USA > Indiana > Madison County > Historical Sketches and Reminiscences of Madison County, Indiana: A Detailed History of the. > Part 58
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The first church erected in the township was built by the Baptists in 1834. It was situated half a mile west of New Columbus, and for many years afforded the members of that denomination a comfortable place of worship. The early ministers here were Nathaniel Richmond, William Judd and Morgan McQuay. Among the active membership were Caleb Biddle and Ira Davis, at whose homes meetings were held for a number of years previous to the building of a place of worship. Owing to removals from the township and other causes the society declined in membership, and in the course of time the building was made the object, or target, of every mischievous person who passed that way seized with an incli- nation to throw a club or stone. The building was finally re- moved to a different locality and devoted to secular uses. Proper mention of the other churches in the township is made elsewhere.
MILLS.
In 1835 a man of the name of Bailey Jackson began the erection of a sawmill on the south bank of Fall creek, at New Columbus, but abandoned the enterprise before it was com- pleted. James Peden afterward purchased the site and com- pleted Jackson's undertaking in 1843. This mill was operated
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
successfully for a great many years and finally went the way of all the water mills in the county. It was the first mill built in the township and furnished the lumber for the first frame buildings erected in this part of the county. Its last owner was Adam Forney.
The next mill erected in the township was built in 1841, by Isaac and Edmund Franklin. It was also a saw-mill and was situated on the north bank of Fall Creek on section 15. In 1843 they began the erection of a grist mill near the same site which was completed the following year. These mills were known as the " Franklin Mills," and did a lucrative business up to within a few years of their destruction by fire in 1888. They were owned and operated by many different persons in their day, the last owner and proprietor being James K. Lawson. The dam across Fall Creek is still stand- ing where these mills were once situated and is still visited in season by lovers of piscatorial sport from many parts of the county. In fact, Fall Creek at this point until recent years, was one of the most famous fishing grounds in the county.
In 1857 Blake & Hudson built a saw-mill near the pres- ent site of Markleville. This was the first mill run by steam in the township and was successfully operated until 1863, when the machinery was sold and shipped to Frankton. Abisha Lewis and John Houston built the next steam saw-mill in the township in 1872. It cost about $3,000 and at the time of its erection was the best in the county. Two years after it was built a shingle-machine was added to the mill which proved a profitable investment. This mill is still in operation at Markleville, and is owned by the Markle Brothers.
Soon after the completion of the southern extension of the C. W. & M. Railway (Big Four) through the township, a saw-mill was built at Emporia, two miles north of Markle- ville. The mill is owned and operated by William and Edward Trueblood.
As there is but little valuable timber left in this part of the county, it is safe to say that it will be but a short time until this class of mills will have disappeared from the town- ship as they have in other localities.
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
With the increase of population the demand for enlarged school facilities became more urgent and the log school houses of the township began to disappear. In 1854 several frame
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
school buildings were erected at different points and the school law of 1851 was thereafter observed in the regulation of the schools until it was supplanted by the present school system. In 1878 the frame buildings began to disappear, two brick structures being erected that year, one of which was at Markle- ville and the other at Ovid. Each of these buildings cost $1,- 100. In 1877-8, three more brick buildings were erected. There are at this time ten buildings and eleven teachers in the township. The school enumeration for 1858 in the township showed that there were 584 school children ; in 1874 the total number was 588 and this year it is 560, including both Markle- ville and Ovid.
CHURCHES.
There are at the present time in the township five relig- ious societies and six churches. In 1834 a Baptist society was organized at the home of Mrs. Rebecca Collier about a. mile and a half south-east of where Markleville now stands. This society at the time of its organization was composed of thir- teen members but grew rapidly and in 1852 a place of worship was erected. This building was used as a place of worship until 1872, when it was torn down and another of larger di- mensions erected by the society about a mile further north. J. F. Collier donated the land upon which both buildings were erected and also served the congregation as pastor for a num- ber of years, being assisted by Revs. O. P. Hawkins, J. E. Ellison and T. S. Lyons. This church has a large membership.
CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
In 1848 a meeting of a number of members of this denom- ination was held at the Baptist church west of New Colum- bus (Ovid) and a society was organized, the first eldership being composed of Eli Hodson, Andrew Bray, J. I. Seward and Jesse Van Winkle. The society continued to hold meet- ings here and elsewhere in the township until 1852, when the congregation concluded to build a place of worship, which was accordingly done, the church being situated two miles east of Columbus. About two years after its completion it was destroyed by fire ; but the membership being large another building was immediately erected at a cost $1,400. It was known as White Chapel. This church organization flourished for a number of years under the pastoral care of Elder Daniel Franklin and others, but owing to deaths, removals from the 43
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
township and other causes, the membership declined and their place of worship passed into the hands of Thornton Rector, who converted it into a place of residence.
GERMAN BAPTIST CHURCH.
This society was organized in 1860 by Elder George Hoover, and in 1878 a place of worship was erected a short distance north of Columbus. The building is a brick structure and cost $2,500. The membership of this church was also large at one time, but has been gradually declining for many years. Regular services are no longer held here.
METHODIST CHURCH.
Ministers of the Methodist faith were the first to hold re- ligious services in the township. Other denominations had larger memberships, however, and it was not until 1856 that the Methodist society erected a church just south of Markle- ville. Previous to this meetings were held at the homes of the membership and in an old log schoolhouse near the site of the present edifice. Prominent among the active membership of this society in the past were Stephen Noland, Ralph Williams, L. D. Reger and James Small. The society at the present time is in a fairly prosperous condition.
CHURCH OF GOD.
In 1887, the year following the coming of Mrs. Maria Woodworth, the noted female evangelist, to the county, a number of her followers organized a society at Markleville and built a church. Regular services were held there for a time and the society flourished; but through various causes un- necessary to mention, interest in the work began to wane and regular services were discontinued. At this time the congre- gation is without a minister.
LUTHERAN CHURCH.
This society was organized at New Columbus (Ovid) in the '50s, and in 1861 a place of worship was erected just west of the village. The Lutherans are not strong numerically in the township and consequently regular services are dispensed with.
THE UNION CHURCH.
About 1876 the Baptists, Methodists and Christians in the vicinity of New Columbus entered into an agreement to build
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
a place of worship, the same to be used at stated times, or alternately, by each denomination. The church is situated near the village on the west and is known as the " Union Church." While any of the three denominations is entitled to worship in the building, the Christians have taken charge of it and at the present time hold services there exclusively.
FRATERNITIES.
On the 24th of May, 1854, Ovid Lodge No. 164, A. F. & A. M., was organized at New Columbus, the following con- stituting the charter membership : Hiram Peden, R. E. Poin- dexter, John J. Justice, David Fesler, Solomon Pool, James Bid- dle, John McCallister, Joel Pratt, Josepbus Poindexter, Will- iam Sebrell, John Hicks, B. W. Cooper, Garrett McCallister and John Slaughter, all of whom had been initiated irto the mysteries of the order in the Masonic Lodge at Pendleton, the parent lodge of all the Masonic organizations in the county. The meetings of Ovid Lodge were held in a two-story log building on the west side of New Columbus until 1860 when a new building was erected by the organization. The meet- ings of the Lodge have been held in this building ever since.
The new lodge room was dedicated on the 14th of July, 1860, Joseph Eastman, S. B. Irish and William Roach officia- ting as Grand officers for the occasion. Following the dedi- catory ceremonies there was an open-air dinner, speeches and a general good time. Of the charter members of this lodge Hiram Peden, now and for many years past a resident of An- derson, alone survives.
RURAL LODGE.
On May 24, 1864, Rural Lodge No. 324, A. F. & A. M., was organized at Markleville, the charter members being, Samuel Harden, John Justice, David Johnson, John Boram, E. B. Garrison, Levi McDaniel, Daniel Cook, Samuel Cory and W. B. Markle. This lodge held its meetings for a year in the second story of Samuel Ilarden's residence, when it moved to a room above a shoe-shop owned by W. A. Lynch. Meetings were held here for a number of years when a lodge room was erected over a store owned by Hardy & Lewis. This continued to be the home of the lodge until March, 1879, when it surrendered its charter. The lodge has never been re- vived, the membership preferring to attend Ovid Lodge.
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
MARKLEVILLE LODGE I. O. O. F.
