Tag: indiana

Indiana County Short History Series, Podcast - Indiana Places and History

Podcast – A Thumbnail History of Ohio County, Indiana

Ohio County had its beginnings with the formation of Dearborn County by Indiana Territorial Governor William Henry Harrison in 1803, thirteen years before Indiana became a state. The new county included territory now comprising Ripley, Franklin and Ohio Counties. Harrison made Lawrenceburg the county seat at that time. In 1811 Harrison separated Franklin County from Dearborn County. The Indiana General Assembly detached and created Ripley County in 1818. Continue reading Podcast – A Thumbnail History of Ohio County, Indiana

Indiana History Series

The Story of the Indiana Constitution

Composed in the summer heat in the shade of a huge elm tree in Corydon, Indiana the 1816 Constitution served Indiana’s needs until replaced by a new document in 1851. The Story of the Indiana Constitution serves as a handbook and guide to the foundation of Indiana law. It includes the text of the original 1816 Constitution as well as the original text and amendments of its 1851 replacement. Continue reading The Story of the Indiana Constitution

Ripley County History Series

A History of Napoleon, Indiana

Named for Napoleon Bonaparte, the town of Napoleon was platted in 1820, the second town in Ripley County, Indiana. Early in its history, Napoleon was a center of transportation and an important hub in the Underground Railroad. Berry’s Trace, the Michigan Road and the Brookville/Napoleon Road connected the village to distant towns in Indiana as well as with the new state capitol in Indianapolis. Continue reading A History of Napoleon, Indiana

Ripley County History Series, Sample Chapter

Sample Chapter – A Brief History of Napoleon

A Brief History of Napoleon
On February 9, 1820 the town of Napoleon was laid out by William Wilson from a 160 acre government land grant. The village takes its name from the former French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. Seven days later he started selling lots. Ten first 32 lots were purchased by George Craig of Vevay, Indiana. Craig went on to build the first Ripley County Court House in Versailles. He later represented Ripley and Switzerland Counties in the Indiana Senate from 1822 – 1824. Continue reading Sample Chapter – A Brief History of Napoleon

Ripley County History Series, Sample Chapter

Sample Chapter – Eleazer Wheelock Ripley (April 15, 1782 – March 2, 1839)

Eleazer Wheelock Ripley (April 15, 1782 – March 2, 1839)
The son of Sylvanus Ripley and Abigail Wheelock, Eleazer was native to Hanover, New Hampshire. Ripley attended Dartmouth College, graduating in 1800 with a law degree. He opened a practice in Portland, Maine, when Maine was still part of Massachusetts. He served in both the Massachusetts House Representatives and the Massachusetts Senate. When the War of 1812 broke out, he organized the 21st United States Infantry Regiment. Continue reading Sample Chapter – Eleazer Wheelock Ripley (April 15, 1782 – March 2, 1839)

Indiana State Park Travel Guide Series, Sample Chapter

Sample Chapter – General Geology Clifty Falls State Park

The area of Clifty Falls State Park lies on an area geologists call the Cincinnati Arch. This geological formation stretches between the Illinois Basin, in south central Illinois, and the Appalachian Basin, which slants southwest through eastern Virginia. The rock layers in the area of the park slant towards the west with the younger rock faces to the west and the older to the east. The exposed rock is mostly composed of a substance geologists call Laurel Dolomite. Continue reading Sample Chapter – General Geology Clifty Falls State Park