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 18
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
Mr. Brunt, " there has never since been the innocent sport in this county that was enjoyed by the early settlers."
In the early settlement of Iowa Williamson emigrated to that state, where he continued to hunt and trap as long as there was any wild game left worthy of the name. At the age of seventy-two years he could hunt all day and never complain of being fatigued. At this age he could see to read and shoot his rifle without glasses. He has one son, Robert, who is yet living in Iowa, and two daughters, who are still living in Boone township. Lily was married to Jesse McMahan, and Ann to Morgan B. McMahan, deceased. Both daughters have lived in the same vicinity in Boone township since they were children, and have always been held in the highest esteem by all who know them. Their father would frequently return from Iowa and pay them and his grand- children a visit, and they would invite the neighbors to call and see him of evenings during his stay. On these occasions the young and old would gather round him and listen with eager interest, often until the midnight hour, while he related his early experiences in the township, recounted his "hair- breadth escapes by field and flood," and recalled old recollec- tions generally. Elijah Williamson lived to the ripe.old age of ninety years, when he departed for the "happy hunting ground " of paradise.
HUNTING INCIDENTS.
The following hunting incidents are contributed to this work by the Hon. John R. Brunt :
ABUNDANT GAME.
One day in summer Thomas Brunt was in the woods hunting for meat. As he was noiselessly passing along he saw a deer in a thicket fighting flies; the foliage was so thick he could only see a small part of the animal, but "no shot. no meat," so bringing his gun to his face he fired. At the crack of the gun the deer made an immense leap and bounded away. Quickly loading his gun he went to the place where the deer stood to see how badly it was wounded, for a wounded deer always leaves signs that the practical hunter read like a book. On reaching the place, great was his surprise to find a deer struggling on the ground, when drawing bi- knife he dis- patched it. The two deer had been standing side by side and the ball passed through the brisket of the first and the body of
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the second and he had killed the one he had not seen at all. He followed the blood tracks of the other and soon secured it also.
One day Moses Moore, son of John Moore, was passing along a path in the woods with an axe on his shoulder, when he saw a deer coming toward him. It was coming slowly along the path smelling the ground and had not seen him. He stepped quickly behind a tree beside the path and as the deer came opposite, dealt it a blow with the axe, killing it on the spot.
One Sunday Thomas Brunt was sitting in his cabin and, looking out of a hole called a window in the side, he saw two large wild turkeys in his corn patch. He watched them for some time, being a strict church member he did not like to violate the Lord's day, but finally the temptation was too great, and turning to his wife, he said : "Sallie, I believe I will take 'Old Betsie ' (his gun) and make these gentlemen ac- quainted with her voice."
"Oh, no, Tommy, I wouldn't go hunting on Sunday."
" No, I'll not go hunting, but I'll just slip down the fence and let ' Betsie ' speak to those fellows once." So off he went ; crawling into a fence corner, he poked " Betsie " through, and she spoke, and over tumbled a fine gobbler; the other evi- dently thought the turkey flopping on the ground was fun- ning, so he bristtled up as if to fight him. " Tommy " had slipped in another load and " Betsie " soon spoke again, and over tumbled the other gobbler. They had plenty for a Sun- day turkey dinner.
THE LAST WILD DEER.
Morgan Sebrell, who still resides in the township, has the distinction of killing the last wild deer seen in the county. On the 24th of November, 1871, while he and Timothy Met- calf were out hunting in the woods near the house of T. B. Eaton, they discovered fresh deer tracks which they cau- tiously followed some distance when Sebrell got a shot at the animal and killed it. It was a large buck, each of its antlers having seven prongs. The antlers are preserved by Mr. Se- brell as a trophy, as he is justly, though modestly, proud of the fact that it was his fortune to kill the last wild animal of its species in the county.
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HHISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
OTHER REMINISCENCES AND SKETCHES-HOW DUDLEY DOYLE MADE HIS WILL.
