USA > Indiana > Johnson County > History of Johnston 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 45
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470
JOHNSON COUNTY.
meandering channel of White River. Observation and inquiry in various parts of the county reveal the fact that buried timber and leaves are frequently found, under such conditions as to position and distribution as to indicate a glacial and not " forest-bed " origin. The wood was apparently that of conebearing species, and found usually imbedded, at irregular depths, in clays. In Section 21, Franklin Township, at the bottom of a well twenty feet deep, leaves and twigs were found in the clay; and in Section 20, three-fourths of a mile west, fragments of wood were taken out thirty-five feet below the surface. These remains all seem to be isolated and fragmentary - not a portion of a buried forest, but particles of wood and debris, dislodged and ground up by the moving glacier, and deposited finally with its detritus.
In Section 12, of Hensley Township, just south of Trafalgar, on the farm of J. J. Moore, is a formation of tufa that is quite ex- tensive and interesting. There is above it a deposit of gravel, much of it is cemented firmly together: beneath it lies a mass of calcareous tufa, or " honey-comb limestone." It contains perfectly preserved outlines of sticks, grass, moss, and leaves. The formation is pro- duced by the filtration of water through the soil, which is highly charged with mineral ingredients, in this instance particularly, cal- careous matter. The water becoming thus charged with lime, de- posits a thin layer upon any object that it may cover: hence, the leaves and moss lying where such waters issue will, sooner or later, have their material replaced with carbonate of lime, and, so, per- fect casts are preserved and these curious formations are produced. For this reason these tufaceous deposits are usually observed in the vicinity of springs.
Paleozoic Geology .-- The substrata of Johnson County com- prises two different formations - one of the Carboniferous Age and the other Devonian. The Sub-carboniferous period is repre- sented by the Knobstone group or epoch, that underlies the drift throughout the western portion of the county. The Devonian is represented by the black shale of the Hamilton period, which is seen at a single exposure in Blue River Township, but, probably, underlies the drift throughout the eastern third of the county.
K'nobstone Group or Epoch .- As previously intimated, this formation underlies the glacial drift in the western portion of the county. As traced by outcrop. it enters the southern line of the county in the southeast quarter of Section 34, where it appears in force, forming the precipitous slopes of Woodruff's Hill, near Nin- eveh. From this point it extends northwest in a waving line, hav- ing a heavy outcrop in Section 10, Nineveh Township, at Prit- chard's Hill; thence, northwest through Sections 4 and 5, Nineveh
471
GEOLOGY.
Township, and Section 31, Franklin Township. In all the deep channels of the streams in Hensley, Union and White River town- ships, there are uniformly exposures of strata of this formation. Generally, the exposures are continuous to the very source of the small streams, showing that this formation lies well up in the cen- tral ridge of the county. It was seen at the head-waters of Nine- veh, Indian, Stott's, Crooked and Bluff Creeks. This elevation of strata suggests the possibility of their continuance underneath a portion of the eastern extension of this ridge, through Pleasant and Clark townships. This can only be determined by a deep bore in those regions. The probability of this extension is increased by the consideration that eroision did not occur here so deeply, because of the overlying ridge of compact bowlder drift. This whole region was more or less protected while the denudation of the formations southward was in progress.
Originally, the Knobstone formation extended eastward much farther than at present. Indeed, such an extension is demanded by the present position of the strata. They lie in position with an un- disturbed and almost horizontal stratification, and with only a gen- tle dip to the west, yet, six miles west of Edinburg, they have an altitude of more than 200 feet above the level of Blue River. There are no sufficient data to prove that this difference of altitude is produced by oscillations of surface; the ledges show no signs of any sort of disturbance. The main cause of the change has, ap- parently, been the deep erosion of the eastern portion of the Knob- stone toward the older and more elevated formations of Shelby and Decatur counties. The precipitous walls of the Knobstone formation in southern Johnson County indicates that it was caused by erosion. The very constituency of the lower portion of the Knobston group favors the idea of their general denudation in the eastern part of Johnson County.
The characteristic of these ledges is that the lower are more ar- gillaceous; hence, loose, fine-grained clay shales are found, almost generally toward the base of this formation, with an increase of sand- stone toward the top. The whole group in Johnson County ex- hibited these features.
