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 7
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CHAPTER XIII.
(N 1849,- the only new officers elected were Augustus S. Rhodes as Prosecuting Attorney ; Jesse Rainbolt, Associate Judge, and An- drew Humphreys, Representative in the State Legislature.
Judge Rainbolt was an early set- tler in what was known at that time as Center township. He was one of the leading and best citizens, and continued in that office until it was abolished. He lived to be quite an old man, but died a few years ago. This was the first appearance of Mr. Humphreys on the political arena. He is still living and in the prime of life. When first elected, he was not regarded as above the average of members of the Lower House ; but,
tional Convention. Many persons were anxious to send a man there who was well acquainted with consti- tutional law, and, at their urgent re- quest, Hugh L. Livingston became a candidate. The people, however, pre- ferred another man, and elected Thomas Butler. Mr. Butler was a pioneer in the early settlement of the country, was one of our best citizens, anda man of fair ability in the ordi- nary business actions of life ; but he could not be regarded as a very great expounder of constitutional law ; yet he was always attentive to his duties, and, at his post, voting right.
At this election Judge Lester was again elected Judge of the Probate Court, and held the office until it was Abolished. William J. McIntosh was elected Sheriff, and Joseph Lyons, Treasurer.
William"J. McIntosh was one of the very early settlers in the county. We occasionally see an article from his pen on early times, and they are appreciated by the people. He was
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The Early History of Greene County.
elected for three successive times, [ for a month, but seeing him one day, and at neither did he receive a party endorsement. He is emphatically a man of the people. While Sheriff he discharged his duties with fidelity and ability, and that amid the most trying scenes in the county. Mr. McIntosh is a very entertaining stump-speaker. We see his open countenance occasionally, and it al- ways does us good.
Joseph Lyons was, in many re- spects, a remarkable man. He was a very early settler in the county, having first settled near what is call- ed the Ore branch, in Richland town- ship. He afterward moved to Beech Creek township, where he resided until he was elected Treasurer. He was remarkably popular with all the people, and especially so with his po- litical opponents. So popular was he with persons opposed to him in politics, that party leaders were una- ble to carry the party strength against him. Perhaps no man has ever lived in the county who was more gener- ous and liberal to the poor. In the dark days of the Republic, when civil war raged in the land, and when so many were called to the tented field, he displayed such liberality in re- lieving the wants of the destitute as enshrined him in the affections of many of the people. While Trens- urer, he was in the habit of passing and assuming the taxes for many persons, and often gave receipts in full, when only part was paid, trust- ing to the honesty of the person to pay him. He said that they gener- ally paid him, but occasionally they would not. On one occasion, a tax- payer came in, on his way making a trip, and found that he lacked two or three dollars of having money enough to pay his tax, and requested Mr. Lyons to give him a receipt for the tax, and promised that he would call in, on his return, and pay the bal- ance. Mr. Lyons gave him the re- ceipt in full, but the man failed to call on his return. Mr. Lyons, sup- posing he had forgotten it, let it rest'
asked him if it was convenient for him to pay the little balance on his tax. The man, drawing on an air of amazement, said : "That little tux ? I thought I paid my tax-however, the receipt will show." Mr. Lyons did not manifest indignation, liko many persons would have done under the circumstances, but smilingly submitted to the evidence of the re- ceipt.
We might truthfully say of Mr. Lyons, that he he was "generous to a fault." In his death, charity lost one of her most willing votarics. "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not char- ity, I become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal."
In September, 1850, Hiram Bland was indicted for murder. He was charged with the murder of William Walker. Contrary to the usual prac- tice, and in opposition to the opinion of one of his attorneys (Major Liv- ingston), he entered upon his trial at that term of court. The State was represented by A. L. Rhodes, and the defense wus conducted by George G. Dunn and H. L. Livingston. It was a clear and aggravated case of murder. He murdered his victim in daylight, for revenge. The main ef- fort in the defense was to save the defendant's life. He was found guil- ty, and sentenced to be hanged by the neck, on the 15th day of Novem- ber next, following. This is the only case in our county where the accused had the death penalty pronounced upon him. On the 28th of October, 1850, at night, the defendant broke jail and escaped. He was concealed near his house, and did not make an effort to escape from the county. Great efforts were made to find him, but for a long time they appeared unavailing. Ilis hiding place was finally revealed, and on the 2d day of January, 1851, he was retaken. At the April term, 1851, a motion was made for a new trial, and affida- vits were read contradicting several
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The Early History of Greene County.
