USA > Indiana > Brown County > Counties of Morgan, Monroe, and Brown, Indiana. Historical and biographical > Part 13
USA > Indiana > Monroe County > Counties of Morgan, Monroe, and Brown, Indiana. Historical and biographical > Part 13
USA > Indiana > Morgan County > Counties of Morgan, Monroe, and Brown, Indiana. Historical and biographical > Part 13
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LATER BUSINESS ENTERPRISES.
Among the business men during the forties were John W. Thompson, Conduitt & Brother, Samuel Moore, J. S. Kelley, Sheets & Brothers, S. Hunt, Alfred Moore & Co., Riley Dixon, Hawk & Yarborough, J. W. Parker, Holman and D. J. Johnson were the leading merchants. Bur- roughs & Manker, cabinet-makers ; S. S. & J. Ellis, saddles and harness ; Isaac Williams, same; Black, Wilkins & Co., tanning and currying. Mr. Worth's woolen factory was burned not far from 1840, but was then commenced in his old pork-packing building which was fitted up for the purpose. Here it was that spinning and weaving were done. John Carter conducted a linseed oil mill in the northern part of town on a small scale. The machinery was operated by cattle on an inclined plane.
106
HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
PLATTING OF THE VILLAGE.
In the fall of 1824, Mr. Moore, who had purchased the land where the town now stands, employed a surveyor and laid out the village, which was named in his honor. The plat was as follows : NORTH.
BLOCK 3, 16 LOTS.
STREET.
BLOCK 4, 16 LOTS.
WEST.
MAIN
STREET.
EAST.
BLOCK 2, 16 LOTS.
INDIANA
BLOCK 1,
16 LOTS.
SOUTH.
INCORPORATION OF MOORESVILLE.
The growth of the village during the twenties was so rapid that in 1831 the population was over 200, and every business industry was full of promise. In March, 1831, the question of incorporating the town was submitted to the citizens, and carried by a majority of twenty-four votes, the total vote being thirty-two. At the same time, a large addition of 140 lots was laid out and offered for sale, with many buyers. The town was accordingly incorporated, and the following men were the first Trustees : Samuel Moore, Asa Bales, W. C. Cline, J. S. Kelley and James Bradshaw. After about two years, the municipal government died out, but was again revived in 1838, since which time, if reports are cor- rect, it has been maintained. A jail was built in the thirties, to accom- modate the disorderly. The town ordinances were published in the Chronicle, edited at Mooresville in 1846 and until about 1851 by T. J. Worth. This paper was an important factor at Mooresville, but was not supported to satisfy the owner, who removed it to the county seat. The surrounding country, however, could not afford to do much better, as it was taken in all families.
LATER INDUSTRIAL PURSUITS.
Sheets & Brothers engaged in the mercantile business soon after 1850. W. H. P. Woodward began in 1857, his partner being Mr. Fogleman. Later came Thornburg & Son, Robert R. Scott, A. B. Gregory, Calvin Moore, who owned the first drug store ; Woodward & Hinson, grocers ; Joseph Pool, drugs ; G. W. Ross, same; Frank Hadley, same ; Harvey, same ; Clinton Hadley, the present druggist ; Rusie & Richardson, stoves, about twenty years ago ; Michael Rusie, hardware, in the fifties, and many others. The population of the town in 1850 was about 500.
107
BROWN TOWNSHIP AND MOORESVILLE.
PRESENT BUSINESS ENTERPRISES.
Dry goods, J. H. Thompson & Son, Fred Sheets & Bro., W. H. P. Woodward, Parker & Co .; hardware, T. A. Richardson ; grocers, John A. Newman, W. H. P. Woodward, Leathers Bros., Peter Farmer ; drugs, G. W. Bass, C. C. Hadley, S. M. Hadley ; millinery, Carrie Rusie ; restaurants, L. D. Comer ; butchers, T. H. Prather, Chris Egler ; livery, Hamilton Jackson & Bro., Charles Wellman ; harness, B. F. Jones ; carriages, Leander Shanafelt, W. H. White ; grist mill, Smith & Hiatt ; saw mill and planing mill, Mathew Comer; tile factory, A. W. Hadley & Bro .; lumber yard, Eli Sumner ; grain buyers, Smith & Hiatt, Mr. Mars- ley ; creamery, Jordan & Co .; photographer, I. P. Calvert ; printing offices, W. H. Hunt, Larkin Elliott ; hotels, Merrick, Wellman, Mc- Cracken ; barbers, William Woods, Solomon Russell ; furniture, J. H. Rusie ; boots and shoes, O. E. Rooker ; brick, Ayres & Dane, P. Fields, Cooper, Mr. Dolan ; contractors, Manker & Cooper, Comer & Marine.
