USA > Indiana > Clay County > Counties of Clay and Owen, Indiana : Historical and biographical. > Part 88
USA > Indiana > Owen County > Counties of Clay and Owen, Indiana : Historical and biographical. > Part 88
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Jesse Steele and Newton Fain operated a small tannery in the south- east corner of the township, on the Alverson farm, as early as the year 1830. They had seven vats, and made a fair article of leather, tanning deer and hog hides, as well as the hides of cattle. It fell into disuse many years ago. The remains of the old vats can still be seen.
EARLY DEATHS. 1
The name of the first person who died within the present limits of
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the township was not learned. Deaths occurred in the families of the earliest settlers shortly after their arrival in the country, but so many years have elapsed since then that but few facts can be distinctly recalled. Among the early deaths was George Couchman, who departed this life in the year 1825. He was buried in the Bethany Graveyard, as were also John Fain, Ninian Steele, Mrs. Ninian Steele and Polly Couchman a few years later. The Bethany Cemetery, or, as it is more commonly known, the Presbyterian Graveyard, was the first ground laid out for the burial of the dead.
The Santa Fé Burying-Ground was the next place of interment, and is the principal place of burial at the present time. In addition to the ones mentioned, there are two other graveyards in the township, the Milligan Cemetery, in the eastern part, and the Steele Graveyard in the eastern part also.
EARLY MARRIAGES AND BIRTHS.
It is difficult at this remote day to trace the first marriage that took place in the township, as people were married and given in marriage several years before the "oldest inhabitant " now living had arrived at the age of accountability. Among the earliest who voluntarily assumed the matrimonial yoke, were William Payne and Annie Beem, James Allison and Julia Payne, Samuel Payne and Nancy Craddock, James Barnes and Matilda Wilson, M. Westfall and a Miss Painter, Ninian Steele and Miss Westfall, Howe Steele and Miss Killough, William Craddock and "Polly" Warren, Samuel Richards and Julia Ann Gallaway, M. Snoddy and Eliza Steele, Archibald Burke and Jane Steele, whose marriages occurred prior . to the year 1835.
Children were born in the families of Ninian and Howe Steele and David Fain soon after their settlement in the country. James Lyon, son of Valentine and Mary Lyon, was born in the year 1824, as was also Jerry Devore, son of Henry Devore. Hugh Devore, brother of Jerry, was born two years earlier. James Hill, son of Jeremiah Hill, dates his birth from the year 1830, since which time he has been a resident of the township. James Devore was born in an early day also, as were a number of others whose names could not be ascertained.
CHURCHES.
The Bethany Presbyterian Church is the oldest religious organization in the township, and one of the oldest in the county. From the records of the organization now in possession of Mrs. Milligan, we compile the following sketch of the church: On the 20th day of March, 1820, Rev. Isaac Reed met several people living near the central part of the town- ship, at the residence of Ninian Steele, and organized a society which took upon itself the name Bethany Presbyterian Church. The names of those who went into the original organization are given as follows, to wit: Ninian Steele, Jane Steele, John Mitchell, Mary Ann Mitchell, John Hudson, John Martin and William Hudson. Rev. Isaac Reed was chosen pastor, and the little society thus planted in the wilderness was placed under the charge of the Louisville Presbytery. From the organization until the year 1823, the society increased to twenty-five members, a number which was augmented by fifteen additions in 1824, making a membership of forty during that year. Among the early members can be named the following: Samuel Alexander, Hester Evans, Samuel N.
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Evans, Margaret Bull, John Holme, Ann Young, Martha Doughty, Martha M. Young, and Rebecca Mitchell. Later were added John M. Young, John Craddock, Sally Craddock, George Couchman, John Johnston, Mary Killough, Nancy Killough, Margaret Killough, Sarah Hudson, Susan Evans, Thomas Hudson, Margaret Hudson, John Lockridge, Margery Lockridge, Samuel Fain, William Willoughby, Hannah Willoughby, Margaret Fain and Martha M. Wright.
