USA > Indiana > Greene County > Early history of Greene County, Indiana : as taken from the official records, and compiled from authentic recollection, by pioneer settlers including brief sketches of pioneer families. > Part 1
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Gc 977.201 G836
Gc 977.201 G83b 11986
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02299 9210
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GENEALOGY 977.201 G83b
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Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2010 with funding from Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center
http://www.archive.org/details/earlyhistoryofgr00babe
PRICE, FIFTY CENTS.
THE
EARLY HISTORY OF
reene County, Indiana,
AS TAKEN FROM THE OFFICIAL RECORDS,
AND COMPILED
FROM AUTHENTIC RECOLLECTIONS, BY PIONEER SETTLERS,
EMBRACING
ALL MATTERS OF INTEREST CONNECTED WITH THE EARLY SETTLEMENT OF THE COUNTY, FROM 1813 TO 1875,
INCLUDING
BRIEF SKETCIJES OF PIONEER FAMILIES, GIVING MARRI- AGES, BIRTHS AND DEATHIS, WITH NAMES OF CREEKS, ROADS, FERRIES, ETC., ETC.
BY UNCLE JACK BABER.
WORTHINGTON : PRINTED BY N. B. MILLESON, AT THE WORTHINGTON TIMES OFFICE. 1875.
PRICE, FIFTY CENTS.
THE
EARLY HISTORY OF
Greene County,
Indiana,
AS TAKEN FROM THE OFFICIAL RECORDS,
AND COMPILED
FROM AUTHENTIC RECOLLECTIONS, BY PIONEER SETTLERS, EMBRACING
ALL MATTERS OF INTEREST CONNECTED WITH THE EARLY SETTLEMENT OF THE COUNTY, FROM 1813 TO 1875,
INCLUDING
BRIEF SKETCHES OF PIONEER FAMILIES, GIVING MARRI- AGES, BIRTHS AND DEATHIS, WITH NAMES OF CREEKS, ROADS, FERRIES, ETC., ETC.
BY UNCLE JACK BABER.
WORTHINGTON: PRINTED BY N. B. MILLESON, AT THE WORTHINGTON TIMES OFFICE. 1875.
EARLY HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
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CHAPTER I.
RIOR to the year 1816, no white man resided within the borders of Greene county ; only strag- ling and strolling bands of Indians invaded the territory or locality. They seemed to have no permanent home here, but passed through on war and hunting excursions.
On many of our hills, and in many of our valleys, they have left their rude and clumsy axes, made of stone, and their nicely formed arrow-heads, made of flint. These mementoes of another age and of former inhabitants, are often found to this day. There seems to be no place in our county specially noted for their rallies or congregation in large numbers. No field has been made a scene of car- nage ; no habitation seems to have been made desolate by their fierce, unrelenting tomahawk.
In the northeast corner of Richland township, near what is called Sleath's Mill, there is a large rock, which was used by the Indians as a look-out. The rude steps, cut by them for the pur- pose of enabling their sentinels to as- cend to the point of the look-out, are still visible to the passer-by, or to any whose curiosity leads them to the place.
In the year 1813, perhaps the first party of white men visited Greene county. They were young men, one of them hardly grown, and at that
time resided at Vincennes, Knox county. They came on a hunting expedition, more for novelty, curios- ity and fun than for any other reason. They started out from Vincennes in a boat, went down the Wabash to the mouth of White river, and up White river to the forks of White river, and thence up the west fork to a point above the mouth of Richland creek, south of Bloomfield. At that point they landed and spent some time in hunting. One of that party after- wards become a resident of our county and resided here for more than thirty years. At the time of this excursion, a part of the old Indian grave-yard, near their landing in Greene county, was comparatively new. The Indian grave-yard was on the farm since known as the Warnick farm. About thirty or forty years ago, it was a common thing for the boys from Bloomfield to dig up the skeletons of these dead Indians. Perhaps they were induced to dig into these graves from an idea that in those days very generally prevailed that the property of Indians was buried with them. While it was common to turn up skulls and other human bones, wc never heard of any valuable discovery being made. Nearly all traces of this ancient burying ground have disap- peared through lapse of time. The stalwart frame of many a savage, whose war-cry and tomahawk sent
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The Early History of Greene County.
terror to the hearts of many an inno- | twenty-five years ago the trees were cent victim, has doubtless returned standing off of which they had taken the bark to cover their wigwams and to make their "light canoes." to dust, and now forms a part of the soil of Greene county.
