USA > Indiana > Posey County > History and directory of Posey County [Indiana] : containing an account of the early settlement and organization of the county : also a complete list of the tax-payers, their post-office addresses and places of residence, together with a business directory of Mt. Vernon and New Harmony also biographical sketches of prominent citizens of the county > Part 10
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23
The Indiana Statesman was printed and published by Alexander Burns, Jr., at Evansville from May 13, 1842, until October 22, of that year, when it was removed to New Harmony, where it was published until 1845. It was a folio of four pages and was a very spicy, ably edited sheet.
On August 27, 1846, James Bennett established the Western Atlas, issued in quarto form, which suspended September 16, 1847. In 1848 the Gleaner was issued by the same gentleman, and which ceased publication in the year 1849.
The Advertiser, in 1858, was established by Charles W. Slater, who continued its publication until 1861, when he became a volunteer and entered the Federal army of the Rebellion. It was a folio of four pages and Democratic, politically.
The New Harmony Register, when Mr. Slater returned from the war, was established in 1865 and is still in existence. It is a four-page folio, is Democratic in politics and is an excellent local weekly paper.
85
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
PUBLIC ENTERPRISES.
In the month of September, 1851, a plank road was built between Mt. Vernon and New Harmony, and for several years was a source of great convenience to the public, but owing to the excess of expenditures over the receipts in maintaining the enterprise it was found imperative to abandon it. John Pitcher was President; Robert Dale Owen, Secre- tary and Treasurer. The board of directors was composed of N. G. Nettleton and Robert D. Owen, of New Harmony; John Sweeney, of Springfield, and Enoch R. James, Charles F. Leonard, Richard Barter and John Pitcher, of Mt. Vernon. The event of its completion was celebrated by a public and costly dinner at Mt. Vernon and a grand ball at New Harmony in the evening of the same day.
In the year 1881, the citizens of Harmony Township voted to the Peoria, Decatur & Evansville Railway an appropriation of two per centum of the taxable property, amounting to $15,000, besides $500 subscribed by the Agricultural Society, for the extension of a branch of that line from Poseyville to New Harmony. Work was immediately begun and the line was completed in December, of the same year. By this line of road the town is connected with the railway system of the United States, and will no doubt have direct communication by . this same route with Mt. Vernon, the county seat, by June 1, 1882, as there is a strong probability that the Company will construct a fur- ther extension of its line to the latter place by that time.
The first regularly appointed postmaster at New Harmony was Romelia Baker, a Rappite, who served from 1814 to 1824, when he was succeeded by John Schnee, who, in 1836, was succeeded by Louis Gėx, whose successor was Thomas Brown, who continued in office but a short time, he having been removed upon suspicion of having purloined matter from the mail bags, but which was removed when his deputy confessed to the theft. N. G. Nettelton was appointed by President John Tyler to fill the vacancy caused by the removal of Brown, and he was succeeded by William Cox, he by William Twigg, he by Nelson Felch, he by Julius C. Miller, appointed by Abraham Lincoln, and who was succeeded by William Twigg, he by William S. Allen and he by Julius C. Miller, who still holds the position with credit. The growth of New Harmony has been slow, notwithstanding its many superior geographical, social and natural advantages, though. it is fair to presume that the interest shown by her citizens in her development at this time will lead to gratifying results. The seeming indifference to an increased growth by her citizens of past generations is probably the secret of her condition at this time. The place was incorporated in 1850, but has not maintained its town board continu- ally. At present there is a town government, and it is quite likely
86
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
t' at the enterprise of its present population will be the means of giving it considerable impetus to a prosperity and material growth that she has never before felt.
Mr. James Sampson, a retired merchant, has, for the past thirty years, employed himself in the very laudable work of collecting fresh- water shells, fossils. etc., and he now owns the finest private collec- tion of that character in the country.
VILLAGES OF POSEY COUNTY.
BLACKFORD,
THE FIRST BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS-THE FIRST JAIL-AP- POINTMENTS AND ELECTIONS-ALLOWANCES-THE FIRST TREAS-
URER-THE FIRST ASSESSOR AND HIS EMOLUMENT - THE FIRST CLERK AND HIS PAY.
