USA > Indiana > Putnam County > Biographical and historical record of Putnam County, Indiana > Part 5
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The first county officers were ---- Arthur MeGanghey, Clerk and Recorder; James Talbott, Treasurer; William W. McIntosh, Sheriff and Thomas Blake, Prosecutor. Amos Robertson was appointed county agent, and the political organization was complete. It was vet necessary to provide for the administration of justice. Prior to this time the citizens of the county had been under the juris liction of Owen County. After consid- ; erable delay, occasioned by the examination of several rival places. pointed out by persons residing in different parts of the county, each anxious to secure the location of the county seat in his own neighborhood, the present site of Greencastle was selected by the commis- i sioners previously named, and established as the capital and seat of justice for the county.
As early as the autumn of 1821, James Trotter began the erection of a grist and saw- mill on Walnut Creek, just north of Green- castle, and completed it the following spring. In the year 1822, also, Fiddler's mill was built on Raccoon Creek, within the limits of
EARLY AND CIVIL HISTORY.
Swank's and Fasher's wore other pioneer mills of the county. Samuel Hazelett built the first mill put up on Deer Creek, in the eastern portion, about 1825 or '26. Abont the same date Mr. Hibibs built another mill on Deer Creek. John Reel also built a mill at a very early day where Reelsville now tub-wheel pattern, but there was another . kind of mill common in that day. It was the horse-mill. John Butcher erected the first one in the county, on the Hammond farm. north of Greencastie.
Putnam County. Grimes'. Satherlin's, in their deportment toward one another in both their religious and business relations. Christian Astlinger, John Oatinan and George Pearcy were the pioneer preachers of this denomination. The first camp-meeting in the county was conducted by the New Lights at John Sigler's, while he lived on the Bridges farm, northeast of Greencastle. This denom- stands. All these were water-mills of the 'ination was principally absorbed into the Christian church and became extinct in the county.
The Baptists organized a society and held meetings at Michael Wilson's, west of Green- castle, in the year 1593. John Miller, Jubal The first marriage license shown by the Dewees and Thomas Johnson are remem- records to have been issued, authorizing the , bered as prominent members of this church. marriage of persons resident within the | Jobs Leatherman and a Mr. Denman were county, was issued on July 4, 1822, to Thom- i their earliest preachers. This denomination as Jackson and Sarah Woods; and the return : very soon organized another society at James thereto shows the parties to have been joined | Bird's, on Walnut about seven miles north- in matrimony on the 15th day of the same . east of Greencastle. This is thought by some month, by Rev. Reuben Clearwaters. Only ! to have been about as early as the year 1823. one other license was issued that year. It | From these beginnings the Baptist church was to Andrew Astlinger and Sally Dukes. ; has spies' into every neighborhood of the They also were married by Mr. Clearwaters.
The first white child born in Putnam County was Mary Jane MeGaughey. ou February 10, 1822. She died in the year 1842.
The first death in the county occurred at Trotter's mill. Mr. Dennis, the millwright, died there in the autumn of 1821, and was ; of any conference. The Methodist Episcopal buried on the hill in the woods just west of cirenit including the county was organized
the mill.
EARLY RELIGIOUS HISTORY.
in the fall of 1822. by the Rev. William Craven, who established a society at Green- castle during that fall or winter. The coun- try over which he traveled was known as the Eel River Cirenit, and it embraced all the territory from White River to the Wabash.
In the early settlement of the county, four religious denominations were quite prom- inent. The New Lights had considerable strength in various neighborhoods. They . During the Conference year 1523-'24, this held meetings from house to house, as the circuit was traveled by John Cost. The next convenience of the people suited. They are year it was supplied by Stephen Grimes, a represented to have been remarkably social local preacher from near Bloomington. In
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county.
