USA > Indiana > Hancock County > History of Hancock county, Indiana; its people, industries and institutions > Part 46
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112
PETERSBURG.
The railroad maintained one stop in Hancock county for taking on and letting off passengers. It was known as Petersburg, named in honor of Peter Binford, who erected the first log cabin in the neighborhood of the station. It was located at the northeast corner of the southeast quarter of section 33, township 15, range 8, or on the county line east of the Handy school house.
Silas Haskett sold a small lot at the corner above described to John Young for the purpose of having a store started in the neighborhood. Young con- ducted a store and eating house at this point for several years and then sold it to Daniel Haskett, who kept a general store there until after the railroad was discontinued. The station and a large platform for loading were across the line in Rush county. It was a very accommodating railroad, it is said. If one failed to reach the station, he could stop the train anywhere along the line by waving his handkerchief.
Blue River has no railroad at this time except the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis, which is built directly upon the north line of the township.
Capt. P. A. Card also conducted a store about a half mile west of the southeast corner of Blue River township for four or five years after 1872.
494
11.ANCOCK COUNTY, INDIANA.
WESTLAND.
Westland was never laid out as a town and no plat thereof is recorded in the recorder's office. The first store was erected there about 1852 by Samuel Heavenridge. Like most other buildings of that day, it was just a small log house. Later owners were Levi Reece. Ambrose Miller. Henry Newby and Calvary G. Sample, who quit business at the outbreak of the Civil War. Later, another store was opened by William New, who was followed by Lemuel Harold and Levi Cloud. James L. Binford then owned the store for a time. It burned on April 13. 1881, but in the eighties another building was erected and the store was conducted for a number of years by MI. A. Catt and John Howard. About three or four years ago it was bought by the pres- ent owner, Francis C. Landrus.
In addition to the stores above mentioned, there have been blacksmith shops from time to time and it has formed a central meeting place for the people of the township. A postoffice was maintained for many years, until the rural routes were established from Greenfield. Route 3 from Greenfield, which distributes mail through Blue River township and in the vicinity of Westland. was established on October 1, 1900.
SCHOOLS.
The first school is said to have been built in the township in 1823. It was located on the northwest quarter of section 36, township 15, range 7. Lewis Tyner was the first teacher. Early log school houses were built in different communities, as they were needed. Nine district schools were finally estab- lished in the township and used until the first movement was made towards consolidation, on September 1. 1893. On that date William Toms, trustee of Blue River township, and the patrons of districts numbers 4. 5 and 8 of said township, petitioned the county superintendent of schools, asking for .the consolidation of the above-named districts. This petition was signed by a majority of the patrons, and on April 25. 1894. Mr. Toms, trustee, gave notice to the citizens of Blue River township and to the patrons of the districts above named that the petition would be presented to the county superintendent of schools, at his office in Greenfield, on May 15, 1894, asking for authority to consolidate the three districts above named and to establish the site of a new school building for the use of said consolidated district. The point selected for the new building was the southwest corner of section 18, township 15. range 8.
495
BLUE RIVER TOWNSHIP.
This movement, of course, aroused more or less opposition and a protest was filed by Robert B. Binford and fifteen others against changing the site of the school in distriet number 5. The matter came up on hearing before Quitman Jackson, who was then county superintendent of schools, and author- ity was given the township trustee to establish the site of a new school in the consolidated district at the point above designated.
This was the first effort made towards consolidation of schools in Han- cock county. It was a vision of Mr. Toms that finally all schools in the town- ship should be consolidated at this building and that there should be established in the school a complete high school course for all the chiklren in Blue River township. In starting this movement, Mr. Toms was wholly unselfish, even moving the site of the school to a point a mile farther from his residence than it had been before. His dream was no doubt realized more completely and at an earlier date than he had anticipated. In 1894 he erected a two-room building. In 1901, during the administration of J. F. Coffin, trustee, two rooms were added to the building. In 1909 two additional rooms were built and in 1914-15, during the trusteeship of O. J. Coffin, all of the children of the township were, for the first time, conveyed to this central building. Seven teachers have been employed for the past several years, four grade teachers and three high-school teachers. All of the children of the township have the advantages of graduation such as is offered in city systems. A complete four- year high-school course has been maintained for a number of years, and for the past two years the school has been listed among the unconditioned commis- sioned high schools of the state. The township has also erected a long barn, with thirty-two stalls, in which children may leave their rigs while attend- ing school.