The easily disintegrated clay shales are lowest and eastward, and the heavier ledges of massive freestones are found, as we rise, in series toward the limestone of the next formation. This feature indicates not only the probability of extensive erosive action along the eastern outline of the Knobstone, but suggests also the fact that the physical condition of the lower parts of the Knobstone conditioned the course of the Collett Glacial River, and contributed
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JOHNSON COUNTY.
not a little to the formation of this glacial valley. The natural ten- dency of water is to follow the line of an outcrop, especially when an outlet with the dip is not easily secured, as was the case in this instance. The glacial deposits, westward, overlaying massive sand- stone formations, made the natural channel coincide with the out- crop of the soft clay shales of the Knobstone. These favored deep and rapid erosion. All the data have, as yet, not been gathered to establish its depth and extent. It certainly swept away the whole part of the clay shales, and a greater part of the black shale of the next period. It is possible that the drift deposits, in some localities, rest upon the corniferous limestone-the final bed of the deep flowing river of the misty past.
The Knobstone formation is quite uniform throughout the county. A section from White River Township would coincide, in general features, with a section in Hensley. Everywhere, the blue clay shales are filled with ironstone concretions, of all sizes and shapes. They are particularly abundant in the deep ravines of Nineveh and Hensley townships. They contain a large per cent. of iron, but the quantity is not sufficient to give them economic importance. Near the top of the outcrop at " Pritchard's Hill, " Section IO, Nineveh Township, two beds appear that are quite rich in iron, the mineral not being in nodules, but mingled with the shale, and, under exposure, showing a reddish-brown color.
The aluminous shale, while persistent through the whole sec- tion, nevertheless, varies in appearance. In one locality, on the land of Alfred Vandiver, in Section 5, Nineveh Township, it was a fine micaceous clay. The outcrop is about ten feet thick, under- lying layers of freestone, about six inches in thickness. In char- acter, it was very soft and friable, but, on exposure to the air, it soon hardens, and, if it is rubbed, it takes a smooth polish and turns white. The early settlers of the neighborhood used it as a finish- ing mortar in " daubing " their houses. Its qualities demand some test of its practical value. No other exposures of this aluminous shale were observed, with the peculiarities of this outcrop. Else- where, they are more of a drab color, and usually with more or less of arenaceous material.
Along the course of Indian Creek, in Hensley Township, the pe- culiarities of this formation are well displayed. One branch of the stream rises in the northern ridge of Brown County and the other starts from high land south of Trafalgar. Each one passes down a deep gorge, in part the work of its own waters. The South Fork presents the best exhibit of the Knobstones. Along its whole course they present a precipitous bluff, ranging from seventy-five
473
GEOLOGY.
to one hundred feet in height. At the junction of the two branches of Indian Creek, in southeast quarter of Section 27, the following section was taken:
Soil.
2 ft. oo in.
Loess
20
00
Clay, about.
30
00
Sandstone
00
IO
Arenaceous shale
I2
00
Freestone
00
06
Clay shale
IO
00
Sandstone
00
08
Blue clay shale .
I2
00
Paving stone (bed of creek)
00
00
.
Total.
SS ft. oo in.
This alternation of shale and sandstone is very marked as we go down the stream. The sandstone becomes more massive, but the shales are persistent. The floor of the stream, at the point of the section given, is a layer of ferruginous sandstone. It is in broad slabs from three to six inches thick. It quarries easily, is regularly seamed in one direction and breaking with a square fracture in the other, thus being well adapted for pavements. The verticle part- ings through this layer all trend east and west.
This layer is exposed in Union Township, under similar con- ditions, in the bed of the Middle Fork of Stott's Creek. The dip of the strata is down stream. It was observed that they rapidly thickened as they continued westward; a stratum of freestone, six inches thick, increased to about two and one-half feet in less than two miles. The increase of thickness was very uniform through the whole distance. Its continuous outcrop along this creek is a very noticeable feature of the scenery. The ledge juts out in massive shelves over the water. Where it finally passes below the bed of the stream, it is nearly three feet thick. At this point, the overlying deposits are comparatively thin, and the conditions are favorable to the successful removal of this excellent building stone. It is a durable rock, hardening with exposure and not affected by climatic changes. Ledges that had been exposed for an indefinite period, preserved the sharp angles of the first fracture.
No fossils were found in any part of this formation, though constant and careful search was made. Ripple marks were occasionally seen, though usually in faint outlines. One slab of brown ferruginous sandstone on " Woodruff's Hill " had
474
JOHNSON COUNTY.
its surface covered with raindrop-like impressions: another was was found in Hensley Township, with outlines of " fucoids or sea-weed." The absence of fossils is explained by the conditions of the ancient sea in which these shales and sand-stones were deposited. The turbulent and shallow water of its shore, may have been fatal to their existence, or, if they existed, its deposits were not adapted to their preservation. In some of the ravines of White River Township, geodes were found quite numer- ously, but, generally, smaller than those abounding in Brown County. The hollow concretions are characteristic of the Keokuk beds, the next higher formations, and appearing in outcrop some distance westward. Their presence in this distant and isolated val- ley may be explained by the decomposition of some outlier of the Keokuk. The calcareous matter of limestone being removed, these siliceous concretions would remain, and would naturally find their way to the beds of small streams. In the valley of Indian Creek, a geodized goniatite was found by Hiram Porter, who kindly presented it to the State Museum.
