USA > Indiana > Grant County > Centennial history of Grant County, Indiana, 1812 to 1912 : compiled from records of the Grant county historical society, archives of the county, data of personal interviews, and other authentic sources of local information > Part 37
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The first gas well was drilled on the west side of section 11 in the fall of 1888 by the Huntington Light & Fuel Company. The Areana Gas Company drilled a well one-quarter of a mile west of Arcana and put in a plant at Van Buren and Landessville. Later J. Strange was the owner and operator of the plant and in 1895 made the first oil developments in section 10 that was made in the township and was the first oil operator and made the first shipment of over six hundred barrels in 1897 from the township, after which gas and oil wells were drilled promisenously over the township, but commenced waning in 1905, and at the present time the product of both oil and gas is light, without any attempt at new development.
The last publie expression of the township was the vote on county local option, resulting in 187 votes for the dry and 81 for the wets. A few years ago the township showed its hand on township remon- stranve against the establishment of a saloon at Areana. Let me sug- gest that Monroe township, when anyone complains of being out of a job on account of going dry, tells them to go to "Richmond" for a new enss word instead of to hell and Texas.
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A pioneer result of wet and dry: The wet and dry proposition was in a private way fought out in the large part of the township in pioneer days like this: The community in their mutual exchange of service in raising cabins and log rollings, one set became disgusted in the liberal use of whiskey and protested. The other set said, "HE you don't have whiskey you can do your own raising and rolling logs, " and the split came and there were two elements, the wets and the drys. They did their log rolling and raising separately. The results are marked in the posterity, wet and dry yet, and it is dry prosperity and wet adversity.
XXXIV. FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP IN HISTORY
By W. F. Jones
Saturday, September 25, 1909, was Franklin Township day, and a special musical feature was furnished by Miss Mabel Cooper and Harry Cooper, preliminary to the following history :
The history of a township is in miniature the history of state or nation. The real history is the acts and work of her first settlers. The first log cabin was an important epoch, and at the first swing of the pioneer ax her history commenced. As we understand it, it is simply a story of the simple life really and truly of the hardy settler who came here to hew ont a home for wife and little ones. When the great Napo- leon was warned of the dangers attending the attempt to cross the Alps his answer was, "There shall be no Alps." This same spirit was man- ifest by the conquerors of this wilderness that confronted the settler everywhere sixty years ago, and they, too, must have said, "There shall be no wilderness."
Franklin township was created in 1852, and was the last of the thirteen to be organized. Prior to this date all that part east of the old boundary line belonged to Center and west to Sims. It comprises all of township 244 north, range 7 east, and consists of two surveys, one of all that portion east and the other west of said boundary line. This line does not run true north and south by several degrees, and was for the purpose of dividing the lands between the Indians and white set- tlers. It was said that the surveyor running from a northern starting point kept bearing west from true south. This divergence redneed the red man's possessions quite materially, as the angle is about forty rods to the mile. Franklin is bounded on the east by Mill and Center, on the south by Liberty, on the west by Sims, on the north by Pleasant, and contains thirty-six sections.
They say a man can't live in two places at once. However, the north line of the township ents a house in twain-the residence of the late Moses Dooley, on the Delphi road. Mr. Dooley could vote in either Pleas- ant or Franklin.
Franklin is strictly a level country. We have no hills and vales to describe, and no romantic scenery, but we do have a fine, rich soil that places her in the very front rank for productiveness. There is in the south part a ridge or elevation of a few feet dividing the waterflow from east to west. There is another ridge between Pipe creek and the Crane pond, terminating at the Hailey prairie, a place of considerable note. In the early days several acres of water was to be seen in the northeast corner of section 22. A tall, coarse grass grew therein that furnished a great feeding ground for deer as well as the cattle of the early settlers. Crane
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pond was a vast swamp of a hundred or more acres, mostly in section 3. The real basin contained about forty or fifty acres, and was covered with water several months in the year, and sometimes all of them. A heavy growth of cottonwood grew therein, and magnificent trees they were. Many were Trom forty to fifty feet to the first limb, and made a fine qual- ity of lumber. In the very top of these tall trees innumerable eranes built their nests. Hence the name, Crane pond. These nests were built after a prenliar fashion, seen in no other kind of a bird's nest. No fine material was used, as they were constructed in April when there was no. foliage. From the examination of a nest found in a fallen tree the evi- dence was plain that with their sharp, strong bills limbs half an inch in diameter and several feet long had been cut, with a cleavage as clean as with a pruning knife, and these eunning tree dwellers had woven and fashioned this nest so securely to the tree that made it proof against the hardest winds. Pipe creek prairie, or Small's prairie, as it was known, was mostly in section 21, with a beaver dam below it. This was covered with water and grass. This grass was used for hay by some of the first Settlers.
