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 38
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The authors are indebted to Joseph Hancock and Wesley Dunham, of Anderson, for information concerning this on ce interesting village.
PITTSBORROUGHI, A ONCE THRIVING VILLAGE, NOW OBLIT- ERATED.
Pittsborrough was a village situated on the Alexandria turnpike, just north of the present site of the village of Pros- perity, in Richmond township, on the old Beal farm. John Beal was one of the founders and sold considerable real estate in the town. It was in the days of the building of the canals through the country, and towns sprang up all over the county near the scene of the works. Pittsborrough contained several houses, stores and a "tavern." Of course it had its place where liquors could be had by the small, and Jeremiah Judd was the man who dealt it out to the thirsty laborers on the public works. At the March session, 1839, he was granted a license by the Board of Commissioners, as follows :
"On petition presented and duly supported by a com- petent number of freeholders, it is ordered that Jeremiah Judd be allowed a license to vend groceries and liquors by the small in the town of Pittsborrough, in said county, for the term of one year from this date."
It is said that Sims Garrison also kept a place there, but
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there is no record of his having obtained a license in the courts.
Among those who once owned real estate in this village were William Coburn, John Beal, Ninevah Berry, Sims Gar- rison, James Carroll, Martha Shinn, Lewis Maynard and Isaac Snelson. Many others held lots there whose names do not now come to mind.
James Hollingsworth, an old resident, says many fights occurred in this place during the construction of the canal between the different sets of hands employed, generally hap- pening on pay day. The stores and business houses were log cabins, such as were common in that day. There is nothing now left, sive tradition, to tell where Pittsborrough once stood.
MOUNT PLEASANT.
Among the many towns and villages that sprang up along the route of the projected canal that passed through the county, Mount Pleasant, in Richland township, is one that is almost forgotten. It was situated in the neighborhood of the Dillon and Thornburg farm, adjoining the Jacob Bronnenberg land. Joshua Shinkle, who is yet living in Anderson, owned the land prior to the laying out of the village. It was not a suc- cess as a business venture, as but few lots were disposed of. It came too late in the days of canal fever, as the work had been abandoned in 1889, the year it was laid out, and the enter- prise was never resumed. John Thornburg purchased a lot and built a house there, which was the only residence in the town. All traces of the place as a town have long ago been obliterated, and it is only now and then that an old settler calls to mind that there was ever such a place in the county.
PROSPERITY.
Prosperity, the only village now in the township, was founded by John Beal and Hiram Louder, who opened up a small general store there at an early day. The place pros- pered for a time and a postoffice was established for the con- venience of the inhabitants and the farmers of the surrounding country. In the course of a few years, however, the postoffice was removed, and the place went into a decline, from which it has never recovered. The individual who gave the place its name is not known, but it has been suspected that he was something of a wag.
The township has furnished a number of county officials
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
since its organization, as follows : Dr. John Hunt, State Sen- ator and Treasurer of the county; Hon. David Croan, Repre- sentative ; John Coburn, County Commissioner; Weems Heagy, County Treasurer, and Jacob Bronnenberg, County Commissioner.
Among other citizens of the township who were well known and highly respected in their time were B. F. Walker, Dr. William Parris, Samuel and Madison Forkner. Peter Keicher, Isaac Sellars, John Nelson (known throughout the county as "Hog" John on account of his extensive dealings for many years in hogs), John Matthew, Staman Croan and Joseph Pence. The late Dr. William A. Hunt was also a resident of the township for many years. Of the old-timers who are still living may be mentioned John and James Black- lidge, Curran Beall, Chauncy Vermillion.
MISCELLANEOUS.
The first schoolhouse in the township was erected in the fall of 1831 on the Harrison Canaday farm, and the first school was taught by an Irishman in the spring of 1832. John Tread- way taught school here in 1834.
The first birth in the township occurred in 1832, a daugh- ter being born to Mr. and Mrs. John Parker.
The Nelson graveyard, on Section 15, was the first in the township.
The first graded country school in Madison county was taught by W. M. Croan at " College Corner" schoolhouse, in which the first graduating exercises in the country schools of Madison county took place.
The first house erected in the township was built by James Curtis, and stool where the barn on the old Robert Adams farm now stands.