Many of our earliest settlers did Greene county was organized in 1821, and was named in honor of General Nathaniel Greene, of Revo- lutionary memory. not get over the deep and abiding ha- tred they had for the Indians, and especially those whose relatives had been cruelly and wantonly murdered The first settlement in the locality of Bloomfield was in 1818. In that year John Vanvorst, Daniel Carlin, and Peter C. VanSlyke settled here. In the year 1819, James Warnick, Reuben Hill, Thomas Bradford, Wil- liam Robinson, William Scott, Carpus Shaw and Louis B. Edwards, settled in and around Bloomfield. Soon af- ter these came Levi Fellows, Norman Pierce, Oliver Cushman, E. P. Cush- man, Reuel Leonard, Eli Faucett; Samuel C. Hall, Alexander Clenny; Oliver Lockwood, John Mason, John Jones. Barney Perry, Peter and John Hill, Isaac Anderson, John Shryer; Adam Stropes, Dr. William Freeland, Samuel Brooks, Orange Monroe, Ab- ner C. Rawlins, Edmond Gillman, William Anderson, Edward Simpson by them. And after the treaty of peace had been made between the whites and Indians, occasionally an Indian would be found dead from gun-shot wound. Perhaps the last Indian killed in Greene county, was killed a short distance below the mouth of Richland creek, on the cast side of White river, in a ravine run- ning up from the river into what is known as the Lester farm. It was a wicked and unprovoked murder. It was perpetrated at the time the Uni- ted States survey of land was being made. An Indian had shot a deer in the ravine, and was dressing it. A hunter, who was employed by the surveying party to furnish them with meat, was in the immediate locality, and when he heard the crack of the (commonly called "Buddy,") Sam= Indian's rifle, he at once understood uel Batman, John Harrell, Nathan Dixon (called“ Little Nath,") Elijah Adkinson, William Norris, Stephen Eaton, Dr. Rust, and many others whose names we have been unable to procure. Nearly all these have pass- ed away ; but we see the children and grand-children of many of them al- most every day. We know of only three who are now living. the situation. Stealthily the white hunter stole upon his unsuspecting- victim, and, at the crack of his rifle, the Indian fell, and in a few minutes expired. His body was concealed in the ravine and covered with rocks; and doubtless his decomposed bones are there yet, unless washed into the river. The deer become a part of the rations of the surveying party. It is " Uncle " Alex. Clenny has attain- ed a -ripe old age, and is occasionally seen by our citizens, and exhibits wonderful vitality for a man of his years. possible that at a later day another Indian was killed, while. drinking out of White river, or getting a pail of water, at a point near the line divid- ing Daviess and Greene counties.
In 1819, the Indians left the coun- ty to occupy their new homes beyond the Mississippi, after which there were none here except to pass thro'. At one time, a large body of Indians, while going west, camped a few days on A. J. Newsom's farm, near the bridge across White river,' on the west side of the river. Less than still retains the vigor and sprightli-
Judge L. B. Edwards, our fellow- citizen, has gone in and out before us even longer than our memory reaches. He has been our leader in all our efforts in Sabbath schools and Bible societies for more than half a century, and now, after having pass- ed his three-score and ten years, and nearly attained his eightieth year, he
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The Early History of Greene County.
ness of his mind, that has so often in- [ closed, duels became of such frequent vited and retained our atention.
Dr. William Freeland, younger than either one of the others, prac- ticed his profession successfully for a great many years, but in the decline of life, has given it up, and is now en- gaged in the peaceful and less active pursuit of agriculture.
At this point I will close this chap- ter. My next will be devoted speci- ally to the organization of the coun- ty and matters properly connected therewith.
