USA > Indiana > Pulaski County > Counties of White and Pulaski, Indiana. Historical and biographical > Part 18
USA > Indiana > White County > Counties of White and Pulaski, Indiana. Historical and biographical > Part 18
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The Baptist society at Monon was organized about 1874, with a membership of about thirty. Among the early members were the follow- ing : Theodore Hilderbrand and wife, John W. Miller and wife, John W. Cox and wife; Lewis Mccrary was the first pastor. Following are the names of the ministers who followed McCrary, in the order of their suc- cession, as nearly as could be ascertained : J. H. Dunlap, D. J. Huston, D. S. French, R. B. Craig, A. H. Dooley and Lewis McCrary. They have no pastor at the present time, nor have not had since March, 1882. Their church was built in the spring and summer of 1870, and dedicated in the fall of the same year. The building cost about $1,500.
The M. E. Church society was re-organized about 1861. There had been an organization a good many years prior to that time, but somehow it had been permitted to lapse into nonentity, and there does not seem to be any one who can now give any further account of the former organiza- tion, than merely to state that there once was one. John L. Royal was pastor at the time of the second organization, and William H. Gibson and wife, John D. Moore and wife, Mrs. Theresa Duvall. Mrs. Susan
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HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY.
Hebner, William Shackleford and wife were among the early members, of whom there were about fifteen in all. William Shackleford was the first class-leader. Following is a list of the names of the ministers who have officiated as pastors of this church, as well as of the other churches in the same circuit : John L. Boyd, Joseph Budd, Cole Brown, George Guild, Henry Fraley, George Mellender, William F. Jones, J. M. Chaffin, Hart, H. M. Middleton, John B. Smith, Herman B. Ball, Will- iam Campbell, George Guild, John E. Newhouse, Robert H. Calvert, Whitfield Hall, and J. I. McCoy, the present incumbent. William Campbell died during his pastorate, and George Guild was appointed to serve during the unexpired portion of the year. During the summer of 1882, they built a very neat church, of moderate size, costing about $1,500. The parsonage, which was purchased about 1868, at a cost of $600, is a small one-story frame building, and is adjacent to the church. Monon M. E. Chapel, about three miles northeast of Monon, was built about 1871, at a cost of about $1,400. A few of the early members of this church were John D. Moore and wife, Luther Lucas and wife, William Brannan and wife, and John Brannan and wife. This society was first organized about the time of the re-organization of the M. E. Church at Monon, as before stated. This church being in the same cir- cuit with the church at Monon, was served by the same pastors. What is known as the Monon Circuit is constituted of the following churches : Monon, Monon Chapel, Francesville, and Hanging Grove. There are divine services at Monon each Sabbath, and at the other points in the circuit every two weeks.
Secret Society .- Monon Lodge, No. 524, I. O. O. F., was in- stituted at Monon, on the 3d of February, 1876, with the following char- ter members : W. H. Shackleford, N. G .; Alfred Ball, V. G .; P. L. Jennings, Sec. ; J. M. Jost, Treas. ; and J. A. Pearson. On the same night that the lodge was instituted, the following persons were initiated : Robert Brown, S. M. Ward, J. C. Ward and Samuel Ball. At the present time the lodge has a membership of sixty. Officers at the pres- ent time : W. C. Byers, N. G .; W. B. Orr, V. G .; R. Drake, Sec .; H. C. Blakely, Treas. ; C. M. Homer, R. L. Smoker and Alfred Ball, Trust- ees ; Edi W. Cowger, D. D. G. M. Regular meetings every Saturday night.
Miscellaneous Items .- In 1880, there were 260 voters in the town- ship, and it is estimated that there are at present about 340.
About one-half the township is prairie, and the balance timbered or upland. The soil is quite productive, and the water pure and wholesome. There are, in the township, fifteen miles of railroad, which is valued, for purposes of taxation, at $100,000. The tax levied on the railroad com-
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MONON TOWNSHIP.
panies, on account of their property situate in this township for the pres- ent year, and which will be payable in 1883, is $625. It will thus be seen that not only are railroads useful in the way of furnishing a cheap, rapid and comfortable mode of traveling, and, likewise, facilities for the shipment of freights, which could not be otherwise moved, but they are also large contributors to the public revenues, whereby valuable internal improvements are made. But the greatest of all the advantages result- ing from the introduction of railroads into a country is the enhancement of the value of property, both real and personal.
