History of Greene and Sullivan Counties, State of Indiana, Part 31

Author: Goodspeed Bros. & Co.
Publication date: 1884
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 901

USA > Indiana > Greene County > History of Greene and Sullivan Counties, State of Indiana > Part 31
USA > Indiana > Sullivan County > History of Greene and Sullivan Counties, State of Indiana > Part 31

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).

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was built by Moses Ritter, it is said. The building was a log cabin, and was used a little later as a store by Mr. Ritter, who afterward did an extensive mercantile business at the county seat. In about 1827, Cary O'Neal opened a store in the village, his stock, it is said, being worth about $500, but was afterward increased to several thousand dollars' worth, and greatly improved in quality. Peter R. Lester was also an early merchant in Newberry. He had a good stock of dry goods, bring- ing supplies in wagons from Louisville, and sometimes at Salem, then quite an important town. He also kept groceries and a general assort- ment of store supplies used in the backwoods. O'Neal had the leading store at Newberry for many years. A Mr. Hinds was in with goods at a later day. Some flat-boating was done from Newberry by the early mer- chants. The town was named for Newberry, N. C., whence some of the early settlers came. Honey and beeswax were leading articles of ex- change. Benjamin F. Morse, it is said, succeeded the O'Neals in the mercantile business. He is said to have been the first Postmaster. The town was very small and inconspicuous until after the building of the canal, when it became an important commercial point. The first doctor was probably Dennis. The town before the canal days numbered about twenty families at its best, and had blacksmiths, carpenters, coopers, tanners, shoe-makers, etc.

THE WABASH & ERIE CANAL.

Joseph Knight, Hugh Stewart and Alonzo Knight were contractors on the canal. The work was commenced late in the forties and finished early in the fifties. Their contract comprised the feeder dam, the guard bank, the locks and five miles of excavation above, the estimated value of the contract being $140,000. The survey of the canal was made in the fall of 1848, the engineers being Whittle, Pope, Burdan and Hutch- inson. The location of the dam was selected by Jesse L. Williams, and W. H. Ball, chief engineer of the Wabash & Erie Canal. The con- tracts were let at Point Commerce in 1848. The survey and the letting of the contracts were great events, and large crowds assembled to hear the bidding and the news. James Rouquet was one of the architects. Owen and Bynum were treasurers, and John F. Slinkard was clerk. A large store was kept at Newberry expressly for the workmen on the canal, who numbered about 150. While the work was going on, life was in- fused into all branches of business. The difficult work of extending the canal across the river was easily effected by the skillful Superintendente.

NEWBERRY AFTER THE CANAL.

The canal no sooner became a certainty than Newberry "took a new lease of life." Other merchants came in, mechanics appeared, and all kinds of business multiplied. Livery stables, butcher shops, barbers,

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carpenters appeared. The town was re-surveyed in the winter of 1848 by Benjamin F. Cressy, and the public sale of lots took place the fol- lowing spring. Many were sold-some to those who became residents and some to speculators. Among the leading business men were Hugh Stewart, Alonzo Knight, Joseph Knight, B. F. Morse, Frederick Slinkard, J. Slinkard, F. P. Stark, John Basker, Daniel A. Bynum, Walter Early, Dr. McDaniel, Thomas H. Johnson, John Lander and others. A great deal of shipping was done as soon as the canal was tinished, and even steamboats came up for cargoes. Morse had a large warehouse, where grain was stored and thence shipped when markets were favorable. Early also owned a warehouse, as did J. Slinkard. The shipments of produce were mostly to New Orleans, and the journey required about six weeks. The town was very prosperous from 1848 to 1858. Morse sent $9,000 worth of produce to New Orleans every spring from 1848 to 1856. D. A. Bynum, Dr. McDaniel and Jonas Slinkard also made shipments. Several of the early fairs were held at Newberry, as were also several of the early Teachers' Institutes. Since the canal days, the activity has not been so great. The town is now considered a good trading point by commercial men. If it gets the projected T. H. & S. E. R. R., there will be a permanent revival of the old canal days.

THE TOWNSHIP SCHOOLS.