In Boone township, there lived an old Virginian, of the true "Old Virginy" style, by the name of Dudley Doyle, whom all of the early settlers of Madison county will remem- ber. Dudley was one of those industrious, hard-working pio- neers, who helped to make Madison county what it now is- the garden spot of Indiana. He was honest with himself and as true as steel to his friends. He came as nearly fulfilling the commandment to " love thy neighbor as thyself " as it is pos- sible for it to be done. At one time, Dudley had a long spell of sickness and it was thought that he could not recover. He was informed by the attending physician that he had better prepare his worldly affairs, which he was about to leave be- hind, in the manner in which he desired to leave them, as his time was very short. He accordingly sent for a " 'Squire " to draft his will. The 'Squire came, and Dudley dictated the document in solemn accents from first to last, while the 'Squire slowly and carefully penned it down. After the last line had been written, the last bequest made, Dudley signed his name, called his friends around him, and bade them good-bye. All was solemn and silent as the tomb, save an occasional sob, or sigh, from the sorrowing friends. The 'Squire placed his " specs" in their box, picked up his statutes and was in the act of stealing quietly out of the room, when Dudley halted him and said; "Say, 'Squire, I forgot something ."
"Ah, what is it, Mr. Doyle?"
" Why, I want you to put in there that Dudley Doyle died a Democrat." The codicil was added as directed and Dudley turned his face to the wall to die, but as fate would have it, he was not called away. He recovered from his spell of sickness and lived for many years thereafter. He was con- tinuously elected Justice of the Peace as long as he would ac- cept the office. Living to a ripe, old age, but making his words in the codicil good, he died a Democrat.
THOMAS B. EATON, ONE OF THE CHARACTERS OF BOONE TOWNSHIP.
Thomas B. Eaton, late of Boone township, was one of the pioneers of Madison county. He was a brother-in-law to . Dudley Doyle, who came to the county many years ago. Thomas was one of those eccentric kind of fellows-had his odd ways and whims, but was no fool by any means. He
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
was a good scholar, being at one time considered one of the best mathematicians in the county.
Away back in the early history of the county he was for a while Deputy Treasurer. It is said he could tell any man's taxes off-hand to a cent without looking on the books. The County Commissioners at one time named a ditch in honor of him, and appointed him to see that it was completed accord- ing to the plans and specifications. This was one of the proudest distinctions of Thomas' life. IIe put in his whole time and energies in seeing that nothing was left undone. He was a terror to those assessed on the ditch. Many wanted to slight the work, but it would not go with Thomas. He was armed with copies of the law and specifications, and nothing would do but the fulfillment to the letter.
He consulted every one in authority in regard to the ditch law, from County Attorney to the Attorney General of the State, until he had it pat, and no evasion whatever was allowed in his management of the affair.
In an early day when there was no machine shops nearer than Richmond, some parties were running a threshing ma- chine in his neighborhood, when they broke the " concave." They sent Thomas to Richmond for a new one .. This he took as quite an honor, and performed his duty in elegant style. He rode to Anderson on horseback, where he took the train next day for Richmond. There was but one train each way on the road between Anderson and Richmond. He succeeded in getting his repairs made and started to the depot for his train towards home, carrying the concave on his back. When he got nearly to the station, the train began to move out. Thomas. immediately began to motion them to stop. " Whoa, there, whoa! Hold on, hold on! Thomas B. Eaton, of Madison county, with a concave! Whoa, there!" But the train did. not whoa ; it moved out leaving him, where he had to remain until next day. He thought he was greatly outraged and long talked about the iniquities of the infernal railroad companies. Thomas is now dead, but he left behind him many recollec- tions. He was an odd character, but honest and true to his friends. He filled a place in Madison county's history, and is entitled to his share of her greatness.
DEATH OF JOHN C. JONES, EX-MAYOR OF ANDERSON.
John C. Jones, an old and highly respected citizen of Madison county, died at his home in Boone township on the
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
26th day of July, 1895. Mr. Jones was the second Mayor of Anderson, having been elected to that position in the spring of 1866, and served two years, at the end of which time he removed to his farm where he resided until the time of his death. His wife was a sister of Benjamin Sebrell, who was from 1860 to 1864, Sheriff of Madison county, Mr. Jones being his chief deputy. Mr. Jones never accumulated much of this world's goods, but he saw a good deal of the bright side of life and was a hale fellow well met, who enjoyed the respect of nearly everybody, and had but few enemies.
He will be long remembered by the old settlers of Mad- ison county.
FOUND DEAD IN BED - SUDDEN DEATH OF LABAN ANDREWS.
