USA > Indiana > Hancock County > History of Hancock county, Indiana; its people, industries and institutions > Part 52
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In 1902 cement sidewalks were made on Main street and a drainage system was installed. Shirley has two rural free delivery routes, one estab- lished August 1. 1902, the other a year or two later.
LIGIIT AND WATER.
The principal streets in Shirley were lighted with gas for a number of years. In 1913 the electric lights were installed. Ten years or more ago the town installed a gravity water system at a cost of fourteen thousand one bindred and fifty dollars. The tank has a capacity of thirty-eight thousand
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gallons, and has an elevation of one hundred and five feet above street level. For protection against fire the town also has a truck and hose. Before the installation of the present plant the town used a chemical engine as a protection against fires.
LODGES.
Several lodges have been organized at Shirley. \ Masonic lodge has its hall on the Henry county side of the town. An Odd Fellows lodge also met at Shirley for several years, but has now been moved to Kennard, in Henry county. The Red Men have an organization, but the early records have been lost and it seems to be impossible to obtain an accurate history of the order. Maple Leaf Lodge No. 651. Daughters of Rebekah, was instituted in 1903. Among its first officers were Nellie Hodgin, noble grand : Florence Lavalle. vice grand: Grace Wink, secretary; Gertrude Sedam, recording secretary : and Minnie Doyle, treasurer. Shirley Camp No. 6358. Modern Woodmen of America, was instituted July 13. 1901, with seventeen charter members. It now has a membership of forty-two.
SHIRLEY FRIENDS CHURCH.
The Friends church at Shirley was organized in 1802 with twenty-nine charter members. The church has had a steady growth and at present has a membership of one hundred and ten. The average attendance at services is probably fifty. A Sunday school is conducted in connection with the church. Seven classes are maintained and many of the adult members of the church are in attendance at Sunday school. The congregation now worships in a neat frame house.
SHIRLEY METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The Methodist Episcopal church in Shirley was organized in the spring of 1896 during the pastorate of Rev. S. F. Harter. He was preaching at Wilkinson at that time, and through the efforts of Mrs. Rose Franklin and Mrs. Mattie Steffey he was induced to come over to Shirley and preach for them. He preached that fall and winter in the school house, and in the spring of 1896 he organized the church with twenty-eight members. The church was dedicated in the spring of 1897. under the pastorate of the Rev. L. P. Pfiefer. The names of some of the charter members are, Mr. and Mrs. C. . .. Franklin, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Taylor, Mrs. Harriett Kuhn, Mattie Steffey, Mrs. Gertrude Byrket, and Mr. and Mrs. Benton Jackson. The present mem- bership is fifty-eight.
Following are some of the pastors of the church : S. F. Harter, 1895-96: F W Sandifur, 1896; L. P. Pfiefer, 1896-98: E. E. Wright, 1898 1900: M.
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M. Reynolds, 1900-1901 ; B. F. Hornaday, 1902-03; E. B. Westhafer, 1903- 05: G. Hartman Bright. 1905-06; W. E. Loveless198 Jo P. 1908-11 : Oliver Van Wie, 1911-13: C. W. Anderson, 1913-16.
A Sunday school was organized, probably about the time the church was established. . At present the average attendance is one hundred and seventeen. There are eight classes. The majority of the adult church members attend Sunday school. The superintendents for the past three years have been P. K. Sharky, Sylvester Hamilton and Edwin Kirkpatrick.
The parsonage was built in 1903. during Rev. B. F. Hornaday's pastor- ate, and completed under F. B. Westhafer. It is a seven-room house, situated on the Henry county side of Shirley.
MOTHER OF GOD ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.
Previous to the organization of the Mother of God Roman Catholic church at Shirley, the members at Shirley and vicinity had to drive to Knights- town, a distance of eight miles, to attend services. It was in the early fall of 1902 that the Rev. Father Killian, an assistant at St. John's church, Indian- apolis, came to Shirley to see what could be done toward organizing a con- gregation and building a church.
On Sunday afternoon, in the directors' room of the Shirley Bank, he met by appointment the following members: John Reddington, Martin Kuntz, C. P. Kuntz, Stephen Higi, T. J. Demund, Anthony Kuntz, Mr. Mundren and H. Reddington. At this meeting they discussed plans of building and loca- tion of the church and before they adjourned had pledged three thousand dollars to build the church.