particulars in the testimony that was ( barism, and incompatible with the given in by the State on the trial. Mr. George G. Dunn made a power- ful effort to procure a new trial, but it was unavailing. The court pro- nounced judgment that he should be hanged on the 25th day of April fol- lowing. On that day an immense concourse of people assembled to wit- ness the execution, but it was post- poned until the Supreme Court could review the decision of the Circuit Court. The Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the Circuit Court, and Mr. Bland expiated his crime at the gallows, about the middle of June following. On that day, another large body of men, women and chil- dren assembled to witness the execu- tion. The gallows was erected on the level plain, about two hundred yards southwest of Colonel Stough's mill, and from it the unfortunate man was suspended by the neck. William J. McIntosh was Sheriff, and conducted the proceedings with great credit to himself. The gallows was left standing for quite a number of years-in fact, until it fell from decay. One thing that no doubt con- tributed largely towards bringing about the death penalty in this case, was the turbulent character of the accused. He and several brothers were powerful men physically, and when drinking were very quarrel- some and dangerous ; when not under the influence of liquor, as a rule, they were peaceable. Then this trial came off when the public mind was excited at the very highest pitch. It is utterly impossible for jurymen to be different from other men. All persons become excited over a sud- den and seemingly unprovoked mur- der. If the advice of Major Living- ston had been taken, and the case had been continued one term, the probabilities are that after the first burst of excitement abated, the jury would have sent him to State prison during life. There are various views on the subject of capital punishment. Many urge that it is a relic of bar-
spirit of an enlightened civilization. Others say that it is an ordinance of God : "That whoso sheds man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed," and that man has no right to change it. Then the answer comes that in the early ages of the world, God was the civil ruler of the people, as well as the moral governor, and that, occupying these two relations toward man, two classes of laws were proclaimed by Jehovah for man's government. That one class was proclaimed for his civil government, and one for his moral government. That while man has no right to re- peal, change or modify the laws pre scribed for his moral government ; yet, when God surrendered to man the right to enact laws for his civil government, it carried with it the right to change the laws enacted for his civil government ; and, therefore, he had a right to change the law on the subject of punishment for crime. The laws under this rule that man would have the right to change, are such laws as prescribe a punishment to be inflicted by man. Where the punishment for a violation of a law was to be inflicted by God, then man would not have the right to change the law.
Under this rule, the law-making power would have the right to pre- scribe such punishment for murder as they saw proper. Perhaps our law is the best that could be adopted on the subject ; that is, to allow the jury to inflict either the death penalty or imprisonment for life.
About the middle of June, 1851, the first canal boat passed opposite Bloomfield, down the Wabash & Erie canal.
Among the boys who were born in early times in our county, many have gone to other States. Some have gone up into the cold regions of Minnesota, and some to the sultry plains of Texas. Some have gone to the golden slopes of the Pacific, and others to the classic banks of the
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The Early History of Greene County.
Hudson. In nearly all the interme- diate States a few Greene county boys can be found. Some have at- tained wealth and others have been followed by poverty. From the im- mediate neighborhood of - Bloomfield there have gone out quite a number to break the bread of life to fallen man. The first that we can remem- ber was Rev. Anthony Robinson, a son of one of the very earliest settlers. In late years, Rev. R. L. Cashman, Rev. William Turner, Rev. W. T. Ferguson, Rev. B. F. Cavins, and Rev. Wilson Quillen. All these were sons of early settlers. About; forty- five or forty-six years ago, a boy was born on the farm now owned by John Miller, Sr., who deserves great credit for what he has achieved in the liter- ary and scientific world. It was Dr. | T. A. Bland. - He lived and worked on the farm until he was twenty-one years old, with very few facilities for education. While a boy, he exhib- ited great fondness for books-espe- cially historical works-and was a frequent borrower from his friends in town. After manhood he acquir- ed a-good education, and has devoted much time to literature and science, and has been eminently successful. He established the Indiana Farmer, the most popular journal in the west that is devoted to agriculture. He has been a constant contributor to the Ladies' Own, a popular magazine edited by his accomplished and tal- ented wife, M. Cora Bland. In his case, the words of our Savior, "That a prophet is not without honor zave in his own country," has, to some ex- tent, been realized, for the reason that as a lecturer he was always more honored and better appreciated in
the east than in the west. He now resides in New York, and is in the prime of life. He addressed the old settlers' meeting at Bloomfield, a few years ago.