THE EARLY AND SUBSEQUENT SCHOOLS.
It is said that Grant Stafford taught school near Judge Hiram Mat- thews' during the winter of 1821-22. If this is a fact, it was no doubt the first in the township. The writer has been unable to get at the facts. It is known that school was taught in that vicinity very early. Barclay Burris taught about a mile east of Mooresville in 1823, or perhaps 1824. Sessions were held almost continuously in these two neighborhoods after these first terms. Log schoolhouses were erected in both neighborhoods about 1826. A school was started by the Friends a mile or two west of town about the same time. This school for many years was the best in the township, not even excepting the one at Mooresville. They were prominent people, and many of them being in good circumstances could afford to have good schools early. Asa Bales, the first resident of Moores- ville, with whom Samuel Moore boarded while engaged early in his store, was no doubt the first teacher in the town. He taught in a small log cabin, and had about ten scholars, including, if reports are correct, sev- eral of his own. After this the growth of the town was so rapid that schools were taught there continuously. Horatio N. Teacle was an early teacher east of town, in the Brav neighborhood. Willis Conduitt, father of A. B. Conduitt, of Indianapolis, taught school in the Carter neighbor- hood during the very cold winter of 1825-26. When the teacher reached the house on Christmas morning, he found that his large scholars had barred the door, and he was refused entrance unless he treated. He accordingly went to town and bought about a gallon of whisky, which he divided out among his pupils, and was then permitted to resume his duties in-doors. Some of the boys became too full (fool) for utterance, and were sent home in disgrace. J. D. Carter was one of the number. He went home swaggering, happy as a lark, loaded to the muzzle with a ceaseless fire of talk, but his father quietly took down the big gad and gave the boy a dressing that he remembers until the present. The remedy was corrective, as that was the first, last and only boozy experience Mr. Car- ter ever had.
By the year 1828, the schools of Mooresville had become so excellent
7
108
HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
that the citizens organized or established the Mooresville School Society. The meeting was held at the house of Samuel Moore, and the following officers of the society were elected : W. C. Conduitt. President; Asa Bales, Secretary ; D. G. Worth, W. C. Conduitt, Alexander Worth, Joel Dixon and Asa Bales, Trustees. The President of this educational society was an experienced school teacher himself, and a man of consid- erable learning. He taught quite early in town. Late in the twenties, a brick schoolhouse was built in the village under the direction of the society. It was a substantial building containing one room, in which good teachers were employed at comfortable wages. The house cost about $600, and was constantly used for religious purposes and as a debat- ing and lecturing room. Two teachers in this house were E. H. Waugh and R. E. Preston. Late in the forties, it was succeeded by a frame building containing two rooms, which cost $800. This house was used until the Friends' Schoolhouse was built in 1861 in the western part of town, at a cost of $4,500. Much of the fund was raised by donation from all the citizens who were to be permitted to send their children there, though the Friends were to have control. In about 1870, the town became an independent school district, whereupon the schoolhouse was purchased of the Quakers for $5,000, and the latter very justly refunded the amount with interest, which had been donated by the other citizens in 1861. Prof. Stewart was the first teacher in this house, his term being the winter of 1861-62. He continued to teach for three years, when he was superseded by Joseph Poole. After the independent district was formed, the first Principal was Harrison Hubbard. He was paid $3.89 per diem. His assistants were Isaac Jones, who received $2.75 per day, and Emma Clawson, who received $2 per day. Since then the Princi- pals have been John H. Beason, William C. Hinson, James Hunt, Mary McNabb, William M. Hadley, A. W. Macy, Stephen Hunt, F. J. Byers, O. C. Charlton, C. P. Eppert, two years ; Elam Harvey, three years. The assistants, beginning in 1871, have been Louisa Harvey, Eloise Tay- lor, James Hunt, Mary J. Hunt, Mattie Pray, Mary McNabb, Edna C. Street, Cecilia Hadley, Elam Harvey, Elvira Harnaday, Emma Thomp- son, Susan Wilson, Hattie Cox, Mr. and Mrs. Perigo, J. H. Woods, Anna Hadley, A. W. Macy, Elvira Perce, Rolena Hadley, Jennie Til- ford and Frank Manker. As high as five teachers have been employed at one time. A large addition to the schoolhouse is being constructed the present year, which will cost about $4,000.
