USA > Indiana > Decatur County > History of Decatur County, Indiana: its people, industries and institutions > 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 | 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 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119
III
DECATUR COUNTY, INDIANA.
DISASTROUS FIRES IN ST. PAUL.
There was probably more excitement in St. Paul during the summer of 1912 than any time since the Civil War. Beginning on December 22, 1911, there were a series of seven fires, in number, which wrought up the inhabitants of the little town to a high pitch of excitement, and if the guilty parties, sus- pected of being the cause of the fires, had been caught after the seventh fire, they might have expected severe treatment at the hands of the indignant citizens. The first fire took the elevator ; the second, John West's residence ; the third, the Big Four depot ; the fourth, February 5, 1912, the drug and general store of Daniel Hazelrigg, as well as the postoffice, which was in his building. Hazelrigg's loss was about three thousand dollars, most of which was covered by insurance. The most destructive fire was the fifth one. On March 12, 1912, the stores of A. F. Hier & Son and John R. Turner were burned to the ground and by this time the citizens began to investigate mat- ters. Many indications pointed to incendiaries and detectives were engaged to ferret out the cause of the many fires which had come so close together. But there was still more excitement yet to come. On May 3, 1912, the store and residence of William Kelso burned with all of their contents. The bark- ing of a dog in the middle of the night wakened the Kelso family and enabled them to save their lives. By this time the inhabitants of St. Paul were on the border of a panic and there was a mass meeting to decide upon sonte definite plan of action to find out the cause of all these many fires. How- ever, the fears of the people gradually subsided and nothing was done. Just about the time that they had come to the conclusion that the fire-bug had decided to burn no more buildings in the town, the new residence of Dr. J. W. Bell burned to the ground on the night of July 10, 1912, and the seventh fire had occurred. According to the newspaper accounts. the same dog which had warned the Kelso family two months previously again appeared on the scene and, by his barking, awakened the Bell family. This was the first fire in which lives were nearly lost, Mrs. Bell being severely burned before she escaped from the house. As might be expected, the people of St. Paul were aghast at this final calamity, and determined to leave no stone unturned in an effort to solve the cause of the seven fires which had taken place within a period of seven months. But it was to no avail; the mystery never has been solved, although some people had strong suspicion as to the guilty parties. Fortunately, this fire of July io has been the last one inflicted on the suffering town.
II2
DECATUR COUNTY, INDIANA.
BIG JOHN OF ST. PAUL.
In the summer of 1911. there arrived a big dog in St. Paul via the box car route. A brakeman, on opening a ear, was astonished to see å dog of unusual size leap out and run down the railroad track. This particular dog was destined to become the hero of the fire-stricken town in the summer of 1912. He was a friendly sort of a canine and was soon a favorite of every one in the town, and the whole town shared in providing him with dainty bones and all those delicacies dear to the palate of a dog. When the assessor came around in the spring of 1912 and began to inquire concerning the ownership of the dog, he was told that the dog belonged to the town. Such an ownership was a puzzler for the assessor and he was in a quandry how to collect the two dollars from the town. But he was soon to find out to what degree the dog had endeared himself to the citizens of the town. The business men took up a collection for "Big John," and thus satisfied the craving of the law and thereby gave the dog another year of legal existence.
This is only half of the interesting story of this dog. The grateful citizens wanted to show their appreciation of his valuable barking and finally decided to present his dogship with a gold collar. The collar bore the engrav- ing, "Big John. Hero. May 3, 1912, St. Paul, Ind." This inscription will enlighten the world where he mingles that this canine is a real hero, and that in St. Paul, Indiana, a dog has appreciative friends.
CLAY TOWNSHIP.
Clay township was organized in March, 1836, and was laid off by the board of commissioners of Decatur county at their March term for that year. It is bounded as follows, to-wit: Beginning at the county line on the section line dividing sections 22 and 27, town 8, range 11 ; thence east four miles to the northeast corner of section 30, town It, range 9; thence south eight miles to the township line dividing townships 9 and 10; thenee west to the county line : thence with the county line to the place of beginning.
This township bears the distinction of being the only one in the county which contains an entire congressional township. It is composed of the whole of township 10, range 8, and six sections of town 10, range 9, six see- tions of town 0, range 8, and two sections of town II, range 9. After this township was organized, and evidently on the same day, the board made the following entry on the record : "Ordered that sections 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9,
113
DECATUR COUNTY, INDIANA,
in range 8, township 9, be attached to the township of Clay." This gives the township its present limits.
