History Hanover, Indiana

1 history

1.1 logan s point
1.2 dunn s settlement
1.3 founding of hanover college

history
logan s point

view of ohio river point in hanover.

during late eighteenth century, area today known state of indiana part of northwest territory, consisted of later states of ohio, indiana, michigan, illinois, wisconsin, , parts of minnesota. @ time, there few european settlements on northern bank of ohio river. kentucky, on southern banks of ohio, included part of virginia, , in 1792 granted statehood, more densely settled europeans. prior nineteenth-century european settlement of hanover area, predominant inhabitants shawnee.

captain george logan (1780-may 12, 1875) grew in farming household in area of lexington, kentucky. in late winter of 1801, young logan loaded barge produce , embarked on journey westward on ohio river, sell produce in new orleans. @ time, later noted, there no european settlements in area between present-day carrollton, kentucky , louisville. according logan, both banks of river covered in thick forest. reported seeing native american hunters , fishermen, large number of buffalo , deer, , heard cries of coyotes.

faced heavy winds , harsh weather towards end of february, logan forced stop procession. stopped barge half mile west of present-day area of hanover beach. after waiting several days, reportedly grew bored , decided head ashore. present-day hanover located on hill overlooking river valley below. armed rifle, logan decided explore , climbed hill spot today known logan s point. first recorded instance of european exploring area of hanover. logan enamored view atop logan s point resolved day move there. carved initials on beech tree along date, march 1, 1801. fourteen years before return settle permanently.

dunn s settlement

williamson dunn, founder of dunn s settlement, later come known hanover

judge williamson dunn, mercer county, kentucky, purchased land area of modern hanover federal government on november 28, 1808. following year, dunn resettled entire family area, , became first residents of town called dunn s settlement, later come known hanover. steady flow of settlers followed, of whom scotch-irish presbyterians. these settlers had largely emigrated ireland virginia, kentucky, , area of hanover. among these settlers in dunn s settlement christopher harrison, later serve indiana s first lieutenant governor , play key role in planning of state capital in indianapolis. harrison built homestead @ logan s point, spot george logan had hoped build home years before. when in 1815 logan returned attempt find spot had marked in 1801, 2 men met. logan bought land , settled there permanently, while harrison moved salem, indiana. next year elected lieutenant governor.

williamson dunn s residence, hanover s first building.

although of fledgling town s population presbyterian, nearest church located in charlestown, 25 miles west. in 1819, presbyterian minister thomas c. searle (january 15, 1787 – october 15, 1821) moved nearby madison. while served religious needs of presbyterians in wide area of land in southern indiana, realized large portion of proselytized scotch-irish presbyterians dunn s settlement. according historian frank baker, 1820, there 21,000 baptists, 20,000 methodists, 2,700 presbyterians in kentucky. while statistic refers kentucky , not indiana, nonetheless indicative of similar situation across river in indiana. therefore, while dunn s settlement small, concentration of presbyterians living there significant when considering overall small number of presbyterians in area. on march 4, 1820, searle founded hanover presbyterian church. wife, native of hanover, new hampshire, admired church s congregants; therefore, church adopted name did. before long, town adopted name hanover, although officially named south hanover because post office in existence in shelby county town of hanover. when other town of hanover ceased support post office, south hanover s name shortened hanover.

following founding of church, plans initiated construction of church edifice. williamson dunn donated land , funding cause. however, in october 1821, searle died, , ministerial post @ hanover presbyterian church remained unfilled until 1823.

founding of hanover college

john finley crowe, founder of hanover college

john finley crowe born in greene county, tennessee , grew in tennessee , missouri. grew in presbyterian household, although not religious. however, after meeting presbyterian elders had moved north carolina area in missouri, crowe became interested in pursuing religious education. attended transylvania college in lexington, kentucky, , continued education @ princeton theological seminary in princeton, new jersey. after completing masters of divinity in 1815, crowe accepted first ministerial assignment in shelbyville, kentucky. while there, crowe became actively involved in abolitionist movement. established sunday school african-american children, although not find location in area permit such school meet. on may 7, 1822, began publication of abolition intelligence , missionary magazine. crowe s abolitionist sympathies alienated him slave-holding neighbors, , not long before lost access printing press.

residence of john finley crowe in hanover, listed on national register of historic places

on april 2, 1823, john m. dickey, moderator of church session seated williamson dunn , george logan elders, sent letter crowe inviting him serve @ hanover presbyterian church. sickened increasingly hostile attitude of neighbors in kentucky towards abolitionist views, crowe accepted position, relieved move state possession of slaves illegal. shortly after arrival in hanover, crowe began construction of residence, known today crowe-garritt house. located north of present-day hanover presbyterian church, crowe-garritt house added national register of historical places in 1980.

soon after arrival @ hanover presbyterian church, crowe began petitioning church members sponsor founding of seminary. while congregants reluctant @ first take on task, prevailed, , religious school opened in hanover on january 1, 1827. initially, classes met in presbyterian church s old stone church building, located in present-day area of hanover firehouse. within year, however, school had outgrown location, , williamson dunn donated land construction of new college edifice. in 1829, state of indiana granted charter hanover academy, while presbyterian synod of indiana recognized theological segment of school indiana seminary. while hanover academy grew exponentially on ensuing years, seminary stagnated; 2 entities split in 1836, , in 1841 seminary moved new albany, indiana. ultimately, faced money problems , split amongst students on issue of slavery, in 1859 seminary once again moved, time reopening mccormick theological seminary in chicago, illinois. meanwhile, hanover academy in 1833 received charter state of indiana form college name of hanover college.