History of Hamilton County Indiana, her people, industries and institutions, Part 17

Author: John F. Haines
Publication date: 1915
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1051

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In the year 1831 Harmon Cox brought his family from North Carolina and settled in the southeast part of what is now Washington township, but at that time still a part of Delaware township. Mr. Cox is generally conceded to be the first white settler to begin the work of clearing the forests and making a home for himself and family within the present limits of Washing- ton township. The following year, 1832, another child was welcomed into the Cox family, this being the first white child born in the township. Harmon Cox spent the remainder of his life in this place. Soon other neighbors joined and they assisted each other in log rolling and cabin building. Cox, with many others, lived to see some of the fruits of their labors in modern homes, cleared lands, passable roads and good schools and churches.

In 1832 Simon Moon and family settled on section 25. The following spring he entered the northwest quarter of this section, and, with the assist- ance of his sons, Riley, Simon and William, cleared and improved his farm. He lived in this neighborhood the remainder of his life and always stood for

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the best interests of the community. He served as inspector for the first election held in the township.

. Asa Bales, Aaron Sanders, Jesse Reese, Zachariah Reece and William Reynolds settled in the township in 1832. Isaac and David Baldwin settled in 1833 and some of their descendants still reside in and near Westfield.

Edward Bray and others formed a settlement three miles north of West- field. John Moore lived on the land afterward bought by Aaron Lindley, now owned by Thomas J. Lindley. Nathan Beals lived on the land im- mediately south of Moore's land.

PIONEER SCHOOLS.

The first school in the township was a log building on Nathan Beals' land, the first teacher being William League, who came from Ohio and who was said to be "a good teacher." The next school was taught in the Friends meeting house in Westfield and under their jurisdiction, the teacher being Laban Hammer. Afterwards the people in the Beals neighborhood sent their children to Hinkle Creek school, while the greater part of the settlement attended church at Hinkle Creek, the majority of these early settlers being Friends in belief.

EARLY INDUSTRIES.

In 1833 a small settlement was formed near the present site of Eagles- town by Henry Woodruff and others. Ephraim Stout came to the neighbor- hood in 1835, and the following year he erected a small mill on Eagle creek. This mill was the first in the township and was of the "corn cracker" variety. The stones that did the grinding worked in an upright position and merely crushed the corn as it passed between them. These stones were known as "nigger heads." While this early mill was very primitive in construction and limited in capacity, it saved the settlers many weary miles of travel over almost impassable roads. William Moon an early settler and patron of this mill, said that he often went down early in the evening with a sack of corn on his shoulder and waited all night to have it ground so he could start home early in the morning with his meal. Corn bread in those days was indeed the "staff of life." But with the addition of milk and butter and game shot in the forests, no one needed to go hungry who was willing to eat what the settlers could provide. Before Ephraim Stout built his "corn cracker" those wishing to go to mill had to make the toilsome journey to Conner's mill or Foster's mill on White river or to a mill near Indianapolis. At certain seasons

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of the year a journey to any one of these mills was almost an impossibility over the roads as they were at that time. At best a trip to the mill was quite an undertaking, often requiring four or five days.

Brick was manufactured in the township by William Stanbrough as early as 1840. He built a kiln on his farm and manufactured brick, which his neighbors used in the construction of chimneys for their homes. Many of these brick chimneys stood the test of time for many years, monuments to the first brick manufacturer in Washington township.

PIONEER CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS.

The schools of the neighborhood were at first held in private houses until a school house was built. The settlers traded at Westfield and Eagle village, a small town situated southwest of the settlement in Boone county.

In the year 1833 or 1834 William Harvey, John Price, Frederick Bren- del, Benjamin Dye, Lewis Miller and others made a settlement on both sides of Little Eagle creek in the southwest part of the township. It is said the first comers to this neighborhood cut their own roads through the forest to their new homes. By following the traces left by hunters and trappers where the trees were blazed they finally arrived at their destination. In this case, as was true of other early settlements where streams were to be crossed and could not be forded by wagons, bridges were constructed by the travelers, parties thus crossing in safety.