Soon after the adoption of the pres- ent Constitution of Indiana, the Pro- bate Court was abolished, and the Court of Common Pleas was organiz- ed in its place, with increased juris- diction. At that time the Circuit Court had no jurisdiction over mis- demeanors, and the consequence was that the Common Pleas Court was crowded with insignificant neighbor- hood quarrels. ' At the first term, everything was in considerable con- fusion, growing out of the beginning of the new system. A large number of witnesses had been subpoenaed . to attend the first day to investigate State cases, and the result was an unusual large number of persons were in attendance upon court, who usually know a great deal about the violators of law. Several days were consumed in investigating trivial misdemeanors, and in some cases, a large portion of neighborhoods were present. Various persons were pass- ing their opinions upon the relative merits of the old Probate and the new Common Pleas system. One old lady had attended court day after day, until her patience became entirely exhausted, and she was thor- oughly disgusted with the manner of distributing justice. At last, she gave vent to her overflowing indigna- tion and disgust, and said : "I don't believe there is any more justice in this Court of Common Sprees, than there was in the old Crobate. ! " In time, the Common Pleas Court has passed away.
GENERAL RECAPITULATION OF THE COUNTY.
CHAPTER XIV.
REENE county was named in honor of the memory of one of our Revolutionary sires of noto- riety, General Nathaniel Greene.
Greene county is located in the southwestern part of the State of In- diana, seventy-five miles southwest of Indianapolis, and . is the second county from the western boundery of the State. It was organized in the year 1821, and contains 540 square miles or sections of land-fifteen square Congressional Districts, each containing 640 acres ; and the coun- ty is sub-divided into sixteen civil townships.
The population of Greene county, in 1875, is about twenty-six thous- and, and within the next ten years, we confidently expect an increase to forty thousand people.
The west branch of White river di- vides the county almost equally. Eel river, Richland, Plummer, Indian, Beech and Black creeks are all streams of water of considerable no- toriety.
The face of the country, on the cast side of the river, is mostly hilly, some portions considerably broken, and many rock bluffs. It was orig- inally very heavily timbered with oak, poplar, walnut, sugar-tree, syc- amore, ash, beech, cherry, locust, gum, hickory, and many other varie- ties which had attained their full proportion.
Almost every portion of the terri- tory on the east side of the river is underlaid with coal and iron ore in great abundance, and of an excellent
quality. . Greene county has the best beds of rich iron ore of any county in the State.
The surface of the country on the west side of the river is mostly level. Half-Moon, Nine-Mile, Scaffold and Four-Mile prairies, make up a very considerable portion of the territory. The timber on the ridges, is, for the greater part, what is usually called barrens-consisting mostly of small hickory, short and rough black oak, white oak and some walnut. The soil is diversified. The barrens are somewhat sandy, and the other por- tions are rich alluvial and stony clay soil, varying greatly in quality.
Some of the prairie land is rather low and wet, and better adapted to meadow and pasturage than to the cultivation of grain.
Coal is found in abundance in many localities, and several beds of a good quality have been opened and worked for a number of years.
Bloomfield, the capital of the coun- ty, is centrally located, one mile east of White river, on elevated ground. Its altitude at the river is 467 feet above high tide.
In August, 1819, the Indians, who reserved a hunting privilege when they ceded their lands to the govern- ment, were here for the last time. They camped on the river and creek to the number of six or seven liun- dred. In September, 1819, they moved off in a body in their bark ca- noe's, down White river.
In the closing chapters, we . will give the names, location, description and population of each town and vil- large in Greene county.
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THE DIFFERENT TOWNSHIPS -) OF (- GREENE COUNTY.
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CHAPTER XV.
BEECH CREEK TOWNSHIP. MONG the old pioneer settlers in this locality, were Hugh Gaston, John Todd, Thomas and Andy Raper, James Turpin, Ed- ward and Charles Beasley, Edward Bryan, Solomon Wilkerson, old man Whaley, Frederick Hendricks, Na- than Hogan, Joel Burks, William Sanderpher, Jimmy James, Robert and Frank Chaney, William and No- ah Reeves, James Gaston, and after- wards came in others, and among them we have the names of John Ar- thur, James Crocket, John and David Bullock, Jesse Sullivan, William Watkins and many others.
