USA > Indiana > Marion County > Indianapolis > History of Indianapolis and Marion County, Indiana > Part 91
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HISTORY OF INDIANAPOLIS AND MARION COUNTY.
horticulture, and his orchards were noted for their production of the best quality of fruit.
He was for many years a justice of the peace. In those times there was much more litigation in the county than now, and though in his office he might have profited by it pecuniarily, he always used his influence to prevent instead of promoting law-suits. In Mr. Nowland's "Sketches of Prominent Citi- zens," he says, "Were I writing for the eye only of those who knew Mr. Beeler, it would be unnecessary to say that he was a man of the strictest integrity, whose word was as good as his bond, and was never questioned." At the time of his death, and for many previous years, he was a member of the Chris- tian Church. He died July 12, 1851, in the full strength and vigor of manhood. He had endured years of toil and privation, but lived to see the forest give place to cultivated fields and fruitful orchards, the small clearing extended to a large and valuable farm, and the log cabin to the comfortable mansion ; but though he had much to live for, he entered the dark valley with the resignation and faith of the Chris- tian who feels that his work has been well done, and that there is peace and happiness on the other side of the river. He left surviving him his wife and five children. His oldest son, Fielding Beeler (born March 30, 1823), is now a resident of Wayne town- ship, and one of the best known and most successful farmers of Marion County. George M., then but a small boy (and who died at the early age of twenty- four years), inherited his father's taste for horticul- ture, and was particularly distinguished in that pro- fession for one of his years. Emily, the oldest daughter, married Calvin Fletcher, of the well-known Fletcher family of Indianapolis, and now resides with her husband at Spencer, Ind. Melissa, the second daughter, married the Hon. John C. New, of Indian- apolis. She died, leaving an only son, Harry 'S. New, who is one of the proprietors and editors of the Indianapolis Journal. The third daughter, Hattie, married T. W. Hall, who died several years ago, and she now lives with her three children in Indianapolis. The widow of Joseph Beeler survived him thirty years, and died in Indianapolis in 1881, in the eightieth year of her age. She was remarkable for
the activity of her mind, on which account, and be- cause of her excellent memory of the incidents of early times, she was often appealed to as authority concerning occurrences with which she had been ac- quainted iu her youth. The minister who officiated at her funeral spoke of her life and experience as a forcible illustration of the progress of the country ; mentioning the fact that when a young lady of twenty years she passed over the ground (then dotted by only a few log cabins) that became the site of the city in which she died, containing at the time of her death nearly one hundred thousand inhabitants.
Martin D. Bush came from the State of New York in 1821, and settled on the east side of White River, on the southeast quarter of section 8, township 15, range 3, now in Perry township. His land was all river bottom and so much subject to overflow that he became discouraged, and in 1845 or 1846 sold out and removed to Atchison County, Mo., where he died. During the years of his residence in the White River Valley Mr. Bush was ever known as an honorable, upright, and public-spirited man. His house was the headquarters of traveling ministers of the several denominations when they came to the new country, and preaching was frequently held there. His wife was noted for her benevolence, and kindness to the sick and afflicted among the early pioneers. They were both original members of the Liberty Church. They had three children, a son and two daughters. The oldest daughter, Anna, was married to Mr. Merrill. brother of the late Samuel Merrill. The other daughter, Mary, married Amos Sharp, brother of the well-known banker of Indianapolis. The son, Henry Bush, married Susan, daughter of Grimes Dryden. All of them with their families removed to Missouri with their parents.
Charles Beeler, born in Ohio County, Va. (now West Virginia), came to Morgan County, Ind., in 1820, and to Decatur township in 1822, and settled on the southeast quarter of section 7, township 14, range 2, it being land which he bought at the government land sales at Brookville, and which is now owned and occupied by ex-County Commis- sioner A. C. Remy. He sold his property in Decatur and removed in 1831 to Shelby County, Ill. After-
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DECATUR TOWNSHIP.
wards he moved to the State of Missouri, thence to California, and from there back to Missouri, and died near St. Joseph, in that State, about the year 1867, at the age of eighty-four years.
Samuel K. Barlow, an early settler in the township, and who laid out the original town plat of Bridgeport on land of John Furnas, located a short distance south of that village, in the north west part of Decatur. He was always regarded as well behaved and peace- able, yet he had the misfortune to become the slayer of a man named Matlack, who was his brother-in-law. It appears that upon the fatal occasion he visited Matlack's house (in Hendricks County), and upon seeing Matlack attempt to whip his wife with a cow- hide, Barlow interfered for the protection of the woman, and in the fight which ensued Matlack was killed. For the homicide Barlow was confined a long time in the Hendricks County jail, and finally brought to trial, which resulted in his acquittal, but the cost of his defense was so heavy that he was compelled to sell his property to pay it. He then removed from Decatur to Iowa, and afterwards to Oregon, where he died about 1878, at the age of eighty-four years.
