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.

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.
(See drawing below)
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.   The Commissioner's minutes dated May 7, 1838 which detailed expense as follows:

TOTAL AVAILABLE                       $500.00                               
paid to L. R. Blackmore                   $240.00
paid to Henry Jones (Cicero)            $210.25
paid to Jackson Redmon (Cicero)     $  15.50
paid to Jenny. Jones (Cicero)           $   4.00
paid to self Allen Cole                     $  20.00
(for service as superintendent)
BALANCE                                     $  10.25                                  
Signed by Allen Cole, Superintendent

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.

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.

Lafayette Trace Monument
located in Red Bridge Park

 

Original Cabana
which was located at
Red Bridge Marina

Essig property
that was donated to the town's
Park Department
 

Original Red Bridge

Original interurban Rail
which ran along S. R. 19
from Noblesville to Tipton

Did you know that
at one time this building
was the Cicero Jail. 
It is now the Town Hall.