History of Bristow, IN

History of Bristow, IN

In 1875, Bristow was platted as the 3rd village in Clark Twp., two years after Adyeville, Siberia being first. It is the largest village in the township, and the name Bristow was chosen in honor of Benjamin H. Bristow, Secretary of the Treasury in Ulysses S. Grant’s cabinet.

Main St. was the principal thoroughfare laid off, 66 feet wide, running due north and south. Oak St., 49 feet wide is parallel to it, one block east, with a I6 foot alley bisecting the blocks, which were crossed at right angles by Water and First Sts., each 23 feet in width.

For many years after 1841, Anderson River and Middlefork were kept open for its navigation. No one was allowed to fell timber in the stream or place any impediment in the way of its open flow. At that time water was the only way of heavy transportation and many a boat load of produce and hoop-poles were transported down to the mouth of the Anderson River at Troy, and then on down to Baton Rouge and New Orleans. At least two rafts a year of fine poplar, with some fine oak lumber was sent down and into the Ohio and down the Mississippi to the southern ports for sale.

It is no coincidence that in the early history of Clark Township, Bristow was called Slabtown. Slabtown, was low in the area and was usually very muddy. The slabs from the local sawmill were used to make roads in the street. Thus, the area was called Slabtown.

VanWinkle is the name of the earliest in conjunction with the settlement of Bristow. Alexander and Phoebe (Miller) VanWinkle, William T. and Emeline VanWinkle, Elisha and Letitia (Jarboe) Weedman were owners of the site surveyed by Daniel R. McKim, Deputy County Surveyor, signed and acknowledged by them March 14, 1875. The location was well chosen, just north of the East Fork of Anderson River, giving water power for a successful mill.

Elisha S. Weedman opened the first store; the second being kept by Thomas J. Dugan, in connection with the post office, him being the first postmaster.

Thomas Miles Hotel was the home for many travelers for a number of years, besides dealing extensively in horses and stock on his large farm. The menu, a boarding house type of service, listed such meats as deer, pheasant and other wild game, vegetables and fruits in season, or from the spring house located on the hill.

The first medical doctor of Bristow was Dr. William Lomax, who settled in Bristow in 1881, a graduate of Indiana Medical College. Dr. William Lomax married Hettie Dugan, daughter of Thomas and Sarah Jeffers Dugan. Doctor P.T. Coultas practiced in Bristow until he moved to Tell City. Dr. Mayfield had a special building constructed for Perry County clinic and Hospital. This was the first hospital in Perry County. His untimely death closed the hospital.

The growth of the village in the first twenty-five years called for additional building lots, so Main St. and Oak St. were continued northward and Second St. laid out to cross them, extending from the Baptist Church lot to the county road leading northeast from Bristow to Adyeville. This survey was made October 19, 1896 although not placed on record until May 17, 1900.

Four years later, July 22, 1904, William and Emeline VanWinkle entered for record, a second addition lying west of the original town, containing nine lots, through which VanWinkle St. leads, parallel with Main.

The Baptist Church trustees of the church were William T, and Emeline Van Winkle, William and Eddie Lomax, Jacob and Nancy Ayers, Samuel Asher and John Lanman. The early settlers were buried in the Lasher Cemetery, later in the cemetery on the hill above Bristow.

At one time Bristow had Baptist and Christian churches. The German families moved out and the Lutheran Church was sold to the Christian church that had moved the old Mosby schoolhouse to Bristow and remodeled it.

The fire that destroyed the Flamion Garage and Beard home set other houses on fire.

The high school is closed and torn down. The town once had a service station, two general stores and a tavern. Highway 145 goes through the town, population, once over 200, is now less than 100. The town was 100 years old in 1975.

COUNTY COURTHOUSE IN BRISTOW?

At the last meeting of the town board, a motion was made by one of the members to build a Town Hall. A committee was appointed to buy VanWinkle’s cow pasture on the corner of 9th and Mulberry for the erection of a Town Hall to cost $5,000. After the completion of the building it will be donated to the county for a courthouse. Bristow is not asleep. (June 13, 1896 Cannelton Enquirer)

GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC REUNION

The grand soldiers G.A.R. reunion is going to be held here on the 9th, 10th and 11th of August. Free dinner is going to be given to the soldiers. Dancing each day and night. Plenty of refreshments can be had for those wishing to drink. (July 26, 1900 Tell City News)

REMEMBERING BRISTOW

Far away in the hills and forests of Perry County is a little village consisting of somewhat less than 200 inhabitants known as Bristow. The village is almost surrounded by hills, and are seen away to the North and South, swelling up to noble heights and lording it over the surrounding country.

