USA > Indiana > Greene County > Early history of Greene County, Indiana : as taken from the official records, and compiled from authentic recollection, by pioneer settlers including brief sketches of pioneer families. > Part 10
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Mr. McBride was also a very good
Robert Birtch was a drinking man and a widower, and by a mistake, he afterwards married a very high-tem- pered young girl, only seventeen years old. When Mr. Birtch was un- der the influence of whisky, he would often abuse his young wife, and she would get angry and say to him : "Why, Robert, what made you mar- ry me?" etc. He would reply by saying, "I just married you to get shed of you and your folks."
CHAPTER XXI.
EARLY HISTORY OF LEWIS TOWNSHIP, CLAY COUNTY.
HE first white men that settled in this locality were Elijah May- field, Mr. Crose, James Delay, James Briley, Elijah Rawley, John and Peter Cooprider, William Stew- art, William Shepherdand John Sav- verree.
Afterwards came others,and among them Robert Baber, Henderson Cur- ry, James Snyder, William and Hen- ry Crist, Samuel and Peter Stout, John B. Poe, George Hooker, Leon- ard Kimble, Levi Reed, Nathan Sills, Samuel Starratt, Rev. Samuel Bri- ley, Byram Combs, John Wilks, James Critchfield, James Maloy, Joe Pealeman, Derias Darling, J. J. Lan- ning, Samuel Chambers and sons, James Buckellew, Dave Puckett, Edward Braden, Richard North, Jo- seph Whiles, Joseph Sanders, John Pickard, Daniel Goble and others.
Elijah Mayfield built the first log cabin in Lewis township, on the little
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The Early History of Greene County.
sandy knoll just southeast of the / house on the old State road, fifteen Woodrow Bluff cemetery. One of miles from Smith's ferry and twenty- three miles from Terre Haute, and lived there fifty years. Mr. Mayfield's children died there, about fifty-six years ago, and was the first person buried in that grave- yard.
Mr. Elijah Rawley built the first water-mill on Eel river, at the old hill just below the mouth of Splunge creek. We have an old Indian tra- dition which is very reliable. In an early day there was a silver mine and bushels of money buried just be- low the mouth of Splunge creek, on the old Rawley mill tract of land, on the west side of Eel river, near the old grave-yard there.
It is also claimed that the old sandy knoll, one mile northeast of Howes- ville, was at one time a battle ground, and that the knoll was filled up with dead human bodies-perhaps a thou- sand years ago-when the Big Lake was the bed of Eel river there.
The first land entry was made by old John Cooprider, for the eighty acres of land cornering at the gum trec, and lying on the west side of the old Terre Haute road, just oppo- site the place where Bruce Chambers now lives. By a great mistake in the numbers of the land, Mr. Cooprider entered the eighty acres of land just west of the Township House, where Silas Stout's family now live. By another mistake, the eighty acres of land just northwest of the Friendly Grove church, was next entered by old Uncle Peter Cooprider, instead of the place near Hooker's Point.
James Briley has lived in this township a great many years longer than any other person, and can tell more of the early settlers than any body else. Mr. Briley built his first little log cabin on the west bank of Eel river, just east of where Mr. Ed- mond Phegley now lives.
Dr. Absalom Briley was the first white child born in this township, and old Uncle James Briley has lived to see all of his family buried, except his oldest child, Dr. Briley.
Robert Baber built a little log
Old Uncle Joseph Liston, of Vigo county, was a noted old pioneer hun- ter, and the only man that could kill more deer in a month, or in a year, than Robert Baber.
Uncle Jack Baber lived in Lewis township about forty-five years, and had more fun than fifty boys will ev- er have again. Uncle Jack was post master sixteen years, Supervisor ten years, and Township Trustee six years.
George Hooker established the first dry goods store, at the old Hooker farm, where Mrs. Harriett Dalgarn now lives.
The first school house in this town- ship was built at the cross roads, at the northeast corner of the old Hook- er farm.