The high school work was commenced in the fall of 1894. The first teacher was Aldice Harold, who had the high school work and also some of the grade work. He resigned during his second term and J. E. Radcliffe finished the term of 1895-6. Following are the names of the principals who have been in charge of the school since that time: J. H. Brooks, 1896; Edward Geiss, 1897: Mary Catherwood, 1898; Walter Orr, 1901; R. E. Cavanaugh, 1905: W. M. Stafford, 1906; F. C. Landrus, 1907 ; C. M. Conger and William Brandenburg. 1910; Walter Orr. 1911 ; F. C. Landrus, 1914.
The school has a good library. Graduating classes have left beautiful pictures as memorials in the building, and two or three years ago the local Woman's Christian Temperance Union of the township. upon dissolving. placed a beautiful portrait of Frances Willard in the high school room. Al- most fifty dollars in cash was also donated for library purposes.
496
HANCOCK COUNTY, INDIANA.
Noble Crider, one of the teachers of the township, has taught at the build- ing now for a period of nine years. Horatio Davis, another native teacher. was an assistant in the high school for three years or more : Miss Hazel Bin- ford, also a resident of the township, has been an assistant in the high school for the past five years.
During the past six or seven years George Mace has acted as janitor of the school. He is an old sailor, and from 1866 until 1874 roamed the seas. He first shipped from New Bedford for the South Pacific islands, in 1866. He went round Cape Horn, cruised along the western coast of Chili, finally reaching the East Indies, the Yellow sea and other points in the Pacific. He came back to Chili, where he worked in a copper mine for several months and then shipped back to England on a copper-oreman. He next made several cruises to the Mediterranean sea, visiting Sardinia and Messina. On an- other cruise he went from England to Calcutta through the Suez canal, then back around the cape of Good Hope, stopping at Capetown and also at the island of St. Helena, where Napoleon was held prisoner for a number of years. He later made one more cruise around Cape Horn into the Pacific ocean, then left the sea. He is an authority on geographical questions.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Blue River township has a population of 904, as shown by the census re- port of 1910. Two hundred and cighteen children between the ages of six and twenty-one years were enumerated in the township in the spring of 1915. The enrollment in the schools during the school year of 1914-15 was 197. Of these, forty-two were in the high school and 155 in the grades. The total cost of maintaining the elementary schools was $2,902.10. The total cost of main- taining the high school was $2.077.20. The total amount paid teachers in the township for the year was $3.916. The estimated value of the school prop. erty is $14,000. The total taxables as reported by the assessor in 1914 was $1,099.610. Transportation of school children during the year 1914-15 cost the township $1.952.07.
TOWNSHIP TRUSTEES.
The following men have served as township trustees since the enactment of the law creating the office in 1859: B. P. Butler, 1859: N. D. Coffin, 1860; James New, 1863; Lemuel Hackleman. 1865: B. F. Luse. 1869; Sam- uel B. Hill. 1873: Lemuel Hackleman, 1877; Thomas E. Hill, 1880; Robert B. Binford, 1882: Samuel B. Hill, 1884: Henry White. 1886 (resigned-terni finished by Theophilus Hargrove ) ; William Toms, 1888-1890; J. F. Coffin,
WESTLAND HIGH SCHOOL
CHARLOTTESVILLE HIGH SCHOOL
WESTLAND CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL
497
BLUE RIVER TOWNSHIP.
1894; Reuben F. Cook, 1900: Morton Allender, 1904: Obed J. Coffin, 1908; Harry Fletcher, 1914.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
The local courts have been presided over by the following men since the organization of the township: John Osborn, 1834: Samuel A. Hall. 1836: Richard Hackleman, 1836; Richard Hackleman, 1840: Adam Allen, 1848; Richard Hackleman. 1851; John Coffin, 1850-57; Thompson Allen, 1865-69; Jolm O. G. Collins, 1869; Edward L. Coffin, 1872; Walter S. Luse. 1877 : Elijah Tyner, 1878-82; John O. G. Collins, 1884 ; Nathan Newby, 1888; Eli O. Catt, 1892-96; Adam Sivard, 1900-02-06-10.
COUNTY OFFICERS.
Among the county officers that Blue River township has furnished are William Handy. representative : George W. Hatfield, county treasurer ; George W. Hatfield and Calvary G. Sample, county surveyors : William New. Augus- tus Dennis and Theophilus Hargrove, commissioners.
HEAVY TAXPAYERS.
