Counties of Clay and Owen, Indiana : Historical and biographical., Part 83

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 83
USA > Indiana > Owen County > Counties of Clay and Owen, Indiana : Historical and biographical. > Part 83

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).

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JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP.

The second store was kept by Summerlot & Son, who erected a store room on the corner of Main and Grim streets, which they stocked with a large assortment of miscellaneous merchandise. They afterward erected a more commodious business room on Lots 22 and 130, which they still occupy. The first drug store was kept by Robert Shaw. He sold out to Dr. H. T. Clarey, of Worthington, who in turn disposed of the stock to the present proprietor, John G. Snapp. One of the early merchants was Daniel Reed, who kept a dry goods store in the building now occupied by Richard Bryson. Reed was identified with the business interests of the village for three years, when he sold out and went to Brazil. Messrs. Powell & Stephens kept a grocery and provision store in the building occupied at the present time by B. F. Goshorn. Another firm was the Grafe Brothers, who purchased Mr. Grim's stock a short time after his death.

The early mechanics of the village were George D. Harris, Tobias Cailor and Irwin Smith.

A large flouring mill was erected in the year 1882 by Richard Cara- hoof & Co. In this enterprise the projectors were assisted by the citi- zens of the village and surrounding country, who donated $900 -- a fruit- less gift, as the company became dissatisfied and abandoned the mill before its completion. The building is a fine, three-story frame struct- ure, and when completed will have a capacity of 100 barrels of flour per day.

The present business of the town is represented by two dry goods and general stores, kept respectively by Summerlot & Son and Lewis Kirch; one grocery store, by B. F. Goshorn; hardware store, by Richard Bryson; drug store, by J. G. Snapp; notions, by Burton Summerlot; and harness shop, by Daniel Stants. There is a good hotel, a school- house, and three religious organizations, notices of which will be given in the church history. The town is a good trading and shipping point, and its situation, in one of the richest coal fields of Indiana, bespeaks for it a prosperous future.

DAGGETT.

Daggett is a small railroad town situated about one mile southeast of Coal City, on the southeast quarter of Section 14, Town 9 north, Range 6 west, and dates its origin from March, 1880. The village was laid out by Charles White, and named in compliment to Charles Daggett, one of the proprietors of a large saw and planing mill which gives the place its prominence. This mill is one of the most systematic establishments in the State, and does an extensive business in almost all kinds of wood work, furnishing several factories with wagon felloes, plow beams, etc. About twenty men are employed all the time, and vast quantities of lum- ber are sawed and shipped. The mill is operated by the firm of Daggett & Blinn.

There is one good store in the village, kept by S. S. Haviland, who is also Postmaster. The office was established about the year 1876 and named Cody, in honor of the first Postmaster, William H. Cody, who also kept the first business house.

CHURCHES.

Bethel Christian Church .- The following interesting history of this old church was prepared by Elder Joel Dillon, and read before the

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HISTORY OF OWEN COUNTY.

yearly meeting at Gosport. As the church is one of the oldest religious organizations in the county, we give Mr. Dillon's paper in full: "Henry Arney, Sr., Henry Arney, Jr., Adam Fiscus and Hieronymous Speas came to Jefferson Township in the year 1820. Frederick Fiscus came in 1821; Frederick Hauser and Andrew Arney, in 1822. These with their families were the first settlers in what is now Jefferson Township, and were located not far from where Lick Creek enters Eel River. Almost immediately after the arrival of those who came in 1822, Charles Inman, who lived near where Point Commerce now stands, commenced preaching at their cabins sometimes he visiting and preaching for them, and they sometimes attending at his house. Owing to the un- healthy location of the settlement, the most of them left their first im- provements, in 1824, and located farther north and east, getting out on the ridges. In 1825, Abraham Kern, of Lawrence County, visited the scattering settlers, and held a meeting at the house of Henry Arney, Sr., who had entered the land and built a cabin where Jacob Norris now lives, near the village of Middletown. During this meeting the church was organized by the selection of Obadiah Winters and John Arney as Elders, and Charles Inman and Andrew Arney as Deacons. At the close of the meeting they numbered about thirty members, gathered from the three settlements, viz .: Point Commerce, Lick Creek and Bethel, the distance between the extreme settlements, on a bee line, being about nine miles, and by their blazed paths about twelve. In their organization, they agreed to take the New Testament as their only rule of faith and prac- tice, and to be known only by the name of Christian.

