USA > Indiana > Carroll County > History of Carroll County, Indiana : With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 71
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RES. OF JOHN Q. MILLER, MADISON TP. CARROLL CO. IND.
STOVER
RES. OF FRANCIS THOMSON, MADISON TP. CARROLL CO. IND.
325
MADISON TOWNSHIP.
snit of clothes, and with $170 as the savings from his two years' work, returned home. a living refntation of his father's predic. tion. The latter was pleased with the result, and was quick to acknowledge bis misconception of his son's character. Shortly after returning to his home, Mr. Miller went to work at his trade in the shop formerly occupied by his brother, who had then re- moved to another county. Here he worked with a will. and, as a consequence, earned and saved money. He was married, on the 5th of June. 1851, to Miss Elizabeth Hiestand, daughter of : David Hiestand, Esqq., a highly respected citizen of Fairfield County, Ohio, and, at a later date. of Carroll County, Ind. In September, 1852. Mr. Miller came to Carroll County with his wife, and located upon a tract of twenty acres in Madison Town-
R. Grant. father of Gen. Grant, and subsequently, in the fall of 1835. removed to Madison Township. Carroll County. Ind., where But the prospect was not cheerful, at best. To add to his tronb- | he died August 9. 1838. Ama (Scott) Thomson. mother of les. his best horse died on the second night after his arrival hore. Francis Thomson, was a native of Pennsylvania. and, owing to the expense incident to moving and getting ready Francis Thomson. a farmer also, and the owner and proprie- for housekeeping, he found himself unable to buy another: so ' tor of 500 acres of fertile land in Carroll County. 160 acres of for two years, he was compelled to hire a horse of one of his neighbors, to take the place of the one dead. In spite of dis- couragements, he toiled cheerfully on, and during that winter cleared a portion of his land and set ont an orchard. Little by little, in after years, he added to his farm by the purchase of adjacent lands, until it comprised 120 acres, the larger portion of which is now cleared and nuder a fine state of cultivation. Among the important improvements which he has instituted are the ditches that underlie his farm. adding so largely to its value and fertility. By a due observance of economy. coupled with the most tireless industry and energy, Mr. Miller has advanced from the rank of a poor boy to that of an opulent farmer. And, while he has been advanceng in worldly prosperity. he has not neglected his higher duties. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and has always lived consistently with his profession. He is recognized among all who know him as an upright. honor- able man, and all his dealings with his fellow-men are condneted upon the fairest principles.
His noble wife has been an important assistant in his prog-
ress. and still survives to share with him the comforts of his prosperity, as she shared the hardships of the early years in the wilderness of Madison Township. Their wedded life has been blessed by eight children-Franklin P., Ada M. David E. Cas- sie V .. Amelia J .. Walter A., Christian O. and Viola G., all of whom now survive.
FRANCIS THOMSON.
James Thomson, grandfather of the subject of this review. was born in Edinburgh, Scotland: emigrated to America. and was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. The father of Francis Thomson. a farmer, whose Christian name also was James, was , born in Mifflin County, Penn .; moved. in 1811. to Georgetown. ship. His land was not only covered with a wilderness-it was ' Brown Co., Ohio, hore becoming intimately acquainted with Josse also low and wet. He first saw it after an unnsnally wet season. and. consequently, under the most unfavorable circumstances. ;
which is the best tile-drained land in the county. is of Scotch- Irish lineage, and was born in Brown County, Ohio. May 25. 1820. A boy in years when his father settled in the township. from a dense wilderness of timber and swamp, by tile and ax. and the sturdy might of the pioneer. the homestead has been re- deemed. and converted into a rich and valuable farm property. For abont twelve years. Mr. Thomson, supplementary to his farm labors, has extensively engaged in the manufacture and sale of drain tiles. On the 5th day of March. 1846. he was married to Charlotte Moore, a native of the State of New York. Four children are the fruits of this nion -Isabella (wife of Dr. Cochran). James. Josephine (married) and Charles M. Both Mr. and Mrs. Thomson are Presbyterians. Politically, Francis Thomson is a Republican. and for years has taken an active interest in the success of his party. Socially. he is a man of irreproachable character and integrity, and possessing a goodly supply of broad common sense. The latch-string of his heart. as well as home, is on the outside. and. the guest of " Frank " Thomson finds a ready and a cheer- ful welcome.
