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

CHAPTER X.
BY JAMES W. HINKLE.

SETTLEMENT OF HAMILTON TOWNSHIP—FLAT-BOATING—PIONEERS—DEATH BY DAMPS—COUNTRY
SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES—SULLIVAN—THE SURVEY AND SALE OF LOTS—EARLY RESIDENTS—THE
MERCHANTS—THE PUBLIC SQUARE—THE RAILROADS—THE SCHOOLS OF SULLIVAN—THE HIGH
SCHOOL BUILDING—PRESENT BUSINESS—MILLS—LUMBER YARDS—THE WOOLEN FACTORY—OTHER
MANUFACTURING ESTABLISHMENTS—THE SULLIVAN BANKS—NEWSPAPER VENTURES.

THE county seat not having been located in this township until 1842, it had not
so much early settlement, and consequently not so much early history as some
other parts of the county. Yet a number of pioneer fathers found their way to
this part of the county, and availed themselves of its advantages, and endured
its privations at an early day. One of the first, and said to be the only man
who is still living, that came to Sullivan County with a wife and children in
1816, was Christian Canary. Some time after the close of the war of 1812, he
removed with his wife and three children, in a two-wheeled cart, to what is now
Hamilton Township; where he has resided ever since. He found three families near
enough to be called neighbors in those days—Charles Scott, Robert Polk and Moses
Milam—Charles Scott having brought hands from Vincennes to aid him in erecting
his first cabin home. Another pioneer of this township was Jordan Peter, who
came here in 1818. Jordan Peter was a pioneer, not only in the settlement and
civilization of this country, but a pioneer in Methodism. It has been said, and
we believe very truly, that he was one of the most earnest, pure-hearted,
sweet-spirited Christian gentlemen that this country has ever known. Another
pioneer father, and pillar in the same church, was Solomon Walls, who settled
here in 1819. He was a man of very great energy and perseverance; in labors
abundant in subduing the forests; providing for the wants of family and friends,
and aiding church and State. He built, and ran out of Busseron Creek not less
than fifty flat-boats of those built on its banks before the day of railroads.

FLAT-BOATING AT CALEDONIA.

   We give here a little sketch, the recollection of John C. Brodie, who came to
what is now Hamilton Township in 1817: Assisted Gen. Depauw, father of the Hon.
Washington C. Depauw, to load two flat-boats at Caledonia on Busseron Creek,
with pork and venison hams in 1833. The venison hams of these loads, from deer
killed in the vicinity, and bought by this one purchaser, were 700 pairs.

   Samuel Brodie, father of John C., was Captain of these boats in running them
to the Southern market. Owing to insufficiency of water at the time, they
experienced great difficulty in getting these boats out of creek into the Wabash
River, hanging on the dam at Ledgerwood's mill near Carlisle, shoving their
boats over the dam after very great contrivance and labor. By the time they
arrived ot [sic] the Ohio River, the season had so far advanced, that they
declined to proceed to New Orleans in the heated season, and stored their load
in a cave on the bank of the Ohio River; sunk their boats until fall, when they
re-loaded, and completed this enterprise in a little less than a year from the
commencement of purchase.

PIONEERS, EX-SOLDIERS, ETC.

   Richard Ingle, Edmond Boles (other early settlers), Peter Moore, Robert
McCreary, Abram McClellan, Joshua Walls, Benjamin Long, Andrew Mason, Robert
Gilkison, Dr. Job Walls, William Eaton, John Eaton, Charles Eaton, Edward and
William Marlow, Miner, Joel Thomas and William Rusher, Adam, Allen and William
Rains, Thomas and Jacob Marts, Samuel Oaks, Ezekiel McGarvey, George Plew, Ed
Liston, Hardy and John Hill. Thomas Nesbit, Champion and Richmond Shelburn,
Samuel McClanahan, Jacob Ridge, William Catlin, John Elliott, Jacob Borders,
Isaac Draper, Jacob Gray, Jacob B. Miller, Canada Hughs, Joshua Park, William
Eslinger, Elza Walls, James Eaton, John Conner, John Curtis, Gideon Curtis,
Thomas, Robert, James and Ransom Dudley, John C. Brodie, Samuel Brodie, Thomas
Creager, Preston Nash, David Huff, James Case, Jackson Rich, John S. and
Valentine Moore, B. B. Neal, Shacklett Rogers.

THE FIRST MILL.

   Thomas Hamilton was another pioneer, who owned the first little grist mill in
this part of the county, propelled by horse-power attached to a sweep, situated
on the farm since known as the Timmons farm, about one mile west of Sullivan.

DEATH BY DAMPS.

   On this farm, before the location of the county seat at Sullivan, James
Hamilton and James Crabtree lost their lives by going into a well, in which gas,
called damps, had accumulated. On the circulation of the petitions for the
re-location of the county seat at the geographical center of the county, this
was urged as an argument against it, by those opposed to re-location, that a
well could not be sunk here without men losing their lives.

INDIAN TRAILS.

