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 7
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
The territory in the western portion of the coun- ty belonging to the Indians until in 1818, Con- nersville and the settlements to the west were strictly speaking on the frontier, and from the fact of the long established post by Conner, both below and on the present site of the city, the county and neighbor- ing territory were often the scene of many bands of wandering tribes of Indians, whither they had come principally to barter their furs and exchange traffic at the " post," and, perhaps, in the earlier period, to hunt and fish. Conner was a great man among them, and exerted considerable influence over them, and the post was an attractive place. Mr. Conner when dressed in their costume, and painted, it was diffi- cult to distinguish him from a real savage. On one occasion, says Oliver H. Smith, he came to Anderson- town (Franklin County), then the lodge of a large band of Indians, under Chief Anderson. He was dressed and painted as a Shawnee, and pretended to be a representative of Tecumseh. As is usual with the Indians, he took his seat ou a log barely in sight of the Indian encampment, quietly smoked his pipe, waiting the action of Anderson and his under chiefs. After an hour he saw approaching the old chief him- self, in full dress, smoking his pipe. I give his language. " As the old chief walked up to me I rose from my seat, looked him in the eyes, we exchanged pipes, and walked down to the lodge smoking, with- out saying a word. I was pointed to a bear skin, took my seat, with my back to the chiefs. A few minutes after, I noticed an Indian by the name of Gillaway, who knew me well, eying me closely. I tried to evade his glance, when he bawled out in the Indian language, at the top of his voice, interpreted: ' You great Shawnee Indian, you John Conner.' The next moment the camp was in a perfect roar of laugh- ter. Chief Anderson ran up to me, throwing off his dignity: ' You great representative of Tecumseh,' and burst out in a loud laugh."
Indian trails or paths crossed the county leading from the trading post to their villages to the north and northwest, among which was the one located in
46
HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
the center of the " Thorntown Reservation," in Boone County, and another at Oldtown, near the present city of Muncie. In the early history of the territory the site of Waterloo is supposed to have been an Indian camp. In 1808-09 a band of Indians were encamped along Simpson's Creek in northern Jennings Town- ship, in the vicinity of the spring still there; and in the neighborhood was located an Indian place of burial.
The pioneers of Fayette County were not molested or troubled to any considerable extent by the presence of these wandering red men, saving a little occa- sional thieving, although subjected now and then to a fright. As late as 1820 Oliver H. Smith remarks that " Connersville was filled with them every day." At a period not much later than this, they were un- frequent visitors. We judge that the Indians of this locality during the early settlement of the valley belonged to the Delaware and Pottawat- tomie families. Numerous traditionary accounts of thieving Indians in this section have come to our ear during the investigation of this subject, and the accounts of the killing of several of them, but as nothing definite or satisfactory could be obtained relative thereto, a narration is withheld. Concerning the disappearance or killing of Chief Ben Davis, who was one of the Delaware tribes of Indians, and had located in the Whitewater country, and was there residing during the early settlement of the country, and after whom was called the stream still bearing that name, in Rush County, the name of which chief was for years a household word throughout the val- ley, is given below the account as published in the Rushville Republican some years ago, written by Dr. John Arnold, of that city, an old and highly esteemed pioneer of that vicinity:
" Personally Ben Davis was a large and powerful Indian warrior, a deadly foe to the whites; and he had frequently led his braves on raids into the dark and bloody ground-the debatable land of Kentucky. In most of the battles for the possession of the pres- ent States of Ohio and Indiana, he had taken an active part. He was true to his friends, implacable to his foes, fond of firewater, and when under its influence, regardless of his surroundings, would boast of his prowess, and the number of scalps he had taken. In short, he was a representative man of his race, a fair type of the brave, crafty and boastful Indian warrior.
" After the defeat of the Indians at Tippecanoe,
they were compelled to sell their lands, and again move westward. But Old Ben Davis, although well aware that he was looked upon with dislike and sus- picion, by the white settlers, still, occasionally revis- ited his former hunting-grounds. In the year 1820 he had encamped on Blue Creek, some three miles from Brookville. He had been there, perhaps a week, daily visiting the town and drinking too much whisky. One day in the Widow Adair's tavern, he was boasting of his bloody deeds, unmindful of the angry glances of the crowd around him, and among other things how he with his band surprised a lonely settler in Kentucky, killing him with all his family except one boy, who happened to be a short distance from the cabin, when attacked, and who, although hotly pursued, eluded his enemies and escaped. Now in that crowded bar-room there was one intensely interested listener, a stern man, who heard from the lips of the old chieftain the particulars of the story of his family's massacre; for he was that flying boy who had saved his life by fleetness of foot when all his kindred fell. Without a word he left the room. The next day Ben Davis did not make his appearance in Brookville; but it excited but little remark, for he was erratic in his movements. The second day some one passing his camp found the old chief cold in death, with a bullet hole in his forehead, and his pipe fallen by his side, for he had been sitting by his fire, smoking, when he received his sudden mes- sage to visit the happy hunting grounds of the Indi- an's paradise. It was a fitting death for so fierce a spirit, for though he had escaped the whistling shot and trenchant steel in many a battle, he finally fell a victim to private vengeance. Public opinion, while unanimous as to the author of the deed, recognized the terrible provocation, and justified the act more readily, as many had lost friends by the hands of the red man. No judicial investigation was ever had, and the young man still held a respectable standing in society."
