USA > Indiana > Hancock County > History of Hancock County, Indiana, from its earliest settlement by the "pale face," in 1818, down to 1882 > Part 6
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Often a bear would lurk forth and attack some lonely pioneer's hog-pen, or poultry-house, or sheep-fold. Father kept his sheep in a pen a little in the rear of the house. This was to be able to protect them from the wolves, whose growls and snarls were heard many times at the fold. As a surer way of protecting the sheep, father went to Wayne county and procured two savage curs. They could drive away or whip any wolf, but were never able to hold them until assistance arrived. From constant run- ning, dogs were taken with a disease called the " slows." Father thought a great deal of his dogs, but lost them. One was bitten by a rattlesnake and died. It was no uncommon thing to kill from twenty to twenty-five black rattlesnakes in a day.
On one occasion my father returned from Shelby (there was no Shelbyville then, there being only a small black- smith shop where it now stands), followed to the house by a pack of wolves.
Soon after Mr. Penwell settled in our vicinity. He came to father's house one morning and solicited his assistance, telling him that a large bear had attacked his hogs, killing one and devouring it within a stone's-throw of the house. They got father's bear dogs on the trail, and followed it as far as the Big Swamp, on Brandywine, where all trace of it was lost, never getting sight of it but once. Our experience in backwoods life was full of such incidents.
A large eagle had built a nest, not far from our house,
WRthough
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BLUE-RIVER TOWNSHIP.
in a very large sycamore tree. After a great many trials, my father brought his trusty rifle and unerring aim to bear upon this "monarch of the clouds," and brought him to the ground severely wounded. He was then attacked by the dog, who soon drew off much the worse for the wear, having the skin ripped open at the back and hanging down on either side. When at last he vielded, we stretched his wings apart, to find that they were eleven and one-halt feet from tip to tip.
About this time there was a tanyard, the first there had been in the county, established a short distance south of Cleveland, by a Mr. Wood. To this we went for our tanned hog-skin, with which we soled our moccasins. It wore very well; but if left too near the fire. the soles would curl up and burst off, and were to be tacked on every morning ; so it became necessary for us to rise quite early for that as well as for earning our daily bread, which was some times more than half pumpkins, meal being scarce ; this was called pumpkin bread.
Pumpkins being our only fruit, so to speak, we took pains to preserve them. First, we peeled them, hung some of them on poles, placed some of them in the garret, and some in the lower room, to dry. Frequently they were boiled, mashed fine, spread thin and smooth on a board, and dried into what was called " pumpkin leather." This was reserved for use when the pumpkins were gone. This was made into delicious pumpkin pies.
The country was new and the people were few; But what there were, were brothers; They'd never eat this savory meat "Til they shared it with their brothers.
The first physician in my father's house was an old doctor from near where Freeport now stands, an old and venerable physician by name of Dr. Tracy. The second was Dr. Lot Edwards, one of the first doctors in Green- field. - The settlers in those days were principally their 6
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
own M. D.'s, using roots and herbs instead of drugs and liquors. The medicinal properties of plants were learned. to a large extent, from straggling Indians, whom the set- tlers saw quite often, sometimes in small tribes.