In 1879, the value of the lands in Monon Township, as shown by the Assessor's report, was $351,835 ; value of improvements, $86,725 ; value of personal property, $81,344. Number of domestic animals- horses, 430 ; mules, 36 ; cattle, 2,436 ; sheep, 1,043 ; logs, 828. Agri- cultural products-bushels of wheat, 10,685; bushels of corn, 51,875 ; bushels of rye, 775; bushels of oats, 11,332; bushels of potatoes, 2,202; tons of hay, 1,441; acres of wheat, 954; acres of corn, 2,177 ; acres of oats, 577.
E. G. Egbert & Co., a recent accession to the town of Monon, from the State of Illinois, contemplate establishing a brick and tile factory at Monon in the spring of 1883. The consummation of this project is pretty well assured. When this is done, it will mark a new era in the development of the resources of this township, as there is a large extent of territory in the township, especially in the southwest portion of it, that can then be more perfectly drained that has heretofore been possible, owing to the fact that there was no means of obtaining tiles except by shipping them from elsewhere, at great cost. There have already been a goodly number of open ditches dug, but these only partially drain the land. To bring it into a perfect state of cultivation, some sort of sub- sidiary ditches, either of tile or timbers, are indispensable.
Monon Township is growing in population at a very rapid rate. A. K. Sills and Turpie Bros., land agents at Monon, are selling a great deal of land to parties who design settling in the township. The influx of population is principally from Ohio and Illinois.
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HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY.
CHAPTER IX.
BY M. F. MATTHEWS.
BIG CREEK TOWNSHIP-CREATION AND EARLY OFFICERS-THE FIRST COURT HOUSE-INDIAN SCARE DURING THE BLACK HAWK WAR- FIRST BIRTH, MARRIAGE AND DEATH-INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS- TEACHERS AND PREACHERS.
A SEMI-CENTURY almost has elapsed since what is now known as Big Creek Township was created out of a portion of the territory composing White County. Backward eight and forty years, or to the 19th of July, 1834, and at a special session of the Commissioners' Court in that midsummer month, it was ordered that Congressional Town- ship 20, in White County, and all the territory attached thereto, be and the same is hereby to be known and designated as Big Creek Township. This township derived its name from a winding stream of the same name that finds its way from northwest to southeast through the township, and is near the geographical center of the same, in its general direction. The township, as it originally existed, contained ninety-seven and a half square miles, or 62,200 acres, and had the following boundaries : North by Union, Princeton and Honey Creek Townships ; east by Union Town- ship and Carroll County ; south, Prairie Township; and west by Benton County. Big Creek Township remained thus constituted until its first boundary line was broken and its extensive area divided in 1845, when West Point Township was created out of a territory originally forming a greater part. The township under consideration is latterly bounded on the north by Honey Creek and Union Townships ; east by Union Town- ship and Carroll County ; south by Prairie Township ; and west by West Peint Township.
It was further ordered by the Board of Commissioners, that the house of George A. Spencer be the place of holding elections in Big Creek Township for the first year, and James Len was appointed Inspector of said elections for the same time. Benjamin N. Spencer was appointed Supervisor of Roads; George A. Spencer and Armstrong Buchanan, Overseers of the Poor, and Benjamin Reynolds and Henry Barcum, Fence Viewers for the first year.
The First Settlers .- A man named Joseph H. Thompson * was the first white settler in White County. He came to Big Creek Township
* In the chapter on general county matters (Chapter I) will be found an account of elections, etc., held in the county before its organization. The account was obtained from the records at Delphi, the county having been attached to Carroll before it had a separate organization.
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BIG CREEK TOWNSHIP.
early in 1829, five years before the county was organized, built a log cabin, and endeavored to make himself and family comfortable.