For many years the nearest church to this settlement was at Eagle village, in Boone county, five miles distant. The early pioneers were of a deeply religious type, however, and a five-mile ride through unbroken forests did not daunt their zeal; so Sunday after Sunday they loaded their family into wagons or on horseback and in spite of the ever-present dangers of being overturned or "stalled in the mud," in the wagons, or being swept from the backs of their horses by overhanging limbs, the hardy settlers made the journey many times to worship God and meet and greet their widely scattered neighbors. As the settlements grew in number the settlers held their meet- ings in private houses and when barns became general in the neighborhood meetings were often held in these latter humble shelters.

These people did some of their milling when grain was to be ground either at Conner's mill or at Foster's mill. Sometimes, when only corn was to be ground, they patronized Stout's mill at Eagletown. Most of their trading was done at Eagle village. The first school was held in a cabin east of William Harvey's and was taught by Lucinda Hunt.

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Several religious denominations were organized in the township besides the Friends, including the Wesleyan and Episcopal Methodists, United Breth- ren and Congregationalist. The latter church flourished in Westfield at one time, but the membership diminished from one cause or another, being thus scattered until during the Civil War the church was abandoned and never has been reorganized. This was the only church of this denomination ever established in Hamilton county.

FIRST DEATH IN TOWNSHIP.

The first cemetery was situated just south of the present site of West- field. In 1833 Simon Moon set apart this tract of land and donated it to the Society of Friends for a place of interment. A child of a neighbor had died prior to this donation and was probably buried on the home farm, but the exact place is not known. This was the first death in the township. Mr. Moon, the donor of this cemetery, was the first to receive interment in the new cemetery, his death occurring in 1835. In 1833 the first marriage took place, the contracting parties being William Hiatt and Mary Moon. The marriage was performed according to the ceremony of the Society of Friends, in which the contracting parties "marry themselves," each taking the vow separately. No minister pronounces the couple "husband and wife," the twain becoming "one flesh" by mutual agreement in the presence of a number of witnesses.

INFLUENCE OF THE QUAKERS.

Washington township was settled largely by Quakers, particularly the eastern part, including Eagletown. As these people stand for uprightness of character and the thoughtful education of their children and are hard- · working, thrifty and persevering, the township soon became notable for its churches, schools and the scholarly attainment of its citizens. The homes and the farms are among the best in the county. For many years Union high school, under the jurisdiction of the Friends, was the only seat of higher education in the county. At present this institution of learning is not in the flourishing state it once was, for it has been superseded by a fine public high school, where pupils of all classes, rich or poor, may attend in complete equality. But Union high school served its day and generation most accept- ably, and many men and women are proud to claim Union High as their alma mater. In the township at present there are four district schools and three-room schools at Hortonville and Jolietville and two-room schools at

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Eagletown and Lamong. A township high school is maintained at West- field, this being the first consolidated school in central Indiana. This school had the first high school course of agriculture in the state and now gives two years of work in this branch. The rest of the state is now following Westfield's lead, and agriculture is taught in all the public schools. The first Carnegie library in the county was built at Westfield.

PIONEER ROADS.

The first road in the township was surveyed about 1836, from Westfield to Indianapolis. For a year or more it was only a "blazed" trail, but after a time the farmers turned out and cut the road through, though it was many years before the road might properly be termed a "good road." This road was later known as the Indianapolis and Westfield pike. The Noblesville and Lafayette road also is an early highway and is claimed by some to be the first in the township. Another early road was that from Noblesville, passing the present site of Westfield, thence west to the county line. Other roads were made to connect the various settlements and were known as neighborhood roads. Now the township is crossed in all directions by excellent gravel pikes. No more does the farmer stay at home pining for a sight of town or distant friends, but, in his automobile, tours wherever his desire directs over as good roads as can be found in Indiana. The proposed Lincoln highway is to pass through Westfield on the range line. This highway undoubtedly will prove of great advantage to the town as well as to the township and county at large.

