USA > Indiana > Madison County > Historical sketches and reminiscences of Madison county, Indiana : a detailed history of the early events of the pioneer settlement of the county, and many of the happenings of recent years, as well as a complete history of each township, to which is added numerous incidents of a pleasant nature, in the way of reminiscences, and laughable occurrences > Part 14
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Colonel Robinson was twice married, his first wife being Miss Almira F. Ballard, to whom he was united on July 8, 1856. She died shortly after his return from his service in the army. On the 29th of June, 1866, he was married to Miss Louise A. Branham. Of this union three children were born, of whom but one, a son, Chester Robinson, is living. Mrs. Robinson died in 1890.
Colonel Robinson's career from the time he entered upon the practice of his profession was active and eventful. Ile was in every relation of life a sincere and candid man, and as such was known and appreciated by his fellow citizens. He was ever foremost in every good work, whether religious or secular, and gave unstintedly of his means for the promotion of any undertaking in which he might engage. While a strict partisan in politics he so conducted himself that he enjoyed the respect and confidence of his political opponents. Socially and religiously he was a man of liberal views and generous impulses; always conscientious, he was fearless in the dis- charge of what he esteemed a duty.
In the practice of his profession he was a safe counsellor, painstaking and courteous, and while ambitious to succeed in
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any cause he might esponse, his methods were always just and honorable. As a judge he was impartial, firm, able and industrious, as is shown by his opinions published in the ofli- cial reports of the Appellate Court.
From his early manhood to the date of his death he was a prominent member of the Presbyterian church, and con- tributed largely of his means and influence to its support.
Colonel Robinson died July 28, 1892, after a brief illness induced by excessive heat. His funeral, in point of attend- ance, was the largest that has ever taken place in the county. Many prominent citizens from different portions of the State, members of the Appellate Court, the Governor and other State officials were in attendance, while his friends and fel- low-citizens from every part of the county were present in large numbers to pay their last tribute of respect to his mem- ory. Of him it can be truly said that the world was better for his having lived.
CAPT. ALONZO 1. MAKEPEACE.
Of all the men who enlisted in the service of their coun- try from Madison county during the great struggle for the preservation of the Union, none has a more interesting or thrilling history than Capt. A. 1. Makepeace. His experience if given in detail and properly elaborated, would require a volume of itself, but a brief sketch is all that can be expected or given in a work of this character, however, much the authors might desire to preserve all the incidents of his military career. Capt. Makepeace is a native of Madison county, having been born at Pendleton, April 9, 1833. Ilis parents, Alfred and Hannah Makepeace, were among the early pioneers of the county who settled in Fall Creek township. They subsequently ( 1836) moved to Anderson, where Alonzo, or Lon. as he is familiarly called, was reared, the greater por- tion of his time being devoted to farming. His education was acquired in the common schools of Anderson. On the Ist of April, 1856, he was one of a party of young men who left Anderson for California, by the Nicaragua route, and landed at Graytown, Central America, on the 18th of the same month. There was great excitement in Central America at that time owing to the efforts of General Walker, the famous filibus- ter, to secure control of the government of that country. Neither life nor property was considered secure on account of the disturbed condition of the people, and the party of fortune-
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seekers concluded to return home. Arriving at New York, Mr. Makepeace went to Canada on a prospecting tour, and returned to his home in Indiana by way of Niagara Falls. After his return he worked at carpentry until his father built the large flouring mill on North Central avenue, which is now owned and operated as a brewery by T. M. Norton & Sons, when he engaged in the milling business for a while. In the meantime the clouds of the great civil war were gathering
CAPT. ALONZO 1. MAKEPEACE.
and casting their somber shadows over all the land. It was not long until hostilities began and the country was involved in the greatest struggle of modern times. The patriotic young men of the land responded to the call of the President for troops, and marched away to defend the flag of their country. Among the number was the subject of this biography, who enlisted July 5, 1861, in Company .A. 19th Indiana volunteers. He was mustered into the service at Indianapolis on the 29th of July, and on the same day was elected second lieutenant of his company.