It was in the year 1521 that the Rev. Reuben Clearwaters came to the county. about the same time came, also, John Messer, and the two preached for the Methodists, who were at that early day quite numerous, before the latter were included within the bounds
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HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
1825-'26, Daniel Anderson was the pastor of by the residence of Mrs. Hammond. When the house was done, James Armstrong preached the dedicatory sermon. Some of the first members of this church were Amos Robertson, Benjamin Jones, William Talbott, James Talbott, Reese Hardesty, William Hol- land and William G. Duckworth. Such as these and their associates were the pioneers of the Methodist Episcopal church, most, if not all, of whom have gone to their reward. the eirenit. He returned the following year with Benjamin C. Stevenson, brother of Dr. A. C. Stevenson. as assistant. The circuit- rider on this work for the year 1827-'28, was the late venerable William HI. Smith. Ilis assistant was also Benjamin C. Stevenson. The next year the circuit was divided on Eel River and Walnut, when Mr. Smith was re- turned to the eastern portion, called Green- castle Circuit. The Methodists built. at Greencastle the first house of worship in the county in the year 1826. It was a hewed- log house, with clapboard roof, rongh board floor, and a very large open fire-place. Linden logs having been cut into proper lengths, split in two and supplied with near Gosport. He says that to form this stout wooden pegs driven into holes on
The first organization of a Presbyterian church in Greencastle and in the county was effected by the Rev. Isaac Reed, Angust 12, 1525. Mr. Reed at that time was laboring under appointment of the Conncetient Mis- sionary Society, and lived in Owen County, church required mich previous labor in the round side for logs, served as seats. preaching, visiting and traveling. This or- As a matter of personal reminiscence, it may ganization afterward became extinet. During be stated that the elapbeard roof of this ' its existence the members held meetings in building was put on by Amos Robertson; the Methodist church. Among the early then holding the office of State Senator. members of this society may be mentioned This building stood on Lot No. 191, and James M. Hillis, Mrs. Hillis. Mrs. General covered a part of the ground since occupied Orr and Mrs. L. R. Chapin.
TOWNSHIP SKETCHES.
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TOWNSHIP SKETCHES.
CLINTON TOWNSHIP.
LINTON TOWNSHIP joins Russell on the south, and is the pre- ceding Congressional township of the same range. It is bounded on the north by Rus- sell, on the east by Monroe, on the south by Madison Township, and on the west by Parke Coun- ty. A small portion of Clinton is a little rough and broken, though most of it lies well, and the township altogether is a fine body of land, and very well improved.
The first entry of land in this township was made by Ashbery Vandever. on June 17, 1871; the next by Roan Irwin, July 22, 1821; the third by Samson Sutherlin. August 1. 1821; the fourth by Israel Linder, Octo- ber 8, 1821. Some of the entries of the year 1822 were made by the following namned, in the order in which they are given: Alexan- der Johnson, Abner Goodwin, John Holt, John Dougherty, Isaiah Vermillion, Andrew
McG. Walker, Andrew J. Walker and James Peakle.
Among the old settlers are named James Johnson, Arthur Walker, Thomas Hart, Ed- ward Newgent, Wilson Spaulding, Oliver McCoy, Moses Spurgeon, Stephen C. Burk, Jonathan Manker, Michael Etter, James Crawford, Oliver Tally, Eli Brackney, Rob- ert Johnson, John Butler, Isaiah Ratliff, William C. Butcher, Jonathan Bee, Judge William McKee, Scady Chandler, Daniel Herron, William Angel and Mr. Shonkwiler, all of whom are deceased.
The first birth in the township was that of John Sigler, son of Andrew and Sarah Sigler, on December 15, 1825. Andrew Sigler and Sarah Heady were the first persous married in the township. The first blacksmith was a man named Twigg. The first grist-mill was put up in the year 1825, by Captain Good- win, on Little Walnut Creek. Like many others, of those early days, it was a kind of wet-weather mill, and could run only when the heavens gave a supply of water. Captain William H. Thornburg, so well known to the citizens of Putnam Connty, taught the first
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HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
school in Clinton Township at Captain Good- win's mill. The first physician in the town- ship was Dr. Hubbard.