Westfield is the only town of any size in the township. It is connected with the outside world north and south by the Monon railroad and east and west by the Midland railroad. Eagletown and Jolietville are two small vil- lages directly west of Westfield. Hortonville lies north of Westfield, to which it is connected by the Monon railroad.

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CHAPTER XII.

WAYNE TOWNSHIP.

TOPOGRAPHY.

The history of Wayne township ought to be impressed upon every citizen within its borders. In 1833 the county commissioners, Isaac Hurlock, W. S. Goe and Stephen Carey, authorized the following boundary of Wayne town- ship: "Beginning on the east line of Hamilton county, on the line dividing sections 17 and 18, in township 19 north, range 6 east, south to line dividing sections 17 and 20, in township 18 north, range 6 east; thence west on the section line dividing sections 15 and 16, township 18 north, range 5 east; thence north with the section line to the line dividing sections 15 and 16, township 19 north, range 5 east ; thence west to the place of beginning." The township thus bounded contained thirty-five sections or square miles. Bound- ed on the north by White River township, on the east by Madison county, on the south by Fall Creek township and on the west by Noblesville township. The surface is gently rolling and affords excellent drainage. The soil is rich and productive and many fine farms lie within its borders. Dense forests covered this township and much work has been done to bring its fertile acres to their present high state of cultivation. The beginning of this work was done by the sturdy pioneers. The township is drained by Prairie creek. Sand creek, Mud creek and Stony creek, the latter being the largest. The valleys serve as drainage basins for the thousands of rods of tiling which have pene- trated all the ponds and sloughs and redeemed them for the use of man.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

The first settlement in the township was made in 1823 on the farms now owned by Charles Zeis and Mrs. Davis. The settlers were John, Israel and Solomon Finch, brothers, who came to Horseshoe prairie, south of Nobles- ville, in 1819, and erected cabins and cleared land at that point. The land upon which they settled was entered by others, however, (probably John Conner) before the Finches had an opportunity to do so. The labors of their first years

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thus was lost to them and they had to strike out into new and untrodden paths and begin all over again. Israel Finch settled on the farm now known as the McClellan farm and John Finch on the farm now known as the A. J. Sohl farm. Solomon Finch settled on the farm now owned by Charles Zeis. In December, 1823, came Joseph Waddell, James Hair, John Hair, Sr., John Hair, Jr., and William Waddell. John Hair, Jr., and William Waddell were unmarried and the rest had families. Next came David Osborn, who settled on the farm now known as the George Stephens farm.

In 1824 Milo Bush settled on section 10. Afterward came Clements Passwater, William Davidson, Elijah Briffey and Peter Passwater, who made settlements near the Finch neighborhood. In the same year the first orchard was set out in the township by David Osborn, on the farm on which he settled on section 2. Many others came and founded homes. In 1825 came William Passwater. He planted an orchard, some of the trees of which still remain as an interesting landmark of early industry. In 1826 came James McKinzie, Parnell Coverdale, Eli Coverdale and Edward Layton. In 1832 came William Brattain and Solomon Brattain. In 1824 came Henry Burch- man, John Zimmerman, William Aldred, Samuel Fisher and John Castor. All of these and many others had stout hearts and willing hands to battle against the hardships which beset the lives of the pioneers.

EARLY HIGHWAYS AND SCHOOLS.

The township's first highway was the old Winchester road surveyed and cut from Winchester, Indiana, to Indianapolis, in 1824. Mile posts were established every mile. This road coursed across the township a little south of the center in a southwestern direction. This early highway still exists and is one of the main roads of the township. The next road led from Nobles- ville to Pendleton. Peter Lennen lived near the east county line on Pendle- ton road, and this road was so bad at certain seasons of the year that he kept an ox team ready to pull wagons over the bad roads, for which service he charged a small sum.

