History of Franklin County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 10

Author: Reifel, August J
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind. : B.F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1648

USA > Indiana > Franklin County > History of Franklin County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions > Part 10

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Brookville January 3, 1816

Highland

February 12, 182I

Bath

January 3, 1816

Fairfield

February 12, 182I

Posey January 3, 1816

Somerset May 14, 1821

White Water

January 6, 1816 Ray January 8, 1828

Union July 16, 1816

Salt Creek May 8, 1844

Connersville -July 16, 1816

Laurel _March 5, 1845

Blooming Grove May 12, 1817

Butler September 5, 1849

Springfield

May 12, 1817

Metamora September 5. 1849

Liberty February 9, 1819

Three of these townships, Connersville, Liberty and Union, were in that part of Franklin county which was later set off as Fayette and Union counties, and consequently disappear from Franklin county records with the organization of the counties of which they became a part. A fourth town- ship, Somerset, was organized in 1821 and included practically the same limits as the present township of Laurel, but before the year was over the commissioners dissolved it and attached the territory in question again to Posey. This leaves thirteen townships in the county, the last two dating from 1849. The townships are discussed in the order of their organization

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FRANKLIN COUNTY, INDIANA.

with exception of the four no longer in existence. They are treated at the close of the history of the present thirteen townships of the county.

BROOKVILLE TOWNSHIP.

This is the central and largest civil sub-division in Franklin county, and contains the whole of congressional township 9, range 2; sections I to 12, inclusive, of township 8, range 2; two fractional sections of township 9, range 3 west : three fractional sections of township 10, range 3 west ; nine full and six fractional sections of township II, range 13 east ; and six sec- tions of township 12, range 13 east. The total territory embraced within Brookville township is about sixty-eight sections or square miles. The greater portion of this is within the original Wayne Purchase of 1795, while the remainder is between the 1795 line and the boundary line of 1809.

ORGANIZATION OF THE TOWNSHIP.

Brookville township was one of the three townships which first appear in the commissioners' records on January 3, 1816. and three days later its limits are defined as follows :

"All that part of Franklin county included within the following bound- aries, towit: On the north by a line beginning on the west boundary line of the said county of Franklin ; and thence running east so as to intersect the township line dividing the ninth and tenth townships; thence running east along with the said township line to the east boundary of said county, and on the south by a line beginning on the west boundary line of said county of Franklin ; and thence running east to White Water so as to cross White Water at the mouth of Big Cedar Grove creek ; thence running along the Big Cedar Grove creek with the meanders thereof until the same intersects the line dividing the eighth and ninth township line to the east boundary line of the county-shall compose a township, which township shall be called and known by the name of Brookville township."

Thus it will be seen that Brookville township extended across the county from east to west and for the most part was seven miles and a half in width. On May 12, 1817, Springfield township was cut off with prac- tically its present territorial limits. At some time in its history Brookville township has included within its limits all or part of every township in the county with the exception of Fairfield and Bath. In the history of the various townships will be seen a discussion of boundary limits. At the

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FRANKLIN COUNTY, INDIANA.

present time Brookville township includes as much territory as is found in Bath, Fairfield, Posey and half of Butler townships, a fact which leads one to suspect that there may have been political considerations in the formation of townships in the county.

When the commissioners defined the limits of all the townships on January 8, 1828, Brookville township was set forth as follows:

"Beginning at the southeast corner of section 12, township 8 in range 2 west : thence west on the section line to the Grouseland purchase line ; thence southwesterly on said line to the west corner of fractional section 6. town 10, range 13 east: thence north on the township line to the northwest corner of section 19, township 12, range 13 east ; thence east on the section line to the old boundary line ; thence northwardly to where the line dividing towns 9 and 10 in range 2 west intersects the said boundary line; thence east along the township line to the northeast corner of town 9, range 2 west : thence south on the township line to the place of beginning, to be called Brookville township." It did not get its present limits until after the organ- ization of Metamora and Butler townships on September 5, 1849.

NATURAL FEATURES.

Brookville township has a varied topography and wonderfully beautiful scenery. The surface is quite uneven and broken. The many creeks that flow through its borders give much bottom land which is of a very pro- ductive quality and especially is this true along the White Water river where the valley is a mile wide in places. The main water courses include the West and East Fork of the White Water river. West Fork flows from the west and north till it meets the waters of the East Fork, which come from the north, near the center of the township at the town of Brookville. Then the main stream flows on till it crosses the southeastern part of the town- ship and crosses over into Dearborn county.