From this time Father Killian made from two to three visits a month to Shirley and held services first at the residence of William 11. Kuntz, and later, after the congregation increased, at the school building, until the church was built. On October 2, 1903. the church was dedicated by the Rt. Rev. D. O'Donahue, then auxiliary bishop of the diocese of Indianapolis. . At this time there was a membership of one hundred and thirty and services were held on the first and third Sundays of the month, with a full attendance. Four or five years later many of the families moved away and services were held only on the first Sunday of the month. Finally services were discontinued for several months. Father Killian then notified the members that he would come and hold services on Monday after the third Sunday of each month. The attendance is now very small and will not average more than six adult members at the services.
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DISCIPLES OF CJIRIST.
A congregation of the Disciples of Christ at Shirley was organized in 1900 in the Methodist church by the Rev. T. H. Kuhn. The charter mem- bers were B. F. Martindale and wife, Mrs. B. O. Hufford, John W. White, Alonzo Cross, Belle Cross, H. S. Wales and wife, F. E. Garriott and wife. Mrs. Ella Varner and Mrs. Belle Lisher, At present the church has a mem- bership of sixty.
Among the pastors who have served the congregation are Carl Van- winkle, one year; Rev. Gard, one year; E. B. Scoffield, one year : Rev. Dailey. one year; Omer Hufford, four years ; Rev. Payne, one year; Rev. Addison, one year ; Rev. Wolff, one year ; Omer Hufford, one year ; T. H. Kuhn, one year ; B. M. Blount, six months.
A Sunday school was organized and now maintains six classes, with an average attendance of about ninety. The superintendents of the Sunday school have been, Odom Durham, one year ; George Reeves, three years ; B. O. Hufford, ten years; H. S. Wales, one year, and Mrs. C. R. Rynearson, one year.
The congregation owns a frame church building, thirty-six feet by sev- enty feet in size. The building committee which had its construction in charge was composed of John White, H. S. Wales, F. E. Garriott, Alonzo Cross and H. C. Reynolds. B. O. Hufford was the superintendent of con- struction of the building. It was dedicated by the Rev. Harkins.
PENTECOSTAL MISSION CHURCH (SHIRLEY ).
The Pentecostal Mission church and rescue home, as it is now called, was dedicated October 18, 1908, by Rev. J. W. Brown, of Wabash, Ind. William G. Moon, of Fairmount, Ind., was pastor and Ella Baldwin, matron of the liome. The mission and rescue work was begun at Shirley by Ella Baldwin in 1902, in her own home and in the old library hall, later at the large mission near the depot. Services were held Tuesdays at 7:30 p. m. and Sundays at 2:30 and 7:00 p. m.
THE ALPIIA CLUB.
The Alpha Club was organized in January, 1913, with eight charter mem- bers. Its purpose was social and civic improvement. The first officers elected were Mrs. W. W. Cooper, president, and Mrs. L. E. Moore, secretary and treasurer. The club has now grown to eighteen members. It promoted a "clean-up" day during the summer of 1914. at which the appearance of vacant lots was improved and receptacles were placed on Main street for waste paper. During the summer of 1915 a children's public play-ground was arranged and equipped by the ladies.
CHAPTER XVI.
BUCK CREEK TOWNSIHP.
Buck Creek township was originally organized at the May term of the board of county commissioners, 1831. It was made to include the entire western portion of the county north of what is now Sugar Creek township. In May, 1836, it was reduced in size to its present dimensions. At the May term of the board of commissioners, 1838. Jones township was organized. which included a strip two miles wide off of the south end of what is now Buck Creek township, and a similar strip off of the north end of Sugar Creek township. On March 11. 1853. the board of commissioners gave all of the townships their present boundary lines and since that time Buck Creek has been six miles square. It occupies the west central part of the county. Twelve square miles, or a strip two miles wide off of the west side of the civil town- ship, is in congressional township 16 north, range 5 east. The remaining portion of the township, consisting of twenty-four square miles, is located in congressional township 16 north, range 6 east. Its surface is very level. There are a few hills along Sugar creek, which passes through its extreme southeast corner, but the remaining part of the township is flat.
