USA > Indiana > An illustrated history of the state of Indiana: being a full and authentic civil and political history of the state from its first exploration down to 1879 > Part 39
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The first settlers of the county emigrated from North Car- olina to this county about the year 1818, and settled on gov- ernment lands prior to entry. The first lands were entered in the county in 1821, about three years before the organization of the county. The first settlements were made in the south- east portion of the county, in what is now Liberty and Gil-
* From a published sketch of the county.
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MORGAN COUNTY - HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE.
ford townships. Among the first settlers were David Downs, Ross Nicholas, Richard Christie, George and David Matock, William Ballard, Jonathan Rodgers, James Thompson, Thomas Hadley, Josiah Tomlinson, John Bryant and Thomas Lockhart
The county was organized in 1824, and Danville was chosen as the seat of justice. The first settlements were made in the county in 1S18, when the first trees were felled and the first rude cabins erected. This population increased so rapidly that in 1824 there were more than one thousand inhabitants in the county. In 1870, the population of the county was twenty thousand two hundred and seventy-seven. The growth of wealth and public improvements in the county have been commensurate with this growth in population. The old court house has long since perished, and a new and substantial building has taken its place. The new jail and county asylum are substantial and well conducted institutions. The pioneer log school houses of the county have gone, and now over one hundred fine brick and frame school buildings attest the edu- cational advantages of Hendricks county. Excellent turnpike roads bisect each other in all parts of the county, and ample railroad facilities are presented. The county has now over one hundred and thirty thousand acres of improved land, valued at twelve million dollars. The products of the farms have always been largely remunerative. The taxable property in the county is worth over twenty million dollars. In every sense, the people of Hendricks county are intelligent, pro- gressive, and enterprising citizens.
The Indiana House of Refuge is located on the State farm adjoining Plainfield, in Hendricks county. This is one of the State's most worthy and benevolent institutions, and it is doing a good work for the benefit of the boys who have been sent therc.
MORGAN COUNTY.
MORGAN county is located near the geographical centre of the State, and contains about 291,800 acres of land, and is watered by White river, White Lick creek, Mud creek, Big Indian creek, Stott's creek, Clear creek, Burnett's creek,
53S
HISTORY OF INDIANA.
Rhodes' creek, Mill creek, and other smaller streams. There is"a considerable portion of this county rough and broken, especially along the White river, where the land is not very profitable for grain growing, but is well adapted for the pro- duction of fruit, such as apples, peaches, pears. About one- third of the county is bottom land. The soil in this section is a sandy loam, very rich and productive. The county is splen- didly timbered. The principal kinds are poplar, walnut, white oak. hickory, beech, sugar tree, etc.
Morgan county was organized in 1823, and named in honor of General Daniel Morgan. The first county election was held in a log house, owned by Mr. Stotts. The house was built in the year 1819, about one and a half miles west of Waverley. It was, probably, the first house built in the county. The first settlers came to the county, probably, in 1818. Mr. Phil- lip Hodge purchased land and settled in the county in 1818. Mrs. Rebecca Douglas settled among the Indians, in Morgan county, in 1817, but the first general settlement may be set down in 1819, when, among others, Robert C. Stotts, Hiram T. Craig, James A. Laughlen, James Stotts, Nathan Langhlen, and W. M. Offield, settled in what is now called Harrison township. Among the settlers who immediately followed these, and who have endured all the privations of pioneer life, were the families of the Hodges, Samuel Moore, Judge Hiram Matthews, Benjamin Hoffinan, Jonathan Williams, Larken Reynolds, George II. Buler, G. A. Phelps, Mr. McCrakens, Benjamin Cutberth, Reuben Claypool, Alex. and Thomas J. Worth, Daniel Thornberg, Jack Record, John Bray, Madison Hadley, Richard Hadley, Benjamin Stafford, and Rebecca Blank. The latter is now a citizen of Clay township. She was one of the first settlers, and is the oldest person in the county, and one of the oldest ladies in the State. She was born in Richmond, Va., in the year 1768, and is now nearly one hundred and seven years old. She remembers Daniel Boone, and has participated in some of his deeds of daring on the borders of Kentucky.
Martinsville, located near the centre of the county, is the county scat. It has now a population of nearly two thousand,
539
SCOTT COUNTY - HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE.
and is the largest town in the county. Mooresville is the next largest town, and has a population of nearly sixteen hundred. The founder of this place, who is well known to the people of the State, is still an active citizen. The county is well supplied with good schools and churches. There have been great improvements made in this direction during the last five years. The public improvements of the county are in advance of some other counties.
