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 15
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
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 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48
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
---
----
1
675
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, Josephus Poindexter, Will- iam Sebrell, John Hicks, B. W. Cooper, Garrett McCallister and John Slaughter, all of whom had been initiated into 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. 321, 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 Harden'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.
676
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 1,453; 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 1837. 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 1837 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.
677
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, H. II. 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,
678
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
David Johnson, S. F. Hardy and William Coacheran. The present incumbent is O. HI. 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.
679
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 1812 ; 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 teri ) ; 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 Ilodson, the subject of this sketch, was one of the old-time gentlemen who came to Madison county in the early
680
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. Ile re- mained with them a few years and then he became a promi-
681
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
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. 1
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
37
682
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDLINA.
Judge always had a fine selection of all kinds and sizes of dogs and enjoyed much sport with them.
JOSEPII WILKINSON.
Joseph Wilkinson, who was once Trustee of Adams town- 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 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, who helped to work up a candidate's case-make and mold sentiment for him. Adams township has for years contained many of the makers and unmakers of county candidates.
Joe Wilkinson did not have any religion. He often argued against the thing, just for argument's sake. He was a good-hearted fellow and generally did right as nearly as he knew how, and was willing to rest his case and take his chances. While he was Township Trustee, about 1880 to 1884, he had a good time running the public business. He ran it on his own schedule and took the results as they came. At times the County Commissioners would " tackle" him, to curb him in matters over which they thought they had control, but gen- erally got worsted in the fight. Joe generally had his fences built high, and burned the bridges behind him.
One time he was making his annual settlement with the County Board whose duty it was to see that the trustees had proper vouchers for money expended by them. Jacob Bron- nenberg was one of the Commissioners. He was always on the alert and lookout for leaks and waste ways in the public treasury. He thought Wilkinson was a little too " slack " in his use of the public funds, and was eyeing every voucher filed.
Joe was slashing them down and reading them off in a great hurry, slapping them down on the table a great deal like a man in an interesting game of " seven-up" would play a trump in taking a " trick ."
"No. 1, John Smith. ten dollars.
"No. 2, James Johnson, fifteen dollars," and so on. Uncle Jake broke in :
" Hold on! Hold on! I want to see that voucher. What's that for? That's too much. You'll break up the county. There's no law for it."
683
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDLINA.
Joe never stopped or paid any attention, but kept calling off his vouchers and slapping them down on the table.
" I want to know who's running the county-the County Commissioners or the Township Trustees?" asked Uncle Jake.
" Oh d-n it, Jake, be still, you're interrupting the court," replied Joe, and on he went reading his vouchers until he was through.
"Now, gentlemen, there's my report and my vouchers. I am
through with them. Thank you for your attention. Good day."
The Board of Commissioners could do nothing but order his report filed and make a record of it, and let him and his constituents fight it out if there was anything wrong in it. Law, gospel, death, hell or the grave had no terrors for Joe Wilkinson, let alone the wrath of a Board of County Commis- sioners.
But in all Joe Wilkinson was one of the best fellows in the world at heart. He hung his worst side out. The deeper you dug into him the better he got.
MOCK LEGISLATURE.
In the rural village of Ovid, or New Columbus, as it is familiarly called, during the winter months of 1879 the citi- zens of that place and surrounding country indulged in a good deal of pleasantry by organizing a mock legislature and hold- ing meetings once a week, in which all the prominent men of the township took an active part.
The " house " was formally organized on Tuesday even- ing, the 14th of January, 1879. The plan of organization was such that every one desiring to become a member should select a certain county in Indiana and work for its in- terest, after subscribing to the constitution and by-laws of the organization. An election was held for officers, with the fol- lowing result : A. W. McAllister, representing LaPorte county, as Speaker; Mr. Galloway, of Madison county, as Clerk ; Samuel Gray, Sergeant-at-arms; and M. Y. Spauld- ing, Door-keeper. George Fesler assumed the name of His Excellency, Governor Rosecrans, and acted as the Chief Ex- ecutive.