The town of Blackford was where the first seat of justice in the county was established, and it was laid out by the Board of County Com- missioners in Jauuary, 1815, where, on May 4, 1817, the proceedings of that body were first recorded after the location of the first seat of justice. Samuel Jones, at the first term of the Commissioner's Court, May 12; 1817, was appointed Treasurer of the County for one year, his bond being fixed at $4,000, with Ezekiel Saunders and Warner Clark, sureties; and whose report at the end of his first term of office shows that he paid to the Commissioners the sum of $912 41 .* At the same term of this Court, the contract was awarded him for the construction of the first " gaol," for which he was to be paid the sum of $422 871/2 "out of any money arising from the sale of lots in the town of Blackford." David Love was allowed $42 50 " for assessing the taxable property of Posey County for 1816." On the 12th of May, 1817, Morris Robertson was allowed $4 for killing four wolfs, June 1, 1816, whose scalps he had preserved and produced at the time he re- ceived the reward. Wm. E. Stewart, the first Clerk of the County, was also allowed $23 50 "for ex-officio services for the year 1816, and for the rent of his office eight months," showing that the officials of that early period were compelled to provide themselves with offices and attend to the duties of their positions at very moderate salaries.
Thomas Harp, of Marrs; Thomas Litton, of Wagnon, now a part of Vanderburgh; Aaron Bacon, of Black; John Graddy, of Lynn ; James Robb, of Robb, and Wm. Davis, of Smith, were the first ap-
*Nicholas Joest, the incumbent of the Treasurer's office, in his report to the County Com- missioners, at the June term of their Court, 1881, on final annual settlement. showed a balance of $31,417 12, as being due to the county, which is a flattering tribute to the progress of the · age, as well as a compliment to the officials who have succeeded Mr. Jones.
87
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
pointments made to fill the position of Assessor for their respective townships. Jonathan Jeffries and Robert Allen, of Robb; Jeffrey Sanders and Nicholas Long, of Wagnon; Wm. Stephens and Paul Casselberry, of Marrs; Adam Albright and Nathan Ashworth, of Black ; Samuel Eblin and Thomas Barton, of Lynn, and John Arm- strong and James Martin, of Smith, received the first appointments as overseers of the poor, one of the duties, at this time, of the township trustees. Thomas E. Casselberry, in May, 1817, entered into bond as County agent in the sum of $4,000, with Paul Casselberry, David A. Mills and Wm. Stevens as securities. This officer performed some of the duties as are now entailed upon the Sheriff and Treasurer.
The office was abolished in 1839, and the last work was done by Scarborough Pentecost, who settled with the County treasurer, Wm. J. Lowry, May 5, 1840. The inspectors of merchandise brought into the County for sale by itinerant or local tradesmen, in 1817, were : Thomas Litton, for Wagnon; Wm. Hutcheson, (father of Philo A. Hutcheson, incumbent of the Recorder's office,) for Marrs; John Duckworth, for Black; Peter Jones, for Robb; Wm. Nelson, for Lynn, and Wm. Davis, for Smith townships. In this same year township elections were held, in Marrs, at the house of Wm. Hutcheson; in Black, at the house of Thomas Givens; in Lynn, at the town of Harmonie; in Robb, at the house of Langston Drew; in Smith, at the house of George Smith, and, in Wagnon, at the house of Wm. Johnson.
The seat of justice was removed from Blackford to Springfield in November, 1817, and on the roth of that month the Board of Com- missioners convened its first term of court in that embryo village. Blackford had a promising future until the seat of justice was re- moved, when it began to wane and soon ceased its existence, and its site is now on the land of the heirs of George Jackson, in section 29, Marrs township. The. town was named in honor of the Hon. Isaac Blackford, the first judge of the judicial district that embraced the County of Posey. Judge Blackford's associates on the bench in this County were Thomas E. Casselberry and Dann Lynn. The first case tried in the County before the above judges was that of Wm. Blizzard, on a charge of having killed two hogs, the property of Margaret Hall, and the first prisoner who was arraigned at Blackford was Meschack Green, June 19, 1815, for the theft of a hog, for which he was fined $50 and received twenty-five lashes across his bare back, at the hands of John Carson, Sheriff of the County.
