USA > Indiana > Brown County > Counties of Morgan, Monroe, and Brown, Indiana. Historical and biographical > Part 64
USA > Indiana > Monroe County > Counties of Morgan, Monroe, and Brown, Indiana. Historical and biographical > Part 64
USA > Indiana > Morgan County > Counties of Morgan, Monroe, and Brown, Indiana. Historical and biographical > Part 64
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In 1829, James Gilbert began selling liquor there, as did Andrew Wampler. It is likely that these men were not there at the same time. The first store of any consequence was opened by Parks & Hite in 1829, or perhaps 1830, and during the latter year Hezekiah & David Wampler opened a combined liquor establishment and grocery. Saloons at that day were called groceries, and usually comprised groceries as we know them and liquors which were classed as " wet groceries." The name saloon was never applied to such houses. About this time William Ellett also sold a small amount of merchandise. In 1831, Ellett & Kirkham were engaged in the grocery business together. In 1832, Hezekiah Wampler brought on a stock of general merchandise, which he continued to increase as the years passed, until he had the largest stock, it is said, in the village. John S. Barnes started a store in 1834, and Gideon Walker a grocery the same year. Parks & Hite were yet in business with a large stock and an increasing trade. The Wamplers were similarly situated. John Bennett began to sell goods in 1835. J. K. Hemp- hill was also in business in the town about this time. After this came Wampler, Shelburn & Dunning, in 1836; Ellett & Barnes, 1837 ; William Hite, 1839; James Whitesill, 1841; Felix G. Hite, 1841; A. W. Hill, 1843; W. J. Sparks, 1845; Sparks & Davis, 1847 (the Wamplers, Sparks, Whitesill. Hill, et al., were yet in business) ; George L. and Milton Brown, 1848; William Houston, 1848; John C. Mays, 1849; Parks & Egbert, 1849; Sparks & Davis, 1849, and others later and on, until about the time of the last war, when Levi Kean kept store, the last one in the village. William Chambers was an early wheelwright. The Posey Brothers made quite a number of hats from lambs' wool, which were bought in the surrounding country.
In about 1828 or 1829, Samuel Hartsock bought the old Burton saw mill and grist mill, and rebuilt both on a much larger and better scale. He also greatly improved the old dam, until an excellent water-power was obtained. Within a year or two, he sold out to Parks, Shelburn & Hitc, and in 1831 Gideon Walker bought a half interest. Other changes were afterward made. The old grist mill had a very large local trade, and in addition shipped by boat to the Southern markets large quantities of good flour. In the thirties, and during about all of the forties, large quantities of produce were sent South by Nathan Hill, Parks & Egbert, Wampler & Co., W. J. Sparks and others. As high as 5,000 hogs were slaughtered there in one season, and shipped down the river. In the spring of the year, White River rose so high that back water on Bean Blossom Creek rose in the town of Mt. Tabor to a sufficient depth to float boats. It is said that when a freshet would occur, a flat-boat would be constructed hurriedly, loaded with pork, flour,, corn and wheat, and sent down the stream. There was but little, if any, current in the creek, so that the boats were poled down to the river current, after which the hand labor was over until the destination was reached. As high as fif- teen boat loads were sent from Mt. Tabor in one season ; and the season,
31
492
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
be it remembered, was only during the flood of the springs. Dr. W. S. Walker said he went nine times to New Orleans with flat-boats, and Matthias Berry went thirteen times. Late in the forties, it is said, Mr. Hill introduced steam into his pork packing house, to scald the slaugh- tered swine and operate the machinery for hoisting. The trade of Mt. Tabor extended far beyond Bloomington. It is said that Hezekiah Wampler shipped the first boat load of pork, grain and provisions down the river about 1836. Noah Stine owned and conducted a large cooper shop, where scores of barrels were made for the pork packers and the grist mill. Mr. Turner was an experienced gunsmith, and had a big shop. Mr. Chambers manufactured all kinds of spinning wheels and reels. Amsden, Hatterbaugh & Coffin manufactured wheat fans for a few years, beginning about 1836. They employed as high as twenty-five men, and kept four peddlers, with wagons, on the road all the time; this was a very large and important business. David Wampler conducted an extensive tannery. The well-known Judge Eckles was married in Mt. Tabor. Of course the citizens gave him an old-fashioned charivari. A number of tin pans and bells were fastened to the machinery in the old saw mill ; the water was then turned on, and the Judge to be was chari- varied by machinery. The Judge will furnish further details upon re- quest. The village was at its best from 1835 to 1852, and probably did the largest business early in the forties. Its highest population was about 350. William Hite was the first Postmaster. Nathan Hill and F. G. Hite succeeded him. Among the earliest residents were John Burton, Samuel Hartsock, William Hite, F. G. Hite, Hezekiah Wampler, David Wampler, John Cox, David Keizer, Widow Godsey, William Ellett. A man named Moody conducted a tailor shop there in about 1832; Edward Ellett succeeded him, and G. W. Boyd succeeded Ellett. There has been nothing on the site of the old village for several years, except the old mills and a residence or two. The busy business houses, the thronged streets and the buildings have disappeared. In looking at the site of the old village, one is reminded of the lines of Goldsmith :
"Sweet, smiling village, loveliest of the lawn,
Thy sports are fled, and all thy charms withdrawn. Amidst thy bowers the tyrant's hand is seen, And desolation saddens all thy green."
