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 25
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY. INDIANA.
BARN BURNED.
At 2 o'clock on the morning of March 12, 1895, Willard Smethers, a farmer residing five miles west of Pendleton on the Pendleton and Noblesville pike, was awakened by the noise of crackling flames. Looking out of his window he beheld his barn on fire. In the barn four horses were stabled and they all perished. The poor brutes had been suffocated even before Mr. Smethers knew of the fire, or before he could dress and get out to the building. A large quantity of hay and corn, a new buggy and all agricultural implements of value stored in the building were consumed. They were a complete loss; not a vestige of anything was left. The loss was in the neighborhood of $2,500, and no insurance. It fell particularly heavy on Mr. Smethers, who was a young farmer and just getting a start in business. There is little or no doubt but the fire was of incendiary origin. There was no possible chance of the blaze being kindled in any other manner than by an incendiary. No clue was ever obtained as to the iden- tity of the perpetrator of this villainy.
AN UNKNOWN KILLED.
On the 6th day of July, 1896, an unknown man was run over and killed at Ingalls on the Big Four railroad. He was a man about twenty-five years old, and apparently of German birth. No clue was obtainable as to his identity, and after Coronor Sells held an inquest he was buried at the expense of the public, as an unknown.
CHAPTER LXXI.
REMINISCENCES.
THE GREENE TOWNSHIP RANGERS.
In these piping days of peace when the world is under- going a most beautiful and pleasing tranquility, the allusion to any warlike instrument of ancient or modern times sets our people shaking, their knees to quaking and their teeth chat- tering. The fire of the late rebellion has burned out, yet in the ashes rest embers, when uncovered and brought into con- tact with the buoyant air bring back to life the memory of the unhappy days of '61.
To speak of them seems to bring back the flash of youth and valor to the old veteran's eye. There is now mouldering in the archives of Madison county an old, musty paper, that to read it brings back those scenes of strife and bloodshed. It tells the story of the ones who were willing to uniform, arm and equip themselves and guard the interests of those left at home, while the boys in blue were tearing down the ramparts of rebellion in the front. It tells how the brave men gathered themselves together and swore to defend themselves and their homes against their warlike enemies who threatened the coun - try at that time with war and bloodshed.
The document referred to is the muster roll of the " Greene Township Rangers." A glance over the list will be sufficient evidence to the reader of the warlike and ferocious disposition of many of its members. Whilst many of those whose names are attached to the paper afterwards attached themselves to military organizations and became real live soldiers, and dis- played their valor on many of the battle fields of the South, there are many who never became other than the " Greene Township Rangers."
The organization of this company was at the first of the war and many went into it as much through a desire to belong to a military company for the name of the thing as any other. But afterwards war became a serious matter. The country needed soldiers for service rather than dress parade. Many
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
of them went to the front, leaving the "Greene Township Rangers" behind. Some of them returned and are yet living in Madison county ; some sleep in graves unmarked in un- known spots, and while their bodies are mouldering to mother earth their souls are marching on. Their memory is perpetu- ated by the muster rolls of the Nation's military archives. While the roster at the national capitol will serve to keep green the memory of those brave boys as soldiers for the de- fense of the Union, this old, musty paper in the court house of Madison county will still be a silent witness to their deeds as " Greene Township Rangers." Here it is verbatim :
" We, whose names are hereto subscribed, being citizens and residents of the State of Indiana, hereby agree to form ourselves into a volunteer militia company in the Indiana Legion, under the provisions of an . Act for the Organization and Regulation of the Indiana Militia,' &c. Approved May 11th, 1861, to be called Greene Township Rangers.
"And we hereby severally agree to uniform ourselves in accordance with the requirements of said law, and organize the said company at Bock's mills in Madison county without delay :
" William Nicholson, Samuel Brattain, William F. Nichol- son, Joseph Bock, John Brattain, Andrew Smethers, O. B. Shaul, Francis Warin Stage, Christian Goul, Frederick Schwickhardt, Richard Lackey, Abraham Schwickhardt, Walter Kinnaman, Anderson Bolinger, R. L. Snyder, Elijah Bolinger, Jacob E. Hessong, H. C. Bolinger. George A. Main, N. S. Anderson, Aaron Summers, John W. Ford, Wesley Duld, John H. Hedrick, William H. Main, John C. Hedrick, John H. Valentine, Charles M. Norris, Alford Valentine, Peter Urick, James Valentine, Daniel Valentine, Claudius Bock, James L. Burdette, Godfrey Haas, Henry Mikel, George Whitecotton, Henry Hiday, C. Nicholson, Mabury Welchel, Jackson Brattain, Ely Thomas, William Pavy, Ely Smethers, Abram Nicholson, William Cannon, Lemuel Givens, George N. Shawl.
