I received a good response, so am sending more.
The souvenir program was written in 1959. In the front of the program,
Emmett Wood acknowleges the Jefferson County Historical Society and
especially Miss Mary Hill for producing material for the Souvenir
Program. The Sesquicentennial Executive Committee, were: Emmett Wood,
General Chairman; Dru Lodge, Secretary; Schoenstein & McKay, Treasurer;
Dick Armstrong, Headquarters; John R. O'Conner, Operating Captial;
Calvin Whitaker, Insurance Committee; John Armstrong, Fireworks
Committee; Ronald Irwin, Decorations Committee; and Frank Woodburn,
Revenue Divison.
"Historical Sketch of Madison" cont....
"Alexander Lanier, lived on the south east corner of Second and Poplar
Lane. In his house was formed the Masonic Lodge, the second in Indiana.
When he died he left in his will, that he wanted to be buried 'decently
and Masonically'.
Churches must have been chilly places in the early days for many had
no way of heating --hot bricks or charcoal heaters were used. St.
Mary's Catholic Church was not heated the first few years it was built.
The only light was candles. Meetings were held at early candle light.
Folks were told to bring their own lights to night schools.
The 'Underground railroad' flourished here for some years before
1860. Several men in this county were strong abolitionists and helped
with this work. Several 'stations' as they were called, were in the
county and slaves who came across the river, were hidden here and then
transported to another station further on, and eventually to Canada. Of
course, at times the slaves were captured and sent back home.
Delia Webster, advocate of anti-slavery, had been imprisoned for
helping slaves to escape. She lived opposite Madison on the Kentucky
side and was indicted in Trimble County Court, but escaped to Madison.
Joseph G. Marshall had her brought into court and so maddened the court
by his speech for justice that the people drove the Kentuckians back to
the river --they were glad to escape with their lives!
Some 'Firsts' in Madison
1st steamboat came to Madison in 1818.
1st newspaper here was the Western Eagle in 1813.
1st water system here and in the state was originated in 1834. Water
from Godman Place was supplied by John Sheets. In 1816 John Paul
supplied water from Cornett spring, piped through hollow logs to the
town. The present water system was started in 1872.
1st bus line, horse drawn, started in 1874. Electric cars were used
in 1898.
1st telephone, from a residence to the Starch Works and Railroad
Depot, was used in 1879.
1st railroad in the state started in 1836 --1st train in 1842.
1st fire engine (steam) for the Two's in 1859.
1st Masonic Lodge (second in the state) in 1815.
1st Bank, Farmers and Mechanics, later known as the National Branch
Bank in 1814. This date establishes the bank as one of the oldest in
the state. The First National Bank started in 1865.
1st lights were introduced about 1851. Gasoline was used and
consequently Madison had lamp-lighters. The following is on record at
the Court House:
Deed Book record 43, page 2;
Articles of agreement between E.G. Nicklaus and the City of Madison
for the furnishing of gasoline to the said city by the said Nicklaus.
Said Niklaus agrees to furnish the city of Madison with a good quality
of one-half degree undistilled gasoline for city purposes, to deliver to
the city lamp-lighters (and no other persons) in such quantities as they
may require but not less than 10 gallons at a time, to keep separate
accounts with each lamp lighter showing how much is used by each, enter
the number of gallons got by each in their pass book every time they get
gasoline, and render his bill the first of every month, for which
gasoline the above mentioned quality, the city agrees to pay said
Nicklaus twenty one cents per gallon of actual measurement.
Dated; this contract shall go into effect after July 31, 1879 until
July 31, 1880.
Signed:
E. G. Nicklaus
Jos. F. Brashear, Mayor
Some of the first more pretentious homes in Madison were built on what
was locally referred to as 'Quality Row'. This name is still used by
some older natives and some of the homes, still stand, in elegant
splendor. This antiquated 'Fifth Avenue' was located on High Street now
called First.
The Lanier Home, the Shrewsbury House, the John Woodburn Home, on
Broadway and First, where Madison High School stands now, the Todd
House, which was the Schofield Home, the Dutton House, across from the
Central School (now the American Legion Home), the old John Cravens Home
where General Crittenden and the Howe's lived (now the Railroad Depot).
The Bachman House on the east end, currently the home of Miss Bertha
Eaglin, the Hendricks Home at Elm and First, now owned by James Shake,
the William Trow Home at Broadway and First, today owned by Werner
Braun. Joe Schofield lived in the Fred Shelke Home across from the
Dutton Home. Mrs. Potter Palmer of the Chicago hotel fame lived across
from the Central School. The City Hotel and the Dick Brown Hotel were
also on High Street.
Madison's neighbor Milton, Kentucky was incorporated by the Virginia
Legislature in 1778.
