History of Hancock county, Indiana; its people, industries and institutions, Part 49

Author: Richman, George J
Publication date: 1916
Publisher: Indianapolis, Federal publishing co., inc.
Number of Pages: 1272

USA > Indiana > Hancock County > History of Hancock county, Indiana; its people, industries and institutions > Part 49

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BRANDYWINE TOWNSHIP. 523

Eden Chapel while the Methodist Protestant services were conducted there : Jolın P. Wickliff and family: Dan Muth and family, Robert P. Andis and family, John D. Lucas and family, Amos Ashcraft, Joseph Higginbotham, Thomas Lowe, Ellis Noe and wife and George Evans. There are no early records of the church, but it seems that they at first worshipped with the different members in the locality immediately east and south of Finly.

In 1865 the congregation bought the Eden Chapel, which stood on the south side of the Brookville road, just west of the east line of the west half of the southwest quarter of section 36, township 15, range 6. They con- tinued to worship at the chapel until about 1882 or 1883, the last minister at that point being the Rev. James Hughes. Among the early pastors who served the congregation were Revs. Samuel Lowder; J. H. G. Prim, 1878- 80; W. G. C; J -8 A. W. M. 883- 84: W. G. Callahan, 1884-85: J. G. Smith, 1885-86; John Heim, 1886-88 ; J. R. Lenhart. 1888-90; J. R. French, 1890-91 ; T. E. Lancaster, 1891-92; G. W. Bundy, 1892-93.

About 1882 or 1883 the congregation moved its place of worship to Carrollton and for several years worshipped at the United Brethren church. It is remembered that the Rev. John Heim and others conducted revivals at this church.

In 1893 the present church, which stands on the north side of the Brook- ville road, in Finly, was constructed. The following ministers have served the congregation in the present building : Revs. G. W. Bundy, 1893-05: J. L. Barclay, 1895-09: J. R. Lenhart, 1899-01 : J. R. Lenhart and S. Heininger, I901-02: W. C. Reeder. 1902-04: WV. L. Martin, 1904-06; L. V. Sharps. 1906-08: P. W. Boxell, 1908-09: WV. S. Coons, 1909-10: A. Leffingwell. 1010-11 ; Forest Crider and H. C. Ross, 1911-12: H. C. Ross. 1912-14; S. S. Stanton. D. D., and A. E. Scotten. 1914-15; J. G. Smith, 1915-16. This church has an average attendance at services of one hundred and thirty.

A Sunday school was organized in 1897. It now has five classes with an average attendance of sixty. Following are the persons who have served as superintendents of the Sunday school: J. W. Boring, Vernie Boring, Jessie Barnett, Edgar Wood, Lloyd Ferris. Henry Noe, Crystal McRoberts and Dora Cox.

CHRISTIAN UNION.

About 1872 a small Christian Union congregation was organized, which held services for almost ten years at the Porter school house, located at the southeast corner of section 28, township 15, range 7. Among the families

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that met here for worship were those of Alex Hargrove, George Handy and James Rector.

WOMEN'S CLUBS.

To Brandywine township belongs the honor of having the first country club in the county, the Country Literary Club. This club was organized October 9. 1903. It owes its birth to a lecture given by a woman foreign missionary at the Mt. Lebanon church during the pastorate of the Rev. D. W. Evans. After a few meetings as a missionary society the members changed the work to literary, and at the home of Mrs. J. C. Tyner. on Mrs. Tyner's birthday, the Country Literary Club Legan its literary and social career. The first three years were devoted to miscellaneous subjects, following which Bible study was introduced and has been supplemented each year with either domes- tic science, various literary subjects or state history. The meetings are held on every third Wednesday during the year. The active members are lim- ited to twenty and are residents of Center. Brandywine and Blue River townships. The Country Literary Club was federated with the Hancock County Federation of Country Clubs at its organization in March, 1914.