Big Pipe creek enters the township on the southwest quarter of see- tion 31, and has a northeasterly, also a northwesterly, course, leaving the township in section 5. This stream and its branches constitute the main system of drainage for the township. The west branch of this stream en- ters from the southwest in section 19, and has a northeasterly course, and connects with the main stream near the northeast corner of section 8. Big Deer creek ents the southeast corner of the township, and has some broken ground along its course. Dry Fork, a branch of Big Deer creek, enters the township in section 32, and has an easterly course, bearing north, and leaves the township in section 25.
Hailey Prairie branch has its source in sections 26 and 27, and has a general northern course to a point near the Hailey prairie, then west to the main channel in section 21, near Roseburg.
Boots ereek has a branch beginning in section 24, and has a cirenitous route, leaving the township on the east side of section 12.
There are also some large tile drains. The most important and ex- pensive is the Crane pond ditch, connnencing at a point near the center of the lowest ground, running southeast a half mile, then cast two miles, emptying in the ravine near the center of the old poor farm, in section 13. Twenty-four-inch tile was used for the first mile and a half from the outlet, the remainder being twenty, eighteen and fifteen inch. The aver- age depth is near seven feet, with good fall throughout. The estimated cost was about $6,000. The real cost was much more, as quicksand in the deeper portions made the work very expensive. This drain has proved very satisfactory under normal conditions. Big rains require a few days' time to get the water away. This tile drains several hundred acres. Another tile drain commences on the farm of J. L. Barley, in section 3, running north through Cart creek. In this fifteen-inch tile was used.
The late Henry D. Thomas put two rows of ten-inch tile from his farm, in section 10, through the deep eut of the old state ditch.' So the famous Crane pond country has gone "dry," and now grows big "yaller" corn, hay, wheat, oats and potatoes, and from $10 per acre 10 about $150 is a very marked advance in value. These waterways, both natural and artificial. have cost the farmers of Franklin a neat sum; the natural waterways, by reason of the reentting and straightening, the others by their first cost. The timber of Franklin is now only a mat- ter of history.
I think I am safe in making the assertion that if big trees were now
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growing on her thirty-six sections as in 1850, and sold at the prevailing prices for lumber and wood bolts and other marketable stuff, the price would represent a sum equal to the value of all the land and improve- ments at the present valuation. In the old sawmill days the very best was none too good. The best was walnut, poplar and ash. Little chn was sawed, as there was no demand for common stuff. Much of the timber was made into rails or placed in log heaps. Nothing under twenty-four inches in diameter was regarded as worth hauling to the mill. low memory lingers around the sawmill, the resort for us small boys on Sunday.
No economy was used in converting these splendid trees into plank. In the first place they were ent down with the ax. It had not entered into the mind of the woodman that a tree could be sawed down, thus saving valuable fimber. He laid the ax not to the root of the tree, but at a good, convenient heighth This made it necessary to "butt" the first log; that meant to reent it above the "kerf" made in Putting it down. Logs of all sizes were generally "squared" with four cuts of the saw. If the slab was six or eight inches thick and "faced" sixteen inches it was all the same, as they made good wood to tire the boiler, and real "mission" furniture for churches and schoolhouses. Ilow many are there here who have sat on the soft side of a poplar slab bench? So far I have touched briefly on some of the most important physical features of our township.
The first entries were JJames M. Duun, Samuel Sherrett, Susan Cop- poek, Henry Coat, Charles Hailey, Ziba Marine, Melvin Conner, William Jones, Eli Overman, Lewis Connor, David M. Harris, Thomas Harris, Melton Thomas. John Shugart and Joseph Ratliff. All made entries in Franklin in 1833.
