USA > Indiana > Knox County > History of Knox and Daviess Counties, Indiana : from the earliest time to the present; with biographical sketches, reminiscences, notes, etc. ; together with an extended history of the colonial days of Vincennes, and its progress down to the formation of the state government > Part 7
USA > Indiana > Daviess County > History of Knox and Daviess Counties, Indiana : from the earliest time to the present; with biographical sketches, reminiscences, notes, etc. ; together with an extended history of the colonial days of Vincennes, and its progress down to the formation of the state government > Part 7
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FORTS, INCIDENTS, ETC.
Each section of community built its fort in 1812. Those in Widner were the Widners, Chambers, Polks, Lemons and Taylors. These were for safety against the Indians during the second war with Great Britain. None of these ever sustained an attack by the Indians, yet a few horses were supposed to have been stolen
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
from Polk's fort one night. Widner was the largest of these. It enclosed about three-fourths of an acre of space. It was what is called a stockade fort. These are made by setting timbers in the ground, closely set and so high as to preclude the possibility of being scaled. The corners were made with bastions to enable those within to rake the sides as well as to fire in front. Daniel Hollingsworth and a man named Honeycutt were hunting near the forks of Marie Creek in 1812. The two became separated. Hon- eycutt saw two Indians going in the direction of his companion. Through timidity he failed to fire upon them yet he had a good opportunity. Soon he heard a shot, and Hollingsworth fell dead. The Indians scalped him and left the body.
BUSSERON TOWNSHIP.
This township occupies the northwestern corner of the county. It was laid out about 1810, and named in honor of François Bos- seron, one of the justices in 1790. On the north it is bounded by Sullivan County, on the east by Widner Township, from which it is separated by Marsh Creek, on the south by Washington, from this it is separated by Marie Creek, on the west lies the Wabash. The soil is very fertile, a great portion of which being sandy loam. Portions, however, are "barrens," from the great accumulations of sand, the whole being alluvial formation. The township con- tains about 35,000 acres of land, of which only about two-fifths is in cultivation. The Evansville & Terre Haute Railroad and the Wabash River afford ample facilities for shipping the produce of the township, which consists mainly of wheat and corn.
SETTLEMENT OF BUSSERON.
Thomas McGowen came from Pennsylvania to Knox County about 1798. He was a gunsmith and worked for Col. Small, and also for Thomas Jones, the trader, for a time. He came along the old trace. The family came to the old post on pack-horses, and the goods were sent down the Ohio in pirogues to the mouth of the Wabash, thence to Vincennes by keel-boat. McGowen moved to the east fork of White River below Mount Pleasant. Here, May 12, 1812, he was murdered by Indians. At a later date William McGowen, the son, now over eighty years of age, moved to Bus-
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
seron, where he now resides. Samuel McClure was from Ken- tucky; came about 1806 and settled near the south end of Shaker Prairie; he then took up Government land. On this was built a fort during the Indian war. John Ochiltree settled near where McClure afterward settled in 1804. He was a man remarkable for charity, refusing to sell corn beyond a certain price, and turn- ing none away for want of money. Abraham Case, a prominent man, settled in the timber land near Ochiltree's. Hogg's Hill marks the place of settlement of a man by the name of Hogg. A man named Greenfield settled a short distance from Shaker Prairie. James Light, an early settler, was supposed to have been drowned. James Watson lived southeast of the prairie; he was a black- smith. George Harper, who was the father of a large family, lived east of Watson. Lockridge lived in the vicinity of Harper; he was a hatter. It is remembered by an old resident that George Balthus wore one of his old hats for ten years.
KILLING OF JOHN M'GOWEN BY THE INDIANS.
As above stated, McGowen, at the time of his death, was liv- ing near the east fork of White River. The Indians were known to be dangerous, and most of the houses were guarded. Two par- ties were guarding the neighborhood-one party being at Haw- kin's Ferry and one at Maysville on that particular night. It was the last night the house was to be left unguarded. McGowen re- lied on some seven dogs which he had for protection. In the house besides McGowen's family were two of the Kinmans and a boy named McGuire. The family were asleep. The first signal of danger was the quick shot of a rifle which killed McGowen. The Indians had climbed up on something and fired through an opening in the wall. By the aid of the flickering light of the fire the Indians had been able to select their victim. The family awoke to a sense of the danger of an Indian massacre. Efforts were made to break down the door. For some unaccountable reason the dogs had kept quiet till now; soon a contest arose between them and the Indians, and by firing in the direction of the noise the Indians were driven away. This occurred on the night of May 12, 1812. The deed was supposed to have been committed by Popin-Dick, an Indian who had been insulted by McGowen.
