Counties of Clay and Owen, Indiana : Historical and biographical., Part 3

Author: Blanchard, Charles, 1830-1903, ed
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago : F.A. Battey & Co.
Number of Pages: 982

USA > Indiana > Clay County > Counties of Clay and Owen, Indiana : Historical and biographical. > Part 3
USA > Indiana > Owen County > Counties of Clay and Owen, Indiana : Historical and biographical. > Part 3

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Of the building stones there is an abundance of sandstone, variable in quality in different localities. So general is the distribution through- out the county, that one or more quarries are accessible to almost every section. Some of these were opened and worked at a very early day. As early as 1834-35, perhaps, quarries were worked in the locality of Judge Wools's, near the present site of Newburg, to supply stone for the building of bridges and culverts on the National road. A species of limestone was also quarried in the same neighborhood and used for the same purpose, but did not prove to be durable. At the Bellaire and the Rhodes bluff, a massive rock of good qualities crops out into the river. Here was quarried all the stone used in the construction of the Feeder Dam as early as 1837. Here, too, were obtained the supplies for the building of the basements and walls of the warehouses put up at Bellaire from 1852 to 1857. And here, too, the contractors on the river bridge at the dam, in 1878, quarried and boated down the stone for the abut- ments of that structure. There are various outcroppings around the margin of the Middlebury Hill. Three quarries have been in operation for some years-on the John Cooprider place, on the north side of town, on the Elias Cooprider place, a little to the west, and on the Branden- burg place, on the southwest. From the first of these, now known as the Chamberlain quarry, the stone was hauled for the building of the origi- nal aqueduct across Birch Creek in 1837. It now supplies, in the main, the building stone used at Clay City. The qualities of the product of these quarries are similar, excepting a difference in favor of that taken from the Elias Cooprider place, which admits of a polish. On the Sammy Risley place, west side of Eel River, a few miles above the

HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.

Thomas Ferry, is an excellent white sandstone, which has been much used. At this place were obtained the supplies for the Poland River bridge in 1872. Near this point is, also, the generally well-known quarry on the former John Rocky place. This is a seamless rock. Years ago, though but little worked now, the Cornwell quarry, on Otter Creek, two miles north of Brazil, was the most noted one in the north part of the county. This stone is a very fine grit, and was manufactured into grindstones at an early day. On the Simonson place, a mile and a half south of Brazil, a very durable sandstone has been worked, which for many years supplied Brazil foundation stones, lintels, steps, etc. This stone is, also, a good grit. In the building of the Hooker's Point bridge, in 1876, the stone were quarried on the Rodgers place, near the west border of the county, which are pronounced a very good quality. A quantity was first quarried for this purpose at the outcropping in the bluff of the old canal, just below the bridge, but was rejected. A supe- rior quality of sandstone for building and for the base of marble monu- ments, apparently inexhaustible in quantity, is now quarried on the M. H. Kennedy or Pierce place, one mile northwest of Newburg. From this point Brazil has drawn its supplies mostly for the past few years. Considerable quantities have been quarried, at different times, covering a period of many years, on the site and immediately to the east of the town of Bowling Green. Here were obtained, in 1861, the stone used in the building of the present jail at that place.

If there is any limestone in the county which will serve to make a good quality of quick-lime, its locality has not yet been fixed by actual experiment. If any exists, it is to be found on Jordan.

Of the valuable clays, there are two kinds-fire clay and potter's clay. The former, because of its refractory property, is used in the man- ufacture of fire-brick, employed when a high degree of resistance to heat is required, and in the construction of proof buildings. This clay has been mined, mostly on Otter Creek, two miles north of Brazil, where Dr. Mansur Wright, of Indianapolis, established works for the manufacture of such brick and terra cotta work in 1873, which were operated but for a few years. The ordinary clay brick have been made extensively in all parts of the county for many years. The first kiln was burned near the present town of Harmony just fifty years ago.

Potter's clay is abundant, and stoneware, as it is called, has been manufactured in various parts of the county. Early in the '40's, perhaps, a shop and kiln were located at Cloverland, and another, on a smaller scale, on the Perry place, northeast of Brazil. Some years later, shops were put in operation on Otter Creek and in the vicinity by Kelsey, Brackney, Cordray, Sapp and others. In 1847, Truman Smith & Son went from Cloverland to Middlebury, and put up the shop and kiln on the present Everhart place. Soon after this, another was located on the

HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.

adjoining place by Peter Harp. In 1859, Torbert & Baker began the manufacture of this ware with enlarged facilities at Brazil, turning out from 75,000 to 100,000 gallons per annum. Prior to this date, Isaac Cordray was the largest manufacturer of this ware. Abont 1869, Samuel H. Brown engaged in its manufacture on a large scale at Harmony. The Brazil factory, which is now owned and operated by William H. Torbert, is the only one now in active operation in the county.

