here for the investment of capital. A mile north is a fire-brick factory doing a profitable business. Coal, wood and water being plentiful here, a flouring-mill would also do well at this point.
The factory referred to is the Montezuma Fire-Brick Works, built in 1872-'73, by Burns, Porter & Collett. It is now owned and run by Joseph Burns. The main building is 70 x 90 feet, with an addition 30 x 40 feet, used as a boiler and machinery room. The proprietor uses the Foster & Rinehart crushers, the Martin brick machine and the Totten dry-pan. The power is furnished by the Sinker-Davis fifty-horse-power engine. Capacity, 10,000 brick daily. The brick made at this factory will not glaze or melt, are of the best quality and used in several States. The drying rooms are underlaid with a series of furnaces, which, when heated, transmit the heat through the tile flooring upon which the damp brick are laid for drying.
Major Arrn Post, No. 370, G. A. R., was chartered July 13, 1884, with the following members: J. A. Souders, L. Newell, J. F. Whitson, W. A. James, :T. S. King, B. G. Sonders, W. J. Lake, A. B. Casebeer, J. W. Justice, H. Casebeer, Cooper Jackson, J. W. Middlebrook, Dr. E. Mack, J. A. Luce, E. Short, A. Pearman, F. M. Lake, William Pearman and W. A. Roeback, -- nineteen in all. The first officers were -- Cooper Jackson, Post Commander; W. A. James, Senior Vice-Commander; J. A. Luce, Junior Vice-Commander; A. B. Casebeer, Adjutant; J. F. Whitson, Quartermaster: J. A. Sonders, Officer of the Day. There are now twenty-one members, who meet on the second and fourth Saturday evenings of each month, in the Hillsdale school-house. The present officers are -- W. A. James, Post Commander; A. B. Casebeer, Senior Vice-Commander; B. G. Sonders, Junior Vice-Commander; J. F. Whitson, Adjutant; Samuel Lane, Quartermaster; Cooper Jackson, Officer of the Day.
The Methodist Episcopal Church at Hillsdale was organized July 11, 1880, by Rev. Thomas Bartlett, with the following members: J. W. Casebeer, class-leader; S. R. James, Matilda James, Margaret Owens, Dr. E. Mack, Mrs. Mack, Martha Strowbridge, Ella Casebeer, Martha Casebeer, A. B. Casebeer, C. M. Casebeer, E. M. Casebeer, Sarah Wilson, Mary McLaughlin, Jane Williamson, Wallace Thompson, Mrs. Thompson, Elizabeth Newell, R. Wilson, Thomas J. Williamson, Bertie Casebeer, Billy Ponton, Charles Bassett and Mrs. Mary Marvin.
The present church edifice, a fine frame 34 x 40 feet, and costing $1,650, was built in 1883-'84, principally with money bequeathed by a Sister Bricker. The ground was donated by Mrs. Mary Gibson. Trustees -- J. W. Casebeer, J. T. Ponton, S. R. James, W. A. James, E. Mack, A. B. Casebeer and Charles Bassett.
The first pastor was Rev. J. F. McDaniels, two years or more; the second, E. R. Johnson, two years, or until 1884; then Rev. Joy was pastor from the fall of 1884 until the fall of 1885, J. T. Woods till March, 1887, since which time W. A. Smith has had charge. Preaching every two weeks. Sunday-school is maintained throughout the year. The membership of the church is now about twenty-five. Class-leader, William Tincher.
is a hamlet of about 150 inhabitants a mile north of Hillsdale. It is one of the oldest trading points in the county, having been in pioneer days a stage station on the route between Terre Haute and LaFayette. For many years a postoffice was there, but when Hillsdale was started it was transferred to the
latter place, and the name correspondingly changed. The leading merchant of Highland is W. J. Hendrix, who keeps a full line of general merchandise, and has a good trade. There are also a small grocery and drug store here, and a blacksmith shop.
A "Christian" Church exists at this point, organized in early day. The present membership is estimated at about thirty; but they are not strong. Elders -- John Pearman and israel Leatherman. Minister -- Elder Marshall, who resides near Rockville, Park County. Sunday-school throughout the year.
is a hamlet situated on the northwest quarter of section 26, and the northeast quarter of section 27, township 15 north, range 9 west, Helt Township. It was surveyed by A. Fitch, March 14, 1871, and the plat recorded December 28 following. The first house was a store room built by A. H. Depuy, in the spring of 1872. The second was a residence built by N. T. Leiton, the same year. The first blacksmith shop was buiilt by Otho Chambers. William Skidmore also built a warehouse early in 1872, which burned down in May of the same year. The present ware-house was erected by Leiton & Depuy, in the fall of that year, There are now two stores, one blacksmith shop, one harness and shoe shop combined, a saw-mill, a warehouse, and postoffice. Population, sixty-four.
