History of Greene and Sullivan Counties, State of Indiana, Part 72

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 72
USA > Indiana > Sullivan County > History of Greene and Sullivan Counties, State of Indiana > Part 72

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).

Several years after the incident above occurred, a Frenchman named Louis Francois, somewhat of a drinking man, whilst on a spree in Carlisle, was set upon by a party of roughs, who poured whisky over his head and set it on fire. It is needless to say that the man was nearly killed, for whisky in those days burned in more ways than one.

CRIPPLING THE OLD SCHOOL TEACHER.

Dr. Holms relates how the boys of the school he attended crippled for life an old schoolmaster named John :B. Haywood, who was ex-

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tremely severe upon his pupils. The boys, of course, did not intend to cripple him, only to mash his toes a little. They managed to get a big back log they were rolling to fall upon the pedagogue's foot, but it was heavier than they thought, and the old fellow had to use crutches the balance of his life. Some of the muscles of the foot had been perma- nently injured. Even after that, the old fellow continued to teach school, and used his crutch on the boys as savagely as he had formerly a hickory. One day when he had gotten off of his horse, on a Saturday, a couple of his mischievous pupils slipped up to his "critter " and placed beneath the saddle, and next to the horse's hide, a couple of rough corn cobs. The doctor says, that when Haywood threw his weight full on the back of the animal, that language fails to describe the scene. The horse threw his tail into the air and started off at a speed that would have shamed Tam O'Shanter. Only a pale streak of horse was discernible as he made for the woods.

COL. HADDON'S SQUIRT-GUN.

The late Col. William R. Haddon, who served gallantly in the Mexi- can war, used to tell of a trick he played on his teacher. In the times when boys wore tow linen slips, he was attending a school where the teacher was very inquisitive and curious. The old fellow would, at re. cess, put his ear to a crack in the cabin and listen to what the boys said outside. William got one of those elder squirt guns, and filling it with dirty water, watched for the old man, and when he saw the ear at the crack, Jet fly the water. The teacher rushed out and finding the squirt-gun in the possession of Haddon, ran him into the brush near town, where the boy had to stay for two or three days, until the anger of the dominie had somewhat abated.

AN OLD PIONEER PREACHER.

Rev. Joel Collins, the father of Madison Collins, who was wounded with Mack, was the first Methodist preacher who set foot upon the soil of this county. He came, as stated above, in 1806, and his voice was heard throughout the land calling to the Throne of Grace his sinning fellow-man. He carried his rifle with him, and was as quick to pick off a savage as he was to have a tilt with the Devil on Sunday mornings. He was a large, powerful man, with a voice that struck terror to all evil doers, but in his home life was said to be as kind as a woman. So potent was his influence with the Almighty, that it is said that one of his prayers for rain would bring a refreshing shower in twenty- four hours. On one oc- casion he lost a large suger somewhere about the house and could not lay his hands upon it, but one morning as he was kneeling at family prayer, and when he had reached about his ninth "I thank Thee, O Lord," he espied his auger sticking down through the planks of the loft, when he sang out to his wife, " Mollie, I've found the auger!" The old Christian always said that God rewarded those who looked up to Him.

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THE SHAKERS.

