USA > Indiana > Putnam County > Biographical and historical record of Putnam County, Indiana > Part 7
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McPheeters, Joseph Wells, who served on ; The Christian church was organized about the first grand jury in the county, James the year 1840 by Elder Levi Wright, who
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HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
had been preaching for the congregation for several years before this time and continued to do so for a number of years afterward. They erected a log house in 1844, which they occupied until 1867. They then built a frame honse on the hill west of Ezekiel Wright's. Noah Buchanan, John Harris, Nathan Wright, Lorenzo Dow, Cleghorn and Ezekiel Wright were the early ministers of this church.
MARION TOWNSHIP.
Marion Township lies immediately sonth of Floyd, and is the full Congressional town- ship 14 north, range 3 west. It is bounded on the north by Floyd Township, on the east by Hendricks County and Mill Creek Town- ship, on the south by Jefferson Township, and on the west by Greencastle Township. Its surface is gently rolling; the soil good, and finely adapted to cultivation. The sup- ply of timber is abundant, consisting of pop- lar, walnut. white, red and burr oak, hard maple, beech, ash, and many inferior kinds, such as elm, gum and sycamore, with a plentiful supply of hickory on the more level portions. This township is drained by Deer Creek, that stream having its source in the northeast corner, and traversing the entire extent of the township to the southwest cor- ner, where it takes its leave on section 31.
The first settler in Marion Township was Renben Ragan, who first came to the county in the year 1818, and prospected the country comprising Putnam and surrounding counties during that and the following year. He then returned to the State of Kentucky, whence he again came to Putnam in the spring of 1820, staying two years in Greencastle Town- ship, west of the city. He entered land in the extreme north of Marion Township in 1822, and became a permanent resident there in October of the same year, continuing to
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make that his home until the date of his death, August 19, 1869.
In October of the year 1524, Mr. Ragan built a hewed-log house, which, having been weather-boarded and plastered, now forms the frout portion of the family residence. and is the oldest building in Putnam County, having been in use as a dwelling for more than fifty-four years. Like all of the builder's works it is well done, and it still stands firm, with the probability of withstanding the shocks of time for years to come. Mr. Ragan was a noted hortienlturist. and possessed a fine talent for his occupation. He sowed seeds for an orehard on the farm of Mr. Thomas, west of Greencastle, in the spring of 1820, which were, doubtless. the first seeds of the kind to take root in the soil of Putnam County. A few years later he planted the first orchard in Marion Town- ship. He is still remembered by his neigh- bors as a man of vigorous intellect, pure mind, and scrupulously honest and upright in all his dealings.
From the time of Mr. Ragan's settlement in the township to 1824, he was joined by Judge Smith, Henry Wood, Mr. Davis, John Smith, Silas Hopkins and Samuel Hazelett. In the years 1×25 and 1826 came William Bell, John Denny, William and James Smith, Bryce Miller, Isaac and George Legg, Jere- miah Nichols, Charles and Carter Hunter, Israel Moss, . John Gregory, James and William Denny, Mr. Acres, Enoch Stone, William Nicholson and Thomas Jackson. Within the next two years the population was increased by the arrival of David Wise, Henry Hunter, Bailey O'Neal, Daniel Chadd, John Benefiel, John and James Agee, Daniel Brewer, Charles Knetzer, Jacob Shaptaugh, Eli Fry, Henry Keller, Peter Lunsford, Daniel Bridgwater. The newcomers for the years 1829 and 1830 were Alexander Gor-
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ham, Ambrose Day, Thomas Jackson, Sr .. William Frazier, John Runyan, Isaac Hope, Joseph Ellis, Anselin Mason, Henry Shields, Samuel Reeves. There probably were others equally worthy of mention. Some of these here named entered land, and. perhaps, lived near Greencastle before settling in what now comprises Marion Township. Nearly all have left here large families, who inherit the blessings of their labors. wife, William Nicholson and wife, and Isaac Monnett. They finally built a house of wor- ship on the farm of Carter Hunter; but at present they have no church building in the township. The Missionary Baptists were organized about 1841. Elders Jones and Arnold were among their first preachers. They have a good frame church, called Bethel, two and a half miles southeast of Fillmore. The first meetings of the Christian church The first house erected in the township was that built by Reuben Ragan in 1822. Amer- ica Hazelett, daughter of Samuel Hazelett. was probably the first white child