326
HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
ROCK CREEK TOWNSHIP.
LOCATION, BOUNDARY, ETC.
Rock Creek is situated in the northern part of Carroll County. and is bounded on the north by Cass County. east by Washing- ton Township. on the south by Jackson and Deer Creek Town. ships, while the Wabash River forms its boundary line on the west. Rock Creek. the principal stream, tlows almost due west through the township. until it reaches a point in Section 36. Here it diverges to the north. and, maintaining this course for a little over two miles, discharges into the Wabash at the northern extremity of Section 19. Along the course of this stream. the scenery, while not grand or imposing. is strikingly picturesque and charming. The general character of the surface throughout the township is a gently undulating hpland. sloping gradually to the ereck bottoms in some places, in others, terininating in bluff banks, which in many instances have an altitude of fifty or sixty feet above the bed of the stream, and are lined with a rocky fac ing. which. no doubt. gave the creek the name it bears. Over. hanging these cliffs on either side are tall forest trees. in all their ancient glory. their wealth of foliage reflected in the stream be low. frowning back the inquisitive beams of the sun. and form ing delightfully cool and romantic nooks along the line of this otherwise intensely practical stream for be it remembered that Rock Creek was not suffered to roam at will for a long period after its haunts had been vacated by the red denizens of other days. and a race of pioneers had succeeded them as the ocenpants of the land. Its career was so checked and controlled by dams as to become the instrument. in the hands of its masters. for turning the machinery of the mills which appeared ahnost simnl- taneonsly with the settlement of the township: and, thronghont the intervening years. the excellent water-power it affords has been similarly utilized. This blending of the romantic with the practical, the ancient beauty with the modern utility of the stream. forms a pretty picture, and a profitable study for the artist or poet. while the primeval forests near its rocky banks re- lieve the monotony of the finely cultivated fields, which. throngh- out the township, bear their eloquent testimony to the skill. for- titude and endurance of our pioneers.
Besides Rock Creek. there are several small streams or branches, nearly all of which are tributaries of this stream. only two or three of the number discharging into the Wabash. The undulating character of the land affords an excellent natural drainage, rendering this pre-eminently an agricultural township. By an act of the first Board of County Commissioners of Carroll County, Rock Creek became a civil township. and. by the bound- aries then established, it was made to include nearly all of what is now Clinton Township, in Cass County. Four years later (1832), at a session of the Board of Commissioners. its bound- aries were so amended as to leave it in its present shape. except that a tier of sections in the southern extremity were subse- quently assigned to Deer Creek Township by the same au- thority.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
The act by which Rock Creek was erected into a civil town: ship passed the Board of Commissioners on the 12th of May. 1828. From the fact of its recognition at that time, it is pre. smable that there were then living within its limits a sufficient number of settlers to conduct a civil government. It will be re. membered. however, that a great portion of this township. as then described. lay in what is now within the jurisdiction of Cass County. and consequently ont of the province of our work. Certain it is that. while the territory now embraced under the name of Rock Creek Township had witnessed the advent of the white man as early as the year 1825. there were not a sufficient munber in 1828 to entitle it to an organization, unless those be included who were living in the subsequently organized county of Cass. In 1825. John Kuns, a former resident of Montgomery County. Ohio, came to the township with his family, and entered the southwest fraction of Section 26. in Town 26 north. Range 2 west. Surrounded here by a dense forest. he constructed a lit- the cabin. in which his family could find shelter, and began the work of hewing ont a farm. He was almost alone in this under- taking. his only neighbor being Aaron Merriman, who came to' the township about the same time. Mr. Kuns was a strong, reso- Inte man. and persevered in the labor he had undertaken. until he had cleared the greater portion of his land. In later years. he sold out and removed to the State of Illinois, where he con .? tinned to reside until death.