"They at first taught and practiced trine immersion, night communion, and feet-washing. About 1830, they built a large hewed-log house of worship, a short distance from where the present church edifice stands. It was a long, low building, with a door about the middle of one side, and the pulpit opposite the door, and a large stone chimney with huge, open-mouthed fire-places in each end of the room. Near by they erected another and smaller Jog building, which was known as the cook house. Here during protracted meetings, at a huge fire-place, they cooked their provisions and had all things in common.

" Perhaps about the year 1831 or 1832, Elder Kern came again and preached one baptism. This preaching produced a great commotion in the little community, and their searching the Scripture continued with unabated interest for a few months, when at a visit of Elder J. M. Mathes, and perhaps some others, the first persons among them were baptized by one immersion.

" After a few months, and perhaps at a visit to the church by Elder Michael Combs, the subject of feet-washing and night communion began to be agitated among them, and continued until a majority resolved to discontinue both.

" Several of their members, however, withdrew from them, and they shortly after removed in a body to Iowa. The congregation con- tinued to prosper, so that within ten years from the date of its organi- zation. among its numbers were five who were giving a portion of time to the preaching the Word, viz. : Obadiah Winters, Thomas Win- ters, Frederick Hauser, Elijah Reagan and John F. Conrad. Not far from the year 1840, that part of the congregation in the Lick Creek neighborhood, owing to the distance from the place of worship, with the consent of all parties, withdrew from the Bethel congregation and or-

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JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP.

ganized in the western part of the township, calling their organization Bethsaida.

" Those who went to Iowa organized a congregation, retaining their · practice of feet-washing and night communion. Others afterward went to the same country and organized after the practice of the mother church. Still others have recently organized in Western Iowa. From the preaching of those who went out from Bethel, the organization at Lancaster was first commenced. About the year 1862, a large frame house was erected, which was occupied until August, 1875, when it was burned. In a few weeks, another, occupying the same spot, was ready for use.

" The whole number who have had a membership from the beginning to the present is 677. The present membership is 176. Those who have filled the position of Elders from the beginning are Obadiah Win- ters. John Arney, Frederick Hauser, Joseph Greenwood, Robert Rice, Emanuel Fulke, Hiram I. Speas, John A. V. Fiscus, Jesse J. Aley, David A. Benjamin and John A. Fulke. Deacons-Andrew Arney, Charles Inman, Henry Fiscus, Solomon Fiscus, John A. Fiscus, James McKee, Burgess Childress, Jesse Hon, Wesley Fiscus, Henderson Fiscus, Elias Fiscus, Nelson Hon, Solomon Fiscus, Jr., Jacob E. Fiscus and Eli Long.

" The following are the names of the ministers who have preached regularly for the church since its organization, viz. : Obadiah Winters, Frederick Hauser, John F. Conrad, Robert Rice, Jesse McCoy, Joel Dillon, Thomas Wiles, William Littell, A. C. Fiscus and E. H. Floyd. " Those who preached irregularly were Abraham Kern, Elijah Reagan, Joseph Hochstettler, J. M. Mathes, Thomas C. Johnson, Elijah Goodwin, Michael Combs, George Campbell, Joseph Wilson, Thomas Winters, Peter Roberts, William Hinton, William Wilson, John Secrest, Nathan Cooper, John Brown, J. H. Henry, James Blankenship, Berry Bray, William Brothers, Jackson Mathes, Peter Wright, Jacob Wright, E. Hough, B. Stover, Milton B. Hopkins, W. B. F. Treat, A. C. Layman, B. M. Blount and R. B. Blount."

The congregation meet for worship every Lord's Day, and have preaching once a month by Elder Joel Dillon.

Bethsaida Christian Church .*- The Bethsaida congregation is an offshoot from the Bethel Church, and was organized as early as the year 1840. According to the best information obtainable, a few members who belonged to Bethel met at the dwellings of William Boyles and Will- iam Winters to worship, and attend to the ordinances of the Lord's house, Obadiah Winters acting as Elder; this was perhaps as early as the year 1832. About eight years later, they united their efforts in the construction of a hewed-log building, 22x26 feet in size, which was used as a place of worship for twenty-seven or twenty-eight years. At the building of the house, the organization was more permanently effected, and Thomas Winters was chosen as Elder. During the early history of the church, the brethren were visited by Elders Abraham Kern and Eli- jah Reagan, who preached at intervals for a number of years.

The members who went into the original organization are nearly all dead or moved away. The following is a list of the charter members, as given by one who became identified with the church about the time the house was erected: Obadiah Winters, Hannah Winters, Thomas

*Prepared by A. J Tipton.

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HISTORY OF OWEN COUNTY.

