History of Greene and Sullivan Counties, State of Indiana, Part 74

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 74
USA > Indiana > Sullivan County > History of Greene and Sullivan Counties, State of Indiana > Part 74

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).

SHELBURN.

In 1855, the town of Shelburn was platted by Paschal Shelburn, who came to Sullivan, as stated before, at an early day. He came from Ken- tucky in 1818, and purchased a large tract of land upon which he settled,

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and there he lived and died a bachelor, being eighty years old at his death. The place has a population of about 325, and is growing rapidly. There is much thrift and enterprise discernible, and when the coal beds are further developed, Shelburn will take an important step forward.

The following are the officers of the town, and its business interests:

Town Councilmen-First Ward, William Jefferson; Second Ward, Dr. J. S. Buskirk; Third Ward, Hugh Lowery; Fourth Ward. John Ban. holzer; Fifth Ward, G. C. Richards.

School Trustees, John Anderson, Chairman; Erastus French, Hosea Hawkins.

Clerk and Treasurer, O. T. Martin.

Postmaster, D. T. Pierson.

One merchant-mill and one grist-mill.

General stores, Hugh L. Sherwood, S. E. Cuppy, Robert Linn, M. French & Co.

Groceries and hardware, J. P. Siner.

Drugs and groceries, I. W. Patton.

Drugs, H. B. Stark, J. S. Buskirk.

Eating house and confectionery, J. T. Wheat.

Wagon-maker and blacksmith, William Turman.

Boot and shoe maker, Gotfried Yohn.

Undertaker and furniture dealer, O. T. Martin.

Physicians and surgeons, S. D. Osburn, V. E. Delashmut, J. S. Bus- kirk, J. A. Harper.

There are two mines opened and operated by the Shelburn Coal Com- pany.

Graded school-Principal, William M. Denney; Assistant Principal, Miss Cora Flood.

A., F. & A. M., Shelburn Lodge, No. 369, Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons, was organized in 1867, and now has a membership of fifty-three; meets fortnightly. W. M., W. H. Coffin; S. W., Alexander Martin, J. W., John T. Anderson; Secretary, O. T. Martin; Treasurer, C. S. Ander- son.

I. O. O. F., Prairie Lodge, No. 420, Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, was organized in 1873, and has a membership of fifty-five; meets weekly. N. G., Levi McCoskey; V. G., Simeon Rogers; P. S., S. D. Osburn; Treasurer, C. B. Bolinger.

The Amalgamated Union, a miners' organization, have a lodge here.

FARMERSBURG.

This town was laid out in 1853, by William Hopewell and S. J. Cum- mina, the latter gentleman building about the first house in the new set- tlement. The plat was located on forty acres of land, and has grown considerably from the first small nucleus, and bids fair, some day, to st-

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tain some importance, as many indications of enterprise are noticeable in and around the place. The citizens are kindly disposed to aid develop- ment of their natural resources, and cordially welcome any measure tending that way. The population is about 300 at present.

The following is a summary of the business interests of Farmersburg and its officers:

Councilmen-Robert Vancleave, W. H. Bennett, Albert Deal.

Clerk-J. K. McClain.

Marshal-Church Taylor.

School Trustees-R. J. Cummins, Jackson Hinkle, T. H. Kendal.

General stores-R. J. Cummins, Riley Whitney, J. D. Baldridon & Son, T. Crary.

Drug stores-J. Heap, W. R. Bennett.

Grist mill-George Bounds.

Two blacksmith shops.

Postmaster and Notary Public-Jackson Hinkle.

Physicians and surgeons-John Parker, Z. Foote, Robert Vancleave, W. S. Duncan, J. H. Bennett.

Graded School-Principal, B. R. MoClellan; Assistant, Miss Maggie Gaskins. Attendance-first grade, fifty-two; second grade, forty-seven.

THE ADVENTISTS.

