Long Description:From the town web site
(
visit link)
Pendleton, Indiana’s recorded history begins in December1818
when John Rogers, the first non-native settler to the area, built
his home near the falls on Fall Creek. As time passed, more people
made their way to the region, always settling near the falls - the
community source of water and power.
By 1823, Madison County (where Pendleton is located) had officially
been formed by the State of Indiana.
A modest cabin near the falls was the governmental center.
In the following year, one of the saddest chapters in the area’s
history took place. A Native American family was murdered by five
white men several miles east of Pendleton. Four of the five men
were found and brought to justice in Pendleton. Of those, three
were sentenced to death and hanged within sight of the falls. It
was the first time in the history of the United States that whites
received capitol punishment for the murder of Native
Americans.
Thomas Pendleton moved to the area in 1825. Five years later, he
laid out the town and gave it his name. Since then, the town’s name
has remained unchanged (though it was occasionally misspelled as
“Pendelton”).
In 1843, noted abolitionist Frederick Douglass spoke in Pendleton.
Historical accounts suggest that Douglass’ life was in danger from
would-be assassins. Through the compassion and bravery of members
of the town, he escaped.
By the early 1900's water was no longer the main source of power in
Pendleton. Gas was fast becoming the fuel of choice. During this
era several glass and tile manufacturing facilities called
Pendleton home.
Some more interesting history form the Wikipedia
(visit link)
The Fall Creek Massacre is the name given to the brutal murders
of a peaceful group of Seneca and Miami Indians by white settlers.
The actual massacre occurred on March 22, 1824 in Madison County,
Indiana between Fall Creek and Deer Lick Creek. James Hudson's
trial was held October 7-9, 1824. Trials of the other men were held
in 1825. The trial set an important precedent in recognizing the
civil rights of Native Americans. The three men were hanged for
their crimes at Falls Park in Pendleton. This marked the first time
white men were executed for the murder of Native Americans in the
United States. There is a historical marker in Falls Park at the
place of the hanging. The inscription reads: "Three white men were
hung [sic] here in 1825 for killing Indians."
Pendleton was the county seat of Madison County until it was
relocated to Andersontown (now Anderson), in 1826.
Abolitionist Frederick Douglas was attacked by a mob in 1843
while attempting to deliver a lecture in Pendleton. Douglas was
knocked unconscious and his hand was broken. Douglas described the
attack as follows: "Pendleton this mobocratic spirit was even more
pronounced. It was found impossible to obtain a building in which
to hold our convention, and our friends, Dr. Fussell and others,
erected a platform in the woods, where quite a large audience
assembled. Mr. Bradburn, Mr. White, and myself were in attendance.
As soon as we began to speak a mob of about sixty of the roughest
characters I ever looked upon ordered us, through its leaders, to
"be silent," threatening us, if we were not, with violence. We
attempted to dissuade them, but they had not come to parley but to
fight, and were well armed. They tore down the platform on which we
stood, assaulted Mr. White and knocking out several of his teeth,
dealt a heavy blow on William A. White, striking him on the back
part of the head, badly cutting his scalp and felling him to the
ground. Undertaking to fight my way through the crowd with a stick
which I caught up in the mêlée, I attracted the fury of the mob,
which laid me prostrate on the ground under a torrent of blows.
Leaving me thus, with my right hand broken, and in a state of
unconsciousness, the mobocrats hastily mounted their horses and
rode to Andersonville, where most of them resided. I was soon
raised up and revived by Neal Hardy, a kind-hearted member of the
Society of Friends, and carried by him in his wagon about three
miles (5 km) in the country to his home, where I was tenderly
nursed and bandaged by good Mrs. Hardy till I was again on my feet,
but as the bones broken were not properly set my hand has never
recovered its natural strength and dexterity. We lingered long in
Indiana, and the good effects of our labors there are felt at this
day. I have lately visited Pendleton, now one of the best
republican towns in the State, and looked again upon the spot where
I was beaten down, and have again taken by the hand some of the
witnesses of that scene, amongst whom was the kind, good lady—Mrs.
Hardy—who, so like the good Samaritan of old, bound up my wounds,
and cared for me so kindly"
The Pendleton Correctional Facility is located on the south edge
of town. Famous former inmates include: John Dillinger, Harry
Pierpont and Homer Van Meter. The Pendleton Reformatory is a
maximum security prison and is located at 4490 Reformatory Rd.