USA > Indiana > Clay County > Counties of Clay and Owen, Indiana : Historical and biographical. > Part 86
USA > Indiana > Owen County > Counties of Clay and Owen, Indiana : Historical and biographical. > Part 86
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Stephen Barnes settled where Isaac Barnes lives, in Section 34, as early as the year 1823, moving here with his family in a keel-boat. He afterward moved to the northeast corner of the township, and settled near where Rat- tlesnake Creek empties into White River. Elisha Childers came from North Carolina in 1824, and settled not far from the village of Freedom, where his son, Alexander, lives. He was the first shoe-maker in the township, and worked at his trade many years.
In addition to the foregoing, the following settlers came in an early day, viz., Ephraim Puckett, Alf Vanhorn, Jonathan Wright, Ambrose Foster, Major Scott, Stephen Defore, John Hays, Alexander Goodwin, John Bowers, Samuel Folsom, Samuel Hicks, Sr., Montgomery Leonard, Joseph H. McKee, Cornelius Johnson, Jesse Patterson, Conrad Antibus and Dr. Minnich.
EARLY IMPROVEMENTS, ETC.
Prior to the year 1825, there was no convenient market for the few
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products of the country nearer than New Albany and Louisville, which were reached by means of flat-boats down the White and Wabash Rivers. A number of parties engaged in boating in an early day, and did a thriving business in shipping corn and pork to the cities mentioned, and to New Orleans, where good prices were obtained. The settlers sold their corn to these traders for 12} cents per bushel, and their pork for $1.50 a hundred, and considered themselves fortunate in receiving such good prices. An early industry was the manufacture of maple sugar, vast quan- tities of which were made every year and shipped to the different market places, where it was exchanged for groceries and the few dry goods needed by the pioneer families. Some of the settlers made an honest penny from the sale of venison hams, which were bought up at intervals by traders, who paid for them the enormous price of 25 cents per pair. When a sufficient number had been collected, they were boated down the river to New Orleans, where they sold for $1 a pair, leaving the speculator a handsome profit for his trouble. The first orchard in the township was planted by Capt. Johnson, from seed brought from Kentucky. The second orchard was set out by Abner Light, and the first grafted fruit was raised by Hugh M. Light about the year 1840.
The first frame house in the township was the residence of Hugh M. Light, and the first brick dwelling was erected by Capt Johnson on his farm near the village of Freedom. The second brick building, which is still standing, was erected by Charles Ooley.
Flour and meal were first obtained at New Albany, but so great was the distance to be traversed that many of the early settlers manufactured their own meal by crushing corn in a kind of a rude mortar, made by chiseling out a hollow in the top of a solid stump. The pestle was an iron block, or more often an iron wedge, made fast to a long sweep, and with this simple contrivance a coarse article of meal could be made. A still simpler means was often resorted to before the corn became hard enough to shell, namely, the common tin grater, a utensil found in every household.
The first mill in Franklin was constructed by Christopher Ooley, who moved it here from Greene County. It stood in the eastern part of the township, and was operated by a tread-wheel, oxen supplying the motive power. The machinery was of the most primitive pattern, sheltered by a rude building made of unhewn logs covered with clapboards. It was in operation but a short time, and soon outlived its usefulness.
An early mill was built on Raccoon Creek in the eastern part of the township, and operated by James Johnson. . It ground very slowly, and was in operation only a couple of years. About the year 1842 or 1843, a water mill was built on White River, a short distance above the town of Freedom. It was constructed on rather a novel plan, the water-wheel being attached to a float which extended quite a distance into the stream in order to reach the current, which operated the machinery. This float rose and fell with the rise and fall of the water, and the mill was kept running the greater part of the year. It had one set of stone, which was kept in operation almost day and night for several years, in order to supply the large demand for meal. The mill was in operation about eight years, at the end of which time the entire structure was torn out by the ice.
Another early mill was built by Alexander Goodwin, and stood in the western part of the township on Fish Creek, from which it received its motive power. The original building was constructed of unhewn logs, and contained but one buhr for grinding corn. The mill was afterward re- modeled and supplied with improved machinery, and is still in operation,. under the supervision of J. M. Johnson.
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HISTORY OF OWEN COUNTY.
