USA > Indiana > Clay County > Counties of Clay and Owen, Indiana : Historical and biographical. > Part 17
USA > Indiana > Owen County > Counties of Clay and Owen, Indiana : Historical and biographical. > Part 17
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Other Congregations .- There are six other houses for public worship in the township outside of Bowling Green. The Methodists have two- one near the old site of Bellair, and the other in the east side of the town- ship. Both of these are good houses. The United Brethren have two- an excellent one two miles west of town, and a log house in the south- east part of the township. The Christian denomination have two-one in the south part of the township, and one in the northwest part. Both of these are good buildings.
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP IN THE MEXICAN WAR.
The old militia system of the State, which had been devised at an early period in its history, had about died out, although there were occasional calls for the militia to meet for regimental drill, when the military spirit of the township was aroused again by the declaration of war against Mexico. Gov. Whitcomb had scarcely made his call in 1846 for three regiments of volunteers before steps were taken that resulted in raising a company of Clay County volunteers, which consti- tuted Company D, Second Regiment Indiana Volunteers, commanded by Col. Jim Lane :
173
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.
NAMES.
RESIDENCE. | AGE.
No. of
Children.
DATE OF MARRIAGE.
WHERE MARRIED.
John Osborn, Captain .. .. Clay Co. 35
Allen T. Rose, 1st Lieut ..... Clay Co.
34
6 Jan. 1, 1833 .. . Putnam Co., Ind.
John T. Alexander, 2d Lieut. Clay Co.
36
2 Dec. 13, 1832. . Clay Co., Ind
Joshua Moore, 2d Lieut .... . Clay Co.
25
Thomas Grimes, Q. M. Sergt. Clay Co. 23
William L. Shields, 1st Sergt. Clay Co.
Henry Moss, 2d Sergt.
Clay Co.
26
Elihu E. Rose, 3d Sergt. . Clay Co.
22
John M. Melton, 4th Sergt. . Clay Co.
23
Nathan Burchfield
Clay Co.
26
2
§ Aug. 2, 1834 7 Nov. 17, 1844 Clay Co., Ind.
Absalom Hall.
Clay Co.
Randall Chance
Clay Co. 37
Adam Huffman
Clay Co.
34
Erwine Blumb.
Clay Co.
32
John F. Branham.
Owen Co.
Hukey Brown
Clay Co.
19
Samuel Blunk
Clay Co.
22
Miles Brush .
Clay Co.
19
Wilburn Brown.
Clay Co.
21
William Blackman.
Parke Co.
21
Thomas I. Cromwell.
Clay Co.
43
5 Nov. 30, 1826. Morgan Co., Ind.
Winston Crouse.
Clay Co.
26
Henry C. Cameron
Clay Co.
19
Timothy Chambers Clay Co.
Alexander Carruthers
Clay Co.
21
William Crouse
Clay Co.
21
Squire L. Case.
Clay Co.
25
Joshua Deal .
Clay Co.
Benjamin Deal
Clay Co.
John Dalgarn.
Clay Co.
Frederick Eckerd.
Clay Co.
John B. Evans. Clay Co.
Isaac Ferguson Clay Co.
Sidney H. Golson
Clay Co.
Charles D. Gilbert
Clay Co.
John F. Gillaspie Clay Co.
Ebenezer Gilbert. Clay Co.
22
John Hudson. Clay Co.
Thomas F. Hensley Clay Co.
Jacob Hudson Clay Co.
Elisha Horn ..
Clay Co.
Adam Howk, Jr.
Clay Co.
Moses Harvey
Clay Co.
Peter Huffman.
Owen Co. 42
John B. Jones. Clay Co.
45
Thomas Jenkins.
Clay Co.
20
David Jones. . Clay Co.
21
William Kendall. Clay Co.
26 20 28
5 Aug. 18, 1837 .. Clay Co., Ind.
Elisha Kendall Clay Co.
John Long Clay Co. James Leonard
Clay Co. Paschal Lapere. Vigo Co.
Samuel Moss Clay Co.
Charles W. Moss.
Clay Co.
James Marshall. Clay Co.
Nathan Myers. Clay Co.
21
Augustus S. Nations.
Owen Co. 21
Nov. 24, 1842. Clay Co., Ind.
