USA > Indiana > Hancock County > History of Hancock County, Indiana, from its earliest settlement by the "pale face," in 1818, down to 1882 > Part 3
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The principal exports of the county are wheat, corn, hogs, cattle, horses, oats, potatoes, flaxseed, apples, hay, and sheep.
Hancock county's first exports were ginseng, venison- hams, firs, flax and tow linen.
The statistical returns of 1880 show that our county produced, on 27,752 acres, 580,207 bushels wheat; on
28
HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
37,072 acres, 1,187,328 bushels corn; on 1,665 acres, 45,129 bushels oats. The same year we produced 16,752 bushels Irish potatoes, 51,160 bushels flaxseed, 42,028 bushels apples, and had in our county 5.228 head of horses, 285 head of mules, 9,609 head of cattle, 9,340 head of sheep, and 23,400 head of hogs old enough to fatten. The county was once heavily timbered with a large per cent. of the best kinds of saw timber, such as walnut, poplar, oak, ash, and cherry. Walnut timber of the finest quality was once not only used for fencing and fire-wood, but was deadened and burned in log-heaps, to get it out of the way.
There are large beds of sand and gravel in various parts of the county. At least seven out of the nine town- ships have sufficient gravel, of good quality, to make all her roads, public and private, in good order.
The county is well watered with numerous streams, springs and wells of excellent limestone water.
Blue River, the largest stream in the county, a fine, clear, lasting mill stream, runs across the south-eastern corner of Blue-river township, entering Shelby county just below Bacon's mill. Its bottoms are broad and exceedingly fertile.
Sugar Creek, the next in size, is a clear, rapid, medium- size mill stream. It rises in the western part of Henry county, near Elizabeth City, enters Hancock county within a few rods of the north-east corner, and runs in a south- west direction to within half a mile of Warrington ; thence northwest, dipping into the edge of Madison a few rods ; thence in a general south-westerly direction through Brown, Green, and across the corner of Vernon; thence through Center, Buck-creek, and Sugar-creek townships, entering Shelby county a mile and a half south of New Palestine.
Brandywine Creek, a rather small-sized mill stream, rises in Brown township, about a mile west of Warrington, and runs in a south-westerly direction through Brown and Jackson townships, and to the central northern middle
29
BIRD'S-EYE VIEW.
portion of Center township, four miles north of Greenfield : thence nearly south through Center and Brandywine town- ships. entering Shelby county six miles south of the county seat.
Buck Creek, a small, sluggish stream, rises in Vernon township, about a mile and a half south-west of Fortville. runs south-west through Buck-creek township, across the north-west corner of Sugar-creek township, entering Marion county one mile south of the south-west corner of Buck-creek township.
Nameless Creek is a small stream. Rising in the central portion of Jackson township, it runs south-west in Jack- son, and empties into Blue River on the B. P. Butler farm.
Six Mile Creek rises in Henry county, flows south through Jackson, past Charlottesville, across the corner of Rush county, entering Blue-river township at its central eastern border; thence south-west, emptying into Blue river on the Wm. Cook farm.
Little Brandywine Creek rises near the boundary line between Center and Jackson townships, runs south-west, and empties into Brandywine two miles south by south- east of Greenfield.
Little Sugar Creek, a small, sluggish stream. rises in the north-west part of Center township, and running south by south-west, empties into Sugar Creek.
Flat Fork of Lick Creek rises in the south-east part of Vernon township, runs north by north-west, enters Ham- ilton county one mile west of Fortville, and empties into Lick Creek. These small streams have all been ditched and cleared out near their heads.
Swamp Creek is a sui generis small stream, taking its rise in Madison county. It runs nearly south, crossing Lick Creek in Madison county and Sugar-creek in Han- cock county ; crossing the National road at the Robert HI. Ross farm, and finally losing itself in Brandywine Creek. This stream presents the general appearance of the bed of a lost river. being from forty to eighty rods wide, filled with decaved and decaying vegetable matter, more or less
30
HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
soft and yielding, and with a tiny, turbid stream running through the center thereof.
Little Swan Creek rises in the south-western part of Center township, runs south by south-west, crosses Bran- dywine township, and enters Shelby county at the south- ern extremity of the boundary line between Sugar-creek and Brandywine townships.
There are numerous other small streams, unworthy of notice, in various parts of the county.
SUGAR-CREEK TOWN- SHIP.
BRANDYWINE TOWN- SHIP.
BLUE-RIVER TOWNSHIP
MAP OF HANCOCK COUNTY IN IS2S.
