Sullivan County IN Archives History - Books .....Chapter XI 1884 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/in/infiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com June 14, 2006, 9:50 pm Book Title: History Of Greene And Sullivan Counties, Indiana CHAPTER XI. BY JAMES W. HINKLE. SULLIVAN CONTINUED—THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH—THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH—THE BAPTIST CHURCH—THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH— THE CATHOLIC CHURCH—THE SONS OF TEMPERANCE—THE ODD FELLOWS—THE MASONS—INCORPORATION—OFFICERS—POPULATION—POSTMASTER—STREETS AND SIDEWALKS—CONCLUSION. THERE are in Sullivan five Christian Church organizations, each with its own house of worship, to wit: The Methodist Episcopal, the Presbyterian and Reformed Christian have erected good brick buildings, the Baptist and Roman Catholic, frame buildings. We will give here a sketch of each of these churches, furnished principally by the pastors thereof. The first church erected in Sullivan was the Methodist, in 1846. The following sketch is by the Rev. J. A. Scamahorn. The history of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Sullivan is like the history of the Methodist Episcopal Church elsewhere. Wherever there were men and women to be saved, there went the inevitable circuit rider, with his saddle-bags, Bible and hymn book, carrying words of cheer and comfort to the believer, and forgiveness and peace to repentants. So when the people of Sullivan concluded to build a town, and make it the county seat of Sullivan County, and build a house as a court of justice, the fathers of the church concluded to build a house, and proclaim from its altars mercy to dying men. And when the town was almost a wilderness, with scarcely one hundred inhabitants, under the superintendence of the Rev. James R. Williams a good frame church was erected on the west side of the public square, in 1846. This good work was performed by a few of the pioneer fathers of civilization and of Methodism—such as Jordan Peter, who came to this vicinity in 1818; Solomon Walls, who came to this vicinity in 1819; M. E. Chace, Reuben Crapo, et al., a little later. These and a few others, by their own personal labors, did most of the work in building said church. Reuben Crapo furnished all the hewed timbers, the balance of the lumber sawed almost entirely by hand with the whip-saw, then the most of the carpenter work was done by themselves, led by their pastor. Prior to this the little band had been worshiping in private houses, and in the County Seminary. On the completion of this house began a new era in Methodism in Sullivan County, and especially in the town of Sullivan. Father Chace had organized the first Sunday school in the town in the seminary, consisting of six white and two colored scholars. The society then numbered about twenty-five members. From that time to the present the church has had a steady growth, with but little internal discord or external strife. Many strong and true men and women have fought in her ranks; have helped her to gain victories; have laid down their armor and taken their harps and crowns and are shouting on the hosts of the church militant to greater deeds of triumph, and greater victories over sin and Satan. The following are some of the ministers who have served this church as pastors during these years of toil and triumph: James R. Williams, Elijah Burroughs, William Stevenson, William Bratton, E. E. Rose, A. W. Shively, A. Wright, M. W. Benton, Jesse Williams, R. B. Spencer, William H. Cornelius, Rev. O. Fling, J. B. Hamilton, William Erwin, Jesse Walker, John Hancock, R. L. Cushman, A. Turner, W. McK. Hester, J. H. Ketcham, William Maginnis, E. Haws, H. Gilmore, F. C. Igleheart, W. P. Armstrong, W. E. Davis, R. B. Martin, J. A. Ward, and the present pastor, John S. Scamahorn. From a membership of twenty-five in 1846, the church has now upon its rolls over 300. The Sunday school has increased from eight to over 200. M. E. Chace was the Superintendent for some five years, when James W. Hinkle was elected Superintendent, and served in that capacity almost continuously