A Town in Indiana, USA Bearing the "ROLL" Name

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• Please refer all comments, changes, updates and suggestions to mitch@@rollintl.com.
• 1995 Terraserver on-line aerial map.
• ROLL, Indiana on-line map - MapQuest mapping web site.
• The maps below show the town of ROLL, Indiana, starting with a 100 mile calibration, then zoomed to 50 miles, 10 miles (Ft Wayne), 10 miles (Indianapolis), 1 mile, 500 feet.

ROLL, INDIANA, USA - 100 MILE CALIBRATION


ROLL, INDIANA, USA - 50 MILE CALIBRATION


ROLL, INDIANA, USA - 10 MILE CALIBRATION (FROM FORT WAYNE)


ROLL, INDIANA, USA - 10 MILE CALIBRATION (FROM INDIANAPOLIS)


ROLL, INDIANA, USA - 1 MILE CALIBRATION


ROLL, INDIANA, USA - 500 FEET CALIBRATION

Ty Payne, a past resident of ROLL, Indiana, writes in 2002, "Here is a little oral history about ROLL and Blackford County. Blackford County is one of the smallest counties in Indiana, having only four townships. ROLL is in Washington Township. Hartford City is the largest city in Blackford County, if you can call it large. My mother still lives in Montpelier, another town in Blackford County.

I was born and raised in Washington Township. At about junior high age, my family moved to a farm which is one mile west of ROLL on State Route 18. I attended and graduated from ROLL High School in 1958. My class had 17 graduates, 11 males and six females (the popular ones). My middle sister, Robyn, is the first in my family not to graduate from ROLL. She was at Montpelier by then. Both my mother and father also graduated from ROLL, along with multiple aunts and uncles. A lady in the ROLL community, Mary Trout, put together a book compiling all the graduating class photos of ROLL High School. She is principal of a technical high school in northern Indiana.

In 1963, ROLL was consolidated with Montpelier High School in Montpelier, Indiana, and later that school consolidated with Hartford City to form Blackford County Schools. It is a bit of a misnomer to call it ROLL High School because it actually housed grades one through 12 in one building. We didn't have kindergarten at that time. Believe it or not, before we moved near ROLL, I lived just a few miles away and attended Washington Elementary, a feeder school for ROLL. This school had three classrooms and eight grades. Class size was usually eight to ten or so. I attended ROLL for grades 4, 7-12. I was at Washington the other grades. I played all the sports (we had no football) and participated in all the school activities I could. We farmed and by then my father was a plant supervisor for 3M in Hartford City. Yes, we had cows, pigs, etc. We raised corn, soybeans, oats, wheat, and hay. As you can tell this is rural Indiana and farming is central to the economy. My father and I farmed about 500 acres. That decreased when his health worsened and he took the job with 3M. I had three younger sisters and one of them, Judy, was in the last graduating class at ROLL High School in 1963.

Each spring the ROLL High School alumni have a reunion, usually held at Hartford City in the high school. We used to meet at ROLL, but now only the gymnasium stands, and it is privately owned by some former ROLL alumni who didn't want to see it torn down. The reunion is surprisingly well attended, and I have returned for it a few times.

After I left ROLL, I attended college and majored in education. About three years after graduation, I returned to Montpelier (now contains ROLL) and taught and coached for two years before going to graduate school at Indiana University. My youngest sister was still in high school at that time.

I have fond memories of growing up near ROLL. There were two churches at the time. One was the ROLL Methodist Church, where I attended. I can't recall the denomination of the other smaller church whose property actually abutted the school property. I remember that occasionally a baseball would be struck hard enough to hit that church. The Methodist Church has the cemetery. ROLL families are buried there.

During that time period, there were more businesses in ROLL. At the main intersection (only one) in ROLL there is a brick building, now abandoned. Then it housed Doc Banter's Barber shop (haircuts were 25 cents) and May's grocery store. Charlie May's parents owned it at that time, and he was a friend and a grade ahead of me. That grocery store housed the ROLL post office. It would be neat if someone could locate some old mail with the ROLL post mark.

