The flourishing little city of Knightstown is situated on the banks of Blue River and the National Road (US 40) and the line of the Cincinnati, St. Louise & Pennsylvania Railroad and is located in Wayne Township, which is in the southwest portion of Henry County.
For the purpose of preserving some matters of interest, we give some important items relating to its early history.
Early Knightstown
Previous to the laying out of the town a place known as West Liberty had been started near here, but has since entirely faded away. Knightstown was first laid out in 1827. Among the early settlers we mention Mr. Waitsell, M. Cary, Dr. Whitesell, Mr. Marts Mr. Sanford, Levi Stratton, Mr. Parker and Mr. M. F. Edwards. The first house was built by Mr. Cary in 1827. Mr. James and Mr. Griffith established the first general store, Mr. Levi Stratton the first blacksmith shop, in 1829. The first postmaster was Mr. Mays. The first newspaper was called The Indiana Sun, started in 1832, published by Grant & Mitchell. The first church building erected was the Presbyterian in 1834, the society being formed the previous year. The M. E. Church building was erected in 1837. Mr. Morris F. Edwards built the first carriage built in this county. Mr. Cary was the first hatter and started the first hotel.
The Present (1884)
Knightstown contains a population of about 2,000 inhabitants, is situated in the midst of a fine agricultural section of the state and its business houses embrace every branch incident to the requirements, and enjoy a large and growing trade. It contains a flourishing Academy, woolen and flouring mills, and tile manufactories. There are about one hundred business establishments of all descriptions. Three hotels, seven churches and fine public schools; one weekly newspaper, The Banner, is ably edited and published by Messrs. Deem & Brewington. The Dental News, a monthly, is published by Dr. T. P. Wagoner.
This list of businesses and partnerships was found among the old ledgers located in that office. I would like to thank Terry Pope, Henry County Recorder, for her help in obtaining this list.
| Some of The Businesses |
| Allen S. White: | Grocery, South Jefferson and West Public square.
| | Williams & Carroll: | Dry Goods, Boots, Shoes & Clothing, Main & Jefferson.
| | Watts & Parker: | A Manufacturer of Farm Drain Tile.
| | James Mills: | Groceries & Provisions, #77 Main Street.
| | Walling & Son: | Meat Market, Produce & etc., Washington Street
| | Wilkinson & Peden: | Merchants & Dealers in Grain, Seeds & Flour, Jefferson St.
| | A. O. Morris: | Cash Grocery Store #78 Main St.
| | Forbes & Applegate: | Lumber Manufacturers.
| | Thomas Hoover: | Harness Manufacturer, Main St.
| | R. E. Overman: | Pianos & Organs & etc., S. Jefferson St.
| | I. C. Dovey: | Wall Paper, Pictures Etc., Main St.
| | John Heaton: | Saw, Planing Mill & Furniture Manufacturing.
| | John Weaver: | Watch, Clock, Jewelry, Drugs and Silverware Dealer.
| | L. M. Culbertson: | Agriculture Hardware & Implements Dealer, Main St.
| | H. H. Condit: | Dry goods, Boots & Shoes etc., #72 Main St.
| | White Heaton: | Farm Implements & Machinery.
| | Valley House: | Joseph Woods Hotel.
| | Sol. Hittle: | Confections & Bakery, Main & Washington.
| | Baer & Swain: | Groceries & Queens ware Etc., No. 62 Main St.
| | G. S. & J. W. Lowery: | Stock Dealer & Shipper.
| | Harry Watts: | Dealer in Granite, Marble & Slate Roofing, Jefferson St.
| | J. A. Pike: | Planing Mill.
| | Hiatt Brothers: | Stock Breeder, Livery, Feed & Stables.
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The following are some of the other more important firms doing business in Knightstown:
Dry Goods, Clothing, Boots, Shoes, Hardware, Stoves, Drugs, Books and Furniture:--- Williams & Hatfield, Burt Harris, J. T. Furgason, Haufler & McMurney, C. S. Hubbard, E. S. Ball & Co., Bell & Co., Breckenridge & Co., C. I. Lemmon, E. B. Niles, Pickering & Patterson, W. M. Edwards, J. M. Powers, N. B. Wade, D. L. Heritage, Peter Watts, Planing Mill, The Shipman Hotel, W. S. Weaver Jeweler; Addison & White, Bakery; D. W. Thayer, Buggies; W. H. Harden, Harness; J. W. Loury and Walling & Burke Brothers, Meat Market.
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