The Shelbyville Republican
Monday October 20, 1947
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YOUR TOWN OF BENGAL
By Hortense Montgomery
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PIONEER VILLAGE
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While Bengal is shown on the map of Shelby county we have not been able to find why neither the Sluter nor the Chadwick histories of Shelby county have made even a mention of this tiny village. It’s there for we visited it and most people have passed through it.Monday October 20, 1947
Page 3 column 2
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YOUR TOWN OF BENGAL
By Hortense Montgomery
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PIONEER VILLAGE
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We found out from our postmaster and others more than we will be able to include in this brief sketch. With Mr. and Mrs. Thurston and their grandchildren, Betty and North, we drove over the streets of the village and wound up at the home of Mrs. Amanda McCain, where we found out most of what you read here. Mr. Thurston grew up in the village and he and Mrs. McCain, widow of John McCain, recalled that Henry Tucker, her grandfather, was one of the very first pioneers of Hendricks township, one of the most colorful and one of the wealthiest pioneers in the township. He and his bride migrated to Indiana from Ohio, and right there is a bit of romance. Mrs. Tucker’s parents were loathe to have their daughter go to Indiana "with the Indians and wild panthers." She had to make her choice between staying with her parents and civilization or going with her young husband into a wild country. Things came to a point where he, with wagon and team, was ready to leave and he gave her just ten minutes to decide whether she was staying with her parents or going with him. When she saw he was almost ready to drive away she went running to him, mounted the seat beside him and together they arrived in the wild and wooly west—Indiana. With just their wagon and team, one chest, their two hands and a load of pioneer energy they acquired 1,200 acres of Shelby county’s best land. Mrs. McCain has in her possession a sheepskin deed to one of the properties of her grandfather.
The date of the settlement and the platting of the village we were not able to learn but the two reminiscers thought it must have been in the early 1840’s.
The Thurston family was another pioneer family and it was a saying back in the early days that if you met anyone it would be quite safe to say "Good morning, Mr. Tucker" or "Good morning, Mr. Thurston" for it would most likely be one or the other. And it was told too that both Mr. and Mrs. Tucker were buried in their wedding clothes. And we feel sure that the young bride never regretted her choice.
At its peak Bengal has approximately twenty families, about half of whom made their living from a sawmill which was the big industry of the village. Its owners at various times were John McCain, a Mr. Birely, and together Rominger and Richmond who went there from Hope.
A general store was always a first must in a new settlement; with bad roads or no roads, merchandise had to be available in the center of small communities. A blacksmith shop was another of Bengal’s industries, and later there were two. A general store, the only business in the village now, is owned and managed by Bert Thurston.
Gordon Thurston and his parents went to live in Bengal in 1886, and lived first in a log cabin that is no more. He began his first schooling there in a frame school house which also is no more. It was replaced by a two-story brick building; there were a lot of children in those days. It has been vacated for the new township consolidated school and is now used as a dwelling, like many other discarded school buildings.
When the Grange was a popular organization in rural communities Bengal had one but when they went into decline its hall was used for a church and Sunday school. It next became a recreation hall with a stage built at one end and plays were given. The young people of the community became quite noted for their play acting and were dated at a number of places over the county.
As a youth Mr. Thurston hauled logs from the sawmill to Shelbyville and for his labor and his team he received two dollars a day. But each of all those trips meant all the sights and excitements which Shelbyville then offered for the eyes and ears of a small village boy.
Bengal was at one time a post office village, mail being brought to it from Marietta via horseback and saddle bags, and distributed from there.
Bengal, with its countryside adherents, has two churches, a Methodist and a Christian church, the latter of which has just been modernized and made a quite attractive village church.
Mr. Thurston has fond memories of his early home—thinks Hendricks township is the finest township in the county and once composed a eulogistic poem which he uses in speaking at public gatherings in the township.