SECRET SOCIETIES.
The writer endeavored to get access to the records of the Masonic Lodge at Mooresville; but as the members he talked with seemed to care but little whether a sketch of it was written or not, and made no effort to furnish the necessary facts, they cannot appear in these pages. The lodge is an old one, extending back, if reports are reliable, into the forties. Morgan Lodge, No. 211, Odd Fellows, was established in July, 1859, with the following charter members : W. G. Cook, John H. Rusie, B. B. Wright, T. N. Peoples, A. T. Manker, Reuben Harris and Richard P. Johnson. The first officers were W. G. Cook, N. G .; B. B. Wright, V.
109
BROWN TOWNSHIP AND MOORESVILLE.
G .; T. N. Peoples, Secretary. In 1881, their fine brick building was destroyed by fire, and with it all their personal effects. The building has been rebuilt. The lodge is in excellent financial condition, with property, including cash, valued at $5,000. In 1866, Mooresville Encampment, No. 74, was established.
THE BANKING BUSINESS.
The Savings Bank of Mooresville was established in August, 1872, the first officers being A. W. Reagan, President ; Allen Hadley, Vice President ; Alexander Worth, Secretary and Cashier. In 1873, the estab- lishment became known as the Farmers' Bank, with a cash capital of $30,000, which was afterward increased to $50,000, but later decreased to $35,000. The following men were stockholders : Dr. A. W. Reagan, Joseph Pool, L. M. Hadley, Eli J. Sumner, Allen Hadley, F. Sheets & Bro., Giles B. Mitchell, J. L. Moffitt, Joel Jessup, Alexander Worth, Jackson Jessup, Holman Johnson, J. F. Hadley, Joseph N. Taylor, Aaron Mills, Ira M. Bray, W. B. Thompson and John Sheets. The Presidents of the bank have been Giles B. Mitchell, Charles Reeve and H. Satterwhite. The Cashiers have been A. Worth, J. A. Taylor, W. F. Hadley. The following is the present financial condition of the bank :
RESOURCES.
LIABILITIES.
Cash
$4,008 47
Capital.
$35,000 00
Bills Receivable.
63,558 33
Surplus.
4,525 00
Real Estate.
14,218 45
Interest
3,337 65
Expense
1,258 31
Deposit
55,969 02
Furniture.
2,513 81
Certificate
8,132 79
Tax.
239 86
Unpaid Dividend.
56 00
Indianapolis National Bank
20,837 23
Winslow & Co.
318 83
Total
$107,020 46
Drafts
7 17
Total
$107,020 46
RELIGIOUS DEVELOPMENT.