In connection with the history of Farmersburg, a remarkable event occurred in religious circles. Instances are extremely rare where a new sect, one so diametrically opposed to all the accepted orthodox beliefs and principles, succeeds in changing the staid old religionist whose creed and worship have been handed down to him by his father and mother. After a man has worshiped regularly on Sunday, and when he has had ingrained into him a reverence for the accepted Sabbath, it is difficult to get him out of it, and make him work on Sunday and go to church on Saturday. But this very thing has been brought about by the Adventists in quite a large number of families in and about Farmersburg. In the summer of 1883, there arrived at Farmersburg Elders Thompson and Overholzer. whe set up a tent, and, inviting all who chose to do so to come and hear them expound the Gospel according to the belief and teachings of the Seventh-Day Adventists. They were not lacking in con- fidence, these apostles of the new faith, yet they modestly requested some members in good standing in the other churches to join their ranks, and give them a send-off, as it were; also, that if any one chose to invite them to dine or sup with them they might do so. Well, several mem- bers of other churches actually did join the worshipers in the tent, and the labors of the Elders were rewarded before they got through the sum- mer with an accession to their ranks of about sixty persons. They be- lieve in keeping the seventh day (Saturday) as the Sabbath; that the Mil-

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lenium is near at hand; that Christ will appear to the saints on earth, coming in a white cloud, and at the same time a beautiful city will de- scend upon the earth, wherein the righteous will dwell for a thousand years, the devil being chained during that period, and the wicked lying dormant. Then, at the expiration of the thousand years, the last resur. rection will take place, when the devil will be killed, and the wicked fall dead and rot on the earth, the good and pure and just at the same time being caught up into the Third Heavens, to dwell forevermore with the blessed.

CURRYSYILLE.

This village was laid out in 1885 by Adam Carrithers, the coal mine, owned by Richards & Wooley. being the the chief interest. The mine runs a force of about fifty men, and is being developed by its owners to its full capacity. It contains one general store, Stephen Bracewell, pro- prietor. a saw-mill, a blacksmith shop, and a saloon.

BUROHARD.

This post office is located about three miles southwest of farmersburg, and contains one store, with Lon Hill as storekeeper and Poetmaster.

CHAPTER XIV.

BY MI0 8. B. X'KINKEY.

GILL TOWNSHIP-TOPOGRAPHY-ERA OF SETTLEMENT-ADVENTURE WITH WILD ANIMALS-DOMESTIC AFFAIRS-A BIG HAIL-STORM-INDIAN DEPREDATIONS-MAIL ROUTES-MILLING-DISTILLERIES-NEW LEBA- NON-MEROM-MERCHANTS-MANUFACTURING-EARLY EVENTS-EDU- OATIONAL INTERESTS-ACADEMIES AND COLLEGES-THE CHURCHES- CEMETERIES-CRIMINAL OFFENSES-NEWSPAPERS, ETC.

G' 1-ILL TOWNSHIP lies in the western part of Sullivan County. It is T bounded on the north by Turman Township, on the east by Ham. ilton and Haddon Townships, on the south by Haddon and on the west by the Wabash River. It is drained by Turtle Creek and its small branches. It has several stretches of prairie, the largest and most important being Gill Prairie, a rich, fertile soil, on which are located fine farms. For many years after the first settlement of this section of country, progress was very slow; but during the past ten years improvement has been as rapid as possible. There now are within the township 2, 200 inhabitants.

THE ERA OF SETTLEMENT.

The earliest settler, William Gill, gave name to the township. How- over, William Burnett, from Kentucky, came at about the same time $1

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William Gill arrived from Tennessee. Among the oldest settlers may be mentioned the names of Canary, Webb, Gill, Burnett, Sherman, French, Reed, White, Hughes, etc. The county was, with the exception of the small prairies, densely wooded. The woods abounded with game of all kinda, and furnished fuel for the settlers. At the same time the forest trees were good hiding places for the hostile Indians, of whom there were many, and for the much-dreaded panther.

ADVENTURE WITH WILD ANIMALS.

