Tag Archives: Vevay

Vevay – 1858 Indiana Gazetteer

Vevay, Switzerland County, Indiana entries from:
G.W. Hawes’ Indiana Gazetteer and Business Directory for 1858 and 1859. Indianapolis : Geo. W. Hawes, 1858.
Digitized copy online at Internet Archive

VEVAY,
The county seat of Switzerland county, situated on the Ohio River, equidistant between Cincinnati and Louisville, Ky. It was laid out in the year 1813, by John Francis Denfour and Daniel Denfour, emigrants from the Canton De Vend, in Switzerland, Eorope, and in remembrance of their native town gave it its present name. The town is laid out on part of the land which was entered by John James Denfour and his associates, in the beginning of the present century, and on which an extended credit was given, by an act of Congress, with a view of encouraging the culture of the grape. The commerce of the town is confined chiefly to the shipping of produce to the southern markets, and is the point on the Ohio River to which most of the produce of the county is brought for shipment. It is remarkable that, as yet, there has never a case of cholera originated in the town. Many attribute that fact to the water used by the inhabitants—it being altogether cistern water that is used. It is a very healthy location. There are at present a Methodist, Baptist and New School Presbyterian church. The Catholics also have a small church started recently, which begins to increase in number. As yet they have no house of public worship, having rented for the time being a house for a chapel, but contemplate building a fine church. The Reformers have a congregation but no house of worship yet built. There is at present a very good school in the town under superintendence of the Rev. F. D. Bland. Population about 1,500.

  • Adkinson F., attorney at law.
  • Anderson R. D., blacksmith.
  • Berner F. A., watch maker and jeweler.
  • Black Julius, dealer in ready made clothing.
  • BOYD J. W., wire worker.
  • Boyd J. W., Librarian Workingmen’s Institute.
  • CARTER SCOTT, ATTORNEY AT LAW AND NOTARY PUBLIC.
  • Clarkson & Waldo, grocers.
  • Courvoisier F. L., dealer in dry goods and groceries.
  • Dalmazzo Joseph, dealer in dry goods, groceries, &c.
  • Dalmazzo J. G., dealer in dry goods, groceries, &c.
  • Daly Wm., merchant tailor.
  • Detraz & Tardy, dealers in millinery and fancy goods.
  • Detraz B., wagon maker.
  • Dickson Wm., grocer.
  • DUFOUR PERRET, NOTARY PUBLIC.
  • Dumont John, attorney at law.
  • EXCELSIOR FLOURING MILLS, S. B. MILLER & CO. PROPRIETORS.
  • Faulkner W., saddle and harness maker.
  • Gale T. C., physician and surgeon.
  • Golay S. T., wagon maker.
  • GOLDENBURG C. & SON, DEALERS IN STOVES AND TIN WARE.
  • Good Templars, Vevay Lodge No. 87.
  • Graver & Leclerc, carpenters and joiners.
  • Gray J. W., merchant tailor.
  • GRISARD F. L. & SON, DEALERS IN HARDWARE CUTLERY, IRON, NAILS, GROCERIES AND AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS.
  • Hall & Lindlay, dealers in pressed hay and proprietors wharf boat.
  • Harwood & Doan, dealers in dry goods and groceries.
  • Hathorn G. W., carpenter and joiner.
  • HAWKINS A. M., CHAIR MAKER.
  • INDIANA REVEILLE NEWSPAPER AND JOB PRINTING ESTABLISHMENT, F. J. WALDO, EDITOR AND PROP’R.
  • Indiana Lodge No. 126, (I. O. O. F.)
  • JACKMAN JONAH, IRON FOUNDER AND MACHINIST.
  • Jagers Joseph, blacksmith.
  • Kessler & Son, saddle and harness makers.
  • Kincaid Miss E. B., milliner and dress maker.
  • Knox G. G. & Co., proprietors woolcarding and flouring mills.
  • Lamb R., attorney at law.
  • Lappard John, barber.
  • Leclerc House, Mrs. Julia Leclerc, proprietress.
  • Leclerc Mrs. Julia, proprietress Leclerc House.
  • Levering T. C., boot and shoe maker.
  • Littlefield Enos, cabinet and furniture dealer.
  • McMillen John, dealer in dry goods, groceries, etc.
  • Madary M., dealer in dry goods.
  • MARTIN E. H., wholesale and retail dealer in cigars, tobacco, etc.
  • MILLER S. B. & CO., PROP’RS. EXCELSIOR FLOURING MILLS.
  • Northcott & Rous, butchers.
  • PATTON G. C., POST MASTER.
  • Phoenix Lodge No. 182 (I. O. O. F.)
  • PLEASANTS S. E. & J. K., DRY GOODS, GROCERIES AND PRODUCE DEALERS.
  • Pleasants George E., justice of the peace and insurance agent.
  • Price William, tailor.
  • Richey O. P., Daguerrean artist.
  • Russell F. A., carriage maker.
  • Rutherford Joseph, blacksmith.
  • SCHENCK B. F. & Co., JOB PRINTERS AND PUBLISHERS WEEKLY NEWS.
  • Schenck U. P. & Son, dealers in dry goods, groceries, &c.
  • Schenck B. F., insurance agent.
  • Schoonhover Eli, proprietor livery stable.
  • Shaw Alfred, dealer in dry goods, groceries, &c.
  • Short Jesse, carpenter and joiner.
  • Shuff Samuel, wagon maker.
  • Smithson Joshua, proprietor steam saw mill.
  • Sons of Temperance, Division No. 115.
  • Stevenson Isaac, druggist.
  • WALDO F. J., JOB PRINTER EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR INDIANA REVEILLE.
  • WALDO F. J., INSURANCE AGENT.
  • Webb J. F., boot and shoe maker.
  • WEEKLY NEWS, NEWSPAPER AND JOB PRINTING ESTABLISHMENT, B. F. SCHENCK & CO., EDITORS AND PROPRIETORS.
  • Woody L. L., dealer in stoves and tin ware.
  • Working Men’s Institute, J. W. Boyd Librarian.

