Judyville, Indiana

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Looking toward the old Judyville grain elevator.
Looking toward the old Judyville grain elevator.

Judyville is a small town in Liberty Township, Warren County, Indiana

Contents

[edit] History

Judyville's founder John F. Judy, born 18 March 1856 in Plattsburg, Ohio, arrived in Warren County in 1867 with his parents, Skillman and Sarah Judy. John attended high school in Attica and afterwards taught school for several years. In 1881 he invested the money he earned from teaching into cattle, an investment that proved profitable and allowed Judy to establish himself as both a farmer and an entrepreneur, well known in the county for his business acumen and skill in advertising. The subjects of Judy's enterprises were diverse and included livestock, vehicles, farming equipment, groceries, dry goods and various supplies, blacksmithing, undertaking, grain elevators and real estate.[1]

By the turn of the century, Judy's farm in Liberty Township (already known by that time as Judyville) had become an industrial village containing "six barns, one of them being the largest in Warren County, thirteen dwelling houses, a hotel, an office building and numerous outbuildings ... provided with telephonic communication, there being ten distinct lines of operation."[2]. The site being remote, Judy convinced the Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad to build an eight-mile-long rail line to his farm from their trunk in Vermilion County, Illinois, and also minted a limited form of currency known as "Judy Money" which was accepted both in the village and throughout the Warren County area.[3]

On 9 February 1903, John Judy officially platted the town of Judyville[4]. The town gained a post office on October 1, 1903, with John's son Ole as the first postmaster. It operated until 6 January 1961.[5] John married Matilda Hunter on 16 December 1877 and died 12 October 1931. His home in Judyville survived for many years, but was accidentally destroyed by fire on 1 August 2001 while being remodeled.[6]

The commerce and industry that once flourished at Judyville faded during the 20th century, in common with the decline of many rural Midwestern communities. The town now has no business and is entirely residential.

[edit] Geography

Judyville is located at 40°21'35" North, 87°23'42" West (40.359722, -87.395000) in fertile farmland, and sits on a gentle rise with an elevation of approximately 770 feet. Spring Branch creek starts just to the north of town, and Fall Creek, which flows over Indiana's tallest waterfall in Williamsport, starts to its south.[7] The town is located on County Road 300 North, a quarter mile east of County Road 425 West.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Biographical History of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski Counties, Indiana. Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1899. p. 339
  2. ^ Ibid. p. 338
  3. ^ Warren County Historical Society. A History of Warren County, Indiana (175th Anniversary Edition). 2002. p. 41
  4. ^ Clifton, Thomas A. (editor). Past and Present of Fountain and Warren Counties, Indiana. Indianapolis: B. F. Bowen & Co., 1913. p. 310
  5. ^ Warren County Historical Society. A History of Warren County, Indiana (175th Anniversary Edition). 2002. p. 220
  6. ^ Warren County Historical Society. A History of Warren County, Indiana (175th Anniversary Edition). 2002. p. 41
  7. ^ www.topozone.com. Retrieved on February 28, 2007.

[edit] External links

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