The history of the settlement of Clay township may be divided into four parts, namely : The Buck-run settlement ; the Clifty settlement ; the Middle Fork settlement and the Duck Creek settlement.
BUCK-RUN.
The first to settle here was Milton Williamson, who, in 1822, with his family. located in the northeast part of the township. William Hartford and Bartemus Johnston, soon afterward (the same year), moved in and settled on this section. These three assisted each other in raising houses. clearing lands, and soon succeeded in establishing pleasant and comfortable houses- for that time.
In 1823 Caleb Stark settled on the quarter south of. and adjoining, the other three. the farm known as the Buck-Run spring, on the Vandalia road. He held the office of county commissioner at the time of contracting for and during the erection of the present court house. He lived to see the fruits of his labors in the development of many of the other interests of the county. The same year, Daniel Stoggsdell ( or, "Elder" Stoggsdell) settled on Buck- Run, just above Mr. Stark, in which region, and afterwards throughout that and adjoining counties, he preached the Gospel in "God's first temples," the groves. Ile was many years ago gathered to his fathers, but "his works do follow him."
In 1823 David Johnson settled on the "quarter" north of Mr. Stark. where he lived until the year 1834, when he moved to Missouri. In the same year, George W. and Jeremiah V. King, emigrants from Maryland, settled in the same section. In 1835 George W. removed to a farm adjoining the small village of Needmore (since changed to Milford-the name being derived from the fact of a mill being erected at the ford, near that place). where he died some years thereafter.
CLIFTY SETTLEMENT.
In 1823, Doddridge Alley, an industrious and energetic farmer, removed from the Saltcreek settlement, in Franklin county, and located on Clifty. about one mile north of the place where Milford now stands. He was elected the first sheriff of the county, serving four years, and afterwards served two years in the state Legislature. Many amusing anecdotes are told of him (8)
II.4
DECATUR COUNTY, INDIANA.
(some of which have some foundation of truth), and one of which is here related :
On being elected to the Legislature, he started on his journey to the capital, on horseback, and arrived there in due season ; but, on being ques- tioned by the clerk, it was found that he had forgotten his credentials. So he returned on his long, weary ride to obtain them. After a long night's ride he again made his appearance at the capital, and, on examination. his papers proved to be correct, when he was told that he was entitled to his seat. He replied : "No! no! I thank you ; I have been riding hard all night. and I would rather stand." The clerk, accordingly, gave him the privilege. He lived on the farm he first settled on until the year 1861, when he died and was buried in a stone wall enclosure, with a beautiful monument upon it, which he had erected during his life.
John Brinson was the founder of the town of Milford. In 1824 he removed to that place. and established a drinking saloon ; he lived there about five years, and then left for parts unknown. In the same year William Crawford moved to this place. made a plat of the town and lived there until 1837, when he moved to Missouri. Elijah Martin settled three-fourths of a mile north of the town, in the same year, and in a short time moved away.
In 1823. William Richie settled near Milford, where he lived until the year 1834, when he died. Mr. Richie was an old Revolutionary soldier, and was the first man buried in the graveyard in Milford. By his side sleep two of his comrades, William Crawford, and George W. King. Sr., who died in ' the ninety-third year of his age.
MIDDLE FORK SETTLEMENT.
In 1824, John Fugit, afterwards associate judge of Decatur county, settled in the central part of the township, on Middle Fork creek. He held the office of judge for a number of years, and died in the year 1846. James O'Laugh- lin settled, in the same year, in the same part of the county. He lived there a considerable length of time, from whence he moved to Milford. Richard Johnson settled at the same time and place, and died a resident of the same place. Walter and Jackson Braden settled in the year 1824, about two and one-half miles southeast of Milford, where they improved a considerable portion of the land. Jackson died at this place, in the year 1850. Walter Braden, a few years ago, removed to Greensburg, where he resided until his death. Thomas H. Miers settled one mile east of Milford, on the land
115
DECATUR COUNTY, INDIANA.
adjoining Walter Braden on the north, in the year 1824, and died at the same place in 1847. Samuel B. Todd, in the same year, settled about one and a half miles south of Milford on the land which has long been known as the Hittle farm. He lived there until 1837, when he removed to Illinois. Abel Todd, a brother of the above, settled two and one-half miles southeast, on the land where James Byers later lived. He lived there a short time, and removed to Iowa, where he died. David Douglass, a minister of the New- Light persuasion, settled in the year 1824, on the land later owned by Nelson Mowrey. He preached in the settlements adjoining him, lived to a good old age, and died on his farm. Patrick Ewing came from Kentucky in the year 1826, settling on the land adjoining Mr. Douglass. He built a rude log hut, and in the yard there grew a small sprout about the size of a riding whip. He spared it, and it grew to a great tree of four feet in diameter. Under its boughs he reared a family of fifteen children.