Every change of season, every change of weather, indeed, every hour of the day, produces some change in the magical hues and shapes of those hills, and they are regarded by hunters far and near as “the Happy Hunting Ground.” When the weather is fair and settled they are clothed in blue and purple and print, their bold outlines on the clear evening sky; but sometimes when the rest of the landscape is cloudless, they will gather a hood of gray vapors about their summits, which in the last rays of the setting sun will glow and light up like a crown of glory.

At the foot of these fairy hills, the light smoke curling up from the village whose shingle roofs gleam among the trees may be seen. It is an industrious little village of great antiquity, having been founded by some of the Lomax family, who immigrated here from the New England states about 1823; and there were some of the houses of the original settlers still standing a few years ago, built of round logs, having latticed windows and gable fronts surmounted with weather cocks.

The surrounding country of this little village is very densely populated, although it consists of three stores, a blacksmith shop, a saloon, a flour mill and a post office. The whistle of the steamboats and trains is never heard, but the happy people get along with their work just the same. Along the southern border of the village is a very small river known as the Middle Fork. Opposite this river on the southern side is a little village known by some of the boys as Little Hawesville. The two little villages are connected by a suspension bridge which was crossed times and times last spring by lovers who visited friends in little Hawesville.

One square west of Main St. there is a very beautiful alley known as the Corn Cob Alley, which was crossed several times last spring by the boys of Daisy Avenue. Overlooking the villages is the schoolhouse, where there is a Normal School conducted every spring. The writer of these lines was among those of that number last spring. “How dear to my heart that my teachers and schoolmates I cannot see only by imagination.” But wherever you may be kind teachers and scholars, remember there is one place in this wide world where you will still have a true friend and that is Doctor N.A. James Jr. (July 15, 1900 Tell City News)

BRISTOW FLOUR MILL

Mr. Mike Cassidy and Mr. Leo Basinger have contracted for the Bristow Flour Mill. They will make a great change in the mill as soon as they take charge.

They are aiming to put in seven sets of rollers and get a new boiler. They furthermore give notice they will buy wheat in lots containing 200-500 bushels each, and not lots of less than 200 bushels each. These two young men are strictly honest in every respect and are straightforward in business and we wish them success. (July 21, 1900 Tell City News)

BRISTOW GROWING

Bristow is still on the planet and is showing quite an improvement this spring. Dr. Lomax has erected a blacksmith shop and it will be quite a convenience when completed, to say Bristow has ever had before. Dr. Mayfield has purchased the Weedman property on the south corner of Main St., and has the foundation made for a new stable, and will soon erect an office in the dwelling.

Mr. James Hall is having the foundation laid for a modern dwelling on his property on Oak St. It will be remembered that he lost his dwelling by fire over a year ago. Trade is exceptionally good and our merchants are paying fine prices for produce, farmers are busy preparing for crops and everybody’s enjoying good health. (April 10, 1909 Troy Times)

BRISTOW HIGH SCHOOL

Bristow is to have a new high school building. The plans and specifications are made and the work to begin September 1st. The building will contain six rooms. Superintendent Tim Mullen expects to have the school certified this year. This year, the first, second and third years work will be done.

Cleveland Bailey of Bristow, and Miss Helen Biddle of Winona, Illinois, have charge of the high school work. Mr. Bailey has taught in this county several years. He had charge of the high school last year. Miss Biddle comes highly recommended by ex-County Superintendent Logan Esarey, at present Dean of Winona College, and President Jonathan Rigdon and other members of the Winona college faculty.

Professor E.S. Christian, superintendent of Lawrence County schools writes that Perry County is fortunate in securing so effective and efficient a teacher. The school opens October 10th. A large attendance is expected. (Aug. 20, 1910 Tell City News)

NEW GARAGE

The old garage at this place is becoming rapidly torn away to make room for the new structure, which is soon to be erected by Phillips Bros. (Sept. 5, 1924 Tell City News)

LEHMKUHLER STORE

No one the had the lucky number on the radio for the sack of sugar that was raffled off at the Lehmkuhler store at Bristow Saturday evening. (July 25, 1924 Tell City News)

KKK APPEARS

Bristow had a state evangelist and a missionary four nights last week at the Missionary Baptist Church. They lectured and Illustrated with pictures. They were fine speakers and had large crowds.

On Saturday night the Evansville evangelist was speaking, when five robed KKK men marched in asking permission to speak and presented the minister with $11.50. The money will be used for missionary work and was very much appreciated. (July 31, 1924 Tell City News)

LEHMKUHLER STORE

The big radio set that has to be installed at the Lehmkuhler store has not arrived but is expected daily. They have been having plenty of help carrying their mail to the house and then unloading express packages. They are hoping that it will arrive for the new fans that remain at home from the Bristow-Tell City basketball game next Friday night for the game by radio. (January 30, 1925 Tell City News)

TELEPHONES INSTALLED

A telephone switchboard has been installed in Bristow and our splendid isolation from the rest of the world will soon be a thing of the past. (March 15, 1925 Cannelton Telephone)

BRISTOW FLOUR MILL

The Bristow Flour Mill is the most industrious business in town, running from early morning till late at night. They have recently built a large elevator to accommodate the farmer’s wheat and are now busily buying the wheat and grinding flour to which they have received orders from various parts of the county. (June 27, 1926 Cannelton Telephone)

BRISTOW FLOUR MILL BURNS

The Bristow flour mill, owned by Fred Smith and Jake Epple was completely destroyed by fire last Saturday. The blaze started from the exhaust pipe of a gas range, and quickly spread throughout the whole building and to two adjoining warehouses. The loss was estimated at between $15000 and $20,000.