The question of drainage was one of the largest problems that confronted the early people of this township. The surface being low and level, and there being no large streams across the township. the question of outlets for drain- age became serious. There were smaller streams, such as Buck creek and Indian creek, but they, too, had very little fall and the water in them was slug- gish. The largest work of drainage in Buck Creek township, as well as in the county, was the dredging of Buck creek about twenty-five years ago. This stream comes down from Vernon township and crosses the central portion of Buck Creek township. leaving the latter at its southwest corner. During the latter sixties an attempt was made to improve the drainage of the creek by cutting it deeper with a spade. Another effort was made, probably ten years later, but both were unsuccessful. In 1885. William Caldwell, of Vernon township, filed his petition asking that Buck creek be made deeper and wider. Franklin Steele and John C. Eastes, with about thirty others. thereupon brought an action to enjoin the petitioners and contractors from constructing the work as petitioned and as had been ordered by the court. They contended that the creek could not be sufficiently deepened and widened without dredg- ing it. After the matter had been in the court for about four years, and
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after it had been taken to the higher courts of the state, Edwin P. Thayer, Jr .. of Greenfield, who had the contract for the work as originally ordered. pro- posed to dredge the creek for the assessments that had been made. This was ยท satisfactory to all parties concerned and the work was finished in 1889-90. After the filing of the injunction suit above mentioned. William Caldwell withdrew as a petitioner and Thomas Hana championed the cause that had been begun by Mr. Caklwell.
Other large works of drainage have been accomplished. so that now Buck Creek township is one of the most fertile townships in the county.
LAND ENTRIES.
The first land entry was made in the township by George Worthington. who entered the southeast quarter of section 34, township 16. range 6, on January 18, 1822. This land lies in the extreme southeast corner of the township immediately north of the town of Philadelphia. Among others who entered land in the township and whose names are still familiar among the family names of the county are : Barzillia G. Jay, William Philpott, Calli- more Plummer, Warner N. Copeland, William Wright, James Parker. James H. Wright. Isaiah Smith, Edward Haines, John Eastes, Jonathan Dunbar. Samuel Steele. Thomas Steele, James Wilson, Moses Dunn, John Jessup. Landon Eastes, Thomas Kennedy, John Parker. Owen Griffith, John Dance. Morris Pierson, Isaac Willett, Edward Thomas, William B. Plummer. George Leonard, James Dunn, Ebenezer Smith, Henry Beechman, William .1. Dunn. David W. Snider, Hervey Bates, Hervey Smith, James Cotton, Robert Hanna. Hans Steele, William Alexander, William Mints. Thomas Smith, John Wal- lace, Shadrach H. Arnett, George W. Willett, Nicholas little, Hiram Crump, Jacob Jones, Ephraim Thomas, George Plummer. John Collins, Joseph Wright, William Collins, William Snyder. Archibald Smith, William Harvey, Arthur Carr, Samuel Shirley, Samuel Dunn, Philip A. Mints, James P. Eastes. Thomas Alexander, William AArnett, Powell MI. Scott. Joseph Parker. Adam P. Byers, Washington Scott, Michael Bash, Mahala Eastes, Ovid Pierson.
MILLS, FACTORIES, SHOPS, ETC.
The streams of Buck Creek township, as stated above, were too small to furnish adequate water power. For this reason very few mills were estab- lished except steam-power mills. A water-power grist- and hominy-mill. however, was established on Buck creek on the northeast quarter of section 19. township 17, range 6, by Wesley Eastes, in 1854. The water power was found insufficient and the mill was operated but a short time. Other indi -- tries of the earlier days were :
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HANCOCK COUNTY, INDIAN.V.
A blacksmith shop, established during the forties, and probably carlier, by Ebenezer Scotten, on the east line of the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section 21, township 16, range 6, and operated for a number of years. A blacksmith and wagon shop, conducted for a number of years, be- ginning in the early forties, by John and Robert Wallace, along the north line of the east half of the northwest quarter of section 20, township 16, range 6. A saw- and grist-mill, erected about 1860 on the southeast quarter of sec- tion 17, township 16, range 6, by one Corbin. This mill was bought later by McClain & Buroaker. A saw-mill, established about 1863 by one Whit- lock, and operated for three or four years in the vicinity of Mt. Comfort. A saw-mill. established by Maulden & Hopkins about 1874, on the northeast corner of section 19, township 16. range 6. A tile factory, established by Ebenezer Steele along the middle of the south line of section 8, township 16, range 6. A saw-mill, established by Ebenezer Steele about 1882. at the south- east corner of the northeast quarter of section 18. township 16. range 6. A saw-mill, erected by Adam F. Wilson, in the latter seventies, in section 10. township 16. range 6. near the present west line of Mohawk. . \ grain elevator, erected by William H. Dunn at Mt. Comfort, about 1890. and later owned by his son, George Dunn. A grain elevator, crected by Barnard & Newman and now owned by Thomas H. New and the Grist heirs. A tile yard, estab- lished on the west side of the road at Mt. Comfort in 1884, by Fred Wicker. and operated until 1891.
SOCIAL SPIRIT IN THE TOWNSHIP.