STINESVILLE.
This village owes its origin to the New Albany Railroad. It was laid out by Eusebius Stine, owner, and John J. Poynter, surveyor, in 1855, on the southeast quarter of Section 17, and consisted of 114 lots, 15 of which were on the west side of the railroad. The village began to grow slowly, but received quite an impetus when the Virginia Company began quarrying American marble west on Big Creek. Samuel Briscoe prob- ably started the first store. John McHenry & Son came with goods within a few years. James Williams sold goods for a short time. Mr. Matheny was probably next, and James Shell next. Thomas Riggs was in soon afterward. C. C. Dunn came in a few years ago and is there now. David Miller opened a store four or five years ago, and is yet in business. The first hotel was opened by William Easton, who has re- mained with it since. Dr. Mullinix was probably the first physician. Drs.
493
BEAN BLOSSOM TOWNSHIP,
Allen and Greer are practicing at present. John McHenry was the first Postmaster. James Greer is the present agent of Brother Jonathan. The owner of the town was probably the first blacksmith. John Easton was the first shoe-maker. Frank Ashbaugh has been the shoe-maker for about twenty years. Eusebius Stine built the first saw mill at the vil- lage. He also built a small grist mill. These buildings were erected long before the town started into being. Among the early residents of Stinesville were Eusebius Stine, after whom the village was named, Sam- uel Brisco, Thomas Wilson, Charles Miller, Frank Ashbaugh, Mr. Math- eny, Jackson Hite, William Easton, George Pugh and their families, and others. The great feature of the village during the past five or six years is the limestone interest. Two or three companies from Terre Haute, and one or two from other cities, are quarrying and sawing and shipping large quantities of excellent limestone.
SCHOOLS.
The first school, it is said, was taught in the Putnam neighborhood, about the year 1828, by a Mr. Taylor. The house was a residence of logs, that had been vacated, and was then used for several years for school purposes. A school was started about the same time in the north- ern part near the Buskirks. By 1836, there were four established schools in the township-one east of Mount Tabor, one west of Mount Tabor, one a mile and a half south of Stinesville, and the fourth about three miles southeast of Stinesville. Of course the four houses were of logs. In 1846, the number of districts had been increased to five or six. In 1856, schoolhouses were standing on Sections 2, 12, just south of Mount Tabor, 7, two houses on Section 29, and 23. Since that day, the schools have been greatly improved. Mount Tabor had no schoolhouse but sent to the country houses. The building about a quarter of a mile south was the principal one, and this was at first used also by the chil- dren of Stinesville. Twelve or fifteen years ago, a schoolhouse was built in the latter town. About five years ago, the building was burned and another, which is yet used, was erected the same year. Three famous teachers during the decade of thirties were Eusebius, Euraneus and Ambrose Hinkle, brothers, sons of a wealthy slave-holder of Tennessee, and young men of fine manners, finished education and among the most perfect disciplinarians ever in charge of schools in the township. Euse- bius, the elder, was a Lutheran minister, and often preached in German to members of his church who could not understand English very well. The morning sermon was in German, and the evening sermon in En- glish. The brothers were single men, though the elder married one of the fair daughters of the township. These brothers were in such demand to take charge of the schools that comparatively large amounts were raised by subscription in addition to the stinted amount furnished by the school fund, to pay them for their services. They introduced grammar, United States History and algebra into their schools, and created an interest in improved and advanced education that had a marked benefi- cial effect upon all the surrounding schools. Clinton C. Owens was another early teacher of pronounced success. He was finely educated and his discipline was the pride of the district where he taught. At no
494
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
time since has the township had better schools than under Owens and Hin- kles. The township schools in 1880-81, with the teachers, etc., were as follows:
TEACHERS IN 1880-81.
Number of District
School Enrollment.
Kind and Size of Schoolhouses.
Eva Hall.
1
38
Frame, 18x22 feet.
