USA > Indiana > Brown County > Counties of Morgan, Monroe, and Brown, Indiana. Historical and biographical > Part 69
USA > Indiana > Monroe County > Counties of Morgan, Monroe, and Brown, Indiana. Historical and biographical > Part 69
USA > Indiana > Morgan County > Counties of Morgan, Monroe, and Brown, Indiana. Historical and biographical > Part 69
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Keokuk limestone, bluish gray with partings.
10
Total. 16
The following fossils may be found in this formation, though not in a good state of preservation : Forbeseocrinus multi-brachiatus, Dichocrinus sculptus, Actinocrinus ramulosus, plates of A. humboldti, and A. lowei. The following may also be found here : Platycirus equilateralis, Produc- tus punctatus, P. cora, Spirifer tenunstriatus, S. fastigatus, and S. neglectus. On Stephen's Creek, geodes with crystals of dog-tooth and calcareous spar may be found. Occasionally large geodized crinoids of the species Actinocrinus humboldti, A. lowei Hemi proniles crenistria- tus, Spini fercarteri, S. tenuistriatus, and some fine pentagonal Geo- doomuis indianensis occur. The township has an abundance of good stone. Traces of the more valuable minerals, such as gold, copper, etc., have been found in the township.
THE WHITE SETTLEMENT.
The first entry of land in Benton Township was made by Elisha Pol- lard on Section 34 (the northeast quarter of the southwest quarter, and the southeast quarter of the southwest quarter), on the 27th of September, 1822. The second was on Section 18 (the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter and the southwest quarter of the southwest quarter, in December, 1823, by Henry Kimble. The third was on Section 8 in Janu- ary, 1824, by Robert Young. David Barrow entered the next on Section 5 in 1830. William Florer bought on Section 8 in 1832; George Richardson on Section 21 the same year; and George Skevin on 31 the same year. In 1833, the following entries were made : Isaac W. Young on 6; Abram Young on 8; Isaac Cox on 18. In 1834, Edward Jackson on 8; Jacob Calor on 9; William Richardson on 9; David Chitwood on 10; Isaac Cox on 18; Henry Kimble on 18 and 19. Sampson Hensley bought on 19 in 1835. In 1836, the following entries were made : William Florer on Section 3; Mary Crawford on 3; Jacob Young on 3; Rufus Ward on
533
,
BENTON TOWNSHIP.
4; Charles Bates on 6; David Young and Isaac W. Young on 8; Joab Mershon, James Alexander, Hugh McClung and Pleasant Robinson on 9; David Chitwood on 10; Joshua Richardson and Adam Stevens on 15; Pleasant Robinson, Jacob Mosier and Isaac W. Young on 16 (the school section); Joab Cox on 17; Sampson Hensley on 19; Abraham Ealy on 20; Jacob Mosier on 27: William Cox on 28; Michael Bus- kirk on 30; John M. Sluss on 31; William Cox on 33; Lewis Rains and Jacob Romans on 34. In 1837, the following entries were made : John W. Riddle on Section 6; Nancy Rains on 6; Joab Cox on 7; Thomas Gardner on 9; William Richardson on 9; Abraham Young and Joshua Richardson on 16 ; James Rader and Jacob Mefford on 19; Adam Stephens on 22; John B. Cox and Adam Stephens on 28; Abraham Ealy on 29; Thomas R. Stephenson on 31; T. R. Stevenson and Mar. tin Gamble on 32; Finney Courtney on 33. In 1838, the following were the entries : Hugh McClung on Section 9; Nathan Hensley on 22; Lewis Mosier on 27 ; Jacob Romans on 34. The following were the en- tries in 1839 : Edward Jackson on Section 6; Samuel C. Harbison on 15; Adam Stephens on 15; G. H. Johnson and Isaac W. Young on 18; Nathan Hensley on 21 and 22; George Richardson on 21; William Kerr on 31; Joseph Horton on 32; Thomas Kelley and James Thomp- son on 33. These were the only entries of land prior to 1840. It is said that the Youngs were the first settlers in the township. The Coxes were in early. The principal early settlement was near the center of the township where the familles of Richardsons, Chitwoods,'Stevenses, Youngs, Robinsons, Alexanders and others resided. The settlement and im- provement were very slow. Large bodies of the land were not entered from the Government until as late as the decade of fifties.
