USA > Indiana > Clay County > Counties of Clay and Owen, Indiana : Historical and biographical. > Part 91
USA > Indiana > Owen County > Counties of Clay and Owen, Indiana : Historical and biographical. > Part 91
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796
HISTORY OF OWEN COUNTY.
split boards for the roof, others hewed puncheons for a floor and another portion built the chimney. They did not cease their labors until the . house was completed and ready for occupancy. This kind of a house was in common use for a number of years, although an exception could sometimes be seen in the shape of a hewed log dwelling upon the farm of some person more aristocratic than his neighbors. The first frame houses in the township were erected by John Mugg and William Combs as early as the year 1836. Abner Goodwin built the first brick residence a few years later near the village of Mill Grove.
John Dunkin planted the first orchard, or nursery rather, with seed which he gathered up at a cider mill in New York. From this nursery many of the early orchards of the township were started. William Combs and the Lockridges set out orchards in an early day, as did many of the other settlers a little later.
The first mill in Taylor was constructed by Daniel Hartsock in the southwest part of the township, and operated by horse-power. Like all mills of the kind, it was made on a very simple plan, ground slow, and was in operation but a few years. Hartsock afterward built a water mill on Eel River, near the central part of the township, which for a number of years was the chief source of supplies for a large scope of country. The mill building was constructed of logs, and contained two run of buhrs. The property passed through several hands, and finally came into pos- session of Seth Goodwin, by whom it was rebuilt and supplied with im- proved machinery. It is operated at the present time by Arthur Hodge, who does a good local business.
John Mugg operated a distillery in an early day, and did a thriving business, buying all the surplus corn in the neighborhood, and shipping whisky down Eel River on flat-boats.
This was in the day when the manufacture of ardent spirits was emi- nently respectable, and Mr. Mugg, though a sincere Christian and an Elder in the Baptist Church, engaged in the business with a clear con- science, and made a superior article of the "O-be-joyful." Mr. Devore succeeded Mr. Mugg, and drove a thriving trade as long as the distillery was in operation. James Johnston opened a tan-yard in 1844, which was operated by different parties until within a few years.
EARLY DEATHS.
One of the first deaths in the township was an infant of William Combs. A daughter of a Mr. Gillaspy, whose death occurred in an early day, was the first person buried in the graveyard south of Quincy. John Mugg, Sr., died about the year 1836.
EDUCATIONAL.
The cause of education received the early attention of the pioneers of 'Taylor, and to-day its fruits may be seen in the intelligence and culture of the descendants of the early and honest settlers. Though at first there were a great many influences that worked against the development of a general system of education; though neighborhoods were sparsely set- tled, money scarce, and the people generally poor; though there were no schoolhouses, no public funds, no trained and qualified teachers, and no books, the pioneers organized schools in the absence of all these ad- juncts, and their children were taught, and grew to manhood wiser and more learned than their parents. The exact date of the first school
,
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TAYLOR TOWNSHIP.
taught in the township was not learned, nor could the name of the first pedagogue be ascertained. An early school was taught in a little cabin which stood in the southeast part of the township, and, like all pioneer schools, was supported by subscription, the teacher receiving $1.25 per scholar, for a term lasting three months. The house was built by the few neighbors living in the vicinity, and was a very rude structure, fur- nished with puncheon floor and benches, a large fire-place, and answered the twofold purpose of school and meeting house. The first school was attended by about fifteen pupils, a number considered quite large for that time. The early teachers who wielded the scepter of authority in this building were John Hart, John Jones and Charles Holingsworth.
An early schoolhouse, similar to the one described, stood near Mill Grove, and another in the eastern part of the township. A hewed- log building, the first of its kind, was built about a mile and a half south of the village of Quincy, and used in an early day by Samuel Steele and Augustus Wedding. Other teachers of the olden time were Andrew Steele, James Goodwin, James Hubbard, Matthew Jones, William Sues- bury, John Jones, George Young and Silas Jones. When the law pro- viding for a system of public schools was adopted, the township was di- vided into districts, and better buildings erected.
The schools of the present time are well patronized, and in point of efficiency will compare favorably with the schools of any other township in the county. There are five buildings, all frame and in good condi- tion. The teachers for the year 1882-83 were S. M. Ralston, D. G. Deane, Florence Raper, T. H. Scott. H. V. Dunkin and J. E. Hester. Their compensation amounted to $1,027.64.