The first panel of grand jurors was composed of Nathaniel Muncy, Wm. Wagnon, James Robertson, Wilson Butler, Alexander Mills, John Stapleton, Adam Albright, John Aldredge, Samuel Aldredge, James Black, Seth Hargraves, Ezekiel Jones, John B. Stephenson, David Thomas, John Crunk, Mathew Adams, Peter Wilkeson, Wm.
1
88
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
Boyd, Wm. Barton, Nathan Ashworth, John Turney, Wm. Curtis, John Dollison, Samuel Kimmel and Solomon Nesler.
The first travis (now called "petit") jury in the County was compo- sed of Nicholas Long, Daniel Miller, Wm. Stevens, Joseph Fesler, John Barton, John Martin, Samuel Barton, Timothy Downen, John Ridenhouer, John McFaddin, David Mills and James Duckworth. The original seal of the Board of Commissioners was a pen-made circle, with the words "Commissioner's seal of Posey County" enclosed.
BLAIRSVILLE, ROBINSON TOWNSHIP,
Has a population of 200, was laid out by Stephen Blair and Ebenezer Phillips, July 4, 1837. The German element predominates, and the country 'surrounding it is very productive. It contains a few places of business, one church, a good school and has a weekly mail.
CABORN, MARRS TOWNSHIP,
Was named after Cornelius Caborn, by whom the village was laid out in 1871. It is situated on the L. & N. Railway, six miles East of Mt. Vernon, has a school, a few places of business, a Methodist church and a population of sixty souls.
CALVIN STATION, ROBB TOWNSHIP,
Is on the line of the Peoria, Decatur & Evansville Railroad, one-half mile from Stewartsville. It is delightfully situated, has a daily mail and may become a place of some importance. It was laid out by James T. Calvin, Esq., April 21, 1881.
CHAINVILLE, LYNN TOWNSHIP,
Was laid out by Alexander McClure, as agent of William McClure, December 22, 1836, but never reached the dignity of a village.
CYNTHIANA, SMITH TOWNSHIP,
Was laid out by Wm. Davis, March 6, 1817. The place was named after two daughters of Mr. Davis, the founder. John Shanklin and Andrew Moffat were the proprietors of the first store, which was a small log cabin, and Clement Whiting kept the first tavern. The place is pleasantly situated on the Evansville & Terre Haute Railroad, twenty-four miles from Mt. Vernon. the county seat. It contains sev- eral places ol business, three churches and a two-story brick graded * school house. . The society is good, its sanitary condition superb, and its population is placed at 400 souls.
89
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
FARMERSVILLE, BLACK TOWNSHIP.
There is no official record showing when the settlement of this village occurred, but it is stated positively by the oldest inhabitants that the erection of houses and the location of lands in the vicinity was about the year 1813. The first settlers were from New England, and from this fact the name of Yankeetown, by which it is sometimes known, originated. It is situated on the New Harmony and Mt. Vernon stage road, eleven miles South of the former and four miles North of the latter place. The country adjacent is picturesque and undulating, the farms being well improved and thoroughly cultivated. It contains a graded school, constructed of brick, in 1875, at a cost of $6,000 ; a store where general merchandise is vended, three churches, a blacksmith shop, and two physicians. It has a daily mail, and its support is derived from the agricultural interests. Population, 75.
GRAFTON, LYNN TOWNSHIP,
Was laid off by George W. Thomas, Esq , of Mount Vernon, in 1852. It is six miles from the county seat, has a weekly mail, contains two places of business and is situated in a very fertile farming section. Elisha Trafford, Esq., is postmaster.
WINFIELD, HARMONY TOWNSHIP,
Was laid out by John Cox, in October, 1838, and is sometimes called " Bugtown." It is a mere settlement.
NEW BALTIMORE, BETHEL TOWNSHIP,
Was laid off in 1837, by W. J. Johnson, but it never became even a village. The section of land on which the town was located was en- tered by James Allen, in 1819.
