USA > Indiana > Clay County > Counties of Clay and Owen, Indiana : Historical and biographical. > Part 84
USA > Indiana > Owen County > Counties of Clay and Owen, Indiana : Historical and biographical. > Part 84
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As an agricultural region, Marion is undoubtedly the banner town . ship, and possesses fewer acres of waste land than any other division of the county. The soil in the main is deep, very fertile, and produces all the fruits and cereals grown in this latitude, while the nutritious qualities of the native grasses early attracted the attention of stock dealers, and stock-raising is now an important industry. In point of material pros- perity, the citizens of Marion are fully abreast of the times, and there is perhaps no like district of country in the county where all the natural elements conspire to make a prosperous and intelligent community. The entire range of prospect, embracing the well-cultivated farms, the sub- stantial, and, in many places, elegant, improvements, the flocks of improved and thoroughbred stock, the number of church spires and well-kept school- houses, indicate the thrift and intelligence of the citizens.
PIONEER SETTLEMENT.
Marion Township,although opened for settlement the same year that In- diana became a State, can boast of nothing erected by civilized man which the world would call old. Thriving settlements had been made in the east- ern, northern and central parts of the country many years before any perma- nent home seekers ventured into the wilderness of this township, and it was not until about the year 1830 that the first pioneers began to make their appearance. In the year 1824, the first entry of land was made in the township by Mordecai Denney, a non-resident, who purchased from the Government a part of Section 1, Township 10 north, Range 6 west. The following year, lands were secured by James Stephens and Willough-
John A. Williams M. D.
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MARION TOWNSHIP.
by Davis, neither of whom ever became residents of the township. Prior to the dates mentioned, the country had been visited at intervals by hunt- ers and trappers, several of whom located temporarily in the vicinity of the different water-courses for the purpose of hunting game, which was abundant, and which afforded them their chief means of subsistence.
Among the earliest permanent settlers was Solomon Landreth, a North Carolinian, who settled near Marion Mills about the year 1832. Wen- dell Crouse came about the same time, and made an improvement not far from the former's claim, on the place owned at the present time by Abra- ham Funk. A little later came Gillum and Willis Reynolds, who settled in the eastern', part of the township, near the site of Lancaster. They were natives of the South, and enjoyed the reputation of being good citi- zens. William was a minister of the United Brethren Church, and one of the pioneer preachers of the township. As early as 1836 the follow- ing settlers, additional to the ones enumerated, were living in the town- ship: Thomas Gilbert, John Lewis and his sons Zimri and Benjamin, Stewart Coats, Isom Toliver, Joseph Phipps, Clayborne Harris, Benjamin Bass, Philbert Wright and John Fiscus. The first named settled in the northwestern part of the township, on the farm now owned by Philip Lee. Lewis located in the northeast corner of the township, not far from the site of Lancaster, and seems to have been of no especial benefit to the community in which he resided.
Coats came from Ohio and settled near Lancaster, where he is still living, one of the prominent and well-to-do citizens of Marion, and the oldest settler living in the township at the present time. Toliver settled not far from Lancaster, and was not noted for any saintly qualities. Phipps settled in Section 28, where John Silvius lives. He resided here until 1858, at which time he sold out to Thomas Duncan and emigrated to one of the Western States. Harris settled in the eastern part of the township. He was noted for his enormous physical strength, and boasted of the fact that the blood of three different races flowed in his veins, i. e., the Indian, African and Anglo Saxon.
Bass settled in the eastern part of the township, and is remembered as a man of many eccentricities, with but little good in his make-up. Wright made his first improvement on the farm where E. J. Miller now lives. He was a good citizen, and took an active part in ridding the country of the lawless characters, who for many years proved its curse. Fiscus came from North Carolina as early as 1820, and settled near Eel River, in Jef- ferson Township. He came to this part of the county in the year men- tioned, since which time he has been an honored citizen of the township. John McNamar came as early as 1836, and was one of the pioneer preach- ers of the country; his son, O'Brien, came the same time, and settled with his father in the northern part of the township.
Others who became residents as early as 1837 were Edward Bass, William Bay, John Houk, Britton Burgess, Samuel Houk, Aaron Wyatt, Robert Chambers and Barney King.