CHAPTER II.
G ARLY in the year 1821, Thomas Bradford, as Sheriff pro tem, call- ed an election, to be held at his house, for the purpose of electing county officers. At that election only County Commissioners were elected, and they were Thomas Plum- mer, David Deem and Peter Herring- tón. Thos. Bradford, who acted as Sheriff pro tem, seems to have suc- cessfully filled all the neccessary offices to constitute a board of elec- tion, and to make the election per- fect. - He gave the officers their cer- tificates of election, and they were sworn into office by Phineas B. Rog- ers, a Justice of the Peace, of Wash- ington, Daviess county, on the 6th day of March, 1821. In addition to the usual oath of office, they were required to swear that they had not, since the first day of June, 1816, either directly or indirectly, know- ingly given, accepted or carried a challenge te any person or persons, in or out of this State, to fight sin- gle combat with any deadly weapon, and that they would not knowingly give, accept or carry a challenge to any person or persons in or out of the State, to fight in single combat with any deadly weapon during their continuance in office. This strin- gent oath in regard to fighting duels will astonish many persons who do not remember the olden times.
Soon after the Revolutionary war
occurrence that the attention of Legislative bodies was called to it as a growing public evil. After the celebrated duel between Col. Aaron Burr and General Alexander Ham- ilton, which resulted in the death of General Hamilton, the public mind was more than ever called to the en- ormity of this practice. Dueling was. prohibited in most of the States, and in Indiana, from the time she become a State, in 1816, officers, State and county, were required to take an oath similar to the one taken by our Commissioners, so far as it related to ducling.
After the County Board was organ- ized, they appointed Thomas Brad- ford Clerk of the Board.
On the 10th day of March, 1821, Amos Rogers, Abraham Cass, Charles Polk and William White, as State Commissioners to locate the county- seat for Greene county, made their report, locating the county-seat on sections 9 and 10, in township 7 north, of range 5 west, and called it Bur- lington. The land for the county- seat was donated by Thomas Brad- ford, Frederick Shepherd and Zebu- lon Hogue.
On the 6th day of April, the Board of Commissioners appointed John Owen Treasurer of Greene county. Ephraim Owen was appointed Agent for Burlington, and George Shryer was appointed Lister for the year 1821. The county was, at this meet- ing of the Commissioners, laid off in five townships, as follows : High- land, Richland, Burlingame, Plum- mer and Stafford. Highland town- ship embraced the present township by that name, and the territory now covered by Eel River, Jefferson, Smith and Wright. Richland town- ship embraced the present township by that name, and the territory now covered by Fairplay, Grant and Stockton. Burlingame township em- braced the present Jackson, Center and Beech Creek, and was named in honor of Abel Burlingame, who
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The Early History of Greene County.
probably then resided on the farm now owned by Lawson Oliphant. We have no recollection of him or of any of his descendants. Plummer town- ship embraced the present Cass and Taylor townships. and was named in honor of Thomas Plummer, who then lived in the township. He has left a large number of relatives who still reside in the county. Stafford town- ship embraced the present township by that name and Washington town- ship. This township was named in honor of one of the Staffords who re- sided in the township (perhaps Jesse Stafford.) Several of the family still reside in the county.
The first Treasurer gave bond with Peter Herrington and Samuel C. Hall as sureties. Inspectors of elec- tions were appointed for the town- ships, as follows: John Sanders for Highland, John Fields for Richland, Abel Burlingame for Burlingame, Cornelius Westfall for Plummer, and Benjamin Stafford for Stafford.
At the June term, 1821, overseers of the poor were appointed for the townships: Levi Fellows and Wil- liam Bynum for Plummer ; Thomas Smith and Evan Owen for Highland ; Isaac Hubbel and John Goldsbury for Stafford ; Hiram Haywood and William Scott for Richland ; Mark Dugger and Leonard Nicholson for Burlingan.e. The Commissioners al- so appointed Superintendents for the different sixteen sections : John Lea- mon, Zebulon Hogue, John S. Bus- kirk and Eli Dixon.