POSEYVILLE, ROBB TOWNSHIP,
Was originally called Palestine, from Febuary 24, 1840, to 1852, when its name was changed. It was laid out by Talbott Sharp and Ellison Cale, is quite a pretty village of 350 inhabitants and is located in a most picturesque agricultural quarter of the County. The first store keeper here was Jonathan S. Jaquess and-Overton kept the first tavern. It is situated on the Peoria, Decatur and Evansville Rail- way, 24 miles North East of Mt. Vernon and has a daily mail, James Goslee, postmaster. It is in a flourishing condition, has a graded
90
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
brick schoolhouse, several places of business and three churches. The society of the place is very good and its sanitary condition excellent. The first and only paper the place has had is the Times, established in 1881.
PRICE'S STATION, BETHEL TOWNSHIP.
Is growing quite rapidly, is situated on the Peoria, Decatur and Evansville Railroad, seven miles Northeast of New Harmony, has a daily mail and is a promising village. It was laid out by Wm. Price, August 11, 1881. P. O. Griffin.
SAINT PHILLIP, MARRS TOWNSHIP.
Is on the Louisville and Nashville Railway, 11 miles East of Mt. Vernon. It is well supplied with schools and churches, is in a rich agricultural section and has a population of 75. One of the finest church edifices in the County was erected at this place in 1870 at a cost of $10,000. Elizath Deig is postmistress, a lady who is noted for her liberality and Christian spirit. When the church referred to was completed she purchased an organ at her own expense, costing $2,000, and presented it to the congregation. The community is largely made up of German Catholics.
ST. WENDEL
Is in the northeastern part of Robinson township, sixteen miles East of Mt. Vernon, has a few places of business, a brick schoolhouse, a very fine church, erected at considerable cost, by the Catholic denom- ination, and a daily mail. Its population is placed at 175. It was never officially laid out, and is situated in Posey and Vanderburgh Counties, the line dividing the counties running through the center of the place.
SPRINGFIELD, LYNN TOWNSHIP;
Became the second seat of justice, and the official plat of which was recorded by David Love, on May 20, 1817, when it was laid out by the County Commissioners, the circumstances of the event being fully related under the heading "Courts of the County," found elsewhere in these pages. The first brick Court House in Southern Indiana was erected at this place by Frederick Rappe. an account of which will also be found elsewhere. The Court House has been remodeled and is now used as a schoolhouse. The village contains a church and
91
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
about 125 inhabitants. Matthew Williams surveyed, Andrew Hindman and Thomas Wilson "staked," and Wm. Alexander carried the chain when the town was laid off. Isaac Nettleton established the first, John Schnee, the second, and Samuel James, the third tavern here, and as it may be interesting to the reader to know under what restrictions the proprietors of houses of that character were placed at that day, the fol- lowing "rating" of the Board of Commissioners is copied from the order book of that body :
" For a horse at hay twelve hours, 25 cents ; horse feed (one meal), 25 cents; one meal for a person, 25 cents; lodging, one person, 12 1/2 cents; whisky, per half pint, 1272 cents; peach or apple brandy, half pint, 25 cents, and cider or beer, 121/2 cents per quart." The license was $10 per annum for houses of public entertainment. Joseph Spaulding, in addition to his hotel, carried on a general merchandise business, in a log house, in the side of which was cut a hole of four square feet, from which was handed such articles as were purchased at the establishment, the patrons being compelled to stand on the outside of the building. It.was at this hole where a great many were supplied with the ardent beverage. It is related that a man, under the influence of liquor, attempted to crawl through the aperture for the purpose of avenging himself upon the person of Spaulding for some imagined wrong done him by "Uncle Joe," who had the man at his mercy when he had succeeded in getting into the opening, a fact that the inebriate realized when he felt the stinging blows laid on with a board in the hands of the proprietor of the establishment. It had the effect of bringing him to his senses, and he "steered clear" of the danger- ous hole ever afterwards.