Ben Davis never forgave or forgot an injury. When his tribe, broken and defeated, was compelled to cede his lands, he held himself aloof, refusing to join in any treaty, though sullenly submitting to its requirements, and, while bowing to the decrees of an inexorable and restless destiny, declined by word or deed to approve or sanction them. His name will be perpetuated by that lovely stream, which waters some of the best lands of Rush County.
47
HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
CHAPTER IV.
EARLY RELIGIOUS AND EDUCATIONAL MOVEMENTS. OLD SCHOOL BAPTISTS-METHODISM-PRESBYTERIANISM-THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH-SCHOOLS.
TT is the purpose of this chapter to present briefly and in a general way some little knowledge of
H the introduction of religious societies into the county, and give an idea of the early educational system of the State, leaving a more detailed sketch of the vari- ous churches and schools to the chapters on the city and townships in which they are located.
OLD SCHOOL BAPTISTS.
In a previous chapter it has been shown that the tide of early immigration to the Whitewater Valley generally proceeded from the South and East. The larger portion of the people settling early in Ohio west of the Great Miami River, and in the southern Whitewater country hailed from the South, and among them were many Kentuckians, among whom prevailed the Baptist denomination; and from the State of Kentucky were sent to the region of country in question many popular ministers. Much of the pioneer preaching was by these Kentucky ministers. Says Rev. Allen Wiley, "It is presumed that the first meeting house ever built in Whitewater Valley was on Lee's Creek, a small branch of the Dry Fork of Whitewater, a log-house located about three miles east of Harrison."
Another of the early places for holding meetings was at the house of Joseph Hackleman, above John- son's Fork. A church society was constituted here in the spring or summer of 1805, and William Tyner, who resided south of Brookville, became the pastor. Probably within a year a log meeting-house with gallery was erected on Mr. Hackleman's land, "the first meeting-house ever built in the Whitewater Valley on the Indiana side of the line."
The next place of worship was a small log-house situated some three miles below Brookville, a little below Little Cedar Grove Creek. This building in a few years was destroyed by fire, and in 1812 was replaced by a medium sized brick which still stands.
Among the early Baptist preachers of the southern Whitewater country were Ezra Ferris at Lawrence- burg, Jeremiah Johnson at Hackleman's, James Remy at Johnson's Fork, Moses Hornady at Indian Creek, Lewis Deweese, William Tyner and John Blades at Little Cedar Grove, and William Wilson on West Fork. Between 1806 and 1810 several arms
grew out of this church and became separate organ- izations. These were located principally in what is now Franklin County, with perhaps one or two in Union County. As the territory became more thickly populated other arms and new societies grew with the march of settlement nutil the country was pretty well detted over with the cabin meeting houses of the Old School Baptist denomination.
The first churches of this denomination constituted in Fayette County were in 1814, Franklin below Nulltown, New Bethel in northern Jennings Town- ship and the Lick Creek Church south of Harrisburg.
METHODISM.
Says Rev. Allen Wiley, "When I came to the Whitewater in the fall of 1804, there were only two men on it so far as I know, who had ever been Meth - odists. These were James Cole and Benjamin Mc- Carty. The latter had been an exhorter or local preacher in Tennessee. He settled on Whitewater in the summer of 1803, at which time he had rather fallen from his religious engagements. He after- ward became a local preacher of medium talents. Subsequently he connected himself with the United Brethren.
"Enoch Smith came in the fall of 1805 or winter of 1806 and lived on my father's farm. His wife was a most devoted and pious woman, who was one of the main pillars in the church after its formation. These persons, with a few others, sent a petition to John Sale, who was their Presiding Elder in the Ohio district. In their petition they asked that a regular traveling preacher be sent to them to preach and form societies. After the petition had been sent in, McCarty began preaching in the neighbor- hood, and the people were taught something of Methodist doctrines."
