Collection #

M 0060
BV 1013–1017
OM 0419

 

 

Henry County, Indiana
Papers, 1806–1970

 

Collection Information

Biographical Sketch

Scope and Content Note

Series Contents

 Cataloging Information

 

 

 

Processed by

Betty Alberty
Paul Brockman, Supervisor
12 May 2005

Manuscript and Visual Collections Department
William Henry Smith Memorial Library
Indiana Historical Society
450 West Ohio Street
Indianapolis, IN 46202-3269

www.indianahistory.org

 

COLLECTION INFORMATION

VOLUME OF
COLLECTION:

10 boxes; 5 bound volumes; 5 oversized folders

COLLECTION
DATES:

1806–1970

PROVENANCE:

Herbert L. Heller, Greencastle, Indiana, March 1971; June 1974

RESTRICTIONS:

None

COPYRIGHT:

 

REPRODUCTION
RIGHTS:

Permission to reproduce or publish material in this collection must be obtained from the Indiana Historical Society.

ALTERNATE
FORMATS:

 

RELATED
HOLDINGS:

“Historic Henry County" articles  (M 0061); Henry County (SC 0360); Henry County, Greensboro Township School enumeration (BV 211); Henry County Land Receipt (OM 0016); Henry County Lewisville Board of Trustees Records (BV 882-889); Henry County Minute Book for School District No. 8 (BV 2019); New Lisbon Indiana Telephone Co. Minutes (F 0270); and Clarence Smith Papers (M 0254)

ACCESSION
NUMBER:

1971.0309; 1974.0606

NOTES:

 

BIOGRAPHiCAL SKETCHes

Henry County, situated in north central Indiana, was organized in 1821 and named for Patrick Henry.  Most of the county’s first settlers were Quakers.

Individuals and families figuring prominently in the collection include:

Joseph Dorrah (also spelled Darrah, Dourrah, Durrah) (1823-ca.1905) was born at New Castle, the son of John Dorrah.  His father did the original survey of the town.  Dorrah spent his life farming in Henry County, and served two terms as assessor of Henry Township.  He was married twice, first to Emily Hall, then to Catherine.

           

William Edgerton was the son of Walter and Rebecca Edgerton, Quakers who moved to Indiana in 1829 and to Spiceland in Henry County the following year.  For thirteen years William Edgerton was Clerk of the Indiana Yearly Meeting of Anti-Slavery Friends.

 

Herbert L. Heller (1908-1983) was a native of New Castle.  His family led in establishing New Castle as a rose-growing center, and specialized in developing the American Beauty rose.

 

Heller graduated from Indiana University in 1931.  He earned advanced degrees at Ball State and Indiana, and began a career in education by teaching American and Indiana history at New Castle High School.  He soon moved to college teaching, however, serving as registrar at Hanover College until 1950, teaching education at DePauw from 1950 to 1959, and subsequently holding various positions at Alaska Methodist University, California Western University, and Baldwin-Wallace College.

 

Throughout his life Heller wrote bits of the history of his native town and county, including Newspaper Readings in the History of New Castle (1941-1942), The Schools of New Castle, Indiana – a Documentary History (1970), and Historic Henry County (3 volumes, 1981-1982).

 

Thomas B. Redding (1831-1895) was born in Henry County, the son of Iredell and Anna (Nixon) Redding.  His father ran a general store, Nixon and Redding, and owned stock in the New Castle and Richmond Railroad.

 

Redding graduated from Indiana Asbury University in 1854, and later earned a Ph. D. degree at Iowa Wesleyan.  He began his career in teaching and journalism (head of New Castle Seminary for one year, editor of the New Castle Courier), but then was admitted to the bar and from 1857 practiced law.  He married Sarah W. Corrington in 1858.  He specialized in collections, claims (especially those of Civil War veterans in 1868-1870), and patents, including one for a buggy-whip socket.  He maintained a deep interest in educational matters, served as a trustee of Indiana Asbury, and was an active member of the Western Association of Writers.

 

Clarence Herbert Smith (1875-1959), a native of New Castle, graduated from New Castle High School, and attended Wabash College for one year.  After some years in business, he was appointed curator of the Henry County Historical Society in 1922 and held that post for thirty years.  He was an enthusiastic local historian and genealogist, and for several years wrote an historical column in the New Castle Courier.