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
On the 8th of August, the Nineteenth Indiana was ordered to Washington, and on November 11, 1861, he was promoted to the position of First Lientenant. He was sub- sequently (February 10, 1862, ) promoted to the Captaincy of his company. The Nineteenth Indiana was one of the regi- ments composing the famous Iron Brigade and suffered as much, if not more, than any regiment engaged in the war, Captain Makepeace participated, along with his company, in all of the principal battles of the south-east. Ile was at Lew- insville, Gainesville (lost thirty-one men ont of forty-two in this battle), Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, South Mount- ain, Antietam, Manassas, Cedar Mountain, and many other battles, including the battle of Gettysburg, where he was captured on the first day of that decisive engagement. This was on the 1st of July, 1863. He, with several thousand other soldiers, who were captured at the same time, was taken to Libby prison where he remained ten months, when he was transferred to Danville, Virginia, from that prison to Salis- bury, North Carolina, thence to Macon, Georgia. While en- route to the latter prison, he escaped from the train near Au- gusta, but was recaptured. After remaining in prison at Macon for a short time, he, along with three hundred other captains, was taken to Charleston, South Carolina, for the protection of that city which was being shelled by Federal gunboats. Intelligence was conveyed to the Federals of their location in the city by Union sympathisers and the presence of the prisoners did not result as anticipated. The firing was kept up by the vessels, but no shell exploded in the vicinity of the prisoners. Captain Makepeace was afterward transferred to Columbia, South Carolina, where, on November 4, 1861, he again escaped, and, in company with three others, eluded the Rebels for forty-eight days, notwithstanding they were pursued by blood-hounds a portion of the time. They traveled only at night and in that time walked over four hundred miles, encountering many dangers and suffering innumerable hard- ships. They were at one time within a few miles of the Union army, but fate was against them and they were re- captured in the Smoky Mountains, near Delonaga, Georgia. He was taken back to Columbia, and transferred thence to Charlotte, North Carolina, where he escaped again, but being sick and discouraged by his previous experience he concluded to return to prison. From Charlotte he was taken to Raleigh,
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
North Carolina, thence to Wilmington, in the same State, where he was finally exchanged on the 1st of March, 1865.
Captain Makepeace was a prisoner just twenty months to a day and was transferred from time to time to nearly every prison in the Confederacy. He was discharged at Washing- ton in May, 1865, and returned home, after an experience that fell to the lot of but few men in the army. Soon after return- ing home he engaged in the hardware business as a clerk with Nichol & King, but subsequently became a member of the firm, Mr. King having retired. This firm is still in existence and does a larger business in its line than any other firm in the county.
In 1886 Captain Makepeace received without solicitation on his part the Republican nomination for Sheriff of Madison county, and was elected, overcoming an adverse majority of eight hundred. He is a member of Anderson lodge I. O. O. F., and was the first commander of Major May Post, G. A. R., but is not connected with any other organization, social, fra- ternal or religious. He was on the staff with General Veazy at the Grand Encampment of the G. A. R., at Detroit, in 1880, and has attended every encampment of that organization as well as every reunion of his old regiment for the past twelve years. Captain Makepeace was married to Miss Margaret Robinson, a sister of the late Colonel M. S. Robinson, on the 16th of September, 1858. The fruits of this union have been two children, Frank and Harriett, both of whom are married and living in Anderson. Mr. Frank Makepeace is one of the proprietors of the Anderson Daily Bulletin. Harriett is married to Mr. T. N. Stilwell, a son of Colonel Thomas N. Stilwell, deceased.
Captain Makepeace is an unpretending gentleman, not given to vaunting his achievements, and it is safe to say that but few, even of his intimate friends, are acquainted with the facts related in this sketch. Considering his military experi- ence he is remarkably active. He has a large circle of friends and has laid by a competency against old age.
SAMUEL HARDEN.
No man in Madison county, perhaps, has done more to pre- serve its early history than Samuel Harden. He has always taken great interest in the achievements of the first settlers as well as in matters generally pertaining to the pioneer period of the county and therefore honorable mention of his efforts
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
to secure from the spoiler Time the names of the first comers here, their unpretentious deeds, customs and interesting inci- dents connected with their lives, is cheerfully accorded in these pages. He wrote the first history of the county under certain disadvantages that but few can appreciate who have not en- gaged in such an undertaking. The work is not perfect by any means, and neither is this, nor any other history that has been or ever will be written of the county, but within its modest pages much is contained that would have been lost no doubt had it not been for his painstaking research.
SAMUEL HARDEN.
Mr. Harden was born in Hamilton county, Indiana, No- vember 21, 1831, and at the age of fourteen years was appren- ticed to learn the saddler's trade with an older brother. He served an apprenticeship of two years, when he took a ' " tramp " East as far as Ithica, New York, with a party of drovers. In 1852 he made the overland trip to California, where he engaged in mining with " varied success " until 1855, when he returned to Indiana, and after a brief residence at Huntsville, this county, married a daughter of the late J. T. Swain. He soon after located at Markleville, where he worked at his trade for fifteen years. In 1862 he enlisted in the Sixth-ninth Regiment, Indiana Volunteers, and was
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
wounded at the battle of Richmond, Ky. He was discharged soon after this and returned to Markleville, where he was ap- pointed postmaster.
In 1874 he published a history of Madison county. In 1880 he commenced writing the history of Hancock county, but sold his interest in the work to J. HI. Binford, who, in connection with J. K. King, completed and published it. In 1887 he published a volume entitled, " Early Times of Boone County, Indiana," and in 1888 another book entitled, "Those I Have Met, or Boys in Blue." In 1896 he published his last work, which he named " The Pioneer." All of these works contain many interesting sketches of the first settlers of Mad- ison, Hancock, Hamilton and Boone counties, as well as much valuable and important historical information. Mr. Harden's efforts are being appreciated more and more as the years roll by and after his pilgrimage is over will perpetuate his mem- ory longer than would marble or bronze. It may be said in this connection that he has one of the finest collections of In- dian and other interesting relics in the county; in fact there are probably but few, if any, finer private collections in the State.
