USA > Indiana > Boone County > History of Boone County, Indiana : With biographical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of old families, Volume I > Part 7
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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 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48
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creek, White Lick and the Walnut Fork of Eel river, which empty into the former and of Big Raccoon and Sugar creeks, which empty into the latter. All of these streams are too sluggish to be utilized by machinery. The county is as yet undeveloped in mineral resources. Both limestone and coal are substances entirely foreign to its geological formation. Clay for bricks is found here in abundance, and of excellent quality. It is suitable also for the manufacture of fire brick, tiles and pottery. Boone county lies wholly within the drift region and the surface is covered with an abundance of transported material. In portions of the county, boulders lie on the surface by thousands and they are available material for buildings, in the absence of limestone. There are no mounds here, or other evidences of a residence of a prehistoric race; yet there are many stone axes and arrowheads which are supposed to have belonged to the Miami Indians.
SURVEY.
In the United States survey, Boone county embraces all of townships 18 and 19 north, and ranges I and 2 east and ranges 1 and 2 west of the sec- ond meridian. Also parts of townships 17 and 20 north and ranges 1 and 2 west and east of the second meridian. This territory is divided into twelve civil townships, named as follows, to-wit: Marion, Clinton, Washington, Sugar Creek, Jefferson, Jackson, Harrison, Perry, Eagle, Union, Worth and Center. We deem it proper to give a brief sketch of each in this con- nection in order to emphasize the different parts of the county and bring out the local features and characteristics.
MARION.
Marion township is situated in the northeast part of the county. It is bounded on the north by Clinton county, on the west by Clinton township, on the south by Union township, and on the east by Hamilton county and con- tains forty-five sections of land.
When the white man came it was covered with a fine growth of timber of the very best qualities. Poplar (the tulip tree), in all its beauty and strength; the walnut, tall and straight; quercus-the oak, king of the forest and queen Acer the maple, in all her primitive beauty. It was the tableland between the Wabash and the White river systems of drainage; hence very
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level and covered with water the most of the year. On account of this it was not very inviting to the early settlers, yet a few of the braves ventured and drove their stakes fearlessly. While the Indian yet remained and pur- sued his hunt in the primeval woods, a few whites are said to have settled in this township on the squatter system, and must have been the fathers of the squatter sovereignty plan, that became national in our western states, and brought forth the great debate between Lincoln and Douglass, which made Lincoln President of the United States, and the terrific history that followed.
These men did not establish homes but merely shacks in which to dwell, while they carried on the business of hunting. They made no more lasting impression on the history of the county than the Indian did. They entered no land, built no permanent homes, hence passed from view as the red man. There were men, however, that saw more than the hunt for wild game; fore- most among these were Edward Jackson and Caleb Richardson, who settled in 1831 and 1832 respectively, on the banks of Eagle creek. Later in the year 1832 came John Parr, Sr., William Parr, John Parr, Jr., and Alfred Srite. The next year 1833 they were joined by William Lane and Lewis Harris, who settled in the south part of the township. In the spring of 1834 came Zach Turpin, John Burns and Milton Hickson, who also settled in the south part of the township. In 1835, Joseph McCoy, John Runno and John, Robert and William Stephenson, who bought Turpin out and established homes. These were followed by others equally prominent, without dates : Samuel Evans, Joseph Kimball, Robert McNulty, John Wright. John Beard, John King, Samuel Moore, John Moore, John Wright, James Moore, Smith Castor, Robert Bell, Richard Cornell and Samuel Meyers. Each year brought its newcomers until the entire township was staked off for homes, ex- cept a few acres that were designated as swamp lands. While the township is generally level and many streams have their source in its bounds, yet there is very little land under this head. In the southwest quarter of section 14. township 20 north, range 2 east, there are eighty acres. In township 19 north, range 2 east, there are in section 7 one hundred and sixty acres. In section 12, forty acres. In section 17, forty acres. In section 18, eighty acres, making all told, four hundred acres. The flood of immigration soon overspread the entire township and pioneer homes were begun throughout all its woods, and the ring of the woodman's ax and bang of his rifle were heard in every direction.
