Henry County, Indiana
Genealogy and History
History of Henry County, Indiana : together with sketches of its cities, villages and towns, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens : also a condensed history of Indiana, embodying accounts of pre-historic races, aborigines, Winnebago and Black Hawk wars, and a brief review of its civil and political history. Chicago: Inter-State Pub. Co., 1884, 944 pgs.
Spiceland Township was organized in June, 1842, from portions of Wayne and Franklin. The first election was held at ogden in August, 1842. The population of the township was 2,020 in 1870, and 2,039 in 1880.
The area of the township is nearly twenty-two square miles. The surface is drained by Blue River, which forms the northwestern boundary of the township, Buck Creek, Brook Bezor and other small streams. The land is well adapted to agriculture, being rolling and well drained.
Settlement began early. Among the pioneers were Daniel Jackson and Solomon Byrkett, on Blue River; Thomas Greenstreet, a half-mile southwest of Spiceland; Samuel Carr, two miles north of Spiceland; Allen Hunt and Samuel Griffin. Samuel Griffin settled in 1822 on land adjoining Spiceland Village. He died at Ogden in 1875 leaving seven sons and five daughters. There were twelve entries of land in what is now Spiceland Township in the year 1821: Aug. 17, Daniel Jackson; Aug. 27, Solomon Byrkett; Aug. 28, William Felton; Aug. 30, Allen Hunt, jacob Hall; aug. 31, nathan Davis; Sept. 1, William Mustard; Sept. 14, James Carr; Oct. 3, Jacob Elliott; Nov. 6, William Elliott; Dec. 20, William Berry; Dec. 24, Joseph Charles.
The early settlers of this township were chiefly young people, in limited circumstances, who came here solely for the purpose of securing homes and bettering their condition. They were mainly natives of north Carolina and members of the Society of Friends.
They gave the name "Spiceland" to the settlement on account of the abundance of a shrub known as the spice-bush found here.
Among those who were residents of the township prior to 1830 may be mentioned: John Sheridan, east of Spiceland Village; Josiah Small, George Evans, Hugh Mills, Josiah Pennington, Benjamin Ball, Driver Boon and James Archer. Solomon Macy, now living in Spiceland, came to the county in 1826 and settled in 1830. Others came to the county at the dates given: Jeremiah Griffin, 1824; Joseph Griffin, 1825; Josiah Pennington, 1823; Christian Fout, 1820; Jesse Bond, 1825; Eli Ratcliff, Nathan Scoville, 1825; Jesse B. Jessup, Isaac Hodson, 1827; Daniel C. Jackson, 1824; Aaron Stanley, Wm. B. Unthank, Walter Edgerton, Wm. Edgerton, 1830.
spiceland Township contains a valuable stone quarry. The villages of Spiceland, Ogden and dunreith are all railroad stations having business interests of importance. The township officers for 1884-'5 are J. T. Unthank, Trustee; David Wickersham and C. A. Swaim, Justices.
This staid, quiet, prosperous Quaker town has had a constant and progressive growth from its origin up to the present date. It became a cross-roads trading poiont, then a village, and is now a regularly incorporated town, having nearly 700 inhabitants, a noted school, two churches, a large furniture factory, a saw-mill, two dry-goods stores, three groceries, one hardware store, one drug store, and other minor establishments.
Spiceland postoffice was established in 1838, Thomas Cook, Postmaster. Solomon Sweet opened the first store some years earlier. He sold out his business in 1837. Thomas Cook soon after put up the corner building now owned by Samuel Roberts, and began the mercantile business, taking David Holloway as his partner. This firm failed. Driver Boon was the next merchant. He also had a shoe shop, and for some time was the Postmaster. In 1847 Mr. Boon and others had a town plot surveyed and here the history of the village begins. Samuel Pickering, Peter C. Welborn, John Gray and Emery D. Coffin were also early merchants of Spiceland.
The village was incorporated in 1870, and then had a population of 375. From that time forward improvements have progressed rapidly. The building of the New Castle & Rushville Railroad in 1881 has added much to the prosperity of the town. The population was 527 in 1880, 662 according to the school census. Spiceland is the home of morality, culture and refinement.
The coporation limits extend a mile east and west, and a half mile north and south, in the form of a regular parallelogram.
The physicians of Spiceland re: Doctors Cochran, Bailey, Jones, Cotteral and Hastings.
