Our Town History

John Smith and Jeremiah Cox were the first permanent settlers at the present site of Richmond. They arrived in 1806, two North Carolina Quakers who came here by way of Quaker settlements in Western Ohio. Being in the right location, Richmond capitalized as a trading and transportation center. In 1873 it became the County Seat of Wayne County.

The first general store of the the area was opened by John Smith on the eastern bluff of the Whitewater River. Jeremiah Cox was the first owner of the grist mill and both two quarter sections of land north of the present Main Street. A section of this land was cleared and corn was planted.

More settlers came, and among them was David Hoover. Hoover and many other land seekers traced a section line from a point eight miles north of Dayton, Ohio to the banks of the Whitewater River.

Before Smith and Cox arrived the only part of Indiana Territory open for settlement was east of the old Greenville treaty boundary. A treaty with the Indians at Greenville was made in 1795 by Gen. (Mad) Anthony Wayne. It opened all land west of the boundary that belonged to the Indians.

The Whitewater Valley was the Indian's hunting and fishing ground "from time immemorial," in the words of Chief Turtle. A 12-mile strip of land was opened fro settlement when Governor Harrison signed a treaty with the Indians in 1809. This strip of land ran parallel to the Greenville boundary line and was called the Twelve Mile Purchase.

In 1816 John Smith came to the conclusion that there should be a system to govern the location of houses and streets in the settlement. At the time Jeremiah Cox refused to enter into a building project and David Hoover was hired to survey the lots on the Front (Fourth St.) and Pearl (Fifth St.) from present South E St. to Main St.

Cox soon joined in on the planning and named his collection of houses Jericho, using part of his name. Jeremiah Smith also named his settlement using part of his name, Smithville. Not liking either the settlers accepted Richmond on the suggestion of David Hoover.

It was voted that Richmond incorporate after all twenty-four qualified voters met in a house on the northeast corner of Main and Ft. Wayne Avenue on September 1, 1818.

IN the summer of 1807 a road to Eaton, Ohio was built giving them firect connection with "Wayne Trace," a military road built by Gen. (Mad) Anthony Wayne leading to Greenville. A road from Madison and another from Centerville were the only 2 roads entering Indianapolis in 1826. The "Quaker Trace" was built in 1817 giving settlers in the north of town a trade outlet to Fort Wayne.

Richmond took on a leadership role in East Central Indiana with its "mix" between farm activity and factory production. Steel plows had begun being made by iron works, Gaar, Scott and Co. became the nation's largest producer of boilers and steam engines. Starr piano company became the respected maker of musical instruments and Gennett Recording attracted many of the top musicians to its sound studios.

Richmond has nearly 34 acres of greenhouses under glass. They all feature production of roses, mums, orchids and other flowers. Refrigerated truchs take shipments of the cut flowers to airports on their way to any place in the world every day. With more than 12,000,000 roses grown yearly, more than $100,000 annually is budgeted for research and development of these beautiful flowers.

The very first floral industry in Richmond began in 1881 by E.G. Hill and his father, Joseph. They began a general floral catalogue business on the south side of East Main Street. In honor of the rose industry, the Richmond Rose Festival was once a very popular summer attraction.

Richmond is often referred to as the Eastern Gateway to Indiana. It has a varied industrial background and one of the headquarters of the largest organization of the Society of Friends in the world today.

The Wayne County Historical Museum, Julia Meek Gaar Museum, recognizes the importance of America's heritage and is one of the many museums established to preserve it. This museum is regarded as one of the outstanding local museums of the country.

The staff of Little Sheba's welcome you to Richmond and hope you enjoy your stay with us!