VILLAGES.
Mill Grove .- Mill Grove was surveyed in the month of March, 1835, and is situated on the east half of the northwest quarter of Section 33, Town 11 north, Range 3 west. The plat shows twenty-one lots, all of which are sixty feet wide, and all except Nos. 13 and 14 are 100 feet deep, the last two being 200 feet. John Hallenback was proprietor. But few of the lots were ever sold, and no improvements of any note were ever made, and at the present time no vestige of the village re- mains except a mill, to which reference has already been made.
Quincy .- The causes which led to the birth of Quincy were the completion of the Louisville & New Albany Railroad, and the general demand of the neighborhood for a market place and post office. The town was surveyed by N. Grim for William Hart, proprietor, and con- sists of thirty-nine lots situated in Section 26, Township 12 north, Range 3 west. The survey was made in the month of June, 1853, and two years later an addition of seventy- four lots was made to the original plat. The first enterprise which attracted especial attention to the place was the large steam saw mill, built and operated by Mr. Hart, for the purpose of manufacturing material for the railroad. This mill required a number of hands, and several parties settled in the vicinity of the vil- lage for the purpose of securing employment with Mr. Hart, while oth- ers located near by and worked on the railroad. Among the first perma- nent residents who purchased lots and erected buildings thereon were D. B. Gray, William R. Keith, Samuel Pittman, William Vestle, M. L. Orrell and Dr. D. H. McDonald. The first stock of goods was brought to the village by D. B. Gray, and sold from a small building which stood
798
HISTORY OF OWEN COUNTY.
where Davis & McIlvaine's store now stands. Mr. Gray handled a gen- eral stock and was in business about three years, when his building and goods were completely destroyed by fire. William Moore kept the sec- ond store in a building which stood on the spot occupied at the present time by the business house of McClerren & Beaman. Mr. Moore brought his goods from Mooresville, and for eighteen months had a large and lu- crative trade, but like his predecessor, was unfortunate in being burned out, after becoming permanently established. Aikin Dakin & Sons, of Moores- ville, were the next persons who engaged in merchandising. They kept their stock in a building which stood where McClerren & Beaman's business house stands, and were identified with the village about three years, at the end of which time they closed out. Knox & Buchannan followed close in the wake of the latter, and for two years sold goods from the building now occupied by Mr. Murphy as a saloon. Buchannan & Whittaker erected a building where the Davis House now stands, and were in busi- ness two years, at the end of which time they closed out on account of financial embarrassment. Archer & Sanders were early merchants and sold goods for one year. Messrs. Buck & Alexander erected a business house on Lot 16, where M. L. Orrell's storehouse stands, and remained in partnership about two years, doing a large business in the meantime. The firm was afterward changed to Sanders & Martin, who kept a large store. They sold annually about $40,000 worth of goods. Other mer- chants were Jerry Davis, William and James Davis, Bryant & Buchan- nan, J. M. Andrew, Arganbright & Anderson, Eli Anderson, H. D. Mc- Cormick, Dr. Brown, who kept first drug store; David Bryant, his suc- cessor; Orrell & Craddick, first hardware dealers; Laman & McIlvaine, and Dr. McDonald.
Present merchants are Davis & McIlvaine, general stock; Beaman & McClerren, general merchandise; George Hart, notions, etc. ; Drs. Fisher and McDonald, drug stores; M. L. Orrell, agricultural implements and stoves. The mechanics are John Hamilton and William Able, black- smiths; A. W. Grady, carpenter; Christian Bye, wagon-maker. M. L. Orrell and Mrs. Harris keep hotels. The first Postmaster was William Vestle, who took charge of the office when it was moved from Mill Grove. The name was changed to correspond with the town in 1856. Present Postmaster is Dr. D. H. McDonald.
The Quincy Steam Flouring Mill was built in the year 1855 by M. L. Orrell & Co., and cost the sum of $7,000. The main building is 30x30 feet in size, four stories high, and contains three run of buhrs, which grind about forty barrels of flour per day. Orrell & Co. operated the mill three years when the firm was changed to Orrell & Dakin, and later to Orrell & Dickson. Present proprietors are J. P. Wright & Son. From some cause unknown, the mill is not in operation at the present time.
The medical profession has been represented in the village by Drs. E. Jenison, D. H. McDonald, --- Byers, P. Mullinix, Samuel W. Brown, W. Bridges and George F. Keeper. Present physicians are D. H. McDonald and Benjamin F. Fisher.
