Madison County Historical Society

 100 Years Ago

Lee Garrison, 1200 block of Brown Street, was injured about the face and hands when steam turned on in a boiler that he was cleaning at the Arcade File Works. Mr. Garrison was forced to jump about 15 feet to the ground to escape death.  In jumping, he sprained his ankle.  He was taken to St. John's hospital in Sell's Brothers Ambulance.  He was reported to be doing nicely.  

A large doll and some mischievous boys caused some excitement yesterday afternoon.  While crossing Meridian street in front of the Banner store, the boys dropped a doll in front of an approaching traction car, allowing the doll to be run over and causing one sawdust limb to be cut off.  Some man rushed out and grabbing up the doll, shouted that a baby girl had been run over.  A large crowd gathered around the excitement and an ambulance was called.  When it arrived, Mont Sells jumped down from the seat and asked where the child was and in reply was handed the doll.  In good humor, he tossed the doll in the ambulance and drove to the morgue.

Source:  The Herald Bulletin - Compiled by Elmore Hammes 

The Cartwright Family 

Thomas Cartwright was born in North Carolina in 1790 of English ancestry.  He was married to Sarah B. Smithson also a native of North Carolina and English descent.  During Thomas' early life he was a seafaring man, and in 1839 came to Indiana, settling at Milton, Wayne County, where worked on the National Road.

On August 12, 1846, he brought his family to Madison County and located on a farm four miles north of Alexandria.  There his death occurred in 1865.  Sarah died at age 85 in about 1875. 

Sarah and Thomas Cartwright had nine children, some of whom are listed here.  First born was Charles.  He went to Iowa and engaged in farming and carpentry. 

Spencer was also a farmer and carpenter.  He died in 1855 when a gun discharged which he was cleaning.

Miles, also a farmer and carpenter, died in 1862.  William, a farmer, was residing five miles north of Alexandria. 

Emaline married Edward Christopher, a farmer, and resided at Summitville.

Mary married, first, James White and then became the wife of James Eaton, a farmer in Wisconsin.

Fredrick was born January 1, 1826 in Elizabeth City, North Carolina.  He was seven  years old when he came with his family to Madison County.  When a young man, Fredrick, was employed for some time in carrying water and whiskey for the men at work on the White Water canal.  However, most of his time was spent in assisting in the work of clearing his father's farm.

He received limited education and when 18 began learning the carpenter's trade at Cambridge City.  This occupation he followed for three years, after which he spent one year on a farm.  Later he joined a traveling show, acting as second clown in the light comedy.  Subsequently, he owned a minstrel show, with which he traveled for two years.

Later Fredrick became a mercantile merchant at the Crossroads, four miles northwest of Alexandria, and engaged in business there for five years.  Afterward he opened the first hotel in Alexandria. 

During the summer of 1862, he organized Company E, 101st Indiana Infantry, of which he was commissioned Captain.  He participated in battles at Hoover's Gap, Chickamauga, and Chattanooga.  Because of poor health, he resigned on November 7, 1863.

However, his health improved and he re-enlisted, in March, 1864, as a member of Company K, 130th Indiana Infantry. He was promoted to Sergeant and later Lieutenant.  He took part in battles of Peach Tree Creek, Snake Gap, Resaca, the fall of Atlanta and went as far as Rome, Georgia, on the famous march to the sea.  He also was present at Ft. Fisher, Wilmington, Kingston, Raleigh and Charleston.  Fredrick was discharged in December, 1865.

After leaving the army, Fredrick engaged in the hotel business in Alexandria for one year and for the next five years was the proprietor of the United States Hotel at Anderson, Indiana.  For some years afterward, he was engaged in the hotel business in different places. 

In 1891, he returned to Alexandria, and was in business in cigars and tobacco until the great fire of 1892 destroyed his store.

COOL SITE 

 Historical Paths

The website is by renowned author and editor, Elizabeth Shown Mills.  She is responsible for 13 books and publishing over 500 articles of history, literature, and genealogy.  The site is massive and the articles are intriguing.    

Green Township Cemeteries

Pleasant Valley

Research Ideas 

 Certificates

These would include baptism, confirmation, graduation, professional certification, etc.. 

 Word To The Wise 

 Mercantile (mur' kan-til) adj

Of or pertaining to merchants or trade; commercial or commercialism. 

Postcards/Photos 

The Linwood Grain Elevator which is 100+ years old.   The elevator is in operation today and continues to serve the farming community in the area.

 Old school house in Boone Township.