USA > Indiana > Boone County > Mechanicsburg in Boone County > History of Mechanicsburg, Indiana > Part 1
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Gc 977.202 M46W.& 1356319
M. L.
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02302 3093
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History of Mechanicsburg
Indiana ----
BY EMILY WEEKS
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Published ander the auspices of THE QUI VIVE CLUB Mechanicsburg, Indiana
1356319
Copyright, 1907, by Emily Werks.
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To the memory of my sister. ELIZABETH WEEKS,
those life was spent among and for the people of Mechanicsburg.
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INTRODUCTION
The following history was written for the Qui Vive Club, and read before that organization by the author, We found the paper of too great historical value to be lost and decided to preserve it in this form, hoping that others, as well as niem- bers of the Club, may enjoy it.
QUI 'VIVE CLUB.
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History of Mechanicsburg.
O NLY a few generations ago, where our village now stands, the virgin forest covered the land and gave shelter to the deer, the fox, and to wild birds innumerable. The stillness of the night was often broken by the rushing feet and hideous cry of a pack of hungry wolves. Here the Hiawathas hunted. smoked, wooed and won their Minnehahas. En- croaching civilization forced the Indian westward and felled the forest. The wigwam gave way to the set- tler's cabin and little patches of maize were superced- ed by broad fields of grain.
Among the pioneers who bought of the govero- ment the land now comprising the village of Mechan- icsburg and vicinity were the brothers Peter, George. John, Jacob and Daniel Keesling, who came from Ohio in 188. Thomas Hasty entered his land June, 1831. John Bonham, of Tennessee, entered his land . north of town November 9, 1831; and five days later, Archibald Dunbar entered a tract of land south of town. Mr. Dunbar in 1841 sold the east half to Samuel Alspaw. The west half he had sold in 1840 to Martin Shaffer and John Raper. Mr. Shaffer sold his interest to Mr. Raper, who, in 1842, sold to Na- than Murphy. In 1865 Mr. Murphy sold to Elibu Swain and N. R. Ellion, and the following year he moved to Ogden. Calvin F. Keesling bought Elihu Swain's interest in 1875 and lived here until 1880
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History of Mechanicsburg.
when he sold to N. R. Elliott and I. W. Cooper. Win. Alexander came from Preble County, Ohio. in 1833, and entered land upon which the south ball of Mechanicsburg was built. Moses Wilhoit came from Ohio in 1831. John Swain, Lewis Swain, and Wil- liam Jones came from Tennessee in 1834. The land upon which John Swain settled had been entered No- vember 5, 1829. Lewis Swain's land had been en- tered by his father, June 8, 1833. William Jones en- tered eighty acres, which he soon sold to John Kees- ling for $195.00. William Keesling bought this o! his father, and in 1854 built a bone there which he occupied the remainder of his life. It is now owned by W. H. Cummins. The east eighty acres of the Wm, Keesling farm was entered by John Swain and is now owned by W. H. Keesling. Isaac Adamson
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came from Tennessee about 1830. Solomon Bills en- tered eighty acres of land but soon sold one-half to George Keesling, the other half to Lewis Swain.
The northern half of the village was built up- on the south-east corner of George Keesling's land and the south-west corner of Peter Keesling's land. while the southern half was built upon the Alexander farm.
The first house built upon the land now included in the town was the log tarm house in which Wm. Alexander lived. It stood a few rods south-west of Mrs. N. R. Elliott's present home. Later the main part of the building was moved to an- other lot by John Alspaw, and is at present owned and occupied by Mrs. Essie Alspaw. Another part
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1800-1869.
Peter Keesting.
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Mrs. Margaret Reesling- 1919-1996
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History of Mechanicsburg.
of this building became a part of the residence owned and occupied by Jacob Zirkle until January 29, 190.4, when it was destroyed by fire.
After much discussion the founders of the town de- cided to call it Mechanicsburg. Nearly every trade was represented. Among other names consid- ered was that of Petersburg, which some proposed to call it in honor of Peter Keesling upon whose land the first business house was built. This building was erected by Samuel Keesling, Peter's eldest son, and he was assisted by Thomas Murry and Thomas Gra- ham. The building stood in the corner of a field of stumps and deadened trees.
