Unincorporated community in Indiana, United States
| Anthony | |
|---|---|
| Unincorporated community | |
  AnthonyShow map of Indiana AnthonyShow map of the United States | |
| Coordinates: 40°16′40″N 85°26′10″W / 40.27778°N 85.43611°W / 40.27778; -85.43611 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Indiana |
| County | Delaware |
| Township | Hamilton |
| Elevation | 909 ft (277 m) |
| ZIP code | 47303 |
| FIPS code | 18-01774 |
| GNIS feature ID | 430191 |
Anthony is an unincorporated community in Hamilton Township, Delaware County, Indiana.
History
Anthony is a small rural community located in Delaware County, Indiana. It sits at the intersection of State Road 28 and Wheeling Avenue, which was originally an old Native American trail. The town is named after Charles Anthony, a Muncie doctor and businessman, and is believed to be the oldest settlement in Hamilton Township being settled in the 1830s. The date Anthony was platted is unknown. A post office was established in 1850 and remained in operation until 1901, serving as an important center for communication and commerce during the town's peak years.
Historically, Anthony played a significant role in local industry and agriculture. The town hosted a toll road station known as Six Mile House, a grain elevator and coal yard, and Bell Ranch, a 400-acre farm managed by former Delaware County commissioner Andy Jackson. It also supported various businesses and professions, including an attorney, a well-driller, a plumber, a tax assessor, and an early hybrid seed corn grower and dealer. Among its notable residents was a veteran of the Yukon Gold Rush. The town's social scene featured a combination dance hall, restaurant, and trap shoot range known as "The So & So."
Between 1900 and 1904, Anthony was home to both a baseball team, the "Anthony Town Hitters," and a football team, although the name of the latter has been lost to history. These teams provided entertainment and fostered local pride.
One of the most tragic events in the town’s history was the boiler explosion at the Nickum Sawmill on March 24, 1900, which was described as "the worst Delaware County accident for many years." The explosion resulted in the deaths of four men—Thomas Sullivan, Clifford Van Buskirk, Marion D. Carey, and Alonzo Van Buskirk—and the destruction of the mill. Local photographer John O. Newcomb captured images of the aftermath, which were sold through Williams' General Store, the town's main shop.
Anthony is also home to Garrard Cemetery, an abandoned burial ground also known as Stafford Cemetery and Shanlee Cemetery, as listed in the Cemetery and Burial Grounds Registry of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the State Historical Architectural and Archaeological Research Database (SHAARD). The oldest known burial in the cemetery dates back to 1848, and it ceased accepting burials in 1863. The cemetery has since become overgrown and is no longer visible from the nearest road. Its path is only discernible in winter when the surrounding vegetation dies back, and all headstones have been destroyed over time.
Today, Anthony has significantly declined from its former prominence. The community is now home to a mobile home park, approximately a dozen residences, a gas station with a convenience store, and a tool and die business, marking the remnants of what was once a thriving rural settlement.
References
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Anthony, Indiana
- "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ Hillman, Ruth (July 5, 1993). "Our Neighborhood". The Muncie Star. Newspapers.com. p. 4. Retrieved January 30, 2025.
- Baker, Ronald L. (October 1995). From Needmore to Prosperity: Hoosier Place Names in Folklore and History. Indiana University Press. p. 52. ISBN 978-0-253-32866-3.
The town probably was named for the Anthony family...who registered land in this county in the 1830s.
- "Delaware County". Jim Forte Postal History. Retrieved September 3, 2014.
- "Bailey Reds Juniors Lost". The Muncie Morning Star and News. Newspapers.com. May 19, 1902. p. 2. Retrieved January 30, 2025.
- "Anthony Town Won". The Muncie Morning Star and News. Newspapers.com. October 12, 1902. p. 6. Retrieved January 30, 2025.
- "Four Men Were Killed". The Muncie Daily Times. Newspapers.com. March 24, 1900. p. 1, 8. Retrieved January 30, 2025.
- Newcomb, John (April 3, 1900). "Those who ordered pictures..." The Muncie Morning Star and News. Newspapers.com. p. 7. Retrieved January 30, 2025.
- "Stafford Cemetery". Find A Grave. Retrieved January 30, 2025.
| Municipalities and communities of Delaware County, Indiana, United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| County seat: Muncie | ||
| City |  | |
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| Other communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
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