The first settlers were Charles Hailey, who settled on the old poor farm in 1834. John Webb in 1833 moved on the O. HI. P. Carey farm. Henry Shugart, Sr., came in 1837. and commenced a farm where his son, Con L. Shugart, now lives. Alfred Tharp in 1834 settled on the eighty acres where John Medonner lives, and it is now owned by Sam- uel Burrier. William Jones, father of the writer, moved on the Tibbits land in 1837. and some apple trees he planted there over sixty years ago are still growing. Jonathan Willeuts settled the Druckemiller farm in 1837. and Sammel Burrier where he now lives in about 1850. Many others came between 1833 and 1850. Orton Phillips, Daniel Sloderbeek, Sammel Small, Amos Small, William Bailey. Joseph Brown, James Roye, A. J. Meavilin, Eli F. Hunt, David Kelly and Charles Scott are some of them. All hardy sons of toil they were who came to the new Eldorado to make a home. What they did is in evidence on every hand.
Roseburg is the recognized capital of Franklin, situated near the geographical center and on the Clover Leaf Railway. Her founders, or first citizens, were George W Hiatt, general store and postmaster; Ella Smith, general store; Brewer & Price, blacksmiths; Iliatt & Schooley, saw .mill; Weston Maekey, justice of the peace. Her first church was Wesleyan Methodist. The members were William Price, Samuel Bnr- rier, N. T. Davis, George Fenstemaker, C. C. Smith, pastor.
Fairfield was the first church built in the township, and was of hewed logs, and about Is by 24 feet, and was located in section 12, a half mile west of the east line of the township. The leading members were at that time (about 1850) Caleb Morris, William Jones, W. J. Smith. Ziba Marine and John Webb.
Westfield Wesleyan was built about the same time, and was located a half mile west and some distance south of Fairfichl. The leading mem- hers were Sampson Reeves and wife, Willis Elliott and wife, Curtis
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Beanchamp and wife. The colored Baptist church was built on the John Jones land. Jones was a leading member, also Jerry Shoecraft, Nathan Jones, Isaiah Jones, Rebecca Jones and Henry Willians.
Maple Run Friends' church was organized in 1857. The leading members at that time were Nathan Small, William Cook and Joshua Marshall.
The first circuit rider the writer remembers was a Brother Sweet, a very devout and earnest man, who preached the gospel as he under- stood it, and without frills or faney flights of oratory.
There was Isaac Meeks, a very remarkable, though unlettered, man. A few, very few, are living who heard and remember to this day his fervid exhortations and cecentric and dramatic performances. Wrought np to the highest pitch, he would remove his coat, unbutton his shirt collar-no other kind was worn-and his ringing, earnest voice coukl be heard far and near.
Willis Elliott was also a licensed exhorter, as they were called in the early days. Some of the pioneer teachers in Franklin were Daniel Hoekett, Josiah Small, James Scott, Hiram Overman, Henry C. Jones, William Shugart, Nathan Jennings and R. B. Beauchamp. The teach- ers were elected by ballot, and only parents or guardians had a right to vote. The school director would call a meeting for a certain date for the purpose of electing a teacher, also a director to serve the following year. Candidates made a house to house canvass, with a personal appeal for the support of the patrons. If he found the farmer in the field gathering corn he would shuck the down-row across the field. IIe had turned the tide in his favor, and a rival's two-year license could in no way offset it. Every one went to the meeting, as a heated canvass of the three or four candidates roused general interest to a remarkable degree. Every youngster, eighteen or over. wanted to vote, and as the hat was not very zealously guarded, the vote sometimes counted ont not exactly as it should. However, there were no contests, and the minority took the defeat good-naturedly, and the incident was closed with the meeting.
The pay of these old-timers was not princely by any means. Some boarded among the scholars and out their own wood, and the average salary was abont $25 per month. "Readin, 'ritin and 'rithmetic" were the only branches taught.
Memories of the old playground at school still linger. The choosing up for the ball game. The first choice went to the boy who guessed right on "wet" or "dry"-a ball paddle-we had no bats-was wet on one side and then whirled rapidly as it was thrown in the air, and the one who named the side that would come uppermost had the first choice.
Then there was the rabbit hunt that often outlasted the noon hour, especially if the chase took us out of the hearing of the bell. The ex planation to the master of how we came to be late by reason of not ยท hearing the said bell generally went, and the spoils of the chase went generally to the master. The last day was looked forward to for weeks before the school closed. A school without a "last day" doings was not to be thought of. Even the small boys looked upon it as an occasion long desired to lick some other boy, and not to have to answer to the teacher either. An old-time school exhibition would be hard to describe, indeed. Every scholar was expected to speak a "piece," take part in some dialogue, read an essay or stay at home.