Winters, Elizabeth Winters, William Boyles, Hannah Boyles, William Winters, Elijah Reagan, Sarah Reagan, Robert Middleton, Anna Middle- ton, Abijah Hubbell, Mrs. Hubbell, Aaron Hubbell, Rebecca Hubbell, Joshua Duncan, Charlotte Duncan, Jesse Reagan, Phebe Reagan, Oliver Hubbell, Delila Hubbell, Charles Middleton and Mary Middleton.

Obadiah and Thomas Winters served as Elders until their death, which occurred in the years 1875 and 1876 respectively. The present eldership, three in number, are Andrew J. Tipton, ordained in 1868; Da- vid H. Reagan, ordained in 1870, and Jonas M. Fulke, ordained in 1877. A new frame house of worship was erected in the year 1868. It stands in the western part of the township, on the farm originally owned by Caira Boyles, and represents a capital of about $1,400.

The first house stood on the same land also, but its cost was not learned. The church is in good condition at the present time, with a membership of 106, about two-thirds of whom are females. The con- gregation meets regular on the first day of the week for social services. The majority of the preachers mentioned in the history of Bethel Church have preached for this society. Sunday school is maintained through the greater part of the year, with an average attendance of about forty scholars.

Pleasant Bethel Protestant Methodist Church .- Sidney Smith, in deri- sion, called the Methodist religion "the religion of barns," because these people pushed their evangelizing activity with untiring zeal into barns, fields, huts, cabins-everywhere where men, especially where the teeming masses of the laboring poor were found. In our land these same Meth- odist initerants, and other religionists like them, sought out every cabin and log schoolhouse, every barn and building, where the settlers could be brought together. But the religion of barns has, in our land, im- mensely outstripped in its conquests the religion of stately churches and venerable cathedrals, and the poor whom these pioneer itinerants now have, with their children, become the rich and mighty of the present generation. The few, once gathered together in the log schoolhouses, cabins and barns, and the groves-" God's first temples"-are now swelled to great congregations in cities and towns, and rich, prosper- ous well-settled rural districts, worshiping God in stately churches and comfortable meeting houses. The humble pioneers and their descend- ants have become the men of controlling influence in society, and have honored the faith that cheered them or their fathers in the solitary homes of the wilderness. In the year 1846. Rev. William Evans com- menced holding meetings among the settlements in the southeastern part of the township, and some time during that year organized a society of the Protestant Methodist Church, which took upon itself the name of Pleas- ant Bethel. The organization was effected at what was known as the Dickson Schoolhouse, and at the first meeting thirteen persons were en- rolled as members, among whom were James Gardner and wife, William F. Williams and wife, Robert McConnell and wife, Amos Dickson and wife, - Whitman and wife, Mrs. Dickson and Fenton Dean and wife. From 1846 to 1849, the congregation met for worship in the schoolhouse, and during that period many converts were added to the church, and it early became an energetic and aggressive organization. In 1849, a house of worship, constructed of split logs, was built on the land of Jairus Gardner. It was a comfortable structure, 36x40 feet in size, and was in use until 1875, at which time it was fired by an incendiary and

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JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP.

completely destroyed. Four years later, a new temple of worship, more in keeping with the growing congregation, was erected at a cost of $1,500. It is a frame building, well finished and furnished, and contains the neatest and most commodious audience room in the township. At the organization, the society was attached to the Greenbriar Circuit, at that time under the ministerial charge of Rev. Barnett, who preached for the congregation one year; the next pastor was Rev. Peter Clinger, af- ter whom came the following ministers in the order named, to wit: Revs. Stevens, Smith, Brinton, Dean, Collins, Taylor, Carmeans, Perry, Duck- worth, Baker, James, Hughes, Moles, Fisher, Flood, Stockinger, Line- berry, Clark and Robinson. The present incumbent is Rev. Mr. Calla- han. The society is one of the most prominent on the Worthington Circuit, and has a membership of 154 at the present time. The church officials are Solomon Williams, Conference Steward; Frank Fulke, Re- cording Steward; William Heaton, Frank Dyar, Elmer Norris, Amos Heaton and Walter Williams, Stewards; Hiram Jean, Leonard Weather- wax and Thomas Dyar, Trustees; William G. Dean and Louisa Heaton, Class Leaders.

The church supports a flourishing Sunday school, which boasts of an average attendance of 100 scholars.