Jesse Wright, a native of North Carolina, came to Decatur from the Whitewater country, and settled on the northwest quarter of section 29, township 15, range 3, the same property now owned by the family of the late Jacob Hanch. He was a positive and an energetic man, but a very contentious one, and this latter characteristic made him an Ishmael among the people of the community in which he lived, as was shown by the course he took at the death of his first wife (he was twice married), who was a most estima- ble woman. Although there was a public burial- ground within half a mile of his home, he buried her in the woods on the bluff overlooking the swampy lands southwest of his residence. He was a man in good circumstances, yet after selling his farm to Jacob Hanch, about the year 1838, he left the coun- try and removed to Iowa without erecting even the rudest or simplest stone to mark her resting.place ; and there are few, if any, now living who can identify the spot where he made her lonely grave.
Aaron Wright, brother of Jesse, was also a North Carolinian by birth. He came from Union County
to Decatur township, and settled on the lands now owned and occupied by John Hurd. He was an honest, upright man, who attended strictly to his own business, and never engaged in controversy or conten- tion with his neighbors. He died in 1877, upwards of seventy years of age, leaving a son, Jesse Wright, who has been for two terms trustee of Wayne town- ship, and is one of its most prominent farmers ; also a daughter, who is Mrs. John Doty, and another living near Council Bluffs, Iowa.
Cader Carter came from Ohio in the early days of the settlement and bought an eighty-acre tract in Decatur township, the same now owned by John Chamberlain. Carter was a single man, and for sev- eral years made his home with Jesse Wright, with whom he had a disagreement which grew into a law- suit, which resulted adversely to Carter and compelled him to sell his land to pay the expenses of litigation. He always complained bitterly of the wrong which had been done him by Wright and by the decision in the latter's favor. After the loss of his property he lost his energy, and never made another purchase of land in the township. He served as constable for several years, and for about five ycars drove a stage between Indianapolis and Cincinnati. He was an active and earnest politician of the Democratic party, and it was alleged that he was of one-eighth negro blood. In consequence of his active partisanship at the State election of 1836, his vote was challenged and refused. He sued for damages, but, unfortu- nately for him, it was proved to the satisfaction of the jury trying the case that the allegation was true, and he was never again allowed to vote. All who knew him gave him the character of a strictly honest and upright man, and one of very fair intelli- gence and general information. He died in 1851.
John Thompson, one of the earliest of the settlers in this township, located upon (and afterwards bought) the southwest quarter of section 30, township 15, range 3, now owned and occupied by Patrick Har- mon. He was also the owner of the west. half of the southwest quarter of section 29, in the same town- ship, which latter tract alone was assessed to him in 1829. John Thompson was esteemed by all who knew him as an honorable, upright man, who in h
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HISTORY OF INDIANAPOLIS AND MARION COUNTY.
daily walk and in all his dealings was entitled to tho appellation of Christian. His cabin was the place of the earliest gatherings for religious worship in the township, and the place where Liberty Church was organized and its meetings held until the erection of the meeting-house. In the absence of regular minis- ters, Mr. Thompson often preached himself at his dwelling. In 1837 he sold his land to John Marrs and removed to Iowa. His first wife died about 1832, and he afterwards married Mrs. Matlack, widow of the Matlack who was killed by S. K. Barlow, as noticed in the sketch of the latter. Mr. Thompson raised a large family of children, all of whom moved West with him, except Naomah (wife of Eli Sulgrove) and Sarah (wife of Calvin Mat- thews).
Demas L. McFarland came from Washington County, Pa., to Marion County in February, 1822, and located in Decatur township. In 1829 he was assessed on the northeast quarter of section 30, township 15, range 3, but afterwards was the owner of other lands. He was an earnest, energetic, and public-spirited man ; always " kept up his end of the handspike" at the neighborhood log-rollings and house- raisings, and did his full share in contributing to all enterprises for the public good. He was a colonel in the militia as long as that system and organization was kept up. He died in 1869, in the seventy-ninth year of his age, leaving one son, Abel, who has been for many years a resident of California, and three daughters,-Charlotte and Laura, of Indianapolis, and Anne, who is the wife of Dr. Duzon, and who with her husband and family occupied the old home- stead of her father in Decatur. Near the dwelling is a noted and excellent spring, which doubtless influenced Mr. MeFarland in the location of his home.