POLL-TAX PAYERS OF 1841.
James Allen, Abraham Allen, William Alexander, James J. Alex- ander, David Banan, Joseph C. Bates, Joab Brummet, Isaac Bolting- house, Christopher Blessey, William Carr, John B. Cox, William Cox, David Chitwood, Isaac Cox, Griffith Davidson, J. J. Fulford, William Fry, Nicholas Fleener, Martin Gamble, James Graham, Madison Graham, Sampson Hensley, Edward Jackson, Hugh McClung, James Payton, B. F. Rogers, William Richardson, Joshua Richardson, George Richardson, Pleasant Robertson, Jonathan Richardson, Thomas Stephenson, Jordan Stephens, Adam Stephens, David Young, Jr., Abraham Young, Silas Young. The highest tax was paid by the following men : Abraham Allen, $4.93; William Alexander, $7; J. J. Alexander, $7; David Banan, $7; David Chitwood, $4.98; the Youngs estate, $9.90; Samp- son Hensley, $7.77; Edward Jackson, $7.82; Hugh McClung, $6.40; David Young, Jr., $5.79; Abraham Young, $5.90. The total value of township lands with improvements was $18,605, and as the township then included Marion, those figures, of course, included the latter. The total tax for the two townships was $299.74. The county tax was $109.18; the State tax, $190.56; total amount of taxables was $32,519 for both townships.
SCHOOLS.
The first school in Benton Township was taught near the residence of
534
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
.
Hugh McClung about the year 1838. The second was in the southern part, and the third near what is now Unionville. The first school above named was attended by the children of the Coxes, Richardsons, Robin- sons, Youngs, Mosiers, McClungs, Alexanders and others, and was a famous school, considering the sparsely settled condition of the township. In 1846, there were two school districts in the township. No. 1 had an enumeration of 114, but during the winter of 1846-47, the average daily attendance was only twenty-five. No. 2 enumerated ninety-four, and the same winter had an average daily attendance of only twenty-four. The term in No. 1 was three months, and in No. 2 five months. In No. 1 the teacher was paid $10 per month, and in No. 2 $7.412. At this time Jacob Mosier, David Chitwood and Hugh McClung were Township Trustees. In 1856, there were in the township five log schoolhouses on Sections 8, 10, 28, 30 and 33. The following families sent to the house on Section 8-Youngs, Petersons, Williamses, Coxes, Richardsons, McCoys et al. On Section 10-the Chitwoods, Wests, Robinsons, Fleeners, Brocks, Watsons, Hoggs, McCoys, Robins, Alexanders, Ste- venses et al. Section 28-Davidsons, Griffins, Hashes, Coxes, Chitwoods, Courtneys, Campbells, Baltinghouses, Mosiers, Ashers, Colemans et al. Section 30-the Walches, Buskirks, Fares, Skirvins, Gallions, Coxes, Gambles, Hortons, Kimbles et al. Section 33-the Pauleys, Taylors, Hendricksons, Jacksons, Barrowses, Coleburns, Houstons et al.
TEACHERS OF 1880-81.
Number of District.
Actual Enrollment.
Kind and Size of Houses.
David Barrow
1
28
Frame, 20x22 feet.
Kittie May.
*2
25
Frame, 22x26 feet.
William Parks.
3
31
Frame, 22x28 feet.
Florence Miller
4
37
Frame, 20x22 feet.
Sarah Anderson
5
34
Frame, 22x24 feet.
Spurgeon Barrow
6
38
Frame, 22x28 feet.
William Barnbill
7-
39
Frame, 22x26 feet.
