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 8
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 8
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
ing the Harrison residence in Vincennes. John McKee came from Kentucky and settled near Emison's mill about 1807 or 1808. He was a farmer, a potter and associate judge for a time. John, Peter and David Hollingsworth were from South Carolina; they settled near McKee on Congress land. They had small still- houses. Samuel Hollingsworth owned negroes, and on Indiana becoming a State he left his land and went South with his slaves. Nicholas Harper and Washington Sarter lived near the Hollings- worths; the former was from Kentucky, the latter from South Carolina. He was also owner of a small still. Each came about 1810. Richard Posey settled a very short distance from Bruce- ville about 1805. He was a Methodist preacher and school teacher. He was the grandfather of Hon. F. B. Posey, of Peters- burg. John Bolthus lived near lower part of the township. He came from Kentucky about 1807 or 1808. Daniel McClure came with the Thompsons from Kentucky not far from 1800. He was for a time justice of the peace and associate judge. A fort was built on his farm in 1812. Charles McClure was a member of the "Light Horse Company" in the war of 1812. Robert Elliott, from South Carolina, settled in Knox about 1802. He was a Baptist preacher and owner of a still-house-not an uncommon thing in those days.
A man named Chancellor bought a part of the land owned by Posey about 1806. He remained there till his death. Sam- uel Dunn settled near Bruceville about 1817, James McCord set- tled on the donation, where William Piety now lives. David McCord was another early settler. James Denny was from Ken- tucky. He lived near Posey; was a wagon-maker by trade. William D. Piety settled in Knox in 1815. He moved from Kentucky in a wagon. Shortly after settling in the township he had the misfortune to have his horses stolen. These he failed to recover. He was compelled to struggle against poverty and the unconquered forest. He was a man of sterling character. Maj. William Bruce came to Washington Township about 1804. He erected the house in which James Bruce now lives in 1811. He was the father of twenty-five children, all of whom lived beyond infancy except one.
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
OTHER ITEMS.
In the war troubles of 1812 forts were erected in every neigh- borhood. One of these was erected near Emison's mill, and owing to the fact that nearly all the men were away in the war, and the garrison consisted mainly of women, it was nicknamed "Fort Petticoat." The women of those days were not easily ter- rified by the sight or sound of fire-arms. During a holiday fes- tivity on New Year's eve, in 1830, some parties went to the house of Peter Hollingsworth and began clamoring for admission, and becoming demonstrative were fired upon, and one of the party was killed.
DECKER TOWNSHIP.
This township occupies the point between the Wabash and White Rivers. It is bounded on the north by the river Du Chien and by Johnson Township. It embraces between forty and fifty square miles of land. It contains many swamps, bayous and ponds. Two of the largest ponds are Cypress and Claypole, sit- uated near the White River, into which they empty their surplus waters. Cypress lies mostly on Sections 11 and 14, and is named from the growth around it. The latter lies in Section 6, and was named from one of the old settlers, who formerly owned the land around it. These ponds are a great resort for fishing parties. Less than half of the land of the township is under cultivation, owing to the marshes and swamps. In 1884, according to the assessor's report, there were 4,330 acres of wheat, 4,665 acres of corn, and about 2,000 acres in clover and meadow in the township. The lands that are sufficiently dry are extremely fertile, and yield rich harvests of wheat and corn. These articles find a ready market on either the Wabash or White Rivers, or other conven- ient points.
SETTLEMENT.
The Decker family was one of the most prominent of the early settlers, and it was from this family that the township was named. Whether the name was given for Luke, one of the first territo- rial grand jurymen, or for John Decker, one of the first sheriffs, or for the family, is questionable. Luke Decker, the first of the family to come to this county, came from Virginia previous to the year 1783, while this was a part of the territorial limits of
86
HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
Virginia. He brought with him his slaves, and among them was Dinah, a slave woman, who was the mother of Bob and Anthony. These were held as slaves by Luke Decker, son of Luke Decker, after the passage of the ordinance of 1787 and after Indiana be- came a State. In 1817 Bob and Anthony sued Luke Decker in the Orange County Court for their freedom, and after a period of five years in different courts they at last gained their freedom. John Decker, before mentioned, lived near White River, below Deckertown. He owned a body of land on which he lived. Isaac Decker, son-in-law of Kirkendall, was a relative of John and Luke Decker. He sometimes ran flat-boats to New Orleans, and, as was the custom of the time, he would have to walk home. Henry Crow was born in Gibson County in 1812, but has lived almost in sight of the township all the time. He has lived in Section 18 for the last forty years. John came to the town- ship from Virginia, not far from 1800, where he remained until his death. Jacob Anthis was another old settler who opened a a farm on White River. Robert Worth, or Warth, settled about three miles below Deckertown, on the edge of the hills, where he opened a small farm. He lived by cultivating his small tract of land and by hunting. He left two sons, who remained on or near the same spot till their deaths. Jacob Jacobus came from New England and settled on a donation. He opened up a good farm, and was a man of worth. He was the father of Robert Jacobus, township trustee of Decker Township. David Jennings was another pioneer settler on White River. He also was from New England. Thomas Dick was another early settler. He was the owner of Donations 6 and 7. It was for him that the town of Dicksburg was named. David Crack, who settled about one mile and a half from Henry Crow's residence, was from Virginia. He left two sons and three daughters, who remained in the neigh- borhood until death. Other pioneers were Conrad Crum, John Ramsey, Aquilla Ramsey, Marshal Browning, Jeremiah McNeeley. and Thomas Washburn.
