USA > Indiana > Fayette County > History of Fayette County, Indiana: containing a history of the townships, towns, villages, schools, churches, industries, etc.; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; biographies, etc., etc. > Part 1
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COURT HOUSE, CONNERSVILLE, INDIANA .
-
HISTORY
-OF-
FAYETTE COUNTY
INDIANA
Containing a History of the County; its Townships, Towns, Villages, Schools, Churches, Industries, Etc .; Portraits of Early Settlers and Prominent Men; Biographies; Etc., Etc.
ILLUSTRATED
CHICAGO : WARNER, BEERS & CO., 1885.
F
6961 1
PREFACE.
HE evening of the last year of four-score since the Carolina colony explored the Whitewater country and graced its beautiful hills and valleys with their cabins is now closing. More than three-quar- ters of a century have come and gone since the Indian trader, Conner, established his trading-post on the banks of the Whitewater, amid the red men of the forest, and the hunter, Simpson, close by reared his cabin near the stream which his name still honors. The hardy men who first settled the lands of Fayette County have nearly all been called from the stage of action and gone to their final rest. They pitched their tents and raised the log-cabin where " nothing appeared but nature unsubdued." "Bold for- est settlers," they encountered the dangers and endured the privations of pioneer life, and with rifles by their sides, cut away the forests, drove back the wild beasts, and made the wilderness "blossom as the rose," giving to those coming after them fruitful fields. "Gratitude to the pioneer is alike honorable to those who give it and to those who receive it. The people generally appreciate his sacrifices, recount his deeds and honor his services. This gives to history its fairest page, and to simple virtue and patriotism the honest commendation they merit."
It is the purpose of this volume to present to the present generation, as well as to succeeding genera- tions, many of the names of such as were identified with the early and more recent history of the county, including pioneer, civil, ecclesiastical, educational, commercial, agricultural, statistical and biographical matter. The volume is herewith presented to our patrons in a form which it is believed will prove satis- factory to all, being in strict accordance with the announcements made in the prospectus issued nearly a year ago.
The outline history of the county, city and township histories were prepared by F. E. Weakley, of Lebanon, Ohio, who has spared no pains in extended research and investigation into all matters pertaining to the early explorations and settlement of the Whitewater Valley, and the subsequent development and growth of that portion of it under consideration. The libraries, both State and city, at Indianapolis, and that of the neighboring city of Richmond were visited, and all volumes throwing auy light on every important field consulted. The archives of the county which originally comprised the greater part of Fayette, have been examined; private correspondence has been held with men acquainted with the history of the county; news- paper files, court records and Justices' dockets have been examined; local laws, books, pamphlets, agricult- ural reports, church records, etc., etc., have been consulted; manuscripts and obituary notices read, grave- yards visited, and the oldest and most reliable citizens have been called upon. In its preparation great care has been taken to arrive at accuracy, but undoubtedly errors will be found, owing to almost numberless causes, among which are inaccurate and ambiguous records and manuscripts, meager public documents and numerous conflicting traditions. While free to admit that some unavoidable errors may be found, on the other hand it is claimed that the work is up to the standard of our promises, and more accurate and compre- hensive than could be anticipated in the beginning. With what fidelity to facts and patience of research the task has been performed is left to the judgment of those in whose keeping the traditions of the past remain. Sources from which much of the data came have been indicated throughout the work. The sketches in the biographical department were prepared by a corps of men well fitted for the work, who visited, in person, the various families, and faithfully aimed at correctness. This part will be found an important feature of the work, for in the personal and family histories given in these sketches are traced the descent of families and recorded individual achievements, which in succeeding years will be found to possess interest and value.
