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from the book HISTORY OF FOUNTAIN COUNTY 1881 by HIRAM BECKWITH
'"string town" is a mining place close to snoddy's mill. it is a
collection of cheap houses mostly erected by the coal companies to be used by the miners.
it is of mushroom growth, and an immense business is done, especially in liquors, there
being about seventeen saloons at this point. it is hoped that the better element will
become stroner, and that at some time this intemperance will cease. there are about 600
men employed in the mines, and the demand for coal is far beyond the abiliity to supply on
account of the scarcity of conveyance. there are religious organizations here, but mostly
composed of foreiners engaged in mining."
in another book, it says that it was a tiny sleepy-eyed town in south central wabash
township in fountain county. today it bears no resemblance to the booming industry of the
1870's. a scattering of abandoned coal mines and five sunken unmarked graves in the
mount carmel cemetery are the visual remains of a period when stringtown with a population
of 2,500 was the largest in the county. stringtown was platted in 1873, taking in
bunkertown and wrentown, all named for mines located in the area. business had flourished
in stringtown until the day the miners struck for high wages. the coal companies refused
to settle differences with the miners and brought colored miners into town to break the
strike. immediately, strife arose between the two factions. at one time, the negroes
undertook to chase the whites out of town, declaring that they would "kill all the
white people from the cradle up!".
today, stringtown is a small community. snoddy's mill was torn down a few years ago.
parke county borders fountain county and coal mining was a big industry there also.
1880 census shows families of the same last name living in stringtown
Census Place: Stringtown, Fountain, Indiana
Source: FHL Film 1254277 National Archives Film T9-0277 Page 149C
Relation Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace
Joseph SIMSON Self M M W 39 SCOT
Occ: Coal Miner Fa: SCOT Mo: SCOT
Morgan SIMSON Wife F M W 37 SCOT
Occ: Keeping House Fa: SCOT Mo: SCOT
Mary SIMSON Dau F S W 18 SCOT
Occ: At Home Fa: SCOT Mo: SCOT
Maggie SIMSON Dau F S W 15 SCOT
Occ: At Home Fa: SCOT Mo: SCOT
Jennett SIMSON Dau F S W 13 SCOT
Occ: At Home Fa: SCOT Mo: SCOT
Robert SIMSON Son M S W 11 SCOT
Occ: At Home Fa: SCOT Mo: SCOT
Bell SIMSON Dau F S W 6 IN
Occ: At Home Fa: SCOT Mo: SCOT
Jennie SIMSON Dau F S W 4 IN
Occ: At Home Fa: SCOT Mo: SCOT
Elizabeth SIMSON Dau F S W 2 IN
Occ: At Home Fa: SCOT Mo: SCOT
Census Place: Stringtown, Fountain, Indiana
Source: FHL Film 1254277 National Archives Film T9-0277 Page 150B
Relation Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace
Robert SIMPSON Self M M W 37 ENG
Occ: Coal Miner Fa: ENG Mo: ENG
Elizabeth SIMPSON Wife F M W 27 ENG
Occ: Keeping House Fa: ENG Mo: ENG
Sarahan SIMPSON Dau F S W 6 ENG
Occ: At Home Fa: ENG Mo: ENG
Joseph SIMPSON Son M S W 2 ENG
Fa: ENG Mo: ENG
Robert SIMPSON Son M S W 3M IN
Fa: ENG Mo: ENG
Culbert MICTELTON Other M S W 34 ENG
Occ: Coal Miner Fa: ENG Mo: ENG
William THOMAS Other M S W 43 WALES
Occ: Coal Miner Fa: WALES Mo: WALES
Thomas STRINGER Other M S W 24 KY
Occ: Coal Miner Fa: KY Mo: KY
this is washington township in parke county showing the simpson families living there in
1880
Census Place: Washington, Parke, Indiana
Source: FHL Film 1254303 National Archives Film T9-0303 Page 478A
Relation Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace
Alexander MONT Self M M W 52 SCOTLAND
Occ: Works In C. Mine Fa: SCO Mo: SCO
Jane MONT Wife F M W 42 SCOTLAND
Occ: Keeping House Fa: SCO Mo: SCO
Mary MONT Dau F S W 2M IN
Fa: SCO Mo: SCO
Margaret SIMPSON Dau F S W 20 SCO
Occ: At Home Fa: SCO Mo: SCO
John SIMPSON Son M S W 18 SCO
Occ: Works In C. Mine Fa: SCO Mo: SCO
James SIMPSON Son M S W 16 SCO
Occ: Works In C. Mine Fa: SCO Mo: SCO
Jane SIMPSON Dau F S W 10 PA
Fa: SCO Mo: SCO
Catharine SIMPSON Dau F S W 6 IN
Fa: SCO Mo: SCO
Kinnith SIMPSON Son M S W 3 IN
Fa: SCO Mo: SCO
William SIMPSON GSon M S W 3 IN
Fa: SCO Mo: SCO
Census Place: Waterman, Parke, Indiana
Source: FHL Film 1254303 National Archives Film T9-0303 Page 424C
Relation Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace
James WARM Self M M W 39 IN
Occ: Farmer Fa: --- Mo: ---
Melisa WARM Wife F M W 31 IN
Occ: Keeping House Fa: VA Mo: OH
Franklin WARM Son M S W 13 IN
Occ: Farmer Fa: IN Mo: IN
James SIMPSON Other M S W 27 IN
Occ: Carpenter Fa: IN Mo: PA
Hrratt DEWIRE Other F S W 19 IN
Occ: Servant Fa: IN Mo: IN