History of Greene and Sullivan Counties, State of Indiana, Part 78

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 78
USA > Indiana > Sullivan County > History of Greene and Sullivan Counties, State of Indiana > Part 78

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).

DUGGER.

Dugger, the largest village of the township, contains a population of about 225, and has one general, one drug and grocery, and one confec- tionery and grocery store; one blacksmith shop; three physicians, Drs. C. M. Lowder, T. S. Bedwell and J. S. T. Taylor; another physician, Dr.

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John Murphy, lives about a mile from the town. Postmaster, Dr. C. M. Lowder. A lodge of Knights of Labor, a miners' association, have a lodge at this point and numbers somne forty-five members. A saloon also figures in the Dugger business roll. It is a railroad town.

BUELL.

Buell, also on the line of the Springfield, Effingham & Southeast Railroad, has a population of about 125 persons, and contains one gen- eral and one drug store and one saloon; two physicians, Drs. Brown & Son. The post office is named Cass, with Dr. N. H. Brown, Postmaster. The town was named in honor of Col. Pratt Buell, a railroad man, and not for Gen. Don Carlos Buell, of war fame, as one would naturally sup- pose.

Bateham is a post office. and contains about one house, with Mr. Jolin Lamey as Postmaster.

CHAPTER XVIII.

BY J. E. NORRIO.

FAIRBANKS TOWNSHIP-AN EARLY ELECTION-ORIGINAL SETTLERS-EX- CELLENT FARMING-A GREAT CHANGE-EARLY NECESSITIES-HUNTERS AND FISHERS-THE FIRST BORN-CHURCHES-SCHOOLS-VARIOUS MAT- TERS-TOWN OF FAIRBANKS-GRADED SCHOOLS SOCIETIES-NARROWS P. O.

A 'S an evidence that Fairbanks Township was one of the earliest settled in the county, even if it had not yet been organized as a township, we give place to the substance of an extract from the records in regard to elections. It appears that an election was held in Fair, banks Township May 8, 1820, at the residence of Elias Moore, for Justice of the Peace, to fill the unexpired term of Joseph Liston, who had re- moved from the county, and that the following persons participated in that election: Joseph Ransford, Sr., Joseph Ransford, Jr., Ludwick Ernest, J. W. Durvois, Alexander Clark, James Pogue, William Ran- kin, Archibald Parker, Elias Moore, Alexander Rankin, Toplar Coleman, Joseph Thomas and Jacob Mattox. Alexander Rankin having received the highest number of votes-that is, all of them -- he was accordingly declared elected. Alexander Clark and Archibald Parker were the Judges of Election.

ORIGINAL SETTLERS.

James Pogue was, possibly, the first settler, but it is a question whether he came before the Drakes. This family, which was, and is to-

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day, a very numerous and highly respectable and prosperous one, came in early, probably along about 1816-17. They came from Ohio, James Drake being the principal one or leader. Joseph Thomas, Enoch Thompson, Joseph Liston, Ludwick Ernest, Joseph Ransford, Sr., Joseph Ransford, Jr., Hezekiah Riggs, Barnett Rinerson, J. W. Durvois, Alex- ander Clark, William Rankin, Alexander Rankin, Elias Moore, Archi- bald Parker, Toplar Coleman, Jacob Mattox, all came to this section at a very early day in its history. Also came, at about the year 1820 to 1830, many others, some of whom are dead, and a few are still living. Benjamin Ernest came from South Carolina, and Jesse Davis, father of Hra. Jane Ernest, came from North Carolina, both of whom settled in the vicinity of the spot where now is. located the village of Fairbanks. Abram Debaun, John Harris, Joseph Dilley, Daniel Frakes, Elijah Pound, Jerry Thompson and Daniel Johnson are some of the names re- membered by the older citizens.

The descendants of many of those above named are still living in the township, and are among the most thrifty and influential farmers and stock-raisers of the county. There are a number of the Drakes-Manwar- ring, James, Gaston, Martin and Eli -Stephen Johnson, who is, possibly, the oldest man in the township; Samuel Ransford, who is eighty-four years old, and is claimed by many persons to be the oldest; Peter Frakes, James G. Pound, Stephen Powers, William Kirkham, John Paddock, Bethuel Johnson, William Davis, Abram Debaun, Wilson Thompson, James Brewer. G. W. Sullens, Mrs. Violet Whitlock, Mrs. Jane Ernest, Mrs. Aggie Frakes, Mrs. Sally Drake, Mrs. Hannah Harris, Mrs. Nancy Dilley, Mrs. Nancy Strain and many others.

