History of Lawrence, Orange, and Washington counties, Indiana : from the earliest time to the present, together with interesting biographical sketches, reminiscences, notes, etc, Part 46

Author: Goodspeed Brothers
Publication date: 199-?]
Publisher: [Salem, Mass. : Higginson Book Co.]
Number of Pages: 954

USA > Indiana > Orange County > History of Lawrence, Orange, and Washington counties, Indiana : from the earliest time to the present, together with interesting biographical sketches, reminiscences, notes, etc > Part 46
USA > Indiana > Washington County > History of Lawrence, Orange, and Washington counties, Indiana : from the earliest time to the present, together with interesting biographical sketches, reminiscences, notes, etc > Part 46
USA > Indiana > Lawrence County > History of Lawrence, Orange, and Washington counties, Indiana : from the earliest time to the present, together with interesting biographical sketches, reminiscences, notes, etc > Part 46

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

" Follow your father, my son, And do a- your father has done,"

was the Oriental proverb which dwarfed the intellect and blighted ambi- tion. Personal fitness was undreamed of. For the poor to be ambitious, aspiring and intelligent was a disobedience of the organic law and a sac- rilege beyond the reach of repentance. No wonder that agriculture made no advance, and that the sickle of barbarous man remained unimproved by intelligent invention. It is less than fifty years ago that the old cra. dle came into general use. (Reference is made to the cradle used in reaping grain, and not to that other kind with which we are all very familiar. ) Farmers considered it a model of usefulness and a Godsend. It is a remarkable fact that as soon as the nobility of labor was generally conceded-only fifty or sixty years ago in the United States-the direc- tion of invention was changed to that channel, and the stimulation to rapid and extensive agriculture revived every other pursuit, and led to thousands of contrivances to quicken the safety of the crop and trans- port it to the consumer. The application of steam to a moveable engine was due to the demand for quick transportation of farm products. Hence came that wouder, the railroad. As soon as labor became no longer igno- ble, the rapidity of the invention of farm machinery became marvelous. Now the farmer can sit as independent as a king, and alinost seo his crops sown and harvested by machinery before his eyes. The farmer boy

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.who has a good farm is foolish to leave it and rush off to the city to con- tract vices that will kill him and probably damn him. "Stick to the farm and it will stick to you."

ANECDOTES OF THE CHASE.

Tradition furnishes an account of several interesting hunting inci- dents in the township in early years. The Farlows killed many deer and several bears. It was no trouble to kill deer prior to 1S20. A settler on almost any early morning in summer just at daybreak could shoot one from his door or window. On one occasion. Mr. Farlow killed six of these animals in one day. He was one day in the woods in pursuit of a deer. when he suddenly came quite close to a bear in a large tree. He shot the animal, which fell to the ground dead. It is said that Zacha- riah Lindley. in doing his duty one day as Sheriff, was belated north of Paoli and caught out in a severe snow storm just as darkness set in, and while hurrying on toward town and home. was pursued for some distance by a panther which kept moving around him to get his scent, uttering the most alarming cries, half human. half animal, and putting him in considerable fear for his safety. The animal did not offer to attack him. but when it had obtained his scent, went bounding off through the forest nttering its doleful cries. It is stated that Thomas Hopper about the year 1815 killed two bears on the town site of Paoli. They were mother and cub, and were in the boughs of a big tree. He first shot the old one while in the act of descending. and then the cnb. In 1819, David Hudelson, father of William H. Hudelson, went out one even- ing with his little dog to kill a wild turkey. The dog left his side and was soon heard barking violently off some distance in the woods. MIr. Hudelson hurried on to see what was the matter, and found that the dog had treed a large bear. He approached near enough. took careful aim, and brought bruin to the ground dead at one shot. The animal, which weighed about 400 pounds, was hauled to the settler's cabin on a "Yankee sled." It was dressed that evening, and the next morning William H. then a small lad, was put on the old horse and sent to many of the neighbors with a piece of the bear steak. Mr. Hudelson killed many deer. He killed as high as four in one day in northwestern Paoli Township, and hauled them to his cabin on his "Yankee sled." Many others enjoyed the sport of hunting and trapping the large animals of that early day.

SETTLEMENT OF ORLEANS TOWNSHIP.

