The Norths and Their Landing, by Russell G. Ryle
Program Given January 10, 1967 to The Ohio County Historical Society
From Mostly About Ohio Co. Folks, 1989 Dillon R. Dorrell
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 and 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
began 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.
All known North burials in Ohio County:
(From Ohio County Cemeteries by Dillon R. Dorrell)
North Cemetery, North’s Landing
The cemetery is about ¼ acre, on bank of Grant’s Creek, 150 yards from
North’s Landing. Many stones are missing, broken, or buried.
Two North brothers (names unknown) each wanted to be buried on his own farm,
one in Ohio County, one in Switzerland County. The county line runs through
the cemetery.
Abijah 8-4-1875 s/o Levi & Rachel, deprived of his life by being
crushed to death while engaged in his father’s
flouring mill
Albert G. 10-26-1814 to 9-22-1876
Asahal 3-6-1875
Bathsheba 6-3-1773 to 3-24-1847
Bovale 10-25-1834 to 11-3-1864
Carolina Powell 7-20-1854 to 8-1-1884
Elizabeth 8-5-1793 to 2-24-1865
Fannie Bailey 9-1-1827 w/o George W. North
George 7-13-1873 76y, 2m, 22d
Gladys 1865-1888
Hannah M. 4-27-1822 to 1-28-1904
Henry 1832-1903
James M. 1845-1922
James M. 8-18-1836 to 2-28-1908
James M. 5-26-1863 21 yr, 11 m, 2d s/o John & Sarah North
Jane 1840-1920
John D. 1-17-1824 to 12-9-1906
Levi 3-11-1798 to 8-20-1845
Lot Oct. 1825
Maria 10-28-1832 to 12-26-1911
Percy H. 5-20-1877
R.E. 2-24-1790 to 5-11-1850
Raoyale 3-17-1827 to 3-3-1830
Sabra E. (wife) 10-11-1883 74 yrs, 10m, 10d
Sally 11-15-1803 to 3-16-1855 w/o R.E. North
Sarah 10-20-1879 33 yrs, 6m, 1d w/o James M.
Sarah M. 2-12-1949
Silence 8-3-1851 d/o Asahal & Elizabeth
Silence 8-14-1835 consort of Lot North
Suzanna 8-15-1826 d/o Levi and Rachel
Thomas 8-29-1745 to 10-30-1830
Thomas P. 11-26-1820 to 1-12-1872
Verla 7-21-1894 D/O E. & O. North
Willie 1869-1869
Wilson 1-26-1953 37 yrs, 18d
New and German Cemetery, Rising Sun
James T. 1-4-1937
Infant of J.T. 2-10-1923
Dede 6-26-1946
Earl T. 2-12-1937
Emma 3-4-1881 to 10-17-1978
Marjory 8-7-1929
Dale B. 3-23-1897 to 8-27-1971
Ann L. 3-15-1894 to 11-18-1949
Lillian F. 1-30-1936
Howard J. 5-24-1871 to 9-6-1943
Cora E. 7-18-1917
Ernest C. 1916
Tobitha 6-7-1926
Nellie 12-28-1868 to 1-10-1953
Percival W. 2-28-1923
Laura K. 1-9-1929
B. Grant 8-10-1863 to 3-11-1951
Della 2-9-1875 to 1-27-1960
Grace 12-13-1859 to 5-7-1946
Samuel N. 6-29-1888 to 3-25-1957
Ira 12-31-1860 to 7-24-1964
Hubert W. 7-1-1892 to 6-4-1966
Nathan Reinternment 10-12-1916
America 9-5-1929
Moses 9-2-1942
Effie 2-20-1887 to 4-25-1972
Clyde O. 5-13-1873 to 6-18-1963
Cedar Hedge (Newer) Cemetery
Grace Gertrude 3-24-1855 to 2-13-1877
Benjamin 2-30-1830 to 1-12-1877
James 3-23-1811 to 8-4-1890