At the March session, 1834, Richland township was formed and bounded by the Board of Commissioners as follows :
" It is ordered by this board that a new township be organized in the county, to be known as Richland township, to be bounded as follows, to-wit : Beginning at the southeast corner of Section 83, Town 20, Range 8 east, running thence east with the line dividing Townships 19 and 20, north to the east line of said county, thence north, with the county line, to the northeast corner of Town 21, on said line, thence west to
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
the northeast corner of Section 4, Township 21 north, Range 7 east, thence south to the place of beginning.
" And all elections held in said township shall be held at the house of Peter Ehrhart, until otherwise ordered and directed."
THE OLD KILLBUCK WOOLEN MILLS-ONE OF THE LANDMARKS.
Away back. perhaps as far as 1838, Benjamin Walker, an old citizen of Madison county, who in an early day lived in Richland township, but who ended his days in Anderson a few years since, erected a dam across Killbuck and built a small saw-mill for the purpose of doing the neighborhood saw- ing. It was a rude affair, but served well the purpose in its day. After running it for several years he sold the mill and site to John Purcell, who, about the year 1840, transformed it into a woolen-mill and " carding machine," where he did business of that kind for several years. He afterward sold the mill to Stephen Broadbent, who has for forty years done the carding, spinning and weaving for the north part of the county. It is the only factory of this kind now in Madison county.
Mr. Broadbent has, in a quiet way, made a handsome for- tune by operating it.
It is known far and wide as one of the best mills of its kind in the country. Mr. Broadbent not only does a local trade, but is a large buyer and seller of wool in season.
Mr. Benjamin Walker, the first owner of the property, was the father of Mrs. Nathan Armstrong and Mrs. J. E. D. Smith, well known in Anderson and vicinity.
The scenery surrounding this old mill is one of varied beauty. In the summer time, when the trees are bearing their foliage and the fields are carpeted with their green coverings of grass and growing grain, the little mill situated on the rip- pling stream would be a subject for the artist's hand that could not be surpassed in Madison county.
Richland township, besides being one of the wealthiest, can also boast of having the only woolen-mill in the county.
This mill is spoken of in the general history of Richland township.
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
ACCIDENTS AND INCIDENTS-FATAL ACCIDENT TO SAMUEL EPPARD, ONE OF MADISON COUNTY'S OLD AND RESPECTED CITIZENS.
Near Little Killbuck lived Samuel Eppard, an old and respected citizen. Ile was one of the oldest inhabitants of the neighborhood, and was generally liked by all. On the 20th day of August, 1887, Mr. Eppard had gone down the road from his residence, and was about to cross the iron bridge that crosses the stream at that point, where he met Wilson Heagy and John Staggs, with whom he indulged in a pleasant chat. During the conversation Mr. Eppard took his seat on the rail- ing of the bridge, and in some manner lost his balance and fell over. The descent was about twelve feet to the ground, where he struck his head on a stone, killing him almost instantly. IIe breathed but two or three times when he was picked up by Wilson Heagy.
He was a widower, and left two sons to inherit his pos- sessions. He was seventy-two years old, a native of Virginia, but had lived in Madison county for nearly forty years.
Coroner William Hunt held an inquest, and a verdict of accidental death was returned. Samuel Eppard will be remem- bered by the older citizens of Madison county as an honest, upright business man, and one who attended strictly to his own affairs. He was a good neighbor, and was generally beloved by his acquaintances.
MYSTERIOUS . DEATII-MISS EMMA THORNBURG TAKES HER LIFE WITH A PISTOL.
For many years the family of Thomas Thornburg resided on a farm on the Killbuck turnpike road in Richland town- ship, being one of the wealthy and highly respected families in that locality. They reared a large family of children who were most genial in their associations with one another, and kind and generous to others. The Thornburg home was in all respects a model one.
Several years ago a mysterious package was left on the door step of the Thornburg residence which, on investigation. was found to contain a newly born infant. The particulars of the life and death of this unfortunate child can best be given in this volume by quoting an article on this subject which appeared in the Democrat of the 14th of March, 1879 :
" On a beautiful winter night on the 10th of December,
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
1862, the family of Thomas Thornburg, residing three miles north-east of Anderson, were awakened from their repose by a violent shaking of the front door. On going to ascertain the cause of the disturbance, Mr. Thornburg found on his door-step a little baby warmly clad and sleeping quietly in a little basket. which also contained a fifty-dollar gold piece wrapped in the following note :
"' Thischild is named Emma, and is of respectable parents, but was left to the mother to care for. Knowing that you are " Quakers " who would take good care of her, we leave her to your charity, and may God bless her.