The first weddings were at the house of old Byram Combs, by Rev. Samuel Briley. They were: Mr. Emery Rodgers and Little Sallie Combs ; Mr. Edward Combs and Bar- bary Fry. Both of these weddings were solemnized at the same time and place.
The first run-away match was Bill Birtch, of Greene county, and Miss Eliza Curry, of Clay county.
CHAPTER XXII.
FAIRPLAY TOWNSHIP, GREENE COUNTY. ROBABLY the oldest village in Greene county, is the little log cabin town of Fairplay, located on the bluff just west of White river, about four miles south of Worthing- ton, on the old Vincennes State road. When the first white people settled in that village it was an Indian camp- ing ground, and the boys would often find curious old Indian relics there. John H. Dixon has several of these old relics in his possession now.
Among the first pioneer settlers in that locality were old Uncle Solomon Dixon, John and Samuel Fields, Dr.
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The Early History of Greene County,
Patton, Daniel Ingersoll, Samuel | ized, Judge Martin Wines was our Dixon, Seth Fields, Dr. John A. Pegg, Elias Crance ; Leonard, Mar- tin and Wickliff Wines, Mr. Dilley, Phillip Shintaffer and a few others.
Uncle Solomon Dixon built the first ferry boat, and between Dixon and Mr. Bradford, a ferry was estab- lished at that place on the river and is kept up to this day.
Wickliff Wines and Mr. Dilley es- tablished the tan yard, just a little south of the village, on the spring branch.
Eli Dixon built the first tramp- wheel corn mill, and also the first dis- till house near the mill, half mile east of the village.
Dr. John A. Pegg built the first cotton-gin, and picked seeds for many of the farmers in that settlement. Cotton was a staple crop. Rice was also cultivated, but the rice crop could not be cleaned out, conse- quently the farmers' rice crop failed to be planted, and a few years after- wards the short summer seasons and cut-worms cut off all the cotton fields.
Mr. Howard built the first black- smith shop, near Dixon's mill. Sev- eral years after the old Dixon mill tvas built at Fairplay. The Dixon boys would go over on the Black Swamp Prairie and drive home a a herd of several cattle at a time, and the boys would put those cattle in the lot around the tread-mill, and every day the boys would drive about a dozen head, big and little, old and young, wild and gentle, as they came, on to the tread-wheel, and the boys would put up the poles and bars to keep them on the wheel, and the weight of beef made the mill run, while the boys had plenty of fun. Afterwards Elias Crance bought the mill and for many years it was called "Crance's Horse Mill."
Elias Crance kept a public house on the road half mile north of Fair- play, for many years, and was a very clever old pioneer and a good citizen in the neighborhood.
When Greene county was organ-
Represenative in the Legislature at Corydon, with a good prospect for the county seat to be located at Fair- play. But the influence of the old man VanSlyke, and his Big Spring, as Cary O'Neal and Elias Dayhoff says, took the county seat to Bloom- field.
At that time Fairplay had the lar- gest population of any place in the county. Since that the Dixon neigh- borhood had the best farms, the fast- est horses, the biggest crowd at all their horse races, biggest corn-fields, most corn in their cribs and the big- gest Fourth of July barbecues.
While speaking of the Dixon Fourth of July celebrations, we will say that at one time the provisions for the dinner was supplied by dona- tions from the neighbors; each one giving something he could spare the best. Mr. Eli F. Stalcup subscribed a wild deer in the woods, and agreed to have it there on the third day of July, and on the day set he killed, dressed and furnished the deer.
Old Mrs. Rebecca Dixon sold a milch cow to old Mrs. Shintaffer, for sixty-five head of geese, and then our friend, John H. Dixon, went over to take a young lady, Miss Permelia Rickabaw, to a dance, at Mr. Bene- field's, at Fairplay, and, of course, Johnny Dixon wanted to say some- thing smart, and explain away all mysterious embarrassment. So he told old Mrs. Rickabaw that he would not have come after Miss Permelia, if there had been any other chance.