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In this building Thomas Dunning opened the first store, probably in 1845. It occupied the present site of J. W. Goodwin's dry goods store. Thornton Rogers clerked for him. After a time Mr. Dunning sold his store to Washington Franklin, who continued the business, and with his family occupied the Mrs. N. A. Goodwin property. Later, Lewis Swain owned this store for a time.
As early as 1844 a blacksmith shop was located where [. W. Cooper's residence now stands. The charcoal used in the shop was burned by the black- smith named Wm. Kepner, and Wm. Alexander. The pit was located on or near the site of J. W. Good- win's barn, Later, Isaac Wampler, Wm. Alexan- der's son-in-law, had a blacksmith shop on the south- east corner, and lived in a two-story log bonse on the lot. He made plows, mi addition to bis other work.
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History of Mechanicsburg.
Wm. Alspaw alterward occupied this corner with a blacksmith shop, and later Wm. Perry worked at the cooper trade in the same building. Wm. Wood owned a blacksmith shop on East street in 1853, and has worked continuously at his trade since that time. Some of our citizens remember how they, in child- hood,
"Coming home from school Looked in at the open door,"
and in imagination again try to
"Catch the burning sparks that By Like chaff from the threshing-floor." Wim. Wood's brother, John, learned the trade with him, and was a partner for a time, In 1863 their brother, Isaac Wood, came from Ohio and en- tered into a partnership with William which lasted until March, 1874.
January to, 1849, Thomas B. Koesling bought of George Keesling about three acres of land comprising the lots from W. H. Keesling's lot on the north-west comer westward to John L. Swain's lot, inclusive. The consideration was $25.00. July 14 of the same vear Thomas Keesling was appointed first post-mas- ter of Mechanicsburg. He bad built a residence on the corner lot, and in this bo lived and kept the post- office. The mail was brought once a week from New Castle to Cadiz; was carried thence on horseback to Mechanicsburg, Ovid, Huntsville and Pendelton. Mr. Keesling is now living in San Jose, California.
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Abel Sinnett was appointed first carrier of Mechanicsburg's first daily mail. This route was established between Mechanicsburg and Middletown in 1867 and Mr. Sinnett served almost continuous- ly for sixteen years. Lewis Greenlee held a con- tract for four years but employed Mr. Sinnett a part of his term. He carried passengers and packages between the two towns. A fanmer's wife or daughter rushing out and handing Mr. Sinnett a sample of calico or lace to match for her in town was a familiar sight to the passengers on the mail hack. In 1868 Mr. Sinnett and family moved into the toll-house one-half mile east of town where they lived for twenty-four years, the first and only keep- ors of that gate. Since 1892 they have kept a hotel in Mechanicsburg. Mr. Sinnett was married to Deborah Boram in February, 1862.
Milburn Keesling and Eliza Norman were mar- ried in 1852 and began housekeeping on the Wil- liam Adamson farm. In 1854 they moved to Mis- souri where they remained four years. In 1883 they bought their present home which occupies the former site of the old "'Skeeter" school house. Mr. Keesling and Mr. Sinnett each lived for a time in the cabin on Peter Keesling's farm. It was surrounded by an orchard of cherry trees which remained many years after the cabin had disappeared.
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History of Mechanicsburg.
CHURCHES
Before a church building had been erected the Methodists held their meetings in William Alexan- der's home It was probably as early as 1843 that a hewed log church was built on George Keesling's land opposite the old cemetery. Four or five years later a storm carried the upper part of this building down the hill leaving the floor, and walls one log high, standing. Jacob Mogul was one of the trus- tees of the church, and Solomon Rigger and Stephen Norman were two local preachers. During the for- ties four ministers, named Stright, Heath, John Leach, and Matthew Fennemore, preached in the churches of the neighborhood. The Middletown cir- cuit of the Methodist church included Mechanicsburg and the Bell church three miles west of town. 1849 a Methodist camp-meeting was held in the Bon- ham woods where natural slopes formed a fine ampi- theater.