" We, the undersigned, undertake and bind ourselves as security for the ' Greene Township Rangers,' a volunteer mi- litia company in the Indiana Legion, organized under the provision of the ' Act for the Organization and Regulation of the Indiana Militia,' &c. Approved May 11, 1861, that each
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA. 789
of the said members of the said company will uniform them- selves in accordance with the provisions of said law.
" WESLEY WILITE,
" SAMUEL NICHOLSON,
" RICHARD H. KINNAMAN.
" August, 1862.
" This taken and approved by me this September 4th, "Jos. SIGLER, A. M. C."
1862.
DEATHI ON "KLU KLUX."
Some time after the civil war ended there moved into Madison county from the mountains of Virginia a family by the name of Summers. They settled in Greene township, in the George Shaul neighborhood, where some of them yet reside. Prominent among the family was one calling himself Doctor Summers. Whether he was ever a doctor and read medicine or not. he rode astride of a pair of pill-bags and made the people believe he was a doctor from "away back." He was a "holy terror" to the family as well as to some of the rest of the human family who lived down in that neck of the woods.
He had a temper like a hand-saw and when enraged was a regular hyena. No one dared to cross his path-mother, sister or brother. He was liable to "do them up" if they came in his way. He always carried a "gun," well loaded, , and was fond of blowing and bluffing about what he would do. While he never started a graveyard down there, there were several people, among whom were some of his relatives, who would have been glad if his "gun" had gone off and killed him. He was on several occasions brought into court for assault and battery and other depredations done among his own folks. They were nearly always at law with him.
One time he was indicted for some offense against the peace and dignity of the State of Indiana. The warrant was placed in the hands of A. C. Davis, who was the deputy sheriff of Madison county, to bring the offender into court. By some means the old doctor had an inkling that the officers were on his trail. He fortified himself ready for their arrival, and prepared to give them a warm reception. Davis and an assistant arrived at the scene of the conflict about 10 o'clock A. M., where they found the Doctor in the saddle, a large pair of saddlebags under him, a carbine strapped on either side of his saddle ; his horse prancing up and down the road champing
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
the bits, the doctor foaming and "cavorting." Davis, on meeting the Doctor, accosted him and told him that he had a warrant for his arrest.
"Arrest me ! Nod-d 'Klu Klux' can arrest me. I never was arrested nor do I intend to be."
"You had better get down off that horse and behave yourself, or you may have serious trouble, my old friend," remarked Davis, keeping very cool. He replied : "I am from the mountains of Virginia, and I don't intend for you or any other d-d . Klu Klux' to arrest me. I am a bad man and dangerous to fool with," riding off up the road away from the deputy sheriff, raising his hat and flourishing his revolvers over his head. He thought he had bluffed Davis out, as he had often done his neighbors. Davis took after him and gave him a chase. Finally coming up with him, Davis leveled a "Smith & Wesson " on him and demanded his surrender. As soon as he saw that Davis meant business, he wilted and acted the baby, begging not to be taken to town, offering to do any- thing required of him if left out of jail. No one around would go his bail, so Davis started to Anderson with him when he met O. B. Shanl, who took pity on the old doctor and bailed him out. When time for trial came around the Doctor was on hand and took a tantrum in court and tried to bulldoze every- body around, but Judge Craven soon silenced him by ordering him to desist or go to jail.
He met his match when Deputy Sheriff Davis tackled him. His Klu Klux combination would not work on Davis, and he was glad to get off on any terms. He left here and went back to Virginia several years ago.
CHAPTER LXXII.
JACKSON TOWNSHIP.