We are told that five of the men in the Dixon family, were bachelors, and lived and died in that neighbor- hood.
Old John Latta was a very noted old pioneer, among the hunters and trappers, at an early day, in Greene county. Mr. Latta has the credit and honor of being the first white man that built a log cabin in Greene county, in the year 1817. His house was built on the bluff, just south of where the old canal crosses Latta's
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The Early History of Greene County.
creek, one mile west of the iron bridge, | tained a good name and character, in on White river. his neighborhood.
Mr. Smith built a little corn mill, on Latta's creek, just south of Dixon Station, and ground corn there for a few years, for the first settlers. .
William Lemons built the first house, and set out the old orchard, on the north side of the road, just east of where Jacob Evans now lives. We do not know who set out the Daniel G. Dixon old apple orchard.
Philip Shintaffer settled in the edge of the prairie, a little to the south of where Daniel F. Shryer now lives. Mr. Shintaffer had sixteen yoke of work oxen, and his wife had sixteen boys and five girls, to help her do the work on the farm, and about the house, on washing days.
Dr. John A. Pegg built a brick house, on the west side of Dead creek, where he planted out many ever- green trees, and also that noted old ap- ple nursery, one mile west of Fairplay.
The first school teacher in this part of Greene county, was Judge Martin Wines, and among the pupils, we have the names of George B. Stalcup, Daniel and Peter Ingersoll, John Padgett, William Solsberry, Sanford and Nathan Dixon, James Craig, Stephen Dixon, Rachael Ingersoll, Lucene Pegg, Margaret Dixon, Louisa Patton, and many others.
The first old pioneer Methodist camp-meeting, was held in the oak woods, just north of Fairplay, near where Mr. Crance afterwards built his house. Rev. Eli P. Farmer was a preacher at that noted old camp- meeting, and old Uncle Richard Wall was there with his little family, and by some mistake, on the part of the managers, in dividing the ladies and gentlemen in separate groups and tents, some of the would-be leaders, and a manager, succeeded in a rude manner, to insult Mr. Wall, and he left the Church, because a few men seemed to not mind their own busi- ness, on that occasion. We under- stand that Mr. Wall never went back on his religion, and has always main-
Our first candidates for Congress, were Hon. Ratliff Boone, of Sullivan county, and Judge Thomas H. Blake, of Terre Haute. When they made a little speech, at Fairplay, Mr. Blake said he would beat Mr. Boone, that year, and gave about this reason for it : Judge Blake told the people, that all along the river, as he came down, he heard a few big bull-frogs, in the river, saying, "Ratliff Boone! Ratliff Boone ! ! Ratliff Boone !!! " while over among the small farmers, and the little frogs, on the prairies, and along the creeks, all the frogs were saying; "Blake! Blake !! Blake! !! " And sure enough, Judge Blake was elected to Congress.
Here is the pedigree of one of John H. Dixon's horses, printed thirty-two years ago. We give it verbatim : YOUNG.
Sidahamet,
Will stand the present season, commencing on the first of April, and ending the first of July, (public days excepted,) at the following places to wit :-- Mondays and Tuesdays at the stable of Nathan Hogan 212 miles east of Os- bern's ferry, on White river ; on Wednesdays and Thursdays at the stable of Wmt. Williams 21/2 miles west of Osbern's ferry ; on Fridays and Saturdays at the stable of the subscriber one half inile east'of Smith's ferry in Highland township, and will be let to mares at 21/2 dol- lars single leap cash in hand, four dollars the season, and six dollars to insure a mare with foal, to be pald wlien the fact is ascertained .- Any person parting with an insured mare bo- fore it is known she is with foal.shall be bound for the insurance money. Care will be taken to preventaccidents, but I will not be account- able for any. Wheat and corn received in payment at cash prices, delivered at Point Commerce Warehouse, and at the subscriber's in November next.