The first church organized in this town- ship was tlie Predestinarian Baptist. This took place about the year 1831, and was con- ducted by Rev. Turpin Darnall, of Bain- bridge. John Leatherman and Jesse Mc- Clain were among thie earliest ministers of. this congregation. A house was soon built, and the organization was kept up for a num- ber of years, but it is now disbanded, and the house is gone to decay. The Methodist Episcopal church was organized about the year 1832, by Rev. William C. Smith, and a log house was built a year later. Revs. Aaron Wood, DeMott, Beck, Preston and Wright were the early ministers of this church. A few years later two other Meth- odist churches were organized in the town- ship, and log houses were erected. All three of these buildings have been replaced with frame ones of substantial character: Some twelve or fifteen years ago the Tunker de- nomination organized a church in this town- ship, and built a good frame house of wor- ship, where they still hold regular services.
In Clinton Township there are three post- office towns: Portland Mills, Morton and Clinton Falls. The first named is an old town, and is so situated that a part of it is in Clinton and a part in Russell Township, Putnam County, and a part in each of two townships in Parke County.
CLOVERDALE TOWNSHIP.
This township was originally a part of Warren and Jefferson townships. It was or- ganized in 1846, and is composed of the southern tier of sections of township 13, ranges 3 and 4, and the northern half of township 12, of the same ranges. It is bonnded on the north by Warren and Jeffer-
son, from which it was detached; on the east by Morgan County and Mill Creek Township; on the south by Owen County, and on the west by Washington Township. The surface is hilly and broken, aud was originally cov- ered with a dense growth of timber, such as white and yellow poplar, maple, walnut, oak, ash, elm, gum, beech and mulberry. The soil is good and of the quality known as limestone land. The whole township is nn- derlaid with a fine quality of limestone well adapted to building and manufacturing pur- poses. The principal streams are Mill Creek in the east aud Doe Creek in the center.
The first settlers in what is now Cloverdale Township were William Hamilton and James Robinson, who came together from Kentucky in the spring of 1823, and built the first cabins. Hamilton located on section 1, town- ship 12, range +, and Robinson on section 6, township 12, range 3. Abraham Van Sickle, Anthony Kilgore, Thomas James, Robert Hadden, Arthur MeNary, Mr. Goodman, Ambrose Bandy, G. Macy and Robert Macy, all came from Kentucky in the autumn of the same year, and settled around where Cloverdale now stands. Jubal Meadows, John Macy, George Bandy and John Tabor came in 1824. In 1825 came John P. Sin- clair, John Briscoe and Robert Conoly. Dur- ing the next year Williain" Martin, Thomas Evans, Enoch Patrick, A. Tabor, N. Nolin and Nancy White became citizens. The next four years witnessed the arrival of Philip Rouse, Peter Lyon, James Woods, Robert Donnoson, James Gilmore, O. Owen, T. Owen, Daniel Morgan, Robert Hood, Jacob Rule and Samuel Logan.
The first white child born in the township was Elizabeth Tabor, daughter of John Tabor, in 1824. At that time the family lived on section 36, township 13, range 4. The first death was that of a child of Ambrose Bandy
TOWNSHIP SKETCHES.