   There was one Indian trail passing almost centrally through this township,
from the Lower Wabash to the Upper Wabash country, crossing Busseron Creek just
above the present Hamilton's Bridge, at the bend of the creek, passing north
through McClellan's Prairie, and almost centrally through the present town of
Sullivan. There being a camping ground about the southeast corner of the public
square.

COUNTRY SCHOOLS.
    The first schoolhouse built in .this township was about fifty years ago, a
log: house on the Gilkison farm, north of the road leading from Sullivan to
Merom, about one and a half miles from Sullivan. The first teachers in this
house successively were Jesse Ray, Preston Peter and Cynthia (Gilkison) Hadley.
Another similar schoolhouse was erected a little later south of William
Eslinger's. One near William Osborn's; one near Capt. Marlow's; one near Jordan
Peter's. Probably the first professional teacher who taught some of the first
schools in these houses was William McCreary, a very prudent Presbyterian
gentleman. Other early teachers of the township, Enoch Walls, Jackson O'Haver,
Milton McCreary and James Eaton.

    There are in Hamilton Township, sixteen good brick and frame school-houses,
in which public schools are being successfully conducted for about six months in
each year.

COUNTRY CHURCHES.

   There are but two church buildings in this township outside of the town of
Sullivan. The Palmer's Prairie Christian Church, near the northeast corner of
the township—a good frame church building—the pulpit having been tilled by Elder
A. Ward, and others. A Baptist Church, near the east side of the township—a
comfortable log church building, owned and occupied by the Old School Baptists.
William M. Moore engaged to fill the pulpit at the present. Other church
buildings contiguous to this township on all sides, but outside its boundaries.

SULLIVAN.

   The county seat of Sullivan County is situated in Hamilton Township, near the
center of the county, having the E. & T. H. R. R. running on its eastern border,
and the S. E. &. S. E. on its southern border. The town was located for the seat
of justice for the county in 1842, under an act of the State Legislature,
authorizing a re-location of the county seat, and requiring the same to be
located within one and a half miles of the geographical center .of the county.
The County Commissioners, William Reed, Samuel Brodie and Abraham F. Snapp, were
to designate the point. After several days spent in examination of the central
portion of the county, they fixed upon the present location, had the town plat
surveyed, and called it Benton. It was afterward ascertained that there was a
town of that name in the State, and William B. Baker, of Palestine, Ill., who,
aided by John H. Wilson and others, made the survey, when he made the plat and
placed the name Sullivan upon the same, which name it has been allowed to
retain, which was a great gratification to James Harris, the County Agent for
the sale of the lots, who was an ardent Old-Line Whig, and could not well endure
the name Benton. The survey was completed and signed up May the 25th, 1842.

SALE OF LOTS.

   On the 26th of May, 1842, the first sale of lots occurred, some thirty-five
lots being sold at public sale on this first day, at prices ranging from about
$20 to $100 each.

THE WALLS' DEED.

   The town, as per the original plat, was located upon eighty acres of land,
entered of the United States by Enoch Walls, March the 6th, 1838, as appears of
record in entry record in the Recorder's office of the county, and being the
west half of the northwest quarter of Section 34, Township 8 north, Range 9
west, and deeded by Enoch Walls and Nancy Walls, his wife, to James H. Reed as
County Agent, July 30,1841, to be laid off into town lots, and to be held, sold
and used as a site for the seat of justice for the county, and for no other
purpose, Mr. Walls reserving one-sixth of the proceeds of the sale of the lots
in his own interest. This original deed to the County Agent, and the record
thereof having been destroyed in the burning of the court house February 7,
1850, a deed was made in lieu thereof by Enoch Walls and Nancy Walls, his wife,
to James Harris, as County Agent, August 8, 1850, reciting the facts as set
forth in the former deed, and with the same reservation, as shown on Record of
Deeds, H or 8, page 396. Also a deed by Solomon Wails and Lucy Walls, his wife,
August 8, 1850, to James Harris, as County Agent, for the same eighty acres of
land, reciting that Enoch Walls and Nancy Walls, his wife, had sold and conveyed
to Solomon Walls his undivided one-sixth interest in and to the eighty acres of
land, and the lots laid out therefrom, and comfirming [sic] to James Harris, as
County Agent, all their right, title, and interest in and to the same, binding
it to the original purpose as a county seat, and retaining the one-sixth
interest in the proceeds of the sale thereof. Record of Deeds, H or 8, page 397.
Also, ten acres entered of the United States, by Elias Walls July the 20th,
1837, Entry Record, and deeded by Elias Walls and Margaret Walls, his wife, to
James H. Reed, as County Agent, July 30, 1841, to wit: Ten acres off the north
end of the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of Section 34, Township 8
north, Range 9 west. This deed and the record thereof having been destroyed by
fire, a deed was made in lieu thereof by the said Elias Walls and Margaret
Walls, his wife, to James Harris, as County Agent, August 8, 1850, specifying
the same purposes and conditions as the one made by Enoch Walls, and reserving
to the said Elias Walls the one-sixth interest in the proceeds of the sales
therefrom. Record of Deeds, H or 8, page 395.

