Morgantown History

 This town was first laid out in the month of March, 1831, by

    Robert Bowles and Samuel Teeters, owners and proprietors. Fifty-two lots were laid out on the east half of the northwest quarter of Section 25, and the 3east half of the southwest quarter of Section 24, Township 11 north, Range 2 east. For some reason this plat was not satisfactory, as in 1836 the lots were laid out anew (on the south side of the main east and west street at least). The first resident on the present town site was no doubt Samuel Teeters, who located there in 1828. He was afterward joined by John Bowles, John Whittington, Avery Magee, Andrew Shell, Thomas Hudiburgh, Hugh Adams, Thomas Lockhart, John Fee, Samuel Lawrence, William Woods, James McIntire, John Fesler, William Fesler, James Pratt, John Francis, Timothy Obenchain, Henry Hamilton, Robert McNaught, Reuben Griffitt, John Hudiburgh, William Fee, Col. John Vawter, Samuel Lawrence, Gabriel Givens, Thomas Teeters, D.D. Meddel, James Blair, J.J. Kelso, and many others. In 1836, the village had a population of about fifteen families, or seventy persons. Dr. Samuel R. Trower was the first resident physician; James Pratt and William Fesler were the first blacksmiths; John Fee was the first Postmaster; Lewis Lake made the first set of harness in the town; William Adams began selling liquor in 1831; and Thomas Hadiburgh opened a general store in 1832; Henry Hamilton began selling liquor in 1833; Samuel and Henry Lawrence and Avery Magee opened a liquor store in 1834. At this time the sale of liquor was certainly in a flourishing condition. It will be remembered that many of the early settlers came from Kentucky –the land of good whisky, fast horses and beautiful women. In 1835, Col. John Vawter sent a stock of general merchandise, worth about $3,000, in charge of James Chambers, to Morgantown, but did not go there himself until years afterward. John Fee opened the first store of goods, however, in 1834. He started, it is said, with about $2,000 worth of goods. In 1835, Thomas Lockhart opened a liquor store. Liquor establishments in those days were called groceries. The other term is used here to prevent misunderstanding. Mr. Lockhart soon changed his stock to general merchandise. John McKinley opened a grocery in 1836, and James Norman the same soon afterward. James Reville, an old bachelor, commenced selling liquor in 1836. Thomas Edwards opened a shoe shop in 1837. It was during this year that Martin & Crocker brought to the village about $4,000 worth of goods. A few years later, the firm became Seaman & Crocker. S.R. Trower & Son became merchants in 1837, and Preston Doty the same year. Eli Murphy sold merchandise in 1838. In 1839, H.C. Martin, who had been in with Crocker, started a new store on his own account. E. St. John sold liquor in 1839. Vawter, Hudiburgh, Trower, Fee, the Lawrences, Hamilton, Peter Keeney, and perhaps others, were in business in 1839 and 1840. Peter Keeney, and perhaps others, were in business in 1839 and 1840. In 1841, Downing & Guthridge opened a store. During the forties, the leading merchants were several of the above, also Fesler & Seaman, James Baldwin, Fesler & Egbert, Rogers & Coleman, and others. Afterward came John W. Knight, Andrew S. and James Hickey, John Collett, and on still later, Col. W.A. Adams, Butler, Patterson & Neeley. Col. Vawter continued in business until his death in about 1864. He started back in the thirties, but did not live in the village until later. He became a prominent citizen. R.M. Dill came later. William Fewsler was Col. Vawter’s partner and continued the business after the latter’s death, and until his own death in 1868. Samuel Hamilton was in the mercantile business in the sixties. His successor was James Horton. Horton’s partner later was Rosengarden. James Hickey, J.O. & J.S. Coleman, hardware; Freeman & Montgomery, Mate Kerlin,d rugs, about 1857. The first harness shop of consequence was kept by George and Milton McNaught in the forties. Thomas A. Rude, drugs; A.C Payn, drugs; Knox & McPheters, drugs; Arnold & Neal, drugs; J.S. Kephart, livery, in the sixties; Rude & Canatsey, same, burned down; Israel Egbert, livery; Lee & Enos, same; Mrs. Eliza Walker, millinery goods, in the sixties.

Source: Counties of Morgan, Monroe and Brown, Indiana. F.A. Battey & Co., Publishers, 1884