The Shakers, for over twenty years, were a very important factor in the economy of this township, and from the last surviving male member of that peculiar sect, Uncle Johnny Jenkins, we glean the following facts: In 1805, or thereabout, the Shaker community in New York sent out to the far West two Elders as missionaries, Archibald Meacham and Issachar Bates, followed the next year by two Elderesses, Ruth Dur- ham and Salomi Dennis. Elder Bates had been an old Revolutionary soldier. They came through Ohio, and after working and preaching there for some time, brought to this township fifteen or twenty families from that State and Kentucky, and settled on what is now known as Shaker Prairie, forming a small town called Shaker Town, one or two houses of which in a dilapitated condition are still standing. The site is about seven miles from Carlisle, the edge of the prairie about four miles. They built a saw and grist mill, and a fulling mill, also had & hat manufactory. In 1812, in consequence of threatened Indian troubles and their objection to serving as soldiers, they all went away, dispersing among the various societies in Ohio, Kentucky and elsewhere. After an absence of two years, they returned and took possession of their proper- ty. They continued to increase in numbers from this date (about 1815), for some years, adding to their ranks some of the best citizens of the county, till they numbered over 300 souls. But, in 1827, they finally left in a body, their numbers having decreased to less than 150. They took a boat and dispersed amongst the different communities in Ohio and Kentucky, having sold their property and divided the proceeds pro rata, according to number, amongst the communities to which they at- tached themselves. For some time previous to their exodus, much sick- ness prevailed among them, and numbers died of malarial diseases, the " rale shakin' ager " being as common almost as mosquitoes. A short time before their departure, an itinerant Methodist preacher, another of those sturdy old pioneer workers in the vineyard of the Lord, Job M. Baker, it is said, threw some terrific Bible bombshells into their camp and " broke 'em all up " by his presentation of their inhuman doo- trine, they being opposed to the ordinary methods of marriage and the begetting of children. Brother Baker propounded the awful ques- tion as a clincher in his argument as to " What would we all be if Adam and Eve had been Shakers!" That settled it. They shortly after left for pastures new, but whether it was in con- sequence of the knock-down argument of the old preacher, or of the malaria, is not certain; yet there is still another theory: They say the young men were all leaving, and that the women began to think there would not be men enough to go around-that is, to fill the posi- tion in the household as Elder Brother. Mr. Jenkins and his sister, Mra. Martha Martin, are still in the land of the living, having attained a ripe

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old age. Mr. Jenkins' sister had filled the position. of Elderess, but her brother left the community when he was eighteen years of age. Not- withstanding the peculiar tenets of the faith of the Shakers, they are always extremely prosperous, and a credit to the sections where they re- side, and their productions are famous all over the civilized world.

In the western portion of the township, there is a settlement of col- ored people, numbering over 100 persons. James Calloway and family were the first among them. They have a preacher of their own, and hold services in their schoolhouse.

OLD SETTLERS LIVING.

The following list comprises about all of the old settlers now living, in the township: Dr. Hamet N. Helms, John Jenkins, Thomas Holder Jr .; Marvel Nash, Elijah Williams, Hugh Wheeler, William Collins, Uncle Dickey Davidson, B. D. Johnson, Jacob Eslinger, William Mc- Donnell, George Vester, Uriah Wolf, John Sprott, Israel Benefiel, Smith Greenfield, Mrs. Sarah Cartwright, Mrs. Peggy Trigg, Mrs. Martha Martin, Mrs. Jane Hoover, Mrs. Mary Ingle, Mrs. Nancy Clark, Mrs. Virginia Pierce, Mra. John Sprott, Sr., Mrs. Smith Greenfield, and there may be one or two more who have been forgotten by our informants.

TOWNSHIP OFFICERS.

The following are the present officers of the township: Trustee of Schools, Dr. R. M. Whalen; Justices of the Peace, J. N. Land, J. R. Walker; Constable, J. W. Estabrook; Assessor, Bluford Menifee.

SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES.

The first school dates way back in the twenties, and the first school teacher is now forgotten. There are at present in the township 19 school- houses and 21 schools. Only 4 of these schoolhouses are frame, the rest are brick Considerable interest is felt in education and a good attend- ance is secured.

There are 6 churches in the township, 3 in Carlisle, 1 at Paxton, 1 east of Carlisle and 1 southeast of same.

INCORPORATION OF CARLISLE.

