History of Indianapolis and Marion County, Indiana, Part 103

Author: Sulgrove, Berry R. (Berry Robinson), 1828-1890
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.H. Everts & Co.
Number of Pages: 942

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About 1827, Isaac Kelly settled one half-mile north of Lick Creek, on the east side of the Three- Notch line; William McClain on the north side of the gravel road, one mile east of Southport ; Jesse Dunn on the north side of Buck Creek, one half- mile west of where the Three-Notch line crosses it; Benjamin Harris (a tenant only), about a mile and a half northwest of Southport; William Joncs, who came in 1828, and was the first Welshman, two miles west of Southport, on the south side of the gravel road.

The following is a list of those who were settlers, and who either remained but a short time or whose place of settlement is not known : Jesse Admire, Henry Brewer, near Southport; William Brenton, east of Southport ; Lewis J. Brown, William H. P. and James, sons of Peyton Bristow, Isaac and Edward Brazelton, near the centre of the township ; Allen Bost, Joel Boling, Richard Berry, Thomas Carle, northeast of Southport about two miles ; Nicholas Cline, James Carson, Henry Coughman, Benjamin Crothers, Frederick Disinger (who was very probably the first German to settle in the towo- ship), Abram and Peter Ellis, David Fulson, Moses Frazee, Richard Good (the first Irishman who settled in the township), William Hall, Jacob Hill, Joho Heist, John W. Johnston, John M. Johnson, Wil- liam and James Johnson (William living in Water- loo), John Jackson, Thomas Lewis (one mile and a half southwest of Southport, on the county road run- ning east and west, the farm now owned by the widow of Ezra Smith), Jacob and Ezariah Mosely, George McClain, two miles west of Southport on the county road ; William Mentieth, William and James Mc- Laughlin, in the northeast side of the township; Smith McFall, Charles Orme (who was a transient settler only), John Parker, a United Brethren minis- ter, John Reding, Sr., Henry Rammel, John Russell (one half-mile west of Southport, north side of Buck Creek), Joseph Rosenbarg, Ephraim Robinson (who

stayed about a year), William Rice, Thomas Richard- son, a half-mile north of Southport, east side of the Madison road; John Seiburn (at whose mother's house the first Sunday-school in the township was organized, one mile and a half north of Southport, half-mile east of the Madison road), Thomas Shelton, northwest of Southport, on the north bank of Buck Creek ; Frederic Shultz, Isaac Senoney, Daniel Stack, James Spillman, in the northeast part of the town- ship; Francis Sanders (who lived to be over ninety years of age), one mile and a half east of Glenn's Valley ; Robert Tomlinson, southwest of Southport, north side of the road ; Thomas Lewis, Jacob Tumes, John Thompson, Richard Thomas, George Wright, one half-mile east of the present site of Centre Church ; Primrose Yarbrough (northeast side of township), who married the widow of James Spill- man.

Rev. Henry Brenton came from Trimble County, Ky., in the early part of 1822. He was a local Methodist preacher on Sundays and a farmer during the week ; there being constant need of his services, as there was a meeting held either in the woods or in the cabin of some pioneer nearly every Sunday. He accomplished much in the field he had adopted, and was a pioneer of the church, as, on account of his solemn and earnest presence, he was called upon by the settlers of Johnson and Morgan Counties, some- times riding twenty miles to perform the marriage ceremony or to conduct religious services, and few that saw him but were impressed by his brevity and earnestness. He had his own peculiarities, one of which was that he always prayed with his eyes open, and when remonstrated with, replied, " We are com - manded to watch as well as pray." He probably preached at more funerals and solemnized more mar- riages than any other pioneer minister in the county, for which latter service two dollars was almost invari- ably his largest fee. He died at his home on the Three-Notch line, in June, 1847, nearly seventy years of age, and was buried in his brother Robert's family cemetery, on the Bluff road where it crosscs Pleasant Run.

After his death his wife, known as Aunt Esther, and family moved to Iowa. Most of them are now

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dead, his wife living to a great age and dying but a few years ago, after having been blind some ten years. He had five children,-James, now living in Iowa, Martha, another daughter, Mary, and Thomas.

Rev. Greenup Kelly was born in Estelle County, Ky., and licensed and ordained as a Methodist min- ister by the Kentucky Conference. A young man of fine promise and great zeal in his work, but his health failing him, he came out to his father, Isaac Kelly (who had settled here in 1827), and after suffering a couple of years, died of consumption, and was buried on a Sunday in December, 1830, in what is now known as Round Hill Cemetery, then known as the Camp Ground Graveyard, it being the place of the first camp-meeting in the county.