The present township of Orleans was organized with the county, and a large part of it was formerly embraced in what was then known as Lost River Township. It is situated in the best part of Orange County for agricultural pursuits, and the land was early and eagerly taken up by the first settlers. Lost River sinks in the southeastern part. and the

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dry bed or channel extends on across a considerable of the southern part of the township. Up to and including the year 1812. there were nearly 1.300 acres of land entered in this township, and all of it within six sec. tions immediately along the Lost River channel. The following is a list of the entries that comprise that amount of land, and they are the only ones made in this township up to that time. In Township 2 north, and Range I east-William Brooks, April 13, 1812, 158.40 acres in Section 3: Daniel Findley, May 16, 1812, 153.20 acres in Section 3; Benjamin Freeman. April 11. 1812. 160 acres in Section 4; James Max- well, October 19, 1809. 160 acres in Section 5; Benjamin Freeman, April 19. 1812, 160 acres in Section 7; Robert Field, April 21, 1812, 176 acres in Section 7; Benjamin Freeman, April 18, 1812, 160 acres in Section 8. In Township 3 north, and Range 1 east-David Findley, November 14, 1811. 160 acres in Section 34. Other entries of land in this town- ship before the year 1820 were as follows: In 1813. Simon Denny, Joseph Maxwell Jr., Roger Mcknight. John Boggs and Samuel Gun- thoy. In 1S14. Peter Mahan, David Findley, Elizabeth Lee and Sam- nel Lewis. In 1815, Isaac Kimbly, Lindsley Ware, James Lewis, John And Jacob Elrod, Roger Mcknight. Joseph Maxwell, Jr., William Lind. ley, Sr .. James Sprow, John Besey and George Blair. In 1816. John Crow. Benjamin Freeman. Christian Hostetler, William Kerr, John Sears. William Holman, Henry Sanders, John McVey, William Kirt- man. Thomas Tate, Samuel Wood. Henry Speed and John Maxwell. In 1917. Henry McGee, John Mayall. Elisha Walling. Joseph Sullivan, Thomas Edwards, Garret Voris and Samuel Lewis. In 1818, William Salee, Fendes Sutherland. Thaddeus Fisher, Abraham Hentman. Hiram and Absalom Gross, James Roberts and Francis Bland. In 1919. R. McLean. Jonathan Wright, J. G. Carr. William G. Berry and Phillip Sutherland.

From a list of the votes in August. 1819, the following names in addition to those just given. will be found: Joseph Wilson, Samuel Scarlett. Jonathan Osborn. Benjamin Blackwell, James Shields, Joseph Hall. Stephen Glover, Richard Blackwell. Robert McLail, James Clayton, Burton Sutherland. Harvy Finley. John Mckinney, John Lewis. Sr., Joseph Pound. Ezekiel S. Riley. Joseph Gulper, John Gray, Christopher Mcknight. Stephen Elrod, Jabez Evans, William Reed, Jesse Finley, Jacob Coquenard, Robert Mckinney. William Dalton. Jacob Conder, John Mayer. Sr., James Pacer, John Mullens, Willoughby Blake. Tyn- dall Sutherland. John B. Mayer. Jeremiah Wilson, John and Frederick Baker, Thomas G. Carr. Wesley Skoggs, Moses Mayer, Thomas Tate, Thomas Alexander. William Sutherland. Gabriel Busick, Joshua Carter. James Horsey, Thomas Wood, William Irwin, Uriah Glover, Basil Tegarden. Clement Horsey. Benjamin Field, Moses Riggs, Spencer Lee. Jacob Voris. Benjamin Pinkley. George Schoolcraft, William Lee,

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Daniel Hardman, John Gross, Isaac Voris, Samuel Lock, Meredith Edwards. James Monroe. Robert Skoggs, Isaac Sexton. John Bryant, John Chatton, Israel Frost. Shadrack Roberts, Alexander McKinney. Levi Johnson, John Gray, Robert Lewis, Robert L. Black, Zachariah Sparlin, Arthur Neal, Daniel Oaks, Isaac Martin, Jacob Kreutsinger. Clement Lee, Moses Fell. Asbury Vandeveer. Joseph Hostetler. Thomas Wadsworth, Samuel Finley, Bradley Dalton, Cornelius Roberts. Ben. jamin Elrod, William Case, Moses Mathers, Jacob Shields, John Neal. Jacob Pifer, Edward Nugent, Edward Millis. John Smith, Nathan Bond, Jacob Osborn, Joseph Crawford, Cornelius Rayburn, William Freeman. Arthur Neal, Jr., Joseph Albin, Peter Piles. John Lewis. Anthony Miller. Christian and Jacob Leatherman, John Bond and Frederick Mayer. The total number of votes cast at this election was 134: Jonathan Jeu- nings receiving 31 for Governor and Christopher Harrison. 101. John B. Mayer was Inspector; Uriah Glover and William Irwin were Judges. This would show a total of about 170 votes, which. on the usual basis of calculation would represent nearly 900 inhabitants at that time. But it must be remembered, that at the date of this election Lost River Township did not exactly coincide with the present bonnd- of Orleans Township. although perhaps near enough not to destroy the valne of these calenla. tions. Here follows the return of an election in this township. held August 5, 1816.

