This site is a work in progress - Launched in July 2017
This is a privately owned and operated website with NO affiliation to the town or it's governing body.
Hello, my name is Mike Hancock and I am a life long resident of Whitestown Indiana and descended
from the William Laughner family who came here from Greene County Tennessee and settled in the area
of Worth Township in 1849. This area would later become Whitestown in 1851.
Historical information about Whitestown exists in written form in a variety of different locations, but I've always hoped it might be possible to gather as much information together in one place and make it readily available to the citizens of this ever growing town, and that was the inspiration for this website. A digital format to showcase archived information, sort of an online museum of sorts. This site was created on 6/21/2017
Recognition should be given to Janice West who has spent many years collecting and saving historical information about Whitestown. Recognition should also be given to Mary Louise Laughner-Hancock (my grandmother) and Lois Lindley who took the time to preserve and pass down information about the early days of the town.
from the William Laughner family who came here from Greene County Tennessee and settled in the area
of Worth Township in 1849. This area would later become Whitestown in 1851.
Historical information about Whitestown exists in written form in a variety of different locations, but I've always hoped it might be possible to gather as much information together in one place and make it readily available to the citizens of this ever growing town, and that was the inspiration for this website. A digital format to showcase archived information, sort of an online museum of sorts. This site was created on 6/21/2017
Recognition should be given to Janice West who has spent many years collecting and saving historical information about Whitestown. Recognition should also be given to Mary Louise Laughner-Hancock (my grandmother) and Lois Lindley who took the time to preserve and pass down information about the early days of the town.
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Donations are accepted to offset the costs of operating this website, making acquisitions of historical items, and providing for the secure storage of memorabilia and documents.
(NOT TAX DEDUCTIBLE) |
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Special Thank you to Tanya Sumner, Director of public relations for Whitestown, and
Glen Welling, assistant director of public relations and media specialist for Whitestown for creating this short informational video. Learn more on the Albert White documents page |
Albert S. White
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Mike & Cheryl Hancock at the
grave of Albert S. White
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Whitestown, Indiana, was named in honor of Albert S. White. Mr. White was the president of the railroad that was built through Whitestown, a United States Senator from Indiana and a leader in the movement to abolish slavery in the United States.
Albert Smith White (1803-1864) was born in Orange County, New York, and graduated from Union College, Schenectady in 1822 where he studied law. After graduating College, he moved to Lafayette, Indiana in 1830 where he spent most of his time in public service.
He was assistant clerk of the Indiana House of Representatives, and in 1832 he ran unsuccessfully for Congress. In 1836 he was elected as a member of the Whig Party. He served one term before running for and being elected US Senator from the Hoosier state. He did not seek reelection. White served in the national House of Representatives from 1837 to 1839, and in the United States Senate from 1839 to 1845.The former Senator returned to Stockwell, Indiana (near Lafayette) where he continued his law practice and worked as president for several railroad companies.
In 1860 he reentered politics, running as the Republican Party candidate for a Congressional seat. He won and served from 1861 to 1863. Later he was named a judge for the U.S. District Court for Indiana. Appointed a federal district judge in 1864, he served only a few months until his death.
Burial:Greenbush Cemetery
Lafayette Tippecanoe County
Sources: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=9187
http://www.indianahistory.org/our-collections/collection-guides/albert-s-white-papers-1840-1852.pdf
Albert Smith White (1803-1864) was born in Orange County, New York, and graduated from Union College, Schenectady in 1822 where he studied law. After graduating College, he moved to Lafayette, Indiana in 1830 where he spent most of his time in public service.
He was assistant clerk of the Indiana House of Representatives, and in 1832 he ran unsuccessfully for Congress. In 1836 he was elected as a member of the Whig Party. He served one term before running for and being elected US Senator from the Hoosier state. He did not seek reelection. White served in the national House of Representatives from 1837 to 1839, and in the United States Senate from 1839 to 1845.The former Senator returned to Stockwell, Indiana (near Lafayette) where he continued his law practice and worked as president for several railroad companies.
In 1860 he reentered politics, running as the Republican Party candidate for a Congressional seat. He won and served from 1861 to 1863. Later he was named a judge for the U.S. District Court for Indiana. Appointed a federal district judge in 1864, he served only a few months until his death.
Burial:Greenbush Cemetery
Lafayette Tippecanoe County
Sources: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=9187
http://www.indianahistory.org/our-collections/collection-guides/albert-s-white-papers-1840-1852.pdf
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As If I needed any more evidence that our town leaders are selling out to developers.
During the plan commission meeting on January 13, 2020, the towns planning director gave an update on the UDO (unified development ordinance). Apparently the developers said the terms were to restrictive, so changes were being made to appease the developers. Unbelieveable. This is our town but developers get to make their own rules? During my last meeting as VP of the towns historic preservation commission in December of 2019, I was pushing for stronger protections for the Legacy core section of Whitestown and was surprised to get hard push back from council person Susan Austin and plan director Brittany Garriott. A couple months later at the first council meeting of January 8, 2020, I was unceremoniously kicked off the HPC and then this update was given during the January 13th meeting of the plan commission. The town is updating their UDO and it is supposed to include an overlay district, with special considerations given to the Legacy Core area. I had been pushing for certain protections relating to history and heritage similar to those of other towns and cities in Indiana. I was dumbfounded when commissioner Austin and director Garriott told me that my suggestions were illegal and would get the town sued in a court of law. Well, thats strange because the suggestions I made were those already enacted in other towns in Indiana. It was my opinion that they were making excuses NOT to provide preservation protections, but rather to protect the developers with pockets full of money.....and this video would seem to support that conclusion. It's really sad that these people seem to care more about the developers than the residents who call this town home. |
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