The Black ( Genesee) Shale .- There is but one outcrop of this well-known and much studied formation. It is well exposed in the bed of Sugar Creek, in Blue River Township. The outcrop begins just below the railroad bridge, in Section 9, and extends down the stream to the iron bridge, over Bradley's Ford, in Section 17. It is a fine exposure, the formation composing both the bed and the banks of the steam. The shale is jet black, breaking usually, on exposure, into small pieces, the fracture being quite as ready in one line as another. Other ledges exist in broad slabs that are quite massive; these are usually stndded with quantities of iron . pyrites in flattened concretions. When broken, the illusive yellow suggests the common name, "fool's gold," and, therefore, is simply sulphide of iron.
This exposure of the black shale seems to be an isolated one, there being no other observed nearer than Valley Mills, in Bar- tholomew County, nearly seven miles south. It seems to be an island of shale, capped with a heavy deposit of modified drift. If any of this bed exists in any place in this locality, it is at a much lower level. In this outcrop, the shale ascends well up on the bluffs of the creek; and in the adjacent regions the alluvial and fluviatile deposits are very heavy, the deepest wells never reaching the shale.
Only one fossil was found in this outcrop. Though this group, in other localities, has furnished quite a namber of species, the specimen found was the impression of a fossil plant on a large slab of the shale. It was fully six feet long, and was apparently a
475
CLARK TOWNSHIP.
rush-like plant with a jointed stem, which, when growing, must have been a gigantic Equisetum, allied to the genus Calamites of the carboniferous age. It had jointed stems, the joints being from two to four inches apart. In process of preservation these joints seem to have been separated, and, in the interstices, was found a layer of coal that was as hard and irridescent as anthracite. This black shale is full of carbonaceous matter.
The rocks of this period, in other localities, are rich in oil, but these shales contain only about ten per cent. of combustible matter. For this reason, they burn with a bright flame for a few minutes, when placed in a hot fire, but, aside from this they have no other resemblance to coal; nor have they any relation to the coal-bearing rocks, being far below them geologically. These beds probably underlie the most of the surface of the eastern part of the county. It has been subject to great erosion, and, as it readily decomposes on exposure to air and water, it is not unlikely that the broad belt of black loamy land in Clark and Needham townships derive their color and fertility from the decomposition of the black shale. Its clayey, carbonaceous matter, mingling with alluvial deposits of or- ganic material, produces a fertile soil.
CLARK TOWNSHIP.
JOHN BALLARD, a farmer of Clark Township, was born in Kentucky, May 18, 1832, and is a son of Taylor and Nancy (Fitz- patrick) Ballard. The former was of English descent, and was born in ISOI, and was assassinated January 15, ISS5; the latter of Irish descent, was born in 1806, and died March 6, 1883. Our subject's early life was spent on a farm in Clark Township. lle received a good common school education. At twenty-one years of age he began the struggle of life for himself as a farmer, and on January 27, 1859, he was united in matrimony to Charlotte Drake, a daughter of Gideon and Susan Drake, the former of whom was born in ISOI, and the latter in 1805. To this union the fol- lowing children were born: Theodore, deceased; Taylor O., born October 8, 1862; Laura May, born December, 1868; Arthur, born March 6, 1876. The mother of these children was born Decem- ber S, 1837. He and wife are members of the Protestant Metho- dist Church, and in politics he is a republican. He now owns 143 acres of fine land in Clark Township. His father lived alone, and it was generally known that he had a great deal of money, and on going to the barn to feed his stock, he was waylaid and shot twice.