for over twenty-five years. Prof. O. J. Craig for two years. The present Superintendent is J. W. Royse. The official members of this church are: Trustees, J. P. Stratton, W. H. Crowder, J. R. Hinkle, J. F. Hoke, R. A. Bland, J. T. Reid, M. O. Parks, M. H. Eaton and A. B. Stansil. Stewarts—M. E. Chace, J. W. Hinkle, Jetson Eaton, C. P. Riggs, James Wallace, A. N. Weir and A. J. Stewart. Class Leaders—M. E. Chace, S. Shalter, James M. DeCamp and J. W. Royse. The present church edifice was begun under the administration of W. H. Cornelius, and completed under Rev. J. B. Hamilton in 1849. The parsonage was built under the administration of Rev. J. A.Ward in 1881, and is a very nice two-story frame residence. The church and parsonage are estimated to be worth $10,000. The church is out of debt, and peace and Christian fellowship prevail. THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH. The following sketch is by Elder J. W. Wolfe: The Christian Church had been organized in the vicinity of what is now Sullivan Town, about the year 1835, by Joseph W. Wolfe and A. P. Law, the only ministers preaching for that church in this part of the country at that time. This church built a small frame meeting-house on Section street in Sullivan about the years 1848 and 1849. In the year 1854, they built an addition thereto, adding about fifteen feet to the length, built a cupola thereon and placed a bell therein. This house answered all ordinary purposes of meetings for worship for about twelve years. In 1866, this house being too small to hold the audiences assembling from time to time, the church erected a brick house on Broad street, 50x75 feet, and twenty-five feet between floor and ceiling, at a cost of $8,000; bought a larger bell and placed in the cupola. The church has kept* regular preaching and worship in its houses from its organization to the present time. The ministers who have preached for this congregation—first, Joseph W. Wolfe, William C. McBride and John S. Howard; afterward, the following, some regularly for a term, others of these occasionally: Michael Combs, Joseph Wilson, J. Z. Taylor, O. P. Miller, M. B. Blount, A. D. Filmore, James Blankenship, M. T. Hough, W. F. Ackman, C. H. Strawn, William Holt, Alfred Elmore, Alexander Engle, B. C. Sherman, David Walk, W. F. Black, P. K. Dibble, William B. Jewell, W. B. F. Treat, W. H. Tiller, B. K Smith, Alexander Campbell, Isaac Errit, Joseph Hastetler, William Speer and others; and more recently, J. C. Layman, J. W. Ingram, Anderson Ward, James L. Griffin, _____ Boone, H. T. Buff and J. C. Holloway. In the meantime, the church has improved its house of worship, until it is now worth $10,000, and has at this time a membership of between 300 and 400. This church has paid all demands for house and ministers, and has money in its treasury and at interest. Other congregations have been organized in the county, partly from its membership, all taking the Bible as their only creed or book of discipline, all believing in the divinity of Christ and the Bible, rejecting all sectarian tenets and names for the church and its members, speaking where the Bible speaks, and remaining silent where it is silent. BAPTIST CHURCH-SKETCH BY THE REV. FUSON. The Baptist Church of Sullivan was constituted with sixteen members April 23, 1853. The council for recognition was composed of ten Elders and laymen, of whom three are now living—Rev. William Stansil, William W. Higdon and James Lloyd. The history of the Baptist Church is so intimately connected with the history of the Rev. William Stansil that we cannot write the one without sketching the other. He was born in 1800, and devoted his early life to preaching the Gospel in the Wabash Valley. Living in Knox County, and passing through Sullivan to Middletown, Vigo County, to preach, he was induced by Dr. John E. Lloyd and others to stop in Sullivan and preach in the Methodist Church, which was kindly opened to the few Baptists at that time in Sullivan. This was continued for a year or more, and the organization effected in that house. Jacob Marts was elected Permanent Chairman; Thomas Black and Stephen Ballard, Deacons; John