In the summer of 1853 the German Baptists beld their annual meeting in Peter Keesling's new barn.
Some time during the fifties a frame church was erected by the Methodists on the site of the one de- stroyed by storm. Many of our citizens remember attending church services and Sunday-school in this building. It was celled with wood, and had a large pillar m the center of the room. The S. S. library was kept in a little red case which stood directly be- neath the high. old-fashioned pulpit. This case had been in the lug church, and after the storm was found
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in its accustomed place. It had not been overturned even when the roof and walls had been lifted and car- ried away. Here on Sunday afternoons William Perry led a singing class, using the old figure notes. Here, too, occurred a thrilling adventure of Daniel Rent's childhood. Attending an evening service be grow sleepy. Creeping into a dark corner he was soon in a sound sleep from which he did not wakeon when the congregation was dismissed. Later, he awakened and found himself alone in the dark church with the white stones gleaming across the way. Climbing out through a window he rushed like the wind past the cemetery and across the little val- ley that lay between the church and the village.
Eli Rammel preached here in 1853: Benjamin Smith, in '55; Philip Stephens, in '56; M. P. Armstrong, '57; J. B. Birt, 1860; W. S. Bradford, 16r. The latter resigned to serve in the Civil War; his successor, Nathaniel Brown, also gave up the work in a short time and entered the army. Next came J. H. McMahon in '62; W. E. McCar- ty, '63; D. F. Stright, '65; J. and O, S. Harri- son. : 68; William Anderson and E. Pierce, '69; William Anderson and W. H. Meissee, 1870 and '71; John Pierce, '72-74; F. A. Fish, '75 and '76; P. Carland, '77; J. Thomas, '78 and '80; C. Har- vey, '81 and '82; R. B. Powell, '83-85; J. W. Low- ery, '85 and '87; C. C. Cissell, '88.
A Methodist church was built at College Corner in 1888, and the meetings were then held at that
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Mechanicsburg's First School House, Built in 1954.
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History of Mechanicsburg.
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place until the spring of when they were again moved to Mechanicsburg. The pastor for 1904 and 1005 was Rev. R. F. Smith; for 1906, F. J. Speck- ein. The brick church on North street was erected in 1873. It is a union church building in which any denomination has the right to hold services.
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A Seventh-day Adventist congregation was organ- ized here January 13, 1874, under the direction of Elder S. H. Lane. There were thirteen charter members. The membership was afterward increased to more than one hundred, but that number bas been decreased by removal of memberships to oth- er places, by deaths and various causes.
OUR SCHOOLS,
Before the founding of Mechanicsburg, probably in the winter of 1835-6, Lewis Swain taught a term of school in a log house which stood at the east -. ern base of "the mound" on Miss Eve Keesling's place. A pear tree still standing marks the site. In the fall of 1836 Mrs. Susan Payne who lived in a cabin on John Bonham's farm, taught school in her little home of one room. Among the pupils who attended were John "Dan'l" Keesling, Mary Keesling ( Lutholtz, ) Susanna Swain ( Weeks, ) John Swain, Sallie Swain, Samuel, Harvey and Henry Keesling: Jane Keesling |Nash,) Benjamin, Martin and Olla Longbottom; William. Joseph, Jobn and Rebecca Bills. After eating their noon lunch the
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children would rosh out to play in the leafy tops of the trees which Mr. Payne was felling about the house. John Swain and Mrs. Luthultz, two of the pupils, furnish the information concerning these earliest schools. A little later, a school-house was built on Thomas Hasty's farm, on or near the site of Frank Zirkle's house. Some of the teachers here were William Swain, Levi Hasty, Mary Lewis ( Small) and Martha Judd. This was a typical pioneer school- house with slabs resting on pins in the wall for writing desks, and slab benches for seats. The teacher was furnished a splint-bottom chair. An- other school-house was built on Charles Mitchell's farm. The corner stones still mark the site.