Little Cedar rises in the northeast part of the township and unites with the main river about three miles below Brookville. Big Cedar crosses the extreme southeast corner of the territory. Richland creek, a small streamlet, with a deep valley, lies between the Little and Big Cedars. Templeton's creek enters the East Fork of White Water river in the northern part of the township. Blue creek is the chief stream in the southwestern portion of the township. Wolf creek, in the southwestern part, unites with Blue creek before the latter empties into White Water. Others are McCarty's run,

FRANKLIN COUNTY, INDIANA. II3

Snail creek, and lesser streams, the waters of which enter West Fork in the western part of the township.

The hillsides along most of these streams which are rapid running water courses, are generally of such an easy slope that the lands can be culti- vated or used for pasturing purposes with ease and profit. However, when the timber is cut from some of the steeper hills, and cultivation is attempted, the land washes badly. Farming and stock growing at present engage the attention of the land owners, although at an earlier date the forests were a source of much revenue.

PIONEER SETTLEMENT.

It is not always an easy matter in counties as old as Franklin to estab- lish the facts concerning who were the first to settle in a given township, for be it remembered that no one now lives who saw the "green glad soli- tude" of what is now Brookville township in its virgin state. It is known of record, however, that the first land entered from the government within what is now Brookville township was the east half of section 4, township 9, range 2, and that it was entered by Robert Templeton on September 24, 1804. The second entry was made four days later (September 28, 1804) by William Tyner, who claimed the southwest quarter of section 33, town- ship 9, range 2. Then came the following land entries: William Arnett, December 27; James McCoy, October 22; James Taylor, October 23 ; Thomas Williams, November 17; Amos Butler, December 4; John Ramey, October 13: Solomon Tyner, November 30, all in the year 1804.

1805-James Adair. William Wilson, John Milhollund, Samuel and Charles Scott. John Logan, John Allen, Amos Butler, Jesse B. Thomas, Samuel Arnett, Thomas Henderson and John Brown.

1806-William Henderson, Anthony Haberstadt, Agnes Taylor, David Bell, John Vincent, Abraham Hackleman and four additional quarters of land by Amos Butler.

1807 -- Solomon Tyner, an additional tract.

1808 -- James Knight, John Kennedy, John Norris, James Moore, John Penwell.

1810 -- John Quick. John Conner, Thomas Skinner, Jacob Barkman.

1811-George Anthony, John Richardson, Thomas Williams, Ruggles Winchell, James McGinniss, Micajah Parker, David Penwell, Jacob Craig, John Tharp, William Lynes, Britton Grant, and another tract by Amos Butler.

(8)

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FRANKLIN COUNTY, INDIANA.

1812-John Lefforge, John Shank, John Stockdale. Lismand Basyre -- all of whom were actual settlers east of the 1795 treaty line.

West of the 1795 treaty line the early settlers were as follow :

18II -- William Simes, John Neal, John Brown, William Wilson (a Baptist minister), Simpson Jones, John Stafford, Henry Calfee.

1814 -- Benjamin Smith, Thomas Owsley.

IS16-Henry Teagarden, Robert Mckay.

1817 -- Charles Collett, Henry Hinds, John Melone, Robert W. Hal- stead.

SOME PIONEER FAMILIES.

The land entries along the river southeast of the town of Brookville were nearly all improved immediately after their original entry. It is gen-, erally believed that William Tyner was among the very first to set stakes and commence building for himself a home in the forests of this township. His farm included the place later years known as the "Bruns Grove" farm, on which was a fine group of springs. John Quick came in 1809 and entered land the next year. He was a justice of the peace under the terri- torial government and later probate judge of Franklin county. He was a leader among his fellow pioneers. He was descended from Maryland and Kentucky families.

