USA > Indiana > Boone County > Early life and times in Boone County, Indiana, giving an account of the early settlement of each locality, church histories, county and township officers from the first down to 1886 Biographical sketches of some of the prominent men and women. > Part 2
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40
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EARLY LIFE AND TIMES IN
The Thorntown and Strawtown Road passes through this township from east to west. This has been a road or " trail " for sixty years. The number of voters in 1886 was 359; the number of school children in 1884 was 527 ; number of school houses, 10; population in 1870 was 1,220; in 1880 it was 1,487. The following persons have served as Township Trustees : John Caldwell, Wm. Wylie, John M. Burns, Ephraim Davis, Reuben Eaton, Wm. Brenton, A. C. Kern, J. C. Tomlinson. Mr. A. C. Kern was elected the second time in 1886 and is now acting.
EAGLE TOWNSHIP.
This township occupies the southeast corner of the county. It contains twenty-six sections, and is drained by Big and Little Eagle Creeks. They unite near Zionsville and from there Big Eagle flows southwest and leaves the county near where the old Sheets mill site was in section ten. Fishback rises in Worth Township, flows in a southern direction through Eagle, and leaves the township south of Royalton in section eight. The Long Branch comes in from Hamilton County on the east, enters Big Eagle east of Zionsville and below the old . " Dye mill dam." Eagle is somewhat undulating along the above streams. There is comparatively little waste land how- ever in the township. As a rule it is well cultivated, and the soil responds well to the agriculturist. It is nearly sixty-five years since it was first settled, and it was here the first settle- ment was made, possibly excepting Thorntown, about the year 1823 or 1824. Among those who first came to Eagle Town- ship are the following: Patrick H. Sullivan, Jacob Sheets, John Sheets, David Hoover, Austin Davenport, Jesse Daven- port, Nathan Carr, Wm. Carr, James McCord, John MeCord, Frederick Lowe, George Dye, Jacob Stone King, John King, Jas. Harmon, Wm. and John Harmon. Coming soon after we find the names of Washington and Thos. P. Miller, Benj.
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. BOONE COUNTY, INDIANA.
Cox, Peter Gregory, Wm. and Jas. Marsh, Daniel and Hugh G. Larimore, Elijah Cross, the Duzans, Dodsons, Klinglers. Robert Thomas, James McCoy, John and Nelson Shaw, Wm. Smith, Daniel Lewis, Elias Bishop, John Ray, Noah Burkit, Wm. E. Lane, Joseph Bishop, Wm. Bishop, John Shelburne, Jerry Washburn, L. Tansel, John Wolf and Hiram Wolf. The first electien was held at the house of David Hoover, when Jacob Sheets was elected Justice of the Peace. He was succeeded by T. P. Miller, Wm. Smith and Wm. Farlin. Rev. Jas. McCoy was the first preacher in the township. He was a Baptist minister, and it was as early as 1825 when he first preached in the township. His first meetings were held in the house of David Hoover. The first probate court was held at the house of David Hoover in November, 1830. David Hoover was the first clerk and Austin Davenport the first sheriff of the county. The first mill was built by Jacob Sheets on Eagle Creek. Geo. Dye built a grist mill on Eagle Creek, near where Zionsville now stands. There was a small mill built on " Irishman's Run," near where Wm. S. Smith now lives. Duzan's mill on Eagle Creek may also be classed among the early mills of the township. John Burton built a sawmill on Little Eagle Creek in 1840.