Owen Lodge, No. 273, F. & A. M., was organized February, 1861, with the following charter members, to wit: James N. Steele, M. L. Orrell, John D. Montgomery, John W. Craddick and James Johnson. The first hall in which the lodge held its meetings was the upper 100m of a schoolhouse which stood a short distance north of the village. A
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TAYLOR TOWNSHIP.
large hall was afterward built on Lot 6, at a cost of $4,000, and, was in use but three years when the building burned down. The present hall is the upper story of the new schoolhouse, and is a very neat and comfort- able meeting place. Present officers are Frank M. Dunkin, W.'M .; E. Devore, S. W .; Rankin McClarren, J. W .; J. W. Hart, Secretary; James M. Devore, Treasurer; Albert Hensley, S. D .; J. W. Wilson, J. D .; J. M. Dunkin, Tiler; Daniel Johnson and Jesse E. Evans, Stewards; George Goss, Chaplain. Present membership, fifty.
In the year 1865, the village was incorporated, and maintained its existence as a town until 1869, at which time the incorporation was abandoned. Its present population is about 357.
CHURCHES.
Salem Methodist Episcopal Church, the oldest religious organization in the township, dates its history from about the year 1826, and is still a flourishing society. Among the early members were Valentine Lyon and wife, Samuel Deane and wife, John Deane and wife, Robert Deane and wife, with the children of their respective families. The name of the minister who organized the society cannot be ascertained, as no authentic records of the church have been kept; but among the earliest preachers are remembered Revs. - Strange, Daniel Anderson, - Smith, James Armstrong and Aaron Wood. Services were held for several years at the residences of different members, and later at a log house of wor- ship erected prior to 1836, which stood in the southern part of the township, on ground occupied by the present edifice. The present building is a frame structure and was erected about the year 1848. It has been remodeled several times since its erection and is still a comforta- ble meeting place. During all the years of its history, the society has been an active organization, and from its members several other con- gregations have, at different times, been organized. It is the mother church of the society at Quincy, of Mt. Zion in Jennings Township, and Wesley Chapel in Montgomery Township.
There are, at the present time, the names of about sixty members on the records. Church officials are: John S. Snodgrass, Class Leader; James A. Lyon and George C. Craddick, Stewards; James Lyon, V. W. Hart- sock and Jesse Jones, Trustees; J. S. Snodgrass, Superintendent of the Sunday School. The last pastor was Rev. W. E. Davis.
Quincy Methodist Episcopal Church .- This society, an offshoot of the Salem Church, was organized in the year 1854, by Rev. Henry Dane, at the residence of Mr. Gillaspy who lived a short distance from the vil- lage of Quincy. A house of worship was erected the same year in the western part of the town, on ground donated by William Vestle, and cost the sum of $1,000. A neat parsonage was built three years later. Among the early pastors of the church were Revs. Henry Dane, J. W. Chord, Stephen Anderson, Joseph Asbury, Parker Poynter and - Green. Later came Revs. - Irwin, J. C. Moore, Gideon Heavenridge, D. M. Smith, Simon Herr, James Hamilton, T. S. Brook, Thomas Whitled and -- Bell; present incumbent, Rev. J. T. Allen. At its organization the church was attached to the Indianapolis Circuit, and later it became the head of Quincy Circuit.
The late officers elected were the following, viz .: D. H. McDonald, Recording Steward; W. T. Wigal, Steward; L. H. Gillaspy, W. T. Wigal, R. McClarren, J. C. McIlvaine and D. H. McDonald, Trustees.
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HISTORY OF OWEN COUNTY.
Dr. D. H. McDonald is Superintendent of the large and flourishing Sabbath school, which has an average attendance of over eighty scholars.
Baptist Church of Quincy .- This organization is an offshoot of the Little Mount Church of Wayne Township, and dates its origin from the year 1858. It has always sustained regular preaching and at the present time is one of the largest and most active congregations of the Friend- ship Association, numbering about 230 members in good standing. The first services of the church were held in the Methodist house of worship, which was used as a meeting place until an edifice of their own was erected a few years after the organization. Their temple of worship is a beautiful frame building, situated on ground donated by William Combs, and with improvements recently added is valued at $1,800. The first pastors were Elders Beaman and John Mugg, who served the church successively and successfully until about the year 1869, at which time Elder W. Trent was called. His pastorate extended over a period of ten years, during which time the congregation was greatly strength- ened and built up. Elder G. W. Terry succeeded Trent, and preached four years. The present board of officers are John J. Whitaker, Mod- erator; W. R. Mugg, Clerk; John D. Whitaker, John M. Mugg, James Davis, William Davis and Dr. Mullinix, Deacons; Richard Mugg, L. M. Combs and William Beaman, Trustees. Dr. Fisher is Superintend- ent of the Sunday School.
