HISTORY OF LIZTON, INDIANA

   Hendricks county was created as a county by the legislature and Govenor William Hendricks on December 20, 1824. Within four years, settlers were entering the area that was to be know as Lizton and Union Township.
    At that time (1828), a trail from Indianapolis to Crawfordsville passed east to west acout one-half mile south of what is now US 136. A large beech tree along this trail (at Lizton) was inscribed "22 miles to Indianapolis" and "22 miles to Crawfordsville".
    With a Government Land Office in Crawfordsville, a road was needed. A log corduroy road was built in 1929 for this purpose. With this abundance of trees in the area, it was possible to build the crooked roead around many swamps.
    The first bridge on the road was built over Eel River just East of the town. The bridge was required due to quicksand being present making it dangerous.

    The first permanent settlers were Isaac Vieley and his son, Jessie. Mr. Vieley had entered the land in 1828 and settled here in 1831. The original twenty-nine lots were plotted by Jessie Vieley in 1851.
The town was originally called "NEW ELIZABETH" to honor Mr. Jessie Vieley's wife, Elizabeth Leak Vieley. The name was shortened to "LIZ-TON" on May 1, 1873. Reasearch shows that Lizton is THE ONLY TOWN IN THE WORLD WITH THAT NAME. The most popular thought is that the name was changed to aid the railroad schedule by making a shorter name.
    By this time, the town had grown to more than a hundred lots. Then, in the last part of August in 1873, disaster struck. Cholera caused the death of about twenty-four residents. It brought fear to the town. Growth and developement came nearly to a halt.

    Early transportation passed through Lizton with the first form being a stagecoach route between Indianapolis and Crawfordsville. The local stop was a tavern just east of Eel River along what is now US 136. The four horse-drawn stage carried mail and passengers between Indianapolis and Crawfordsville. The trip took four days.
    In 1868 and 1869, the Indianapolis, Bloomington and Western Railroad brought a boost to the town.
Then in July of 1907, the Indianapolis, Crawfordsville and Western Traction Line (Inter-Urban) began a twenty-one year business. The right of way was along the north side of the railroad. Reminants of the line are still visible today. With a private ownership of cars and the paving of US 136 and SR 39, the Inter-Urban began loosing business and quit running in June of 1928.

    The oldest business in Lizton is the State Bank of Lizton. It was organized in 1910 with Marion Bailey being the first president from 1910 to 1937. It is still going strong with a mai office here in Lizton and four other branches in; Pittsboro, Brownsburg, Lebanon, and Jamestown.
    A station of the Underground Railroad was opperated from a cellar under Joe Haley's barn northeast of Lizton.
    The first death in the Lizton area was Nancy Duncan on May 10, 1835. She is buried in the Cuncliff Cemetery.
    At one time, there were eight one-room school houses throughout Union Township. Then a central high school was established in town. Then consolidation of three school corporations brought about the Northwest Hendrick School Corporation. Tri-West Jr-Sr High School is located just outside of Lizton on US 136.

    The town holds an interesting history of success and disaster. Who knows how far the town can advance in the future?

For more history stories and recolections of citizens see the COLLECTION OF STORIES page.