USA > Indiana > Huntington County > History of Huntington County, Indiana : from the earliest time to the present, with biographical sketches, notes, etc., together with a short history of the Northwest, the Indiana Territory, and the State of Indiana > Part 63
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The following settlers came to the township in quite an early day, viz .: Stogdall Sharp, in the southeastern part; John Rich- ardson, Section 14; David Richardson, Section 10; John Ewart, in Section 24; Christopher Morris, Section 35; Jacob Myers, Sec- tion 35; Nathan Cook, Section 16; John Cook, who lived at differ- ent places in the township; Alexander Morgan, in Section 1, where his son William Morgan now lives; Thomas Webb, in Sec- tion 32; Jacob Hedrick, Section 32; Benjamin Satterthwaite, in Section 7; Isaiah Garwood, a son-in-law of Satterthwaite, near the present site of Pleasant Plain; Alfred Hardy, in Section 30; Eli- sha Frazier, in Section 33; David C. Little, Section 34; James Cook, in Section 16; Henry Smothers, Section 30; Christian Wearley, Section 33; Jacob Myers, Section 25; David Wall, Lem- uel and J. E. B. Ewart, in southern part of the Township; Isaac Young, in Section 36; David Campbell, James Cloud, Jehiel Was- son, James Denand, Humphrey Denand, Eli Burkett, Noah McGrew, Frederick Koritz, Branson Cox, Aaron Bond, Ralph Wright, Isaac Cook, Samuel Marshall, James Miller, James Ad- ams, Andrew Wiley, Allen Gurley, Aaron Roney, James Yaw- ger, Henry Werner, Frederick Heffner, Elisha Christman, Harri- son Lynn, Charles Gurley, James Drake, Samuel Roberts, who
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lived in various parts of the township. As the reader may sup- pose, numerous changes occurred during the early years of the county, so that doubtless many worthy names entitled to men- tion may have been omitted by our informants. The above list, however, embraces the majority of the pioneers of the township.
Early Condition of the Settlements. - The first settlers of Jef- ferson, like the pioneer in other parts of Huntington County, were of the poorer class in the counties and States from which they came, and as a consequence, experienced many hardships in clearing their farms and gaining a foothold in the new coun- try. They at first depended mostly for meat on the game, with which the forests abounded, while nearly every article of cloth- ing worn by male or female was manufactured at home on the old fashioned spinning wheels, cards or looms. The men dressed in homespun jeans and the women in linsey-woolsey and linen, the former constituting the winter and the latter the summer raiment. Agriculture was for many years in a very rude state when com- pared with the science to which it has since been reduced. The prime cause of this was the great lack of agricultural imple- ments, which were few in number and of simple construction. Inventive genius and Yankee ingenuity had not yet been em- ployed in this direction to any great extent. The plows in com- mon use when the first settlements were made, were of a rude character and of three kinds, the " bar shear," the " bull tongue " and the "shovel." To attempt a description of the bar shear would be useless, as those who never saw one could scarcely un- derstand the description; like the alligator, they must be seen to be appreciated. The shovel plow is yet in use, and need not be described. Some of the harrows first used, had wooden, in- stead of iron teeth, while some of the early settlers did their harrowing with a heavy brush, drawn by a pair of oxen or horses. Most of the early settlers emigrated from sections where corn was the principal grain, hence they continued its cultiva- tion here as a main crop, raising but little wheat. Notwith- standing it was of good quality and fair yield. But little as they did raise, it was about as much as could be harvested with the im- plements then in use. For several years after the first attempt at wheat raising, the principal means of harvesting was the old fashioned sickle, and later the cradle. During the harvest the people of a neighborhood would unite on the principle that " many hands make light work," and beginning at the farm where the grain was the ripest, proceed to reap first one field, then another, until all the grain was cut. As settlers increased in numbers, a common cause was made in meeting the wants of each other, helping for help again. The idea of assisting an- other for a pecuniary consideration never obtruded itself in those pioneer days, and no greater insult could have been offered then, than a hint that money was to pay for a neighbor's help. As with the harvest so with the raising of a cabin, all the occasion demanded was a knowledge of the time and place; distance was
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nothing, and other less pressing engagements had to succumb to the needed assistance. House raising, log rolling and wood chopping, would no doubt be considered arduous labors, and such they really were, even to the brawny muscled pioneers, but under the stimulating influence of whisky, a common beverage at that time, and the assurance of a rich repast of game, corn- dodgers, hominy, etc., the labor was transformed into pleasure, and the hardship into an accommodation. This reference to ardent spirits is not meant to reflect any discredit to those who were in the habit of using alcoholic stimulants. It was one of the unbroken customs of the times. Liquors were regarded as any other cheer and were partaken of by even the temperate. Seldom, indeed were they taken in sufficient quantities to cause intoxication. A jug of the " Jefferson