The first marriage in the county was that of Elijah Cross and Mary Hoover in December, 1831. Mrs. Cross is yet liv- ing at Zionsville on a part of the farm entered by her father, David Hoover, in 1824. Mr. Cross died in 1869, and is buried at Crown Hill, Indianapolis. Eagle Village for many years was the voting place, and here it was where most of the bus- iness was done of the Eagle Creek country, extending into Hamilton County on the east and Marion County on the south. This continued until the completion of the Indiana- polis & Lafayette Railroad in 1852, when Zionsville sprang up one mile farther west. This was a death knell to Eagle Village. It was here that the " Eagle Village Light Infantry" was wont to rally every month. Capt. J. F. Daugherty was
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EARLY LIFE AND TIMES IN
in command. Among the early ministers were Jas. McCoy, Geo. Dodson, Isaac Cotton, Robert Thomas, Gen. Dye, Geo. Boroman, Geo. W. Duzan, Wm. Klingler and Win. Gouge, all now deceased. The principal cemeteries of the township are one at Eagle Village, one just south of Zionsville, formerly called the Bishop graveyard, and the third one at Eagle Creek Baptist Church. The fourth on the Michigan road, near where the old Bethel Church formerly stood, known as the Bethel graveyard. It is located on the land entered by Austin Dav- enport. He as well as many other pioneers are buried there. The first brick house was built on the Michigan road between Clarksiown and Eagle Village, in the year 1835, by Austin Davenport. The population of Eagle in 1870 was 2,320, in 1880 it was 2,284, and in 1887 estimated at 2,500. Number of school children in 1884 was 414; number of voters in 1886 was 542; number of school houses are 10, two of which are brick and eight frame. Around the early history of Eagle cluster many interesting reminiscences, for it was here the first cabin was built, the first marriage ceremony said, and the first mill built. Most of the actors have been summoned to another world. We can not afford to forget those names so dear to us all. Such men and women were needed at that time, and they came and filled their places. It took courage to undergo such privations and hardships. The young know compara- tively little of the trials our early settlers underwent. The following are the early doctors: William N. Duzan, H. G. Larimore, Warner F. Sampson, S. W. Rodman, Jeremiah Larimore, N. Crosby, Geo. W. Duzan and Dr. Sellers. The following have served as trustees: W. W. Atchison, A. J. Sanders, Manson Head, J. D. Swaim, S. M. White, Paul D. Leibhardt, T. J. Shelburn, and T. P. Mills, now acting.
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BOONE COUNTY, INDIANA.
HARRISON TOWNSHIP.
This township occupies a place in the south tier of town- ships. It is bounded on the south by Hendricks County, on the east by Perry Township, on the west by Jackson Town- ship, and on the north by Center Township. It contains nearly twenty-four sections, about one section being taken off' the northwest corner. If this corner was full it would be square, and would contain twenty-five sections. The surface is level to a great extent. The headwaters of Eel River have their source here, flowing out of and through the extensive prairie known as "Stoner's Prairie." It was thought at one time that the above lands could not be cultivated, but that idea has long since exploded and many acres are now profita- bly tilled, An extensive system of drainage has been intro- duced with good results. New Brunswick and Milledgeville are both in Harrison. They each contain several business houses, churches, postoffices, etc. The population of the township in 1880 was 1,401; number of school houses, 9; number of school children in 1884 was 414; number of brick houses, 4; number of frames, 5. Harrison was settled about the year 1834 by the following persons: James Dale, George Johnson, William Butey, R. M. Cumels, Philip Sicks, Caleb Sherley, John Scott, A. Hillis, John McCormack, William Abner, William Joseph, Nick. Yount, James Chit- wood, William and James Edwards, Joseph and George Keeth, Fleming Dickerson, Bennet Cline, Jacob Huff, Geo. Walters, Jos. Shepherd, Nathaniel Scott, G. W. Scott, Geo. Sheeks, J. Ingram, Noah Chitwood, Seth Goodwin, Daniel Turner, Jacob Dinsmore. J. B. Fear, Daniel Logan, W. H. Crose, Wm. Britton, the Shirleys. The first election was held at the cabin of W. Logan in 1836, when Wm. Buttery was elected Justice of the Peace. Among the early marriages were Wm. John- son to Isabella Dale, G. T. Buttery to Barbara Scott, and Jeremiah Craven to Miss James. The first land entered was
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EARLY LIFE AND TIMES IN
by James S. Dale, who also built the first cabin. The first death was the wife of David James in March, 1837. The first settlers of Harrison Township had many disadvantages to contend with. The surface of the land was covered with water, and where there was no prairie a heavy growth of tim- ber and brush confronted them, and now and then a den of rattlesnakes chimed in to make music for them. Here, as well as in other townships, the first meetings were held in priv- ate houses. The first meeting was held at the house of Geo. H. Johnson in 1835, where a few pioneers gathered to hear a Baptist minister preach. Early meetings were also held at the house of Geo. Sheeks. Soon after a log house was built, which saw its day and then gave way to a more modern struct- ure. Harrison Township now contains several frame edifices of different orders, where the citizens gather to hear the gos- pel preached. The population of Harrison in 1870 was 1,203 ; in 1880 it was 1,401. The number of voters in 1886 was 332. The following have served as Trustees : J. M. Shaw, Samp- son Sheeks, W. H. Clements, G. W. Scott, Ora Knowlton, Jas. H. Pinnell, M. P. Higgins, W. H. Ragsdale, H. C. Ulin, J. S. Black, J. H. Acton, John Huffman, and Samuel Scott, now acting, was elected April. 1886.