These old pioneers, when gathered together, were not quarrelling over the political issues of the day. They left that to those occupying the higher positions. They were not in the habit of gathering to listen to flighty orations. but simply sitting around giving their hunting narrations, encounters with bears, strugglings against want, and suf- ferings from mosquitoes. The world turned the same then as now, and turned just as easily, too. And I firmly believe that were our country thrown back into a wild con- dition, where nature's handiwork alone shone forth : replace these smooth, unbroken meadows with mighty branching oaks, towering maples and spreading beech : let deer, with arched necks and stately step. their haughty antlers bowed as they graze from the abundance of wild grass lining the little rivulet, abound : let the hoarse and angry growls of ever-famished wolves be heard ; the rustling of the leaves and breaking of limbs, over which the sluggish bears are stalking : together with the life-like cry of unseen panthers, the howling of wild cats and the screaming of eagles, and people it with the same people of to-day, it would go to the dogs, and the people eventually starve. This arises from a different kind of education. Those pioneers were men of iron wills and nerves of steel. They were endowed with a knowledge of the differ- ence between right and wrong. Truth and honesty
beamed from every countenance. They were industrious as well as adventurous. Though they loved the wild and savage backwoods life, they were working for the promo- tion of civilization. They knew none but the school of experience. At their touch the mighty monarchs of the forest turned to dust and ashes. At their glance the wild beast cowered. For their children and their posterity they toiled and denied themselves the luxuries of civilized life. " The latch string always hung outside of the door," so
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BLUE-RIVER TOWNSHIP'.
that the weary pilgrim of life might enter. You had but to ask, and you would receive. They toiled. They practiced self-denial. For what? For their children. For the upbuilding of a civilized country. Ilave they not achieved success? Look around you. Whence came these cities and towns, with their factories and shops and mills and beautiful buildings and churches? Whence came these lovely farms, with their orchards of luscious fruits, their fields of waving corn, their ripe meadows, and gem-like lots of golden wheat? Had you an ear for nature's song, these would fill your ears with praises for those hardy pioneers, some of whom, much to the discredit of those for whom they toiled, are still in the field, a few of them barely keeping want from their doors. They lived. as God intended you and I and every one should live, by the sweat of the brow, determined to earn their bread before eating it. Many of them, like Columbus. never lived to enjoy what they achieved, but we.hope are repaid by heavenly comfort.
WESTERN GROVE CHURCH.
This meeting was established in the Eleventh Month. 1864.
The society held its meetings for ten years in a log house formerly used as a potter's shop, located a few rods north of the present building.
Prominent among its first members were Elias Marsh. Isaac Beeson, John Hunt, Elihu Coffin and Mahlon Beeson.
The first minister that ever preached in the house was Asenith Clark (Dr. Dugan Clark's mother), followed by Luther B. Gordon, Mahlon Hockett, Mary Rogers, Jane Jones, and several others. The present minister is Joseph O. Binford.
The house now in use was built in the year 1874. It is a handsome, substantial frame building, size 36x44. erected at a cost of $1,400.
Regular meetings are held twice every week. The
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
mid-week meetings occur on Fourth Day (Wednesday). The monthly meetings alternate with Westland.
The organization is in a healthy, flourishing condition. Present membership, one hundred and sixty-five.
A Sabbath-school in connection with the church has been kept up the year around ever since its organization. Present superintendent, Thomas L. Marsh. Average attendance, fifty.
The organization term themselves Friends, but are gen- erally known as Quakers.
BRANDYWINE TOWNSHIP.
CHAPTER IV.
6 East
7 East
7 East
1.4
13
17
16
15
23
2.4
19
20
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22
In Tp.
15 N
26
25
30
20
27
35
36
=
32
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31
Tp. Line
15 .N
In Range
Range Line
In Range
Scale: Two miles to the inch.
MAP OF BRANDYWINE TOWNSHIP.
SHOWING THE SECTIONS, TOWNSHIP AND RANGES OF WHICH IT IS COMPOSED.
This township takes its name from Brandywine. the principal stream in the township. It was organized in 1828, and then consisted of the entire central part of the county, what now constitutes the second commissioner's district, to-wit: Brandywine, Center and Green town- ships. In 1831, it was reduced in size to thirty sections. its present length east and west and one mile greater north
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
and south. This reduction was made by striking off Cen- ter and Harrison townships, Center then consisting of eighteen sections and Harrison of the remainder north. In 1835. Brandywine tonwship was further reduced in size one tier of sections, six miles long on the north, which was added to Center. From 1835 to the present she has remained unchanged.