A man by name of Starr erected one of the first saw mills in the town- ship in the southeastern part on Raccoon Creek, about thirty-five or forty years ago. This mill supplied a universal want in the township, as the country at that time was being rapidly settled, and sawed lumber was in great demand. It was afterward purchased by James and Alf Dyar, who remodeled it and supplied machinery for grinding wheat and corn. It dis. appeared many years ago, and but few traces of it remain at the present time.
A man by name of McClerren erected a flouring mill on Fish Creek, in the southwestern part of the township, which ceased to run about twenty- eight years ago. It was a combination mill, manufactured lumber and flour, and did a good business during the time it was in operation. It passed through a number of hands, and was last operated by James Hay- den. Nathan Cooper built a frame flouring mill on Fish Creek near the northwest corner of the township in 1850, which was in operation about eight years. This mill did a good local business, and was the principal source of supplies for a large scope of country. The last proprietor was Hiram Johnson.
Several small distilleries were operated in an early day, in order to sup- ply the settlers with their favorite beverage, which was considered as essen- tial to their existences as food and raiment. These distilleries were all rude affairs, but were well patronized by the pioneers, who looked upon the business as not only legitimate, but eminently respectable.
Another early industry was the manufacture of leather, and tanneries were found in various parts of the country, the most important of which belonged to Silas Myers, who operated it a short distance southwest of Freedom. He made a good article of leather, and conducted a lucrative business for a number of years, afterward moving to Greene County. A man by name of Keck operated a tannery in Freedom during the early days of the village, and had an extensive trade.
ROADS.
In the beginning there were no roads. The inhabitants of the country were Indians, and they only needed paths or traces to enable them to get from one locality to another ; their modes of locomotion were either on foot or on horseback, and a simple path was all the convenience in the way of roads they needed. But the settler, when he moves, as a general rule, has a little property to take along for the use and comfort of his wife and chil- dren ; he therefore must have such modes of conveyance as necessitates the making of roads, especially in a thickly wooded country. The coming to this part of the State was of itself a great undertaking, but the making of a road through the wilderness was a herculean task. From the time the pioneer struck the woods, until he arrived at his destination, the ax had to be almost constantly used. A wagon could scarcely move a rod without running against a tree or log, which had to be chopped out of the way. All roads through this part of the country, for several years, were made in this way. They were to be found running to all points of the compass, and if you should strike into one with which you were not familiar, you could not be certain where it would lead you, until you reached the end of it, which might be a long way off in the woods, and nobody there ; then all you had to do was to turn around and take another road. Sometimes the settler would go and blaze out a road ; that is, he would determine the direction he wanted to go, and then on that conrse blaze the trees that were in the line or near it on the course. After blazing out a route, the next thing neces- sary was to cut out the underbrush and cut off and roll out the logs that were too large to run over.
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J. M. Jose M. D.
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FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP.
When neighborhoods began to form, more elaborate roads became neces- sary and more possible, because of the increased number of hands to work them. Finally, when the county was fully organized and its machinery in full operation, regularly established highways were resorted to. One of the first legally laid out roads through Franklin ran from the village of Free- dom a southwesterly direction to the county line. The original road was nothing but a trace, and was traveled as early as the year 1819 and 1820, by the early settlers who entered the county from the south.
The first work on this highway was done under the supervision of Samuel Jackson, who worked several hands in clearing out the underbrush in order to make the way passable. It is now known as the Spencer & Worthing- ton road. The second road through the township led from Spencer to Bloomfield, along the east side of the river, the first one named running parallel with the stream along the west bank. The latter was established about the year 1821, and is still an extensively traveled highway. A road leading from Bloomington to Bowling Green passes through the township in a northwesterly direction. It was laid out and established in an early day, and is still extensively traveled. As the population of the country in- creased, other roads were established, and at the present time the township is well supplied with highways, the majority of which are well worked and in good condition.
Passing through the township from northeast to southwest is the Indian- apolis & Vincennes Railroad, which runs almost parallel with the river. The building of this road gave new impetus to the business interests of the town- ship, and put the country in easy communication with good market places, besides increasing the value of real estate along the line many dollars per acre.
BURYING GROUNDS.
The first ground set apart for the burial of the dead in Franklin was laid out on land belonging to Stephen Barnes in the southwestern part of the township.
Among the first laid to rest in this old cemetery were Isaac Brown, John Barnes and William Wells, with members of their respective families.