After the organization the Governor sent in quite a lengthy message recommending certain internal improve- ments and other business matters. The following were a few of his recommendations : An amendment to the fish law, that
68-4
IHISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
persons should never fish until they were sure of making a catch. He also recommended the construction of a belt rail- way around the capital at New Columbus, and asking for the annexation of the suburban town of Anderson, in order to provide it with a more efficient municipal government; also recommending a bill for facilitating commercial intercourse between the capital at New Columbus and the town of An- derson.
The first bill introduced was for opening Fall Creek,as far as Forney's farm for the purpose of navigation. These bills went through the ordinary committees as though they had been in a legislative body and were reported back to the house, where they were warmly discussed pro and con, when they were either passed or met defeat as other legislative bills do. These meetings were kept up during the winter months and not only furnished amusement for all those who partici- pated therein, but served as an education to them in parlia- mentary law, as they were held down by the speaker to a strict construction of all parliamentary usages in the discus- sion of bills and other matters pertaining to legislation.
The Governor, George Fesler, has long ago passed be- vond this vale of tears, while the Speaker of the House, A. W. McAllister, is now a resident of Anderson and fills the important office of Assessor for Madison county.
ACCIDENTS AND INCIDENTS-SUICIDE OF MRS. SURBER.
About three miles southeast of New Columbus in the year 1834, there occurred one of the most horrible suicides that ever transpired in Madison county. The person who took her life was a Mrs. Surber. It appears that her husband had left home early in the morning to go to Pendleton to attend a muster. The law then required all able bodied male citizens between the ages of 21 and 45 to appear at designated local- ities once a year to drill in the manual of arms. Failure to do so meant a fine for the person offending. Mrs. Surber was opposed to her husband going and endeavored in every way to dissuade him from so doing; but in order to avoid the payment of a fine, Mr. Surber concluded to attend the muster despite the protestations of his wife, and started away leaving her alone.
From all that can be learned, his wife took umbrage at his going, and determined that he should never see her alive again, and went about deliberately to kill herself. From the floor to the joist in the cabin was about seven feet. To this
1
685
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
she securely fastened a rope. She then mounted a stool and fastened the other end of the rope with a noose around her neck. She then kicked away the stool and swung off, her feet almost touching the floor and her body turned around with her back to the door.
Mr. Surber, all unconscious of the terrible deed which had taken place during his absence, returned at three o'clock in the afternoon. He was unaware of the condition of affairs, and approached the body, took hold of it by the right arm, and asked her what she was doing there and why she had closed the door. In doing this he caused her body to turn around, and the countenance of his dead wife stared him hor- ribly and ghastly in his face. So tightly had the rope been drawn by the weight of her body that her tongue protruded from her mouth and her teeth were firmly imbedded in it.
The neighbors gathered at the house and gazed upon the sickening sight. From a foolish feeling prevalent at that time that the body of a suicide must not be touched by any person- until the Coroner had viewed the remains, it was allowed to stay in its position until the following day. This occurrence was fixed on the memory of those who had wit- nessed it as long as they continued to live. It was the talk of the neighborhood for years and many persons were afraid to go into the house or venture upon the premises for fear of being bodily captured by ghosts or spooks.
BURNING OF A LITTLE GIRL.
A little three-year-old child of Stephen Orr, who resided on the farm of Jesse Skinner, near Markleville, was burned to death on 21st of March, 1879. The mother of the child had gone to a neighbor's house, leaving the little one with a sister. When she returned she found the little one lying on the floor, with its clothing entirely burned off its person. The cries of the child failed to reach the father who was in the woods near by making rails, and he did not know of the sad affair until his wife gave the alarm. This was indeed a terrible accident, and will long be remembered by Mr. and Mrs. Orr, and their neighbors who witnessed the horrible spectacle of the unfortunate child in its charred and lifeless condition.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.