   Also twenty acres entered of the United States by Job Walls August 6, 1838,
and deeded by Job Walls and Lovice Walls, his wife, to James H. Reed, as County
Agent, July 30, 1841, to wit: Twenty acres off of the east side of the northeast
quarter of Section 33, Township 8 north, Range 9 west. After the burning, as
heretofore, a deed was made by Job Walls and Lovice Walls, his wife, to James
Harris, as County Agent, August 8, 1850, confirming the same to the county for
the same purposes, and on the same conditions as the foregoing ones, and
reserving to Solomon Walls one-sixth of the proceeds of the sale of lots laid
out thereon. Record of Deeds H or 8, page 396. The interest of the eighty acres
of land deeded by Enoch Walls for this seat of justice was really in Solomon
Walls, the same having been deeded by Enoch Walls and Nancy Walls, his wife, to
said Solomon Walls. But the deed and the record thereof having been destroyed by
the burning of the court house, February 7, 1850, they severally make deeds, as
hereinbefore shown, to the County Agent. And Solomon Walls exchanged other land
to Job Walls to induce him to deed twenty acres for this purpose.

   Twenty acres off of the west side of the east half of the northwest quarter
of Section 34, Town 8 north, Range 9 west, was entered of the United States by
Matthew Mahan October 24, 1838, and deeded by him to James Harris as County
Agent March 29, 1842. This deed, and the record thereof being destroyed, a deed
was made in lieu thereof May 17, 1870, reciting the purposes and conditions of
the former one, and reserving to the said Matthew Mahan the one-sixth interest
in the proceeds of the sale of the lots laid out thereon. Deed record 8 or H,
page 338. Making in all of the original plat, according to the survey of May the
25th, 1842, 129 56/100 acres.

EARLY RESIDENTS OF SULLIVAN.

   In 1842, we find in Sullivan about four log residences—that of Hugh S. Orr,
Mason F. Buchanan, George Smith and Squire McDonald, and the blacksmith shop of
H. S. Orr. The county records being brought here in 1843 gave quite an impetus
to the little village. A. two-story frame court house was built on Washington
street, near the northwest corner of the public square; a two-story solid log
jail and jailer's residence on State street, on the Lot 66. on which the present
brick jail stands; a one-story frame hotel on the southeast corner of Section
and "Washington streets, by Sanders M. Howard, to which he soon added a
two-story and much more commodious addition, occupied by Howard only three or
four years, then kept by Washington Lilley for a number of years. We soon find
Dr. John E. Lloyd, Elias Albertson, Henry K. Wilson, Hon. James O. Allen, Dr.
James H. and D. B. Weir, John Bridwell, A. J. Thixton and James W. Hinkle, all
in one story frame residences on Section street; Joseph Gray in a two-story; a
two-story frame hotel, by John R. Mahan, on Court street, second lot from
northwest corner of Public Square; on Washington street, residence of Maj. Isaac
Stewart, Dr. William M. Crowder and of James H. Heed, and cabinet shop and
turning lathe, first of L. Stewart, soon after of F. C. Freeman; residence of M.
E. Chace, in the northwest of the town; of Daniel Turner, south of the square;
F. C. Freeman, southeast of the square; G. W. A. Luzader, at the south end of
Section street; two one-story frame store buildings on Washington street, near
the northwest corner of the Square, built by Maj. Isaac Stewart, of lumber sawed
entirely by hand with the whip saw by Redman and George Malone and others.
These, with a very few others, and a few little eating and drinking houses, was
Sullivan in 1848. These residents and their families, with John H. Wilson, James
B. Holloway, Drs. James and Samuel Thompson and Dr. John J. Thompson and few
others were the population of Sullivan in 1848.

   The first child born in the town was Mary J., daughter of Hugh S. and Frances
Orr, January 4, 1843.

   The only young lady in Sullivan in 1845 was Miss Margaret Doty, now Mrs. B.
C. Sherman.

THE MERCHANTS.

   The first merchants of Sullivan were the Weisard Brothers, of Louisville, for
a short time; Maj. Isaac Stewart, Christison & Crowder, and John Bridwell.
During the first five or six years, these early merchants kept little mixed
stocks of dry goods, groceries, boots and shoes, hardware, clothing, hats and
caps, drugs, etc. Their entire stocks amounting probably, in the aggregate, to
$4,000. As an illustration of the merchandising of that early day, a little
incident as related by Maj. Stewart himself would seem appropriate. After making
his trip to Louisville, Ky., and bringing his wagon loaded with the many
articles necessary to replenish his stock to his little frame store, the
question was how to arrange them so as to fill his shelves and show to the best
advantage. After arranging, and re-arranging, he still had vacant shelves. He
then opened his box of palm hats, and his bale of cotton batting, and spread
these out to fill the vacant shelves, and had just stepped back to determine if
his arrangement would do, when a stalwart young settler stepped in, took a view
of the situation, and said "Hi! you are pretty well jammed up here." The Major
said he thought that would do. The first political speech made in Sullivan was
by James Whitcomb, who was canvassing for the Governorship in 1843. The first
election held in the town was in 1844. The first sermon preached in the town was
by Rev. Silas Osborn, who was afterward elected to the State
Legislature—objected to by some of the electors during his canvass, on account
of his ministerial office, but he convinced them that he was not a preacher to
hurt, and was successful.