born in the township. Her birth occurred about 1824. The marriage of John Smith, son of John Smith,and Miss Willie Smith, daughter of Judge Smith, was the first that occurred in the township. The first grist-mill in the township was that built on Deer Creek by Samnel Hazelett as early as 1526. It stood on section 17. It was in 1834 that Allen Burk put up his horse-mill. James Agee. who, in 1828, had a shop on section 20, was the first black- smith. Shortly after Agee came Isaac Hope, who erected a shop near the old family resi- were held at the houses of Charles Knetzer and Ambrose Day. This was before the or- ganization of the church, which took place about 1839, and a building, known as Old Union, was erected on the farm of Ambrose Day. John M. Harris was their first preach- er, followed by James M. Matthews, Gilbert HIarney, Nathan Waters, O. P. Badger, Chat- terton, James and Perry Blankinship, Cooms, as well as many others. They have a church in Fillmore, which was erected soon after the town was laid ont. The Methodists or- ganized a church at what was called "Denny's School-house," at' a very early day. John Denny was an active, zealons member of this congregation, and it became quite a flourish- dence on seetion 12. The first store was kept , ing church. In 1535 meetings were held at by Ahijah Robinson at Nicholsonville abont : the houses of Matthew Brann and others. 1845. The first postoffice was also kept by ' Mr. Robinson at the same place. It was afterward removed to Fillmore; but, for sev- eral years thereafter, retained its original name of Nicholsonville. William C. Hop-
Rev. Owen Owen, Davis, Hancock, Forbes, President Simpson and Prof. Cyrus Nutt were the first preachers of this organization. The first Methodist church was built on sec- tion 16 and called Mount Carmel. After the. wood was the first resident physician. Hle | building of the new church in Filhnore, located in Fillmore in 1853. John Denny was the first justice of the peace. He was followed by his brother James Denny. who held the office for fourteen consecutive years. Mount Carmel was given or sold to the Reg- ular Baptists. Soon after the erection of Mount Carmel, another Methodist church, named Liberty, was built on the farm of Ab- bott Robinson, on section 11. This building remained until the congregation erected an elegant frame building, in 1971, on a lot given for that purpose by Morris Oliver.
The Regular Baptist church was the first organized in the township. This was done November 25, 1826, at the house of William Denney, by Carter and Charles Hunter and wives, Thomas Broadstreet, Enoch Stone and
Fillmore, the only village in the township,
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HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
is ou the Terre Haute & Indianapolis Rail- bonnded on the north by Hendricks County, on the east by Hendricks and Morgan, and on the south by Morgan. It is drained by road, six miles northeast of Greencastle. It was laid out in 1952, by Benjamin Nichol- son, James Sill and Leonard C. Catterlin, on . Mill Creek, which forms the eastern and land then owned by them, but formerly form- ing a part of Richard Sinclair's farm.
The first store in the town was kept by Hardin & Brown in 1852, followed by Ben- jamin Nicholson, Hardin Wilcox and Moses T. Bridges, general dealers; and William T. Smith, who kept a grocery and provision store. Mr. Bridges did very much toward building up the town, having erected a hotel,
The first settler in this township was and in many other ways added to its prosperity. . Thomas Broadstreet, Sr., who was born in
The present population numbers about 180.
Bryce W. Miller taught the first school in the township. at his own cabin. He after- ward taught at the neighbors' houses . -- a favorite place being at John Smith's, in what . was called a three-faced camp, open in front and built up with logs on the other three sides. This stood on section 16. The next was a three-months' school. taught by Alfred Burton, in a log cabin on seetion 29, that some one had built for a dwelling and then deserted. This school was broken up by a man named Nat Hammond, who, becoming dissatisfied with the school, went one night and pried down the chimney. The first school-building was erected on the farm of John Denny, on section 23, about the year 1828, and was known as - Denny's School- house." John Evans taught the first school in this house. He was followed by Lawson D. Sims and Thomas C. Duckworth, who . taught the first " six-months school " in the house. At a very early day, Mr. Heavin township. The township is now well sup- plied with good schools, and education is the order of the day.
MILL CREEK TOWNSHIP.
sonthern boundaries. There are a few small tributaries, but none of any size, which enter that stream within the limits of Putnam County. This township was annexed to Putnam Connty by order of the Board of County Commissioners at the September term, 1860, confirmed by act of the Legisla- ture, approved March 11, 1861.
