Re: Redkey,IN
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In reply to:
Redkey,IN
10/31/01
Howdy,
The town's name was changed from Mt Vernon to Redkey, when railroad service came to town, I've read. I can't tell you exactly when but sometime after the mid 1850's. James Redkey and family arrived Jay County from Ohio in the mid 1850's. He was a Methodist Preacher. I don't know about tobacco but for many years there was a tomato canning factory in Redkey. They canned "Redkey brand" among other brands. I don't know if the factory is still in operation or not, it was in the early 1980's. The old cemetery where James Redkey is buried is behind the canning factory. As to "mail pouch tobacco", you used to see that on half the old barns in rural areas. I'm sure they gave the farmer a fee for the use of advertising space on his barn. The library in Portland, Indiana has many of the writings of James Walter Fiers, the grandson of James Redkey. He wrote much about the history of the town of Redkey and the surrounding area.