Diagonally across this intersection was Whetzell's garage. Mr. Whetzel did auto body work. He also would buy wrecked cars and restore them. His son, David, was in the class behind me. See, in ROLL you knew everyone.

East of the main intersection and on the south side was a service station. This was at one time a bit of a hangout, mostly for males and mostly for adults. Farmers in the winter might gather there, have coffee, and play euchre. They had a few booths for us to occupy. There probably was a pinball machine there also.

For a shorter period of time there was a 2nd service station west of the intersection and on the north side of Route 18. Unfortunately neither of these buildings remain.

The nickname of the ROLL High School sports teams was Red Rollers. We actually had a model steam roller, big tricycle concealed inside, and someone would ride it around the gym floor. I wish I knew where it is.

When I was in high school, there was a restaurant/truck stop one mile east of ROLL at the intersection of State Routes 3 and 18. This was call Paradise Point. Wonder how many of those there are in the country? This was a fun place for the high school students. After a game, the coach would take us there, and we would have an allowance we could spend. Maybe a buck fifty. We could get hamburgers, fries, malts, play the jukebox, dance, etc. Many of the community would be there to rehash the game. It was a fun time and we often shared it with our opponents, especially if they weren't from too far away.

Miami and Delaware Indians occupied the land that is now Blackford County until they were pushed west by white settlement. Among the first settlers was Benjamin Reasoner, who came in 1831. The first birth recorded was Mary Reasoner, third child of Peter and Rhoda Fry Reasoner. Blackford County was created by an act of the Indiana Legislature on Feb. 15, 1838, although local government operations didn't begin until May of 1839. The new county of roughly 13 square miles had previously been a part of Jay County. Blackford County was named for Judge Isaac Blackford, one of Indiana's pioneer judges. Eli Riggon, Jacob Shroyer and Josephus Streeter were the first commissioners, and Nicholas Friend was appointed the first sheriff. The first meeting of the commissioners was held in the log cabin of Andrew Boggs, and the first ballot box was his coffee pot. The governor named David Kilgore the first judge, and the first court was held in the Boggs cabin on Sept. 23, 1839. After some controversy and a civil suit, Hartford (later Hartford City) was established as the county seat. In late 1841, the commissioners contracted for construction of the first courthouse, which was used until 1893, when it was replaced by the present one. The first doctor, Nelson Clouser, came in 1842. The first newspaper, The Hartford City Times, was printed in 1852 by Dr. John E. Moler. The county was caught up in the explosive growth of the gas boom in the late 19th century, which drew swarms of drillers to the area after natural gas was discovered in 1885. In 1886, drillers near Trenton in southeastern Blackford County hit one of the peak producing wells along the underground Trenton Dome, which produced strikes from Gas City to Portland and Montpelier to Redkey. The 30-year rough-and-tumble boom era brought rapid industrialization as companies moved close to the cheap and abundant fuel supply, but the gas ran out and the county has not seen such dramatic change since.