Christian Chapel Church. - This society was organized April 6, 1873, in the northern part of the township by Elder J. M. Henry, of Gosport, with the following charter members, to wit: J. D. Montgomery, Elizabeth Montgomery, Mary Bean, William M. Jeffers, Nancy J. Jeffers, E. G. Scott, Mary A. Scott, William H. Montgomery, Leanah Montgomery, Sarah Devore, J. S. Montgomery and Thenia Montgomery. The first officers chosen were J. D. Montgomery and E. G. Scott, Elders; Will- iam Jeffers and J. S. Montgomery, Deacons. The pastors of the church have been Elders J. M. Henry, who preached two years; -- Littell, who served three years; C. W. Martz, two and a half years; while at intervals the pulpit has been supplied by Elders Frank, Hodsin, Lock- hart, Berry, Treat, Dillon and others. A neat house of worship was erected the same year of the organization, on land donated by J. D. Montgomery. It is frame, 32x45 feet in size, will comfortably seat 400 persons, and cost the sum of $1,200.
JACKSON TOWNSHIP.
BY G. N. BERRY.
J ACKSON TOWNSHIP occupies the northwest corner of Owen Coun- ty, and embraces twenty-four square miles of territory, bordering upon Putnam County on the north, Jennings Township on the east, Morgan Township on the South, and Clay County on the West. It was formerly a part of Montgomery Township, and as originally organized included the present township of Jennings, from which it was separated in the year 1842, and reduced to its present area. Eel River traverses the northeast corner of the township, flowing a northwesterly course
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JACKSON TOWNSHIP.
through Sections 28, 21 and 20, and crosses the northern boundary from Section 19, of Town 12 north, Range 4 west. The land skirting this stream is very broken, especially in the eastern part, where are large, precipitous bluffs of rock, many feet high, and very wild and romantic in appearance. The forks of Jordan Creek flow through the township, one rising in the northern part and passing a southerly course, the other heading in Jennings Township, and flowing a westerly direction to Sec- tion 12, Town 11 north, Range 5 west, where the two unite and form a single stream. These creeks afford the principal drainage of the town- ship, and pass through a very stony and rugged tract of country. much of which is too broken for cultivation. Good quarries of substantial rock exist in all parts of the township, containing a plentiful supply of building stone, and all very near the surface. Coal is found in the north- ern part of the township, the largest outcroppings being in Sections 29 and 31, of Town 12 north, Range 4 west, but on account of no means of transportation it has as yet proved of no commercial value. The country when first settled was covered with a dense growth of deciduous timber, among which was a large proportion of walnut, poplar, beech, oak, maple and many other valuable varieties. The settlers not then realizing its value, destroyed much of it in clearing up their farms. Some fami- lies used black walnut for fuel, or split it into rails, little dreaming that it would some day exceed in value the land upon which it grew. Vast sugar orchards or groves of sugar trees once grew in all parts of the township, and at the present time many sugar camps are profitably worked.
The soil of the township is poorly adapted to farming, but the lime- stone upon which it rests is favorable to the growth of blue grass, which makes it a good stock and grazing country.
FIRST SETTLERS.
The first entries of land within the present limits of Jackson were made in 1825 by Oliver Cromwell, William Fry and Joseph Cochran, all of whom moved on to their respective claims the same year. The first named settled in the southwest part, near Jordan Creek, where he lived until the year 1842, at which time he disposed of his land and moved away. He was a man of some note in the early history of the country, and acted as the adviser of the neighborhood, and was consulted upon all questions of a legal nature by the early settlers. Fry secured land in the northwest' corner of the township, and was identified with the country until about the year 1850, when he sold out to James Harri- son and emigrated to Iowa. Cochran came from North Carolina and settled near the central part of the township, on Jordan Creek. He was a resident of Jackson until the year 1859, at which time he moved to Missouri, and was hanged in that State by guerrillas during the war. Campbell Cochran, a brother of the foregoing, came the same year and settled in Section 20, Town 12, Range 4, where he still lives, the oldest resident in the township. A few years later came David Coffman, who entered land in the northern part of the township, which he sold to Val- entine Croy in 1836, and moved to Putnam County. Samuel Beaman and his nephew, Levi Beaman, came as early as 1829, and located near the Morgan Township line, where they made good improvements and be- came prominent citizens. The latter was a minister of the Baptist Church, and did much toward introducing Christianity among sparse set- tlements of Owen and Clay Counties. George and Abel Hicks, relatives
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HISTORY OF OWEN COUNTY.