Young Sidahamet,
Is a beautiful dark chestnut sorrel, five years old this spring, and was sired by Sidahamet. he by celebrated horse Boanerges, and he by old Printer so much admired for his speed and symmetry ; his grand dam by Salim a full blooded Janus horse, his dant by Hodges so- ber Irishman, he by the Irish grey,he by Club. and he by that unquestionable horse old Ja- nus His grand dam on the dam side was sired by Gen. Jackson's horse Booy a full blooded Janus horse ; his great grand dam was by Nestor, he by imported Bedford, heby Dungannon, and heby the second best horse ever in Europe, to wit, Eclipse. Sidahamet's g. g d. on nils sires side was by ALBOR.IX .- He is not inferior to any horse. Call and ex- amine for yourseives.
March 23, 1842. , JOHN H. DIXSON.
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The Early History of Greene County.
CHAPTER XXIII.
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP.
E WILL give the following list of names among the first settlers in 1818 : John Van- vorst and his tenant, Daniel Carlin, Peter C. VanSlyke, James Warnick, Reuben Ilill, William Robinson, William Scott, Carpus Shaw, Sen., Judge I .. B. Edwards, Colonel Levi Fellows, 1819, Norman W. Pierce, Oliver Cushman, Elisha Cushman, Ruel Learned, Eli Faucett, Alexan- der Clenny, Samuel C. Hall, Oliver Lock wood, Jeremiah Lock wood, John Jones, Sen., John Mason, Barney Perry, John and Peter Hill, Isaac Anderson, Adam Stropes, John Shry- er. Orange Monroe, Ebenezer and William Welton, William and J. Watson, Timothy Jessup, Robert Ba- ber, Jacob Lakey, Jacob and Joshua Dobbins, Solomon, Joseph and Dan- iel Burcham, William Russel, Ben- jamin Turley, William and John Watson, Kelley Heaton, John Ter- rell, Abraham Workman, George Milam, John Herral, Samuel Smith, Charles Turley, and Dave Heaton.
William and Ebenezer Welton built the first water-mill below the mouth of Beech creek, and after- wards that mill burned down and then changed hands, and was rebuilt again by old Alexander Craig, and sold by Mr. Craig to old Uncle Ben- jamin furley.
Colonel Levi Fellows built the next mill on that creek, near Bloom- field. We will yet give the family history of the late Colonel Fellows.
Old Uncle Timothy Jessup was a Friend Quaker, and came from North Carolina to Greene county in the year 1818, and settled on the old State road, on the north side of Rich- land ereck. He entered the land, built the house, made a good farm and set out the old orchard where Henderson Sarver now lives, seven miles from Worthington. Mr. Jes- sup sold out that farm to old John S. fifteen years. Moore, and went to the Quaker, set-
tlement at White Lick, Ilendricks county.
Benjamin Turley came to this coun- ty over fifty years ago, and built the house and made a farm of thirty-five acres on Congress land in the heavy forest of white oak and sugar-tree timber at the place where Alfred Kutch now lives. Mr. Turley and wife raised thirteen children-seven boys and six girls.
Mr. Kelley Heaton built a house, entered the land and made the farm where Mr. Charles Neyman now lives. Mr. Heaton was drowned in Richland creek, about one mile east of Bloomfield, in the year 1836. Ile was a good, honest farmer.
Mr. David Heaton was born in Lincoln county, Kentucky, and came to Greene county about a half a cen- tury ago, and was married to Miss Kerren Burcham, daughter of Joseph Burcham, and commenced work on the farm where he now lives. Mrs. Kerren Heaton died, and a few years afterwards Mr. Heaton was married again to Sallie Watson, daughter of John Watson. He is about sixty- three years old, and one among the best farmers in Greene county. He lives on the old State road, four miles east of Blaomfield. Mr. Heaton has had two wives and eighteen children -ten boys and eight girls.
John Terrell built a house and made a small farm and set out the old orchard at the place where Peter Terrell now lives, on the south side of Richland creek, east of Bloomfield. Mr. Terrell was a noted old pioneer bear and bee hunter, and he never bought lead for bullets. He always made bullets from lead ore found on Richland creek, close to the old Wel- ton mill seat. But Mr. Terrell died without disclosing the secret where this lead mine is located.