1 JACKSON TOWNSHIP.
This township occupies the southwest corner of the county. It is bounded on the south by Hendricks County, on the west by Montgomery County, on the north by Jefferson Township, and on the east by Harrison and Center Townships. It contains a little less than forty-eight sections, being a little deficient at the northeast corner. Jackson Township is drained by Eel River and Raccoon Creek, the former leaving the county and entering Hendricks County at the south line of section eleven, a short distance southeast of Jamestown. Raccoon Creek flows in a southwestern direction, leaving the township in
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BOONE COUNTY, INDIANA.
section thirty-one, near where the Indiana, Bloomington & Western Railroad enters the county of Montgomery. The above railroad enters Jackson Township at the south line on section eleven, passing through Jamestown, bearing to the north of west, and leaving the county and township in section thirty-one. Without doubt, Jackson is one of the best town- ships in the county. The land along the above streams can be excelled in no place, much less in Boone County. Good husbandry is noticeable in every direction, brought about by a well-directed system of drainage. Jackson originally was the best timbered township in the county, if one may judge from what is yet standing and from stumps of trees cut down- timber of the most valuable kind-such as walnut, poplar, oak, etc. There is yet (in 1886) standing on the farm of Mrs. Ashley, three miles northwest of Jamestown, one of the finest poplar groves in the state. It is a grand sight to behold those monarchs of the forest. But the ax is, or soon will be, whet- ted that will lay them low, as well as others of the same kind. A stump of a poplar tree, on the farm of W. H. Coombs, measures nine feet. This tree, when standing, was said to be one of the finest specimens of its kind in the township. The proposed Anderson & St. Louis Railroad will, if ever finished, pass through Jackson Township in a south westerly direction, entering at section eighteen, passing through Advance, and leaving the county and township at section thirty. James- town, one of the earliest settled places in the county, is, and has been for years, the principal trading point in the town- ship, as well as the voting precinct, a separate account of which will be found in another part of this work, under the head of "Sketch of Jamestown." Advance, mentioned as being located on the Anderson & St. Louis Railroad, is a voting place, and contains several business houses, postoffice, church, etc. Although a new place, it has quite a local trade, and, on the completion of the railroad, will be a place of some importance. It is located in the northern part of the town- ship, midway between the east and west lines, and is six miles
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EARLY LIFE AND TIMES IN
due north of Jamestown. Jackson Township was settled about the year 1828. Among the first to arrive, we find the following : Young Hughs, Lewis Dewees, John and Washing- ton Gibson, William Farlow, Isaac Miller, David Bush, John Porter, Robert Davis, Andrew Hudson, Alijah Brown, Sam- uel Jessie, Andrew Long, George and William Walters, Wil- liam White, Hiram Young, Jacob Johns, and John Whitley. This pioneer band were joined a few years later by the follow- ing persons : The Headys, Niceleys, Emmerts, John McLean, John T. Hurt, John Crisman, John Cunningham, Mieken Hurt, Thomas Caldwell, Samuel Miller, James Davis, Robert Walker, William Duncan, Isaac M. Shelly, Anderson Trotter, John Airhart, Henry Airhart, Isaac H. Smith, W. H. Coombs, S. P. Dewees, W. B. Gibson, Dr. George L. Burke, Samuel Penry, Samuel Cunningham, Elisha Jackson, Henry B. Myers, W. W. Emmet, and the Galvins.