Among the early families of Blue River township were the Andrews, Bin- fords, Brooks, Butlers, Coffins, Catts, Beesons, Gates, Hacklemans, Hatfields, Hills, Hunts, Jessups, News, Puseys, Samples and Tyners. These families and their descendants have contributed generously of their strength and sub- stance to make the township what it is today. Others who have accumulated property and who shared the burdens of civil administration by the payment of taxes in 1915 in sums exceeding one hundred dollars are: Morton Allen- der. $140.91; Lydia An Binford, $113.22; Joseph L. Binford (estate ), $400.02; Albert Binford, $220.12: Joseph Omer Binford. $252.60: Joseph Butler ( estate ), $154.22: Richard A. Bennett, $117.56; Leander Billman. $216.24; Robert W. Brooks, $187.68; Jesse W. Beeson, Sto6.28; Oliver 11. Brown, $272.95; Eli O. Catt, $148.10: R. F. Cook, $290.70: Cerena Fort. $148.51; Dayton IL. Gates, Jr., $127.87: Margaret Gates, $100. 12: Lemuel Hackleman. $278.87: Henry D. Holt, $100.75: Carl V. Hardin, $107.12: Lewis C. Jessup. $1 38.52; Mary A. Jessup. $173.40: Sebrone Jessup. $142.39: James Lindamood. $152.79; Albert L. and Maude E. New, SI49 33: James H. Parnell. $105.26: Lewis G. Rule, $145.04; William S. Rutledge, $1 14.85: James E. Sample, $116.89; Pearl E. Tyner, $182.90: George S. Wilson. $466.32: Franklin E. White, $100.54; Daisy S. Wilson, $335-31 ; Ilullah _1. Binford. $149.33: Robert B. Binford, $350.27 : Oliver 1. Binford. $112.00;
(32)
grit
HANCOCK COUNTY, INDIANA.
William Penn Binford, $150.96 : Oliver M. Binford, $150.55; John H. Bin- ford, -: Mary Bash ( estate ), $220.73 : Mary Bash, $103.22 : Lemuel Ball, $309.67 ; William N. Bassett, $114.44: Benjamin P. Catt, $130.15 ; Riley A. Catt, $101.59: Martha J. Elliott, $292.74; George W. Gates, $482.26; John W. Gardner, $117.91; George Gates (agent). $233.62; John T. Hatfield, $116.69; George W. and M. J. Howery, $127.10; Levi Jessup, $180.13 : Sylvester Jessup, $149.53; Mary J. Lynam, $157.28; Cicero Newhouse, $118.52; Caleb W. Pusey, $102.00: Samuel C. Pitts, $101.59; Claude Poer, $149.74; Caroline Righter, $188.50: Abram Romack. $206.45; George W. Scott, $196.66; John Unger, $118.93; Lydia White, $117.10; Wilbur T. Wright, $102.20; James A. White, $170.75.
PHYSICIANS.
Blue River township has not had a great number of resident physicians. Probably the first one was Doctor Edmondson, a one-armed man who also conducted a little store on the angling road northwest of Mooresville. He was followed by Doctor Newby, who had an office in the eastern part of the town- ship on the north line of the northeast quarter of section 28, township 15, range 8, across from Mooresville, where Joshua Moore maintained a blacksmith shop for a number of years. Among other physicians were Joseph O. An- drews, who was engaged in the practice of medicine during the seventies and early eighties. He was located on the road angling to the southeast through the east half of the northwest quarter of section 20, township 15. range 8. Dr. A. T. Hunt and Doctor Trump were also engaged in the practice about the middle of the eighties, and probably earlier. Drs. Charles K. and Mary L. Bruner located immediately north of the Friends church at the southeast corner of section 18, township 15. range 8, early in 1886 and remained until the fall of 1888, when they established themselves at Greenfield.
Physicians from Greenfield, Charlottesville, Carthage and Morristown have practically always divided the practice of the township.
MOORESVILLE.
Mooresville is a collection of a few houses located along the south line of section 21, township 15, range 8. about a quarter of a mile west of the county line, and a little more than a quarter of a mile east of Hardys Fork school house. At a very early day, probably in the latter forties or early fifties, one Sim Williams operated a blacksmith shop at this place. Later the shop was operated by Joshua Moore. Moore took the shop about 1854 or 1855 and operated it for twelve or fifteen years. At the same time Doctor Newby es-
499
BLU'E RIVER TOWNSHIP.
tablished his office just across the road from the shop and engaged in the practice of medicine from this point for a number of years. Joel Pusey, a grandfather of Caleb Pusey, also had a small store at this point for a number of years following 1855.