THE COURT HOUSE SQUARE.

   Near the center of the original plat of the town of Sullivan is the public or
court house square, 300 feet each way, containing a little over two
acres—surrounded by a substantial iron fence, and carpeted with a rich sward of
lawn grass, and well set in forest trees, growing luxuriantly, making a
beautiful park—in the center of which stands the present court house, with an
elevated foundation of solid stone, the succeeding two stories being of brick,
with Mansard slate roof, and a magnificent cupola, about 120 feet in height,
which, under favorable circumstances, can be seen from Merom, which is nine
miles distant.

THE RAILROADS.

   The E. & C. Railroad, now the E. & T. H. Railroad was completed from
Evansville to Terre Haute late in the month of December, 1854. In 1856, this
road ran one mail train north and one south each day, and a freight train north
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and south Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
Now we have six passenger and six regular freight trains passing over this road
each day.

THE SCHOOLS OF SULLIVAN.

   The first school building erected in Sullivan was a very good two-story brick
building, known as the County Seminary; builders, F. G. McGrew and James Pound.
The building was erected in 1844, by the county under the old seminary law. Mr.
A. J. Mails taught the first schools in this building, teaching some two years.

   In the fall of 1848, the Trustees, Joseph Gray, Dr. William Crowder and A. J.
Thixton, employed James W. Hinkle to take charge of this school, which he did in
October, 1848, continuing in charge thereof for three years, until the
abolishing of county seminaries by act of the State Legislature. During these
years, the one teacher was teacher of primary, intermediate, grammar and high
school departments. Having charge of all those of school age in town and
vicinity, and many young gentleman and ladies from contiguous counties, and if
the teacher of to-day thinks his labors too arduous, let him take seventy-five
students, all grades, from the alphabet to the higher mathematics, Latin, etc.,
and try that. And when we remember the absolute moral control exerted by the
teacher in those days over all those brought under his influence both in and out
of school, we fear that the new devices have not been improvements. As an
example, a widow lady of Knox County removed to this town to give her
fifteen-year-old son the advantages of this school. Not having been accustomed
to this kind of confinement and labor, he became restless, and took to the
streets and elsewhere for pastime. The mother appealed to the teacher, the
teacher appealed to the young man, with a statement of the trouble and expense
that the mother had been to, to give him the privileges of the school, and the
order now was positive that while she remained, he must be in his place; if not,
there would be a penalty, if it had to be imposed in the street, and he was in
his place henceforth. Neither did we expel a lad from twelve to fifteen years of
age in those days for insubordination. "When a case of this kind occurred, it
was "you walk the chalk or there will be a conflict right here, and now " —and
he walked every time.

   During the years from 1852 to 1872, some very good work was done in teaching,
both public and private schools in this new town; and in the performance of this
work, quite a number of teachers were successively engaged, the number and names
of which we may not be expected to give in full, without some record to which to
refer. But of these were Prof. Penfield; Prof. Wilkey, Mr. and Mrs. I. W. Booth,
James Booth, Prof. J. H. Gans and his sister, Miss Hal Gans, afterward Mrs. Dr.
Tuttle; Miss Stow ell and Miss Alexander, Mr. and Mrs. Sylvester Coffey, a Mr.
Thair. Charles R. Wallace, John Osburn, Prof. Morton, Mrs. Carrie Russell, Clark
McIntire, S. T. Langdon, Mrs. Hanchett, Mrs. Ada Young, Miss Jennie Young, the
Rev. Montgomery, Prof. Cain et al.

   Some of these teachers, Mr. and Miss Gans at least, were employed by a school
stock company, to take charge of the school there. Directors or Managers for
said company: Bowyer E., Brodie J. W., Briggs J. W. Basler F., Briggs M.,
Hammill S. R., Hinkle J. W. [sic]

   Miss A. A. Clement, of Newberry, Vt., was also employed by this county in
1866, to take charge of a select school here, which she did for about two years,
with very general satisfaction to pupils and patrons. This first school building
after the passage of the law abolishing county seminaries was sold to the town
for school purposes, and after the erection of the new school building in 1872,
the old one was sold to the Masonic fraternity.

THE HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING.