During the year 1838, the following persons were added to the popu- lation of the township, i. e .: Manuel Mishler, Patrick Sullivan, the founder of Lancaster, J. M. Chambers, Robert Chambers, William Krschner, Aaron Mitchell, S. G. Taylor, William Sparks, Luke Jennings, David Ferrill, Daniel Spurling, one of the first blacksmiths, William Sparks and others. Prominent among those who came in 1839 was John Hulet, who settled in the northwestern part of the township, where he lived
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HISTORY OF OWEN COUNTY.
until 1843, at which time he purchased land in Section 30, Township 10 north, Range 5 west, where he still resides.
Mr. Hulet was elected Justice of the Peace in an early day, and dis- charged the duties of his office in such a manner as to incur the ill will of a gang of outlaws, who for years made this part of the country a kind of rendezvous, and several attempts were made at different times to, take his life.
These banditti, for such they really were, gave this part of the country a very unsavory reputation, and previous to Hulet's arrival all efforts to secure order proved futile, as but few persons cared to gain their enmity by trying to enforce the laws.
Hulet, however. was not a man to be intimidated, and with the assist- ance of a number of other persons equally determined, took the law into his own hands, and in time effectually ridded the country of the presence of the last blackleg. An early comer, whose reputation was none of the best, was Jesse Phipps, who settled on what is now the Baumgartner es- tate, which land he entered as early as 1833. He was a man of consid- erable property, and kept a house which for a number of years was the general resort of a class of roughs who set at defiance the laws of both God and man. He had three grown sons, i. e., Mashach or "Shack," Shadrach and Troy, all three of whom gained considerable notoriety on account of their many daring acts of lawlessness. Another man of the same ilk was Owen Long, who settled in the northwestern part of the township a little later. His sons, Aaron and John, were noted despera- does, and were afterward hung for the murder of Col. Davenport, a prom- inent citizen of Rock Island, Ill.
Jefferson Long, a relative of the preceding, and S. G. Taylor, a son- in-law of Jesse Phipps, became residents in an early day, and outside of their immediate associates were but little respected in the community. Other settlers came in from time to time, and by the year 1850 the town- ship was tolerably well populated and all the Government land taken up and occupied.
IMPROVEMENTS.
The first mill in the township was constructed by Owen Long as early as 1837. It was a small affair, the grinding apparatus consisting of a set of home-made buhrs operated by horse-power, and the building a mere shed resting upon four forks and covered with clapboards. It made a coarse article of meal. and ceased operations about the year 1848 or 1849.
One of the earliest orchards in the township was planted by Wendell Crouse, and among the first frame houses was the one erected by John Hulet, in which he still lives.
In 1865, a tan-yard was started at Marion Mills by Gottlieb Geckler, who operated it very successfully for about six years.
CEMETERIES.
The old Baptist Graveyard, in the northwest part of the township, was set apart for the burial of the dead some time prior to 1837, and is the oldest cemetery in the township.
The Lancaster Graveyard was laid out later, and is the principal place of interment at the present time.
Burger's Graveyard, at the Red Brush Church in the western part of
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MARION TOWNSHIP.
the township, was first used as a burying place about twenty-five years ago. There is also a small graveyard at Marion Mills, and one near the Lutheran Church at Lancaster.
ROADS.
" One of the first essentials of civilization is a well-defined roadway. The first roads through this section were mere trails, or Indian traces, which wound among the hills and through woods in every and all direc- tions. The early settlers cut out roads with a view to benefit the greatest number with the smallest possible inconvenience, and no attention what- ever was paid to section lines.
In later years these zizzag roads were established, which accounts for the many crooked highways through the country at the present time. The first road of any especial importance in Marion was the Point Com- merce & Bowling Green road, which was established as early as the year 1832. It passes through the central part of the township from east to west, and is still traveled. Another highway, known as the Feeder Dam & Spencer road, was established as early as 1836, and for a num- ber of years thereafter was the principal thoroughfare through this part of the county. It passes through the township from northeast to south- west, but is not so extensively traveled as formerly. The Middlebury & Spencer road, connecting those two places, was established about the year 1844. It crosses the township east and west a little south of the central part. A number of roads intersect each other at various places throughout the township, but few of which are designated by any particular names.
CHURCHES.