Hugh Gaston was born in North Carolina, and came to Greene county in the year 1822, and settled on the place, and made a farm, and set out the old apple orchard where Mr. Keys now lives. Mr. Gaston and wife ruised eight children, the two youngest being twins. All of them lived to be men and women.
Old Uncle James Gaston came to Greene county more than fifty years ago, and shortly afterwards he was married to Miss Mary P. Bryan, and settled on his excellent farm, and has lived there until he has seen all his neighbors settle in around him, and vet he can see to read without glasses. Mr. Gaston is seventy years old, and his wife had eleven children-four boys and seven girls.
The old Joe Lyons' farm has had a
greater number of different families on it than any other place in Greene county, where John Kinney now re- sides.
Old Uncle John Arthur, Sen., is seventy-five years old, and was born in Lincoln county, North Carolina ; and his father and mother raised twelve children-six boys and six girls. Old Uncle John Arthur en- tered the land, built the house, made the farm and set out the old orchard at the place where George Axtell now lives.
Jesse Sullivan wears a gray beard. He is sixty-seven years old, and was born in Wayne county, North Caro- lina, near Goldsboro'. Old Uncle Jesse has had two wives and fifteen children. He first settled in Greene county on the old farm where James Smith now lives.
Mr. John Bryan was married about forty-five years ago, to Miss Mary A. Turley, and afterwards made a good farm and now lives on it, one and a half miles northwest of Newark .- Mr. Bryan and wife have had nine children-one boy and eight girls.
James Crockett was born in An- derson county, 'Tennessee, and camé to Greene county over fifty years ago, and married Miss Louisa Ooley. They raised ten children-six boys and four girls. Mr. Crockett is now sixty-seven years old.
Edward Bryan built a house, made the farm and set out the old orchard at the place where John McDaniel now lives. Mr. Bryan and wife had
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The Earlg History of Greene County.
seven children-three boys and four | Wilson, and Elder John Wilson. girls.
Old John Todd built the house, made the farm, and set out the nice old apple orchard at the place where James McDaniel now lives.
Old Edward Beasley and his bro- ther Charles have been in that neigh- borhood for nearly fifty years.
James Turpin built the first house on Lick creek, in the north end of the township, and is now living on a good farm just northeast of Peter Livingston's.
Old Johnny Bullock built a house and made the farm at his old place, aboutone mile north west of Solsberry.
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'Squire Solomon Wilkerson has been a very noted old pioneer settler, and a good citizen in the township.
William Reeves and his boys first settled at the place where Edward Walker now lives.
William Sanderpher built the house, entered the land, made the farm, and set out the apple orchard at the Cross Roads, on the old Spencer State road, three miles north of Solsberry.
Moses McCulley built the first log cabin on the old Joe Lyons' farm.
Mrs. Elizabeth Crockett, widow of Alexander Crockett, an old Revolu- tionary soldier, came from Tennessee and settled her family in Greene county at an early day. She had twelve children-eight boys and four girls.
David Bullock came to that neigh- borhood, and has made a good farm- er, and is a number one old pioneer citizen. Mr. Bullock is sixty-six years old, and his wife has had eight children.
Our old bachelor friend, James Bullock, is another old pioneer.
Among the first weddings were John Kellum and Elizabeth Bryan ; Wyatt Miller and Polly Bland ; Jas. Gaston and Mary P. Bryan ; Green Martin and Cynthia Hogan ; Joseph McIntosh and Elizabeth Todd; Wil- liam Watkins and Jane Martin.
The pioneer preachers were Kevs. George Burch, Sammy Doty, Joseph
Among the early school teachers was James Gaston.
Moses Ooley was one among the old pioneer hunters, and a good marksman at all of our olden time shooting matches. Mr. Ooley was born in Greene county, Kentucky, and came to Greene county, Indiana, over fifty years ago, and built the old Ooley water mill on Richland creek.
Shortly after Moses Ooley came to Beech creek, he, in company with his son-in-law, James Crockett, went out hunting About six miles from home, in the woods, they found an old she bear and her three young cubs. The young ones ran up a tree, and Mr. Ooley, leaving Mr. Crockett at the base of the tree, returned home to get an axe. The old bear remain- ed all night with Mr. Crockett, and when Mr. Ooley came back the next morning, they captured one cub and killed the other two and the old bear.
CHAPTER XV1.
