Farmers Ferry
Farmer's Ferry
For 124 years the Farmer’s Ferry was one of the most effective ways to cross the White River. The ferry had operated since 1865.
Farmer’s Ferry was the last operating ferry in Indiana. Farmers could use the ferry to transport cattle, hogs, or farm equipment to the other side of the river. Farmer’s Ferry was open to the public and free. It operated year-round, except when the river was frozen.
The ferry actually started operating in Owen County in the small town of Farmer, Indiana. However, in 1918 the river changed its course, and so the location was moved about one half mile south to the area across the county line in Worthington, Indiana. The new location was between Highland and Jefferson Townships.
The ferry was built of wood until 1930, when the wooden barge was replaced with steel. Farmer’s Ferry was originally powered with a pole and the current, but in the later years the ferry was powered with an eight-horsepower outboard motor. As the ferry moved east along its cable, the barge was angled against the current. Crossing west, the ferry was allowed to be carried by the river current.
Many accidents occurred during the operation of the ferry. Several cars, trucks, tractors, and grain wagons have sunk in the White River. Even someone’s cattle got too far to the edge and tipped the ferry. One man had the experience of sinking his truck twice during one crossing. No fatalities were reported, just a great amount of wet property.
The Farmer’s Ferry era ended early in 1989 with the sale of the ferry to private owners. Carter M. Fortune from Indianapolis bought the ferry for his 1,200-acre farm. The county commissioners said that they did not want to sell it, but the insurance was too high. The ferry cost the Greene County taxpayers between $10,000-$15,000 annually to operate.
This information was used with permission from the Linton-Stockton School Corporation.
Pictures can be found in our photogallery.