2 May 8, 1842. . . Clay Co., Ind.
28 37 4 May 2, 1839. .. Clay Co., Ind. 4 Aug, 22, 1830. Clermont Co., Ohio.
2 Dec. 24, 1840 .. Clay Co., Ind.
24 23 1 July 8, 1844 .. Clay Co., Ind
1 Dec. 22, 1843 .. Clay Co., Ind
4 July 11, 1837. . Clay Co., Ind. S June 30, 1821 York Co., Penn. 6 Nov. 26, 1841 Tippecanoe Co., Ind.
1 July 23, 1844. . Clay Co., Ind.
Abraham Kendall. Clay Co.
John Kendall. Clay Co.
20
20 20 31 21 24
26 Nov. 29, 1842. Clay Co., Ind.
4 March 12, 1833 Putnam Co., Ind ..
26 1 April 4, 1844. . Clay Co., Ind .. 4 Feb. 9, 1835. . Morgan Co., Ind
22 Feb. 3, 1846 ... Dearborn Co., Ind .. 4 § April 24, 1828 Clay Co., Ind. 7 June 24, 1844 Owen Co., Ind.
4 Aug. 2, 1836. . Clay Co., Ind. 4 April 2 or 3, '35 Germany.
22
22
21 23 24 22
22 19 26
23 20 21 20
174
HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.
NAMES.
RESIDENCE.
AGE.
No. of
Children.
DATE OF MARRIAGE.
WHERE MARRIED.
James M. Oliver.
Clay Co.
18
Stephen P. O'Brien.
Clay Co.
21
William Patton, Jr.
Clay Co.
20
Reason Phipps
Clay Co.
21
William Richardson
Clay Co.
20
Benjamin Randall
Clay Co.
22
Littleton L. Sumpter
Owen Co.
27
Dec. 29, 1842 .. Owen Co., Ind. 1
William H. Sparks.
Clay Co.
20
William L. Thompson
Owen Co.
21
Zech J. Vantrees ..
Clay Co.
24
Thomas Wakefield.
Owen Co.
19
Daniel D. Walker.
Clay Co.
23
Franklin Waddle
Clay Co.
32
4 Feb. 8, 1838.
Vigo Co., Ind.
Richard Walker, Jr.
Clay Co.
22
William W. Walker,
Clay Co.
21
Jesse Walker
Clay Co.
20
John Wakefield ..
Owen Co.
21
Warren W. Walker.
Clay Co.
19
Alexander Carruthers was wounded at the battle of Buena Vista, and died a few days after, and was buried at Saltillo, Mexico. William Ken- dall, John Hudson and Wilber Brown died of disease. Kendall and Hudson were buried at Camp Belknap; Brown was buried at Brazos Bar.
As indicative of the enthusiastic spirit of the people generally, it is only necessary to state that Dr. William B. Gwathmey and Dr. Charles Moore gave notice through the colums of the Indiana Globe that " fami- lies of volunteers would'be prescribed for and attended during the absence of the company gratuitously."
BOWLING GREEN.
Clay County was organized by an act of the Legislature in 1825. The same act also appointed Commissioners to locate the county seat. The high land on the opposite side of Eel River and the present location came in competition before the board, but its decision was in favor of the present site. The town was built on the land entered by David White and Caleb Cummings, on the 18th day of August, 1818. Daniel Chance was appointed County Agent, and he employed James Gallatly, an eccentric citizen of Owen County, to survey and lay out the town. The sale of lots was made in 1826 or 1827. The first term of court was held some time in the year 1826; John Ewing was Presiding Judge, and Daniel Harris and Nicholas G. Cromwell were Associates. The first county officers were: Clerk and Recorder, Elijah Rawley; Treas- urer, Daniel Chance; Sheriff, John Rizley; County Agent, Daniel Chance; first Representative in State Legislature, Daniel Harris. The County Commissioners were Samuel Rizley, John Downey and Tilman Chance. Mr. Rizley had been one of the Commissioners of Putnam County, and was afterward Commissioner of Owen County, and after-
175
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.