in 1854. It was buried in the grave-yard yet Cloverdale, which was occupied up to the used in the town of Cloverdale. The first year 1873. In that year they erected their persons married in the township were David Martin and Betsey Tabor. or Berry Branna- man and Morris Sinclair. present frame church, which stands as a monument of their zeal. There is another Methodist church at Poplar Grove, in this township. The Regular Baptists organized a church in 1827 or 1828, and held meetings at the house of Elder Owen Owen, who was their first regular preacher. A church was erected by them in 1841, ou section 6. In 1844 this charch divided. a part joining the Missionary Baptists and holding the building. The Regular Baptists built a new house two miles west of Cloverdale. They now have a church three miles west of town. Cyrus Tabor, J. W. Denman, Samuel Arthur. Sam- ne! Denny. A. Davis, Joseph Callthrop, Joel Vermillion, Eli Beman, John Case, John Leatherman, Benjamin Parks and William Walden are some of the ministers who have
In 1531 Abraham Waters built the first saw-mill. It stood on Doe Creek, in seetion 6, township 12, range 3. There was no flonr or grist-mill in the township until the steam mill erected by Joseph Pearey and Gabriel Woodville, in the year 1868. Moses Nelson kept the first tavern in the township. It was located on section 6, township 12, range 3, and was opened for custom in 1886. In the same year Thomas Nelson put up the first store, which stood on the same section with Moses Nelson's tavern. Isaac J. MeKason, who located in the township in 1838, was the first blacksmith. The first school was taught by Thomas Evans in 1835, in a small log building on section 1. township 12, range 4. served this church. Thomas Nelson was the first postmaster, an office having been established in his store in 1836. William Hamilton was the first jus- tiec of the peace.
The Christian denomination was organized into a congregation at Cloverdale, July 24, 1841, by Elder James M. Mathes, assisted by John Pearey, Renben Maginnis, Joseph Col- well, George W. Crose, Andrew T. MeCoy.
The first religions meeting in the town- ship was held by the Methodists, at the 'Moses Nelson, Thomas W. Dowell, Michael honse of John Macy. in 1824, and conducted C'rose, J. B. Ross. Andrew Me Mains, J.C. Mc- Cor. I. J. Niekson and others. Meetings had been held in the township before the organiza- tion of the church, generally in private honses and in groves. Among those who preached at by John Cord, an itinerant Methodist preacher, who died the same year. After him came Jolin MeCord, Stephen Grimes, Daniel Anderson, William HI. Smith and Mr. Strange. They were followed by the Revs. this point are Elders Colwell, Headrick, Forbes. Ames, Hebenridge, Horton, Wells, George Pearcy, Perry and James Blanken- ship, Franklin, Smith, Hawn. Lockhart, Burgess, Swinford, Wrights. Wilsons, Black, Harris, Badger and Pritchard. The last named hold a debate with the Rev. M ... Brooks, of the Methodist Episcopal elmurch. March 19 to 28, 1866, which created quite a local excitement. It is claimed by the Chris- tian church that about seventy members were Wood, Scammahorn, Jackson, Bruner, Davis, Williams, John and Byron Carter, Lee. Ros- son, Poynter, Allison, Walls, Webb, Hewring, Pewett, Tansey, Johnson and MeNaughton. This denomination erected a log church on section 1, township 12, range 4. in the year 1827, which was the first built in the town- ship. They continued to use this house un- til 1848, when they built a frame church in added to its organization, as the result of the
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HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
debate. This denomination erected a frame church in the year of its organization, on land donated for that purpose by Andrew McCoy, in the south part of the town of Cloverdale, which was occupied until 1858, when they built their present commodious brick building in the northern part of the same town.
Cloverdale village is the second largest point in the county, and is not far from the center of the township. Its history will be given later on.
FLOYD TOWNSHIP.
This township is the full Congressional township 15. range 8, and is bounded on the north by Jackson Township, on the east by Hendricks County, on the south by Marion, and on the west by Monroe Township. The soil is good, and compares favorably with the best townships of the county. Its surface is rolling, but becomes broken along the streams, which are Walnnt Fork of Eel River, War- ford's Fork. Monachal's Fork, and their branches, all running in a southwesterly direc- fion. The valuable timber of this township consists of poplar, walnut, oak, maple. ash, elm and hickory. The most peculiar natural feature of the county is the sandy ridge in 'Job. this township. It extends north and south a
Among the old settlers still living are distance of three miles, at an elevation of Harrison Monnett, Sanford Wise, Harvey forty feet above the surrounding level. The Collings, William Todd, Susan Hunter, Del- composition is of sand and gravel, and is entirely different from any other geological deposit in the vicinity.
