Shelby  County,  Indiana
Historical Articles
Populated Areas

Gwynneville

Hanover Township
Township 14 North,  Range 8 East,  Sec 16 & 17
Plat Map  of Ann Pollitt's 2nd Addition


1905
Brookville  Road  (US 52)

The  Shelbyville  News
Saturday. December 20, 1947
Page 8
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YOUR  TOWN — GWYNNEVILLE
By Hortense Montgomery
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          We wondered why Rev. Sluter gave no mention of the village of Gwynneville in its history published in 1880.  We found that the village was not platted until 1881 and no town gets historical mention until it is platted.  It was really a settlement as far back as the 1860’s when O’Brien Gwynne, a large land owner in Rush county and prominent merchant of Carthage, Indiana, purchased several hundred acres of land in the vicinity of Gwynneville.  The land was forest-clad and swampy, two facts which had to be dealt with in its settlements.
          Gwynne operated a large sawmill, cutting off most of the virgin timber.  Something had to be done to make the fertile, but swampy land productive.  A tile mill was built by  Gwynne,  Alexander Pollitt  and  Thomas Evans, early settlers for ditching the land.
          In its earliest days the village was called Gwynn’s Mill.  Alvin Swain, now 86 years old and the oldest resident of the town, recalls the time when there were only three houses in the village, he remembers distinctly the return of the soldiers from the Civil War.  He remembers too, the hardships of the early settlers, chills, ague and mosquitoes and how the roads, if they could be called roads, were practically impassable when grist had to be taken to Wolf’s Mill, north of Morristown.  But wild life and game were plentiful and he had a shooting record of five dozen quails in four hours time.
          The village was platted January 5, 1881, by  Alexander Pollitt  and later in May of that year more lots were added. Pollitt came to the vicinity in 1834 and married  Anne Evans, daughter of  Thomas B. Evans, a native of England who came to the settlement in 1833.  He was the uncle of  “Ted” Evans  now residing in Gwynneville.  O’Brien Gwynne was from Ireland as you could well guess.  “These Three” O’Brien, Gwynne, Pollitt and Thomas Evans were instrumental in developing the community into a thriving village.  When Pollitt platted the town he gave it the name of Gwynneville in honor of O’Brien Gwynne.
          Mrs. Annie Pollitt, wife of Alexander Pollitt, was at one time thought to be the largest landowner in Shelby County.  She came to this country from England and tried each year if possible to return to her native country for a visit.  She was Aunt to  Edward (Ted) Evans  also a native of England who came to Gwynneville to live and who now owns and operates the gas company.  Fuel gas is one of the natural resources with which this community is blessed and one of its recommendations.  The company is housed in the brick building, which was formerly a bank establishment by  Thomas Mull in 1910.
          Gwynneville is located on what is said to be the highest land between Cincinnati and Indianapolis.  We haven’t been able to square this fact with the fact that it was swampy land but we are not geologically competent to square many things.  Anyway we hear that it has delightful cool breezes in the summer time and we don’t know what better recommendations any community could have than cool breezes in the summer time, warm gas in the winter time and a situation on U.S. Road 52 which, with modern bus service and autos, gives every advantage of transportation.
          The building of the Old Junction Railroad in 1867 gave new life to the early village.  Many new houses were built and a number of businesses established.  Warren King was followed by Juan Ham.  M. C. Burt Swain  and  Robert Meredith  opened a general store;  W. W. Wilcoxen  and  William Leisure,  hardware and grain;  F.W. Rusey,  tile and brick factory,  M. M. Hacket, sawmill,  J. E. Ernest the first blacksmith shop, owned by Juan Ham; M. C. Burt first grain elevator in 1890; in 1896 Edward Evans drilled the first gas well which still served the community.
          The School History moves from the first school the Dormer on the south side of Road 52 and one half mile to the west of the village to a one room brick at the west of the town in 1880 and then a three-room school used until the consolidated school took over and the children are transported to Morristown.
          Gwynneville has two modern churches, the United Brethern built in 1877 and the Christian Church built in 1869.  Among the earliest families of the U. B. Church were the  Robbins,  Rutherfords,  Balls,  VanScyocs,  Arnolds  and the  Waggoners.  O’Brien Gwynne donated the land for the Christian Church and pioneers of that faith were the  Dormers,  Swains,  Pollitts,  McConnells,  Wests,  Bogges,  Webs,  Alexanders  and  Riggsbees.  A new brick building was constructed in 1911 and the former building is a part of the canning factory.
          Mr. and Mrs. Anderson, pioneers of the community, are nearing their 64^th wedding anniversary, which is an unusual anniversary.  In reminiscing about the old days Mr. Anderson remembers that it was unsafe to go to church after dark for scallywags would steal the buggy whips and robes and sometimes a part of the harness.  We remember at a later date even men would take their whips and robes into the church with them.
          J. F. Andrews, who was the last Civil war veteran in Shelby county, and who lived in Gwynneville, passed away about two years ago.
          At present Gwynneville is a bustling, busy village with many industries.  There are three modern groceries — Smith’s,  Cross’s and  Roland’s; two garages,  Addison’s and  Wooten’s; amateur radio station,  Fred Pollitt; poultry house, Cecil Collins;  fur house, Norman Covalt;  gas station,  F. Sullivan;  gas company, Ed Evans; construction Company,  Long  and  Guffin;  a 40,000 bushel grain elevator with up-to-date hatchery owned by W. D. Springer and operated by  Elmer Carlton;  Frank Alexander  and  Raymond Wilcoxen, interior decorators ; the  Long  brothers are plasterers.  One of the largest concerns is the tomato cannery owned and operated by  Paul Wolfe, of Morristown; it is conceded that Mr. Wolfe packed here the first commercially canned tomatoes in Shelby county.  The company name is Roach-Indiana Corporation.
          In business the women of the village are represented in it business affairs.  The Cross grocery is owned and managed by  Mrs. Raymond Cross,  Mrs. Frank Sullivan is the Post master, not a post mistress; we learned from postal authority,  Mrs. Josephine Evans operates an antique shop and  Mrs. Vernal Long a very-up-to-date modiste shop;  Mrs. Wilcoxen has a very beautiful flower garden and she furnishes flowers for many occasions.
Contributed by Barb Huff