 

Rotheus (Roethius) Scott lived in New Castle around 1850.  He was school commissioner in 1846, was recorded as voting in 1851, and owned a house on Broad Street east of Twelfth.

 

Sources:
Information in collection

 

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

This collection consists mainly of legal papers, with some letters and booklets; the main part of the collection is arranged chronologically.

 

Most of the material in the collection was apparently collected by Clarence H. Smith during his research in the offices of the county clerk and of several local lawyers. There is also a considerable body of material collected by Herbert L. Heller during his research, especially about the schools of New Castle and Henry County.

 

Series one, arranged chronologically, contains the material which apparently came from the Henry County Clerk's office: deeds, receipts, and other legal materials, including several apprenticeship contracts. 

 

Series two contains items concerning the participation of Henry County residents in the Civil War.  This includes a few letters, documentation of individuals’ enlistment and service, and records of aid given to the families of enlisted soldiers. 

 

Series three contains papers relating to particular Henry County organizations and individuals:  the South Mound and New Castle cemeteries, the Conner family, Joseph Dorrah, William Edgerton, and Roethius Scott. 

 

Series four comprises the papers, mainly legal, of Thomas B. Redding.  It is interesting to note that Redding wrote up contracts even for such matters as renting a farm and hiring live-in domestic help, forbidding the use of intoxicating liquors and profane language. 

 

Series five contains material collected by Herbert L. Heller for his book on the schools of New Castle, with emphasis on New Castle High School.  This includes lists of students and commencement and other programs with additional items on the schools of New Castle.

 

Series six contains material relating to the Presbyterian and Methodist churches and notebooks with the lists of voters in each Henry County township for 1853.

 

