The Shelbyville News
Saturday December 13, 1947
Page 3
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YOUR TOWN — LONDON
By Hortense Montgomery
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The village of London, Indiana U.S.A.-never was a very large settlement,
and now it has dwindled to a very small place. But the settlement was
interesting and it has had many interesting people in the community. And such
connections and interrelations! We almost fear to put our pens to paper lest
we get the family lines crossed incorrectly.
F. H. Prichard now living in Shelbyville, but native to London gave
us a start historically for he went further back than either of the published
histories; he tells us that the land about London was entered by John House
of near Frankfort, Kentucky. In the early 1830’s the land grants being
issued by President Andrew Jackson and we understand Mr. Prichard still has
the documents in his possession.
And Mrs. Carl Schloesser, "our Mrs. Schloesser" but now
belonging to her native heath of London, tells us that her grandfather Nehemiah
Means, also took out land grants under President Jackson.
Following the death of the above John House, the son Aaron purchased the
interests of his brothers and sisters, and at the time of his death owned 350
acres in the vicinity. Mr. Prichard is the only member of the House family
owning any of the original entries; the last portion one-half mile south of
London came to him through his mother, a daughter of Aaron House.
Frank House
and his brother, Fred, living for more than sixty
years in Shelbyville, are the sons of Abel House, brother to
Aaron
House, there was another brother to Aaron, who was named Masten.
Abe House was one of the trustees of Moral township.
London was platted by Aaron House in July 1852, the land was surveyed by
J. M.
Elliott and John Dargin. In 1850 the railroad between Cincinnati and
Indianapolis known as the Big Four, was begun and in 1852 was completed.
London is situated on the road.
Among the earliest settlers one finds the names of the aforesaid
House and Means, Crum, Fancher, Smith, McKay,
Hoop, Reeves, Sarber and Holton. We here disclaim any authority for names of pioneer settlers but get them from
other sources than our own and if any are missed who should be included the
omissions be laid to those who are now where they cannot be hurt with
criticism.
Jesse Oakes is named as the first merchant of the village but soon
sold to McDonald and McKay who had a prosperous business, they sold to Oliver
Means. Mr. Chadwick says that perhaps the most successful merchant in the
town history was Thomas Francis.
In 1880 London had two stores, a large grain trade, several blacksmith
shops, a railroad station, a post office, a school and one church. This, it
seems, would indicate that the tiny village was a rather busy place.
In 1856 a large building was erected for the purpose of establishing a
girls seminary, but this did not prove a successful project and after a few
years was discontinued.
In the year the town was platted Aaron House and his wife
Margaret C. were instrumental in establishing the Methodist church there.
This resulted
from a prayer meeting service in their home. These cottage prayer meetings
were the way in which the pioneers met the need for worship until churches
could be built. "This church," says Mr. Prichard "and the
railroad are the only two institutions that have been a continuous existence
to this city."
The building of the interurban there perhaps had some effect in adding to
the business of the village, but when it went out whatever advantage it had
was removed. Rapid means of transportation and travel have had a deteriorating
effect on the small towns for folks go now in less time to more distant but
larger centers to trade. There are now a grocery and filling station combined,
a post office and telephone exchange.
The father of Mrs. Schloesser was
Willard Means, son of the pioneer,
Nehemiah Means, above mentioned, and her mother was Estella House,
granddaughter of Aaron House, so now you see how the Means and the House are
all mixed up. Mrs. Schloesser is of the very grass roots of her native heath.
With her family she has gone back to her family homestead to live. They have
bought the land where the school building, now demolished, stood and which
adjoins the home. Mrs. Schloesser now holds the important position of editor
of the Indiana Parent-Teacher, official magazine of the Indiana Parent-Teacher
Association.
The children of the village now go to Moral township consolidated school.
We have said little about the schools in our sketches because we expect later
on to give them a full story.
Dr. O. H. McDonald, also a grandson of Nehemiah Means, and native of
London, was a practicing physician there until he moved to VanBuren township.
B. F. Means and Mrs. Carrie Neal, of Shelbyville, are natives of this
community. We fear to go further in relationship for they seem to extend to
the end.
We hoped we might find an interesting story as to why London was so named,
but we find none. Perhaps those sturdy and hopeful pioneers felt a name of so
much distinction might give zest to future growth and prosperity; perhaps it
was some sentiment on the part of the founder for past family connections.
Contributed by Barb Huff
The Shelby Democrat
Thursday, January 25, 1906
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LONDON.
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The roads are in an
extremely bad shape.
John Davis, of near
Acton, was in town today.
John Small made
his usual call Sunday evening.
Harry Harrell was
a passenger to Indianapolis Tuesday.
Dr. O. H. McDonald
and Rol Means were passengers to Shelbyville, Tuesday.
Manuel Mease, after
several weeks stay in Edinburg, has returned to his home here.
Mrs. Willard Means
and mother, Mrs. Charles House, called on relatives in
Fairland last Friday.
Mrs. Tony Ashton
went to Greenfield Monday to visit her daughter, Mrs. Feaster. Miss
Claudine accompanied them.
Mrs. Carrie Ashton
entertained at supper last Friday evening, Miss Stella Small of
Shelbyville and Rev. M. S. Brown.