HIGHLAND TOWNSHIP.
HE first old pioneer settlers in this locality were, old Isaac Stalcup, Ephraim Owen, John H. Owen, Evan Owen, John L. Bus- kirk, Colonel Jack Stokely, James Jackson, Timothy Jessup, Robert Baber and John Kelley. Afterwards came William J. McIntosh, Jacob McIntosh, Moore McIntosh, Samuel Kelshaw, Thomas Osborn, Edward Buckner, Richard Buckner, David Deem, Rev. Samuel Meddley, Dr. Si- mon Snyder, Bailey McCutchan, Grandfather Baber, George Baber, John Hunter, John Cloud, William Bland, Jesse Martin, etc., etc.
NAMES OF CREEKS AND BRANCHES.
Richland creek was named for its good bottom lands ; Beech creek for its many becch trees ; Kelley's creek for John Kelley, its first settler ; Jack's creek was named by old Uncle Henry Jackson ; Goose creek took its name from the old women fossing about geesc.
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The Early History of Greene County.
Indian Camp branch was named by [ cinda and Mary A. Hunter, Mour- the old settlers, on account of the many Indian camps, where Elisha McDaniel now lives ; Big Branch was named for its great number of big springs ; Mosquito-Branch for its wet bottom lands ; Dead Hoss branch Was first called the Jewel branch, for old Mr. Jewell, its first settler .- The Jewell branch was afterwards named Dead Hoss, by a party of sur- veyors on the old central canal, down on the east side of White river. The Dover branch was named for its first settler, Neely Dover ;- and it is said of him that he moved from that house, and left an old hen sitting ; changing his location twice during his absence. He finally returned to the first place before the hen had succeeded in hatching out her brood, thereby giv- ing his wife a chance to take care of the chickens. The Beaver pond, near Aunt Katie Ballard's, was nam- ed by the old settlers on account of the dams made in the slough, by an- cient water beavers,
The Baber Hill, seven miles from Bloomfield, on the Newark road, was named for its first settler, old grand- father Baber, father of George and Robert Baber. William Baber and wife lived, died and were buried there. Uncle Jack Baber was born on the old Major Sarver farm, just southwest of that old cemetery.
The old Rock Bullet-Laidle, where the Indians used to melt lead, was found fifty years ago, and is yet in the same place, half mile east of James McCutchan's, in the old field of Charley Turley.
Our first school was taught by Samuel Dorrity, Esq., on the farm of old Johnny Cloud, near where Peter Ressner now lives. It was an old fogy subscription school of three months, and the teacher's wages were thirteen dollars per month. The names of the pupils were Bice and Anderson Cloud, John and Andy Hunter, Wash and Jack Baber, Ri- ley and Bluford Greves, Darrel Long, Edmond Martin, Celia Martin, Lu-
nen and Kissie Bland, Susanna and Cynthia Hunter, and Elizabeth Mar- -- tin. This little old school house was made of round logs, without floor, clapboard roof, stick and mud chim- ney, and no glass except a few milk bottles. We had a small window, pasted over with greased paper, and our desk was a puncheon, placed on two pegs in the wall ; the seats were benches, made of split poplar poles, with flat side up. The second school was taught by George R. H. Moore, at the old Bethlehem log church, on the farm of Simon Bland, with many pupils, among whom were Simon Bland, Mournen and Kissie Bland, George and James McCutchan, Dor- rel and Sexton Long, Marinda Long, Elizabeth Martin, Hunter's girls and others. Our third school was taught by Samuel R. Tincher, in a log house, on Israel Wilkie's farm, thirty years ago.
We had a few old women medical advisors in those days: Aunt Ra- chel Jessup, Granny . McCutchan, Lucy Arthur, Grandmother Hunter and Dr. Simon Snyder; and, by the way, Dr. Snyder was a practical faith doctor, it being said of him that he could cure a person just as well where he wasn't as where he was.
Charles Beasley built the first and second distill-houses, and made whis- ky.
Dr. Snyder built a little tub-wheel, water-mill, on the Mosquito branch, and afterwards sold it to George Walker. Walker's mill ground about eight bushels of corn per day.
Old Sammy Jewell built a horse mill.
At all elections and general mus- ters. the candidates must and did treat the people to whisky, and when they succeeded in getting up & big figlit at any place near here, big Isaac Stalcup and Benjamin Stalcup were the principal bullies in it.
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