Aaron Merriman was also accompanied by a family. He was an industrious man and a good neighbor. and cleared the farm now owned by the heirs of Absalom Parks. He was not identi- fied long with the history of this locality, as he moved away, and nothing farther was heard from him.
Jacob Kuns. a brother of John. came to the township in 1826. and entered a tract of land in Section 19. He was accompanied by his wife, three sons and a niece. He cleared the farm now owned by Charles Wilson. and subsequently purchased a tract of 230 acres. now owned by Charles Parks. For a period of twenty-seven years, he was a prominent citizen of the township. and bore a full share in its public and private improvements. In 1853. he removed to Cass County. where he still resides. Of the sons who accompanied. him to this township, all are now living. The eldest resides in the State of Iowa, two in Cass County. and one at Camden. Carroll County.
After the year 1826. we tind no chronicle of further arrivals until 1829. Charles M. Silence came in that year. and leased a tract of land that Emanuel Flora had previously entered. In 1834. he entered the west half of the northeast quarter of Section 29, and converted it into a good farm. He was known as an hon- est, hard-working man, and was highly respected. He finally removed to another locality, where he died.
Christopher McCombs came in 1829, accompanied by his mother and two brothers, John and David. He was a good
ASA
RES.OF ASBURY S.MCCORMICK, ROCKFIELD, ROCK CREEK TP. CARROLL CO.IND.
-
RES.OF HENRY K.STAUFFER ROCK CREEK TP. CARROLL
RES. OF SARAH A.HARDY, ROCKFIELD, CARROLL Co, IND.
Co. IND.
RES. OF HIRAM GREGG, ROCK CREEK TP. CARROLL COUNTY IND.
RES. OF JOHN C. GREGG, ROCK CREEK TP. CARROLL COUNTY, IND.
OLD HOME Built in the Spring of 1838.
8
RES, OF J.W. GLASSCOCK ROCK CREEK TP. CARROLL CO IND.
- RES. OF LEWIS MULLIN, ROCK CREEK TP. CARROLL CO. IND.
327
ROCK CREEK TOWNSHIP.
fariner. and became a very popular man. He served with credit as one of the Associate Judges of Carroll County. His brother David met a melancholy death. just before or just, after a hunt- ing excursion. While blowing into the muzzle of a gun. his foot slipped from the hammer. and the charge entered his mouth. penetrating the brain, killing him instantly. The brothers Mc. Combs were industrious men. and cleared a fine farm. Their father was a physician in Ohio. but died prior to the removal to the family to the West; and his wife, although not a regular practitioner, possessed a sufficient knowledge of medicine to ren- der her services very useful in the settlement.
During the year 1830 there were several new and valuable accessions to the settlement. John Farneman came from Ohio in that year, and entered a tract of land in Section 6. He was a member of the German Baptist Church. and it was at his house that the early meetings of that denomination were held. He ! cleared a farm on the banks of Rock Creek. upon which he erected a saw-mill at an early day, and was identified with the growth and improvement of the township until his death. Two of the children who accompanied him thither are still living in this county, viz. : Isaac, and Esther, wife of Eli Young.
1
John Corder came in 1830 and settled in Section 21. He cleared a portion of the farm he entered, but was not long iden- titied with the township. as he removed to another locality. George Kuns, the father of Jacob, came in the same year (1830). accompanied by Emanuel Flora, his son-in-law. Both cleared and improved farms, upon which they resided for a number of years. Mr. Kuns died on his farm. wbile Mr. Flora removed to Cass County, where he spent the remainder of his life.
Aaron and John Hickman came late in 1829 or early in 1830. Both were local ministers of the New-Light Christian Church. and conducted religions services at their honses. They remained in the township long enough to clear small farins. which they cul- tivated for a few years, finally removing to another locality.