Emma Rocke
2
23
Frame, 18x22 feet.
Lizzie Owens.
3
48
Frame, 22x28 feet.
William Hoadley
4
38
Frame, 22x30 feet.
Hosea Gaskins.
5
35
Frame, 20x24 feet.
Sarah Williams
6
40
Frame, 20x24 feet.
James Morgan
7
60
Frame, 22x30 feet.
S. D. Coon.
8
40
Frame, 20x22 feet.
Jane Stealey
9
24
Frame, 20x26 feet.
CHURCHES.
A class of Methodists was organized at the Putman Schoolhouse about 1832, and continued to meet there for worship for many years. Among the earliest members were the families of Henry Putnam, James Houston, Stephen Lundy, Joseph Houston, David W. Elliott, Peter Abel, Joshua Jones, B. B. Rogers and Barnard Arnold and others. A church was finally erected in the northern part of the town- ship early in the fifties. The old Baptist Church called " Jack's Defeat " was organized about the year 1840, among the earliest members being the Davores, the Lyttons, the Wilsons and others. Their church, called Mt. Carmel, was erected late in the forties or early in the fifties. After Stinesville started up, the old log church was abandoned, and the Bap- tists, Methodists, Christians, and Lutherans living in the vicinity united means and built a " box" church in the village, which was used con- tinuously until the present. when a new house is being erected (1883-84) by the Baptists. The Methodists will retain the old church. The new church will cost about $800 when finished. The Lutherans organized a class about 1845 or earlier, and soon built a church south of Stines- ville. Among the leading families belonging were the Stines, the Sum- mits and other. Henry Stine, Sr., was for many years the Elder. Other churches have been established in later years.
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP.
THE EARTH STRUCTURE.
T THIS section of the county possesses many interesting features, not only from its natural attractions, but from the fact that it was settled at a very early day and grew to worth and prominence while other portions were yet comparatively uninhabited. Of course the township has the usual characteristics of exterior and interior that belong to Monroe County as a whole. There are the argillaceous bluffs, with their soil of semi-
495
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP.
sterility ; there are the lower lands, where the agriculturist usually reaps his best, if not only, valuable return ; there are the timber tracts, which have been largely denuded of their best woods; and there is that broken, cut-up appearance so common to the southern part of the Hoosier State. The lower lands are usually of a rich combined soil of sand, lime, clay and alluvium, the latter often predominating and affording a mellow, fertile tract of the greatest value, and one greatly sought after by those who un- derstand the requirements of good crops. An abundance of excellent limestone is found near the surface, and is being worked by numerous companies. The section at the quarry, one and a half miles north of Ellettsville, is as follows :
Clayey soil.
Feet. 4
Limestone (Warsaw Division Lower St Louis Group) dark gray, shaly and silicious, containing the following fossils: Nautilus collectus, Bellerophon sublævis, Orthoceras Sp., Pleurotomaria wortheni, Terebratula formosa, T. tergida, Pentremitis conoideus and P. varsonviensis. 8 Limestone, same group, light gray, fine-grained Oöliric, containing fossils of the Spurgeon Hill varieties .. 2 Limestone, same group, light gray, Oölitic, free from fossils, with a vein of Stylolites (called "toe-nails" by quarrymen) running through it horizontally. 16
Limestone, same group. dark blue, Oölitic, remarkably free from
8
fossils, and susceptible of a good polish
Total 48
At the Matthews Quarry, one mile north of Ellettsville, the section is as follows :
Feet.
Ferruginous clay soil. 5 Limestone (Warsaw Division St. Louis Group), light gray, Oolitic, coarse-grained and fossiliferous .... G
Limestone, same group, light gray, fine-grained, regularly bedded Oolitic, without fossils. 16
Total 27
In Sharp's Quarry, near there, the section is as follows :
Feet.
Ferruginous clay soil. 5 Limestone, same group, rough, shaly and much water worn, Oolitic, with many fossils of the Spurgeon Hill species. 10 Limestone, same group, light gray, fine grained, Oolitic, without fossils 20
Total . 35
The section two and a half miles west of Ellettsville, on Section 8, is as follows:
Feet.
Arenaceous soil. 4 Chester sandstone, unfossiliferous. 30
Argillaceous and cherty layers, containing water-worn fossils in a fragmentary condition .... 10
Limestone (Upper St. Louis Group.), light gray, hard and silicious,
resembling the lithographic limestove of Harrison County .. 40
Total 84
The State Geologist says: "The Oolitic limestones of Monroe County, by reason of accessibility and other valuable considerations, are of vast
496
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
importance to the material prosperity and progress of the State of Indi- ana." He gives the general geological section of the county as follows :
Feet.