The furniture manufactory of R. f. Porch, located at Spiceland, is one of the most important industrial establishments of Henry County. The beginning of the business dates back to 1873, when S. Porch & Son began the manufacture of the Humboldt washing-machine, in the building now occupied by Vanzant's wagonshop. The firm afterward changed to Porch & Ratliff, and then to R. F. Porch. Mr. Porch consolidated his business with that of F. M. Ricketts. This change was made early in 1881, and immediately after, the erection of the factory now occupied by the business was begun. In December, 1882, R. F. Porch again assumed entire control of the business, and is still carrying it on largely, employing thwenty-three men on an average, and sending products to all parts of Indiana, as well as to neighboring States. The Humboldt washer is the most important of the manufactures of the establishment. Wardrobes, cupboard safes, bedsteads, extension tables and stands are also made. Mr. Porch's factory (main building) is two stories high, 60 x 100 feet, with an extension 44 x 50. The industry, begun on a comparatively small scale, has steadily grown in extent and importance.
The village of Ogden, one of the oldest villages in the county, was laid out by Hiram Crum, in December, 1829, and at first called Middletown. It is situated about half way between Richmond and Indianapolis, on the old National road and the Pan Handle Railroad. In 1838 the name was changed for Middletown to Ogden by a special act of the Legislature.
Ogden was formerly an important business point, but its prosperity has steadily declined since the war. In 1851 there were, among the business interests, two stores, kept by William W. Williams and Silas Cooper; a drug store, by J. Hodson; James Steele, blacksmith; Edwin Swaim, wagon-maker; C. A. Swaim, cabinet-maker; Jonathan Goble, shoe-maker and Postmaster.
Dr. John Lewis, a prominent physician, was in practice here for several years. The present physician is D. J. M. Westerfield.
The grist-mill now known as the Spring Valley Mill was built by Robert Hudelson, and afterward owned by Job Reynolds. The present owners are Emanuel Wheeler and Albert Workman.
Among the business men of Ogden is 1884 are: J. J. Lewis, general merchant; W. W. Wiggins, druggist, grocer and Postmaster; Wheeler & Workman, millers: T. A. Dawson, blacksmith; William Bentley, wagon-maker. The population of the town is about 300.The beginning of this place was the completion of the Indiana Central Railroad, now the Chicago, St. Louis & Pittsburg. Emery Dunreith Coffin was the pioneer merchant here, and the village was called Coffin's Station after him. In 1865 town lots were laid out by Caleb Johnson and Thomas Evans. An addition was soon made by John W. Griffin. The name of the village was changed to Dunreith in 1865 in honor of Mr. Coffin. In 1870 the town was incorporated. Population in 1870, 180; in 1880, 149; in 1884 (estimated), 250. The completion of the New Castle & Rushville Railroad, which forms a junction with the Pan Handle at this point, gives the town excellent railroad facilities. Dunreith has a good two-story school-house, two churches and several stores. It is a busy place for one of its size.
The postoffice was established in 1866. Emery D. Coffin was the first Postmaster. The present is D. H. Hedelson.
The following are the business interests of the town in the year 1884: Dry-goods merchants, B. F. Hinshaw & Son; drug stores, D. H. Hudelson, Dr. I. d. Craighead; hardware and agricultural implements, Wm. R. Pearce; groceries, J. W. Marson, F. Stambaugh; hotels, Frank Stambaugh, Jackson Stanley, Samuel Westerfield; saw-mill, M. A. Bowers; blacksmiths, Jesse White, Alex. Steele; nursery, E. Y. Teas; grain dealers, J. F. Watson, P.C. & W. C. Welborn; manufacturers of straw-stackers, Morris & Frank, Green Street; vegetable gardens, Wm. Nicholson; Dr. C. G. Bartlett, physician; D. C. Harrold, dentist
The Friends.-Spiceland, from its origin, has been noted as a Quaker settlement. A meeting was organized and a church built in this place piror to 1830. The first meeting-house was a log structure, which stood near where the present house is located. The Spiceland Monthly Meeting was established in the spring of 1883, and has steadily grown in numbers and in parlance ever since. Among the original members of this meeting were John Hiatt, Driver Boon, Thomas Modlin, Joel Cloud, William B. Unthank, Nathan Davis, Josiah Pennington, Amer Bond, Aaron Stanley, Isaiah Baldwin, James Johnson, Isaac White, Jesse White and Isaac Schooley. The log meeting-house was succeeded by a frame building after a few years, and in 1839 the frame was enlarged. The Quarterly Meeting was organized here in 1840. The present house, wkhich cost about $8,000, is a good brick building, erected in 1874. Spiceland Monthly Meeting now has over 600 members.