Grigsby, Clerk. The Rev. Stansii soon removed from Knox County to Sullivan, and was pastor of this church for twelve consecutive years. During these years fifty-three received the hand of fellowship, swelling the number to about seventy members. As early as 1854, steps were taken by the church, which led to the building of the house now occupied on Jackson street, but the records do not show when it was completed. In 1863, the Rev. R. M. Parks took the charge of this church for some six months, after which the Rev. Stansii resumed the charge for four years. In January, 1868, Elder Stansii resigned the work, and from July following, Rev. Alexander Rhodes, of Ohio, supplied the pulpit for about ten months. In September, 1869, the Rev. L. W. Bicknell took the charge of this church, which he retained for about two years. From January, 1872, Rev. M. C. Clark, for one year. From November, 1873, Rev. T. N. Robertson, one year. From May. 1876, Rev. R. A. Taylor, for two years. After this, there was no regular work done for some time, Rev. J. M. Stansii and others preaching occasionally. In April, 1880, the Rev. G. P. Fuson was engaged to preach monthly. Under his administration the church property has been greatly improved, and the flock, which had become greatly scattered, gathered into the fold again, with others, making the present number about eighty. Of the original sixteen, only two remain—Willoughby Nichols and Zarilda J. Reed. In this day of temperance agitation, we could not fail to note the attitude of this Baptist Church on that question fourteen years ago. The following preamble and resolutions, which were adopted by said church, we copy word for word from their church record: "Whereas, The Bible forbids the use of intoxicating drinks as a beverage; and, as it has been intimated that liquor sellers have made screens for the benefit of church members, Therefore, Resolved, That we and our brethren are absolutely forbidden to touch, taste or countenance the use or sale of intoxicating liquors as a beverage. And now, in the presence of this church and community, and before Almighty God, we do most solemnly promise and pledge ourselves to do all in our power to secure total abstinence in our church; and that we will use every possible and lawful effort to prevent the sale of intoxicating drinks as a beverage in our country; and that we earnestly entreat our brethren to abstain from every appearance of evil, and never be seen entering a liquor shop; and, further, that we, as a church, do hereby make it a bar to fellowship, for any of her memers [sic] to use or encourage the use of intoxicating liquors as a beverage, and that such will most certainly be called to account, if found guilty." Father Stansil, after watching the progress of this church for more than twenty years, is living in retirement in the eighty-fourth year of his age, and with his aged companion awaiting the summons to the upper and better church. Trustees—David Bailey, N. Davis and John T. Beasley. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. * * Sketch mostly by Rev. Mateer. On the 31st of August, 1857, the Presbyterian Church of Sullivan was organized, by the Rev. Joseph W. Blythe and John M. McCord, assisted by Elders William Collins, of Carlisle Church, and Thomas Magill. There were sixteen members at the organization, three of whom are still living—D. J. Hutchison and I. H. McKinney and wife. This church belonged to the old school body, until the union of the old and new in 1869. The meetings held at the organization were in the old Methodist Church. D. J. Hutchison and Robert Griffith were the first Elders. The total membership for the twenty-six years has been 348; the present membership 160. The following is the list of ministers who have supplied this church: J. L. Martin, of Vincennes, occasionally, from 1858 to 1859; F. R. Morton, of Princeton, occasionally, from 1859 to 1860; J. S. Gilmore, 1860 to 1861; S. B. Taggart, 1861 to 1S63; Joseph Cook, 1864 to 1865: John Montgomery, 1865 to 1868; S. N. D. Martin, 1869 to 1870; J. S. Robertson, 1872 to 1876; J. H. Mateer, 1877 to the present time. The meetings were held in the Methodist