A petition to incorporate Carlisle was presented March 4, 1856, and the following are the signers: John Martin, John S. Davis, James D. Biggs, John Trigg, John D. Simerell, Joshua Davis, Joshua Alsop, Hoses Buckley, J. M. Parvin, Alexander Trigg, Lewis Gott, S. M. Curry, J. A. Ourtner, Isom Shannon, John F. Curry, Spencer C. Weller, W. D. Blackburn, John Ledgerwood, J. A. Beck, Thomas E. Ashley, W. H. Mayfield, W. R. Hinkle, Benson Rigga, Jr., Josiah Wolfe, John M. Hinkle, Chester O. Davis, H. N. Helms, William Alsop, J. S. Mcclellan, Peter Hawk, Smith Greenfield, John Buckley, Henry Hill, Peter E.

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Warner, Samuel J. Ledgerwood, Benson Riggs, Sr., J. D. Whitaker, Franklin Deckerman, W. A. Watson, Mayo Jones, James S. Brengle, W. M. Akin, A. W. Springer, F. M. Akin, Hugh S. Ross.

On the 25th day of March, 1856, an election was held in the town of Carlisle, to ascertain the sense of the qualified voters as to the incorpo- ration of said town, which election resulted in the casting of 60 votes, 57 being for, and 1 against, incorporation, and 2 scattering. The election having resulted in favor of incorporation, the town was declared incor- porated April 9, 1856, and the following officers selected: Town Trustees, Smith Greenfield, James M. Parvin, Aaron W. Springer, John S. Davis and John F. Curry; John S. Davis being declared Chairman of the board. John Martin, Clerk, and Smith W. Buckley, Marshal.

The town of Carlisle is situated in Location 12, Township 6 north, Range 9 West, and is within four miles of the southern limit of the county. There is not a turnpike in the county, but the E. & T. H. Rail- road passes within half a mile of the center of the town. It was con- structed in 1854, as the Evansville & Crawfordsville Railroad, from which time considerable improvement has been going on. New buildings have taken the place of many old ones, until now its churches and stores will compare favorably with many towns of larger growth. The popula- tion is about 503 in the town proper, but the suburbs about the railroad, which really belong to the town, will run the figures up to over 600. The financial condition of the town is excellent, there usually being a surplus in the treasury. But one act, at the time of the building of the railroad, stands out conspicuously in the history of Carlisle, and gives substantial evidence of the enterprise and generosity of her citizens. When the Evansville & Crawfordsville Railroad Company had obtained all the subscription it asked from the citizens of Carlisle and vicinity, an . underhand movement was made to divert the road three miles away from the town, and $30,000 was demanded by the company to locate the line so as to pass near Carlisle. Now $10,000 had already been subscribed, and this large amount came almost as a thunderbolt, for the unsuspecting citizens of this vicinity were under the impression that their $10,000 se- cured the road to them; but not so; there was a loophole for the com- pany to get out at, and they must have the $30,000 additional, or no road for Carlisle. Then it was that sixteen gentlemen stepped into the breach and guaranteed the $30,000. The names of these men should ever be held in respect by all who have at heart the prosperity of this ancient town, which, by the way, is among the oldest in the State. The names of the glorious sixteen are Joshua Alsop, Wm. D. Blackburn, James D. Riggs, James K. O'Haver, James H. Paxton, Garrett Bros., Smith Greenfield, Alonzo Cotton, Joseph W. Briggs, William Alsop, William Collings, William Price, Josiah Wolfe, Benson Riggs, Jacob Hoke, Murphy & Helms.

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LARLY MATTERS.

As has been stated, two Circuit Courts have been held at Carlisle, and such men appeared at her bar as Hon. Charles Duley, Col. Thomas Blake and Harlan S. Moore. Two young men who rose to distinction afterward also appeared here-Samuel Judah and John Law.

The first male child born in Carlisle was Chauncey Hall, and the first female Matilda Pitts. The first Justice of the Peace was Esquire Crea- ger; the first tavern was kept by John Hall, who erected the same, and the first frame building was erected by George Wasson.

