USA > Indiana > Hendricks County > History of Hendricks County, Indiana, her people, industries and institutions > Part 4
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OTHER FIRST EVENTS.
The first marriage license issued by the county clerk was for the mar- riage of James Reynolds and Rachel Demoss on November 17, 1824. Sam-
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uel Jessup, the first justice of the peace, performed the ceremony. In this same month Charles Merritt and Jemimie Leaman were married by Aaron Homan, a justice of the peace.
The first land deed was made on November 3, 1825, between Samuel Woodward and his wife, Abigail.
The first will recorded in the county was that of Uriah Hults, a farmer.
ORGANIZATION OF HENDRICKS COUNTY.
The act organizing the county of Hendricks was approved on December 29, 1823. The county was named in honor of William Hendricks, then gov- ernor of the state of Indiana. The act follows:
"Section I. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of In- diana, That from and after the first day of April next, all that part of the county of Wabash included in the following boundary, viz .: Beginning at the southeast corner of section 20, in township 14 north, of range 2 east, thence west twenty miles to the east line of Putnam county, thence north with said line twenty miles, to the northwest corner of section 18, in town- ship 17, in range 2 west, thence east twenty miles, to the northwest corner of Marion county, thence south twenty miles with said county line, to the place of beginning, shall form and constitute a new county, to be known and designated by the name and style of the county of Hendricks.
"Sec. 2. The said new county of Hendricks shall, from and after the first day of April next, enjoy all the rights, privileges and jurisdiction which to separate and independent counties do, or may properly belong and ap- pertain.
"Sec. 3. That William Templeton, of Lawrence county, William Mc- Culloch, of Monroe county, Calvin Fletcher, of Marion county, Abel Cole, of Shelby county, and John Smiley, of Johnson county, be, and they are hereby appointed commissioners, agreeably to an act entitled, 'An act for fixing the seats of justice in all new counties hereafter to be laid off.' The commissioners above named shall meet at the house of the late William Ballard, in said county of Hendricks, on the second Monday of July next, and shall immediately proceed to discharge the duties assigned them by laws. It is hereby made the duty of the sheriff of Morgan county to notify the said commissioners, either in person or by written notification, of their ap- pointment, on or before the first day of June next; and the said sheriff of Morgan county shall receive from the said county of Hendricks so much for his services as the county commissioners, who are hereby authorized to
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allow the same, shall deem reasonable, to be paid out of any moneys in the treasury of said county, in the same manner that all other moneys are paid.
"Sec. 4. The circuit courts and all other courts of the county of Hen- dricks shall meet an be holden at the house of the late William Ballard in said county of Hendricks, until suitable accommodations can be had at the seat of justice in said county, when they shall adjourn the circuit courts thereto; after which time all the courts of the county of Hendricks shall be holden at the county seat of Hendricks county, established by law. Pro- vided, however, that the circuit court shall have authority to remove the court from the said house of the late William Ballard to any other place in the said county of Hendricks previous to the completion of the public build- ings, should the said court deem it expedient.
"Sec. 5. The board of commissioners for the said county of Hen- dricks shall within twelve months after the seat of justice shall have been selected, proceed to erect the necessary public buildings thereon. They shall also hold a special session on the first Monday in May next, for the purpose of appointing an assessor and transacting such other business as may be necessary.
"Sec. 6. The said new county of Hendricks shall form a part of the counties of Montgomery and Putnam, for the purpose of electing senators and representatives to the General Assembly, until otherwise directed by law. "Sec. 7. The same powers, privileges and authorities that are granted to the qualified voters of the county of Dubois and other counties named in the act entitled, 'An act incorporating a county library in the counties therein named,' approved January 28, 1818, to organize, conduct and support a county library, are hereby granted to the qualified voters of the county of Hendricks, and the same power and authority therein granted to, and the same duties therein required of the several officers, and the person or per- sons elected by the qualified voters of Dubois county, and other counties named in the said act, for carrying into effect the provisions of the act en- titled, 'An act incorporating a county library in the county of Dubois, and other counties therein named,' according to the true intent and meaning thereof, are hereby extended to and required of the officers and other per- sons elected by the qualified voters of the county of Hendricks.
"This act to take effect and be in force from and after its passage."