It is located in the central southern part of the county, and is bounded by Center township on the north, Blue- river on the east, Sugar-creek on the west, and Shelby county on the south. In extent, it is six miles east and west and four miles north and south, being the smallest township in the county. It is all located in township fifteen north and ranges six and seven east. Two tiers of sec- tions on the west are in range six, and four on the east are in range seven. The range line dividing the two frac- tional congressional townships of which Brandywine is composed, runs past J. G. Service's land, dividing the farm of B. F. Wilson.
The principal streams are Brandywine and Little Sugar Creek. The former enters the township on the north line, one and one-half miles west of the north-east corner, and flows south by south-west through the township, passing out through section thirty-two into Shelby county. Little Sugar Creek is a small stream, which rises in the south- western part of Center township, enters Brandywine town- ship on the northern line, one mile east of the north-west corner, and flows south four miles to within one mile of the southern line; thence south-west. entering Shelby county at the south-west corner of the township. Both of these streams are small and sluggish, and not now con- sidered available for water-power ; hence this township, unlike Blue-river, Sugar-creek, and others, intersected by larger streams, has no water-mills at present ; yet, in the early history of the county there were two small mills on Brandywine-one in Harrison township and one in Bran- dywine.
The first grist-mill in Brandywine township was built
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BRANDYWINE TOWNSHIP.
by N. Swim in the year 1826, and located on Brandywine Creek, in the central part of the township. Swim after- wards attached a small saw-mill ; but soon sold out to Geo. Troxwell, who added a tiny bolt to run by hand. Trox- well was a man of considerable enterprise. He carried on a hatter shop at the mill, and also built a still-house near by. The water some times got too low to grind, when the people patronized a small horse-power " coffee-mill" on the Dickerson farm, then in Brandywine, now Center, township.
William Wilkins run a saw-mill in the south-east part of the township for several years.
There is at present no flouring mill in the township. There was one at Carrollton run for a number of years, but recently moved away.
In 1856, HI. and J. Comstock erected a steam saw-mill in Carrollton. It was burned down a few years since, and was rebuilt by Wm. Gordon. It is now owned and run by James Boyce.
Brandywine township was first settled in about 1820. Isaac Roberts and family came in 1819. Prior to which there were located : David Stephenson, James Mont- gomery, and a Mr. Rambo. Soon afterward came James Mckinney, Jonathan Potts, James Montgomery, N. Swim, George Troxwell, James Goodwin, J. II. Anderson, Robert and James Smith, Jacob and Joseph Zumalt, and William Lucas. Among the oldest present residents of the township are : Mrs. Isaac Roberts, J. P. Banks, John Roberts, William Thomas, sen., Mrs. Andis, Richard Milburn, Wellington Collier, and Alfred Potts.
This township is rather level, with portions undulating. No swamps. The soil is good.
The township once abounded in fine timber in great quantities, similar to that in adjoining townships. She has recently sold off her walnut and large quantities of the oak.
Brandywine has fourteen miles of toll-pike and three
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
miles of railroad. The Cincinnati, Hamilton and Indian- apolis cuts off the south-west corner of the township.
The first school-teacher in the township was Abraham Vangilder.
The first birth was Mercer Roberts, daughter of Isaac Roberts.
The first burial in the township was Emily Roberts. The next. a child of James Montgomery. The latter in 1824.
The first man married in the township was Zedric Stephens, who was married in a shed covered with brush. The supper consisted of spice-wood tea, corn-bread, veni- son and hominy.
The first church house was built of logs and puncheons. by voluntary labor, in 1830, on the farm of James Smith. It was burned down in 1858. The first ministers were Hale, Horn, Vangilder, and a blind man by the name of Hays.
Brandywine township has seven public school-houses, numbered and named as follows, and at present supplied with eight teachers, whose names are set opposite the respective numbers :
District No. 1. . . Sugar Creek Allen Bottsford.
District No. 2. .. Cowden's John F. Peck.
District No. 3. . . Pleasant Hill. Henry W. Buck.