Mr. Harden is a resident of Anderson, where he pursues the " even tenor of his way," enjoying the esteem of all who know him.
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NEW COURT HOUSE. ERECTED 1882.
CHAPTER LXVI.
ADAMS TOWNSHIP.
This township derives its name from Abraham Adams, the first white man to settle within its borders, and not from the second President of the republic, as many suppose. It is situated in the extreme southeast corner of the county and has an area of thirty-five square miles. It is bounded on the north by Anderson and Union townships, on the east by Henry county, on the south by Hancock county, and on the west by Fall Creek township.
Adams was one of the first townships organized in the county. The first comers to the township found abundant game in its unbroken forests, and a soil not only extremely fertile but well-watered, a climate neither excessively hot nor cold but a happy medium between the two, in fine the pros- pect presented to the first settlers was such as to give them assurance that they had found a pleasant land, where they could with proper effort secure homes for their families and a competency for their old age. Favorable accounts of the new country were sent back to their old homes, and soon after the coming of Abraham Adams, in 1828, the population began to increase rapidly. Mr. Adams settled near the present site of Ovid (New Columbus). About the same time Harper, Bridge, Sr., Hudson, Sawyer and Bridge, Jr., the murderers of the friendly Indians (an account of which is given else- where), settled in the township. Among others who came about this time, or a few years later, were Joseph and Moses Surber, Abraham Blake and Anthony Hill, of Ohio. The latter came in 1827, and located on what was afterwards known as the L. D. Reger farm.
During the years 1828-9, George Hudson, Sr., of Ohio, accompanied by his sons, Isaiah, Eli, George, William, Jona - than and David; Thornton Rector, of Wayne county, In- diana ; Thomas, William and Garrett McCallister, John Gil- ' more, Sr., and Hugh Gilmore, Martin Brown, Samuel and L.
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
Reger, of Virginia, settled in the township. In the spring of 1830, Levi Brewer and Joseph Ingles, of Ohio, settled in the township, and in 1881, Colonel Thomas Bell and Ileze- kiah Justice, also of Ohio, cast their lot with the early settlers of the township. Colonel Bell was afterwards elected Rep- resentative from the district of Madison and Hancock counties and served a number of terms. As an evidence of his popu- larity, it is said that at a certain election when he was a can- didate, but one vote was cast against him in the township.
In 1834-5, Samuel Huston and Jacob Evans, of Wayne county, Indiana, Isaac Cooper, of Virginia, Harvey Chase, of North Carolina, and William Prigg, of Maryland, settled in the township. Isaac Cooper located on the land where the murder of the Indians occurred. The land upon which this atrocious crime was committed is situated one mile and a half northeast of Markleville, and is now owned by Solomon Hardy.
Including the names already mentioned, the following list comprises all, or nearly all of the first settlers in the town- ship : Manly Richards, Hiram Burch, John Copman, Will- iam Sloan, Ralph Williams, Stephen and Henry Dobson, William Stanley, John Markle, David Rice, Thomas Shelton, Joseph Smith, James Collier, William Penn, Reason Sar- gent, David Ellsworth, William Nelson, Stephen Norman, James Pearson, E. Trueblood, James Peden, Caleb Biddle, Barnabas Clark and John Borman.
These are the men who cleared up the first farms in the township and prepared the way for all that has since been accomplished in the grand transformation of the wilderness to fruitful fields and meadows green. Many of them were honored by their fellow-citizens with positions of trust and honor, and all were identified with the progress and develop- ment of the county.
EARLY EVENTS.
The first house in the township was erected by Abraham Adams in 1823. It was constructed of unhewn logs and stood just east of the present site of Ovid.
The first school-house in the township was located on Section 19. It was similar in construction to all other houses of that period. The next school-house erected in the town- ship stood on the east side of the present site of Ovid, but in what year it was built is not known.
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
The first school teacher in the township was a Mr. Hudson. He was followed by Reuben Wyatt, John Roberts, Hiram Burch. George Kearney, Thomas McCallister, George R. Boram and others. Mrs. Susan Justice, who is at present making her home in Anderson, went to school to Mr. Wyatt when she was a child. . Mrs. Justice is seventy-four years of age.
The first orchard in the township was planted by Abra- ham Adams about the year 1829.
The first frame house erected in the township was built by Friend Brown. The farm upon which it was erected was one of the first that was " cleared up" in the county. The first brick house was erected by Morris Gilmore in 1838 on what is known as the Morris Gilmore farm. The first elections were held at the house of Abraham Adams and later at the house of Manly Richards. In 1830 New Columbus (Ovid) was designated by the County Commissioners as the perma- nent voting place, and continued the only voting precinct in the township up to 1870, when the township was divided for election purposes by the Commissioners and another precinct was established at Markleville.
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 MeQuay. 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 1848. 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 1848 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 1873 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 538 and this year it is 560, including both Markle- ville and Ovid.
CHURCHIES.
There are at the present time in the township five relig- ious societies and six churches. In 1831 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 CHURCHI.
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 l:as been gradually declining for many years. Regular services are no longer held here.
METHODIST CHURCHI.
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.
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