The Rev. John Belzer was the only New Light minister who ever settled in the township. His father, and brother Phoenix, settled with him on the school section, having purchased the lease of the Stallcops in the fall of 1824, having a blacksmith-shop on his farm. He organized a church of his persuasion, but it was a rather weak one. He was a superior man and was able beyond his opportunities, having had but little education. He was, in fact, an excellent man. In the fall of 1828 he removed with all his family to Southern Indiana.

Rev. John Ritchie, a local Methodist minister, was a Kentuckian by birth, but came from Ripley County, this State, in the fall of 1826. He was generally known as "Judge" Ritchie, having been an associate judge. He was a large man, of fine presence, and had a magnificently formed head, was very gifted, and though hindered by lack of educa- tion, was extraordinarily eloquent, and most forcible in logic, which made him remarkable and honored, both in the pulpit and on the stump, he taking part in the campaign of 1840. In the pulpit he was most remarkable, his appearance belying his abilities, and when he entered the pulpit, always being dressed in home-made jeans, gave rise to a feeling of disappoint- ment, until he spoke, when the audience became spell-bound, fascinated, by his eloquence and earnest- ness, and remained so until the last word was ut- tered. He died Aug. 24, 1841, and was buried in what is called the Lemaster's family burying-ground.

His children were Sally, Drusilla, Ann, Jane, James, Samuel, Arnold, Mary, Eunice, Adaline, Lucinda, and Lavina.

Rev. Abram Smock, a Baptist minister, came from Kentucky in the fall of 1825, his brother John having preceded him some four years, returning to Kentucky for him. He organized the first Baptist Church in the township, at the house of David Fisher, in the spring of 1826. He was pastor of this church for a number of years, and also of the First Baptist Church of Indianapolis from December, 1826, to July, 1830, organizing more Baptist churches than any other man in the county, and was a leading minister for many years. He was both eloquent and impressive, and in his work zealous and fervent, but retired from the ministry long before his day of work should have ceased.

The Rev. Jeremiah Featherston, a pioneer Baptist minister, came from Kentucky. He was a missiou- ary most of his time, never having a church of his own. He was a zealous and upright man. He died in 1865.

Rev. - Monroe was a Revolutionary soldier, and came from Pendleton County, Ky., in 1830, with his son William, who settled in a southeasterly direction from Southport about one and a half miles. He lived part of the time with his son and part with his son-in-law, Joseph Wallace. At the time of his death, Nov. 20, 1842, he was eighty-seven years old, and had been in the ministry for more than fifty years, the greater portion having been spent in Ken- tucky. He was buried in the Southport Cemetery.

Henry Riddle came from Roane County, N. C., and lived in the township but a little while, when he removed to St. Joseph County, Ind., where he died some twenty years ago. He was a true pioneer, never allowing civilization to but just reach him, when he retreated before it. He had but a small family. He was very popular, and universally liked, so much so that if there happened to be a dispute in his neighborhood, he was always able to act as peace- maker. The Harmonsons were old neighbors of Rid- dle's, and came from North Carolina very probably with him. They stayed but a few years, and then went to the southern part of this State.

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Hezekiah Smart was born in Nicholas County, Ky., where his brother John was also born. He was married in 1824 to Margaret Hinkston, of Har- rison County, Ky. John was married in 1815 to Sally Earls. Hezekiah eame to the township in 1823, to his brother, but went back to get married, after which he returned, and lived here until Dec. 25, 1867. He had four sons and five daughters, who all lived to maturity,-Humphrey, William, Martha, Elizabeth, Margaret, Comfort -, Heze- kiah, and Caroline. His wife died in March, 1879. John had four sons,-Hezekiah, Samuel, John, and Joseph, and four daughters,-Susan, Mary, Eliza- beth, and Sally. He died in 1833. His wife died in 1875. Margaret, Hezekiah's wife, was a leading member and worker in the Methodist Church, and was very prominent in meetings for the part she took in prayer, an unusual thing for women of that day.

Thomas Carle came from Kentucky in 1825 or 1826, and settled in the angle of the road, two miles north of Southport, on the south side of the Shelby- ville road, a half-mile south of Lick Creek. He established a tan-yard (the second in the township) the year he came. He was one of the first justices of the peace, having been elected in 1828, and died in office, in Mareh, 1831. He was buried on his farm. His son, Holman Carle, still owns the old place, but lives in the city.

James Martin, an early settler, died in 1843, leaving one son and one daughter.

Samuel Smith lived near Glenn's Valley till 1839, when he moved to Johnson County, near Greenwood, and died there in 1834.