series CONTENTS

Series 1: Historical Documents and Papers, 1809–1934

CONTENTS

CONTAINER

Historical Documents and Papers, 1809–26

Box 1, Folder 1

Historical Documents and Papers, 1827–28

Box 1, Folder 2

Historical Documents and Papers, 1829

Box 1, Folder 3

Record Book, Henry County Library, 1829–47

Box 1, Folder 4

Historical Documents and Papers, 1830

Box 1, Folder 5

Historical Documents and Papers, 1831–32

Box 1, Folder 6

Henry County Seminary, 1831–37

Box 1, Folder 7

Historical Documents and Papers, 1833–34

Box 1, Folder 8

Historical Documents and Papers, 1835

Box 1, Folder 9

Historical Documents and Papers, Jan.–June 1836

Box 1, Folder 10

Historical Documents and Papers, July–Dec. 1836

Box 1, Folder 11

Lewisville Town Plat, 1835

OM 0419:
Folder 1

Town Plat, 1836

Box 1, Folder 12

Historical Documents and Papers, Jan.–Feb. 1837

Box 1, Folder 13

Historical Documents and Papers, March–April, 1837

Box 1, Folder 14

Historical Documents and Papers, May–June 1837

Box 1, Folder 15

Historical Documents and Papers, July–Sept. 1837

Box 1, Folder 16

Historical Documents and Papers, Oct.–Dec. 1837

Box 1, Folder 17

Historical Documents and Papers, Jan.–June 1838

Box 1, Folder 18

Historical Documents and Papers, July–Dec. 1838

Box 1, Folder 19

Historical Documents and Papers, Jan.–March 1839

Box 1, Folder 20

Historical Documents and Papers, April–June 1839

Box 1, Folder 21

Historical Documents and Papers, July–Dec. 1839

Box 1, Folder 22

Historical Documents and Papers, 1839

Box 1, Folder 23

Historical Documents and Papers, Jan.–June 1840

Box 2, Folder 1

Historical Documents and Papers, July–Dec. 1840

Box 2, Folder 2

Historical Documents and Papers, 1840

Box 2, Folder 3

Historical Documents and Papers, Jan.–June 1841

Box 2, Folder 4

Historical Documents and Papers, July–Dec. 1841

Box 2, Folder 5

Historical Documents and Papers, Jan.–June 1842

Box 2, Folder 6

Historical Documents and Papers, July–Dec. 1842

Box 2, Folder 7

Historical Documents and Papers, 1843

Box 2, Folder 8

Historical Documents and Papers, 1844

Box 2, Folder 9

Indentures and Deeds, 1832–44

OM 0419:
Folder 2

Certificates of Public Sale of Land, 1 Jan. 1844

Box 2, Folder 10

Land Sale Certificates, 6 Jan. 1845

Box 2, Folder 11

Historical Documents and Papers, 1845

Box 2, Folder 12

Historical Documents and Papers, 1846

Box 2, Folder 13

Land Sale Certificates, 5 Jan. 1846

Box 2, Folder 14

Historical Documents and Papers, 1847

Box 2, Folder 15

School Fund, 1847

Box 2, Folder 16

Historical Documents and Papers, 1848

Box 2, Folder 17

Petition to Legislature for Sale of Wines and Spirits, 1847–48

Box 2, Folder 18

School Funds, 1848

Box 2, Folder 19

Historical Documents and Papers, 1849

Box 2, Folder 20

School Funds, 1849

Box 2, Folder 21

Historical Documents and Papers, 1850

Box 3, Folder 1

Historical Documents and Papers, 1851

Box 3, Folder 2

Historical Documents and Papers, 1852

Box 3, Folder 3

Historical Documents and Papers, 1853

Box 3, Folder 4

Historical Documents and Papers, 1854

Box 3, Folder 5

Historical Documents and Papers, 1855

Box 3, Folder 6

Historical Documents and Papers, Jan.–June 1856

Box 3, Folder 7

Historical Documents and Papers, July–Dec. 1856

Box 3, Folder 8

Historical Documents and Papers, 1857

Box 3, Folder 9

Historical Documents and Papers, 1858

Box 3, Folder 10

Historical Documents and Papers, Jan.–June 1859

Box 3, Folder 11

Historical Documents and Papers, July–Dec. 1859

Box 3, Folder 12

Historical Documents and Papers, 1860

Box 3, Folder 13

Broadsides, 1860, n.d.

