USA > Indiana > Hamilton County > A history of the formation, settlement and development of Hamilton County, Indiana, from the year 1818 to the close of the Civil War > Part 9
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20
In 1833 David Anthony, Joseph Hadley, William Pickett, Jesse Beals, Jacob Hadley, William Ramsey, Levi Cook and Elihu Pickett settled near the present site of Deming. A small mill was built on Hinkle ('reek and for a time this neighborhood had their corn ground at this mill. School was taught at or near Hinkle Creek Church. At this church the Friends in the neighborhood worshiped for a long time.
1
151
HAMILTON COUNTY, IND.
The next settlement in this township was made west of the present site of Arcadia in 1833 and soon there- after. This settlement was composed of the Jones and Bishop families. Mr. Wells came next. Phillip Bow- ser came in 1834 and John Miller in 1836. His cabin was east of Arcadia. The Martz brothers, Moses and Isaac, came in 1838. These men all entered land and at once began the pioneer work of converting the wil- derness which surrounded them into fine, producing farms.
The first school taught in this vicinity was in 1840 in a log cabin on what is now known as the Burgess farm. The teacher was William Harrington. The next school was at the present site of Arcadia, taught by William Stewart in the year 1841.
The first church was a small barn on the farm now known as the Shearer farm. It was a Dunkard church. The first Christian church in this township was organ- ized southwest of Arcadia. C. W. Harrison, Lockhart and Stinson were among the first preachers. The first church service by the Methodist denomination was held at the house of Samuel Caylor three miles west of Ar- cadia. Mr. Caylor settled at this point in 1831 or 1832. A Lutheran church was established in an early day in this township northeast of Arcadia. John Keffer was the first preacher. This church has been well support- ed and is still in existence. Thomas Luther was the first Methodist preacher. About the year 1835 a num-
152
PRIMITIVE HISTORY OF
ber of Lutherans settled in Jackson and White River Townships. Rev. Abraham Reck and Rev. John Gar- ver, residents of Indianapolis, came on horseback to visit this people and preached for them in private houses. In 1837 a congregation of fifteen members was organized and a church council was chosen. Rev. John Garver was pastor during the first year. Five new members were added to the fifteen. The minis- ter received for his services for one year $20. Arrange- ments were now made for building a house of worship. Peter Achenbach donated a lot situated near Cicero Creek, east of Arcadia, and a neat frame church was erected thereon during the next year. Many of the members were Germans and the preaching was mainly in that language. Ministers came from a distance for several years. Finally the Rev. David Smith of Nobles- ville was secured and retained as pastor for several years. The membership of this church grew rapidly, but was seriously weakened by the withdrawal of the German members, who erected a building of their own east of Arcadia.
The above mentioned Bishop built a corn cracker on Little Cicero Creek, west of Arcadia, in 1839, and Phillip Bowser erected a mill east of Arcadia on Cicero Creek in 1840.
An Indian tradition, much discussed at this time, was to the effect that a lead mine existed on the farm of Elijah Redmond; that the Indians, before the white
!
153
HAMILTON COUNTY, IND.
men came, supplied themselves with lead from this mine, but that since the white men had come among them, the Indians had carefully concealed its locality.
In 1837 the colored neighborhood, as it was called, was settled by John Roads, Micajah Waldron, Dolphin and Stephen Roberts, Elias, Jonathan and Hansel Rob- erts, Bryant Waldron and Harry Winburn, all colored. In 1841 they erected a church and school house. These colored men were peaceable, law abiding, hard working men. They cleared the lands they had purchased and soon made for themselves and families comfortable homes. Before building their church, they assisted in paying white school teachers, and their children re- ceived their share of the benefits.
In 1836 Michael Shiel came to this township and built his cabin near the present site of Atlanta. Allen Sumner and George Tucker settled near the Shiel cabin on the east side of the Lake Erie & Western Rail- road. Later came James M. Thompson, Alexander Smith, Jacob E. Whisler, John Ehman, Frederick Smelce and Caleb Sparger. Sparger's land laid west
of Shiel's, adjoining his tract. Phillip Roads and Peter Miller settled south of Shiel's. Soon after this Dan- iel Smith and his brother, whose first name I do not know, settled in this neighborhood. Soon thereafter came Daniel and William Haskett. John Harrington settled early east on Cicero Creek. John and Jacob Crull, George Illyis and Jacob Whisler were also early
154
PRIMITIVE HISTORY OF
settlers. The above named persons constituted the pioneer settlement at and near the north line of Ham- ilton County, and banded themselves together for work. The lands were covered with a very heavy growth of timber and a very heavy coat of under- growth, making it hard to clear. In this neighborhood there were many ponds, in which water stood most of the year. These ponds caused the people to suffer a great deal from chills and fever.