When our forefathers came one of the first essentials was the school. The first school opened in the township was on the farm of Charles Zeis. This was a summer subscription school, conducted by Mary Finch. The second school was that conducted by Rebecca Finch, in a log cabin which stood in a field just north of the site of the present Bethel church. This cabin school was short lived, the humble building which housed it burning to the ground during the second term of school. The first winter term was

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conducted in the house built by David Osborn on his farm. The first teacher of this school was Henry Scarce. The Osborn home contained two rooms, with a kitchen "lean to" at the rear, a room above serving as a winter school room. The second winter term was conducted by Theodore Gilleland, and the third term by Thomas O. Scragg. These schools were supported by sub- scription and this system remained in use until 1854, when the present system of free schools was adopted. Then came the move for the location of the old frame school houses. From 1857 to 1859 the five trustees, Dr. P. P. Whitesell, Abraham Nicholson, Thomas Richardson, Jacob Crull and Jesse Fisher, com- pleted eleven of the old frame buildings in the several districts of the town- ship. At the present time the frame houses have been replaced by good sub- stantial brick buildings.

PIONEER CHURCHES.

Another factor in the civilization of the township has been the church. Long before any of the earlier churches were built the pioneers held religious services in their cabin homes. Many a pentecostal shower came down and blessed the hearts of men in these log cabins, giving the settlers new strength for the stern battles of life. A church was established in 1840 near the home of Charles Zeis. The land on which this building was erected was donated by Phillip Carr. The class was organized by 1835 or 1836 and occupied the old log church until 1846, when that primitive edifice was torn down and the present building erected.

The next in order is the Union Chapel, which was organized in 1836 or 1837. The first class leader was John Castor, who officiated in this capacity for thirty-seven years. In 1845 this class erected a log church near the present location of Number 4 school house. They occupied this house until 1868, when a more modern structure was built, at a cost of more than two thousand dollars. Doctor Bowman, of Greencastle, preached the dedicatory sermon. This church was used until 1898, when it was destroyed by fire. In the same year a modern brick parsonage was built, at a cost exceeding two thousand dollars. In 1860 the Christian church of Clarksville was organized. This society met in the school house until the year 1867, when they built their present house of worship. At the present time this church is in a flourishing condition and has the largest Sunday school in the township. In 1886 the present church, known as Refuge, was built and dedicated by Rev. Darst, of Noblesville. This church has an earnest congregation and has done much good in saving souls. The present First Baptist church was built in 1884. This church was founded in an earlier day, the old log church in which the

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first meetings of the Baptists were held having been built in the early forties on the farm now owned by Thomas McDonald, near the site of the present church. . It also was used for school purposes when first built. At present it has a good organization. The Dunkard church was built about 1860 on the A. J. Sohl farm., The society was organized in 1851 or 1852 and in the earlier stage of its organization met at private houses and later at the school houses. This church flourished for many years, but in 1912 the organization was dis- continued.

EARLY MILLS AND INDUSTRIES.

The saw mill and grist mill are important institutions. The first saw mill was owned and operated by William Davidson. This was located on Stony creek, four miles east of Noblesville. He also opened the first stone quarry in the county. The next saw mill was built by William Hefley on Stony creek, just north of where now stands Number 6 school house. The third one was built by William Aldred on Stony creek, one mile north of Durbin. This mill served as a grist and lumber mill.

The towns located in the township are Clarksville and Durbin. Clarks- ville is situated in the southern half of the township and was founded in 1849 by Abraham Nicholson. It contains a church, a modern graded school house of brick construction and a Masonic lodge.

The business interests of the town consist of one blacksmith shop, owned by Ross Layton, and a general store, operated by Samuel Crull. This town maintains a telephone system and is thus in direct communication with the surrounding country. The town of Durbin was laid out in 1888 by S. B. Castor, W. W. Sylvester operating the first dry goods store. His brother, Hezekiah Sylvester, bought the first lots and built the first store house, the land he purchased having been a part of the tract owned by Charles Coverdale. Since that time S. B. Castor and John W. Fisher have laid out such additions to the town as the increase of population and business demanded. Much business is transacted in Durbin, which is an extensive shipping point.