OM 0419:
Folder 3

Historical Documents and Papers, 1861

Box 3, Folder 14

Historical Documents and Papers, 1862

Box 3, Folder 15

Historical Documents and Papers, 1863

Box 3, Folder 16

Historical Documents and Papers, 1864

Box 3, Folder 17

Historical Documents and Papers, 1865

Box 3, Folder 18

Historical Documents and Papers, 1866

Box 5, Folder 1

Historical Documents and Papers, 1867

Box 5, Folder 2

Historical Documents and Papers, 1868

Box 5, Folder 3

Historical Documents and Papers, 1869

Box 5, Folder 4

Historical Documents and Papers, 1870

Box 5, Folder 5

Historical Documents and Papers, 1871

Box 5, Folder 6

Church and Sunday School Records, June–Oct. 1870

Box 5, Folder 7

Copy of Elwood Pleas’ Henry County Past and Present, 1821–1871

Box 5, Folder 8

Historical Documents and Papers, 1872

Box 5, Folder 9

Historical Documents and Papers, 1873

Box 5, Folder 10

Historical Documents and Papers, 1874

Box 5, Folder 11

Historical Documents and Papers, 1875

Box 5, Folder 12

Historical Documents and Papers, 1876

Box 5, Folder 13

Historical Documents and Papers, 1877

Box 5, Folder 14

Historical Documents and Papers, 1878

Box 5, Folder 15

Historical Documents and Papers, 1879

Box 5, Folder 16

Historical Documents and Papers, 1880

Box 5, Folder 17

Historical Documents and Papers, 1881–82

Box 5, Folder 18

Historical Documents and Papers, 1883–85

Box 5, Folder 19

Historical Documents and Papers, 1886

Box 5, Folder 20

Historical Documents and Papers, 1887–88

Box 5, Folder 21

Historical Documents and Papers, 1889

Box 5, Folder 22

Historical Documents and Papers, 1890–95

Box 6, Folder 1

Historical Documents and Papers, 1896–99

Box 6, Folder 2

Historical Documents and Papers, 1900–05

Box 6, Folder 3

Historical Documents and Papers, 1906–09

Box 6, Folder 4

Historical Documents and Papers, 1911–34

Box 6, Folder 5

Series 2: Civil War Records, 1861–1868

CONTENTS

CONTAINER

Civil War Participation, 1861

Box 4, Folder 1

Civil War Participation, 1862

Box 4, Folder 2

Rolls of Volunteers for Service, 1862

Box 4, Folder 3

Civil War, Jan.–June 1863

Box 4, Folder 4

Civil War, July–Dec. 1863

Box 4, Folder 5

Civil War Participation, 1864–65

Box 4, Folder 6

Military Fund, 1861

Box 4, Folder 7

Civil War Documents, 1861–64

OM 0419:
Folder 4

Aid to Soldiers’ Families, 1863

Box 4, Folder 8

Aid to Soldiers’ Families, 1861–65

Box 4, Folder 9

Affidavits of Civil War Soldiers, 1865

Box 4, Folder 10

Affidavits of Civil War Soldiers, 1866

Box 4, Folder 11

Affidavits of Civil War Soldiers, 1866

Box 4, Folder 12

Affidavits of Civil War Soldiers, 1867

Box 4, Folder 13

Affidavits of Civil War Soldiers, 1868

Box 4, Folder 14

War Memories of M. D. Harvey, n.d.

Box 4, Folder 15

Invoices, 1866

Box 4, Folder 16

Various Civil War Papers, n.d.

Box 4 , Folder 17

Series 3: Organizations and Individuals, 1806–1905

CONTENTS

CONTAINER

Land Plats, New Castle and Vicinity

Box 6, Folder 6

Plats, n.d.

Box 6, Folder 7

Maps, New Castle

Box 6, Folder 8

Maps, Henry County

Box 6, Folder 9

South Mound Cemetery, 1868–83

Box 6, Folder 10

New Castle Cemetery Association, 1859, 1862

OM 0419:
Folder 5

New Castle Cemetery Association, 1864–89

Box 6, Folder 11

Conner Family Receipts, 1806–89

Box 6, Folder 12

Joseph Dorrah Papers, 1850–1905

Box 6, Folder 13

William and Walter Edgerton Papers, 1842–1901

Box 6, Folder 14

William Edgerton, Sermons and Papers, 1897, n.d.

Box 6, Folder 15

Rotheus Scott Papers, 1853–66

Box 6, Folder 16

Rotheus Scott Papers, 1868–82

Box 6, Folder 17

Rotheus Scott, Henry County Treasurer Papers,
1871–73

Box 6, Folder 18

Iredell Redding Papers, 1830–49

Box 6, Folder 19

Iredell Redding Papers, 1850–57

Box 6, Folder 20

Iredell Redding Papers, 1859–65

Box 6, Folder 21

Series 4: Thomas Redding Papers, 1855–1894

CONTENTS

CONTAINER

Thomas B. Redding Papers, 1855–59

Box 7, Folder 1

Thomas B. Redding Papers, 1860–63

Box 7, Folder 2

Thomas B. Redding Papers, 1864

Box 7, Folder 3

Thomas B. Redding Papers, 1865–66

Box 7, Folder 4

Thomas B. Redding Papers, 1867

Box 7, Folder 5

Thomas B. Redding Papers, 1868

Box 7, Folder 6

Thomas B. Redding Papers, 1869

Box 7, Folder 7

Thomas B. Redding Papers, 1870–71

Box 7, Folder 8

Thomas B. Redding Papers, 1872–73

Box 7, Folder 9

Thomas B. Redding Papers, 1874–75

Box 7, Folder 10

Thomas B. Redding Papers, 1876–79

Box 7, Folder 11

Thomas B. Redding Papers, 1880–84

Box 7, Folder 12

Thomas B. Redding Papers, 1885–87

Box 7, Folder 13

Thomas B. Redding Papers, 1888–89

Box 7, Folder 14

Thomas B. Redding Papers, 1890–91

Box 7, Folder 15

Thomas B. Redding Papers, 1892–93

Box 7, Folder 16

Thomas B. Redding Papers, 1894, n.d.

