Edinburg Early History & The 171 Year Old Mt. Auburn ChurchInteresting Discovery Today Related To The Previous Post
Edinburg and a Columbus Connection 
Starch Plant History Starting Around Year 1865In my research there can be at times (as I have stated before), errors on dates, family member names that take credit for happenings, and business starting dates and original ownerships.
The discovery today will somewhat provide a little history of three families that had to know each other. The statements I have read include my great, great grandfather's Edinburg's newspaper articles printed in 1886 and 1887, also the Samuel A. Cutsinger family and Joseph I. Irwin family. The three families started as farmers and lived in Johnson County near the Blue River areas of Edinburg. Most settlements were around Mt. Auburn which is the backside (East) of Edinburg Indiana.
I am not testing the validity of many writers, but I have the full faith in my relatives writings in a newspaper.
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Summary of Starch Company:
The Edinburg Indiana Starch Company was started around 1865 by Mr. Samuel A. Cutsinger, the son of Martin. The Cutsinger family was mentioned in William P. Records Edinburg Courier newspaper during a November 3, 1887 article which related to his Edinburg Starch Company, and the selling of feed grain for cattle. Now, the Joseph I. Irwin family (including his father & mother) originally moved to Columbus area where Joseph was born, but later moved to Edinburg Indiana area per documented research.
These three family members lived North of Columbus at a place still named today Mt. Auburn which is part of Edinburg Indiana. Here are partial quotes and briefs of all three families:
Samuel A. Cutsinger: In 1869 (another document says 1865), thinking there was a chance to make money in the manufacture of starch, he engaged with three others in that business, and built a large factory at Edinburg. This business has been a success, and the three partners have been bought out by Mr. Cutsinger and members of his family, the factory being now owned by himself and his daughter, widow of the late J. I. Thompson, excepting an interest belonging to Mr. Schultz. Twenty-four thousand pounds are daily manufactured here, which are shipped to all parts of the world. This factory is a fine thing for the farmers living in the vicinity of Edinburg, since it makes a ready and profitable market for their corn.
William P. Records: Partial of Edinburg Courier newspaper 1887 said….”I was about 20 years old, when father came with me into Indiana. It was March, and it either rained or snowed every day of our journey. The roads we had then; were quite different from what we now have. Simply clearing a way through the underbrush and fallen trees, and marking it by "blazing" the trees along the way made them. Such a road was called a "trace" and was given the name of the person who first opened it. We followed these "traces", One of them, called Wetzel's, led past what is now Franklin. We left this "trace"and followed the banks of Flatrock. We crossed the river and camped near what was known as the "big clearing," one mile northeast of the present town of Edinburg. The "big clearing" consisted of 50 acres of ground that had been cleared and fenced with a brush fence." This had been cleared by several, among others George Cutsinger, an uncle of
the proprietor of the starch works. Here we bought enough corn to last us a year.” Comment here:
The proprietor of the Starch Works Company was
Samuel A. Cutsinger.
Joseph I. Irwin: Joseph I. Irwin was born near Columbus, Indiana, August 6, 1824, and accompanied his father and family to Johnson County in 1836 where he continued to reside with his father, assisting in the clearing and cultivation of 100 acres of heavily timbered land; his mother still resides and is 79 years of age. In June, 1846, he returned to Columbus where he obtained employment with Messrs. Snyder and Alden, in the dry goods business, with whom he remained three and one half years. In 1890 the Edinburg Starch Company was sold to the National Starch Company. They ran the business until 1893, when the plant was closed. Eventually, Joseph I. Irwin & Son bought the starch plant and equipment and operated it as a glucose factory. The Irwin's manufactured starch for clothing and fancy table syrup.
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Summary of Three Families:The Samuel A. Custsinger family came from Kentucky in 1822 to settle in the Edinburg area. Go here to read the overview:
www.shelbycountyindiana.org/biographies/bio_samuel_cutsinger.htmThe William P. Records family came before 1822 in Bartholomew County then to the Edinburg area. Go here to read the 2nd and 3rd articles written by the family:
www.pipeline.com/~richardpence/barth.htmThe Joseph I. Irwin’s family (including father & mother): Parents arrived around 1822 and settled in Edinburg area and go here for overview:
www.indiana.edu/~liblilly/lilly/mss/html/irwin.html__________________________________________
Living Location & Church Connection (The Church is 171 years old this 2009):There was a family and community friendship connection between these three early settlers’ families, as evidenced by the history of the Mt. Auburn Christian Church in Edinburg, Indiana. The church is located on the backside of East Edinburg.
The church was first organized in 1838 by William P. Records in his log cabin. Then on his land he and members built the first logged church and was completed around 1840.
The first four ministers of Mt. Auburn between years 1838 and 1887 were Joseph Fassett,
William Irwin, T. J. Edmonson and John Brazleton. Members of the church included the Samuel A. Cutsinger family and relatives.
The congregation began as the Disciples of Christ and later changed to the Independent Christian Church. For a period the Mt. Auburn Christian Church and the Flatrock Christian Church shared the same minister. The Mt. Auburn Christian Church is still active today in a brick building erected in 1903 with beautiful stain glass windows.
In closing, it is evident that the Irwin family knew the Cutsinger family before the purchase of the Edinburg Indiana Starch Company.
Further, the second Minister in the Mt. Auburn Church was William Irwin. The church congregation began as the Disciples of Christ and later changed to the Independent Christian Church. Lastly, my Great, Great Grandfather organized and donated the present land the church still stands on today at Mt. Auburn.
References & Sources: History booklet 150 Anniversary Mt. Auburn Church, Newpaper articles written by William P. Records titled Pioneer Days, Columbus Republic, 10 Apr 1886 &
Reminscences, Edinburg Courier, 3 Nov 1887, Irwin family history in Atlas Of Bartholomew County, Indiana, 1879, and brief history of Cutsinger family.
Edinburg Plant
"Go Baby Go The Constable Is Comin"