Switzerland County – 1849 Indiana Gazetteer

Switzerland County, Indiana entries from:
The Indiana Gazetteer or Topographical Dictionary. Indianapolis : E. Chamberlain, 1849.
Digitized copy online at Internet Archive

ALLENSVILLE, a small town in Switzerland county, eleven miles north-east of Vevay, surrounded by a good country and a very industrious population.

BELMONT, a small town in Craig township, Switzerland county.

BENNINGTON, a small town in Pleasant township, Switzerland county.

BRYANT’S CREEK, a small stream in Switzerland county, running south into the Ohio near Warsaw.

COTTON, a northern township in Switzerland county.

CRAIG, a south-western township in Switzerland county.

FLORENCE, a small town in York township, Switzerland county, on the Ohio river, eight miles above Vevay.

GRANT’S CREEK, a small mill stream in Switzerland county, which runs south into the Ohio river, four miles below Rising Sun.

INDIAN CREEK, a mill stream in Switzerland county, rising in the north part of it, runs south into the Ohio two miles below Vevay.

JACKSONVILLE, a small town in Switzerland county, seven miles north north-east of Vevay.

JEFFERSON, the most populous township in Switzerland county.

LOG LICK, a small stream in Switzerland county, running south-west into the Ohio six miles above Vevay.

MOUNT STERLING, a small town in Switzerland county, four miles north of Vevay.

PLEASANT, a north-west township in Switzerland county.

PLUM CREEK, a small stream in Switzerland county, that falls into the Ohio two miles above Vevay.

POSEY, an eastern township in Switzerland.

QUERCUS GROVE, a small town in Switzerland county, 12 miles north-east of Vevay, sometimes called the “Bark Works.” It was first settled in 1816, by Daniel D. Smith, and others, who commenced grinding and packing oak bark in hogsheads to send to England for coloring matter. The experiment proved a failure, and was soon abandoned.

SWITZERLAND COUNTY, organized in 1814, derives its name from a settlement of Swiss, who came within the bounds of the present county in 1802, and commenced the cultivation of the grape there. It is bounded north by Ripley and Ohio counties, east and south by the Ohio river, and west by Jefferson, and it contains about 225 square miles. The civil townships are Craig, Jefferson, York and Posey, on the Ohio, Cotton in the north, and Pleasant in the north-west. The population in 1830 was 7,111, in 1840, 9,920, and at this time is about 14,000. As the Ohio river borders on the county 36 miles, there are many large and fine bottoms which are mostly rich and well cultivated. Back of these for an average distance of three miles, the river hills rise from 400 to 500 feet, and are interrupted at short distances by precipitous ravines. The timber and soil are, however, of a superior quality, and where the hills are not too steep to be farmed, first rate crops are produced. Farther back from the river the ravines disappear, and a high table land is reached, more clayey, yet well adapted to grass and small grain, and with proper cultivation, suited to any crop common to the climate. There are some of the best farms in the State in Switzerland, and every year large quantities of produce are shipped to the south from the numerous landings on the river.