In the summer of 1854 the first school-house was built in Mechanicsburg. The lot upon which it stood is now a gravel pit in the western edge of the town. The three trustees, Lewis Swain, James Wisebart and John Bonham, hired John F. Polk, then a young man twenty-one years of age, to teach the first term beginning November 28, 1854. There were two months of public school followed by two months of private school with more than one
hundred pupils enrolled. Mr. Polk boarded at George Keesling's, and remembers that he paid for board and lodging $2.50 per month. Among the older pupils were John Hackney Swain, Rice and Amos Keesling, Ezra and Andrew Henshaw, Marcus Bonham, Calvin Keesling, George and Mary Hasty,. Hugh and Elmor Murphy, Win, and Henry Swain,
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Margaret Beck and Christena Keesling. At this time WV. H. Keesling's education had its beginning. His father took him to the school house and placed him in the hands of the teacher. There was a short- lived rebellion on the part of the new pupil when his father left the room. Commencing in July of the following summer Mr. Polk taught a term of six weeks for small children of whom there were ser- enty in attendance. For four successive winters he taught bere. then one in the old "Seminary" at New Castle, then returned and taught another term in 1839-60. He again returned and taught during the winter of 1868-9. During an interview, Mr. . Polk recalled many incidents connected with his ca- weer in Mechanicsburg. Among others was one that proved embarrassing to the new teacher who was sensitive about his youthful appearance. At a noon recess, only a few days after he began his first term. he went into Elliou and Swain's store to get chalk. He noticed the men were listening attentive- ly to a man whom he afterward learned was Charles Mitchell, the father of L. P. Mitchell. He was talk- ing about the incompetence of a certain teacher. and, noticing the strange youth who had just en- tered, ouded his remarks by saying. "The man is no more fun to reach school than this boy would Mr. Polk gave sivid descriptions of the old- fashioned spelling-schools- occasions that taxed the ingenuity of the young teacher to keep down row- Alyism.
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History of Mechanicsburg
David Hunt, assisted by his sister-in-law. Me. lissa Elliott ( Pennington ), taught during the sum- mer of 185gm and it is probable that he taught the previous water while Mr. Polk was at New Cas- tle, Mr. Hunt lived where Daniel Rent now live; and had a car in which he and Mrs. Hunt mad: daguerreotype pictures.
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Mr. Polk left in the spring of 1860. No rec. ord can be found for 1860-t or for x802-3, but some of our citizens remember that about this time John Needham, Ezra and Andrew Henshaw, and William Watkins taught here. Benjamin Rogers, of Pendleton, and Marcus Bonham maratt 1861-2 In the spring of 63, just after receiving his dis- charge from service in the Civil War, Moses Bow- ers taught a term. He also taught in 1863-64 and '64-'65, closing his last term in June. 1865. In his work he was assisted by his wife who won the love and confidence of the children in an un- usual degree. At the close of the winter term in 1864, Miss Jane Weeden, a friend of Mrs. Bowers, came to attend a school "exhibition." She wrote some rhymes concerning the pupils and citizens which were read on that occasion. Copies of these verses are extant. Mrs. Howers died in Septem- ber, 1905.