The year 1829 designates the time when, from within the limits of Perry County, Ohio, started two men, George A. Spencer and Benjamin Reynolds, and after a long and tiresome journey (farther than a Sabbath Day's journey) and wandering they finally came to an extended halt in Big Creek Township. These, among the first white men in the town- ship, walked all the way from the State of buckeye notoriety-traveling in the day time and shooting such game as they would want for food, and sleeping at night with an old-fashioned carpet bag for a pillow, and a single blanket for a protection to them against the chilly autumnal nights of 1829. As previously stated, these men were among the first of the Caucasian race in Prairie Township, and they were also among the first to begin a settlement. Soon after they arrived, they began cutting logs for their cabin. After a site had been selected for the humble domicile, and the same barely commenced, Mr. Spencer left its completion in the hands of Mr. Reynolds, while he himself set out for the home of his nativity, with an understanding with Mr. Reynolds that he (Reynolds) should have the cabin completed and ready for occupancy by the time that he (Spen- cer) could remove the families from their first home to the new one pre- paring for them in the far West. Winter was already hard at hand be- fore Mr. Spencer left the newly-begun settlement, and it was not until near midwinter when he again reached the Ohio home, but no sooner had he arrived there than arrangements were begun to emigrate in the early spring to Big Creek Township, or the territory that now composes that township. Arrangements were found to be complete on the 1st day of June, 1830, when Mr. Spencer and family, James Spencer and family and the family of Mr. Reynolds commenced this onward yet westward march, and arrived in Big Creek Township on the 20th of the month in which they started, being twenty days on the road. The three two-horse wagons, the temporary supplies in one of them, the families in another, and tools and new country agricultural implements in the third, are some of the remembered things in the make up of that 1830 emigrant train that found its crooked way into the new Hoosier country, where it dis- covered on that June day, as the sun was fast lowering in the West and the darkness of the night nearing, the completed log cabin that was to these new-comers a mansion of shelter and protection during the summer of 1830. This Spencer-Reynolds round log cabin was twelve feet square and rudely constructed, and was located in Section 13 on a well- sized hill. In this cabin lived these three families during the sum- mer and fall, or until late in November, when Mr. Reynolds had erected a cabin in Section 13, as had also the two Mr. Spencers in Section 12.
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HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY.
The above mentioned families (fifteen persons in number), who had lived harmoniously together for several months, had now better and more com- fortable homes, and the first hut in the township was considered of no im- portance and was soon thrown down. George A. Spencer's house was the first of the three that was completed, and hence became the first house in the township. The one erected by Benjamin Reynolds, and also the one built by James Spencer were completed soon after George A. Spen- cer's was finished. The first house is yet standing, mention of which will be made on another page of the history of Big Creek Township.
In 1831, John Burns came into the township and began settlement cn Section 30. Mr. Burns removed from Ohio. In this same year (1831), came Samuel Gray, John Roberts, Stephen Bunnell, Nathaniel Bunnell, Sr., Barzilla Bunnell, Nathaniel Bunnell, Jr. In 1832, Benjamin Spen- cer moved into the settlement from Ohio, and in 1833 Thomas Spencer came into the township from the same State, and the same year came Thomas Bunnell, from the same place ; and William M. Kenton also be- gan settlement in the township in this year, and came also from Ohio; this same year (1833) Isaac Beeze and family came from Ohio. This family, which consisted of Mr. Beeze and wife and six children, came all the way from Perry County, Ohio, on horseback. Mr. Beeze had two horses and the larger members of the family took turn about riding. It was late in the fall when the Beeze family arrived at the house of George A. Spen- cer, and here it remained until Mr. Spencer could erect a cabin on his land for it to occupy. On the Spencer farm, this family lived for a number of years and Mr. Beeze worked for Mr. Spencer. James Barnes came in 1835, and in 1836 William and Nimrod Worden moved into the settle- ment. The whole number of families in the township in 1840 was about fifteen, and numbered about sixty persons.
Elections .- At an election held in Big Creek Township, at the house of George A. Spencer, on the first Monly in November, 1836, the following men voted : Nathaniel Bunnell, Sr., Joseph H. Thompson, Thomas Donovan, John Luse, Jesse Grooins, William Carr, Benjamin Reynolds, Thomas Bunnell, James Shafer, Joseph Phillips, George A. Spencer, Isaac Davis, Ellis H. Johnson, John W. Bunnell, Daniel Lane, Nathaniel Bunnell, Jr., B. Bunnell and Armstrong Buchanan ; George A. Spencer and Joseph Phillips, Clerks ; Nathaniel Bunnell, Isaac Davis and John Bunnell, Judges. At an election held at the same place two years later, the following men deposited their ballots : Thomas Dawson, John C. Suffers, Nathaniel Bunnell, Thomas Bunnell, Stephen Bunnell, Joseph Phillips, John Brady, Benjamin Reynolds, James Kerr, George A. Spencer, Joseph H. Thompson, Abraham Boltintrouse, Simon Kenton, John Reynolds and Jacob Harvey.
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BIG CREEK TOWNSHIP.