   The new school building here was erected in the spring and summer of 1872. at
a cost of $25,000. It is an elegant three-story brick structure, on the second
block north of the court house square, and is said to be one of the finest in
the State in architecture and furnishing. It contains nine recitation rooms,
with a capacity for seating 600 pupils, exclusive of the literary hall, which
has a seating capacity for 500 persons. The building stands on a beautiful lot
of about two acres inclosed by a substantial iron fence. We may say here that
Sullivan has been most fortunate in the erection of her public buildings, very
few counties or county towns in the State having so good, so commodious, and so
beautiful public buildings with so little burden to the citizens, the entire
expense of their construction having been paid. After the completion of this new
school building in the fall of 1872, the Trustees employed Prof. VV. T. Crawford
to take charge of the same, which he did, associating with himself, and as
assistant teachers, Profs. John T. Hays, W. H. Cain, A. P. Allen, J. C. Adams
and the Misses Amanda Debaun, Sarah Cain and Alice Hawkins. Under their
management and training the school became very prosperous and efficient, there
being in addition to all the students of the town about 100 foreign students in
the high school department. And we deem the words of one very apt who said he
had never known students trained and fitted so rapidly for teaching and other
business pursuits as was being done in this school by the unusual interest and
vigor with which they were inspired.

   Since that period very prosperous schools have been maintained in. this
building during almost the entire year. When the town school year closes, the
Principal and others organize for a term of normal training, which has been very
successful and very beneficial to those availing themselves of its privileges.
During the last three years this school has acquired a great regularity and a
high state of excellence under the superintendence of Prof. O. J. Craig, Prof.
Craig having been given a position in Purdue University. Prof. J. C. Black is
the present Superintendent. The acting Trustees at present are T. K. Sherman and
Murray Briggs.

MERCHANTS OF THE PAST.

   From the year 1848, when the few merchants of Sullivan had just made their
start in the mercantile trade, until 1884, of course quite a number of changes
have occurred in this business, but perhaps fewer than is customary in a period
of time of this length, of the early merchants, John Bridwell was quite a
successful one, accumulating quite a good estate from a very small beginning.
Another of the successful merchants of Sullivan, who had removed from this
place, was William Wilson. Many others have been in this business here for
longer or shorter periods, some of these, George Parks, James Reed, H. K.
Wilson, Price Bros., L. Stewart, Joseph L. Merrill, M. E. Chace, James Kelley,
W. B. Ogle & Co., George Manwarring, W. G. Hinkle, Charles Scott, Thompson
Bros., J. W. Wolfe, John Giles & Sons, M. B. Wilson & Bro. and others. Many of
the present merchants have been in this business for years, and are recognized
as fixtures therein.

THE PRESENT BUSINESS.

   The improvement or growth of the merchandising of the .town has not been
rapid as compared with some towns or cities, but has been regular and
continuous, conducted at present as follows:

   Dry goods—W. G. Young & Co., T. K. Sherman & Son, George Parks & Co., Gill &
Royse.

   Hardware, farming implements, etc.—Jake F. Hoke, Davis, Engle & Davis, Brewer
& Burton.

   Family groceries—Mason Bros., Carrithers Bros., Wilkey & Allen, Curry &
Curry, R. H. Crowder & Co., Whitman & Whitman, W. Whitman, Squire Draper, Edmond
Leach, B. Koltinsky.

   Furniture—Crawley & McKinley, Brewer & Burton.

   Sadlery and harness—J. P. Stratton. M. Kirkham & Son, Crowder Bros., S. Shalter.

   Clothing—Solomon Goodman, McCammon & Wolfe, M. Clanahan & Brocaw, J. B. Abell.

   Boots and shoes—Troll & Burks, Miles & Crowder, J. W. Hinkle, Nelson Wilkey.

   Confectioners—J. A. Ritter, J. C. Ridge, W. C. Barrett, E. L. Allen.

   Queensware and glassware—Whitmam & Whitman.

   Millinery and fancy notions—Mrs. A. M. Knotts.

   Drugs, etc.—Crowder & Reed, Jamison & Marlow, William H. Burks, Weir & Reed,
Mayfield & Co.

   Three barber shops—Jethro Bass, J. B. Allen, Charles T. Bass.

PLANING MILLS AND LUMBER YARDS.

   J. F. Hoke and A. B. Stansil, proprietors. A. B. Stansil, manager.

   In addition to a planing mill business, they deal in shingles and lath, and
contract for the erection of buildings. They work some 500,000 feet of lumber
yearly. The mill was built in 1870, by William Greenlee, Craven Reed and John H.
Robertson. Mr. Reed lost his life by injuries from a buzz saw in the mill, soon
after its completion.

    Greenlee & Robertson ran the mill until 1875, when A. B. Stansil bought
Greenlee's interest, and he and Robertson ran it until 1879, when J. F. Hoke
became the sole owner. Mr. Robertson ran it one year for him, when Mr. Stansil
took his place, and in the spring of 1881, took an interest in it again, and is
running it in his own and Mr. Hoke's interest.

   James Devol & Sons have a planing mill, and Albert Hopewell has a lumber
yard, on the northwest corner of Section and Jackson streets. Good, well
seasoned lumber may be obtained here in any quantity desired, and will be
dressed by Devol & Sons, and worked into any form to suit the fancy of the
builder. Mr. Devol is a genius, and it has become a proverb "If you have a job
that no one else can do, take it to Devol." He and his sons have a repair
machine shop and gunsmith shop on his planing mill lot, and are prepared to do
all kinds of work in this line.