There are in the county 10 grist mills, 15 saw mills, of which about half are propelled by steam the others by water, 40 stores, 20 groceries, 20 ware-houses, one printing office, 10 lawyers, 30 physicians, 25 preachers, and the usual proportion of mechanics. In the towns there are 12 Methodist churches, two for the Presbyterians, two for the Baptists, and one for the Universalians, besides others in the country. The taxable land amounts to 143,016 acres. There is none yet belonging to the United States.

John James Dufour was the enterprising leader of the Swiss Colony before referred to. By his indefatigable exertions, a grant of land was procured from the United states to him and his little colony on a long credit, and by this means about 200 acres of land was procured for each of the original settlers. They were industrious and prudent, and they and their posterity have generally been prosperous. See Vevay.

VEVAY, the Seat of Justice of Switzerland county, is situated on a beautiful bottom on the Ohio river, 70 miles below Cincinnati and the same distance above Louisville, and 96 south-east of Indianapolis. It constitutes a part of the tract of land sold on credit by the United States to the Swiss settlement, in 1802, for the cultivation of the vine. The town was laid out in 1813, by the brothers J. J., J. F. and Daniel Dufour, and received the name of a town in Switzerland from the vicinity of which they had emigrated. Vevay now contains over 200 houses, many of them built with much taste, and 1,200 inhabitants.

Switzerland County – 1833 Indiana Gazetteer

Switzerland County, Indiana entries from:
The Indiana Gazetteer or Topographical Dictionary. Indianapolis : Douglass and Maguire, 1833.
Digitized copy at HathiTrust Digital Library

ALLENSVILLE, a post town in Switzerland county, about ten miles north-east of Vevay, on a branch of Laughery creek.

BRYANT’S CREEK, a small creek which has its source in the northern part of Switzerland county, and runs south through said county to the Ohio river.

COTTON, a northern township in Switzerland county.

CRAIG, a western township in Switzerland county.

JACKSONVILLE, a small village in Switzerland county about seven miles north-east from Vevay, on the Lawrenceburgh road.

JEFFERSON, a western township in Switzerland county.

LOG LICK CREEK, a small creek in Switzerland county, running southward into the Ohio river.

MOUNT STERLING, a flourishing village in Switzerland county, three and a half miles north from Vevay. It has some trade and abounds with fine water.

NEW-YORK, a small post village in Switzerland county. It is situated on the bank of the Ohio river, eight miles east of Vevay.

PATRIOT, a small post town in Switzerland county, on the Ohio river, about fifteen miles by land, and twenty-five by water, north-east from Vevay.

PLEASANT, a post village in Switzerland county, twelve miles north of Vevay.

PLEASANT, a northern township in Switzerland county, including the village of that name.

PLUM CREEK, a small mill stream in Switzerland county, running southwardly into the Ohio river.

POSEY, an eastern township in Switzerland county.

QUERCUS GROVE, a post office in Switzerland county, about twelve miles north-east from Vevay.