Th first settler was Joseph Warford, who located on section 33 in the year 1821. In 1822 came Wilson L. Warford, Washington Weatherford, Beadie Akers, Isaac Monnett, Lawson Monnett and Reuben Smith. During the year 1823, Thomas Purcell, Cuthbert Daniels, William Aldridge, Thomas Higgins and Harrison Monnett became pioneers of
the township. From 1824 to 1826 came G. Norrill, Zachariah Melton, Mr. Rowlett. William Collings, S. Collings, Harvey Col- lings, A. L. Collings, Abraham Wise and his sons, Sanford and Shadrach Wise. The years from 1827 to 1830 bronght George Mona- chal, Anderson B. Matthews and his father- in-law, John Heavin, A. Pickett, William and Aquila Pickett, J. M. and II. B. Pickett, Isaac Yeates, Mr. Howard, Thomas Ogle, Joseph Evans, William Arnold, James Miller, J. Kinder, Moses Lewis, E. Tarburton, J. L. Bird, J. C. Wilson, I. J. Wilson, A. Wilson, L. Gibson. J. Westhart, J. Kurtz and William Todd. The next three years witnessed the arrival of John Gregory, Dr. Stadley, Jacob McVey. Jacob Hoffman, Cooper Wilson, James Robinson. Dr. Josias II. Robinson, John HI. Herod. Charles Hunter, Thomas Ellis. Lewis Ellis and James Ellis. Between 1834 and 1839. Joshua Iddings. Archibald Miller, John Craver. Martin and Enoch Wright, Thomas Job, Henry Walu, Thomas Randall. John Millman, Levi Owen, James Shoemaker, George Hansell, Elijah Wilkin- son, Samuel Shinn, John Shinn, Jacob Mill- man, Stephen Brown, Wesley Figg. J. W. Chatham, and Thomas Job, son of Samuel
1 phia Busby, Francis Hughs, Joshua Iddings, Stephen Brown, Archibald Miller. Wesley Figg, J. W. Chatham, Sarah Ellis and Thomas Job.
The first marriage in Floyd was that of Wilson L. Warford and Nancy Monnett. daughter of Isaac Monnett. This occurred in 1823; and an incident in connection with the wedding that is worthy of recording was that the family had no flour to make bread, and therefore the feast had to be enjoyed
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TOWNSHIP SKETCHES.
without that necessary article of food. Delia Warford, born in 1824, was the first white child born in the township. The first who died was a daughter of Joseph Warford, in 1822. She was buried on the home farm, now owned by Vincent Day. This was the first grave-yard in the township, but it has not been used for many years. The first saw-mill was Imilt by Anderson B. Matthews on section 33, in the year 1$29. Within the next year he added a grist-mill. These were water mills, and stood on Warford's Fork. Mr. Ogle built a saw and grist mill on Wal- nut, in this township, in the year 1834 or 1835. William Arnold, who had a shop in section 20, in 1828, was the first blacksmith. Dr. William Matthews, son of Anderson B. Matthews, was the first resident physician in Floyd. Ile located in the south part of the township, and became quite a noted man in his profession. The Doctor was author of several medical works, and correspondent of some leading journals of the country. At !! later day he removed to Mason, Effingham County. Illinois, where he died a few years ago. Dr. I. Il. Robinson is living in section 27, and does most of the practice in the township.