The  Friday  Republican
Friday, February 20, 1903
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Gwynneville Department
by Francis Collins, Editor
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          We will esteem it as a great favor if residents of Gwynneville and vicinity will give us verbally, or send to us, items of interest, personals, names of persons going elsewhere, or of visitors from a distance, communications, and in fact all things of a current news character.  Local advertisements for this department will be charged for at the rate of five cents per line each insertion, six words to the line.  We will labor to make this department especially interesting to the people of Hanover township as well as to all the patrons of The Republican.  I will be pleased to received new subscribers for the paper, or renewals, at $1.00 per year.  Send all communications to W. Francis Collins, Gwynneville, Ind.

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          J. V. Poer  is building an addition to his town residence.
          Mr. Seymour Sullivan  is ill his home west of town.
          Harvey Poston  is suffering from a severe attack of neuralgia.
          Mrs. Emma Arnold  and  Ella Bankert  spent Tuesday at Morristown.
          Miss Ruby Thompson, of Greenfield, is visiting friends in this place.
          Mrs. Stella Morris  has returned from a short visit with friends at Morristown.
          David Holbrook  and wife, of Greenfield, were visiting relatives here this week.
          D. N. Kennedy  and family spent Monday with  U. G. Eamert, east of town.
          W. W. Wilcoxon  and  Samuel Arnold  transacted business at Morristown Saturday.
          W. W. Wilcoxon  was transacting business in Rushville as part of last week.
          Mr. Marshal Eaton  has returned from a brief visit with frinds and relatives at Greenfield.
          Ad Walker, the house mover, is bidding on a large job of that kind of work in Connersville.
          The man who can't find something to occupy his mind, usually does not have much of a mind to occupy.
          Mr. Benjamin Wicker and his family of Mohawk, visited  Mr. W. H. Leisure  and family a part of last week.
          Mrs. George Retherford  and  Mrs. Anna Pollitt  are spending a few days at the martinsville sanitarium.
          Mrs. Anna Readlee, who has been visiting her son,  Elmer,  at Rushville, has returned to her home east of town.
          Miss Nellie Adams, of Carthage, who has been visiting relatives here for several days, has returned to her home.
          Mr. Charles Bundy, of Reedville, spent Sunday with relatives in this place.  Charles will return here April 1.
          Mr. Elbert Poston, of Greenfield, visited his parents  Mr. and Mrs. T. R. Poston  on King street, a part of the week.
          Mr. Pete Kyser, of Mooresville, was in town a part of last week, billing the sale of  Mr. T. C. Nelson, of near Carthage.
          Miss Eva Vanscyoc  was the proud recipient of a beautiful gold watch and chain, as a Valentine gift from her father.
          Mr. E. L. Richard, department editor of the  Morristown Sun,  has opened up a confectionery establishment on East Main street.
          Col. Taylor  the veteran insurance man of Knightstown, accompanied by  Mr. W. R. Zike, of Morristown, was in town a part of last week.
          Representative Poer  spent Saturday and Sunday at Jeffersonville, inspecting the Reformatory.  Mr. Poer went in company with several friends.
          Mr. and Mrs. Marion Talbert, of near Morristown, visited the latter's parents  Mr. and Mrs. John Brown  on West Mulberry street, Saturday and Sunday.
          Mr. J. H. Andrews,  William Bogue,  W. S. Vanscyoc,  Flem Ball,  Jasper Pollitt,  John Dennis,  Jap Hain  and  J. C. Sullivan  are new subscribers this week.
          Squire Kennedy  is in very poor health, being troubled greatly by lung trouble.  The 'Squire is growing old and is bending under the weight of years.
          Mr. W. R. Wagoner  and family, of Shelbyville, are the guests of relatives here this week and are attending the revival services at the First U. B. church.
          Mr. Jas. King, of the Childrens Guardian Home of Indianapolis, was in town a part of the week, looking after the interest of the institution in this vicinity.
          Rev. Dr. Kiter, of Huntington, Indiana, is the guest of  Rev. H. W. Robins.  Dr. Kiter is assisting Rev. Robins in his revival meetings at the East U. B. church.
          Mr. Charles E. Anderson, one of our good citizens is making preparations to motor overland to Greenfield, as soon as the roads are ...[two words] to permit heavy traffic.
          Mr. John Harris, of Indianapolis, who has been visiting relatives here for several weeks, and who has been in poor health for some time, is improving greatly in health.
          Mr. Jesse Morris  and family left yesterday morning for Lebam, Washington, where they will make their future home.  Mr. Morris will read the Republican in his new home.