"'WM. LAWRENCE.'
"No second appeal to the kind-hearted Mrs. Thornburg was necessary, for she at once took the little homeless waif into her motherly arms and heart, and from that day to the day of its death was to it all that a kind, loving, and indul- gent mother could be. As the little one grew in years she twined herself so closely about the hearts of the kind family that she became to them an idolized child, and her sudden death cast them all into the greatest sorrow.
" Mr. and Mrs. Thornburg desired to keep the mystery of her birth a secret from her, but as she grew into woman- hood, this could no longer be done, and they were forced to tell her that she was the child of unknown parents. This was some time prior to her death, but it is believed to have had nothing to do with it. A letter came to the house regularly for four years after the little one had been left there, containing money and a request that they should still care for the child. The letters were always mailed from different States. They were invariably answered by the members of the Thornburg family, giving a full account of the life of the little girl. Finally letters ceased and no tidings came to say that the little one was not forgotten. So year after year rolled on until she had reached her seventeenth year, but still no news of the unknown parents, and then the life which began in mystery ended in mystery.
" On the morning of the 11th day of March, 1879, she was found dead in a room in an upper story of the house. 1 short time before. she was in conversation with Mrs. Thorn- burg and told her she intended to go up stairs and get some writing paper from her brother John's trunk, as she wanted to answer a letter which she had received the previous even- ing. Mrs. Thornburg afterward said that she never saw her
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY. INDIANA.
in a happier or more joyous mood than she was then. Young Thornburg had in his trunk a revolver, which he had received a few days previous from a friend, and had placed it there for safe-keeping. The young lady remained a long time, and Mrs. Thornburg stepped to the door and called her. Receiv- ing no reply, she waited a moment and then called her by name again, and still receiving no response, she stepped up stairs and found that the young woman was dead, and at the same time discovered a revolver lying in her lap, and noticed a bullet wound just above her right eye. The neighbors were notified and the Coroner summoned, who held an inquest and returned a verdict of suicide. Many strange rumors were put afloat as to the cause of her death, some attributing it to sui- cide, while others claimed that it was accidental ; some sup- posing that she was merely handling the revolver and examin- ing it when it was accidentally discharged. It was also said that the young lady had been informed by school-mates of her mysterious origin. and that it had preyed upon her mind so that she temporarily lost her reason, and that this was the cause of her taking her life. It was generally believed, how- ever, by the Thornburgs and others, that her sad death was the result of an accident. Who the parents of this unfortu- nate girl were, is still an undeveloped mystery, and will prob- ably never be known."
TWO MADISON COUNTY SOLDIERS DROWNED IN THE MISSIS- SIPPI RIVER.
On the 22d day of August, 1862, Clinton Gutherie, of Lafayette township, and Wilson Relf, of Richland township, were drowned in the Mississippi river while on their return to their command in the army. They had been home on veteran furlough and were on their way back to the front, when the boat upon which they had taken passage sank, losing many who were on board.
These young men were well known by the people of Mad- ison county and the event was severely felt by the community in which they lived. They were neighbor boys and comrades in the same department in the army.
Relf's father, Malichi Relf, lived in Richland township and Gutherie's folks lived where Linwood now stands, in Lafayette township. The father of Gutherie was at one time a resident of Anderson and operated a tannery there.
" Al" Lemon, son of Peter H. Lemon, ex-Clerk of Mad-
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
ison county, was a passenger on the ill-fated boat, but got off without harm to himself. He is yet living and is a resident of Indianapolis.
Gutherie had been previously wounded at the battle of Pea Ridge. He was a member of Company B, Eighth Indiana Volunteers. Relf was a member of Company G, Forty-sev- enth Indiana.
FINDING OF THE SKELETONS OF ABORIGINES.