The name Fairbanks was given to the township, in honor of Lieut. Fairbanks, who had charge of the wagon with supplies and the detach- ment of soldiers guarding it when they were attacked by the Indians and most of them slaughtered, a full account of which will be found in the general history of Sullivan County. It is bounded on the north by Prairie Creek Township, Vigo County; on the south by Turman Town- ship; on the east by Curry Township, and on the west by the Wabash River.

NATURAL WEALTH.

Fairbanks is one of the richest agricultural townships in the county. The land is gently rolling and highly fertile, all crops being easily pro. duced, whilst in the matter of stock-raising, it is especially adapted. The country is well timbered, all varieties of the useful woods being obtainable in the greatest quantity. Coal, also, as it does almost everywhere in Sul- livan County, underlies the surface at various depths in every direction, and, although no mining has been done, with the exception of a little for local use, immense treasures will some day be taken from under the

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rich farms as well as from the surface. The country is dotted all over with excellent farm buildings.

But what a change has come over the face of the country since Jaines Pogue and the Drakes, and Ludwick Ernest and the Ransfords and the Riggses came here, bringing with them their scant effects, sometimes not so much had the pioneer but that he could carry his outfit upon his shoulders, or at best, in a small wagon.

PRIMITIVE IMPLEMENTS.

Exceedingly rude, indeed, were the farming implements used by our forefathers, and they were as scarce as they were primitive in construc- tion. The owner of an old bar-shear plow, with its wooden mold-board, or the fortunate possessor of a harrow of the most unwieldy pattern, was considered particularly favored by fortune, and those implements often went the rounds, to neighbors living ten and twenty miles off. To see the plowman of those days going across a field with his " bar-shear " hanging to a couple of horses, whilst he himself had as much as he could do to hang on the clumsy handles, was a sight that would make the plow- boy of to-day go off into a fit of laughter.

EARLY NECESSITIES.

In addition to the usual small crops raised by the early settler, neces- sity compelled him to put out a patch of cotton, in many instances, as well as a patch of flax, for clothing, which the women would card and hackle and spin into yarn, and weave into cloth. No fine silks and satins and broadcloth adorned the girls and boys of that period; yet they were as happy beneath their homespun garbs, and carried as high a head and as generous a heart, as any highflier of to-day. And it must not be thought that the dresses of the girls were all of the same somber hue, for the good mother and the daughter who was to wear the new frock, would search the woods for barks and roots, and use their " indigo " and ocher with skillful hands. They could make dyes that would produce as lovely, reds and greens and blues, in various shades, as the most fastidi- ous lady of to-day could demand, and in the matter of fineness, particular pride was taken in the number of cuts of the finished flax yarn that would pass through an open thimble, being simply amazing.

HUNTERS AND FISHERS.

Elijah Pound was noted in his day as a very expert fisherman as well as hunter, and many stories are told of his adventure in forest and by stream. He took great delight in taking his rifle and his fishing tackle and starting off for a week's hunt into the woods and by the streams, which then abounded with fish. James Pogue, also a noted hunter,

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killed a very large bear upon the spot where now stands the village of Fairbanks. It was a very large and fat animal, and, was the last of his kind that was killed in the township, as far as can be ascertained .. Some of the old citizens tell some powerful hunting stories of the old timee, as game was very abundant, turkeys being had almost for the asking. An occasional bear was killed, and sometimes a panther could be shot or trapped in a pit or pen, whilst coons, minks and other small four- footed beasts were in undesirable abundance. Thomas Riggs and a noted sportsman, a crack shot with the rifle, named Harris, hunted through all this section, and were always known to be very successful in their hunts. Considerable " pitting "-that is making a " pit " trap for large game, was done sometimes for sport-as in the case of a wolf-as much as for food. A tough old story about one of those pits is told, and it seems to be the standing hunting joke of the township. As the story goes, a trapper dug a deep pit, covered it with branches as usual, baited it and . went home. The next morning when he went to examine the pit he was surprised at the nature of the contents and made quick tracks from the spot not stopping till he was safely housed in his own log cabin, with doors barred and windows nailed down. " What did you find in the pit?" asked one of those to whom he was telling the yarn. "Find! why a coon, a wolf, an Indian and the devil." " What were they all doing ?" continued the questioner. "Doin' ? why, every feller was a sittin' in his corner lookin' quite commojus."

THE FIRST BORN.