Among the early settlers of Marion were some who never faltered in the discharge of their religious duties, although no organizations were effected or houses of worship built for several years after the appearance of the first pioneers. Itinerant ministers of the Methodist Church visited the eastern part of the township in an early day, and preached to the sparse settlers from their dwellings. They were pious, patient, laborious men, who collected their people into regular congregations and did all for them that their circumstances would allow. Their progress was at first slow, but their zeal and perseverance at length overcame every obstacle. It was no disparagement that their first churches were shady groves, and their first pulpits a kind of rude platform constructed of rough slabs and clapboards.
Preaching then was very different from what it is now, being gener- ally of the noisy order. Society, too, was in a rough state, and the preacher, in order to rivet attention and be effective, had to correspond with the times, for unless a speaker can gain the attention of his audience and hold it, he may preach till doomsday and then find that his time and breath have been spent in vain. Thus the style of preaching, as well as any other public speaking, changes with the manners and customs of the people. In those early days the preacher who had the strongest voice and exercised it most, who could give the most extravagant and overwrought descriptions of heaven and hell and the day of judgment, was considered the greatest man by the majority of the people. The singing partook of the same noisy character as the preaching, and when services were conducted out of doors in the grove, with favorable wind both preaching and singing might easily be heard two miles.
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HISTORY OF OWEN COUNTY.
Though the religious exercises partook to a great extent of this noisy character, and the preachers were less polished in their phraseology than at this time, the people were as sincere in their professions of Chris- tianity as they are now. In proportion to their number, there were doubtless as few hypocrites among religious people and as mnuch true piety as at the present day. The pioneer preachers were not all of the above type, but many possessed talent and learning, used the best lan- guage, and were graceful and dignified in their preaching. These backwoods preachers contributed largely in their day to the morals of the community, and were mainly instrumental in laying the foundations for the various religious denominations in the township at the present time. They were not ashamed to be seen traveling on foot or on horse- back many miles to meet their appointments, often encountering hunger and thirst, and exposing themselves to the inclemency of the weather.
The western part of the township was visited by the Old-School Bap- tists, who organized a church on Lick Creek in the year 1840. Among their early preachers were Elders Daniel and Abraham Stark and George Criss. The early members of the organization were William J. Sparks, Sarah Sparks, William Ward, Amelia Ward, Michael Idol, Nathaniel Spurling, Susannah Spurling, Noah Ward, Mathusa Ward, Jeremiah Spurling, Cloah Spurling, Elizabeth DeBord, Jane Phipps, Andrew Toliver, Hannah Toliver, Susannah Morris, John Dobkins, John G. Hulet and Margaret Hulet. The organization became very strong at one time, and numbered over 100 members, but in 1845 a division oc- curred, caused by the missionary movement, and many withdrew and connected themselves with the Missionary Baptist Churches. This proved the death-blow to the old society, and from that time its fortunes began to wane, and at the present time no organization is maintained. About the year 1845, work was commenced on a frame house of worship, but owing to the division the building was never completed, and the church held all of its meetings in the neighboring schoolhouses. The next religious societies organized were at or near the village of Lancaster in the eastern part of the township, notices of which will be found in the history of the village.
The Red Brush United Brethren Church, in the southwest corner of the township, is a flourishing organization, and meets in one of the band- somest temples of worship in the county. Among its members are many of the leading citizens of the community, and in point of efficient work it will compare favorably with any other aggressive church in the country.
In the vicinity of Denmark Village is a settlement of German Bap- tists or Tunkers. They have a large church building, an active organ- ization, and exercise a wholesome influence in the community.
Pleasant View Missionary Baptist Church, in the southwest corner of the township, is an offshoot from the Jefferson Church at Coal City, and dates its history from the year 1870. It was organized by Rev. W. L. Bicknell, with a membership of twenty persons. A frame house of wor- ship was erected a short time after the organization on land belonging to Tipton Thompson, and cost the sum of $700. The present membership of the church is about forty.
In the southern part of the township is a society of Mennonites, the history of which was not learned. They have a substantial temple of worship and an active membership.
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MARION TOWNSHIP.
SCHOOL ITEMS.
The schools and educational facilities of the township now claim our attention, and follow very appropriately the history of the churches. Both possess refining influences and furnish the highest standard of the civilization of all communities. It is a characteristic feature of all American settlements, that among their first efforts of a public nature is the establishment of churches and schools. The early schoolhouses of this part of the county were rude, and constructed upon a primitive plan. One of the earliest schools was taught in the southern part of the town- ship in a little log building, which stood on the farm of Frederick Crouse. The school was small and the inhabitants few, some of whom had no education themselves, and did not care whether their children re- ceived any or not. But as the population increased, schools sprang up in various parts of the township wherever a neighborhood became strong enough to sustain one.