ward held the office of County Commissioner in Clay County, but all this time resided in the same house. The first court house was built of logs, and erected in the year 1827. It remained till the year 1838, when a brick court house was built on the public square, which stood till 1852, when it was destroyed by fire. The county immediately commenced the erection of the present building, on the ground occupied by its prede- cessor. It is a plain substantial structure, and cost the county $10,000. It is yet in a good state of preservation, surrounded by a nice grass sward and pleasantly shaded. The building is owned by the town, and used as a hall for lectures and various kinds of entertainments. The county jail was erected the same year in which the first court house was built. It was of hewn logs, and on the plan of all such prisons. When the second court house was erected, a jail was also built of brick, which still remains. It originally cost the county $5,000. It now belongs to the town, and is a good, substantial building, well preserved.
In 1869, the place was incorporated as a town. It was divided into three districts, and one Trustee from each district elected. From the First District, Enos Miles; from the Second, William H. Atkins; and from the Third, James Shaw, were chosen. These districts are now rep- resented in the above order by William H. Miles, John E. Thomas and Samuel J. Kendall; Frederick E. Keifner is Clerk and Treasurer, and Noah Rodenberger is Marshal. The town was incorporated several years previous to the present organization, but the thing not proving satisfactory, it was "busted up."
Philip Hedges procured the contract of clearing off the ground for the public square, but as he was to receive a very small sum for the work, the people generally volunteered to assist him, and the occasion was made a kind of protracted holiday, in which both men and women took a lively interest. While the work was in progress, one Cypress came along with a quarter of beef which he had won at a shooting match- Some of the boys invited him into a grocery to drink, and during his ab- sence, others were busy roasting his beef on a large brush heap that had been made near by. After the meat had been roasted and devoured, a collection was taken, and Cypress was paid for his beef, and went on his way rejoicing. While the men were engaged in rolling the logs, Rev- John Dunham came along, and, at the invitation of the hands, he hitched his horse to a tree, and all hands seated themselves around, while he delivered the first sermon that was preached on the ground where Bowling Green was afterward built. It is said that after Brother Dunham had dismissed his audience, they made him dance a jig, but Uncle Oliver Cromwell says he was there, and that was not the fact. The Rev. Mr. Billings, a Baptist minister, preached in the vicinity some time before this, and about 1820 organized a Baptist Church some four miles south of here. .
176
HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.
The Methodists organized the first church in Bowling Green, but preached and held all their meetings in private houses and the school- house till the year 1848, when they erected a substantial brick house of worship, in which they have maintained preaching regularly ever since.
The Presbyterians commenced building a church in 1852, and in about one year afterward they sold the undivided one-half of the house and lot to the Baptists, and the Baptists completed the house in 1854.
The Baptist Church was organized here in September, 1853, with nine constituent members. Mrs. Julia A. Campbell and Mrs. Jane Cook are the only original members that are now living. Soon after the organ- ization of the church, they bought a half interest in the Presbyterian Church, and in 1872 they purchased the other half in fee simple. The first minister called was B. T. Herring, and then, in about the following order, they have had John Ward, Wilson Trent, Robert Moore, James Buchannan, Elder Harvey, Jesse Buchannan, G. W. Terry and T. J. Beaman. The present Deacons are James Taggart and George W. Latham.
The present organization of the Christian Church was the result of a remarkable protracted meeting and revival, conducted by Elders James Blankenship and William Black, in 1866. In 1867 they built a large, commodious frame church, which was dedicated "by Elder Black in May, 1868. David S. Stillwagon and Loyd B. Harris were the Elders elected, and David Orman, Clinton M. Thompson and Leroy Keith were the Deacons. The present officers are John Frump and D. S. Stillwagon, Elders; and John W. Wood and John Murbarger are the Deacons.
In the year 1875, the town erected an excellent graded school build- ing at a cost of $8,000, in which schools of a high order have been main- tained. The Principals of the schools have been Profs. Farraby, Homer Hicks, Maston S. Wilkinson and W. S. Williams.
Clay Lodge, No. 85, A. F. & A. M. was organized in the year 1849, under dispensation from the Grand Master, E. Denning, and was char- tered May 29, 1850, with John Osborn, Master; Merryman Elkin, Senior Warden, and Oswald Thomas, Junior Warden. In January, 1883, the fraternity had their hall, together with charter, books, jewels and furni- ture, destroyed by fire. The present officers are Dr. E. P. Talbott, W. M .; Samuel J. Kendall, S. W .; Lewis Kalber, J. W .; Jacob Royer, S. D .; Henry Tressel, J. D .; Henry Moss, Secretary; C. M. Thompson, Treasurer, pro tem., and John Wood, Tiler.