simplicity " was found in nearly every household, and it was considered almost as indis- pensable as any other article of food or drink. The most reput- able citizens thought it no disgrace to keep on hand a general supply, and to withold it upon any occasion was considered a breach of hospitality, and who will say they were wrong, and in a spasm of assumed morality, write them in rebuke. In judging men by the lives they have lived, an intelligent and just opinion can only be formed by taking into account the surrounding cir- cumstances and conditions from which those lives would almost necessarily take their direction. Measuring the pioneers of Jef- ferson by this standard, they are found ahead of the best classes of men who have turned the sombre silence of the wilderness into fair and fruitful fields, ripe with industry, and made wooded wastes smile and blossom as a garden. Then only intemper- ance consisted in excessive toil; their only dissipation in sleep- less nights, spent in keeping vigils by the weird light of their burning log heaps.
Improvements, Mills, etc. - For several years the primitive round log cabin was the prevailing house used by the early set- tlers of this township. Hewed log structures took their place in time and in their turn gave way to the more modern frame and brick dwellings. The first hewed log house in the township was built by Peter Wire in 1840. About the year 1840 or 1841 Aaron Bond and John Heffner built a small combination mill on Rich- land Creek, Section 6, " for the purpose of utilizing the timber cut away by the settlers in clearing their lands, and affording facili- ties for grinding grain without making the tedious journeys to older settlements." The mill was supplied with machinery of the most primitive pattern, yet notwithstanding its limited capacity, it was generally patronized for a number of years. It ceased op- erations with the building of other and better mills in this and adjacent townships. The old building, which is still standing, is eloquent of a time forever past. James Taylor, sometime in the forties, built a frame flouring mill on the Salamonie River, in Sec- tion 12, which is still in operation. It has been owned by various parties, and at this time is operated by Joseph Stewart, who does
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a fairly prosperous business. There have been several steam saw mills in the township from time to time, the first of which was operated by Daniel Nipper in Section 28. At this time there are three saw mills, operated by William Patterson, Mr. Baker and George Fisher, respectively. The manufacture of drain tile has become an important industry, and the production from the kilns of Jefferson will equal that from any other township in the county. The following gentlemen are in the business at the present time, viz .: George Morris, Ensley Andrews, and John Long.
Religious Organizations. - The first impulse of the people upon whom devolved the responsibility of giving form to soc- iety, in the primitive days of Jefferson Township, was to estab- lish schools and churches, which should in the future insure a safe foundation for permanent prosperity. The United Brethren circuit riders, were the fore-runners of Christianity in the wilderness of this part of the county, and as early as 1837, Rev. Mr. Pugsley of that denomination, conducted religious worship in the cabin of Peter Wire. Ministers of the Methodist Church came in an early day and assisted in the good work of establish- ing the cause of Christ upon a firm basis. They made their reg- ular rounds, traveling on foot or horseback, preaching in private houses, groves, school houses, or any place where they could succeed in gathering an audience. Among the earliest Metho- dist ministers was Rev. Mr. Donaldson, who preached regularly at Mt. Etna and held occasional meetings at the residence of Mrs. Ewart in this township. A class was early organized at the Center School House, and was kept up with a fair degree of pros- perity for a number of years. The Christian (Disciple) Church was early represented in the township by Elders John Richard- son and Scott Green, and sometime in the forties a small society of the same was organized at the Center School House. This organization was finally disbanded, but the church still sustains regular preaching at the Belleville School House where a small society is still kept up. The Christians or New Lights have a strong society in Section 9, which meets for worship in a beauti- ful frame building, known as the Purviance Chapel, erected about the year 1870, at a cost of about $1,100. Among the early preachers of this denomination are remembered: Elders John Robinson, James Stackhouse, D. W. Fowler and A. W. Sanford. The present pastor is Elder Jacob Rittenhouse. The Wesleyan Methodists have a class at Belleville, and in Section 28, is situ- ated the Osterbein Chapel, United Brethren Church, which has an active membership of about seventy. Their church building, a substantial frame structure, represents a value of about $1,500; present pastor Rev. Mr. Calridge. At the village of Pleasant Plains is a society of the Friends Church, which has a substan- tial membership. A house of worship costing $1,000 was erected in 1870, and the society is reported in a fairly prosperous condi- tion. Among the preachers have been: Susan Ratliff, Mrs. Bogur
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and others. All the church organizations in the township have accomplished much good in their respective communities, and the "high moral tone of the citizens of the township indicates the refining influence exerted by religious instruction."