In the year 1825, the membership was forty. Three years later there was a slight falling off, the number reported being only twenty- eight. In 1833, the record shows the names of forty-five persons belong- ing, and one year later fifty-two names were reported. At one time the organization became very strong, but owing to deaths and removals the membership has constantly decreased, until at the present time there are only about forty communicants. The second pastor was Rev. Jere- miah Hill, after whom came Ransom Hawley, James Shields, Theophi- lus Lowry, Cole and T. S. Milligan. The last named served as pastor for twenty-five consecutive years. He was a pious man of God, and did much for the cause of Christianity in this part of the country. He died in the year 1876. The next pastor was Rev. James Omelvena, after whom came Rev. J. K. Sammis, who was in turn succeeded by the present pastor, Rev. -- Stinson. For several years after the organiza- tion, meetings were held at the residence of Mr. Steele, and in groves when the weather would permit. A house of worship was afterward erected on land now owned by Thomas Surber. It was a large hewed- log structure, capable of seating about 250 persons, and furnished with a capacious fire-place, which occupied the greater part of one end of the building. The house stood upon the spot where it was erected about four years, at the end of which time it was torn down, and moved about two miles further west and rebuilt on the land of Ninian Steele, where it still stands. It served as a meeting place until the year 1873, at which time a neat frame building was erected on the land of James M. Hill, at a cost of $1,500. The present church officials are James M. Hill and Albert B. Milligan, Elders. The latter is also Superintendent of the Sunday school, which has an average attendance of about forty scholars.
The Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church is an old organization, and dates its origin from about the year 1827 or 1828. The earliest meetings. were held at the dwellings of James Steele and Jonathan Payne, both of whom were prominent members, and did much toward establishing the church upon the permanent basis which it has since sustained. As. the early records of the church were not accessible, but few facts con- cerning the organization were obtained. Among the early members were James Steele and wife, Jonathan Payne and wife, Benjamin Free- land and wife, Isaac Barnes and wife, with the children of their respect- ive families. Rev. Eli Farmer was one of the first preachers. John Strange and Daniel Anderson preached in an early day also, and later came Dr. Tolbert, and -- Smith ministered to the little society, when it consisted of but few scattering members. The celebrated Lorenzo Dow paid several visits to the church during the early days of its history, and conducted revival meetings, which were occasions of great interest throughout the entire country.
The house in which the congregation worships at the present time was erected in the year 1859, on land donated by Harvey Steele. It is a substantial frame edifice, and cost about $1,100. The church has
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always been aggressive, and is in good condition at the present time, numbering among its communicants many of the leading citizens of the country.
In the year 1843, the Christians or Disciples organized a society near the village of Santa Fe, and erected a house of worship some time later, which stood where the Methodist Church building now stands. Elder Perry Blankenship was the chief mover in the organization, and preached for the society at intervals for several years The organization was abandoned some time prior to 1860, and the house sold to the Protestant Methodists, who maintained a society for about fifteen years, at the end of which time their organization was also abandoned. The house was „finally purchased by a farmer and removed from the village.
Mill Creek Missionary Baptist Church of Santa Fé was organized prior to 1850 by Elders James Beaman and John Mugg. Two years after the organization, the house of worship, which is still standing, was erected at a cost of about $700. Elder Beaman was the first pastor, in which capacity he served a number of years. He was succeeded by Elder Wilson Trent, after whom came several others whose names were not learned. The last pastor was Rev. Jesse Buchanan, since whose administration there has been no regular preaching. The present mem- bership is about fifty.
Santa Fé Methodist Episcopal Church dates its history from about the year 1861, since which time it has been one of the leading organizations of the township. The first house of worship was a small frame building, and stood in the south part of the village. It was used until the year 1877, at which time the neat frame edifice in which the congregation now worships was erected. The latter building stands in the eastern part of the village, and represents a value of about $1,100.
SCHOOLS.
The first school in Montgomery, so far as can be learned, was taught about the year 1825, in a little cabin which stood near the old Bethany Church. This house was built by the neighbors for school purposes, and was a model of simplicity, being about 16x20 feet in size, seated with rude puncheon benches and lighted by a single window. The first ped- agogue was Andrew Sinex. William Hudson and -- Woods taught early schools at the same place. An early schoolhouse stood in the southern part of the township, on land owned by Thomas Wilson, and was first used by Isaac Teel, who wielded the birch of authority more than fifty years ago.
As early as 1825, a small log house was built in the Payne settle- ment. The first teacher in the building was Isaac Westfall, after whom came William Shields, Andrew Sinex and Clement Lee.
Other early schoolhouses were built in the Alverson and Hill neigh- borhoods, and on Joseph Clark's land in the southern part of the town- ship. These buildings were all small cabins, and soon outlived their usefulness, giving place in a few years to substantial frame houses. The number of schoolhouses at the present time is five, all of which are frame.