There was very little preaching in early years. Perhaps the first preacher in the congregation was Deborah Pennington. The present preachers are Elisha Hammer, John P. Pennington, Sarah Symons, Rebecca Talbert, Anna J. Porch, Jane Ratliff and Rachel Bailey.
Methodist.-The Spiceland M. E. church was organized by Rev. R. B. Powell in 1875 with a membership of twenty or more. The first Class-leader was William Parrish. The house of worship was built in 1875 at a cost of about $1,800, and dedicated by Rev. S. N. Campbell. The present membership is over sixty. Rev. Milton Mahin, d. D., is the pastor. The Sabbath-school is large and flourishing.African M. E. Church.-This church, situated near the town of Spiceland, was organized in 1871, has a small house of worship and a small but earnest membership.
Ogden Christian Church.-This is an organization of the "New Light" Christians, so called. The rpesent house of worship was built for a dwelling and subsequently converted into a church edifice. The congregation is small and the society not very prosperous.
Christian Church.-The Disciples' (Christian) church at Dunreith was organized about 1842. In that year a log church was erected on a lot donated by Thomas Johnson. Some years later the present house was built. Among the early members of this congregation were: Joel Harrold, Curtis Hall, Cyrus Newby, Andrew Harrold, Isaac G. Lowe, minister. Robert Edmonds and Seth S. Bennett were early ministers. The present membership is forty-two. The Elders are J. N. Hall and Samuel Bell; Deacons, Jesse Harrold and Samuel Berry.
Dunreith Meeting.-Dunreith Friends' Meeting was organized in 1868 and the meeting-house erected the same year. The cost of the house was $1,500. Among the organizing members were: Francis W. Thomas, Caleb Johnson, Timothy Wilson, A. C. Davis, Luke Wiles, George Butler, Jermemiah Griffin, Benjamin Pritchard, Hiram Thompson, Rhoda and Susan Johnson, Jeremiah H Thomas. The first overseers were Benjamin Pritchard, Hiram Johnson and George Butler. The ministers have been; Caleb Johnson, Hiram Johnson and Rachel Bundy; Francis W Thomas, present minister. The present overseers are: Lindley Johnson, William Edgerton and Rebecca Thomas. The Meeting now has seventy-four members and a good Sabbath-school. Caleb Johnson, now of Lynnville, Iowa, mentioned among the members was a very zealous worker for the Friends. He was also prominent in business interests, and a helper of every good work. He served one term as Treasurer of the county, and filled every position to which he was called with great faithfulness.
Ogden Lodge, No. 202, I.O.O.F., was chartered Dec. 18, 1858. The charter members were: John Lewis, William w. Williams, James e. Barrett, Levi Laubach, Andrew Harrold, A. A. Smith, John C. Dill. The present membership is twenty-one and the valueof the lodge property $2,000. The present officers are: William D. J. Ellison, N. G.; Andrew Koon, V. G.; T. A. Dawson, P. S.; Walter Bowen, R. S.; William McClammer, Treas.
Dunreith Lodge, No. 341, I.O.O.F., was chartered Jan. 25, 1870. The charter members were: J.N. Hall, Andrew Harrold, John A. Hudelson, J. W. Sanders, Edwin Bateman, William Harrold, D. W. Butler, A. N. Smith, Jos. S. Lowe, John McEdmonson, Nathan Allertson, J. H. Smith. H. Clay McCoy, S. H. Hudelson, Pleasant H. hays, William N. Edmonson. The present membership is twenty; assests, $500. The present officers are: William Fry, N. G.; Jesse Harrold, V. G.; John Julian, Scribe;, E. Y Teas, Fin. Sec.; B. F. Hinshaw, Treas.
This noble and benevolent institution owes its origin to Miss Susan Fussell, who, in September, 1879, applied to the county commissioners for the care of the children then in the poor-house. Her application was granted in June, 1880. Twenty-three cents per day was allowed for the food, clothing and support of each child for the first year.
To the influence of Miss Fussell is largely due a bill passed by the Assembly in 1881, authorizing the county commissioners in each county to select and appoint as matron a woman of good moral character, sound judgment and suitable age, having experience in the care and training of children, and to put in her care, at some suitable and convenient place, not connected with the county asylum, all pauper children of sound mind between the ages of one and sixteen years.
The Henry County Home is located at Spiceland. The children in it are instructed in useful occupations and given good educational training.