Salem Methodist Episcopal Church, meeting a mile north of Summit Grove, is a pioneer institution. The first Methodist preaching in the neighborhood was by Rev. Mr. Chamberlain in 1821-'22. The next preacher was Rev. Dr. William James, a Virginiam who had lived awhile at Mansfield, Ohio, and then in Butler County, that State, and came to this county in October, 1822, when he preached in the log barn of John Helt, and later in a small log cabin schoolhouse with split-pole seats. He preached and practiced medicine until 1826, when he started for New Orleans with a boat load of corn, and died on the way. The next minister was Rev. Warner, from Parke County, who organized the class in this neighborhood in the spring of 1828, in the log schoolhouse on Helt's Prairie, under the name of Helt's Prairie Class. Samuel Ryerson and wife were the leading members. Other members were John Helt and wife, Samuel Rush and wife, Mr. Elizabeth Helt, Mrs. Mary Helt, Edmund James and wife, Collon James and John James and wife.
These people worshiped in the school house and in the house of Samuel Rush until 1846, when they built a frame house at the center of section 22, township 15 north, 9 west. In 1878 this building was sold and a commodious brick structure erected on the same foundation, about 32 x 60 feet in dimensions, at a cost of $2,838.36. The present trustees are Robert Davis, A. L. Mack, Wright James, N. T. Leiton, Albert Miller and D. E. Strain, Jr. There are now over 100 communicants. Public services and class-meeting every two weeks. Pastor -- Rev. W. A. Smith. Class-leaders -- James Harrington, James A. Miller, Wright James, Martin Harper and Frank Helt. Sunday-school sustained throughout the year and superintended by N. T. Leiton.
Spring Hill Class, Methodist Episcopal, was organized in 1834, in the house of Joel Blakesley, with Samuel Rush and wife, Joel Blakesley and wife, Zachariah D. James and wife, Jane Ford, Sarah Ponton, Stephen Harrington and wife, William Kearns and wife, Lydia Jackson, Enoch White and wife, Martha Ponton, Betsey Ponton, and Nathaniel
Barnes and wife. In 1835 they built a hewed-log house, near the center of section 10, township 15, range 9, which they used several years. The class was then known as "Goshen." They next removed to the schoolhouse a half mile north. The present house, of worship, a frame 30 x 40 feet, was built in 1879, at a cost of $1.775. There are now about thirty members. Sunday-school all the year, with A. Harvey Kearns as superintendent. Trustees -- William A. James and Moses Thompson. Pastor -- Rev. James Smith. The present name of the class, "Spring Hill," was adopted at the time of the building of the present church.
Asbury Chapel, Methodist Episcopal, -- The class meeting here was organized as early as 1830. One of the first ministers was Rev. DeLap. Services were held at private residences and in school-houses until 1850, when a frame church, 30 x 40 feet was erected on the southeast quarter of sectiion 36, township 16 range 10. The most successful revival was held in 1852, under the pastorate of Rev. Arthur Badley, who was living in Iowa when last heard from. Among the pastors who have had charge of this church since the building of the present house of worship have been Revs. J. W. Parrett, Shaw, Thomas Bartlett, Salsbury, Clark Skinner, McDaniel, Wood, Barnard, Nebeker, Barnett, Morrison and E. R. Johnson. The class has, of later years, been considerably reduced in number, and they now have no regular preaching.
The Center Methodist Episcopal Church was organized about fifty years ago, at the residence of James Wishard, where services were held for many years. In 1853 the present commodious frame structure was erected, 30 x 40 feet in size, at a cost of about $1,400. Present membership, ninety-seven. Class-leaders, George Campbell and Alanson Church. Stewards, H. P. McCown, B. F. Smith and Henry Shaffer. Class-meeting every two weeks, and public se[r]vices every two weeks. Prayer meeting every Thursday evening during the winter. Sunday-school all the year, at 9:30 A.M. Rev. J. B. Combs, of Clinton, is the present pastor.