Reason Reagan, who was one of the early settlers in Decatur, located on the northwest quarter of sec- tion 9, township 15, range 2, where he cleared up a good farm, but sold it many years ago, and spent the later years of his life in Mooresville, Morgan Co. He was the father of Dr. Amos Reagan, of Moores- ville, Dr. Lott Reagan (deceased), of Bridgeport, and Noah Reagan, a well-known stock-raiser and auction- eer, now dead.
Joseph Mendenhall, a native of North Carolina, came from Ohio to Decatur in 1822, and settled near where West Newton now is. In 1829 he was as- sessed on lands, the southwest quarter of section 23, township 14, range 2. He died in 1868, at the age of eighty-two years. Two of his sons (Eli and Atha) and four daughters live in the township, also one daughter in Kansas.
Richard Mendenhall, brother of Joseph, came to Decatur in 1823. His lands are described in the as- sessment-roll of 1829 as the northeast quarter of section 22, township 14, range 2. He moved in about 1852 to Iowa, where he died in 1868, in his eighty-fourth year. His widow is (or was very re- cently) living at near one hundred years of age. One son, William, lives near West Newton village; the rest of the family made their homes in Iowa.
John McCreery came to this township from Ohio in 1826 or 1827, and located on the west half of the northeast quarter of section 26, township 15, range 2, as shown by the township assessment-roll of 1829.
He was a pioneer member of the Bethel Methodist Church (better known as the MeCreery Church), and an earnest, upright, Christian man. His house was the usual headquarters for preachers and strangers visiting or exploring this region, and all were hospit- ably entertained. He died in 1879, in his eighty- seventh year, leaving a son, Noah, who has been sev- eral times elected township trustee, though differing in politics from a majority of the electors, a fact which plainly shows the confidence which his fellow- townsmen repose in his integrity, judgment, and im- partiality. A daughter (Amanda) of John McCreery is the wife of John Hoffman, and lives at the old homestead.
Daniel McCreery came to this township at the same time with his brother John. He also was a pioneer member of the Bethel Methodist Church. He was killed by his horse running away with him in a spring wagon July 4, 1863. He was about seventy-five years of age at his death.
Asahel Dollarhide came from North Carolina to Marion County, Ind., and settled in Decatur towo- ship in 1821 or 1822. He was an upright, honest
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DECATUR TOWNSHIP.
man, and an early member of Liberty Church. He died about 1840, at the age of eighty-three years.
Edmund Dollarhide was the youngest son of Asahel Dollarhide, and lived with his father, near where the Spring Valley gravel road crosses Dollarhide Creek, the homestead now occupied hy his granddaughter, Mrs. Dewees. Edmund Dollarhide was rather a pe- culiar character, a little too fond of whiskey to pass for a strict temperance man. For a long time his business was that of a teamster, hauling produce to and goods from the principal points on the Ohio River for Indianapolis merchants. He usually drove six horses attached to an old-fashioned Conestoga wagon ; almost always returning home from Indianapolis late in the evening with his horses in a fast trot (some- times on the gallop), he sitting in his saddle on the nigh wheel-horse, and clinging with one hand to his mane, the chains of the wagon making a elatter that could be heard for miles in the stillness of the night. He seemed at such times to entirely abandon all attempt to guide his team by the lines, and to sur- render all responsibility to the lead-horse, which he named " Farmer," a noble chestnut sorrel, who seemed endowed with something higher than mere brute in- stinct, and always brought team, wagon, and man home in safety. Edmund Dollarbide died in Feb- ruary, 1862. He had two sons, one of whom died several years before his father; the other migrated West. His only daughter married Ira N. Holmes, and now lives with her husband at Winfield, Kansas.
David Kimne, one of the very early settlers in Decatur, located on the east half of section 24, town- ship 14, range 2. He was a quiet and unobtrusive, but honest and honorable man, one of the original members of Liberty Church. He died in 1873, nearly eighty years of age. He had two sons, Michael and Alfred, who removed to the Platte Pur- chase about 1840. His daughter is the wife of Isaac B. Dewees, Esq.