Land Entries .- The following are found among those who first en- tered land in Big Creek Township : George A. Spencer, eighty acres in Section 12, January 27, 1830; John Bostick, eighty acres in Section 12, October 15, 1830; Joseph H. Graham, eighty acres in Section 8, November 15, 1830; Daniel Baum, eighty acres in Section 8, November 3, 1830 ; John Stockton,.eighty acres in Section 7, November 20, 1830 ; Jeremiah Bisher, eighty acres in Section 9, November 20, 1830; Mahlon Frazer, eighty acres in Section 9, November 2, 1830 ; John Russ, forty- eight acres in Section 9, November 2, 1830; Robert Newel, eighty acres in Section 18, November 2, 1830; John Miller, eighty acres in Section 19, November 2, 1830; Joseph H. Thompson, eighty acres in Section 25, December 19, 1829; James Kerr, eighty acres in Section 24, No- vember 2, 1830 ; Thomas Bunnell, eighty acres in Section 1, December 23, 1334; Benjamin Reynolds, 40 acres in Section 1, December 23, 1834; Nathaniel Bunnell, eighty acres in Section 2, December 10, 1833 ; William L. Lyman, eighty acres in Section 5, October 9, 1834; Zebulon Sheets, forty-seven acres in Section 6, November 11, 1834; Stephen Bunnell, forty acres in Section 14, December 10, 1833; J. C. Kilgore, forty acres in Section 24, May 18, 1835 ; John Furgerson, forty acres in Section 25, March 7, 1833.
Spencer House-the second or third in the township (previously men- tioned)-was a hewed-log one, 16x20 feet, erected in 1830 on Section 12, by George A. Spencer. This house is still standing, and most of the logs, though placed in position fifty-three years ago, are as sound as if it were but yesterday that they were taken from the forest. In 1831, there were two additions attached to the original building, and a few years later this same part was weather-boarded, and this is the reason, no doubt, that it is in such a good state of preservation. Mr. Spencer set out the first or- chard in Big Creek Township. The first lot of trees was planted in the spring of 1834, and two of those trees are yet remaining, and either of them is thirty inches in diameter. A ten minutes' ride on horseback from the present residence of Calvin C. Spencer (one of the pioneers of the township) will bring you to the site of the old historical Spencer House. This structure of the long-ago, was, in early times, a welcome mansion to many a lone and weary Tippecanoe Indian, a home to all new-comers, and a place of rest and refreshment to all those of whatsoever color or tongue that needed rest. Though this house was the second or third in the township, though it was one of freedom and much welcome to whomsoever would ask admittance at its threshold, it has a more extended history, for here it was that the first Circuit Court in White County was held. In this cabin the White County Circuit Court was held for two years. The first term of court was commenced on the 13th day of October, 1834. At this bar,
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HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY.
a number of the most prominent lawyers of those times practiced, and on this bench some of the best jurists at that day sat. Among those who dealt out justice at this bar may be mentioned the names of Rufus Lock- wood, John U. Petitt, Albert S. White, Samuel Huff, Ira Ingraham, James Lane, Mr. Finch and a few others. The lawyers all boarded in the cabin court house, and Mrs. Spencer did the. cooking for the "loose- tongued" gentlemen while Mr. S. cared for the lawyers' horses and spent the remainder of his time in keeping the " boys " straight. Mr. Spencer was a strict temperance man, and always clung to the fittest things of life, and as a natural consequence, he would not allow profane swearing in his house. A large oak tree stood about ten rods distant from the house, and it is said that Mr. S. would not allow any swearing between that tree and the cabin.
Some time had elapsed before the " naughty " lawyers could prevail on Mr. Spencer to promise to get them something "to take," but finally the old gentleman brought home a keg of the best old Kentucky whisky that could be found, and that night the cabin of justice was changed into a house of a " down right good time," and all seemed to feel as if the old Hoosier State had gone Democratic for the Democrats, or Whig for the Whigs. Some of the law dealers, ere the morning dawned, became " too full " for utterance. Kicking one another out of bed and various other tricks were indulged in by the whiskied legal lights that night. This was the first and last strong-drink-picnic ever given at the Spencer House. Mrs. Spencer (commonly known as Aunt Sally) was an unusually good cook, and what time the lawyers were not engaged in the court room, or playing ball, they were found bragging on Aunt Sally's cooking. The first law suit in the county was held in this cabin, and was the State of Indiana vs. Jeremiah Bisher. The facts are as follows : The grand jury found an indictment against Bisher for catching a horse which belonged to John Roberts, that had come on his (Bisher's) premises, and tying a clapboard to the animal's tail and setting it at liberty. The case was decided in favor of the State.