John Myers was born in Kentucky, and moved to Brown County, Ohio, then to Whitewater Valley, near Brookville; remained there but a short time, and then came here in the spring of 1822 with An- drew Wilson (who lived in Wayne township) and his brother Henry, with one horse for all, on a visit to the site of Indianapolis, before he moved out. Soon after he married. He removed with his wife and a few household goods, and when his goods had been unloaded from the wagon of the teamster who had hauled them out, they were left alone in a dark forest, with his nearest neighbors, Henry Riddle and

the Harmonsons, a mile and a half away. It was a heavy, unbroken forest, full of wild beasts, and their first night's rest was much disturbed by the bowling of wolves and booting of owls. His first wife died in 1850, and in 1852 he married the widow Comfort Hinkston, who is still living. He died July 20, 1882, eighty-four years old. He served as justice of the peace longer than any man in the county. He was a successful farmer, and, though starting with but forty acres, left an estate valued at thirty thou- sand dollars. He had two sons and four daughters. James Madison, his eldest son, born in December, 1822, is now living, the oldest resident of the town- ship. His son, Vincent Myers, and his daughter, Mrs. Ed. Thomas, are also living.

Martin D. Bush came here from Dearborn County, Ind., in the fall of 1822. He had three children- Ann, Mary, and Henry-when he eame. His wife was a sister of Col. Eggleston. Both he and bis wife were noted for their hospitality and their kind- ness to the siek and needy. Their daughter Ann married Frank Merrill, a brother of Samuel Merrill ; Mary married Amos Sharpe, brother of Thomas Sharpe ; and Henry married a Miss Dryden. Mary died a short time before they left, and the remaining members of the family moved in the spring of 1853 to Northwestern Missouri. He and his wife died some years since at an advanced age. Henry and Ann are still living.

Henry Alcorn came from the north of Ireland when quite a young man, and settled in Lexington, Ky. He moved to Ohio, then came to Indiana, by Muncie and Strawtown, to Indianapolis, prospecting in 1821, and then entered the land on which Henry Riddle and Peter Harmonson had squatted. He moved to Perry in 1823. His wife died in the winter of 1829-30. He had two sons and three daughters,-Henry, Melinda, Joseph, Elizabeth, and Mary Ellen. He married again in 1836, to Sally MeClintock, who had come on a visit to her brother Thomas. Henry Alcorn, Jr., died soon after his mother, who died in September, 1847, in Kentucky, having returned there on a visit. He married again in 1850, and his third wife died in 1863. He died in 1875, at the home of his son-in-law, George List,

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who married his daughter Mary Ellen. His oldest daughter married Garret List. He was eccentric and stern, and a prodigy in arithmetie and mathematies, . having had a very liberal education, and having a remarkable memory. He was also regarded as au- thority in questions of history.

Zachariah Lemaster came in the fall of 1822 or 1823 fron Kentucky. He married a Miss Wright, and died about 1840, and left a widow and five chil- dren,-two sons and three daughters. The youngest daugliter now lives on the old homestead.

Henry Myers, brother of John Myers, married a Miss Mundy, and came here in 1823. About 1846 -47 he sold out and moved to near Peru, Ind. He was an earnest member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a man of unblemished character. He had a large family.

Mrs. Elizabeth Custard came to this township in the fall of 1828 with her son-in-law, David Hinks- ton, who had married her daughter Comfort. Her daughters,-Eliza, married soon after Elijah Me- Bride; Margaret, married Larkin Myers, a son of Henry Myers; Mary, married James Tracy, son of John Traey ; and Amanda, married Saulsbury Jones, son of the Welshman, William Jones. They came from Harrison County, Ky., and purchased land on the sixteenth section from John Belger. Mrs. Custard is still living with her daughter, Mrs. Comfort Myers, the widow of the late John Myers, and she is now the oldest person in the eouuty who was a pioneer, being nearly one hundred years old.

Peyton Bristow was a native of Virginia, born in Loudoun County the 29th of August, 1778, his parents being natives of Wales. His father died when he was but a boy, and soon after his mother started with the family, consisting of herself and ten children, for Kentucky. Though he was fourth in the family, he was the practical head, the older ones having left to work for themselves. In the wild forests of Kentucky he had but little or no chance for educating himself, and very little education did he have. He was married on the 16th of Novem- ber, 1802, to Miss Mary Price. After his marriage he settled on a "claim" in Greene County, Ky., after- wards Adair County, and remained until the fall of |