Jefferson Baptist Church .- On the 23d day of July, 1848, a Baptist Church was organized at the Grim Schoolhouse, in the western part of the township, with five original members, whose names are as follows, to wit: William Pugh, Margaret Pugh, Jacob White, Mary Moody and Eliza Moody. The organization was brought about by the labors of Rev. B. D. C. Herring, who conducted a series of meetings, during the progress of which several persons additional to those named connected themselves with the congregation, which took upon itself the name of Jefferson Bap- tist Church.

Among the early members were Henry Grim, Sylvanus Haviland, Mary Haviland, Stephen Haviland, John Livingston, Allen Price, Jane Grim, William Haviland, David Moody, Elender Swift, Abigail Haviland, Elizabeth Arthur, Mary Brush, Wells Ward, Patience Ward, Jeremiah Spurlin, Edward Morris, Susan Morris, Hannah Toliver, Rebecca Gil- bert, Susan Mitchell, Malinda Ward, Mary Crous, Nicholas Scott, Nancy Williams, Sarah Toliver, Susan Tolivar, John Crous, Malinda Bolick, Sarah Ward, William Williams, Mary Morris, Sarah Morris, Anna Will- iams, Cynthia Ward, Phebe J. Moody, Alma Moody, Catherine Grim, Jeremiah White, Sarah White, Zachariah Catton, Rhoda Rinehart, John Harstine, Margaret Harstine, Susan Nicholson, Frederick Everhart and Matilda Everhart.

The Grim Schoolhouse was used by the society as a meeting place until the year 1860, at which time an eligible building site a short dis- tance north of Coal City was donated by Henry Grim, and a substantial frame edifice erected thereon, at an outlay of about $1,000. This build- ing has been repaired at different times since, and at the present time is a very comfortable meeting place, capable of seating 275 or 300 persons.

The following pastors have had charge of the church, viz .: Revs. B. D. C. Herring, Wilson Trent, A. B. Robinson, W. L. Bicknell, Jacob Cornelius, Ambrose Hanna, J. M. Turner and R. Moon, the last-named being pastor in charge at the present time.

At the present time, there are on the records the names of sixty mem- bers in good standing, a number considerably smaller than formerly,

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HISTORY OF OWEN COUNTY.

owing chiefly to deaths and removals. The last officers elected were G. W. Buckalew and Jonas Neihart, Trustees; G. W. Buckalew and J. L. Fetro, Deacons. S. G. Fetro is Superintendent of the Sunday school, which has an average attendance of about seventy scholars.

Oak Grove Methodist Episcopal Church is an old organization which meets for worship in a house situated on the line dividing Owen and Greene Counties, a part of the building being in each county. Their first house of worship was a log structure, erected many years ago, and used until the present edifice was built. No facts concerning this society were learned, save that it has continuously maintained services, and is one of the prominent religious organizations of the country.

The Coal City Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in the year 1880, with a small membership. Two years later, a good frame house of worship was built in the southeast part of the village, and cost the sum of $800. The organization is in a very weak condition at the pres- ent time, numbering only about ten or twelve members. It is a point on the Lancaster Circuit, and is ministered to by Rev. Mr. Wilson.

The Church of God, called Salem, situated in the southwestern por- tion of the township, was organized by Rev. Samuel Miller about twelve years ago, at the residence of Conrad Bricker. The original member- ship consisted of about fifteen persons. Services were held at private residences for a few months, and later at the old Bethsaida meeting house, which the society purchased and repaired. The house was moved about one-half mile east of the place where it originally stood, and served as a meeting place as long as the organization had an existence. Samuel Miller preached about four years, and was succeeded by Alexan- der Miller, the length of whose pastorate was not learned. The last minister was Rev. Elias Love, with whose pastorate terminated the ex- istence of the organization.

The Seventh-Day Adventists have a society at Coal City which meets for worship in the Methodist Church. It was organized in the year 1882, by Rev. Mr. Lane, with nine or ten members, a number which has not visibly increased since then. The preacher at the present time is Rev. Mr. Overholser.

In about the year 1858, a class of the Methodist Episcopal Church was organized at the village of Stockton, and maintained until 1876, at which time the organization was abandoned. The society had a good membership for a number of years, and met in a warehouse which was purchased and remodeled for a place of worship.

In addition to the organizations mentioned, the United Brethren have a society at Daggett's Station, which meets for worship in a beautiful little temple erected in the year 1883. The church is still in its infancy, but promises to become an aggressive society. The pastor in charge at the present time is Rev. L. Brandenburg.

MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS.