MILLS, STILL-HOUSE AND FERRIES.
The first mill ever built in the township was built by one of the Deckers; it was a water-mill. Afterward Thomas Dick built
87
HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
a small horse-mill and still-house on his farm, which supplied the old settlers with food and drink for a time. In 1824 B. V. Decker was allowed the right to run a ferry across White River. The following were the rates charged: six-horse team and wagon, $1; four-horse, 75 cents; two-horse, 50 cents; one-horse, 37} cents; man and horse, 123 cents; footman, 6} cents; neat cattle, 4 cents per head; hogs, 2 cents each.
STEEN TOWNSHIP.
This township occupies the middle of the eastern part of the county. It is bounded on the north by Washington and Vigo, east by Daviess County, south by Harrison, and west by Pal- myra and Harrison. The name Palmyra doubtless took its origin from Asiatic Palmyra, where the churches flourished at an early period. Steen was separated from Palmyra, March 5, 1857, on a petition to the commissioners presented by Andrew Berry and others. It was named in honor of Richard Steen, who may be said to have been its pioneer settler. The township con- sists of a fraction over 21,000 acres of land, wholly of donations. There is little, if any, land that can not be rendered fit for culti- vation, a little over half of which is now in a high state of culti- vation. In 1884 the assessor's report shows 4,330 acres in wheat, 4,665 in corn, 819 in timothy and 1,058 in clover. The old source of market was by long wagon routes, or by flat-boat down White River, thence to New Orleans. The Ohio & Mississippi Railroad now furnishes transportation for the produce of the township, which consists mainly of wheat, corn and live-stock.
COMING OF THE PIONEERS.
Richard Steen came from South Carolina in a wagon in 1806, and settled where Wheatland now stands. The place was then as nature had finished it. With Mr. Steen came Mr. Maxident, his father-in-law, who died at the advanced age of one hundred and three. Richard Steen and son, James, were in the Indian war, neither of whom were injured. James lived on the farm now owned by Marion Dunn. John Steen lived near Wheatland; was a farmer and stock-dealer, and became quite wealthy. Will- iam Steen, another son of Richard, went to Oregon. James
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
Steen, son of John, kept a house of entertainment where Dunn now lives, and boarding a man sick of cholera was himself stricken by the dread disease, and died soon after. Mr. Robinson, son- in-law of Richard Steen, settled near where his son, Richard Rob- inson, now lives. James Jordan, who was prominent as a pio- neer, settled, at a much later date, in the vicinity of Robinson. N. Burriss and James Burriss, who were from Kentucky, settled near Wheatland between 1816 and 1820. Simon Nicholson, from Pennsylvania, settled on the old State road, a short distance from town. James Young, D. W. Ballow, the Jackson family and Andrew Whitenack, all settled near the same neighborhood. The latter was for a time a justice of the peace. Merrill, another pioneer, lived east of the State road. He kept an "inn" for the public. He lived to be quite old. Andrew Berry lived east of Steen's, at what was known as Berryville. Here was the post- office, and Berry was postmaster till Wheatland was laid out and the office moved to that place. Sim Harbin lived east of Wheat- land; the railroad passes through the farm. Here he built a little horse-mill and a small still-house; Jesse Harbin also lived near. A. Westfall was another old settler.
MILLS, ETC.