Mrs. Mayme B. Means
and her mother, Mrs. Brant, entertained Rev. H. S. Brown
and the Misses Mease .... [My copy ends here. - pmf]
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming
The Shelby Democrat
February 13, 1897
----o----
LONDON.
---- The corn trade is very brisk here at present.
---- G. W. Crum, who has been sick with lung
fever, is slowly recovering.
---- London is anticipating two weddings. Hurry
girls, while your chance is good.
---- Mrs. Tighlman Graham, who has been dangerously sick for seven or eight weeks is slowly recovering but is not yet out of danger.
---- Mr. Hugh T. Graham is giving his full attention to a Miss Rose. That is right, Hugh, there is nothing like a rose, but look out for the thorns.
---- A little child of Mr. and Mrs. C. O. Crum, sixteen months old, accidentally fell into a tub of boiling hot lye, recently, and was so badly scalded before
it could be rescued that its life is despaired of
---- P. A. Graham, who, it was thought, would be compelled to have his foot amputated is once more going about, and on that same foot. He has had several applications from various establishments to furnish him with a cork leg, but has not bought one yet.
SORROWFUL.
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London, Moral Township, Shelby County
The village of London is principally located in
Section 25, of Moral Township. Before the building of the Cincinnati, Indianapolis, St. Louis & Chicago
Railroad early in the decade of the fifties, there was nothing attempted at its present site in the way of merchandising.
Soon after the completion of that important highway of commerce, Jesse Oaks began doing a small retail business
in a building he had erected for that purpose. It was the first building erected on the present site of the
town and it still stands for the accommodation of business. Oaks remained but a short time when, on account
of failing health, he sold to McDougal & McKay, who did a prosperous business for some time. McDougal
had formerly been in business at Pleasant View, and after about two years he sold his interest to his partner who
continued for several years. This same store building has nearly always been occupied by merchandising, the
present merchant being Oliver Means. After the railroad had been completed a few years, Joel Crum and John Jeffries began business under the firm name of Crum & Jeffries. For a while, they did a good business. Their store stood on the site now occupied by the new building of Wesley Crum. The most successful merchant that has ever been in trade at London was Thomas Francis, who succeeded Crum
& Jeffries. There have been others in business here at various times, but the importance of the place
as a trading point has decreased much in the last few years. Various other enterprises have been started
but all alike have disappeared. About the year 1856, a large building was erected for the purpose of holding
a seminary, but after a few years the school was discontinued, and the house is now occupied as a dwelling. Nathan
Earlywine was the earliest village blacksmith, and the business has been represented from his time to this.
Thomas Rubush is the present physician. London is now llittle more than a dexaying village,
and excepting in name can have no hope of rivaling its namesake the renowned metropolis of the British Empire.
The town with its additions was laid out by Aaron
House, July 21, 1852; surveyed by J. M. Elliot, June 30, 1852...(Deed Record T, 405 and New Plat Book
No. 1, page 23, plat 4)
History of Shelby County, Indiana, Chicago, Brant and Fuller, 1887, page 445.
Copied by Judith Lucero
The Shelby Republican
Thursday, December 27, 1883.
Volume XVIII. Number 44
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London News.
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LONDON, Dec. 24, '83.
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Sleigh riding.
Neith church or Sunday
school last Sunday.
M. Garthwaith
has made a clean slate of his slighs.
James Barlow
limps, because he froze one of his feet while out a few nights ago.
The Democrat announced
that George Crumm had sold his farm. George says no,
and that the real estate agent will not get his expected $50.
Squire Crumm
was recently arrested and taken before Squire Culbertson at
Fairland on two charges; profanity and provoke. Fined $4,50.
Friday afternoon our
school had a good time. The afternoon was devoted to reading essays and
having a visit from Santa Claus. This is Thos. Smith's second
term. He is very popular.
The Shelby Volunteer
Thursday, January 10, 1878
Page 3
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London Items.
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The citizens of our burg met at the school-house,
Thursday evening, and organized a Literary Society. G. B. Morgan was elected President; and E.
R. Arnold, Vice-President; and F. M. Power, Scretary. The question to be debated, next Thursday
night, is the following: "Nature proves the existence of a God."
At this writing, the weather is decidedly cooler than it was on New Year's Day, when the boys here went into Sugar Creek to bathe. This is a fact, strange as it
may seem, and brings out in sharp contrast, the sudden climatic change which mark this section.
London is improving since the late Festival. Hitch-racks, something long needed, have been put up at the church.
Hunting has been the chief occupation of our citizens this winter, the chief cry being "rabbit."
On account of the bad roads or something else, corn is no longer quoted in our market.
OCCASIONAL
Copied by Phyllis Miller Fleming
Plat of London
This is a true plat of a town laid out by me, upon my land, in Section 25 and 36 of Township 14, Range 5 in Shelby County Indiana. The In Lots are each four rods wide, by ten rods deep. Out Lot No. 1 is situated forty feet from the center of the Rail Road and is Ten rods in front by sixteen rods deep. Main Street runs North 54 ½ West. The cross Streets at right angles to it.
Signed: Aaron House
Transcribed by Melinda Moore Weaver
1868 London
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