To the county and city officers, editors of the newspapers, officers of the various societies and churches, and many intelligent citizens of Fayette County, the publishers are indebted for favors and generous assist- ance in the preparation of the work, which they hope will meet the approval of an intelligent people. Special
PREFACE.
thanks are due the county officials for their unreserved kindness in giving access to the records under their charge. Much assistance has been derived from the files of the Connersville Times and Connersville Exam- iner, and their editors are entitled to a grateful recognition for frequent access to their files. Acknowledg- ments are due to Hon. Samuel Little, of Pawnee City, Neb .; Hon. Elijah Hackleman, of Wabash, Ind .; Hon. Ryland T. Brown, M. D., of Indianapolis; William Green, Esq., of Brookville; Josiah Mullikin, Esq., Charles Williams, Thomas 'Burton, John Savage and S. N. Hamilton, M. D., of Connersville; Nathaniel Hamilton, A. B. Claypool, Thomas Hinkson, and Calvin Burton and wife, of Connersville Township; Joseph Caldwell and C. A. Meeker, of Harrison Township; Maj. Thomas Simpson and wife and Jacob Troxell, of Waterloo Township; John Newland, of Jennings Township; Azariah T. Beckett, Enos Williams and James Smith, of Jackson Township; John A. White and wife, of Columbia Township; Hon. W. W. Thrasher and Josiah Piper, of Fairview Township; John P. Daniels and wife, of Orange Township; Linville Ferguson, Esq., of Milton, Ind. ; George Van Buskirk, of Posey Township, with whom Mr. Weakley as compiler of the general history was more particularly associated.
THE PUBLISHERS.
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CONTENTS.
HISTORY.
PAGE.
CHAPTER I .- OUTLINE HISTORY OF INDIANA-The French in In- diana-George Rogers Clark's Conquest of the British Posts-The Northwest Territory-Indiana Territory-Condition of the Terri- tory at its Organization-The First Governor-Tecumseh and the Prophet-Apprehension of Indian Ilostilities-The Battle of Tip- pecanoe-The Slavery Question in the Territory-The War of 1812- Indiana Admitted Into the Union-Progress of the New State ..... 13-24
CHAPTER II .- THE INDIANS OF INDIANA AND EARLY EXPEDI- TIONS AGAINST THEM-Names of the Tribes in Indiana-The Miami Confederacy-Little Turtle Quoted-Indiau Villages-Indian Agri- culture-Moral and Intellectual Qualities-Antoine Gamelin's Mission-The Indians Demand the Ohio for Their Boundary-Col. Lochry's Disastrous Defeat-Treaty of Fort Finney-George Rogers Clark's Expedition Against the Wabash Indians-Gen. Charles Scott's Expedition-Col. James Wilkinson's Expedition-Gen. Josiah 1Farmar's Expeditiou-St. Clair's Defeat-Wayne's Vic- tory. .. 25-33
CHAPTER III .- PIONEER IIISTORY-The Dawn of Civilization Upon, and First Settlement of the Whitewater Valley-Position of the Lands of the County-John aud William Conuer and Other Early Settlers-Pioneer Life-Friendly and lostile Indians ... .34-46
CHAPTER IV .- EARLY RELIGIOUS AND EDUCATIONAL MOVEMENTS- Old School Baptists-Methodism-Presbyterianism-The Christian Church-Schools .47-53
CHAPTER V .- PHYSICAL FEATURES - Geography - Topography - Geology. .. 53-56
CHAPTER VI .- CIVIL ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY-Boundaries- Location of the County Seat-County Buildings. .. 57-60
CHAPTER VII .- THE COURTS AND CIVIL LIST-Circuit Court-The Bradburn Trial-Probate Court-Court of Common Pleas-Associate Judges-Probate Judges-Sheriff's-Clerks of the Courts-Recorders -Auditers-Treasurers-Justices of the Peace -County Govern- ment and Early Proceedings-County Commissioners ....... ..... .. 63-73
CHAPTER VIII .- INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS-Roads-Mail and Stage Routes -Whitewater Valley Canal - Hydraulic Company-Turn- pikes and Bridges-Railroads ... .. 73-76
CHAPTER IX .- AGRICULTURE-Implements-Cattle-Herses-Hogs- Sheep-Agricultural Societies and Faira. 77-85
CHAPTER X .- POLITICAL-Reaults of Elections, Political Extracts and Notes-Members of Congress-Members of the General Aasem- bly .. .85-90
CHAPTER XI .- THE PRESS-First Effort-The " Fayette Observer" -Abraham Van Vleet-The "Political Clarion" and its Successor, The "Indiana Sentinel "-The " Watchman"-The " Indiana Tele- graph "-Daniel Rench-William Stewart-The "Christian Casket " -The " Ladies' Temperance Wreath"-The "Connersville Times " -The " Connersville Examiner "-The " Connersville News" ......... 90-95
CHAPTER XII .- MISCELLANEOUS-Post Offices-Statua of the County in 1830 and 1840-Statistics-Population of the County by Town- shipa .. .95-98
CHAPTER XIII .- THE BENCH AND THE BAR-Circuits and Judges- Early Prosecuting Attorneys-First and Later Lawyera at the Fay- ette Courts-Reference to the Lawyera and Practice of Early Indi- ana-Resident Lawyers .. 98-104
PAOE.