A graveyard was laid out about three miles north of Freedom, in the Scott settlement, as early as the year 1823 or 1824. The earliest burials in this cemetery were Robert Scott, Agnes Scott, John Oaks and Mahala Scott. Several other early settlers, whose names were not learned, were laid to rest in this city of the dead.
One of the first deaths in the township occurred about the year 1821, at which time William Johnson, brother of Capt. Johnson, departed this life. He was buried in a little graveyard on land now owned by John Ritter, where were also laid to rest in an early day several children of Hugh M. Light, Mrs. Light, mother of Hugh and Abner Light, and others. The cemetery known as Hick's Graveyard, in the northeast part of the township, was first used as a place of interment in the year 1826, at which time several members of the Hicks family were buried therein.
It has been used ever since, and is the largest graveyard in the township at the present time.
EARLY MARRIAGES.
The first marriage within the present limits of Franklin was solemnized in the year 1823. The contracting parties were Israel Light, brother of Hugh Light, and Miss Elizabeth Russell, daughter of William Russell, a temporary resident. John Jackson and a daughter of Luke Vaughn were married the same year, as were also Henry Jackson and a Miss Dyar. Among others,
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HISTORY OF OWEN COUNTY.
Stephen Nichols and a daughter of John Oaks, whose marriage was solem- nized as early as the year 1825.
EARLY BIRTHS.
It is impossible to determine when or in whose family the first birth in the township occurred, as the early settlers seemed to vie with each other in literally carrying out the Scriptural injunction to " multiply and replenish the earth."
A good-natured rivalry was aroused in this respect, and soon after the first settlement of the country second editions of the pioneers began rapidly to increase, and erelong the hills and valleys of Franklin were peopled by a native race. The majority of those born in the township in an early day, after arriving at the years of manhood and womanhood, left their homes and emigrated to other parts, while a few still live near the places where they first saw the light. Among the latter is Mrs. Elizabeth Hicks, daughter of Caleb Nichols, who is now sixty-four years old, which makes the date of her birth the year 1819. Births occurred about the same time, or perhaps a little later, in the families of John DeShaser and Thomas Harvey. Robert M. Scott, son of Alexander Scott, was born in the year 1824, since which time he has been a resident of the township.
EDUCATIONAL.
The schools of Franklin Township were commenced on the primitive order of things. In each neighborhood, where a dozen or so of children could be collected, arrangements were soon made to start a school. If no house could be found, a cabin was hastily erected, and fitted with puncheon seats and floor, paper windows, and a large fire-place for heating. Wood was handy, and large fires were the rule. A man who had sufficient muscle to wield an ox " gad," so as to do good execution, and could read, write and cipher a little, would be employed to teach for so much per scholar and board around.
During the first twenty years, the schools were all supported by sub- scription, and in no instance were they kept open for a longer period than three months. Reading, writing and arithmetic, with the old - fashioned spelling book, completed the curriculum of those days, while here and there a more ambitious pupil would venture to study grammar and geography. The latter study, when it was taught, generally was learned to a great extent by the singing method, in which the entire school would join. What child's memory that ever sang, " Maine, Augusta, Vermont, Montpelier," will prove false to its trust ? He may forget the names of the oceans, continents, lakes and cities, but the fact that Augusta and Montpelier are the capitals of the States mentioned will always remain a part of himself.
One of the first schools in what is now Franklin Township was started about one-half mile from the village of Freedom, in a little cabin which stood on the Ritter farm, and which had been occupied by a squatter family by name of Genung.
This was as early as the year 1825, and if there were schools prior to that date such fact is not known. The pedagoguc who had the honor of teaching, or keeping, rather, this school, was one Samuel Folsom. He was succeeded by William Sloane, who taught a couple of terms prior to the year 1830.
Another early building, and perhaps the first one erected especially for school purposes, stood in the northeast corner of the township, on Govern- ment land, and was first used by Luke Philbert about the year 1831 or 1832.
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FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP.
William Sloane, Alexander McBride and R. B. Landrum were early teachers at the same place.