   Barney Saucerman is a pioneer gunsmith of this county; has his shop on Beech
street, near Broad street. Mr. Saucerman makes an elegant new gun, or does any
kind of repairs in this line.

WOOLEN FACTORY.

   S. Brunger, W. E. Aydelotte and J. W. Brunger, south of the E. & T. H. depot.
This mill was built in 1864, by Jewett Bros.; they ran it for two years, and
then left it on the hands of Chauncy Rose, of Terra Haute, who furnished the
money for its erection. Hill & Milner then ran it for a time. Hill then sold to
Philip Thurman, and he and Milner continued to run it. George L. Speak bought
Milner's interest, and he and Thurman ran it for two years: then Speak bought
Thurman's interest and ran it alone until 1877; then let it stand idle one year.
In 1879, Brunger and Whipps (George) and Aydelotte bought it, and have done good
work with it ever since. In 1880. J. W. Brunger bought Mr. Whipps' interest. The
Brungers are natives of Canada; came tn Ohio in 1852, to Sullivan in March.
1S79; have been in this business all their lives. Mr. Aydelotte dates in
Kentucky. 1850; came to Sullivan in 1880. They manufacture yaros, flannels,
jeans, blankets, etc. Their factory has a capacity of 80,000 pounds of wool per
year.

   Merchant and exchange flouring mill, James S. Reid and James T. Reid, North
Section street. This mill was built in 1850, by Solomon Walls, M. E. Chace and
James W. Hinkle. In 1855, James S. Reid moved from Pleasantville and bought the
interest of Chace, and soon after that of Walls, and he and Hinkle ran it until
1872, when J. T. Reid bought Hinkle's interest, and in 1874, sold to his father.
In 1880, he again bought a half interest of his father. In the spring of 1881,
they shut down and spent in additions and repairs $18,000. They have one run of
corn stones, three run of wheat stones and two sets of patent rollers. This mill
has now all the latest and most improved machinery for manufacturing the finest
grades of flour. Mr. James S. Keid is one of the pioneers. He was born in North
Carolina, July 22, 1802; moved with his parents to Jefferson County, Ky., in
1808, and to Indiana, this county, about the close of 1819. There are in
Sullivan three good flouring mills.

   George Bauer & Son, merchant and exchange flouring mill, south of the E. & T.
H. depot. This mill was first built at Scottsville, near Carlisle, by A. Van
Fossen, and moved by him to Sullivan in 1865, and sold to Mr. Neal in 1866. It
has been changed and added to so often by Mr. Neal, that little or nothing of
the old mill remains. In the fall of 1882, he made extensive changes, converting
it into a complete roller mill, with eleven sets of rollers, and capacity of 175
barrels of flour per day. In the latter part of 1883, Mr. Neal sold to Messrs.
Bauer.

   Flouring mill of Jetson and Thomas Eaton and Charles Parks, on the northeast
corner of Section and Jackson streets. This was a little mill built several
years ago by John Whitman. After changing its ownership a number of times during
the year 1883, the present company became associated in its ownership, and in
the summer and fall of that year razed it to the ground, and thoroughly
reconstructed it, putting in new and improved machinery, and now do first-class
work.

RURAL MACHINE WORKS.

   Stationary or portable engines, mill machinery, coal shaft machinery,
reapers, mowers, threshers, cane mills, etc., repaired, chilled plows sharpened,
gas and steam pipe cutting and fitting, etc., etc.; shop near the E. & T. H.
depot; Rost & Heiny, proprietors.

MARBLE AND GRANITE WORKS.

   P. McEneney, proprietor, manufacturer and dealer in all kinds of plain and
ornamental cemetery work, monuments, columns, urns, vases, spires, tombs, and
head stones, made of the finest grade of Italian and American marble.

   Sullivan has two carriage factories, both making very elegant and substantial
work. E. J. C. Hilderbrand, on Court street, south of W. Gr. Young's store,
makes the very finest grade of work, in carriages, phaetons, etc., in style to
suit the most fastidious, or the lower priced to suit the customer, in solid work.

   J. H. Welling, north of Sullivan, builder of fine carriages, buggies,
phaetons and spring wagons, builds his work in very tasty and neat styles, and
is thoroughly modern, and up with the times. John B. Gouldy, manufacturer and
jobber of tinware, roofing, spouting, guttering, etc.; shop on Court street,
opposite Davis' hardware store.

   Two professional and practical dentists—Dr. W. T. Allison, office second
story, No. 13, west side, extracting, filling and putting in teeth. Dr. William
Bucher, over No. 8, south side, also doing the various kinds of dental work.
John Shields, west of Sullivan, grower of sweet potatoes and all other vegetable
plants in their season.

BRICK AND TILE YARDS.