Encounters with bears were frequent, and often the neighbors would engage in several days' hunt to rid the woods of bears and wolves. Deer and small game were plenty, and the search for bee trees was continuous. The most successful day's hunt resulted in killing one bear, five deer, twenty-five squirrels, and finding of three bee trees, and only two hunters and their five dogs engaged in the hunt. Then there were hosts of coons, opossums, skunks and ground-hogs, etc., which were hunted that the species might be exterminated, and the hides of some of them were salable. forming some inducement to the hunters.

THE BIG HAIL-STORM.

Some of emigrants to Gill Township reached Gill's Prairie in 1814, and met with the most frightful storm of which early days can furnish any account. The women and children were put under the wagons to protect them from the hail. Hailstones were so large and fell with such force that the wagon covers were torn to shreds. Large trees were twisted from the ground, and small live stock was carried away,

INDIAN DEPREDATIONS.

Twice did the early settlers have to fly to the fort for protection against the Indians. Some Indian tribes were hostile, as the Kickapoos and Pottawatomies; while the Miamis were friendly to the white people. It is said the Dudley Mack massacre occurred in Gill Township. At the time of the massacre, two boys, aged fourteen years, were taken cap- tive by the Indians, and were never returned, but were sold and traded about until they became used to Indian ways, and preferred their kind of life to a return home. It is stated on pretty good authority that one of the boys, Campbell, became the leader of a tribe of Indians; and that he was killed in 1862, in a fight between the Indians and Gen. Pope. The old Indian trail followed along the edge of the bluff, and evidences of it still remain.

MAIL ROUTES.

Stages coaches were on the road as early as 1825, and in 1830 were constant in their trips The line extended from Terre Haute, to Vin- cennes. Merom was a stopping point. Turtle Creek was bridged near the French farm in about 1830. Since that time, a bridge was put up across

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it on the road leading from Merom to New Lebanon, and another on the road leading from Merom to Sullivan. At first the mail was taken by stage, and the news was received about once or twice a week. . When the Evansville & Terre Haute Railway was built, the mail for the western portions of Sullivan County was brought to Sullivan, and was distributed by short mail routes, run by what was termed hacks. At present, the nar- row gange is trusted with the mail, and there is also a mail line from Merom to Terre Haute, run by William Griffith

THE BARLY MILLE, DISTILLERIES, ETC.

The first saw mill was owned by Bennett Bros., in 1818. It was lo- cated on. Turtle Creek, near the French settlement. In 1819, they attached . grist-mill to the saw-mill; the cost was about $1,500. In 1843, Ben- nett Bros. arranged their machinery to run by steam, at a cost of $1,500 more. For several years this mill did a good business. Several small stills were in operation, but the most extensive one was owned by James O'Boyle. It was located northwest of Merom, and was capable of pro- ducing fifteen to twenty barrels of whisky per day. The value of this distillery was estimated at from $6,000 to $10,000. Whisky of a pure quality was manufactured, and was retailed at 18 cents per gallon. There were two small tanneries-one east of Merom, the other south of Merom.

THE VILLAGE OF NEW LEBANON.

Gill Township has two villages-Merom and New Lebanon. New Lebanon lies in the eastern portion of the township, and was settled in 1827, by Josiah Boone and Thomas Springer. The ground on which the town stands belonged to James Mason, Jesse Haddon, Robert Burnett and Thomas Springer. Each of the four gave ten acres for the town location. The growth of the town has been very limited, there being only about two hundred and fifty inhabitants. Thomas Springer brought the first stock of goods to the place. His store was a general store, con- taining dry goods, groceries and hardware. Springer was followed by Burnett & Knotts, Giles & Redmond, Louis Sherman, and then Springer again. All of these did considerable business. The present stock of dry goods is owned by Mat Eaton. Calvin Wilkey has the grocery stock, valued at $300. The drug business is carried on by Mr. McClanahan and is worth $1,000. In 1835, a carding machine was located at Lebanon, and at present there is a tile factory owned by J. McCoy. These are the only manufactures ever were invested in in the town. In 1836, the first post office was established, and for quite a number of years was kept by William Dodd. He was succeeded by Capt. Springer, and he in turn was followed by Tom Mason, the present Postmaster. In 1850, the Washingtonians formed a lodge in Lebanon, but did not flourish a great while. The order of Good Templars has also had organ-

