The following is from the "Sesquicentennial Madison, Indiana 1809 -
1959." It was a Historical Souvenir Program.
Historical Sketch of Madison
(Picture of log cabin with the caption: Home built 1810 near Lamb, Ind.
- opposite Carrollton, Ky. James McKay (1772-1848) and Patty Johnson,
his wife, (1772-1849). Picture taken 1911 shows one room still
standing.)
"White people were known to have settled in this section of Indiana
after the turn of the century. However, there was no settlement at that
time in what is now Madison. Jesse Vawter came here in 1806 but settled
on top of Michigan hill where the present Davidson home is located. John
Henry Wagner came here in 1808. John Paul, with some others, bought at
New Albany, the land where Madison now stands. In 1809 lots were laid
off and the village platted from East to West Streets and from River to
Fourth Street. The streets were called so only by courtesy. They were
just paths through stumps and mud-holes, no sidewalks, no churches, no
schools, no court house, no jail, no lights - just a few log cabins. The
traffic, if it could be called such, was along the river mostly by
skiffs, piroques, and canoes. Later barges and ferries made their
appearance. Steamboats had not yet been invented.
At first John Paul called the town Wakefield but soon changed it to
Madison, probably influenced by a desire to honor President James
Madison. The county, named Jefferson, was organized in 1811 and county
records date from that time. The three townships are now divided into
ten.
Life was very primitive in the first years. Bricks from native clay
were used for dwellings in town. Block houses were erected throughout
the county as a protection against the Indians. However, for the most
part, the Indians were friendly.
On January 23, 1818 the population of Madison was as follows: Whites -
774, Negros - 47. There were 144 families and 123 dwellings.
In 1825 twelve to fifteen buildings, mostly brick, were erected.
A corporation ordinance was passed in May, 1826. The Trustees of
Madison appointed a town surveyor and street commissioners.
The population of Madison by 1827 had increased from 1200 to 1300.
Fourteen stores, ten groceries, two taverns, two cotton spinning
factories, one wool cording machine, two oil mills, one rope factory,
two meeting houses (Presbyterian and Methodist), one printing office,
one Masonic hall, one grist mill, steam mill, six lawyers, six
physicians, academy, court house and one market house comprised the
town. Population of the county was 12,000. The villages of New London
and Paris were flourishing.
Madison was incorporated in 1838. Moody Park was the first mayor.
Pictures of all past mayors, austerely dignified in somber dress, adorn
the walls of the City Hall today.
Sanitary measures were unknown for many years, hogs roamed the streets
and it was not uncommon for them to enter homes. Citizens kept cows to
assure themselves of a milk supply. When they began delivering milk the
"bucket to bucket" method was used, a small bucket left on the stoop was
filled by pouring from the larger bucket the milkman carried.
Not much is known of the early dress of the settlers but it is noted
that Daniel Chute, a teacher and former Revolutionary soldier, wore knee
breeches, long stockings and buckels on his shoes. The firemen in 1860,
in a parade celebrating Washington's Birthday, appeared as follows:
1st Revolutionary soldiers,
Mexican War Veterans
City Militia
Turners
Fire Departments
Odd Fellows and Citizens
No. 1's were resplendent in blue velvet jackets.
No. 2's flashing in red merino uniforms
No. 3's handsome and efficient in green jackets and fire hats.
Also in 1860 the Washington Riflemen had new uniforms of butternut
colored coats or hunting shirts with fur trim. Pants were matching
color with buff stripes. Fur skin caps with tail forming the apex with
the American eagle in front were proudly worn.
When the ladies wore hoop skirts an advertisement in the paper said
"it was to be hoped that the merchants would have their pavements
cleared of snow wide enough for two ladies to pass".
Gentlemen's hats were made here for many years. Boys were apprenticed
to the hatters to learn the trade. A list of apprentices was recorded
at the court-house, giving name, age, length of time, apprenticed by
whom, dismissals, etc. Also kept at the recorder's office were ear
marks for animals. As there were no fences cattle and hogs roamed
everyplace and marks were necessary to claim them.
Money was scare in the early days. Spanish coins were used and several
pieces have been found in old dwellings here. Spanish half dollars and
quarters; bit and fips were used and sometimes money was cut in halves
and quarters to make change. Jesse Whitehead started a store here and
had a barrel filled with small change in it."
I will continue in a later post to this list if anyone is interested in
receiving more from this book. Let me know, please.
Sincerely,
Ruth Hoggatt