Township Organization. - Jefferson originally formed a part of Salamonie Township, and was set apart as a separate jurisdic- tion by order of the Board of County Commissioners, at the March term, 1843. The chief actor in procuring the organization was Peter Wire, and the residence of William Purviance was where the first election was held in the spring of 1844. In June of that year, the township was reduced to its present limits by the organization of Wayne, which took twenty-four square miles from the western part. Among the early township officials were: Branson Cox and Oliver Sanger, Justices of the Peace, and Nathan Anderson, Frederick Kautz and Andrew Wiley, Trustees. The following are some of the trustees since 1854, to-wit: Nathan Anderson, James W. Garrettson, Elijah Mitchell, O. W. Sanger, Samuel Satterthwaite, E. T. Young, David Shutt, Joseph A. Little and the present incumbent, James P. Wire.
The following gentlemen from Jefferson have at different times been called to fill county offices, viz .: John Layman and Andrew Wiley, Commissioners; Lewis T. Purviance, Represen- tative, and Oliver W. Sanger, Treasurer.
Items of Interest. - The first birth in the township was that of Lavina, daughter of Peter and Nancy Wire, born March 4, 1836. Other early births were: Elvina, daughter of Oliver and Catharine Sanger, July 10, 1839; Jacob, son of Jonathan and Sarah Arnold, September, 1839, and John Heffner, son of Frederick Heffner, some time in the thirties. The first wedding in the township is said to have been solemnized in the year 1839, Frederick Heffner and Nancy Cook being the contracting parties. In August, 1838, Mr. Stewart, one of the early settlers, was removed from the midst of his earthly labors by the hand of death, " the first event of the kind in the township. " Bronson Cox, Jacob Marshall, Enoch Preble and David Campbell also died in an early day.
About the year 1865 or 1866, the citizens of Jefferson were thrown into a state of intense excitement by the cruel murder of one William Lowry, who was stabbed in the neck while plowing in a field near his residence. Hehad been dead for some time when discovered, and the several arrests that followed failed to throw any light upon his mysterious taking off. The supposi- tion was that his wife knew all about the matter, as her conduct while he was absent in the army was such as to at once arouse the gravest suspicion. Nothing definite was ever learned, however, and the murderer will perhaps succeed in effectually escaping the punishment which his crime so richly deserves.
Pleasant Plain, the only village in the township, is situated in Section 18, and dates its history from June, 1875. It was surveyed by James W. Gussman for several proprietors, and
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was formerly known by the name of Nixville. The early mer- chants of the place were: Eli and Stephen Scott, and later came Joseph Custer, Levi Scott, B. Edgington, Mr. Blake, Mr. Kitch and C. Meyers. There are two general stores at this time and two blacksmith shops. The village is surrounded by a fine country and is a good local trading point.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
NELSON H. ABBOTT, a prominent farmer and stock raiser of Jefferson Township, was born in Wabash County, Ind., May 4, 1839. His parents were James and Diana (McCourtney) Abbott, the former a native of Ohio, and the ancestors of the latter were natives of Kentucky. They were married in Kosiosko County, Ind., about 1836, and soon afterward removed to Wabash County, and were among the pioneers of that county. Our sub- ject was reared amidst the scenes of farm life, and received his education in the district schools of his native State. At the age of twenty he began to do for himself, and his domestic life be- gan on September 20, 1860, when he was united in marriage with Miss Narcissa Nordyke, daughter of John A. E. and Sarah D. Nordyke, whose biographies appear in this volume. She was born in Jefferson Township, January 24, 1829, and has resided here ever since. This union was blessed with six children: John L., Benjamin F., William L., Leander M., Elizabeth F., Sarah M., of whom John L. and Benjamin F., are deceased, and interred in the Lancaster Cemetery. Mr. and Mrs. Abbott are members of the Christian Church. Mr. Abbott is a staunch Re- publican, and firmly believes in the principles of his party. During the late war he enlisted in the One Hundred and Fifty- First Regiment, under Capt. L. C. Bicfork. He began life on his own responsibility in limited circumstances, but by dint of in- dustry and perseverence has been eminently successful. To-day he owns a good farm in Sections 5 and 6, and has a comfortable home. For a number of years he has been engaged at minis- terial work, being ordained as a minister in 1868. He has given all the time he could, not to interfere too much with his domestic affairs, to church work.