Chester sandstone and iron ore deposits.
65
Upper St. Louis limestone and cherty layers.
35
Lower St. Louis lime stone, Warsaw Division. 45
Keokuk limestone, buff colored.
7
Keokuk limestone, light or bluish gray.
23
Knob sandstone.
70
Knob shale, blue and buff colored.
130
Total
375
THE EARLY SETTLEMENT.
A very large portion of this township, comparatively, was entered in 1816, as soon as the land was thrown into market, and this circumstance reveals the fact that not only was the first settlement before that time, but it was very rapid when thus begun. In 1816, the following entries of land were made at the land office at Vincennes: John Ketchum, on Section 1; Jonathan Lindley, Roderick Rawlins, Joseph Evans and Asa Osborn, on Sections 2 and 3; Lewis Noel, on Section 4; Jonathan Gil- bert, on Section 8; George Cutler and George Sharp, on Section 9; James Parks, on Section 10, also James Wright on the same; Archibald Wood and James Goodwin, on Section 11; Samuel Caldwell, on Section 13; John Bigger, James Parks and Samuel Elliot, on Section 14; Am- brose Carlton, on Seccion 15; Archibald Wood and Samuel Caldwell, on Section 17; Jacob Cutler and William Bradford, on Section 18; Joseph Harris, on 21; John Simons, on 22; Ambrose Carlton and Asa Coltrin, on Section 23; Chris. Eslinger and John Gordon, on Section 24; John McCormick, on 26; Jonathan Lindley and John Simons, on 27; Solo- mon Bower, on 28, also on the same section Joseph Kennedy, William Thornton and Abel Bigelow ; David Johnson, on 29; John Fullen and William Baker, on 30; John Perishaw, on 31; David Sears and Daniel Zincks, on 32; Abel Bigelow, William Oliver and Edward Archer, on 33; Thomas Hodges and Joseph Taylor, on 34; Samuel Rogers and Benjamin Johnson, on 35; Fred Smoyers and David S. Chambers, on 36. In 1817, the following entries were made: Henry Kirkham, on Section 1; Henry Wampler, on the same; Coleman Puett, on 4, William Latherlin on the same; Joseph Reeves, on 9; Henry Wampler and Samuel Hazlett, on 25; Eli Lee, on 26; Samuel Rogers, on 35. Jonathan Gilbert bought on Section 5 in 1818; John Armstrong, on Section 1 in 1819; T. R. Harley, on Section 6 in 1820; Joseph Ken- nedy, on Section 28 in 1824; Joel A. Dyer, on Section 7 in 1828. These were nearly all the entries previous to 1830. After the rush of 1816, the sales were few for many years.
It is difficult to state who was the first permanent settler in this town- ship. Several tracts were purchased in 1816, as will be seen from the above, but so far as can be learned only one family came out that fall to reside in the township during the winter. In about October, 1816, Will- iam Edmundson, without owning the land, located within a short distance of Ellettsville, erecting there a small, round-log cabin, in which he domi- ciled his family. He did not enter his land-the northwest quarter of
497
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP.
Section 9-but after a number of years bought it of the man who did enter it-probably George Cutler. During the winter of 1816-17, Mr. Edmundson cleared about five acres for the coming year's crop. No other family is now known to have lived in the township during this winter. However, James and George Parks, George Sharp, Coleman Puett, Lewis Noel and two or three other heads of families erected rude log cabins on their respective farms late in the fall of 1816, or during the winter of 1816-17, and the men lived in the same (" bached ") all win- ter, clearing in the meantime land for the crop of 1817. Early the next spring the families of these men arrived and became residents in the log cabins. Among those who came in 1817 were the families of the Parkses, George Sharp, Lewis Noel, Coleman and Joseph Puett, William Milligan, Jonathan Gilbert, Joseph Reeves, Samuel Ellett and probably half a dozen others. Johnston Sharp, yet living, says this was the first settlement of the township. James Parks, Sr., then about thirty-six years old, was the leading man of the settlement. He lived to the re- markable age of one hundred and one years and over, dying but a few months ago. The following, written by him in his ninety-seventh year, will be read with interest :
" I was born in Wilkes County, N. C., near the Yadkin River, Septem- ber 26, 1781. My grandfather, John Parks, moved from Virginia to this place before the Revolutionary war, but how long before I do not know. My grandfather was of Irish descent, and my grandmother of Dutch. They raised to be men and women fourteen children ; seven boys and seven girls.