Another early building stood one mile southwest of Freedom, on Capt. Johnson's land. It was a large log structure, and for a number of years served the twofold purpose of school and meeting house. A hewed-log building was erected near the land of Hugh M. Light in an early day, and was first used by William Leach. Harvey Oliphant and James Gray taught in the same house a few years later. The township was divided into six districts about the year 1838, at which time the first public money for school purposes was drawn. Beginning with 1840, public schools, for which teach- ers were employed at $15 and $20 per month, commenced to make their ap- pearance for three months in the year, but they were very scarce for many years, as may well be supposed. They have gradually increased with the constantly multiplying population until the present day. Terms have been lengthened, the wages of teachers increased, the old round-log houses have disappeared, and in their places have come substantial frame structures, with all the appliances for comfort and instruction which the ingenuity of the age has suggested. The number of buildings in the township at the present time is twelve. The enumeration of pupils for the year 1882-83 was 544. The revenue for tuition during that year amounted to $2,253. The schools in 1882-83 were taught by the following teachers, to wit : Rosa Dowdall, Mattie Dowdall, J. A. Maners, H. E. Burman, Alice Whitaker, M. D. Chilson, Etta Vlict, Mary Conway, Alma Johnson, C. R. Lucas, Frent B. Williams and R. H. Knox.
VILLAGE OF FREEDOM.
Freedom, the only village of any importance in the township, is situated on the west bank of White River, on portions of Sections 16, 17, 20 and 21, and dates its origin from the 18th day of November, 1834, at which time the plat was surveyed by H. Stallcup for Joseph Freeland, proprietor. The place had acquired a considerable reputation as a shipping point for flat- boats several years prior to the laying-out of the village, and as early as 1833 several persons were living on the present site of the town, among whom are remembered Peyton Randolph, Shadrach Lewis, Frederick Les- tre, Gabriel Johnson, James McKee and others.
In the fall of 1833, a stock of goods was brought to the place by one John Young, and offered for sale in a little hewed-log building, which stood near the river, in the northeast part of the village. Mr. Young's stock con -- sisted principally of groceries, a few dry goods, and a plentiful supply of whisky, which made the place the rendezvous for all the rough characters of the neighborhood. He remained in business about five years, at the end of which time his goods were purchased by Thomas Harvey, who, after run- ning the store about two years, left the village, and moved to Bowling Green, in Clay County.
Frederick Lester, one of the earliest settlers of the place, worked at the shoe-maker's trade and kept the first hotel. James McKee and George Wise were the first mechanics, and started blacksmith shops about the time the village was laid out. One of the first merchants was Pleasant Johnson, who opened a little grocery about the year 1834. Matthew and David Phipps sold goods from 1839 to 1841. Later came Alexander McClellan, who was in business during the years 1846-47, when he closed out to a man from Louisville, the store being run by a clerk by name of Springer. Frank Powell engaged in merchandising in 1848, and sold goods from a small building which stood on the spot now occupied by the storehouse of Royer & Stantz. Frederick Barrows came next, and a little later came
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HISTORY OF OWEN COUNTY.
Cord and Wesley Johnson, all three of whom carried on business very suc- cessfully, and supplied merchandise to a large scope of country.
Among other merchants who transacted business in the village at differ- ent times during its history, can be named C. Bliet, Valentine Ritter, L. D. Masley, the Pierson Brothers and Perry McIntosh.
The business of the village at the present time is represented by the fol- lowing exhibit : Johnson & Cassiday, general stock; Royer & Stantz, gen- eral merchandise; Mayner & Wilson, clothing and notions ; M. C. Stephen- son, groceries and notions ; Gauntz & McIntosh, druggists ; Dr. J. M. Goss, drug store ; Sharpe & Co., provisions and general grocery store ; J. B. Scott & Brother, hardware ; P. C. McIntosh, furniture dealer ; William J. Suffell, saddlery and harness shop ; Mrs. Antibus, millinery store ; W. L. Arman- trout, restaurant ; Wakefield & Son, John Wise, blacksmiths, and Pierson & Brother, dealers in lumber and staves.
The manufacturing interests are represented by one good flouring mill, erected in 1883 by Mr. Kennedy, and a saw mill operated by Wright & Brother.
In the year 1844, Dr. A. J. Minnich came to the village and engaged in the practice of medicine. He has been here continuously ever since, and at the present time is one of the most successful practitioners in the county. The following medical gentlemen have practiced the healing art in the vil- lage at different times during its history, namely, Drs. Carter, Johnson, Shell, Secrest, Hillburn, Goss and Gauntz, the last two being here at the present time.
SOCIETIES.