This is a good agricultural county. It has 133,615 acres of improved land, producing annually 330,000 bushels of wheat, 6,500 bushels of rye, 1,190,000 bushels of Indian corn, 65,000 bushels of oats, from 200 to 1,500 bushels of barley, 50,000 bushels of potatoes, 229,355 pounds of butter, about 10,000 tons of hay, and over 60,000 pounds of wool, besides thousands of dollars' worth of vegetables. The value of improved land in the county is over $9,000,000. The raising of live stock is a profitable pursuit in this county. The farmers are a thrifty class of people, distinguishing themselves by their industry and their love for public improvements.
SCOTT COUNTY.
SCOTT county is situated in the southeastern part of the State, near the Ohio river. It is of irregular shape, and con- taius about one hundred and eighty square miles. The county, generally, is level and rolling, except a small arca known as the "knobs," which is quite broken. The soil is fair; the county is well watered by streams, and many springs abound. The timber is of the very best, and in abundance.
The county was organized in 1820, while the State capital was at Corydon, Harrison county.
It was named in honor of General . Charles Scott, an officer of the revolutionary period, and, at a later period, governor of Kentucky. The county was formed from portions of Jefferson, Jennings, Clark, and Washington counties. The first county commissioners were Joseph Switzer, Reuben Johnson, and John Herod. Wm. K. Richey was the first sheriff, by appoint- ment from the governor. The first sheriff elect was Jesse
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HISTORY OF INDLINA.
Jackson, who afterward served in the legislature, and also as register of the land office at La Porte. Other original county officers were : James Ward, clerk; John Prime, recorder ; James Lochrane, treasurer, and Robert Wardell, an old revo- lutionary soldier - as coroner.
The county was first settled in 1805, by John Kimberlin, who removed to this section of the State from Kentucky, and who built, in the same year, the first house erected in the county. Among the carly settlers were: Wm. E. Collins, Dr. John Richey, Eliab Collins, Samuel P. Devore, Robert Wardle, John Morris, Jeremiah Paine, Dr. Jonathan Carter, John Finley, Dr. James Hicks, David and Charles Eastin, Eli and Joseph Harlan, Kindred Ferguson, Wm. Nichols, John Win- gate, Zebulon Foster, James Lemaster, Wm. Norton, John Dickey, Jacob Cutler, Asahel Passwater, Daniel Hough, John Stucker, Robert Brenton, Win. Fleming, Peter Storms, Daniel Serls, and many other brave and hardy pioneers, whose names are in the past.
Kindred Ferguson is still a resident of Scott county, where he has lived for sixty-five years, and has reached the extra- ordinary age of one hundred and four years.
In 1820, the county seat was located at Lexington, by Wm. Fleming, Dennis Pennington, Hardin II. Moore, Abel C. Pepper, and two others. The town was originally laid out by Jesse IIenley, General Wm. McFarlane, Adam Steele, Richard Steele, and Nehemiah Hunt, in 1811, on grounds owned by these gentlemen. The first house in Lexington was creeted by John and Jacob Stucker. Gen. McFarlane built the first brick house. The first public improvements were made by private enterprise. Wm. Fleming and Moses Gray were the pioneer merchants. The first marriage solemnized in the county was between Daniel Kimberlin and Ursula Brenton. A child born to them is claimed to be the first white person born in the county. Among the carly citizens o: Lexington and Scott county, and who have since become prominent in the State, may be mentioned: Henry P. Thornton, the first proscenting attorney of the county; the Carpenter Brothers; Major Elisha G. English, many years in State legislature; his son, IIon.
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CROSSCUP & WEST-SC. PHILA.
A. S. EVANS, ESQ.
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HISTORY OF INDIANA.
Wm. H. English, who for many years sepassented the district in Congress, was born in Lexington, as was also his grandson, Wm. E. English, now a promising lawyer of Indianapolis. The seat of justice was continued in this place for over fifty years, but was removed in 1874 to a more central point, a place formerly called Centerville, but now known as Scotts- burgh. This town was laid off in 1873, by Lloyd S. Keith, being surveyed by Thos. K. Wardle and Wm. Estel. It is located on the Jeffersonville, Madison and Indianapolis railroad, eighty miles south of Indianapolis, and now contains a population of about four hundred souls. Among the other towns of Scott county, are Austin, Vienna, New Frankfort, Wooster, and IIolman. Iron ore and salt abounds in the county. A good article of salt is manufactured, and numerous wells are sunk for salt water near Lexington, one of which is seven hundred feet deep. Good building stone is had in the same vicinity, and also a kind used for making a very fine quality of water cement. As these quarries are located near the railroad, and of easy access, it is believed that a factory for the manufacture of this cement will be erected at no distant day.
