Jasonville

Most of the first settlers in Jasonville came from Kentucky and Tennessee.

It seems to have been undisputed down through the years that John Lewis and his son-in-law Isaac Taylor were the first white inhabitants of what is now Wright Township. In 1818 they built log houses on the forty acre tract that lies in the Southeast corner of the intersection of State Road 59 and the East Shanklin Street road. In 1818 or 1819 Robert Burch built log house near the present site of Queen Three pond (NW of SW of 9-8-7). Another early settler of near the same time was David Ingram who settled near the spring, later known as the Barnes spring.

It is said that the name vor the town came about becasue of Uncle Billy Buckallew. It is said that a short time after Jason Rogers had moved his store to the southwest corner of Main and Meridian streets, probably in 1855, Uncle Billy came to town with butter and eggs to trade for needed supplies from Jason's store. He hitched his team at a hitch rail on the east side of the store. While loitering about the store, before leaving with his supplies, he dipped a stick, or rather a paddle, into the tar bucket of the wagon and scrawled on the East side of the store "JASON VILLE".

Jasonville was laid out by W. B. Squires and Jason Rogers in 1858. In 1858 Jason Rogers filed, on January 23rd, with the Recorder of Greene County the "Plat of the Original Town of Jasonville". The boundary of the plat was as follows: North, Main street, West, Lawton street, South, Cook street, and East Meridian street. The plat contained thirteen lots numbered from 1 to 13, inclusive. Other additions to the town before the civil war were the Gadberry Addition, South of Main and East of Meridian, and the Barnes and O'Donnell Addition, North of Main and West of Meridian.

It was named by Mr. Squire, who dubbed it that in honor of his friend, Jason. Thirteen lots were laid out at the cross-roads. Both Squire and Rogers lived there at the time. Mr. Rogers opened the first store there and others followed.

The Jasonville post office was established the same year that Jasonville was founded in 1858. The first postmaster was Dr. William B. Squires

Wilson Culbertson erected the grist mill that stood some distance west of the village. Near what is now the eastern boundary of Shakamak State Park.

Dr. W. B. Suqire was the first doctor to locate in Jasonville.

1875 Uncle Jack Baber said of Jasonville: The population is one hundred. Business houses: one dry goods store, one drug store, one post office and notion store. It has also three harness shops, two blacksmiths, three doctors, one school house and one church.

Jasonville's first school house was built around 1900 south of Meridian and Cooke Streets. In 1902 a new school was built and in 1907 an application was filed with the State Board of Education that the school be accredited as a commissioned high school.

In 1900 the railroad came to Jasonville and mail daily. on March 31, 1900 the first locomotive, a work train crossed Main street building track northward.

John R. Walsh, a Chicago capitalist and banker acquired stone quarries at Bedford and bought a railroad extending from Elnora to Westport in Decatur County There were no coalmines on this line and Walsh needed coal for his quarries and railroad. He originally planned and surveyed a line from Elnora northwest to a point near Sullivan, thus tapping that county's coalfields, which were already in operation. Linton coalfields having already been opened by the building of the IC. railroad through the town was already quite a mining center.

The proposed Elnora Sullivan line would have missed them several miles to the south, so they set about trying to induce Walsh to build to Linton and northward to Terre Haute, there connecting his road with other important lines. Also the city of Terre Haute itself was an important asset to a railroad, it being third in size in the state at the time, only Indianapolis and Evansville having more population. Linton's business and coal interests prevailed in their endeavor, after promising the builder to furnish free right of way through Greene County a distance of more that twenty miles. Landowners, anxious for a railroad donated the land for right of way, or sold it at an extremely low figure. The money required was raised through popular subscription. This railroad now carries the intials C.M. St. P & P on its equipment and is known as the Milwaukee Railroad; the tracks ran through Jasonville, Linton and Beehunter where it crossed the Indianpolis and Vincennes Railroad on it's route southeast into Bedford.

It was some months after crossing Jasonville's Main Street that passenger service was established on the new road. A round trip for Terre Haute could be had for $1.00, but each Sunday excursion rates prevailed and the round trip could be made for fifty cents. A ticket to Indianapolis then, by way of Terre Haute, or Beehunter was $1.70. At one time fourteen passenger trains ran daily through Jasonville, seven each way.

In 1903, bids were let for bricking Main Street at a cost of over $25,000. By 1904, the paving was done and new sidewalks were being laid. Also in 1904, a scourge of smallpox plagued the new town and the vitims were quarantined in their homes. The city supplied food and medical care for the victims. It strained the town budget almost to the breaking point.

The coal mines were making the town boom. Since March 1900, when the Southern Indiana railroad was built through the town, they have not been without transportation though it is now known as the Milwaukee line.

In 1901, a Mr. Burnham started a brick plant, and others soon followed for there was a big demand for it in and around Jasonville and Terre Haute.

The first coal mine of note opened at Jasonville was the P. Fry mine. But most of the mines in the vicinity were operating with Jasonville labor a few were: P & I, Tower Hill, Old Midland, Lenoir, Coal Ridge, Alum Cave, Big Dirty, Red Bag, Bolt, Arizona, White Ash and City; all of which were located on railroad switches. There were many small truck and wagon mines.

The old Northwest mine had started up in 1902, and stopped in 1926.

In 1908 Jasonville had its first high school football team under the management of Oscar R. Shields, principal of the high school, Jerry Ulen, a teacher, was captain. There was no graduating class from the High School this year. In 1910 the cramped quarters called for additional expansion and the grade, or “ward” building as it was called, was erected that year. Soon increased enrollment made necessary further room and two portable buildings were erected at the site of the grade building on South Park Avenue.

On the afternoon of Friday 24 July 1914, a fire started in the Rexall Drug Store. It destroyed the K of P Hall, Sheilds & Mayfield Law Offices, Ax & Fry Grocery, Orpera House, Carry Harrell law office, Bryans Drug Store, Scott pool room, Miller Barber Shop, Irwin & Stark General Store, B. Sink Tailor shop, Post office, Carter Grocery Company, Greek Candy Kitchen, Gold Dry Goods and the Peoples State Bank

During the 1918- 1919 school year the Flu epidemic was at its worst in the local community. All schools, churches, lodge and picture shows were closed in an attempt to stem the spread of the dreaded disease> AGain there was no graduating clasee from the local high school this year.

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The high school gym was built in 1924.

There is also a history museum, which is located above the old firehouse and can be visited by appointment. Contact the mayor to visit the museum.

Last updated 22.10.2009