The responsible office of Fence- Viewer seems to have received carly attention by our Commissioners, and the following appointments were made : For Highland, Caleb Jessup, Asa Mounts, and Jonathan Lindley; for Richland, Solomon Dixon, James Warnick and Peter C. VanSlyke ; for Burlingame, John Storm, Garrett Gibson and Adam Morrow ; for Plum- mer, Cornelius Bogard, John Slink- ard and Levi Fellows ; for Stafford, John Breece, John Goldsbury and Benjamin Stafford.
At this term James Gallettley was appointed Surveyor, to survey and lay out lots in the seat of justice (Burlington.) This man, although not a resident of our county, is iden- tified in many ways with our carly history. He was a Scotchman by birth, and in an early day was re- garded as a man of education and lit- erary culture. When he first came out West to mingle with our early settlers, he was much better informed in regard to the beauties of Burns' poems and the classics, than he was in regard to log cabins and the cus- toms of the far West ; but his strong, practical common sense, soon enabled him to conform to frontier usage. It is said of him, that when he went in- to the forest to build his first cabin, he proceeded to cut his logs without assistance. When cut, he invited his neighbors to help raise his cabin, as was the custom in our early-day .- One neighbor asked him the length of his logs. He answered, "well, some are 10 feet, some 15, some 20, and some 25 feet, but they will aver- age 18 feet, which is to be the size of my house." The generous neighbors soon obviated this trouble by joining together and cutting logs the proper length.
On the 15th day of May, George Shryer, Lister for the county, re- ported to the Commissioners that he had listed all the property of the county for taxable purposes. He was allowed for his services the sum of $30 in county-order. This was the first county-order ever issued by the officers of Greene county. We are unable to tell when it was paid, but we find that more than three years afterwards, by virtue of a writ of garnishee, served by constable Peter Hill, this county-order was seized on a debt against the' owner.
At this time the Board of Commis- sioners made arrangements for a county seal, and it was expressly pro- vided that there should be a heart in the center, surrounded with an olive branch. Thus Greene county started
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The Early History of Greene County.
out with an emblem of peace and /Thomas Mounts against Zebulon safety stamped upon her official papers. Hogue. This was an action for slan- der. It appears that even in that On the 4th day of June, 1821, Thomas Warnick was qualified as Clerk of the Circuit Court for seven years, he having been commissioned on the 27th day of April, 1821. early day, when only a few settlers had gathered together, and when they needed cach others' sympathy and assistance, that the strong pas- sion of malignity invaded the settle- At the August term, 1821, consta- bles were appointed for the various townships : Highland, James Jessup; Richland, Richard Osborn; Burlin- game, Mark Dugger ; Plummer, An- drew Slinkard; Stafford, John Breece. - At this meeting Solomon Dixson, who was our first representative in the Legislature, had a ferry estab- lished, which is now known as the Bradford ferry, at Fairplay. ments, and arrayed one neighbor against another, and that they finally resorted to the law for redress. But in this instance it also appears that finally the "better angel of their na- ture" prevailed, and the cause was dismissed. And we are induced to believe that these litigants made friends, because, on the same day, Mr. Hogue went on Mr. Mount's bond as surety for his appearance at the next term of court.
James Warnick, grandfather of the James Warnick of the present day, and father of the Clerk, was the first supervisor of the roads for Richland township. John Lindley was the first in Highland, Cornelius Bogard in Plummer, and John Breece in Stafford.
The first Circuit Court convened at the house of Thomas Bradford, which, we have been informed, was one mile south of Bloomfield, in September, 1821. J. Doty was President Judge, and John L. Buskirk, Associate Judge. Thomas Warnick was Clerk, and Thomas Bradford, Sheriff. They seemed to have so much confidence in the fidelity and honesty of their Clerk, that they did not require any security on his official bond.
The first Grand Jury was composed of thirteen jurors, John O'Neall, John Slinkard, Benson Jones, John Goldsbury, Reuben Hill, Jas. Smith, Levi Fellows, Jonathan Lindley, Benjamin Hashaw, Cornelius Bogard, Cornelius P. VanSlyke, Eli Faucett and Joseph Ramsoners.
