Wayne County Indiana
A history of Wayne County and its people
Richmond, the principal town in Wayne County, is situated on the east bank of the East Fork of White Water, on the National Road, four miles from the Ohio line, 64 northwest of Cincinnati, six east of Centerville, and 68 east of Indianapolis. It was first settled in 1816, and the proprietors were John Smith and Jeremiah Cox. In May 1833, Richmond contained 236 families and a population of 17,40. In 1840, the population amounted to 2,070; at this time [1849] it is about 3,000. In Wayne Township, which includes Richmond, and mostly in or near the town are 12 flouring mills, 11 sawmills, three oil mills, three cotton factories, four do. For the manufacture of woolen goods, one paper mill doing a large business, six carding machines, all propelled by water, also two extensive foundries, and the manufacture of threshing machines, carriages of all descriptions, and various kinds of farming utensils is carried on extensively at Richmond, so as to supply all the wants of a large and well improved tract of country. No town in the State employs more mechanical and manufacturing labor. There are in the town two printing offices, tow fire companies and engines, a branch of the State Bank, about 500 dwelling houses, tow large meeting houses for the Friends, where they hold their annual meetings, two churches for the Presbyterians, one for Episcopalians, one Methodist, one Catholic, one Lutheran, and one for colored people.
The Friends Boarding School in the vicinity, under the control of the Orthodox Friends, is a flourishing institution, where all the branches of a collegiate education are taught. The late Dr. Ithamar Warner donated for public use a brick building 70 feet long, 21 wide, and three stories high, which is occupied by the moral and literary societies of the place, and John Smith, one of the proprietors, gave also, for public use, an acre of ground and a brick building.