   There have been some three or four brick yards vigorously run for several
years in the immediate vicinity of Sullivan, supplying this demand with brick,
though not so smooth as those made in some localities, yet, when well burned, of
a hardness and tenacity that will cause them to last for generations. Present
brick yard firms: Willoughby Nichols, J. B. Clark, Orr Brothers and Chrisman
Brothers. The latter firm, Jo and Harvey Chrisman, whose shackles fell off in
Kentucky, during the war of the rebel lion, allowing them to make brick in their
own interest, now own their residences, their own brick yard and implements, and
a good farm in the vicinity of the town.

   Pollock Brothers have a tile factory by the coal shaft, near the E. & T. H.
depot. They use fire or potter's clay from under the first vein of coal, 210
feet below the surface, which makes the best quality of drain or sewer tile; is
of a buff color until taking a salt glaze. This clay is well adapted to making
roofing, tile or terra cotta ware.

   It is impossible in a sketch of this kind to give every business the notice
and description to which it might be entitled. Most of the business firms
mentioned herein are in good two-story brick buildings, inclosing the square on
the north, west and south. The hardware houses are commodious, with very
extensive warerooms, contiguous to them. So of most other of the business
houses, they would be very creditable in any city. And according to estimate
just taken, their stock in trade is of the aggregate value of $250,000.

COAL SHAFTS.

    One coal shaft opened near the Evansville &, Terre Haute Railroad depot, by
Hanford Bros., reaching two inexhaustible veins of good coal at 210 and 260
feet. This mine went into the hands of the Shelburn Coal Company August 19,
1879, and Hugh Mocre is the local managing agent Many other coal shafts are
being sunk in the vicinity, as the geological report of this county will show,
and the almost inexhaustible mine of wealth in the coal beds underlying almost
this entire county.

SAW MILLS.

   There have been a number of saw mills in this vicinity. The first on the brow
of the hill on North Section street, an inclined tread-wheel, run by ox or horse
power, built by Elias Albertson for Solomon Walls, and sawing but a few hundred
feet per day. Afterward, those propelled by steam, sawing great quantities of
lumber, by A. F. Riley, W. H. Power, W. C. & R. M. Griffith, Curtises, Perkins
and others, but these have all been discontinued or followed the timber into the
interior of the country.

THE SULLIVAN BANKS.

   The first banking business in the town was done in the fifties, by one or
more of the merchants, who issued a limited quantity of "shinplasters," owing to
the great scarcity of small change at the time. This money, if such it can be
properly called, circulated quite readily, first at par, but later at a steadily
increasing discount. It was convenient, however, even if it was dangerous to
handle, for it could not be told at night that it would be worth a picayune the
next morning. Much of it was never redeemed, and was a loss to the holders.

   The Sullivan County Bank, the oldest institution of the kind in the county,
is situated at the southwest corner of the public square; W. H. Crowder,
President; George R. Dutton, Cashier; James M. Lang, Clerk; capital stock and
surplus, $114,000. William H. Crowder, Jake F. Hoke, John H. Wilson, David
Crawley, Joshua Dix, William Dix and O. H. Crowder constitute the partnership.
W. H. Crowder and G. R. Dutton have both grown up with Sullivan; Mr. Crowder in
the hardware and implement trade principally, and Mr. Dutton in the grocery
trade. They were well known, and their business reputations well established,
before they engaged in banking; and the stockholders in this bank are of the
most reliable men of this community.

   The Farmers' State Bank, John Giles, President; M. P. Wilson, Cashier; W. E.
Crawley and C. R. Hinkle, Clerks; Dr. J. R. Hinkle, W. G. Young, John Giles and
M. P. Wilson, Directors; capital stock and surplus, $61,000. In 1870, the
Sullivan County Bank was founded, and in 1872 merged into the First National
Bank. In 1875, a bank of Vigo County was moved to Sullivan, and in 1877, the
Farmers' National Bank was founded, the First National having gone into
voluntary liquidation. In December, 1883, the Farmers' National Bank was changed
to the Farmers' State Bank, the Directors declining to pay the premium necessary
to procure United States bonds upon which to operate as a National Bank, their
former bonds having been called for redemption. The bank is situated at the
northwest corner of the square. The bank and its President have the utmost
confidence of the county.

   The effect of the present reliable currency, both the greenback and other
issues by the United States, and the currency of the National Banks secured by
Government bonds, as compared with the former currency of individual banks under
the laws of the State, the value of which could not be determined a day
beforehand, whether it would be one hundred per cent, fifty per cent,
twenty-five per cent, or less, has been very healthy upon the financial
transactions of the country.

NEWSPAPERS.

   One of the most remarkable men that has ever published a paper in Sullivan
County was John W. Osborn, the history of whose life and labors we gather
principally from a sketch by his son-in-law, Judge S. B. Gookins, who terms him
the pioneer editor of the Wabash Valley, and we would add, one of the pioneer
editors of this continent. He was born at St. John, New Brunswick, February 7,
1794. Prior to the war of 1812, he was associated with Col. Joseph Wilcox in
publishing the Upper Canada Guardian and Freeman's Journal. His love of liberty
and his belief in the justice of the American cause prompted him, on the
breaking-out of the war of 1812, to leave country and friends (father, brothers,
and others of his family, being in high military positions in the British
Government), and cross to the United States, and join the American Army.