Among the early teachers were Rev. B. D. C. Herring, Edward Dell, John Brant and Robert R. Goshorn, Amos Harbaugh and George Long. An early house stood on Manuel Mishler's place in the northern part of the township and another two miles further west. The first frame school- house was built at the village of Lancaster. At the present time there are ten good frame houses.
The teachers for 1882-83 were Henry M. Williams, A. M. Hauser, R. B. Toliver, I. S. Lloyd, John A. Stevens, T. J. Penrod, B. M. Ralston, Benjamin Goshorn, Jennie Knox, Williard Keller and Nelson Kauble.
The number of school children in the township as shown by the last enumeration is 651. The revenne for tuition for the school year 1882-83 was $2,121.50.
VILLAGE OF LANCASTER.
A person writing the history of Lancaster must necessarily begin with its founder, Patrick Sullivan, who, in 1838, purchased from the United States Government a tract of land in the wilderness now occu- pied by the flourishing little city. Sullivan came to the country about the time he made his purchase, and a few years later secured a post office which was named, for himself, Patricksburg. The settlement in this part of the country was at that time remote from any market place, the nearest being in Clay County; so Mr. Sullivan conceived the idea that a town would soon become necessary, and that once established it would add materially to the value of the adjacent land. So, on the 29th day of June, 1851, he laid out the village on the northwest quarter of Section 15, Town 10 north, Range 5 west, and named it Lancaster. The original plat shows eight blocks and thirty-nine lots, with the following streets, viz .: Main, Marion, Walnut, Chestnut and Orange, the first two of which run east and west and the others north and south. Prior to the platting of the village, however, a number of dwellings had been erected on its site, and the place became the nucleus around which a flourishing settlement sprang up. Business men and mechanics were soon attracted to the village, and in an early day it achieved the reputation of a promi- nent trading point, being the chief source of supplies for a large scope of fertile country. The survey of the town gave the place new interest, and not long thereafter a number of residences were built and occupied, and a store was in successful operation.
Among the first merchants to offer their wares for sale in the village
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HISTORY OF OWEN COUNTY.
were - Kelly and John Baumgartner. The latter erected a business house on Main street, now occupied as a residence by John Royer, and sold goods for five years, at the end of which time his stock was pur- chased by Williams & Rice, who six years later sold out to William Royer. Royer was identified with the business interests of the village about twelve years, and during that period carried a large stock and dis- posed of an immense amount of merchandise. He sold out to a man by name of Haas, and moved to the town of Freedom, in Franklin Township, but afterward returned to Lancaster and engaged in the hotel business, with which he is identified at the present time.
Other merchants who did business in the village during the early days of its history were Black & Harrison, A. M. Manning, John Travis, Dr. Dean, J. B. Hoffman and John Hochstettler. A saw mill was built in the south part of the town, about the year 1852, by J. Biddle, who afterward sold out to Stephen Maegerlein. The latter erected a steam grist mill, in the construction of which the machinery of the saw mill was used. An interest in the mill was afterward purchased by a man by name of Drake, who in turn sold to - Jones, and Jones to Will- iam Royer. Royer operated the old mill until the year 1880, at which time it was torn down and replaced by the present mill, which is one of the best in the county. It is a four-story frame building, and with im- proved machinery recently added, represents a capital of about $10,000.
A spoke factory was started in the year 1881 by Silas Harrison, who is doing a good business at the present time. In addition to the manu- facturing establishments mentioned, there are in the village at the pres- ent time three saw mills, two planing mills and one shingle machine, all of which are kept running to their fullest capacity. Messrs. Craft & Coats were the proprietors of a tannery, which was started near the vil- lage some time prior to 1873. It was purchased in the latter year by Lewis Geckler, who did a good business as long as it was in operation.
Present Business .- The present business of Lancaster is represented by the following men and firms, viz .: Royer & Haas, general store; Coats & Schmaltz, general stock; Williams & Drake, drugs; L. F. Lautenschlager, drug store; Fred Schmaltz and Henry Shepper, gro- cery stores; Martha Harstine, millinery store; Merrell & Beatty, hard- ware: Gottlieb Keiser, - Harris, Christopher Weber and Jacob Rents- ler, blacksmiths; George Keiser and Christopher Rentsler, wagon- makers; John C. McGill and Joseph Zinkler, cabinet-makers.