The Klover Reading Club is a literary club organized by the ladies of Brandywine township on April 4. 1912. with an enrollment of twenty mem- bers. The following officers were elected: Mrs. Maud Porter, president : Mrs. Alice Scott, vice-president ; Mrs. Belle Milbourn. secretary and treas- urer. Mrs. Charlotte Rush, Mrs. Carrie Porter, Mrs. Orville Pope and Mrs. Maud Porter compose the program committee. The club meets on Thursday afternoons at the homes of the various members once each month. The program for the first year consisted of magazine articles, book reviews. domestic science and word study. The program for the years 1913. 1914 and 1915 consisted of work from the "Bay View Magazine." Bible and "Re- search." The membership is limited to twenty. The club has lost one mem- ber by death, Mrs. Mary Porter. The present officers are Mrs. Manie Burke, president ; Mrs. Ina Pope, vice-president : Miss Carrie Porter, secretary and treasurer.

HEAVY TAXPAYERS.

Following is a list of the taxpayers of the township who, during 1915, paid taxes in amounts larger than one hundred dollars: John R. . Andis, $174.10: Morgan Andis, $206.00: John Myea. $120.05: George W. Alyea. $117.47: Henry H. Duncan. $168.63 : John Hawkins, $225. 11 : Judea Hutch- ison (estate). $120.42: Jacob C. Hamilton. $209.36; Herman C. Hill. $120.59: John L. Milbourn. $479.22; Charles R. Mbor $387.29: John

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BRANDYWINE TOWNSHIP.

E. Smith, $197.41: Emanuel Smith, $112.00: George R. Siders, $126.21; Tilghman HI. Scudder, $161.30; Christian W. Schilling. $101.55: Fannie E. Schilling, $105.03: Isaac J. Bennett. $135.57: John T. Burk, $149.76; Will- iam F. Espey and wife, $147.73; Uriah Low, $116.38; Richard W. Low. $231.51 ; Henry M. Lantz, $175.34: Jerry W. Porter, $153.35; Francis M. Porter (estate), $104.27: L. C. N. Pope. $178.87: Thomas M. Tucker, $103.59: John Q. White. $233.63; Lewis J. Webber. $182.37.

CARROLLTON.

A postoffice named Kinder was established on the present site of Car- rollton, or near there, on April 28, 1847. Its name was changed to Carroll- ton on January 26. 1869. The postoffice was maintained until September 30. 1905. when it was taken away and mail was delivered by rural carrier from Fountaintown. Carrollton was then without a postoffice until October 13. 1913. when it was reestablished under the name of Finly. in honor of Con- gressman Finly Gray. A rural route from this postoffice was started on March 1. 1915. Before the completion of the railroad, in 1869, the mail was delivered by a star carrier, who made two trips per week between Indian- apolis and Rushville, as set forth under the history of mails at New Palestine.

The original plat of the town of Carrollton was surveyed by Hiram Comstock, on February 28. 1854. and contained thirty-two lots. The Rev. M. S. Ragsdale platted the only addition to the town, on August 23. 1870.

The business men of the place have been John Elinore. Andrews & Rose- bury, Lucas & Armstrong, Henry Noe. A. R. Shirley. C. W. AAmos, Harvey Breedlove, Madison and George Campbell. J. W. Hungate. W. P. Giles. T. E. Arnold and John Schenck. The physicians have been Hiram Comstock. Warren R. King. J. M. Larimore and Edgar Smith. Their practice has been lucrative. Dr. J. M. Larimore especially had a very extensive practice. covering miles in all directions from the town. Dr. Edgar Hawk is the present physician.

This little town has borne more names than any other town in the county. Originally it was known as Kinder. After the name of the post- office was changed to Carrollton, in 1860, the town was given that name. The railroad and express companies, however, adopted the name of Reed- ville for their stations. When the postoffice was reestablished in 1913. the name of Finly was added to the list. Amidst all this babel of appellations the common folk christened it, "Tailhelt," upon which Riley seized and, with poctie genius, immortalized the town.

CHAPTER XV.

BROWN TOWNSHIP.

Brown township was originally included as a part of Blue River town- ship. Later it was set off as a part of Green township. At the September term of the board of county commissioners, in 1836. it was organized as a separate township with its present dimensions. It is six miles east and west by five miles north and south. The civil township of Brown hes in two congressional townships. A strip one mile wide off of its entire west end lies in congressional township 17 north, range 7 east; the remaining portion of the township, consisting of twenty-five square miles, lies in congressional township 17 north, range 8 east.

