the Scotts, Mary Lester, William Bannister and
wife, Abel Westfall and family, Dr. Freeland, several of the Ritters, Stephen H.
Lockwood and family, William Mason, the Milams, the Wagoners, the Browns, Peter
Tate and others, for five or six miles around. It is said that either Rev. Mr.
Armstrong or Rev. Eli P. Farmer or both organized this society. The first
meetings were held in the cabin of Mr. Cushman, and afterward in the log
schoolhouse, and still later in the brick schoolhouse. One of the early
ministers was an eloquent Irishman named McElroy. A large addition was made to
the church under his pastorate. Rev. Anthony Robinson was another early and
prominent pastor, and a man of deep piety and bright intellect. He donated forty
acres of land lying about a mile northeast of town, which when sold furnished
the money that built the Methodist Church in the forties. Other ministers have
been Revs. Cloud, Rose, Williams, Culver, Walker, Woods, Carson, Johnson,
Welker, Chapman, Eller, Martin, Ramsey, Read, and W. T. Davis, the present
pastor. In 1866, under Mr. Carson, over eighty were converted, and seventy-five
joined the church. The congregation has a neat frame house and is prosperous.

   The First Baptist Church of Bloomfield was organized in January, 1869, during
a series of meetings held by Revs. M. C. Clark, of Scotland, and I. Crothers, of
Martin County. The class was formed on Thursday evening, January 21, and
comprised O. T. Barker, Nancy Barker, Susan Cavins, E. P. Williams, Margaret
Williams, W. H. Smith, A. C. Flanagan and Emanuel Lagenhour. The meetings were
held in the Methodist Church. Others who joined soon afterward were Alice
Flater, Maria Flanagan, Angeline Bowers, J. M. Harrah and Jennie Myers. Early in
1869, efforts looking to the erection of a church were begun. Rev. M. C. Clark
became the first pastor, receiving $20 per month for one-half of his time. A
subscription paper was circulated to raise means to build the church. The
organization was duly recognized by the conference in July, 1869; Rev. B. F.
Cavins became the pastor in December. The membership continued to increase, and
a large addition in 1870, under the preaching of Rev. McNutt, about twenty-five
joining the class. The funds accumulated slowly, and in 1874 the present frame
church was built. Rev. B. F. Cavins preached the dedicatory sermon August 30,
1874; he was assisted by Revs, Stinson and Parks. The church debt at the time of
dedication was only $111. The class had no pastor early in the seventies, but in
1875 Rev. Jacob Cornelius was called. He was succeeded by Rev. McNutt. W. W.
Gainey joined the church in 1876; he had formerly contributed largely toward
erecting the building. He was elected Deacon. Other pastors have been Revs.
Chandler, McDowell and Gardner. The present membership is about twenty. The
class has no pastor at present. The Sunday school was organized by Rev.
Cornelius in 1875.

   The Bloomfield Christian Church was organized by Rev. Brinkerhoff in
December, 1874, with the following first members: William Templeton, George
Upfold, J. T. Lamb, Riley Quillen, M. Dugger, Elizabeth and Rebecca Templeton,
Hannah Upfold, Sarah Upfold, Elmira Quillen, Abbie Dugger, Nancy Lamb and
Margaret Kissel. The brick church was erected in 1875, at a cost of about
$3,000, and at the time of dedication had been almost paid for Among the pastors
have been Revs. B. M. Blount, W. H. Littell (vacancy), Tomlinson (vacancy), and
the present pastor, Rev. Treat. The class is at present fairly prosperous.
Samuel J. Axtell was the first Sunday School Superintendent. He was succeeded by
Mr. Lamb, but is the present Superintendent.

   The Lutherans have a small class that was organized a few years ago. Henry
Kessler, H. S. Slinkard, Mrs. Hindman and others belong. They have no building
of their own, but meet in the Baptist Church. The Catholics are organizing a
class. Mrs. I. L. Ramp, Joseph Wilson and family, and Dennis Murray are members.
They will no doubt build a church within a few years.