Box 7, Folder 17

Series 5: Schools of New Castle Research Material, 1825–1970

CONTENTS

CONTAINER

General Outline of Book

Box 7, Folder 18

Teachers’ Organizations

Box 7, Folder 19

Licensing and Training of Teachers

Box 7, Folder 20

Essays on Education in Indiana

Box 7, Folder 21

Histories of Schools in Henry County

Box 7, Folder 22

Material for Literary Societies

Box 7, Folder 23

Bibliography for Book

Box 7, Folder 24

Clippings

Box 7, Folder 25

Typed Draft of The Schools of New Castle, Indiana  A Documentary History by Herbert Heller, 1970 (1 of 4)

Box 8, Folder 1

Typed Draft of The Schools of New Castle, Indiana  A Documentary History by Herbert Heller, 1970 (2 of 4)

Box 8, Folder 2

Typed Draft of The Schools of New Castle, Indiana  A Documentary History by Herbert Heller, 1970 (3 of 4)

Box 8, Folder 3

Typed Draft of The Schools of New Castle, Indiana  A Documentary History by Herbert Heller, 1970 (4 of 4)

Box 8, Folder 4

Material on New Castle High School, 1870–1949

Box 8, Folder 5

Platonean Journal, 1885

Box 8, Folder 6

Platonean Journal, 1885 (Transcripts)

Box 8, Folder 7

New Castle High School, The Bulletin, 1889 (Photocopies)

Box 8, Folder 8

The Tatler, 1904–05

Box 8, Folder 9

The Reflector, 1909–13

Box 8, Folder 10

The Phoenix, 1925–40

Box 8, Folder 11

New Castle High School Commencement Programs, 1876–1927

Box 8, Folder 12

New Castle High School Programs, 1877–1928; Knightstown’s New School Building, 1931

Box 8, Folder 13

New Castle High School Report Cards, 1885–1926

Box 8, Folder 14

School Administration, 1825–39

Box 9, Folder 1

School Administration, 1840–49

Box 9, Folder 2

School Administration, 1850–59

Box 9, Folder 3

School Administration, 1860–75

Box 9, Folder 4

Teachers, 1877–1924

Box 9, Folder 5

School Revenue, 1880–87

Box 9, Folder 6

Student Papers, 1852–92

Box 9, Folder 7

Student Papers, n.d.

Box 9, Folder 8

Music Tuition, n.d.

Box 9, Folder 9

The Public School, 1890

Box 9, Folder 10

Pamphlets, New Castle High School (1 of 2)

Box 9, Folder 11

Pamphlets, New Castle High School (2 of 2)

Box 9, Folder 12

Pamphlet, Rose Growing Industry

Box 9, Folder 13

Pamphlet, Henry County

Box 9, Folder 14

Printed Items, n.d.

Box 9, Folder 15

General Pamphlets

Box 9, Folder 16

Physiology notebook (Adda Goodwin)

BV 1013

Catherine Taylor's diary (New Castle, IN) 1850; Student at Henry County Seminary, Study of Greek; Accounts 1858-1859; Essays 1850, criticized by teachers at the Seminary; Study of Greek

BV 1014

U.S. History notebook (Adda Goodwin)

BV 1015

Essays and literature (Adda Goodwin)

BV 1016

History notebook (Adda Goodwin)

BV 1017

Series 6: Voter’s List and Church Material, 1853–1937

CONTENTS

CONTAINER

Voter Lists by Township, 1953

Box 10, Folder 1

First Presbyterian Church of New Castle, Booklets, Annual Report, 1951

Box 10, Folder 2

First Presbyterian Church of New Castle

Box 10, Folder 3

First Presbyterian Church of New Castle, Historical Programs, 1857–1937

Box 10, Folder 4

Booklets about New Castle

Box 10, Folder 5

New Castle Civic Development Pamphlets

Box 10, Folder 6

CATALOGING INFORMATION

For additional information on this collection, including a list of subject headings that may lead you to related materials:

1.      Go to the Indiana Historical Society's online catalog:  http://opac.indianahistory.org/

2.      Click on the "Basic Search" icon.

3.      Select  "Call Number" from the "Search In:" box.

4.      Search for the collection by its basic call number (in this case, M 0060).

5.      When you find the collection, go to the "Full Record" screen for a list of headings that can be searched for related materials.