W. H. East
8
40
Frame, 20x22 feet.
RELIGIOUS CLASSES.
As early as 1834, and very likely several years before, a Baptist class was formed near the residence of Lewis Stevens. The class was styled " Little Union." It was noted in early years for its activity. Lewis Stevens, James Brummet, David Barrow, William McCoy, John Cott and their families were the earliest members. The first meetings were held at the house of James Brummet. Thomas Rader, William Richard- son and their families and many others also belonged early. The Church of Christ, on Young's Ridge, was formed during the forties. James J. Alexander, James Alexander, Joseph Rader, Daniel Thomas, Samuel Smith and their families were prominent and early members. In 1851, Lot 24, in Unionville, was purchased of Henry F. Garlick, for $12, and preparations were immediately made to build the church. Joseph Davis was the carpenter, and finished the building-a frame structure-in about July, 1851. Another early class was the Fryes' Church, the leading members being the families of T. Y. Rader, B. S. Robins, George W. Frye, John C. Frye, William Gladden and others. Rev. Robert Har- mon was pastor in about 1857.
.
535
BENTON TOWNSHIP.
UNIONVILLE.
This is the only village in Benton township. It is likely that J. J. Alexander was the first merchant; at any rate he opened a store of gen- eral merchandise, worth about $900, in the year 1836, and soon had a flourishing trade. He continued in the business many years. Late in the forties, James Carter engaged in business in the village, continuing for several years. About the same time C. C. Fleener also opened a general store. In about 1852, F. R. Miller engaged in the mercantile pursuit. Thus the business went on, usually one or two mercantile establishments present. A blacksmith shop, a post office, a carpenter or two, a dozen families, a doggery, etc., make up the sum and substance of Unionville.
THE COX TRAGEDY.
One of the most startling occurrences ever within the limits of Benton Township was the butchering of a family of John B. Cox, in September 1861. The neighbors found, one forenoon, that an awful crime had been committed. Those earliest on the premises found Mr. Cox unconscious on his porch from the loss of blood, with several severe cuts and bruises about his head and neck. Within the house a ghastly scene was presented : Mrs. Cox lay dead upon the bed, with her throat cut from ear to ear. Upon an- other bed near lay a girl about ten years old, with her throat horribly mangled, though she was still breathing and alive, though unconscious. On the floor near this bed was a younger girl, dead, with her head half severed from her body. The trundle-bed held two children, a smaller girl severely cut about the neck, though not mortally, and alive, though par- tially unconscious, and also a boy, not a member of the family, about ten years old, severely cut, though alive, but helpless from the loss of blood. He was. considerably scratched and bruised, and seemed to have struggled desperately with his assailant, as the bedding was torn and scattered. The youngest child, a mere baby, was found unhurt. An enormous crowd gathered within the space of a few hours to view the horrible sight. Mr. Cox had some trouble with several of his neighbors, who were immediately arrested and taken to Bloomington for safe-keeping. The dead and wounded were conveyed to the residence of William Cox, near by. Mr. Cox, as soon as conscious, was questioned and stated that several men at- tacked the family during the previous night, knocked him senseless, after which he knew nothing until the next morning, when by shouts he aroused his neighbors. The men charged with the crime were tried and acquitted. Several from the first had insisted that Mr. Cox, the head of the family, had himself committed the deed in a moment of insanity, with which he was at times afflicted. This case terminated with this view.
536
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
SALT CREEK TOWNSHIP.
THE SALT WORKS.
