Tipton County


Book Description

The year was 1844, and scores of pioneers from the eastern and southern areas of the United States were migrating to the nearly impenetrable virgin forests of Indiana's newly established Tipton County, named for two-term Indiana senator and revered warrior Gen. John Tipton. Displacing all but a fraction of the Miamis who once dominated the bountiful Indiana Territory, the white settlers cleared the land, built homes, and farmed the rich soil. Soon, the expanding railroads arrived, ushering in a cultural and economic boon with jobs, innovation, and an end to the settlers' isolated lifestyle. Despite the change, Tipton Countians remained loyal to their pioneer values, and future generations included war heroes, outstanding scholars, prominent athletes, and a president of the United States. Today, the spirit of the early pioneers endures throughout Tipton County, home to some 16,000 Americans who, like their ancestors, proudly hail their Hoosier heritage













Indiana in Transition, 1880-1920


Book Description

In Indiana in Transition: The Emergence of an Industrial Commonwealth, 1880–1920 (vol. 4, History of Indiana Series), author Clifton J. Phillips covers the period during which Indiana underwent political, economic, and social changes that furthered its evolution from a primarily rural-agricultural society to a predominantly urban-industrial commonwealth. The book includes a bibliography, notes, and index.










Nature’s School


Book Description

Nature’s School is both the intriguing story of the rise and fall of a town because of the influence of the Wabash River and a broader observation of the significant role of water in the chronicle of American history. Peru, Indiana is usually defined by the rich circus heritage in its past, but the most significant history of the town lies in the relationship it has with the Wabash River, a story that has largely been forgotten. Nature’s School is a narrative that includes Native Americans, land speculation, the Wabash & Erie Canal, railroads, and changes in the Wabash River, weaving an absorbing tale about the settling of Peru, its destruction during the 1913 flood, and the consequences of misreading the role of humans within the natural landscape.