During the school year 1882-83, there was paid for tuition the sum of $695.79. The teachers for the above year were Joseph A. Williams, F. A. Williams, Mollie Hensley, A. B. Milligan and W. Cheatwood.
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HISTORY OF OWEN COUNTY.
SANTA FÉ.
This little village is pleasantly situated in the western part of the township, the greater part of the plat lying in Section 24, Town 11 north, Range 4 west, and commands one of the finest views to be seen in the county. It was surveyed in the year 1851 for William L. Hart, pro- prietor, and consists of sixty-seven lots, all of which are 50x150 in size. The first store was opened by Mr. Hart, who kept a general assortment of merchandise, and sold goods about eight or ten years. The next mer- chant was George Moore, who erected a business house, which he occu- pied with a good stock of goods for about seven years, at the end of which time he sold out and left the village. Other merchants were Will- iam Davis, Allan Layman, Alfred Dicks, Frederick Hale, Alvin Rocks well, H. Jones, Samuel Pickens, Jerry Pritchard, William White, Philip Miller, William Moss and William Melick. At the present time there is a good general store, kept by J. C. McCoy, a blacksmith shop, shoe shop and a chair factory.
CLAY TOWNSHIP.
BY G. N. BERRY.
C YLAY TOWNSHIP originally formed a part of the large township of Franklin, and occupies the southeast corner of Owen County, em- bracing an area of thirty-six square miles, designated by Congressional survey as Town 9 north, Range 3 west. It is bounded on the north by Washington Township, on the west by Franklin, on the south and east by Greene and Monroe Counties respectively, and was named in honor of Kentucky's brilliant statesman, Henry Clay.
The face of the country presents many varied features, the southern and central portions being considerably broken, while the northern seo- tions are distinguished by an even surface and a rich soil, resting upon vast beds of Chester and St. Louis sandstone. Conglomerate sandstone predominates in the southern part, where the soil is of a light clay nat- ure, and better adapted for grazing than for agriculture. The northern half ranks high as an agricultural region, and some of the best improved farms in the county are to be found in this section of country.
The township receives its principal drainage through Big Raccoon Creek, a stream of considerable size, which crosses the southern boundary in Section 34, about two and a half miles west of the southeast corner of the county. It meanders with many abrupt circuits toward the west, and receives its name from the great number of raccoon found along its banks in an early day. The bed of the stream is very rocky, and the fall is estimated at about three feet to the mile. It is so crooked, that a stranger traveling over the township would conclude that it was one of the best watered regions on the continent, as he would evidently mistake the many angles of the stream for different water-courses. Little Rac- coon enters the township from the east, and flowing through Sections 12, 13, 14, 23 and 24, unites with the former stream in Section 27. As its name implies, it is smaller than the " Bigger Coon," but performs an important part in the drainage of the country. It flows through a well-
Stephen D. Medaris M.D.
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developed farm region, and along its banks were made the first settle- ments in the township.
McBride's Creek has its source not far from the county poor farm, and received its name from an early settler who located near it. Wyatt's Creek flows through the northwest corner of the township, and leaves from Section 7. It was named for an early settler also, and is a stream of but little importance.
ARRIVAL OF THE PIONEERS.
The history of this part of Owen County dates back to the time when Indiana became a State, although no permanent settlements were made within the present limits of the township until several years after that date. As early as 1816, lands were entered by a couple of speculators by name of Felter and Hughes, who secured several tracts in Section 6, and later in the same year patents were obtained by Lewis Noel for a portion of Section 10; Jonathan Gilbert, for a tract lying in Section 13; Caleb Stansberry, for a part of Section 11, and Jonathan Findley for a portion of Section 23. Of the above-named persons, Stansberry and Gilbert became residents of the township several years after they pur- chased their lands. During the following year, land was purchased from the Government by William Stansberry, who obtained a patent for a por- tion of Section 3; William Baker, in Section 13; Julius Dugger, in Sec- tion 25; Thomas Smith, in Section 36, and William Wright, in the same section.
Among the first permanent settlers were Jonathan Gilbert, who locat- ed on his purchase in 1818. Thomas Bradford settled in Section 2 about the same time. William Baker came not later than the fall of the above year, and made his first improvement on Raccoon Creek.
The eastern part of the township was settled prior to 1820 by the families of Caleb Stansberry, William McDonald, John Everman, Daniel Ellett, John and Conrad Nasler, all of whom became permanent residents and prominent citizens.