SWITZERLAND, a south-eastern county bordering on the Ohio river. It was organized in 1814; and is bounded on the north by Dearborn and Ripley, on the west by Jefferson, and on the south and east by the Ohio river. Its greatest extent from north to south is about eighteen miles, and from east to west about twenty-four miles. It contains about 300 square miles, or 192,000 acres. Its population, in 1830, was 7,111. The face of the country, the soil, and timber, are variant. The bottom lands along the river are level. The timber consists of beech, walnut, cherry, honey locust, ash, elm, and buckeye. The soil is a dark loam with a heavy mixture of sand. Next to the bottom is a high, hilly land considerably broken, and the hills in some places very precipitous. On these hills the timber is not much different from that which is found in the bottoms; blue ash, and large buckeye abound on the steepest places. In this tract, which extends back from the river about three or four miles, the soil is a dark rich loam with a smaller proportion of sand than the bottom lands, and equally fertile where cultivation is practicable. In this hilly region, are vast quantities of limestone, and in some places high cliffs, from which detached masses of rock have fallen on the subjacent plain. Passing from the river a few miles back, the hills extend gradually, forming a high table land, covered with beech, gum, poplar, ash, hickory, and all varieties of oak. In this high land the soil is clayey and calcareous, and produces plentiful crops of small grain and grass. This county is washed by the Ohio river on the east and south. Its interior streams are Indiana creek, Plum creek, Bryant’s creek, Turtle creek, and Grant’s creek; all which run into the Ohio river. In this county the vine is successfully cultivated. The settlements along the river below Vevay, where the culture of the grape is principally attended to, present an appearance of industry and taste. This part of the county, is a compound of elegance and usefulness, where to one of the most delightful natural situations on the Ohio, is added the embellishments of art; and where art and elegance are made subservient to wealth and comfort. Here are also beautiful orchards, with a great variety of the finest fruits, and gardens cultivated in the most tasteful style. The wine of this county is of excellent quality, and with the advantage of age, would not be inferior to the European wine; but it is generally used before it is sufficiently matured. The citizens of this county are rapidly improving in their circumstances, and some of them have already become wealthy, chiefly by the culture of the grape. In addition to the culture of orchards, gardens, and vines, the ordinary branches of husbandry are carried on in this county, and large quantities of corn, flour, beef, pork, potatoes, hay, and poultry, are annually transported to the low country. Vevay is the seat of justice.

TURTLE CREEK, a creek in Switzerland, running southwardly into the Ohio river.

VEVAY, a post town, and the seat of justice of Switzerland county. The situation of this town is very pleasant; it is thought by some to be superior in beauty to any other town site on the Ohio river. The first settlers in this place were emigrants from Switzerland, who at an early period commenced the culture of the vine. By the industry and enterprise of those early settlers, the beauty of the natural situation was soon greatly heightened, and that beautiful rich bottom which but a few years ago was covered by a heavy forest, now presents to the eye of the passing traveler a pleasant flourishing town, surrounded by orchards, gardens, and vineyards, where taste and elegance are combined with use and comfort. The town contains upwards of a hundred brick and frame dwelling houses, a jail, a brick court house, three taverns, seven mercantile stores, three lawyers, three physicians, a printing office, and a variety of mechanics; with an aggregate population of about 400 souls. It is situated about twenty miles south-east from Indianapolis. N. lat. 38 deg. 40 min. W. lon. 7 deg. 49 min.

Switzerland County – 1826 Indiana Gazetteer

Switzerland County, Indiana entries from:
Scott, John. The Indiana Gazetteer or Topographical Dictionary. 1826. Reprint, Indianapolis : Indiana Historical Society, 1954.
Digital Copy on Internet Archive

ALLENSVILLE, a small post town in Switzerland county.

MANCHESTER. A small post town in Dearborn county.

MOUNT STERLING. A small, thriving village in Switzerland county, in which there is a post office established.

SWITZERLAND. An old county bordering on the Ohio river, which forms its boundary on the east and south, Jefferson on the west and Dearborn county on the north. It contains about 250 square miles and 6000 inhabitants. The land is fertile and well watered by several small mill streams. There are several settlements of Swiss emigrants in this county, who have cultivated the vine with good success; wine of a superior quality, has been made, in large quantities, by these industrious citizens. Few counties in this state possess greater advantages than Switzerland. Vevay is the seat of justice.

VEVAY. This town is the seat of justice of Switzerland county: it is situated on the north bank of the Ohio river, 100 miles by water below Cincinnati, 18 above Madison, and 95 south-east from Indianapolis. N. Lat. 38 45, W. Lon. 7 50. It contains about 100 handsome brick and frame dwelling houses, 400 inhabitants, 7 stores, 3 taverns, 3 lawyers, 3 physicians, and a printing office; there are also several extensive vineyards in its immediate vicinity, owned by Messrs. DuFours, Mr. Bateau, Mr. Morod, and Mr. Galey. Great quantities of red and white wines are manufactured at these establishments, which meet with a ready market in the neighboring towns in this state and Kentucky. There is a large settlement of Swiss emigrants adjacent to this town, the greater part of whom are engaged in the cultivation of the vine, and extensive gardens.