Virginia in the year 1513. In the year 1826. at the age of thirteen, he came West with his father, who settled within one mile of the west edge of the township. Although but a boy at that time, he was acquainted with nearly all the carly settlers of the town- ship. The first log cabin in Mill Creek Township was built in the year 1826, on the west bank of the stream from which the township takes its name, one and a half miles south of Stilesville, by Jacob Holmes. This house was afterward sold to James Sallust. The next was built on what is known as the Clark farm, by Thomas Skelton. William Parker entered land and built a house close by. and then came Elisha Hurst and Norman Nunn. They were all carly settlers, and owned land adjoining the Clark farm on the west. William Hleavin came here in the year 1827, and at first built a log cabin, but within a few years erected a good hewed-log built a water-mill of the kind known to old settlers as a hominy-pestle; and he also planted the first orchard in the township.
The first death which occurred in the town- ship was that of Mrs. Barbara Ileavin, wife
Mill Creek Township lies east of Marion, of William Heavin, who died in the year Jefferson and Cloverdale townships, and is | 1830, and was interred near the family
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dwelling. After eight years more of toil in this new country, her husband followed her in death, and was laid beside the remains of his companion.
In the year 1828, the one following that which marked the arrival of Mr. ILeavin, Daniel McAninch settled in Mill Creek Township.
James Sallust, father of John and William Sallust of this township and of J. R. Sallust of Oregon, came from Virginia to Mill Creek in the year 1829, and lived in his traveling- tent until he built a cabin in which to live. It is remarked of Mr. Sallust that he was a man of great industry, and he put under cultivation a large part of the farm on which his son John Sallust is now living. Mr. Sallust made the first kiln of brick in the township. Ilis molder and burner was a man named Daniel Elliott. Mr. Sallust lived to the year 1851. Mr. MeHlaffie, from Knox County, Pennsylvania, father of M. F. McHaffie, bought land in the north part. of the township in the year 1831, to which he removed in the fall of the next year. Ile built the first water-power grist-mill in the township, in the years 1835-'36. Samnel Beadie, Pleasant Allee and William Allee all came to the township in the year 1837.
The first child born in the township was Nancy E. Holmes, daughter of Jacob Holmes, who built the first house in the township. Her birth occurred May 7, 1830. This child died at the age of four years. The first marriage was that of Eli Lee and Polly Heavin, daughter of William and Barbara Heavin, in the year 1832. Mr. Lee built the first horse-mill, which was one widely known and extensively patronized for many years. The first school-house in this town- ship was built on the farm of a Mr. Bricks. The puncheons for the floor and seats of this house were hewed by Pleasant Allee.
The Methodist church was organized in the township in the year 1829, at the house of Mr. Bricks, mentioned above. Services were afterward held at the school-house until the erection of Mount Pisgah Church, on the land of Norman Nunn, in the year 1844 or 1845. Mr. Thomas Broadstreet was one of the earliest if not the first minister in the township.
Thomas Elliott improved the place at the forks of the Greencastle and National roads, where he first built a log house, in which he kept tavern, as did also Mr. Keller, just across the line in Hendricks County. In the year 1837 Mr. Elliott built a brick house, and, in the following year, Mr. Keller built a two-story frame. These were rival honses, and attained to great notoriety. They were known as the " Indian Chief ". Teenmseh and "Washington Hall." They were together called " the twin taverns."
While the National Road was construct- ing, in the years 1833 and 1834, the General Government built two bridges over small creeks just west of the twin taverns, the stone abntments of which are good to this. day. This is true also of other works of the same kind constructed on that road at the same date.
MONROE TOWNSHIP.
This township was one of the first settled, and.is one of the best in the county. It is Congressional township 15, range 4, and is bonded on the north by Franklin, on the east by Floyd, on the south by Greencastle, and on the west by Clinton townships. The surface is mostly level in the north part, but more rolling in the south. The soil is a rich black loam, superimposed upon a yellow clay subsoil. Like the rest of the county,. Monroe was originally covered with a splen- did growth of valuable timber, most of which
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HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
has been cnt and sold. The streams of the township consist of a few branches of Big and Little Walnut, the latter just cutting the southeast corner on section 36. The town- ship is well improved. It has two gravel roads, one running north from Greencastle, the other west from Bainbridge. Along these roads lies some of the finest country in Putnam County; and the farms are well improved. presenting the evidence of care and skill on the part of their owners.