The first white child born within the confines of Fairbanks was Joel Harris, who is still living, a resident of Turman Township, and a highly respected, prosperous and influential citizen This important event took place near the spot where the Fairbanks wagon defeat occurred, and gave intense joy, not only to the mother of the first born of Fairbanks Town- ship, but the entire settlement. The little squaller was visited by all the neighbors, and it can readily be imagined that all the delicacies procura- ble in that backwoods settlement were freely lavished upon Mrs. Harris and the little stranger.

CHURCHES.

The Methodist circuit-rider was usually the first to arrive in the settlements, and his familiar form on his strong horse was greeted by young and old. Denominationalism was scarcely thought of; all that was required, until later years, was that a man should be a Christian. Of course all the early preachers were sent out by some particular church, and in addition to the Methodist, there were Baptist ministers. They came at a very early day, also, and first among the number we find Revs. Evans and Stansil. These Baptist preachers held services at various

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points for some years, but not until 1824 was a regular church organized. It was an Old School Baptist society, and was near where the town of Fairbanks now stands. A little later, Rev. Mr. Rinerson, also a Baptist preacher, came into the township, and preached for some years.

The township is not as well supplied with churches as one would ex- pect from the population and resources of the country, there being but two; one about one and one-half miles south of Fairbanks, belonging to the Missionary Baptiste, with Rev. Fuson as pastor, and the other in Fairbanks, New Light Baptist, Rev. Mr. Shepard, pastor.

SCHOOL8.

The first schoolhouse was built in 1823, and was located not far from the present site of Fairbanks, but the name of the first pedagogue who ruled within its classic precincte is now forgotten, but it can easily be im- agined what an important personage he was, and what a part that old schoolhouse played in those early days. Pupils came from long distances, some of them from as many as six and seven miles, but children in 1823, in Fairbanks, were not quite so tender-footed as they are at present.

There are at present in the townsbip ten frame schoolhouses, outside of the town of Fairbanks, and the attendance is good, as there is much interest manifested in the cause of education.

VARIOUS MATTERS.

Hezekiah Riggs was the first Postmaster in the township. He kept the stage station at Turman Creek, and there was then a post office there, but none now. There was formerly a large tannery in the township, but it was discontinued long since; also a saw and grist mill, which is now numbered among the things that were. The first stock of goods brought to these parts was opened by a Frenchman named Josef Jacobs, in 1843, and, as a matter of course, supplied a " long-felt want." There is a saw mill now in operation southwest of Fairbanks, owned by Layer & Frakes. The population of the township is about 1,500.

TOWNSHIP OFFICERS.

Trustee-Owen Kisner; Assessor-W. B. Harris; Justice of the Peace -John G. Parker.

TOWN OF FAIRBANKS.

This thriving little town is located at about the center of the town- ship, and is surrounded by a very beautiful and fertile country. It was laid out in 1840 on a tract of twenty acres, by Benjamin Ernest, James Pogue and Samuel Myers. It contains a population of about 135, and the following are its social and business interests: General store, Charles O, Ernest; grocery store, W. H. Thixton; drug store, Henry Sharples;

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millinery, L. E. Sharples, Abigail Harman; blacksmith and wagon re. pairing, T. H. Holmes; physicians, Dr. Henry Sharples, Dr. John H. Plew; notary public, W. H. Thixton; Postinistress, Laura E. Sharples.

There is one church, a very neat frame building, belonging to the New Light denomination, but they have no regular pastor, Rev. Mr. Shepard preaching for them occasionally. Fairbanks Graded School-Principal, Prof. Ed Liston. Fairbanks Lodge, A. F. & A. M. building, in which they have a hall, the lower floor being occupied as a store-room; it was built in 1882. Fairbanks Literary Society has a membership of about thirty, and meets every Thursday night in the schoolhouse; James G. Pound, President; W. H. Thixton, Vice President; Laura E. Sharples, Secretary; W. B. Harris, Treasurer.

NARROWS POST OFFICE.

At a steamboat landing on the Wabash, there is a post office kept by Milton Badger, who also has a warehouse for the storage and shipment of grain and provisions. Mr. Badger is building a grist mill.

CHAPTER XIX.

BY J. E. NORRIS.

JACKSON TOWNSHIP-BOUNDARIES AND ORGANIZATION-FIRST SETTLERS- SOME LIVING OLD SETTLERS-GAME-EARLY SPORTSMEN-SOME NATIVE HUNTERS-AN ODD CHARACTER-FIRST MILL-EARLY AND PRESENT SCHOOLS-EARLY AND PRESENT CHURCHES - A LONELY GRAVE - A FEARFUL EPIDEMIC-TIMBER AND COAL-RAILROAD TALK-PITTSBURG OR HYMERA P. O .- CORNERS P O.