This township was named in honor of the sixth President of the United States. It contains an area of twenty-eight square miles, and is shaped like the letter L. It is bounded on the north by Pipe Creek township (a small portion by La- fayette township), on the east by Lafayette and Anderson townships, on the south by Stony Creek township, and on the west by Hamilton county. White river runs through the township from east to west, and Pipe creek through the north- west corner. Stony creek has its source in the south-east cor- ner of the township. As stated in a previous chapter, this township was one of the first settled portions of the county, the first settlers being two families of the name of Kinser and. Dewey, who located here in 1821. The Deweys settled just opposite the present site of Perkinsville and the Kinsers on a tract of land that was subsequently entered by Daniel Wise. Just how long these two families remained in the township is not known, but probably not very long, as neither Kinser nor Dewey ever entered or bought land in the county. Benoni Freel was, perhaps, the first actual settler in the township, and there is still a tradition extant among the older residents of that part of the county that he built the first house and cleared the first land in the township. The house and the land upon which it was located were situated south of White river and near where Perkinsville now stands. The next settler in the township was Daniel Wise, who came from Ross county, Ohio, in the spring of 1822, and in the October following en- tered 400 acres of land south of the river, between Perkins- ville and Hamilton. This land is still owned by his descend- ants. The pioneers who settled in the township between 1822 and 1825 were William, David and John Montgomery, George Cunningham and Robert Blair, all from Ohio ; George, James and Alexander McClintock, Joseph Lee, James White, Lem- uel Auter, John Connor, Sr., John Connor, Jr., and Thomas Forkner. In the fall of 1825, as stated in the general history
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
of the county, William Parkins, together with his wife and seven children, came to the township seeking a home, and went into camp on the spot where Perkinsville is now situated, where he remained until he leased a tract of land of Daniel Wise, erected a log cabin thereon and moved his family into it. It was about this time that the Indianapolis & Fort Wayne road was surveyed through the township, and in the fall and winter following, cut out by the settlers. This was the first mail route through the county.
In 1826 John Ashby came from Ross county and settled near the present site of Hamilton where he remained until his death which occurred two years later. A number of his de- scendants still reside in the vicinity of Hamilton. Among others who settled at an early day in the vicinity of Hamilton were Joel White, Joseph Lee, Joseph Miller, Joel Epperly, Robert Cather and the Ashbys, Robinnettes, Benefiels and Harlesses.
For several years after the township began to be settled the pioneers were compelled to take their corn to Pendleton to have it ground, the " corn-cracker " at that place being the nearest mill to the Jackson township settlement. It is four- teen miles from Perkinsville to Pendleton, and William Par- kins, becoming tired of the inconvenience, not to say hardship, of going that distance to have his corn ground, concluded to construct a mill of his own, which he accordingly did and from that time on the settlers were not compelled to go so far for their corn meal. This mill was operated by hand, the stones or buhrs being made of native limestone and the rest of the machinery out of round poles. This mill could grind about one bushel of meal an hour and was patronized by the early settlers for miles around. In the course of a few years that part of the country increased in population and it became necessary to have increased milling facilities. Mr. Parkins with the assistance of the settlers constructed a dam across White river, opposite where Perkinsville now stands. The dam was made of logs, tree tops and brush and immedi- ately after it was completed Mr. Parkins built a water mill on the north bank of the river. This mill was a rude structure in which he placed one run of stones fashioned by himself and son, James, out of native "nigger heads." Another run of stones for grinding wheat was subsequently added, also a bolt- ing machine that was run by hand. A saw mill was built in 1854 and operated in connection with the grist mill. This
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
property subsequently passed into the hands of Andrew Jack- son, of Anderson, who in 1846 erected a large frame building on its site and placed in it the best milling machinery obtain- able at that early day. The Indianapolis & Bellefontaine (Big Four) came into possession of the property in the early '50s for stock subscribed by Mr. Jackson for the construction of that road. It was afterwards purchased of the railway com- pany by James M. and David B. Jackson, sons of Andrew Jackson, who operated it for a number of years, when they sold out to Jacob Zeller, who improved the property and built up a large trade. During the time he owned the property it was considered one of the best flouring mills in the state. He disposed of it to Alfred Clark and on the night of the 19th of August, 1884, it was consumed by fire together with a large amount of grain. This property has never been rebuilt.