Lodge No. 513, I. O. O. F., was organized the 18th day of Novem- ber, 1875. The charter members were Homer Hicks, Lenox Gwathmey, Thomas N. James, S. S. Feullen and Samuel Dalton. The present offi- cers are Martin Boyer, N. G .; Lewis Kalber, V. G .; Charles J. Fer- guson, Treasurer; and Lenox Gwathmey, Secretary.
177
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.
Purity Lodge, K. and L. of H., No. 275, was organized March 27, 1880, with H. H. B. Miles, Parintha Miles, Ernst Muehler, Eliza Muehler, Jacob H. Mckinney, Indiana Mckinney, William Mayrose, Regina May- rose, Philip A. Elkin, Alice Elkin, George Sinders, Percilla Sinders, David Notter, Jane Notter, O. O. Bence, Sarah Bence, Kate Bence and Lewis Kalber, as charter members. The present officers are Catharine Kalber, Protector ; Lida Davis, Vice Protector; Lewis Kalber, Secre- tary ; H. H. B. Miles, Financial Secretary ; Sarah Bence, Treasurer ; Salina Kendall, Chaplain ; Parintha Miles, Guide ; William Mayrose, Guardian, and O. O. Bence, Sentinel. The Trustees are Ernst Muehler, William Mayrose and O. O. Bence.
The following persons have kept hotel in Bowling Green, to wit: George Anderson, Barnet Hall, Daniel Zenor, John D. Thompson, Thomas Harvey, A. T. Lansing and Mary Cromwell. The town has always had the reputation of having good hotels.
Jesse J. Burton, Thomas Harvey, James Gildy, John S. Beam, Clin- ton M. Thompson, Richard Campbell, O. H. P. Ash, James M. Vial, James M. Miles, Samuel Miles, Lewis W. Rice, William H. Miles, Samuel G. N. Pinkley and Abner Bohannan have all served the people here as Postmaster.
Bowling Green has been noted for the talent of its local bar. Samuel Howe Smith, a pioneer lawyer, was a young man of eminent ability. He served a term in the Legislature, but he died prematurely with con- sumption. William Farley was also an attorney here in early times. Henry Secrest, who became quite eminent as a lawyer, once lived and practiced here. Deland R. Eckles formerly lived here, and practiced his profession. He was the preceptor of Deland E. Williamson, who studied and practiced here, and afterward became Attorney General of the State. John Osborn was first a dry goods merchant here, and then studied law and served the county for eight years as Auditor, and was also a member of the Legislature. He was Captain, and commanded a company in the war with Mexico, and went into the army as Lieutenant Colonel in the Thirty-first Indiana Regiment in the war of the rebellion. Allen T. Rose first learned the trade of a stonemason, then studied law, and be- came eminent in the profession. He was in the military service of the county in the war with Mexico, and also in the late war, and in both he held the rank of First Lieutenant. William Wirt Carter was raised and educated in Clay County, and is a lawyer of recognized ability. He entered the military service in the Sixth Indiana Cavalry, and served during the war, coming out with the rank of Major. He is now Internal Revenue Collector for this district. Silas D. Coffey was for several years a partner of Maj. Carter, and was equally eminent in his profes- sion. He is now Judge of this judicial district. Mr. George W. Wiltse was also a prominent lawyer here, and served the county as
178
HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.
Auditor. The present members of the bar residing here are Hon. George D. Teter, John Tressel and Col. John T. Smith.
THE PRESS.
The first paper published in the county was established in Bowling Green, in June, 1846, by S. H. and W. M. Kridelbaugh, and was called the Indiana Globe.