VAN BAYOU AND NEWTOWN.

   In the year 1836, when the arrangements were being made for the erection of
the court house, the County Agent was ordered by the County Board to lay out on
two small tracts of land of five acres each that had been donated by Peter
Vanslyke to the county two towns to be called respectively Van Bayou and
Newtown. The former was laid out first, and was on Lots 4 and 5 of Fractional
Section 34, Township 7 north, Range 5 west. The latter was on Section 27,
Township 7 north, Range 5 west, and was laid out later in the year. The lots, as
many as possible, were sold at the best price they would bring to raise means to
build the court house. The scheme was largely abortive, though a few sales were
made and perhaps a few houses were erected in these "paper villages." They were
soon abandoned, however.

RICHLAND FURNACE.

   From about 1841 to 1859, iron in various forms, native in large quantities on
Richland Creek, was manufactured at this furnace. The business was started by
Andrew Downing, who erected the necessary buildings and machinery, and commenced
manufacturing pig-iron, stoves, plows and all kinds of domestic hollow ware,
which were hauled by teamsters to Louisville for about $5 per ton. After two or
three years the enterprise was very much enlarged by the addition of better
machinery, a greater number of men and a blast furnace which had its first "blow
out," if the date is correct, in 1844-45. Some time after this, M. H. Shryer,
William Eveleigh and William Mason, became associated with Mr. Downing in the
business. A small steamboat called "The Richland" was purchased, and after that
made regular trips down the river loaded with pig-iron and iron ware. Other
steamboats were used. As soon as the canal was finished and boats were running,
the Furnace Company bought or made two or three boats which were used
continuously, conveying the iron products to the South. David Grant was the
early foundryman. The fuel used was charcoal manufactured at various pits near
by. About forty cords of wood were cut into lengths of about four feet, and on a
level piece of land were stood up on end around a central cavity which was
filled with kindling materials until a space thirty or forty feet in diameter
was covered, and on the top of this another layer of the wood was stood and
still another on top of this until the pit had the shape of a large flat bowl.
Leaves were then spread entirely over this, and then on the leaves was placed a
layer of earth five or six inches deep, with a few air holes on the sides, and
an opening at the top where the kindling below was lighted. It required an
experienced collier to manage the pit—to know how to regulate the air supply, to
know when the wood had all been suitably charred and to know how to smother the
fire in the pit. Some twenty or thirty men were constantly at work in this
branch of the business cutting and hauling the wood, forming and burning the
pits, and hauling the charcoal to the furnace. All this was under the
superintendence of a boss, as was also the mining of the iron ore. The bosses
usually took contracts of supplying the coal or the ore, and hired and
controlled the hands under them, and were paid for the coal or the ore—4 cents a
bushel for the coal at the pit or 7 cents delivered at the furnace. There were
sub-bosses and thorough system. The ore was furnished in the same manner by the
ton usually, and came out in chunks like stone. This was reduced, by heat before
being used in the furnace, to small pieces, like nuts. Layers of coal and ore,
one above the other, were formed at the furnace, and the coal burned, which
process reduced the ore to small particles. It was then put in the blast furnace
and the iron separated from the ash, stone, etc.

   In all departments of the business at its best stages, over 100 men were
employed. As high as from six to seven tons of pig iron were manufactured in a
day of twenty-four hours. The furnace ran day and night, two sets of hands being
employed. The business was very much increased in 1856, when a new engine of
about 100-horse-power was added. Hollow iron ware of every kind, kettles of from
seven to forty gallons capacity, stoves, plows, farm castings, mill machinery,
were turned out in large quantities. The pig iron sold in Louisville for from
$20 to $40 per ton, and the castings for about 10 cents per pound. Flat-boats
were used to some extent before the steamboat was bought or the canal built. The
highest prosperity was from 1856 to 1858. As high as 120 men were then employed.
John Eveleigh was book-keeper for a time, and then M. H. Shryer.