Hancock county is reasonably well supplied with good gravel road turnpikes, there being one hundred and eighty miles of the same, 104 of which are now incorporated and pay taxes, and seventy-six of which were once taxed, but have since rescinded their charters and gone back to the
31
BIRD'S-EYE VIEW.
public. These pikes are several in number, and were built at an average cost of $1,200 per mile, making a total cost of $216,000. Her public roads are generally graded, and in many places graveled by her citizens in working out their road taxes, and personal privileges.
Hancock county originally consisted of three town- ships, to-wit: Blue-river, Brandywine, and Sugar-creek.
These townships were organized in 1828, at the time of the separation from Madison county, and each extend- ing to the county line.
Blue-river township was reduced in size and located in the south-east part of the county in 1831, with thirty sec- tions. Jackson township was the name assigned to the remainder of Blue-river, and was located in the north- eastern part of the county, by the commissioners, in 1831.
Brandywine township was reduced to thirty sections in the same year, and located in the central southern por- tion of the county.
Center township was, in 1831, located north of Bran- dywine township, extending three miles north and south and six miles east and west, and containing eighteen sections.
Harrison township was also organized in the same year, and composed of the remainder of Brandywine north of Center to the north line of the county.
Buck-creek was cut off from Sugar-creek in 1831, and made to extend from congressional line sixteen to the north county line.
Green was taken from the north part of Jackson and Harrison in 1832, and composed of that part of the county north of congressional line seventeen, and consisted of sixty sections ; being the same territory now embodied in Brown and Green.
In the year 1833, Brown township was dissevered from Green, and made to consist of thirty sections, its pres- ent size.
In 1835, Center township was increased one tier of sections, taken from the northern part of Brandywine.
32 ·
HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
Vernon township was cut off from the north part of Buck- creek north of congressional line seventeen, and made to consist of thirty-one sections.
Jones township was formed in 1838, by taking two tier of sections from the north part of Sugar-creek, and a like number from the south part of Buck-creek, and composed of twenty-four sections.
VERNON.
GREEN.
BROWN.
UNION.
WORTH.
BUCK-CREEK.
HARRISON.
JACKSON.
JONES.
CENTER.
BLUE-RIVER.
SUGAR -CREEK.
BRANDYWINE.
HANCOCK COUNTY FROM IS50 TO 1853.
Union township was made up from the eastern part of Buck-creek, the western part of Harrison, and the south- east corner of Vernon, in 1838, and composed of twenty sections.
33
BIRD'S-EYE VIEW.
Worth township was composed of the north part of Jackson and the north-east corner of Center, and organ- ized in the year 1850.
At the March term, 1853, the commissioners divided Jones township between Sugar-creek and Buck-creek ; Union township between Buck-creek, Vernon and Center ; Worth township between Center and Jackson, and attached Harrison to Center; thereby obliterating Jones, Union, Worth, and Harrison, and leaving nine civil townships, as we now have them.
Blue-river township is located in the south-east corner of the county ; Brown in the north-east ; Brandywine in the south middle ; Buck-creek in the west middle ; Center in the middle ; Green in the central northern portion ; Jack- son in the eastern middle portion ; Sugar-creek in the south-west corner : and Vernon in the north-west corner of the county.
Thus it may be seen that the county is composed of nine civil townships, arranged in three tiers of three town- ships each. The eastern division, composed of Brown, Jackson and Blue-river, constitutes the first commissioner's district : Green, Center and Brandywine the second : Vernon. Buck-creek and Sugar-creek the third ; the pres- ent commissioners of which are, respectively, Augustus Dennis, Ephraim Bentley and John Dye.
Hancock county was first settled about the year 1818. Previous to the United States survey of 1819. Andrew Evans and John Montgomery, with their families, and Montgomery McCall, came into this county, and settled on Blue River. At the same time, Platt and James Mont- 'gomery, brothers of John, and Isaac Roberts, with their families, and David Stephenson, settled in Center town- ship. In 1820, Elijah Tyner, Harmon Warrum, Joshua Wilson, and John Foster, with their families, also settled on Blue River. In 1822, Solomon Tyner, John Osborn. and George Penwell, with their families, came and settled with the others on the same historic stream. The above. and a few others, were all in the county at, and before, its
34
HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
organization. After this time the immigrants were more numerous, the more prominent of whom we will notice in the proper place in their respective townships.
VERNON.
GREEN.
BROWN.
BUCK-CREEK.
JACKSON.
CENTER.
SUGAR-CREEK.
BLUE-RIVER.
BRANDYWINE.
MAP OF HANCOCK COUNTY FROM 1853 TO THE PRESENT.