Laban Andrews, who lived on the line between Madison and Grant counties, died very suddenly on the 16th day of November, 1888, having been found dead in bed. At first it was thought that foul play had been the cause of his taking off, but upon investigation made by Dr. William A. Hunt. Coroner of Madison county, a verdict was returned of death from natural causes. The house at which he died was situated about a mile east of the road, on the line separating Grant and Madison counties. He was about twenty-one years of age and left a wife and one child. The inquest showed that there was a hereditary tendency to heart disease on the part of his fam- ily, and this was supposed to have been the cause of his demise.
SERIOUS ACCIDENT TO NATHAN T. CALL, EX-TREASURER OF MADISON COUNTY.
Nathan T. Call, ex-Treasurer of Madison county, met with a serious accident on his farm in Boone township on the 9th day of March, 1892, while sawing down a tree. In falling, the tree caught Mr. Call beneath its weight and severely wounded him, breaking one of his legs and otherwise maiming him. It was thought for awhile that he would die from the effects of his injuries, but he finally revived, although a cripple for life.
Mr. Call was in 1884 elected Treasurer of Madison county and served for two years. He is one of the leading Demo- crats of the north part of the county.
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
A BOY KILLED IN BOONE TOWNSHIP ON THE PLAY GROUND AT THE BRUNT SCHOOLHOUSE IN THE INNO- CENT PASTIME OF PLAYING BALL.
The Brunt schoolhouse in Boone township is one of the old landmarks of Madison county, and has witnessed many scenes of pleasure and merriment which will be long remem- bered by those who attended school and " spelling bees " at that place, prominent among whom are A. J. Brunt, John R. Brunt, Isaac D. Forrest, Albert J. Ross and many others who are now the leading citizens of Madison county. But while speaking of the pleasures enjoyed at this schoolhouse it is our melancholy duty to record one unfortunate affair, which took place on the 19th day of November, 1874. While the boys were out at recess, romping and playing as boys at school usually do, and some of them were engaged in the game of town ball, a bat in the hands of Richard Brunt slipped from his grasp, striking a comrade by the name of McLane in the forehead, injuring him so badly that he died on the follow- ing day. Both of the parties were prominently connected in the neighborhood, and the unfortunate accident cast a gloom over the entire community, which hung for a long time like a pall over the sad scene of this accident. Young Brunt was nearly heart-broken and did everything he possibly could to alleviate the sufferings of his playmate until death relieved him of his pains. Richard Brunt is now living in the town- ship. He is a good neighbor, an honest and upright citizen and well respected by all who know him. He is the youngest son of the late Thomas Brunt, frequently spoken of in this volume.
ENOCH M'MAHAN AND HENRY STREETS, A FARM HAND, BURNED TO DEATH.
On the 19th day of May, 1888, the house of Enoch Mc- Mahan, of Boone township, was burned to the ground, and Mr. McMahan and Henry Streets, a farin hand, nineteen years old, the only occupants of the building, were burned to death.
Enoch McMahan was a widower, his wife having died several years prior to this occurrence. Ile and his farm hand lived alone in the house, and were on the night of the fire sleeping in the same room, unconscious of the flames that were about to enwrap them. Some neighbors discovered the fire and ran to the house to notify the occupants, but the unfor-
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
tunate men did not awaken in time to extricate themselves. They could be clearly seen through the flames by those who first arrived at the burning building. It was a shocking sight for the old neighbors and friends of the deceased to be com- pelled to stand by and behold them perish before their eyes when no help could be rendered them.
Enoch McMahan was one of the early settlers of Boone township, who helped to fell the forests and make it one of the most beautiful localities in the county. He was a man possessed of truly Christian virtues, and it was often said of him that if ever there was a man beneath the heavens who was really a Christian, Enoch McMahan was one. He believed in the Golden Rule and practiced it. He was a man who had the highest regard for his word and obligations : he was a kind neighbor and a benefactor to many beginners in the locality in which he lived.
Mr. McMahan was related to Thomas J. McMahan, ex- Sheriff of Madison county, and now President of the National Exchange Bank, of Anderson. He was also related to A. J. Brunt and John R. Brunt, of Anderson.
This shocking fire left a lasting effect upon all those who witnessed it, and will long be remembered in the locality in which it occurred. No sadder event ever took place within the bounds of Madison county.
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CHAPTER LXVIII.
DUCK CREEK TOWNSHIP.