The first to teach in Franklin was Josiah Small. The first trustee was Charles Scott, then came George Fenstemaker, Powell II. Fowler, Con. L. Shugart, George A. Osborn, A. A. Burrier. Clark Willeuis, Frank
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Mackey, Henry M. Shugart, B. F. Shields, Peter Hegner, T. J. Grose. Mr. Hegner is now serving his second term.
The first election held in Franklin was in November, 1852, and but forty-six votes were cast. Pierce and King, Democrats, received sixteen votes; Scott and Graham, Whigs, thirty votes. The total vote in 1860 was 202; in 1864, 222; in 1868, 279; in 1872, 301; in 1876, 319; in 1880, 449. This was the last election with only one precinet. The memory of that count will linger with us for ages. Nelson Thompson and I were the clerks. All the candidates for all offices from supervisor up were on one ticket. There were about three dozen names of candidates, and the voters scratched as they never did before or since. The tally sheet was fully four feet long and by reason of this blue pencil business the range of candidates voted for went from A to Z. It was near the noon hour the next day when we got everything signed np. These old time elec tion days are readily recalled by the "old-timers." It seemed a free- for-all. The room was crowded all day and it surely would have fur- nished the pencil of A. B. Frost an interesting subjeet.
The squirrel hunter had brought his trusty ritle and here and there dimly outlined through the elond of tobacco smoke their long barrels could be seen pointing ceilingward at a peculiar angle that never varied.
The politician was there in all his glory. Issues were argued and determined. All kinds of trouble was predicted should either side win. One man I know who had been exceedingly active all day, went home forgetting to vote. Here, too, was to be seen the man who just wanted pay for his day. Some time he tried to "bull" the market, and I know of one instance where a fellow lingered in the back ground until the ery went forth, "Hear ye, the polls are now closed," losing his vote and "valuable" time as well.
Franklin now has seven precincts and the last general election showed a vote of 1,248. Franklin has had a fair share of the offices in the gift of the people. John Ratliff, A. A. Burrier, C. C. Shugart have repre- sented Grant county in the lower house of general assembly ; B. ( Harris and Frank Chase each served as county commissioners; George A. Os- born served as auditor and O. R. Hohnan was sheriff.
The soil of Franklin is mostly what they call black land. The staple crops are corn, wheat and oats; potatoes and melons are extensively grown along the Pipe creek bottoms.
AAnderson Hogston is easily the "melon king" and was also the first to raise potatoes as a market erop, having grown them extensively for twenty-five years. Many years ago Anderson invented a potato planter that, though home made, contained all the vital principles of the up-to- date machine of today and practically did the work as well.
I remember of hearing Mr. Hogston read a paper before the Grant county farmers' institute, treating on potato culture. I think Anderson that year had raised a large erop of this vegetable and the price not being satisfactory, had on hand four or five thousand bushels. I think this, was brought out in the article. In the discussion that followed. some one wanted to know what he was going to do with so many potatoes. Anderson answered very promptly. "Eat 'em." The next spring the price had not improved and he had lots of help-in eating those potatoes. No one was turned away that was worthy and needy, whether they had the price or not, and many had potatoes that year who never had one before.
[ Editor's Note .-- Had the Franklin historian been writing at the time his copy was being prepared for publication he would have chron- ieled the death of Anderson Hogston, and the murder of Clarkson Will- ents, two men always actively interested in the prosperity of the commun- ity ventering about Roseburg, and a slight reminiscence, in which Mr.
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Jones played a significant part, is added to his sketch. All who are familiar with the history of Franklin know the subsequent history of Mr. Hogston, and the litigation in connection with his will, and that a special Jaw was enacted by the Indian legislature in 1911 covering the situation. He was a wealthy bachelor and given to eccentricities, al- though an excellent citizen and always abreast of the times, and since Franklin was early the storm center of temperance agitation, the Rat- lill's being active Prohibitionists, Mr. Hogston and Mr. Jones together accepted the challenge of John Ratliff and his son, Harvey Ratliff, to meet them in debate in the Roseburg schoolhouse.