In the spring of 1830, Samuel Williamson came from Penn- sylvania and entered the west fractional part of the northwest quarter of Section 31. The site was well chosen for milling ope- rations, as Rock Creek flows across the tract he selected. He brought with him a practical millwright. by the name of Gray- bill. and at once began the erection of a saw-mill. In the fol- lowing autumn, Mr. Williamson came with his family to live on his land. He improved it, and cultivated his farm until his de- cease. In addition, he utilized the timber removed from his grounds in the process of clearing by sawing it into lumber, and conducting a profitable. though somewhat limited. lumber trade. A few years later, he abandoned the saw-mill. and erected a good flouring-mill in its stead. His sons, David, John S. and Joseph A., all entered land in Section 31. and cleared farins. Joseph A. still cultivates the farm-he then entered. David re- sides at Camden, while John S. is deceased.
Prior to the arrival of the Williamsons. Alex Siers came to the township and entered the east half of the southeast quarter of Section 34. He cleared his land and cultivated it until his death. It is said that he was very fond of the chase, and was the slayer of great numbers of deer and other game with which the forests abounded, and that he was particularly successful as a bee-hunter.
Thomas Millard was one of the settlers of 1830. He came shortly after the family of Samuel Williamson, and entered land in several sections, his possessions reaching a total of several hundred acres. It was remarked of him that he was a very hard
worker, and his wife was as industrious as himself, often taking a hand in the labor of clearing and chopping. They were good citizens, and succeeded in making a fine farm, upon which they lived for a number of years. They subsequently removed to Iowa bt finally returned to Indiana and lo vite.l in Cass County. where both died.
Moses Scott came to the township with his kinsman, Alex Siers. He was an industrions man, but did not purchase land until 1835. He worked for others. and proved himself a valuable hand in clearing and chopping. After a few years he removed to one of the Western States, where all trace of him is lost. Other settlers of the year 1830 were Lowis Neff and William Atkinson. Isham Atkinson came in the following year, and all were more or less prominently identified with the settlement and improvement of the township. Isham Atkinson was a preacher of the New Light Christian persuasion, and. while otherwise a very good kind of a man, it is said that he would sometimes yield to the temptation of drinking, and find himself mnuch the worse for his indulgence. About that time, the old town of Tiptonsport. with its tavern and groggery, and its convivial society, offered allurements to a man resting from a day's hard work, and many good men of the settle- ment became victims.
Families continued to join the settlement each season, and the seanty population of the township continued to receive valable additions to its numbers. Prominent among those who came in 1831 were James Ralston, who settled immediately east of the present town of Rockfield in Section 6: Jacob Klepinger, who settled in Section 5: James W. Williams, in Section 9; Newman West. in Section 21; Jacob Riegel, in Section 24; Simon Moyer and James Welch, in the same section; Charles Berkshire, in See- tion 26; and Robert Dunlap and John Bozarth, in Section 34.
In 1832, John W. Draper entered a tract of land in Section 21, where he brought his family to live. He was of a roving dis. position, and sold ont and moved West after clearing a few acres of ground. William Creaghead settled in Section 23 in the same year, where he cleared and improved a farm. Robert and Mat. thew Ralston entered land in Section 22 in 1833, and cleared and improved farms. Noah Mullin entered a tract of land in Section 33 in 1831, and came to live on his farm in 1834. He was a diligent worker in his younger days, and amassed a competence for his old age. He now resides at Rockfield. and is one of the oldest survivors of the pioneer community.
John and David Moyer came to the township in 1834. and, like their brother Simon. cleared and improved farms.
James Woodward came in October. 1835. accompanied by his wife and two children. He purchased the land entered by Moses Scott, on Rock Creek, and subsequently entered eighty acres for himself. He has cleared and improved a fine farm, which he still cultivates. Henry Kendall and family came soon after Mr. Woodward, and settled on Rock Freek. where they remained for a few years, finally returning to Virginia. William Vermillion, a bachelor, and John H. Marshall, were living in the township when Mr. Woodward came, but the date of settlement is not known. Vermillion entered land in Section 26, in 1825, but it is believed this was long anterior to the date of his settlement here. Solomon Graves came to the township in the spring of 1836; Philip Brobeck came in 1837; and John W. Wharton came in 1838.