Church services in this neighborhood were held at private houses, in school houses and in log barns before a church building was erected. Dr. Blount, John Stin- son and Carey W. Harrison did the preaching. The first church building was erected in old Buena Vista. It was called Union Church. It was built by all de- nominations and by those who were not members of any church, was open to all regardless of nationality or color, and was well attended. This building was used for other purposes as well as a church. The first phy- sicians in this neighborhood were Dr. Blount and Dr. Driver. Jameson, Butler, Stanford and Amos Petti- john were afterwards added to the list.
The first mill was erected on Cicero Creek east of Atlanta. This mill was a saw and grist mill combined. The next mill on Cicero Creek, below Tucker's, was erected by Henry Gascho. These mills sawed lumber and ground corn only. Elias Johnson and James Bish- op erected a saw mill and corn cracker on Little Cicero
! i
----- --
155
HAMILTON COUNTY, IND.
Creek. None of these mills could be relied on in time of long drouth. Then the settlers were compelled to go to the White River mills heretofore spoken of.
Peter Miller was the first shoemaker for this settle- ment. He was a coarse workman, but the work to be done in that line was coarse work. Shoes for boys and girls were made from the same kind of leather, viz .: Cow hides tanned in a country tan yard.
Schools were in log cabins having puncheon floors and slab seats with no backs to them. The teachers were (1) Wiley Watkins, (2) Jacob Whisler, (3) George Howard and (4) Henry Sowers. Salaries were small and were paid by contributions from the patrons of the schools.
After the dates herein named this township im- proved rapidly, both in population and wealth. It is impossible to name all the grand men and women who came to this wilderness to fight the battle of pioneer life. Each and all are entitled to the lasting gratitude of their children and grandchildren.
The only roads in this township prior to 1830 were the Indian trail from Strawtown to Lafayette, hereto- fore spoken of, and such byways as were used by the early settlers in passing from one cabin or one settle- ment to another. As has been stated, the Board of Commissioners of this County, about the year 1830, by order of the State, caused a road to be surveyed and laid out, which road was known as the New Castle and
156
PRIMITIVE HISTORY OF
Lafayette State road. A road was also surveyed and laid out by order of the State, known as the Cicero and Thorntown State road. Later the Indianapolis and Peru State road was surveyed and laid out. These roads all passed through this township.
Washington Township.
In the year 1831 Harmon Cox settled in Washing- ton Township south of the present site of Westfield. In 1832 Asa Bales, Simon Moon, Paul Wood and Mr. Osborn settled north of Cox in and around Westfield. Soon after this date Isaac Williams, Mr. Bowman, Mr. Rams, Nathan Parker, Mr. Washburn, Mr. Jackson and Mr. Hunt came, and soon thereafter came Zachariah Rees, Isaac Baldwin, Moses Coffin, David Baldwin, William Patterson and others. Among them were the Whites, Roberts, and Newbys. These parties joined hands in raising their cabins, rolling logs, building stables and all other heavy work. They supported a subscription school. They attended the same church. They also waited upon the sick in the neighborhood. Their milling was done for a time at the Conner mill, two miles below Noblesville.
The next settlement was made three miles north of Westfield by Nathan Beals, John Moore, Edward Bray, Anderson Scott, Ernsley Wade, Eli Morris and others. John Moore lived on the land afterward bought by Aaron Lindley, now owned by Thomas J. Lindley. Na-
-
157
HAMILTON COUNTY, IND.
than Beals lived on land immediately south of Moore. The first school house built in Washington Township was in this settlement on Nathan Beals' land. It was a log cabin. The first teacher was William Legne, an Ohio man and a good teacher. The next school in the neighborhood was taught at the Westfield meeting house by Laban Hammer. Afterwards the people in the Beals neighborhood sent their children to Hinkle ('reek school. Those who attended the Friends' church attended at Hinkle Creek Church. For two years after this settlement was formed the grain was ground at Conner's mill before mentioned. After that the grinding was done at Cook's mill at or near Deming. Here the flour was bolted by hand. This mill did not stand many years. The community also had grinding done at John Shryock's mill on White River, five miles north of Noblesville. This settlement was near what was called Dismal. It was infested with wolves and panthers, many of which were killed by the settlers in those early days.