          W. W. Wilcoxon  shipped  his old engine to Danville, Illinois, last week, having sold it to  Samuel Stroup, of Waldron, Indiana, who will install it in a planing mill in Danville.
          Representative David Poer  is being heartly[sic] commended and his actions indorsed, for the stand he has taken concerning the Sunday Base Ball Bill -- that is by the base ball enthusiasts.
          Mr. Smith, an optician, of Warsaw, Indiana, spent last week at the Smith House.  He is an expert in his profession and will likely arrange to visit this place more regular than usual.
          Mr. Walter, the new proprietor and manager of the Carthage Flouring Mills, was in town the latter part of the week trying to arrange to locate a branch house and exchange at this place.
          W. W. Wilcoxon, proprietor of the planing mills, last week placed underneath the large boiler a new set of hollow blast blowing grates.  He is now able to burn all the waste materials of the mill.
          The Gwynne Stock Dramatic Company, of this place, having no engagement on last  Wednesday evening attended the show given by the Elite Comedy Company, in Wrenick's opera house at Morristown.
          Mr. W. W. Wilcoxon  purchased a fine lot of large oak trees of  Mrs. Frank Ramsey  last week.  The timber is located on the banks of Little blue River, and contains some of the finest oaks in this section of Indiana.
          Mr. Alfred Headlee, of Carthage, Indiana was in town last week trying to purchase property but was unsuccessful.  Property is at a premium here now and the people of the surrounding country seem to realize it.
          The meetings which have been in progress at the Grange hall, south of town for some time, continues in unabating interest.  Large congregations are attending these meetings and they are meeting with unbounded success.
          Mr. W. O. Wilcoxon  has accepted a new position with his father, W. W. Wilcoxon at this place.  W. w. Wilcoxon recently hired  Wm. Addison  to fire in the plaining mills and has now hired  Ora  to watch  William  and keep him at work.
          All the readers of the Republican who have never read the love story "When Knighthood Was In Flower," will doubtless be pleased to learn that, that story will soon be published as a continued story in the Daily and Semi-Weekly Republican.
          Mr. Flemming Ball, who has been superintendent of  W. W. Wilcoxon's  legging outfit for fifteen years, is talking of resigning his position to engage in th newspaper business.  If he makes the change he will be employed by a Philadelphia concern.
          Dr. Barnum, of Manilla, went to Indianapolis last week and made an investigation of the smallpox situation and informs us that the real situation is much worse than the newspapers report, and has warned our citizens to stay away from that place, until the disease is under better control.
          Old Mother Nugent, mother of  Mr. B. F. Nugent, and living with him at this home on West Main Street, is supposed to be the oldest person in Gywnneville[sic] or the immediate vicinity.  She does not know her age, owing to the loss of her family record, but her age will not miss four score and ten very far.
          Miss Roann, teacher at District No. 1, Union township, gave a pie social at her school building three miles south of town Thursday night.  The social was largely attended by our young people and all report a pleasant time.  The social was a success financially and the proceeds will be used in replenishing their library.
          Mr. William Moore, a farmer living one and half miles northeast of town, met with a very painful accident Wednesday morning.  Mr. Moore, while attending to his duties on his farm was attacked by a vicious sow and in attempting to get away from the brute lost his footing and fell violently to the ground, dislocating his wrist in the fall.
          Chauncy Poer, brother of Representative Poer, visited the House of Representatives the other day and met with several minor embarassments[sic] while there.  Mr. Poer is the twin brother of David and many of the Honorable Gentlemen were unable to distinguish between the two.  Chauncy says that he had many of them at this mercy with apologies.

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In the early written history of the northeast part of Shelby County, Indiana, we learn that thickly standing oak, poplar, beech, maple and ash trees produced a shade so deep and dark that the sun was shut out from May to October. From the damp earth sprang a growth of dense underbrush.  The trunks of trees, some sunk half their diameter in wet soil, laying in every direction, closed natural drains.  The soil, rich in organic matter, mixed with water, causing the woods and the paths to be almost inaccessible.

The first roads were no more than trails in the area, which was later Gwynneville.  These trails were eventually widened into dirt roads.  However, these roads were impassable in bad weather.  In places there were corduroy roads, made by laying small logs side by side across the width of the road bed.