The following-named persons, early settlers in Decatur, were resident tax-payers in the township in 1829. The description of their lands, given after the name of each, respectively, is taken from the township assessment-roll of that year, viz. :
Joseph Allen, the west half of the northeast quar-
ter of section 9, township 14, range 2. Mr. Allen was a native of North Carolina, and came to this county in 1826. He was the father of ex-County Commissioner Moses Allen, a prominent farmer and stock-raiser ; of Dr. W. Allen, the well-known and popular physician of West Newton; of Preston Allen, deceased ; and of Joseph Allen, a leading farmer and dealer in stock, who owns and occupies the homestead farm of his father in Decatur.
Christopher Ault and Henry Ault, no real estate assessment in 1829. They came from Ohio. Henry (son of Christopher) removed to Hancock County, and was killed on a railway track in the winter of 1880.
William Boles, the east half of the southeast quarter of section 25, township 15, range 2. Ho came from Ohio to Decatur, and removed thence to Huntingdon County about 1835.
Thomas Barnet, no real estate assessment in 1829. He was a native of North Carolina ; came to Decatur in 1827, and died in 1839. He was the father of Jesse, William, and James Barnet. All were mem- bers of the Society of Friends. Jesse is now living in Iowa. Thomas also emigrated to Iowa. James died in 1868. Athanasius Barnet died in Iowa.
William Bierman, no real estate assessment in 1829. He was a brother-in-law of John Thompson. He had much sickness in his family, and did not remain long in Decatur.
Benjamin Cuddington, the southwest quarter of section 29, township 15, range 3. He came from New York State in 1824, and died in 1830. Most of his family left the county soon afterwards, and all are now dead.
John Cook, no assessment on lands in 1829. He was from North Carolina, a member of the Society of Friends, and emigrated to Iowa about 1842.
Seth Curtis, tract of one hundred and forty aeres on seetion 18, township 14, range 3. He came from Kentucky, and moved from Decatur to Boone County.
Aaron Coppoek, no real estate assessment in 1829. He died in 1840.
James Curtis, tract of one hundred and forty-seven acres on section 18, township 14, range 3. He was
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HISTORY OF INDIANAPOLIS AND MARION COUNTY.
a Kentuckian. Moved from Decatur in 1845 to Holt County, Mo. Died at the age of eighty-four years.
Uriah Carson, no real estate assessed to him in 1829. He was a Quaker from North Carolina. Died in 1860.
Dennis Cox, assessed on no property in 1829, except one horse and a silver watch. He was from North Carolina, and married the youngest daughter of Asahel Dollarhide. He is now living near Augusta.
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Joshua Compton, assessed in 1829 on one horse, two oxen, and one silver watch. He was a Quaker from Ohio. Died in 1841.
John Cowgill, part of the northwest quarter of section 23, township 14, range 2. He was a tanner, and had a tan-yard on his farm.
Grimes Dryden, part of the northwest quarter of section 18, township 14, range 3. He came from Kentucky, and moved from Decatur to Atchison, Mo., about 1843.
James Dryden, the east half of the southeast quarter of section 12, township 14, range 3. He came from Kentucky, and afterwards returned to that State.
James Epperson, the northeast quarter of section 33, township 15, range 2. He was a justice of the peace. Died in 1833.
Ahel Gibson, no real estate assessment in 1829. He was a blacksmith and axe-maker. He removed to Hamilton County, and died in 1880, at the age of eighty-seven years. While in Decatur he was in- terested in a wagon-shop with Ahidan Bailey, who was a wagon-maker by trade. Joseph Gibson was a son of Abel.
Emanuel Glimpse, the west half of the southwest quarter of section 33, township 15, range 3. Lands located in what is now a part of Perry township.
Andrew Hoover, Jr., the southeast quarter of section 9, township 14, range 3. Lands east of White River, now Perry township.
David Hinkston, the southwest quarter of section 36, township 15, range 2. East of river in what is now Perry township.
Isaac Hawkins, the southwest quarter of section
36, township 15, range 2. He was from North Carolina, and a member of the Society of Friends. He left the township about 1833.
George Hayworth, no real estate in 1829. He was a Quaker from North Carolina. Came to the township in 1825. Died about 1875.
James Horton, no real estate in 1829. He came to the township in 1824. Died about 1850. His son James removed recently to Arkansas.
Henry Hobbs, the west half of the northwest quarter of section 23, township 14, range 2. He removed to Tipton County.
Frederick Hartzell, no lands in 1829. He came from Ohio. Removed from Decatur to Iowa. Died about 1850.
Peter Hoffman, no lands in 1829. He came from Ohio, and settled in the Bethel neighborhood in 1826. Died in 1840, at ninety years of age.