The Plummer Schoolhouse, three-fourths of a mile from Doan's Creek, and Wesner Schoolhouse, one-fourth mile from First Creek, were the first built in Cass Township. They were constructed of small poles, and the cracks were left open probably for ventilation. The floors were of dirt, and there was no fire-place nor window. David Bradford was the first teacher. He sat in an old chair at one end of the room, and heard the scholars recite as they arrived and mastered their lessons. The school was by subscription of $2 for each scholar for the term of three months. School was taught in the fall before the cold weather appeared. Recesses were not given; intermission, one hour at noon. It was not long before other schools were started, and by 1830 there were three well-established schools in the township. Early in the thirties, the first school money was obtained from the sale of the sixteenth section, and early in the forties the first special fund was received. At this time, there were five schools in Cass. The new law of 1852 greatly improved the schools and school- houses. Emma and Eliza Ritter taught the first schools in Newberry.

CHURCH INFLUENCES .*

The chastening and hallowed influences of the Gospel followed close upon the footsteps of the pioneers. A settler's cabin was hardly up be- fore an itinerant was there with his Bible and hymn book gathering the

*Furnished by Prof. J. W. Walker.

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family for devotion around the altar in the wilderness. The first settlers were an intensely earnest people; they manifested no half-way religious feeling, but worked for their Master as they worked for themselves, with loud shouts and heavy blows. The first meetings were held in the houses of the settlers. They were soon removed to the log schoolhouse, and as the country became more densely populated, a meeting house became a necessity, and had to be built. The pioneers seemed to be inspired with a progressive zeal.

ST. PETER'S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH.

At a meeting held at Andrew Slinkard's on the 23d of December, 1849, the members present resolved that they would organize a church. The following persons were elected Elders: Frederic Slinkard, George Wesner and Isaac Skomp. Mr. Slinkard had been an Elder of the Union Church of Greene and Daviess Counties. It was decided that the organization should be known by the name of St. Peter's Church. The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments formed the rule and guide of their church government. On the fourth Sunday of January, 1850, Rev. Fairchilds preached at Andrew Slinkard's, and George Wesner was or- dained Elder. Isaac Skomp being absent, was not ordained until the fourth Sunday in February. At this time it was resolved that as many of the members of the Union Church of Greene and Daviess Counties who de- sired to connect themselves with the St. Peter's Church should order their names placed on the church record. There were seventy-seven who or- dered their names recorded. In the spring of 1851, the church decided to erect in Newberry a building which should be used for public worship and also serve the purpose of a seminary. On the 21st of June, 1851, Frederick Slinkard, John Slinkard and John Wesner were chosen Trustees. As a seminary, it was to be free to all students who possessed' a good moral character. As a house of worship, it was to be under the control of the Lutherans. The building was to be forty feet long and thirty feet wide. Frederick Slinkard was the contractor. The house was built by H. C. Owen, Sr., for $114. The job was completed in July, 1852. On the 10th of October, the church secured the services of Rev. Fairchilds, who agreed to preach once a month during the year. He con- tinued his work until the autumn of 1855, at which time he was super - seded by Rev. W. H. Deek, who had the church under his care until February, 1858. Rev. E. S. Hinkle then assumed control of the church. The others who have served as pastors of the church are Revs. Jacob Wesner, J. E. Wesner, Emerson Hursh, Lauer, Eichelberger, Booher and Sappenfield. The present membership exceeds fifty. In connection with the church there is a Sunday school, which ranks with the best in the county. William H. Killian has served as Superintendent for fifteen years. During this time the average attendance has been upward of

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sixty. The building has not been used for a seminary for several years. When it was used, R. C. Hilburn and J. G. M. Hursh were the most prominent teachers. Mr. Hursh was an efficient teacher. At the same time he was acting in the capacity of teacher, he was pastor of the church on a salary of $450.

THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

In 1872, a church house was built in Newberry, but has never been dedicated on account of indebtedness. Newberry Circuit was organized at the session of the annual conference, at Rockport, in September, 1875. It embraced Newberry, Scotland, Prairie Chapel and Simpson Chapel. It was formed from the Bloomfield, Marco and Clarksburg Circuits. Simpson from Bloomfield, Scotland from Clarksburg, Prairie Chapel and Newberry from Marto. Rev. John L. Cooper was first appointed to its pastorate. Its first Presiding Elder was Rev. John Kiger. Previous to the organization of the circuit, Rev. G. W. Asbury was pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Newberry. He remained so from Octo- ber, 1873, to October, 1876; he was also pastor from 1880 to 1882. Rev. Johnson succeeded him; he died in January, 1883. Rev. Sharman, a young minister just from England, has charge now. Membership, about forty. The first Sunday school organized after formation of circuit had the following officers: H. C. Owen, Sr., Superintendent; Basil Hind. man, Assistant Superintendent; M. C. Owen, Secretary. Since then, Basil Hindman has been Superintendent most of the time, and has been an efficient one.