CHURCHES.
A Methodist society was organized in the township about the year 1824. Benoni Freel took an active part in the or- ganization, and was the first class-leader in the township. The first regular services were held in a log schoolhouse, erected on the Daniel Wise farm by Mr. Dewey. This build- ing is still standing about midway between Hamilton and Perkinsville, and is probably the oldest building in the town- ship, having been erected in 1825. The first minister to preach here was a Rev. Mr. Reeder. Revs. Nathan Fairchild, C. Bonner and Thomas Ellsberry were among the first ministers to preach in the township.
With the coming of immigrants to the township the society increased in numbers, and late in the '40s a brick church was erected in Perkinsville. This building stood until 1888, when it was torn down to give place to a more commodious and at the same time more pretentious place of worship.
UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH.
It was some time during the '40s that a small number of this denomination met at the house of Samuel Gentry, just east of Perkinsville, and organized a society. William Par- kins took upon himself the leadership of the little flock, and, being a local preacher, conducted the services of the society. He was frequently invited to other neighborhoods to preach, and on one occasion walked eighteen miles to preach a funeral discourse. Mr. Parkins and wife, Samuel Gentry and wife
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
and Jacob Foland and wife formed the nucleus of the society, and held religious services at schoolhouses and private dwell- ings up to 1852, when the membership, which had gradually increased in numbers, built a frame church at Perkinsville at a cost of about $1,000. This church is still standing.
METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCHI.
In April, 1866, a society of this denomination was organ- ized by Rev. Elias Wilson at Hamilton. The meetings were held at the homes of the members and in school houses until 1879, when the society erected a place of worship in Hamil- ton. The building cost about one thousand dollars and was dedicated October 19, 1879, free of debt by Rev. J. H. Luse, President of the Indiana Conference. Silas Busby, one of the most prominent members of the church, organized a Sunday school in May, 1879, that at one time had a large membership.
PERKINSVILLE.
This town is one of the oldest in the county. It was laid out August 1, 1837, by T. L. Beckwith, James Beckwith and Bicknell Cole, on the west half of the north-west quarter of Section 33. This land was entered on the 20th of June, 1823, by John Montgomery.
The founders of Perkinsville wished to name the town in honor of William Parkins, but having confounded that name with " Perkins," the plat was placed on record as " Perkins- ville." It is worthy of note that but few of the remaining old-timers of the county or township are aware of this discrep- ancy in these names, notwithstanding Mr. Parkins' prominence at one time in the township. The town is eligibly situated on the north bank of the river and at one time was one of the best business points in the county. The absence of railroad communication, or connection, has retarded its growth and it has never had a population in excess of four hundred and fifty people. The Indiana Central Canal was projected through the township and Perkinsville was at the heighth of its pros- perity, perhaps, just before the collapse of that enterprise. Two years before the town was platted, Thomas L. Beckwith opened a general store and entered upon a career of business that made him prominent, not only in the township but in the county. He not only did a large mercantile business but dealt extensively in stock and during his career of more than forty years as a merchant and trader, handled as much, if not more.
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
money than any man in the county. He was appointed post- master in 1838 and held the office for thirty-nine years, or un- til 1877, when he was succeeded by Moses Jenner, and he by E. C. Stephenson. The present postmaster is Joseph Lennis. Other early merchants were Hedrick & Bristol and Becknell Cole. During the '70s, A. J. Applegate, Luther Lee and E. C. Stephenson were the principal merchants. At the present time there are two general stores, one of which is owned by Reuben Neese, the other by Joseph Lennis. There are also two drug stores, two barbershops, and two black- smithshops. There are two hotels, one of which is owned and managed by Thomas A. Dean, the present Trustee of the township.
Among the more prominent physicians who have prac- ticed their profession here are Drs. Douglass, Clark, T. L. Carr, Thomas Cook, C. N. Branch, Sr., J. M. Garretson, C. E. Diven, J. S. Hougham, William Garretson and Noah Adair, the last three named being the only practitioners in the town at the present time.
THE SCHOOLS.
Perkinsville has a graded school, the building in which it is conducted being a two-story brick and admirably adapted to the purpose for which it is used. Three teachers are re- quired to conduct this school.