On November 18, 1875, Markleville Lodge No. 502, I. O. O. F., was organized'with the following charter members : A. J. Blake, Joseph P. Blake, S. F. Hardy, J. R. Leakey, Joseph Wilkinson, A. Van Dyke, George Cooper and Reuben Wil- kinson. This lodge flourished for a while when it gradually went down and finally surrendered its charter.
STATISTICAL MATTERS-TOWNS AND VILLAGES.
The population of the township in 1850, was 1,309; in 1860 it was 1,458; in 1870 it was 1,576; in 1880 it was 1,663, and in 1890 it was exactly what it was in 1880. The total value of lands as returned this year by the assessor is $586,- 170; value of lands and improvements, $648,095. Total value of taxables in the township, $820,365.
NEW COLUMBUS (OVID).
This town was laid out by Abraham Adams in 1834. It has a beautiful location, being situated upon a hill just south of Fall Creek. It is six miles south of Anderson, and at the present time has about one hundred inhabitants. The town was given the name of New Columbus by its founder, but on account of the annoyance occasioned in the delivery of mail, there being a town of the same name in Bartholomew county, the name of Ovid was given the postoffice when it was estab- lished here in 1887. Previous to that year the citizens of the village and surrounding country went to Huntsville to post and receive their mail. The first postmaster was William Miller ; the next was William Gray, who was followed by James Peden and his two sons, Joseph and Hiram, in the order named. Hiram Peden was succeeded by George Hod- son. The present postmaster is William Carmody. The first merchant in the village was Hiram Burch. William Miller succeeded him. J. M. McClanahan was also one of the early merchants. The first physician to locate here was Dr. C. Ilorn. Other early physicians were Drs. Parry, Smiley, Hildreth, Pratt, Cooper, Bair, Troy, Edwins, Rider and Myers. The first and only tannery in the township was located here. It was built in 1887 by Henry Armstrong and Bartholomew Fort, but was not a success and was finally abandoned.
About a mile east of the village, Andrew Bray built a distillery in 1838, which he operated for a number of years.
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
As previously stated, New Columbus was for many years the only voting place in the township, and whenever an election occurred there was more or less turbulence. It is related by old-timers still living in the vicinity that an election seldom occurred without being attended by as high as fifty or sixty fights. The fighting would sometimes begin before the vot- ing and would continue at brief intervals until after the polls had closed. Those days have passed, however, and there is not a more peaceable or law-abiding community in the county to-day than this. The spirit of politics is quite as lively as it was in the old days, but the argument of physical strength has given way to more rational methods. It is not known save to a few of the old-timers who still remain that the town was once incorporated, but such is the fact, as will be seen by the following :
The Board of Commissioners ordered an election held in New Columbus on the first Monday in April, 1840, to incor- porate the same as a town, as follows : " On a petition of a majority of the citizens of New Columbus, Madison county, Indiana, it is ordered that the citizens of said town hold an election in said town on the first Monday in April next, for the purpose of electing the proper officers to govern the said town as an incorporated town. And upon the citizens com- plying with this order the said town thereafter be considered as incorporated."
MARKLEVILLE.
This town derives it name from John Markle, who owned the ground upon which it stands and who laid it out in 1852. It is situated eleven miles southeast of Anderson on what is known as the southern extension of the C., W. & M. (Big Four) Railway, and two miles west of the Henry county line. What is still known as the "Pendleton and New Castle pike" passes through the town. Among the early merchants of the place may be mentioned Newton Busby, E. B. Garrison, Ralph Williams, David Johnson, J. W. Shimer, II. H. Markle, J. W. Blake, Harrison Coon, Sebrell & Blake, and Hardy & Lewis. The latter firm did a large business in the '70s and erected the finest business room in the town. Mr. S. Hardy and Mr. N. Moneyhun are the principal merchants at the present time.
The first postmaster here was John Markle. He was fol- lowed by Samuel Harden, and he in turn by William Swain,
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
David Johnson, S. F. Hardy and William Coacheran. The present incumbent is O. H. Seward. The first physicians in the place were Daniel Cook, William Hendricks, William Swain, Jacob and William P. Harter. The population in 1870 was about 100 and at the present time it is estimated at 250.
ALLIANCE.