THE CHURCH OF CHRIST.

A church house was erected in 1871. The church was organized under the ministration of Rev. Alfred Ellmore, February 5, 1871. The following agreement was then made: "We, the undersigned, members of the Church of Christ, do solemnly before God and in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, this day covenant together in forming the body, the church, to propagate, maintain and defend the ordinances of the Lord's House, and to keep them as they were delivered to us; that we will pray with and for each other, to the upbuilding of our Master's cause, that it may finally triumph and over every opposition prevail. "Alfred Ellmore, V. D. M .; W. L. Hastings, Elder; T. B. Jones, Deacon; F. M. Gilbert, Clerk."

The church has a large membership. There is no Sunday school in connection with it. For a number of years there was no regular pastors, on account of the inability of its members to support a minister. Rev. McCormick has the church under his care.

SCHOOLS OF THE TOWNSHIP.

Probably the first schoolhouse in the township was the small "log 18

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structure " which stood for many years south of Newberry. One end was used for a fire-place, and the floor was "ready-made." Lumber was too scarce, so the " fathers" thought the ground would do. The window was an opening provided by leaving a log out of the side of the house, and covering it with greased paper. The roof was of clapboards, fastened down by means of a binder. The seats were halves of split logs, with flat sides up, and wooden pins for legs: the backs the children car- ried with them. There were no desks. Along the side of the house, and below the window, that there might be as much light as possible, was an eighteen-inch plank, used as a writing desk. Big and little thus learned to write. Such was the primitive schoolhouse. The " spellin'-book" and the "rethmetic" were stand-by's. The pupils recited each in his turn. The teacher, with an educator three or four feet long in his hand, would occasion the young idea how to shoot in a very lively manner. And thus the subscription school (for there were no free schools then) hastened to its close but "to take up" again in about nine months from " last day." However, after awhile these rude and unhewn logs were displaced by more modern buildings of hewn timbers, and these again by frame edi- fices that stand to-day. Cass Township is now divided into four districts. The school building at Newberry is an honor to the township. Before the present Trustee-Dr. Hilburn-was elected to that office, he told the people that if elected he would erect a building in Newberry of which the people would feel proud. The cost of the building, including furni- ture and other fixtures, was about $3,000. The building will stand as a monument attesting the efficiency of Dr. Hilburn as a township official and a public benefactor. His name will be honored and respected by future generations. J. W. Walker was the first Principal of the High School. His success is acknowledged by all. He graduated the follow -. ing students: Laura C. Killian, Maggie Killian, Mary E. Ward, Mary Wesner, W. L. Slinkard, Lizzie O'Neal, John Hilburn and S. E. Poulton.

CHAPTER XIX.

STAFFORD TOWNSHIP-ORGANIZATION AND FIRST OFFICERS-EARLY CON DITION AND EVENTS-THE SETTLEMENT-MASSEY'S COTTON GIN-OTHER EARLY INDUSTRIES - HUNTING ANECDOTES - MISCELLANY - SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES-VILLAGE OF MARCO.

THE township of Stafford was one of the first five created in Greene County in 1821, when the county was organized by the first Board of Commissioners. The township at first included the present townships of Stafford and Washington, and remained so until 1830, when the latter was created and given a separate organization. Since then, Stafford has