The progress of Jefferson Township from its earliest settlement to the present time has been all that its friends could reasonably ask or desire. Her farms will compare favorably with the best cultivated portions of the county, and in point of intelligence and progress her citizens are fully abreast of the times. The schools of the township have ever been noted for their efficiency and high standing, and some of the best schools in the county are found in this section of the country. There are fifteen good

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MARION TOWNSHIP.

school buildings, all of which are frame. For the year 1882-83, there was paid for tuition the sum of $2,990. The teachers for that year were R. A. Riddle, Josiah Goshorn, J. W. Culver, N. Littlejohn, E. I. Aikin, James A. McAuley, Carrie Willard, M. Haxton, G. S. Hines, Bettie Dyar, S. M. Goodwin, A. E. Everly, S. P. Hochstettler, J. J. Miller, John Spangler and S. G. Fetroe.

In 1850, the taxable value of real estate in the township was $41,- 305; improvements, $33,019; voting population, 155. Total taxes paid, $780.55

In 1860, the lands were valued at $206, 757; improvements, $91,162. Lots in the different villages were returned at $550; improvements on lots, $1,989. Personal property, $106,107; polls, 226. Total taxes, $3,062.97.

In 1870, taxes were paid on 30,735} acres of land, valued at $318, - 955. Improvements outside the villages were assessed at $82,710; vil- lage property, $4,475; personal property, $156, 815; making the total value of taxables, $562,955, on which $7,028.80 taxes were paid.

In 1882, the lands of the township were assessed at $349,330; im- provements, $75,430; personal property, $135,990. Total taxables, $560,750. Polls, 301; entire population, 2,018. Total taxes paid, $8,083.50.

MARION TOWNSHIP.

BY G. N. BERRY.

M ARION TOWNSHIP lies in the western part of Owen County, and dates its origin from the month of September, 1835, at which time it was created with the following boundaries, to wit: "Beginning at the northwest corner of Section 2, in Town 10 north, Range 6 west; thence running south six miles to the southwest corner of Section 35, in Town 10 north, Range 6 west; thence running east six miles to the southeast cor- ner of Section 34, Town 10 north, Range 5 west; thence north six miles to the northeast corner of Section 3, Town 10 north, Range 5 west; thence west to the place of beginning."

The above outline has undergone no modification, and it will be seen that the township is in the form of an exact square and contains an area of thirty-six sections, or 23,040 acres of land. Lying directly east are the townships of Morgan and La Fayette. Jefferson Township borders on the southern part, while Clay County forms the northern and western boundaries. As originally organized, the township was known as Gray- son, a name subsequently changed to Marion ou petition of divers citi- zens, for what reason was not learned. Lick Creek is the largest water- course by which the country is traversed and affords the principal drain- age. It heads near the village of Lancaster, in Section 15, Town 10 north, Range 5 west, and flows a southwesterly course through Sections 16, 21, 20, 19 and 30 of the same town and range, and crosses the southern boundary from Section 36, Town 10, Range 6 west. The banks of this stream in some places are composed of freestone bluffs, very rug- ged and precipitous, while in other localities along its course are low bottom lands containing a wet, marshy soil, and subject to frequent over-

738

HISTORY OF OWEN COUNTY.

flows. The stream is fed by a number of springs and branches, the largest of which empties into it in Section 36, near the old village of Denmark. The northern part of the township is watered and drained by several tributaries of Six Mile Creek, a water-course of Clay County. The surface of the country may be described as rolling or gently undu- lating, with abrupt hills at intervals, the whole of which was originally covered with magnificent forests of oak, hickory, poplar, walnut, sugar- tree, beech and other varieties of timber indigenous to this part of the State. Extensive beds of freestone crop out in many parts of the town- ship, the most prominent of which are along Lick Creek. Limestone is also found in different sections, while the hills and more elevated por- tions of the township are largely composed of conglomerate sandstone lying but a few feet below the surface. In mineral wealth, this part of the county is especially rich, containing inexhaustible veins of the finest quality of block coal lying from forty to sixty feet below the surface and varying in thickness from two and a half to five feet. The richest veins discovered so far are in the central and western parts of the township, where a number of borings have been made and several local mines de- veloped. An inferior grade of coal, lying near the surface, crops out in almost every section of the township, and affords the citizens an in- exhaustible supply of cheap fuel. On account of the absence of facili- ties for transportation but little has been done toward developing the coal interests of the township, and at the present time but one mine of any prominence is in operation. This is the Andrews shaft, opened in the year 1880 by John Andrews, and situated in the western part, near the Clay County line. It is connected by switch with the Cincinnati & Terre Haute Railroad, requires a force of 100 men to operate it, and has a capacity of ffom ten to twenty flat car loads per day.

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Counties of Clay and Owen, Indiana : Historical and biographical., Part 83

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