Editing Windfall, Indiana (section)

==History==

=== Founding ===

Windfall was founded by James B. Fouch in 1853. Fouch [[platted]] the land with the goal of securing a train station in order to earn business from the lucrative lumber trade. He built the first [[sawmill]] in 1853.<ref name="Pershing137">[https://books.google.com/books?id=NJFuAAAAMAAJ&dq=Indiana&pg=PA137 Pershing, p. 137]</ref> A [[Christian churches and churches of Christ|Christian church]] was built just outside Windfall in 1854. The congregation moved to Windfall in 1866.<ref name="Pershing202">[https://books.google.com/books?id=NJFuAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA202 Pershing, p. 202]</ref>  A [[Methodist]] church was organized in Windfall in 1857, with meetings taking place in a school house.<ref name="Pershing198">[https://books.google.com/books?id=NJFuAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA198 Pershing, p. 198]</ref>
The Windfall post office has been in operation since 1855.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp?task=display&state=IN&county=Tipton | title=Tipton County | publisher=Jim Forte Postal History | accessdate=July 22, 2016}}</ref>

There is no definitive history explaining how Windfall was named, but a niece of James B. Fouch told a local newspaper in 1949, “The story has been told to me that Windfall was named by my uncle after a terrific windstorm had swept through the village.”<ref name="ReferenceA">Peters, Rowland, "Windfall grew, developed around Mitchell Farms" ''Elwood Call-Leader'' July 3, 1976</ref>

The village was incorporated on March 24, 1871<ref name="Pershing138">[https://books.google.com/books?id=NJFuAAAAMAAJ&dq=Indiana&pg=PA138 Pershing, p. 138]</ref> by a unanimous vote of the people who had settled there. As other settlers came to the village it grew opposite from the way Fouch intended.  As a result, Windfall’s Main Street, the original street, is southwest from the center of the town.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
That same year, the Windfall [[Baptist]] church was founded.<ref name="Pershing208">[https://books.google.com/books?id=NJFuAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA208 Pershing, p. 208]</ref>

===Crime in the 1800s===

Windfall has a notable crime history dating from just after its incorporation. In 1865, Noble Goff, a man once described as "respectable..but in later years had fallen into heavy dissipation and had made many enemies," was murdered with a [[hatchet]] while in bed. His wife was charged with his murder and served her time in prison. Henry Thomas was killed by a local doctor, Armstrong, in 1864 or 1865. He killed Thomas out of "jealousy," and claimed he was not guilty upon trial. The doctor was acquitted.<ref name="Pershing139">[https://books.google.com/books?id=NJFuAAAAMAAJ&dq=Indiana&pg=PA139 Pershing, p. 139]</ref>

A few years later a man named Perry was killed in a local [[Bar (establishment)|saloon]] over a game of cards. In 1867, a man named Gifford was killed by James Stewart. The two men entered into a fight at Stewart's house and Stewart shot him. He was acquitted for self-defense. Finally, the work of a suspected [[arson]] burned down a large brick [[drug store]] and the nearby home of Dr. McAlaster in 1883.<ref name="Pershing139"/>

===1900s===

As of the 20th century, the town was described as being "one of the most attractive communities in Tipton County."<ref name="Pershing139"/> A large Methodist church was built and completed in September 1913. It cost $28,000 to build.<ref name="Pershing198"/>

=== World War II ===

From 1944 to 1945 Windfall was home to a World War II German [[POW]] camp, [[Windfall Indiana World War II POW Camp]].

=== Notable residents ===
Windfall was the childhood home of [[Jeff Modisett]], Indiana Attorney General (1997-2000).

=== Geography ===

According to the 2010 census, Windfall has a total area of {{convert|0.29|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all land.<ref name="census-g001">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US1884806
  |title=G001 - Geographic Identifiers - 2010 Census Summary File 1
  |accessdate=July 25, 2015
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213085222/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US1884806
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
  |url-status=dead
  }}</ref>