This county is the scene of the celebrated Pigeon roost mas- sacre, a full account of which will be found elsewhere in this volume. It is also a witness of the depredations committed by the rebel General John Morgan, in his raid through southern Indiana during the civil war. The depot at Vienna was burned by him, and many are the farmers through this county who have bewailed the day when they "swapped " their fine fat, sleek horses, for the worn out, sore-backed jades of the rebels. Scott county possesses good railroad facilities. The Jeffersonville, Madison and Indianapolis road north and south, and the Ohio and Mississippi road traversing the county in the same direction.
CHAPTER LXXI.
WAYNE COUNTY - PIONEER HISTORY.
TN THE Spring of 1805, George Holman, and Richard Rue, and Thomas McCoy, and a Mr. Blunt, with their families, came from Kentucky and settled about two miles south of the present site of Richmond. Holman and Rue had served in General Clark's expedition against the French set- tlements in Indiana, and having been held as prisoners about three years and a half among the Indians, they had become acquainted with the country, and had selected the most favor- able site for their future homes, while returning home from a western trip, in the fall of 1804. Early in the winter they returned to ercet their log cabins, bringing with them, on their horses, such tools as were necessary for the work, and a few household utensils. Holman was accompanied by his two eldest sons, William and Joseph, then about sixteen and eighteen years of age, respectively. They were were not long in erecting the log dwellings, and in the course of two weeks, leaving the boys in charge, the pioneers departed for Ken- tucky to bring their wives and families.
On reaching home they were joined by two other families - those of Thomas McCoy and Mr. Blunt-and the four fam- ilies, with all their household goods and effects, consisting of clothing, provisions, tools, cooking utensils, guns and ammu- nition, started for their new homes on pack horses. They traveled through the forest day after day, through the cold storms, and at length, weary and alone, arrived at the cabins, where they found the Holman boys enjoying themselves in true forest life. McCoy and Blunt located near the site of the two cabins already mentioned; and thus was commenced the
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HISTORY OF INDIANA.
settlement of Wayne county, now one of the most wealthy and prosperous counties in the State of Indiana.
Not many miles distant, on the Elkhorn creek, the Endsleys and Coxes, with their families, settled in the latter part of the same year. These pioneers were soon followed by the Rev. Lazarus Whitehead, a Baptist minister, Aaron Martin, Charles IInnt, and their families. Rev. Hugh Call, a Methodist min- ister, also came in 1806, and settled near Elkhorn creek, where he lived until his death, in 1862, at the age of one hundred and five years. Shadrack Henderson, with his family, settled, in 1806, on the west side of the Whitewater, and in same year a Mr. Lamb built a cabin not far from that of Call's on the Elkhart, in which he lived for several years.
It was in the latter part of this year that the settlement of Richmond was commenced, or, at least, most of the land in that vicinity was taken up in this year, although much of it was not occupied until the spring and summer of 1807. " About the first of March, 1806," says Mr. Young, in his valuable history of Wayne county, "David Hoover, then a young man residing with his father, in the Miami country, in Ohio, with four others, in search of a place for making a set- tlement, took a section line some eight or ten miles north of Dayton, and traced it a distance of more than thirty miles, through an unbroken forest, to this place, where he afterwards settled. He fancied he had found the Canaan his father had been seeking. His parents were of German descent, and members of the society of Friends. They had emmigrated from Pennsylvania to North Carolina, and thence to Miami, where they had temporarily located until a permanent home could be selected. Young Hoover and his companions were supposed to be the first white men who explored the territory north of Richmond. They discovered many natural advan- tages, among which were the pure spring water issuing from the banks of the stream, with its prospective mill-sites, inex- hanstable quarries of limestone, and a rich soil. Following the stream south a short distance, they found traps set, and near the west bank of the Whitewater, nearly opposite Rich- mond, they saw some Indians. From these Indians, who
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WAYNE COUNTY - PIONEER HISTORY.