This township was the last organized in the county (1852). It is situated in the north-west corner of the county and is bounded on the north by Grant county, on the east by Boone and Pipe Creek townships, on the south by Pipe Creek township, and on the west by Tipton county. Two-thirds of the township originally belonged to the Miami Indian reservat- tion, and up to the time of its organization was a part of Pipe Creek township. It has an area of twenty-four square miles and derives its name from the small creek that flows through the south-eastern part of its territory.
Henry Cochran was the first settler in the township. Ile came from Butler county, Ohio, in the fall of 1838, and se- lected a tract of land on Section 38, where he erected a small log cabin. He afterwards returned to Ohio, where he re- mained a year, when he returned with his father and took possession of his cabin. These two men were the only set- tlers until the latter part of 1839, when Thomas Casteel and Elijah Berryman located in the township. The next decade did not bring many immigrants to the township, but from 1849 settlers began coming in and the population increased rapidly. It is worthy of note here that A. C. Ritter, of Ohio, made the first entry of land on the Miami reserve in this town- ship in 1848. Among those who came to the township about this time and a few years later on were Anthony Minnick, James French, Azel Stanberry, Stephen Williamson, Mahlon Hosier, David and Elliott Waymire, Amasa Clymer. Samuel Purtee, Fielding Sampson, Isaac Daugherty, Isaac Wann and . D. B. Newkirk. Thomas W. Harmon, John Adair and others. settled in the township in the early '50s.
FIRST ELECTION.
The first election in the township was held during August,. 1852, in a little log church belonging to the United Brethren society and situated on the bank of the creek near the present site of what has since been known as the Waymire graveyard.
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
This church continued to be the voting place until 1856, when a school house was built on Anthony Minnick's land and there- after used as a polling place. The first Trustees elected were Thomas W. Harmon, John T. Adair and John Hosier, the first Assessor, Anthony Minnick ; the first Justices of the Peace, Elliott Waymire and Amasa Clymer. The latter served for a period of sixteen years.
OTHER EARLY EVENTS.
James Casteel was the first white child born in the town- ship. This event occured on the 9th of November, 1842. Henry Cochran and Miss Rebecca Casteel were married on the 26th of December, 1844,-the first marriage in the town- ship. Of this event a historian says : "No invitations were issued and the ceremony was not marked by the presence of liveried servants or gorgeous costumes. The well-wishers of the happy couple crowded around them in homespun suits, ac- companying their congratulations with a pressure of hands seared and calloused by honest toil." Mr. Cochran is now re- siding in Elwood at an advanced age but without the compan- ion of his life's journey, Mrs. Cochran having died in 1895.
The first death in the township was that of Samuel Coch- ran on September 11, 1844.
FIRST ORCHARDS.
The first orchards planted in the township were those of Thomas Casteel and Henry and Samuel Cochran. The trees were purchased of John Mills, in Pipe Creek township, and they were planted in the spring of 18-43.
FIRST MILLS.
Jacob E. Waymire erected a steam sawmill near the for- mer residence of Henry Cochran, about the year 1850, which operated until 1866, when he sold to Mr. Cochran, who added some improvements in the way of new machinery and con- tinued to operate the mill until 1873, when he admitted his son Samuel to a partnership in the business and removed the machinery to Elwood.
S. and V. Worley also built a steam sawmill near the present site of schoolhouse No. 6, in 1875. This mill was afterwards purchased by William and J. B. Hollingsworth and removed to the farm of the latter.
William Hedrick also owned a large sawmill in this township.
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
SCHOOLS.
The first schoolhouse in the township was erected in 1841, on the Knott farm. It was an unhewn log structure and was subsequently removed to the present site of school- house No. 2. The second schoolhouse was constructed of hewed logs and was erected on the farm of Isaac Wann, in 1853. There were 205 school children in 1858, while the enumeration for the present year shows that there are 422 persons eligible to the privileges of the public schools. There are seven school houses in the township, and seven teachers are employed.
CHURCHES.
The pioneer Christian denomination in this township was the United Brethren. This denomination built the first church in the township, a little before or soon after it was organized, in 1852. Some time during that year Elder Samuel Purtee organized a society of eight members, who held their meetings regularly at the homes of the membership until their house of worship was completed. The building was a rude structure, and the New Light Christians afterwards co-oper- ated with the United Brethren in erecting a place of worship on the farm of W. F. Hollingsworth. At the present time there are five religious congregations or churches in the town- ship, namely : The United Brethren, the Maple Grove Meth- odist Episcopal church, the Concordia Christian church, the Harmony Christian church and the Heavenly Recruits' church. The New Lights, who had a congregation of about twenty members in 1876, have no society at the present time.