Its surface is generally level or slightly rolling. Its natural dramage consists of Sugar creek. Willow branch and Brandywine creek. Sugar creek enters the extreme northeast corner of the township; then flows to the south- west about four miles: thence to the northwest about four miles ; thence to the southwest, leaving the west line of the township about one and one-half miles south of its north line. Sugar creek, thoughi small, is the largest stream. Willow branch, which rises about two and one-half miles north and a mile east of the southwest corner of the township, is nothing more than a large open ditch. The same is true of Brandywine creek, which rises in the north- western part of section 20. about a mile northwest of Warrington and flows southward through the township. The latter two streams were formerly slug- gish, but they have been deepened and widened and now furnish good out- lets for the southwestern part of the township. Sugar creek furnishes a good outlet for its entire northern portion. The land has all been well drained and is admirably adapted to heavy farming and grazing.

The first land entry in the township was made by Pryor Brown ( for whom the township was named), who, on July 3. 1830, entered the east half of the northeast quarter of section 33, township 17, range 8. He was followed by a number of families whose names are still familiar in the county. Among them are Adaline Edwards, John S. Murfin, Eli Baldwin, John McQuery. Aaron Cass. Elizabeth McCarty. John Walker. Alford Thomas. Seth Walker, Samuel Collins, Samuel Noland, Stephen Noland. Stephen Harlan. Abraham Cook, William Walker. Jesse Oldham, John Kennedy. George Kennedy, Ursula Wilkinson, Conrad Coon, William Wilkinson. Ben-

526

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BROWN TOWNSHIP.

jamin Ross, Robert Eakin, John Hendren, Hervey Scott, John Sparks, John Brewer, Samuel Smith, Thomas H. Murfin, John Hays, James Wood, John Collins, James Piper, David Piper, Samuel Kennedy. Daniel Blakely, Thomas Collins, Hliram Harlan, William F. Thomas, Joel Cook, Abraham Nibarger, Seth Rozell, Samuel Blakely. Barzilla Rozell, William Sparks, Charity Wilkin- son, Edward Beeson, Peter Moore, Samuel Creviston, John Vandyke, Elvin Roland, Zachariah Sparks, Henry John, Eli Bailey, Maria Edwards, Harvey Bates, William Bussell, Charles Piper, John Mitchell, John Thomas, Joseph Kennedy, Daniel Justice, Jesse Collins, James Judd, John Cook, David IJed- rick. Tary Wilson, William Kennedy, John Hargrove, John Oldham, Cicero Wilkinson, Daniel Wilkinson, William Oldham, John McCray, William Cauldwell. Marill Reeves, Moses McCray and Stephen Sparks.

MILLS AND FACTORIES.

Sugar creek was the only stream large enough to furnish water power for the early settlers. Among the mills established were grist-mills, erected by Stephen Harlan, in 1834, on Sugar creek, in the northern part of the northwest quarter of section 22, township 17, range 8. Mr. Harlan had learned the milling business thoroughly in the noted White Water mill, sit- uated near Connersville, Fayette county, Indiana, which was patronized at a very early day by Hancock county's pioneers. In 1834 he removed with his family to Brown township, Hancock county, where, in 1835, he built the first mill in the township. He was both miller and millwright. His first mill was situated on Sugar creek on Mr. Harlan's farm, southeast of where the Harlan cemetery is now located. It was of the "corn cracker" variety, and was propelled by an undershot water-wheel. The building was made of poles and covered with clapboards and was considered as the most "up-to-date" mill in the county. It was abandoned about 1852, and was used as a dwelling for several years by Lorenzo Brown, who had married Mr. Harlan's daughter. Nancy. Mr. Harlan immediately erected a larger and better mill. one-fourthi mile distant, which was run by an overshot wheel. It was so near the source of Sugar creek, and the creek being flat and shallow at this point, the race could not be kept within its banks in times of high water and during a dry season the water supply was insufficient to propel the wheel. It was operated for about ten years.