of the Beamans, came about the same time, and were soon afterward joined by Jacob Hicks, all of whom made homes in the southern part of the township, and earned the reputation of being good citizens. The Hal- toms, James W., Henry and William, or as he was more familiarly known, "Poplar Bill," became residents prior to the year 1830, locating in what was known as the Jordan settlement, where they all became owners of real estate. In 1830, Henry Nees, a brother-in-law of William Fry, entered land and settled in the northwest part of the township, and made his first improvement on the farm owned by John Heath. Washington Nees came the same time, and located the farm on which Michael Ba- munk now lives, and Adam Nees came in a little later.
Prominent among the earliest pioneers was William Asher, a native of Tennessee, who settled in the central part of the township as early as the year 1830, and entered the land on which his grandson, Richard Asher, is living at the present time. He was one of the first Justices of the Peace in the township, and a man highly respected in the community on account of his intelligence and many sterling qualities. The year after his arrival he was joined by Solomon Asher, who opened the farm where the Widow Campbell lives, where he died many years ago.
James Cook came to the township in 1832, and entered land one year later in the Jordan settlement. His father-in-law, Mr. Helm, came the same time and secured land in the same vicinity. G. W. Helm, son of the latter, came with his father to the country, and was for several years one of the leading farmers of the township. An early settlement was made on Eel River by John and Evans Harris, both of whom obtained patents for a part of Section 20, Town 12 north, Range 4 west, in the year 1833. The latter sold his improvements ten years later to Capt. John Martin and emigrated to Arkansas. John Coldtharpe, Green Stephens, Henry Stephens and Joseph Coldtharpe became residents of the township, all of whom secured land by entry as early as the year 1834. An early settler deserving special mention was Valentine Croy, a native of Ohio, who came to Indiana in the year 1818, settling near the present city of Terre Haute, where the family remained a few years, afterward moving to the North Fork of Eel River, where his father, Benjamin Croy, built one of the first mills in Putnam County. He came to Jackson Township in 1836, and entered a tract of land on Eel River in Section 28, where he erected a flouring mill, and where he lived until the time of his death in 1854. He was a public-spirited citizen, took an active part in all public improvements and was prominently identified with the growth and development of the country. His son, John Croy, of whom a more extended notice will be found elsewhere, has for forty-five years been one of the leading citizens of the township. In addition to the settlers enumerated, the following persons came in an early day, i. e., James Wiley, P. Wiley, William Hendricks, John Knoll, George Lancet, Norman Holt, Sebastian Job and Marady Lucas. Entries were made prior to 1838 by William Lafuse, James Townsend, Samuel Coffman, D. A. Franklin, Brantley Stephens, Luke Anderson, George Barnett, Solomon Baker, Ann Baker, Riley Thatcher, William Anderson, Solomon Acres, John Leonard, John Clark and Benjamin Wheeler.
The majority of the early pioneers of Jackson were North Caroli- nians, and men in very moderate circumstances.
Actuated by the motive of securing homes, many of them made the long journey from their native State in small one-horse carts, the father
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JACKSON TOWNSHIP.
and mother walking the entire distance, the children and what few household effects they possessed being stowed away in the vehicle. Others came on horseback, and sold their steeds upon their arrival for money with which to enter their lands. The general state of society was good, considering the times and the prevalent use of strong drink which made some localities notorious. Vast quantities of the vile stuff were consumed upon election and muster days, resulting in many friendly fights and rough-and-tumble knock-downs.
The surplus wheat and corn raised by the early settlers was wagoned to Terre Haute, where the first sold for 25 cents per bushel. Some of the farmers hauled their grain to Lawrenceburg and the Ohio River, where better prices were obtained, wheat selling there for 45 and 50 cents per bushel. Valentine Croy hauled one load of wheat to Chicago with an ox team, and was six weeks making the trip there and back.
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