George Walker, one of the earliest ministers, held meeting at the house of John Porter, and it is said this was the first religious meeting held in Jackson Township. Mr. Walker was a Baptist. The first house erected was by the Methodists, in 1832, called Brown's Chapel, named in honor of the late Thomas Brown. There are now many neat and well-located houses of worship throughout the township. The school- houses are also good indicators of thrift and progression. No township has more advancement than this in every direction. The vast forest has given way to well-cultivated fields, The people now living in Jackson have every reason to be proud of their homes. It has taken labor to bring about the above results. The hands that felled the trees and cleared the fields are folded in rest. Their graves may be seen in different parts of the township. A few remain among us.
The population of Jackson Township in 1870 was 1,200. In 1880 it was 1,162. The number of voters in 1886 was 757. Number of school children in 1884 was 726. The school houses number fifteen, of which nine are brick and six frame.
The following have served as Trustees : Eli Miller, James
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BOONE COUNTY, INDIANA.
1
Sandlin, James H. Kerby, F. C. Galespie, John McLain, Henry Airhart, J. P. Long, W. S. Laferty, W. H. Hostetter, G. W. Shockly, F. C. Gilesby, and Marion Porter, now serv- ing, elected April, 1886.
JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP.
This township occupies a place in the west tier of town- ships. It is bounded on the south by Jackson, on the west by Montgomery County, on the north by Sugar Creek and Washington Townships, and on the west by Center. A part of it was originally embraced in the Indianreserve. Jefferson contains about forty-six sections, two sections and a half out of the northeast corner makes that much less than forty-eight. square sections. The township is drained by Wolf Creek and Walnut fork of Sugar Creek. The former flows in a north- western direction entering Sugar Creek Township. The latter flows west, leaving the township at section thirty, entering Montgomery County near the town of Shannondale. Dover, near the center, is now and has been for years the voting place and trading point in Jefferson. The trade is, however, divided between Lebanon, Thorntown and Shannondale. To say the township as a rule is well cultivated would not be saying too much. Naturally of good soil, assisted by good husbandry, good crops are annually gathered, unless drouth or wet weather preventing.
It was first settled about the year 1829, and in the fall of that year James Scott entered the first land. Next came Wm. Young. In 1830 Michael D. Campbell, Alle Lane, Ed. Cox, Wm. Hill, John G. Thompson, Lewis Denny, Win. M. Mc- Burrows, Abraham Utter, R. Cox, Clayburn Cain. A little later came the Caldwells, Taylors, John Hill, Adam Kern, John Stephenson, Wm. Darrough, Thos. M. Burris, Samuel Moore, Gid. Jackson, Rual Jackson, Sampson Bowen, Erskins, Threilkelds, Jas. A. Thompson, James Davis, Irwins, Samuel Hollingsworth. Later came Nathan Cory, Manial Heistand,
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EARLY LIFE AND TIMES IN
the Bowmans, Styhes, W'm. Sanford, Jesse Jackson, W. G. Cory, La Folletts, Matthew Harris, Elias Garner, J. H. Potts, George F. Campbell, Madison Erskin, M. B. Porter, W. W. Alexander, David Caldwell, Elijah M. Denny.
Clayburn Young conducted the first religious services at his brother's house (Wm. Young) in the year 1831. For many years there was no church here, and the meetings were held at the private houses of the early settlers. There are now many good, commodious edifices located in various places in the township. A separate account will be given in another part of this work.