From its earliest history there has been a good social spirit among the people of Buck Creek township. This spirit has expressed itself in picnics and other social gatherings at which the citizens of the township have come together. Probably the earliest record of a "grand picnic" in the county is one that tells the story of such a gathering held near Mt. Comfort in 1845. The picnic was held at the north end of the west half of the northeast quarter of section 19, township 16, range 6, or just northwest of the present residence of John C. Eastes. The story of this picnic as it comes down to us from the pen of Dr. J. W. Hervey is full of interest :
"A meeting was called at an old log school house that stood on the banks of Buck creck, in Buck Creek township. The call brought together nearly all the people within five miles around. The idea of having a Fourth of July celebration touched their hearts. Many of the old men who took part in the late Indian war were then alive and the recollection of the struggles of
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our fathers for independence was fresher then by a half century than now [July 5, 1804]. There was but one opinion on the occasion, and that was that the Fourth should be celebrated in the best way we could do it. We had nothing that modern usage now demands to make the occasion interesting. No flags, no drums, no band of music. Committees were appointed to see what could be done and nothing else was talked about at the homes, in the woods, or at public gatherings. When the time came for the committees to report, the arrangements had been made. Old Mother Eastes had some fine linen sheets, which she had woven years ago, and which had never been used. She had bleached them white as snow. She said there was no use fretting about a flag-to take one of her new sheets, or as many as were needed. Some other lady had red and blue flannel and some of the gentlemen agreed to see that the flag, with its proud eagle, its stars and stripes, should be put together and fastened upon a flag staff.
"A few friends in Indianapolis were so much interested in our effort that they furnished us with fife, drum, an old French horn, clarinet, and perhaps other instruments. My brother, Worthington B. Hervey, was to read the Declaration of Independence and I was promoted to the high station of being the 'orator of the day.' A grand barbecue was agreed to and Captain Hodges, John Collier, A. J. Sims, Landon Eastes and James Dunn were to get it up. A pit was dug in the ground, three or four feet deep. Into this was thrown wood, which was done the day before it was needed. When the wood was burned into coals the pit was hot and fit for use. 1 do not remember the number of oxen, calves, sheep and swine that were cooked, but there was enough for all and to spare.
"The people came from every section; every village and every town within reach was represented. Greenfield sent a large delegation, but I do not remember all of the names. Colonel Tague, General Milroy, John Foster, Joe Chapman, Andrew Hart, John Templin and John Hager. I do not re- member whether D. S. Gooding was there or not, or how many I have not named. Reverend Robinson, an old-time Kentucky Methodist minister, was chaplain. I heard many say at the time and since that they never enjoyed a Fourth of July celebration as they did that one. There was never a more peaceable and well behaved crowd than that was. I have the manuscript of the oration yet. It is a curiosity, the way I estimate it. The spread eagle predominates. It was made to soar onward and upward till all the world was borne to liberty. I would attempt a short description of that wonderful document, but my fancy has grown too tame for such flights as would be required to catch a glimpse of the altitude of that egregious fantasy.
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"Many amusing incidents occurred. The most remarkable of them was the run-away of an ox team. Two families had spliced to provide a way of conveying their enormous crop of youngsters to see the Fourth of July. Neither of them had a wagon. One had a horse and the other had a sled and a yoke of oxen. This was the outfit in which the adventure was made. The little ones and their mothers were piled in it. The men walked and drove the oxen. They went along very well until they came to Buck creek bridge. which was a long and shaky structure of poles, rails, slabs and plank. When they had reached the middle of the bridge several young bloods with their girls came up behind the oxen. They had never seen anything like such a turnout before, and they determined that they never would again. They made a lunge and into the swampy stream they plunged. The sled turned over and spilt the youngsters and their mothers into the mud. The children screamed and their mothers cried 'murder.' The men bounded into the mud. which was almost waist deep, and went to fishing out their respective fam- ilies. The young riders hastened on to the grounds with the news that a whole family was killed or wounded and to send the doctor post haste. I was furnished a fast horse and in a few minutes was before a scene that would make one laugh irresistibly : Five little fellows, as muddy as mud could make them from top to bottom (their eyes and mouths were all that the mund did not hide), were sitting in a row on the bridge. The two mothers were scrap- ing themselves with splinters to get their faces and hands relieved; the two men were in the mud, and as muddy as they could get, fishing out the unre- claimed children. They got washed off, or partly off. in time to pay their compliments to the barbeque. I have seen many strange groups of human beings, but I never saw any equal that one. Some of these children grew up to fill responsible places in society.