In the fall of 1865 Mary Tyler taught and was assisted by her sister, Sarah. Then Sarah went to the Painter school and taught during the win- ter while Mattie Jones ( Charles ) took her place here
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as assistant. The following summer Miss Tyler, who was a woman of strong personality and one who inspired her pupils with an ambition to make the most of their opportunities, taught a term for ad- vanced papils-a "select school." The old church on the bill'was used for a school-room, The tol- bowing papils attended: -- Mary Keesling- Wood, Sa- rab Miller. Sarah Weeks-Huston, Charity Wise bart - Davis. Elizabeth Wischart - Franklin. Mars Beck - Ellis, Sarah Perry - Rent . Naunic Tucker- Dudding. Sarah Williams-Rent. America Willams- Gipe, Mattie Fatic- Keesling. Leander P. Mitch- «Il. Charle: Wood, john Hasty. Calvin Franklin,
The list of teachers from this date until the pres- ont time is as follows :-
Ezra Bufkin and Bettie Keeslong, 1860-7: Wal- ter Boor and L. P. Mitchell taught the first term in the two-story frame building in '67-68; Juho F. Polk, Anthony S. Boston, '68-60: L. P. Mitchell, W .. H. Keesling, '60-70: Enos Adamson. Sarah A. Weeks 1870-71: Harvey Hollenbeck, Emma Cook '71-72: Enos Adamion, Sarah Weeks 72-73: 1. S. Hus- tom, Sarah Weeks - Huston '73-74; Henry A. Len- bard, Henry Fatic '74-75: Henry Lennard, Sarah Huston 173-76; Henry Lennard, Elizabeth Weeks 76-77; George L. Swain, Nettie Vanwinkle '77-78: A. J. Larne. Elizabeth Weeks '78-79. Mr. Larna resigned and Joseph Painter was employed to bin- ish the term. C. B. Pondkton, Elizabeth Wals
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Lartin R. Ginn, Elizabeth Weeks 182-8; and 83- 84: W. W. Prigg, Hattie Cooper '84-85: W. W. Prigg, Cora Brown, and Ada Lipes '85-86: W. W. Prigg, Charles A. Pendleton '80-87. Mary War- ers and Alicy Goyer taught the first term in the brick school building, '87-88; W. W. Prigg. O. M. Keesling '88-89: Emily Weeks, O. M. Keesling '80- yo: Emily Weeks, Vienna Unthank 18go-01; W. (. Bavers. Laura Bowers. '91-92; John W. Kendall, Lulu Rohrback '92-93: J. W. Kendall. Lizzie Quig. ky '94-95: O. M. Kesting. Lizzie Quigley '05-96, also 99-97 and '97-98: Thomas A. Barrett, Lizzie Quigley '98-99: T. A. Barrett, Dottie Pendleton go. wooo; C. C. Hardesty, Mary Quigley 1000-1 and 1900-2: O. M. Neesling, Gertrude Seaford 1902-3- 1903-4, 1904-5: S. C. Brown, Gertrude Seaford 1905-6; S. C. Brown, Hallie Painter 1906-7.
Many interesting facts are recorded in an old "Record of Proceedings , of District School Meet- ings." The school director called meetings of the legal voters to select the teachers. The school di- rector was chosen annually on the same way. first record made in this book was of a meeting beld October 6. 1866, at which Frederick Rent was chosen director to succeed Isaac Wood. The ob- jects of a meeting held November 3, 1866, were, as the minutes tell us, "to decide the practicability of repairing the school-house [the old one-story frame building] for the winter school and to designate a teacher. Vated that the following repairs will be
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necessary: Walls to be plastered with one coat where the plastering is off; door repaired; stove flue rebuilt: dirt banked up around the house so as to thor- oughly underpin it, and eight benches to be made. Harvey Keesling agreeing to do the repairing as above for the sun of $23.00, the work to be done by December 1, 1866.". The late Dr. George Has- ty served as secretary for these two meetings.
Frederick Rent, school director, gave notice that be would sell the school house at public auction to the highest bidder. June 1, 1867. On that date the building wow occupied by John L. Swain as a residence was sold for $80,00 10 Win. Perry, who acted as agent for the Order of Good Templars. Wm. Prigg. Sr., was the auctioneer. A new two- story frame building was erected. on the site of the old one. during the summer of 1867.
Among the names of the men who took part in the school meetings in the sixties we find the fol- lowing :--- Dr. George Hasty, Lewis Swain, Isaac Franklin, N. R. Elliott, Dr. Wm. Reed, Dr, Joseph Weeks, Dr. James Beck, John C. Goodwin, Joba R. Elliott, W. R. Miller, Thomas J. Ginn, Issac Wood, John Alspaw, Wm. MeCurdy, Elibu Suain. and John Swain. The record gives the following list of directors :---- Isaac Wood, 1865: Frederick Rent, '66: 1. D. Farrell, 67; Willim Perry, '68; William Mccurdy, '69: W. R. Miller. 1870; Job Ginn, '71: Isaac Wood. '72; W. R. Miller, 73-174: C. W. Wood. '79; James McCormack. 1880: C. B.
