Georgetown

                   George Grove was probably the first man to live at this village. He was there as early as 1833, and very likely several years before. He founded the village which took its title from his given name. James Dawson lived there very early before he moved down into Washington Township. Adams & Kennedy opened the first store there in 1836, having about $1,500 worth of variety merchandise. Brooks was an early resident. William Snider came there not far from 1835, and for many years was the leading man in business. McIlhenny moved there in 1837, and Thomas Waltman soon afterward. William Murphy was another early resident. In about 1839, Jacob McNeeley erected a large tanner there. He sunk between forty and fifty vats, and manufactured leather on a large scale for that early day. His buckskin was well known in Eastern markets. The tanner was conducted until about 1848, and was abandoned after his death, by lightning. A man named Nordyke also conducted an early tanner there. Cooper & Becket were merchants about 1839. W.W. Baker sold liquor as early as 1837. Samuel Lawrence followed suit a year later, and Daniel Parsley trumped them both about the same time. Charles and George McLish opened a store in 1840, with a general stock worth $4,000; they sold liquor, groceries and merchandise, and paid a license of $25 per year. Robert McIlhenny also started a small store in 1839, continuing to about 1841. T. and R. Pugh were merchants in 1846. John R. Davis opened with $1,000 worth in 1842. William Snider began merchandising in 1847. Robert McIlhenny sold goods in 1850 and onward. William Banta was in later and also Samples, Peoples & Co. The Watermans have long been in business there, and are yet doing well. The Staples jewelry establishment has long been an important industry there. All kinds of repairs in gold and silver are turned out, and gold, silver and nickel spectacles and silverware are manufactured. The village had a newspaper a few years ago, edited by A.S. Helm. It also has a couple of lawyers, Waltman & Cooper. A fine grist mill was built by the Waltman’s a few years ago. It is now in excellent shape and has a liberal patronage. The population of the village is about 100.

Source: Counties of Morgan, Monroe and Brown, Indiana. Historical and Biographical. Charles Blanchard, Editor. F.A. Battey & Co., Publishers, 1884.