Among the early incidents, which are more numerous than were the pioneers themselves, we will note the following :
The first school-house in the county was a log one, diminutive in size, and exceedingly rude in architecture, erected near Elijah Tyner's old place, on Blue River, in the year 1823.
The first male teacher who taught in the county was Lewis Tyner.
Green township claims the honor of furnishing em- ployment to the first female teacher, Mrs. Sarah Gant.
In 1818, the first log cabin was built by Andrew Evans.
In 1824, Joshua Wilson built the first grist mill, located on the banks of Blue River. This mill was a small, one-
35
BIRD'S-EYE VIEW.
story log structure, which, soon after being erected. was sold to Henry Watts, on account of some difficulty about the obstruction of water.
In the neighborhood of John Hinchman's old farm, in Center township, now owned by Abram Hackleman, was organized, in IS20, by the Methodists. the first religious society in the county.
The first blacksmith in the county was Thomas Phillips, who had his shop on Blue River, in about 1822.
Among the first taverns in the county, was one erected by Andrew Jackson, near Greenfield, in about 1825.
Elijah Tyner, on Blue River, had the first store in the county. He was also the first to set out an orchard.
The first road in the county was an old Indian trail, known as the " Napoleon Trace," which extended through Blue-river, Jackson, and Green townships, crossing Blue River near Warrum's old home, and Sugar Creek near 'Squire Hatfield's, at a place known as the " Stover Ford."
When the Montgomerys, McCall. and Evans, first set- tled, they had to go to White Water to mill, where Con- nersville now stands, some forty miles distant.
McCall, when he first came to the county, cleared a few acres of ground by yoking his oxen to the grubs and pulling them out by the roots. He then climbed up the surrounding trees, and trimmed off the branches to con- siderable height, and with them constructed a fence around his little patch, thus making the first fence in the county.
It has been said, in illustration of the capacity of one of the rude mills, erected in what was then Vernon town- ship, but now Center, on Sugar Creek, that Rev. Wiley Pilkenton, who was a zealous, long-winded, old-school Baptist, would put in the hopper a two-bushel grist of corn, attend a two days' camp-meeting, and return in time to toll it. This mill was located just above the Sugar Creek bridge, on the Noblesville road. In size, it was about sixteen feet square, one-story high, constructed of small logs, or poles, and covered with clapboards. A stranger was passing this mill, on a certain occasion, when
36
HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
he vociferously ordered the girls to " hold that d-d thing till I get by !"
The following are the post-offices and villages in Han- cock county :
Post-offices .- Westland, in Blue-river township; War- rington and Willow Brach, in Brown township ; Cleve- land and Charlottesville, in Jackson township ; McCords- ville and Woodbury, in Vernon township ; Philadelphia and Gem, in Sugar-creek township; Mount Comfort, in Buck-creek township; Carrollton, in Brandywine town- ship; Eden and Milner's Corner, in Green township ; Binwood, in Center township.
Incorporated Villages .- Our incorporated villages are : Fortville, in Vernon township, and New Palestine, in
COURT-HOUSE.
Sugar-creek township. Charlottesville has been an incor- porated town for a number of years until recently, when her corporation was dissolved, and a receiver appointed.
.
37
BIRD'S-EYE VIEW.
The public buildings of Hancock county consist, at present, of a court-house, jail and sheriff's residence, poor-house, ninety-two public school buildings, and about fifty church buildings.
The present court-house was built by Nathan Craw- ford, deceased, an old and honored citizen, in the year 1854, upon a contract of $14,400. It is a substantial, con- venient, and commodious building, honestly built by an honest man, and is, perhaps, not equaled by any public building in the state, at as low a cost.
The poor-house is located on the National road, two and a half miles east of Greenfield, in section thirty-five, township sixteen north, and range seven east. The build- ing is a discredit to the county, being old and dilapidated, and not at all in harmony with the wealth and dignity of our citizens. The superintendent's residence is a plain, old-fashioned, story-and-a-half brick, built many years since for a private residence. The infirmary building proper is a cheap frame, known by carpenters as a " plank house," built in the rear of, and attached to, the superin- tendent's residence. The building is not only cheaply constructed, and poorly ventilated, but small and wholly inadequate to the demands of the unfortunate. A new building has been contemplated for several years : but. owing to " hard times " and "indebtedness of the county," the matter has been neglected.
The county has a very elegant, commodious, and con- venient jail, and sheriff's residence in front, built upon a contract of $32,900 ; but costing, according to the records. $75,000, without interest, before completion. The build- ing is a brick, with stone foundation, slate roof, and neatly finished inside and out. The architecture is modern, and and the work all first-class. The sheriff's residence is large, convenient, and finished in good taste. Considera- ble complaint has been made on account of the number of escaping convicts, who have succeeded in cutting and breaking out ; but this is not wholly owing to the weakness of the jail, but more, perhaps, to too great leniency to the inmates.