Jesse Hawkins, the east half of the southeast quarter of section 28, township 15, range 2. He came from Carolina in 1825 or 1826. Died about 1858.
Mark Harris (colored), the west half of the south- east quarter of section 21, township 14, range 3.
Parker Keeler, the east half of the northeast quar- ter of section 36, township 15, range 2. He was a Virginian hy birth, moved thence to Ohio, thence to Decatur township. He was one of the pioneer mem- bers of the Bethel Methodist Church.
Noah Kellum, the west half of the northwest quarter of section 33, township 15, range 2. He was a Quaker from North Carolina, came to Decatur in 1824, but was only a temporary resident.
John Kenworthy, the west half of the northwest quarter of section 36, township 15, range 2. He was from North Carolina, a member of the Society of Friends, and father of William and John, Jr. The latter moved to Iowa and thence to Texas.
John, Henry, and Larkin Munday, John and Henry Myers, and James Martin were emigrants from Kentucky, who came here before 1829 and settled east of White River in that part of Decatur which was afterwards joined to Perry township.
Alexander Mendenhall, no lands in 1829. He re- moved to Hamilton County, where he died in 1882.
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DECATUR TOWNSHIP.
Charles Merritt, no real estate in 1829. He re- moved to Iowa many years ago.
Joseph Nunn, the southwest quarter of section 33, township 15, range 3. He left the township and moved West.
Frederick Price, no real estate in 1829. He came from Butler County, Ohio, and removed from Deca- tur to Arkansas.
John Rozier, the east half of the northwest quarter of section 29, township 15, range 2; land now owned by Martin Seerly. Rozier came from Ohio to Deca- tur in 1826. George Rozier, son of Adam Rozier, is now living in Morgan County.
John Sulgrove, the northwest quarter of section 28, township 15, range 3. His brother James had the south part of the southwest quarter and their brother Edward the remainder of the section, two hundred and twenty-three acres. Eli Sulgrove, an- other brother, had the east half of the northwest quarter of section 32 of the same township. The family came from Ohio. Edward, the eldest, never married. Eli moved to Iowa about 1856. Jacob Sulgrove, son of James, is named in the assessment of 1829, but paid a poll-tax only.
Jacob Sutherland, part of the southwest quarter of section 33, township 15, range 3. His wife was a daughter of one of the Sulgroves.
Anthony Sells, no real estate in 1829, but after- wards owned lands now embraced in the farm of A. C. Remy. Sells was unmarried, and removed West about 1836.
James Thompson, son of John Thompson, had no land in 1829. He moved from Decatur to the West.
James Vorice (Voorhes?) owned no land, but lived in a cabin on the farm of Jesse Wright.
John Wilson, the northeast quarter of section 22, township 14, range 2. He was afterwards the owner of part of section 23. His lands south of the village of West Newton are now owned by J. R. George. He was a member of the Society of Friends, and re- moved to Iowa about 1846. He died about 1879 at a very advanced age.
Edward Wright, no lands in 1829. He came from Ohio to Decatur, and moved. thence to Missouri about 1835. He was the father of Henry Wright
and of Peter N. Wright, who has been for several years superintendent of the Marion County poor farm.
John Dollarhide, the south half of the southeast quarter of section 24, township 14, range 2. He also owned part or all of the southwest quarter of section 19, township 14, range 3. His homestead is now owned and occupied by his daughter, Mrs. Sawyer, and her husband. John Dollarhide died in the winter of 1832.
Absalom Dollarhide, a tract of eighty acres not clearly described in assessment-roll of 1829. The land on which he settled is now owned by William Boatright. Mr. Dollarhide moved to Illinois about 1834.
Zimri Brown, no real estate assessed to him in 1829. He came from North Carolina, and married a daughter of Asahel Dollarhide. He removed from Decatur township to Hamilton County.
Villages .- The most important village in the township is that of West Newton, which was laid out by Christopher Furnas in April, 1851. Its loca- tion is in the south part of the township and south of the Vincennes Railroad. It has two churches (Friends and Methodist), a fine two-story school- house, a graded school, two physicians, a post-office, two general stores, two blacksmith- and one wagon- maker's shop, one undertaker's shop, one saw-mill, and the railway station of the Vincennes line.
West Newton Lodge, No. 452, F. and A. M., was chartered May 27, 1873. Philip McNabb, W. M .; Jeremiah R. George, S. W .; Jesse A. Reynolds, J. W. The names of the present officers have not been obtained, though asked for. The lodge is in a flour- ishing condition.
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