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izations at different times during the history of the town. The medical profession has been represented variously. First in 1837, by Dr. Free- land, who was followed by Chambers, Nebinger, Harper, Thompson, Murphy and others. Lisman is resident physician. Charles Byrkit sold liquor by the quart, also John Faulkner was in the liquor business. James French owned the only licensed saloon that was ever permitted in the place. New Lebanon is strictly a Methodist community and has al- ways been such. It is also an industrious, temperate community. The old academy of the decade of the fifties was at one time the most im- portant educational institution in the county.

THE TOWN OF MEROM.

Merom is situated in the western part of the township. It has a bean- tiful site, being located on a bluff 200 feet above the Wabash, and com- manding a view of Illinois for many miles. It is said it was named Merom from hearing the Indians saying' " me rum," " me rum!" The town was laid out in 1817, and the land belonged to Hughes and White. There was an addition made to the town in 1859, known as the Springer Addition. The town was incorporated in 1867. The southwest portion of the town is beautifully built up, but the northeast portion contains many of the oldest houses and others, held for rent to the transient pop- ulation. The town has grown very little for many years. The popula- tion is about 470 persons. For a great many years Merom was the lead- ing point in the county. The farmers brought their produce here for sale, and supplies from abroad were all landed here by boats. In 1819, Merom became the county sect of Sullivan County, and remained such until 1842, when it was removed to Sullivan. The court house in Me- rom was burned at one time, destroying all the records of the county. The house was again rebuilt. The first stock of goods was brought on by Reed & White, and was worth several hundred dollars. Of the va- rious finns that have owned stocks of goods may be mentioned Reed & White, Paul & Reed, Hubbs, Reed & Son, O'Boyle, Giles & Cooper, Burks, Colvin, Stanley, Griswold, Beagle, Heath, Kearns, Widner, etc. From 1830 to 1859, the firms of Reed and O'Boyle carried on a very ex- tensive trade. Their stock of goods embraced anything that could be wished, and was worth many thousand dollars. These firms did quite a wholesale business with country stores. At one time there would be as many as 500 barrels of sugar unloaded from a boat, which is a sample of the extent of the stock kept on hand.

On the opening of the Erie & Terre Haute Railway, trade fell away from Merom in favor of other points, and now the trade is a very ordi- nary one. Dry goods and groceries are now kept by two houses-Rem - ington's, stock worth about $4,000, and Shideler's, stock worth $5,000. The grocery stock is owned by Foote & Stanley and is worth $1,500.

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The millinery business is controlled by Mrs. C. Smith and is estimated at $400. The drug business was begun by W. C. Wilbite in 1867, who brought a small stock of drugs worth a few hundred dollars. He was followed by Green, Ruddell Brothers, Willis & Ward The present drug store is owned by D. Blue & Co .; their stock is worth $2,500. The first tavern was kept by Josiah Mann, who was followed by his wid- ow, and she was succeeded by Adams & Carpenter Cushman. In 1840, a man by the name of McDonald built the old portion of the present hotel. He was succeeded by Hiram Dangherty and sold out to the pres- ent owner, Hiram Beagle, who has remodeled and refitted the original building.

THE MEBOM MILLS.

In 1845, Cushman & Huff built a saw mill where the flouring mill now stands. In 1846, they added a grist mill to the former, and run the mill in this manner for some years. The mill a few years later came into possession of Seth Cushman, a son of the original owner, and did away with the saw mill portion, and turned his attention to the im- provement of. his grist mill. He rebuilt the mill and enlarged it and improved it, and made of it a regular merchant mill. Thousands of bashels of corn and wbeat were bought every year and ground and sold to the city marketa. Within a very few years the mill has again changed hands, and is now owned by Tom Cushman and William Crowder. They have still further improved the mill by putting in several thousand dollars' worth of new machinery. They manufacture yearly many thou- sand barrels of flour, which is shipped by boat. A saw mill at the foot of the bluff has passed through numerous hands. First Pifer, succeeded by Humphrey, Hays, Blue and Larr; the present owner named Atkins. There have been several brick-yards at different times, and a small tile factory owned by McKee & Beagle. . O'Boyle owned quite a pork pack- ing establishment, also a man by the name of Penn Oney engaged in that business. The last to engage in that business was Thomas Kearns, in 1870.

