USA > Indiana > Clay County > Counties of Clay and Owen, Indiana : Historical and biographical. > Part 27
USA > Indiana > Owen County > Counties of Clay and Owen, Indiana : Historical and biographical. > Part 27
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JACKSON TOWNSHIP.
JACKSON TOWNSHIP.
BY G. N. BERRY.
AREA, LOCATION, ORIGIN OF NAME, ETC.
J "ACKSON TOWNSHIP embraces a geographical area of thirty-six square miles, lying in the northeastern part of the county, and is Town 12 north, Range 6 west of the Congressional survey. As originally formed, it included Cass Township, and was reduced to its present limits about the year 1843, and named in honor of Andrew Jackson. It is bounded on the north by Brazil and Van Buren Townships, on the east by Cass Town- ship and Owen County, on the south by Washington and Sugar Ridge Townships, and on the west by Posey and a portion of Brazil Township. The surface of the country is what would be termed level, having no high hills, but is gently undulating, and was originally covered with a dense forest of valuable timber, such as walnut, poplar, white oak, burr oak, red oak, beech, hickory, elm, the various kinds of ash, hard and soft maple and some sycamore on the low lands skirting the water-courses. Of the timber, the most valuable has long since disappeared, some of it into fencing, some into houses and barns, some into fuel, and very much of it in the early days before its value was fully realized, and before a market was accessible, vanished in the flames and smoke of the clearings. That which escaped early destruction at the hands of the settlers has since been greatly reduced in quantity, owners in some cases almost pay- ing for their farms from the proceeds of their timber sales, and still find- ing in their possession a handsome surplus with which to meet needed improvements. It is proper to state that a great deal of valuable timber remains, as many farmers have been careful to leave sufficient standing upon their lands for all practical purposes.
Several water-courses traverse the township in various directions, chief of which is Burch Creek, which flows south from Section 18, and crosses the southern boundary from Section 32. East Branch heads in Section 6, in the western parts of the township, from whence it takes a southerly course and unites with Burch Creek in Section 30. The cen tral and southeastern parts of the township are watered and drained by Croy's Creek, a stream of some importance, flowing a southeasterly course from Section 7. McIntire Creek flows through the southeast corner and affords ample drainage for that part of the country. The township pos- sesses a variety of soil, the greater portion of which is well adapted to agriculture and stock-raising. The surface of the country is sufficiently undulating to require no artificial drainage, except in the southwest
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.
corner of the township, where there are a number of acres of wet prairie lands where ditching is needed to develop the soil's fertility.
As an agricultural region, Jackson deservedly takes a front rank, and her farms are among the most extensive and best improved in the county. Corn and wheat are the staple productions, although large crops of the other cereals are raised and much attention is given to grass, to which the soil in many localities seems well adapted.
SETTLEMENT BY THE WHITES.
Congressional Township No. 12 north, Range 6 west; was surveyed by John McDonald in 1815, at which time the land was placed upon market subject to entry, although no actual settlers came in for a num- ber of years thereafter. A few hunters and transient squatters made temporary improvements at various times along the different streams where they located for the purpose of hunting and trapping, but the first real pioneers who became owners of the soil did not make their appear- ance until about the year 1829 or 1830. It is probable that the first actual settler was one James Green, a North Carolinian, who had previ- ously lived in Washington Township, where he moved as early as 1824. In the winter of 1828, he selected a claim within the present limits of Jackson, locating in the south corner on Burch Creek, where he erected a small log cabin and fitted for cultivation about three or four acres of ground. He was a hunter rather than a tiller of the soil, and experi- enced but little difficulty in procuring the necessities of life for his fam- ily, whose wants were few and easily satisfied. He was a skillful marks- man, a hunter by instinct, and woe to the luckless bear or deer upon which he " drew a bead," as none such were ever known to escape his deadly bullet. As a bee hunter he was equally skilled, and from the sale of honey which he carried to Terre Haute sufficient money was ob- tained to purchase dry goods and groceries for his family, and to keep himself in ammunition, tobacco and whisky. He collected a great many swarms of bees which were hived in hollow "gums," and for a number of years these afforded him his chief source of revenue. In about the year 1842, he disposed of his claim and moved into the adjoining county of Putnam, where he afterward became the possessor of a good farm, but it is said that he never gave up the sport of hunting, which he loved as he loved his life.