In the foregoing enumeration of settlers, the writer has en- deavored to present, as nearly as possible, a full account of those who were most prominently identified with the early settlement
328
HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
and subsequent improvement of the township. If any omissions have been made, it must be attributed to the difficulty experienced in obtaining information. rather than to any disposition on his part to slight the work. From the tract book of Carroll County we are enabled to present the name of every purchaser of Gov- ernment lands lying in this township: and while here, as else. where, large traets were purchased by speculators, who were never residents: the majoirty of the names are those of actual settlers. Following is the list of purchasers:
TOWNSHIP 25 NORTH, RANGE I WEST.
Section 1-Henry Woodward, October 9, 1835: Valentine Brown, February 18, 1836: Reuben G. Mandy, May 16, 1536; James Van Rensselaer, May 24, 1836; Rosannah Hiestand. June 10. 1836: Thomas Stephenson, October 14. 1836; Aquilla Jones, December 1, 1836.
Section 2 Jacob Slewser, August 9. 1830; Thomas Deford. April 7, 1835: William Vermillion, February 10. 1836; William Hauk and' Michael Hank. September 14. 1836: Thomas Lenon. December 1, 1836.
" Section 3 -James Welch, October 6, 1530; William J. Mc- Kinney, November 6, 1833; T. and G. Kendall, February 13. 1836: Henry Chase, February 15, 1836: Samuel Hanna, June 28, 1836.
Section + -- John Smith, December 7, 1830; Thomas Millard, October 9, 1830; Ezra F. Cassidy, September 21. 1831: James Hohes. September 21, 1835.
"Section 5-Thomas Millard, October 4, 1830; Jacob Klep- inger, October 4. 1830: John Stowell, December 27. 1832; Heury Woodburn. November 4, 1835; Samuel Hanna, June 28, 1836.
Section 6 -John Farneman, April 30, 1830; Patrick Cassidy, September 26, 1830; James Ralston, November 2, 1830; Levi D. Moore, September 21, 1831: John Stowell, April 14, 1833: Isaac Larimore, November 30, 1834: Aaron Merriman, January 18. 1835; Jonathan Dix, March 4, 1836.
TOWNSHIP 26 NORTH, RANGE 1 WEST.
Section 9-James W. Williams, October 2, 1832: Jonathan Lash, June 16, 1834; Royal Grosvenor, February 18, 1835.
Section 19-Jesse Millikan, January 1, 1825: Jacob Kuns, March 6, 1826: William Wilson. September 9, 1826: Emanuel Flora, April 26, 1830: David Stipp, May 4. 1830.
Section 20 -- George Kuns, November 13. 1832: William Cronk, July 7, 1834; John Moyer, August 26, 1834; Elijah Deweese. September 22. 1834: William Wilson, September 29. 1836.
Section 21-John Corder. October 11. 1830: Newman West, November 2. 1830; John Draper, October 5. 1832: George Byers, November 21. 1834: Solomon Berkshire, February 18. 1835; Henry Bergman. September 11, 1835: Daniel Huntsinger. Jan- uary 2, 1836; Rosannah Hiestand. June 18, 1836.
Section 22-Robert Ralston, February 8, 1833; Matthew Ralston, February 8. 1833; John Corder, September 16, 1834; Newman West. December 17, 1834; Otey Anderson, May 5. 1835; Samuel Hanna, June 28, 1836; Cyrus Taber, Philip Pollard and Allen Hamilton, November 10, 1836. ..
Section 23-William Creaghead, October 24, 1832; William Kendall, January 14, 1835; Jesse Bowen, December 24, 1835; Stockwell, Reynolds and White (of La Fayette, Ind.), 320 acres, June 15, 1836.