In the spring of 1806 Rev. Joseph Oglesby was sent by the Conference to form a new circuit west of the Great Miami River, to be known as the White- water Circuit. On the east side of East Fork some four miles south of Richmond, in what is now Wayne County, had settled in 1805 a man by the name of Hugh Cull, who built a shanty of logs with bark covering. His wife had been a Methodist in Ken- tucky. Soon after this his dwelling was visited by a
48
HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
preacher from Hamilton, Ohio, the neighbors called in and services were held, which resulted in the formation of a class, of which Mr. Cull became leader. He subsequently became a local preacher and that locality became a regular preaching place.
Mr. Oglesby preached in several places in Ohio and in the Kentucky settlement in Wayne County, and from thence he went down Whitewater to Mc- Carty's, more than forty miles distant. At this place Mr. Oglesby formed a flourishing society, which remained many years. In 1807 Revs. Thomas Hel- Inm and Sela Payne were appointed to the circuit. In the spring of 1807 Charles Waddle and two or three other families settled in what is now the eastern part of Union County, and formed themselves into a class. In the autumn of 1809 Revs. Thomas Nelson and Samuel H. Thompson were appointed to the Whitewater Circuit, John Sale being Presiding Elder.
At the Conference of 1812 the Whitewater Circuit was divided, and that part of it east of Brookville was called Oxford Circuit. John Strange was sent this year to the Brookville Circuit, which then embraced much of the present Franklin County, the settled part of Wayne and, perhaps, a part of Fayette County. The preacher then traveled from block-house to block-house, with his gun on his shoulder for pro- tection against the Indians. The first Methodist meeting-house built in the Whitewater country is said to have been a small log-house that stood on Clear Creek east of Salisbury, in Wayne County. This was erected in 1811.
The earliest evidence we have of Methodist preach- ing within the present limits of Fayette County, is contained in the following scrap of history related many years ago, in the village of Lebanon, Ohio, by Rev. David Sharpe, who traveled the Whitewater Circuit in 1813 (it was a six weeks' circuit):
" Mr. Sharpe began his work at Brookville, and preached there his first Sunday; from there on Mon- day to Williams' on Deer Creek; Tuesday, to Bryson's Block-house, about four miles below Laurel: Wednesday, to Roberts' Block-house; Thursday, to Montgomery's, in Wayne County; Friday, at Moffitt's, on the East Fork of Whitewater; Saturday, in Hugh Cull's neighborhood; Sunday, at John Meek's, on the east side of the East Fork of Whitewater; Monday, in the court house in New Salisbury; Tuesday, at Hardy Cain's; Wednesday, at Abijah Cain's; Thurs- day, name of the place forgotten; Friday, at Eaton, Preble Co., Ohio; Saturday, six miles north of Eaton; Sunday, at Widow Sharpe's, on Twin Creek; Monday, at Stephens', four miles south of Eaton; Tuesday, at Hanna's, on Hanna's Creek, Indiana; Wednesday, at Nott's, west of the East Fork of Whitewater; Thurs-
day, at Jones' Schoolhouse; Friday, at Bright's, eight miles above Brookville; Saturday, at Johnson's, on the West Fork, four miles above Brookville; Sunday, in the schoolhouse in Brookville.
" At each of the above named appointments, he preached once in six weeks. except Brookville, where he preached every three weeks.
" There was no preaching at that time at ' Con- ner's Station,' but he preached occasionally at Mr. Tharpe's, near the river, about one and one-half miles above Connersville."
The progress of Methodism in the country prior to 1823 was not rapid. There were two societies only east of the West Fork that were in progress at that time.
In 1821 a circuit was formed by Rev. John Havens, a local preacher, which included the village of Connersville and was styled Connersville Circuit, and came into the Conference the following year. This was under the Presiding Eldership of Rev. Alexander Cummins. Rev. James Murray was appointed to the circuit in 1822, and in 1823 Rev. Aaron Wood. The following is a copy of the plan of the circuit in 1823:
Fayette County-Connersville, Hankin's Hink- ston's, Hardey's.
Franklin County-Conwell's, Crist's, Alley's, Lewis'.
Decatur County-Miller's, Emley's, Sholt's.
Rush County-Grigg's, Young's, Taylor's, Groves'. Fayette County-Patterson's, Jacob Lower's.
Henry County-Killes, Morris', New Castle, Stan- ford's, Leonard's.
Fayette County-Joe Lower's, Briggs'.