Thomas Franklin came in 1821, and is still a resident of the county, living in Spencer at the present time. John, Moses and Jonathan Frank- lin were all early settlers, locating near the central part of the township, where numerous descendants are still living. Another early settler whose arrival dates from about the year 1819, was Henry Pirtle; while the Brown family, consisting of William, David, James and Charles, became residents a little later, settling in the southeast corner of the township, close to the county line.
Other early settlers were David Thacker, the Ranard family (in the southeast corner), James Butler, William Freeman, James Pugh, Allen Wilson, Christopher Hatchett, Anderson Mills, Moses Bray, David Crockett, Christopher Wyatt and Fleming Franklin.
In 1822 came Elijah Coffey and family, from Tennessee, and settled on the east line of the township, where he resided until 1851, at which time he removed to Spencer. Several sons of this stanch old pioneer are still living, one of whom, Joel A. Coffey, is the present efficient Post- master of Spencer. William and James W. Coffey came from Monroe County about the year 1830, both of whom became prominent farmers. The place where the latter settled is owned at the present time by his son Asbury Coffey.
43
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HISTORY OF OWEN COUNTY.
Prior to 1832, the following settlers were living within the present limits of the township, to wit:
Alfred Pace, John Fallen, James Dowell, G. Helms, Shadrach Stods- gill, Elijah Evans, Jacob Rumple, John Pickart, William Herron, James. Turpen, Christopher Ooley, Isaac Woods, William Wyatt, Jonas F. Miller, Elliott Mounce, Samuel Chipman, William Conway, - Huzzey, Perry Vest, - Harrah, Alexander McBride, Obadiah Butler, George Piercy and Jesse Wilson.
Among those who became land owners in an early day, but did not occupy their purchases, were Elijah Club, Thomas R. Hurley, John Burton, Joseph G. and Benjamin Stevenson, Moses Ooley, Thomas Snoddy, Nicholas Simms, Wesley Raper, William Cooper, Joseph Chris- ty, John Stansberry, John Rone and others.
The hardships and trials which the early settlers of Clay were obliged to encounter were similar to those experienced by all pioneers in a new and undeveloped country, and are described at length in other chapters. The population increased very slowly at first, and in 1825 there were but a few dozen families living within the present boundaries of the township. The majority of these came from States south of the Ohio, while a few found their way here from Ohio, Pennsylvania and Vir- ginia-all coming for the avowed purpose of securing cheap lands and founding homes.
Some speculators were lured to the township in an early day, but they were few, and the country was fortunate in not being retarded by the presence of large land owners. The people with but few exceptions belonged to a thrifty and intelligent class, and the early state of society was as good as could have been expected of a community isolated as it was and far removed from the influence and advantage of civilization.
Despite their unfavorable surroundings, the pioneers were apparently contented with their lot, and old settlers still living look back upon the scenes of their youth in the backwoods as the most enjoyable period of their lives. Reminiscences of the early days are still fresh in their mem- ories, and Young America of the present day seldom tires of listening to their thrilling stories of the trials incident to the long journey through pathless forests to the wilderness home, and the prowess of the skill- ful rifleman in his pursuit of and combat with wild animals, by which the country was infested. The following is given as a type of a large number of incidents which the limits of our space forbid us to narrate: In the summer of 1824, Thomas C. Franklin, a noted hunter, started out for the purpose of shooting a large buck which had been in the habit of protecting itself from the vast swarms of flies, by standing, dur- ing the heated part of the day, in the hollow of a large poplar tree on the banks of Big Raccoon.
On the way, he discovered several fine otters sporting in the sun, and thinking to secure the largest, he brought his trusty rifle to his shoulder, and after careful aim pulled the trigger. The gun was not discharged, owing to the worthless condition of the powder, but this did not deter our Nimrod from securing his victim. A short run placed him between the largest animal (which, by the way, was of immense size), and the creek toward which it was rapidly making its way. Clubbing his gun, Mr. Franklin assailed the beast, which dodged the blow, and turned upon its antagonist, and in the combat which followed the hunter found that an otter fighting for its life was no weak foe. Mr. Franklin was a power-
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ful man, but so fiercely did the beast fight that he was very nearly ex- hausted before he succeeded in dispatching it with a large bowlder which chanced to be lying near the place of combat. This is said to have been the largest animal of its kind ever killed in the township, and its hide was tanned and made into a cap, which was long kept in the family of Judge William Franklin, now living in Spencer.