A saw-mill was erected by David Blakely in 1836, on Sugar creek, just above Nashville, and one was erected by one Jenkins in 1850, at the northwest corner of section 10, township 17, range 8, on the line between Hancock and Madison counties. It was operated for several years after the war. A saw-

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HANCOCK COUNTY, INDIANA.

mill was erected by Lane & Company, in 1852, at the northeast corner of the west half of the southeast quarter of section 31. township 17, range 8. at what became known as Scrabbletown. This mill was later owned by Dr. Samuel .A. Troy and others and was finally moved away, probably during the seventies. A saw-mill was erected in 1855 by Stephen Harlan and Lorenzo Brown on Sugar creek, a little south and west of the Harlan cemetery; one by Trees & Brother, in 1863. in the northeast part of Warrington, and one by Walton & Brother. in 1868. on Sugar creek, in the western part of the south half of the southeast quarter of section 7. township 17. range 8, the latter being operated for ten years or more.

.\ tile factory was established in September, 1870, just southwest of War- rington by John K. Trees. The factory was later operated by Copeland & Garriott, James Trees and Mr. Thomas. During the seventies and carly eighties a great many tile were manufactured at this place. Work was sus- pended about 1885.

\ grist-mill, built at Warrington in 1875 by Dr. C. C. and John Loder. was sold to Power & Cranfill in 1876: Cranfill's interest was sold to Frank Marsh in 1879. The mill burned in 1877 and was rebuilt by Power and others. An interest was also held in the mill by Dr. Charles Titus and William 1. Garriott. Hanna, Power, Titus, Garriott, all had an interest in the mill at different times during the eighties and nineties. In 1898 it burned again, but was rebuilt in 1899 by Keller & Wilson. Untried machinery was installed, which proved to be a failure. The mill has now stood idle since about 1900.

Atile yard was established just east of Willow in 1966 by Fred Wicker and Earl Frost, who sold to Herschell C. Hutchins in the spring of 1915.

SCHOOLS.

The first school house in Brown township was built by Moses Mel ray. who was born in Bourbon county. Kentucky, August 15. 1794. He was reared and educated in Fayette county, Indiana, near the city of Connersville. where, in 1817, he was married to Jane Sparks. In 1831 he removed with his wife and children to Rush county, Indiana, where he remained for two vears Ile then came to Brown township, Hancock county, in 1833. . \ few families had preceded him, but they were of small means and with limited or no education. He entered in all four hundred acres of land. No sooner had his two-story log house and big log barn been constructed, than he cut from his own forest poplar and walnut logs, and, with the help of his boys built the first school house in Brown township, in 1834. For seven years he

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BROWN TOWNSHIP.

wielded the rod and taught "the rule of three" without receiving any compen- sation as a teacher. In this eldl log school house, which stood on the site of the present McCray cemetery, he educated his family. The school often num- bered thirty children, some of whom came a distance of seven miles. Among those who came so far were Samuel Wales, father of John Wales, of Jackson township. Wintford Wales, and their sister, who married Nathan Overman. When the snows were too deep or the creeks too high they would remain with Mr. McCray until conditions improved. Sunday school and singing schools were conducted in this school house on Sundays and usually lasted from early morning until night. Logs split lengthwise were used for benches. and all available literature was pressed into use .. Bibles, almanacs, readers and arithmetics served as textbooks, from which the fundamentals were taught.

Brown township also had its other log schools, all of which were replaced by frame houses about the time of the Civil War, or a little later. These, in turn, were followed by the brick houses that were constructed during the eighties and nineties. Originally there were nine single-room district school buildings. About 1874 a two-story brick school house was erected at War- rington with two rooms. This house was used until 1894, when it was torn down and a four-room brick house was constructed. At different times dur- ing the eighties, and probably earlier, high school classes were organized for the term. District No. 7. where Wilkinson now stands, also had a large enumeration, and in 1884 a brick school was erected there. A small recita- tion room about twenty feet square was carved out of one corner of the larger room so that two teachers were employed during the eighties. Later, another room was added and three teachers were employed until the four-room house was erected, in 1904. Old printed lists of teachers show that sometimes two teachers were employed, at other times one teacher for each of these schools.

Systematic high school work was begun at Warrington in 1894. the same year that the four-room brick building was constructed. W. B. Stookey was the first principal of the high school. Following are the teachers who have had charge of the school since that time: Walter Bridges, 1895: Walter T. Orr. 1897: \. H. Symons, 1899; Ord Kuhn, 1902: O. W. Jackson, 1903: D. W. Sanders, 1904: L. L. Lydy, 1905: Jesse D. Knight, 1907: Lawrence Bridges, 1908: Eva Hubbard, 1909 : John T. Rash. 1911 : Leland S. Hamilton, 1912, after holidays, and J. P. Amick, 1914.