T THE creek by the above name took its designation from the numerous salt springs along its course. These were discovered at an early day from the great resort made of them by deer which came to drink. They became famous deer-licks, where, as long as those animals were found in the county in any abundance, they could be killed by the hunters, and were so killed. Some of the salty localities gave evidence of such strength that it was resolved to evaporate the water, and thus begin the business of manufacturing salt. If it is remembered that at that time salt was a scarce and costly article in the woods, made so by the great distance where it was prepared and barreled, and by the great cost of transportation, the value of an excellent well will be readily under- stood. It is not necessary to inform old settlers of the commercial value of good salt works within from one to fifteen miles of their doors. As early as 1822 or 1823, Henry Wampler, Thomas Literal and several others bored down on Section 12, Township 8 north, Range 1 east, and found an adundance of excellent brine. They erected "shanties," pro- cured several large iron kettles, and began the work. They received a wide patronage from the start and increased their capacity by the addition of more kettles and men to do the work. The works were conducted for a period of years, and it is said that more than 800 bushels of excellent salt were manufactured in one year. Exact figures cannot be given. The travel to the works became so great at the start, even, that the owners and others petitioned the County Board in 1823 to construct a road from the county seat to the works, which was accordingly done. In after years other wells were sunk in the township, one being near the iron bridge, across Salt Creek. This early manufacture of salt was before the settle- ment of the township. In 1825, the township received a separate exist- ence, and was named from the works which rendered the locality famous, and from the creek which coursed its way from north to south across its surface.
NATURAL FEATURES.
There is much good soil in the township, though scattered and in small tracts. The lower lands and the slopes are the best for agriculture. Hillsides are found rich and usually pay for cultivation. The tendency is to seed the higher lands down or permit them to retain their natural covering of timber, while the lower tracts are annually cultivated and made to sustain a population of moderate density. Good springs of hard water abound. In the western part are a series of sulphur springs, which possess no little merit for sanitary or medicinal purposes. It is probable, however, that they would not pay to be fitted up for the reception and care of invalids. Salt Creek is the main artery for the conveyance of the waters which sustain the vegetation of the township. Small branches
537
SALT CREEK TOWNSHIP.
extend outward from it at angles like the limbs and twigs of a tree. An abundance of good stone can be obtained by a reasonable amount of labor. Lime is manufactured to some extent, and brick and tile can be had at several locations.
LAND ENTRIES.
On the 9th of September, 1817, Moses Williams bought 160 acres on Section 7, and this was the first purchase in Salt Creek Township. Lowe and Lee bought 120 acres on Section 10, in 1818. On the 2d of August, 1820, Elisha Pollard entered two quarters on Section 18, and during the same year Moses Williams entered another tract on Section 22, and John Huff on the same section. Williams also bought on Sec- tion 12, in 1821 and 1824. The following year Henry Wampler bought two tracts, one on Section 23, and the other on Section 27. John Huff also this year purchased a piece on the latter section, and Elisha Pollard on Section 6. James Matlock secured the next tract on Section 27, in 1822. John W. Lee bought on Section 11, in 1824, and J. O. Howe on Section 12, in 1826. J. O. Howe, Sr., bought 80 acres on Section 2, in 1824, and John Barnes on Section 10, in 1828. These were the only entries before the decade of thirties. Alexander Owens bought on Sec- tion 10, in 1832. In 1832, William Boruff entered a piece on Section 31, and Jacob Stephens on Section 2 the following year. John Stephens bought a piece the latter year on Section 3. The following entries were made in 1836: Samuel Smith on Section 3; Finney Courtney on Sec- tion 4; Henderson Myers on Section 4; Ambrose Miller, Aquilla Rogers and William Martin on Section 6; John McKissock on Section 7; An- drew Harshberger on Section 8; J. O. Howe on Section 11; Edward Walker and John Huff on Section 15; Jonathan Huntington on Section 17; George Johnson on Section 18; Thomas Ferguson on Section 19; Archibald Wilson on Section 21; Reuben Clark on Section 27; Samuel McCalla and George Johnson on Section 28; Thomas Ferguson and William Taylor on Section 30, the latter buying 125 acres ; Michael Wampler and David Killough on Section 31; James Wakefield on Sec- tion 32, and Archibald Wilson, Daniel Butcher and Aaron M. Wilson on Section 34. The following entries were made in 1837: W. W. Dun- can on Section 4; W. D. Maxwell, Section 4; Garret Moore, Section 7; Isaac Bolinghouse, Section 9; Edward Walker, Section 15; Alexander Miller, same ; John Cherry, same ; John Armstrong, same; Michael Wampler, Section 31; James Wakefield, Section 31. In 1838, the follow- lowing entries were made: Charles M. Cunningham, Section 6; Samuel Curry, Section 7 ; Daniel McCaughan, Daniel Kilpatrick and James Gordon, Section 8; John Barnes, Section 10; Hamilton Gray, Section 21. In 1839, the following were the entries: Lankston Brummet, Section 4 ; Alexander Kerr, Section 6 ; Samuel Latimer, Section 8; Jonathan Hunt- ington, Section 9; William Cabot, Section 17; George Johnson, Section 28 ; David Johnson, Section 28; John Campbell, Section 31; John Lucas, Section 33, and the same on Section 34. The above were the only entries of land in Salt Creek Township previous to the year 1840.