In 1833 a small settlement was made in this town- ship near the present site of Eagletown by Henry Woodruff, Mr. Bowman, Mr. Gilpin, Mr. Jackson, Ephi- raim Stout and others. This settlement was on Little Eagle Creek, as it was then called. Ephraim Stout erected in 1837. on Eagle Creek, a small corn mill, the capacity of which was about ten bushels per day. The roads at that time were so bad it was for a large portion
158
PRIMITIVE HISTORY OF
of the year almost impossible to get to White River or to Indianapolis with a load. Corn bread, milk and but- ter constituted the principal diet, together with game which was abundant and easily captured, so that for meat they had plenty. School was in private houses for some time and until a school house was built. Their trading was done at Westfield and at Eagle Village, a small town southwest of the settlement, situated in Boone County on the Michigan road. Those among them who belonged to the Friends, attended service at Westfield.
About the year 1833 a settlement was formed near the west line of Washington Township on both sides of Little Eagle Creek. Among the first settlers in that vicinity were William Harvey, John Price, Frederick Brendel, Benjamin Dye, Lewis Miller, Daniel Miller, Francis Joseph, Phillip Stultz, Benjamin Wagoman, Jesse Lane, William Bragg, Cyrus Bowman, Mr. Mow- er, Mr. Smith and Mr. Osborn. When these pioneers came to this township they cut their own roads, follow- ing blazed traces made by hunters, which they knew would lead them in the vicinity of their destination. In many cases bridges had to be made by each of the set- tlers in this as well as in the other settlements in the township.
The first school in this neighborhood was in a cabin east of William Harvey's house. Lucinda Hunt was the teacher. Schools in this neighborhood were main-
1
159
HAMILTON COUNTY, IND.
tained by subscription. There was no church building nearer than Eagle Village in Boone County, five miles distant. Many of the settlers attended church service there. They usually went on horseback, those having children taking them up on the horses with them. The passage through the woods was difficult. There was constant danger of being swept from the horses by overhanging limbs. Some of the pioneers loaded their family into wagons drawn by two horses or sometimes a yoke of oxen. It was more difficult to get through the woods in this manner than on horseback, but it was either this way or stay at home. Finally they be- gan to have meetings at private houses. After barns were built, meetings were frequently held in them.
They had their grain ground at Co ner's mill or at Foster's, both on White River, one below and the other above Noblesville. They sometimes had corn ground at Stout's mill near Eagletown. What trading they did at stores was mainly done at Eagle Village.
In about the year 1836 Aaron Lindley came to the township. He bought the land where Thomas J. Lind- ley now lives. In 1837 he erected the first brick house in the township. In 1833 Simon Moon set apart from his land a small tract of land and donated it to the So- ciety of Friends for a place of interment. The ceme- tery is located south of the town of Westfield. The first corpse interred in the cemetery was that of Mr. Moon. In 1832 the first white child in the township
160
PRIMITIVE HISTORY OF
was born to Harmon Cox and wife. In 1833 the first marriage ceremony performed in the township oc- curred. The contracting parties were William Hiatt and Mary Moon.
The first road laid out in this township was the Noblesville and Lafayette road. The second was from Noblesville past the present site of Westfield and Eagletown and west to the county line. The next road laid out was the one from Westfield to Indianapolis. Other roads in this township were made by the early settlers for their convenience. Soon after the events herein narrated the land in this township was taken up and improved rapidly. All of the eastern part of the township was settled by Friends, including the settle- ment near Eagletown. They preserved their identity for a long time and to some extent do so yet.
Wayne Township.