In 1851, Samuel Christy commenced the publication of the Eel River Propeller, which he continued about a year, and then sold out to Osborn and Oliver, who changed the name of the paper to Clay County Advocate. They published the Advocate two years, and sold out to Thomas Dillon, who changed the name of the paper to Clay County Citizen. Mr. Dillon died in 1855, and the Citizen fell into the hands of James Oliver. Mr. Oliver moved the paper to Brazil, and established the Brazil News. In 1857, he sold the News to A. T. Lansing, who moved it back to Bowling Green, and sold out the same year to A. T. Lusk. Mr. Lusk got out one issue, and sold out to our fellow-townsman, Clinton M. Thompson, and the publication of the Clay County Democrat was commenced, and for about seven years was continued under his supervision and management. Connected with him, however, at different times, were Thomas J. Gray, N. L. Willard and T. M. Robertson. For a considerable time Mr. George W. Wiltse was employed to edit the political department, and the Democrat took rank alongside the best papers in the Congressional district. The Clay County Democrat was sold to the Republicans, and its name changed to Hoosier Patriot, and was edited by William W. Carter. The Patriot was afterward sold to Mr. A. B. Wright, who moved it to Brazil.
The new Clay County Democrat was established by Thomas J. Gray, but in a year, or less, he sold out to A. T. Lansing, who continued its publication until 1863, when he changed its name to Aurora Borealis, and in 1866 he sold out to Samuel B. Riley, who changed its name to Old Constitution.
This was succeeded by the Democratic Archives, edited and published by Mr. William Travis.
Mr. Lansing revived the Aurora Borealis in 1870, but afterward moved it to Knightsville, in this county.
The Clay County Herald was established in 1874 by C. M. Leek, and at the expiration of about a year he sold out to the Clay Publishing Association, who continued the publication of the paper, under the editorial managment of A. J. Montgomery and Peter T. Luther. Some time after the county seat was moved, in 1875, Jason W. Brown com- menced the publication of the Clay County Review, which he afterward moved to Saline City, in this county .*
* Simon Hirsch, in 1875, commenced the publication of the Clay County Deutsche Zeitung, and continued it ahout a year.
Chas Wetlow, Bailey .
181
HARRISON TOWNSHIP.
Several of those connected with the Press and its history, in this place, have been men of more than average ability as newspaper writ- ers, the most sprightly of which were, probably, Thomas Dillon and Samuel Christie.
HARRISON TOWNSHIP.
BY G. N. BERRY.
TN the wonderful changes which the present age has witnessed, the period of vision and hypothesis has gone by. Fact has assumed the place of abstract theory, and practice has rejected speculation from her throne. In nothing are the changes of the present age more strik- ingly illustrated than in the wonderful improvement and advancement of our own country, especially the great West. But a few years ago, and this country was the home of the red man and his kindred. Less than a century has passed, and the Indian of " falcon glance and lion bearing" has disappeared, and Cooper's " Last of the Mohicans" preserves in romance the story of the race. From a wilderness infested with sav- ages and wild beasts, the country has been reclaimed and transformed into an Eden of loveliness unsurpassed in all that goes to make men happy, notwithstanding the poet has sung of
" A clime more delightful than this, The land of the orange, the myrtle and vine."
The history which attaches to every portion of our country increases in interest as time rolls on. Its wonderful development and advance- ment are more like magic tales than actual occurrences, and its vast re- sources the wonder of all nations. No section but has its traditions, and no spot, however small, but is more or less historical. It is, doubtless, pleasing to the excursive mind to push back into mildew and mold of the semi-unknown and revel in conjecture and fancy, and it is no less grat- ifying to the reader, whether he reads for amusement or instruction.
Mankind delights in the skill which portrays in harmonious colors the possibles and the might-have-beens and re-incarnates the crumbling skel- eton of antiquity and clothes it in the apparel which toilsome research has conceived to be the most fitting and appropriate. But the task of the present writer is allied to none of these. Its merit will depend upon an accurate statement of facts, stripped of any attempt at poetic veneering or the charm of sound. Many of the matters with which he is called upon to deal and which it is his duty to rescue from the shadows which will soon deepen into darkness are within the memory of persons still living, now gray-haired and venerable, but who came in the strength and vigor of their youth to subdue forests and to endure the trials and priva- tions incident to pioneer life.
182
HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.
LOCATION, BOUNDARIES, SURFACE FEATURES, ETC.