The round log cabin came as if by magic. Blazed ways or paths were
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made between them, which soon widened into highways so that wagons could pass. The first great road built through the township was the Michigan road. (See an account elsewhere in this volume.) This road enters the township from the south at the southeast corner of section 21, township 19 north, range 2 east, thence north, bearing west and passing into Clinton county near the northwest corner of the township. The next great road in the township was the Strawtown road, running east and west, passing on the township line, between 19 and 20 north, leading from Thorntown through Slabtown to Anderson. All other roads were built on the section and half section lines. The earlier roads you will recognize by their being crooked and running towards Lebanon.
There were no mills in this township until steam power was introduced. There was no water power sufficient to propel a mill, hence the early settler had to crush his corn by horse power or go to Mechanicsburg, down on Eagle creek, or to Noblesville with his grist.
SCHOOLS.
The first school in the township was in the winter of 1833 for a few weeks, and the first log school house after the fashion of the day, in the south- east part of the township near Big Springs, in the year 1836. It was here that the first boys and girls of the woods were gathered with goose-quills and blue-backed spelling books to catch the first ideas of culture under the stimulus of the birch to be good. Out of this small beginning the schools of the township progressed until there was a round baker's dozen scattered over the township as near as there could be, to give one to each four square miles. It figures out one school to less than three and one-half miles. Under the modern system of concentration of schools the number has been reduced to ten and still in the transition period.
CHURCHES.
Civilized man can not live without worship, so they must needs gather at some point for this purpose. As in all new settlements, there was no place of meeting. Some one must open the home. Caleb Richardson's big heart
.
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opened and he opened wide the doors of his cabin and there it is said that the first religious services were conducted by Rev. James Brown, a Methodist minister. In the homes of the people for several years, services were held until 1839, when a Methodist church was built and Rev. White was the pastor in charge. The Methodists grew in numbers and in the early history built two or three other churches in the township.
The Methodist Protestants had one church at an early date. In a rural survey in Indiana, made by the Department of Church and Country Life of the Board of Home Missions of the Presbyterian Churches in the United States of America, made in the months of June, July and August, 1911, this survey was made in co-operation with the Interdenominational Council of the Churches of Indiana. It gives the church survey of Marion township at that date as follows :
Six churches, to-wit : The United Brethren in the northeast part of the township, with a membership of ninety-five, condition of church, standing still. The Methodist Protestant, about the center, with a membership of eighty-two, standing still. The Christian church, west of the center, mem- bership one hundred and eleven, growing. Primitive Baptist, towards the southeast part of the township, membership thirty-three, standing still. Methodist Episcopal, in the center of the southern part of the township, mem- bership fifty-nine, standing still. The Methodist Protestant just east of the Methodist Episcopal, dead.
There is one steam railway in this township, viz: The Chicago, Indian- apolis & Louisville, which enters the township at the southeast corner of sec- tion 35, township 20 north, range 2 east, and passes out of the township at the northeast half of section 17, township 20 north, range 2 east. The only towns in the township are Terhune, on the railroad, in section 22; Waugh, located in the southeast corner of section 16, township 19 north, range 2 east, and Big Springs, which answers for a trading point for the township, located just over the line in Union township in section 26, township 19 north, range 2 east.
Although this township has no great city or even a thriving town, yet it is blessed with an excellent rural district of as fine farms and as energetic and intelligent people as can be found in any place in this broad land of ours. Its beautiful farms of luxuriant soil, good roads and comfortable homes, make a charming environment for happy homes. There is no land more
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fertile, no clime more healthful or no spot on earth more desirable for a happy contented people.
The first election of township officers was held in the spring of 1835 at the home of Robert Stephenson. By a majority of the votes cast, Robert Stephenson was chosen justice of the peace and his brother, John, was elected constable. The court being established, the township got down to business and has been running smoothly and prosperously ever since, growing into civilization and becoming a factor for good in the county and state. The following have served as trustees, viz: Richard Cornell, P. E. McNeal, James A. Richardson, Joseph N. Sample, J. A. J. Sims, Robert Bell, William Bell, W. F. Cobb and Josiah Stevenson.
CLINTON.