CHAPTER XIV .- THE MEDICAL PROFESSION-The First Physicians -District Medical Societies-Early Charges for Medical Services- Later Physicians-Fayette County Medical Society and the Profes- sion 104-108
CHAPTER XV .- DISTINGUISHED DEAD-Oliver II. Smith-Jonathan McCarty - Caleb B. Smith - Samuel W. Parker-James C. Mc- Intosh. .109-124
CHAPTER XVI .- THE CIVIL WAR, 1861-65-Public Sentiment and Action in the Beginning-County Expenditures-Departure of the Fayette Couuty Uniou Guards-Drafts, Bounties, Etc .- History of the Organizations and Regiments-Ladies' Aid Society, Donations, Etc .- Closing Scenes. 125-135
CHAPTER XVII .- THE CITY OF CONNERSVILLE-Location and Origin -The Early Village-Independence Day, 1831-The Status of Con- neraville in 1833-The Succeeding Decade-Reminiscences-The Town in 1858-59-Streets-The Clty Hall-The Methodist Episcopal Church Building (formerly Opera House)-The Andre Opera House-Grave-yards and Cemetery-Connersville a City-Growth and Progress-Water Works-Fire Department-Banks-Indua- tries-Schools-Churches-Societies .... .135-164
CHAPTER XVIII .- CONNERSVILLE TOWNSHIP-Organization and Boundaries-Land Sales-Early Settlement and Incidents-Early Schoola, Early Mills, Distilleries, Etc .- Churches and Grave-yards- East Connersville-Maplewood-Half-Century Citizens. .. 164-172
CHAPTER XIX .- HARRISON TOWNSHIP-Boundaries, Organization and Description-Land Entries-Pioneers and Pioneer Settlement -Independence Day, 1829-Industries-Schools-Churches-Half- Century Citizens ... .173-183
CHAPTER XX .- JENNINGS TOWNSHIP-Boundaries and Organization Land Entries-Early Settlement and Pioneer Biography-Alquina -Early Schoola-Churches and Grave-yards-Mills and Diatillerles Half-Century Citizens. 183-190
CHAPTER XXI .- COLUMBIA TOWNSHIP-Boundaries and Organiza- tien-Land Entries-Pioneer Settlement and Biography-Mills and Distilleries-Scheels-Churches and Grave-yards-Hamlets-Half- Century Citizens. .190-199
CHAPTER XXII .- JACKSON TOWNSHIP-Boundaries and Organiza- tion-Land Entries-Early Settlement-Industries-Early Schools -The Old Rock at Poplar Ridge-Churches and Grave-yards-Ever- ton-Half-Century Citizens. .199-210
CHAPTER XXIII .- WATERLOO TOWNSHIP-Organizatlon, Boundaries and Description-Original Land Purchasers-Pioneers-Schools- Waterloo Village - Churches-Springerville - Half-Century Citi- zens .. .210-217
CHAPTER XXIV .- ORANGE TOWNSHIP-Organization and Bounda- ries-Land Sales-Pioneers-Schools-Mills, Distilleriea, Etc .- Churches and Burying-Grounds-Fayetteville-Half-Century Citi- zena .. .217-221
CHAPTER XXV .- POSEY TOWNSHIP-Boundaries and Organization -Land Entries-Pioneers and Pieneer Notes-Schoola, Churches and Grave-yards-Half-Century Citizens ... 222-226
CHAPTER XXVI .- FAIRVIEW TOWNSHIP-Organization and Bounda- ries-Land Entries-Early Settlement-Schools-Churches and Grave-yards-Villages-Half-Century Citizena .... 226-230
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CONTENTS.
Connersville City, Alphabetically Arranged ..
BIOGRAPHIES. PAGE. PAGE. 231 Fayette County, Alphabetically Arranged. 255
PORTRAITS.
1 Andre, D. W. 151
Hussey, Jonathan.
201
/ Baker, John ..
Kemmer, Samuel J 229
/ Beckett, A. T ..
111
McConnell, Ellis D.
171
Bundrant, C. 1F.
19:
Moffitt, Andrew
211
Nash, Richard
121
Caldwell, Joseph.
31
Creelman, George. 131 Piper, Josiah. 61
Ellis, Lewis. 161 Rea, James C 41
Freeman, William
181
Shipley, S. J.
81
Gamble, J. S.
141
Thomas, Benj.
51
Hackleman, Hawkins
91
Thrasher, W. W
101
Hamilton, Nathaniel.
21
MISCELLANEOUS.
View Fayette County Court House. ...... .Frontispiece | Map Fayette County. 11
CHICAGO: JOHN MORRIS COMPANY, PRINTERS. 1885.
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HISTORY OF
FAYETTE COUNTY, INDIANA.
CHAPTER I.
OUTLINE HISTORY OF INDIANA.
THE FRENCH IN INDIANA-GEORGE ROGERS CLARK'S CONQUEST OF THE BRITISH POSTS-THE NORTIIWEST TER- RITORY-INDIANA TERRITORY-CONDITION OF THE TERRITORY AT ITS ORGANIZATION-THE FIRST GOVERNOR -TECUMSEII AND THE PROPHET-APPREHENSIONS OF INDIAN IIOSTILITIES-THE BATTLE OF TIPPECANOE- THE SLAVERY QUESTION IN THE TERRITORY-TIIE WAR OF 1812-INDIANA ADMITTED INTO TIIE UNION- PROGRESS OF THE NEW STATE.
I "NDIANA, as a civil division bearing the name, dates its existence from July 4, 1800, when the act of Congress creating Indiana Territory went into effect. It then included Michigan, Illinois and Wis- consin. The United States census of 1800 found in Indiana 5,641 inhabitants. In 1805 Michigan Terri- tory was struck off, and in 1809, Illinois; from the latter year Indiana dates its present limits. On December 11, 1816 the Territory was admitted into the Union as a State. From its first exploration by white men Indiana constituted a part of New France until 1763, when it was ceded by the French to the English. In the treaty of 1783 Indiana was included in the territory yielded by Great Britain to the United States. While it belonged to the English it was a part of the Colony of Virginia, and was ceded to the United States by Virginia in 1784, from which time until the formation of Indiana Territory it formed a part of the Northwest Territory.
Virginia acquired title to the great territory northwest of the Ohio by its several charters from James I, and especially from the one bearing date of May 23, 1609 in which was granted all the territory along the coast for four hundred miles and extend- ing "up into the land throughout from sea to sea." Virginia first attempted to exercise authority over this extensive domain in 1769, when the House of
Burgesses passed an act establishing the county of Botetourt, with the Mississippi River as its western boundary. Fincastle, Va., was the seat of jus- tice of this extensive county. In October, 1788, a Virginia statute provided that "all the citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia who are already settled or shall hereafter settle on the western side of the Ohio, shall be included in a distinct county, which shall be called Illinois County." Col. John Todd served under appointment of the Governor of Virginia as Civil Commandant and Lieutenant of Illinois, until his death at the battle of Blue Licks in 1782.
THE FRENCH IN INDIANA.
The first explorations and settlements of the whites were by the French, and were the results of the enterprise of LaSalle, who set out from Canada in 1679, and passing across the lakes descended the Illi- nois River. The Indians inhabiting the country at that time seem to have made little or no opposition to its occupancy by the new-comers, and several important French towns were established on the Illi- nois and Wabash before the eighteenth century was far advanced. The missions and settlements of the French were of necessity established along the routes of travel from Canada to the mouth of the Missis- sippi. The only mode of travel was by canoes.
14
HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
Among the portages over which the French carried their canoes from one navigable river to another, one was of three miles' length in St. Joseph County, Ind., from the St. Joseph River to the Kankakee; another was from the Maumee near Ft. Wayne to the Wabash.
The exact period of the first French settlements cannot be ascertained. Early in the eighteenth cen- tury a party of French Canadians descended the Wabash, and several settlements were soon established along its banks; among others Vincennes. Many dates have been given of the establishment of Vin- cennes, some of which are mere conjectures. Volney conjectured the settlement to have been made about 1735; Bishop Bruto speaks of a missionary station there in 1700; Bancroft says a military post was formed there iu 1716, and in 1742 a settlement of herdsmen was made; Judge Law dates the post back to 1710 or 1711, and the New American Cyclopedia says the party of French Canadians descended the Wabash in 1702 and established towns along the river. At one time the French settlements were rep- resented as in a flourishing condition and this part of New France was described as a new paradise, but the settlers degenerated, became ignorant and sloth- ful, and but little superior to the Indians among whom they lived.
GEN. CLARK'S CONQUEST OF THE BRITISH POSTS.
During the Revolution most of the Western In- dians adhered to the British. The possession by the British of the posts established by the French at Detroit, Kaskaskia and Vincennes gave them easy and constant access to the Indian tribes of the Northwest. The bold plan of defeating and expelling the British from their Western posts was conceived and brilliant- ly executed by a Kentucky backwoodsman, George Rogers Clark. By spies sent for the purpose, who were absent from April 20 to June 22, 1777, Clark satisfied himself that an enterprise against the West. ern settlements might easily be successful. He went to Virginia and submitted his plans to the Govern- ment of that State. Gov. Patrick Henry gave him written instructions, authorizing him to enlist seven companies to serve under his orders for three months. Clark's rank at this time was Lieutenant-Colonel. He raised three companies at Pittsburgh, and descended the Ohio to the falls, where he was joined by another company of Kentucky recruits. He left the falls with four companies on the 24th of June, 1778, dur- ing a total eclipse of the sun. He descended the river to Fort Massac, and thence proceeded by land to Kaskaskia, a distance of over 100 miles. Heavy rains had fallen, and were succeeded by hot, sultry weather. Their route lay through a wilderness with-
out a path. On the prairies a July sun beat upon them. Their guide became bewildered. On the 4th of July this party of invaders, with torn and soiled garments and beards of three weeks' growth, came in sight of Kaskaskia. The town contained about 250 houses, and the inhabitants were mostly French. Clark sent forward some 'of his men who could speak French to pass through the streets, making proclama- tion that all the inhabitants must keep within their houses, under penalty of being shot down in the streets. The next day the little army of invaders marched into the town in two divisions, and in two bours all the inhabitants surrendered and gave up their arms. Not a drop of blood was shed, but the
victory was complete. A few days later Clark sent a detachment mounted on French ponies to Cahokia, thirty miles distant, and obtained a surrender of the fort and garrison at that point. An embassy was sent to Vincennes, and in a few days the American flag was floating from the fort and the French inhab- itants brought over to the United States.
Clark was compelled to leave only a diminutive force to hold possession of Vincennes, and the British Lieutenant-Governor, Henry Hamilton, then at De- troit, formed the plan of retaking the place, in which he succeeded without difficulty. The latter had a considerable force of British regulars, French volun- teers and Indians. Clark with his main force was at Kaskaskia, and his position was one of great peril. His number of men was too small to stand a siege and his situation too remote to call for recruits. He formed the bold and hazardous scheme of capturing Governor Hamilton and retaking Vincennes.
On the 7th of February, 1779, Col. Clark with his little army commenced its march from Kaskaskia to Vincennes. Their route lay through prairies and points of timber. The winter was unusually wet and the streams all high. On the 13th of February they arrived at the Little Wabash and Muddy Rivers. The rains fell every day, and here the men were com- pelled to wade to their waists and sometimes to their armpits in mud and water. On the 18th, eleven days after their departure, they heard the morning gun of the fort at Vincennes. On the evening of the same day they were at the Wabash, below the mouth of the Embarrass. The party was now in an exhausted con- dition; the river was out of its banks and all the low grounds covered with water. Again making their way through deep waters they arrived in full view of the town a little before sunset on the 21st. In order to make his force appear formidable Clark ordered his men to march and countermarch in such a manner that from the intervening ground the enemy were led to count them twice or thrice. Ten or twelve pairs of colors were so displayed on long poles as to be seen
15
HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
above the intervening high land and from a distance mado no despicable appearance. Gov. Hamilton was awed into a surrender, which was formally made on the 24th.
The expedition of Col. Clark was not excelled in difficulty, daring and heroic endurance by any during the Revolution. The march from Kaskaskia to Vin- cennes was one of extraordinary hardship and enter- prise. The whole expedition resulted in the success- fnl reduction of all the British military posts between the Ohio and Mississippi, gave tranquility to the fron- tier settlements aud secured to the United States the whole of this vast territory. The Virginia Legisla- ture passed a complimentary resolution to Clark and his men for their victorious campaign "whereby great advantages may accrue to the common cause of Amer- ica, as well as to this Commonwealth in particular."
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
After Virginia and other States had coded to the United States their claims of jurisdiction and soil to the territory lying northwest of the Ohio, it became necessary for Congress to establish civil government in the new extensive region. Accordingly in the summer of 1787, while the convention which framed the Constitution was in session at Philadelphia, Congress at New York passed an "Ordinance for the government of the territory of the United States northwest of the River Ohio," which has come to be best known as "The Ordinance of '87." This was the most important act of Congress under the Arti- cles of Confederation. For nearly twenty-nine years it was the fundamental law of Indiana. S. P. Chase in his history of Ohio said of it: " Never, probably, in the history of the world, did a measure of legisla- tion so accurately fulfill, and yet so mightily exceed the anticipations of the legislators." Its object was declared to be to " extend the fundamental principles of civil and religious liberty which form the basis whereon these republics, their laws and constitutions are erected; to fix and establish those principles as the basis of all laws, constitutions and governments, which forever hereafter shall be formed in the said territory; to provide also for the establishment of States and permanent government therein, and for their admission to a share in the federal councils on an equal footing with the original States at as early periods as may be consistent with the general inter- est."
The territory for which this ordinance provided a government embraced all the land then belonging to the United States northwest of the Ohio. It ex- tended from Pennsylvania to the Mississippi, and from the Ohio to the Great Lakes. Five States have been organized from it: Ohio, Indiana, Illinois,
Michigan and Wisconsin. The Territorial Govern- ment was organized soon after the passage of the ordinance and at first was vested solely in a Governor and Judges. The first Governor was Gen. Arthur St. Clair who was President of Congress when appointed. In 1788 he entered upon his duties at Marietta. During the continuance of the first grade of govern- ment, there was no capital of the territory in the proper sense of the term. Laws were passed by the Governor and Judges wherever they happened to be assembled. Some were enacted at Marietta, some at Cincinnati and a few at Vincennes.
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