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remained as it is at present, as far as limits and boundaries are con- cerned. It was named in honor of old Benjamin Stafford, father of the present old settler of that name, who is living near the center of the township. At that period, the two townships, Stafford and Washington, were one, and as Mr. Stafford was, perhaps, the most prominent of all the residents, and as he was a man of sufficient intelligence to display an interest in the civil affairs of his locality, his name was adopted as the township name. He was appointed Inspector of the first elections which were ordered held at his cabin. Two Justices of the Peace were ordered elected (1821), but the other officers were appointed by the County Board. Isaac Hubble and John Goldsby were appointed Overseers of the Poor; John Breese, John Goldsby and Benjamin Stafford, Sr., Fence Viewers; John Breese, Constable. These were the first officers to admin- ister the civil affairs of old Stafford Township. John Seaman and John Breese were the two first Justices of the Peace elected in 1821. Will- iam Hodgins was the first Lister of the township. In 1822, Mr. Hodgins was the first Road Supervisor, and had the following hands: John Sea- man, Jesse Stafford, John Stafford, Isaac Hubble, John Breese, Madison Collins, Joseph Kirkpatrick, William Hodgins and William B. Harrison. Benjamin Stafford was re-appointed Inspector. In 1822, Joseph Dixon and William Hodgins were Overseers of the Poor; Jesse Stafford, Isaac Hubble and Peter Herington, Fence Viewers. Mr. Herington was one of the first three County Commissioners.

EARLY CONDITION.

The appearance of the township in early years was different from what it is at present in many respects. Much of the land is low, with but little natural slope for drainage, and even at this day is too wet for profitable cultivation; but, in early years, before the arts of man bad been used to convey the surplus water with speed to the streams, large por- tions of the township, especially in the rainy seasons of the year, were vast lakes where millions of wild aquatic fowls took bath and gathered their food. This characteristic of the township endures to the present day, as will be testified by scores of resident and non-resident sportsmen who have waded the marshes many a day with wet limbs, empty stomachs, but happy hearts. It is stated that one hunter, about twenty years ago, killed in one season over 1,000 geese, ducks and brants. In later years, hunters from abroad come in sometimes with modern sporting facilities and slay in a week's time one-third as many. At a much earlier day, wild turkeys were very abundant in the drier portions, but sought the treeless marshes very often for food, or to hatch their young. Every old settler can tell interesting tales of turkey hunts. Along the borders of the woods in early morning they congregated, and could be shot from tree tops until the hunter was weary. It is asserted that often they were

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so remarkably fat that when they struck the ground after being shot dead from the top of high trees, the skin upon their backs would burst open like a ripe pod. Great rolls of yellow. oily fat were often taken from their bodies. When nicely cooked before the old fire-places, they were fit for the gods to eat. Late in the autumn, when the weather was dry and the grass dead, great prairie fires swept across the open portions of the township, carrying destruction to everything that lay in their way. The grass grew from three to six feet high, and when a fire was started with a strong wind, especially at night, the scene was grand beyond descrip. tion. The burning wave would travel as fast as a horse, while the angry tongues of flame would dart upward thirty feet high, and an awful roar, more terrifying than that of a cyclone, would awe the beholder with the grandest emotions. Wild game would run from the burning grass at their swiftest speed, or fall down exhausted, to be devoured up by the jaws of flame. The encircling timber would bound the limits of the fire. Many an old settler lost his hay and hcuse by the fires.

THE SETTLEMENT.

It is stated that the first settler in the present Stafford Township was a man named Josiah Carrico, or as he became universally known and is called to this day, Calico. He was a long-limbed Kentuckian, who had first settled in Sullivan County, probably in Jefferson Township, but had come to what is now Stafford Township as early as 1817, and possibly a year before. He located in the southern part of the township on the border of what is yet known as the "Calico Mash." This was a large, marshy, open tract of land which Carrico used as a pasture for his stock, and in which he is said to have killed many deer and a few bears. He lived in the township until his death, leaving several children, one of whom, it is said, now lives in Terre Haute. Joseph Dixon settled soon afterward just east of Marco, and became prominent. In about Septem- ber, 1818, Jesse, John and Benjamin Stafford and their uncle, Peter Caress, came to near Marco from Kentucky, with a herd of about thirty cattle, one yoke of oxon and two horses, one of which was ridden by Ben- jamin, Jr., then a small lad, and after hurriedly building a rude log cabin and arranging affairs comfortably, John went back to Kentucky, leaving the others to clear sufficient ground during the remainder of the fall and the following winter for a crop in the year 1819. The next spring, John returned with the team to assist in raising the crop. The cattle had been herded in the rich winter pastures in his absence, by the others, and a tract of fifteen or twenty acres had been cleared for the crop. A small field of corn and a garden of vegetables were raised in 1819, and the fol- lowing year, 1820, the remainder of the family came on from Kentucky. It was about this time that Bartlett Goodman came in and located on the northern line of the township. Mason Pitts came in about 1819, and