ROLL Cemetery
Washington Township, Blackford County
Indiana

Last Name     Name         Text                Birth        Death          Age

Alexander     Infant       son of B.F. & L.R.               26 May 1912
Allen         Richard                                       10 Jan 1903    82y  m  d
Baker         Arthur J.                        1888         1956
Baker         Elia         his wife            1857         1928
Baker         Ella         wife                1857         1897
Baker         Thomas J.                        1855         1942
Baker         Thomas J.                        1855         1942
Berrier       Roland       son of O. M. & E.B. 25 Sep 1912  28 Aug 1914
Bonham        Emma E.      wife of A. H.       13 Dec 1887                 23y  m 12d
Bonham        Grant        son of N. & E.      06 Nov 1889                 26y 8m 12d
Bonham        Infant       dau of A. H. & E.E. 04 Apr 1887                   y 2m 19d
Bowen         Kathleen     dau of Harry & Dora 26 Aug 1903                   y 3m 23d
Boxell        James                                         20 Aug 1899    88y  m   d
Boxell        James William                    1866         1927
Boxell        Joseph W.    son of James & Harriett          27 Jan 1897    25y 4m 16d
Brotherton    Abigail      wife                1845        1915
Brotherton    John T.                          1838        1921
Campbell      J.G.                             17 Nov 1853 29 Jul 1904
Cochran       Birtha       dau of J.L. & E.L.              28 Jul 1891       y 1m 18d
Cochran       Carl G.      son of J.L. & E.                23 Feb 1894       y  2m 15d
Cochran       Infant       son of J.L. & E.E.
Cochran       Jane         his wife                        02 Mar 1902     64y  4m  5d
Cochran       William                                      25 Jan 1904     72y 10m   d
Cramer        Charles Neal son of J. C. & M.H. 1902        1910
Dodge         Baby Lee                                     16 Nov 1898       y  6m   d
Dollar        Ruby L. (Woodard)                12 Jul 1885 31 Mar 1903
Edwards       Margaret J.  dau of Thomas & Fanny 03 Jul 1907 02 Oct 1909
Ely           Charlie A.                       1876        1881
Ely           Loye E.                          1880        1881
Ely           Minnie M.                        1878        1881
Fuker         Infant       son of F.W. & A.    13 Sep 1906 29 Sep 1906
Glancy        Cleo         dau of J. & D.                  07 Jul 1891       y  3m 16d
Green         George E.                        1863        1947
Harrold       Arminta M.   wife                1866        1953
Harrold                    Children of I.R. & A.M. (no dates)
Harrold       Isaac R.                         1861        1941
Johnson       Lora L.                          1864        1888
Larick        Catharine Cochran wife of C.E.               24 Nov 1896     23y 10m 15d
Lee           Jonathan R.                                  20 Aug 1907     84y  8m 18d
Lee           Susannah     his wife                        19 Mar 1894     73y  2m 19d
Long          Effie        wife of George      04 May 1874 04 Jul 1905     31y  2m   d
Monroe        Estave D.    son of G. & S.                  20 Jul 1895      1y  9m  8d
Morgan        Bernice                          1916        1923
Palmer        Burr J.                          1887        1937
Palmer        Jonas A.                         1858        1946
Palmer        Lillie B.    wife of Jonas A. Palmer 22 Jul 1866 01 Nov 1906
Palmer        Mary Frances wife                1868        1888
Palmer        Pearl E.     wife                1889
Richardson    John W.                          1851        1915
Richardson    Serilda                                      1858
Risinger      Alta R.      dau of W.I. & S.                30 Aug 1901      9y  5m 11d
Risinger      Everett D.   son of W.I. & S.    18 Mar 1906 30 Mar 1906
Risinger      John William son of W.I. & S.                16 Jan 1895       y 11m 22d
Risinger      Lena E.      dau of W.I. & S.    01 Dec 1909 29 Jun 1916
Risinger      Susanah      wife                1872        1949
Risinger      W. Irvin                         1867        1924
Roberds       Elizabeth    wife                06 Jan 1842 09 May 1900
Roberds       M.H.                             02 Oct 1937 02 Apr 1921
Roby          Marion                           1862        1907
Roby          Wilson V.                                    27 Sep 1888     22y  6m  6d
Roll          C. Catherine (Boxell) wife       1855        1926
Roll          Edmond H.                        1856        1943
Roll          Emma                             1886        1888
Roll          Infant      child of I. & L.M.               17 Aug 1879
Roll          Infant      child of I. & L.M.               26 Aug 1882
Roll          Infant      child of I. & L.M.               28 Feb 1881
Roll          James M.                         1885        1897
Roll          Joseph W.                        1889        1890
Roll          Lucy        wife of Matthias                 13 Jul 1885     64y  3m 27d
Roll          Matthias                                     15 Mar 1885     79y  6m 25d
Roll          Ruth Anna                        06 Sep 1866 06 Aug 1951
Roll          Ward W.                          17 Sep 1853 17 Jul 1930
Rowe          Bessie      wife of C.                       21 Oct 1894     20y  7m  2d
Shelton       George Edward                    1864        1919
Shelton       James W.    son                  1894
Shelton       Mary A.                          1868        1933
Shelton       Nell        wife of Joseph C.    1897        1937
Shrader       Homer M.                         1887        1940
Shrader       Lena E.     wife                 1892        1946
Siggins       George P                         1853        1915
Slusher       Bessie                           1882        1955
Swindler      B.A.                             1874        1904
Swindler      Dale LaVerne son of B.A. & M.V.              24 Apr 1903      3y  9m  3d
Swindler      Opal I.     dau of C.E. & M.E.   09 Feb 1906 23 Aug 1906
West          James C.    son of M. & M.A.                 02 Jul 1890      2y 11m  9d
Wilkins       Lurie P.                         1886        1926
Wilkins       William L.                       1884        1915
Wohlfarth     Frederick Henry                  10 Mar 1823 24 May 1905
Wohlfarth     Rose Enestine                    21 Oct 1832 05 Mar 1913
Woodard       Sarah E.                         12 Dec 1849 26 Jan 1905     55y  1m 14d