T HE township of Jackson, as will readily be surmised, was named in honor of the immortal " Old Hickory," the old hero of New Or- leans, whose " By the Eternal " has passed into an almost classic phrase, and whose stern and unflinching will in public matters is now looked upon as something wonderful in a public man, and whose mantle in that respect has not fallen upon nor fitted the shoulders of many of our rul. ers since he left the Presidential chair.

BOUNDARIES AND ORGANIZATION.

The township is bounded on the north by Pierson Township, Vigo County, on the south by Hamilton and Cass Townships, on the east by Lewis Township, Clay County, and Wright Township, Greene County, and on the west by Curry Township.

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The organization of the township occurred about 1825, as near as can now be ascertained, as the records of that event, like most of the other townships of Sullivan, were destroyed in the fire of 1850. For many years previous to the organization, the section of country which was afterward created into Jackson Township was pretty well settled for that early day, as the land was excellent and offered homes to the newcomers at very little outlay, the country being well timbered and well watered, and the climate genial.

THE FIRST SETTLERS.

It is more than likely that David Plew was the first settler who bought land in Jackson, and settled down to farming in earnest; or at all events, he was one of the very first, for at about the time of his coming, William Pitt arrived and bought land. Samuel Brown was also one of the very earliest to settle here, and so was Adam Wilson. Samuel Brown represented the county in the Legislature, and was a man who had the respect of all who knew him. Old Uncle Billy Mattooks, a noted singer at religious meetings, was also one of the earliest, as well as old man Barcus, Richard Clampitt and John Mahan, of Kentucky, and Michael Ring, of Virginia. About the same time or a little later, came Phillip Heck, and then there were Thomas, Jobn, William, Jerry and George Mahan, also old Charley Nicholson, George Barnett, John Godwin, and many more, some of whom left shortly after coming, and some died, who are now forgotten by all but relatives, and even they, in many instances, have lost all trace of some of their friends.

OLD SETTLERS LIVING.

The descendants of most of the early settlers still occupy the lands their fathers and grandfathers tilled, and are, of course, not only among the most prominent citizens, but can be classed as old settlers themselves, they certainly having the right to be thus classed, having been born and reared where they reside. Among the number may be mentioned James S. and John K. Brown, sons of Samuel Brown; Joel Manwarring, Na- than Hinkle, Esquire Claiborne Wood, who served as Magistrate for many years; Harman Halberstadt, Benjamin Thomas and Asa Mahan, John McCammon, Joshua, John and William Becketts, Samuel and William N. Pattons, Dr. J. A. Baldridge, William Edwards, Michael Zink, Benjamin and G. T. Barcus, J. W. Ridgeway and many others.

EARLY SPORTSMEN.

As in all the early settlements, there were in Jackson many noted bunters, and among that number none were more prominent than John Mahan, Michael Ring and William McCammon. The former had in- herited his love of the woods and its game from his native State-Ken- tucky, as he came of a race of hunters and Indian fighters. Game was

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so plentiful and tame, according to his statement, that he didn't consider a woman a very smart one if she couldn't, when the occasion required it, knock a couple of them over back of the house with a broomstick, and clean and roast them for the 11 o'clock dinner Ring's great specialty in hunting was the large game. William McCammon and several others took much delight in turkey and deer bunting, and they sometimes made long excursions, bringing back with them loads of game.

A NOTED CHARACTER.

Uncle Billy Mattoz, as stated above, one of the early settlers in the township, was an extremely peculiar character. He was known all over the county almost, and was noted as a singer at religious meetings. He attended all gatherings where any singing was to be done, and his voice was always heard in the lead.

THE FIRST MILL.

A horse mill was built by Richard Clampitt about the year 1829. It was located southeast of Pittsburg, and all the grinding for several years of a large section of country in all directions from it was done there. It was, of course, of very limited capacity.

EARLY AND PRESENT SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES.

The old schoolhouse at Pittsburg was probably the first building erected in the township for educational purposes, but those who taught in it originally are now forgotten. One of the old teachers was an ex- tremely severe man, and the whacks he used to give the palms of the hands of his pupils are remembered by some of them to this day. He had a heavy ruler, made of oak, and he would take the scholar by the ends of the fingers, press the fingers downward and the palm upward, thereby tightening the skin, when he would bring his cruel instrument down with full force upon the hand, and cause a bowl of anguish to escape from the lips of the sufferer, that ought to have softened the heart of a savage.

There are at present eleven schoolhouses in the township, all of them neat frame buildings, and with an attendance of about 525 pupils. Much interest is evinced in the cause of education, and good teachers, with im- proved curriculum, are now the needs of the hour.