1809, when he sold out and went to Preble County, . Ohio. He was a soldier of the war of 1812, though he was not engaged in any battles. In the fall of 1821 he sold out, and, coming to this township, en- tered three hundred and twenty acres of land. He returned to Ohio to get the two oldest boys, who were to help him build the cabin, which they nearly completed, when the father and the younger son again returned for the family, leaving the elder son to finish it; but when they returned they found that he had been seriously injured by a falling tree a day or two after they had left, and the cabin was no nearer done than they had left it. This was about the 1st of February, 1822. Soon after this was the first township eleetion, at which there were himself and four others,-Henry Riddle, Peter Harmonson, William Stalleop, and Elias Stalleop. He served as justice of the peace from Nov. 3, 1829, to July 4, 1834, from which he acquired the title of "Squire." He lived a householder for over sixty-six years, and died Feb. 10, 1869. He was sternly and strictly honest, and liberal in his views. He was politically a Democrat and religiously a Universalist. His own death was the first under his roof. His wife survived him some eighteen months, and died in 1870. He had thirteen children,-William, James, Luey, Mar- garet, Sally, Evans, Cornelius, Eliza, Mary, Martha, Powell, Henry, and Alfred, of whom four or five are dead.

Thomas Bryan came in 1825 from Kentucky, and was married to Miss Saunders, sister of Dr. Saun- ders, formerly of Indianapolis. He helped to organize the Liek Creek Baptist Church. He had two sons, John and Samuel, and three daughters. John died in 1840; Samuel is still living in Missouri; Mrs. Samuel Siebern living in the city ; Mrs. Samuel Me- Farland living near the old homestead; and Mrs. James MeClelland living at Franklin, Ind. Mrs. Bryan died in 1853; Mr. Bryan in 1857. Both are buried at Southport. The children of Thomas and Elizabeth Bryan were Samuel, Julia, Mertila, John, and Isabella.

Luke Bryan was born in Pendleton County, Ky., and eame to the neighborhood of Southport in the fall of 1828, bringing with him his father and mother,

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HISTORY OF INDIANAPOLIS AND MARION COUNTY.

of whom it is necessary here to speak. Samuel and Mary Bryan were the companions and relatives of Daniel Boone, the famous Kentucky pioneer, Samuel's mother being Daniel Boone's sister. When the pio- neer started from North Carolina, in 1779, for the far-off land of Kentucky, Samuel and Mary Bryan accompanied him and his wife in the colony which went with him. Samuel had served in the Conti- nental army, and was married just before starting. They traveled on horseback and with pack-horses. When they came to the Cumberland River their goods ,

were transported on a raft, and Mrs. Bryan, being in advance of the other women, was the first white woman who set foot north of the Cumberland River in Ken- tucky. This colony built on the Elkhorn what was called Bryant's Station, a place of historic note. There or in the vicinity Thomas and Luke Bryan, sons of Samuel, were born. Luke, after he came to this county, married a Miss Saunders, another sister of Dr. Saunders. Samuel Bryan died in 1837, in the eighty-third year of his age, and his wife died in 1840. They were buried on the farm of their son Luke, but afterwards taken to the Southport Ceme- tery, where rest two of those pioneers who passed through scenes and adventures which have become historical; and it is doubtful if persons more noted in pioneer history lie buried in the county.

Luke Bryan lived three-quarters of a mile north- east of Southport, on the farm now owned by Capt. Carson. He died March 5, 1857, and his remains lie in the Southport Cemetery. The children of Luke and Mary Bryan were Alphonso H., Sarah, Ethel- bert W., Mary, Dorcas A., John S., Joseph M., James W., and Dr. Thomas N. Bryan, now of In- dianapolis. Only one other of the sons is now living. Their mother died in June, 1862, in Clay County, Ill., whither the family removed after Luke Bryan's death.

Thomas C. Smock was born Dec. 31, 1808, in Mer- cer County, Ky., and removed to Indiana in 1825, in the seventeenth year of his age, making his home with his brother, John B. Smock, on the Madison road, two miles south of Southport. After his twenty-first year (1829) he made his home with his mother, Mrs. Ann Smock, two miles north of South-

port, on the west side of the Madison road. In September, 1831, he married Rachel Brewer, daugh- ter of John Brewer, who resided one mile cast of Southport. She died Sept. 21, 1838. On the 22d of December, 1839, he married Sarah, youngest daughter of John Smock, who settled in 1821 on the Madison road, on the south bank of Pleasant Run, one mile south of Indianapolis.

