USA > Indiana > Fayette County > History of Fayette County, Indiana: containing a history of the townships, towns, villages, schools, churches, industries, etc.; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; biographies, etc., etc. > Part 32
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Northeast quarter of Section 35, May 5, 1815, to Alexander Sims.
Southeast quarter of Section 26, August 11, 1815, to Lyman Grist.
Northeast quarter of Section 31, November 11, 1815, to Susanna Teagarden.
Eighty acres of Section 30, November 22, 1816, to Edward Simmonds.
Southeast quarter of Section 30, October 17, 1816, to Joel Scott.
Southeast quarter of Section 29, January 13, 1816, to Thomas Logan.
Southeast quarter of Section 17, September 11, 1816, to Levi Plummer.
Northeast quarter of Section 18, December 10, 1816, to Samuel Harlan.
Northwest quarter of Section 18, September 11, 1816, to Moses Ladd.
Southeast quarter of Section 18, September 11, 1816, to B. Plummer and N. Ladd.
Southwest quarter of Section 18, October 28, 1816, to John Plummer.
Southeast quarter of Section 19, November 11, 1816, to Samuel Walker.
Northwest quarter of Section 7, February 16, 1816, to Benjamin White.
Southeast quarter of Section 7, November 2, 1816, to Samuel Harlan.
Southwest quarter of Section 7, June 18, 1816, to Nicholas Pumphrey.
Northwest quarter of Section 8, April 2, 1816, to Morgan Vardiman.
Southwest quarter of Section 8, November 2, 1816, to Samuel Harlan.
Southwest quarter of Section 7, January 6, 1817, to Levi Plummer.
Northwest quarter of Section 23, March 28, 1817, to John Fisher.
West half of the northeast quarter of Section 26, April 8, 1817, to Ronand and Amanda Clarke.
Southwest quarter of Section 30, August 8, 1817, to Calvin Kneisley.
Southwest quarter of Section 31, September 15, 1818, to John Troth.
West half of the northeast quarter of Section 30, January 15, 1818, to Blackly Shoemaker.
Jonathan Housey
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
East half of the northwest quarter of Section 29, October 6, 1818, to Edward McKeen.
Northeast quarter of Section 28, by Charles and James Salyers and John Starluch, February 21, 1821, and September 16, 1825, respectively.
Eighty acres in the north west quarter of Section 29, spring and fall of 1832, to Jesse Ward.
West half of the northwest quarter of Section 30, January 19, 1831, to E. Walker.
East half of the northeast quarter of Section 26, October 17, 1827, to S. Stanton.
East half of the northeast quarter of Section 30, November 13, 1834, to Isaac T. Riggs.
Three-fourths of Section 31 was entered in small tracts from 1821 to 1837, by Joseph Whitelock, Stephen Lee, John H. Carmichael, Michael Null and Enoch Youngs.
About one-half of Section 32 was entered in the same way in 1836.
Township 13 north, Range 12 east.
Southwest quarter of Section 12, October 22, 1811, to Samuel Fallen.
Northwest quarter of Section 12, October 22, 1811, to Moses Baker.
Northeast quarter Section 14, October 28, 1811, to Thomas Gilliam.
Southeast quarter Section 14, October 22, 1811, to John Eagan.
Northeast quarter Section 11, October 28, 1811, to William Willson.
Southeast quarter Section 11, December 10, 1811, to John Vincent.
Southeast quarter Section 23, December 12, 1811, to Daniel Green.
Southwest quarter Section 35, October 28, 1811, to Jacob Burnett.
Northwest quarter Section 13, March 21, 1812, to William Vardiman.
Northeast quarter Section 23, January 13, 1812, to William Helm.
Southeast half of the southwest quarter Section 23, January 13, 1812, to Gabriel Ginn.
Northeast quarter Section 13, August 5, 1813, to James Brownlee.
Southeast quarter Section 24, October 14, 1813, to John Baker.