   At the close of this service, we find him taking charge of and publishing the
Cortland Republican, in Cortland County, N. Y., until 1816. During this time he
was an ardent and devoted advocate of the United States Government.

   In 1817, in a trip of almost two months, in company with Lucius H. Scott, he
wended his way from New York State to Vincennes, then the far West, in the new
State of Indiana, arriving on the 6th of June. He entered the office of the
Western Sun, the first paper published in Indiana, by Elihu Stout. He soon
secured the charge of this office, and became the champion of the rights of the
colored man, as well as of the white man, as many in this vicinity had held
their slaves until this time, and the Constitution of this new State now
prohibited slavery.

   The effort was now being made to still hold and run them to the Southern
States, and realize all the profit possible out of them. He and others defended
the colored man; carried the question to the Supreme Court, and obtained a
decision which forever set at rest the question of slavery in Indiana.

   On the 21st of July, 1823, Mr. Osborn issued the first number of the Terre
Haute Register, the first paper published in that village. In 1834, Mr. Osborn
published the Ploughboy, in Greencastle, and a small temperance paper called the
Temperance Advocate; which he enclosed gratuitously to ail the subscribers to
the Ploughboy.

   This was the first temperance paper published in the West. He also becomes
here an ardent advocate of liberal education, and is made one of the first
Trustees of Ashbury University. In 1838, we find Mr. Osborn at Indianapolis,
publishing the Indiana Farmer and Stock Register, and continuing his temperance
paper.

   Upon the breaking-out of the war of the rebellion in 1861, Father Osborn
takes his place in Sullivan, publishing a small war campaign paper, called the
Stars and Stripes, doing valiant service in the cause of his country, and for
the perpetuity of the Federal Union. How wonderful and how grand, the life and
the labors of this noble, yet modest man. In labors, abundant. For a full half
century constantly battling, and that often in the face of bitter and violent
opposition, for justice, for liberty, for the good of the farmer and the
stock-raiser, for every moral and social reform, for temperance, for education,
and in this, his seventh and last enterprise of this kind, as we have traced
them, which is the perfect number, for the life of the greatest and best
government the world has ever known. This battle fought, the Stars and Stripes
was discontinued. Since the 12th of November, 1866, Father Osborn rests from his
labors at Greencastle, Ind.

   The Sullivan Democrat was started in August, 1854, by James M. Mayes, of
Vincennes, Ind., who issued but one number, when it fell into the hands of a
printer by the name of Samuel Farley, who issued two numbers. In October, 1854,
the present editor, Murray Briggs, bought the material, and has issued the
Democrat without intermission ever since. Mr. Briggs is from Newark. Ohio, and
while probably not the oldest editor in the State, he has been with the Democrat
longer than has any other editor been with any other one paper. Much of the time
since 1854, the Democrat has been without opposition or competition in the
county, a circumstance which has made it a valuable property. The present
proprietors and publishers are Murray Briggs & Son. The Sullivan Democrat first
appeared as a five-column folio, but had been enlarged at different times until
it was of a respectable size for a town of the population and business of
Sullivan. In 1869, a cylinder press was put in the office, and in 1881, steam
was introduced. In June, 1883, the paper was changed to a semi-weekly, in which
form it has since regularly appeared, giving fresher local news to its patrons,
and being the first departure from the weekly publication in the county. Office
on the north side of the public square.

   The Sullivan County Union is owned and published by our worthy Postmaster, U.
Coulson, and is the organ of the Republican party of the county. It was started
in the county by Isaac M. Brown, of Terre Haute, in September, 1867, and by him
sold to U. Coulson in November, 1872. By Coulson sold to James A. Hays in 1874,
and by Hays to U. Coulson again in 1883. The Union being the organ of the
Republican party, is one of the institutions of the county, and a valuable
property. Office over the Sullivan County Bank, at the southwest corner of th9
courthouse square.

    The Sullivan Times newspaper occupies the second floor of Masonic building.
The Times was started by George W. Basler as The True Democracy, February 4,
1878. In April, 1881, he sold to the present proprietor, Dr. J. C. Bartlett,
from Marietta, Ohio, who issued his first number May 7, 1881, and changed the
name to that it now bears. The present proprietor, in June, 1882, traded the old
presses for new ones. A Prouty-power and a Universal jobber have added very
largely in types and other appliances, thus making the Times office one of the
best equipped country offices in the State.

   About the year 1874, M. B. Crawford and Samuel Marts conducted a small weekly
newspaper in Sullivan called The Banner, of general and local news, and in the
interest of the Grangers. They sold an interest in it to William Eckles. In
1875, Stark & Evans were the proprietors, ran it for a short time, when it was
discontinued. Other short-lived papers have been issued at the county seat.


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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