   In about 1856, all the partners except Mr. Downing left the concern, but the
latter was soon joined by Chauncey Rose, A. L. Voorhees and E. J. Peck, under
which new combination the business was greatly enlarged, the capital increased,
and the services of Henry Irons, an experienced iron manufacturer, of Kentucky,
were secured to manage the enterprise, and at the same time arrangements were
made to start other blast furnaces in the same neighborhood. A. J. Smedley was
book-keeper, and Benjamin Dawson foundryman. The hands were paid an average of
SI per day. From 40 to 45 per cent of iron was obtained from the ore. The
company owned a large tract of land, and had property, including everything,
valued at $200,000. A large grist mill and a saw mill were started in 1856, and
two years later the former was yielding a net profit of $2,000 per annum.
Downing had opened a store at the furnace early in the forties, mainly to supply
his men, and this was continued as long as the furnace was operated or longer.
M. H. Shryer owned the store late in the fifties, but moved to Bloomfield just
before the war. In about 1855, Mr. Downing founded a bank and began to issue
wild cat currency. By September, 1856, he had issued $5,000 of this paper in
denominations of from $1 to $20. The bank was called "Downing's Bank of Indiana
at Richland Furnace," and A. Downing was President, and E. H. C. Cavins,
Cashier. It is stated that a total of about $25,000 of this currency was issued.
In 1858, the merchants of Worthington pledged themselves to take no more of the
issues either of Downing's bank or any other founded on the same plan. A
flourishing village grew up around the furnace, and is said to have been larger
than Bloomfield. The families of many of the workmen lived there, and there was
the store, the grist mill, the saw mill, the bank, the charcoal burning, the ore
digging, the iron smelting, the hollow ware manufacture, etc., all of which
constituted a thriving village. The issues of the bank were not redeemed. The
mill was owned for a time by M. H. Shryer; it is running yet, owned by the
Hildebrands. Notwithstanding the enormous cost of transportation to remote
markets, the company realized handsome profits on its investment. In 1858-59,
trouble arose in the company, the canal on the south end was abandoned, and soon
afterward the furnace stopped. Gradually all business there was removed,
families moved away, and the old furnace and its adjuncts became non est.

THE BLOOMFIELD PRESS.

   It is said that the first newspaper issued in Greene County was called the
Comet; was Whig in politics; was published at Bloomfield as early as about 1836,
and was first edited by William Rood, and circulated more as a novelty than as a
medium of profit to the proprietor. It appeared very irregularly until about
1840, when it was managed by Alfred Edwards, during the Presidential campaign of
that year, favoring the election of "Tippecanoe and Tyler too." It was a very
small sheet, and after the campaign became defunct.

   The next attempt was not made at the county seat until after a long interval.
In 1860, a company of prominent Democrats was formed, stock necessary was
subscribed, and the office of Mr. Morrison's paper at Worthington was purchased
and removed to Bloomfield, and Elihu E. Rose, a man of versatile talents, was
made editor and manager of the paper. Among the stockholders were the following
men: John B. Stropes, W. P. Stropes, E. R. Stropes, H. V. Norvell, T. P. East,
W. D. Lester, J. M. Humphreys, W. G. Moss, G. C. Morgan, John Jones, J. I.
Milam, Dr. Connelly and others. The paper was named the Greene County Times, was
strongly Democratic, was the first of that politics issued in the county, and
the first number appeared on the 14th of April, 1860. The Democracy of the
county wanted an organ, and thus one was secured. In May, 1860, Mr. Rose secured
an assistant in the person of G. C. Brandon. The paper was a power in the county
during the hot political contest of 1860, and was continued by Messrs. Rose &
Brandon until about July, 1861, when Mr. Rose entered the army, though he still
continued to furnish editorial articles from the field. In November, 1861, Mr.
Brandon also entered the army, whereupon the issue was discontinued. It is
stated that James E. Riley revived it for a few months during 1862, but if so
the paper under him exerted no great influence.