Jacob Dobbins settled the place now owned by Mr. M. H. Shryer. Mr. Dobbins was a good citizen and served as a Justice of the Peace for
Solomon. Burcham was an honest
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The Early History of Greene County.
orphan boy, and was" raised by old name Edward Walker, John and Colonel Levi Fellows and Mr. Darling James Dobbins, Dave Heaton, Charles Turley, Sallie Roach, Elizabeth Dob- bins and others. Fuller. Mr. Burcham married Miss Rebecca Dobbins, and afterwards made a good farm, and is a number The first blacksmith shop was built by Judge Thomas Bradford, about one mile south of Bloomfield. one farmer, on the . old Jonesboro State road, about three miles east of Bloomfield.
The first store was established by old Uncle John Warner.
John S. Moore died and was buried on his old farm, many years ago.
The first horse mill and distill
William Scott was a native of house was bitilt by Peter C. Van- Guilford county, North Carolina, and Slyke, at the place where Colonel Adin G. Cavins now lives. married Miss Elizabeth Mason, and they came to Greene county in 1818, built the house, entered the land and set out the orchard at the place now occupied by the poor farm. Mr. Scott and wife raised eleven children
The Gilam branch, Burcham branch and Ore branch, are names for the same water course in the east end of this township.
Miss Fannie Cushman, daughter -eight boys and three girls. Joseph of Oliver Cushman, taught the Scott, the oldest boy, was born in first school . near Colonel Fellows' December, 1820, half a mile east of i mill, and Mr. Elisha Cushman taught Bloomfield.
Old Uncle Peter Lester built the old log school house was on the lot first mill at the old Tibbett mill seat. now occupied by the Democrat print- Mr. Lester is yet living in Greene ; ing office.
county, near Newberry.
Judge L. B. Edwards was born on the 14th day of August, 1796, in the vicinity of Burgoyne's consecrated battle of Saratoga plains. The Judge is now seventy-nine years old, and yet reads well without spectacles or glass- es. His father came from' Long Is- land, and is a direct descendant of the New England branch of the Ed- wards' family. Judge Edwards has been married four times, and they have raised five children-two boys and three girls. The Judge has told us more of the early history of Greene county than any other man.
The first weddings were Carpus Shaw and Miss Sallie VanSlyke, Thomas Warnick and Lydia Gilam, Samuel Smith and Lydia Kossolow, Jesse Branham and Elizabeth John- son, James Stone and Mahala Heat- on, Andy Johnson and Elizabeth Lawrence.
Our old school teachers were Jos- hua Dobbins and Thomas Warnick, with many little chaps at school, where the Richland church now stands. Among the pupils we will , creek. He then went back to Jack-
| the first school in Bloomfield. The
Our first doctors were Dr. Dean and old Grandmother Fields.
EARLY RECOLLECTIONS OF ALFRED L. KUTCII.
By request, I will give some of my recollections of my early days, and, in order to do so, I shall speak of my father. He was from the State of Maryland to North Carolina; thence to Kentucky ; thence to Washington county, Indiana, near Salem ; thence to Brownstown, Jackson county. I was born near Salem, in the year 1814, December 2d.
Now it is but justice to the reader of this to note that the State of Indi- ana was only a territory at that time. After staying in Jackson county, Indiana, two years, father removed to Monroe county, Indiana; and as there was no road from Brownstown to Bloomington, only what was known as Bigger's trace, he took his family on horse-back to the place he settled on, one mile and a half south of John Ketcham's water-mill, and eight miles south of Bloomington, on clear
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The Early History of Greene County.