Section 24-J. T. Townsend, December 26, 1835; , Samuel Grimes. January 26. 1836.
Section 25 Mary Kendall. Valentine Brown and Silas Wood- ward. November 26, 1835: Samuel Grimes, February 20. 1836: M. F Barber. July 9, 1836.
: Section 26 James Kendall, Jannary 14. 1835; George Campbell. March 20, 1835; James S. Williamson, December 30. 1835: William Townsend. Angust 11. 1835: James Woodward. October 12. 1835; Daniel Carrysbell. November 21, 1835; Jesse Bowen. December 24. 1835; Alexander M. Townsend. Jnne 13. 1836; Berry Townsend. October 12, 1836; William Deford. Do. cember 8 .. 1836.
Section 27 -James Kendall. January 24, 1835; Jacob Smith. December 18. 1835: Taber, Pollard and Hamilton, March 11. 1836.
Section. 28, James Hinkle, Jannary 14. 1835: William Mc. Dowell. October 8. 1835; Conrad Remley. October 21. 1835; James Van Gundy, October 21, 1835: Daniel Huntsinger, No- vember 2, 1835.
Section 29 -Samnel H. Williamson, May 29, 1833; Emanuel Flora, June 6. 1833: George Byers. December 25, 1833; Charles M. Silence. January 30. 1834: James Burkel. September. 29, 1834: Harrison Dillenger. December 10. 1835.
Section 30-David Statesman, May 10, 1825; Frederick Hoover, May 18, 1825: William Wilson, Jannary 26. 1827; George Knns. April 27, 1830; Daniel H. Williamson. September 29. 1832: Emanuel Flora. May 20. 1833: Daniel Huntsinger. October 18. 1831.
Section 31 -Samuel Williamson. April 27. 1830; David Will- iamson. October 29, 1830; Joseph A. Williamson, September 29 1831: John S. Williamson. September 29. 1831.
Section 32-Thomas Mastin. September 20. 1833; Jacob Young. December 14. 1835: George Campbell. Jamary 16, 1836: M. F. Barber. July 19. 1836.
Section 33-Noah Mullin, July 9, 1831: John Deboris, Jan- uary 14. 1832; Job Mullin. August 29. 1834; Eli Somers. An- gust 29, 1834; Daniel Huntsinger. Jannary 2. 1836.
Section 34-Alex Siers, October 8, 1830: Henry Kendall, October 21. 1835: Daniel Ketchum. November 9. 1835; James Woodward. November 26, 1835.
Section 35 . - William Vermillion. July 23. 1832; Moses Scott, February 12, 1835; John H. Marshall, February 12, 1835: Solo- mon Graves, February 26. 1835: Daniel Moyer. July 23, 1834
Section 36-George Kendall, April 16. 1835; John H. Mar- shall. May 5. 1835; John and George Brown, July 9, 1835: Thomas Jacobs, July 23. 1835: Valentine Brown, October 13, 1835.
TOWNSHIP 26 NORTH, RANGE 2 WEST.
Section 24 -- Manuel Combs, Jannary 4. 1827; Aaron Hicks. March 15, 1827; Simon Moyer, October 6. 1830: James Welch, October 6. 1830; Jacob Riegel, Octoer 8. 1830.
Section 25 -Lewis Paddock, January 22. 1825; : Newbury Stockton, Jannary 3, 1825: Anstin W. Morris, October 6. 1830; George Knns. October 6, 1830; Lewis Neff, October 6. 1830: Aaron Merriman, October 12, 1830.
Section 26-John Kuns, February 16, 1825 ;. William Ver- million. December 7. 1825; Lewis Neff, December 16, 1826; Charles Berkshire, June 13. 1831; James White, October 2, 1832; Jacob and Henry Riegel, October 2, 1832: John Kans, October 2, 1832.
Section 34-David Wagoner,, December 16, 1826; Jacob Shawley, December 16, 1826; John Crowell, December 16, 1826;
329
ROCK CREEK\ TOWNSHIP.
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