The principal food of the pioneer was wild meats, such as deer, turkey, bear and smaller game, or hogs that were raised in the woods and were considered common property. Bread stuff was, to a great extent, hominy. What little meal or flour was made was cracked on hand-mills, horse-mills or little water-mills, or beaten in a mortar. The process was about as follows: A block of wood or stump was hollowed out by cutting or burning, and a small mallet or hammer was used for a pestle. The corn was first soaked in lye to remove the bran. It was then placed in the mortar, and the work began. Stimulated by good diges- tion, strong muscles and sometimes hunger, the work was done. The indifferent meal or flour was bolted by hand; at first by punching holes in a deer skin with the tines of a fork or other sharp instrument, and this was used as a kind of sieve. A box was sometimes made, and the bottom covered with some suitable cloth, and the meal or flour put in this and shaken over another
89
HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
box, which would receive the finer particles as they fell through the cloth. Some went to Maysville to mill, some to Harbin's horse-mill, some to Donaldson and others elsewhere.
VIGO TOWNSHIP.
This township was set off by the commissioners February 2, 1837, on the petition of Samuel Chambers and others. It was named in honor of Col. François Vigo. It embraces sixty-three square miles of area, or about 40,000 acres. The greater part of this township was formerly a part of Widner Township. The township is composed largely of rich farming land, particularly along White River and Black Creek bottoms. Some mining is done in different parts of the township, but farming and stock raising is the principal industry.
SQUATTERS, SETTLERS, ETC.
The first settlers in the northern part of the township lived mainly in the vicinity of Black Creek. One of the first in that section was Thomas Anderson, the father of Presley Anderson. He settled there in about 1820. He moved there in a two-horse wagon and settled on a land warrant of 160 acres of land. Anderson was a soldier at Tippecanoe. Samuel Scamp was from the East; he settled on Black Creek in 1819. He was a farmer, but occasionally took a flat-boat to New Orleans. John Johnson settled about one and a half miles southwest of Sandborn after the war of 1812, in which he was a soldier. Robinson Anderson was from Kentucky; he settled east of the railroad about two miles from Sandborn. Phillip Slaughter and Fred Slaughter were from Kentucky, but came at a later date. The last named built a water-mill on Black Creek about 1835. Mrs. Smith (granny) lived as a squatter on the river at Owl Prairie. She had a son, Jacob, who dressed as an Indian and did little but hunt. "Granny " Smith was supposed to possess the mysterious power of witchcraft, and woe unto the one that should come within her enchanted circle, the silver bullet being the only remedy, which was once tried by Phillip Slaughter. John McMurray and John McCombs also settled near Black Creek. Others were George Williamson, brother-in-law of Blan Ballard, the great Indian
90
HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
fighter. James Anderson, the great-grandfather of Presley Anderson and a Revolutionary soldier, and Moses Slinkard, who was a son-in-law of Scamp. Slinkard lived between Black Creek and White River, where he built a horse-mill between 1820 and 1830. William Keith settled on Section 36 about 1820. Hopkins lived near the present site of Edwardsport. Other settlers in the same vicinity were Comstock, Goodman, Azbell and Hulen. Near the southern part of the township were Bicknell and Buntin and later were the Medleys.
GAME.
Deer, turkeys and smaller game were abundant. Wolves were so numerous as to make it difficult to raise sheep or hogs without great care. Wolves seem to be particular enemies to sheep and young pigs. Few bears were seen. Moses Williamson once killed a young bear in his potatoe patch with a hoe. Pelts Hooser once tracked two bears to a large hollow elm tree about three miles east of Edwardsport, smoked them out and killed them.
PALMYRA TOWNSHIP.
A portion of Knox County was known as Palmyra Township as early as 1801; however, it was not reduced to its present limits until 1851. It consists of fifty-two donations and one or two surveys and some fractional donations, embracing over 20,000 acres of land. Nearly all of the lands of the township are arable, the only exception being a small amount at the head of the Deshee and that along Pond Creek and about Montour's Pond .* The acreage in cultivation is the largest of any in the county in proportion to its size. In 1884 Palmyra had 3,001 acres in wheat and 4,571 acres in corn, with about 2,500 acres in timothy and clover. It is strictly a central township, being bounded on the north by Washington, on the east by Steen, on the south by Harrison and on the west by Vincennes Townships. In form it is almost square. It is divided into two almost equal divisions by the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad. The township contains neither store, postoffice nor grist-mill, yet is one of the wealthiest in the county.
*Named for a Piankeshaw Indian chief.