Church, the court house, the parsonage and other residences. During the ministry of the Rev. Gilmore, a subscription was taken for building a house of worship amounting to $1,700, the minister giving $100. This, with $500 from the Church Erection Fund, made the original cost of the house $2,200. The building committee—D. J. Hutchison, L. A. Stewart, A. W. Smith and James Kelley—made a contract for the work, but, the war beginning soon after, they tried to be freed. The builders, however, held them to their agreement, and with a very worthy showing of self denial and pluck, the work was done and paid for in the time specified. Through the enterprise mostly of the younger members of the congregation, the handsome and convenient parsonage, on the north end of the ground, was erected during the summer of 1877. The Sunday school, through the persistence of some of the earnest and faithful ones of this church, has neither yielded to heat nor cold during all these years, but has kept steadily at its work in training the young in the truths of the Bible, and endeavoring to lead them to the practice of its precepts. The present officers are: W. G. Young, Superintendent; Miss Lou Smith, Assistant; W. E. Woods, Treasurer; Blanche Briggs, Secretary; Florence Stewart, Organist; Bessie Millner, Assistant. Officers of the church—Elders, J. H. Wilson, J. J. Thompson, Thomas Campbell, George Goodwin, W. W. Johnson and W. G. Young; Deacons, L. A. Stewart and Murray Briggs; Trustees, John F. Curry, John C. Chaney, John T. Hays, Ferdinand E. Basler and David Crawley. THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.* *From a sketch by J. B. Abel. Situated near the Evansville & Terre Haute depot is a frame house, which was built in 1867-68 by William Greenlee as contractor, under the supervision of Father McCarty, who was visiting Sullivan as a missionary at that time. The money to build it was raised by donation, a great part of it by those not members of this church, for which they now have the profound thanks of this congregation. At that time there were only five or six Catholic families here, and they mostly poor. In 1868, Father Alderning took the place of Father McCarty, and held services once a month until 1872, when he had seats put into the church. Then Father McIvoy until about 1876. Father Lewis until about 1881. Since that time, divine services are held every third Sunday in the month by Father Francis, at about 10 o'clock, A. M., vespers and instruction in the afternoon. Communicants now about fifty. Seats free. This has been considered a mission, and has been attended by a priest from Terre Haute of the order of St. Francis. SECRET SOCIETIES. Sullivan has had quite a number of what are known as secret societies, which have been organized and conducted with more or less success. The first of these in Sullivan, as remembered by the remaining of the first settlers, was a division of the Sons of Temperance. This lodge was organized in 1848 or 1849, and had a very great influence in this community for several years. A great proportion of the citizens of the town and adjacent country became members. They built for themselves, Maj. Stewart bossing the job, a good two-story frame hall, near the southwest corner of the square, and were instrumental in restoring to sobriety and good citizenship many who had become slaves to intemperance. Among these we cannot refrain from mentioning the name of Squire McDonald, who was a noted example of this class, and maintained his integrity during life, and ever afterward was remembered for his genial, generous and noble characteristics. During the season of 1849, this order had a public mass meeting in the grove near the southeast corner of the square, where probably two thousand persons were present. The ladies of the town by their contributions had procured a very beautiful Bible, which was presented to the order on this occasion. The address appropriate to the order and its worth, and to the offering and its teachings, its warnings, its promises and its blessings, upon a work of this kind and upon its workers, was made by Mrs. J. W. Hinkle. The response thereto was made by