Southwest quarter Section 24, July, 1814, to Jacob Blackligge.
Northwest quarter Section 25, December 16, 1814, to Morgan Vardiman.
Northeast quarter Section 26, December 16, 1814, to Daniel Green.
.Southeast quarter Section 12, May 28, 1814, to George Shaeffer.
Southeast quarter Section 13, December 10, 1814, to John Eagan.
Southwest quarter Section 13, August 9, 1814, to John Julian.
Northeast quarter Section 25, May 26, 1815, to Amos Isher.
Southeast quarter Section 25, December 4, 1815, to John Lewis.
Northeast quarter Section 12, January 8, 1816, to Samuel Fallen.
Southwest quarter Section 26, November 4, 1816, to Edward Johnson.
Northwest quarter Section 24, May 18, 1816, to Christopher Ladd.
Northeast quarter Section 24, August 31, 1816, to Christopher Ladd.
The southwest quarter Section 25 was entered in three tracts by John McCabe and Greenbury Stitte, the former in 1821 and 1832, and the latter in 1837.
Section 26 (except the northeast quarter) was not entered until the fall and winter of 1831, by James Handley, Thomas J. Crisler, John McCabe, and Will- iam Wherrett.
Section 35 (excepting the southwest quarter) was entered in small tracts from 1824 to 1834 by James Couwell, O. Gorden, E. Walker and Jeremiah Con- well.
Section 36 was entered from 1817 to 1836, by San- ford Keller (west half of the northwest quarter, June 14, 1817), Charles Melon (1821 and 1828), Joseph Crowley, Michael Null and James Conwell.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
Many of the above-named purchasers of lands were actual settlers, and the dates of purchase fix about the period of their emigration thereto. It will be observed that the first lands entered were in the fall of the year 1811, and that such with some ex- ception were along the West Fork of Whitewater River, in Sections 11, 12, 14, 23 and 25, Township 13 north, Range 12 east, the exceptions being in Sections 27, 33 and 34, Township 13 north, Range 13 east, lying in the southeastern part of the township. The earliest settlements were made chiefly by emigrants from the Southern States, South Carolina and Kentucky prob- ably supplying the greater number.
Of those entering lands in 1811, Daniel Green was from one of the Carolinas, Charles and James Salyers from South Carolina, and John Eagan from Freder- ick County, Md., and Gabriel Ginn from Kentucky, all of whom were residents of their several tracts at about the date given. Charles Salyers was for eight years one of the County Commissioners, and Gabriel Ginn served as County Clerk and also as Sheriff for a number of years. It is said that Daniel Green, while prospecting for land further south in what is now Franklin County, in the year 1809, was attracted by the sound of a cow-bell and upon following it he
204
HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
came to a cabin occupied by John Eagan and family, situated along the river in what is now the township under consideration, some little distance south of the bridge over the river at Nulltown. Mr. Eagan was an Irishman. This Eagan settlement was the earliest in the township of which we have been able to get any knowledge, and it is with little doubt, if any, the first permanent settlement made in the town- ship. Mr. Green settled in the township in the spring of 1812.
Daniel Moore, a native of Bracken County, Ky., is said to have come to the "Twelve-Mile Purchase" in 1809, and after spending one winter in Brookville, in March, 1810, to have settled in Jackson Township, and there spent his life, dying in 1882.
In 1812 Joel Scott from South Carolina and James Craig from Virginia made their settlement.
About this time came the Pumphreys and Renches from Maryland.
In the fall of 1813 (October 5) several families from the same neighborhood in Pendleton District, S. C., and all related, emigrated and settled on lands in the southeastern part of the township. There were Ebenezer Smith, George Stanley, Simon Grist, James Waters and son John Waters, all men of families. The Waterses had been to the vicinity in 1812 and then made their purchase, but returned and all, as just stated, made the journey together, which consumed about one month, coming by wagons. It is believed by the descendants of some of these families that on their arrival there were no residents south and east of Everton to what are now the Union and Franklin County lines. That section was then very heavily timbered, the forests abounding in much fine poplar.
