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 41
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An affidavit was filed before the Mayor of Anderson, charging Kathman with burglary, but was withdrawn, with the consent of the Prosecuting Attorney, D. W: Wood, based upon a certificate of Drs. C. E. Diven and B. F. Spann, who stated it as their opinion that. the prisoner could not recover from the effects of his wounds. Upon this Sheriff Moore gave his consent to have the young man removed to his home, for which they started on the following Monday night.
Rev. Father Weichman visited the wounded man and his mother at the county jail, and gave them such consolation as was in his power.
It has been reported with some authority that after being taken to his home he recovered sufficiently to be able to travel about, and that he is yet living, for the accuracy of which statement the writers do not vouch.
C. C. Bodenhorn is yet a merchant in Fishersburg. The whereabouts of the two young men who were in the store at the time of this event is unknown.
A GAS EXPLOSION.
On the 3d of January, 1895, an explosion of natural gas took place in the extensive tile works of D. B. Davis, situated in Stony Creek township, whereby the kilns were destroyed .
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and Davis narrowly escaped losing his life. It seems that the fire had been turned out in the kilns and that the gas was escaping through some broken joint or valve unknown to Mr. Davis, who was in the factory at work. Being used to the odor of the fluid, which escaped about the place, he went about his work not noticing the danger he was in. After a sufficient amount of gas had accumulated in the furnace it came in contact with a lighted burner and in an instant the whole structure was blown to pieces. Mr. Davis was hurled a considerable distance through the flying debris and was badly burned about the head and face, but fortunately received no fatal injuries.
The explosion was heard for quite a distance in the neigh- borhood, and large crowds of people from the surrounding country hastened to the scene expecting to find Mr. Davis killed. This unfortunate affair worked quite a hardship on Davis financially. But, like the brave man that he is, he immediately went to work, rebuilt his kilns, and is still at this writing doing a large and lucrative business, being one of the most successful tile makers in this section of the country.
NATURAL GAS ACCIDENT.
On Saturday, July 6, 1890, while an engineer by the name of Whetzel was running a traction engine over an exposed gas pipe, that supplied the heading factory at Fishers- burg, the pipe snapped in two and the escaping gas ignited from the flames in the furnace of the engine and enveloped it as well as the engineer, Whetzel, and Eddie Bodenhorn, a fourteen-year-old son of Christian Bodenhorn, a merchant at Fishersburg. Young Bodenhorn was riding on the platform of the engine at the time, and escaped with a few severe, but not dangerous burns. Whetzel was burned in a most shock- ing manner, and it was thought for a while that he could not possibly recover. Several others who assisted in the rescue of the unfortunates from their perilous position were more or less burned.
BOY SHOT AT LAPEL.
Two boys, sons of James and William Woodward, about thirteen years of age, were playing together near the residence of their parents on the 5th day of February, 1890, when the son of James Woodward picked up a revolver that was laying on the table, and playfully pointed it at his little cousin, who was sitting in a chair. As he extended the revolver it was
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accidentally discharged, shooting the boy and inflicting a dan- gerous wound. Both families were very much distressed over the unhappy occurrence, and much excitement was caused in the neighborhood.
SUICIDE OF JOHN M. ANDERSON.
John M. Anderson, a farmer of Stony Creek township, committed suicide on the 31st day of April, 1894, by hanging himself to a beam in his barn by the means of a plow line tied about his neck. Soon after his death his wife discovered his body and gave the alarm. The neighbors immediately gath- ered in; Samuel Huntsinger and Cole Garrett were the first to respond, and cut his body down. There was no seeming cause for the act, as Mr. Anderson's home relations were said be pleasant. and he was fairly well to do in the world; he was looked upon as being a kind and generous man, a good neigh- bor, and an upright citizen, being well liked by those with whom he associated.
WILLIAM HUNTZINGER ROBBED.
