Dear Ripley Co folks,
About a week ago, a friend of mine found "John COMMISKEY" on the 1840 Ripley
Co census. His name doesn't appear in the 1840 Indiana census index book at
our local library, so this was big news to me.
I asked him to give me the names of Mr. CUMMINSKIs (COMASKEY COMMENSKEY
McCUMISKY etc) neighbors. This morning, I checked the BLM site for original
Ripley Co landowners for the following surnames:
Smith
Barnheart
Reed
Robinson
Cole
Brown
Terrell
East
Cravens
Richardson
Hughs
Dunn
Kirby
McDowell
Waggoner
Jolley
Brink
Needham
I'm not sure exactly what I expected, but now I have quite a few questions.
Our library does not have a Ripley Co history book. What histories are
available for early Ripley Co, Indiana?
1838 is by far the most common purchase date. What was happening then to
cause such a run on land?
Under the surname DUNN, about 5200 acres were purchased by George H DUNN and
John Piatt DUNN (and some partners named SPRINGER, TATE, BUELL and
BUCHANON). Most of the land is in Township 9-north, Range 11-east. Why was
that such a hot area? Do you know if these gentlemen were strictly
speculators, or did they also live in Ripley Co?
The COLE family also owned major land in Ripley Co. Do any of you know
anything about this family?
I will be plotting all these locations on a Ripley Co platt map. Let me
know if you want a copy.
Thanks for your help,
Phyllis Miller Fleming
Shelbyville, IN
PhyllisMillerFleming(a)starband.net