David Stoops, who came with Amos Butler in 1805, settled on the river west of Brookville. He was the father of twenty-three children, of which number, Robert, William, John, Richard, David, Jr., Thomas and Elijah reached man's estate here, and performed well their part in building up Franklin county. Many of the descendants of this pioneer family still re- side here. John Vincent was one of the first settlers in the valley west of Brookville. He had been a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and here he became a leader among his neighbors during the Indian troubles. He was born in England, and was the father of ten children, one of whom, Samuel, died from the effects of a rattlesnake bite. Henry Berry came in 1816 and settled east of town on the Hamilton road, where he carried on blacksmith- ing many years. He was a justice of the peace and became probate judge of this county. Giles Martin and his sons, William and George. were among the early comers to Brookville township: also Jacob Hetrick. James Moore, Fielding Jeter and the Halstead families. A Universalist minister named Daniel St. John came early and served as sheriff two terms and later was a justice of the peace in the county. James Goudie located near Judge

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FRANKLIN COUNTY, INDIANA.

Berry's. He was an early member of the Legislature from Franklin county. It is said he had the first grindstone in all his section of the neighborhood, and that it was freely used by one and all. Patrick McCarty settled west of town, near the stream called McCarty's run, named for him. Spencer Wiley, a pioneer in these parts, was a member of the Legislature, and a member of the constitutional convention in 1851. On the extreme eastern side of Brookville township settled John Wynn, who served as county surveyor and justice of the peace at an early date. Giles Grant was numbered among the pioneer band; he was an associate judge and member of the Legislature from this county. In 1817 John Harris platted fractional section 18, north- west of the town of Brookville, into out-lots. It was known as "Harris' Section." More than fifty years ago it was vacated and reverted to farm land.

There was a block-house in section 3, west of the boundary line. In 1813 there were four cabins picketed and fortified on the old Jeter farm.

TOWNS AND VILLAGES.

Besides Brookville, the county seat, Brookville township has had platted within her borders small villages. Union (also called Whitcomb), was platted by Ebenezer Howe, September 14, 1816. It was later added to by Samuel Goudie about 1834 and again in 1850 by Isaac Updike. Whitcomb postoffice was established at this point and in the seventies there was estab- lished a grange of the Patrons of Husbandry. In the early eighties the village had the usual number of stores and small shops found in country villages. The steam saw-mill was another of the helps to the place. At present the population of Whitcomb is about one hundred and ten. The towns of Buncombe and Butler's Run were platted July 1I, 1851, and June IO, 1859, respectively. Both joined Brookville on the north, but neither ever materialized as a town, although parts of both have later been taken within the corporate limits of Brookville. Another town which flourished for a few years was located a mile west of Brookville and was known as Woodville, in fractional section 24. Its history is shrouded in more or less mystery. No plat ever was recorded and the flood of 1848 seems to have terminated its existence.

Yung was a hamlet in section 34, township II, range 13, but was never platted. At this point there was a distillery established which ran until about 1905. The Yung brothers were proprietors. There was a postoffice

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FRANKLIN COUNTY, INDIANA.

known as Blue Creek here at one time, but it has been long since discon- tinued. The hamlet once had a store, a blacksmith shop and saloon or two.

The township officers are as follows: Trustee, Frank Deutsch ; assessor, Gus Baither ; advisory board, William Bowles, William Meeker, George W. Klipple ; justice of the peace, P. T. McCammon ; constable, George Amrhein ; supervisors. Christ Hammer, No. 1, Frank Reddelman, No. 2, Joseph Stur- wald, No. 3. James A. Clayton. No. 4.

BATH TOWNSHIP.

This is the extreme northeastern subdivision of Franklin county and was in existence on January 3, 1816, at which time it included not only what is now Bath township, but also all of Fairfield and a strip nine miles north of the present limits of Franklin county and east of the 1795 treaty line. On January 3, 1816, the commissioners' record described this township as fol- lows: "All that part of Franklin county which lies within the tenth town- ship, in first range, the tenth township in the second range. the eleventh township in the first range and the eleventh township in the second range- shall compose a township, which township shall be called and known as Bath township."

The next change in boundary lines was made February 10, 1817, al- though no new townships were created at that time. At this date Bath town- ship was described as follows: "Beginning at the northeast corner of Brook- ville township; thence north until it intersects the lines dividing the tenth and eleventh townships, range first: thence west along said division line until it intersects the old boundary ; thence southwardly along said old boundary line until it intersects the line dividing the ninth and tenth townships in range two; thence east along said line to the place of beginning.