In the month of June, 1889. while some workmen were opening a gravel pit on the farm of Simms Garretson, in Rich- land township, they unearthed fourteen human skeletons. They were all in a remarkable state of preservation, but when exposed to the air immediately crumbled to dust. All appear- ances indicated that they were aborigines, the skeletons being quite large. They were buried in the earth to a depth of about five feet, huddled close together. The people of that vicinity did not remember that there had ever been a cemetery located in that neighborhood, but it is supposed that the skeletons were the remains of Indians, a tribe of which had at one time settled there. The remains were gathered up and re-interred in the locality where they were found.
A LARGE BARN AND VALUABLE HORSES BURNED.
Silas Jones, one of the oldest and most influential farm- ers of Richland township, met with a severe misfortune on the 28th of May, 1880. in having a large barn, which he had just completed, destroyed by fire, entailing a loss upon him of all his hay, corn and oats; also vehicles, harness, horses and farming implements. The loss amounted to nearly $3,000. There were six horses in the stable at the time, all of which were cremated, among which was a fine stallion valued at $500.
The origin of the fire was not known, but was supposed to have been the act of an incendiary. When the fire was first discovered the entire building was wrapped in flames and almost ready to fall in. Mr. Jones was only partially insured, carrying policies to the amount of $1,200. Immedi- ately after the destruction of his property he rebuilt the barn, which can be seen from the Anderson turnpike road by the passer-by on his way north, and is one of the finest structures of its kind in Madison county.
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA
MADISON PENCE, AN OLD CITIZEN OF MADISON COUNTY, KILLED AT INDIANAPOLIS.
Madison Pence was born and reared in Madison county, and was well known to all the older citizens in the neighbor- hood of Anderson, Richland, and Monroe townships. IIe was considered a harmless, inoffensive man, and was afflicted with epilepsy. which on certain occasions, rendered him non compos mentis. He would often go from place to place, being from home for weeks and months at a time.
On Friday, the 27th day of September, 1889, a man was shot and instantly killed by Emsly Wright, living near Indian- apolis ; the man was supposed at the time to be a tramp, and having been seen in the neighborhood, had been directed to Wright as a man who would probably employ him. When he reached Wright's place it was dark, and being very cold, he started a fire in the barn-yard some distance from the build- ing. Wright noticed the fire and seizing a gun went out with two other men to ascertain what was the cause of the fire. In his testimony at the Coroner's inquest, Wright stated that he had ordered the man off the premises, who refused to go, and taking a club the man started at him as if he would strike him, at this Wright fired upon his assallant, killing him. . It was some time before the body could be identified, as no clew as to who he was could be had in the neighborhood. When the Coroner of Madison county was called a scrap of paper was found upon his person which had the advertisement of L. M. Cox, of Anderson, printed upon it. Mr. Cox was notified, and parties from Anderson went to the scene of the tragedy in order to determine who the dead man might be. Upon examination he was identified as Madison Pence, half brother of Frank Pence, ex-Commissioner of this county.
His friends in Anderson were notified and his remains were interred by them. Pence had at one time been married, but his domestic life was a very unhappy one, and his wife obtained a divorce from him. At one time he was the owner of considerable real estate, but by bad trades and the intrigues of designing men, he was left a penniless wanderer.
KILLED WHILE RAISING A BARN.
In the summer of 1870, Joseph Mckinnon was killed on the farm of Madison Forkner while raising a barn with " block and tackle." He was in the act of placing a large timber in position on the building, when in some manner it swung
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIAN.1.
around out of its proper position, and caught him, throwing him to the ground, killing him instantly.
He was well known in Anderson, where he lived. His widow is still living there. Ile was the father of William McKinnon, the well known "sport," who has given the Anderson police much anxiety in looking after his " wellbe- ing." Mckinnon was a hard working man, and was not con- sidered a bad fellow, only for the fact that he was a little too fond of his " tea." He was a soldier in the war of the Rebel- lion and was said to have been a brave and courageous one.
His occupation was that of a house mover. He also raised large buildings with machinery, being efficient in that business.
A HORRIBLE ACCIDENT.