Since the earliest times, the religious sentiment has been stronger in Brown Township than perhaps any other portion in the county of equal or less extent. The first settlements were no sooner formed than min- isters began to appear, and classes began to arm themselves for the good fight. The organization of all the classes cannot be given, though many of the names of those prominently connected with religious interests have been wrested from swift-approaching oblivion. The Methodist class at Mooresville was really founded by Eliza Moore, wife of Samuel Moore, not far from the year 1828. Indeed, she was about the only member at first, but she was soon joined by Eli Tansey and wife, Jesse S. Rooker and wife, Joseph Hunt and wife, and William C. Cline and wife. The Sunday school for this class was established in 1835, by Rev. John Will- iams. In 1839, the members of this church were the families of the following persons: Samuel J. Black, James Kelley, Samuel Stevenson, Isaac Williams, William Herrold, Daniel Cox, Jacob L. Pfoff, Alexander Worth, Daniel May, William McClelland, William Carlisle, Jonathan Hunt, Jacob Shanafelt, Joseph L. Cox, David Shanafelt, Daniel Day, Joseph Hiatt, William M. Black, J. W. Richards, William C. Cline, Eliza Moore, John
110
HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
Hardrick, Harris Bray, William A. Blair, Gabriel Coble and J. W. Thompson. A very large revival had occurred two years before, by which the class had been multiplied nearly tenfold. The old brick Methodist Episcopal Church was built in 1839, under the direction of James Kelley, William McClelland, Daniel Day, W. M. Black and J. W. Richards, Trustees. The fund was raised by subscription, the following men head- ing the list : James S. Kelley, $200; Samuel Moore (who was not a member), $200; Alexander Worth, $125; Joseph Hiatt, $50; Daniel Day, $50; Joseph Moon, $50. The total subscription was $1,713.82; shrinkage, $196.95 ; expended upon the church, $1,516.87. This church was dedicated in the fall of 1839 by Bishop Simpson. Isaac Crawford and Thomas S. Rucker were the ministers in charge of the class when the house was built. This old house was used until the present fine brick structure was built in 1882, at a cost of about $6,000. The class has ever been strong and prosperous.
The old Methodist class, about three miles southwest of town, was organized about 1828. Among the early members were the families of Benjamin Cuthbert. Jeremiah Johnson, Thomas Gripham, Nathan Nich- ols, John Cole, Charles Fowler. Mr. Cuthbert furnished about an acre of land for the nominal sum of $1, to be used for church purposes. This class was a branch of the old one, near the residence of Benjamin Thorn- burgh. It is likely that the latter class was the first Methodist Episcopal organization in Morgan County. The first sermon was preached at the house of John Martin, by Rev. Reuben.Claypool, in the year 1821. The marriage of Mr. Claypool to Martha Russell is said to have been the first in the county. The ceremony was performed before the county was or- ganized. The class was fully organized in 1821, and meetings were mostly held that year at the cabin of Mr. Martin, and the following year at that of William Rooker. Among the first members were John Martin, class leader, Mary Martin, William Gregory, Thomas Gregory, Daniel Gregory. Levi Plummer, Patsey Plummer, George Crutchfield, Anna Crutchfield, Catha- rine Crutchfield, Nancy Crutchfield, Thomas Gresham, Sarah Gresham, Samuel Jones, Jesse Rooker, Candes Rooker, Mother Monical, William Rooker, Nancy Rooker, Rev. Peter Monical, Hannah Monical, Wesley Monical. Catharine Monical, Benjamin Thornburg, Susan Thornburg, Eli Tansey, Edith Tansey, Hiram Tansey, Able Tansey and many others later. By the year 1825, the class was large and prosperous. In 1826, Rev. John Strange held a famous revival, which largely increased the membership of the church. Several of the early ministers were Peter Monical, Samuel Hamilton, James Armstrong, Allen Wiley and E. R. Ames. This first church was built late in the twenties, and was the first in the county. This class is yet in existence, and has five or six branches. All of the early Methodist Churches in that vicinity sprang from this. It was called the White Lick Methodist Church. The Quakers fully organized their class in 1822, at the house of Asa Bales, where meetings were held for some time. In a few years the class was about as strong as that of the Methodists; indeed, these two classes were the strongest and most important features in the northern part of the county in early years. Under the supervision of the Quakers, the Sulphur Spring School, in the western part of Brown Township, became at that time the largest,
111
JACKSON TOWNSHIP.
most prosperous and most important school in Morgan County. Their church was called the White Lick Society of Friends. The Quaker Church in the eastern part of Monroe Township is a branch of this. Their first building was erected late in the twenties. Among the leading members were the Doans, the Hadleys, the Harveys, the Tanseys, the Baleses, the Bowleses, the Dixons, and many others. Their second church was built in Mooresville during the last war. The Christians have a class at Mooresville at present. The class was organized in the forties, and their church was built soon after 1850. Other classes have flourished in the township.
JACKSON TOWNSHIP.
THE ENTRY OF LAND.