John Sturdevant came from North Carolina in 1830, and settled on the east half of the southwest quarter of Section 28, which land he en- tered one year later. He became a prominent citizen, and was identified with the township until the year 1840, at which time he sold his farm to Esau Presnell and moved into what is now Cass Township, where his death occurred many years ago.
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JACKSON TOWNSHIP.
Prominent among the earliest pioneers of Jackson was Thomas Wheeler, who moved from Washington Township in the year 1832 and settled on Section 30, where he lived until 1858, at which time he moved to the village of Ashboro, in the township of Sugar Ridge. Mr. Wheeler was a native of Kentucky and a man of character and rare business qual- ifications. He was descended from a long-lived ancestry, and possessed a rugged constitution, which enabled him to successfully overcome many of the hardships and privations of pioneer life, before which others of less physical energy were obliged to succumb in their prime. He died at the village of Ashboro at the ripe old age of ninety-eight years and ten months. A son, Capt. A. B. Wheeler, one of the leading business men of the county, lives in Brazil at the present time. He came to the township with his father fifty-one years ago, and has seen the county developed from a wilderness to its present high state of civilization and enlightenment.
Other settlers who came in 1832 were Thomas Vest, George B. Zenor, James Edwards, William Moore, Thomas L. Moore, David Moore, Levi Cromwell and George Lucas. The first-named came from Kentucky, and was a man of character and influence in the little pioneer community where he was highly respected by all his neighbors and friends. He subsequently moved to Posey Township, and later to Iowa, in which State his death occurred many years ago.
Zenor was a Kentuckian also, but had lived for several years in an adjoining township before selecting land in Jackson. He settled in the southwest corner of the township, near the Wheeler place, and entered land in Section 30 the same year of his arrival. The farm on which he located is at present owned and occupied by his son, Thompson Zenor.
Edwards located in the western part of the township, and entered the west half of the southwest quarter of Section 19, where he lived for about ten years, at the end of which time he disposed of his farm and emigrated to Illinois.
Thomas and William Moore were brothers-in-law, and natives of Kentucky. The former settled in Section 19, not far from the site of Hoosierville, where he made a good farm, on which he lived until the time of his death many years ago.
William located in the same vicinity, and is remembered as a man of many peculiar characteristics and eccentricities. He was known through- out the country as "Angular Billy," partly on account of his singular physique and partly to distinguish him from another man of the same name, who came to the county the same year and settled in the same lo- cality. "Angular Billy" numbered his friends by the score, and was very popular in the community where he lived, affording much innocent amusement on account of his singular manners and the wonderful facil- ity he had of "murdering the King's English." He was a devout member
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.
of the Methodist Church, and when " moved by the spirit " could shout longer, louder and with more vehemence and meaning than anybody else in the entire country. It required but little excitement to work his sensitive feelings up to the shouting point, and the manner in which he cried "gullory to God!" made many hardened sinners envy the happi- ness he enjoyed on such occasions. "Billy's" religious life, however, did not consist wholly of singing hallelujahs and shouting praises to his Maker, but his actions were in strict harmony with the faith he pro- fessed, and no one was more free from the taint of hypocrisy. It is re- lated of him that upon one occasion during the progress of a camp meet- ing he was called upon to lead the audience in prayer, and at once began supplicating the Throne of Grace in stentorian tones. It happened that his favorite horse Charley was taken very sick the same evening, and just previous to the meeting he had sent his son Riley home to administer some medicine to the animal. The son returned to meeting during the progress of the prayer mentioned, but no sooner did he enter the house than the audience was surprised to hear Brother Billy say, in the midst of his petition, "Riley, how's Charley ?" Upon another occasion, at the close of a very successful revival, he gave expression to his feelings in the fol- lowing terse sentence: "Bless God, Brother Dickison, the Methodist Church has been at a low dibble, but thank God she has taken a new risin'." Moore resided in Jackson for a period of twenty-five years, when he sold his farm and emigrated with a number of other families to Illinois.
David Moore came from Kentucky about the same time as the fore- going, and settled in Section 8, where he still resides. He has been a prominent citizen, and has served the township in various official capacities, having been Trustee for a number of years.