Hanson Steele and John McIlwain, related, emi- grated from Abbeyville District, S. C., in 1813, and either one or both stopped one season in the vicinity of Fairfield, Franklin County, where one crop was raised; then they settled on land above designated.
Robert T. and David Taylor, brothers, came from Laurens District, S. C., about 1814, and settled in the vicinity of the other South Carolinans.
John Jemison, from Mason County Ky., settled on his possessions in 1814 or 1815. He carried on a tan-yard for many years. His death occurred in 1851.
William Beckett, a native of Ireland, emigrated to the township in 1814, coming from Butler County, Ohio.
James Morrow, from North Carolina, and John Milliner, from Bracken County, Ky., effected settle- ments here in 1815.
Samuel Logan and Alexander Sims were from Abbeyville District, S. C., and Elijah Corbin was from Bracken County, Ky., though born in Virginia, and settled in the township in 1813.
The year following came John Williams from Pulaski County, Ky., and settled upon land now occu- pied by his venerable son, Rev. Elisha Williams.
John Baker, of the same neighborhood, was from Kentucky.
Leonard Lewis in 1815 settled in Franklin County, coming from the State of Kentucky, and two years later settled on Bear Creek on the farm where his son Enoch now resides.
Jonathan Wright emigrated from Maryland to Eli's Creek in 1818.
William Arnett from Virginia and C. Harrell from Kentucky settled in the township about 1819.
Joel Belk from South Carolina settled in the vicinity of Fairfield in Franklin County in 1810, and some years subsequent removed to a tract of land some two and a half miles southeast of Everton.
Jesse Ward and family from Bracken County, Ky., settled in the vicinity of Eli's Creek about 1822 or 1823, and subsequently entered the land on Bear Creek heretofore referred to. He was the father of Gen. Durbin Ward, of Ohio, and Alfred Ward, a promising young lawyer who settled at Brookville and died many years ago; and also of Maj. Augustus Ward, who left Miami University and went into the Union Army before he was seventeen years old and rose to be Major at twenty. He afterward studied law at Columbian College, Washington, D. C., and after admission was appointed clerk in the office of Hon. William M. Everts, then Attorney-General of the United States. From there he was appointed Assistant United States Attorney at Cincinnati, and then elected to the Ohio Legislature from that city in 1869, and died a member of that body in 1871. Both parents passed the remainder of their lives in the township, and have long since been called to their reward.
James Kerr, a native of the Connty of Antrim, Ireland, settled in Abbeyville District, S. C., in 1800 and in 1822 removed to Indiana and in 1824 to the vicinity of Everton, where he died in 1873.
In about 1823 John Lambert from Ohio settled at Everton. He served in the war of 1812, and his wife Nancy, who died at the age of ninety-five years, was reared among the frontier scenes of early Ken- tucky, though by birth a Pennsylvanian.
Robert Hood, still a resident of the township, was born in Pennsylvania in 1790, removed to Kentucky in 1807, served in the war of 1812, and was at the memorable battle of the Thames River, and there received a wound in one of his limbs. In 1819 he was married and removed to this county.
Besides those noted under the above head as act- ual settlers the following-named had become residents of the township prior to 1826: Noble Ladd, Sr.,
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
William Kobles, Thomas Waters, Edward McClure, Simon and Ebenezer Grise, Michael Bash, Eli Lam- bert, William C. Jones, Nathan Hulse, David Port- Jock, Constantine Ladd, Barrack Pluminer, David Moore, David Smith, Patrick Carmichle, Joel Hol-' lingsworth, William Hortoy, John Smith, Peter Coon, John Richards, Michael F. Miller, George Shelocke, Levi Rench, Presley Silvey, Andrew Brock, Stephen Lee, Stephen Moore, Richard Morrow, Thomas Budd, Archibald Cook, John Jassap, Lewis G. Ray, John Lee, William Gilmore, David Ferree, Thomas Logan, Charles Wise, John Plummer, Philip Hinneman, William B. Adams, Abraham Whitelock, Michael Law, Daniel Fox, John Estis, Thomas Craig, Robert White, Benjamin White, Andrew Wood, Amos Milliner, William Ferree, Daniel Gorman, Charles Malone, Moses Carroll, Lot Pumphrey, Noah Pumphrey, Mor- gan Rench, James Crawley, Isaac Miller.
