Coordinates:  40.10624, -85.44321  [S16] -

CR 600S, 300W on the border of Salem and Monroe Townships [S4] - [S5, p17] - [S11, 7 Aug 1986] -

"...is situated at the eastern extremity of the township [Salem], and is familiarly known as 'Sockum'.  It contains one store, kept by Lory Snell, who is also the Postmaster, and one wagon and blacksmith shop, of which John D. Modlin is the proprietor."  [S7, p 287]

"Tabor Post office is in the southeast corner of this section"  [Salem Township, Section 12]  [S15, p 146]

Northwest corner of CR600S and CR300W  [S5] - [S16] -

Sockum: 
Shown close to Richwoods PO, near Salem/Monroe Township line near the road west out of Cowan - Sockum looks to be North of Richwoods PO  [S8] -

"...is situated at the eastern extremity of the township [Salem], and is familiarly known as 'Sockum.' It contains one store, kept by Lory Snell, who is also the Postmaster, and one wagon and blacksmith shop, of which John D. Modlin is the proprietor." [S7, p 287]

"It is rumored that the town derived its name from a prize fight reputed to have been held there... also known by its post office name of Tabor."  [S9]

"Sockum, one mile south of the present center of Progress, became a center sometime prior to 1860 and a post office was maintained there.  But in 1900 when Progress took on activity and a store and blacksmith shop opened there, Sockum ceased to exist."  (Originally appeared in "Daleville Centennial News", 15 Nov 1938)    [S10]

"... Sockum was between Progress and Tabor Christian Church & Cemetery, due west of Cowan."  [S11, 27 March 1972]

"Several folks have commented or written about 'Sockum', a ghost hamlet that was something of a trading center in the 1890's and earlier.  As yet no one has accounted for the name."  [S11, nd]

From Mrs. Martha Nottingham:
"My Mother Cora Bowers was born in a log cabin across the road from Tabor Christian Church.  My grandfather Bowers owned several acres and built a house just south of the church.  The original house burned some years ago and a new one was built when my mother married William P. Gilmore, my father.  My Grandpa gave them a farm next to the farm where Dr. Clay Ball was born.  All of mother's brothers lived in the neighborhood, so I am familiar with many things and have been through Sockum many times."  [S11, nd]

"Seldom read or heard of ... was unofficial ... has vanished ... Dr. Ball born in Monroe Township, one mile south and one-half mile east of 'Sockum' ... about one mile south of Progress was Sockum.  There were several houses and at least three stores.  Loring Snell was grocer and also postmaster; John Modlin operated a blacksmith shop and George McClain had a gunsmith business, Modlin moved to Progress - this hurt Sockum."  [S11, 27 March 1972]

Post Office Established: 1 Mar 1880  [S2, p 1012]
Post Office Closed: 14 Oct 1901
Post Office Names: Tabor

Post office listed, but no information  [S3, p 154]  - [S6, p 5]

Richwood  - Tabor - Progress connection:
19 Aug 1843:  Richwood Post office established
1 March 1880:  Tabor Post office established
19 Aug 1890:  Richwood Post Office closed - Mail to Tabor
4 Apr 1900:  Progress Post Office established
15 Jan 1901:  Progress Post Office closed - Mail to Tabor
14 Oct 1901:  Tabor Post Office closed - Mail to Muncie

Postmark, Tabor - Description Only [S2, p 510]

Lory Snell -- 1 Mar 1880
Mail from Richwood Post Office -- 19 Aug 1890  [S2, p 1016]
Mail from Progress -- 15 Jan 1901  [S2, p 1035]
PO Closed, mail to Muncie -- 14 Oct 1901  [S2, p 1012]