Another incident of the times is thus related, by an old settler, of one Philip Brock, an early pioneer, who was frozen to death in sight of his home, caused by imbibing too freely of Spencer ""fire-water." Mr. Brock's home was near Big Raccoon Creek, and upon the occasion referred to, a bitter cold evening in the winter of 1842, he had started from the county seat, and had gotten as near his place as the Stansberry farm, now owned by Henry Ritter, when night overtook him. The cold was intense, and being very much intoxicated be lost his way, and for several hours wan- dered aimlessly through the woods. Becoming overpowered with the cold, and realizing in a half-dazed way the danger that threatened him if he laid down, he got hold of a sappling and walked around it until nature became entirely exhausted, when he sank to the ground in a sleep which knows no waking in this world. He was found the next morning by Thomas C. and William Franklin, and taken home to his family.
EARLY EVENTS.
The first death in the township occurred in a very early day, the date of which was not learned, though it is supposed to have been about the year 1822. William Rumple was the name of the person who first de- parted this life, and his remains were buried on the farm of William McDonald, where was laid out the first graveyard. David Thacker died about this time also, and was buried at Bloomington. The second bury- ing place was laid out on the farm of T. C. Franklin, near where the first schoolhouse in the township was erected. The third place of burial was on what is now the County Poor Farm, and in an early day a small cemetery was laid out on land owned by Berry Vest, now belonging to Thomas Coulty.
The first white child born in the township was a daughter named Polly, born in 1821 to Thomas C. and Dolly (Davis) Franklin. The first marriage was solemnized by F. C. Franklin, the contracting parties being Christopher Hatchett and Elizabeth Kissinger. The second marriage occurred a little later, and is remembered by the old settlers as a very in- teresting occasion, from the fact that the bride, whose maiden name was Eliza Thacker, was just entering her twelfth year. The man who won her young affections was Isaac Wallace. Another early marriage was that of William Crockett to Miss Sallie Bryant, the ceremony being per- formed by a minister of the Methadist Church, whose name was not learned.
EARLY IMPROVEMENTS, ETC.
In 1822 were built the first brick residences in Clay Township, by Col. John and Thomas C. Franklin, on what is now the County Poor Farm. These were thought to have been the first houses of the kind ever erected in the county. One of the earliest frame houses was built by Reuben Coffey, and was considered quite an aristocratic mansion by the neighbors, all of whom were content to live in small round-log cabins. The first frame building was the old Bethel Baptist Church, constructed of lumber man-
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HISTORY OF OWEN COUNTY.
ufactured principally by the old fashioned and laborious whip-saw proc- ess.
The first orchard was planted by John Franklin. Another early or- chard was set out by James Butler, and near the line in the edge of Mon- roe County was an orchard which was bearing as early as 1824.
INDUSTRIES.
On Big Raccoon Creek are many good mill sites, facts which led par- ties in an early day to establish manufacturing establishments along its banks. The first mill of which we have any account was built by Will- iam Baker, and like all early mills was a rude structure built of unhewn logs, and supplied with machinery of the most primitive description. It manufactured a coarse article of meal, and was not very extensively pat- ronized. After operating it a short time, Baker sold the mill to David Thacker, and he in turn disposed of the property to William Cooper. The Stephenson brothers built a mill on Raccoon in an early day, and sub- sequently a man by name of Falkner erected a log mill further up the stream. Prior to the erection of his water mill, Mr. Falkner operated a small horse mill, which perhaps was the only one of its kind ever built in the township.
About the year 1827 or 1828, Christopher Ooley built a grist mill on Big Raccoon, near the southwest corner of the township. The mill house was constructed of round logs, and the machinery received its motive power from the waters of the creek. Mr. Ooley was a man of considera- ble energy, and in 1829 erected a distillery, which he operated in connec- tion with his mill, and with the two did a thriving business. The pres- ence of the " still " was sufficient to draw to his place a large custom, and all the farmers for many miles around brought their grain here to have it ground, or to exchange it for the "juice." The first saw mills in the township were erected by William Baker and David Thacker, as early as the year 1831. Other early saw mills were erected by Nathan Livingston, James Green, Albert and James Dyer, all of which stood on the creeks and were operated by water-power. A number of saw mills, both porta- ble and stationary, have been operated in the township at different times, and the lumber business has always been of considerable magnitude.
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