INDUSTRIES.
During the period in which copper stills were in nse, such are remembered as being in operation on the farms of John and Charles Salyers, on the John Baker farm, and on the William Arnett place.
John Jemison began tanning soon after his arrival, which business be carried on for probably a quarter of a century. In the Beckett neighborhood William Evans operated a tannery in an early day. Eli's Creek was a great mill stream in an early day. The first grist-mill of the township was erected on the site of the present Elisha Cockefair mill on that stream in the year 1816, by Dr. Johnson. From the Doctor the site is believed to have passed into the hands of Jonathan Wright, who, some years subsequently, erected what is known as the Cockefair mill. In 1818 Jonathan Wright built the first saw-mill in the eastern part of the township. This stood about a half mile east of the grist-mill, and was on the line sepa- rating the counties of Fayette and Union. The Cocke- fair mill has been in that name ever since it passed from the hands of Mr. Wright to Elisha Cockefair, Sr., which was many years ago.
Between the grist and saw-mill Zacheus Stanton built a carding-machine, and in connection with it had a hominy mill, both of which, not far from the year 1848, were sold to Elisha Cockefair, Sr., who converted them into a looking-glass factory, which was in operation for several years.
Not far from 1846 Wilson Adams built a saw-mill and pump factory about half a mile above the grist- mill, which has ever since been carried on in the Adams name. This has been quite an enterprise, and an extensive business in the pump line has been done.
Sanford Keeler built a grist-mill very early on Bear Creek about a mile from its mouth. It
was subsequently operated by Rev. Joseph Williams and by John Lambert. Some distance north of this mill was built a saw-mill by Charles Malone, and was owned later by James Conwell. Some time after this fell into disuse, and, perhaps, not far from 1842, another saw-mill was built on the South Fork of Bear Creek by E. R. Lake, who subse- quently sold it to Wilson Adams, who built the second pump establishment in the township. Mr. Adams also put up a pair of buhrs, and had a little corn- cracker in connection with it.
On the West Fork of Whitewater, some two miles north of the mouth of Bear Creek, was the Morgan Vardiman grist-mill, which was built quite early. It was in operation in 1829.
EARLY SCHOOLS.
Among the first built schoolhouses and cabins in which school was taught in the township may be mentioned one that stood northeast of Everton in Section 21. Here John Lee is thought to have taught a three months' school prior to 1817. Andrew Lewis and Lot Green are also remembered as teachers in this house.
The next schoolhouse for this settlement was built in Section 26, Township 13, Range 13, on the Obe- diah Estis land. Lot Green is thought to have con- ducted the first school in this building. In the old log meeting-house that stood at the grave-yard on Poplar Ridge, and for a number of years served the Friends as their place of worship, school was some- times held. One Thomas O'Brien, an Irishman of considerable learning, taught quite a period in the schools of this settlement, and among his pupils were the Wards, the Wrights, the Truslers, the Beck- etts, the Stantons, and many others, some of whom became distinguished in both State and national affairs.
In 1816 or 1817 a school was taught in a vacated cabin that stood about one mile south of the present residence of Rev. Elisha Williams in Section 19 by David Sloan. Soon after this a regular log school- house was built about one mile further south, in which the first teacher was Joseph Moore; William Silvey also taught in this house.