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
INDIAN RELICS.
Numerous relics of the Indians and Mound-Builders are found in this township, particularly near Gray's Pond. Dr. Pugh, of Oaktown, has some fine specimens found there in an old burying- ground. Among them are three open dishes like a wash basin, very perfect, three bottle-shaped vessels with necks, two whet- stones, one image, one pestle, several arrow heads, stone hatchets, a large number of human bones. One large skeleton was found in a sitting posture, which bore evidence of rank. Some of the earthenware bore marks of rude engraving.
THE SHAKERS. .
In about 1805 an organization in New York sent out two elders, who went through Ohio and Kentucky, and, making sev- eral converts, formed a colony of families and settled in the northwest part of Busseron Township, where they were soon fol- lowed by the two female elders necessary to make the organiza- tion complete. The main body of the land was entered by William Davis, Adam Galagher and Nathan Pegg, as trustees for the Shakers, in July, 1813. At first they retained separate families, and were not united as is their custom. In 1811 they moved back to Ohio, where they remained till quiet from the effects of the war of 1812 had been restored in Indiana, when they returned, and were prosperous for some time. They once numbered about 400, and owned 1,300 acres of land. They were successful in stock raising and horticulture, and had a fruit orchard of about forty acres. On Busseron Creek they built a saw-mill and a grist-mill, both propelled by water-power. They manufactured various kinds of lumber, a great deal of walnut and cedar, and also made cedar cooper-ware. They had carding and fulling ma- chines, and made all their own clothing, as well as boots and shoes, for which they tanned the leather. They had a cocoonery, and manufactured silk to some extent. Cattle and sheep were raised extensively and successfully. Their town, West Union, consisted of several buildings, used for various industries, for residences and for worship. The building used for worship is still standing. It is a frame structure, about 48x50 feet, two stories, and also has an attic, which is floored, and was apparently used
5
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
for some special purpose. The ground floor is all in one room, used for worship, or dancing, as that is their mode of worship. Entirely around the room extends a seat of walnut plank. The second story was used by the elders-two males and two females. This story is reached by two flights of stairs, and is divided into nine rooms. The lower story had no heating accommodations; the second story was warmed by four "fire-places." The whole building, as well as all their other buildings for residences, etc., was finished with walnut, and is an example of remarkably skilled mechanism. The foundation is of hewed sandstone, three feet high. The most remarkable of the other buildings was the brick residence, which has been torn down, and from the material Mr. J. H. E. Sprinkle has built a residence. It was 40x50 feet. In the first story was a hall, which extended through the building from east to west, and contained two flights of stairs by which the second story was reached, and six rooms for sleeping apart- ments. The first story was arranged so that by folding partitions one-half of the hall and two of the largest rooms could be thrown into one room, used for evening prayer-meetings. On the first floor were accommodations for twenty-four persons to sleep. The second floor was divided into compartments similar to the first and furnished sleeping room for twenty-eight persons. Above the second story were two rooms, which accommodated eight per- sons, making in all a residence for sixty persons. The kitchen was in a separate building. The idea that this building contained dungeons as places of punishment is erroneous, as their only mode of punishment is by "putting out of unions," or excluding from full privileges, till full confession should be effected. The other buildings were mainly of hewed logs.
The Shakers held their property in common. Industry and economy were their particular characteristics. Their spiritual, moral and temporal affairs were presided over by male and female elders, the males being under the care of Isaker Bates and Alexan- der Mckean, and the females under the care of Rebecca Brazleton and Fannie Price. They were a peaceable and law-abiding people, and were very punctual, which is shown by their rule which com- pelled those tardy at evening prayer-meetings to enter through the deacons' rooms, which was considered a punishment for tar- diness.
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
THE GREAT PEAR TREE.
This historic tree, the "giant of its race," stood on the Ochil- . tree farm, Lot 201, now owned by the Wise heirs. This was planted about three-quarters of a century ago. Several years ago it was "blasted and riven by lightning." This tree was vis- ited by the Rev. H. W. Beecher some years ago, and a full descrip- tion of it given then. It was twelve feet in circumference at the base, 120 feet high, and had a lateral spread of 120 feet, and bore an average crop of fifty bushels. Another pear tree of huge di- mensions, planted by the Shakers, still stands on the farm of Col. Sprinkles. This tree is still vigorous, and is supposed to be the oldest of its kind in the State.