DUCK CREEK SETTLEMENT.
McClure Elliott, in the year 1824, settled on Duck creek, three miles west of Milford. William J. Lowrie, in the same year, settled two miles southwest of Milford, where he lived until 1852, when he died, and was buried by a large concourse of Sons of Temperance.
SCHOOL IIOUSES.
The first school house was built on Dodridge Alley's land, in 1825. It was built of logs, with a fire-place occupying one end. Logs were sawed out at each side, greased paper being put in their place. This composed the model house of that time. Middle Fork school house was built in 1826. Buck Run and Duck Creek school houses were built in 1827. These school houses were used for preaching and for various other purposes. Harvey Harbinger was the first teacher in the Buck Run settlement and afterwards taught in the other districts. In 1836 the township was divided into districts. At this time the houses in the townships were built of logs. In 1837 a frame school house was ereced in Milford. This was the first structure here for school purposes which was built of frame. In a few years afterward frames were erected, which have now become useless, and brick school houses have been erected over the township.
116
DECATUR COUNTY, INDIANA.
CIIURCHES.
The Baptist, Methodist, New Light and Presbyterian denominations held meetings in the various school houses, from 1825 until 1832. when the Hardshell Baptists erected a church. In 1842 the Methodists erected a church in Milford. The Christians, in the year 1843, built a church in Milford. Salem church, near Milford. was built in 1833, by the Associate Baptists. The history of the churches is found in another chapter.
MANUFACTORIES.
The first mill was established by Jesse Fugit, a son of Judge Fugit, in 1825. and was run by horse-power. The first water-mill was built by Eli Critser, in 1826, near Adams, where the relics of the old Doddridge Alley' mill now stands. In 1838, James Rose erected a woolen factory one-half mile west of Milford, which was run by horse-power. Edward Warthin established a distillery near the same place in 1836. the only one ever erected in the township: it continued for about five years. A tan yard was estab- lished in 1830 by a man named Wilkinson, on the land of Doddridge Alley.
The present officers of Clay township are as follows: Trustee, Francis M. Pumphrey; assessor. William Wilson; advisory board. J. W. Corya. Frank Tompson: road supervisors, John Kanouse, James Cory, Ewing Arnold and Morgan J. Ewing.
Clay is now the wealthiest township in the county, with the exception of Washington. The Columbus, Hope & Greensburg railroad runs east and west through this township and gives the inhabitants of this locality a ready outlet for their produce to the leading markets. It also has one railroad station on the Vernon, Greensburg & Rushville railroad, which cuts off a small corner of the southeast part of the township.
MILFORD.
Milford is the oldest town in this township. It was platted and laid out by James Edwards, August 25, 1835, and was originally known by the name of Needmore; but just why this little village was encumbered with such a name is left to the imagination of the reader. Later additions to the original plat were made by William Crawford, George W. King, Silas Craig, James L. Fugit and James Marshall.
The first merchant to open a store in Milford and offer his wares for
II7
DECATUR COUNTY, INDIANA.
sale was John Brinson. Mr. Brinson also bears the distinction of being the first merchant in Clay township and was well patronized by the early settlers who had taken up claims in this part of the county. The first millers to locate in this part of the county were the Critsers, who owned several mills along Clifty creek and for a time had a monopoly on the milling industry in this section. Their monopoly was contested for a time by William Burton, who owned and ran a horse-mill near Milford, to which he attached con- siderable importance. Mr. Burton put up a strong opposition for a time, but soon abdicated to the Critsers and left them in full sway. The first tannery was built and operated by James Wilkinson and MeClure Elliott and fur- nished all the leather goods for the early consumption of the county. Jolin Henderson was the first blacksmith to settle here and ply his trade, and was familiarly known to the early settlers of the time, far and near, as "Jackie." Mr. Henderson ironed the first wagon in this county for Fielding Peak. The first steam engine in this township was owned and operated by Edwin Warthin, in 1836 or 1837. It was used to drive the machinery of a mill on Clifty creek, a short distance below Milford. This mill also bears the distinction of being the first steam grist-mill, with a bolting apparatus, in' the county. This was a great advertising asset to the owners, for it attracted settlers from all parts of this section to see the mill in actual operation. Before this advancement, the mills had been run by water power supplied by Clifty creek.