About 1822 a log schoolhouse was built in Sec- tion 24, between two and three miles west of Ever- ton. Robert Cathers, Robert Willis and William Eskew were early teachers here. A little later an- other schoolhouse was built in Section 30 on the north fork of Bear Creek, in which for a time John Gunn was the teacher.
In 1827 or 1828 school was taught in a cabin which had been previously occupied as a dwelling, that stood in Section 12 in the northwestern part of
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
the township, by Travis Silvey. About this time a rude round-log schoolhouse was standing just east of Mount Zion meeting-house constructed of beech timber. This school was quite large, being attended by scholarscoming from miles around. John Barnes was the teacher about the year 1829, and is remem- bered as having been "barred out." The boys after being satisfied that he could not make an entrance, and Barnes himself being of that mind after making several tremendous efforts with a large timber which was used as a battering-ram, agreed upon a com- promise suggested by a writing the boys slipped through to the effect that Daddy Baker, who lived close by, had a good store of winter apples and that if going for a bushel was any object the barricade would be removed. Suffice it by saying that the apples were soon forth-coming.
THE OLD ROCK AT "POPLAR RIDGE."
On a beautiful afternoon in October, 1883, as the writer was strolling through the woods on "Poplar Ridge" drinking in the beauties of nature through the mellow light of the hazy autumnal sun, there met his eyes a large irregular stone lying in a gulley at the very brink of a murmuring stream, and over- shadowed by the majestic oak and towering ash. Here it lay, stern rock of a sterner age, half imbedded in the accumulations of the earth of centuries. Upon inspecting it closely we observed the figures 1838, which excited our curiosity and led to an investiga- tion and later on to a soliloquy. Suffice it to say that upon tearing from its surface the clinging moss and removing the earth from its sides and base as best we were able, the following inscription was revealed:
* - Wright Jacob T. Wright Isaac Wright Jesse D. Ward Jesse Cook Stoci discant ut Amici hic Convinciebant.
1838.
It occurred to our mind that formerly, and at the time of the execution of this work, this monument, dedicated to the ties of friendship and the associations of schoolboy days clustering around the old "Quaker log meeting and schoolhouse" that stood a few hundred yards to the south, had occupied a position on the apex of the precipice some twenty-five or more feet above, and had either at the hands of mischiev- ous boys, or by the gradual and constant action of nature, been thrown to the gorge beneath, and since been suffered to remain with its face to the earth, its
message, freighted with the warm friendships and love of youth so beautifully wrought by the chisel of an artist, permitted to be half hidden from the eyes of hundreds to whom the memory of some of the partic- ipants of the scene is sacred and dear, as they have long since boen laid away in the church-yard. Let the old stone which speaks volumes be reared again, that generations yet unborn may scan the deeds of their forefathers, gather inspiration therefrom, and follow after in their illustrious careers!
Our old friend, Gen. Durbin Ward, of Ohio, to whom this little tribute is moro especially paid, was a participant of the scenes we describe. Inasmuch as the boyhood of this distinguished lawyer and soldier was passed in the vicinity of the rock we have pic- tured, and the bones of his ancestors rest in the vil- lage grave-yard, and here and there still remain a playmate of the bygone years, we deem it in place to briefly review his career.