EARLY  PEOPLE  AND  PLACES  IN  GWYNNE'S  MILL

          In the early 1800's, Mr. O'Brien Gwynne, a merchant and excellent businessman of Carthage, Rush County, Indiana, had large land interests and operated a mill near the northeastern border of Shelby County.  The mill was called Gwynne's Mill. Gwynne's Mill became the nucleus of a thriving local trading point.  In the course of a few years a number of dwelling houses were erected, causing the place to take on the atmosphere of a village.
          In 1853, Thomas  and  Mary Evans and their five year old daughter  Anna, came to Indiana from Dudley, Worcestershire, England.  The Evans family moved to Gwynne's Mill where Thomas Evans and O'Brien Gwynne started the manufacture of drain tile in 1859.  After most of the virgin timber had been cut, it was necessary to drain the fertile soil.  Gwynne's and Evans' tile was instrumental in draining the swampy soil. 

Thomas Evans continued the tile business with encouraging success for a number of years.  He was also quite fortunate in various other lines of enterprise.
          Mr. Alexander D. Pollitt  was brought to Shelby County from Fleming County, Kentucky, by his parents when he was two years old.  As Mr. Pollitt matured, he became interested in the growth of the County and the development of its resources.  Mr. Pollitt became employed in the manufacture of drain tile as a young man, and in 1873 became co-owner of he tile factory with Gwynne and Evans.

THE FOUNDING OF GWYNNEVILLE

          O'Brien Gwynne, Alexander Pollitt, and Thomas Evans were instrumental in developing the Gwynne's Mill community into a thriving village.  On January 25, 1881, Gwynneville was laid out as a village by Alexander Pollitt.  Mr. Pollitt named the town in honor of O'Brien Gwynne.  The lots were surveyed by County Surveyor, Charles F. Webster, and recorded March 11, 1882.  To the original plat, Mr. Pollitt added lots on May 20, 1881.  At this time, the town contained 34 lots, most of them 60 x 120 feet.  
          Alleys were 16 1/2 feet wide.  Main Street ran north 75° west on the Brookville State Road and was 60 feet wide.  All other streets were 50 feet wide except West Street, which was 30 feet wide.
          The village grew fast.  Three new buildings were started in one week.  The first merchant was  Warren King, and in May of 1881, it was reported in the Gwynneville Glimpses of the Shelbyville Democrat:  "Warren King, having then replenished his store, had the largest and best assorted stock in the County outside of Shelbyville."
          The Cincinnati, Hamilton, and Indianapolis Railroad had been completed in 1867 and in May 1881, the following report was given in the "Gwynneville Glimpses" of the Shelbyville Democrat:  "A tidal wave of prosperity has struck Gwynneville, which will make her, before long a village of three or four hundred inhabitants and one of the best business points on the road between Indianapolis and Rushville.  The officers of the CH&I railroad came to Gwynneville on a special train, and , after consulting Messrs.  Pollitt, King and others, located a depot just north of the tile shed.  The Company will erect this building in time to take in this year's wheat crop, which will be a good one in this vicinity.  The location of Gwynneville cannot be surpassed."
          Businesses which were established in the early eighties included: a general store, opened by  William McBurt Swain, a hardware and grain store started by  W. W. Wilcoxon  and  William Leisure, and a business house was built by  Teague, Mohler and Co.  This last building was two stories high and it was planned that groceries and notions would be sold in the lower room and the upper story would be used as a hall.
          In the summer of '83, it was reported that the store of Swain and  Meredith  would do credit to a town much larger than Gwynneville, but in the month of January '84 the "Gwynneville Glimpses" reported: "Swain and Meredith have dissolved partnership, but the business will be continued by Mr. Swain who will not keep any liquor at the place."  It is thought that this was the saloon which was nicknamed "The Lunch and Sample Room" by the residents of the community and was located on the corner of Main and King Streets.  A very active temperance society was reported to have been in existence in Gwynneville.  Perhaps they had an influence.
          In 1884, F. W. Posey  purchased the mammoth double shedded tile and brick factory from the firm of Gwynne, Pollitt and Evans, where, by that time, large quantities of tile were made.  The tile was described by the residents of the community as being flat on the bottom and rounded on top.  A large clay pit, from which clay for the tile was removed, lay east of the town and north of the railroad track.  (This pit filled with water every spring.)
          The first blacksmith shop was owned by  J. E. Earnest, followed by  Frank Conrad  and then  Juan Ham.  M. M. Hacket  owned a sawmill which furnished much valuable lumber to the surrounding community.  Wortman and Leisure  operated an implement and hardware business.

EARLY FARMING

          Reported in the Shelbyville Democrat under "Gwynneville Glimpses" in December 1882 was the following:  "Joe Sullivan and sons raised the highest yield of corn in the Gwynneville community.  Seven acres produced an average of 80 bushels per acre."  In July of '83 the prediction printed under "Gwynneville Glimpses" was that A. D. Pollitt's wheat would be threshed at 25 bushels to the acre.  Compare these figures to the high yields attained today.