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settled on the Jackson farm and was a noted hunter and trapper. Isaac Hubble came at the same time and built a rude log cabin in the western part, where he lived for many years.' James Walker, another settler of note, located near Mr. Hubble. Andrew Wallace was a very early set- tler, coming in 1819, or, as some say, in 1818. He established himself in the western part, where there was quite a settlement as early as 1820- five or six or more families near each other. Abraham Goodman also came in very early, locating in the northwestern part. George and Moses William son came to reside in the township as early as 1821, and very prob- ably as early as 1820. Abraham Garrett located in the western part in 1819, it is said, as did also Enoch Morris and John Breese. This ex- tensive settlement in the western part was on the high, dry ground, and was really an outgrowth or expansion of an older settlement in Sullivan County. Prior to 1821, all of Greene County west of the river, it should be noticed, was part and parcel of Sullivan County, so that the earliest residents were residents of that county until the Legislature created the county of Greene. Several other families came in later, one of the most prominent being that of James Jarrel. Simon Hagerman was another early one, as were the Brewers. In the western part, in the vicinity of Marco, and in the southern part, were the first settlements. By the year 1825, there were not less than thirty families in the township. Times were hard, and the settlers had all they could do to make an hon. ' est living.

MASSEY'S COTTON GIN.

It will seem strange to any one not an old settler of Greene County, yet the fact is that in early times considerable cotton was raised in every township, and in some neighborhoods families raised not only enough to clothe themselves in cotton garments, but had some to sell. For several years during the decade of the twenties, the residents of Stafford and Washington Townships engaged in this occupation so extensively that an intelligent mulatto named Hugh Massey, devised machinery similar to the primitive cotton gin of Eli Whitney, and prepared to not only clear the cotton of its seed, but also at the same time to tear it into shreds and render it suita ble for being carded by the women preparatory to be- ing spun and woven into cloth. He built a shed about forty feet long in which were the machinery and the sweep, by means of which horses set the mill in motion. In one end of this building, where the cotton was torn into shreds, a tight room was built to prevent the loss of cotton by the freedom of the wind. Interested spectators were permitted to peep cautiously in this close room to see the gin at work. All this apparatus for handling the cotton was on the second floor, while on the lower were the horses and heavy machinery, and a small grist mill or corn cracker which had been started earlier by Mr. Massey. The owner had been led into starting the cotton gin by the demand from the neighborhood. I

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was soon discovered that a fair quality of cotton could be raised, and as sheep were hard to keep, owing to the wolves and other causes, the at- tention was directed to the cotton fields as a source from which to ob- tain clothing. It is said that the Dixons raised as high as twenty acres of cotton, and the Staffords often raised five, acres. Many other families raised as much or more than this. Thousands of pounds were grown annually in this neighborhood and taken to the mill of Mr. Massey. The picking of the cotton in the fields became quite an extensive indus- try. Men became quite expert, and in the fall made a business of travel- ing around from field to field of cotton to pick on shares. They took one-half of the cotton for picking the whole. The bolls were not as full and heavy as they are in the South, but they yielded a satisfactory return for the labor. After the cotton had been to the mill of Mr. Massey, it was taken to the homes, carded by hand, spun on the old wheels, and woven into cloth in the looms of the pioneers. The cloth thus made was not as fine and smooth as can be bought in the large stores of to-day, but it made good substantial suits for summer, and when mixed with wool, furnished excellent linsey-woolsey for winter wear. After running a few years, the cotton mill was abandoned, as the production of cotton gradually fell off. The grist mill or 'corn cracker was operated longer. These mills stood on the Vincennes road, about a mile and a half west of Marco. The corn cracker was afterward owned by William Sulcer, a soldier of the Revolutionary war, whose tax for many years on real es- tate was remitted by the County Board in consideration of ill health caused in serving his country. The bolting was done by hand, and of course the meal and flour furnished were coarse. The mill ran about ten years.

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History of Greene and Sullivan Counties, State of Indiana, Part 31

Author: Goodspeed Bros. & Co. Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Number of Pages: 901

Author: Goodspeed Bros. & Co.
Publication date: 1884
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 901