STATISTICAL MATTERS.
The population in 1860 was 498; in 1870 it was 789; in 1880 it was 1,110; in 1890 it was 1,325. The value of lands at the present time, as shown by the tax duplicate, is $507,720; lands and improvements. $566,636; total value of taxables, $670,645.
PROMINENT CITIZENS.
Duck Creek has been represented but twice in the admin- istration of the county government, Charlton Reed having served one term as County Surveyor (from 1874-6) and Moses D. Harmon elected Recorder in 1894. Mr. Harmon is the only Republican ever elected to this office in the county. He is both courteous and efficient and is popular with all classes.
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
INDEPENDENCE.
A portion of this village is in the north-east corner of the township. The village is situated in four townships-Boone and Duck Creek in Madison county and Liberty and Greene townships in Grant county. It has a population at this time of about two hundred, but as it has no railway facilities but little business is done here.
KILLING OF GEORGE ADAMS.
One of the most exciting homicides that ever took place in Madison county occurred near Elwood on the 17th day of May, 1888, in which George Adams, a farmer of Duck Creek township, was killed by Charles Conway, of Henry county. George Adams, the victim, and George Melrose and Charles Conway, the perpetrator of the deed, came to Elwood on Saturday morning and met at that place. While there they visited several saloons and became very boisterous before ·evening. They started toward home, George Adams in a wagon, and when near the residence of William Rybolt Adams stopped to deliver some packages which he had pur- chased for Rybolt while at Elwood. Melrose and Conway were in a buckboard and overtook Adams while he was at Rybolt's house. The parties got into a conversation which resulted in a quarrel, ending in blows. Conway jumped out of the buckboard with a revolver in his hand and flourished it at Adams, when a comrade took it away from him. He then jerked out his knife and made a lunge at Adams, cutting him in the arm between the shoulder and the elbow. After this, the fighting ceased and in a few minutes Adams fainted from the loss of blood. He was carried to Rybolt's door yard and laid on the ground : his coat was removed and it was discov- ered that he had been seriously injured. Further examination showed that an artery had been severed. Efforts were made to stop the flow of blood, which proved unsuccessful. The wounded man was taken into Rybolt's house and a messenger was dispatched for Doctor M. J. McTurnan, at Rigdon, and Doctor Daniel Sigler, of Elwood. McTurnan was the first to arrive, but Adams had suffered so much from the loss of blood that he was beyond medical aid. When Doctor Sigler arrived an effort was made to tie the artery, but it was too late to be of any benefit. Adams died about 5 o'clock the next morning. In the meantime Conway had become alarmed
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
at the serious turn that affairs had taken and started for his home in Henry county. Melrose, however, lingered at the house, and when he learned that Adams was perhaps fatally injured he went to him and asked him to testify in the pres- ence of those assembled that the wound was not received from his hands, which Adams readily agreed to.
Melrose immediately went to Elwood and gave himself up to the officers, and was taken before 'Squire Ward L. Roach for a preliminary hearing and was bound over to the court as an accessory to the crime. He was taken to Ander- son, placed in jail and held to await the action of the Grand Jury. Conway, in the meantime, had driven to Windfall and taken the train there for his home, not knowing of the fatal consequences of the stab he had inflicted on Adams until the following Sunday evening, when he was arrested by the Sheriff of Henry county on a warrant issued from Madison county. He was brought to Anderson on the following Mon- day and taken before the Mayor of the city, but waived an examination. He was placed in jail and made no effort to give bond. Conway was accompanied by his father, who was a highly respected citizen of Henry county, and also by James Brown, an attorney of New Castle. Conway justified him- self in the act by stating that Melrose and Adams had become engaged in a quarrel, and that Adams struck Melrose with a club. He stated that all the parties, including himself, had been drinking, and that while Adams was fighting Melrose with a club, he from his seat in the buckboard ordered Adams to stop when Adams turned to him and started to assault him. He grabbed him by the collar and jerked him over the seat and while handling him had struck him, and that he, Con- way, during the melee, had drawn a revolver from his pocket and attempted to defend himself, but was frustrated by a com- panion, who knocked it from his hands. Conway strenuously denied having cut Adams, and stated that the only knife that he saw in the crowd was one in the hands of Melrose.
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