SECRET SOCIETIES, ETC.

The first Postmaster was Samuel Coleman, followed by Andrew Wil- kins, Porter Burks, William McKee, Thomas Stanley and Henry Shide- Jer. The Sons of Temperance held lodge from 1852 to 1853. The Good Templars have held lodge at different times, but at present have dis- banded. The Masonic order held lodge under dispensation with the fol- lowing officers: N. G. Buff, W. M .; Leonard Shoemaker, S. W .; J. N. Halstead, J. W .; James Reed, Treasurer; Thomas Kearns, Secretary; A. T. Struble, S. D .; E. Ashley, J. D .; Hiram Daugherty, Tiler. The lodge obtained a charter in 1863 and had the following officers: N. G. Buff, W. M .; L. Shoemaker, S. W .; B. Judy, J. W .; J. Buff, Treasurer; Thomas Kearns, Secretary; D. F. Spade, S. D .; William Yowell, J. D .: Hiram Daugherty, Tiler.

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MEROM IN EARLY YEARS.

The early settlers found Merom and its surrounding country very sickly. Many of those who came from a long distance sickened and died in a short time. Great need was felt for a physician. The first to come was Dr. Elliot in 1825. Then Robinson, Cook, Pemington and Curtis. Of later physicians, there were Wakefield and Duffield, Humphrey and Harper and son, the resident physicians. Being the county seat, there were numerous lawyers about Merom. Some of those remembered are John McConnel, N. G. Ferguson, Joe Briggs and Grafton F. Cookerly. The Justice Courts have been presided over by Anthony Bennett, John Creager, Andrew Wilkin, John Cooper, Seth Cushman, William McKee, L. G. Kearns, A. C. Norman, E. Smith and H. Woods. Liquor was sold in early times by any one who chose to do so. There were saloons kept, but the names of owners have passed into oblivion. Within the last six years a man made an attempt to build a saloon. He got the frame work up and that was all. He was notified that public sentiment would not permit any such a proceeding, and in addition he found his frame- work leveled to the ground.

FIRES, EXPLOSIONS, ETC.

Merom, for so small a place, has had numerous fires. In 1863, a small dwelling-house, owned by a family named Spilka, took fire and burned down, and two persons were burned to death within. In 1864, the store of Widner was burned, with most of the goods. In 1872, the entire town was shaken by a terrible explosion in the night. It was found that the store of George Griswold had been blown up, and was burning with all its contents. It was supposed to be the work of robbers. In 1875, the store of G. W. Titus was burned with its entire stock of dry goods and groceries. In 1877, the dwelling house of John Hacket was burned to the ground. In 1881, an attempt was made to blow the store of William Cooper up, but was discovered in time. In 1882, the dwell- ing houses of Henry Wood, Lucinda Griffith and John Dodd were burned. In 1875, a woman had a lamp explode in her hand, and the contents were spread all over her and she was burned to death. In 1882, a young lady was accidentally burned to death. Several cases of drown- ing have occurred in the river during the last twenty years. One was that of a merchant named Griswold, who, one night in the fall of 1873, went out in a skiff upon the river to fish. He was accompanied by a small boy. Griswold went to gig a fish and pitched out into the deepest portion of the river and was drowned. The river was dragged, and the search for his body was continued for months, but it was never found.

EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS.

