New Haven
township list          back to Gallatin County

New Haven is located on the Little Wabash River and is the 3rd oldest town in the State. 
It was settled by Jonathan Boone , his son Joseph, and Joseph's father in law, Samuel Dagley in 1812.

Jonathan  Boone was a brother to Daniel Boone, the famous settler of Kentucky.

Shortly after arriving, a stockade was built along the banks of the Little Wabash and it was called Boone's Fort.
It protected a rather large area of land.  They also had a mill  named of course, Boone's Mill.  The Boone's
didn't stay long and soon sold their land to William P. Robinson & Roswell Grant then they moved to the
Arkansas Territory.

In 1818, a survey of the town was made.  It consisted of 261 lots, each being 70' by 140'.  The name of
the town was changed from Boone's Fort to New Haven  in  honor of  Roswell Grant's home town, N ew Haven , Connecticut.

In  1834, New Haven  was purchased again and a new survey was made by Albert Gallatin Caldwell.

William Parks, Gatewood, Kirkham,. & John Wood owned General Stores.  Some merchants listed were
Thomas Hick, James Dagley, H.P.Howell & Hinch , & McDaniel.

The Blacksmiths were Henry Stone & John Ellis,  and the Grist Mill was run by Handmore and Gallagher.

The firsth hotel owners were Hazel Moreland, J. Sheridan , and J. Mervin. Abraham Lincoln rested
and ate a noon  meal at the Sheridan Hotel in 1858 on his way to Jonesboro for a  debate with Stephen A. Douglass.
In 1859 the Grady Hotel was built and became a popular stop on the Shawneetown- Vincennes Stage Route.
William Jennings Bryan delivered one of his famous speeches, "Price of Peace" from the front porch of this hotel.
The first Post Office was established  Jan. 25, 1819.
The town itself was incorporated  Feb. 15, 1839.

Being near the Little Wabash greatly influenced the growth of the town.  Most of its materials and goods
arrived by canoe or boat. 
The first school was taught in a cabin by Lizzie Boyd in the winter of 1849.  Other teachers were
Samuel Murry, Levi Hitchcock, Rodger Frame, Jesse Fuller, Lucy Rowe, & William Carter. 
George Knight taught the 1st Public School in 1855.
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