38
HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
The public school building, in Greenfield, is an elegant two-story brick, with basement, stone foundation, slate roof, and ash finish, and will accommodate nine teachers and five hundred pupils. It was built in the year 1869 and 1870 by Harmon Everett, upon a contract of $20,000, pay- able in bonds on the corporation of the town of Greenfield. Everett took $10,000 in bonds in part payment. The
GREENFIELD GRADED SCHOOL BUILDING.
architects were Ennis and Hubert, of Indianapolis. The school trustees were A. K. Branham, Philander H. Boyd, and H. B. Wilson, of Greenfield. The stone for the foun- dation were shipped from St. Paul, in Decatur county. The brick were shipped and hauled, in part, from Knightstown. The building was begun in April, 1869, and the first school was taught in the fall of the same year. A comparison of the taxes, mode of collecting, prop- erty, and wealth of the county, in its early history, with the present, shows that our growth has not only been steady, but rapid. The total taxes for 1829 were $703,17. The record shows the following :
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BIRD'S-EYE VIEW.
May 10, IS32.
CLERK'S REPORT.
Showing the amount of county revenue that the collector stands charged with for the year 1832.
$262 00
524 polls.
485 horses 242 50
172 oxen 43 00
27 watches 13 50
I clock.
50
2 covering horses
5 50
6,532 acres of Ist rate land 26 12
10,237 acres of 2d rate land.
30 713
Town lots .
21 6S
Non-resident road tax
10 S3
Total
$713 193
Errors
56 84
Balance
$656 353
Attest :
MORRIS PIERSON, C. T. H. C., ( County Treasurer Hancock County ).
The summary for the year 1833 shows the total tax to have been $787.88}, signed by Joseph Chapman, C. H. C. C .; which, when interpreted, means Clerk Hancock Circuit Court. The report for 1833 further shows 616 polls, 606 horses, 168 oxen, twenty-three watches, and two pleasuring carriages ; being an increase in one year of ninety-two polls, twenty-one horses, and four oxen, and a decrease of four watches and one clock, there being no clock returned for the year 1833.
The reader will observe, from an examination of the summary report given above, that the ad valorem system of taxation, now prevalent, was not then used ; but a speci- fied tax was levied on each article of a certain class, regardless of value. This system continued in vogue till the year 1836.
We give below a copy of the last report under the old specific tax system, made in 1835.
S,S78 acres ist rate land. . $ 35 51
40
HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
23,279 acres 2d rate land. 69 S3
1,345 acres ist rate non-resident land, on which there is a road tax of. 5 38
5,920 acres of 2d rate non-resident land 17 76
$5,851.60, value of town lots. 29 26
$3,008.oo, value of non-resident lots 15 04
709 horses 354 50
130 oxen 32 50
15 silver watches. 7 50
I gold watch. 50
3 composition watches. 1 50
2 brass clocks. 1 00
6 covering horses. 12 00
684 polls 342 00
Total. $925 28
A comparison of the two reports shows that people were increasing in numbers and wealth, and. could afford more time-pieces, and other luxuries. In 1835, we find one gold watch, the first ever owned and taxed in the county ; two brass clocks, and three composition watches.
Under the system of specific taxation, the following were the rates till 1832 : On each poll, 50 cents ; on each horse, 37₺ cents ; on each ox, 182 cents ; on each silver watch. 25 cents ; on each gold watch, $1.00 : on stallions, the rate they stood at per season ; for land, half the rate of state taxes. From 1832 to 1834 the rates were : On each poll. 50 cents : on town lots. 3 cent on each $1.00 ; work oxen. 25 cents ; horses over three years old, 50 cents ; watches, 50 cents : clocks, $1.00 : the tax on every 100 acres of first- rate land. 40 cents : on second-rate land, 30 cents : on third-rate land. 20 cents. In the year 1834, the commis- sioners adopted the following list of rates : On each poll. 50 cents ; on land. one-half the state tax ; on each horse. valued at over $10.00. 50 cents ; on each watch and pleas- uring carriage. 50 cents : on horses and jacks. the price of the season at which they stand : on each yoke of oxen over three years old, 50 cents ; on each brass clock. 50 cents : tavern license in Greenfield. $15.00 : in other parts of the
yours Truly Nelson Bradley
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BIRD'S-EYE VIEW.
county, $10.00 ; license to vend wooden clocks, $10.00 ; foreign goods, $10.00. These rates remained in force for two years, or until the adoption of the ad valorem system, in 1836, when the rates were fixed by the commissioners at 20 cents on each $100 of real and personal property, and 75 cents on each poll.