Jackson township has eight school buildings and employs eleven teachers. The school enumeration for 1896 shows that there are 385 persons of legal school age in the township.
The first school in the township was taught by a Mr. Williams about the year 1835, in a log cabin situated on the Daniel Wise farm. There were not to exceed ten pupils, among whom there were three or four of the Mcclintock children, an equal number of the Wise family and Joseph Lee.
HAMILTON.
This town was founded by Henry Devlin, father of the late Hon. Lafe Devlin. of Cambridge City, in 1836. He was the agent of Messrs. William Conner and John D. Stephen- son, of Noblesville. These gentlemen were very active in lo- cating towns and establishing stores along the line of the In- diana Central Canal at the time it was being constructed.
The town is situated six miles west of Anderson and four
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY. INDIANA.
miles east of Perkinsville, near the south bank of White river. Considerable business was done here during the '40s, there be- ing several business houses and a post-office in the town. These have long since disappeared and the probability is that Hamilton has seen its best days.
POPULATION, TAXABLES, ETC.
The population of the township in 1850 was 950; in 1860 it was 1007; in 1870 it was 1200; in 1880 it was 1423, and in 1890 it was 1299, showing a decrease of 124 in a decade.
The value of lands as returned for taxation is $524,260 ; improvements, $10,885; personal property, $101,413; total amount of taxables, $687,273.
MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS.
The first blacksmith in the township was William Park- ins, who established a shop soon after locating in the town- ship. He made hackles and did a general blacksmithing bus- iness.
Among the early " tavern keepers " in the township was John Ashbey. He kept the first tavern at Hamilton in 1842.
Robert Blair erected the first brick house in the town- ship, on what is known as the Zeller farm, opposite Perkins- ville, in 1827. The house is still standing.
An I. O. O. F. Lodge was instituted at Perkinsville in 1859, but surrendered its charter ten years ago. The first offi- cers were: Culpepper Lee, N. G .; T. L. Beckwith, V. G. ; W. W. Boyden, Secretary, and Jacob Zeller, Treasurer. The Red Men also had a Lodge at Perkinsville during the '80s, which has since passed out of existence.
The first marriage solemnized in the township was that of Isaac Shelton and Delilah Crist, in December, 1825.
The first birth was Sarah, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lem- uel Auter, and the first death that of William Montgomery.
Mr. Daniel Goldsberry is the oldest living native of the township. He is seventy-one years of age. His home is on the south side of White river, opposite Perkinsville.
ACCIDENTS AND INCIDENTS-A MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE.
A story is still told by the old-timers of the mysterious disappearance of a stranger at an early day in the township, and it is intimated that certain persons now dead were guilty of his murder. The man was traveling on horseback, as was
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
the custom in that day, and announced that he was visiting this part of the country for the purpose of buying land. The next day after his appearance in the township his horse was found grazing along the road between Hamilton and Perkins- ville. The bridle and saddle were on the horse but a pair of saddle-bags, which had been seen in the man's possession by a number of persons, was missing. All the circumstances of the stranger's disappearance pointed to foul play, and it was generally believed that he had been murdered for his money. In 1847 Mrs. Samuel Shultz found a pair of saddle-bags in a hollow log near where the stranger's horse was found grazing along the roadside, and a few years ago some laborers, while opening a gravel pit near the same spot, exhumed the remains of a man. These circumstances created no little talk and re- vived anew the story of the stranger's disappearance. The old-timers, and others familiar with the facts and circum- stances, have no hesitancy in saying that the stranger was murdered.
A FATED HOUSE.
Back in the early fifties a man of the name of Daniel Wise lived on a farm in Jackson township. He had built what was then considered one of the finest farm residences in Madison county, being a large two-story brick structure, situ- ated near White river, fronting on the Anderson and Perkins- ville stage road. He and his family had just got comfortably fixed when, on the 2d of June, 1853, a terrible cyclone swept through that part of the country, tearing his house to pieces, sweeping away his barn and other out-buildings and seriously wounding Lavina Regan, a married daughter stopping at the house.
It was one of the most disastrous storms in the history of the county up to that period. It leveled the timber for quite a wide strip through the adjoining neighborhood, tore down fences, and upturned houses and barns in its path of de- struction.
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