At this term of Court, Henry Mer- rick was appointed Prosecuting At- torney ; Amory Kinney was admitted to practice as an attorney. Amory Kinney afterwards become well known as an eminent Judge.
The first case called for trial was
At that term of court there was only one other case called for trial, and that was the case of Benjamin Hashaw against Thomas Mounts. This case was also dismissed. These were the only cases called for trial during the year 1821. The grand jury found four indictments, and they were continued until the next term.
The first entry of land was made in 1816. Perhaps it will be of inter- est to some of our readers to know who entered land in the very earliest days of our county. In 1816, entries were made by David Lindley, Jona- than Lindley, John Johnson, John Hawkins, Ephraim Owen, Samuel Owen, Benjamin Owen, William Hawkins, Joseph Hollingsworth, Sol- omon Dixon, Joshua Hadley, Joseph Richardson, John Neldon, John Storms, Isaac Storms, Scott Riggs, John Hadden, Peter C .: VanSlyke, Thomas Bradford, and perhaps a few others. In 1817, entries were made by some of these men, and by John Sanders, George Griffith, Jonathan Osborn, Benjamin Shoemaker, James Smith, John G. Gray, Thomas Plum- mer, Abel Burlingame, Joseph Dix- son, Charles Scanland, William Car- ter, Samuel Fields, Seth Fields, Sam - uel Perry and Thomas Bradford, jr. In 1818, by Alex. Watson, Joseph
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The Early History of Greene County.
Shelton, Eli Dixson, George Shryer,-f day with the present. Perhaps some Julius Dugger, Mark Dugger, Joseph Ingersoll, William Barker. Elijah and George Chinn, David Richey, Abe Westfall, John Slinkard, Jesse Stafford, Mathias Killian, Mordecia McKinney, John Hinkle, Abraham Garrett, Isaac Hubbell, E. W. Wel- ton, John Vanvorst, William Lemon, William Harrell, Edmund Gillam, Thomas Buskirk, John Bradford, William Robinson, R. S. Underwood, James Warnick, William Scott, Sam- For the information of our readers, we give the list of expenditures for the first year : uel C. Hall, George Lashley, Gordon Phelps, Jacob Scudder and William Adams. In 1819, by John . Arthur, For listing property. Clerk's and Sheriff's fees. 83 00 .. Sheriff of Knox county for serv- ing notice on State Commis- sioners. 20 00 $ 30 00 Thomas Barker, Peter R. Lester, Christian Bruner, John O'Ncall. O. 1. Barker, Benjamin Stafford, Gar- rison Evans, David Wesner, William Roads Elections. 9 00 15 00 Dillinger, Zachariah Dunn, Simeon Hagamon, Peter Hays, Andrew Van- Printing 3 00 Slyke and Martin Wines. In 1820, Making tax duplicate .. 10 00 by William Bynum, Robert Ander- Grand Jury expense .. 9 75 son, William Haneson, Joseph Dil- Sending to Bloomington for laws. 3 00 linger, Daniel Rawlins and .John | Commissioners' fees .. 56 00 Gardiner. In 1821, by Henry Arney, Total expense for one year. $23S 75 With the close of the year 1821 we close this chapter. John Craig, Jesse Elgan, John Elgan, Samuel Hughen, Simon Caress, John Bruse, Joseph Kirkpatrick, Oliver Cushman, John McDonald, Zebulon Jenkins, George Milam, and John CHAPTER III. Mason.
During the year 1821 only one conveyance of land seems to have been made in the county, and that was by David Lindley to Jonathan Lindley, for the west fractional sec. tion 13, town 8, range 5, a part of which is now owned by Willis Watson.
During this year only five marriage license were issued. Isaac Jackson was married to Elizabeth Griffith, by Hugh Barns. M. G. William Richey to Nelly Ramsoners, by Obediah T. Barker, J. P. David Smith, to Mary Brinson, by Edmund Jeans, J. P .- Simon Drake to Mary Burcham, by Abel Burlingame, J. P. Philip Siler to Sarah. Lindley, by John B. Kel- shaw. J. P.