Contributed by Barb Huff
Your Town ... of Bengal
(by Hortense Montgomery, Shelbyville ... as told by Gordon Thurston and Mrs. McCain)
Henry Tucker, grandfather of Mrs. Amanda McCain, was one of the very [early?] pioneers in the township....He and his bride migrated to Indiana from Ohio, and there is a bit of romance. Mrs. Tucker's parents were loathe to have their daughter go to Indiana with its Indians and wild bears. She had to make a choice between staying with her parents and civilization or going with her young husband into a wild country. Things came to the point where he, with wagon and team, was ready to leave and he gave her just ten minutes to decide whether she was staying with her parents or going with him. When she saw he was almost ready to drive away she went running to him, mounted the seat beside him and together they arrived in the wild and woolly west -- INDIANA. With just their wagon and team, one chest, their two hands and a load of pioneer energy, they acquired 1200 acres of Shelby County's best land. Mrs. McCain has in her possession a sheepskin deed to one of the properties of her grandfather.
The date of the settlement and the platting of the village (Bengal) we were not able to learn but the two reminiscers thought it must have been in the early 1840s.
The Thurston family was another pioneer family and it was a saying back in the early days that if you met anyone, it would be quite safe to say "Good morning, Mr. Tucker" or "Good morning, Mr. Thurston" for it would most likely be one or the other. And it was told too that both Mr. and Mrs. Tucker were buried in their wedding clothes. And we feel sure that the young bride never regretted her choice.
At its peak, Bengal had approximately twenty families, about half of whom made their living from a sawmill which was the big industry of the village. Its owners at various times were John McCain, a Mr. Birely, and together Rominger and Richmond who went there from Hope.
A general store was always a first must in a new settlement; with bad roads or no roads, merchandise had to be available in center of small communities. A blacksmith shop was another of Bengal's industries, and later there were two. A general store, the only business in the village now, is owned and managed by Bert Thurston.
Gordon Thurston and his parents went to live in Bengal in 1886 and lived first in a log cabin that is no more. He began his first schooling there in a frame school house which also is no more. It was replaced by a two-story brick building; there were a lot of children in those days. It has been vacated for the new township consolidated school and is now used as a dwelling, like many other discarded school buildings.
When the Grange was a popular organization in rural communities, Bengal had one, but when they went into decline, its hall was used for a church and Sunday School. It next became a recreation hall with a stage built at one end and plays were given. The young people of the community became quite noted for their play acting and were dated at a number of places over the county.
A a youth, Mr. Thurston hauled logs from the sawmill to Shelbyville and for his labor and his team received two dollars a day. But each of all those trips meant all the sights and excitements which Shelbyville then offered for the eyes and ears of a small village boy.
Bengal was at one time a post office vllage, mail being brought to it from Marietta via horseback and saddle bags and distributed from there.
Bengal, with its countryside adherents, has two churches, a Methodist and a Christian Church, with the latter of which has just been modernized and made a quite attractive village church.
...
Caveat: This article was found by Maureen Sheehan in the family files of the Shelbyville-Shelby County Library. We don't know if it is part of a larger work or when it was written.The Shelbyville Friday Rebpulican
Friday, December 7, 1900
Page 2 Column 2
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BENGAL.
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Hendricks Township. ----------
Say Geney, where is the "White House" now?Friday, December 7, 1900
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BENGAL.
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Hendricks Township. ----------
Don't get so gay about the wedding; it hasn't happened yet.
Some of the young people of this place attended the funeral of Willie Pile last Sunday at Marietta.
The boys that disturbed the peace Sunday met before 'Squire Runyon on Monday to settle for the offense.
The M.P. Sunday school of this place will give a Christmas entertainment. Everyone is invited to come.
BARNUM AND BAILEY.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller FlemingThe Shelby Democrat
April 21, 1892
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BENGAL.
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Special Correspondence of the Democrat.
BENGAL, IND., P. O. Feb.[?-sic] 18, 1892.
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John McCain is the greatest checker player here.April 21, 1892
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BENGAL.
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Special Correspondence of the Democrat.
BENGAL, IND., P. O. Feb.[?-sic] 18, 1892.
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Now is the time for the farmer to get in his work.
The new church here is receiving its first coat of paint.
A good maple sugar year, a good corn year, goose bone.
The fruit is all right yet. Now stop cracking about fruit.
Miss Ollie Jenkins is teaching a spring term of school here, and is giving general satisfaction.