son county, and dug himself a Inrge [ taken from the side of the house, and water craft, and landed it in the Mus- catatak river, and made his way down stream, to where it empties in- to the cast fork of White river; thence down White river to the mouth of Salt creek ; thence up Salt creek to the mouth of Clear creek ; thence up Clear creek within three quarters of a mile of Harrodsburgh. As that was as far up as he could get, for fallen timber in the creek, which had been fell by William Chambers, who had settled there one year before, he landed within four miles of where he settled. This was about the 17th of April, 1817. Hle built a small, round log house, cleared and fenced the land, and raised a crop of corn that year. When he got out of bread stuff, he went to Shakertown, on Shaker prairie, and carried his meal on horseback. There were no mills there, at that time, and but few set- tlers, and not much else, except a howling wilderness. The most fre- quent salutation was the howl of the wolf, or the yell of the Indian. The carly settlers were, William, David, John and Anthony Chambers; Jacob, John and David Savers.
John Ketcham built the first water mill in the county. He also built the court house in Bloomington.
The carly settlers had a very hard timegetting breadstuff, having to beat their corn in a mortar-a hole burnt in the end of a log of wood, such as beech or white oak ; and the most of the time the corn was frost-bitten, which made poor bread. After the second and third years, they manag- ed to have biscuits on Sunday inorn- ings. Clothing, also, was very hard to get. They raised flax and hemp for shirting and overhauls for spring and summer wear, and buekskin for winter.
When the settlement became thick enough settled, they built round, log school houses, cut out about seven feet of one end for a fire-place, and the scholars had the wood to get, the most of the time. There was one log
paper pasted in to give light. The scholars had to go from one to three miles to school. The early settlers had a nice time killing deer, bears and turkeys. The range for stock was good.
When the writer was in his four- teenth year, his mother sent him to his aunt's on an errand ; and it was in the winter season. I had to cross Clear creek and a mill pond. When I got to the pond there was a girl and boy there with a large dog, play- ing on the ice, and I thought I would spend a short time with them. When I was very near the middle of the pond, the dog came at me as vicious as he could, and sprang upon me and aimed to catch me by the throat, but missed his aim and caught my hat by the brim, jerking me down on the ice. Being a very large dog, he kept me down and bit several large holes in my leg, besides several wounds on my shoulder. 1 could have run my thumb in them. Finally, I raised with him, and we had quite a combat for awhile. There was a lady heard the noise the boy and girl made, and she came to my relief. She was something over a quarter of a milc distant from where the dog and I were, and the fight was continued until a very short time before she got there. Some of the time I had him down, and some of the time he had me down. Atlast, I caught him around the neck, with his head under my breast, and held him down as long as I had strength ; but being bit- ten and mangled so badly, my strength failed me so much that I was obliged to let him go. But before 1 let him loose, I thought he would be sure to kill me, because I could do nothing more. If I had been in possession of a knife, I might have used it to good advantage, but I had nothing at all with which to defend myself. I let him loose, however, and he arose to his feet as I did. He growled, showed his teeth, and then left me. I had nearly a mile to travel, before reach-
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Fite Early History of Greene County.
ing home, and when I arrived there I [ Judge of the Circuit Court, and held was not able to stand alone. These are recollections I will never forget.
My father was a farmer, and had eleven children -- seven boys and four girls-and all except three lived to be married. The oldest girl was scalded to death, by falling into a tub of hot water, when she wastwo years old. One of the boys died from the effect of rheumatism. The youngest boy was a cripple, from birth, and died at about the age of thirty years. Father and mother belonged to the Christian Church, in which they lived until their death. Mother died at the age of sixty-one, on the farm where her and father first settled, in Monroe county. Father died De- cember 11th, 1869, in his eighty-third year, at Harrodsburgh, within three- quarters of a mile of where he landed his water craft, in getting to his place of destination.
Samuel R. Cavins was born in Greene county, Kentucky, in 1792. Before he was of age, he went to Vincennes, and remained there sev- eral years. While at Vincennes he went on a hunting excursion (about the year 1813,) up White river, and the party landed in Greene county, just above the mouth of Richland creek, near the old Indian grave- yard. After that he returned to Kentucky.
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