William Huntzinger, an unpretentious farmer, who for many years lived in Stony Creek township, about eight miles south-west of Anderson. was the victim of adaring robbery on the 27th of March, 1889. About eight o'clock at night his residence was entered. the door being opened by two men who had large clubs in their hands. As it happened, no one was at home except Mr. Huntzinger and his wife. One of the men stood guard with a bludgeon held over Mr. Huntzinger's head, while the other made a rapid search of the house. They suc- ceeded in finding $100 in money and a silver watch, with which they departed. No clew was ever obtained as to their identity. Mr. Huntzinger was quite an old man and infirin, and the nervous shock resulting from this affair came near causing his death. He did not recover his sensibilities until some time after the robbers had departed with their booty, and he was too feeble to go after them and have them arrested.
- SHOOTING OF JOHN J. JOHNSON BY COLEMAN HAWKINS.
Coleman Hawkins was for many years a resident of Stony Creek township, in the vicinity of Johnson's Crossing, on the Midland Railway. He was one of the wealthiest and most highly respected citizens in that neighborhood. Near by his residence was a neighbor by the name of John J. Johnson,
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with whom the best of relations had always existed. This lasted up to the year 1883, when a very bitter feeling was aroused between them over the construction of a large ditch running through the neighborhood.
Mr. Johnson was postmaster of the village, and on the evening of the 5th of December, 1883, took a mail pouch to the station to place on the train. He met Mr. Hawkins on the platform at the depot. When the train had left, Hawkins, arising and stepping alongside of Mr. Johnson, asked him " what he had to say about the ditch matter, if there was not some way by which its construction could be stopped and a compromise effected." Johnson answered that he had told Mr. Hawkins on a former occasion what he was willing to do and that that was the end of it. At this remark Hawkins drew a revolver and Johnson told him to put it up, that he did not want any trouble with him. Johnson then walked away, when Hawkins fired upon him, the shot taking effect in the back just left of the spinal column and below the shoulder blade. Johnson ran into the stationhouse and closed the door after him. As he shut the door another pistol shot was fired, the ball just passing the door. Hawkins then rushed to the window, about six feet from the door, broke out a pane of glass, and fired four or five additional shots, two of which took effect in Mr. Johnson's body, one on the left side of the face and the other in the forearm. One shot passed through the stove pipe in the room and another through the ceiling. Johnson now opened the door and ran out past Hawkins into a field that led to his residence. Hawkins, having emptied the chambers of the revolver, drew a second one and resumed pursuit of his victim. He fired four additional shots, one of which lodged in Johnson's right shoulder. Four bullet holes were found in his coat in different places where his body had escaped injury. Johnson ran until his strength was fast fail- ing, when he turned upon his pursuer and clinched him, forc- ing him to the earth. At this moment Miss Rosa Johnson, a daughter, having heard the firing at the station, ran in that direction and came up to the two men as they locked arms in a hard struggle. She took hold of the pistol and wrenched it from the hands of Hawkins. John Hawkins, a resident of the neighborhood, was also attracted to the scene and separated the men. Upon getting up Hawkins remarked that if John- son would let him go he would let go of him.
Hawkins then returned to the railroad track and walked
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west a few rods and entered a field, which he traversed in a southerly direction, towards a barn on his farm. His wife also had heard the shooting, and, fearing something was wrong with her husband, as she had seen him going in that direction but a few moments before, started out to look for him. She saw him going towards the barn from across the field and started thither, in company with her son Rufus. Before they reached the barn the husband and father had entered a shed, hiding himself from their view. Just about this time the sharp report of a pistol was heard. Hastening to the spot they found Hawkins sitting upright against the side of the shed, with a splash of blood on his left cheek, just below the eye ; in his hands he grasped the revolver with which he had committed the awful deed. He was unconscious when his wife and son arrived, and died within a few minutes.
Mr. John J. Johnson, his intended victim, lived for many years after this occurrence, having to all outward appear- ances fully recovered from the effects of the shooting, although he carried in his person four 32-calibre leaden balls up to the day of his death, which occurred at his home near the scene of the tragedy only a few years since.
As stated above, the cause of this act was due to what often happens in such cases where a bitter feeling arises over the construction of a ditch. Johnson's farm lay above that of Hawkins', and the natural drainage of the former was upon the latter. For three or four years Johnson had tried to pre- vail upon his neighbor to give him an outlet, so that he might drain his land. For some reason Hawkins steadily refused to grant the request, notwithstanding Johnson had been com. pelled to pay an assessment for the construction of the ditch through the property of Hawkins, and which could be of nic value to him at all unless he was allowed to drain into it, Johnson, after all his persuasive powers had failed, had resorted to the courts to force an outlet through the land of Hawkins, which so wounded the latter's feelings that he com- mitted this awful deed. The prominence of the parties and their good reputation in the community placed them above the suspicion of anything of this kind. It caused great excite- ment in the neighborhood and grief among the friends of both families.