From his first marriage until the time of his death, June 25, 1877, he resided on the same farm, one and one-half miles north of Southport, on the west side of the gravel road. As a citizen he was honored, haviog served several terms as justice of the peace for Perry township; as a husband and father he was a pattern, an example worthy of imitation ; as a neighbor, and in all the qualities that make a good neighbor, he was unexcelled, as all will bear testi- mony, both rich and poor. Forty-six years of his life he was a church member, earnest and faithful. For more than thirty years he was a Sabbath-school superintendent. At his death he had eight children that survived him,-four sons and four daughters. His second wife died in January, 1872. He left to his family a noble legacy,-a character without spot or blemish. The writer of this knew him well for fifty-two years, and knows whereof he has written. His remains were deposited in the Southport Ceme- tery. Peace to his memory !

Simon Smock was born Oct. 8, 1792, in Mercer County, Ky. He was married in Kentucky, and moved to Perry township in 1824. He settled on the east side of the Madison road, adjoining the north line of the township, on the road from Indianapolis to Greenwood. Of the early pioneers there were nine Smocks and three Brewers on or adjoining the road, and it was a common saying, “ If you meet a man call him Smock ; if he fails to answer call him Brewer, and he will be sure to answer." There was a colony of Smocks and Brewers moved from Kentucky, set- tling on or in the vicinity of the Madison road, from within one mile of Indianapolis south to the south line of the county, and extending into Johnson County two miles. As early settlers the Smocks and Brewers were men of a higher order for enter- prise and morality than the average emigrants to a

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new country, and they contributed much to elevate the tone of society in the middle and eastern part of Perry township. Simon Smock, being one of the eldest, a man of convictions, and not afraid to stand by his convictions, played well his part in church and society. He had a large family, but was cut down in the full vigor of his manhood, an irreparable loss to his church and his family. He died in 1854.

Samuel Brewer was born in Kentucky ; married to Ellen Smock, also a native of Kentucky. Soon after his marriage he emigrated to Indiana and settled in Perry township, on the west side of the Madison road, on the north bank of Buck Creek. In the fall of 1825 he built a cabin, commenced opening a farm, and started a blacksmith-shop. Be- tween farming and blacksmithing he made a com- fortable living. He had ten children,-two sons and eight daughters. His eldest son, Dr. Abram Brewer, entered the profession of medicine and made an able and successful physician. His health failed him and he retired from practice, and died at his father's house in the fall of 1869. The youngest son died in 1851, in childhood. Two single daughters died in early life, and afterwards two others (Mrs. Jane Todd and Mrs. Fanny McCalpin). Four daughters are still living. In September, 1876, his wife died, and two years after he married Mrs. Grube, a widow lady of the neighborhood. Mr. Brewer raised a very moral and upright family. He has some peen- liarities that make him a marked man in his neigh- borhood. He was a pioneer in the temperance and anti-slavery causes. He is positive in his character. When he takes a position he adheres to it against all opposition. No one who ever knew him doubted his fidelity to his church and himself. These are the great ruling traits in his character.

The Dabney family was quite numerous in Perry township. They emigrated to the neighborhood from Shelby County, Ky., in 1823 or 1824, having formerly come from the State of Virginia to Ken- tucky. The Dabney family was and is to this day a noted family in the Old Dominion. These were a branch of the same family. Samuel Dabney and wife, with three sons and three single daughters and his son-in-law, John Smith, all settling on the Three-

Notch line, seven or eight miles south of Indianapolis. The father died soon afterwards. John Smith, the son-in-law, was in after-years elected a justice of the peace for Perry township. He was a shrewd and thrifty farmer, and died at Greenwood in 1861.

The sons of the elder Dabney (Samuel, James, and John) were as unlike as any three brothers could be. Samuel lived and died a bachelor. He was a great wit, full of anecdotes, and the centre of all the sport at the neighborhood gatherings. James, or Jimmy, as he was familiarly known, was the prin- cipal class-leader in the Methodist Episcopal Church in all the country, and in that special department he was successful. For fifteen years he carried the ban- ner, earing nothing about the things of this life, leaving them all to take care of themselves if his brother Samuel would not look after them. John, or Jack, as the family called him, was a Nimrod, and more than that name would imply. In hunting and fishing he was unexcelled, and he furnished all the venison, fish, and honey for the family. It was said he knew every bee-tree for miles around. He moved to Miami County in 1838, and the remainder of the family followed soon after. The female portion of the Dabney family were noted for their hospitality and kindness in sickness. They have now all gone to that bourne from whenee no traveler returns.

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History of Indianapolis and Marion County, Indiana, Part 103

Author: Sulgrove, Berry R. (Berry Robinson), 1828-1890 Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Philadelphia : L.H. Everts & Co. Number of Pages: 942

Author: Sulgrove, Berry R. (Berry Robinson), 1828-1890
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.H. Everts & Co.
Number of Pages: 942