Hesston is an unincorporated community in Galena Township, LaPorte County, Indiana.

Hesston, Indiana
Christian Church building, Hesston, Indiana.
Christian Church building, Hesston, Indiana.
Hesston is located in Indiana
Hesston
Hesston
Hesston is located in the United States
Hesston
Hesston
Coordinates: 41°45′10″N 86°39′39″W / 41.75278°N 86.66083°W / 41.75278; -86.66083
CountryUnited States
StateIndiana
CountyLaPorte
TownshipGalena
Elevation640 ft (200 m)
ZIP code
46350
FIPS code18-33232[2]
GNIS feature ID436073[1]

History

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Originally called Mayes' Corners after Matthew Mayes opened a blacksmith in 1835. In 1857, Valentine Smith established a sawmill west of Mayes' Corner near the Galena River. It burned in 1862. In 1865, the Christian Church established a congregation in this area with Rev. Caleb Davis leading the congregation, before he moved to Michigan. P.M. Hess came to the township in 1856 from New York and began farming. He ran a sawmill and operated a store, contributing his name to the location.[3] A post office was established at Hesston in 1877, and remained in operation until it was discontinued in 1900.[4] The community was named for P. M. Hess, an early settler.[5]

Culture

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The Hesston Steam Museum, which contains several railroads with multiple track gauges including 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge, 2 ft (610 mm) narrow gauge, 14 in (356 mm) gauge, and 7+12 in (190.5 mm) gauge, is located just west of Hesston.[6]

References

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  1. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Hesston, Indiana
  2. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  3. ^ Chapman, Charles C.; History of LaPorte County, Indiana: History of Indiana, Illustrated: Chas Chapman & Co., Chicago, Illinois; 1880 pgs 693-708
  4. ^ "La Porte County". Jim Forte Postal History. Retrieved December 29, 2014.
  5. ^ Daniels, E. D. (1904). A twentieth century history and biographical record of La Porte County, Indiana. Lewis Publishing Co. p. 94.
  6. ^ "Homepage". Hesston Steam Museum. Retrieved December 29, 2014.