Levi Cromwell entered land in Section 32, and sold to Amos Hedge a few years later. George Lucas came from North Carolina and located in the northeast corner of the township, where he entered and improved a farm in Section 1. About this year came William Moore, or " Bottom Bill," as he was designated by the settlers, to distinguish him from " Angular Bill," already mentioned. There was a wide dissimilarity between the characters and general make-up of the two men. "Bottom Bill" having been the pugilist and reputed " best man " in the entire country. He was a true type of the backwoods hunter developed by the times. A roystering, rolicking, fighting, whisky-drinking bully, whose greatest delight was a drunken riot or knock-down, in which his superior physical strength was acknowledged by all. When sober, he was a peace- able man, but when his wild nature was roused by a too free use of " fire- water," he became a regular terror, and was universally feared in the community. He settled in Section 19, where he lived a few years, after- ward selling out and moving to Illinois.
yours Truly John Bolin
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JACKSON TOWNSHIP.
Amos Hedge came to the township in 1834, and selected a home in Section 30, where he developed one of the finest farms in the county. He was a man of superior talents, a prominent minister of the United Brethren Church, and did as much as, if not more than other man in the moral advancement of his community. He died about ten years ago.
James Roberts settled in Section 1 in 1834, and became a leading business man and stock-dealer. He subsequently moved to Missouri, where his death occurred a few years since.
About that year came Alfred Helton, John Slack, William Slack, Stephen Loudermilk and his son William, all of whom secured lands, and became permanent residents. Of the above number, William Slack and William Loudermilk are living in the township at the present time. During the year 1835, the population of the township was increased by the following additions, to wit: Preston Morgan, who entered land in Section 6; Achor Heany, in Section 7; Elijah Bowling, in Section 11; Abraham Bull, Section 12; John Reffet, Section 18; William Slack, Sec- . tion 21; Henry Tilley, Section 24; Samuel Stigler and John Latham, in the same section; William Smith, Section 25; John Tucker, Section 28; James Butt, Section 30, and Richard Green in Section 26. Moore McIntosh, William McIntosh, Alfred Bowling, Bluford Bowling, William Bowling, Uriah Hicks, James Scarlet, Nathan Clifton and Marmaduke Brackney came as early as 1836. During the latter year, entries were . made in different parts of the township by the following persons, to wit: James Murphy, Aaron Robbs, James Roberts, Solomon Lucas, Daniel Reffet, Thomas Roberts, Daniel Piatt, John Boston, George Ely and Esau Presnell. In 1837, lands were secured by John Wood, George Hull, Fenelon Harrison, James Harlin, Daniel Kumler, Jacob Crooks, Andrew Zeller, B. H. Bowling, John Tiffy, Parry P. Jones, Samuel Hull, Ludwick Ernest, William Monsey, John Learry, Peter Monsey, Isaac Butt, Sam- uel Terl, Joseph Johnston, M. Lowder, John Lintz, E. Lowder, William Lowder, Henry Albright, Thomas Jacobs, C. Lowder, W. D. Mosley, James Green, John Luther, William Budge, Lewis Green and P. McIn- tosh. The entries of 1838 were made by Alexander Williams, John Zel- ler, Benjamin Bonebrake, Ellis Johns, Conrad Bonebrake and John Lewis.
Settlers continued to arrive until 1853, at which time all the Govern- ment land was entered, and the greater portion of it improved.
GENERAL IMPROVEMENTS, ETC.
The development of Jackson during the early years of its history was very slow, on account of the wet condition of the soil, the prevalence of malarial diseases, and the absence of mills, market places, and the facil. " ities for communication, etc. Corn and potatoes were the first crops raised, and with game, afforded the early settlers their chief means of
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.