This is a station on the southern extension of the C., W. & M. Railway (Big Four). It is situated about two and a-half miles northeast of Ovid and is one of the three places in the township at which trains stop regularly. A general store is lo- cated here, but no manufacturing enterprises, and the future · of the place is consequently not very bright.
EMPORIA.
This is a small station situated on the southern extension two miles southeast of New Columbus and two miles north of Markleville. It was located upon the completion of the rail- road to that point in 1891. There is a general store here owned by William Mauzy, also a sawmill owned and operated by William and Edward Trueblood. William Trueblood is the present postmaster.
POLEYWALK.
This is a name given to a thickly settled locality in the southwest corner of the township, about a quarter of a century ago, on account of the roads and " walks " being constructed of poles. These corduroy roads were necessary in many por- tions of the county at an early day, but with the draining of the country and the building of pikes they gave way to the new order of things.
This particular locality was noted among other things for its many social gatherings, especially dances, which the young people, after working hard all day at their domestic duties or in the fields, would attend and dance from "early candle light- ing" until dawn. Very frequently a fight would take place to vary the programme on these occasions, but as deadly weapons were seldom resorted to in those times by young men in adjusting a difficulty, no one was ever seriously injured. The boys and girls who contributed to the merry-making in this locality at the time of which we write are settled in life ; many of them the heads of families, but they still take delight in relating the experiences of their younger years.
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
THE BIG LICK.
This famous hunting resort in the early settlement of the county is located in the southeast corner of the township at the source of Lick Creek. It was a favorite hunting ground of the Indians before they left for their reservation beyond the Mississippi. Deer and other animals would come to this spot in great numbers to lick the ground which was largely impreg- nated with salt, and the hunter had but little difficulty in sup- plying his larder with an abundance of meat. Long after deer had disappeared from that part of the county the " perches" made by hunters in the forks of trees at the Big Lick, from which they would shoot unwary animals when they came to lick or drink, could be seen.
PROMINENT CITIZENS.
The following citizens of this township have been con- nected with the administration of county affairs : Thomas Bell, Representative from 1831 to 1833, Madison and Hancock counties then being a district for representative purposes. Mr. Bell also represented these counties in the State Senate from 1835 to 1841, and subsequently (1844) represented Madison county in the Lower House of the State Legislature. Thomas McCallister, Representative from 1840 to 1842; elected again in 1844 and served one term, and again elected in 1850 and served one term. Stanley W. Edwins, Representative from 1879 to 1880; Joseph Peden, Circuit Clerk from 1862 to 1865 (died before term expired) ; John W. McCallister, Sheriff from 1874 to 1875 (died before term expired) ; Randle Biddle, Sher- iff from 1876 to 1878; John McCallister, Commissioner from 1851 to 1857 (died while in office, and George R. Boram, of same township appointed to serve out his term) ; Eli Hodson, Commissioner, 1858 to 1860 ; George R. Boram, Commissioner from 1860 to 1862; Peter Fesler, Commissioner from 1862 to 1864; John McCallister, Commissioner from 1870 to 1873; G. W. Hoel, Commissioner from 1872 to 1875; A. Cunningham, Commissioner from 1891 to 1894; Allen Boram, Commissioner from 1894 to 189 -; A. W. McCallister, County Assessor from June, 1892, to 1896.
ELI HODSON, A PIONEER.
Eli Hodson, the subject of this sketch, was one of the old-time gentlemen who came to Madison county in the early
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
days of its settlement. In addition to being a prosperous and well-to-do farmer he figured extensively as a politician and leader of men in the community. He was very suave and polite in his manners, and treated his fellows with a courtesy excelled by none. In the early times he was one of the asso- ciate judges of Madison county. At that time there were three judges composing the Circuit Court-one the Circuit Judge, who was required to preside at the sittings of the court in the different counties which went to make up his judicial circuit. In addition to this there were two associate judges, elected by the people of each county in which the court held its meetings, and sat with the President of the Court. Mr. Hodson at one time was County Commissioner, and he it was who caused the proper grading of the public square to be made. He also had shade trees planted in the little park that surrounded the court house, making it one of the prettiest places in the county. In this he was assisted by Samuel B. Mattox, ex-Recorder. The trees served in the summer time as a shelter from the rays of the burning sun, and the people from all parts of the county, when in attendance at court or in the city on business, made good use of this beautiful retreat. The trees remained until 1882, during the erection of the new court house, when they were cut down and hauled away. For incurring this expenditure Samuel Mattox, who was then the Recorder of Madison county, and Mr. Hodson, were sub- jected to a good deal of abuse, and considerable loud talk was indulged in by the tax-payers for the expenses incurred in the grading of the lot and in the planting of the trees ; but as time wore on, and the little trees grew into large and stately oaks, public sentiment changed, and they who had been the sever- est in denouncing Mr. Hodson and his associates took great pleasure in reclining beneath the shade trees and singing the praises of those whom they had once denounced.