It is impossible to trace the various business changes in Milford from' the beginning of the town down to the present time. The business interests of 1915 include three stores, owned by E. E. Lewis, J. F. Goff and Harry Peterson. The Lewis store is a well-stocked general mercantile establish- ment and is one of the best general stores in the county. The stores of Goff and Peterson carry only a small stock of groceries and depend for their patronage on the restaurants which they run in connection. Mr. Lewis also operates a restaurant and soda fountain in connection with his store. The village has one blacksmith, Lincoln Vandiver. There is no factory of any kind in the town, although Albert Sanders operates a flour-mill on Clifty creek, a half mile from town. His mill is run by water power when there is plenty of water and by a gasoline engine at such times as the water power is insufficient. The professional interests of the village are represented by Dr. George S. Crawford, who has been practicing in the place for a period .of forty years. The history of the lodges of Milford ( the Masons and Odd Fellows) and the churches ( Methodist and Christian ) will be found in their respective chapters elsewhere in this volume. The town is incorporated for
118
DECATUR COUNTY, INDIANA,
civil purposes only. The present town clerk is Doctor Crawford. The town once had a population of four hundred, but now has only about one hundred.
BURNEY.
The village of Burney, in Clay townhsip, on the Columbus, Hope & Greensburg railroad, was laid out on May 2, 1882, by James C. Pulse. It has enjoyed a steady growth from the beginning and is now a thriving town, with flourishing business enterprises and many attractive and comfortable homes. A fine, modern school building and two churches, Methodist and Baptist, take care of the educational and religious life of the community. The business and professional interests in 1915 are as follows : Bank, Burney State Bank ; barber, Thomas J. Henderson ; blacksmith, J. E. Wasson, G. M. Miner & Son; carpenter and contractor, Edward Clapp; coal dealer, Sidner & Price ; dentist, Frank Davis ; elevator, Sidner & Price; express, American Express Company ; garage, Smiley & Dean ; general store, .\. E. Howe, J. C. Hayes, H. C. Lawrence ; hardware, Mccullough Hardware Co. ; hotel, Mrs. M. J. Luther, Mrs. Clay Alexander ; livery, Clay Alexander ; luniber, Padgett & Son : meat market, W. S. Miner : music teachers, Alice Arnold, Mrs. Elsie Gartin : notary public, L. T. Howell, Fannie Johnson, W. W. Barnes ; photo- grapher, F. W. Kean: physician, C. G. Harrod, Edward Porter; painter. Thomson & Luther; postoffice, W. S. Miner; paper hanger, Miers & Gal- braith : restaurant, F. W. Kean, W. S. Miner; real estate and insurance, L. T. Powell : saw-mill, Otto Detrich; shoe cobbler, Frank Hiner ; station agent. J. S. Miner : stock buyer, Pumphrey & Son, Davis & Davis, W. W. Lane.
Burney is justly proud of its band, which was organized in the spring of 1915. Although at this time it has been practicing but a few months, it has already given concerts which were well received. It is under the direc- tion of George Dunn. of Adams. The members of the band are as follows : Cornets, Herbert Lawson, Lora Hayes, Walter Bailey, Ralph Howe, Roscoe Arnold, Walter Galitine, Robert Champ and Russell Emlay ; baritone, John Christian : alto, Jasper Spaugh and James Galbraith; tenors, Harry Jackson and H. C. Miner; clarinets, Ernest Miner and L. D. Lambert ; trombones, Fred Luther, T. J. Hendrickson, Edwin Gibson and Roy Emlay ; melophone, Clarence Thomson; tuba, Burney Jackson; bass, Clifford Thurston; snare drum, Henry Emlay ; bass drum, Charles Gartin.
II9
DECATUR COUNTY, INDIANA.
WYNCOOP.