POLL-TAX PAYERS OF 1841.
Gabriel Anes owned land on Section 3, but was delinquent. Lankston
538
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
Brummet lived on Section 4, and paid a tax of $3.02 on $230 worth of personal property and $150 worth of real estate. James Chandler, who owned no land, paid a poll tax. James Fleener lived on Section 18, but was delinquent. George Johnson also lived on Section 18; his tax was $2.44. John Hansan, William Helton and Samuel Harbison paid poll tax. John Lucas and Samuel Latimore were assessed poll tax. James Smith lived on Section 27, John Stephenson Section 3, and Samuel Smith on Section 3. Their tax was $2.90, $3.60 and $3.26, respectively. Jonathan Sherrill owned 80 acres on Section 31, and was taxed $2.30. Michael Wampler and J. W. Wakefield were residents, but were delin- quent. Bartlett Woodward owned 80 acres on Section 34, and was taxed $3.18. This old settler was one of the first County Commissioners.
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
No schools were taught in Salt Creek Township until late in the thirties, at which time two started into being about the same time-one near the Boles farm or the Butcher farm, in the southern part, and the other a little north of the center. Both were log houses, and were used only temporarily for school purposes. In 1843, there were two school- houses, and a portion of the school section (No. 16) had been sold to in- crease the funds to pay the teachers and to keep up the houses. By 1846, two hundred and twenty acres had been sold for $505, but only $126.25 had been realized in cash. In 1856, there were three good schoolhouses and two temporary concerns. One of the good houses stood on Section 15, another on Section 19, and the third on Section 34. The schools, then, at best, were very inferior. Later years have brought a great im- provement, but serious errors have crept in that should be corrected. Pupils have become parrots, not thinking, reasoning beings. The sys- tem of public school education requires summary correction and revision. Enormous sums are annually expended on the public schools, hand- some buildings are erected, and the system is the pride of every citizen. But in a measure the system is a failure. The public schools are the womb of the intellectual life of this nation, and an immense responsibility devolves upon our educators. Their first duty is to teach the children to think; do they ? Mere memorizing is only a mental gymnastic. If the literal form is forgotten, the idea vanishes and the learner is left hopelessly ignorant. The teachers should strictly forbid the pupil to repeat, parrot- like, the words of the book, and insist that the ideas gained therefrom be clothed in different language. Let our education be practical, is the cry. By all means; but it does not go far enough. "Readin', writin' and cipherin' " are not knowledge, but simply its instruments.
The boy who leaves the public schools knowing no more than that- and even geography and a little history-is as barren as to his ideas, is as completely shut out of the intellectual world as though he had never made an attempt to enter it. The great majority of pupils leave school at the age of fifteen. Their chief literary condiments are the flashy story papers and works of fiction belonging to the diseased, sensational type. If they have ever heard of Shakspeare, Addison, Tennyson, Longfellow and the host of great literati, they are not indebted to the public schools for the information. To be sure, there is a school reader; but the read-
539
SALT CREEK TOWNSHIP.
ing hour is devoted almost entirely to the intonation of the voice, and not in elucidating the sense of the matter. Let the memory be exercised, by all means, not in memorizing text-books, but in gleaning from the death- less productions of the past and the great works of to-day. We repeat that to teach a child to think is the object of school education.