subsistence. The first articles of commercial importance were ginseng, " yellow root," honey, maple sugar, venison, deer and coon skins. These articles were exchanged at the nearest market places for groceries, shoe leather and what few dry goods the pioneers needed. The majority of families manufactured their own wearing apparel, and the spinning- wheel was to be seen in almost every household. The houses in which the pioneers made their homes, were of a similar kind to all early habita- tions erected in a new country. The majority of them were rude struct- ures of unhewn logs, covered with clapboards rived from some convenient oak, and containing but a single apartment. They were daubed with clay mortar and afforded a tolerable shelter from the rain and cold. At one side of the room a very large fire-place was erected, from which rose a stick and mortar chimney. The unthinned wilderness supplied an abundance of fuel, and in that day with such splendid facilities for destruction, quantity was an object of little importance. The family food was cooked by the open fire, cook stoves being at that time unknown. The furniture for the interior was simple and inexpensive, and provided without much difficulty. There was no neighborhood rivalry in the mat- ter of ornamentation or extravagant display. In the absence of a more convenient and sightly bedstead, one was frequently improvised by insert- ing the ends of two small poles between the logs at a proper distance apart, while the ends within the room were laid upon forked sticks driven into the ground through holes made in the puncheon floor. Upon these was laid the foundation for the bed proper.
In many instances, the furniture for the entire house was of this cheap and primitive character. If a light were needed at night, it was supplied by a tallow dip or by burning shellbark hickory.
Notwithstanding the crudeness and unalloyed simplicity of all these arrangements, notwithstanding the extreme toil and hardships of life in the wilderness, here was to be found home, happiness and personal lib- erty. No prince could have greater affection for his palace, nor lord for his castle, than these dauntless pioneers cherished for their cabins.
Flour and meal were first obtained at a little mill on Croy's Creek, in Putnam County. The mill ceased operations in an early day, after which the settlers of this part of the country took their grists to a little mill in the village of Reelsville, in the same county.
The first mill of any kind operated in this township was constructed by James Green for his own use. It was operated by hand, ground very slowly, but seems to have been extensively used by the citizens of this and adjoining townships, until better machinery was put in operation elsewhere. Green afterward erected a small water-mill on Burch Creek, which manufactured meal only. It was a rude log building, and con- tained but one buhr, which was kept running almost constantly in order to supply the increasing demand for meal. It was built in 1832, and
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JACKSON TOWNSHIP.
kept running thereafter about ten years, at the end of which time it was abandoned, on account of better mills having been built in the county.
In the year 1836, a mill was built in the northeastern part of the township, on Croy's Creek, from which it received its motive power. It was constructed by Shiel York, and manufactured both meal and flour, the latter of which was bolted by hand, each person bolting his own grist. The mill was partly frame and partly logs, and was in successful operation about ten years.
An early industry of the township was the distillery of Samuel Stig- ler, erected some time prior to 1840, and kept in operation for about eight or ten years after that date. This enterprise afforded a ready mar- ket for the surplus corn of the neighborhood, and at the same time sup- plied the inhabitants with a grateful beverage, which they were not ac- customed to doing without. In those good old days, before a revenue on distilled spirits was known, a gallon of the stuff could be obtained for from 15 to 17 cents, the price of a bushel of corn of first-rate quality. Shiel York operated a small distillery in connection with his mill, but did no extensive business, owing to his limited facilities for work. Both these distilleries have long since disappeared, and at the present time no vestige of either remains to mark the spots they occupied.
David Stunkard erected the first steam saw-mill in the township a number of years ago, and did a large business in manufacturing and shipping walnut and poplar lumber. The mill stood in the northwest part of the township. It ceased operations many years ago, having out- lived its usefulness. The last owners were David and James Stunkard.
Another early steam saw mill stood in the northeast corner of the town- ship. It was built and operated by a man by name of Zeller, who did a good business with it until improved portable mills were brought to the country, when it was abandoned and allowed to fall into decay. A number of smaller mills have been erected at different times throughout the township, and several are in operation at the present time.
OTHER EARLY EVENTS.
The first orchard in Jackson was planted by John Tucker, on his farm in Section 29. Several trees of this orchard are still standing, and bear good fruit. Samuel Stigler, William Slack and Amos Hedges set out orchards shortly after their arrival in the county.