Clinton township is situated in the northern tier of townships bounded on the north by Clinton county, on the west by Washington township, on the south by Center and on the east by Hamilton county. It contains thirty- three sections of land. Half sections 13 to 18 inclusive, and sections 19 to 36 inclusive, in township 20 north, range I east, and sections I to 12 in- clusive, in township 19 north, range I east. Its surface is generally level, sloping gently towards the northwest. Section 12 in the southwest corner is the highest and most level in the township, and the northwest corner is the lowest and most broken. Sugar creek cuts off a small portion of the north- west corner. Mud creek, Terrapin creek and Brown's Wonder, all flow to- ward the northwest and drain the entire township into Sugar creek. There is a story about the origin of the name of this latter creek. It is stated that when the surveyors were surveying this part of Boone county and came across the head waters of this stream in Center township and it twisted and flowed in so many directions that much controversy arose among them as to where the creek would empty. It was no easy work to survey this wild land. To cut a way through the brush and wade through the bogs and lazy crooked streams was a tedious task. Added to this was the difficulty of telling a stream that was lost in the woods from a regular bog or swamp. This slug- gish, twisting stream was a wonder to all three of the men and especially to a young man of the company by the name of Brown. So when the riddle was
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solved and the perplexed stream was landed in Sugar creek, near Mechanics- burg, it was christened Brown's Wonder. The streams previously referred to drained the township naturally and made it easy to complete the work by ditching so that the rich soil was easily drained. The township is com- paratively level except the northwest corner, and yet there were only forty acres of swamp land in the entire township, the southwest one-fourth of southwest quarter of section 2.
Settlements were made as early as 1834. Among the first may be named James H. Sample, George Fall, Henry I. Bennett, Robert Stephenson, A. B. Clark, Hoza Albridge, Resin Garrett, Thomas Abernathy, William West, David Evans, John Tucker, Jesse Scott, Hiram Roberts, Jesse Perkins. John Caldwell, William I. Bennett, Newton Cassady, John M. Burns, Hiram Brenton, Alexander Caldwell, George Mognett, James Downing, Hugh Wiley, Abner Knotts, J. A. McDaniel, W. H. Evans, John Evans, Obed Hardesty, Robert Perkins, F. C. Phillips, Hugh Sample, John M. Wiley, Frank Downing, Hiram Powell, Joseph Stephenson, Hugh McDonald, Ozias Robinson, Samuel Downey, John R. McDonald, E. Swope, Matthew McLear, Marion Evans, Andrew Burns.
CHURCHES.
The first religious meeting was held at the house of A. B. Clark, in 1835. A year or two later the Old School Presbyterians held meetings in private houses and formed a society. Among the early ministers were John Rey- nolds (Presbyterian), John Bonner, William Turner, William Hall, Carson Buckhalter (Christian), and Henry I. Bennett. The early churches were as follows: Hopewell (Presbyterian), in section 31, on the Thorntown and Strawtown road. Mud Creek or Salem, in section 27, organized with twenty members in 1836 as the Social Reform Presbyterian church. In 1858 it joined with the United Presbyterian and henceforth known by that name. In the year 1836 the Old School Presbyterians in the west part of the town- ship on the Thorntown road. The Baptists, Presbyterians and Disciples each organized and erected churches at Elizaville, making in all five churches for the township. The report made in 1911 by the survey of the Department of Church and Country Life in Indiana by the Board of Home Missions of the Presbyterian church is as follows, viz: The three churches of Eliza-
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ville, Baptists, membership 137, standing still. The Presbyterian, member- ship 12, losing ground. Disciples, membership 152, growing. The United Presbyterian, Salem or Mud Creek, membership 102, standing still. The Presbyterians west part of the township, membership 53, losing ground. At Salem and Hopewell are cemeteries where many pioneers are sweetly resting until the resurrection morning.
SCHOOLS.
Early in the settlement a stranger built a cabin, became tired of pioneer life and deserted the country. This log cabin was converted into the first school house and the first school was taught by James H. Sample in 1835. This school teacher has the honor of being the father of the first white child born in the township. He was christened Hugh in 1837 and still lives to wear the crown of his distinction. The schools increased with the growth of the township until under the public system there were nine. Under the centralization system of our day the number has been reduced.
In the fall of 1835 the voters met at the house of Mr. Cassady on Terra- pin creek to elect their officers. The Democratic candidate, Mr. Maxwell, was chosen justice of the peace, but his election was successfully contested by his opponent, James H. Sample, who became the first justice of the peace in the township.