It is said that about $12,000 insurance was carried on the property. It seemed for a while that the whole town would be destroyed, but the heroic work of the entire community saved everything but the mill and the adjoining warehouses.

The general store, owned by Radie Roach, was in extreme danger until the fire was brought under control. Built as it is, all structures close together, the whole of the little village was in imminent danger, as the townspeople formed a bucket brigade and for hours fought the blaze.

A call for aid was put through to the Tell City Fire Department and to the Tell City and Ferdinand CCC Camps. All rushed to the aid of the little town, but because of the icy roads the fire was almost out before they arrived. The mill stands on the creek bank and a “human chain” bucket brigade was formed passing buckets full of icy water up the hill to the fire. Residents of the town furnished buckets, tubs, dish pans and all other available utensils. It was only after a four for battle that the fire was brought under control.

According to the owners about 4000 bushels of wheat, flour, hardware and feed were destroyed. The owners hope to rebuild the mill. Bristow is one of the smaller communities that has not suffered like other small towns, the loss of almost all business through the advent of good roads to the larger cities. Neither has it suffered a great loss in population. The Bristow mill in particular has done a good business throughout the past few years. (Jan. 3, 1938 Cannelton Telephone)

CHURCHES SCHOOLS BUSINESSES & PROMINENT CITIZENS

R.B. Church: Primitive Baptist Church; Missionary Church:

Bristow High School: Kitterman School:

Little Hawesville: M.W.A. Lodge: Modern Woodman Hall: Royal Neighbors Club:

Bristow Feed Mill: W.F. Dixon’s Store: Miles Hotel; Sprinkle’s Store: Roach’s Store: Flamion’s Garage:

Rev. L.N. VanWinkle; Rev. James Arnold; Rev. L.S. Sanders; Rev. Doudle; Rev. Harvey Chestine; Rev. William Lanman; Rev. L.C. Kendall; Rev. S.L. Roberts; Rev. Askins;

Dr. Porter J. Coultas; Dr. Deering; Dr. LaMar; Dr. Schriefer; Dr. Claude Lomax; Dr. S.L. Epple; Dr. A.L., Mayfield; Dr. William M. Cassidy; Dr. G.S. Pettit;

Professor Cleveland A. Bailey; Professor Lee Mullen; Professor John Lasher; Professor Mike Cassidy; Professor Albert VanWinkle; Teacher Arthur Pierrard; Teacher Minnie Lanman; Teacher Bessie Bradshaw; Teacher Eva Mullen;

Mayor Bill Hilt; Constable Elmer Carr; Anna Mills Telephone Operator;

CITIZENS

Bessie, Charles, D.F., D.P., Daniel E., Emma, F.D., France, Francis, George, Glen, Gusta, Harold, Henry, Hiram, J.W., James, John W., John, Lafe, Lillian, Lou Anne, Norman, Radie, Riley, Ruthie, Roy, Seth, Stella Aders;

Murvel, Sam, Silas Adkins;

A.T., Tol, Tolbert, Will, William Anderson;

Albert, Anna, Bertha, Chris, Hettie, John, Josie, Lula, Martha, Sherman, William Beard;

Bessie, J.R., Jennings, Joe, John, Josie, Marcus, Mark, Olive, Sarah Bradshaw;

Elmer, Hattie, Homer, Nana, Nora, Theodore Carr; Bertha, Florence, Fred, Freddie, George, Gertrude, Harriet, Hettie, Leo, Marie, Ned, Roy, Verlie, William, William T. Cassidy;

Perry, Roy Clark;

Freeman, Wayne Collins;

Bonnet, Frank Comstock;

Allen Porter, P.J. Coultas;

Beth, Clay, Elizabeth, Marion, Stanley, Wheeler Covey;

Albert, Evelyn, Forest, Fritz, Roy, Wayne Cunningham;

Dewey, Ed, Edward, Floyd Dauby;

Eva, Frank, John Delaisse;

Addie, Ella, Esna, G.L., Ivan, Lena, Stanley, W.F., Wanda Lee Dixon;

Bessie, Elbert, Jake, Herman, Logan Epple;

Eva, Mary, Walter, Will Esarey;

Elsa, Ruth Ann Ferguson;