Upon the organization of Union county, February 1, 1821, Bath town- ship was given its present northern limit and was reduced in width from twelve to three miles.

In 1828, when there were eight townships in the county, the records show that Bath was described as follows: "Beginning at the southeast corner of township 10, range I west; thence north on the line between the states of Indiana and Ohio to the corner of Union county ; thence west on the line of said county to the northwest corner of section 19, in the township and range aforesaid; thence south to the southwest corner of said township; thence east on the township line to the place of beginning-to be called Bath

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FRANKLIN COUNTY, INDIANA.

township." The present boundary conforms to the last-named description. Its territory now comprises the south half of congressional township 10 north, range I west, and includes sections 19 and 36, inclusive.

The population of the township in 1890 was six hundred and fifty-eight and twenty years later, or in 1910, it was placed by the census reports at six hundred and four.

NATURAL FEATURES AND LAND ENTRIES.

Aside from the rough lands along the streams, this is a very level and even surfaced township, with some of the finest and most valuable farms in Franklin county, and sells at from one hundred to one hundred and fifty dol- lars an acre. The central part of the township has a watershed sufficient to throw the waters each way into small streams, the principal of which is Big Cedar creek, and finally empties into White Water river. Pleasant run, or Brandywine creek, rising in the northeastern part of this township, falls into Indian creek, which crosses the corner of the township. Another stream is Templeton's creek. running to the west.

From the most reliable evidence it appears that the township was named Bath from the formerly well-known mineral spring, which in an early day was used for medicinal baths. This spring is not now within the present bounds of the township, however.

The first land entered in this township was the southeast quarter of section 27. The date was May 29, 1805, and the man entering this tract was William Forbes, who was not, however, an actual settler.

Daniel Hansel made the next entry, September 30, 1805, in section 24. In November, that year, lands were entered by Abraham and Daniel Miller, who selected lands in the same section last named. Other entries were by James Crooks, January 28, 1806, the northwest quarter of section 24 : Thomas Burk, April 8, 1806, northeast quarter of section 26; William Dubois, Janu- ary 21. 1806, southeast quarter of section 30; Chatfield Howell, June 21, 1806, southeast quarter of section 30. Three other tracts were entered about 1806, but by men who were never residents of the township. Abraham Lee entered the southeast quarter of section 36 September, 1807, and settled there the following year. In July, 1808, Abraham Jones located in the southwest quarter of section 36. In 1809 James Barton entered several tracts ; John Harper also claimed land in the township that year. In 1810 came in Moses Maxwell, Joseph Lee, William Stephens, Andrew Cornelison and David Gray, all claiming government lands by entry right. John, Sr., and John,

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FRANKLIN COUNTY, INDIANA.

Jr., of the Flint family, and also Benjamin Heargorider were settlers of 18II. In 1812 came Lemuel Lemmon, Abel Dare and Jacob Bell. In 1813 the settlement was increased by the advent of pioneers William Goff, Samuel Kain, Adam Nelson, John Morris and possibly a few others.

Of Abraham Lee, one of the pioneers of this township, it is related that he temporarily located on what was later styled Lee's creek. He devoted much time to exploring the western portion of the Wayne Purchase while it was being surveyed in 1801-2. After he had settled in present Bath town- ship, the Indians were quite numerous and were hostile toward the whites on several occasions. He had to get his breadstuffs ground at a mill on Dry Fork. He lived with his wife and two children in a rude cabin. Their supply of corn meal was much reduced and someone must needs to go to mill again. The Indians had a camp near the Lee cabin. He believed that his family would not be safe in his absence, and the matter was talked over be- tween him and his good wife, who felt that if her husband did not object she had best go to mill and leave him in charge of the cabin and children. He finally consented and she placed a sack of corn on the trusty family horse and started off to mill, many miles distant. She made the trip in safety and all ended well, notwithstanding the husband was called on several times by his · Indian neighbors, and there came near being trouble, but, through Lee's firmness and tactics, they did not molest him.

FIRST AND IMPORTANT EVENTS.

Among the very earliest justices of the peace in Bath township was Jacob Bake.

The first tavern license in the township was issued to John Flint, in May, 1817. By order of the court the elections of the township were held at this tavern for many years.