Bethel Methodist Episcopal Church, an unpretentious log building, was the first building of the kind erected in the township. It was erected upon the site of what has since become Pittsburg, but has long since passed away, and in its stead a more costly and commodious structure occupies its place. The original building was erected sometime in the beginning of the thirties. Previous to the erection of Bethel Church, services were held at the house of William Pitt, and at other points of

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convenience in the township. There are now four church organizations in the township:

Bethel Methodist Episcopal Church, Pittsburg, Rev. William McK. Johnson, pastor; membership, one hundred.

Shiloh Methodist Episcopal Church, in east part of township, Rev. William McK. Johnson, pastor; membership, fifty.

Nye's Chapel, United Brethren in Christ, about center of township, Rev. D. Bussard, pastor; membership, sixty-five.

Union Chapel, United Brethren in Christ, east part of township, Rev. D. Bussard, pastor.

Some time after the grounds were set apart for the burial of the dead at Bethel Church. Thespot was untenanted, but one day William Browning died and was buried there, his remains lying solitary and alone in this humble "God's Acre" for a long time. His lonely grave was a solemn landmark.

A FEARFUL EPIDEMIC.

About 1851, a fearful visitation of Providence fell upon a large portion of the township, in the shape of a disease that baffled the skill of the physicians, and carried off a large number of persons, in many instan- ces entire families. Some physicians pronounced it one thing and others something radically different. It would make its appearance in splotches of purple on the face, which, rapidly spreading, soon caused death .. One of the most remarkable features accompanying the disease; was that in case of death, mortification set in with wonderful rapidity, necessitating burial in a very short time, as the odor emanating from the corpse was almost overpowering.

TIMBER, COAL MINES, ETC.

Jackson is well timbered and well watered, and the land is not only" excellent, but is underlaid with coal of fine quality at almost any spot where one would seek it. In the matter of timber, in has no superior in Sullivan County. There are two. saw mills in the township, owned re- spectively by Messrs. Hughs and Crawford, who cut considerable lumber for shipment as well as for local use. The mines at Pittsburg are yielding. finely, but it is only a matter of removing a few yards of earth in many instances, to obtain as much coal as is desired.

There is renewed " talk" in regard to the construction of the Eel River & Vincennes Railroad, and it is now said (March, 1884) that "dirt will fly " ere another moon shall wax and wane.

There is a lodge of Good Templars in District No. 5, two miles north of Pittsburg, which is in quite a flourishing condition.

TOWNSHIP OFFICERS.

Trustee, Thomas Scott; Assessor, Ed Braden; Justice of the Peace, William Frakes; Constables, G. W. Mahan, William Vanarsdel.

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PITTSBURG, OR HYMERA POST OFFICE.

The town of Pittsburg was laid off on the land of William Pitt, and was named for that gentleman, as well as having reference to its being a coal center, like its great prototype of Pennsylvania. It is a very thriv- ing little village of about seventy five souls, containing one general store, kept by James Manwarring; one blacksmith and wagon re- pairing shop, two physicians, Drs. Plew and Tralls. Hymera is the name of the post office, and T. J. Scott is Postmaster. There is also a lodge of I. O. O. F., Hymera Lodge, in good working order and flourish- ing.

POST OFFICES.

Corners is the name of a post office near the center of the township, and Alexander Buchanan is Postmaster. There is another post office in the northern part of the township called Ascension.

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PART IV.

SULLIVAN COUNTY

BIOGRAPHICAL.

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PART IV.

SULLIVAN COUNTY

BIOGRAPHICAL.

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PART IV. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

HAMILTON TOWNSHIP.

WILLIAM E. AYDELOTTE is the son of William L. and Frances Aydelotte, natives of Delaware and Kentucky respectively. The parents moved to Carlisle in 1863, where the father engaged in the business of wagon-making. Our subject was born in Florence, Boone Co., Ky., June 14, 1850, and when old enough, and after his arrival in Carlisle, engaged with his brother in the drug trade in that town, and continued thus un- til 1880, when he purchased an interest in the Sullivan Woolen Mills, a full account of which will be found elsewhere in this volume. He owns a one-third interest in the mills, which are doing a large business. He married Mies Lillie, daughter of Stephen and Sarah (Kennedy) Brunger, March 16, 1875, and by ber has one child, Frank. Mr. Ayde- Jotte and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church. He is a mem ber of the Masonic fraternity, and is one of the most successful business men of the county seat.

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History of Greene and Sullivan Counties, State of Indiana, Part 78

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

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