Hello,
I have joined this list because I am part of an effort by members of local
history and preservation groups to save the front lawn of an 1870's
Italianate brick farm house located just west of Mooresville on SR 42. My
job is to help with establishing brief histories of the families who lived
on the farm, which was obtained by Charles Virtreese in parcels from the
government from 1820 through 1823.
The home was built sometime in the 1870's by William Macy and his wife
Julia Ann Mills, who were Quaker. They lived in the home only until 1882,
when William Macy decided to move West, so that he wouldn't have to worry
about the government taking his land. He had lost acreage for road and
interurban railroad construction.
History prepares to repeat itself. Indiana Department of Transportation
has informed members of the Morgan County History and Genealogy Association
and Morgan County Historical Preservation Society that a significant part
of the front lawn of the home is required to widen SR 42. This includes
trees that are at least 120 years old. Other nearby homes along SR 42 are
affected by this plan, and none of the homeowners will be notified by the
State until a public hearing. Some of the latter homes will have the
highway very close to their front doors.
Members of MCHPS and MCHGA have begun a nomination to the National
Registry of Historic Places, which should prevent a recurrence of this type
of acquisition by a government entity.
I have found information about ancestors of the following owners:
Akin Dakin and his wife Mary Harvey;
William Macy and his wife Julia Ann Mills;
Alonzo M JOhnson and his wife Louisa Campbell.
I need information about:
first land-owner Charles Virtrees and wife;
Martin Ruble and wife, who bought the farm from the Macy's;
Willis and Clara Richardson, who owned the property from about 1930-2000.
There were other owners of parts of the property, including Bowater
Burris, William McCracken (guardian), Stephen McCracken, William
Hadley, Jeremiah Hadley, Eliza Hadley, William Moon, and Samuel Moore.
We have been told by state officials that the success of our venture
requires connecting this property with events of historic importance,
establishing the importance of this farm/home to the community, documenting
famous descendants of owners, or noting famous people who visited the property.
Besides using the gathered material in the National Register nomination, I
will include it in an article for the Morgan County History and Genealogy
Association quarterly. Information or material provided will be used only
with owner/giver approval.
Any ideas or help out there?
Sharon Mills
Martinsville