Nestled at the north end of Morse Reservoir, Cicero's history and heritage goes back 165 years.

Settlers first arrived in the area in the late 1820's and the Town of Cicero was platted in 1834.  During
its early years the town prospered through the area's natural gas reserves and boasted a variety of
businesses including manufacturers, factories, saw mill, dry goods and groceries, meat markets,
blacksmiths, grain elevator, boot and shoe makers, agricultural implements, and furniture dealers
to name a few.  Cicero was a progressive, bustling town, and except for Noblesville, was the largest
in the county.

Cicero is located in Jackson Township.
Jackson Township was organized when White River Township was divided in 1833, and is located
between White River Township on the East; and Adams Township on the West, being the central
township of the northern tier of townships in Hamilton County.

Who was the first white settlers in Jackson Township?
The oldest living settlers say that the honor goes to one of the following three men: Henry Jones;
William Taylor; or Mr. Blanche father of Col. Blanche, of Kokomo, Indiana, who came here as early
as the year 1828.

Henry Jones settled three miles west of Cicero, on the Lafayette Road, and erected a large log cabin,
which he soon converted into a tavern between 1830-1831.   The Lafayette Road was extensively
traveled by cattle drivers enroute to Cincinnati with their livestock. Mr. Jones did keep the tavern at
his farm for a number of years but then sold the location.

Soon along the Strawtown and  Lafayette Road which was extensively travel by emigrants found the
another near tavern, which was west of Strawtown on a farm owned by George Boxley.

Now William Taylor settled four and a half miles west of Cicero, and established a farm on the Lafayette Road where he lived and maintained until he passed away.

Finally Mr. Blanche elected to settle and establish a home on the banks of Cicero Creek, immediately west of the present location of the town of Cicero.

As to the Name of the Town.
Some say Cicero Stewart a member of one of the early surveying parties, fell into the creek and from that day the creek was know as Cicero Creek and so was the town. Another story says that Cicero Laughlin, a son of one of the surveyors, fell into the creek.  Still others say the town got its name from Chief Cicero, a Delaware Indian Chief.

No matter how the name of Cicero was started the town of Cicero is now consider a historic part of Indiana through the Lafayette Trace which functioned as a principal route for the early settlers. 


The Town of Cicero was platted in 1834.
During its early years the town prospered through the
area's natural gas reserves and boasted a variety
of businesses including manufacturers, factories,
saw mill, dry goods and groceries, meat markets,
blacksmiths, grain elevator, boot and shoe makers,
agricultural implements, and furniture dealers to
name a few.

In 1836 the first mill was erected on Cicero Creek by
Mr. Jonathan Arnold. This was about two miles
south of town.  A dam was then constructed across
the creek and the water utilized to furnish power for
the mill.  Then Mr. George Tucker erected another
mill in 1837 on the north line of the township it also
received power from Cicero Creek and was in operation until the late 1800's.

A Bridge is Built.
Cicero was home to the first bridge built (1838)
in Hamilton County over a major stream-Cicero
Creek. 

In 1837 the first of two bridges to span a major
stream were "ordered" by the Hamilton County
Commissioners. The first bridge was ordered in
January 1837.  The second bridge was ordered
in March of 1837.  The second bridge was to be
constructed at Cicero (west) on the New Castle-
Lafayette Road which was formerly know as the
Strawtown Lafayette Road. Thus the first bridge
over a major stream was constructed in Hamilton
County, Indiana, March 7, 1838. 

 

In 1870, the structure was converted into a covered bridge, painted red.
The "Red Bridge" became one of the town's most memorable landmarks.
It was torn down in the late 1950's to make way for the Morse Reservoir.
                                                    

The Railroad visits Cicero.
During the 1850's the first train of cars reach Cicero on March 1, 1853.  The railroad was the heart of every community in the early days.  All the towns and the countryside's business and amusement activities rolled in and out of the rail. The train was a regular day and night event in Cicero.

The Band played on.
Somewhere around 1868 the Cicero Boys Band was formed.  Another band also formed and soon after that in 1875 both bands merged to form the Cicero Cornet Band.   This band marched and led the parades on National Holidays to the cemeteries to honor the departed war veterans.  They also held concerts uptown during the summers.   They played at dances and festivities.

Local Businesses thrived.
During 1880's the town of Cicero was a busy, bustling and enterprising town,
and with the single exception of Noblesville, was the largest town in the county. 
It's streets streamed with activity and it's business houses represented a large
amount of invested capital.

There were a number of businesses such as:
DRY GOOD AND GROCERIES: Good & Brothers; Simpson and Son; P. Six & Co.;
                                                Sanders Brothers; Scherer Brothers.
GROCERIES:  C. E. Nelson; T. D. Neal.
DRUGS: Walford & Collings; A. R. Tucker; J. N. Kinder
HARDWARE: J. N. Kinder & Brother
JEWELRY, CIGARS, ETC:  A. Miessen
CIGAR MANUFACTURER:  David Hull
AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS: Edward & Cook
HARNESS MAKER: S. T. Hunham
PHYSICIANS: Dr. F. Warford; Dr. I. M. Sanders; Dr. A.R. Tucker; Dr. H.H.Stout
ATTORNEYS:  L. O. Clifford;  Wm. Neal; John Neal; W. L White
BOOT AND SHOE MAKERS:  Riley Stephenson; James Havens
MILLINERS: Miss Andrews; Misses Fariss & Frury
FURNITURE DEALERS:  Edson & Gerber
LIVESTOCK DEALERS:  J. W. Sanders; J.J. Harrison
MEAT MARKETS:  Houk Brothers; J. Willits
BLACKSMITHS:  Shafer & Mushrush; Peter Scott
WAGONMAKERS: Philip Urban; Charles Quear

In 1890 two glass factories, Washington Glass Company who owned by Modes and Turner made glass bottles; and the Benita Glass Company made dishes, paper weights and glasses were both established.  The abundance of natural gas in the area   was a tremendous asset for the success of both companies.  Unfortunately The Washington Glass Company burned down in 1908 which lit up the sky for miles.  The Benita Glass Factory also relocated.  With the closing of the two companies this caused a serious setback to the community, but other businesses moved in, such as a Tomato/Canning factory which was closed in 1958.

The Town's First Election.
In 1883 the first election was held and Ellijah   Redman and Elias Evans was elected for Justice of the Peace.

The Interurban.
In 1902 the Interurban Line was completed along the Cicero-Noblesville Road.

The Streets were even Brick at one time.
In 1915 the town of Cicero streets were paved with bricks.  This was a
welcomed pleasure to the residents  The bricks were made by Grobels
Brick Yard which was located just north of town.

A little tidbit.
The town of Cicero even had toll gates at one time to help pay for the roads. 
One was located on the north end of town and the other on the west.

Lafayette Trace.
At the beginning Cicero was also part of the Lafayette Trace
which was a route for traders, tribes and herd to portions of northwest Indiana.

Today.
Cicero has been transformed from a rural, country town to one of the
county's very desirable places to live in the years since the opening of
 Morse Reservoir in 1956. The wave of growth and development that has
happened in Hamilton County for the past decade, is making its way north
bringing with it amenities and opportunities that continue to enhance the
quality of life in Cicero.

Further Details.
To find out further details regarding the Town of Cicero, The Hamilton North Library on Brinton Street has a book titled: CICERO, INDIANA 1834-1984 by Mary Frances Dunn and Lois Costomiris.  This book is also located at the Town of Cicero Administration Office.