could speak broken English, they learned the white men had settled below, on the east side of the stream. They made their way thither, and found the Holman, Ruc, and McCoy families. After a brief rest, they started back for the Miami, by a different ronte, and reported the finding of the 'promised land ""'
In the following June the first lands were entered as the result of this prospecting tour. "Andrew Hoover, father of David, entered several quarter sections, including that which the latter had selected for himself on his first trip. John Smith entered on what is now the south side of Main street, cleared a small patch of ground, and built a cabin near the bluff. Jeremiah Cox purchased his quarter section late in the summer, north of Main street, of Joseph Woodkirk, who had bought it of John Meek. Woodkirk, having made a small clear- ing and planted it with corn, Cox paid him for his improve- ments and corn. Andrew Hoover had a number of sons and
daughters, who settled around him as they got married. David had taken a wife in Ohio before coming to the territory; but he did not occupy his log cabin until March in the following year (1807.) Here, on the west bank of Middle Fork, he resided until his death in 1866. The land in and abont Rich- mond was settled chiefly by Friends from North Carolina, some of them from that State direct, others after a brief resi- dence in Ohio. As the Hoover family were the pioneers of these people, but for the discovery made here by young Hoover and his fellow adventurers, the Society of Friends would probably not have had the honor of being the first proprietors of the land on which Richmond stands, and of naming the city." Among the first families who settled were those of Jerry Cox, John Smith, Elijah Wright, Frederick Hoover, Andrew Hoover, Sen., David Hoover, William Bulla, and John Harvey. Soon after " the spirit of emigration prevailed strongly in the Southern States, especially in North Carolina. The Friends had settled in that State before the adoption of the Constitution of the United States, which allowed the en- sìavement of the African race in this country. They were generally unfriendly to slavery, hence, probably, their desire,
35
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HISTORY OF INDIANA.
in great part, to find homes on better soil and in more con- genial society. Soon after the families above mentioned, others of the Carolina Friends began to arrive. Among those who settled in the vicinity of Richmond were Jacob Mcek, in 1806; Elijah Wright, in 1806 or 1807; Jesse Bond, in 1807, on the farm where Earlham college now is; John Burgess, in 1SOS; Valentine Pegg, 1809, ten miles west from Richmond; John Townsend, about the same time; Cornelius Rutliff, 1S10; John McLain, 1810; and about the same year came families of the names of Stewart, Evans, Gilbert, Thomas, Roberts, and others." A settlement was soon commenced on East Fork, at an carly day. In 1806, Joseph Wright, a revolutionary sol- dier, settled there, and was followed, in 1807, by Peter Fleming, both having entered their lands as early as 1805. Besides those above mentioned, there were many others settled on East Fork at an early day.
" Among them were David Wasson, a son-in-law of Peter Fleming, afterward known as Judge Fleming, who had entered several hundred acres, on which he settled his children, reserving for himself a homestead, since known as the 'Barnes farm,' or the 'Woods' place,' and now owned by. John Brown, adjoining the State line. The farm carly owned by his son, Samuel Fleming, and now by James Smelser, was a part of the Judge's purchase. Charles Moffat, an carly settler, lived on the south side of East Fork, near Richmond, where he built a mill. He remained there until his decease, many years ago. IIugh Moffat, a son, still resides near the homestead. A little above Amos and John Hawkins settled carly with their families; and a little further on, William Ireland, long since deceased. Next, Benjamin Hill, who remained there until his death, about forty years ago. His wife survived him until 1867. Adjoining on the cast was Joseph Wasson, before mentioned. Nathaniel McCoy Wasson built a cabin in 1809, on the homestead near the banks of East Fork, married and lived there until his death, in 1864. Near by was John Gay, an elderly settler, known as Major Gay, who carly sold his land to Jacob Crist, still living on the premises. John Drake, with numerous grown up sons, settled carly on
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WAYNE COUNTY - PIONEER IIISTORY.