A very distressing accident occurred on the farm of Jos- eph Dillon in the year 1859, in which young Jesse Dillon was killed, his body being horribly mangled and cut by a reaping machine. Young Dillon was helping to cut the harvest on his father's farm, his part being to drive the horses attached to a McCormick reaper. In some manner one of the horses became tangled up in the harness and began kicking. This frightened the other horse hitched by his side and resulted in the team running away. Young Dillon held to the lines and made every effort in his power to stop them in their mad career, but to no avail. They swept on until finally Dillon was thrown forward, falling in front of the machine, cutting him in a frightful manner, from the effects of which he died in a short time. Jesse Dillon was a bright young lad of about seventeen years ; universally liked by all the neighbors, and his taking off caused a gloom over the whole community for a long while after the occurrence.
The farm on which this accident occurred is situated near the old Thornburg place in Richland township, being directly across the turn-pike road from the Thornburg home. The Dillons are highly respected people in that neighborhood and the news of this shocking accident soon spread over the town- ship, causing much excitement and great sympathy for the family. It was the talk of the neighborhood for years after- ward. The field in which it occurred being along the Kill- buck pike it was often pointed out to the traveler, and the sad affair told to him by the people living along that highway.
The young man was a brother of Jonathan Dillon, who yet lives in Richland township, and also of Dr. Jeptha Dillon,
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
late a resident of this county. Mrs. Joseph Croan and several other sisters and brothers are still living, whose names do not now occur.
Every neighborhood has its incidents and accidents. But this one will always hang like a pall over the surroundings of its occurrence so long as any one who lived in that locality survives.
Among those who witnessed the accident, besides the immediate family of the deceased, was Curren Beall, a neigh- boring farmer who was assisting in the work of harvesting. It made an impression on his mind never to be erased.
The Dillons and Thornburgs were very close neighbors, and the families were so nearly related that it was almost as severe a blow to the Thornburgs as to the Dillons. Mrs. Dil- lon, the mother of the unfortunate young man, was a sister of Mrs. Thomas Thornburg. They settled together in an early day in Richland township on three hundred and twenty acres of land along a country road dividing their possessions, and so well did they get along that for many years they held their lands in common. In the latter days of their life they finally divided the lands and the older members of the family have now nearly all passed away.
MICHAEL M'GUIRE THROWN FROM THE REAR END OF A WAGON
AND HIS NECK BROKEN.
On the 4th day of March, 1871, John Nelson, Michael McGuire, Samuel Fossett and a man by the name of Trudelle had been in Anderson and in the evening started home-Nel- son in one wagon and the others named in another. They were all friendly and having a good time, going up the Kill- buck turnpike. They had been drinking somewhat in Ander- son, and had supplied themselves with a bottle of whisky to take home with them.
McGuire had the bottle, and he would occasionally take a drink from it and finally offered Trudelle a drink, which he accepted. Fossett was driving the team and noticed McGuire and Trudelle drinking, when he asked McGuire " why he did not pass the bottle to him." McGuire, in a rather insulting manner, replied. " Drive on your cart," but did not offer Fos- sett a drink. This angered Fossett, and he dropped the lines and grappled with McGuire, and, it is said, hit him once or twice. After considerable of a tussle, while the wagon was moving, McGuire was thrown from the rear of the vehicle,
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
and in the fall had his neck broken. He died very soon, with- out uttering a word. Trudelle jumped from the wagon and hastened to McGuire's side, but found that life had left his body. He immediately called Nelson, who was in the other wagon, and they took his body to the roadside and laid it out on the ground for awhile, when it was placed in Nelson's wagon and taken to the Nelson home, which was but a short distance away.
The Coroner of the county was notified, and on the fol- lowing day, March 5th, John J. Sims, who was then Coroner, impaneled the following jury, which proceeded to investigate the cause of McGuire's death :
J. L. Shawhan, D. Furgeson, Bazil Neeley, Samuel Bodle, Isaac Scott, Calvin Thornburg, Fred Bodle.
After a full investigation the jury found that Michael McGuire came to his death in an unlawful manner at the hands of Samuel Fossett.
The following day Fossett was placed under arrest for manslaughter and taken before William Roach, a Justice of the Peace of Anderson township, and a hearing had. the result of which was that Fossett was bound over to the Circuit Court in the sum of $1,000, which bond he at once gave and was set at liberty until the next terin of court, at which time a true bill of indictment was returned against him.
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