STEWARTSVILLE, ROBB TOWNSHIP,
Formerly known as Paris, was laid out by William Stewart on October 29, 1838, in a very eligible locality, six miles East of New Harmony. It contains several stores, one church and a two-story brick graded school house. The population is placed at 125. It has a daily mail by the Peoria, Decatur & Evansville Railway, whose route is one-half mile distant. Its inhabitants are made up of a good class of people and its sanitary condition is excellent. A blockhouse was constructed in the immediate vicinity of this village in 1809, on the farm of John Cox ("double-head"), who, with the families ot Maxey Jolley, Thomas Robb, V. Leavitt and John Wallace, occupied it as a protection against the Indians.
WADESVILLE, CENTER TOWNSHIP,
Was laid out, February 17, 1853, by Daniel Leffel, James Pelt and
92
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
Wm. Moye, when it belonged to Robinson Township. It has several places of business, a church and a school house. The country sur- rounding the village is picturesque and the soil is quite fertile. The population is about 100.
WEST FRANKLIN, MARRS TOWNSHIP,
Is situated on the Ohio river, twelve miles above Mt. Vernon. It was laid out by John B. Stinson, in January, 1837, and was for a number of years quite a promising village, but for some reason it has dwindled into a place of very limited extent, chiefly attributable to the presence of Caborn, a growing village on the L. and N. Railway. At present it contains a church, a school house, two places of trade and has a daily mail by the river route. Although no town was laid out until comparatively a very recent period, there were a great many settlers in the vicinity of where West Franklin now stands as early as 1815. It was at this point where all the emigrants from Tennessee, North Corolina and Georgia crossed from Kentucky when they located in the County. It was called at that time Diamond Island Ferry. Dann Lynn died here, of cholera, in 1833.
WOODVILLE, BLACK TOWNSHIP,
Was laid out, November 5, 1819, by W. A. L. Green, the plat of which, on December 14, in the same year, was revoked and its lots became a part of the farm adjoining the land Dr. E. V. Spencer, of Mt. Vernon, now owns, situated about 3 miles Northwest of the County seat, on the lower New Harmony wagon road.
INCIDENTS-TRAGICAL AND OTHERWISE.
A LIST OF MURDERS COMMITTED IN THE COUNTY AND THE ACTION TAKEN BY THE AUTHORITIES-THE FIRST STEAMBOAT-A PANTHER KILLS A YOUNG MAN-TREATMENT OF CRIMINALS BY THE "VIGILANTES" -KIDNAPING AND ITS RESULTS-THE EARLY MILLS.
THE CHOLERA IN POSEY.
Within the past half-century cases of this dreadful disease have ap- peared on five different occasions in this country. In the year 1833 the disease prevailed in many quarters of the West, and in that year a num- ber of fatal cases occurred in this County, among the most prominent who were fatally attacked was Dann Lynn. In 1848 three deaths occurred. In 1851 it again appeared in the form of an epidemic, during which
93
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
(
thirty deaths were recorded, among whom was Dr. Mark Trafton. In 1852 there were a few fatal cases, among whom was the wife of Charles F. Leonard, the mother of the publisher of this work. The darkest and one of the most sorrowful periods in the history of the County was the year 1873, when the relentless disease for two long months performed its awful mission. That was a period which will be remembered with the deepest melancholy, particularly by those who were witnesses of the sad events that transpired. . For five long and weary weeks coal was burned in great quantities on many corners in Mt. Vernon, while the gutters ran with lime and other disinfectants. Every thing was done to eradicate the disease, and many made heroes of themselves by their actions. Dr. A. Matzdorf was a martyr to the cause of mercy and relief. He visited victims who were writhing in agony and administered remedies for their relief until he was stricken down and succumbed to the disease which baffled medical skill. John C. Woody, one of nature's noblemen, during the scourge performed deeds most heroic when he, in the lonely vigils of the night, sat by the bed- side of his dying wife and dead children and used every means to allay the pains of the patient sufferer. The neighbors had become terror- stricken and it was impossible to secure assistance. The brave hearted and faithful man, conscious of threatened danger, remained in the home darkend by the death of two children and a brother until the terrible monster relieved his wife of her torture. He was faithful to his vow as a husband and showed an emulative gratitude for the love of a pure and devoted wife. During the epidemic there were, according to the most reliable information, one hundred deaths from cholera, eighty occurring in the town of Mt. Vernon. We subjoin a list, with the dates, believing that it is correct :