Born at Augusta, Ky., February 11, 1819, of English and Welsh extraction, Gen. Ward with his parents, Jesse Ward and Rebecca (Patterson) Ward, removed to Fayette County, Ind., when about four years of age. The General most likely inherited his soldiery instincts, patriotism and love of country. His father and grandfather were both in the war of 1812, and his mother was a daughter of a soldier of the same war. He was named in honor of Rev. Dr. Durbin, the distinguished Methodist preacher, who was a schoolmate of his mother's. His early oppor- tunities for education were limited, and hard strug- gles did he pass through ere he had left the hills of Fayette County, but such was his thirst for knowl- edge that he became an insatiable reader, and when he was eighteen years old he had read every book he had ever seen. He has never lost his studious hab- its, and when at home he is most frequently found in his library, which contains the largest and best selected collection of books of the private libraries of Lebanon. After spending two years at Miami Uni- versity, where he supported himself by his own exer- tions and teaching school for a short time in Warren County, he studied law at Lebanon, Ohio, first under the direction of Judge Smith and afterward of Gov. Corwin, he commenced the practice at Lebanon, and was for three years a partner of Gov. Corwin. In 1845 he became Prosecuting Attorney and served six years. In 1852-53 he was a representative from Warren County in the first Legislature held under the present constitution of Ohio. Retiring from this office he devoted himself to the practice of the law, and established an office at Cincinnati, where he has had a lucrative practice. He retained his residence at Lebanon. About 1855 Mr. Ward abandoned the Whig party, which was thon near its dissolution.
*The earth could not be removed sufficiently to enable us to get the given name. It is possible that other names were still above the first given, but it was impracticable for further removal of the earth.
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
Since that time he has adhered to the Democratic party. He was the Democratic candidate for Congress in 1856, and for Attorney-General in 1858, but was defeated. In 1860 he supported Douglas for Presi- dent. When the war of the Rebellion broke out he was, as is claimed for him, the first man in his Con- gressional district to volunteer; declining a Captaincy, he enlisted as a private. He was Major of the Seventeenth Ohio, and took a part in the battles of Mill Springs, Corinth, Perryville, Stone River, Hoover's Gap and Chickamauga. At the last named fight he was shot through the body, and his left arm was disabled for life, and he carried it in a sling through the Atlanta Campaign. Having passed through the grades of Lieutenant-Colonel and Colonel, in November, 1865, he was brevetted Brigadier-Gen- eral, "for gallant and meritorious conduct at the bat- tle of Chickamanga." In 1866 he was appointed by President Johnson United States District Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and in 1870 he was elected Senator in the General Assembly. Since that time he has held no office, and devoted himself to the practice of the law. Gen. Ward has delivered many orations and addresses, and he ranks among the most eloquent campaign orators of Ohio. A volume of his speeches is nearly ready for the press. It is only justice to the General to state that he has long lived in a Congressional district that has hopelessly been, in the line of his politics, in the minority, or he would have been heard from in Congress years ago. He has several times made the race, but as often suf- fered defeat. At the Democratic Convention a year ago, held in the city of Columbus, he was a formida- ble opponent of Judge Hoadly for the nomination for Governor, and was unquestionably the people's choice for that high office, yet on the very eve of vic- tory he lost the nomination. He was before the last Legislature of his State a candidate for the office of United States Senator, but in the contest fell with Thurman and Pendleton.
CHURCHES AND GRAVE-VARDS.
The largest burying-ground in the township is the one at Mt. Zion Methodist Episcopal Church, and the first interment made therein was the body of Father Brock. This information comes from the Rev. Elisha Williams, who was born in 1802, and with his father settled in that vicinity in 1816.
Among the early settlers of that vicinity who were Methodists in their religious views and were members of the class or society that worshiped at Mt. Zion Church, were John Plummer and wife, Noble Ladd and wife, Michael Bash and wife, John Williams and wife, David Williams and wife, Miles H. Larimore and wife, the Eskews and the Silveys. Mr. Plummer
deeded two acros of ground where the grave-yard and church now are and in the course of some years when it became necessary to extend the burying-ground not quite two acres more adjoining was deeded to the Trustees of the church by Basil Roberts.
The first meeting-house was built of hewed logs when Mr. Williams was yet a boy, and stood on the site of the present frame structure known as Mt. Zion Church. The old meeting-house was heated by burning charcoal and was itself destroyed by fire some time subsequent to 1836 and replaced by the one now there, which was built by Alfred Shaw. Up to 1835 Mt. Zion was an appointment on what was known as the Whitewater Circuit, which at one time embraced some twenty odd preaching places.
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