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Pendleton, 181-'83; W. H. Keesling,'83. Since the latter date the township trustee has appointed the director, and Mr. Keesling has continued to serve until 1904 when he resigned and was succeeded by Homer Wood.
A steam saw mill was built in 1850 by Thomas B. Keesling, Elibo and Ezra Swain. It was ron the first time on July 4th of that year. The ma- chinery was bought of Chandler and Davis, India- napolis, and was brought from that city on tracks. At the time a circular saw superceeded the old-fash- ioned "sash" say the three owners were John R. Ell- iott. Amos Kisling, and William McCormack. Mr. Kisling sold his interest to Martin Pring in 1873. William McCormack sold his interest to James Mc- Cormack in the spring of '73. Martin Pring sold his interest to representatives of a patent water- carrier, and Elliott and McCormack soon bought this interest. In 1882 or '83. McCormack sold to Elliott who now became sole owner. This was one among the first steam saw mills built in the coun- 1.V. Previous to the building of this mill, George Keesling had built a water-power saw mill near his home. It was built about 1842, and was operated for several years when there was sufficient water. The dan, of which there are still traces. afforded fine skating for the boys during the winter. John Swain, Sr., had built a saw mill in 1836 and a flour mill in '39 on Fall Creek, north of town. The saw mill was abandoned about 1858. The four mill was
Mrs. Elizabeth Reesling-"Aunt Betsey." 1806 -- 1876.
- ماخلو من طعاما - ماء٤ ٠٥٦
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Mrs. Mary Reesling - Luthalta.
ـاح مد حتى بـ
ميري رح نا حتها المزا جن جيا جنا من من مواجههـ
ماجـ
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History of Mechanicsburg.
replaced by a new building in 1866. The owners at that time were Lewis Swain and John Swain. Jr. This mill was burned Dec. 17, 1904.
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PERSONAL BIOGRAPHIES.
Joux R. EMMoTr came to Mechanicsburg abour 1850. He worked at the carpenter trade until 1854, when he began work in the saw mill with which he was connected for forty years. Mr. Ell- iott died in 1904. Mrs. Elliott still lives in the old home on East Street.
ELING SWAIN. in INGI, had the house built which he occupied until his death in 1875. John R. Elliott was one of the carpenters. Mr. Swain was one of the three men who built the saw mill. For a number of years he was in partnership with N. R. Elliott in a dry goods store. Mrs. Swain died 111 1900. 1890
NIMROD K. ELLIOTT moved to Mechanicsburg in 1851 and worked at the carpenter trade for a year or two. then' opened a little store. Soon he and Ezra Swain entered into a partnership which lasted seven years. Then Elihu Swain was a part- ner for a number of years. 1. W. Cooper was in partnership with Mr. Elliott from 1873 until 1891. Mr. Elliott finally retired from the mercantile busi- ness in 1894. His first store was burned in 1863. A frame building was moved to the site of the
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burned one. and in six weeks Mr. Elliott was again selling goods. This latter building gave place in 1868 to the brick building now occupied by Scott Lewis' dry goods and and grocery store. Mr. El. iott's death aceurred in January. 1905. Mrs. Ell- iott still resides in the home on West Street.
THOMAS B. KEESLING, in 1852, built a house on West Street. This he soon sold to James Small who occupied it until 1857 when he sold to Dr. Jo. seph Weeks.
W3%. B. McWILMAMS in 1852, lived in the house which stood just east of T. B. Keeslings. He was a harness-maker, and worked in a shop on the same lot. He sold to john Kelly who sold to Calvin F. Keesling. In 1864 C. F. Keesling sold 10 William Alspaw, who, in turn. sold to Mrs. Anno Swain. in 1856. Lewis Greenlee bought this prop- erty in 1869 and resided here until 1880 when he sold to W. A. Greenly who. the same year. sold to Levi M. Keesling. Mr. Keosling owned it until 1802 when he sold to Dr. Weeks. The house was moved to the east side of the lot, remodeled for in office. and occupied by Dr. Elizabeth Weeks un- til igot when it was burned.
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