20th Century History of Delaware County, Indiana Vol 1 & 2 Its History, Resources and Progress, With Numerous Illustrations By G. W. H. Kemper, 1908 562 + 542 pages, illustrated, searchable - Bonus Book - Our County (Delaware) Its History and Early Settlement By Townships By John S. Ellis, 1898 Both Books Require Adobe Reader 5 or higher to View $13.99 + $1.99 shipping and handling http://cgi.ebay.com/Delaware-County-Indiana-History-Duo-IN-Genealogy_W0QQitemZ200384356057QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item2ea7d69ed9 Delaware County was formed in 1827. It was named for the Delaware, a Native American people who still lived in the county. The Delaware were removed from the county in the 1840s. The county was once home to The Prophet, the brother of Tecumseh who instigated a native uprising in 1811. David Conner was the first settler to live in the county in the early 1810s. Following the American Civil War the county experienced an economic boom after the discovery of natural gas that fueled rapid industrial growth in the surrounding area. The first discovery of natural gas in Indiana occurred in the town of Eaton, in 1876. A company was drilling for coal and when they had reaching a depth of six-hundred feet, there was a great noise and bad smelling fumes began to come from the hole. After a partial investigation, many concluded that they had breached the ceiling of Hell, and the hole was quickly filled in. In 1884, when natural gas was discovered in nearby Ohio, the townsfolk recalled the incident and returned to the location and opened the state of Indiana's first natural gas well. The gas was so abundant and strong, that when the well was lit, the flames could be seen from Muncie. CONTENTS - Vol I CHAPTER I. Delaware County a Part of the French Empire 1 CHAPTER II Indian Inhabitants — American Conquest 5 CHAPTER III. Advance of Civilization — Delaware County Opened to Settlement CHAPTER IV. Public Survey of Delaware. County — First Occupants of CHAPTER V. Tue Record of the Original Possessors of Delaware County's Soil 21 CHAPTER VI. A Study of Origins and Sources — Prominent Pioneer Types 44 CHAPTER VII. The County a3 a Civil Organization , 57 CHAPTEK VIII. The Courts — Bench and Bar 64 CHAPTER IX. Early Transportation and Communication 77 CHAPTER X. Turnpikes and Railroads 84 CHAPTER XI. 3. ginning of Centers of Population 95 CHAPTER XII. Muncie 103 CHAPTER XIII. The Putnam Diary 116 CHAPTER XXV. Muncie and Vicinity at the Beginning of the Last Quarter Century CHAPTER XV. Natural Gas 138 CHAPTER XVI. Natural Gas Makes a City of Muneie 143 CHAPTER XVII. Progress and Change in the Smaller Centers 161 CHAPTER XVIII. Chronology of the Last Quarter Century 167 CHAPTER XIX. City and Country in the Twentieth Century 207 CHAPTER XX. Education in Delaware, County 237 CHAPTER XXI. The Press 278 CHAPTER XXII. Medical History of Delaware County 288 CHAPTER XXIII. Banking and Finance • 302 CHAPTER XXIV. Military History of Delaware County 807 CHAPTER XXV. Church Organizations of Delaware County 426 CHAPTER XXVI. The Spread of Culture Through Organization 481 CHAPTER XXVII. Fraternal and Social Organizations 501 CHAPTER XXVIII. Politics and Civil Records of County, Township and Town 527 INDEX Volume II - Biographies