District No. 4. . . Porter's Vickie Wilson.
District No. 5. . . Scott's James White.
District No. 6. .. Lows' .Chas. A. Reed.
District No. 7. .. Carrollton (W. H. Glasscock. Allie Glasscock.
The estimated value of school-houses, including seats and the grounds, is $5,000 ; value of school apparatus, globes, maps, etc., $200 ; total value of school property, in the judgment of the writer, $5,200. Total number of school children, 416.
The population of the township in 1880 was 1,216: number of polls, 207. The population in 1870 was 1,061 : in 1860. 986 ; in 1850, 826.
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BRANDYWINE TOWNSHIP.
The township is democratic by about one hundred and forty majority. At the presidential election for 1880, the vote stood as follows: Democratic vote, 203 ; Republican vote, 57 ; Greenback vote, 22 ; total vote, 282.
This township has 15, 245 acres of taxable land, valued at $351,940; improvements valued at $41,370; value of lots, $1, 116 ; improvements on same, $3,245 ; value of per- sonal property, $108,520 ; total value of real and personal property, $506,235.
The township will pay, in 1882, for this year's taxes. $5,717.85. The following will show who pays $40.00 and upwards of this amount :
Andis, Isabelle $41 25
Milborn, Richard. $170 05
Andis, J. R. 65 30
Milborn, Leonidas. 48 30
Andis, Morgan 52 40
Milborn, Wm. A 178 50
Porter, W. H. 67 10 Banks, J. P. 45 10
Bentley, T. E .. 60 60
Porter, J. W
67 85
Comstock, J. W 51 25
Parnell, James. 72 50
Comstock, Jas., heirs. 54 00
Pope, Sarah. 45 00
Duncan, Eph. 55 45
Roberts, John 41 60
Espy, Paul.
50 05
Randall, Ed. 42 55
Gates, Henry. 62 75
Service, J. G 46 So
Hutchinson, Smith 75 50
Smith, T. L. 56 95
Hackleman. Abe 49 20
Thomas, J. S. 40 00
Jeffries, Uriah 57 40
Tyner, James. 62 So
Low, Julia A 52 10
White, J. Q.
52 25
Laribee, F. W. 42 05
Wilson, W. F 57 65
McDougall, D. and D .. 47 55
Wilson, B. F. 78 65
This township has one brass band.
There are three churches in the township,-one Chris- tian, one Radicl Methodist, and one United Brethren.
Carrollton, on the Junction R. R., is the only village in the township, a full description of which appears else- where.
Cowden's School-house, in the central northern part, is the voting precinct.
Duncan McDougall, a native Scotchman, a teacher.
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
farmer, tile manufacturer, democrat and a gentleman, is entrusted with the school interests of the township, and the care of her poor in addition to other minor matters.
B. F. Wilson and T. W. Laribee preside over the scales of justice in this township. The following are the ex-justices of the township, with the date of election, since her organization, from the best information accessible :
Benjamin Spillman 1828
Abram Liming IS56
Orange HI. Neff. I 830
Mark Whitaker IS59
Joseph Chapman. 1831
Abram Liming. IS60
Joseph Thomas 1832
Benjamin F. Goble IS63
Eleazer Snodgrass 1836
Abram Liming IS42
Andrew J. Smith. IS6S
G. Dillard. IS42
Geo. W. Askin. 1 867
Abram Liming IS47
Henry Lemain IS47
Mark Whitaker 1 849
Abram Liming I852
John Q. White. 1876
Mark Whitaker 1855
Uriah Low IS76
The following are the township trustees, with the date of their election, from the time they were empowered with authority to levy local taxes : William Service, the father of J. G. Service, was elected in 1859, and served for ten years. Andrew Williamson was elected in 1869, and served his township faithfully till the election of his suc- cessor. J. G. Service was elected in 1874, and continued till the election of the present trustee.