In the early days there was a tannery here: also, a woolen factory, & couple of distilleries and a cotton gin. Stage lines ran across the county at that time, but the roads have always been so bad that travel has not been very extensive. There is very little artificial drainage in the town- ship, but as the land is so productive the farmer has left to nature all the processes of production, deeming artificial means unnecessary. Good roads would add much, not only to the comfort but the business of the town.

A small library, instituted under the MoClure bequest, existed here in . days lang syne, but it has vanished, and in its place a small one, under the charge of Mr. C. B. Robbins. is maintained.

DR. JOHN W. DAVIS.

In the spring of 1823, there arrived in the town of Carlisle a young physician from Lancaster .County, Penn., who, according to his own account, had but 3 cents in his pocket. Yet this same young man after- ward attained to such importance by virtue of his ability, tact and man- hood, that he came within one vote of being President of the United States, for at the convention that nominated Pierce he was only one vote behind the number to nominate, and his nomination then would have been equivalent to an election. This gentleman, Dr. John W. Davis, of whom all the citizens of Sullivan feel justly proud, was the first dele- gate to the Legislature selected from this town. He served several terms in Congress, was Speaker of the House of Representatives, Minis- ter to China and Governor of Oregon. After a life of faithful service to his township, county, State and country, he died at his home in Carlisle, and his obsequies were attended by two of his most eminent country men-Judge Huntington and Thomas A. Hendricks, then Secre- tary of the Interior. A fuller account of this eminent statesman and exemplary citizen will be found in the general history of the county.

REPRESENTATIVE MEN.

The second Representative to the Legislature from Carlisle was Capt. Joseph W. Briggs. Dr. James K. O'Haver also served in the Legisla- ture. The late Col. R. W. Akin and the late Joshua Alsop served in the Senate. John Benefiel was a member of the first constitutional con-

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vention that met at Corydon. Col. William R. Haddon was a member of the last constitutional convention. Carlisle has furnished five Sheriffs -Med Wilkes, Henry Mayfield, Thomas Land, J. F. Curry and J. L. Berry; one Judge and one County Treasurer-Judges Shannon and John S. Davis. Many of her citizens are occupying places of honor and trust throughout the country, and one of her sons is an honored officer in the United States Navy.

Col. Ransom W. Akin, father of the present Akins, came to Carlisle in 1838, and immediately took rank as one of the most prominent, pro- gressive and public-spirited citizens of the county, and was honored by a large constituency with a termo in the State Senate. The descendants of Col. Akin are to-day among the most prominent business men of not only Carlisle, but of the county, having few equals in business capacity, and no superiors in their lines of trade, which reach out in various directions.

A NOTED CHARACTER.

A noted and peculiar character who located in this section of the country in 1818 was George Boon, who came from Shelby County, Ky., and was a descendant of the famous Daniel Boone family. He represented Sullivan County fourteen years in the Legislature, and was as honest and straightforward as he was ungainly in appearance. He was over six feet in height, and so phenomenally awkward, that one felt almost nervous in his presence for fear he would fall over. He had terribly long legs and awfully big feet. Many a joke has been cracked at the expense of honest George Boon, but he had that hard common sense and correctness of per- ception that made his uncouthness a secondary matter when the interest of his constituents was at stake. They used to tell of how Boon went to wash his feet in one of those old-fashioned iron pots, but when he got one foot in he couldn't get it out, and they had to break the pot to re- lease him. Also, that at one of the hotels where he stopped, the room being too small for his length, he stuck his legs out of the window, and in the morning discovered that the turkeys had been roosting on them all night

ANOTHER ODD CHARACTER.