The pistols with which Hawkins committed the crime were purchased of Nichol & Makepeace. Hawkins bought one of them on a certain day, and another on the day follow-
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
ing, saying that the one he had first bought was not a good one.
Johnson was sixty-one years of age and Hawkins about fifty-five when this tragedy took place. Hawkins was a man easily enraged, and was vicious for the time being with all about him, but generally was of a very pleasant disposition. Johnson, on the other hand, was one of those sympathetic. quiet, good-natured men, who scarcely ever become angry, and was highly respected by everybody who knew him.
The remains of Coleman Hawkins were interred in the Anderson cemetery, over which was erected a handsome gran- ite shaft that can be plainly seen from the Alexandria road as the traveler turns to the right after passing out of the iron bridge crossing White river.
The widow of Coleman Hawkins yet resides on the old farm, and has earned for herself the reputation of being one of the best farm managers in the county, having carefully pre- served the fortune left her by her husband.
SUICIDE OF HENRY DEWITT.
Henry De Witt, a farmer about thirty-five years of age, a resident of Stony Creek township, took his own life by hang- ing, on the 18th of September, 1896. Ile was discovered by some one who was passing the barn where his dead body was found hanging to the end of a rope, and he in a half sitting position. No cause could be assigned for his commission of the deed as he was happily married, and seemingly in good health, and in fair circumstances in life. Coroner Sells was notified and rendered a verdict of suicide in accordance with the facts.
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CHAPTER LXXVIII.
UNION TOWNSHIP.
This civil jurisdiction contains nineteen and one-half square miles and is the smallest township in the county. It is bounded on the north by Richland township, on the east by Delaware and Henry counties, on the south by Adams township and on the west by Anderson township.
The township was organized by order of the Board of Commissioners May 3, 1880, the following being the order :
"Ordered that a new township be laid off from Anderson township to commence at the corner of Section 23, Township 19, Range S, thence north to the north corner of the county. thence west three miles to the north-west corner of Section 4. Township 22, thence south to the south-west corner of Section 12, Township 19, Range 8, thence to the place of beginning. being known and designated as Union."
The township was originally covered with a dense growth of valuable timber, the principal varieties being black walnut, poplar, ash, sugar, oak, hickory, beech and elm. The town- ship was named no doubt after the Federal Union, although it has been claimed that it derives its name from the circumstance of its being situated opposite the line where the counties of Delaware and Henry unite. The lands are generally level excepting along White river, which flows through the town- ship from east to west, where bluffs and hills abound.
The celebrated mounds-a complete description of which is given in a previous chapter-are situated in this township, and near them, but across the river, on the land that was orig- inally entered by Frederick Bronnenberg, the paternal ances- tor of the numerous family of that name, was, no doubt, siti- ated the burial ground of the mysterious people who built them.
William Dilts has the distinction of being the first white man to settle in the township. He came from Montgomery county, Ohio, in March, 1821, and located near Chesterfield, on what is known as the Willard Makepeace land. He
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
erected a cabin and cleared a few acres of land, but not hav- ing sufficient means to enter it and acquire a title, a man of the name of Joshua Baxter entered the land in 1824, and he moved to Delaware county. He returned, however, a few years later and entered 160 acres of land in the same section, but south of where he had first located. He built a double log house, where he furnished entertainment for travelers passing through the new country. This was the first tavern in the township. In 1835 Mr. Dilts erected a two-story brick house, near the same building, where he continued to entertain the public for many years. This building was the first brick house erected in the township and is still standing. The property now belongs to John Dusang and is the oldest house in the township, save one-the old frame Makepeace residence. in Chesterfield.