   About the middle of November, 1862, Henry B. Woolis was secured by the
stockholders to edit and manage the paper, and continued thus with satisfactory
success until the 10th of November, 1863, when he was succeeded by E. B. Barnard
and James C. Nabb, who jointly edited it until June, 1864, when Mr. Nabb
retired, leaving Mr. Barnard sole editor and manager. Mr. Woolis changed the
name to the Southern Indianian. The motto of the paper was "The Constitution as
it is; the Union as it was." About the 1st of January, 1866, Clark B. Humphreys
became editor, but in March. 1867, was succeeded by James E. Riley, and he, late
in 1868, by J. R. Isenhower. Under Mr. Riley the paper was called the Bloomfield
Democrat, if accounts are reliable. On the 25th of November, 1868, the office
was taken charge of by Ogle & Leek, who continued the name Bloomfield Democrat,
and issued the paper with greater or less regularity until about 1873, though
during the latter part of that period sometimes months elapsed and no issue. At
that date, when some of the stockholders were dead and some moved away, W. P.
Stropes visited the remaining leading stockholders and secured an assignment of
the office to himself, and began issuing the paper regularly under the name
adopted by his predecessors, Ogle & Leek—the Bloomfield Democrat. He continued
the issue with increasing and sufficient patronage until the office was
purchased by the present owner, William M. Moss, in July, 1880. It was
predicted, when Mr. Moss took charge of the paper, that it would go down within
a year, but just the reverse occurred. The circulation not only greatly
multiplied but the job and advertising patronage as well. It is now one of the u
newsiest" county papers of the State, and is a credit to the skill, politics and
talent of its owner. It merits universal patronage. A Campbell printing press
was added to the office in March, 1882, at a cost of $1,065.

   In about June, 1865, Benjamin Cavins, a young man of bright promise,
purchased the office of the Worthington Gazette, removed it to Bloomfield, and
began issuing a Republican paper, called, it is said, the Banner. He continued
to issue it somewhat irregularly and probably with some assistance until about
July, 1867, when Mr. Morrison, of Worthington, bought back the office, and
commenced issuing at the county seat the Greene County Times, but the following
year, 1868, removed the office to Worthington. This paper was of course Republican.

   Late in the year 1869, W. C. Green founded at Bloomfield a Republican paper
called the Bloomfield Weekly Tribune, and published it until his death in the
autumn of 1871. The office lay idle, then, until the spring of 1875, when it was
revived by John W. Cooper, who began issuing a Republican paper called the
Bloomfield News. In the autumn of the same year, the office was sold to J. W.
Littell, who issued the paper about a year, when the property passed to O. W.
Shryer, who commenced to publish the sheet under the name Bloomfield News. His
first number was issued December 31, 1876. He conducted the paper until after
the campaign of 1878, when the ownership passed to W. H, Pierce, and the sheet
was issued by him until the summer of 1879, and was then purchased by George W.
Beard, who since then has remained at its head until the present. Associated
with him was Ot Herold, who, on the 1st of January, 1884, sold out to W. B.
McKee. The paper is well patronized by advertisers, and has a large circulation.
It is said that J. H. Seneff had some claim upon the office soon after Mr. Beard
assumed the ownership. This imperfect sketch of the press of Bloomfield is the
best that can be given.



Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

HISTORY OF GREENE AND SULLIVAN COUNTIES,
STATE OF INDIANA,
FROM THE EARLIEST TIME TO THE PRESENT; TOGETHER WITH INTERESTING BIOGRAPHICAL
SKETCHES, REMINISCENCES, NOTES, ETC.

ILLUSTRATED.

CHICAGO: GOODSPEED BROS. & CO., PUBLISHERS.
1884.

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