We are proud to announce recent Boone County historical hallmarks!
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Herman B. Wells Historical Marker dedicated August 1, 2020
Thanks to the combined efforts of the Boone County Historical Society; Eric Spall, Boone County Historian; and the many community supporters of the project; Boone County native Herman B. Wells was honored on Saturday, August 1, 2020 with the dedication of an Indiana Historical Bureau State marker. The state historical marker can be found on West Main Street, Jamestown, IN. The dedication ceremony began with opening remarks from Eric Spall about Wells’ connection to Boone County. Casey Pfeiffer, manager of the state historical marker program at the Indiana Historical Bureau, talked about the state marker program and then Justin Clark also of IHB, spoke of Wells historical significance. After the unveiling, the Jackson Township Historical Society invited those present into their museum for an open house. |
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Herman B. Wells was born in Jamestown, IN and was the only son of Joseph Granville Wells.
Wells died at the age of 98 and is buried in his boyhood home of Jamestown. He started his career in banking. In the 1930s he oversaw research into the state of Indiana's banks that was used to enact banking reforms during the Great Depression. Wells is probably most well known for his tenure as president of Indiana University (1938-1962). He is generally credited with having transformed IU from a small state school into an internationally renowned university. He oversaw many building projects on the Bloomington campus, and was influential in setting the tone for the campus's appearance and atmosphere. He also worked hard to spread IU regional campuses around Indiana. Wells was a strong advocate for academic freedom, making sure that professors at IU could pursue their research free from interference from public opinion. He remained steadfast in his support of IU’s faculty and students, especially in the areas of academic freedom and civil rights. |
Marker can be found at W. Main St., Jamestown, IN in front of Main St. park, next to the Tri-Area Library.
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Gov. Samuel M. Ralston Historical Marker Installed August 2020
Although several years in the making, we are proud to announce the installation of the Gov. Samuel M. Ralston state historical marker. The required work towards gaining the marker in honor of Gov. Ralston began in 2017, one of the first projects of Boone County historian, Eric Spall. The marker was funded by the Boone County Bar Association (of which Ralston was a charter member). Installation on the south side of the courthouse lawn was approved by the County Commissioners and was to be put up in 2018, but the courthouse square renovation project and the construction of the new courthouse entrance ramp delayed installation until August, 2020. The marker was dedicated at a small public ceremony in July 2019.
Samuel Moffett Ralston was born in Ohio in 1857 and moved to Indiana at an early age. He graduated in law from Central Normal College in Danville, IN and became a lawyer. He opened a law office in Lebanon, IN in 1886 and became active in the Democratic Party at that time. He served a term as Lebanon’s
school board president, the only elected position he held until he was elected Indiana governor in 1912. He occupied the office of governor from 1913-1917.
In 1913, he oversaw Indiana's emergency response to the Great Flood of 1913. That same year he intervened in the tense Indianapolis Streetcar Strike, bringing about a peaceful settlement. In the leadup to Indiana's centennial celebration in 1916, Ralston helped organize the Indiana State Historical Commission (now the State Historical Bureau), which coordinated the state's centennial commemoration.
One of the most enduring legacies of this effort was the creation of Indiana's state park system.
In 1922, he was elected US senator from Indiana. 1924 brought strong support at the Democratic National Convention for the nomination for US President.
He later; however, withdrew from the race citing his declining health. He died a year after on October 14, 1925 and is buried in Lebanon's Oak Hill Cemetery.
Although several years in the making, we are proud to announce the installation of the Gov. Samuel M. Ralston state historical marker. The required work towards gaining the marker in honor of Gov. Ralston began in 2017, one of the first projects of Boone County historian, Eric Spall. The marker was funded by the Boone County Bar Association (of which Ralston was a charter member). Installation on the south side of the courthouse lawn was approved by the County Commissioners and was to be put up in 2018, but the courthouse square renovation project and the construction of the new courthouse entrance ramp delayed installation until August, 2020. The marker was dedicated at a small public ceremony in July 2019.
Samuel Moffett Ralston was born in Ohio in 1857 and moved to Indiana at an early age. He graduated in law from Central Normal College in Danville, IN and became a lawyer. He opened a law office in Lebanon, IN in 1886 and became active in the Democratic Party at that time. He served a term as Lebanon’s
school board president, the only elected position he held until he was elected Indiana governor in 1912. He occupied the office of governor from 1913-1917.
In 1913, he oversaw Indiana's emergency response to the Great Flood of 1913. That same year he intervened in the tense Indianapolis Streetcar Strike, bringing about a peaceful settlement. In the leadup to Indiana's centennial celebration in 1916, Ralston helped organize the Indiana State Historical Commission (now the State Historical Bureau), which coordinated the state's centennial commemoration.
One of the most enduring legacies of this effort was the creation of Indiana's state park system.
In 1922, he was elected US senator from Indiana. 1924 brought strong support at the Democratic National Convention for the nomination for US President.
He later; however, withdrew from the race citing his declining health. He died a year after on October 14, 1925 and is buried in Lebanon's Oak Hill Cemetery.
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