From Mostly About Ohio County Folks, by Dillon R. Dorrell:
The Norths and Their Landing, by Russell G. Ryle
Program Given January 10, 1967 to The Ohio County Historical Society
The North family lived in the area of North Landing for nearly one hundred
and twenty years. Thomas North and his family were the first to move into the
area about 1800. He was later joined by his brother, Lot, and his family in
1808 or 1809. Both were originally from Farmington, Connecticut, but had
lived in other states before settling in Indiana. Both had served in the
Revolutionary War: Thomas in the Connecticut Continental Army and Lot in the
same unit as a drummer boy.
In 1831 the Grant's Creek Post Office was established at North Landing with
R. F. North, the son of Thomas North, as postmaster. He and his family ran
the post office for thirty-four years. He may have also operated a small
store.
As far as I can tell, the first members of the family to operate a store at
North Landing were Levi ant Rachel North. Levi, the son of Lot North,
operated a store and steam mill from about 1835 until his death in 1845. The
store then passed to Levi's son Nathan.
Levi's son, Benjamin F., was probably the most notable person the family
produced while at North Landing. He served in the 83rd Regiment of the
Indiana Volunteers during the Civil War, attaining the rank of Captain.
Unfortunately, he died young in 1877, only forty-seven years old.
Since Nathan was only ten years old when his father died, the store was
managed by other members of the North family until he became of age. His
mother, Rachel, had died two years earlier in 184.3. He was sent to
Greencastle, Indiana where he received a basic education. He returned to
North Landing in 1851 and beqan clerking in the store. In 1859 he married
America J. Searcy who bore him four children: Benjamin Grant, Ira Levi,
Fannie Mary, and Moses Taylor. He completed two rooms over the store which
were used for meeting rooms by the Darius Grange P. of H. and Morning Star
Lodge F. & A.M. He was appointed postmaster in 1865. The post office was
moved into his store and its name was changed to North, Indiana.
When Nathan died in 1895, the store was taken over by two of his sons, Ira
and Grant, who operated the store under the name of the North Brothers. The
post office was moved over into the other store at North Landing operated by
Robert W. Galbreath. The first store and house burned in about 1896. They
were replaced with the second store and house. Besides handling the usual
items found in a general store, the North Brothers operated a wharf boat and
for a while sold Keystone Buggies. They also operated a coal yard at Buckeye
Landing for several years. In 1919, they closed the store, sold the wharf
boat, and moved to Rising Sun. They continued to operate the coal yard at
Buckeye Landing for several years.
Today, forty-eight years later, there is little left of the store or coal
yard. The only buildings remaining at North Landing are the barn that went
with the North store and the building that housed the Robert W. Galbreath
store and its barn. The buildings and coal track at Buckeye Landing were
taken out in the 1937 flood. The old coal yard is now used for a camping
area. The only thing remaining is the river.
John S. Dorrell, Indianapolis