T THE location of Jackson Township, remote from any considerable water-course, delayed its settlement for a few years. The valley of Indian Creek, however, was too rich a traet of country to remain long in its primitive state, and about the middle of the twenties the settlers began to arrive, but not in considerable numbers until the thirties, at which time the greater portion of the land was entered by actual residents. The first man, if accounts are correct, to locate permanently in the township was John Hamilton. He came to the township in 1825, and the follow- ing year entered a tract of land where now stands the thriving little vil- lage of Morgantown. He had a family of five or six children. He was scarcely in the township before he was joined by Daniel Troxel, Thomas Teeter, Samuel Teeter, Robert Bowles, John Shrum, William Williams, Sampson Canatsey and a few others, all of whom located in the vicinity of Morgantown on Sections 24 and 25. It cannot be stated with any certainty that Mr. Hamilton was the first settler. Indeed there are evi- dences that he was not. The first land entered from the Government in the township was on Section 1 in July, 1821. by William W. Drew and Elisha Herndon, but if reports are reliable neither of these men resided in the township. William Harriman entered a tract on Section 26 in 1824, but it is stated that he did not reside there. He lived in Wash- ington Township. William Knox came in 1828, locating on Section 25, and Charles Ross in 1827, on Section 26. Henry Adams bought land on Section 13 in 1828, and Jesse Daugherty on Section 21 the same year. Finney Courtney and Jonathan Hostetter entered land on Section 26 in 1826, but no traces of their residence in the township could be found. They probably soon sold out to actual residents. Thomas Hudiburgh entered a traet on Section 26 in 1828, and another tract on Section 27 the same time. These were about the only land owners who had entered their farms from the Government in the twenties, but there were other families in the township who were too poor to purchase land, and then again, there were other families who had bought their farms second-hand. The names of such cannot be given.
C
112
HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
The settlement received great accessions early in the thirties. It was the custom in that day, and naturally enough, for families to locate near each other. Occasionally a man had the hardihood to go out into the woods eight or ten miles from any other resident, but circumstances of this kind usually only occurred with the very earliest families, who were sure to be soon joined by others. and thus a small settlement or colony would be formed with the said first settler as the founder thereof. Early in the thirties, families began to locate in all parts of the township, and the neighborhoods of unimproved land were soon a thing of the past. Ainong those who bought land and settled in the township were the fol- lowing: James Blair. Robert Grant, Elijah Vandergriff, John Gross, Benjamin Roberts, Francis Helton, Thomas Barnes, Abraham Cooper, John Francis, James Hamilton, James Dillon, Robert Bowles, Edward Choat, Jacob Haase, Samuel Kemp, Henry Kephart, James T. Hickman, Emery Norman, Alexander B. Kelso, Charles B. Kelso, William Nor- man, John Whitington, William Kent, John Kemp, Jacob Adams, Josiah Clendenen, Samuel Troxell, James B. Kelso, Avery Magee, Randolph Lawrence, Peter Epperson, Daniel Shireman. David Haase, Daniel Avery, Hugh Adams, Milton Hickson, Daniel Adams, Henry Hamilton, William Kemp, Wilburn Kemp, Peter Dill, Abraham Kephart, Samuel H. Voils, Stephen Howell, William Howell, Thomas Ross, Mitchell Ross, James Little, Charles Leonard, Isaac Gross, Benjamin Reynolds, John Lake, James Kemp, W. W. Helton, Joshua Bowles, Evan Reynolds, Samuel Hudiburgh, Abraham Mull, Jacob Sipes, Joseph Reeder, Tal- mon Groves, William Williams, William Norman, J. M. Coonfield, Peter Reeder, Anthony Bowles, Thomas Owen, Henry Lawrence, John Kenley, and many others in the thirties.
POLL TAX PAYERS OF 1842.