WILLIAM BECK, a farmer of Jefferson Township, was born in Pennsylvania, August 16, 1822, and he while quite young went to Maryland and resided there with his parents until he was six- teen years old. He was the youngest of a family of seven chil- dren, born to Michael and Susanah (Haynes) Beck, natives of Pennsylvania, and of German descent. When William was sixteen years of age he accompanied his parents west, and they finally located in Wayne County, Ind., where they resided
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until their deaths. William grew to manhood in Wayne County, and during his youth learned the carpenter's trade, and con- tracted the building of several of the most substantial residences of Jefferson Township. On October 30, 1842, he was married to Elizabeth Campbell, daughter of William and Nancy Campbell, natives of Kentucky. Elizabeth was born in Wayne County, Ind., August 21, 1826; this union was blessed with thirteen children, namely: Eli, Susanah, Malinda, Nancy, Caroline, George W., Michael, Elama, William W., Elizabeth J. and Daniel, of whom Eli, Susanah, Michael, Elama, Nancy, Eliza- beth J., Daniel, and two infants died unnamed. Eli took a part in the late Rebellion, and died April 30, 1881. Probably contracted the disease in the war. Mrs. Beck was called away October 5, 1875; she died a member of the United Breth- ren Church, and highly esteemed by all who knew her. In 1853, Mr. Beck moved upon the farm he now resides upon, which he had purchased some years previous; it now contains 325 acres and can be classed among the best farms in the vicinity. He is a self-made man, and started in life on his own responsibility with a willing heart and a few carpenter's tools. In a financial way he has been eminently successful, but has had the misfor- tune to lose his wife and nine children. In politics he is a Demo- crat, and a member of the United Brethren Church. He has lived to witness a great change in Huntington County, and has done his share toward its development.
HORACE O. BRELSFORD, a prominent young farmer of Jefferson Township, was born September 18, 1854, being the sec- ond of five children born to Samuel and Deborah Brelsford. Our subject's father was born and reared in Ohio; he lived with his father on a farm until he was about twenty-three years of age when he was married to Miss Deborah Silvers, a very fine lady of Ohio. After his marriage he removed to this county about 1850, and began farming on a farm of his own. When he first settled here he began farming and clearing in the woods in Wayne Township. There was plenty of game when he first came to this country, such as squirrels, deer, etc. In the year 1862 he was en- listed in the Thirty-Fourth Indiana Volunteers, and was killed during the battle of Champion Hills. Mrs. Brelsford is still liv- ing in Jefferson Township. Our subject was born and raised in Huntington County, and was reared as a farmer boy. He re- mained at home with his mother until he was about thirty years of age, when he was married to Miss Ida Bardsley, of this county, June 8, 1885. After marriage he began farming for him- self about three-quarters of a mile east of Pleasant Plain, where he remained ever since. He is a Republican. He and lady are both well respected people of the community. Unto Mr. and Mrs. B. one child has been born: Lona D., born June 3, 1886. In 1881, he was elected Township Assessor and served two terms very successfully.
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SAMUEL CLEMENTS, who has been a resident of Jefferson Township since 1849, was born in Highland County, Ohio, June 2, 1814. . He was the sixth in a family of nine children, born to Richard and Elizabeth (Brown) Clements, the former a native of Maryland, and the latter of Virginia, of Irish and German de- scent. When Samuel was about three years of age, his parents removed to Wayne County, Ind., where he was reared on a farm. In 1837, they removed to Delaware County, where his parents resided until their deaths: his mother lacked only a few months of being one hundred years old at the time of her death. From 1837 to 1849, our subject followed various pursuits, and during this period took part in the Mexican War, enlisting in 1846, and spent almost three years in conquering Mexico. After the clos- ing of the war, or in April, 1849, he landed in Huntington County. From here, in 1851, he went over to Miami County and entered eighty acres of wild timbered land, but never cleared it up, but he continued to reside in this township. In 1852, he purchased the farm he now resides on, and has lived here ever since. He soon erected a log cabin and began to clear it up. On August 22, 1850, he was married to Martha B. Pinkerton, a native of Pennsylvania, who came to this county in 1845. This union has been blessed with seven children: Melissa, David, Mary, Richard, William, Elvina, and Martha A., of whom Melissa is deceased. Mr. Clements is a staunch Republican, and firmly upholds the principles of that party. He began life a poor boy, and has earned every dollar he is worth to-day by hard work and earnest toil. He now owns eighty-two acres of fine land in Section 18, and has a comfortable home.