1840 Census of Blackford Co., IN
Washington Township
Page 62


                      M  M  M  M  M  M  M  M  M  M  M  M  M || F  F  F  F  F  F  F  F  F  F  F  F  F ||
                         5 10 15 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100||    5 10 15 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100||
                      - TO TO TO TO TO TO TO TO TO TO TO  + || - TO TO TO TO TO TO TO TO TO TO TO  + ||
        Name          5 10 15 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100   || 5 10 15 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100   ||           NOTES
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Charles HOUSHOLDER    1  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0 || 1  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0 ||
Edward MIDDLETON      1  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0 || 0  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0 ||
Thomas MILES          0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  1  0  0  0 || 0  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  1  0  0  0 ||
John WATSON           0  0  0  1  1  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0 || 0  1  0  1  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0 ||
Henry BALTZLEY        0  0  0  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0 || 1  1  1  1  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0 ||
Christopher PALMORE   0  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0 || 0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0 ||
Gilbert TOWNSEND      0  0  1  1  1  0  0  1  1  0  0  0  0 || 0  1  1  1  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0 ||
Charles TOWNSEND      0  0  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0 || 1  1  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0 ||
Wallace BENEDICT      0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0 || 0  0  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0 ||
Peter BENEDICT        0  1  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0 || 1  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0 ||
David M. CONKEY       0  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0 || 0  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0 ||
Barnibus TOLER        0  0  0  1  2  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0 || 0  0  0  1  1  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0 ||
Rhodric CRAIG         0  0  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  1  0  0 || 0  0  0  0  0  0  1  0  0  1  0  0  0 ||2 Free Black Males -10
Alfred FULLER         1  2  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0 || 1  1  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0 ||
Absalom SHRADER       0  1  1  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0 || 0  1  1  1  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0 ||
Peter BONHAM          1  2  1  2  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0 || 0  1  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0 ||
Samuel H. PALMORE     1  1  0  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0 || 3  1  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0 ||
Jeremiah LOCKET       2  0  1  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0 || 0  2  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0 ||
John CAVE             0  0  0  1  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0 || 0  0  0  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0 ||
Jonathan CARTWRIGHT   2  0  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0 || 0  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0 ||
Frederick SELIG       1  1  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0 || 0  0  1  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0 ||
Wm HADDEN             0  1  2  0  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0 || 0  0  1  0  2  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0 ||
Jacob BALSLEY         0  0  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0 || 2  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0 ||
Cyrenius? P. BOYLS    0  0  0  1  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0 || 1  1  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0 ||
Peter MILLER          0  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0 || 1  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0 ||
Wm CARL               1  0  0  1  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0 || 0  1  1  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0 ||
Lewis WILLIAMS        1  1  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0 || 2  1  1  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0 ||
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Totals        12 10  7  8 10  9  5  4  3  1  1  0  0 ||14 13  7  7 13  6  7  2  0  2  0  0  0 ||