Indians, and Black Hawk War .- The Tippecanoe Indians at one time roamed at will through the forests of Big Creek Township, but in no case did they ever become hostile toward the first settlers of the township. During the Black Hawk rage in Illinois in 1832, the settlers in the township imagined that they (the Indians) were preparing to move against them, and a general massacre seemed imminent ; the excitement ran high, and in a few hours every member of the settlement was warned of the approaching foe. No time was lost, and soon all the early settlers were collected, and as one body they made all possible haste to John Barr's, on Spring Creek, in Prairie Township. Here a rude fort was
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BIG CREEK TOWNSHIP.
hastily built of logs and such things as could be obtained. Sentinels stood guard by night and day. In this fort, the twelve or thirteen families remained for several days and nights, with scarcely anything to eat or drink. The bloody-eyed wretches did not come, and the settlers returned to their homes, and concluded that it was only a scare.
Ague .- For quite a of number of years, in the first settling of Big Creek Township, the ague seemed to be the greatest " draw-back " to the new country. Everybody (two exceptions) in the township had the ague, had it regularly and severely. The scourge would commence generally in July, and continue until mid-winter, and in some instances the plague would last all winter. The "shakes" of 1833 were so great that the chills of 1883 do not compare with them at all. The people in those days made regular and extensive preparations for the disease. On the days when the chills were expected, a huge fire would be made in the not small fire-place, and the victim, or victims, wrapped in bed-clothing, would array themselves before the great log-heap fire, and try the unac- complishable task of thawing the ague. The disease was in the water, air, and in fact it seemed present everywhere. The patients were doc- tored by giving them all the known remedies. Boneset was freely used. After the first ten years, the pest began to loosen its grip, and finally it was almost unknown. Those who escaped the ague were Calvin C. Spencer and an African boy that had been brought into the settlement. Robert Newell, who came into the township in 1831, was the first Pro- bate Judge of White County. Mr. Newell would attend court bare- footed. George A. Spencer was the first Justice of the Peace in Big Creek Township, and during his lifetime he served in that capacity for thirty years.
Early Difficulties .- In the first days of Big Creek Township the in- habitants were compelled to go to Lafayette or Delphi for a physician, and to the same places to have their milling done, while they would have to haul their grain and produce to Chicago and Michigan City. This state of affairs existed until 1840, when the Wabash and Erie Canal was completed to Lafayette.
First Birth .- Isaac Reynolds, who was born in 1831, is the first white child born in the township.
First Marriage .- The first contract of this kind in the township was made by George Bartley and McColloch.
First Death .- A man by the name of Donavan was the first white per- son who died in the township. The remains were interred in what was known as the Kenton Burying-ground.
First Hotel .- George A. Spencer kept the first hotel in the township. This was the famous residence, court house and hotel of Section 12.
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HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY.
Internal Improvements .- The township has one iron bridge, across Big Creek, just north of the residence of John Burns. This bridge was erected in 1872, by the King Bridge Company, of Ohio. This improvement is 100 feet long, and was built at an estimated cost of $2,000. The township has two gravel roads in process of construction. These roads are being constructed according to the Gravel Road Act of 1880. At the completion of these roads, the township will have about twelve miles of this kind of highway. A. R. Orton is General Super- intendent of the above-mentioned roads. The New Albany & Chicago Railway was completed through the township in 1853. This railroad extends through the township from north to south. Since its completion, the value of land in the township has greatly increased, and it has placed a market within the reach of every agricultural industry in the township.
Wheeler .- Wheeler is a flag station in the northern part of the town- ship, on the New Albany & Chicago Railroad. Charles D. Finney started the first store at Wheeler about a year and a half ago. The stock consisted of dry goods and groceries. Mr. Finney is
still carrying on the enterprise. The place has a post office, Smithson, which was established in 1880, and Charles D. Finney was the first Postmaster. There is also at this place an extensive tile factory, which was established in 1879 by Hiram Wheeler. These interests, with a blacksmith shop, make up the business enterprises of the station of Wheeler. Mr. W. has, perhaps, the finest residence in the township.
Early Preachers .- The first ministers in Big Creek Township were Rev. Wood, Abraham Sneathen, Rev. Reed and John L. Smith. These men all preached at the houses of Nathaniel Bunnell, John Rothrock and George A. Spencer. They (the ministers) traveled on horseback, and held services almost every day in the week. The first Sabbath . school was held in the Bunnell neighborhood.
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