Dr. W. M. Crowder. This Bible is still in the hands of the family of Maj. Stewart. The order went to Carlisle on the Fourth of July of that year, and had a gala day, all taking dinner at the hotel of Benson B. Riggs. About this time, the fiery and lighting temperance lecturer, Ross, visited Sullivan and delivered several lectures in the seminary. Again the order was out in procession, with banners flying, attracting and stirring the hearts of those early settlers. During the year 1850, the friends of temperance procured the signatures of a majority of all the voters of the town, asking the Legislature of the State to grant us a special act, forever prohibiting the sale of intoxicating liquors as a beverage in the town. The reply to this petition by Dr. James K. O'Haver, the Representative from this county, was that the Legislature was about to revise the laws of the State, would pass some general law on this subject, but would not pass special acts. Since that time, we have had organization and re-organization of Good Templars, Royal Templars, etc., who have been doing their work, sometimes doing it very well, sometimes haltingly. In 1855, we had prohibition for about six months, when the law was declared unconstitutional by Judge Perkins. Since that we had local option for a short time, which reduced the number of our saloons. The State Legislature soon repealed or changed that law, and so the contest has gone on between temperance workers and the liquor traffic—the former saving some, the latter destroying very many. We cannot close this article without placing upon record the fact that after the various opinions held and advocated during these years by the temperance workers—some advocating the regulating or the restraining of the sale of intoxicating drinks, believing it not to be the use but the abuse that was hurtful; others have wanted to restrain and derive profit therefrom by high license; others have advocated local option; others prohibition. But the sentiment has advanced until every temperance organization in the land, and almost every temperance worker, has settled down to the conviction that the only relief from this curse that rests upon us is the prohibition of the manufacture and sale of all intoxicating liquors as a beverage; and in front of the temperance work in this State we now recognize the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, with its capital stock of $100,000, and its host of indefatigable, life-long workers. ODD FELLOWS. Sullivan Lodge, No. 147, I. O. O. F., was organized under a charter granted by the Grand Lodge of Indiana, July 18, 1854. The charter members were: William Wilson, H. S. Hanchett, Eli Bowyer, Henry K. Wilson and John S. Howard. The growth of this lodge has been constant and healthful since its organization, except during the war of the rebellion. The hall of the lodge, with charter, books, and all its other property, was destroyed by fire on the night of the 27th of November, 1862. During this time of the lodge's destitution and the nation's strife, the life of the lodge depended upon the fidelity of a very few earnest members. We find of these few yet in the lodge, Murray Briggs, James W. Hinkle, Dr. J. J. Thompson and William Greenlee. A new charter seems not to have been issued to the lodge until March 23, 1869. Since that time, the perpetuity of the lodge has been beyond question, its prosperity having been without check. It now numbers eighty-two members in good standing, of the very best men of the town and vicinity. The lodge owns its own hall, a very commodious one, well finished and furnished, being the second story of Nos. 3 and 4, Wilkey & Allen's brick block on Jackson street, near the southwest corner of the Public Square. The influence of a lodge like No. 147 is undoubtedly to better those gaining membership therein. Since its organization, it has paid large amounts in relief and benefits to its own afflicted members and their families, and no mean amount to aid the needy outside of the order, as some of the relief committees could attest; and still the assets of the lodge, in real and well secured personal estate amount, to the sum of $4,367.05. The present elective officers are William Joice, N. G.; J. C. Briggs, V. G.; T. P. McBride, Secretary; O. H. Crowder, Treasurer; Thomas B. Eaton, P. S.; U. Coulson, James M. Decamp and Joseph H. Reed, Trustees. In connection with this Odd Fellows' Lodge is a prosperous Encampment branch of the order. Officers: T. P. McBride, C. P.; John Blalock, H. P.; James M. Lang, S. W.; Joseph H. Reed, J. W.; W. S. Smith, S.; J. P. Stratton, T. Also, a Uniformed Degree Camp: J. C. Chaney, Commander; James M. Decamp, Vice Chancellor; William Joice, Officer of Guard; Mark Farley, Treasurer; James M. Lang, Secretary. FREEMASONS. Sullivan Lodge, No. 263, A., F. & A. M., was organized under a dispensation from the Grand Lodge of June 9, 1859, with W. H. Cornelius, W. M.; Alex Knog, S. W.; Willis G. Neff, J. W., and Joseph W. Briggs, Secretary, and continued to work under the dispensation until May 30, 1860, when the Grand Lodge granted a charter, with Lafayette Stewart, W. M.; John S. Dukate, S. W.; Ziba Foote, J. W., and Israel W. Booth, Secretary. Although the beginning was with few members, and under some difficulties, their labors have been rewarded. The lodge now numbers 112 members. They own their own hall, a beautiful structure, being the third story of the brick block at the northeast corner of the public square. This hall is furnished in the latest and richest style, and is valued at $4,000. The present officers are: James A. Marlow, W. M.; H. J. Hays, S. W.; Joseph H. Reed, J. W.; P. McEneney, T.; James M. Decamp, S.; John T. Beasley, S. D.; James M. Lang, J. D.; B. S. Wolfe and N. Davis, Stewards; L. Stewart, Thomas Burton and Thomas F. Bland, Trustees. INCORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF SULLIVAN. Sullivan was incorporated December 8th, 1853, by the act of the County Commissioners, William Beard, Levi Maxwell and Jacob Hoke, on a petition dated August the 20th, 1853, signed by the following names: John J. Thompson, H. S. Hanchett, Robert M. Griffith, John Richards, James Martin, John Bridwell. William C. McBride, Elias Walls, H. S. Orr, Alfred Turner, Alex Talley, William P. Hale, James McKinley, John T. Turner, Thomas J. Carey. John T. Gunn, William E. Catlin, B. Hasselback, William Wilson, Chester O. Davis, James W. Hinkle, John Eaton, James H. Chase, Craven Reed, Sheb. O. Reed, G. W. A. Luzader, C. W. Eaton, Squire McDonald, John B. Hughs, M. E. Chace, James H. Reid, B. C. Sherman, Pleast. Miller, E. Bowyer, Alex Snow, Daniel Brickey, John S. Davis, Milburn Reed, Eli Shepherd, Andrew Turner, S. Nichols, J. P. S. Reed, W. N. Humphreys, B. V. Wible, Benjamin Stice, W. B. Ogle, D. Turner, W. Holland, J. B. Grigs-ley, Solomon Draper, S. J. Dooley, W. B. Ogle, Jr., A. McIntosh, G. W. Hanchett, W. Griffith, Isaac Copeland, John E. Lloyd, M. Kirkham, William R. Benton, Isaac Stewart, L. H. S. Orr, James McIntosh and B. H. McGrew. Petition verified by James H Reed and E. Bowyer. Survey made by William S. Hinkle, surveyor; making 129.79 acres. Population, 350, taken by Robert M. Griffith. We cannot give a catalogue of the town officers which have been elected from year to year, as the early town records are lost, or so misplaced as not to be accessible, and the returns of the same, which should be in the County Clerk's office, are in the same condition. The first Town Board we find the certificate of is that of 1855: B. C. Sherman, R. A. Moore. James W. Hinkle, George N. Graham and Eli Bowyer, Trustees; James Kelley, Marshal, Clerk, Assessor and Treasurer. 1857—Thomas McIntosh, David Reed, W. E. Catlin, Daniel Brickey and James McKinley, Trustees; Charles P. Cochran, Marshal; Homer Davis, Treasurer; J. P. Dufficey, Clerk, and David Butcher, Assistant. 1862—William E. Catlin, G. S. Coffman, Benjamin Timmons, Charles Scott and Levi Maxwell, Trustees; Samuel Wall, Marshal and Assessor; J. W. Wolfe, Clerk and Treasurer. 1866—William E. Catlin, A. M. Murphy, James Kelley, Peter Secrist, John Milner, Trustees; C. Taylor, Clerk; T. C. Lovell, Marshal. 1867—William E. Catlin, W. K. McGrew, Peter Secrist, James A. Catlin, Clerk and Treasurer; T. C. Lovell, Marshal. 