The first settler's were Jesse and Rollin James, Elias Gibson and John Powell, who built their cabins in 1821; in the west part of the township, not far from where Brick Chapel now stands. In 1822 came Isaiah Vermillion, Thomas Heady, Barnabas Frakes, George W. Howlett and Philip Ford. Dur- ing the next two years Levi Stewart, John, Abner and O. Goodwin and George Pearcy became citizens. Within the years 1825 and 1826 they were joined by William Ran- dall, James W. Hillis, Joseph Logan, Mr. McCorkle, William HI. Thornburg, Andy Sigler. Captain Tumbriek, Jonathan, Aaron and Henry Myers, Mr. Glover, John and George Jackson, Mr. Baileys, Thomas Benge, William Moss, Reuben Slavens, Edward Par- ish, Andrew Byerly, Joseph Heath, Philip Slater, Hudson and Eli Brackney, Robert N. Allen, Thomas Starks, Mr. Bnsey, John Allen, Mr. Penny, Abraham Leatherman and Lnke. Gardner. The years 1827 and 1828 mark the arrival of Robert C. Brown, Addi- son and Josiah Lane, Samuel Job, Elswick Risk, George Gibson, John Frakes, J. and P. Clement and W. Hansel. There was a large increase of population in the following two years, among whom were James Mont- gomery, Daniel Chadd, James Fisk, Phelan and Corbin Priest, James O'Hair, John Brown, Henry Foster, Alexander Tolin, Peter Graves, John Gilkey, Hiram B. Slavens,
Alexander Farrow, Thomas Tinsley, William Garrett, Sharp Spencer, Mrs. Brothers and her son Robert Brothers and Mr. Dale. Among those who came soon afterward may be named the Darnalls, 'the Starrs, the Thorntons and the Fyffes.
The marriage of George Jackson and Susannah Tomlinson was the first in the town- ship. The first blacksmith was John Jack- son, who built a shop on section 32. Thomas Heady was the first justice of the peace. Then came Reuben Slavens and Alexander Tolin as his successors in office. The first who died in the township was a man named Lane. He was buried on the farm of George W. Howlett. The Brick Chapel graveyard is one of the oldest in the township, and has a beautiful location. The first school was taught by George Pearcy on section 1, north of Bainbridge. About the year 1826 Addi- son "Lane taught a school near the site of Brick' Chapel, which was the first in that neighborhood. He was followed by Joseph Farley, Hiram B. Slavens and John Slavens. The Christians held the first meetings in the township at the house of George W. Howlett in 1893. Gilbert Harney preached and con- dneted the services. This house was used as a place of worship for several years by differ- ent denominations. Rev. Benjamin Jones, a Methodist minister, held services also at the house of Mr. Howlett, shortly after the Chris- tian meetings at the same place, and here the Methodist church was organized by Daniel Anderson and Benjamin C. Stevenson. This must have taken place in the conference year 1826-'27, as Anderson and Stevenson were then pastors of the Eel River Circuit. Meetings were also held in a log school- house that stood where Brick Chapel now stands. The first church-building was erected by the Methodists on the present site of the Montgomery Chapel. It was a small brick
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TOWNSHIP SKETCHES.
building, afterward replaced by the present commodious editice.
Bainbridge is a flourishing village on parts of sections 1, 2, 11 and 12, and is a station on the Louisville, New Albany & Chicago Railroad. Its history will be given in a subsequent division of this department of the volume.
RUSSELL TOWNSHIP.
This township was originally a part of Clinton, but in 1828 Clinton was divided, and Russell was formed as it now stands. It occupies the northwest corner of the county, and is bounded on the north by Montgomery County, on the east by Franklin Township, on the south by Clinton Township, on the west by Parke County. This township is composed of the Congressional township 16, range 5. The streams that drain Russell are Raccoon Creek and Ramp Creek, with their several tributaries, all' taking a southwest- ward course. The timber is of an excellent quality, and of a variety similar to that of
Clark Butcher, who also settled on Big Raccoon.
In 1821 came John Anderson, John West- fall, Christian Landis, Andrew Robertson, B. Rosencranze, William Sutherlin, John Gleason, Samuel Steele, Thomas Thompson, Jacob Beck and a brother, John Doherty and Andrew Boyd. John Fasher built his cabin on Ramp Creek this year, and removed his family thither in 1822. The year 1822 marks the arrival also of John Guilliams, Jacob Pickle and A. B. Denton. From 1822 to 1825 Mark Homan, R. V. Garrott, Thomas Page, I. Aldridge, Jacob Stid and Thomas Norman became residents of the township.
Within the next five years the ancestors of the Wilsons, the Evanses, the Clodfelters, the MeGangheys, Spencers, Burketts, For- geys, Blakes and many others were added to the pioneer population.