The school at first followed the regular three-year course that was organ- ized for the county. Its first class graduated in the spring of 1899 during the principalship of Walter T. Orr. After the towns of Shirley. Wilkinson

(34)

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HANCOCK COUNTY, INDIANA.

and Willow came into existence, and after the interurban line had been con- structed through the southern part of the township, there was a feeling that the school should be located at Wilkinson, where it would be more accessible. From 1903-1907 it had a full attendance. But for several years prior to 1911 the attendance at Warrington did not exceed fifteen or eighteen students, those along the car line asking to be transferred to Kennard, in Henry county. In the fall of 1911 the question of the location of the high school became acute and it became necessary for the trustee to make a decision as to whether it should remain at Warrington or be moved to Wilkinson. It was finally moved to Wilkinson, with John T. Rash as principal. The school at once had a large incoming class. Each of the successive classes has been large. and in the winter of 1915-16 the school had an attendance of about seventy- five. It was certified by the state department in 1911-12. Two additional rooms were built in 1913, and the school received its first commission dur- ing the winter of 1913-14 under the principalship of J. P. Amick. . \ kitchen was fully equipped for domestic science work in the fall of 1914. Three teachers are now employed in the high school.

Shirley, although a town with a population of about one thousand and two hundred, has never appointed a school board to take charge of its schools. For several years during the growth of the town, rooms were rented here and there. and schools conducted in various places. A four-room building, how- ever, was erected in 1900, which burned during the winter of 1907-08. In 1908 the present six-room building was constructed, during the trusteeship of John S. Mooney.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Brown township has a population of 3.028, as shown by the United States census report of 1910. In the spring of 1915. 630 children between the ages of six and twenty-one years were enumerated for school purposes. There were enrolled in the schools of the township in 1914-15. 594 pupils. Of these, 62 were in the high school and 532 in the elementary grades. The average daily attendance for the year 1914-15 in the high school was 53: in the elementary grades, 404. The total cost of maintaining the elementary schools during the year was $9.209.76; the total cost of maintaining the high school during the year was $3.058.24. The total amount paid teachers for the year was $8,045. The estimated value of the school property as reported by the township trustee on August 1. 1915, was $50.000. The total assess- ment of taxables in the township as reported by the assessor in 1914, was $1,680,580. Ninety children were transported to school at a cost to the township of $1.487.00.

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BROWN TOWNSHIP.

TOWNSHIP TRUSTEES.

The following men have served as township trustee since the enactment of the law creating the office in 1859: William L. Garriott, 1859; Mont- gomery Marsh, 1861 ; B. F. Reeves, 1803: J. W. Trees, 1804: William Marsh, 1865; William L. Garriott, 1878; John B. Hays, 1882: John S. Orr. 1884; Benjamin F. Reeves, 1886-1888; J. C. Kennedy, 1890; P. K. May, 1894; Arthur B. Ilarlan, 1900; John S. Mooney, 1904 : Ord Kuhn, 1908; and James C. Van Duyn, 1914.

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

The local courts have been presided over by the following men since the organization of the township: Barzilla Rozell, -: Seth Walker. 1836; Robert Eakin, 1840; Benjamin F. Reeves, 1870-74; 11. B. Collins, 1876: Damel Wilkinson, 1840: Robert Eakin, 1845. 1855; A. D. Childers, 1848, 1853, 1857: Neville Reeves, 1850, Benjamin McCarty, 1858, 1862, 1866; William L. Garriott, 1862; Benjamin F. Reeves, 1866, 1878; Alfred P. Mc- Kinsey, 1870; Joseph Garriott, 1880, 1884, 1890, 1906; William Collins, 1881; George Sowerwine, 1882-86; John S. Thomas, 1883-84; Henry Valentine. 1888; William R. Reeves, 1888-1900; John W. Smith, 1894-1911; Sylvester Hamilton, 1901; Joseph H. C. Denman, 1903; Omer C. Tucker. 1905: Jesse W. Smith. 1906; Alfred M. Mannings, 1910.

COUNTY OFFICERS.