John and Israel Finch settled on government land near the Horseshoe Prairie in 1819. When the land came into the market they failed to enter the tracts upon which they settled and the land was entered by other parties. They entered land four miles a little south of east from Noblesville. The land entered by John Finch is now known as the Sohl farm and the land entered by Israel Finch is now known as the Zeis farm. These men built cabins upon each tract of land in 1823, and occupied them by moving their families
i
161
HAMILTON COUNTY, IND.
into them later in the same year. David Osborn set- tled northeast of the two Finches, about one mile. The following year Milo Bush, Clement Passwater, William Davidson, Peter Passwater and Elijah Guffy settled near the Finches. William Passwater came in 1825. These persons constituted the Finch settlement. At that time John Finch was a gunsmith and Israel Finch was a blacksmith. They worked some at their trade, but a great deal of their time was spent in clearing and fencing their lands. They both made knives, hatchets and a fine article of hoes. They carried on a good trade with the Indians, taking furs from them in exchange for knives, watches and such other articles as the Indians wanted. A log cabin was built northeast of Bethel Church on land now owned by Mr. Zeis. In this cabin the first two schools were taught. The first was taught by Mary Finch and the second by Rebecca Finch. These schools were taught in summer time and were support- ed by the parties above named. After the second school was taught the cabin burned down.
David Osborn was a man of some means and by this time his cabin had been torn down and a two-story hewed log house had taken its place. There were two rooms below and a kitchen in the rear. The sec- ond story was one large room in which the carding, spinning and weaving were done. The first winter school was taught by Henry Scarce, the second by Theodore Gilleland and the third by Thomas O.
162
PRIMITIVE HISTORY OF
Seragg in this room. These schools were supported by the same parties who supported the summer schools. The Osborn house was sold by George Steph- ens, who now owns the land. to Allen Shoemaker, an adjoining land owner, and is now doing service as a barn.
The state early established a road, called the Win- chester State road, which run through the township from northeast to the southwest, passing near the resi- dences of William, Peter and Clement Passwater. It also run through the lands owned by Osborn, the two Finches and William Davidson. About this time a road was laid out leading from Noblesville to the Betts mill on Stony Creek, crossing the creek below the dam, thence up the creek until it intersected the Winchester road near William Davidson's. These were the only roads in the township at that time except such as the settlers cut out for their own convenience.
Near this time Benjamin Purdum, Parnell Cover- dale, Nathan Shoemaker and Benjamin Shoemaker set- tled in the Finch neighborhood. They were industri- ous men and went to work with a will, making for them- selves and posterity good homes. In 1827 Calvin Granger settled north of Israel Finch but dicd soon afterwards.
In the fall of 1823, after the Finches had settled in the township, Joseph Waddle, James Harc, John Harc, Sr., John Hare, Jr., James Stephenson and William
---
163
HAMILTON COUNTY, IND.
Waddle settled north of David Osborn on the north side of Story Creek. This was known for a long time as the Hare and Waddle settlement. They sent their children to school in the Finch settlement. They were not very long, however, in deciding to build a school house for themselves, which was known as the Hare and Waddle school house. The names of the first teachers cannot be learned. In this school house and at private residences the Methodists held their meet- ings as early as 1826, the first church in the township being built by the Methodists at or near what is now known as Bethel, in the Finch settlement.
In the year 1831, or thereabouts, a neighborhood was formed north of the Hare and Waddle settlement. This was called the Castor settlement, and it extended to the north line of the township. Schools were taught in private houses and church services held there until the two neighborhoods went together and built a church in the Hare settlement. At an early day Sam- uel Fisher, William Aldred, John Zimmerman, William Stephens, James McKinzie and many others settled east of the Finch neighborhood. In the year 1830 a settlement was formed at the present site of Clarksville. Among the early settlers were Peter Lennen, Samuel Lennen, William and Solomon Bratton, Joseph Dean, John Addison, John Wiseman, Henry Burcham, Joseph Whetsell, Thomas Richardson, Peter Boyer, Martin Barnhizer, N. W. Commins and Jacob Wiseman. These
164
PRIMITIVE HISTORY OF
men came to make a permanent settlement and they converted the swamps and forests into farms. Their first school house was erected on the lands of Mr. Davis west of Clarksville, and the first term of school was taught by Henry Burcham. No religious services were held in this settlement, so far as I am able to learn, until some time afterwards. The west portion of the settle- ment attended at Bethel. Peter Lennen settled near the line of the county where the Pendleton Road now crosses the line. East and west of his house the land was low and marshy and the road was almost impass- able in the spring time. Lennen kept one yoke of oxen ready to pull wagons over these bad roads for hire. There is nothing of interest to relate that occurred in this neighborhood that differed from other settlements.