SELECTION OF COUNTY SEAT.
According to the provisions of this act, the men selected began to in- vestigate several claims made for the location of the county seat. Many
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localities were at work striving for the honor, among them the community near George Mattock's tavern, two miles east of Belleville, where a town had been laid out named Hillsboro. This site was discarded in favor of a location as near as possible to the geographical center of the county, and on the second Monday in July, 1824, the site of Danville was chosen. Four men, Daniel Beals, George Matlock, Robert Wilson and James Downard, heing the owners of land in four sections having a common corner, each donated twenty acres touching the common corner for the benefit of the county seat, all of which was laid out into public square and town lots.
Thomas Hinton was appointed agent of the county, and on October 20, 1824, he placed on file a plat of the town of Danville. The lots were immedi- ately put up at a public sale, and this continued for three days. An order was made by the commissioners for fifteen gallons of whiskey to assist the pur- chasers in making their selection. Samuel Herriman, the coroner, was the dis- tributor on this occasion. The price paid for the lots ranged from three to one hundred and fifteen dollars. The latter price was given by Mr. Hulse for the lot on the northeast corner of Main and Washington streets. The lot on the southwest corner brought the next highest price.
The court house was completed and the first term of court held in Dan- ville in April of the year 1826. The building was constructed of peeled hickory logs and cost one hundred and forty-seven dollars. The jail was of the same material.
The first county commissioners were Thomas Lockhart, Gideon Wil- son and Littlebury Blakely. They divided the county into nine townships, of nearly equal area, and there was sufficient population in but four of the townships at that time to give them a civil organization. The first repre- : sentative of the county in the General Assembly was Lewis Mastin.
CHAPTER IV.
BROWN TOWNSHIP.
TOPOGRAPHY.
In the extreme northeast corner of Hendricks county lies Brown town- ship, comprising about twenty-five square miles of land in townships 16 and 17 north, ranges I and 2 east. On the north the township is bounded by Boone county, on the east by Marion county, on the south by Lincoln town- ship and on the west by Middle township. White Lick creek, passing through the western side of the township, drains the largest portion of the land, although Eagle creek carries a large quantity of water from the high country along the eastern border. The soil of Brown township is rich and produc- tive, the nature of the ground being rolling. The central portion is for the most part very level and, before the excellent system of drainage used today, was swampy and of little value. The clay and alluvial soil found in Brown township is without a superior in the county or middle Indiana and is now worth a high price per acre. Practically every acre is under cultivation and made to yield to the utmost of its productiveness without impoverishing the soil.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
Until the year 1863 Brown township included what is now Lincoln township. Brown township was named after James Brown, who was the first settler within its boundary. David Sparks, however, was the first white man in this territory ; he came in the year 1827, three years before any definite settlement had been made in this portion of the county. Owing to the unfortunate location of the township it has no railroad or interurban line, but the general fertility of its soil largely makes up for this deficiency.
FIRST ELECTION.
The first general election in Brown township was in 1828. From the poll book and tally sheet the following is taken: "At an Election held at
.
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the hous of James Brown on the 4th day of August 1828 for the purpos. of Electing one Govinor one Lieutenant Govinor one Representator to Cong- ress one Sinitor one representative to State Legislater one Coriner the follow- ing is a list of the number of votes taken and also the number Each Candidate receivs." There were twelve voters at this election, namely: James Brown, Joseph Runion, Joshua Newham, William Harris, Thomas Nash, Daniel Newham, George Tyler, James R. Smith, Shannon Foster, Edward Rails- back, Jesse Smith and Nathaniel W. Hults. Politically, the township has been strongly Democratic from the beginning.
BROWN TOWNSHIP IN 1914.
The statement has been made that Brown township holds a singular place among the other townships, by not having the usual transportation facilities and the lack of towns. This fact by no means is evidence that the township is behind the others. The farmers are intelligent and capable and the farms they manage are modern and well kept. The science of agriculture has not been a neglected art in this locality, in fact it has been much encouraged, and the tiller of the soil embraces every opportunity to improve his knowledge of the best methods of cultivation.
Roads in this township are excellent, of macadam and gravel and in a high state of improvement. This lends quick access to the railroads and other points in the county. Telephones, both local and long distance, have enabled the people to come into closer communication with their fellows. Schools are now set to a standard of high efficiency, the consolidated school system rapidly coming into effect.