Joseph Pickles died June 7th; a daughter of George Muncey, and Mrs. William Miller, the 15th; a child of Mr. Roberts, the 20th; Mrs. Jos. Sloat, the 22nd; John Caldwell (colored), the 27th; Lucy Kirk, a child. a daughter of Mrs. John Snyder and Mrs. Collins, the 28th; a daughter of Mrs. John Snyder, the 30th; Mrs. Grant, July Ist; Thomas Caldwell (colored), the 8th; unknown negro woman and an unknown pauper, the 9th; Miss Sheldon, Miss Gordon, Mrs. George Weilbrenner, a daughter of John Reichert, Mrs. Barker and James Werks, the 11th; Samuel K. Bell, his mother and sister, Mrs. Helen Gordon, Larkin Duncan and Alvin Hovey, the 12th; Augustas Gor- don and a daughter of Robert Lyon, the 13th; Mrs. Conrad Shertz, William King and child of James McClain, the 14th; Robert . Peters and Mrs. S. Huff, the 15th; Taylor Woody. Orrin Johnson, child of J. C. Woody, Henry Osborne and wife and Robert Lyon, the 16th; an unknown pauper, Lewis Barton, Mrs. J. C. Woody and child, the 17th; Joseph Harris, Mary Shertz and Mrs. Barton, the 18th; a son
94
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
of Mr. Bonenberger, Katie Shertz and Mrs. Grace Craw, the 19th; Lettie Watkins (colored), Mrs. Timmons and Dr. A. Matzdorf, the 20th; Mrs. Robert Lyon, Mrs. McLaughlin and Miss Eva Hovey, the 2 Ist; Lizzie Haas and a son of Mrs. Cook, the 22d; a son of James C. Dixon, an unknown negro and Mrs. McDowell, the 23d; son of James Davenport, the 24th; Anton Haas, John Quick, wife and child, the 25th; Mrs. John D. Hinch and Mrs. Musselman, the 26th; an unknown pauper, the 28th; Mrs. Latham, the 29th; Jeff. Hopkins, the 30th; a child of Isaac Newton, the 31st; John Tier, August Ist; Charles Kreie, the 2d; Robert Moore, the 3d; Mattie Stein and Henry Washington (colored), the 4th; and Joseph Clemmens and an unknown pauper, the 5th.
MURDERS.
On the 29th of October, 1817, a young physician of much promise, by the name of Thomas Moore Parke, accompanied by his wife, lo- cated in the embryo village of Mt. Vernon, and immediately began the practice of his profession. Soon after his advent into that frontier village, a man by the name of Peter Hendricks, while riding a frac- tious horse, was thrown against a stump of a tree, near the corner of Walnut and Second streets, and killed. The young physician, for pur- poses of dissection, it is supposed, obtained possession of the body by some means and conveyed it to his stable loft, in the rear of the hotel now known as the European, and covered it with hay. Some one passing through the alley in the rear of the building referred to, acci- dentally discovered the feet of the corpse, and the presence of it in the stable of Dr. Parke caused a suspicion of body-snatching to be directed against him, which ended in outspoken indignation. It is said that Mrs. Rachel Givens, a woman of high connection, allowed her anger to lead her to take steps that would result in the physician's punishment. She employed a profligate and drunken fellow by the name of George Gibbons to avenge the wrong, and promised to re- ward him with a jug of whisky if he would personally chastise the doctor. Five months after his arrival, March 29, 1818, the young physician was crossing Second street, when Gibbons, with an ashen club, stealthily came up to him from behind, and struck him several blows, killing him instantly. As it was the first tragic event that had occurred in the County, it created considerable excitement. Gibbons was arrested, with some difficulty, and taken to the jail at Springfield. He was indicted by the grand jury at the May term of the Circuit Court, 1818; was arraigned May 20, 1817, before David Hart, presid- ing judge, and was placed under bond of $1,300 for his appearance at the September term of the Court following, with Charity Byrd,
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.