William Wilkins, ex-county sheriff, who died in office during his second term, was from this township.
William Thomas, jun., ex-sheriff, and James Tyner, ex-commissioner, are both residents of the township.
It was here that Ezekial Wright, aged twenty-five, and Thomas Hughes, aged eighteen, were instantly killed by the falling of a tree, April 19, 1849. Mr. Wright's only daughter is now the wife of A. T. Brown.
In this township William Alyea was killed by the fall- ing of a limb, in about the year 1860.
Alfred Potts. 1 865
Alfred Potts 1870
Uriah Low. I872
Ephraim Ward. I 874
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BRANDYWINE TOWNSHIP.
Near Carrollton, a son of Henry Carrington was killed by the cars soon after the railroad first passed through the place.
The chief exports of the township are corn, cattle, hogs, wheat. horses, and flaxseed.
CHAPTER V.
CARROLLTON.
This little village is located in the south-west part of the township, on the C., H. and I. R. R., about seven miles south-west of Greenfield. The railroad gave the station at this point the name of Reedville, but the town has always borne the name above.
It was laid out by Hiram Comstock, on the 25th of February, 1854, and consisted of twenty-five lots. The first and only addition ever made to the town was by Rev. M. S. Ragsdale, in 1870.
It contains a school-house, one church, one steam saw- mill, two merchants, one grain shipping firm, two black- smiths, one wagon-maker, one physician, two carpenters, one painter, one postmaster, one shoe-maker, and one barber.
It has a daily mail and United States express.
The present business men are :-
Merchants- LUCAS & SON.
Blacksmiths- THOMAS TAYLOR, EMANUEL MATILLO.
Wagon Maker- WILLIAM STROPE.
Painter-
1 JOHN PECK.
Merchants and Grain D'Trs- BORING & HUTTON.
Carpenters- JAMES PECK, WM. THOMPSON.
Shoe-maker-
EDWARD SEACRIST.
Physician- J. W. LARIMORE .
St HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
Barber --
HOMER WILLIS.
Express Agent- L. BORING.
Postmaster- JOHN D. LUCAS.
Among the first business men of this little burg were : John Elmore and the firm of Andrews and Roseberry. merchants : Hiram Comstock and Warren King, physi- cians : Frank Lucas, blacksmith : Martin Eakman, wagon- maker, and William Eskew, shoe-maker. The first post- master. O. H. P. McDonald.
SUGAR-CREEEK CHURCH (CHRISTIAN ).
in Brandywine township, located one and one-half miles north of Carrollton, and organized in the year 1831. first met at the private house of William Thomas, senior.
The following were among the original members : William Thomas, sen., father of Ex-Sheriff Thomas : Elizabeth Thomas, Helry Thomas, John Baker, Elizabeth Baker. William McConnell and wife. James and Margaret Anderson, and Eleazer Snodgrass.
The first preachers were Elders John Gregg. D. Holt. and J. P. Banks.
The meetings were afterwards held in a log school- house one mile north of Carrollton.
The present house was built in the year 1869, at a cost of $2,000, and dedicated by O. A. Burgess. Size of house. 38x48.
The following are the present trustees : John S. Thomas, Robert Davis, and Henry Fry.
Among the more recent Elders were Arthur Miller. David Franklin. Robert Edmondson, and Elder Bennett. The present preacher is Elder Coffield.
This church has a good Sunday-school. organized about 18og. Present superintendent. Robert Williamson. Average attendance, forty-five.
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BRANDYWINE TOWNSHIP.
EDEN CHAPEL ( UNITED BRETHREN).
was organized in the year 1840. and located one mile east of Carrollton.
Among the first members were George Muth and family, Mrs. Higgenbottom, John Elmore and wife, Mrs. Hoagland, and others.
The meetings of the society were held in George Muth's house until 1850, when a substantial frame house, costing $1.400, was built.
The first ministers were George Muth, Amos Hanaway and Rev. Father Ball.