Mr. Hodson was born in Guilford county, North Carolina, in 1805. In 1828 he emigrated to Madison county and en- tered eighty acres of land in the adjoining county of Henry, and also eighty acres in the county of Madison, on which he resided until the time of his death. In January, 1830, he was married to Miss Lydia Hart, who died in 1834, and in 1836 he was married again, this time to Miss Cynthia Ayleshire. Mr. Hodson was a consistent member of the "New Light Church," and was ordained a minister of the same. He re- mained with them a few years and then he became a promi-
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nent member of the Christian Church, which was organized by the Rev. Alexander Campbell.
Mr. Hodson died at his home on the 27th day of February, 1880, at the age of seventy-four. It was said of him by his neighbors that he was always kind and obliging, and ever ready to aid his fellow-man ; that he never gave offense know- ingly to any one; that he was always a peacemaker in his neighborhood between those who indulged in unhappy wran- gles. He was universally loved and respected by all who knew him.
CARSHENA M'CALLISTER AND HIS DOGS.
Carshena McCallister is a farmer who has since his child- hood lived in Madison county. He is the son of the late John McCallister, who was once a prominent farmer and business man of Fall Creek township. Carshena, like many others, takes the world easy, and is fond of out door sports. He was in his younger days a great hunter, and kept quite a pack of hounds. In 1882, when the writer was Auditor of Madison county, in making up the tax duplicates, opposite the name of Carshena McCallister was placed by the assessor, thirteen dogs. This being an unusual number of canines for an ordi- nary farmer, it was thought to be a mistake of the assessor, and the book was laid aside until an interview could be had and the error corrected.
In a few days Carshena came into the office, and was taken into the vault in a quiet manner, and confidentially told that a great injustice had been done him by the Township Assessor. He seemed much surprised, and said that the officer was a special friend and wanted an explanation. He was told that he had been charged with thirteen dogs.
Looking around in order that no one might hear what was said, in an under tone he replied :
" Well, don't say anything about it; there are three or four he didn't get."
This was a sufficient explanation, and Carshena went home happy, and in the spring cheerfully paid the taxes on his dogs.
There are but few who have gotton more out of the rou- tine of life than Carshena McCallister, or who enjoys the world's blessings as they are presented to them more than he.
Judge Hervey Craven was the only man in the county who ever came near being a rival of his as a dog fancier. The
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
Judge always had a fine selection of all kinds and sizes of of dogs and enjoyed much sport with them.
JOSEPH WILKINSON.
Joseph Wilkinson, who was once Trustee of Adams town- - mn ship, removed to some other part of the country. He was, during his residence in this county, decidedly a man of affairs. No political meeting in his locality was complete without his aichi presence. No candidate for a county or township office stood much show if he did not stand in solidly with Joe.
He was one of the "machine" men of Adams township_ C = ip, who helped to work up a candidate's case-make and mold[ ld sentiment for him. Adams township has for years contained> sed many of the makers and unmakers of county candidates.
Joe Wilkinson did not have any religion. He ofterr ·zen argued against the thing, just for argument's sake. He was as = sa good-hearted fellow and generally did right as nearly as her he knew how, and was willing to rest his case and take his his chances. While he was Township Trustee, about 1880 to 181 =34, he had a good time running the public business. He ran it our on his own schedule and took the results as they came. At time: es the County Commissioners would " tackle " him, to curb hin m in matters over which they thought they had control, but genx erally got worsted in the fight. Joe generally had his fence = es built high, and burned the bridges behind him.
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