Not only has the farmer paid attention to his farm land, but he has built his residence and his buildings in the most up-to-date fashion. All con- veniences are found in the present farm home the same as in the city. Elec- tric lights, telephones, steam heat, water power and sewerage systents are but a few of these.
SCENE
NEAR TO NATURE'S HEART
CHAPTER V.
CENTER TOWNSHIP.
TOPOGRAPHY.
In the center of Hendricks county is located the township of Center. It is in townships 15 and 16 north, ranges I east and 2 west, comprising about forty-six square miles. It is bounded on the north by Union and Middle townships, on the east by Middle and Washington, on the south by Liberty and Clay, and on the west by Clay, Marion and Eel River townships. The west fork of White Lick creek, its tributaries, and Mill creek drain the land within the bounds of this township, supplemented today by a very effi- cient system of artificial drainage. With the exception of the deep, precipi- tous valley worn through the center of the township by White Lick, the nature of the land is undulating and level. The highest elevation of land in the county is in Center township, gradually sloping away to the border. Woodland once covered this territory, but it has now been reduced to a minimum. It embraces a body of land unexcelled for grazing and of very high rank for fruit and grain production.
EARLY SETTLEMENT AND ELECTION.
It is recorded that the earliest settlement was made in Center township in the year 1823. Very few people ever lived in this portion of the county until after the platting of the town of Danville, from which time it began to grow.
There was a general election held in Center township on August 7, 1826, votes being cast for congressman, senator, representative, sheriff and coroner. There were about two hundred people in the township at that time and sixty- six persons voted. The list of voters was as follows: Francis Barbee, Thomas Hinten, Richard Christie, Elijah Thompson, Dickison Thompson, James Thompson, Jeremiah Cutbirth, Thomas Nichols, William Moore, George Moore, Thomas Shelton, Jonathan Wyatt, Nathaniel Kirk, Thomas
(4)
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Irons, Ezekiel Moore, William Crane, George Moore, Jr., Moses Williams, William Moore, Sr., John Green, Samuel Gwinn, John Bryant, John Ristine, Martin Cooper, David Downs, Eli Townsend, Samuel Harriman, Thomas Howell, Thomas J. Walker, John Hanna, Thomas B. Clark, David Adams, Robert Cooper, Lemuel Hopkins, Joseph Dunn, George W. Pope, William Herron, Stephen Cook, Jesse Cook, Silas Bryant, Abel Stanley, Levi Kind- man, Eli Morris, Job Osborn, Daniel Clark, William Pope. B. Dunn, Andy Clark, John Dunn, John Calor, James Downard, Preston Pennington, Nim- rod Harrison, James Logan, John Moore, John Downs, James Williams, David Matlock, Stephen Annel, Thomas Walker, Jefferson Matlock, P. S. Dickens, David McDonald, Levi Jessup, George C. Brightman and Erasmus Nichols.
CENTER TOWNSHIP TODAY.
Because of the location of Danville, the county seat, Center township today occupys in some respects the foremost place among the twelve town- ships of the county. In richness, in agriculture and kindred vocation, she is not superior to all of the townships, but holds a high position and is deserv- ing of much credit. The taxpayers are loyal and willing to support any movement for the good of the township and consequently civic pride and intelligent interest in the country has gained a prominent place. The land surrounding Danville is very good farming ground and a visit to the numer- ous estates will convince the critic that the most modern and efficient methods are used by the farmer in the cultivation of his soil. The homes dotting the broad farms are attractive and equal to the home of the man with urban ad- vantages, something which twenty years ago would have been believed im- possible. Telephones, excellent roads, railroads and interurban lines, all contribute to the easy communication with all parts of the county and the state capital. Distance has ceased to be a factor in present-day life. The schools of Center township are of the first class, the religious life is pro- nounced, and behind all there is a spirit of goodfellowship, progress and in- dustry which prophesies greater and greater things to come.
DANVILLE.