The first marriage was that of John Stevenson to Miss Adams in 1837. The next to join the nuptial train were Eris Stevenson to Miss Margaret Wiley, John M. Burns to Miss S. Wiley.
The following persons have served as township trustees, viz: John Caldwell, William Wylie, John M. Burns, Ephraim Davis, Reuben Eaton, William Brenton, A. C. Kern, J. C. Tomlinson.
In the winter of 1835, George, son of Robert Stevenson, was engaged in felling a large tree, which fell upon and killed him. This was the first death in the township. In the following spring Samuel Downey's son was killed by a falling tree, which was uprooted by a storm, and struck him as he ran across the clearing. In 1837 occurred the first natural death; Mrs. Mary Sample died at the home of her son-in-law, A. B. Clark. All were buried in the Mud Creek cemetery.
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BOONE COUNTY, INDIANA.
ELIZAVILLE.
Elizaville is the only town or trading point in the township. It is lo- cated on the Strawtown road in the east part of the township. It was laid out on the farm of Hiram Brinton in 1852 but was never incorporated. Silas M. Cory was the first merchant and was followed by A. B. Clark in the same enterprise. The village now contains one general merchandise store, one blacksmith shop, one steam grist and sawmill, one wagon shop and one resident physician.
WASHINGTON.
Washington is in the northern tier of townships and bounded on the north by Clinton county, on the west by Sugar Creek and Jefferson town- ships, on the south by Jefferson and Center, on the east by Center and Clin- ton. It contains thirty-five and one-half sections of land, twenty-five of which were included in the Eel River Indian Reserve. Half sections 13 to 18 and sections 19 to 36, in township 20 north, range I west, and sections I to 12 and west half of 16 to 18 inclusive, in township 19 north, range I west. Its surface is generally level with good natural drainage with the exception of a few sections in the south part of the township. Sugar creek enters the township about the middle of section 24, flows west bearing a little south and passes out of the township from section 30. Its tributaries are Spring and Prairie creeks. Spring creek enters the northeast part of the town- ship from Center, flows southwest through the center and enters Sugar creek in section 30. Prairie creek drains the southwest part of the township and passes into Sugar Creek township near the southwest corner of section 6. The land was covered with an excellent growth of timber, the sugar maple prevailing.
The people began to settle as early as 1829, indeed some crowded in on the Indians before they got moved, after they sold their farm of one hun- dred square miles to Uncle Sam. The township was not organized until 1832, but before that time many homes were established. Among the first may be mentioned John N. Fall, John Wilky, Joshua Allen, William West, and Able Pennington, who ventured to come as early as 1829. Soon after came a long list, among whom we can name, Joshua Burnham, Benjamin
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Crose, James Scott, Samuel Reese, John Slocum, Thomas McCann, William Pauley, James Turner, Benjamin Sweeney, John Morehead, Jacob Skeen. Abraham Buckhalter, Samuel and James Foreman, John Kersey, Benjamin and Stephen Titus, Nathaniel Titus, Samuel Cason, John Cradlebaugh, James P. Mills, John Higgins, Robert Slocum, Anthony and Wilson Beck, John Graham, W. W. Phillips, the Campbells, Sleighbecks, Chambers, Thorn- berrys, Buntins, Bowens, Ritchies and many others that soon followed.
This township was blessed with water power. The first mill was built by David Ross in 1831 on Spring creek. Bonam Stout built the first grist mill at Mechanicsburg in 1838. John and Noah Hardesty built the grist mill later known as the Adley mill on Sugar creek below Mechanicsburg. Michael and Augustus Chase built the mill known later as the Ben Crose mill.
The first religious meetings were held at the home of William Pauley, as early as 1830. The first church house built in the township was a hewed log house, erected by the Baptists in 1835. The church interest increased until there were six churches in the township. Two Methodists, one south of Pike's Crossing, now reported to have 32 members and losing ground; one at Mechanicsburg with a membership of 68, also reported as losing ground. The Disciples church at Mechanicsburg with a membership of 148, and in a growing condition. The Christian church (Salem), in section 9, with 67 members, losing ground. The United Brethren near the north- west corner, with 82 members and losing ground. The Brush Creek church at Brush Creek cemetery, dead.
SCHOOLS.
