History of Lafayette, (Tippecanoe County) Indiana United States of America

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Local History Notes:

LAFAYETTE, a flourishing town, capital of Tippecanoe county, Indiana, on the left bank of the Wabash river, and on the Wabash and Erie canal. 66 miles N. W. from Indianapolis, and 123 miles S. E. from Chicago, lat. 40? 25' N. lon., 86? 49' W. It is pleasantly situated on gradually rising ground, which affords a delightful view of the river and the neighboring hills. It is one of the largest towns on the canal above named, and is considered the fourth of the state in respect to population. The Wabash and Erie canal connects it with Lake Erie and the Ohio river. Railroads have recently been completed from Lafayette to Indianapolis, and to Crawfordsville. These advantages, together with the fertility of the surrounding country, render it a place of active trade, and the principal grain market in the state. It contains a court house, which cost $20,000, four banks, a county seminary, and about 10 churches, some of which are large and handsome buildings. It has also several paper mills, iron foundries, and large establishments for packing pork. Three weekly and 2 daily newspapers are published here. The surrounding country consists of fertile prairies, interspersed with oak openings. Settled in 1825. Population in 1846, 1700; in 1850, 6129; in 1853, about 8000.

Biographies:

Emily Thornton Charles, poet, was born at Lafayette, Ind., March 21, 1845; daughter of James M. and Harriet (Parker) Thornton, and wife of Daniel B. Charles. She was educated in the schools of Indianapolis, and was married at an early age. Her husband died in 1869, leaving her with two children to support. In 1874 she began a successful career as a journalist, at first as correspondent and reporter for various newspapers, and later as editor. She was associate editor of the book entitled "Eminent men of Indiana." In 1881 she became managing editor of the Washington World and was the founder, manager and editor of the National Veteran at Washington, D. C. She was actively identified with the National woman suffrage convention, the national woman's press association, and the society of American authors. Her published writings, under the pseudonym "Emily Hawthorne," include: Hawthorne Blossoms (1876) and Lyrical Poems, Songs, Pastorals, War Poems, and Madrigals (1886).

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

John Pettit, senator, was born in Sacket Harbor, N.Y., June 24, 1807. He was admitted to the bar in 1831, and engaged in practice in Lafayette, Ind. He served two terms in the Indiana legislature, and was subsequently U.S. district attorney. He was a Democratic representative for the eighth district of Indiana in the 28th, 29th, and 30th congresses, 1843-49; a delegate to the state constitutional convention of 1850, and a presidential elector at large from Indiana on the Pierce and King ticket in 1853. He was elected to the U.S. senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of James Whitcomb, serving, 1853-55; was later appointed U.S. circuit judge, and was made chief justice of the territory of Kansas by President Buchanan, serving, 1859-63. He was a delegate to the Democratic national convention of 1864; was justice of the Indiana supreme court, 1870-76, and was renominated, but owing to scandals in connection with the court that excited popular indignation, his name was withdrawn. He died at Lafayette, Ind., June 17, 1877.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor