USA > Indiana > Madison County > History of Madison County, Indiana, from 1820 to 1874 : giving a general review of principal events, statistical and historical items, derived from official sources > Part 1
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一
HISTORY
OF
M ADISON COUNTY,
INDIANA,
·
FROM 1820 TO 1874,
6
GIVING A GENERAL REVIEW OF PRINCIPAL EVENTS, STATISTICAL -
AND HISTORICAL ITEMS, DERIVED FROM OFFICIAL SOURCES.
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
CITY OF
ON
COMPILED WITH CARE BY
SAMUEL HARDEN, MARKLEVILLE, IND. 1874.
-
F530 MaHa
PREFACE.
Having all my life been unable to reconcile to myself the propriety of long prefaces, I now intend to write but a short one; and, in fact, yield to this more from custom than from any apparent necessity. The author first conceived the idea of writing this work from reading the early history of Indiana, by O. H. Smith. And if I shall be able to merely imitate that great sketch-writer, my ambition will be more than subserved. Let me here say that I entered the work with many misgivings as to my ability in placing a book before an enlightened people, worthy of the name it bears. And would, in fact, have failed had it not been for the unbounded help from many quarters. And here I wish to return thanks to the county officials, who have univer- sally given the information sought, and to many private citizens in the county. The author is not vain enough to think he has brought out a book faultless, and without mistakes. It would be singular indeed if these did not occur. He is also aware that many incidents and statistics have failed to appear which should have found a place in this work. But when the reader reflects for a moment the vast amount of work, to gather material, originating as it does from inci- dents extending over a period of more than fifty years, he will, to some extent, overlook the seeming as well as real imperfections. The author has visited in person all parts of the county, picking up here and there facts and figures as best he could, writing many letters for information, which have been universally responded to. How well the author has succeeded in placing before the people a readable and reliable book, is for them to decide.
MARKLEVILLE, IND., December, 1874.
THE AUTHOR.
INDEX.
PAGE.
Adams Township 30 Anderson Township 32
Anderson City 67
Alexandria
70
Alfont.
71
Anderson Crossing
72
Allen John, Sketch of 207
Anshultz P. P., Sketch of 208
Adamson Enos, Sketch of. 208
Allen W. B., Sketch of 209
Allen, William
209
Atherton, W. G 211
Boone Township
34
Biddle R., Sketch of. 210
Berry, John
211
Berry, Colonel 212
Brickly, Dr. W. P
213
Bronenburg, F. sr. 214
Beckwith, T. L.
214
Bell, Thomas 215
Boram, G. R. 216
Busby Family 217
Bray, Andrew 255 Band at Anderson 301
Band, Perkinsville 302
Bar at Anderson
306
City Council Proceedings.
68
6
INDEX.
PAGE.
Chesterfield.
73
County Fair 159
Cemeteries of the County 205
Clark, R. N. 219
Clark, T. G 223
Cookman, John 224
Conrad, David. 225
Crossley, Coonrod 225
Cook, Dr. Daniel
226
Cole, Warren 227
Cook, Dr. J. H
227
Craven, Judge H 228
Collier, Rev. James 229
County Officers. 304
County Commissioners. 306
Church, Baptist, Anderson
315
Church, Baptist, Lilly Creek. 313
Church, Baptist, New Columbus 313
Church, Baptist, Union. 314
Church, Baptist, Mt. Pisgah
315
Church, Baptist, Bethel
316
Church, Baptist, Boone Township
316
Church, Baptist, Pendleton 317
Church, Christian, Anderson 318
Church, Christian, Van Buren Township 319
Church, Christian, Lilly Ceeek 320
Church, Cristian, Forrest Chapel. 321
Church, Christian, White Chapel 321
Church, Catholic, Anderson. 322
Church, Friend. 323
Church, Busby M. E 324
Church, Pendleton M. E
325
Church, Frankton M. E. 326
Church, Pleasant Valley M. E. 326
Church, Richmond Chapel M. E 327
Church, Elm Grove. 337
Church, Mt. Tabor M. E. 328
Class, Mannering M. E 329
Church, Asbury Chapel M. E. 329
7
INDEX.
PAGE.
Church, Mt. Carmel M. E
330
Church, Tennessee M. E 330
Church, Fishersburg M. E. 331
Church, Anderson M. E. 331 Church, Florida M. E.
333
Church, Chesterfield M. E 334
Church, Wesley Chapel M. E
334
Church, Menden M. E. 335
Church, Markleville M. E 336
Church, Perkinsville M. E 336
Church, First Presbyterian, Anderson 338
Church, United Brethren, Menden 339
Church, United Brethren, Union Township 339
Church, Universalist, Pendleton 340
Duck Creek Township
36
Diltz, William and wife. 230
Davis, Judge John .. 231
Dunham, George 231
Democratic Central Committee
299
Elwood
74
Exports from Pendleton.
83
Eastman, Lorana
232
Fall Creek Township.
37
Franklin, David
233
Festler, Peter 234
Franklin, Joseph 236
Fisher, Charles. 237
First Court House.
27
First Division of the County in Districts.
27
First Grand Jury
29
First Traverse Jury
29
First Jail
29
Frankton.
74
Fishersburg
75
Florida Station 76
Fall Creek Agricultural Society 294
Falls of Fall Creek 309
General Outlook 17
8
INDEX.
PAGE.
Green Township
39
Gregory, B. F.
238
Gillmore, Morris. 239
Grange Move 368
Grange, Boston 369
Grange, Richland 369
Grange, Markleville 370
Grange, Richmond Chapel 370
Grange, Butonwood
371
Grange, Pleasant Grove
371
Grange, Anderson
372
Grange, Adams.
372
Grange, Normal
373
Grange, Fall Creek
373
Grange, Union.
373
Grange, Dageon 374
Grange, Huntsville. 374
Grange, Oceolo
374
Grange, Mannering
374
Grange, Charity.
375
Grange, Fishersburg
375
Huntsville
77
Hamilton
78
Hope and Faith-a poem
151
Hardesty, J. O
240
Hayes, John.
241
Hardy, Neal.
242
Hollingsworth, James
243
Hodson, Eli
244
Hollingsworth, Elias
245
Holston, J. R
245
Hunt, Dr. John
246
Holliday, Samuel 247
248
Henry, Samuel
Huston, Samuel 252
Hollingsworth, Elizabeth. 253
Hydraulics.
299
9
INDEX.
PAGE.
Indian Murders
53
Indian Mounds 143
Irish, S. D 254
Jackson Township 41
Jackson, Andrew 256
Keller, Philip. 256
Lafayette Township 42
Letters from Prominent Men
90
Letters from J. R. Holston 91
Letters from J. W. Forrest
98
Letters from J. W. Harmon
100
Letters from D. W. A. Hunt
102
Letters from P. H. Lemon 115
Letters from R. H. Cree 118
Letters from P. H. Lemon 122
List of Heavy Tax Payers 145
Lewis, J. B 257
Monroe township. 44
Markleville 78
March of life-a poem 154
May-a poem 155
Management of Common Schools, by C Free 188
Mobbing of Fred Douglass at Pendleton 203
Moreau, W. C. 221
Maynard, Moses 258
Moore, George 259
Mershon, W. H. 260
Markle, John .. 261
McCallister, Thos 262
McCallister Family
263
Makepeace Family 264 Meeting of Mexican Soldiers 286 Murder of Hoppis by White 287
Murder of Miss Williamson 290
Murder of the Isnagle boys
293
Medical Society at Pendleton 297
Mill, Saw, Lukens 348
10
INDEX.
PAGE.
Mill, First National. 348
Mill, Saw, Florida Station 348
Mill, Saw, New Columbus
349
Mill, Saw, Markleville 349
Mill, Planing, Alexandria 349
Mill, Grist, Perkinsville.
350
Mill, Grist, Summitville.
350
Mill, Saw, Summitville
351
Mill, Grist, Frankton 351
Mill, Saw, Frankton 351
Mill, Saw and Grist, Chesterfield. 351
Mill, Flax, Pendleton 352
Mill, Planing, Pendleton 352
Mill, Saw, Perkinsville
352
Mill, Dickson & Sons, Anderson.
353
Mill, Sparks', Anderson
353
Mill, Germania, Anderson
354
Mill, Moss Island 354
Mill, Flax, Anderson 355
Mill, Cataract, Pendleton 355
Mill, Huntsville. 356
Mill, Grist, Chesterfield. 357
Mill, Grist, Alexandria .. 358
Masonic Lodge, Ovid. 358
Masonic Lodge, Chesterfield 359
Masonic Lodge, Quincy. 359
Masonie Lodge, Markleville 359
Masonic Lodge, Chapter, Pendleton 360
Masonic Lodge, Frankton. 361
Masonic Lodge, Alexandria 361
Masonic Lodge, Pendleton 361
Masonic Lodge, Anderson. 362
Masonic Lodge, R. A., Anderson 362
Masonic Lodge, Mt. Moriah, Anderson 363
Masonic Lodge, Perkinsville 363
New Columbus. 79
Osceola. 80
Old Settlers Meeting. 157
11
INDEX.
PAGE.
Odd Fellows Lodges-
Frankton. 364
Pendleton. 364
Perkinsville 367
Anderson
367
Alexandria
368
Pipe Creek Township.
46
Pendleton
81
Perkinsville
87 152
Poem by D. C. Markle
Premiums Awarded for 1874
168
Prigg, William, sen
266
Plummer, Henry 267
Poindexter, R. E. 267
Pratt, Dr. Joel
268
Physicians, Anderson 302
Poor House 303
Pork Packing, Anderson. 309
Pendleton Register 312
341
Richland Township.
47
Readiness for Action, W. S. Tingley.
178
Reger, Saul. 269
Ryan, Dr. T 269
Robinson, Col. U. S 270
Richmond, Nathaniel 271
Richards, Manley .. 271
Richards Catherine 272
Republican Central Committee
298
Stoney Creek towhship
49
Summitville
88
Siy Fork Station 89
126
Synopsis of the Sunday School
Stilwell, Col. T. N 273
Swain, J. T. 275
Smith, Wright, sen 276
Silver, J. R. 277
Shaul Family 278
Post Offices in the County
12
INDEX.
PAGE.
Shanklin, Andrew 279
Shanklin, W. V. 280
Schwim, Jacob 291
Soldiers, List of, from Madison county in the late war 378 411
Turnpike, Pendleton and Newcastle. 341
Turnpike, Anderson and Fishersburg 342
Turnpike, Anderson and New Columbus. 342
Turnpike, Anderson and Lafayette 343
Turnpike, Pendleton and Eden 343
Turnpike, Kill Buck 343
Turnpike, Madison and Hancock 344
Turnpike, Lick Creek. 344
Turnpike, Pendleton and Fall Creek 345
Turnpike, Pendleton and Fishersburg 344
Turnpike, Anderson and New Columbus
345
Turnpike, Anderson and Perkinsville 346
Turnpike, Anderson and Alexandria 346
Turnpike, Anderson and Hamilton
346
Turnpike, Pendleton and Noblesville 347
The Big Lick, by J. Borane
112
Thompson, W. A. 281
Temperance Alliance
300
Table of Distances
307-308
Temperance. 310
Union Township
50
Van Buren Township. 52
Variety Chapter
196
Vote of County for the Year 1873 376
Woolen Factory, R. Adams. 354
Westerfield, J. W 282
Williams, R. N 283
Winchell, Adam. 284
Windall, Fred 285
Woolen Factory, Broadbents. 347
The Press 120
HISTORY
OF
MADISON COUNTY.
MADISON COUNTY is situated a little to the northeast of the center of the State. One-third lies in forty and two- thirds in forty-one degrees north latitude. From its central position, its natural advantages, among which are abundance of timber, mill streams, productive soil, intelligent and industrious inhabitants, growing interests in educational matters, our numerous pikes and churches, it at once takes rank with the foremost counties in the State.
Reader, let us go back to the year 1820, from which time our history dates. What do we find? An unbroken wilderness. Perhaps all told, not more than one hundred citizens, and these with scanty means, surrounded by native Indians. This handfull of pioneers settled near the Falls of Fall Creek, about the year 1820. Among this number we find the names of Elias Hollingsworth, Samuel Holliday, Thomas and William McCartney, the Richmond family, Thomas Scott, Israel Cocks, Saul Shaul, followed soon after by Adam Dobson, Parmer Patrick, William and Thomas Silver. From this infant settlement we have grown to a population of 25,000. The Indian has faded away. The church bell has taken the place of the war whoop. What changes have taken place! Scarcely one
2
18
HISTORY OF
pioneer, who first settled Madison county, remains. Our progress has cost toil, privations, hardships untold, and not fully appreciated by the present generation. This book is written in part that their names and the hardships they underwent, to some extent, may be remembered. It will show step by step, decade by decade, the progress we have made. Statistics will be introduced in their proper place as we proceed, as we only intend this as a general survey, intending hereafter to take up the townships alphabetically, and give a history of each separately. We find Madison county fifteen miles in width and twenty-nine and three- fourths in length, and containing an area of four hundred and forty-six and one-fourth square miles. It is divided into fourteen civil townships, named as follows, and each containing the annexed area :
Adams, thirty-five ; Anderson, thirty-six ; Boone, thirty ; Duck Creek, thirty-four ; Greene, twenty-four ; Fall Creek, forty-two; Jackson, twenty-eight ; Monroe, fifty-one; Pipe Creek, forty-two ; Richland, twenty-seven and a fourth ; Union, nineteen and a half; Vanburen, twenty-five ; Lafay- ette, thirty-four and a half ; Stoney Creek, twenty-eight.
The streams which attract our attention are first, White river, entering the county in Union township, one mile and a half northeast of Chesterfield, traversing the whole width of the county, leaving it about the center of Jackson town- ship and just west of Perkinsville. Its general course is west, one-third of the county being on the south and two- thirds on the north of the river. Its entire length through the county, counting its meanderings, is not far from twenty miles.
The next we shall notice is Fall Creek. Entering the county on the east in Adams township, and two miles from the northeast corner of the same, running nearly west to New Columbus, thence to Pendleton, bearing a little to the south, where it takes a southwesterly course, leaving the county two miles west of Alfont, in Greeu township; its entire length being twenty-two miles.
Next in size to the latter is Pipe Creek. It takes its rise
19
MADISON COUNTY.
in Delaware county, entering Monroe and Vanburen town- ships. From its tributaries it assumes a considerable size at Alexandria, running southwest to Frankton, and leaving the county one mile north of Perkinsville. Its general course is southwest and its entire length is twenty-five miles.
Next in importance is Lick Creek, taking its rise in Henry county. Its general course is west, running through the entire width of the county, emptying into Fall Creek near the Hamilton county line. The length of this stream is very nearly that of Fall Creek, that is within the county, its course comparing with that of the latter, being rather more abrupt in its turnings. It derives its name from the " Big Lick," which we have described in another part of this work.
Kill Buck is next under our notice. It derived its name from an Indian Chief of the Delaware tribe. It takes its rise in Delaware county, flows southwest through the county and empties into White river at the railroad bridge near Anderson. Its length in the county is about twelve miles.
Little Kill Buck, a branch of the above, will be spoken of in proper order.
In the northwest part of the county we find Duck Creek. The main branch takes its rise in Boone township, enter- ing Duck Creek township near the center of its east line. Flowing south into Pipe Creek township, past Elwood, leaving the county at its west line. Length, fifteen miles within the county.
Next is Indian Creek, which has its source in Lafayette township, flows southwest and empties into White river a short distance above Hamilton. Length, twelve miles.
Next is Stony Creek, rising in Jackson township, running southwest, past Fishersburg, leaving the county three- fourths of a mile southeast of this place. Its length is about ten miles, and derives its name from the stone found in its bed.
We will now notice Mud Creek, and we think it properly named. It rises in Grant county, flows south past Summit- ville, across the southeast corner of Boone township, where
20
HISTORY OF
it enters Monroe, bearing little west of south, emptying into Pipe Creek, one mile and a half west of Alexandria. Length, eleven miles.
Little Kill Buck has its source in Monroe township, two prongs having their junction just north of Prosperity, run- ning south, emptying into Kill Buck just above Robert Adam's Woolen Factory, and near the Alexandria pike bridge.
Prairie Creek drains the prairie lying between Pendleton and Anderson, is about eight miles in length, flows south- west, entering Fall Creek just above the Falls. It derived its name from the prairie above alluded to.
Sly Fork rises in Union township, and near the Henry county line, running south, enters Fall Creek one-fourth of a mile west of Franklin's Mill, in Adams township.
Mill Creek also takes its rise in Union township, near the source of the stream just described, runs in an opposite direction and empties into White rives one-half mile north of Chesterfield. Length, three miles.
Foster's Branch, a little stream rising in Jackson town- ship, passing through the northwest corner of Fall Creek township, entering Green, running south, empties into Fall Creek, three miles below Pendleton.
Winsell's, or Spring Branch has its source near the Adams and Fall Creek township lines, runs west near the Pendleton and New Castle pike line, emptying into Fall Creek one-half mile east of Huntsville. Length, four miles.
Mud Branch rises in Stoney Creek township, flows south- west into the corner of Green, crossing the Pendleton and Noblesville pike, near Bock's Mill, continuing southwest two miles, where it leaves the county. Length, seven miles.
This completes the description of all the rivers and creeks of any importance. Nearly all, in times past, afforded pro- pelling power for mills, but since the country has been cleared up and steam introduced, the smallest of them are not now used for that purpose. The county, as a rule, might be called level; there are, however, on White river
21
MADISON COUNTY.
and Fall Creek, hills of considerable size. There is, com- paratively, little waste land in the county. The prairie, between Pendleton and Anderson, for many years considered as waste land, is gradually being subdued, and will soon become the garden spot of the county, instead of being the home of miasma and noxious weeds. A main ditch has been put through, side ditches will soon be added, when it will yield a hundred bushels of corn to the acre for years without any restorative agencies. The forests of this county, in its early history, must have been grand, judging from what we see at this late day. There has been burned and wasted enough valuable timber to pay for all the land in the county, at fifty dollars per acre. But it could not be otherwise. There was no demand, no mills, the pioneer had to clear his land, and the way most expeditious was the best. This necessity has, to a great extent, passed away. We are learning to take care of our timber.
Since pine, to a great extent, is used, and the railroad companies are using stone coal, let us hope that our much abused forests may have a season of rest in the future. There have been some grand trees which are worthy our special notice as they are no longer standing to tell their own story, save perhaps their stumps, which still linger, loth to yield the place of their nativity. The first we will mention is a poplar tree which grew on the land now owned by Thornton Rector, in Adams township. The writer went for himself, and measured the stump, which is yet standing, two miles northeast of New Columbus, on the east pike, leading to Anderson. It is nine feet in diameter, and sixty feet from the stump it was five feet in diameter. The tree was cut in 1870, and sold to W. R. Pierce, of Anderson, for thirty dollars. It was all hauled away except the third cut, which was longer than the rest, could not be hauled, eight horses having pulled at it with no effect. It was still there in 1874. Near it were other fine trees but not so large. Also we have an account of a sycamore, growing in Lafayette township, cut down many years since. A ten foot pole was turned with ease in its
22
HISTORY OF
hollow. There was an oak tree in Boone township, said to be the finest tree in the north part of the county. It was eight feet in diameter, seventy feet to the first limb. Another, a poplar, growing in Lafayette township, from which 7,500 shingles were made; it was said to be eighty feet to the first limb, and the finest of its species in the county. Another fine tree, an oak, grew just west of Mar- kleville, on the land originally owned by John Markle, but now owned by C. G. Mauzy, just south of the pike. It was seven feet in diameter. This tree was cut down and worked up into boards and rails in 1855. You can see its stump as you pass along the pike. Another, a whiteoak, stood on the land originally owned by George Sebrell. This tree was ten feet in diameter, and by far the largest oak tree in the township, and perhaps in the county. It grew on section thirty-two, east half, town 18, range eight. We will speak of another white oak which grew on the land of George Sebrell, which was six feet in diameter, eighty feet without any defect, carrying its size well. It has been acknowledged, by all who have looked upon this tree, as being the grandest representative of its kind in this vicinity. We will further say of this tree, that it seemed to stand entirely perpendicular, reaching far above the neighboring trees, looking down upon them, as it were, as a monarch upon his subjects, glorying in his power to rule. It grew in section five, town seventeen, in Adams township.
Near the above tree and on the same land, was a poplar tree, nine feet in diameter. It was a very valuable tree and was worked up into rails in 1836, by Isaac Creason. Its stump is yet seen near Solomon Creason's residence, and one mile north of the Hancock county line.
We will add that the last two oak trees described were consumed by a fire which swept through that locality in 1856. We are indebted to J. J. Justice for information in regard to the last three trees described. Similar trees to the above dots the county over. We give only a few to show those in the future that this was once a well timbered county. The demand for walnut lumber, of late years, has
23
MADISON COUNTY.
nearly stripped us of this kind of timber. But few valuable trees are left to remind us of their past glory. The same may be said of other valuable timber.
In looking over our history during a period of fifty years, what wonders have taken place in our county. Excellent mills, near fifty in number, and worth thousands of dollars, have taken the place of one little corn cracker at the Falls Over one hundred school houses dot our county, worth over $100,000, and with about the same number of churches worth $300,000, with our two hundred miles of pike, costing $250,000. Our land has grown to be worth on an average, of fifty dollars an acre, worth in the aggre- gate $12,000,000; besides the city and town property, worth, perhaps $1,000,000. The railroads enter and form almost a net work in our county, without which we would be poor indeed.
The telegraph and other improvements, unthought of by the pioneer, have been introduced; but as the poet has beautifully expressed it-
" There is a Divinity which shapes our ends Rough hew them how we will."
In 1823 we find our county was organized. There were twelve civil townships, Lafayette and Duck Creek having been since created. The county seat was originally at Pen- dleton, where it continued until 1836, when it was removed to Anderson, where it now is and doubtless will remain. It is a little to the south of the center of the county, near enough, however, for all practical purposes. We find the geographical center of the county to be near Florida, in Lafayette township. Its distance from the center of the county, when at Pendleton, was doubtless the cause of its removal. It was the occasion at the time of some little jealousy, which still lingers to some extent.
Our growth, while it has not been of the mushroom order, has been gradual and satisfactory, as the statistics will show. With a productive soil which responds to toil in a fitting way, we can draw the contrast with the pioneer with satis- faction. While theirs was a life of privations and sacrifices,
24
HISTORY OF
ours is, comparatively, that of ease and plenty. It has, as has been said in another part of this work, cost toil and privations. Many have been called away since our county was first settled, as our cemeteries will attest. The Author has passed many of their silent homes while gathering these items, and never without respect mingled with sorrow. Could some of these revisit us again, what strange sights and sounds would greet them. Beautiful fields have taken the place of the' silent woodland. Churches and school houses are found on every hand. The same may be said of us also, when we too, shall have gone hence, as onward and upward seems to be written on everything, and we need not be surprised at anything. A flying machine, brought to perfection, would not be any more of a wonder, fifty years hence, than the present telegraph would be to one, could he now rise and see with natural eyes, having been sleeping in the grave for the same length of time.
The genius of man is unbounded. There are men to-day wearing away their lives, bringing out and perfecting balloons and ships to navigate the air, flying apparatuses, talking devices, etc. We may not live to see these perfected but time will bring them out in its own good season, for it is a law of nature, written in unmistakable letters, that the supply will be equal to the demand. In other words, man's ingenuity, assisted by a higher power, will develop and bring out what the times demand ; they keep pace and are inseparable.
STATISTICS.
We will now proceed to give some statistics in relation to the county, which are taken from reliable sources, and are thought to be correct :
The population of the county in 1830 was 2,238, in 1840 it was 8,874, in 1850 it was 12,375, in 1860 it was 16,518, in 1870 it was 22,770, and at this writing, 1874, is estima- ted, in round numbers, at 25,000, with a voting population of 5,272.
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