Canaan, Indiana
Encyclopedia
Canaan is a small unincorporated town
in Shelby Township
, Jefferson County
, Indiana
.
, 14 miles from Canaan and 12 miles from Madison
. On May 6, 1833 a road petition mentions Canaan in renaming a road to Versailles, Indiana
beginning at Canaan. It is generally recognized that Amos Simpers founded Canaan by virtue of the fact that he sold 7 lots laid out along the road that is now State Road 62. On March 15, 1836 Canaan's original plat was filed in a Jefferson County deed book.
for some time. This store was run by Joseph and later by his son Solomon Lochard followed by Don Carlo Lochard.
was established by E.B. Bishop and a man by the last name of Etherton. In 1837 Ephraim and Coy Kennedy opened a store and by 1840 they were operating Kennedy & Bros., a tobacco
factory employing 7 people. By 1850, 8000 pounds of tobacco was used in the production of cigar
s in which case 780,00 were produced in 1850 and 750,000 were produced in 1870. By 1878, Canaan would also had a drug store.
, was incorporated. On August 17, 1868, Canaan Lodge 393 of Free & Accepted Masons
was organized only to be annulled. It was resestablished as Canaan Lodge 583 on February 28, 1890.
post office until November 29, 1838 when William C. Sullivan became the first post master located at Section 2N Twp. 5N Range 11E. Canaan has the Canaan Elementary School http://www.madison.k12.in.us/Canaan/Canaan.htm
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
in Shelby Township
Shelby Township, Jefferson County, Indiana
Shelby Township is one of ten townships in Jefferson County, Indiana, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 1,052.Shelby Township was created from the northern part of Milton Township and the remnant of Pittsburgh Township on Feb. 12, 1823 by the Jefferson County commissioners. The action...
, Jefferson County
Jefferson County, Indiana
Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population was 32,428. The county seat is Madison.-History:Jefferson County was formed in 1811...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
.
History
Canaan began growing slowly with the establishment of John Warfield's farm in 1812. The first known use of the name Canaan is dated November 15, 1832 when Edwards Ayres advertised that he had opened the Bee Hive, a public housePublic house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
, 14 miles from Canaan and 12 miles from Madison
Madison, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 12,004 people, 5,092 households, and 3,085 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,402.9 people per square mile . There were 5,597 housing units at an average density of 654.1 per square mile...
. On May 6, 1833 a road petition mentions Canaan in renaming a road to Versailles, Indiana
Versailles, Indiana
Versailles is a town in Johnson Township, Ripley County, Indiana, United States. The population was 2,113 at the 2010 census. The town is the county seat of Ripley County.-Geography:Versailles is located at...
beginning at Canaan. It is generally recognized that Amos Simpers founded Canaan by virtue of the fact that he sold 7 lots laid out along the road that is now State Road 62. On March 15, 1836 Canaan's original plat was filed in a Jefferson County deed book.
Early settlers
- Ephraim and Coy Kennedy came from VermontVermontVermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
in 1832. - John Taylor came from JeffersonJefferson County, KentuckyAs of the census of 2000, there were 693,604 people, 287,012 households, and 183,113 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 305,835 housing units at an average density of...
and Shelby County, KentuckyShelby County, KentuckyShelby County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2010, the population was 42,074. Its name is in honor of Isaac Shelby, the first Governor of Kentucky. Its county seat is Shelbyville...
.
Indian-Kentuck Baptist Church
The Indian-Kentuck Baptist Church in 1814. In 1815 the church joined the Silver Creek Baptist Association according to the earliest independent record. On November 27, 1819, the church purchased a lot on Toddy's Branch for relocation but instead chose a site at Flat Bottom Cemetery about 1820. In either 1844 or 1865, dates being disputed, the church was moved to its present site.Canaan Methodist Church
Canaan Methodist Church was founded in 1830 by John Cain, William C. Sullivan, John Warfield, and Marscia Cook and their wives. The cemetery dates to 1829 with the first burial being that of a child named Susan Littlejohn. Katherine Cain is reported to be the next buial which took place July 30, 1833. The land on which these burials occurred was deeded to church trustees by Amos Simpers on April 22, 1834. Three buildings were reported as church buildings. One made of logs was located about 1/4 mile northest of the final church site. The other two were located next to the graveyard building occurring in the 1840s and the last in 1868. On July 10, 1866 Joseph Lochard opened a store after operating a similar establishment in Manville, IndianaManville, Indiana
Manville is an unincorporated community in Milton Township, Jefferson County, Indiana.-Geography:Manville is located at . It is located on the West Fork of the Indian-Kentuck Creek, just upstream from where it joins the East Prong of the Indian-Kentuck...
for some time. This store was run by Joseph and later by his son Solomon Lochard followed by Don Carlo Lochard.
Early business
During the 1840s and 1850s a number of people operated businesses within the area of Canaan. In 1829 a tavernTavern
A tavern is a place of business where people gather to drink alcoholic beverages and be served food, and in some cases, where travelers receive lodging....
was established by E.B. Bishop and a man by the last name of Etherton. In 1837 Ephraim and Coy Kennedy opened a store and by 1840 they were operating Kennedy & Bros., a tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
factory employing 7 people. By 1850, 8000 pounds of tobacco was used in the production of cigar
Cigar
A cigar is a tightly-rolled bundle of dried and fermented tobacco that is ignited so that its smoke may be drawn into the mouth. Cigar tobacco is grown in significant quantities in Brazil, Cameroon, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Indonesia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Philippines, and the Eastern...
s in which case 780,00 were produced in 1850 and 750,000 were produced in 1870. By 1878, Canaan would also had a drug store.
Social centers
On February 1, 1872 the Canaan Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd FellowsIndependent Order of Odd Fellows
The Independent Order of Odd Fellows , also known as the Three Link Fraternity, is an altruistic and benevolent fraternal organization derived from the similar British Oddfellows service organizations which came into being during the 18th century, at a time when altruistic and charitable acts were...
, was incorporated. On August 17, 1868, Canaan Lodge 393 of Free & Accepted Masons
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
was organized only to be annulled. It was resestablished as Canaan Lodge 583 on February 28, 1890.
Public services
A high school opened in 1872 and mail delivery was through the BarbersvilleBarbersville, Indiana
Barbersville, Indiana, was an unincorporated town in Shelby Township, Jefferson County, Indiana. Nothing remains of its few buildings.Barbersville was probably preceded by the town of Edinburgh, which was platted on Nov. 3, 1815 and recorded in the Jefferson County deed records...
post office until November 29, 1838 when William C. Sullivan became the first post master located at Section 2N Twp. 5N Range 11E. Canaan has the Canaan Elementary School http://www.madison.k12.in.us/Canaan/Canaan.htm