HARRISON TOWNSHIP.
This is by far the largest township in the county and was laid out in 1801, and was named in honor of Gen. Harrison. This township was embraced in what was called Clarksville Township. It occupies the southeastern part of this county, being bounded on the north by Palmyra and Steen, on the east and south by White River, and on the west by Johnson. There are several large ponds or sloughs in this township: Montour's, named from a Pian- keshaw chief, on the northeast; Long Pond, on the east; Half Moon and Hitt's Ponds, on the south. Though not the richest land it is neary all suited for cultivation.
SETTLEMENT.
Leonard R. Snyder came to the township in 1804 from Penn- sylvania. He settled on a donation owned by Charles Thorn. The name was originally Riefschneider (hoop cutter), but the family spell the name Snyder, and represent the first by the in- itial "R." Snyder sometimes worked at the blacksmith's trade; he also built a horse-mill about 1817-18, which he ran a long time. This was one of the first in the township. John Snyder, the father of Leonard, was quite old when he came to the county. The sons of Leonard Snyder were John, who lived on the old farm of his father; Samuel, who was cooper, carpenter and miller; David, James, Martin, Solomon and Andrew.
Dr. John Stork was also from Pennsylvania; a part of the
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
goods were taken by keel-boat, or flat-boat to Shawneetown, thence to Vincennes, and the family came by team from Louisville, to the same place by way of the old "trace." Stork was a kind of doctor who doctored mainly by salves and boneset tea. John Hoffman was also from Pennsylvania; he settled between 1792 and 1800 on Donation 246, in the western part of the township. Lewis Reel was from North Carolina about 1802. He settled on a donation. He was killed at Tippecanoe. James Johnson was another pioneer. He ran a water-mill on Mill Creek for a time; Elias Beadle lived on the donation where Dr. Harrison now lives; he is said to have been a Turk. From his long prominent front teeth he was nicknamed "charger tooth." Phillip Near, Jacob and Solomon Teverbaugh were in the township previous to 1800. Solomon Teverbaugh was a man of prodigious strength, a great hunter and prominent member of the Methodist Church. He killed some elk, bear, and numerous deer, turkey and other game. Adam Like came from Lincoln County, N. C., in 1817, and settled in Harrison Township, three and one-half miles southwest of Monroe City. Since that time he with his sons David, John, Elias, Jacob and Moses, have borne an honorable part of the bur- dens of pioneer life. Others who have been identified alike with the affairs of the township were Fred Myers, Elias Myers, Henry Summit, Henry Courtney, Martin Goldman and George Shaner. John McCoy came from Virginia between 1790 and 1800. He settled Donation 11. He was a farmer and hunter. He was killed at Tippecanoe. Robert McCoy was also a Virginian; moved all the way in a wagon. He served during the Revolutionary war. He owned Donation 12. . Joseph Williams, William Williams, William Collins, John Collins and Anthony Junkins, were Virgin- ians and old settlers. James Junkins, son of the last named, was at the battle of Tippecanoe, as was also William Williams. Sam- uel Adams settled on Donation 13, a short distance from the line of Palmyra. John Helderman came from North Carolina at the time the Like family came. He was the father of Adam Helder- man, of Monroe City. He bought his lands of William Simpson. He built a horse-mill on his farm. John Harbin was another owner of a horse-mill, in the western part of the township. John Brock, Isaac and Thomas White were former residents of the
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
township; the former was at the battle of New Orleans. Isaac White was killed at Tippecanoe, and Thomas was wounded. Prom- inent among those living in the township is John Downey, who came from North Carolina, and soon afterward settled on Dona- tion 14; he came by wagon and camped on the way. George Gold man, father of Martin Goldman, before mentioned, was from North Carolina. He is said to have died at the age of one hundred and eight.
David Vankirk came from Maryland to Knox County in 1795, and soon settled in Harrison Township. He was the father of a large family of children. He claimed to have been present when Indians attacked Pierre Anderson's house, and to have killed two of them with an ax; also to have been present at the interview be- tween Gen. Harrison and Tecumseh, which came so near ending in tragedy; was engaged during the Indian war in many encounters with Indians. He frequently took flat-boats to New Orleans and walked home. He was a great hunter and killed from seventy- five to 120 deer in one winter. He claimed to have killed his last bear near West Salem Church, in Johnson Township. He lived to be nearly one hundred years old. James D. Williams (Gov. Williams), was a resident of Harrison Township for nearly half a century. With few school advantages, he rose from the humblest walks of life to the gubernatorial chair of the State, passing from the leg- islative halls of the State to Congress, and then to the governor- ship. His death occurred in 1880 while in the gubernatorial chair. The county commissioners appropriated $500 for suitable memorials in honor of his memory.