"When I looked upon the display yesterday the contrast between the celebrations brought my mind to the wonderful changes that half a century has wrought in politics, in morals, in religion, in trade, and in customs and usages, as well as in conditions that result from progress, wealth and re- finement.
"The old flag made from Mother Eastes' linen sheet expressed as much as the silk flags they floated from so many homes in this city yesterday."
The meident of the ox team referred to in Doctor Hervey's statement occurred just east of where the present high school stands. The Buck creek bottom from the west grade of the creek to the southeast corner of section 18 was very low, and soggy and marshy. A corduroy road had been built across part of the bottom and a trestle bridge spanned the rest of it.
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BUCK CREEK TOWNSHIP.
On Saturday, August 10, 1861, another great citizens' meeting was held just across the road from and a little west of the place of the former picnic. It was probably held in a grove at the south end of the east half of the southwest quarter of section 18. township 16, range 6, and was denominated a "grand union picnic and basket dinner." An immense crowd gathered and speeches were made by Reuben \. Riley, David S. Gooding and Dr. J. W. Hervey. The ladies of the township served a dinner "in quantity and quality to satisfy the most fastidious taste." A general program was given. The singing of Mrs. Dr. Collins, of Cumberland, was considered a musical treat, especially her rendition of "Dixie."
On July 4, 1876, another great celebration was held in which the people of the township participated, at the grove of James Collins, at the north end of the southeast quarter of section 14, township 16, range 5. Dinner was again served to all present by the ladies of the township. A general program followed. Henry Wright read the Declaration of Independence, and James L. Mason, Charles G. Offutt and William Fries made addresses.
SCHOOLS.
Buck Creek township, like the other townships of the county, began her educational work in log school houses. The first house in district No. I was erected at the northeast corner of section 9, township 16, range 6; the house in district No. 4, at the northeast corner of section 14. township 16. range 5 ; the house in district No. 5, where the present township high school stands, just west of Buck creek in the southeast quarter of section 18. township 16. range 6. It stood about eighteen rods west of the present high school building and was a room about fourteen feet by twenty feet. It had a door, and to admit light one log was taken out on the north side and an eight by ten inch glass put in. For a writing desk. a wide poplar slab was hewed down to the thick- ness of about three inches, with the top planed smooth ; this slab or writing desk was placed under the window by boring two one-inch holes in the log and inserting pins long enough to support it. The seats were made from lin logs about eight inches in diameter, split, each log making two seats about ten feet long. Holes were bored in the round side and wooden pins inserted for legs to raise the seat to the proper height. The first log school house in district No. 6 was located on the south side of the southeast quarter of section 15, township 16. range 6; the first house in district No. 7, at the southwest quarter of section 28, township 16, range 6; the first house in district No. 9. on the Hamilton Welling farm, on the south side of the northeast quarter of section 29. township 16, range 6.
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HANCOCK COUNTY, INDIAN.1.
The first frame house in the township was built in 1800, during the trusteeship of Ephraim Thomas. I stood just west of Buck creek along the south side of the southeast quarter of section 18, township 16, range 6. The first brick school house in the township was erected in district No. 6 at the southeast corner of section 15. township 16, range 6, during the trustee- ship of John C. Eastes.
The original frame school house erected in 1860 in district No. 5 stood until 1893-4, when it burned, and was replaced by a one-story two-room school house, constructed by Thomas Moxley and Clint Parker during the trusteeship of Andrew Fink. This house also burned during the winter of 1898-9. This was just at the time when the townships of the county were establishing high schools, and such a high school was wanted in Buck Creek township. . A number of people felt that the proposed high school building should be located near the town of Mt. Comfort and for this purpose a petition was presented by a number of citizens asking that the location of the house be changed to a point about fifteen rods east of the southwest corner of section 18, township 16, range 6. The petition was signed by S. S. Eastes and thirty-seven others. A strong opposition developed to the removal of the house. A\ hearing was held by County Superintendent Lee O. Harris, at the small court room at Greenfield, in which the petitioners and those opposed to the removal of the house were ably represented by their attorneys. As a result of the hearing. the county superintendent refused to grant the order for the removal of the house, and the first four-room township high school was erected at the point above described, immediately west of Buck creek. It was constructed in the summer of 1899, during the trusteeship of John W. Griffith and was dedicated on October 28 of that year. There were present on the occasion of the dedi- cation of the house. State Superintendent D. M. Geeting. W. B. Flick, ex- county superintendent of Marion county, and Capt. Lee O. Harris, superin- tendent of Hancock county, all of whom made addresses.
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