In the year 1838 John Millman, Sr .. erected on section 26 a factory for the manu- facture of fur and wool hats, in which he continned to carry on business until the year 1863, a period of just a quarter of a century. During this time he manufactured hats by the hundred and by the thousand, and hauled them in wagon-loads to neighboring counties where they were exchanged for furs and pelts. He was a prominent member of the American Fur Company, and collected furs in large quantities, which he hanled in wagons to the company's depot at Detroit, Michigan. Mr. Millman was a man of great ex- perience in his business, and a splendid work-
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man, having produced from his factory hats which were worn for thirteen years in suc- cession. It was a claim of the old gentleman that he made the first hat ever worn by Bishop Simpson, of the Methodist church. The last hats he manufactured were sent to Scottsboro, Tennessee, during the civil war, to be worn by the Union soldiers. This old pioneer was a great lover of his country, having sent three sous to the Mexican war, and five to the Union army in 1861. He died in the centennial year, at the age of eighty-seven years, and was baried within sight of his old factory.
Anderson B. Matthews was the first justice of the peace, holding the office in 1825, and continuing in the same until the time of his death. ile served for a number of years as President of the County Board of Magis- trates.
Daniel Anderson preached the first sermon in this township, in the year 1522 or 1823, at the house of Joseph Warford, which was a place of worship for a number of years. These meetings were held by the Methodists, who at an early day built .. Wesley Chapel" and " Pleasant Grove." " Wesley Chape! " is the only church which this denomination now owns in the township. Their first min- ister was followed by S. Otwell. William II. Smith, Lorenzo Dow, Mr. Grimes, A. L. Col- lings, HI. Collings. Isaac Owen. Mr. Cord and Mathew Simpson, with probably others worthy of record, if their names could be re- called.
The first Sabbath-school was organized in 1844. by Harvey Collings.
The history of the Regular Baptists in Floyd dates from the year 1826. in which they formed a society and built a house of worship called Enon, the same being the first structure of the kind in the township. They also built the second church in the township,
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HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
and named it Palestine. Charles and Carter Iunter, of Marion Township, preached the first Baptist sermons in Floyd, in the year 1826. They were followed by J. Cost, Spen- cer Collings and Thomas Broadstreet, who ank among the early Baptist ministers of is part of the county.
The Cumberland Presbyterians have a church in this township, though their organi- zation is of later date.
The village of Groveland, situated on sec- tions 2 and 3, was laid out by Benjamin F. and Daniel Summers, March 18, 1854, and now contains a population of about 100 per- sons.
FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP.
Franklin Township, lying in the middle of the north tier of townships in l'utnam Coun- ty, comprises the Congressional township No. 16 north, range 4 west, and is bounded on the north by Montgomery County, on the east by Jackson Township, on the south by Monroc Township, on the west by Russell Township. Its surface is rolling, presenting to the view a varied appearance. The town- ship is drained by Raccoon Creek in the north, North Ramp Creck through the cen- ter, and South Ramp Creek in the southwest, all of which take a westward course. The soil of the township is very fertile, producing fine crops of grain and grass. The township is well supplied with timber, consisting prin- cipally of poplar, walnut, oak, hickory, beech and ash. The Louisville, New Albany & Chicago Railroad crosses the township north and south, running through the eastern tier of sections, and the Indianapolis, Decatur & Springfield Railroad runs east and west. It is inhabited by an enterprising class of farm- ers who, improving its natural advantages, have placed it in the front rank of the town- ships of Putnam.
Franklin Township was not settled until
1824, two years after the organization of the county. In that year James Gordon and William Elrod settled in that part of the county, being the first to make their way thither. They were joined the next year by Garrett Gibson and James Fiddler. In 1826 came David Barnes, Thomas House, David House, Joshua Burnett, William Gid- dons, John Miller, Samuel Osborn and Thomas Batman. The new-comers for 1827- '28 were James Makemson, the Lafolletts, the Henkles, Mr. Brothers and Thomas Grider. During the next year John Dickerson, A. Osborn, Samuel and Isaac Brown arrived, and were joined in 1830-'31, by James Stephens, George Wright, the Catherwoods, Jesse Ilymer, James G. Edwards, Philip Carpenter, A. S. Farrow and others.
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