their farms adjoining the Ohio line. The Drakes were of the Baptist denomination. During the prevalence of a malignant fever, at an early period of the settlement on East Fork, a number of robust, middle-aged men fell victims to it. Of this number were David and John Wasson. * *
* On Middle Fork, near its month, was William Bulla, an carly settler, and son-in-law of Andrew Hoover, Sen. He carly built a saw mill on his farm near the site of Burson's oil mill. He lived there until his deccase, some years ago, at an advanced age. Near the lands of the Hoover families, Jesse Clark, Ralph Wright, Alexander Moore, and Amos and Abner Clawson settled. A little further up were the Staffords, Bonds, Bunkers, Swallows, Ashbys, Andrewses, and others, all of whom, we believe were from North Carolina, and chiefly Friends. They had a small log meeting house in the vicinity, and were subordinate to the White Water monthly meeting. William Bond had erected a saw mill, and Joshna Bond a cheap oil mill. Edward Bond, Sen., died a few years after he came. A little further up, Jeremiah Cox, Jr., settled, and early built a grist mill, to the great gratification of the settlers. Above Cox's mill were a few inhabitants. Among these were Isaac Commons, Robert Morrison, Barnabas Boswell, Isaac, John and William Hiatt, and John Nicholson, the farms of some of whom are now within the limits of Franklin township. Balden Ashley settled near Cox's mill, and owned the land from which has long been obtained the lime furnished the builders of Rich- mond. On the West Fork, above the lands of the Ratliff and Hoover families, already mentioned, was Joshua Pickett, au early settler. Next above was the Addington settlement, on both sides of the stream. Further up, the first settlers were the Starbucks, Swains, Harrises, Turners, and others, who were useful, enterprising citizens. Paul Swain, and William Star- buck wagoned produce of various kinds to Fort Wayne. Edward Starbuck, Sen., was an carly justice of the peace. William died in middle life. Hester Starbuck, his widow, died within the last three or four years, having lived to an old age. An carly settlement was also made in 1806, about four or five miles southeast of Richmond, by Jesse Davenport,
548
HISTORY OF INDIANA.
Jacob Fouts, and his sons William and Jacob, and his son-in- law, Thomas Bulla, natives of North Carolina, but immedi- ately from Ohio. By the formation of Boston, the land of Davenport was taken into that township. Other families came in soon after."* The toils and hardships of the pioneers of Wayne county were about the same as those of other sec- tions of the State. They came at an early day, and perhaps knew more of border life, in its reality, than those who settled at a later day, in close proximity to mills, etc. Their log cabins were all of the old pioneer style, and their clothing, diet and customs were those of border life. They had their troubles with the Indians, their battles with poverty, their struggles with the forest, their scarcity of flour; in short, they suffered and endured all the perils and dangers and privations of the first pioneers. But they overcame, and prospered. They hewed away the forests, and cultivated great fields of corn; they dispensed with the rude, unshapely cabin, and erected commodious dwellings. They accomplished a work for civilization.
CHAPTER LXXII.
WAYNE COUNTY - HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE.
W AYNE county was organized in 1810. It was then composed of "that part of Dearborn county lying cast of the twelve mile purchase, and between the north and south lines of the new county, together with that portion of the purchase lying between those lines." The lands west of the purchase were not acquired until 1820. On the 25th of Feb- ruary, 1811, the first circuit court was held at the house of Richard Rne, three miles south of Richmond. The only basi-
* From Mr. Young's work.
549
WAYNE COUNTY - HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE.
ness transacted at this session, however, was that of dividing the county into civil divisions. The next session of the court was held at the same place the following month, when a grand jury was for the first time empaneled in the county. The court consisted of Jesse D. Hlolman, presiding judge, and Peter Flemming and Aaron Martin, associate judges.
Immediately with the organization the wrangle of the loca- tion of the seat of justice of the county began, and, we regret to say, has scarcely terminated to this day. The first commis- sion appointed to make the location reported a site near the present town of Centerville, but owing to the lands upon which the location was made being unsold, the action of the commissioners was decided illegal. A second commission appointed to locate the capital of the county decided to accept the donation of Samuel Woods, in range three, and further decided that the name of the county seat should be Salisbury. A log court-house, for temporary use, and a jail of hewed square logs, were built, and were soon followed by a brick court-house. "Salisbury having now become an incorporated town," says Mr. Young, "the earliest in the county, and its citizens having secured - permanently, as they supposed - the public buildings, they anticipated a long and prosperous career. In this, however, they were disappointed. Efforts were soon made for the removal of the county scat to Center- ville. In the midst of the bitter strife between the Salisbury and Centerville parties, * * * * an act was passed in 1816 authorizing the removal of the county seat to Centerville, pro- vided, however, that the citizens furnish, without expense to the county, public buildings as good and of the same dimen- sions as those at Salisbury. After the removal of the county seat, Salisbury was rapidly deserted. The few frame and brick buildings were taken down, and some of them removed to Richmond. The bricks in the building on the southeast corner of Main and Pearl streets, known as Harris' corner, were for- merly in the court-house at Salisbury. There remains nothing on the site indicating that a town was ever there. The ground on which it stood is now a part of the farm of Enoch Rails- bach. Within a recent date the county scat has been removed
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