Wyncoop is the next town in size in this township. It was platted on February 23, 1881, by James Wyncoop and bears the founder's name, although the name of the postoffice has been changed to Horace. This town is situated on the North Vernon, Greensburg & Rushville railroad, in the extreme southeastern part of the township.
The business interests of the town in 1915 are confined to a general store, owned by E. A. Gibson, and a blacgsmith shop, operated by Clyde Purvis. The station agent, Orlando Robbins, also buys grain. The post- master is Mr. Gibson. The town has less than a dozen houses and a popula- tion of about thirty.
Ewington completes the list of towns in Clay township. This was formerly a postoffice for the convenience of the country people, but the rural free delivery has taken away its usefulness and at present only the name remains.
FUGIT TOWNSHIP.
Fugit township was one of the three original townships laid off by the board of commissioners on May 14, 1822. The other two townships were Adams and Washington, the latter of which embraced considerably more than the southern half of the county. Fugit township, as originally set off, con- tained all the territory now within its limits with the exception of sections 32, 5, 8 and 17, and half sections 33. 4. 9 and 16. These four full and four half sections are now in the eastern part of Clinton township. They being a part of Clinton when it was organized July 6, 1829.
The original limits of the township as defined by the commissioners on May 14, 1822, are as follow : Beginning at the county line on the line divid- ing townships 10 and II ; thence west with township line to the southwest corner of section 35, range ro, township II; thence north with the line divid- ing sections 34 and 35 to the southwest corner of section 26 in the township and range aforesaid: thence west with the section line to the southwest cor- · ner of section 28, in range 10, township II; thence north with the said sec- tion line to the southwest corner of section 16, range ro, township 11 ; thence west with the section line to the southwest corner of section 17, range 10, township II : thence north with the said line to the county line; thence east with the county line to the northeast corner of said county; thence south
120
DECATUR COUNTY, INDIAN.1.
with the county line to the place of beginning ( Commissioners Record, Vol. I, page 1).
The next change in the territorial limits of Fugit township was made on March 7, 1825, at which time the board of justices issued the following ambiguous order : "That part of Washington township which lies east and north of a road viewed from Henderson's to the county line near Alexander McCall's, including said road, to be attached to and made a part of Fugit township" (Board of Justice Records, Vol. I, page 128). Just where this strip was located is impossible to determine from the records, since it is not defined by section, town or range. However this slip on the part of the board of justices was rectified on May 2, 1825, when the commissioners re-defined the township limits in the following definite manner: Begin- ning at the county line, on the range line dividing ranges 9 and 10; thence south on said line to the southwest corner of section 19. township 11, range 10: thence east two miles; thence south one mile; thence east two miles ; thence south one mile to the township line dividing townships Io and II, thence east with said line to the county line: thence with the lines of the county to the place of beginning ( Board of Justice Records, Vol. I. page 128). Subsequently, on May 3, 1830, the board of justices ordered that the west half of section 21, township 11, range 10, which lies in Clinton town- ship be and the same is newly attached to the township of Fugit in the said county of Decatur (Vol. Il, page 87). This gives Fugit township its present limits.
SETTLEMENT.
Several families had settled within what is now Fugit township before the county of Decatur was organized in 1822. The county was carved out of the "New Purchase," which had been bought from the Indians in the fall of 1818, although the lands were not offered for sale at the Brookville land office until the fall of 1820. During the winter and spring of 1818, seven families came over from near Matamora, Franklin county, and "squatted" in what is now Fugit township. This was probably the first effort toward a permanent settlement in the new territory. Just about the same time, there were three other settlements in the southeastern part of the "New Purchase" -one on Flatrock, in Rush county : a second on Haw creek, in Bartholomew. county ; the third on Big Flatrock, in Shelby county. Of course, these first seven families could enter no land here, as it had not yet been surveyed ; who they were, where they finally located, and whether they became perman- ent settlers in the county later on has not been determined. Nearly one hun-
D
-
ADAM RANKIN
SETH LOWE.
Born in Kentucky in 1790 ; died at Spring Hill in 1866.
DANIEL BELL. Born in North Carolina 1787 ; died in Iowa in 1871. CYRUS HAMILTON. Born in Virginia in 1780 ; died near Clarksburg, 1875. SAMUEL DONNELL. Born in Virginia in 1769 ; died near Kingston în 1850.
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.