The following medical gentlemen have practiced the healing art in the village, viz .: Drs. Hunt, R. B. McAlister, Lewis Red, William Williams, J. B. Hoffman and Robert Black. The present M. D.'s are William Williams, Samuel Richards, John Williams, John Sloan and L. Mullenix-quite a formidable number for a healthy locality.
Marion Lodge, No. 588, I. O. O. F., was instituted September 17, 1881, with five charter members, whose names are as follows: E. F. Harrold, T. M. Harrold, S. C. Philips, A. Wright and J. A. Ralston. The first officers: E. F. Harrold, N. G .; T. M. Harrold, V. G .; J. A. Ralston, Sec .; and S. C. Philips, Treas. The officers at the present time are: T. M. Harrold, N. G .; John Weber, V. G .; Abijah Merrell, Sec. ; and Lewis Burk, Treas. The lodge has a good membership and is constantly increasing in numbers and influence. It has a pleasant hall in J. R. Harrold's building, and holds its meetings on Saturday even- ings.
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MARION TOWNSHIP.
Churches .- Lancaster has four religious organizations, namely, Christians or Disciples, Methodists, Lutherans and Adventists.
The Christian Church of Lancaster was organized in the year 1842, at which time it was known as the Church of Christ, meeting at West Liberty. In the original organization, Patrick Sullivan and Elijah Ar- nold were chosen Elders, and Stewart Coats and Harrison Kelly, Deacons. Following is a list of those who became identified with the so- ciety during the early days of its history, viz., Hannah Sullivan, Sarah Arnold, Rachel Coats, Louisa Kelly, Benjamin D. Houk, Mary Houk, Susannah Houk, Lucinda Houk, Benjamin Mitchell, Elizabeth Mitch- ell, Benetta Mitchell, John Long, Malooda Long, Michael Royer, Mary Royer, Susannah Royer, John Royer, Sophia Royer, Samuel Royer, Julia A. Royer, Daniel Burger, Emeline Burger, Eme- line Mishler, Hannah Mishler, Robert Chambers, Lydia Ann Cham- bers, Anna Prime, David Mishler, Catherine Mishler, -- Mishler, David Mitchell, Roxanna Mitchell, Samuel McClarren, Mary McClar- ren, Jonathan Criss, Mary Criss, L. Harris, Rebecca Harris, Jacob Con- der, Frances Conder, John Fry, Lilly Fry, Mrs. Lee, David Harris, Margaret Harris, Aaron Mitchell, Hannah Mitchell, Mary Shepherd, Elizabeth Gochenour, Susannah Shepherd, Catherine Hopper, Thomas Clark, James Mitchell, Mary Caton, Joel Dillon, Mary A. Dillon and Phebe Beatty. The first place of meeting was a log schoolhouse, which stood a short distance from the village, and which served as a place of worship until the year 1856, at which time a frame building was erected about one-quarter of a mile east of the town. The building stood but a few years, and was soon replaced by a larger and more comfortable struct- ure, which cost the sum of $1,500. In the year 1883, the building was completely destroyed by a cyclone, and since that event the congregation has been using the village schoolhouse for social worship and the Methodist Church for preaching. The following preachers have minis- tered to the church at different times, namely, - Conrad, Benjamin Houk, Obediah Winters, Frederick Hauser, - Rice, James Blanken- ship, J. C. McCoy, Joel Dillon, J. M. Mathes, W. B. F. Treat, W. N. Littell, - Sweney, Z. T. Sweney, William F. Black, John C. Miller, Mil- ton B. Hopkins, A. Ellmore, Henry R. Pritchard, B. M. Blount, William Holt, J. R. Henry, Jefferson, .M. T. Smith, A. C. Layman, Ingram, - Hyatt, Harrison Hight, - Loudermilk, J. G. Burroughs, A. J. Frank, H. C. Correll and others. The present pastor is Elder R. B. Williams. Prior to the year 1857, the congregation held meetings but once a month, but in that year a re-organization was effected, since which time meetings have been held every Lord's Day for the purpose of social worship and communion. Much of the time the church has been with- out a regular pastor, and its success is largely due to the lay membership, which now numbers about ninety.
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