William Davidson owned and operated the first saw mill in this township. Persons wishing to have sawing
done could do so "on the shares." Mr. Davidson opened the first stone quarry in the county. He used an ox team for the purpose of hauling the stone to Noblesville where it was sold. The mill and quarry were on Stony Creek, four miles east of Noblesville.
Adams Township.
George Boxley was the first white man that made permanent settlement in what is now Adams Township. His cabin was built on the knoll north of the present site of Sheridan. An excavation was made in the
165
HAMILTON COUNTY, IND.
ground about four feet deep by fifteen feet square and his cabin set over this hole. Boxley was in many ways a very peculiar man. He was a Virginian by birth and had served with distinction in the war of 1812. He was a man of wealth and the owner of a large number of slaves, but upon this question he became conscientious and liberated them. From that day he fought the hat- ed institution of slavery, often giving aid to slaves who were escaping from bondage. In some one of the acts done by him he violated the penal laws of Virginia. He was arrested, tried, convicted and sentenced to death, but before the day of execution he escaped from prison. His wife, who was given permission to see him, carried a small saw to him with which he sawed his way out. Leaving his family and his wealth behind him, he made his way to Pennsylvania and from there to Ohio, where he was again arrested on the old charge but again es- caped. He traveled a great deal in the west under an assumed name and finally settled in Hamilton County, where he remained undisturbed until his death. He was kind and generous to his neighbors and taught their children in a cabin on his own land before a school was organized in the township. Milch cows were scarce in those days and Mr. Boxley would loan his to the neighbors, exacting only the increase. By his kind acts he became one of the most popular men of the township in those days. He was opposed to banks and to all forms of government that required the payment
166
PRIMITIVE HISTORY OF
of taxes. He was opposed to the collection of debts by legal process. At one time he was induced by B. F. Cogswell to purchase cloth for a cloak on credit. When the debt came due he refused to pay the bill. Cogswell brought suit against him and obtained judgment by de- fault. An execution was issued and placed in the hands of an officer who levied upon and advertised for sale some of Mr. Boxley's cattle. When the day fixed for the sale came the cattle could not be found and a second advertisement was made, when the cattle were taken to Noblesville for safe keeping, but were driven back to Boxley's place to be sold. The officer deputized nine men to go with him to see that the sale went off with- out interference. W. W. Conner was there as agent of Mr. Cogswell and was instructed to bid the cattle in in payment of the debt. . During the morning men came in from the surrounding country armed as was the pio- neer custom until there were as many as fifteen persons present. When the officer stepped upon a bench and offered the cattle for sale notice was given by the neigh- bors of Mr. Boxley that any one buying in the cattle would be in danger of bodily harm. The odds in num- bers were in favor of Boxley, so Conner very wisely concluded not to bid and the sale failed. The men who appeared for Boxley were men who had received aid from him in time of need. Cogswell never collected his debt.
At another time a tax collecter levied upon some
167
HAMILTON COUNTY, IND.
cattle belonging to Mr. Boxley to satisfy a claim for de- linquent taxes. The officer started for Noblesville, tak- ing the cattle with him. Boxley mounted a horse and followed the officer until they came to a thicket when he uttered a peculiar call which the cattle understood. When they heard this they broke from the officer and he was unable to stop them. The tax collector was com- pelled to return to Noblesville empty handed while Mr. Boxley returned home with his cattle.
The first settlement was made in this township by Thomas Spencer, John Blanch, James L. Masters, Z. Acord and Washington McKinsey a little west of the present site of Boxleytown. This settle- ment was made soon after George Boxley settled near Sheridan. Soon after this James Mann, Thomas and William Harbaugh, Payton Harris and Reuben Tansey joined this settlement. James Harbaugh, Eben Teter and others came later. This part of Adams Township was called at that time Boxley's swamp. Two trails, one leading from Noblesville to Lafayette, the other from Strawtown to Lafayette, were the only roads in the township at that time. The people who came in from 1830 to 1833, made their own roads and in doing so they kept to the high ground, avoiding the ponds and swamps that existed in this township. When they came to the "slashes" the old corduroy bridges were built. This was done by laying two large logs parallel and a few feet apart across the "slash." Then across
168
PRIMITIVE HISTORY OF
these were laid a number of smaller logs until the entire creek or branch was bridged. At the sides strong stakes were driven to hold the first and last logs in place. In some cases dirt was thrown on top of this structure to make it smooth.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.