This is the conclusion of the "Sesquicentennial" book. Wish I could
include the pictures and advertisements too. I bought this book a few
years ago at a booth in Madison during a festival.
"Library
The City of Madison is entitled to the credit fo having a public
Library before any other city in the Northwest Territory, and in
progresive steps it eclipses --in their beginnings --Pittsburgh,
Cincinnati, Louisville, St. Louis and many other large cities of the
United States.
The first public library, in the Northwest Territory which was
established in Madison, Indiana, in a way-side inn along the Ohio river,
ministers today to the community which has grown up around it.
A group of men of learning came across the Appalachians and down the
river to southern Indiana soon after 1810.
Led by Alexander Meek, an attorney, they formed a circulating library
for mutual exchange of books. In 1818 the men of the hamlet met at the
inn and formed there a public libary of voluntarily contributed books.
Twenty-five subscribers paid $5.00 apiece in its first year for
borrowing privileges.
This resulted in the formation of other associations, the Madison
Society Library, the Mechanics Library and the Ladies Library. The last
was an association of the leaders of the town who proposed to purchase
and circulate worth while books. This existed before 1853.
The Madison Library Association opened the doors of their reading
rooms on the second floor of the Telegraph building in June, 1853. This
building was on the southeast corner of West and Second Sts., and was
also known as the Columbian building.
After several moves in April, 1921, the library was moved from the
corner of Elm and Main Sts., to the Masonic Temple and occupied the five
rooms in the front on the second floor. In May, 1921, the Library was
reorganized as a county wide library with the establishment of
sub-stations in each township.
In 1930 the Powell residence was bought and converted into a permanent
Library home.
Interesting Personalities
A large part of the testimony as to the greatness of any community
should be devoted to an accounting of the works of her citizens past and
present. Madison qualifies! During the 19th and 20th Centuries the
verdant valley and the surrounding hills nurtured many who, in later
years, were to be known on state and national levels. The same period
of time has seen Madison in the honored role of host to national and
international celebrities. It would be foolhardy, however, to suggest
that the following enumerations is complete in any sense of the word.
By 1808 Christopher Harrison had already located near Hanover at a
point overlooking the Ohio. Eight years later he was elected the first
Lt. Governor of Indiana.
This was just the beginning, politically, for the community. William
Hendricks, who resided on the southeast corner of First and Elm Streets,
was chosen as Indiana's second Governor. His son, William, Jr., served
for a time in Indiana's Senate. Joseph Glass Marshall, known as
'sleeping lion', represented Jefferson County in both houses of
Indiana's legislature, and was an Indiana elector for William Henry
Harrison. Jesse D. Bright, served in the Indiana Senate, became
Lieutenant Governor in 1843, and was a United States Senator for sixteen
years, four of which he spent as President of the Senate. Michael G.
Bright, Jesse's brother, sought no offices; they were tendered to him.
He should be best remembered for his outstanding work in authoring
several sections of Indiana's present Constitution.
David Hillis came to Jefferson County in 1808 at about the same time
Colonel John, Samuel J., and Gerrardus Ryker settled on the ridge which
still bears their name. Hillis' hightest honor came in 1837 when he was
elected Lt. Governor with David Wallace. Williamson Dunn, Hillis'
neighbor, replaced Hillis in the Senate at this time. Dunn's son,
William McKee Dunn, served in the Congress of the United States and,
after the Civil War, served as Judge Advocate General. William McKee
Dunn, Jr. served in the United States Army, reaching the rank of
General.
Jermiah Sullivan represented the community in the state legistlature
in 1820. He is best remembered for having selected 'Indianapolis' for
the new seat of government in Indiana. His son later served as mayor of
Indianapolis.
James F.D. Lanier, although qualified for the legal profession, became
prominent as a financier. Banking and real estate brought him a fortune
in Indiana. Later, in New York City, as a financier of railroads, he
amassed a fortune reckoned in the millions. His Madison home is now a
state memorial.
Francis Costigan, designer of the Lanier Home, came to Madison in the
1830's. His architectural triumphs included both private and public
buildings and caused his name to be renowed throughout the Midwest.
Milton Stapp represented Jefferson County in the State Legislature,
1822; became a State Senator in 1823; was elected Lieutenant Governor,
with James B. Ray in 1828; served as an elector for William Henry
Harrison, 1830, and became Mayor of Madison in 1850.
Throughout the 19th Century the name of Cravens was prominent in
Madison and Indiana. John R. Cravens served in the State Senate,
1868-71, and was part owner of the Madison Banner for a short time.