The next settler in the township was Frederick Bronnen- berg, Sr., who came to the township in June, 1821. Mr. Bronnenberg was on his way with his family to the " prairie country " of Illinois when one of his oxen gave out at " Stup Hollow," or what has since been known as " Shiner's Hill." Mr. Bronnenberg called upon Mr. Dilts for assistance and. that gentleman prevailed upon him to go no farther west. An Indian trader of the name of MeChester had built a cabin in the vicinity a year or two before, which he abandoned, and Mr. Bronnenberg took possession of it. He remained here until the following spring, when he built a cabin north of White river, on what is now known as " Larmore's Hill." This land was a school section and he soon after entered the land that is now owned by his son, Frederick, and cultivated by his grandson, Ransom Bronnenberg. The mounds are sit- uated on this land.
Following Mr. Bronnenberg came David Croan, of Ohio; Isaac K. Errick, of New York ; Daniel Noland, Joseph Car- penter, William Woods, John Martin, Jason Hudson, of North Carolina, and John Suman, of Maryland, all of whom were heads of families except the latter, who made his home with William Dilts. Amasa Makepeace, of Massachusetts. also settled in the township about this time, and in 1827 Bazil Neely, of Ohio county, West Va. (at that time Virginia), came to the township where, in 1833, he purchased eighty acres of land. This land was a part of Section 35. He cleared up a farm and resided here for a period of sixty years. Mr.
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDLINA.
Neely's portrait and a sketch of his life, contributed by his daughter, Miss Hester A. Neely, are presented in these pages.
MILLS AND STORES.
From 1821 to 1825 the early pioneers of the township were compelled to take their corn to the Falls of Fall Creek to have it ground. But some time during the latter year Amasa Makepeace, with the assistance of the settlers, built a "corn- cracker" north of the present site of Chesterfield, on what was afterward called Mill creek. This mill was a great conven- ience to the pioneers of this part of the county.
In 1837 Frederick Bronnenberg built a saw-mill on White river where his son, Carroll, now lives. A run of buhrs for corn and wheat were soon after added to the mill, and subse- quently a carding machine, the first and only one ever in the township. This mill was destroyed by fire in 1847 and never rebuilt. Soon after the completion of the Bellefontaine (Big Four) railroad to Chesterfield. Brazleton Noland erected a large flouring mill near the line of the road at that place. Afterward J. B. Anderson built a steam saw-mill, which was also located near the railroad. Both mills in their time did a large business, but are now things of the past. There is not a grist mill at the present time in the township, and but one saw- mill.
THE FIRST STORE.
Shortly after the Makepeace mill had been completed, in 1825, Allen, son of Amasa Makepeace, opened a store in a log cabin near the mill. His goods were of that character most needed by the pioneers and were hauled from Cincinnati in a wagon. Mr. Makepeace continued in active business for a great many years and accumulated a fortune that was estimated at the time of his death at a quarter of a million dollars. He left but two heirs to inherit his wealth, a son, Quincy Make- peace, who resides in the township, and Mrs. John E. Cor- win, of Middletown, New York.
CHURCH SOCIETIES.
The first church organization in the township, perhaps, was that of the United Brethren in 1810. The society was organized in the neighborhood of Chesterfield by a Rev. Mr. Smith, who selected Henry Russell as class leader. The soci- ety at one time numbered about forty members, and built a brick church on what is now the poor farm, where religious
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
services were held regularly ; but through deaths and removals from the township the society dwindled in numbers, services were discontinued, and the little house of worship, built by the contributions of citizens of the township, was abandoned to decay. A portion of the ground where this church stood was devoted to burial purposes, and many of the pioneers and early settlers of the township are buried here. This, it may be added, was the first public burial ground in the township. The late Allen Makepeace is buried here.
A Baptist society was organized at Chesterfield in 1869 through the activity of J. B. Anderson, who was chosen clerk of the organization. Rev. J. C. Skinner was pastor. The society did not prosper, and the members transferred their membership to the Baptist church at Anderson.
In 1870 a Methodist church was organized at Chesterfield by Rev. John Pierce, Robert Goodin and others. In 1871 a place of worship was erected, and for a time regular services were held therein once every two weeks. The society did not prosper, however, and the church was dropped from the circuit.