EVENTS LEADING TO THE TURN OF THE CENTURY

          In  Caleb Wilcoxon's  diary he stated that his father, W. W. Wilcoxon, bought the saw and tile mills in Gwynneville in 1889 from  W. F. Pusey.  W. W. Wilcoxon soon enlarged the mill by purchasing additional apparatus, adding a planing mill.  This gave him customers from all over the County.  He furnished lumber for a large number of buildings, not only at Gwynneville, but also at Morristown and throughout the surrounding community. 
          On June 6, 1881, Anna Evans, daughter of Thomas and Mary Evans, became the wife of Alexander Pollitt.  To Mr. and Mrs. Pollitt, one child was born in 1885 and died in 1889.  The husband and father died in the year 1892.  After that time, the widow continued to occupy the home place just west of Gwynneville for four years, and then moved into Gwynneville.  She laid out her first addition to the town September, 1898, and the second sometime afterward, the former consisting of twenty-one, and the latter of forty-five lots.
          Edward Evans  and  John T. Evans  had come from England in July, 1896, for a visit with their cousin Anna Pollitt.  Edward met his future wife, Pearl Earnest, and decided to remain around Gwynneville.  In the same year of his arrival, Edward drilled his first gas well, which was just west of Mulberry Street in Gwynneville.  Edward Evans, John T. Evans and Anna Pollitt, together, owned and managed the Gwynneville Natural Gas Plant of which Edward was superintendent.

Good natural gas wells were drilled near Gwynneville, supplying the village with abundant gas for fuel and illuminating purposes.  The gas wells and the Natural Gas Company operated for more than 50 years under the management of Edward (Ted) Evans. 
          On August 1, 1903, David McIntire  established a general merchandise store in Gwynneville.  His stock in 1909 was described as extensive and carefully selected;  he built up an excellent trade.
          By 1909, the village of Gwynneville had grown into a thriving country village with a population in excess of three hundred, and was the principal trading point of a large and thickly settled section of country.  The business interests were steadily advancing and growing.

EARLY EDUCATION

          The first school of the village was known as the Dormer School and was located on the south side of the Brookville Road, one half mile west of the village.  Dates and lengths of school terms varied.  In the middle of the month of April, 1881, the beginning of the summer term of school was announced.  Parents were to furnish the necessary books if possible.  It is also known that school was open during many winter months.  In the middle of February, 1884, the announcement was made that there would be six more weeks of school for that term.
          In 1883, Professor  Joel Grimes  taught at the Dormer School and Professor Teague taught at the Pollitt School, which was one and a half miles south of the town.  Both teachers lived in Gwynneville at that time.
          W. W. Wilcoxon was trustee of Hanover Township in 1886, 1887 and 1888.  During his term some school houses were erected,  for which he won the hearty thanks of the entire township.  In 1886 a large one room brick school was built at the west edge of the town on the north side of Main Street.  In 1888, in her diary, Almina Smith Wilcoxon  reported that she taught a summer of school at Gwynneville for $2.00 per pupil, for a six week term.
          In 1910, a two story brick school building was built on the south side of Evans Street in Gwynneville, during the time Mr. D. E. Shelton  was trustee of Hanover Township.  The architects were W. S. Kaufman and Son  and the Contractors were listed as  Colvin and Anderson.  Several local carpenters worked on this building.
          At first the two story school building served as a three year high school, as well as an elementary school for all eight grades.  In 1918, the high school was discontinued, after which time the high school students went to the Morristown School.  The building was remodeled in 1928 and electricity, water and plumbing were added.  The elementary school continued in this building until 1938; thereafter, the children were all transported by bus to the Morristown School.
          This last school building is remembered not only as a school, but as a place of entertainment for the entire community.  Each year there was a school Christmas program and there was a last-day-of-school pitch in dinner, followed by a school program.  The big community Halloween party was a fun time for everyone.

RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS

          Christian Center was located east of Gwynneville on the Brookville Road at a place called Beech Grove, probably as early as 1850 it was organized by Rev. James Conner.  Active in the organization were the Dormers, Swains, Pollitts, McConnells,  Wests,  Bogues,  Webbs,  Alexanders  and  Rigbees.  In 1870, a frame church was erected on a lot donated by Mr. Gwynne, which was also located east of town.  Later, this building was moved into Gwynneville and the church was reorganized under the name of the Gwynneville Christian Church.
          Increased activity in the church and a growing membership necessitated the building of a new place or worship.  The new building was started in 1910, and on August 6, 1911, the new Christian Church building was dedicated.  Extensive remodeling was done in the early thirties, and again in 1956. 

The old building belonging to the Christian Church was eventually moved east of Mechanic Street and was on the south side as the middle part of the canning factory.
          A third church of the Blue River Chapel United Brethren circuit, was organized in the northeast corner of Hanover Township in March 1875 at the Ball school house.  A small church was completed in 1880.  To Rev. Felix DeMunbrum, a Frenchman, is due the credit of forming this church.  The active members were listed as Balls, Keatons,  Robbins,  Rutherfords,  Sixs,  VanScyocs,  Wagners  and  Meyers.  The Otterbein Church house was erected in 1880.  In the summer of 1855, the church building was moved to a lot at the southeast corner of Main Street and West Streets in Gwynneville.
          There was a division among the United Brethren church members concerning secret orders.  The members against secret orders built a building at the east edge of town on the south side of Road 52.  This church was called the Cottonwood Church because of the lumber used in its building.  The other church was known as Bethel.
          In a few years, the two churches rejoined and the original building was remodeled in 1907.  At that time, a memorial to the Civil War Veterans of the community, in the form of a stained glass window, was added.  The building was enlarged in the thirties and again in 1959.  At the present time, this church is known as the Gwynneville United Methodist Church. (Transcriber's note:  In June, 2001, the church closed its doors and the few remaining members joined ranks with the Morristown Methodist Church. The stained glass window has the names of the local veterans etched in its panes.  I was told it will be preserved at the Morristown UM Church.)
          Many good people of the town and community have given support and have received support from these two churches throughout their lives.  Jacob Poer and  Allen Waggoner  have been called to the ministry from the Christian Church and  Fred Dennis  was called to the ministry from the United Brethren Church.