Changes have come, and for the best. The Indians have gone toward the setting sun. The wild beasts have fled. The swamps have been redeemed. The old log school houses have served their mission. Improved machinery has taken the place of the rude implements of pioneer days. The old pioneer days are gone. The old pioneers also are gone. God has blessed their labors. They sleep in peace beneath the sod and the memory of their lives and of their deeds is a priceless and imperishable legacy to the present generation.

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CHAPTER XIII.

WHITE RIVER TOWNSHIP.

TOPOGRAPHY.

White River township is the oldest township in Hamilton county. The first session of the board of county commissioners met at William Conner's May 12, 1823, and one of the first acts of this body was the subdivision of the county into two townships-White River and Delaware. As White River was named first in the division it is the oldest by a few minutes. The follow- ing is the order of the board: "The following territory be established and known as White River township, to-wit: Beginning at the most easterly boundary of Hamilton county on the line dividing sections 17 and 20, in township 19 north, range 5 east, then on said line of said county, thence north, running with the said county line to the northwest corner, thence east to the northeast corner, thence with said line to the place of beginning." The present boundaries of the township were not established until the county was subdivided, ten years later, in November, 1833, into the nine townships which now comprise Hamilton county. White River township is the north- east corner township, containing fifty-six square miles, it being one of the three largest townships in the county. White River, the principal stream, flows across the southern part, while the remainder of the township is well drained by various creeks, the principal ones being Duck, Bear and Long Branch creeks, each flowing in a southwesterly direction and uniting with White river.

The surface is generally level, but is more undulating in the vicinity of the streams. In the township are several flat places which, in the early days, were not accounted of much worth and were avoided by homeseekers so long as other lands were attainable. When, however, in later years these places were properly drained, they became among the richest lands in the township. The soil is largely clay and loam, with a mixture of sand in the region of the streams.

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EARLY SETTLEMENT.

The first white settler in the township was John Shintaffer, about the year 1818 or 1819. He built his cabin near the present site of Strawtown. A little later Mr. Bennett joined the settlement, building his cabin about two miles below Strawtown, near the river. Both of these men were Indian traders, there being an aboriginal village immediately west of where Straw- town now stands. They bought furs from the natives in exchange for trinkets, knives, whisky and other things desired by the Indians.

Zenas Beckwith settled near Strawtown in 1819 and cleared and im- proved part of his land. This being prior to the sale of these lands by the government, he hoped to buy, the land he had thus improved, but in 1821, when the lands were put up for sale, some capitalist outbid him and he lost all his work and improvements, being given only the privilege of one year's residence in order that he might harvest the crop already planted. In 1822 he entered land in section 2, receiving no compensation for all his improve- ments on his former home. With Zenas Beckwith came Jesse McKay, William Dyer, John Collip, Henry Foland, Jesse H. Wood and Lamberry and Jerry Heath, who settled in the immediate neighborhood of Beckwith's second home. In the same spring Jacob Hyer opened a trading post for com- merce with the Indians. In 1819 Benjamin Fisher came from Ohio, selected his land and planted a crop, then returned for his family, with whom he returned to Hamilton county in June, 1820, and took up his residence in the neighborhood. Henry Shatterly. a brother-in-law of Fisher's, came from the same county in Ohio, and settled on an adjoining tract of land, where he lived for about ten years, after which he moved from the county. In the fall of 1821 Michael French, William Peck and Elias Hoddy came to the neighbor- hood. In the same year Benoni Freel and Samuel Mull settled near the village of Strawtown. The entire settlement at that time extended some distance on both sides of White river.

HISTORIC INCIDENTS.

This settlement is notable for several incidents of an interesting historical character, the first of which occurred in March, 1821, this being the fight be- tween John Shintaffer and the Indians, a battle in which one Indian lost his life and a second was severely wounded. The second incident was a sequel of the first, being the killing of Benjamin Fisher by the Indians at Shintaffer's cabin where the white men and Indians fought the only battle of the kind on

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History of Hamilton County Indiana, her people, industries and institutions, Part 17

Author: John F. Haines Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Number of Pages: 1051

Author: John F. Haines
Publication date: 1915
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1051