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
One of the first settlers in the southern part of the township was William Williams. He came from Virginia and settled in the township about 1800. He was with Gen. Harrison at Tippe- canoe and received a slight wound. He owned a small farm and, like many pioneers, he made shoes for his own family. The sons of William Williams were Thomas, Joseph, Eben and Jesse; the former was born in 1805 and is still living. He has resided nearly all his life on the northwest quarter of Donation 30. The sons all settled in the same vicinity. Joseph, brother of William, also lived in the same neighborhood. John McCoy, who lived . about one mile south of Thomas Williams, was killed at Tippe- canoe, but his family remained in the same neighborhood for many years. William Welton settled the farm and cleared a part of the land in Donation 30, previous to 1800. John Welton, Sr., settled that portion of 31 where John Welton now resides. There were two other brothers, Ebenezer and William. George McClure settled on Donation 29, where he built a horse-mill and also a small still-house. Isaac Purcell came to the county from Virginia about 1790. Louisville was then unknown. He settled on Location 28. Noah Purcell also settled the adjoining donation ; William, elsewhere mentioned, settled near Bruceville, and Andrew settled where Purcell's Station now is, on the Evansville & Terre Haute Railroad. In Donation 28 Purcell formerly had a small water-mill and still-house, also for a time a tanyard. George W. Purcell was murdered on December 26, 1862, by four men on the farm where Daniel Fox now lives. Samuel Emison was one of the pioneer settlers of Palmyra; he lived in the vicin- ity of Purcell; he was a farmer and was surveyor for a time. David and John McCord were also among the early settlers of Palmyra. Jolın Hogue opened a farm a little east of the Purcell neighborhood. David McClure lived near Emison's. Samuel Langdon bought the lands in Donations 68 and 53 in 1807.
Truman Marks, now eighty-five years of age, has lived in the county sixty-four years. He was born in New York; from there he went to Baltimore, thence to North Carolina, thence to what is now West Virginia. He made a "pirogue," and in this, with his wife and a small store of goods, he floated or rowed down the Big Sandy and the Ohio to Shawneetown. He then worked his
6
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
way to Vincennes on a keel-boat. He bought 400 acres of land
of McIntosh for $1.25 per acre. Marks claims to have walked from Terre Haute to Vincennes in a single day. Daniel Wamp- ler, who lived about two miles from Marks, was a pioneer settler, a farmer and blacksmith, being the first in the township. L. C. Langdon is still using a fire shovel which is said to have been made by Wampler in 1816. John Parker, Jacob Ruble and Daniel Snyder all lived near Wampler. Martin Rose was one of the first settlers, he owned Donation 52, where H. R. Wise now lives. Rose and a son were in the Indian war. William Herrell, Samuel O. Johnson, Joseph and Abraham Stoffey, and Joseph Hogue were also old settlers. Hogue, son-in-law of Parker above mentioned, was a great bear hunter. Game consisting of turkeys and deer, was very abundant. Occasionally a bear was killed. It was on wild meats that the pioneer depended largely for food.
MILLS, TANYARDS, FORTS.
David Welton built an ox tread-mill on his farm in the south- ern part of the township. Robert McClure built a horse-mill, as did Noah Purcell a small water-mill. Col. Jordan also owned a water-mill at the head waters of the Deshee. Grists that were not ground at these mills were ground by hand-mills, beaten in a mortar or taken elsewhere. The only tanyard remembered was the one owned by Isaac Purcell. During the Indian troubles of 1812-14 every neighborhood had its forts or block-houses, suffi- cient for the accommodation of the settlers. The most convenient and commanding place was usually chosen. There were two such defenses in Palmyra, one at Isaac Purcell's, the other at Martin Rose's, usually known as Rose's fort. These were built in 1812, but neither was ever attacked.
THE MOUND BUILDERS.'
The works seen in Knox County, consist of mounds of habita- tion, sepulchral and temple mounds, and number over 200, with probably as many more not yet explored. Mounds of habitation are found in the north and southwest parts of Vincennes, along the summit of the high river bluff south of Edwardsport, on the wagon road between the latter town and Sandborn, and on the
*From the report of the State Geologist.