In the year 1824 the first dwelling was constructed on the site of Danville by Daniel Clark. This structure was a log cabin. Immediately after the location of Clark's cabin several other settlers came to the immediate vicinity and made their homes. By the following winter there were quite a number
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of people living in the neighborhood-in fact, sufficient in number to start a school. The first man to teach here was Wesley Mckinley. Doctor Garrett was the first physician to administer to the ill. A hotel, or rather, a log tavern, was opened to the public by Levi Jessup, the first county clerk. He was succeeded in this business in 1828 by Col. Thomas Nichols, who came to Danville in that year and became sheriff of the county. Nichols also inter- ested himself in building houses. In 1829, he constructed, at Danville, the first brick school house in Hendricks county.
In another chapter it is stated that the town of Danville was officially laid out by Thomas Hinton on October 20, 1824.
Immediately after this, cabins began to spring up and with the first one erected by Clark were many, just as unpretentious, but inviting. James L. Givin set up a small store on the north side of the square and there the first merchandise was sold. Flour was not among his stock, however, and people were compelled to go to Indianapolis after that product. The first court house, constructed of peeled hickory logs, cost one hundred and forty- seven dollars. The jail, made of the same material, was back of the build- ing recently occupied by the Thompson jewelry store. It was considered impregnable, with its thick walls, small, high windows, puncheon floors and dungeon The first hotel, then called a tavern, was a large, rambling two- story building situated on the lot now occupied by Beck's restaurant. With its square and multipaned windows, massive door and large chimney, it was a picturesque building. Along the alley was a long, mossy trough. hollowed from a log, from which horses were watered from the tavern well. This tavern was a busy place, especially when court was in session. Those who attended court had to travel over many miles on horseback, through sloughs and forests, over fallen trees, across streams and every other obstacle which impeded the journey of the early traveler. Arriving at the tavern door, cold, tired and hungry, they found rest and food in plenty. The food was not served by courses, or miniature quantities in side dishes, but was literally piled upon the table, the chief dish often being a whole roast pig.
INCORPORATION.
The record of incorporation of the town of Danville reads as follows :
"We, the undersigned, President and Clerk of an election held at the court house in the town of Danville, on the 24th day of January, A. D. 1835, agreeably to an order of the Board of County Commissioners, within and for
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the county of Hendricks, at their January term, 1835, for the purpose of electing five Trustees to serve the corporation of said town of Danville, do certify that at the election aforesaid, we, the undersigned, President and Clerk as aforesaid, after being duly sworn according to law, did proceed to lay off the said town into five districts, as follows, to-wit: District No. One is com- posed of Blocks No. 1, 2, 3, 14, 15 and 16; District No. Two, of Blocks Nos. 17, 18, 19, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 and 34; District No. Three, of Blocks Nos. 4, 13, 28 and 35; District No. Four, of Blocks Nos. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, II and 12; District No. Five, of Blocks Nos. 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 36, 37, 38 and 39; and after the division of the said town into districts, and the same being made known to the qualified voters thereof, who then proceeded to elect one trustee from each district, whereupon the following persons were duly elected, to-wit: Disrict No. I, Henry G. Todd; District No. 2, Jubal Lee ; District No. 3, Charles B. Naylor; District No. 4, James M. Gregg; and District No. 5, William S. Crawford. The foregoing certificate, given pur- suant to the revised code for such case made and provided, together with an act entitled 'An act amendatory of the act entitled an act for the incor- poration of towns,' approved February 2, 1832. Given under our hands and seals, this 27th day of January, 1835.
"J. M. GREGG, President. "HENRY G. TODD, Clerk."
After some years under this town charter, it was surrendered, but re- newed and the town reincorporated in the year 1859.
TOWN BEGINNINGS.
About the time of the incorporation of Danville the young town was becoming a centering place for the farmers of the county and was regarded as a particularly beautiful place. At that, the appearance of the village was far from what the present dweller would call attractive. The street at the northeast corner of the square was almost a marsh, although steps had been taken to fill it in. The present hollow, a square south of the college, now being filled and a street put through, then extended westward to the Mc- Curdy block and on Tennessee street there was a bridge across it. At the west end of the hollow was a spring of pure water, as there was also in the court house yard. When an election was held in the town some of the voters would get thirsty and depart for the spring in the hollow to get a drink. However, their source of supply was a keg hidden in the bushes alongside the spring.