PETER GUNDY was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, Decem- ber 29, 1831. His parents were Noah and Anna (Line) Gundy, the former a native of Pennsylvania, and the latter of Fairfield County, Ohio, both of English descent. Our subject was raised on the farm his father was reared on, and at the age of twenty- three he began to work for himself by engaging to work on a farm near Ft. Wayne, by the month. In 1856 he took a trip to Missouri, and remained one summer, but returned to Ft. Wayne about the 1st of February, 1857. On the 8th of this month he was married to Miss Mary A Miller. This union was blessed with six children: Ida A., who died when about six years of age; Florence A., Ulysses A., Elizabeth, Sarah C., and an infant who died in infancy, unnamed. Mrs. Gundy is a member of the United Brethren Church. Mr. Gundy is a solid Republican and took part in the late war. He enlisted in Company C, Fifty- Fourth Regiment, Indiana Volunteers, under Capt. L. C. Bec- ford, and took part in the battle of Vicksburg. He mustered out in 1863, and returned home. He came to this county in 1861, and settled on the farm where he now resides in Section 31. He now owns 159 acres of fine improved land which he has developed from the woods. By dint of industry and perseverance he has
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succeeded in providing himself with a comfortable home. It has taken years of hard and earnest toil, but Mr. Gundy never de- spaired but kept steadily on. Farming has been his life occupa- tion, and he can be classed among Jefferson's most successful farmers.
A. P. HANNA is a native of Fairfield County, Ohio, where he was born November 16, 1831. His parents were John and Eliza- beth Hanna, the former a native of Cumberland County, Md., and the latter of Virginia; the former of Scotch-Irish, and the latter of German descent. Our subject was reared on a farm and adopted farming as his life profession. At the age of twenty- two he left home and began to work out by the month and year. On March 16, 1854, he was married to Sarah A. Gundy, daughter of Noah and Anna (Line) Gundy. She was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, in 1830, where she was reared. This union was blessed with two children, Elida J. and Wallace G., both of whom are married and living in this county. Mr. Hanna located in this township March 31, 1860, and settled on the farm Mr. Gundy lives on now. In August, 1861, he purchased the farm on which he now resides, which was then almost all in the woods. Since his arrival, he has developed one of the best farms in this section. It consists of 120 acres, and his improvements are first-class. He began life a poor boy, and when he was married he only had $55, but can now be classed among Jefferson's most successful farm- ers. He is a staunch Republican, and firmly believes in the prin- ciples of his party. He and his wife are members of the United Brethren Church, with which they have been connected thirty- one years.
SOLOMON LEWIS is a native of Montgomery County, Ohio. He was born January 9, 1820. His parents were Nathaniel and Nancy Lewis, natives of Canada, and emigrated to the United States soon after their marriage. In 1828 they removed to Wayne County, Ind., and in 1830 they were both carried away. Our subject spent his young life on a farm. At the age of twenty- one he began to do for himself by engaging at farm work. In 1841 he was married to Margaret Rinehart, a native of Preble County, Ohio, and principally raised in Henry County, Ind. This union was blessed with seven children: Christina, Jacob, Le- ander, Isabella, Melsona, Amanda and Daniel, of whom Isabella and Melsona are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis are members of the German Baptist Church, and have been identified with this denomination twenty-five years. They came to Huntington County over forty years ago, when it was almost a wilderness, but a great change has taken place since their arrval. Mr. Lewis began life a poor boy. He now owns a fine farm of 180 acres in Section 22. His improvements are first-class, which speaks well for the judgment of Mr. Lewis. Honest and upright in all his dealings, he now holds the respect and confidence of the entire
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