Genealogy & Local History

In Indiana through Tradition and Change: A History of the Hoosier State and Its People, 1920–1945 (vol. 5, History of Indiana Series), author James H. Madison covers Indiana during the period between World War I and World War II. Madison follows the generally topical organization set by previous volumes in the series, with initial chapters devoted to politics and later chapters to social, economic, and cultural questions. The last chapter provides an overview of the home front during World War II. Each chapter is intended to stand alone, but a fuller understanding of subjects and themes treated in any one chapter will result from a reading of the whole book. The book includes a bibliography, notes, and index.

Excerpt from Pioneer History of Indiana: Including Stories, Incidents, and Customs of the Early Settlers

In this volume many of the early happenings that occurred during the settling of Indiana are given for the first time and if this opportunity were not improved, a large amount of interesting history of our state would be lost.

The writer claims no special credit for securing this history as it has been a pleasing task, self assigned. If the reader shall gain as much satisfaction from reading this volume as the author has from gathering the data from which to compile it, he will be amply repaid for the few hours he is so engaged.

It is very gratifying to be able to go back to the settling of Indiana and tell about the brave men and women who first invaded its wildness and from whom sprang the hardy and superior race of people in all stations of life that now live within its confines.

For fifty years the data for this volume has been collecting: From personal acquaintance with the pioneers, from a history of incidents transmitted from parents to children and from tradition that is accepted as reliable.

From the above three sources it is believed that the truest history of the people of that early date, their manners and customs, the dangers they encountered from the Indians, the hunting for game and the many terrible encounters with savage beasts, has been secured.

In submitting this work to the public the author wishes here to acknowledge his indebtedness to those who aided him in his researches and made the existence of this volume possible. These favors have come from all parts of the country - from historical societies, public libraries and men in official positions. The names of those giving the most valued assistance is hereby given.

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The Whitewater Valley Railroad is a historic line in scenic southeastern Indiana.
 

It was completed to Connersville in 1867, linking the towns of the Whitewater Valley to Cincinnati over the former towpath of the Whitewater Canal (1836-1862). Originally named the White Water Valley Railroad, the line went through several name changes before being absorbed by the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis (the "Big Four") in 1890 and later by the New York Central, the parent company of the Big Four. After merging with the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1968, the line became the Penn Central before closing in 1972 between Brookville and Connersville. It was slated for abandonment when a group of volunteers stepped in to create the Whitewater Valley Railroad, which ran its first tourist passenger trains in 1974. The nonprofit volunteer organization celebrates its 40th anniversary of operations in 2014.