History of Gibson county, IndianaAll life and achievement is evolution; present wisdom comes from past experience, and present commercial prosperity has come only from past exertion and suffering. The deeds and motives of the men that have gone before have been instrumental in shaping the destinies of later communities and states. The development of a new country was at once a task and a privilege. It required great courage, sacrifice and privation. Compare the present conditions of the people of Gibson County, Indiana, with what they were one hundred years ago. From a trackless wilderness and virgin land, it has come to be a center of prosperity and civilization, with millions of wealth, systems of railways, grand educational institutions, splendid industries and immense agricultural and mineral productions. Can any thinking person be insensible to the fascination of the study which discloses the aspirations and efforts of the early pioneers who so strongly laid the foundation upon which has been reared the magnificent prosperity of later days? To perpetuate the story of these people and to trace and record the social, political and industrial progress of the community from its first inception is the function of the local historian. A sincere purpose to preserve facts and personal memoirs that are deserving of perpetuation, and which unite the present to the past, is the motive for the present publication. The historical chapters, prepared by and under the personal supervision of Col. Gil. R. Stormont, compose a valuable collection and will prove not only of interest to the present generation, but of inestimable worth to future historians, being the result of patient toil and earnest research. Colonel Stormont has conscientiously endeavored to make this work authentic, and to him and those who co-operated with him, the publishers desire to express appreciation of their efforts. A specially valuable and interesting department is that one devoted to the sketches of representative citizens of Gibson county who records deserve preservation because of their worth, effort and accomplishment. The publishers desire to extend their thanks to the gentlemen who have so faithfully labored to this end. Thanks are also due to the citizens of Gibson county for the uniform kindness with which they have regarded this undertaking and for their many services rendered in the gaming necessary information.
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Read the Book - Free Download the Book - Free ( 55.2 MB PDF ) "It was written of this county thirty years and more ago that, owing to the peculiar formations, the surface deposits endow the county with a variety of fertile soils and insure a variety of pursuits so necessary for the social and pecuniary development of the community. Stone suitable for building purposes is not very common. The 'Merom rock' is usually friable, and will soon distintegrate on exposure. Fair quarry stone is found at a point east of Hazelton at Severns' Bridge, on Patoka, and near the county line. Stone of a much superior grade is found in the vicinity of Oakland." |