Shelby County Indiana Genealogy, History, Towns

Shelby County Indiana
Historical Articles
Populated Places

Boggstown

Sugar Creek Township History
Sugar Creek Township Map

The Shelbyville Republican
Monday November 3, 1947
Page 4 column 3
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YOUR TOWN — BOGGSTOWN
By Hortense Montgomery
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Boggstown has been one of the liveliest communities since the beginning of Shelby county history. Rev. Sluter states that it was founded at an early date by three brothers, William, Warren and Joseph Boggs, leading men at that time. Just how much Rev. Sluter meant by founding, we are not quite sure. Mr. Chadwick states the town and platted by John McConnell and Armstrong Gibson in 1867 when the population was 75, and named Boggstown for Joseph Boggs, a pioneer settler. For a time it was known as McWarren and it was also known as Hingleburg before it was organized. In any case it had good reason to be called Boggstown. At distances from the community it was thought to have been named Boggstown because the land was low and boggy but that was a wrong inference because it is situated on rather high ground and far from boggy.
The village was platted for 24 lots at the place where the Fairland, Franklin and Martinsville Railroad intersects the Bluff Road and is the geographical center of Sugar Creek township. From the following statements you will see that Boggstown was a lively community before it was platted. In its early history it had a general store owned and managed by Joseph Boggs, Hugh McFadden and William Manwaring. It had a blacksmith and a wagon shop owned by James L. Barker, industries which were always among the first in those early communities but now are replaced by filling stations and auto repair shops.
It had too, a unique business, an extensive tobacco factory. And this you should know put Boggstown on the map outside of Shelby county for it went out on the market as "The Boggstown Brand" and was considered a very fine tobacco. The community about Boggstown raised a large amount of tobacco and Mr. Boggs built his tobacco factory about where the home of the late Dr. Strickler is located. Mr. Boggs was his own traveling salesman and peddled it to all parts of Indiana. One reference to this product leads one to infer that others were connected with the business for the firm name of McFadden, Boggs & Company, was given as existing from 1830-1839. When the farmers stopped raising tobacco it brought this business to an end. We remember that tobacco is hard on the soil, taking from it too much of its strength, and so was not after all a lucrative product for the farmer.
The Hough’s Mills, later known as the Red Mill, was the largest grain center in the county outside of Shelbyville and flourished as early as 1840. The mill was built by Joseph Hough who, with his family, came from Ohio in 1820 and settled on the spot near the mill. Here he built a cabin and lived and not only managed the mill, but drove to Cincinnati with the produce from the mill.
When the F.F. and M. Road was built in 1865-1866 there was better facilities for transporting produce and better ways for traveling, thus giving advantage to this village. The building of this railroad was quite an event for the folks of the village; two brothers, Henry M. and B. F. Burnside, were foremost in having the railroad built; these men were brothers to the General Burnside of Civil War fame and after that governor of Rhode Island and member of the U.S. Senate. They were the grandfather, and great-uncle of E. T. Burnside of the North Riley highway and Mrs. Elmer Billman, of Shelbyville. These brothers gave the right-of-way for the road and put money into it with the provision that trains would stop in front of their homes and take them on when they wished to travel by them. About ten white cottages were built along this road through Boggstown and were among the first frame cottages to be built in the village. At this point there was a large gate with the name ‘Burnside’ painted at the top. Mrs. Billman said the children wondered why this name should be on the gate. She told how General Burnside visited his relatives here and how his general personality always made his visits looked forward to with great expectations.
There are three churches in Boggstown, which have helped to make history for the town. The Presbyterian Church was organized in 1831 by the Rev. Eliphat Kent and William Woods; this was the first Presbyterian Church in the county and included many pioneers of importance among who were Morgan, Manwaring, Boggs, Vanderbelt, White and Hopper. Later named included the Hugh McFaddens, George and John McConnell, Collins, Barngrover, Whalon, Gibson and Dr. and Mrs. Smeltzer. There was first a frame building used until 1852 when the present brick edifice was built. Rev. Kent preached here two years ad from there must be treated in our sketch of Shelbyville where he and his wife helped to make Shelbyville history.
The Methodist Church was organized in the home of Mr. Hough and later held its services in the house of Adam McFadden. The organizers were Daniel Smith, Reuben Strickler, Jackson Strickler and William Edwards with their families.
The Seventh Day Adventists organized a congregation here in 1878 when John W. Johnson became its first convert. Meetings were first held in a tent but the congregation grew and a church was built. A seminary known as the Beechwood Academy was established by this faith in Boggstown but it was moved a few years ago to Cicero, Indiana. There is still a thriving church there and a reminder of the Seminary is a road named Seminary Road.
The consolidated school of Sugar Creek township is located in Boggstown; it has a fine teaching staff and a student body which, in various contests, has shown itself a school unit of high standing.
Boggstown and its environs have contributed to the business and social life in Shelbyville. Two sons of Hugh McFadden were James, and attorney, and William G., who became one of the leading physicians of the city and whose son, Dr. Walter McFadden, gave great luster to the family name. The third son was known as one of the finer farmers of his community and was known as "Uncle Hugh" to everyone.
David Smith, one of the earliest pioneers, was father to Mrs. Hester Treadway, who lived to be almost 100 years old, and Mrs. Laura McConnell. The names of Strickler, Holmes, Johnson, Hoop, Gibson and Huntington figure in this community’s history. While not found among the earliest pioneers the name of Hack must be mentioned. Oren Hack, was a lawyer of note and his wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Miller Hack, who has became a naturalized citizen of Boggstown , is a writer of national renown.
Contributed by Barb Huff