Bog-iron, in limited quantities, is also found in Clay County. The principal deposit, as yet developed, is on the Cromwell place, south of Eel River, half way between Bowling Green and Clay City, said to be a mile in length and sixty feet in width.

The supply of fresh water is abundant. Good, perennial springs are not very numerous, although they exist in some localities. Water is easily accessible by means of wells, the usual depth varying from fifteen to forty feet, the latter being regarded the extreme depth of the drift, or surface covering of the county. The hardpan is the horizon of the fresh water supply. Of the springs, the most worthy of note are at James Fer- guson's, near Ashboro, and at Thomas Kincaid's, northeast of Bowling Green, which possess mineral properties, diuretic, aperient and altera- tive in their effects. The Kincaid spring may be said to be the strong- est surface flow of water in the county. Perhaps the greatest depth yet reached in providing fresh water supplies for domestic purposes is that on the John Steed place, adjoining Harmony, where, after digging in the usual way to the depth of forty feet, a boring of eighty feet more was made, making a total depth of 120 feet.

INDIAN OCCUPATION AND EARLY SETTLEMENTS.

By the conditions of a treaty concluded by Gov. Harrison with the Delaware, Miami and Pottawatomie tribes, at Fort Wayne, September, 1809, the Indians sold and ceded to the United States several million acres of land east of the Wabash, including the present territory of Clay County. In October, 1818, at St. Mary's, Ohio, the Delawares made a final cession of all their claims to the lands lying within the borders of the State of Indiana. The Delawares and Pottawatomies were the oc- cupants of this territory when the white man first became acquainted with it. Just at what time the white man first put foot upon the soil of the county may not be known, but certainly at as early a date as that of the war of 1812, when it was crossed by United States soldiers in the campaigns attending that war. It is currently said that in marching from Vincennes to Fort Harrison, a party of soldiery crossed Eel River above the site of Bowling Green, among whom was Samuel Risley, who afterward located near the point of their crossing. Though many of the Indians vacated the ceded territory as early as 1819, going to Missouri and Kansas, yet their camp-fires did not die out here until about the

HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.

time of the organization of the county, when many went to the Reserva- tion in Miami County, and there were those who still lingered for seve- ral years later. There are no historical reminiscences nor traditions extant detailing any hostilities nor serious troubles between the natives and the pioneers of the county during all the time they associated. They seem to have been on friendly terms, and at peace. Nor did the aborig- inal inhabitants of the territory of this county leave behind them many well-defined and noteworthy marks or traces of their occupancy. Sandy Knoll, about a mile west of Eel River, east of a line from Coffee to Howesville, has attracted more attention, as such, than any other or, perhaps, all other points, in the county. In its primitive state, this knoll was elevated from four to five feet above the surrounding level, circular in shape, and several hundred feet in diameter. Though the surrounding surface is a clay soil, the mound is sand, the same as that on the margin of the river, which leads to the conclusion that the natives carried and deposited the sand. To strengthen this theory, its advocates assert, with a great deal of assurance, too, that the depression or chan- nel, yet plainly visible just a few rods to the east, was the bed of the river at the time the mound was made. But whether or not the natives made the knoll for the purpose, it is evident that they used it as a burial place. It has been visited frequently by curiosity seekers at home and from abroad. Dr. A. Briley, of Lewis Township, who is somewhat of an archæologist, has given the matter some attention, and in his re- searches has exhumed bones, teeth, beads and other specimens. Others have, also, digged out similar remains. Some of the beads and trinkets exhumed were in a state of good preservation. Bones of the lower leg have been taken out several inches longer than those of the average-size man, indicating a stature of seven feet. It is related that a party of young folks from Illinois, on a visit to friends in the locality some years ago, visited the knoll to test the truth of what had been told them of its history. The party consisted of several young men and women. They carried with them the necessary implements to make the desired excavations. Soon after the work had been commenced, one of the young men uncovered and exposed the skull of a huge Indian, of which the open mouth and protruding teeth presented a sight so unexpected and ghastly that the doubting and inquisitive Sucker scattered unceremo- niouly his implements of research and beat a hasty retreat. This knoll has not been well preserved, having been plowed over and cultivated for several years past, so that, partially, it has lost its identity. On the east side of Eel River, above Bowling Green, in the Walker settlement, · was another aboriginal burial ground. At this point a natural elevation was selected. Here, too, excavations were made, and the remains of bodies exhumed, but not at a late date. It is related of Dr. Davis, an early physician of that locality, that he collected " several sackfulls of

HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.

bones," intending to prepare an artificial skeleton for professional use, but was driven by public sentiment to abandon his purpose and re-inter them. Of their rude weapons and utensils, there remains no great variety of specimens. Arrowheads of different sizes, carved out of flint not native to this territory, but of sections of the country far to the east, are found on all the uplands of the county. Fragments of implements and utensils used in their domestic arts are not wholly wanting.

The earliest settlements were made on the bluffs and knolls along the river. At that day the flats and lowlands were entirely too wet for settlement and cultivation. It is generally conceded that to David Thomas belongs the honor of having made the original settlement on Eel River, on the bluff on which his son, James P. Thomas, lived up to the time of his death, just a few years ago. As nearly as can be ascer- tained, he came there in the fall of 1818. Two years prior to that time, Mr. Thomas came to White River, near the present site of Spencer, and was also the first white man to settle within the bounds of Owen County. In the spring of 1819, Samuel Risley came from Knox County and lo- cated at the point which we have already designated. Here, on the 13th day of February, 1820, was born to him' a daughter, Eliza Risley, the first white child born within the territory of the county, who is now the wife of Simeon Stacy, residing on the river, near the place of her birth. It is due to the memory of Mr. Risley, whose eventful and useful life closed February 3, 1868, at the age of seventy-six years, to relate an ex- perience which befalls but few men in the pioneer history of a State. Soon after his settlement on Eel River, he was chosen a member of the County Board for the transaction of public business, and, two years later, when Putnam County was organized, his residence falling within the bounds of that county, he became a member of the board for the new organization, and then, three years afterward, when Clay County was surveyed and stricken off, his home being embraced within its limits, he became a member of the board for this county. Without any change in residence, and within a period of five years, he was a citizen and an of- ficer of three different counties. He taught the first school in the county, it is said, and was one of the first Associate Judges.

As early as 1821, the highlands and bluffs on the west side of the river, south of Splunge Creek, were settled by Peter and John Cooprider, Robert Grose and James Delay, and a year later by James Briley, Elijah Rawley and Elijah Mayfield. Peter Cooprider built the first cabin within the present limits of Lewis Township, on the Kossuth bluff, near the Centennial Mill. He went to the land office at Vincennes and entered five eighty-acre tracts of land, the first entries made in the south half of the county. Two or three years later it was discovered by William Maxwell that a mistake had been made in executing the titles to Mr. Cooprider's lands, the Government having conveyed to him five tracts

18910

yours truly W. W. Carter,

HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.

lying a mile south of those selected and already partially improved. All efforts on his part to have the error corrected proved fruitless. As he did not want the lands conveyed to him, he abandoned his chosen lo- cation, crossed the river and settled on the Sand Hill in 1823. Subse- quently he disposed of his tracts west of the river to the best advantage he could, having traded one of the five eighties for a clock. William Maxwell and James H. Downey had previously settled on the Sand Hill in 1823, and very soon after the Coopriders came the three families were joined by Thomas G. Gallaspie and Mordecai Denny. James Briley built his cabin near the river, a little east of Edmond Phegley's present residence. Here Dr. Absalom Briley was born February 21, 1823, the first white child born within that part of the county lying west of the river and south of the Old Hill. Elijah Rawley pitched his tent on the hill- side at the confluence of Splunge Creek with the river, where, in the summer of 1823, he built the first mill ever put up on Eel River, which, for a number of years, cracked the corn for the pioneer settlers through- out a circuit of many miles. Elijah Mayfield settled on the bluff near the Woodrow Cemetery, where, in 1822, perhaps, was buried one of his children, the first white person interred within the borders of the county west of the river. Mayfield was the most noted pioneer hunter in the county. By imitating the bleating of a fawn, which he could do perfectly, he could collect about him all the animals of the neighboring forest. At one time, having made his call, a doe came up, which he shot and proceeded to skin. While busily engaged he heard a noise closely behind him, and on looking around saw a panther on a log just ready to spring upon him. Deliberately, he rose, reached his gun, and lodged a bullet between his glaring eyes. After finishing the doe, he proceeded to flay the panther, which measured eleven feet from the point of the nose to the tip of the tail. At another time while at work skin- ning a deer, he was startled by a crash in the brush immediately behind him, and on looking back saw a bear and a panther engaged in fierce combat. He shot the bear, when the panther scampered away. He was a hardy and daring pioneer, never feeling fear from any source, neither by day nor by night. This locality was settled, also, before the organi- zation of the county, by William Stewart, Levi Reed, William Shep- perd, and others. In 1822, William Christie settled on what is known as the Gilbert place, just south of the lower Bloomington road, the first settlement made within the present limits of Perry Township. Christie's Prairie, having an area of ten or twelve miles, and the post office of the same name, which was in existence for a number of years on the Bowling Green and Terre Haute mail route, were named in honor of Uncle Billy, as he was familiary called. His son, James B. Christie, was born in 1824, the first white child born within that part of the territory of the county lying west of Birch Creek, between the upper Bloomington road

HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.

and the Old Hill. At the time of his birth, his mother was the only white woman within a circuit of several miles, and several squaws of- ficiated as midwives. Before the close of the year 1824, Mr. Christie was joined by his brother, David Christie, and a few years later by Eben- ezer Gilbert and others.

Prominent among the earliest settlements were those made on the hills east of the river, near the present town of Poland. Among those located in this section from 1820 up to 1825, were Oliver Cromwell, Nich- olas G. Cromwell, Jared Payton, Purnell Chance and sons, Daniel and Tighlman, the Andersons, Walkers, Dyars and Lathams. At the time of the organization of the county, 1825, this neighborhood ranked as the most populous one within the territory. At that date, there were no white settlers within the present bounds of Posey, Dick Johnson, Brazil, Van Buren, Jackson and Sugar Ridge Townships. In 1826, William McBride came from Ohio and settled on Otter Creek, north of Clover- land, and the same year Jacob Goodrich came from New York and built the first cabin on the site of the town of Williamsburg. In 1828, they were joined by Martin Bowles, from Virginia, and John R. Smith, from Ohio. About 1827, Mark Bolin settled at the present town of Harmony, and the year following George G. Mckinley located one mile south. In 1828, Posey Township was organized, and named by William McBride in honor of Gov. Posey. When twitted about the inappropriateness of the name, the old pioneer replied, " Though we are a wilderness now, yet the day will come when we shall bloom as the rose." The same year an election was held for the first Justice of the Peace, when William McBride and Mark Bolin were the opposing candidates, the former re- ceiving five and the latter three votes. Soon after this, Joseph and Major Ringo and Morgan Bryant came from Kentucky, and settled in Posey Township. An incident, related to the writer by Martin Bowles, will serve to show what was the condition of the county as to settlements in 1829. In the spring of that year, one of his horses strayed away, and he went out in search, directing his course toward Bowling Green. After leaving his cabin, one mile south of Cloverland, he did not see another until he reached that of Levi Walker, on the site now occupied by the residence of Dr. Gilfillan's widow, at Center Point, which was the only one between his home and that of David Thomas, on the river. Another incident detailed by Mr. Bowles will illustrate pretty clearly the inconveniences, hardships and trying times experienced by the pioneers of the county. In the spring of 1830, the supply of corn in his neighborhood was very short and money very scarce; so much so, that it became a matter of serious consideration with him. When out in the woods one day his dogs came upon an otter, which was captured and killed by his assistance. He took the hide to Terre Haute and sold it for $2.50, then went to a Mr. Baldwin's, in Parke County, and bought

HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.