About 1866, they sold their house to the Radical Meth- odists, who are still holding forth in the same house. with Rev. Callahan as their present minister.
The United Brethren removed the class to Carrollton about the year 1879, and held their meetings in a small building formerly the old public school-house. Present minister. Rev. McNew.
This church has a prosperous little Sunday-school. Willard Low. Esq .. superintendent. There are several small Sunday-schools in the school-houses. In 1866, the Brandywine Union Sunday-school was organized at Cow- den's School-house. J. P. Banks, superintendent. Rob- ert Williamson has been superintendent for about eight years. There are also Sunday-schools at Porter's, Scott's. and Pleasant Hill.
BRASS BAND.
The Brandywine Township Brass Band was organized October 10, 1880, with the following members: Aaron W. Scott, Edgar B. Thomas. J. W. Thomas. Charles Scott. John Liming. Carson W. Rush. Emanuel Smith, Frank Kinder. James Scott. William Scott. John Gwinn. and Aaron Alvea. All young men living in the township. Cost of instruments. $146.
Their first teacher was Isaac Davis, of Greenfield.
Officers : Frank Kinder, president: J. W. Scott, treasurer : Charles Scott, secretary.
1 86
HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
WILLIAM H. PORTER.
The subject of this sketch was born May 10, 1810, near Dayton, Ohio. He came to Fayette county with his parents at the age of eighteen.
He run on the river as flat boatman for four years from Kanawha Salt Springs, W. Va., to New Orleans. at fifty cents per day.
In 1832 he came to Hancock county and entered one hundred and sixty acres of land in Brandywine township, where he remained till his death, in 1866.
His remains rest in Mt. Lebanon cemetery, near his farm.
He was a successful, prosperous farmer in his time.
He raised three sons. J. W. and F. M. Porter are both respectable citizens and prosperous farmers in their native township. William H. Porter is engaged in butch- ering in Greenfield.
MRS. ISAAC ROBERTS.
This good lady, the mother of John Roberts, is the old- est resident citizen in Brandywine township, having come to the " new purchase " prior to the organization of the territory into Madison county and settled on the farm now owned by Marion Steele.
She was married in New York just at the close of the war of 1812. Her husband was a faithful, valient soldier of said war. They came through on foot. carrying their effects, and crossed the Ohio River in an Indian canoe. They settled in the dense forest, making a temporary room by piling brush against a large log and covering it with bark until they could erect a small pole cabin.
There was at that time no roads, and not a mill within thirty-five miles. Beat hominy, venison and spice-wood tea were the chief eatables.
During the Indian troubles following the .. Indian mas- sacre" in Madison county, of which this later formed a part, her husband and Mr. Rambo went to Pendleton, the
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BRANDYWINE TOWNSHIP.
county seat at that time, to attend the trial and act as guards. There was great uneasiness all over the country at this time, the whites not knowing at what time they might be murdered by the justly indignant Indians. These two women remained alone during their husbands' absence at the trial, a full account of which will be found further on. During this time one evening Mrs. Roberts, hearing considerable noise, opened the door to discover the trouble. when Mrs. Rambo, more thoughtful, bid her come in. which she did just in time to escape the jaws and claws of a hungry panther, which prowled around and over the cabin and against the door till the morning light.
Mrs. Roberts tells of another narrow escape from a panther on a certain occasion when she and her little boy. eight or ten years of age, were in the rye patch. She was laying up the gap, when the little boy said, " Mother, what is that in the weeds?" She, seeing that it was a panther just in the act of springing on the boy, snatched him from the spot, and, putting him in front of her, made for the house ; but it was not so easy to escape the cunning of the blood-thirsty panther, which intercepted their path in the rye and sprang for the boy, who, being active, barely succeeded in escaping unhurt. The mother, in seeing the ferocious beast alight on the spot where her darling boy had just saved a precious life, was so fright- ened that she was unable, for some time, to move from the spot.
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