Brown township has furnished a number of the people's servants, among whom are Lysander Sparks and William 1. Garriott, auditors: George W. Ham, treasurer ; Taylor W. Thomas and William G. Caldwell, sheriffs; James K. King, county surveyor; Ephraim Marsh, clerk: Seth Walker, Daniel Wilkinson, Neville Reeves, John B. Hays, Moses Bates and James H. Bus- cell, county commissioners ; Benjamin F. Reeves, representative.

TAXPAYERS.

Following are also the names of the persons who paid taxes in amounts exceeding one hundred dollars in 1915: Thomas H. Armstrong, $119.57 ; American Creosoting Company. $230.60: William T. Bridges, $115.30: William A. Barrett, $141.61: John Brooks, $155.90: Lorenzo D. Cook. $221.07 : Elmer Cook, $125.76; William A. Collingwood, $228.37; Meshack Collier, $184.53: Robert J. Collins, $265.52: E. J. Cranfill, $115.30; Eliza- beth Copeland. $196.71; Lafayette Delph. $185.04; William S. Eakin, $233.25 : William R. Gibbs, $102.71 ; Thomas .Albea, $111.03 : James H. Bus-

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HANCOCK COUNTY, INDIANA.

sell, Sicy.21: William (. Bridges, $140.00: Sarah E. Braddock. $155.49: John F. Cook, $295.0 ;: Eli Cook, $128.71; Matt F. Cook (heirs). $123.63: Charles R. Collier, $212.04: George W. Collins, $253.14: William 11. Chew. $157.73: William H. Collier. $130.74; Porter Copeland. $124.44: Della Doo- little. $103.53: Moses C. Fort (estate). $255.80 : Stephen J. Harlan, $356.60 Stakely Hays (heirs ). $t14.60: John D. Iledrick, $223.10: John L. Hanna, $142.82: Nancy A. Judge, $140.48; George T. Johnson, $121.6: James M. Keller, $1 32.26: Ord W. Kuhn, $125.16: John L. Kennedy. $101.30: Frank M. Martindale, $106. 17: Henry Marsh, $145.75: Jacob McDaniel, $157.88: James B. McDaniel, $150.42: James E. Nolan, $115.91 : Emiline I. Paxton. $174.93: William R. Reeves, $:52.84: Eli A. Richart, $226.55: J. B. and R. J. Simmons, $369.06: Charles F. Smith, $142.52; Juliette Thomas. $163.82: Taylor B. Thomas, Sigo.co: Charles Tis. $149.92: Warren W. Van Duyn. $106.98: Albert Walker, $241.98; William Whetsel. $149.40: Margaret Burris, $173.05 : Farmers National Bank. $564.90: Jacob W. Price. $174.93: Charles .\. Frash, $125.04: Guliford Kerr and wife, $103.79: Kuntz Lumber Company, $224.84: Mary E. Hays. $166.26; William llanna. $100.01 : David \. John. $1.8: Charles E. Judge. $220.37: John William Jackson. $110.75: Florence \. Kerwood, $250.30; Ira C. Kendall. $137.43: Martha F. Martindale. $350.07: Emma F. Marsh. $109.01 : John Masters. $111.45: Jacob .A. McDaniel, $123.53: John F. McCray. $137.94: James T. Overman, STOL.So: Joseph P. Reeves, $134.18; John . Reddick. $33.57: Raleigh F. Rigney, $180.47: Weston Summerville, $221.89: John B. Sim- mons, Jr .. $291.27: Joseph E. Thomas, $171. 13: Elmer E. Trees, $121.52: J. R. Titus and Sarah J. Titus, $211.04: Joseph H. Walker, $118.50: John Whisier, $338.30: Harrison Cook. $412.62: Elijah Martindale, $305.53: George W. Sowerine. $161.28; George W. Ham, $235.08: Charles Martin- dale, trustee, $225.77: Woodbury Glass Company, $746.20.

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History of Hancock county, Indiana; its people, industries and institutions, Part 49

Author: Richman, George J Publication date: 1916 Publisher: Indianapolis, Federal publishing co., inc. Number of Pages: 1272

Author: Richman, George J
Publication date: 1916
Publisher: Indianapolis, Federal publishing co., inc.
Number of Pages: 1272