One of the early ministers in a communication to the writer remarked that "the proprietors and first settlers of Connersville were skeptics on religion, and it was a hard place for any Evangelical religious influence. The towns of Centerville and Brookville were much in advance of Connersville in Methodist societies."
Without undertaking to give the various changes of the circuits, districts and conferences, which have since comprised the numerous churches of the county, we will state that in general the churches east of the West Fork of Whitewater River have been connected with circuits to the east, while those west of that stream have been attached to the Connersville Circuit, and circuits growing out of it.
The following list contains the names of the preachers who traveled the circuits of which the churches of the county formed a part, for a quarter of a century, beginning with 1823, both east and west of West Fork:
1823-Revs. Bigelow and Gatch, east; Rev. Aaron Wood, west.
49
HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
1824-Revs. Evert and White, east; Rev. James Havens, west.
1825-Revs. Stephens and Griffith, east; Rev. N. B. Griffith, west.
1826-Revs. Havens and Jones, east; Rev. Robert Burns, west.
1827-Rev. Havens, east; Rev. Robert Burns, west.
1828-Revs. Hitt and Scott, east; Revs. William Evans and I. N. Ellsbury, west.
1829-Revs. Thompson and Robinson, east; Revs. Amos Sparks and William Hunter, west.
1830-Revs. Havens and Smith, east; Revs. Ancie Beach and Wesley Wood, west.
1831-Revs. Taylor and Kimball, east; Revs. Asa Beck and Elijah Whitten, west.
1832-Revs. McReynolds and Dailey, east; Rev. J. W. McReynolds, west.
1833-Revs. Tarkington and Griss, east; Rev. J. W. McReynolds, west.
1834-Revs. Bonner and Robbins, east; Revs. J. W. McReynolds and J. S. Harrison, west.
1835-Revs. McReynolds and Harris, east; Revs. Robert Burns and L. M. Burns, west.
1836-Revs. Burwick and Stallard, east; Rev. F. C. Holliday, west.
1837-Rev. Phelps, east; Revs. D. J. Cox and J. W. Altman, west.
1838-Revs. Beswick and Hartie, east; Revs. James Scott and John Kiger, west.
1839-Revs. Beeks and Kelso, east; Revs. D. Stiver and Seth Smith, west.
1840-Revs. Kiger and Landy Havens, east; Ravs. M. Miller and G. W. Bowers, west.
1841-Revs. Kiger and Perkins, east; Revs. E. Whitten and A. Wilkinson, west.
1842-Revs. Tarkington and George Havens, east; Revs. J. Kiger and J. Bruner, west.
1843-Revs. Hibben and Reeves, east; Revs. James Hill and J. Bruner, west.
1844-Revs. Bruner and Anderson, east; Revs. W. W. Hibben and G. H. P. Ash, west.
1845-Revs. Bruner and Wallis, east; Revs. B. T. Griffith and J. C. Reed, west.
1846-Revs. Griffith and Wallis, east; Revs. R. S. Robinson and L. C. Crawford, west.
1847-Rev. Sullivan, east; Revs. W. Terrell and E. H. Sabin, west.
1848-Revs. Hayes and Jackson, east; Revs. W. W. Snyder and B. Y. Coffin, west.
Connersville and Whitewater Circuits were favored with the labors of a large number of talented and industrious local preachers, prominent among whom was James Conwell, the proprietor of Laurel. He conducted a dry goods store, and annually drove a
.
great many hogs to Cincinnati, and is said to have been the first man ever known to keep the Sabbath while driving hogs to market. He was one of the early and zealous advocates of a system of internal improvements in Indiana. The Whitewater Canal owed its construction and was in a measure due to his influence. He served as a member of the State Legislature. Says Rev. Aaron Wood of him, "He was a very sympathetic man, cried a great deal while he was preaching, and usually made his hearers cry before he was done." From 1824 to several years afterward, James Conwell, John Havens, Joel Havens, Thomas Silvey, John Morrow, James Gregg, John Linville, James Linville, Robert Groves and Thomas Leonard were all within the bounds of Con- nersville Circuit.
Dr. Wood remarks, "Every variety of gifts were exemplified in these men. They were strong in doc- trine, wise in discipline, critical in letters, bold in reproof, and pathetic in exhortation; and at a camp- meeting their labors were very efficient for lasting good on the entire community. John Morrow was a scholarly man, and spent most of his life as a school teacher. Joel Havens was chiefly noted for his won- derful gift of exhortation. Few men knew how to play on the emotions and passions of an audience as did he. Charles Hardy, William Patterson and William Hunt were also talented local preachers within the bounds of Connersville Circuit."
PRESBYTERIANISM.