Earl, John Flamion;

Anna, George, Margaret, Minnie Foster;

Betty, Hazel, Maxine Gordon;

Louise, Virginia Haag;

Claud, Lonnie, Maggie Hall;

Ethel, John, Louis, Ruth Hills;

A.P., Bill, George, John, Nellie, Nick, S.N., Sam, Samuel N., William P. Hilt;

Bertha, Lawrence, Ross, Shirley, Wilford Hobbs;

Andy, Charles, Clarence, Elsie, Emily, Joe, Pete Holman;

Abe, Allie, Beulah, Cecil, Edwin, Elias, Hiram, Leroy, Letitia, Marthy, Will, William Howe;

Anna, Mildred Huff;

Sam, Turner Hunter;

John, W.R. Jeffers;

Lloyd, Rob, Wanda Klueh;

Ellis, Theodore LaMar;

Bertha, E.R., Evelyn, Frances, Francis, Francy, Frank, Grace, James, John, John E., Lena, Lloyd, Loren, Mary Olive, Minnie, Nettie, Willard Lanman;

Alfred, Elmer, Fred, George, Hiram E., Harlie, John, Lafe, Lee, Olive, Ruth, Sam, Sam P. Lasher;

Bill, Fred, Freddie, Will, William Lehmkuhler;

Bettie, Ella, Hettie, Mary, Olive, Russell Lomax;

Evelyn, Ike, Lee Long;

Loraine, Merle, Olive, Olivia, Uriel Lee Lyons;

Arlo, Claude Marting;

Anna, Evelyn Mayfield;

G.W., Hazel McKim;

Preston, William, Willie Meunier;

Bertha, Eva, Minnie, Jesse, Jonathan, John, Julia, Junior, Kenneth, Maude, Mildred, Nell, Ray, Sarah, Simeon L., T.K., Tom, Wilfred, Winfield, Zephaniah Miles;

Edgar, Lafe, Phoebe Miller;

Erasius, E.F. Montkahaus;

John, Oliver Morgan;

Betty Jean, Edith, Harmon H., Owen, Ralph, Vester Mosby;

Ed, Edward Mullen;

Charles, Clarence Nielsen;

Henry, Mabel Ostheimer;

Elvin, E.M., Gladys, Mabel, Elvin Palmiter;

Arlie, Henderson, M.B., Margaret, Victor Phillips;

Arthur, Bobby, Bud Pierrard;

Loretta, Pearl Rheinlander;

Ahun, Anna, Coy, Olmer, W., William Rickenbaugh;

Edith, John, Lola, Martha, Maude Robertson;

Arthur, George, Chester, John, Vern Roessler;

Dame, Sam, Stella Sanders;

Bernard, Frank, John Schaefer;

Ernest, Fred, Greeley, Owen, Wavey Smith;

Darrel, Pearl, Rarrell Snyder;

George, John Stratman;

Adam, Adam, Frieda, Gabriel, John, Marie, Mary, Mary A., Murl, Naomi, Oscar, Ted Taylor;

Sammy, Mildred Tilford;

Albert, Arthur, Betty, Blanche, Cyrus, Alex, Earl, Eloise, Gordon, Harold, Lawrence, Lee, Leora, Mary, Nina, Susie, Sam, Samuel, Virginia, Vivian VanWinkle;

Charlie, Elizabeth, Sadie, N.T., O.D., Oscar, Hettie, W.T. Weedman;

Addison, Betty Jean, Elva, Estella, Clarence Wheeler;

Carl, E., Faye, Fred, Gail, Ernest, Hattie, Hettie, Mary Ann Witte;

OTHERS:

Louis Gerwin; Radie Roach; Sallie Chewning; Volmar Franz; Preston Minor; Thomas McDaniel; Max Baker; Herman Tucker; Pete Weaver; John Thomas; G.C. Cissna; Henry Greathouse; Richard Reese; Gabriel Taylor; Rebecca Powers; J.H. Robinson; Evelyn Koch; Lillian Beck; Ernest Dodd; Fred Morris; Lige Harp; Russell Masterson; Mardge Stanton; Frank Comstock; Zilpha Hobbs; Estelle Barrow; Edward Harbaville; Rebecca Powers; Walter Voges; Ben Albin; George VanHoosier; Claud Sandage; Ada King; Dan Gayer; Verlee Duchenois; Verda Grant; Carl Goad; Theodore Sprinkle; Ira Gerber; Leora Clasney; Ida Cumberland; Jim Mills; Edison Underhill; Edith Ayde; A. Ruth; Anna Foerster; Lilia Coling; Steve Bike; Will Hoffman; Glen Herald; Olive Lake; Clarence Goffinet; Frank James; Jim Nix; M. Hale;

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History, Genealogy, Early Settlers and Historical Points of Interest in Perry County, Indiana