Jim Calloway was another odd character in his way. He was a col- ored man, who came from Kentucky in the early times, and fought gal- lantly in the battle of Tippecanoe. He used to love to relate how he helped to clean out the redskins, and how he and the Haddon boys used to hunt together. The poor old fellow endeavored for years to get a pen- sion from the Government, but never succeeded, although he was justly entitled to it, and died with his face toward the office, an example of the ungratefulness of republics. Shortly after the opening of hostilities at the commencement of the late war, some persons undertook to drive out of the county some of the negroes, and among others visited was Callo-

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way. They showed him the Constitution of the State, inhibiting his presence in the sovereign State of Indiana, but Jim threw himself back on his reserved rights, as it were, and told them that he antedated that modern document. His answer was duly filed, and he was never after- ward bothered by patriotic interlopers.

THE PRESS.

The first newspaper published at Carlisle made its appearance about 1841. It floated at its masthead the name Jackson Democrat, and was commanded by Jere Young. The next candidate for public favor was the Carlisle Messenger, with George W. Bee & Co., editors and proprie- tors. It was born in 1844, and gave up the ghost after the election of James K. Polk. The Herald, Republican, was published for a year or two previous to 1876, by a man named Herron, but at the date mentioned changed its politics to Democratic, the concern having been purchased by W. W. Bailey & Co. In this connection, Dr. Helms informed the writer of a case of prayer-cure, the subject being Steve Sumerick, who was the "Company " in the firm of G. W. Bee & Co. The Doctor says that after Sumerick had been given up by himself and another physician, some of the dying man's friends opened a prayer meeting for him, and that be immediately rallied, and soon after entirely recovered. The doctor bas a rational theory in regard to the matter, and thinks that it would take some tolerably tall praying to save some editors he has in his mind's eye.

FIRST SCHOOLHOUSE.

The first schoolhouse stood nearly opposite Mr. Greenfield's black. smith shop, and the first teacher who taught here was James Gray, about 1823; then Jim Rogers, in 1824; Job M. Baker, in 1825; James Garrett, in 1826; then Hugh Ross, followed by Consider Mitchell, Mr. Hays, John B. Haywood, M. E. Nash and others; and along in the fifties, Miss Ann Colbert, 1854; Miss Kate Harper, 1855; Mias Mattie Wolsey, about 1856-57.

On the 89th day of July, 1856, proposals were received by the Board of Trustees of the town for building a schoolhouse, one of which was accepted, and the erection of the building at once begun, it being finished in 1857. It stands in the center of the Public Square, and is a large, tasteful and commodious brick structure. It is an ornament to the town, and reflects much honor upon its projectors and builders. It contains four rooms, three of which are used for school purposes, and the other for entertainments. It is and always has been liberally patronized, both by the citizens of the town, as well as of the vicinity.

The school, now known as the Carlisle Graded School, is under the control of Prof. W. H. Cain, Principal and in charge of advanced grades; Miss Sarah M. Cain, intermediate grades; and Miss Anna Tur-

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man, primary grades. The enrollment is: Primary grades, fifty-five; intermediate grades, forty-seven; advanced grades, thirty-two.

FIRST CHURCH.

The first church built in the town was the Methodist Church, which was erected in 1818, and the old building still stands near the site of the new one. Rev. Orsenith Fisher was the first pastor in charge, the next, Rev. Wesley Harrison, then Rev. Job M. Baker, Rev. Samuel Hull, Rev. Armstrong and others following. From the records of the Quarterly Conference, which run back to 1852, we find that the first Presiding Elder was Rev. James Thompson; Rev. John Ritchie, pastor. At that confer- ence, the name of Dr. W. W. Hitt appears as a class leader, that gentle- man afterward becoming a noted physician of Vincennes. The name of Dr. Isaac Owen, afterward famous as a divine on the Pacific coast, ap- pears at that conference as a local preacher. In 1873, the congregation built the neat edifice they now occupy, at a cost of about $2,000. It is 60x36 feet. Rev. John M. Baxter is the pastor in charge. They have a membership of eighty persons, and a Sunday school of about seventy- five; Superintendent, C. P. Gwin.