JAMES H. BANTA, a prosperous farmer of Clark Township,
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476
JOHNSON COUNTY.
was born January S, 1835. He is a son of Abraham and Emma (Ramsdall) Banta, the father was a son of Peter A. and Margaret (Voris) Banta, and was born about IS07, and died about IS72 ; the latter was born in 1813, and died in 1857. Our subject was reared on the farm which was entered by his father, about 1830. He re- ceived a common school education. At the age of twenty-one years, he began life for himself, his vocation being that of a farmer. In 1861, when our Union was threatened with dissolution, and in answer to his country's call for 300,000 troops, he shouldered his musket and marched to the front. He enlisted on the 14th day of July, 1861, at Indianapolis, under Capt. Wood's Com- pany F, Eighteenth Indiana Infantry, and served until the 12th day . of May, 1864, when he received an honorable discharge at Baton Rouge. March 4, 1868, he was united in marriage to Mary A. Brooks, daughter of Henry and Lydia (Barnes) Brooks. This union was blessed with the following children: Carl E., born De- cember 14, 1870: Minnie M., born January 26, 1873, deceased. The mother of these children was born May 30, 1849, departed this life, August 26, 1873. He was married October 19, 1875, to Mary M. Mangun, a daughter of Benedict W. and Jane (Wiley) Man- gun : the former was born April 29, 1818, the latter was born June II, 1820, died January 16, 1873. To this union the following children were born: Arthur M., born December 31, 1877; Emma J., de- ceased, born January 2, ISSO: William A., born April 16, 1882; Mary C., deceased, born August 30, ISS4; Edith, born October 30, ISS5. The mother of these children was born October 25, IS41. She is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Banta is a member of the James Wagner G. A. R. Post, at Greenwood, Ind. He is a republican, and served as trustee of his township, two years, and it is a democratic township. He now owns 160 acres of well improved land in Clark Township.
JOIN BARLOW, who is a practical and progressive farmer of Clark Township, was born March 1, 1826, a son of Jacob and Rebecca (Piles) Barlow: the former was of Dutch descent, and was born in Virginia, February 26, 1785, and died June 9, 1863; the latter was of Irish descent, and was born May 13, 1793. Our subject's early life was spent on the farm. He received a common school education in the old log school-house. This education was received under disadvantages, school terms being short and poorly taught. and he only attended school in winter, and then when the weather would not permit of his working on the farm. He never served an apprenticeship at any trade, but is very handy with tools of all kinds, and can make almost anything that is used on the farm. At the age of twenty-one years, he began life for himself as a
477
CLARK TOWNSHIP.
farmer. August 21, 1853, he was united in marriage to Hannah Smith, a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Heck) Smith. The father was of English descent; was born in 1797; the mother was of German descent, and was born in 1800. This union was blessed with the following children: William H., born July 3, 1854; Orea, born April 3, 1861 ; May, born May 1, 1868; Herman, born Sep- tember 15, 1870. Orea departed this life, September 5, 1863. The mother of these children was born December 3, 1832. Mr. and Mrs. Barlow settled in Clark Township, on what was then known as the "Gulf," in IS53, a piece of land which was very heavily timbered, with very thick underbrush, and when they had only . been there six weeks an exciting incident happened. Mrs. Barlow, while Mr. Barlow was away from home, on hearing the hogs mak- ing a terrible noise, went to the door to ascertain the cause, when she saw all the hogs running for dear life toward the house, and never halted until they were inside. She then discovered that they had been chased into the house by a catamount: it is useless to say that Mrs. Barlow was badly frightened. Mrs. Barlow, her daughter and oldest son, are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Barlow was a granger during the life of that order. In politics he is a republican. He now owns 480 acres of land in Clark Township. It is one of the finest and most convenient stock- farms in the county, well watered, ditched and drained. In con- nection with farming he makes a specialty of short-horn cattle and berkshire hogs. He has commenced the erection of a fine stock- barn which, when completed, will be an ornament as well as a useful addition to his already beautiful farm. Mr. Barlow's father was quite a genius; although he had never served an apprenticeship at any trade, could make anything he undertook. Mr. Barlow has in his keeping an old iron square, made by his father about fifty years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Barlow are highly esteemed by all their neigh- bors. In regard to schools and churches, and all laudable improve- ments, he has been friendly, and has throughout life been characterized as an industrious and enterprising, as well as a progres- sive, citizen and successful farmer.
JESSE M. BEARD, farmer, was born December 1, IS44, and is a son of William and Mary J. (Tucker) Beard; the former was of Irish, and the latter was of English descent. Our subject's early life was spent on the farm. He received a common school educa- tion in the country schools, and then attended college at Franklin, one term of three months. On the Sth day of March, 1863, he was united in marriage to Miss Frances A. Webb, daughter of Zachariah and Nancy A. ( Huff ) Webb, the former of English de- scent. The latter was born in Ohio, April 22, 1813. This union
478
JOHNSON COUNTY.
was blessed with the following children: Birdellah A., born January 16, 1864: Laura B., born February 21, 1866: Emma E., born Oc- tober 27, 1869. and Carrie O., born April 3, IS71. The mother of these children was born February 19, 1846. Mr. and Mrs. Beard are members of the Missionary Baptist Church. In politics, Mr. Beard is a republican, casting his first presidential vote for Lincoln. He owns 212 acres of good land, 140 acres of which are in a good state of cultivation.