The first school in the township was taught by Mr. Jarvis, in 1818 and 1819. In 1824, Ben Sherman taught east of Merom two miles, and

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the only books he could find to begin school with were the English Reader and Spelling-book. Other teachers were Miles, Lindsey, Seth Cushman and others. The books in use were Pike's Arithmetic, Kirk. ham's Grammar, English Reader, Elementary Speller and writing. The methods used were the most normal ones. Discipline was enforced by a free use of the switch. Spelling schools were features of every school, and were given in the evening. Many lively contests in spelling occurred. Teachers were paid by subscription at the rate of $1 per month for each scholar. Schoolhouses were roughly constructed and were built by do- nation. When the school decided the teacher must treat he was notified of the fact. If he refused he was barred out, and if he still remained stubborn he was taken to the nearest pond and ducked. The treat was usually apples, and sometimes whisky for the large scholars. Some time in 1850, the township was divided into twelve districts. Houses were soon after built at the public expense, and a free-school system was estab. lisbed. The houses have 'been remodeled and refurnished until at present the schoolhouses are models of comfort and convenience. The schoolbooks have been revised and illustrated, and branches of study have been added to the common school course, until there is nothing left wanting in the way of books. The teachers are both ladies and gentle- men, who have been drilled in the best methods of instruction. The average wages of teachers per day in Gill Township is $2.08. Town- ship revenue per year is $2, 737.23, and value of school property, $5,400. The present teachers are as follows: A. V. Stratton, D. C. Hunt, Robert Calvert, Miss L. M. Morris, W. H. Posten, R. V. Railsback, A. F. Davis and Mise Giles, at Lebanon; M. W. Mckinney, P. D. Over and T. L. Vaughn.

THE NEW LEBALCON ACADEMY.

In 1852, the Methodist brethren of New Lebanon decided to open an academy. The building was erected later at a cost of $2,000, and school was opened by Prof. Allen and Miss Talbot. These teachers were suc- ceeded by Prof. Deardoff and Miss McInstry. For several years, this academy flourished and enjoyed the patronage from all the country around. Owing to the founding of several other schools, New Lebanon Academy went down, and the building was sold to the township for pub- lic school purposes.

THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF MEROM.

Merom constitutes an independent district. The present public school building was built in 1864. The school has been taught by sev- oral different teachers. Of them may be mentioned Kearns, Ward, Ham- mond, Godley, Miss Baker, Gordon, and is at present under the able management of the Misses Wood. The average wages of teachers in Merom Public School is $45 per month.

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THE UNION CHRISTIAN COLLEGE.

In 1854, Rev. E. W. Humphreys organized an academy in Merom. The old court house was purchased and fitted up for schoolrooms. Humphreys and wife did the teaching. There was a large attendance of pupils from the surrounding country, and from the neighboring towns. For several years the school remained in a flourishing condition. In 1858, E. W. Humphreys visited Europe. While sitting in his room in London, his mind was full of the school he had left at home, and he began to wonder why he could not make a college out of his school. As soon as he arrived home, he communicated his plans to some of his friends, who volunteered to help. A meeting of Christian ministers was called to select a site for the college, and to decide upon a name. Logansport, Sullivan , and several other places asked for the college, but the little town of Merom won the day. The name of Union Christian College was suggested by Elder Abram Sneathen, and was, adopted by the con- vention. The college is under the exclusive control of the Christian denomination. The college building and grounds are valued at about $40,000, and there is an endowment of some $60,000. The first President of the institution was Rev. N. Summerbell, who, with an able force of Professors, conducted a school of about 125 students. Summer- bell was succeeded by Rev. Thomas Holmes, and an entirely new set of teachers. The third President was T. C. Smith, a former graduate of the institution. He was at the head of the school for seven years, when he resigned, and Elisha Mudge was elected to fill the vacancy, and is the present head of the school. The salary of the President is $1,000 per year, and that of the teachers from $400 to $800 per year, ladies at pres- ent receiving $400, and gentlemen $700 or $800 for the same length of time, and for like services. The average yearly attendance at the col- lege has been about ninety pupils. The college is supplied with suitable apparatus, and has quite a geological collection.

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History of Greene and Sullivan Counties, State of Indiana, Part 74

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

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