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

The First Presbyterian Church was organized by the Rev. Orin Fowler, a missionary from Connecticut, on the 31st of January, 1819, and nine persons subscribed their names as members-William McCrary, Mary McCrary, James Watson, Rachel Porter, Mary Gould, Lydia Silli- man, Ann Broady, Mary Watson and Martha Watson. William McCrary was elected Ruling Elder. The congregation met in the Methodist Church and elsewhere for some years, and in 1832 we find the name of Rev. R. Hawley, who filled the charge as supply. Then came Rev. Alexander, and in 1835' Rev. Calvin Butler, who was succeedod.by Rev. Thomas Alexander, and after him Rev. C. K. Thompson, who was suo- ceeded in 1844 by Rev. M. G. Wallace, and in 1845 Rev. T. Alexander again took charge. The first church was erected in 1840-41, and dedi- cated the first Sabbath in June of 1841, the Rev. C. K. Thompson being the first pastor. Revs. Barr, Beard, Tygart, Venable, Bovell and Mo- Farland, all were pastors of it. In 1877, the present fine edifice was erected, and Rev. A. P. Kyle was first pastor; then came Revs. William and Thomas Smith, Allen, Rodgers, and finally the present pastor. The congregation now numbers about forty-five, and Rev. J. P. Fox preaches for them every other Sabbath.

CHRISTIAN CHURCH.

The first Christian preacher who preached here was Rev. Morris Trimble, and the first organization occurred on the 5th day of October, 1866, Elders Joseph W. Wolfe and A. D. Dailey presiding, with a mem-

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bership of forty- four. Rev. Joseph W. Wolfe then became pastor of the church. They have a fine frame church, which cost $5,000, built in 1868. Rev. P. C. Cauble preaches for the church occasionally, but they have no regular pastor. They have a membership of 135.

In 1821, Hiram Lodge, No. 18, Ancient, Free and Accepted MASODB, was chartered, but we are unable to get the names of the first officers. In 1835, the charter was arrested, but for what cause does not now appear, and its number, 18, given to Attica Lodge at Attica. In 1850, May 29, the charter was renewed, or a new one granted, and the lodge ro-organized as Carlisle Lodge, No. 3, the number being taken from Blazing Star Lodge, which had been arrested. The officers of the re organized lodge were: W. R. Haddon, W. M .; J. K. O'Haver, S. W .; Alexander Trigg, J. W. They have a fine brick hall in which they meet, and are in good condition financially and otherwise. Dr. John W. Davis was made a Mason in this lodge in 1823, shortly after he came here, and one of the sets of old minutes of the proceedings records the fact that he paid his dues as follows: "J. W. Davis, by one quart cherry bounce, in payment of dues." Lorenzo Dow, the famous itinerant, visited this lodge several times, he being an enthusiastic Mason, and having passed the chair. The lodge at present numbers fifty members.

I. O. O. F.

On January 30, 1850, a charter was granted to Carlisle Lodge, No. 50, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the charter members being J. H. Massey, T. Leuep, John Caldwell, Edward S. Hussey. James A. Curtner, A. M. Murphy, Thomas Marks, Henry W. Davis and John L. Ledger- wood. The grand officers signing the charter were: Job B. Eldridge, M. W. G. M .; James L. Silcox, R. W. G. M .; Oliver Dufour, P. D. G. M. ; J. H. Starley, P. G .; Taylor W. Webster, D. D. G. M .; Lazarus Noble, R. W. G. Secretary; P. B. McChesney, R. W. G. T .; Willis W. Wright, R. W. G. Messenger. The present officers are: S. D. Helms, N. . G .; Lewis Wallace, V. G .; William J. Curtner, R. Secretary; E.' D. Denison, P. Secretary; R. L. Jenkins, Treasurer. The lodge meets every Monday night, the number of members being fifty five. They have a neat hall. and possess property worth over $3,000.

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History of Greene and Sullivan Counties, State of Indiana, Part 72

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

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