" My father, George, was raised and married in the same settlement. My mother's maiden name was Milly Davis. They had six children; all lived to have families except one. I lived in that neighborhood until I was fifteen years old, when my father, with his family, moved to Burke County, N. C. I lived with my father until I was about twenty-five years of age, when I married Nancy Moore on the 30th of November, 1806. We settled and lived in Burke County for several years. We had ten children, all of whom lived to be men and women except two. Nancy, my wife, died June 26, 1828, and I married Frances Kendrick August 27, 1830. By her I had one son, James.
" Now, for some of the incidents of my early life. Commence ninety years ago, just after the close of the Revolutionary war. I remember grandfather had a roan horse. He went for his horse one morning, to find that he had been stolen. Great lamentions followed, but a few mornings afterward the old horse stood at the gate well-rigged out with new saddle and bridle-all complete.
" When grandfather's property was sold, after his death, a family of his slaves were exposed to sale, which, by his will, were not to be sold out of the family. That was humane in those days. Father bought a boy named Moses, and he and I were raised together. The people of those days were thrown upon their own resources. No labor-saving machinery. All came out of the ground-both eating and wearing. The men would raise cotton and flax ; the women would card, spin and weave clothing for themselves and children. They had dresses of different colors and stripes. They got their colors from indigo of their.
498
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
own raising, copperas and various kinds of blossoms. The first calico dress I ever saw father bought for my sister, then about sixteen years old. He gave a three-year-old steer for six yards, which completed the dress. I suppose if the ladies nowadays were confined to six yards for a dress, they would think it rather tight.
" Education was quite limited. Our schoolhouse was made of round logs, with a dirt floor. Split logs with legs put in served for seats. Large cracks were left to admit the light. Our books consisted of, first, a primer, then Dike's spelling book, then Dilworth's, then Webster's first edition, completed one list of spelling books. Our first reader was called a Psalter, some old English concern, then the Testament and Bible. These completed our reading books. No grammar, geography nor history was in use that I ever heard of till my education was completed. I learned to cipher as far as the rule of three, and some in fractions ; could write a tolerable hand, and was considered a fair scholar for those days. Our schoolhouse was also used for a church. When young people walked to meeting together, the girls would tie their shoes and stockings in their handkerchief, and carry them on their arm until within sight of the church, when they would put them on, and so march up in style. (We boys were spared that trouble, from the fact we had none). The girls' dress in winter was of woolen goods called linsey; in summer, cotton stripe. Boys' dress for winter was buckskin breeches and shoes-no boots. The custom was for almost every farmer to tan his own leather, and make shoes for himself and family. Our diet was hog and hominy for breakfast, vegetables for dinner, and a hearth full of roasted sweet potatoes for sup .. per. Sugar and coffee for only special occasions. Fruit abundant. Peach brandy and honey tolerably plenty ; whisky scarce. There were very few drunkards. No doctors or lawyers. I never saw either, that I know of, until I was fifteen years old.
" Soon after the war of 1812, when things had somewhat settled, my father and family with enough others to make a right smart colony, con- cluded to emigrate to some new country.
" The Territory of Indiana was the place chosen, and we landed in Lawrence County, on the East Fork of White River, October, 1815. The land was not yet in market, but was surveyed off ready to be sold. We chose our lots, and settled on them, built our cabins, and cleared a con- siderable amount of land. As the sale was to come off the next season at Jeffersonville, a dozen or more of us went down. The land was to be sold to the highest bidder. When the sale took place, a man by the name of Bulslitt, had a longer pole than ours, and ' knocked the persimmons,' sweeping the entire settlement. Not the first man saved his land or im- provements. So we marched home, feeling as if we had lost a friend. I had about eight acres cleared, surrounded by a good fence. The part of the territory where we now live did not come into market until the next season, so we concluded to make another trial. So we moved and again selected our lots .* The next sale took place at Vincennes in October, 1816. By this time we became somewhat acquainted with fever and ague. I was the only one able to attend the sale, and I took the chills while there. I purchased for nearly the entire colony-about a dozen
* This selection was in the present Richland Township, near Ellettsville, as described above.
499
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP.
lots in all. After the sale, we went that winter and built cabins on our lots, and cleared some ground. I got in about six acres of fine corn, which was our sole dependence for the year. But lo! in October there came a frost, which bit the last ear (so with the whole settlement) ! Then we were in a fix ! We had no mills to grind our corn, so we were compelled to pound it into meal. There was one hand mill in the settlement. But the corn was so soft it would neither beat nor grind, until it was kiln- dried. I made a scaffold up in the chimney and dried mine ; then I had my choice, to go a mile to the hand mill, or to pound it. Many a time I have worked hard all day, and at night taken one-half bushel of corn to the hand mill and ground it.
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