It seems that originally the little town, if it can be called a town, was known as Mt. Pleasant. For the last half century or more it has been pop- ularly known as Mooresville, in honor of Joshua Moore.
Doctor Edmondson, the one-armed physician previously referred to, en- gaged in the practice of medicine for a number of years, his office being lo- cated about fifty rods northwest of Hardy's fork school, on the angling read passing through the southwest quarter of section 21, township 15. range 8.
TEMPERANCE ACTIVITY.
The residents of Blue River township, and especially the Friends, have always been active and earnest temperance workers. Several Woman's Chris- tian Temperance Unions were maintained in the county during the later seventies and eighties, and on May 26. 1877, the Blue River Township Tem- perance Association was organized at the Westland Friends church. Forty- five persons signed the pledge and became charter members. The purpose of the association was "to plan and carry forward measures which, with the blessings of God, will result in the suppression of intemperance."
Any person could become a member of the association by signing the following pledge: "We, the undersigned men, women and children, of Blue River township, feeling that the use of intoxicating liquors has reached a point no longer to be endured, do. by the help of God, promise to use our utmost endeavors to banish this evil from among us ; and, in order to strengthen our influence in this regard, we hereby agree to abstain from the use of all intoxi- cating beverages and we will discourage their use in all possible ways."
The society had an executive committee, whose duty it was to decide upon the times and places of holding meetings : "to produce a program at each meet- ing for the one following ; to see that those on duty are informed thereof, and to give them such assistance as is necessary in the preparation of their duty."
After the organization of this association, meetings were hekl at the school houses in different school districts of the township. Literary programs were given and people were solicited to sign the pledge. During the carly eighties the association numbered almost four hundred members, ranging from children to grandparents. An organization was maintained in the township until two or three years ago. The ladies sewed, served lunches at sales, and in various ways raised funds. When the association dissolved, it had almost
500
HANCOCK COUNTY, INDIAN.A.
fifty dollars on hands, which was donated to the Westland high school to be used in purchasing books. The ladies also presented a biography and a beau- tiful portrait of Frances Willard to the school.
HANCOCK COUNTY INSURANCE ASSOCIATION.
The Hancock County Insurance Association, which has been discussed elsewhere, and which now carries a great number of risks in Hancock county. had its inception in Blue River township.
TOWNSHIP ILALL.
The church building known as Mt. Olivet church was purchased for the township by William Toms in 1894. It was used as a general meeting place where it originally stood, and in 1903 it was moved to Westland, by R. F. Cook. Since that time it has been used for voting purposes, concerts and other entertainments.
WESTLAND CORNET BAND.
The Westland Cornet Band was organized about 1880 and played until the fall of 1885. Isaac Davis, of Greenfield, was its first teacher. The boys had a band wagon of the popular type-high at each end and low in the mid- dle. Like all rural bands, its membership kept changing continually. but among the players whose names can be recalled were Reuben F. Cook. Edgar V. Toms, Frank Bools, Lin B. Newby, Joe Outland, John Allen. Abe Coffin. Jehu Andrews, Jasper Glascock. John Curry, Riley Cook, Aaron Scott, Logan Glascock, Sam Staley, Jonas Bates, Joe Burton and Elwood Burtch.
GILBOA METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCHI.
The Gilboa Methodist Episcopal church was located at about the middle of the west line of the southwest quarter of section 4. township 15. range 8. It was among the first churches and religious organizations in Blue River township. The society was organized about 1830 and their meetings for worship were held at private residences for about two years. The meetings were conducted principally as prayer bands, with an occasional visit of a preacher in the neighborhood. The membership increased and in 1832 the society built a log church on the ground donated for that purpose by James Sample and Benjamin Miller, two of its first members. This church stood near the site above described. In the summer of 1852 a frame building was erected, which was used as long as the congregation remained in existence. In the year 1876 the enrollment was twenty-one members. In 1895 there were
501
BLUE RIVER TOWNSHIP.
only six members, some having moved away and others died. No regular Methodist services have been held at the church since the early nineties.
The church building has now been moved, and nothing remains as an evidence of the former site except the burial ground which adjoined the church. The old Gilboa cemetery has buried within it some of the oldest citi- zens of the county. Several of the stones marking the graves show that the persons whose memory they are to perpetnate were born during the latter part of the eighteenth century.