There is to be no new school house erected here this year. So says the Trustee, but says next year, perhaps?
Our Sunday school is in good condiiton under J. F. McCain, superintendent. The report for first quarter was good.
The cake baked by Mrs. Wash Ship [Shipp-pmf] sold at auction for $1.50. The cake baked by Mrs. Della Cramer was said to be the best brought to the festival.
Luther Jenkins was married to Mrs. Shafer, of Franklin, at the residence of Joshua Shipp last Sunday in the presence of the home circle only, by Rev. J. S. Grant, pastor of the Christian church here. I wish them a long, happy and prosperous life, may their craft sail on white wings on peaceful waters to the haven of eternal rest, peace and joy.
Died, at her residence one mile east of here, April 15, 1892, Mrs. James Shaw. She was a daughter of Mr. George McCue, and had been married about one year. She was a member of the Christian Church here and lived a Christian and died the same. She leaves a small babe and a host of friends to mourn her loss. Interment at Second Mt. Pleasant Cemetery Easter Sunday.
Prohibition has been talked and taught at Jollity for a long time and boasts that 50 votes will be cast at the next election. Bosh! At the last election only two votes were cast for prohibition, and they are said to have been cast by parties living east of Mt. Auburn. Few if this is true, and I believe it is, Jollityites must not all vote as they pray. To be temperate and teach temperance and total abstinance is right, but voting for the prohibition candidate for President is another thing. Do you tumble?
XAVIER.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller FlemingThe Shelby Democrat
July 24, 1890
Page 3
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BENGAL.
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Special Correspondence of the Democrat.
Bengal, Ind., July 21, 1890.July 24, 1890
Page 3
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BENGAL.
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Mrs. Wright will move to Franklin in a few days.
The dry weather and dust is getting in tis work for the farmers.
The farmers down here are saying farewell to one half crop this year.
Kincaid & Son have removed their store, or stock, to New Point, on the Big Four railroad.
Mr. and Mrs. James Lindawood, of Hancock county, have been visiting in this vicinity for a few days.
The wheat crop is about about[sic] thrashed and the average is not over six bushels to the acre, and a poor quality at that.
Rev. Taylor stirred up the animals of his congregation last Sunday by preaching a very plain sermon on charity giving.
John McCain and Henry Bireley have bought Martin Barnum's interest in the saw mill here and will continue business at the old stand.
The blackberry crop is about all dried up on the bushes. Nothing lef tnow but wild grapes and roots and herbs to live on next winter.
Moses Massingal of Mt. Auburn, will build a good house on his farm south of here and try farming, (as he has been in the goods business.)
Richmand & Co., are repairing and over hauling their saw mill from end to end, and will soon have a first-class saw mill and hoop factory.
The hay crop is the best ever known, and put up in the best condition. Jessie Shaw has over fifty tons stacked on one field and it grew on it too.
John McCain and James Ross are each in receipt of a fine present from their wives in the personage of a fine daughter for McCain and a bouncing boy for Jimmie Ross.
XANIER.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming Shelby County Newspaper Democrat
Special Correspondence of the Democrat:
Bengal
June 8, 1885
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David Chappelow is some better at this writing.Special Correspondence of the Democrat:
Bengal
June 8, 1885
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Mrs. Sarah Moore, of Smithland attended Sunday School here Sunday.
Henry Bitely has traded for the forty acres of land near here formerly owned by J. T. Murphy.
George Ropp is attending school at Danville this term. He is making preparations for teaching. We wish him success.
Madison Hayes will complete his building soon. He will then become a citizen of Bengal, where he will be hailed with a hearty welcome.
Monroe Dritt is improving his dwelling by building an addition to the front. Mr. D. is one of our most enterprising farmers and stock raisers.
Miss Carrie Williams, Anderville Shaw, F. M. Sexton, J. G. Sexton, and Miss Angie Atwood have returned from school at Danville. They will all return for the next term but Miss Williams.
Sunday school here every Sunday 12:30 p.m., Jas. William, superintendent. Preaching every other Saturday night, Sunday morning and Sunday night by Rev. McCain, of Franklin. Our Sunday school should be encouraged more by our older citizens.
Contributed by Linda Ellis
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