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The main business portion of the town was on the north side of the square. The first brick business room was constructed by Colonel Nave in 1832. It was a square law office, almost comparable in size to a piano box, but was considered elegant then. The second brick building was located on the spot now occupied by Darnell's "Yaller Front." Before it was erected the first postoffice stood there. The postmaster, who was a saddler, plied his trade in the front room. All the stores at this time were general stores, that is, they kept every article of merchandise desired by the settler from dry goods and groceries to plows.
This, in a measure, supplies the reader with a picture of the early Dan- ville. The town has never grown to city proportions, but the improvement since those early times have been timely. and as thorough as if the town had enlarged to ten thousand population.
NAMING OF COUNTY SEAT.
The man directly responsible for the naming of the county seat of Hen- dricks county was Judge William Watson Wick, one of the pioneer jurists of Indiana. He was judge of the fifth circuit, composed of Lawrence, Mon- roe, Morgan, Greene, Owen, Marion, Hendricks, Rush, Decatur, Bartholo- mew. Shelby, Jennings and Johnson counties. Judge Wick was holding court in Hendricks county when the commissioners were discussing what to name the county seat. The Judge had a brother named Dan and in honor of him he urged the commissioners to adopt the name Danville, which was done.
AN OLD RESIDENT'S IDEA OF EARLY DANVILLE.
From the manuscript of H. Henry, one of the first men in Danville, the following is taken :
"I came to Danville in August, 1858. That year was, in the language of the farmers, a wet year. The train upon which we came waded through what Major Verbrike would have called 'a wilderness of mud and water' and it made the trip from Cincinnati to Cartersburg in eight hours, which was considered fast time in those days. Coming up to town from Cartersburg in Keeney's hack, I had for fellow passengers Professor Tarr and Clint Petty. The Professor was on his first trip to town to make arrangements to or- ganize the Danville Academy. He was dressed as a minister and was full of missionary zeal. I was loaded for Indians and wild game, and carried a double-barreled shot-gun. Petty was armed with a stone pipe, loaded with
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long-range tobacco, and, being on his own native soil, he 'got the drop' on the bear hunter and the missionary at once. The Professor looked at my gun and turned up his nose at Petty's pipe, which had made him sea-sick, while he said, 'Please, sir, do not smoke the pipe in this hack.' Petty answered, 'Stranger, I will compromise with you. I will hold my head outside of the window.' The Professor looked at me and my gun as if he wished to shoot the pipe, but I never said a word. I became a silent partner in the compromise with the ways of the wild and woolly west.
"On our arrival in town we were met by the immortal Boone O'Haver, who was the self-appointed keeper of the gates of the city. Boone directed Professor Tarr to the home of a good Methodist brother. Then he took my gun in his hands and escorted me and the oil-cloth carpet sack over to Henry Howell's grocery on the east side of the square, where he introduced me to the 'boys.' Boone gave me a hearty reception. He went in the grocery and brought out a mammoth watermelon and cut it and made the usual mistake of quoting Scripture and crediting it to Shakespeare, by saying to the crowd : 'Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.'
"The first thing I remember concerning politics after coming to Danville was a joint discussion between Martin M. Ray and Albert G. Porter. The slavery question was, of course, the bone of contention. The orators talked much about 'border ruffians' and 'bleeding Kansas' and had much to say about 'squatter sovereignty.' After the speaking, a tramp shoemaker named Cary Maul, who had gathered the impression that 'squatter sovereignty' was an individual, a bully who had set down on all the government lands in the West and had caused all the political troubles, declared that he would go to Kansas and 'put a hole through Old Squatter Sovereignty.' He added that if Nebraska Bill did not look out he would get shot, too.
"James Peters, a journeyman musical instrument maker, who made dul- cimers for Vinson Hamblin in Samuel Hawkins' chair shop, was a genius that only a Charles Dickens could describe properly. He resembled Julius Caesar. He was a college graduate and had, before coming to Danville, been a clerk of a court in Ohio. Peters had met a disappointment in love and had made an unsuccessful effort to drown his sorrows in opium and liquor. One day, while under the influence of liquor, he threw a bucket and a bundle of ax- handles through the show-window of a drug store and would have painted the town red if it had not been for the officers of the law. When the marshal and his deputies arrived at Squire Singer's office with Peters there was a large crowd there to see the fun. The Squire was scared and his hand trem-
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