Among the families that belonged to the church were James Sample and family. John Sample and family, Elizabeth Wood, Sarah Sample. Polly Meek. Arthur Lewis and family. Adam Allen and family, Benjamin Miller and fam- ily. Johnson McGinnis, James Lemay and family, and James McGinnis and family.
MIT. OLIVET CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
Mt. Olivet Christian church was originally organized in 1838. in what was known as the Allen school house, in district number 3. Among its carly ministers were the Reverends Hubbard, Epplesizer and Jonathan Lineback. Among its early members were John Lineback and wife. Absalom Davis and wife. Eli Risley and wife. John New and wife, and Miss Lizzie Miller.
About 1862 or 1863 the church was reorganized by Elder William Grose. at what is now known as the Temperance Hall school house, which stands in the northwest corner of the northeast quarter of the northwest quarter of sec- tion 8, township 15, range 8. Among the charter members of the reorganiza- tion were Jonathan Lineback and wife, Thompson Allen, Elijah Allen, John Allen, Nathan Newby, Richard Richardson, Jesse Hunt, Mary J. New. James Veach and Walter Luse. It was then known for a time as the Christian New- Light organization. Among the early pastors was one Jonas Burkett, a blind minister. In the course of time the membership of the church reached about sixty.
In 1871 a building was erected, at a cost of one thousand dollars, at the southwest corner of the east half of the southeast quarter of section ;, town- ship. range 8. on land donated for the use of the church by William New. It was erected by A. H. Allison and was dedicated in June, 1871. by Elder Homer.
Among the families belonging to the church were Miles Cook and wife. Walter S. Luse. John Hackleman, Polly Lineback and others, constituting a membership of about forty. A number of the older members died, while some moved away, so that in the course of the next ten or fifteen years its member-
502
HANCOCK COUNTY, INDIAN ..
ship became very small and in the early nineties services ceased to be held. In 1894 William Toms, trustee of Blue River township, bought the church building for the use of the township.
About 1888 a Christian Union church organization had been effected. with the following charter members: Thomas M. Smith, Joseph D. Willis. John W. Bash, Isaac Smith, George W. Smith, Margaret J. Willis, Mary A. Smith, Mary J. Bash, Milton C. Wood, Mary Smith, George W. Parish, Jen- nie Parish, James Bell, with Rev. N. L. Williams, pastor. After services ceased to be held at the Mt. Olivet church, the new organization moved to Westland and in 1894 erected a church building there, which is known as the
SUGAR GROVE CHURCH.
Services and a Sunday school have been maintained at this church since its erection, in 1894. This house stands in the southwest part of town and was dedicated by the Rev. Duckworth. The membership has been small, and at times services have been held at irregular periods. At present the church has about forty members. The average attendance at Sunday school is twenty-five. Three classes are organized in the church and adult mem- bers are in attendance.
WESTLAND FRIENDS CHURCH.
When Blue River township was first settled it was a dense woodland. The struggle for a living and for future prosperity then began. and it may well be said that the first settlers sought a firm foundation of Christian principles on which to build character and association. There were many obstacles to be met in those early days. The people were few and the facili- ties were not as they are today for conducting church work. yet the true light of Christ was shining forth and the faithfulness of a few of their earn- est endeavors was rewarded with the flourishing churches of today. The work of Christ began with the daily toil of this newly settled land and soon the work of the churches was rapidly progressing until the attendance became a routine and a duty.
In the year 1832 Joseph Andrews located in the vicinity of Westland. Ile was followed by John Brown, in 1833, and Elias Marsh, Elisha Butler. Nathan Perisho, William Brown, Frederick Brown and others, until the year 1839. All of these being members of the Walnut Ridge Friends church, and having settled quite a distance from their regular place of worship. they held a meeting in the same year for the purpose of binding themselves together in church fellowship. In 1840 church services were begun by the above
503
BLUE RIVER TOWNSHIP.
organization. The newly-born society was in charge of a committee that was appointed by the Walnut Ridge monthly business meeting and it remained under its charge for several years.
The society at that time consisted of about fifteen families. In the year 1841. at the Walnut Ridge monthly business meeting, they appointed the following named Friends as trustees: Samuel Bundy, Joseph Andrews and John Brown, who were to purchase a lot on which to build a church. They purchased two acres off of the farm owned by Nathan Perisho and wife, in the southeast corner of section 18. township 15, range 8, paying the sum of five dollars therefor. The lots have remained the property of the church to this day. Here the present church building is located and here lie many of the charter members and their children.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.