1870—J. W. Wolfe, J. S. Palmer, M. H. Eaton, J. T. Musick and A. Snow, Trustees; James Burks, Clerk and Treasurer; James A. Baker, Marshal. 1872—J. W. Wolfe, S. S. Coffman, U. Coulson, William McCammon and Jeff Able, Trustees; P. R. Jenkins, Clerk; B. R. Lucas, Marshal. 1874—J. W. Wolfe, A. B. Stansil, William Miles, J. R. McKinley, Philip Thurman, Trustees; Jo L. Stewart, Clerk and Treasurer. 1875—James A. Catlin, A. B. Stansil, U. Coulson, Thomas J. Robbins and James H. McKinley, Trustees; William H. Burks, Clerk and Treasurer. 1876—J. W. Wolfe, W. Benefiel, W. Miles, P. R. Jenkins, and G. L. Speake, Trustees; W. H. Burks, Clerk and Treasurer. 1877—J. H Wilson, W. H. Crowder, W. Miles, J. Ernest and T. Hawkins, Trustees; W. H. Burks, Clerk and Treasurer. 1878—J. P. Statton, A. Marchino, James A. Baker, Thomas J. Robbins and John H. Robertson, Trustees: Theodore Harper, Clerk and Treasurer. 1879—James Eaton, W. H. Crowder, C. L. Davis, W. McCammon and Jeff Abel, Trustees; R. A. Moore, Clerk; William Curtis, Marshal. 1880—J. Eaton, P. Hyde, C. L. Davis, W. McCammon, J. H. Robertson, Trustees; R. M. Dear, Clerk and Treasurer; G. W. Dooley, Marshal. 1881—J. Eaton, J. A. Catlin, S. Barnes, A. McClellan, and W. E. Aydelotte, Trustees; N. Davis, Clerk and Treasurer; B. R. Lucas, Marshal. 1882—R. H. Crowder, A. Marchino, John T. Haxell, Trustees; T. B. Eaton, Clerk and Treasurer; B. R. Lucas, Marshal. 1883—Present Board—R. H. Crowder, Adam Marchino, John T. Haxell, William H. Burks and William E. Aydelotte, Trustees; Thomas B. Eaton, Clerk and Treasurer; B. R. Lucas, Marshal. August 10, 1880, there was an election to incorporate Sullivan as a city. For, 81; Against, 169. POPULATION-POSTMASTERS. The population of Sullivan in 1853, 350. The population of Sullivan in 1860: white, 935; colored, 14; total, 949. The population of Sullivan in 1870: Natives, 1,348; Foreigners, 48; white 1,389, colored, 7; total, 1,396. The population of Sullivan in 1880, 2,161. At present time about 2,500. The first Postmaster of the Sullivan Post Office, after its establishment in 1842, was Sanders M. Howard, whose hat, it is said was his principal delivery box: he delivering from it to those favored ones to whom mail matter was addressed, as he met them. His successors have been James H. Reid, James W. Hinkle, John P. Dufficey, John H. Wilson, William N. Humphreys, M. E. Chace, John S. Moore, James Martin, Josiah Martin, Isaac M. Brown, U. Coulson, James A. Hays, U. Coulson. ADDITIONS TO SULLIVAN. 1. James B. Holloway's Addition, made December 20, 1853—two and three-eighth acres of the southeast quarter of the northwest quarter of Section 34, Town 8, Range 9; twenty lots. 2. James W. Brodie's Subdivision of Outlot No. 12 into ten lots, August 19, 1854. 3. James H. and William Reid's Subdivision of Outlot No. 3 into eleven lots, April 18, 1855. 4. James H. and William Reed's Subdivision of the north half of Outlot No. 4 into twelve lots, April 18, 1855. 5. Crowder heirs' subdivision of Outlots 1, 2 and 8 into twenty-six lots, April 28, 1855. 6. Snow & Cochran's Addition on the southwest quarter of the southwest quarter of Section 27, Town 8, Range 9 north, of and adjoining Outlots 3, 4 and 5—thirty-one lots; September 8, 1855. Original entry by Thomas F. Lee January 31, 1843. 7. Dixon's Addition, made October 8, 1855, on the southeast quarter of the southwest quarter of Section 27, Town 8, Range 9—fifty-six lots. Original entry by Job Walls December 29, 1839. 8. Gray, Watson & Bloom's Addition, May 29, 1856, of the southeast quarter of the southwest quarter of Section 27, Town 8, Range 9 — 107 lots. Entered by Job Walls December 29, 1837. 9. W. C McBride's Subdivision of the east half of Outlot No. 9 into eight lots, December 25, 1857. 10. G. W. A. Luzader's Subdivision of Outlot 19 into nine lots, May 15, 1858. 11. Owen's Addition, made January 3, 1861, In the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter of Section 28, and the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter of Section 33, Town 8, Range 9. 12. Owen's survey to Sullivan, August 21, 1860—twelve lots. 13. Sherman's Addition, made September 14, 1858, of the southwest quarter of the southwest quarter of Section 27, Town 8, Range 9— nine lots. 14. B. C. Sherman's Subdivision of Outlots 30 and 31 into twelve lots, February 23, 1860. 