The first birth which occurred in the town- ship is a matter of dispute. The priority be- longs either to a child of Christian and Matilda Dearduff, or to Miss Guilliams, who was born abont the year 1823. The first the neighboring townships. The soil is ex- marriage was that of John Guilliams and cellent. especially in the northern and
Miss Lydia Fasher, which took place in July,
northwestern portions, the country around 1822. They were married by the Rev. Mr. Russellville being charming in its natural Quinlet. The manner in which this wedding character, and finely improved. The south- was conducted serves to illustrate the charac- western portion is considerably broken, though the soil is good and there are many fine farms. The township, upon the whole, is considered one of the finest in the county.
Russell Township was one of the first set- tled. David Swank, who came in- 1820 and built his cabin on what is still known in the neighborhood as the "Swank farm," in the northeastern part of the township, was the first settler. In the same year came Allen Elliott, who settled on Big Raccoon, near the center of the township; Austin Puett, who formed, when he returned to his labor as settled near the site of Portland Mills, and , though nothing unusual had taken place.
ter of the times and the simple habits of the pioneers .. Mr. Guilliams, who was busily engaged in plowing his corn, made arrange- ments with his intended wife that on tlie day of the marriage, when the preacher should arrive and she should be ready, she should inform him of the facts. In. due time the preacher came, and a child was dispatched to notify the groom that all things were ready. Ilitching. his horse, in the field, he repaired to the house, where the ceremony was per-
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HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
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Daniel Anderson, who ministered unto the people of the township during the years 1824 and 1825, was their first preacher. Ile was followed by William II. Smith, Lorenzo Dow and others of the noble band which they represent. The first school-house was built on the farm of John Foaher 'in 1823, in which the first school was taught the same year. The first mill in the township was built by Jacob Beck, and was long known as "Beck's Mill." This was erected in 1820 and 1821. The burr's of this mill were made by John Guy, from a bowlder which lay near the mill site. The next was "Swank's Mill," built in 1823. James Secrest opened at Blakesburg the first store from which goods were sold in Russell Township. In 1823 John Fasher established a tan-yard on Ramp Creek, which was the first in this portion of the county. "Colonel James Blake erected a "'Sang. Factory" at the same place, and operated it from 1826 to 1830. This factory gave employment to all who were not other- wise employed, in digging" "'sang," which found a ready market. Jesse Blake also, who is.still living in the vicinity, had an interest in this factory. The first church was built at Russellville in 1830. When the town was laid out in 1828 arrangements were made for the erection of a church, which was com- pleted two years later. The first Fourth of July celebration was held on the farm of John Dougherty, near Portland Mills, in 1828, General George K. Steele acting as marshal of the day. Drs. James B. Clark, Copeland, Winslow, Rogers and John Slavens were the first practicing physicians in this community.
In the year 1828 the town of Russellville was laid out by Jacob Durham, who was the first merchant and carried on the first black- smith-shop. Dr. Striker was the first physi- cian who resided there. The educational and
charitable interests are "provided for by a graded school, and a very large, prosperous Masonic lodge. The Methodist church was the first organized in Russellville. It now has about 300 members, and a remarkably large" and " well-conducted Sabbath-school. The population is about 175.
WARREN; TOWNSHIP.
Warren Township, comprising the first thirty sections of the Congressional township 13, range 4, lies Immediately south of Green- castle Township, and is bounded on the east by Jefferson, on the south by Cloverdale, and on the west By Washington. The surface of the township is undulating, and in parts quite broken. 'The soil is a clay loam. with some excellent bottoni lands along Deer Creek. The township was once heavily tim- bered with oak, poplar, hand maple and beech, with some groves of walnnt and hickory, and a plentiful supply of sycamore along the streams. It is drained by Deer Creek, together with its tributaries, which traverses the township from northeast to southwest. Along this stream there are uinmerous never- failing limestone springs.
The early settlers of the township, who are deceased, were James Townsend, William Hadden, Samuel Hawn, Benjamin Hawkins, George Pearcy, Thomas Brown, John Hen- derson, Peter Waynick, Alexander Conley, Arthur Conley, Gilmore Conley. John Baird, John Arnold, John Akin, Judge Deweese, William 'W.' Walden, John Mercer, Jacob Peck, William Duckworth, David Clearwater, John May, Thomas McCarty, Joseph Denny, Thomas Hancock, Daniel Hepler, Dennis Williams, John Garren, John C. Sellers, Nathaniel Hawkins, John H. Hawkins, John 'S. Perry, John Swift, Archibald Cooper, Robert Woodall, John Woodall, Thomas Moore, Joel Shinn, James Martin, Lozier B.
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