The first school was taught in a log cabin by Daniel Ellis in 1832. The educational interest was extended over the township until ten were established to accommodate the demand for education. These under the modern sys- tem of centralizing have decreased to eight schools, one with two rooms. The following have served as trustees, viz: John Higgins, H. G. Hazelrigg, Robert Slocum, B. F. Lumpkins, J. E. Harrison, Albert Helmm, Robert Herr.
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BOONE COUNTY, INDIANA.
MECHANICSBURG.
James Snow laid out the town of Mechanicsburg near the junction of Browns' Wonder and Sugar creek, in 1835 (post office Reese's Mills). It is a center of considerable trade and beautifully located between the two streams on high lands for Boone county. There are three cemeteries located in the township where many of the pioneers are laid to rest. One at Brush Creek, one south of Pike's Crossing and one at the Precinct house known as Bethel. Pike's Crossing is located where the Thorntown and Strawtown road crosses the Lebanon and Frankfort road. It has a postoffice, store, blacksmith shop and several fine residences. In the fall of 1831, Enoch Davis laid out a town in the southwest quarter of section 31 where the Indianapolis and Lafayette state road crosses the Thorntown and Strawtown road with a spirit of oppo- sition to the young Thorntown on the banks of Sugar and Prairie creeks. He laid off lots, built a dwelling and store house in which the first stock of goods in the township was sold. A post office was also established. The plan of holding against Thorntown failed and Mr. Davis went down with it. The first election was held at the home of John S. Polk, on the first Mon- day of April, 1833, in which John Slocum and John S. Polk were elected justices of the peace, receiving twenty-six and twenty-five votes respectively. John Pauley and William Brown were elected constables. The southwest boundary has been changed a time or so since the organization of the town- ship for various reasons political and for taxation for railroad purposes and otherwise. The present boundary includes sections 17 and 18 off of Jefferson and the west half of section 16, off of Center.
ROADS.
The first main roads of the township are the Thorntown and Strawtown road on the line between towns 19 and 20 north and the Indianapolis and Lafayette road which enters the township near the southeast corner of sec- tion 9 and runs northwest in a direct line towards Lafayette. It has been vacated north of the Thorntown and Strawtown road and follows the latter into Thorntown thence on to Lafayette. Washington now has many miles of good gravel roads leading in every direction and enabling the people to go in any direction any day of the year.
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SUGAR CREEK.
Sugar Creek township is located in the northwest part of the county. It is bounded on the north by Clinton county; on the west by Montgomery county, on the south by Jefferson township, and on the east by Washington township. It contains thirty-three square miles, sections I to 12 inclusive, in township 19 north, range 2 west and half sections 13 to 18 inclusive and sections 19 to 36 inclusive in township 20 north, range 2 west. This is as good land as ever a crow flew over and was well timbered originally. Chief among the trees of the forest was queen Acer, the maple, from which came the name Sugar Creek. It is thoroughly drained by Sugar creek and its tributaries, Wolf and Prairie creeks, and several smaller streams, both from the north and the south. The land is rich and undulating with Sugar creek flowing across the center from east to west, passing into Montgomery county near the southwest corner of section 30. Along the slopes of the streams were numerous springs, chief among which was the Big Spring, just east of Thorntown, which the Indians prized so highly, that it was made the center of their reservation.
A volume could be written of this historic center of the Indian and his home, until crowded out by the white man, but we will not enlarge here (see sketch of Thorntown). We will give here a few brief statements of the early settlements and first events. The Indian reserve here was one of the most important west of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, in the march of the Red- man towards the west, from the aggression of the white man, and it will be touched upon in connection with the Indian in other chapters.
Sugar Creek township was organized in 1831. The first election was held April 1832, in the house of William Kenworthy. Benjamin Sweeney and James Van Eaton were elected justices of the peace and Green Foster and David Landrum, constables. Sugar Creek township was all included in the Indian Reserve which was not closed until 1828, and the Indians lingered with the early whites until 1833 and 1834. In 1829 James Van Eaton and Cornelius Westfall entered land in section 35 where Thorntown is located. The same year William Kenworthy entered in 36 just east of Thorntown. Charles Moffitt and Joseph Ratcliff, section 34; Levi Fouts, section 33; John Skeen, section 25 and Jeremiah Cox, section 30.
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