William Young was the first justice elected in the town- ship. The first election was held at the house of Michael D. Campbell, in the spring of 1833, at which time William Mc- Burrows was elected Justice of the Peace. The population of the township in 1870 was 1,675, in 1880 it was 1,998. Num- ber of school houses in 1884, 13; number of school children in 1884, 1,095; number of voters in 1886, 560. The Indian- apolis, Cincinnati & Louisville Railroad crosses the northeast corner of the township, or rather the corners, first on one corner and then a short distance across the southwest corner of Washington then across another corner of Jefferson. per- haps not more than a mile in length in the township, entering Sugar Creek at the extreme southeast corner.
The following persons have served as township trustees : James H. Potts, Manial Hustand, J. V. Young, J. M. Erskin, Wm. A. Harvey, Joseph A. Campbell, F. M. La Follett, Lee H. Miles, and George T. Young, elected April, 1886.
MARION TOWNSHIP.
Marion Township occupies the north corner of the County. It is bounded on the east by Hamilton County, on the south . by Union, on the west by Clinton Township and on the north by Clinton County. It contains forty-six sections. It is drained by the headwaters of Big Eagle flowing south, 1
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BOONE COUNTY, INDIANA.
leaving the township at section twenty-three, where it enters Union Township. The Michigan road passes through the entire township, bearing to the northwest, entering at the south side midway of the township, leaving at the northwest corner, where it enters Clinton County. The land is fully up to the average of other sister townships, and in fact in any other improvements, such as ditching, buildings, roads, school houses, etc. Big Springs, on the line between Marion and Union, is the principal trading place and postoffice, and has been for many years. The township originally was covered with the finest growth of timber, and that of the best and most valuable kinds, such as poplar, oak, walnut and ash. The Air Line Railroad cuts off a little corner at the extreme northeast, and where Terhune, a new town, is located. It is a trading place, also containing a postoffice and other mechanical shops, stores, etc. Kimberlain and Slab Town are both small villages. The latter on the Michigan Road, in the south part of the township. Among the first to move in this township were Edward Jackson and Caleb Richardson, who came in 1831, settled on Big Eagle, followed soon after by William and John Parr. Alfred Srite, William Lane and Lewis Harris settled in the south part of the township in 1833. In the spring of 1834 came Mr. Turpin, John Burns, Milton Hickson. Settled in 1835, Joseph McCoy, John Runo. A little later came the Stephensons. Jacob Johns, followed by Samuel Evans, Jesse Baker, Joseph Kimbal, Robert McNulty, John Wright, John Beard, John King, Samuel Moore, John Moore, John Wright, James Moore, Smith Castor, Robert Bell, Richard Cornell, Samuel Meyers.
Perhaps the first school taught in Marion was in the winter of 1833. In the year 1836 a log school house was built near Big Springs, and from that time until this the school matters have moved along, steadily progressing, until now beautiful and well arranged houses dot the township, happy, well clad children flocking to school in every direction, with books, slates and other necessary school outfit. In 1833 a few strag-
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EARLY LIFE AND TIMES IN
ling urchins might have been seen trudging through the snow to the little log house in the woods, a goose quill and a spelling book-a complete supply of the then needed equipment. Marion has made similar progress in other directions as well. Good roads have taken the place of the blazed paths ; the wild waters are confined to ditches; the few truck patches have given way to well cultivated fields that spread out in every direction.
The population of Marion in the year 1870, was 1,786; in 1880 it was 2,307. Number of voters in 1886 was 726; num- ber of school children in 1885 was 899; number of school houses thirteen. The following have served as Trustees : Richard Cornell, P. E. McNeal, James A. Richardson, Joseph N. Sample, J. A. J. Sims, Robert Bell, William Bell, W. F. Cobb and Josiah Stevenson, now acting, elected April, 1886.
PERRY TOWNSHIP.