MILLS.
Ewing and Badolet, land commissioners, distinctly speak of a grist and saw-mill on Mill Creek in their report to Congress in 1790. They are among the first in the county. Besides the horse-mills of Leonard Snyder and John Harlin, Patterson built a water-mill on Wilson Creek; later one was built on the same stream by Isaac Thorn. In 1836 Gov. James D. Williams and a man named Coon built a water-mill on Pond Creek. This was known as Williams' Mill, and was considered a good mill at the time. It was in operation a great many years.
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
JOHNSON TOWNSHIP.
This township was organized between 1812 and 1823, with some slight changes made since. It is bounded on the north by Vincennes, on the east by Harrison, on the south by White River and Decker and on the west by Vincennes Township. The town- ship is divided from north to south by the Evansville & Terre Haute Railroad; the eastern or central portion is drained by the river Du Chien or Deshee. This formerly discharged its waters into ponds and swamps west of the railroad, and the water finally found its way into the Wabash near the boundary line between Decker and Vincennes Townships. Recently a large ditch was dug on the boundary line between Decker and a portion of Johnson Township, thus discharging the water into White River at Deckertown. The western portion of the township, with the exception of the Chimney Pier Hills, is comparatively low and marshy. The eastern and middle portions are more elevated and quite sandy. The parallel sand ridges bear unmistakable evidence of fluviatile formation.
EARLY SETTLERS.
Frederick Mehl, or Mail, came to the county while it was in possession of the French and Indians. As the French and Indians fraternized he learned the French language as a matter of protection. He was from Philadelphia and obtained Donation 52, to which Isaac Mehl obtained a deed in 1797. Frederick Mehl was the father of Charles, Isaac, Solomon and Frederick, all of whom have been identified with the development of the township. They have all been closely confined to agricultural
pursuits. George Catt, grandfather of J. P. Catt, came from North Carolina to Virginia; thence to Knox County and settled on an old French claim, lying immediately east of Purcell Station. He came all the way from Virginia in a wagon, bringing his family with him. George Catt, son of the former, was born about 1800, and settled on a portion of the land owned by his father. He was a ranger in time of the Indian war, but was not at the battle of Tippecanoe. He was a farmer and miller. Moses Catt, brother of George Catt, was never the owner of land, was somewhat given to bibulous habits. He lived in the "bar-
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
rens " in the western part of the township. "Boss" Catt went to New Orleans and was lost sight of by his friends. Isaac Catt, brother of J. P. Catt, lived west of the railroad. He owned a small tract of land, but depended mainly on his gun for a living. He killed great numbers of deer and turkey. Other of the Catt brothers were Solomon and Hiram, the former died in Harrison Township; the latter is still living near the old farm of the grand- father.
Thomas Johnson settled in the township about 1800. He lived on the farm now owned by Noah Purcell. Later he moved to the south side of the township, where he died; his son, Thomas Johnson, still lives there. Jonathan Purcell, the grandfather of the Purcell family of this township, came to the county from Virginia and settled near Bruceville. His son, John Purcell, bought the farm now owned by Noah Purcell over seventy years ago. He obtained it of Thomas Johnson, before mentioned. He lived on the farm till his death, when the farm came under control of Noah Purcell, who still resides there. Andrew Purcell lived on the farm on which Purcell Station and postoffice is located and after whom the station was named. Others of the Purcell family have lived in the township. Isaac Minor, who lived a short distance north of Noah Purcell, settled there over half a century ago. Anthony Cary settled on Cary's Prairie and gave name to the prairie. He owned a French cart and lived the simple indifferent life of a pioneer. Shepard built a cabin on the edge of Chimney Pier Hills, and in this kind of hermitage he and his wife remained for many years. John Pea lived about two miles east of the railroad. He was a man of sterling character, a Presbyterian. A beech tree in the vicinity still bears the names of John and Henry Pea. Phillip Board and Frank Mahoney were from Kentucky. They settled on small tracts of land near the Chimney Pier Hills, and lived mainly by hunting. Other settlers were J. Thorn, Joe Decker, Asa Decker, Jacob Pea, John Dubois, Samuel N. Wilson, James S. Mays, William Flower, Henry Barkman, John Coon and Isaac Coon. John Beadle, who is still living, is a kind of connecting link between the past and present. Daniel Frederick, who has always lived within a short distance of the place of his birth, is, accord- ing to his own story, ninety-six years old in October.
