|
STAUNTON,
INDIANA This
thriving little town was laid out on the 12th day of August
1851 and is situated in Section 16.
It sprang into existence on account of the Terre Haute &
Indianapolis Railroad and early acquired some prominence as a trading and
shipping point.
The plat was surveyed by William Herren
for Lewis Bailey, proprietor,
who placed the lots upon the market at once.
“Sandy” Wilson was among the first to purchase real estate in
the new village and erected the first house, a residence and store
building combined, where Swanda’s
store now stands.
He brought a small stock of goods to the place and was in business
two or three years, when he closed out his store and left the village.
The next were Hare Harrison
and Robert West, who came in
about two years later.
They erected a good frame building on Jefferson Street, north of
the railroad, and did a good business for five years, at the end of which
time the store was purchased by Wheeler and Carter.
This firm sold goods for a number of years.
Wheeler afterward
closed out to Carter, who in
turn disposed of the business some time later and started a store at
another place.
An early store was kept by Milton Carter
in a small building which stood in the northern part of the village. He
kept a miscellaneous assortment of merchandise and was in business but a
short time, closing out to F. Graham,
who succeeded him in the same building.
George Whidden started
a store in the Wheeler and Carter
building a short time after the latter quit the village and did a thriving
business for several years. Other merchants were J. & J. Wardlow,
who kept a large stock of goods; Hoffman
& Carter; and Wheeler,
Bridges & Co.
The first hotel was built by Jacob and Joseph Fravels,
near the railroad, and kept first by Jackson J. VEST,
who ministered to the traveling public for several years.
The hotel is still standing and serves the purpose of a wareroom at
the present time. William
Ensinger and Levi Barb
were the first mechanics in the village, starting blacksmith shops soon
after the town was surveyed. The
first cooper was Charles Lynd.
In the year 1863, Frederick Weisman engaged in the tannery business
and started a yard in the northeast part of the village, which he operated
until the year 1867, when he sold out and left the place.
The last owner of the tannery was Joseph VEST.
The first physician was Dr. Wiley;
since his time, the following medical gentlemen have practiced the healing
art in the village, viz.: I. H. Hawkins,
James Wardlow, Dr. Kester,
Dr. Hyatt, M . N. Fossion,
Dr. Kiser, Dr. Porter,
Dr. Davis, J. C. Maxey,
Dr. McCorkhill, F. B. McCullough,
Dr. Gerstmeyer, Dr. Western,
Dr. Lazear and Dr. E. L. Larkins……….Pg.
222; Blanchard Close this window to return to the website
|