This is the smallest township in the county. It contains less than twenty sections, being a little deficient at the north- west corner to make it full twenty sections. It is bounded on the west by Harrison Township, on the south by Hendricks County, on the east by Eagle and Worth Townships, and on the north by Center Township. The principal water course is White Lick; flowing south it enters Hendricks County, leav- ing Perry in section eleven. Fayette is located on this stream, and is the only town in the township. Here is the voting place as well as the center of trade. A separate account will be given under the head of "Sketch of Fayette." This town- ship was settled as early as 1830. Among the early settlers were Edmund Shirly, Jesse Turner, Alexander Fortner, Aaron Smith, Jno. K. Edwards and his father, the Doyles, Eli Smith and his father, the Slaigles, the Smiths, i. e. D. W. and B. H. Smith and their father, the Glendenings, Peter Keney, the Sullivans, the Dickersons, the Chamberses, G. W.
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BOONE COUNTY, INDIANA.
Lumkins, Daniel Leap, Thos. Leap, E. Wollen and E. Thornly. Mrs. Thornly, the oldest woman in the county, is yet living ; she is ninety-one years old. These settlers were soon joined by the Wilsons, Elijah S. Williams, Thos. Jack- son, the Penningtons and Jos. Belt. It is said that a Mr. Schenck taught the first subscription school in Perry Town- ship in the year 1836. The Baptists held the first religious meetings in private houses. A few years later a society was formed known as " Mt. Tabor." A house was built by that society, and now it is known far and wide as Old Mt. Tabor. (See a sketch of it in another place under the head of "Sketch of Mt. Tabor Baptist Church.") Among the ministers here were Isaac Leap, Peter Keney, and the elder Edwards. Shepherdsville, in the eastern part of the township, is a small place. Mr. Glendenen is the proprietor of the store here. There is a postoffice also, which is a great convenience to the people in this part of Perry. The soil is generally good and is in a high state of cultivation. Ditching is going on in every direction. Many tasty residences are springing up. The roads are also improving. One of the oldest roads in the county passes through Perry Township, known as the Indian- apolis and Lafayette State Road. It is now and has been for sixty years a highway very much traveled. The population of Perry Township in 1870 was 1,209; in 1880 it was 1,240. The number of voters in 1886 was 257. The number of school children in 1884 was 402. There are eight school houses in the township; two are of brick and six frame. This is up to the year 1886. The following have served as Trus- tees : J. B. Howard, Edward Woolen, John W. Doyle, Isaac Leap, William Schenck, Eli Smith, Peter Keney, John K. Edwards, Preston Smith, A. J. Smith and Thomas Jackson, elected April, 1886.
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EARLY LIFE AND TIMES IN
SUGAR CREEK TOWNSHIP.
Sugar Creek Township occupies the northeast corner of the county. It is six miles from east to west, and five and one-half miles from north to south. It contains thirty-three sections, and is bounded as follows : On the north by Clinton County, on the east by Washington Township, on the south by Jefferson Township, and on the west by Montgomery County. It is drained principally by Sugar Creek, which enters the township from Washington Township at section twenty-five. Flowing west it leaves the township at section thirty-one, and enters Montgomery County. About one-half of the township lies on each side of the creek. The Indianapolis, Cincinnati & Lafayette Railroad passes through the township, entering at the southeast corner. It passes through Thorntown and leaves the township near where sections sixteen and seventeen unite. Wolf Creek flows northwest and enters Sugar Creek near the center of the township. Prairie Creek enters Sugar Creek at. a short distance northeast of Thorntown. Morri- son's Creek flows from the northeast and enters Sugar Creek at section thirty, on the west side of the town- ship. Some of the finest land to be found anywhere can be seen here. That part known far and wide as "Sugar Plain " is the garden spot of the township and perhaps county. The township is number one as a rule, and coupled with this we find it is highly cultivated, has excellent buildings, commod- ious barns and other evidences of thrift and prosperity. Orig- inally there was some of the finest timber here, such as walnut, poplar, oak and ash. A few remaining trees and stumps tell what it must have been in its former state. Thorntown, the only town in the township, located on Sugar Creek, is a town of some note. In another place we will say more about it under the head of "Sketch of Thorntown." The township up to the year 1828 was in the Indian Reserve, a strip of land ten miles square, occupied and owned by a tribe of Miami
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