Prior to the year 1836, watches, clocks and carriages were considered luxuries in which only the rich were at liberty to indulge, and they were compelled to pay for the privilege. Hence, the tax on a watch, though it be ever so old and cheap, was twenty-five per cent more than the tax on one hundred acres of the best land, listed as " first- rate :" the tax on a brass clock, regardless of its cost and real worth, was just equal to the tax on two hundred and fifty acres of the best land, or five hundred acres of third-rate land ; and the tax on a pleasuring carriage was equal to the tax on one hundred and sixty-six and two- thirds acres of second-rate land, or two hundred and fifty acres of third-rate land. Again, the taxes on a clock or gold watch were equal to the tax on two head of horses, or two hundred dollars in money. The policy of the law seems to have been to discourage luxuries by high taxa- tion, and to encourage the purchasing and owning of land by making the tax on it low.
From the year 1834 to the year 1836, it cost one as much to obtain a license to vend wooden clocks or foreign goods as it did to pay the county taxes on two thousand five hundred acres of the best land, or five thousand acres of third-rate land.
From the records of the year 1836, being the first under the ad valorem system. the following report is obtained :
Number of polls returned, 845-at 75 cents each. ... $635 25 Total valuation of property, both real and personal,
$490,710.79-at 20 cents on each $100 valuation ... . 9SI 42 For road purposes-at I cent on each $100 valuation 49 07
Total taxes for the year 1836. $1.665 74
4
42
HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
State receiver-at 5 cents on each $100. $245 35 August 20, 1836. M. PIERSON, T. H. C.
Let the critical and curious reader compare the follow- ing figures, showing the taxables of the county for 1881, with the preceding, and contrast the difference.
An abstract of the assessment of property, real and personal, in Hancock county for the year 1881, shows the value of land to be $4,438,190
Value of improvements. 681,195
Value of lands and improvements $5,119,385
Value of lots. 217,990
Value of improvements.
350,105
Value of lots and improvements 568,095
Value of personal property
2, 138,390
Value of telegraph 6,455
Value of railroads 394,540
Total value of taxables. $8,226,835
It may be seen from the above that the value of lands and improvements was $27.00 per acre. The total value of taxables in the county averages $43.00 per acre. According to the auditor's report, the following is a true exhibit of the financial condition of Hancock county-the amount of funds on hand June 1, 1881 :
County funds. $15,339 30
Interest on county bonds
1,194 20
Liquor License. 100 00
Fines from justices of the peace
35° 54
Fines from county clerk.
133 55
Principal congressional fund 400 60
Principal common fund 1,069 12
Redemption land. 45 02
Congressional interest due other counties.
250 54
Congressional interest due this county.
7S8 21
Township fund.
3,519 27
Corporation fund 1.739 97
43
BIRD'S-EYE VIEW.
Dog fund. So6 91
Special school fund 8,893 28
Local tuition fund.
5.732 54
Road fund 2,249 82
Total on hand, as per report of county com-
missioners.
$42,612 27
From other official sources we learn that the county expends, annually, over $40,000 for school purposes. The amount expended for the year ending September 1, 1881, was $42.562.83. Of this there was expended for tuition $26,077.07, and for special fund $16.485 86.
In further illustration of the growth of the county and her present wealth, it may be noted that the receipts of the county for the year ending May 31, 1881, were $169,- 449.84, including a balance in the treasury, May 31, 1880, of $51,650.58. The expenditures, including a balance on hand of $42,612.27, are the same. Orders outstanding May 31, 1880, are reported at $695.95 ; orders issued within the year, $87,665.54 ; orders redeemed within the year, $87,973.50 ; orders outstanding May 31, 1881. $387.99 ; county bonds outstanding, $25,000.
Early in the history of our county, the poor were left to depend upon their own resources, supplemented by the gratuitous favors of their friends. But now it is other- wise. The poor and infirm, the sick and unfortunate, who are unable to care for themselves, are provided for at the county's expense. For the year ending June 1, 1835, the orders issued by the trustees of the different townships of the county amounted to $4,601.55. Of this amount Cen- ter township issued orders to the extent of $2,296.17. which was the largest amount expended by any one town- ship, and Blue-river township issued orders for the same purpose to the amount of $54.25, being the smallest amount expended by any one township. The trustee of Sugar-creek township issued orders which foot up $92.11. being next to Blue-river township in the ascending scale. The trustee of Jackson township issued orders to the
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