Jacob Adams, Henry Adams, Hugh Adams, Daniel Avery, William Armstrong, Sampson Canatsey, Lewis M. Coffey, Joshua Canady, Will- iam Bowles, Alexander Blair, Peter Bandy, Joshua Bowles, Anthony Bowles, Benjamin Bowles, Peter Dill, George Downing, Preston Doty, William D. Dunn. Peter Epperson, Thomas Edwards, William Fesler, John Fesler, John Farley, Jacob Gross, Reuben Griffith, Charles Garri- son, M. R. Guthridge, Wesley Gross, John Gerbalt, William Howell, John Hackney, John G. Hine, John Haase, William Hamilton, Samuel Hamilton, Samuel Hudiburgh, David Haase, W. W. Helton, Charles Hess, Christopher Hess, Absalom Haase, David Howell, Noah Haase, Ephraim Haase, A. B. Hart, B. Johnson, William Jenkins, John John- son, William Kent, John Kenley, Samuel Kemp, John Kelso, John Kemp, William Kemp, William Kephart, Harvey Keeney, Andrew. Knox, William Keeney, Jackson Keeney, George Kephart, James J. King, Charles Landers, Owen Lloyd, Timothy Lake, John Lake, Hiram Logston, George Lake, Lewis Lake, Amos Lawrence, Fred Miller, Abe Mull, Mordecai Meadows, Christian Miller, James Norman, Emery Nor- man, William Norman, Daniel Norman, Thomas Owen, Timothy Open- chain, Benjamin Perry, Stephen Perry, William Palmer, Thomas Ross, Joseph Reeder, William Roach, Benjamin Roberts, Irvin Reynolds, Will- iam Reeder, W. E. Roach, George Troxell, John Trower, John B.
113
JACKSON TOWNSHIP.
Thacker, Samuel Voils, Joseph Voils, Samuel Vandergriff, Elijah Van- dergriff, Elisha Vandergriff, William Woods, William Wallace, J. F. Whetstine, Edward Watson, John Williams, Emanuel Whetstine, Joel Williams, Frank Worley, Abijah Watkins and Charles Whitaker.
REMINISCENCES AND NOTES.
By the year 1842, the township was quite well settled and the citi- zens were in better circumstances and more comfortable. The log cabin was still the rule, but a few frame houses had made their appearance. The wild animals had largely disappeared. Even deer had become some- what scarce, though down in Brown County among the precipitous ra- vines and almost impenetrable woods, all of the native wild animals could still be found, not excepting bears and panthers. These were rare, but still they were there for the hunter who had sufficient courage to follow them to their lairs. Deer were very numerous there yet, and many in- teresting incidents could be told of the hairbreadth escapes of those of Jackson Township who went down there on hunting excursions. Deer, wolves, catamounts, foxes, wild turkeys, myriads of squirrels, snakes, wild cats, etc., etc., were still found in Jackson in greater or less abun- dance. The earliest settlers in Jackson had a picnic, so to speak. John Hamilton, who lived near Morgantown, tells of shooting wild turkeys and deer on the present town site almost every morning, or whenever they were required for food or otherwise. He would get up just as the light began to break in the East, take his rifle, walk out a few hundred yards from his cabin, and in a few minutes the crack of his rifle would announce the death of either a deer or a wild turkey. The latter in the fall of the year became often very fat. It is stoutly averred by old settlers, that sometimes when they were shot from the top of the high trees and fell the long distance on the hard ground, the skin upon their backs burst open like a ripe pod. This sounds "fishy " now, but no doubt the old settlers state the truth. Take such a bird, pluck it and dress it, and roast it to a ripe brown before the fire-place, and then garnish it with rich dressing and smother it in delicious gravy and the old settlers had a feast fit for the gods. It makes the mouth water to think of it. A great sport in early times was the hunting of bee trees. It may not be generally known, yet it is a fact that wild bees are unknown far out in the wilderness, hun- dreds of miles from human habitation. They are like the pioneer hunters, and just precede the advance guard of pioneers. It required some experi- ence to be able to find bee trees readily. In the summer the flight of the bees was watched and the direction taken followed. A close and experi- enced observer could thus trace them to their store of sweets. It could be told fairly well, also, when a bee was coming from the hive or return- ing. An examination of its honey bags would reveal whether it was loaded or not. If it was loaded and on the wing, its course was a "bee line" for its hive, otherwise it was seeking some flowery pasture. In the winter time when the snow was on the ground, bees would venture out of their trees on warm days, would be frozen to death and would drop on the snow, where their bodies would cause a yellow discoloration of two or three inches in diameter. A cluster of these yellow spots could be seen a long distance-often twenty or thirty rods, and the location of the bee
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