Bath township is first mentioned in county records as being organized January 6, 1816, and the description of the township was as follows: "Or- dered that all that portion of Franklin county which lies within the town- ship 10, range I ; township 10, range 2; township II, range I, and township I.I, range 2, shall compose a township which shall be known and called Bath township." William Dubois was the first one to be appointed by the court as superintendent of elections.

After January 1, 1817, the board of county commissioners had charge · of county affairs largely. It was under this board that most of the town- ship organizations were perfected. Esquire William Dubois, supposedly a

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FRANKLIN COUNTY, INDIANA.

justice of the peace, "swore in" William Coulson, as constable for Franklin county.

In May, 1817, Thomas Thomas was appointed "lister" for Bath town- ship.

Thomas Crislow was appointed overseer of the poor, and Jacob Bake, inspector of elections.

On July 12, 1817, the board ordered an election of one justice of the peace for Bath township, to take the place of William Dubois, deceased.

It is believed by all of the older citizens that in 1811 Col. John Miller built and operated a mill on Brandywine creek, in what is now Union county, but which was for many years in Bath township. This, or possibly the "Bake mill" on Indian creek, was the first in the township. Another mill was also constructed higher up the stream in this township at about the same date. Probably a horse-power system was employed when water was too low in stage to propel the old over-shot water-wheel. Another mill is re- called as being located in section 25, built by Abraham Lee and Nathan Bourne.

The first reaping machine in Bath township was probably the McCor- mick reaper, with an iron finger-bar, purchased by John W. Smolley in 1853.

Among the pioneers here called out for service in the War of 1812 are known to have been Colonel Miller, Abraham Lee and Jacob Bake.

Joshua Harris was a pioneer tanner of the township, and conducted his business on Brandywine creek, where later resided Esquire Caleb Barnum.

The first school house was a log building standing where the hamlet of Mixerville now stands, on lands owned then by Abraham Jones. The earliest school taught was in a log cabin, where J. J. Lee later built. This school was taught by Miss Abigail Smith.

William Bake was the first man who had courage enough to refuse to furnish intoxicating liquors for men working at harvest and logging bees in Bath township, he being a radical temperance advocate at a time when it was very unpopular to say anything against the drinking, habit. Times have changed remarkably with the flight of a century in Franklin county.

With the flight of years many changes have been wrought out in Bath township. Where a century ago were but a few settlers, forging their way through the forests and seeking to make humble homes for their families, today the scene presents one of charming rural life, with hundreds of beau- tiful farm houses, surrounded by all that the heart of an independent agri- culturist might wish for. The scythe and cradle have given place to the reaper and harvester, the mower and the hay-making implements which make

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FRANKLIN COUNTY, INDIANA.

farm life more desirable and profitable. The log cabin has disappeared and in its dooryard one sees the modern farm home with all the conveniences found in city houses. Schools and churches abound and railroad facilities are within reach of all the progressive husbandmen of the "kingdoni of Franklin."

The census reports of 1910 gave Bath township a population of one hundred and twenty-five.

The present township officers are: Trustee, Charles Wilson; assessor, Marshall Kay; advisory board, John T. Briar, Bennett Raider and Mark Maloy.

VILLAGES OF THE TOWNSHIP.

There are three little hamlets within Bath township-Colter's Corner, Bath and Mixerville. These are small country trading places, with but few inhabitants each. The township being called Bath, it was natural when a postoffice was established there, many years ago, that it should be called Bath, although it was located at a country store and a hamlet styled Colter's Corner, which place is something over a mile to the west of the present railroad station on the Chesapeake & Ohio railroad, known as Bath (by some called New Bath, but not rightfully). Colter's Corner was established be- fore the Civil-war period, and has never grown to a place of much import- ance. At the present time the business is in the hands of the following :

A general store, operated by O. E. Elwell; a grocery and meat shop, oper- ated by D. W. Spenny; two blacksmith shops-one by J. C. Dare and one by W. E. Smith. Then there is one professional man, in the person of Dr. A. W. Johnson. Bath postoffice, which was formerly located here, was discontinued about 1907, and mail is now received by the rural free delivery routes from Brookville and College Corners. This hamlet is within a most fertile and beautiful farming section, with signs of prosperity on every hand.

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History of Franklin County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 10

Author: Reifel, August J Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind. : B.F. Bowen Number of Pages: 1648

Author: Reifel, August J
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind. : B.F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1648