Perhaps before closing the history for the year 1821, our readers would like to compare the expenses of that
of our people in this day will think that our ancestors were extravagant. Let us not be too hasty. Let us re- member that it was a year of extra expense, such as giving notice to the State Commissioners to locate a coun- ty seat, paying for having the elec- tion returns sent to the unusual dis - tance of Merom and Spencer, and . many other extra duties incident to the organization of a county.
(N our last chapter we closed with the close of the year 1821. In this we will enter somewhat into the details of township officers , as well as county officers, and will give jurors, marriages, &c. After this we will not attempt to go so mi - nutely into details.
The first thing done by the Com- missioners in 1822 was to issue an order to pay the salary, for the year before, of Judge John L. Buskirk. His salary does not appear to be as large as judges' salaries are at the present time-his whole salary for the year being two dollars.
In this year, instead of appointing a Lister for the county, as they had done the year before, they appointed one, for each township. Ephraim Owen was appointed for Highland, Thomas Bradford for Richland, Abel
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The Early History of Greene County:
Burlingame for Burlingame, George | returned. On two of the indiet- Westner for Plummer, and William Hodgins for Stafford.
In February, Peter Herrington resigned his "right, title, claim and hoa or" as County Commissioner ; and the August election, next follow- ing, Jonathan Lindley was elected to fill the vacancy. We have no recol- lection of Mr. Lindley, but we infer from the records of the county that lie was a very influential man.
The overseers of the poor were John H. Owen, Caleb Jessup, Rich- ard Benson, Timothy H. Jessup, John Storms, Julius Dugger, Peter R. Lester, William Barker, Joseph Dixson and William Hodgins, and were appointed to act in their re- spective townships.
The inspectors of elections were John Sanders, Peter Ingersoll, Robert Smith, Cornelius Westfall and Ben- jamin Stafford.
The Superintendents of the sixteen sections were George B. Kelshaw and Daniel Woodsworth.
The Fence-Viewers were, Evan Owen, Alex. Watson, Thomas Stal- cup, Solomon Dixson, William Wel- ton, P. C. VanSlyke, Isaac Lundy; Leonard Nicholson, Wesley Smith, Cornelius Bogard, Abel Westfall, John O'Neall, Jesse Stafford, Isaac Hubbell and Peter Herrington.
The February term of the Circuit Court was held by Associate Judges, Thomas Bradford and John L. Bus- kirk, at the house of Thomas Brad- ford; John Lemon was Sheriff. The grand jurors were Robert An- derson, Alexander Plummer, Rich- ard Benson, Hiram Hayward, Wil- liam Clark, Edmund Gillum, John Breece, Jonathan Sanders, Peter In- gersoll, Samuel C. Hall, Eli Faucett, Isaac Hubbell and William Bynum.
Addison Smith was appointed Prosecuting Attorney. Craven P. Hester, Joseph Warner and Thomas H. Blake were admitted to practice in the Court as attorneys, they hav- ing produced their proper license. At this term four indictments were Governor of the State.
ments returned in 1821, the prosc- cuting attorney entered a nolle prose- qui, one was continued, and on one there was a trial by jury. This was the first jury trial ever tried by the Circuit Court in the county, and was on a charge of assault and. battery. The jurymen were, Joseph Smith, Orange Monroe, James Stalcup; William Scott, Isaac Hicks, Thomas Stalcup, John S. Warner, David Deem, Abel Burlingame, Aaron Stepurn, Stephen Dixson and Jona- than Osborn. C. P. Hester appeared as attorney for defendant. The jury found the defendant guilty and fined him one dollar.
At this term one man plead guilty and was "censured by the court" and fined one dollar and fifty cents.
Philip Shintaffer, one of our earl- iest settlers, was a man of consider- able note. He was famous for ox- driving, and it is said that he could drive as well without as with a road. He was also noted for a quick tem- per which often brought him to grief: In February, 1822, he appeared in open court and caused to be spread upon the record a retraction of a slander against one of his neighbors.
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