JOHN J. BEARD was born in Johnson County, Ind .. December 15, 1858. He is a son of John W. and Jane (Sutor) Beard. The father was born January 16, 1813, and while he was vet an infant, his parents emigrated westward from North Carolina, and lo- cated in what is now Clark Township, Johnson County, before the State of Indiana was admitted to the Union. Our subject was reared in Johnson County, and his youth was spent on the farm, and farming has been his life pursuit. He received a common school education, and on June 14, 1885, he was married to Nancy A. Boucher, daughter of William and Mary (Coffen) Boucher. This union was blessed bytwo children (twins), viz .: Ora and Oda, born April 13, 1886. The mother of these children was born Sep- tember 23, 1867. She is a member of the Methodist Protestant Church. Mr. Beard is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church. In politics, he is a republican, casting his first presidential vote for Garfield. He owns 460 acres of good land, well improved.
SAMUEL BILLINGSLY, a prominent young farmer of Clark Township, was born October 14, 1861, son of Samuel and Mariah L. (Harbert) Billingsly; the former was born in North Caro- lina, November 16, 1809, of Irish descent, and died August 19, 1876, and the latter was a native of this state, born October 5, 1817, and was of English descent. Although she is seventy-one years old, she does the house-work and cooking for her son and hired help. Our subject's early life was spent on the farm on which he now lives. He received a good common school edu- cation, and when he was fourteen years of age his father died, which caused him to give up the idea of further schooling, and he then had to take charge of the farm and the care of his widowed mother. He is a member of the Christian Church. In politics, he is an ardent democrat, and a recognized leader among the young men. He was elected trustee of his township, at the April election of ISSS, by eleven votes, his predecessor having been elected by only four votes. He and his mother own 120 acres of well-improved land. WILLIAM H. DUNGAN, a native of Washington County, Va., was born November 25, 1824. He is the son of Charles G. and Nancy (Johnson) Dungan. The former was born December II,
479
CLARK TOWNSIIII'.
1798, and died March 22, 1877. The latter was born in Washing- ton County, Va., April 24, 1804. Charles G. settled in Johnson County, in October, 1834, and the same year commenced clearing the farm on which he lived until his death. The wife of Charles G. is still living on the old farm with her son, William H., the only one living of a family of seven children. In 1828, she became a member of the Christian Church, in which she has since continued to be an active and zealous worker, laboring with earnest purpose, to bring souls to Christ, which has been the greatest ambition of her life. She has lived a long and active life, and is now passing the decline of years in happiness and comfort. Our subject came with his parents to Johnson County at the age of ten years. He received a thorough common school education, and commenced life for himself at the age of sixteen years. He was an apprentice at the wagon-maker's trade, which he followed a number of years. In 1862, he volunteered as a private in Company F, Fifth Indiana Cavalry, under Capt. Felix W. Graham, and in six days after he was mustered into the service, was appointed first lieutenant and quartermaster of the regiment; one month later, was offered the commission of first major of his company, refusing, because he felt his inability to fill so important a position. In 1863, he resigned his quartermaster position upon the surgeon's certificate of disability, and was discharged in August, 1863, at Glasgow, Ky. He then opened a claim office at Louisville, Ky., remained in this business four years, when his health failed, and he returned to the old farm in Johnson County. He then built a planing mill in Clarksburg, remaining in this business one year, when, in 1873, he removed to Indianapolis for the purpose of schooling his children, where he remained two and one-half years, and again returned to the old farm, where he now lives. He was married November 20, 1845, to Sarah Robison. She was born October 3, 1821, in Monroe County, Ind. To this union the following children were born, viz. : Charles T., November 27, 1846; George H., September 1, 1848; Jane, September 12, 1850: Nancy A., November 11, 1852 ; James A., December 3, 1854: Elizabeth A., November 6, 1857; Joseph J., August 18, 1861; Eliza F., October 11, 1864. Mr. Dungan and wife are members of the Christian Church. Mr. Dungan was an elder and a deacon in his church a number of years. Hlas served his township as trustee one year. He possesses a great deal of genius, evidence of which is found in the fact that he has invented and received patents on a number of devices, several of which are now in general use: among these may be mentioned, a buggy-jack, apple-trimmer, a harrow, and a wire fence, which he now manu- factures.
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