TWENTIETH CENTURY COMMERCE

          The Gwynneville Bank was established by  Thomas Mull  in 1910.  The building for the bank was built at the same time as the Christian Church building and the school building.  The history of the bank is not complete.  Earnest Bond  and  Charles Winslow  had an interest in the bank and Earnest Bond was cashier of the bank for several years.  The bank closed in 1928, and, after reorganization, opened under the management of  Wilburt Thurston.  Mr. and Mrs. Thurston worked at the bank until it closed in 1940.
          The Gwynneville elevator was built in 1880 by  M. C. Burt.  It was under various ownerships until  W. D. Springer  bought the building and extensively remodeled it.  His brother, Jessie Springer, was the manager of the elevator from 1923 until 1942.  Elmer Carlton  succeeded Jessie Springer as th manager.  The elevator was destroyed by fire on November 16, 1955.  After the fire, Elmer Carlton bought the property and rebuilt the elevator.  At the present time, Robert Carlton  owns and operates it.
          The Gwynneville Canning Factory began the commercial canning of tomatoes in the fall of 1928.  The canning factory was started by  Paul Wolf.  He continued to operate the factory during the time of its ownership by the Roach-Indiana Corporation.  The factory served as a source of income for families in Gwynneville throughout the depression.  Most families of the town were represented in the employment of the factory.

In 1956, Robert Lewis  bought the Gwynneville Canning Factory and continued to operate it until 1966.  In 1966, Wilford Kuhn  bought the building; here, he operates a business for the Kaiser Fertilizer Company.
          In the early 1900's, the Indianapolis and Cincinnati Traction Company started building an interurban line, which went through Gwynneville.  Stockholders of the I & C made the first inspection run on October 28, 1904.  By February 20, 1905, runs were being made on the new traction line (electric railroad) about every two hours from Rushville to the Traction Terminal at Illinois and Market Streets in Indianapolis.  Small shelters, commonly called "dog houses", were erected for the passengers to wait for the cars to come by.  ONe of these was built in Gwynneville at the northeast corner of King and Interurban Streets.  The fare about one and a half cents per mile.

Freight services began on the interurban line in June 1906.  Stock cars were soon added so local farmers could ship hogs and cattle to the Indianapolis stockyards.  A stock loading platform was built east of Gwynneville near the substation.
          At first the traction line was very successful, but with increased use of cars and buses for transportation, the interurban business began to decline.  On May 5, 1927, the I&C Traction Line went into receivership and on January 1, 1932, operations were permanently discontinued.  From the I&C Electric Line, electricity was available to the town of Gwynneville in the mid twenties.
          The Brookville Road was a gravel and stone road until the 1920's;  however, early in the decade construction started by first widening the bridges and paving the highway through the towns.  Soon after the mid 20's, the paving was finished to Indianapolis and by the 30's, it was easy to drive on US 52 (the old Brookville Road) to watch the Cincinnati Reds play ball.

DOCTORS PRACTICING IN COMMUNITY

According to the Gwynneville news of the Shelbyville Democrat, summer of  '83: "Doctor  Newby, formerly of Rush County, is now a resident of this place.  He stands very high in his profession and has a large practice."  There is no information concerning the length of time he remained in Gwynneville.

Doctor Charles J. Cook  practiced medicine in Gwynneville from about 1894 to 1904.  After that time, he moved to Indianapolis.

Doctor R. A. Wiltshire  practiced at Gwynneville following his graduation from Cincinnati College in 1896.  He married and had two children and in 1909 he was still practicing medicine in the village. 

At the present time, Doctor Margaret Newhouse, a retired physician lives in the Gwynneville community.

OTHER EVENTS

          At one time there was a Red Mens Lodge in Gwynneville.  The Lodge met in the building which had been built for the radical (so-called) U. B. Church members.  This Red Mens Lodge was active in the early 1920's.  Wearing their beautiful feathered headpieces, the men entertained all over the state with a chorus and drill.  (The Poston men alone could have been a chorus.)
          At different times, many in the Gwynneville community have served in the various branches of the armed forces.  Those who have served their country have been held in high esteem by their neighbors and friends.
          Before his death in 1945 at the age of 96, Jim Andrews was honored for being the only living Civil War Veteran of Shelby County.