The Democrat - Volunteer
Shelbyville, Ind., Feb. 26, 1880.
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OFFICIAL ORGAN OF SHELBY COUNTY.
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FACTS AND FANCIES
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Flashed From the Fabers of Our Special Reporters.
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Notes From all Points of the County
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Boggstown.
(Correspondence Democrat-Volunteer)
Boggstown, Ind., Feb 25, 1879.[sic]
--- Our Methodist folks are happy, as they have got their new bell in their church.
--- The Widow Weir is recovering from the sad accident she met with recently by being scalded.
--- William Cox, who received a kick froma horse, and who was very seriously injured, is improving.
--- The Boggstown "hoodlums" got cleaned out at the fox drive the other day. Gen. Tull was determined to have a fight whether he caught a fox or not.
--- The funeral of the infant daughter of John Rasp took place last Sunday, and was one of the largest ever seen in this place. Mr. Rasp has the sympathy of the entire community in the loss of his little child.
--- John Beard, of Johnson county, having run the gauntlet and exhausted all of the contentious people of his locality, has ventured over the line, and has sued Uncle Davy Smith. In selecting Uncle Davy for a victim he has a foeman worthy of his steel, and one who will stay with him until the stars fall. Uncle Davy is one of those fellows who die in the last ditch.
--- Douglass Padrick is a youth of sixteen brilliant summers, and dearly loves his little ducky darling. He went to see her one night last week and basked within the sunshine of her genial smiles until a late hour. One of two things is certain: Douglass either went to sleep while returning home or he run the toll-gate and forgot that he was in a top buggy, and now mourns the loss of the entire top from his vehicle.
Sugar Creek township is not to be behind the rest of the county, and has organized a Hendricks Club, with the following officers: James Barker, president; William Worland, vice president; Lewis Lee, secretary; J. D. Lacey, treasurer.
Dick Wood is on his ear and threatens to make things hot if Pattison, his tenant, does not change his way's a "leetle." Dick thought when he rented to Pattison that he had a perfect jewel of a tenant, but he has changed his mind, and he now offers a chromo to any man who will suggest a way to relieve him of his burdens. He says that the fellow is constitutionally opposed to physical exertion, and has without chopping if, and up to date has burned Dick's fences, has town out the joists and floor from the house, and will shortly commence on the roof. Dick had intended to marry and move into the property, but has now abandoned all such intentions, and will probably build in the spring.
Aaron Baker, of Morgan county, is bad medicine sure enough, and if he ever comes by here again and acts as badly as he did recently, I will take it upon myself to see that the law inquires into his conduct. Aaron has a brother, Reeson Baker, living here, with whom he does not get along very pleasantly. Aaron recently attended the funeral of his aged mother here, and availed himself of the opportunity to come armed with a revolver, and gave out that he intended to kill his brother Reeson just as soon as the last shovel of dirt was placed upon the grave of his mother. Reeson heard of his ugly intentions and prepared himself for the impending conflict, but fortunately Aaron changed his mind, and instead of two funerals we only had one in the family.
RATTLER.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming

The Shelby Democrat
Thursday, May 22, 1879
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BOGGSTOWN.
(Special Correspondence of The Democrat.)
Boggstown, Ind., May 21, 1879.
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--- The exhibition advertised to take place at the Woods school-house on last Friday night was postponed until next Friday evening, the 23 inst. A grand time is expected.
-- George Isley recently gave our town and vicinity a flying visit. He was the guest of his friend Howard Lee. George should come out often, as he has a great many friends in this township.
-- We have got a man in this township who boasts that he has not worked thirty days in the last twenty years. He is educating his three delightful sons in the belief that labor is degradiing, and there is talk of a committee waiting on them if they do not get to work soon.
Dr. Smith will soon come from here to Flatrock Cave where his will practice his profession. The doctor was well like by our peoople, and was a very successful practitioner, especially so with children, as I never knew of his losing a case. I understand that since it....
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming

The Shelby Democrat
May 8, 1879
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(From another Correspondent.)
Boggstown, Ind., May 7, 1879
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--- No free lovers on the wing lately.
--- The fishing party was a grand success.
--- Lew Lee has got the roof on his barn at last.
--- No deaths, no marriages and no births, but next week look out.
--- "Rattler No. 2" must be dead, as we have seen nothing from his pen for several weeks.
--- John Parrish has twenty acres of corn to gather yet. That new wife may have something to do with it.
--- The exhibition at the Woods school-house is expected to immense. The Smithland Hawkins battle is to enacted.
--- Squire McQuery is now armed with the statute of the State of Indiana, and has the necessary documents in which to render judgments, both civil and criminal.

OLD SLY.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming

The Shelby Republican
March 4, 1876
Shelbyville, Ind.
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Boggstown Items.
Boggstown is situated on the C. & M. R. R., three and one half miles West of Fairland, and eight miles Northwest of Shelbyville. The population of this village is about 50. We have one Store, kept in the old school house, by Gibson & McConnell, who pay the highest price for Grain and produce. They talk of building a new brick store room this summer.
Dr. Smith is a fast gaining reputation as a first class Physician. He says that his drugs froze harder this winter than they ever did before.
The proprietors of our boarding house are keeping a saloon I understand, I don't know whether they have license or not.
We have two carpenters here, H. D. Borden and George Walker. George is also a gunsmith, blacksmith and tinner, besides.
We have two widows in our burg. Maggie has got the measels[sic] and Mollie is --- is the best looking.
Our school will be out in two weeks.
Old bachelors and old maids are numerous. There is Dock and Hugh, and Tom and John, Jim and Tom and Bill; and there is Lizzie and Mollie, and Alice and Louisa, and Lizzie and Jane, and --- and --- oh! cracky! I don't know how many more. Looks like some of them ought to make a match.
We like your paper very much, at our house, and couldn't get along without it.
T.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming

Houghsburgh

Plat of Houghsburg

The Town of Houghsburg is situated on the East bank of Big Sugar Creek in Shelby County, and on the West half of the North East Quarter of Section 13 in Township 13 North of Range 5 East. The South East corner of this plat is ….. poles North of the South East corner of said half quarter. The size of each and every lot in Houghsburg is 8 poles East and Wes and 4 poles North and South. The width of each and every alley is one pole. The width of the several Streets are as they are written on them. July 10th 1838. This plat is drawn from a scale of six poles to an inch.
Signed: Joseph B. Nickel, C.S.S.C.

We do certify that the within is a true and correct plat of Houghsburg. Given under our hands this 16th day of July 1838.
Signed: Fletcher Tevis
John D. Tevis, proprietors

State of Indiana §
Shelby County §

Personally appeared before me the undersigned Milton Robins, the Recorder of said County Fletcher Tevis and John D. Tevis, the proprietors of the within named town of Houghsburgh and acknowledged it to be their voluntary act and deed and that the same is a true and correct plat of said town and requested that the same might be recorded in the recorders office of said County as required by the statutes of Indiana in such case made and provided. Given under my hand and seal this 16th day of July 1838. M. Robins, Recorder
Recorded July 16th 1838. M. Robins, Recorder.

(see original plat in Book “H” page 257)
Copied by Melinda Moore Weaver

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