Joseph Cravens also served in the Indiana Senate, where his oratorical
powers were recognized, at the turn of the past century.
Michael C. Garber, without previous experience, took charge of the
Madison Courier in 1849 and made it a powerful political organ on the
side of the Democrats until the advent of the Republican Party. Jesse
D. Bright, angered at the Courier's ability to be impartial at times,
caused Garber to be read out of the Democratic Party, but the Courier
continued to support many candidates of that organization until it
switched to the Republicans in 1856.
David C. Branham, North Madison, while serving in Indiana's House, led
a revolt of thirty-five members who, in order to defeat the Military
Bill of the Democrats during the Civil War, forsook their legislative
halls in Indianapolis for the more sumptuous surroundings of the Madison
Hotel!
Madisonians and Jefferson Countians did not confine their talents to
politics, Gail Borden, 'The Dairyman to the Nation', lived in Jefferson
County during the 1820's. Possibly some pulchritudinous local cow
inspired Mr. Borden to the creation of his famous 'Elsie'! During the
same period, Sarah T. Bolton, renowned poetess, was spending her
girlhood days in Madison. Edward Eggleston, of 'Hoosier Schoolboy' and
'Hoosier Schoolmaster' fame, lived the latter part of his years in our
city. David Graham Phillips, novelist and journalist, was born here in
October, 1867. Fifty years ago, his novels were being read throughout
the nation. Irene Dunne, noted screen actress, spent her girlhood years
here. Internationally-known sculptor, George Grey Barnard, was well
acquainted with Madisonians; his father having served in the ministry
locally. John Brough left Madison with a record of engineering failure
and 'Brough's Folly' ringing in his ears. He promptly proved his
ability as a politician by becoming Governor of Ohio during the Civil
War. Harvey W. Wiley, author of this nation's basic pure food laws, was
born at Kent and attended Hanover College.
From a military standpoint we have not been lax, either. Major Sam
Woodfill, a native of Jefferson County, rivalled the deeds of Alvin York
with his military exploits of World War I, while Walter Kruger, during
World War II, reached the rank of 'Four-Star General' and was destined
to lead the invasion of Japan late in 1945 had it become necessary.
Shortly after the war, Madison gave him a hero's homecoming. Madison
contributed two outstanding leaders to the U.S. Navy during the Civil
War. Bushrod B. Taylor performed gallant service as a Captain,
Commander Napoleon Collins entered a neutral port in Brazil to capture
the notorious rebel raider, 'Florida', and scuttled her to put an end to
her preying upon Union ships. Brazil's complaint resulted in Collins'
removal from his command. He was further 'punished' by his country with
a promotion to Rear Admiral. He died aboard the U.S. Flagship,
Richmond, in Callao, Peru. Nine months later, in 1876, he was returned
to Madison in a lead casket containing 21 gallons of rum. He is
interred at Springdale Cemetery. Captain Taylor's final resting place
is at Fairmount.
Madison fully hoped that the world-famed Lafayette would be her first
eminent visitor but had to be content with a near miss. While on a tour
of America in the 1820's, Lafayette's steamer traveled up the Ohio. At
Louisville he was visited by James F.D. Lanier who invited him to
Madison. One story has it that Lafayette's boat became stuck on a sand
bar; another states that he did stop opposite Madison and was visited by
a local delegation of Masons. Although the famed General could not make
the visit, he did present stopped off and made a speech. Some eighty
years later President Herbert Hoover came down river by boat and made a
short stop at the foot of West Street. Benjamin Harrison is supposed to
have visited here with Mark Tilton, having been entertained in the same
house and same room as was William Henry Harrison. This was possibly
the Jeffery Home at the corner of Second and Elm.
In 1853, Henry Ward Beecher, then located at Indianapolis, preached in
Madison and took the 'fastest ride of his life' on a hand car down the
railroad incline into Madison. Two years earlier, Madisonians were in a
dither over the concert given in a local slaughter house by Jennie Lind,
the Swedish Nightingale. She and her manager, P.T. Barnum, were
guaranteed $5,000, but local ticket sales totalled only $3,700. Local
sponsors had to make up the deficit. The town had hardly recovered from
Jennie when Louis Kossuth, the fiery Hungarian patriot, arrived in
1852. He spoke to a large crowd from the balcony of the imposing
Madison Hotel.
Without a doubt there have been other illustrious visitors to
Madison. We can be sure, however, that Madisonians were happy to pass
up the opportunity of playing host on at least one occasion. They
breathed a sigh of relief when, in July of 1863, John Hunt Morgan led
his Confederate calvalry eastward from Dupont!"