A notice in an 1860 paper stated Madison needed three things: the
houses numbered, hogs confined and pavements improved.
A Board of Health was appointed in 1864.
Breweries operating in 1867 were: Greiner's, Belser's, Weber's Butz's
and Appel's.
Also in 1867, a Hoop Manufactory was located on East Main Street.
Ox-teams were still seen on the streets in 1872.
Madison in the 40's was an important bustling town. The railroad
improved business --many hogs were being brought in from as far as
Chicago. Other towns nearer also shipped to this area and business was
flourishing. Several new homes were built in that period, the Lanier
and Shrewsbury Homes, and others. There were several wharf boats and
river business was heavy.
Business dwindled away later and people moved elsewhere.
With the building of the Proving Grounds, Indiana-Kentucky Electric
Corporation, many other new industries and the stability of businesses
one hundred and more years old, Madison has again taken its place among
the more important towns of Indiana. Its fame for its scenic beauty and
antebellum homes has become wide-spread as a result of sponsored tours.
It is rapidly being recognized as a resort town and the home of the
nationally known Boat Regatta. Madison's past has been a glorious one,
Madison's future is alive with opportunity.
Railroads
The old Madison and Indianpolis Railroad has also another claim to
fame, besides being the oldest railroad in Indiana; the road has a
stretch in its line which is considered by engineers the steepest in the
United States, if not in the world, to be climbed by a locomotive. It
passes through a deep cut, from Madison to North Madison.
This incline plane between Madison and North Madison was started in
1836 and completed in 1841. It is 7,012 feet long with a total
elevation of 413 feet or 311 feet to the mile. There are two cuts on
the plane one 65' and the other 100' deep, cut through solid rock.
Fire Companies
Madison Weekly Herald, Nov. 10 1887;
In the 30's some of the citizens banded themselves for mutual
protection from fire. They had a little hand engine 'Alpha' better
known as 'Little Red.' C. R. McCullough was president of this
association. Later on the City Council had Fleming Durham build a hand
engine called 'Madison', a company calling themselves the 'United' took
charge of her, but when the big fire came (in 1845) when two churches
and business houses, corner Main & Mulberry burned, the company
disbanded. Samuel H. Weatherford got 30 signatures and started the Fair
Play Fire Co. No. 1, the 1st regularly incorporated fire company. They
had both engines the Alpha and Madison. At a trial out on the north end
of Main (now Jefferson) the dissatisfied members withdrew and formed the
'Two's' with engine 'Madison.' Soon the 'Three's' were
organized in the
west end by Joseph Crawford and Joseph T. Brashears. The 'Two's'
purchased a new engine in Cincinnati and returned 'The Madison' to the
'Ones' who loaned it to the 'Three's':
Churches
The first settlers of this county were members of the Baptist faith in
Kentucky and started the first Baptist church here. Jesse Vawter was
the first minister of the Crooked Creek church near North Madison, later
called Mt. Pleasant. This church was started in 1807. Later the church
moved to Madison and the members worshipped in the Masonic Hall which
was located in the building where the City Hall now stands. In 1831 the
church was built on Vine Street and has been in the same location ever
since. The present building was completed in 1860.
The Presybterian church was constituted in 1815 and has occupied
several buildings. In 1838 the 2nd Presbyterian church was built on the
corner of West and Third Street, and is now the Lutheran church. In
1845 the First Presbyterian church built a new church on Main St., where
the Lodge Hardware store now stands. This building burned down in a
very disastrous fire which destroyed over half of a city block. In 1846
a new building was erected on Broadway and First, where the congregation
now worships.
The Methodists started their churches here in 1816, and have occupied
several buildings --Wesley Chapel on Main St., where the Madison theatre
stands; Roberts Chapel on Third St. The first services were held in the
McIntire home on the corner of East and Second St. Trinity church was
organized in 1869.
The Episcopal church was built in 1835 on the corner of Main Cross and
Church St., and when Dr. Hanna built his home on that lot, the box
buried in the corner stone of the church was found. The present church
was built in 1850.
The first resident Pastor was appointed to Saint Michael's Church,
Madison, in 1837. This is the Mother Church of the area which saw two
other Catholic Churches erected in a span of sixteen years: Saint Mary's
in 1851 and Saint Patrick's in 1853. Saint Michael's Church was built
with stone removed from the railroad cuts.
The Christian church at Liberty started in the year 1817. Caledonia
Presbyterian church was built of logs in 1834, but the first services
were held in homes in the year 1816. The present church was erected in
1921. Carmel United Presbyterian church was organized in 1812 and the
first building was erected in 1816.
The Universalists worshipped in this county, but so far as is known,
they had no building in which to hold services. The Rev. B. F. Foster
preached here in about 1850 for his group.