In 1890 the State Spiritualist society purchased of Carroll Bronnenberg thirty acres of land, situated just north of Ches- terfield, for a camp ground. Workmen were at once employed to clear up and improve the grounds. A large auditorium, capable of seating five hundred people, was erected, together with several cottages for the use of mediums or others who desire to remain on the grounds during the meeting, which is held yearly and usually during the month of August. Spirit- ualists from every part of the State, and from almost every portion of the country, assemble here annually to confer with each other and enjoy a revival of their peculiar faith. The society is responsible financially, and is adding many substan- tial, as well as attractive, improvements to its property. In- terest is also increasing in the meetings held here, and the society is rapidly growing in numbers and influence.
SCHOOLS.
There are several school houses in the township, and seven teachers. In 1858 there were 214 children of legal school age in the township; in 1874 the number was 28%. and this year 287. The population in 1850 was 623; in 1860 it was 858; in 1870 it was' 851 ; in 1880 it was 917, and in 1890 it was 897, showing a decrease for the past decade.
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
CHESTERFIELD.
This village is one of the oldest in the county, and at one time one of the most prosperous. It was laid out in 1830, by Allen Makepeace, and was originally known as West Union. At the September session, 1834, of the Commissioners' Court, the name of the town was changed. The petition for the change was signed by. the citizens generally and was presented by Allen Makepeace. It set out an act of the Legislature on the subject, and other important reasons for such change. The Board, after due consideration of the matter, made the following order :
" It is ordered by the Board that the name of the town of West Union be changed, and that the same be henceforward known and designated as Chesterfield."
At the time of the completion of the Bellefontaine railroad to this point, and for many years afterward, considerable busi- ness was done by the mills and other enterprises located here, but owing to certain causes the place entered upon a decline about the year 1860, from which it has never recovered.
Prominent among the professional and business men who have resided here are: Dr. Henry, the first physician, Dr. Godwin, Dr. Ballingall, Dr. William Cornelius, Dr. J. W. Crismond, Dr. T. Kilgore, Dr. Kelly, Dr. M. HI: Pratt, Dr. C. L. Armington. Dr. Downey is the present and only phy- sician in the village. The merchants have been Allen Make- peace, Jacob Shimer, J. M. Dilts, J. D. Carter & Bro., True- blood & Dusang, A. J. Cornelius. James K. Trimble for many years kept the only hotel in the village.
SLYFORK.
At the crossing of the State road and the l'an Handle rail- road, one mile south of the residence of Daniel Noland, in Union township, there once stood what promised to be the metropolis of that locality.
It was commonly known as Slyfork station, but the United States gave it the name of Branson's Post Office.
This village sprang up after the building of the l'an Handle railroad, in 1855, and was for a while quite a little trading point for the neighborhood. Ballingall & Tucker being the merchants and in charge of the post-office. A saw-mill was also added to the industries of the town, and for a while did the neighborhood sawing.
There is not a vestige left now to tell where this hamlet
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
once stood, the old store building having long since been torn away, and the saw-mill gone to decay.
MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS.
The first distillery in the township was built by Samuel Suman. Frederick Bronnenberg, Sr., afterwards built and operated a still on his farm. This distillery was destroyed by fire.
There was a Masonic lodge at Chesterfield at an early day, but surrendered its charter long since to the Grand Lodge. The county infirmary is located in this township, four miles east of Anderson and one mile west of Chesterfield.
The P. C. C. & St. L. railway passes through this town- ship in a south-easterly direction, but has no station.
Among the prominent citizens of the township who have been elected to county offices, are Hon. William C. Fleming. Representative ; Brazelton Noland. County Treasurer ; Will- iam Noland, County Treasurer ; Henry Bronnenberg, County Commissioner.
In 1894 the grade of the Chicago & Southeastern railway was constructed through the township. William Cronin was the contractor and superintended the work.
The late Michael Bronnenberg, of Richland township, was the first child born in the township and the second male child in the county. He was born on the 21th of November, 1821, and died of heart disease. either on the night of the 22d or early in the morning of the 23d of October, 1896, as he was found dead in his bed on that morning. He had been in Anderson on the 22d to attend a political meeting at which the Hon. William J. Bryan, Democratic candidate for the Presidency, spoke, and appeared unusually lively during the day. He returned home in the evening in his usual health, and retired without a premonition of his approaching dissolu- tion. During the night he expired, but at what hour will never be known.
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