corn, which he took to Kilgore's Mill, on Big Raccoon, where he waited patiently three days until his turn came to have it ground into meal. He went home with a little surplus change, happy and rich from the pro- ceeds of the otter skin. Settlements were made at as early a day as the date of organization on the river, between Bellaire and Auguilla, and at, points two or three miles south. In the fall of 1825, or earlier, perhaps, Daniel Harris and his son Thomas, who lived then near Spencer, went down White River, entered the mouth of Eel River, and came up as far as the Rhodes Bluff, where they found Michael Luther, on the present Hudson place. They were the first white men to paddle a canoe up Eel River. They were on a hunting expedition, and put in part of the winter trapping otter and muskrats on the lake between Luther's and the Henry Hardin place, now called the Rose Patch, mak- ing their home with Luther during the time. About this time, William Luther settled on the Wilkinson place, and Joseph Luther on the Isaac Stwalley place. Peter Luther and son William came in 1827 or 1828, driving hogs with them all the way from Crawford County. Ephraim Walker and William Cole were among the very first settlers in this part of the county. Prior to 1830, this locality was settled also by Jacob Hudson and William Kendall. Between Middlebury and Brunswick, settlements were planted as early as 1827 by William Edmonson and James Buckallew, and a year later by Joseph Alexander and others. The first wagon ever seen in this part of the county was that of Joseph Holt, who came here from Tennessee on a visit to his daughters, Mrs. Edmonson and Mrs. Buckallew, in 1830. Among the first to locate in the central part of the county, following Levi Walker, whom we have already named, were Eli Melton and George Moss. Melton began the improvement of the C. W. Moss place in 1830. Moss first stopped on the Peyton, later, the Fogle place, but in 1830 bought out Melton's im- provement, giving him in exchange a two-year-old colt.

The pioneers of the county, principally, came from Virginia, Ken- tucky, Tennessee and the Carolinas. But a very few came from the East. At the date of organization, there were fewer than a hundred families, and a total population of less than five hundred within the bor- ders of the county. The increase was but gradual. At the time of the first census following, 1830, the total population was 1,616. Bowling Green was the only town laid out prior to this time. But in 1831, Will- iamsburg, in the northwest part of the county, on the line of the pro- posed National road, and New Brunswick, in the extreme south part, on Eel River, were platted and lots put to sale. James Townsend was the pro- prietor of the former, and William Maxwell and R. A. Ferguson, proprietors of the latter. When the former was platted and put to record, Lots 23 and 24 were reserved and donated for the purpose of an academy, the only instance of the kind in the history of the county. In 1834, &

HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.

special act of the State Legislature was approved, providing that the Board of Commissioners for Clay County might change the name of this town to whatever name they might select. Thereafter, it was usually called Williamstown, and Billtown for short. In the early times, this was the most important town in the county. New Brunswick de- rived its name, probably, from the circumstance that Mr. Ferguson, one of the proprietors, had been a citizen of Brunswick, N. J. From 1830 to 1840, considerable importance attached to this place as a ship- ping point. Flat-boats were loaded here with the products of the sur- rounding country, for New Orleans. There were two yards on the river, near this place, where boats were built and launched. The first hewed- log house in the south end of the county was built at this place by Will- iam Maxwell. In the fall of 1827, John Cooprider and son, Elias, put to seed the first wheat ever deposited in the virgin soil of Clay County. Instead of reaping a bountiful harvest the next year, as they anticipated from the outlook in the spring, their crop at maturity proved to be all cheat. In the fall of 1828, they made a trip to the Ohio River for 100 pounds of flour, the first ever brought to southern Clay County.

PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS.

In 1832, the National road was surveyed through the north part of the county, by the way of Williamsburg, then the only town in the coun- ty north of Bowling Green. In the spring of 1833, contracts were let for the grading and bridging of the road, and work began the same year. In 1835, this thoroughfare was put in passable condition. This im- provement afforded an opportunity to the early settlers to earn a little cash money, and many of them took advantage of it. Among those who shoveled dirt in its construction at 62} cents a day, who afterward be- came conspicuous in the history of the county, may be named Morgan B. Ringo, Esau Presnell and Jesse B. Yocom. Mr. Ringo, by this means, earned the money to make his first purchase of forty acres of land, lay- ing the foundation for future prosperity and wealth. He became the heaviest tax payer in the county, and was honored with a seat in the State Senate in 1872. Mr. Presnell also husbanded his little means realized from this source, and became a wealthy merchant, land-owner and railroad stockholder, and was intrusted with the responsible position of County Commissioner from 1862 to 1865. Mr. Yocum acquired a good farm and home, and served as Sheriff of the county from 1875 to 1877. Scores of others made substantial beginnings in the same way. Besides affording profitable employment, the building of this road made Terre Haute accessible to the people of the north part of the county.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Counties of Clay and Owen, Indiana : Historical and biographical., Part 3

Author: Blanchard, Charles, 1830-1903, ed Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Chicago : F.A. Battey & Co. Number of Pages: 982

Author: Blanchard, Charles, 1830-1903, ed
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago : F.A. Battey & Co.
Number of Pages: 982