OCCUPATIONS

          George Nigh, a resident of Gwynneville, was elected Sheriff of Shelby County and served for eight years during the early 30's.  During that period he and his wife lived in the jail at Shelbyville.

From the early years of the town, there has been a close connection between the town people and the people living in the surrounding farming community.   Many of the town people have worked on the farms.  Many of the retired farmers and their wives have chosen to live in Gwynneville for the remainder of their lives.
          A great number of men who lived in the town have followed the construction trades.  Many men have been carpenters, some have been masons, plasterers, painters and wallpaper hangers.  At one time, ditch digging (by hand) employed several men of the town.
          Some of the businesses and people who operated them, other than those previously mentioned and excluding those at the present time, were:  Antiques: Helen Evans;  Barber Shop: Ed Poston;  Beauty Shops: Mary Jo Allen and Beulah Thurston; Blacksmiths: Jap Ham and Mr. Wagner;  Dairy: Floyd Six;  Fur House: Norman Covalt (nightly euchre games);  Garages: Lester Addison, Ed Corbin, Ray Cross, Floyd Six, Ben Wilson and David McMurray;  Grocery Store:  Tom Addison, John Auxier, C. W. Bock, Burns and Burn, Charlie Carter, Bert Connaway, Clyde Connaway, Al Curry, Frank Driffol, Alice Jenkins, Kenerly and Rigsbee, Newton Kennedy, I. O. Parish, Mr. and Mrs. Pressel, Virgil Rolland, Charlie Smith, Ora Smith, Vane Spohn, Bertha and Weldon Stanley, Albert VanScycle, Helen Walker and Lawrence Wortman;  Hucksters: Lyman and Ralph Mohler and Ora Smith;  Lunch Rooms: Helen Addison, Charles Baker, Owen Long, Morris Moberly, Jesse Poston (also interurban ticket office);  Poultry: Jesse Tucker;  Raleigh Products: Claude Bogue;  Seamstresses: Bertha Connaway millinery (Note: It was actually Clyde Conaway), Rosa Kennedy and Hazel Long;  Skating Rink: East side of town, summers of 1934 and 1935.
          Residents of the town have driven to other places for employment and continue to do so.
          Town residents who follow self-employment now and have not been mentioned previously are:  Lester and Helen Addison's Television Sales and Repair;  Melvin Tinsley's poultry operation;  Rolland Guffin's summer construction business;  James Addison's sale of woven rugs;  Betty Gabbard's sale of oil paintings and  Wilson's Used Furniture and Antiques.
          The two story school building built in 1910 is used as a duplex residence.  Last summer the owners, Jack and Mary Lou Walker,* rented the big assembly room upstairs to a movie maker, who filmed a space movie, which will be shown on Public Television.  The barn, which housed the old school hacks, once located on the school building lot, has been moved and serves as a garage. (Transcriber's note:  The building burned in the 1990's, causing such severe damage it was torn down.)
          The little square building on the west side of King Street, which formerly housed a Post Office, a barber shop and a dress shop, is now used as an apartment.
          The former bank building is now  Nebel's  Gun Shop and the DAR-Boutique Beauty Shop.
          The former one room brick school on the north side of Main Street is now Mac's Service Station.  Part of the north and south walls are original walls of the old building.
          May this review of the past serve us to better live in the present and also in the future.

*****

POSTMASTERS FOR GWYNNEVILLE

King	Warren	February 14, 1881
Swain	Ashbel W.	October 12, 1887
Wilcoxon	Caleb S.	June 5, 1889
Swain	Charles E.	January 18, 1893
Swain	Ashbel W.	November 24, 1893
Morris	Stella F.	August 21, 1897
Smith	Charles E.	March 7, 1898
Wilcoxon	Caleb S.	December 19, 1901
McIntire	David H.	December 15, 1904
Parish	Irwin O.	July 2, 1914
Moss	Josephine	January 7, 1916
Hays	John C.	January 24, 1924
Stanley	Bertha M.	July 1, 1931
Sullivan	Mildred	April 1, 1941
Carey	Cecilia	September 28, 1973
Addison	Mary Joan	November 3, 1973

CHRISTIAN CHURCH MINISTERS

Bro. Blount	1889
Bro. Brady	1893
Walter Smith	1896
Robert Sellers	1901
Samuel Hawthorne	1910-1911
Frank Davison	1913
Alonzo Burns	1917
Bro. Houghton	No Date
Bro. Bare	No Date
Omar Hufford	No Date
T. F. Reavis	No Date
T. J. Wilson	No Date
Samuel Hawthorne	1924
Bro. Arnold	1926
Bro. Mitchell	1930
Dr. Nutter	1937
F. D. Walker	1941
Lowell Haggard	1943
M. F. Harmon	1944
George Winfrey	1947
Kenneth Washburn	1948
S. R. Aldridge	1951
Robert Reeves	1953
James Allen	1955
Ronald Hoffman	1961
Paul Ingram	1964
Jack Holycross	1968
Cleo Jones	1971
Bill Jenkins	1973
Robert Templeton	1973
Stanley Eastman	1976
Homer Henderson	1978

SCHOOL TEACHERS

BEFORE 1910:

Hulda Duncan

Joel Grimes

Arthur Kinsley

E. P. Lowery

Anna Lincolnfelder Mefford

Ben Richard

Nell Robbins

Almina Smith

Frank Teague

1910 THROUGH 1938:

Cecil Collins

Lucille Little Gant

Mrs. Hamer

Miss Heller

Anna Carriagan Hungate

Gertrude Keaton

Edgar Lewis

Helen McConnell Myer

Ruth White Munden

Frances Stone Pitts

Mr. Reed

Ida Roan

Frances Andrews Sapp

Marjorie Nigh Smith

Jennie Hayes Snider

Lucille Jenkins McBane Wall

Mary Rafferty Westerfield

Elsieklo Fout Wilcoxon

Louise Gottlieb Wortman

Contributed by Jill Knitl, with permission from the daughters of Ardith Beckner Norris: Karen Fourman, Brenda Ritzhaupt, and Marsha Chambers.  This history was compiled for the Centennial Celebration of Gwynneville in 1981.  Sources of information include:  Chadwick's History of Indiana, pub 1909;  History of Shelby County, Indiana by Thomas Hendricks, pub. 1887;  Shelbyville Democrat, a weekly newspaper, April 14, 1881 - June 16, 1891, "Gwynneville Glimpses";  Diary of Almina Smith Wilcoxon;  Diary of Caleb S. Wilcoxon;  School Assignment of Judy Weber Nigh, written in 1959;  Information from many friends.
__________

Notes from online readers:

1. * My name is Robin Weber, I was raised in the [former] School House in Gwynneville, which was owned by my parents and a private residence.  In reading your below article I see that my parents’ names have been mistaken it was  Jack and Mary Lou Weber (not Walker).  Could you please do what is necessary to clear this up and make it factual. Thank you.
Robin Weber
317-331-8702
3810 N Co Rd 950 E
Brownsburg, IN 46112

2. Carla Pierce writes:  I noticed the  Van Scyoc  surname was not mentioned as members of the community, even though they are listed in the construction of church. Please add the surname to the list, as our family was also in the community in 1800's.  Also the surname  Handy  was not in surnames.  Please add it.  My great-grandfather was  John Handy,  and in the genealogy records, it doesn't appear either.  Thank you.  Please try to correct these two errors as my grandmother&mnsp; Jessie Lucille Handy  married  Oren Burl Van Scyoc.  We're all part of United Brethern Church in Gwynnville, Indiana since the 1800's.  Thank you so much.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The  Shelbyville  Daily  Democrat
Tuesday, October 8, 1889
Page 1
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GWYNNEVILLE.
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          A. W. Swain  has received his commission.
          John Brown,  of Carthage, will shortly move here.
          Palen Haskett  and  Theo. Ea??  returned from Mississippi last ???day.
          Poston & McBane  is the name of the new firm engaged in butchering in this place.
          Benjamin Duncan  has moved to Rushville and  Juan Ham  will occupy his property.
          Rev. Sellers,  of the Christian Church will begin a series of meetings here in short time.
          Joseph Poer  has just completed his new residence, which is one of the the finest in Hanover township.
          Captain W. H. Leisure  is the right man in the right place.  I doubt very much if the C. H. and D. Co. have a better agent along their entire line than the Captain.
          County Superintendent Rose  paid a flying visit to our place one day last week.
          John Ray,  who went to Hushpuckena, Miss., about a month ago to work in a saw mill, died there of swamp fever Sept. 29, and was buried there.  His brother Ed., learning of his sickness went down to care for him, but did not get there until after John's death and burial.  Ed. had his brother's remains exhumed and returned with them Saturday.  The body was buried at  Offutt's cemetery Sunday.  The community at large sympathize with the family, who have lost a kind husband and an indulgent father.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming

The  Daily  Evening  Democrat
April 25, 1882
----------
GWYNNEVILLE  GLIMPSES
----------

Gwynneville, Ind., April 24
          Corn planting has begun notwithstanding the late blizzard.
          Uncle Alex. Hargrove, of Morristown, delivered a sermon at this place last Sunday.
          Nancy J. Mohr, daughter of Lambert Pollitt, died at her residence in Union township last Monday with derangement of the digestive apparatus.
          Since my last report Mrs. Anna Pollitt and Mrs. Street have been very sick, but are now much better.  Mrs. Mary Carmony is also improving rapidly.
          Elder J. C. Webb is conducting a protracted meeting at the school house in Gwynneville, whither large audiences gather to listen to his logical discourses.
          Bennett Webb and George Fulp hauled the biggest log in this country to the Morristown mill last Monday, with four horses. It was fifty-seven inches in diameter and seventeen feet long.
          Elias Wicker was seen wending his way towards home Monday morning with a pair of steelyards in his hand with which he intended to weigh the little miss that arrived at his house Sunday evening.
          Since my last writing, Squire Shelton’s barn has been nearly completed, Joe Earnest has begun the erection of a blacksmith shop and Warren King’s house is looming up under the combined labor of John Harris and the gentlemanly Hays boys.
Contributed by D. Darlene Palmer

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