The following in substance, concerning sarly Presbyterianism, is extracted from the writings of Rev. Ludlow D. Potter:
"The first Presbyterian minister of whose labors in this region we have any record was Rev. Samuel Baldridge, who organized a society of seven- teen members at the house of John Allen, near Har- rison, where he preached steadily until 1814. From 1810 to 1814 he worked as an itinerant missionary in the Whitewater Valley, having various preaching places from Lawrenceburg to Dunlapsville. He preached at Brookville and at Robert Templeton's, and at Mr. Hanna's, near Hanna's Creek. At that time there were several families here who were adherents to the Presbyterian faith. Among these were Mr. and Mrs. Barbour from Ireland, Judge Arthur Dixon aud wife and brother from Harper's Church in Washington County, Va., Mr. Young (who kept what has since been called the "Yellow Tav- ern" and who was from Pennsylvania), John Vincent and wife, Robert Templeton and wife, the Knights, and Mr. and Mrs. William McCleary, who were from Frederick County, Md. All of these resid- ed in town except Mr. Templeton, the parents
50
HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
of Mrs. Ryburn and one of the Dixons; the latter lived on the Rushville road at the foot of Boundary Hill. He afterwards moved to a farm near Conners- ville and a few years afterward united with the Methodist. Episcopal Church. Arthur Dixon was a blacksmith. He removed to Connersville in 1823 and his wife was one of the early members of the church organized there. After the removal of Mr. Baldridge from Harrison, there was occasional preach- ing in Harrison, Brookville, Somerset and adjacent settlements by Rev. - Robertson, of Kentucky, Rev. James Dickey, of Ohio, and others, for four or five years, during which period other families had settled in various parts of the country. From 1816 to 1825 efforts were made to gather these people in churches. This resulted in the organization of churches at Brookville in 1818, Mount Carmel in 18-, Somerset about 1823, and Bath in 1825."
During this period, besides occasional supplies from Presbytery and various itinerant clergymen, the friends of Presbyterianisin were much encouraged by the faithful and zealous labors of two young minis- ters, who were from the East as domestic missionaries. These were A. W. Platt, of New York, and W. W. Barton, of New Jersey. After spending three or four years traversing the country from Lawrenceburg to Richmond, these brethren, to the great grief of the people, saw fit to return to their native States.
In 1824 the Cincinnati Presbytery (Old School) sent Rev. Daniel Hayden to Connersville to preach and if practicable to organize a church. Mr. Hayden arrived in the village October 2d, preached in the Court House on the 3rd and on the 4th an organiza- tion was effected.
THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
About the year 1828 the teachings of the Church of the Reformation, commonly known as Campbellism, were being preached in Kentucky with almost un- bounded success by the Rev. John Smith, whose elo- quence was making converts by the hundreds, if not by thousands. We refer particularly to Bracken County, which had been the former home of an able and eloquent young Baptist preacher, by the name of John P. Thompson, who had settled in Rush County in the spring of 1822. Mr. Thompson immediately became the pastor of the Baptist Church at Little Flat Rock. It was not long until his reputation as a speaker had spread over the country, and through his influence Baptist Churches were organized in differ- ent parts of the surrounding country.
The excitement in Kentucky over the doctrines of the Reformation disturbed the young Baptist preacher of the Little Flat Rock Church, and he concluded to visit his old home and investigate things for himself, so he went, carrying with him the full confidence of
his own church in his power and ability to meet and annihilate the new doctrine. Suffice it to say, that Mr. Thompson returned a convert to the doctrines of the Church of the Reformation, and it was not long until notice was given that there would be a meeting at the house of Elias Stone, near Danville (now Fay- etteville) Fayette County, on Sunday, October 5, 1828, and at that meeting it is said the first sermon of the Reformation was preached in eastern Indiana by John P. Thompson, who immediately began a pro- tracted meeting at Little Flat Rock Church. In a few weeks he had baptized upward of 100 persons. For a time all of the Baptist Churches acquiesced in the new order of things; but finally a reaction came, and throughout eastern Indiana, and, in fact, the whole country, religious controversies were the order of the day, which resulted in a division of the churches.
For a number of years Mr. Thompson devoted all of his time and talents for the cause of the Reforma- tion, and organized a number of churches, the first being the Christian Church at Fayetteville, which dates from July 4, 1829; another at the house of Judge Webb, in the vicinity of Nulltown. An effort was made in the spring of 1830 by the Little Flat Rock Church to expel Elder Thompson, but lacking a majority it failed, and a division of the church was the result, and from May 23, 1830, dates the organi- zation of the Little Flat Rock Christian Church.
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.