Freedom Lodge, No. 466, A. F. & A. M., was organized in the year 1871, with thirteen charter members. The officers at the present time are M. D. Allan, W. M. ; E. H. Duling, S. W. ; M. C. Stephenson, J. W. ; M. D. Chilson, Secretary ; Samuel Norris, Treasurer ; W. H. Johnson, S. D .; John McIndoo, J. D. ; J. W. McIndoo, Tiler. The number of members be- longing at the present time is twenty-four, and the organization is reported in good working order. Meetings are held in a hall belonging to the lodge, which was built a few years ago at a cost of $600.
Freedom Lodge, No. 514, I. O. O. F., was instituted December, 1875, with the following charter members, viz. : John S. Figg, P. C. McIntosh, M. C. Stephenson, Emanuel Prior, Calvin F. Nation, William T. White, George White, Moses Abraham, Elias Kemmer, A. W. Dyar, John H. Crow, John Antibus and William Childers. The lodge is in good condition at the present time, and has an active membership of twenty-six. The officers are M. C. Stephenson, N. G .; George Hicks, V. G. ; W. J. McBride, Secretary, and Leander Price, Treasurer. Meetings are held in Kemmer's Hall.
CHURCHES.
There are three religious societies in the town of Freedom, the oldest of which is Mount Zion Baptist Church, organized in the year 1842, by Elders John Mugg and B. D. C. Herring. There were fourteen members went into the organization, among whom were Jolin Defore and wife, - Hockman and wife, Mrs. Henry Puckett and John Johnson. A log house of worship was built in the year 1847, and stood two miles north of the village, where the congregation met until the year 1854, at which time the organization was moved to the village, and a new frame building erected on the north end of Main street, at a cost of $400.
In the year 1882, a new temple of worship was built near the central part of the town. It is a substantial frame structure, with a seating capac- ity for a congregation of 300 persons, and represents a value of $1,200.
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FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP.
Among the pastors and stated supplies of the church since its organiza- tion were Revs. John Mugg, - Herring, - Bartholomew, John Chord, Henry Grim, Benjamin Ashbangh, William McNutt, R. Moore and D. D. Swindoll. The present membership is about seventy-five. The officials of the church are P. C. McIntosh, Moderator ; George A. McBride, Clerk ; P. C. McIntosh, W. H. Johnson, Moses Pierson and Samuel Myers, Trustees. P. C. McIntosh is Superintendent of the flourishing Sunday school which is attended by an average of eighty scholars.
Freedom Christian Church .- The first meetings of the Disciples, in what is now Franklin Township, were conducted by Elder Thomas Johnson, about two miles northeast of Freedom, as early as the year 1844. An organiza- tion was effected that year with a good membership, and meetings were held regularly thereafter at private dwellings and schoolhouses. In the year 1852, a log building was erected on land owned by Lavisa Phipps. This house was destroyed by fire about the year 1859, after which the organiza- tion was moved to the village, and a new building commenced, which was not completed until about the year 1865. It stands in the north part of the town on ground purchased of Isaac Darnell, and was erected at a cash outlay of $1,000.
The following ministers have preached for the church at intervals, namely, James Blankenship, Jacob Wright, Perry Blankenship, B. M. Blount, William Littell, Joel Dillon and Henry Floyd. The preacher in charge at the present time is Elder Dillon, who preaches for the congrega- tion once a month. The church is not as strong in numbers as in former years, numbering only thirty at the present time.
Methodist Episcopal Church of Freedom was organized as early as the year 1850, at the residence of Dr. Minnich, where meetings were held at stated intervals for several years. A good house of worship was afterward built in the northeast part of the village on ground donated by Samuel Fol- som, and cost the sum of $1,200. The church has an active membership at the present time, and is a power for good in the community.
POTTERSVILLE.
The town of Pottersville is situated in Sections 23 and 24, and was laid out in the year 1858 by William M. Kinnaman, Surveyor of Owen County. The plat consists of fourteen lots, situated on both sides of the Freedom & Bloomington road, which is the principal street running east and west. The town was laid out purely as a speculative venture, but its growth never came up to the expectation of the proprietor, and at the present time noth- ing remains to mark the site of the city except a couple of dismantled houses and the remnants of what was once a blacksmith shop. At one time there was a small store kept in the village by D. W. Wilkes, and a black- smith and harness shop. Dr. Goss, of Freedom, practiced medicine here as early as 1865, and obtained a lucrative practice. He was succeeded by Dr. Perry, who is located near the village at the present time.
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