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
top and sides of the Dicksburg hills. A group of fifty-two mounds on the Vaulting farm six miles southeast from Purcell, showed more attention to regularity than is elsewhere seen, being arranged somewhat in regular lines from north to south, and from east to west. Sepulchral mounds are rare. The only one certainly identified was situated centrally in the last mentioned group. Explored by Samuel Jordan, it was found to contain human skeletons, and round-bottomed pottery. Plumb-bobs, stone shuttles, spinerets and numerous fragments of pottery have been found on S. Catt's land (Survey 22) adjoining. Other tumuli of this character will reward the future explorer. This region was well to the center of the Mound Builders Nation. Remote from the dangers incident to a more exposed situation and encir- cled by a bulwark of loving hearts-forts, walled exclosures, and citadels were unnecessary, and not erected as at exposed points on their frontier. Perhaps the seat of a royal priesthood, their efforts essayed to build a series of temples which constituted at once capital and holy city-the Heliopolis of the West. Three sacred mounds thrown upon, or against the sides of the second terrace or bluff east and southeast of Vincennes are the result; and in size, symmetry and grandeur of aspect, rival if not excel any prehistoric remains in the United States. All three are trun- cated cones or pyramidal, and without doubt erected desig- nedly for sacred purposes ; the flat area on the summit was reserved for an oratory and altar, as in the Teocalli of Mexico. The Pyramid Mound (on the Miller farm, common Lot 83, Division B.), one mile south of Vincennes, is placed on a slightly elevated terrace sur- rounded by a cluster of small mounds. £ It is oblong, with extreme diameter from east to west, at the base of 300 feet, 150 feet wide, and is 47 feet high. The level area on the summit, 15x50 feet, is crowded with intrusive burials of a later race. The Sugar Loaf Mound, on Mr. Fay's land, just east of the city line, is built against and upon the side of the bluff, but stands out in bold relief with sharply inclined sides. Diameter from east to west, 216 feet; from north to south, 180 feet, and towering aloft 140 feet above Vincennes Plain, it commands by 27 feet the high plateau to the east. Area on top 16x25 feet. The following section was developed by sinking a shaft centrally from the top:
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
Feet.
Inches.
Loess sand.
10
0
Ashes, charcoal and bones.
0
10
Loess sand.
17
0
Ashes, charcoal and bones
0
10
Loess sand.
9
0
Ashes, charcoal and bones
2
0
Red altar clays, burned.
3
0
42
8
This shaft closely approached or actually reached the former surface of the hill. It settles decisively the artificial origin of the mound, and indicates a temple three stories high. The Terraced Mound, on Burnett's land, one mile east northeast of Vincennes court house, has an east and west diameter of 366 feet; from north to south, 282 feet, and rises to an elevation of 67 feet above the plain, with a level area on top, 10x50 feet. A winding roadway from the east furnished the votaries of the sun easy access to the summit.
The Dicksburg hills, towering like a pyramid 150 feet above the surrounding plains, required no additional elevation to secure ample outlook to greet the sunrise, the coming of their deity. The tops of these hills are molded into shape and covered with sacred and other mounds. Implements of wrought stone so often found elsewhere, are rare. Those seen in private collections exhibited symmetrical forms and a perfection of finish, which could scarcely be equaled by our mechanics if deprived of steel imple- ments, the emery wheel and diamond dust. They consisted of hoes, spades, awls, knives, saws, and spear and arrow points of flint and quartz; axes, chisels, hammers and pestles of drift granite; pipes, beads and ornamental gorgets of greenstone, jasper and cornelian ; and plumb-bobs (pendants), made from the specular ores of Mis- souri; all the last are harder than steel, and indicate a maturity of skill that is never possessed by a "ferocious brute," but is the result of stable society and a considerable degree of civilization.
ANCIENT TITLES OR LAND GRANTS .*
All titles to real estate have their origin in the right acquired by the first discovery. The title to land in the State of Indiana comes, first, by discoveries and colonization under grants, author-
*Prepared for this work by Charles G. McCord.
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
izations and charters from England and France, and treaties and concessions thereafter; second, by the Revolution in 1776, and confirmations through and by the definitive treaty at Paris with Great Britain, September 3, 1783, whereby the Crown of Great Britain recognized the independence of the United States; third, by cession from the State of Virginia.
At the time of the confederation of the thirteen original States into what is now known as the United States, seven of the States held large possessions of unimproved lands or territories, and six of them did not hold any. The six States not holding any west- ern lands insisted that they should be ceded by those holding them to the United States as public property, and this was finally agreed to. The State of Virginia, by act of her Legislature or General Assembly, January 2, 1781, submitted a proposition for the cession of her western lands which the Congress of the Confeder- ation, by act of September 13, 1783, agreed to receive and accept, and the State, by law of October 20, 1783, authorized her dele- gates in the Congress to consummate the transfer by deed. Vir- ginia at this time embraced within her limits the present States of Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota east of the Mississippi River. Thomas Jefferson, Samuel Hardy, Arthur Lee and James Mon- roe, as the representatives of Virginia, executed the deed March 1, 1784, and thereby conveyed to the United States "all right, title and claim, as well of soil as jurisdiction, which the said com- monwealth hath to the territory or tract of country within the limits of the Virginian charter, situate, lying and being to the northwest of the river Ohio." The French and British had, prior to this time, been in possession of this territory, and grants or concessions of lands, farms, town lots, etc., had been made to the French and British citizens and others by the military com- mandants representing their respective Governments prior to the year 1783.
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