In a year the pupil will acquire a host of choice, pregnant sayings, that are couched in language so pure and elegant that they cannot but re act upon and unconsciously shape his own. This is eminently practical, and, even it were not, it is not all of life to hoard the almighty dollar. If the teachers can, by short conversations and quotations from standard authors, succeed in interesting their pupils and thereby send them to the works themselves, they will confer an incalculable boon upon those who are sacredly put in their charge and do much in solving a vital question. Only then will the evil of trashy literature be forever laid at rest. A child cannot be forced into solid reading. He must be tempted to it. The taste comes slowly, but when once acquired is a mine of wealth, exhaust- less through life, and what is more, is the road to happiness and content. That school or college which seeks the natural bent of the child places him under the refining influences of the best writers, and which shapes his thoughts according to the best thinkers of the world has succeeded; but that school or college which sends a pupil from its doors with his mental tastes undeveloped, and his vocation undiscovered (this too frequently hap- pens in the largest universities of the land), has failed and failed lamenta- bly. It will not do to say that the acquisition of these tastes must be left to high schools. Comparatively few of the school children go there. School life is the smallest part of an education, and the duty of the educa- tors is to put the pupil on the right road, which he will afterward pursue for himself.
What is so practical as science ? The rudiments of physical geography, chemistry, physics, geology and botany are now published by leading scientists, and in a form so lucid that a child of ten can understand them. And yet if a man asked the question in the public schools of this town- ship, " On what principle is it that water is drawn from the bottom of the well by a pump ?" probably out of a hundred who have used the pump- handle one could answer the question. Concerning the most elementary principles of science the body of "practical " men are densely ignorant. Also another branch of study-one of transcendent importance-is com- pletely neglected. It is political economy. By our Constitution univer- sal suffrage prevails, and the schoolboy of to-day is the voter of to-morrow. Politics is the theme of the boy as well as the man. Yet glaring com- mercial and financial fallacies gain currency in politics, which a child with a knowledge of the fundamental principles of the science could refute. A half hour every other day in the public schools devoted to the study of Prof. Jevou's primer, Mrs. Fawcett's excellent little work or any other good book, would be a splendid assurance of safe legislation for the future. In these respects, then, our public schools can be improved. Ideas should be gotten from text-books and not words. The study of science, political economy and our Constitution should be introduced, and could be without increased expenditure. They are greatly needed and eminently practical. We do not attach much importance to the protest against impracticability.
34
540
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
If one thing more than another characterizes an American, it is the desire to secure to his children the advantages denied to himself. A great many things go to make up an education, and we do not believe that we are get- ting our money's worth to-day.
TEACHERS OF 1880-81.
Number of District.
Attendance.
Kind and Size of House.
Aggie Anderson
1
42
Frame, 22x26 feet.
Betta Bodkin.
2
38
Jennie Snodgrass
3
33
Frame, 20x26 feet. Frame.
Aggie Anderson
4
35
Eliza Strain.
5
30
Log,
18x20 feet.
Alice Rogers
6
39
Log,
18x18 feet ..
C. W. Smith.
7
33
CHURCHES.
In 1851, a class of the Christian Church was organized in Salt Creek Township. The first meetings were held at the residence of Elizabeth Wampler. In 1854, arrangements were made to build a church on Moore's Creek, the funds being raised by subscription. Among the early members were the families of Mrs. Wampler, William Baxter, William Shields, John Lucas, Troylus Mize and others. The membership at the time the building was erected was about thirty. This was the leading religious society of the township in early years. Several others started into life in schoolhouses, but were short lived. Later years have seen the erection of other churches.
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