The first death in the township was a child of Levi Cromwell, who died in the year 1834. The interment was made in the Zenor Grave- yard, the first ground set aside for the burial of the dead. The second cemetery was laid out in the year 1840, and is known as the Union Grave- yard. It lies near the central part of the township, and is the principal place of burial at the present time. Many of the early pioneers men- tioned sleep in the somber shades of these quiet cities of the dead. Some
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.
of their graves are marked by appropriate monuments, reared by the lov- ing hands of a grateful posterity, while others have finished their life work, and "sleep the sleep that knows no waking " in graves unmarked by the simplest epitaph. Croy Creek Graveyard is in the northwest part of the township, and was laid out as early as 1838 or 1839. There is another cemetery in Section 36, at the Lutheran Church, which was first consecrated to the burial of the dead about fourteen years ago. The first marriage 'solemnized in Jackson took place about the year 1832, the contracting parties being William Slack and Margy Loudermilk.
ROADS.
Of the roads existing at that early period, very little can be said, be- cause they were few-if perchance there were any which truth will permit to be dignified by the application of so respectable a title.
The township was divided at an early day into several road districts, each two miles wide; yet it was impossible that much could then be done in the way of this class of improvements. Highways were petitioned for, granted by the County Board, and laid out and worked at periods, but the labor put upon them was in the nature of things productive of only temporary benefit. During wet seasons of the year, they were al- most impassable for any kind of conveyance or vehicle, on account of their muddy condition. No plank roads were ever laid within this town- ship, nor were any pikes ever constructed, although the need of such highways has always been apparent. Corduroys were built in many places, and traces of them may yet be seen. Such conveniences as mod- ern bridges were of course unknown in the early day. The water-courses within the township were in most places easily fordable, except during rainy seasons, when they became raging torrents, and swept away every- thing of a movable nature upon their banks. If a bridge over any stream was found necessary, one was quickly constructed by throwing from bank to bank the trunks of two trees parallel with each other, upon which were laid slabs flat side down, split from other trees, thus proving a safe and substantial passage until carried away, which was frequently the case, by some extraordinary freshet. The township at the present time is well supplied with highways intersecting each other at proper intervals, all of which are in fair condition. What the country especially needs is a thorough system of pikes, which could be constructed at mod- erate cost, as there are extensive deposits of gravel in several localities, which are easy of access.
SCHOOLS.
Education in the mysteries of books is acquired with a difficulty in all pioneer settlements, which may differ in degree, but not in kind. It is not a matter of wonder that the means of learning should be limited to the smallest and rudest proportions; the wonder is that under such
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JACKSON TOWNSHIP.
circumstances they should exist at all. With any other people they probably would not. But American settlers, wherever they went, carried with them the ruling idea that their first duty was to build themselves homes, and the next to establish schools for the education of their chil- dren. The first school in what is now Jackson Township was started in the Zenor settlement and taught by one Ezekiel Jenkins, in a little cabin erected for church and school purposes, as early as the year 1832. William Slack, Alfred Bowling and B. H. Witty afterward taught at the same place.
The second schoolhouse was built a few years later, and stood in the western part of the township on Croy's Creek. It was first used by Al- fred Bowling, and afterward by his brother Bluford, both of whom were connected with the educational interests of the township for several years. The Union Schoolhouse was built in Section 17, and, like those referred to, was used for church purposes also. The first teacher em- ployed in this building was Alfred Bowling. Elias Helton was also an early teacher at the same place, and did very efficient work considering the difficulties under which he labored. The Heany Schoolhouse was built at an early day, and stood on land which belonged to a Mr. Brack- ney. The first pedagogue here was William Heany, who taught some years prior to 1846.
All of the first schoolhouses were log structures built by private means and labor, and the teachers were paid by subscription. The cur- riculum of study embraced reading, writing, arithmetic, with Webster's Spelling Book, while here and there a more ambitious pupil would vent- ure on a timid excursion into the mysteries of grammar and the wonders of geography. The latter study when it was taught, was learned to great extent by the singing method in which the whole school would join in thundering chorus. Spelling was a favorite study, and there were classes graded along from the simple word of two letters to the mighty jaw- breaker of seven and eight syllables, reserved for the champion of the spelling matches. Prior to 1846, the schools were supported entirely by subscription, and in no instance were they kept open for a longer period than three months in a year. The teacher's compensation varied from $8 to $12 per month, board included, which meant a certain number of days spent with each patron during the term. Beginning with 1846, public schools, for which teachers were paid from the public fund, com- menced to make their appearance; but were few and far between for a number of years.
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