The writer was "schoolmaster" at the time, and when the evening came so many people came that the meeting was changed to the Wes- leyan church near by, and John Q. Thomas was chosen moderator. John Ratliff opened the question, and in his reply Mr. Hogston quoted from a Kansas letter in the Marion Chronicle, written by Levi, another son of Mr. Ratliff, who had been through the Prohibition light in that state, and in it was some reference to the use of dynamite which the speaker said did not read well through Republican eye glasses, when the senior Mr. Ratliff offered his Prohibition spectacles, thinking to check the mirth, but he had not quite anticipated his platform antagonist. Refusing the proffered spectacles, from some hidden receptacle Mr. Hogston produced a pair of leather spectacles and placing them across his forehead, he proceeded to read the Kansas letter, and there was never more genuine amusement connected with vaudeville entertainment.
The moderator objected, inasmuch as the debate was being held in a church, whereupon Mr. Hogston answered: "I was not aware that this was a funeral occasion, " and he was not side-tracked in his purpose, and the popular verdiet was in favor of the negative in advance. Mr. Hogston and Mr. Jones having taken that side of the question. Mr. Ilogston could always take care of himself in mental encounter, and the grown-ups and present-day heads of families who were in Roseburg school at the time-two winters that the county historian held sway, will testify to his generosity in watermelon season, the "melon king" in extending his invitation only stipulating that no melons be burst and left lying in the field, and none of the youngsters were inclined to abuse a privilege. Later Mr. Hogston espoused the cause of Prohibition, and in honor of America's " Unerowned Queen," christened one of his best varieties of watermelon the Frances Willard. When "Rolinda" was a farm news- writer, Mr. Hogston always said : "Now, this is not for publication. " as a preface to any particularly good farm story, and in escorting a visitor abont the estate he still waged nuremitting warfare against weeds, and when called upon to culogize at his funeral in the Roseburg church later. Mrs. Myra Marshall emphasized the fact that he had been a good neigh- bor and citizen. Although under the pressure of circumstaners. Mr. logston's body was given burial in the Marion cemetery, when the will was read it was removed to Indianapolis for cremation, and there always will be neighborhood gossip that his ashes were scattered on the Farm where he had lived and acquired a fortune. ]
The range of land values in Franklin has been remarkable. In 1510 the forty acres now known as Miller's first and second addition to ile city of Marion was sold by my father, William JJones, to Nathan Comp- ton, for $212 or a fraction over $5.25 per acre. About the year 1885 the Jate James Shively, father of M. T. Shively, bought the 160 known as the Moorman land in section 1, for $20 per acre. Sixty acres of the Crane pond land was purchased some years later for $600. Part of this same land has changed hands within the past year for $135 per acre.
In the early days after the roads had been taken from the "blazed"
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trails that followed the higher ground in order to miss swamps and ponds and put on section lines, the supervisor, the "lezar" of the settle- ment, was created. The word of this official was law, even a "law unto itself." Powell HI. Fowler, trustee, told the writer once after a tilt with the road boss, in which he was worsted, that he had found out that the district supervisor's authority was little less than the president's. In the month of either April, May or June, all able-bodied men between the age of 21 and 50 were "warned" ont to "work the roads." Not less than two or more than four days. It is needless to say, everybody worked, including "father." "Crosswaying" or "corduroy" then way the chief remedy for real bad places, and was a fearful proposition to travel over. I have often regretted that some of this wood pavement had not been preserved and by some special machinery made to rise up in front of some of the fools who run their automobiles over our roads at a reckless and dangerous speed.
Crosswaying was made from logs, poles, rails or brush, or all of them. The whole was then covered with dirt, and it made travel possible over bad places. The old Delphi road from Marion to Converse had miles and miles of corduroy in the early days.
In the year 1909 Franklin township has more miles of gravel road than any other township in the county, and all in good repair. A very interesting period in the history of our township was called the "gas boom." Franklin was the "storm center" of the Mason, Wiley & Butler operations. What really took place now sounds like a Fairy tale. Lots three miles from the courthouse were actually sold for from $100 to $250. Several hundred acres of land were bought and platted in sections 1. 1] and 12. Factories were located, streets and alleys were made -- quite a few on paper only. Excursions from the east, with brass bands, made our rural districts resemble a "street fair." Marion was to be a vast inland city. All the men and teams that could be hired were making the dirt fly on the Queen City street car line. The Marion and Roseburg pike was torn up for several rods, ties and rails laid. and everybody wanted in on the "ground floor." Not everybody, either, for we "na- tives" stood around and could hardly realize that such doings could ever happen in old Franklin.
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