15. S. T. Roache's survey of part of the southeast quarter of the northwest quarter of Section 34, Town 8, Range 9, made December 29, 1866, into five lots. 16. J. W. Wolfe's Addition of part of the north half of Section 27, Town 8, Range 9, made February 8, 1870—forty-five lots. 17. A. M. Murphy's Addition of part of the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of Section 34, Town 8, Range 9, made May 1, 1873—twenty-six lots. 18. Murray Briggs' survey of part of the southeast quarter of the northeast quarter of Section 33, Town 8, Range 9, August 21, 1874— five lots. 19. Wolfe's Subdivision of Lots 62 and 63 into seven lots, July 23 1881. 20. Wilkey & Allen's Addition of part of the south half of the northeast quarter of Section 34, Town 8, Range 9, November 7, 1881, into twenty-two lots. 21. Garretson tract of part of the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter of Section 33, Town 8, Range 9, lies west of the seminary lot and south of Washington street—divided into seven lots of about one acre each. And an addition designated as Plat A adjoining the original plat on the southwest—the lands owned by a number of individuals and platted into forty-four lots. There have been twenty-two additions and subdivisions to the town of Sullivan, since the original survey and plat of 136 lots and twenty-two outlots, the additions and subdivisions making an increase of 449 lots, using ten out-lots in subdivisions; making the present number 585 lots and twelve out-lots, besides a very considerable amount of territory built upon, within the present corporate limits and not yet platted. For the chain of title to the lands upon which Sullivan is situated, the additions to the original plat, etc., we are under obligations to Mr. John N. Fordyce and J. W. Billman, who are so thoroughly equipped with abstract books, and who are doing a very extensive business in abstracts, conveyances, etc., in their nice office, first door south of the Farmers' State Bank. STREETS AND SIDEWALKS. Within the last year the streets around the square in Sullivan, and thence to the E. & T. H. depot, have been greatly improved by grading and a heavy coating of slag from the Terre Haute Iron Foundries, which is about as far as this improvement has progressed, there being neither stone nor gravel convenient of access for this purpose. The sidewalks of the town also have been greatly improved during the past year, good brick or heavy plank walks having been constructed six feet wide on most of the more public streets, and four feet wide on those less public, contributing very greatly to the convenience and comfort of the place. The historical sketch of Hamilton Township and of the town of Sullivan for Goodspeed Bros', History of Greene and Sullivan Counties being written for said publishers by James W. Hinkle, he deems it appropriate to say in reference thereto that he has found it no easy matter to collect incidents and facts in the history of the township which have been unwritten for seventy years, and of the town which have been but partially written for forty-two years. Doubtless many are yet not obtained or overlooked and not written, which it is very desirable should pass into a permanent history. We flatter ourselves that we are gathering into this history very much which, if it had not been written very soon, would have been entirely lost. We desire to say that we have used our best endeavors to collect into this sketch such incidents and facts as it is most desirable to perpetuate. So far as we have been able to procure information, either ancient or modern facts, we have endeavored to give a fair and impartial history of the same. In the collection of information we acknowledge our obligations to Dr. Bartlett, M. Briggs, U. Coulson, J. N. Fordyce and others. 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. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/in/sullivan/history/1884/historyo/chapterx38ms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/infiles/ File size: 33.7 Kb