Liberty Class, United Brethren Church,was organized in 1878, by Rev. Henry Nolan, with about sixteen or eighteen members, in Liberty school-house, on section 15, township 15, range 10. The first pastor was Rev. Thomas O. Baty, who served from the fall of 1878 to the fall of 1880; W. A. Wainscott, 1880-'83; James Smith, 1883-'84' Levi Byrd, 1884-'86; S. S. Sims, 1886 to the present. Membership twenty-six, worshipping still in Liberty school-house. Class-leader, Frank Skidmore. Thomas Skidmore, superintendent of the Sunday-school, which is at present maintained only during the summer, but efforts are made to continue it the year round. Public service every three weeks. A prayer meeting is also sustained.
Midway United Brethren Church was organized in 1857, by Rev. Joel Cowgill, with probably fifteen or twenty members, in the Castle school-house, which is still their place of worship, though it has been purchased by them and converted into a church. Its size is 22 x 30 feet, and is situated on section 13, township 15, range 10. Public services were discontinued August 28, 1887, with no definite plans for the future.
United Brethren Church at Haneman Chapel. -- As the nucleus of this society, services were first held here over fifty years ago, in the house of Christopher Haneman, deceased, the principal founder. The class was organized as early as 1837, with a few members, among whom were Christopher Haneman and wife, Harriet McDowel, George Wellman and wife, Jeremiah Hammond and
wife, Silas Hollingsworth and wife. Emily Bales and Isaac Johnson and wife. The present church edifice, a brick structure, was begun in 1842, but not completed until 1872, thirty years afterward. it stands on sectiion 6, township 15, range 9.
Among the many ministers who have preached here were Revs. John Shoey, William Eckles, Andrew Wimset, Mr. Conoyer, John Miller, Thomas Hamilton, Joseph Nye Mr. Nugen, John A. Mast and Samuel Potts. There are now twenty-eight communicants in good standing. Class-leader, William Underwood. Trustees, Jacob Underwood, William Underwood and Richard Malone. Sunday-school half the year, superintended by Miss Delia Boren. Pastor, Rev. S. S. Sims. Public services once in three weeks.
Tennessee Valley Baptist Church was organized in September, 1872, in the Staats school-house, by Rev. William McMasters, who had been preaching here some time previously, sustaining the point as a "mission" of Hiddle's Prairie Baptist Church. The first members were Thomas Dugger and wife, Benjamin T. Dugger and wife, James G. Lewis and wife, Henry J. Howard and wife, Rosa J. Pierce (now Underwood), James A. Dugger and wife and John F. Dugger, all of whom came by letter from the Hiddle's Prairie Church. Rev. McMasters was the pastor of this new church from the date of its organization until his death in 1886. He was an industrious, earnest worker, endearing himself to all. Rev. John H. Rusmisel succeeded him, and is the present minister. Public services on the second and fourth Sundays of each month. Sunday-school throughout the year with James G. Lewis as superintendent. Trustees, Benjamin T. and John F. Dugger and James G. Lewis. Deacons, Benjamin T. Dugger, James G. Lewis and L. L. Goodwin. Clerk, John F. Dugger. Communicants about ninety. The present house of worship, a neat frame 30 x 45 feet in size, was erected in 1875, at a cost of $1,600. It is situated on the northeast quarter of section 18, township 15, range 9.
The Indianapolis, Decatur & Springfield Railroad was completed through Vermillion County, laterally, and through Helt Township longitudinally, in 1873. In April, 1874, the railroad company fixed upon a point on their road near the head of the little Raccoon Creek and about two and a half miles east of the western boundary of the township for a "town," naming the place "Dana," after one of the stockholders in the road. For a depot Samuel Aikman donated a half interest in forty acres, John B. Aikman a half interest in twenty acres, and Samuel Cofland a half interest also in twenty acres. Besides, these gentlemen gave $1,500 cash. The land thus donated became the town plat.
The next year W. M. Taylor built the first business house in the place, a frame, in which he kept a general store and the postoffice. The postmasters since Mr. Taylor's period of service have been John Bilsland and, since April 13, 1885, John W. Redman.
Dana is the most rapidly growing town in Vermillion County, comprising a shrewd and enterprising class of business men, and surrounded by an unusually good agricultural district.
It was incorporated in January, 1886, since which time the trustees have been John Linn, President, D. W. Finney and W. T. Davis; H. Wells, Clerk; J. E. Bilsland, Treasurer; and John Malone, Marshal.
The school trustees are G. O. newton, Charles Hunt and J. O. Rogers, appointed by the above town board. The school-house, a brick structure 27 x 62 feet in dimensions