Brookfield
Moral Township
Shelby County, Indiana
Moral Township
Shelby County, Indiana
The Shelbyville Republican
Monday November 10, 1947
Page 3 column 2
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YOUR TOWN — IN MORAL TOWNSHIP
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By Hortense Montgomery
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Moral township has three small villages—Brookfield,
London and Pleasant
View; so alphabetically, we will sketch Brookfield first.Monday November 10, 1947
Page 3 column 2
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YOUR TOWN — IN MORAL TOWNSHIP
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By Hortense Montgomery
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The automobile has turned many things upside down and inside out and affected a number of conditions in our modern life. When the use of autos and auto trucks became the principle methods of travel and largely of freight transportation, State Road 29 put the interurban out of business and trains to a great extent. Brookfield’s importance was doomed, for it was located on both.
Going back to early 1840’s, after the completion of the Cincinnati, Indianapolis and St. Louis railroad, Brookfield became quite a trading center. It was not platted, however, until November 26, 1863, by Robert Means and John Dearman upon land purchased from Fountain Means.
In reviewing the story of Brookfield and the community about one must notice the frequently mentioned name of Means; this family has been active in the township affairs since the pioneer days and still continues its activities in the community’s affairs.
John Joyce was the pioneer merchant of the village during the years before it was platted. He was succeeded by E.H. Stanley and it seems that he took on a Mr. Means and the partnership of Means and Stanley lasted for twenty years, being the leading mercantile business of the community. In the years before 1869 there was a large grain warehouse to which grain was brought from all distances about and shipped from there. Mr. Chadwick says that a grain warehouse was converted into a mill of which Mr. Stanley was half owner. This was a grist mill but the other owners were not named.
A later mercantile firm was made up of Cornelius Means and his brother Caleb. This was one of the large general stores and, quoting Mrs. Jessie Mahan, daughter of Cornelius Means, "They sold everything from needles and pins to threshing machines." The big merchandise was stored in the warehouse.
Mr. Cornelius Means with his family later moved to Shelbyville and, with J. H. Akers formed a partnership in a dry goods business and made their store one of the leading stores of Shelbyville. At the time the Means family lived in Brookfield the town has this general store, a mill, a warehouse, and a blacksmith shop; for cultural and religious needs there was a good one-room brick school and a Baptist church. Mrs. Mahan visited the village recently and found the cottage which was their home when living there, and as showing how estimates change she said" A front porch which looked of such vast proportions to her childish eyes when she played on it was a very small affair as porches go in these days." Of public buildings she found only the church but it is an active church with a lively congregation. The brick school building is there but it is in disuse. There is not even a store to remind one of the pioneer activities.
The name of John Joyce the pioneer merchant of Brookfield, has more than casual interest for Shelbyville for her was the maternal grandfather of Mrs. William Fuller of North Harrison street. Mr. J.O. Parrish, her father, was a young school teacher, beginning his career as many have since and do yet in teaching. Later he went into the general store in Brookfield as a clerk and finally became part owner. When James M. Sleeth became treasurer of the county, 1870-1874, he appointed Mr. Parrish his deputy; in 1874 Mr. Parrish was elected to be county treasurer 1874-1879, and the family came to Shelbyville to live. After his official years and until his death he was head of the J.O. Parrish Lumber Company.
There must have been something of chivalry in the air about Brookfield for we remember as a very, very young person Mr. Means and Mr. Parrish were the ‘perfect gentlemen’ to our mind.
Going back again to the beginning the building of the C.I. and St. L. railroad gave new impetus to the business of Brookfield; for one thing the post office which had been in Pleasant View was transferred to Brookfield; the trains left and took up the mail from there. But rural free delivery put an end to the post office.
Among the earliest pioneers and those whose families have continued a part of Moral township history we find the named of Amos, Doble, Smith, Murnan, Means, House, Holmes, Hoop, Crum, Harper, Reeves, Snodgrass and Ensminger.
Contributed by Barb Huff
Brookfield is a station on the Cincinnati, Indianapolis, St. Louis & Chicago Railroad, situated in the southwestern part of Moral Townshp, and near the county line. As a post office it is the successor Pleasant View in name. It began its career as a trading point upon the completion of the railroad early in the fifties. The first merchant was John Joyce, who remained until 1860. At that date E. H. Stanley succeeded him, and since then has been in some manner interested in the business of the village. There is now a good grist mill in operation. The building was originally constructed for a grain and warehouse, but in 1869 was converted to its present use. Since then Mr. Stanley has been identified with it as half owner. During war times two stores were in full operation with a fair measure of success. The present merchants are Means & Stanley, who succeeded Means & Brother. The last named were for twenty years the leading merchants. The town was laid out November 26, 1863, by Robert Means and Joshua Dearman.
History of Shelby County, Indiana, Chicago: Brant & Fuller, 1887, pg 450-451
The Shelby Democrat
June 9, 1885
Brookfield, Ind.
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Special Correspondence to the DemocratJune 9, 1885
Brookfield, Ind.
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J. S. Dearmin's mother is seriously ill.
How old is Sam Rouse, Mr. Supervisor?
Mr. A. F. Means is having his buggy worked over.
Dr. J. Y. Kennedy, of Ohio, was visiting relatives here last week.
Mr. C. F. Means and wife are visiting his brother in Shelbyville today.
Mr. O. H. Means and sister, of Shelbyville, are here visiting friends and relatives.
Mr. G. O. McQuon, who is attending school at Danville, made a short visit home last week. He returned to school on Monday last.
Billy Dodd who has been living on the county for some time, applied, to the Township Trustee for help to go to Kentucky to live with his aunt. After obtaining the necessary funds and a ticket to Cincinnati, he got off the train at the first station and sold his ticket for one dollar and started for the country. He hasn't made his appearance here since.
Contributed by Linda Ellis