Harrison Township, which forms the subject matter of the following pages, is the largest division of Clay County, and bears no inconsider- able part in its history and development. It embraces an irregular area of territory lying in the southeastern part of the county, with the follow- ing boundaries, to wit: Perry and Sugar Ridge Townships on the north, Owen County on the east, and Lewis Township on the south and west. The surface of the country is gently undulating, the more uneven portion being near the northern boundary and along Lick Creek, where are a number of hills of various sizes and altitudes. The township is well watered and drained, Eel River, the largest stream of the county, flowing along the northern and southern borders and affording an outlet for sev- eral creeks of considerable size which traverse the county in almost every direction. Big Creek flows through the northern part and receives a number of tributaries, the largest of which is Lick Creek, which passes in a westerly direction through the central part of the township. Pond Creek rises in the east central part, and, flowing a southerly course, empties into Eel River. White Oak heads near the central part and flows in a southwesterly direction and empties into Eel River in Section 29, Town 10, Range 6 west. A large ditch, made by the State in the year 1854, for the purpose of straightening Big Creek, flows into Eel River due south from the central part, and affords an ample means of drainage for that part of the county through which it passes. Adjacent to the majority of these water-courses are stretches of low bottom lands, possessing a black, sandy soil, which, for fertility, cannot be surpassed by any other portion of the county. Back from the streams are what are termed the flats, where a clay soil predominates, which, though not so good for general farming as the bottoms, produces the small grains and cereals in abundance. The more elevated portions of the township are characterized by a clay soil also, and are well adapted to wheat culture and stock-raising, the native grasses being nutritious and very hardy.
The entire face of the country when first seen by white men was covered with dense forests of valuable timber, such as walnut, poplar, hickory, beech, elm, ash, white oak, burr oak, red oak, hard and soft maple, sycamore and elm, the last two varieties being confined prin- cipally to the immediate vicinity of the water-courses. The value of the timber has been very great, and during the hard times, culminating in 1873 and on till 1876, was what furnished the principal resource of the people for paying debts and buying the necessaries of life.
COAL.
Underlying all parts of the township are vast beds of the finest qual- ity of block coal, and a number of rich mines have been developed in various localities.
183
HARRISON TOWNSHIP.
The first mine was opened in the year 1873, near Clay City, by Wood- ruff & Trunkey, of Chicago, and is known as the Markland Shaft. The coal lies eighty-five feet below the surface, and the vein worked at the present time varies in thickness from two feet ten inches to three feet and a half, and the yearly production is estimated at 15,000 tons. When operated to its full capacity, an average force of thirty-five men is em- ployed, and the capital invested is $15,000.
The Barrick Mine, on the farm of Mr. Barrick, two and a half miles southeast of Clay City, on the Terre Haute & Southeastern Railroad, was opened in the year 1882 by Messrs. Hatfield, Price & Roberts. The mine is well equipped, and a large force of men is constantly employed.
The coal interest of Harrison Township is still in its infancy, and the future augurs well for the industry, which at no distant day promises to become quite extensive, as men of ample means are already prospect -- ing for locations for mines.
SETTLEMENT- THE COOPRIDER FAMILY.
Congressional Townships 9 and 10 north, Range 6 west, which form the greater part of Harrison, were surveyed by the Government in 1815, and the lands placed upon market subject to entry one year later. No purchases were made, however, until the month of October, 1818, at which time patents were obtained for portions of Section 31, Town 9 north, Range 6 west, by John Gray, James Maxwell and John Maxwell, none of whom ever occupied their lands as settlers, and it was not until about the year 1823 or 1824 that the first pioneer home seekers made their appearance and began making improvements in the wilderness. These were James H. Downing and his brother-in-law, William Maxwell, natives of Kentucky, both of whom selected claims about a half mile south of the site of Middlebury. Here they erected two small pole cab- ins for the purpose of holding their lands, which task being done they went back to Orange County and remained until the following spring, when they returned with their families. For a period of about eighteen months or two years they were the only white persons living within the present area of the township, and during that time they made respectable clearings around their cabin, and raised tolerable crops of corn and veg- etables, the first efforts at agriculture ever attempted in Harrison. Down- ing is remembered as a noble specimen of a class of men developed by the times whose prominent virtues were hospitality, good nature and a charitable regard for the welfare of others.
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