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
MILLS AND OTHER INDUSTRIES.
The first mill in Johnson Township was built by George Catt on his farm. It was a horse-mill, and by it he was able to make an indifferent flour or meal from ten or fifteen bushels of grain per day. This was built about 1820 and was run for thirteen or twenty years. The flour was bolted by hand. It was no uncom- mon thing for persons to come to mill and have to wait two or three days for their grist, during which time they would either camp out, or would be taken care of by friends. The next mill was built on the Deshee (Du Chien) by Jacob Pea. This was a water-mill, and was used both as a grist and saw-mill. At a later date it was changed to a steam-mill. Vast quantities of lumber were sawed at this mill and hauled to Vincennes. Other owners of mills on Deshee (Du Chien) have been Isaac Coon, Becker and John Drennon, who also had a still-house.
During the winter of 1832-33, Capt. B. V. Beckes camped with his soldiers on the river Deshee (Du Chien) while awaiting orders. He built huts for his men and stalls for his horses. Previous to the late war the swamps west of the railroad were a resort for horse thieves till broken up by the "Regulators." Large wooden shoes, not unlike snow shoes, were fitted to the horses' feet that they might pass over bogs and quagmires to higher ground beyond, and thus to avoid pursuit. The assessor's report for 1884 shows 5,023 acres of wheat, 5,753 acres of corn, 903 acres of oats, 1,147 acres of timothy, and 912 acres of clover. This indicates that there is less than half of the township under cultivation.
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.
This township is bounded on the north by a part of Busseron and by Widner Townships, on the east by Vigo, on the south by Steen, Palmyra and Vincennes, on the west by the Wabash River and Busseron Township. It was named in honor of "the father of his country." It was reduced to its present limits in 1847. The land is drained by Marie Creek (named in honor of a French family who lived in the county) and small tributaries into the Wabash. The places of market are Bruceville and Vincennes. The Danville & Vincennes Railroad passes through the township, which furnishes an outlet for its produce. The character of the
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
soil makes it well suited for farming and stock raising. The township contains about 28,000 acres, and all, with the exception of a small portion, is laid off in donations. The assessor's books for 1884 show 6,051 acres of wheat, 4,259 of corn, 650 of oats, 1,494 of timothy, 2,683 of clover, and 3,436 of pasture lands, the largest area of any in the county.
THE PIONEERS.
"On old tradition's scroll of fame no nobler life appears Than that which plays its simple part among our pioneers; Knights-errant of the new crusades, shrine builders for the years, Grand men of destiny, toil-crowned, are these our pioneers."
Thomas Baird moved from Pennsylvania to Kentucky, and from Kentucky he moved to Indiana in 1801, and settled near Vincennes; in 1806 he moved on his farm near Bruceville, where he remained till his death. Joseph Baird, who is still living near Bruceville, is a son of the above. He was born in the county in 1803, and now has a silver medal given by the old settlers' re- union as the oldest native born of the county. From 1863 to 1872 he was engaged in merchandising in Bruceville. The remainder of his time has been spent on the farm. Bazil Parker came from Kentucky in 1818, and settled in the "Barrens;" later he lived near Bruceville. James Threlkeld (Tuccahoe) lived near Baird, where he remained till his death. Samuel Johnson came from Kentucky in 1826, and John Young from the Carolinas; they both lived on donations. Thomas Emison came from Kentucky abont 1802 or 1803, and settled on Marie Creek. On that stream he built the first grist-mill and saw-mill in the community, at a much later date steam was added. Marks of the old mill are still vis- ible, yet three-quarters of a century have rolled by since its first erection. James Kyle settled farther south in the township. It is probable he was from Ohio. He came while Indiana was yet a Territory. Samuel Thompson was from Kentucky. He bought the donation on which he lived from Gen. Harrison in 1804; for the 400 acres he was to pay $1,000. The land was to be paid for in brick; the deed was made and the land transferred to Thomp- son before a single brick was made, such was Harrison's confi- dence in Thompson. The bricks were made by Thompson on the farm where Mr. A. B. McKee now lives, and were used in build-
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