We, the Judges of the election, do hereby make a true statement of the votes that each candidate got in their respective offices that they offered for. as witness our hands and seals: Thomas Posey, Governor, 91 votes: Jonathan Jenuings, Governor. 41 votes: Christopher Harrison, Lieutenant-Governor, 60 votes: Davis Floyd. Lieu. tenant.Governor, 13 votes: John Vawter. Lientenant-Governor. 40 votes: William Hendrick«, Congress, 110 votes: Allen D. Thom. Congress, 19 votes; George R. C. Sullivan. Congress, 1 vote: Roderick Rawlins. Senate. 56 votes; Mar-ion Gi. Clark. Senate. 17 votes; John Depauw. Senate. 2; votes: Jonathan Lindley. Representa- tive. 25 votes; Samnel Lewis, Representative. Go votes: John Pinnick, Represent- ative, 44 votes: Zachariah Lindley. Sheriff. 34 votes: Jesse Roberts, Sheriff, 94 votes. John G. Clendennin. Coroner. 11- votes: Joseph Crawford. Coroner. 102 votes.

ROBERT FIELD. EDWARD MILLIS. ROGER MCKNIGHT. ROBERT ELROD.

W. G. BERNY.

EARLY MILLS.

In the very first settlement, bread was made from grated corn. This ' grating process was usually conducted at night. when enough would be prepared for the following day. Sometimes the corn would have to be soaked in order to "grit" it well. else it would shell off the cobb and could then not be grated. The first mill to which the people were per- mitted access was Hamer's, now in Lawrence County. and here they resorted in large numbers for the luxury of ground corn. Phillip Suth-

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erland built the first mill of any kind now in Orleans Township. It was what is known as a "tramp" mill, where the horses or oxen were put on to grind out one's own grist. This had a big run for some time, and was going both day and night. John Denny built a water mill about 1825, and Samuel Lynd another horse-mill in 1830.

Like the most of Orange County it was originally very heavily grown with the tinest of Indiana lumbering timber, but much of it has been cut down and shipped to other markets. Through these primeval forests the wild deer browsed in native tranquility, disturbed only by the twanging bow of the stealthy red man, or perhaps startled by the sharp, shrill cry of the panther starting on its nightly errand of prey. Here buffa- loes roved in careless herds, and here the untamed bear, monarch of his native glen, shambled his undisputed way. Nearly all the game incident to the forest wilds of America were here in abundance, when the advanced guard of civilization came upon the scene. But at the approach of the irresistable white man, the astonished deer, gazing for a moment at the intruder, threw his proud antlers back and hastened away through the woody thickets, and the panther prowled in silence to its lair. The buf- faloes scatted wide in alarm, to herd again in other and distant glades, while the bear, reluctant to leave his empire, retired with an angry growl to his home amid the rugged rocks.

UNDERGROUND RAILROAD.

A majority of the early settlers here were from the Southern States, having left that section of the country while slavery was flourishing in all its glory. They were as a class bitterly opposed to that institution, and when they had settled in their new land where mankind was not a chattle subject to disposal on an auction block, no deed or act that they conld do to thwart it was left undone. Fugitive slaves were given aid and comfort, and assisted on their flight toward freedom. In almost every community there were men who thought it almost a religious duty to do these acts even though in direct and open violation of law. They soon came to know one another, and a systematic method of spiriting away slaves was established. This was called the underground railroad, and many amusing as well as exciting things occurred along the route.

One station of this " underground " system was at Chambersburg, and one at or near Orleans. The former was usually the first place for stopping after leaving the Ohio River, and they were there taken in charge of by some of the many Quakers in that neighborhood, among whom Mr. Thompson was one of the leaders. Upon arriving at Orleans, such men as J. H. Steers, Abner Freeman, Dr. Prosser and a few others were the foremost in the canse. From here the absconding slaves were sometimes shipped by railroad, but more often continuing their flight on foot. the next night bringing them to the town of Bedford, in Lawrence County.

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SETTLEMENT OF ORANGEVILLE TOWNSHIP.

In the year 1817 nearly all the territory now embraced in Orangeville Township was a part of Northwest Township, which then extended to White River in Lawrence County. The boundary of Orangeville Town- ship was fixed as it now exists by the County Commissioners. It con- tains twenty eight sections of land, being four miles east and west, and seven north and south, lying between Orleans and Northwest Town- ships, and bounded on the north by Lawrence County.

Tradition gives John Pruett the honor of being the first white set- tler in this part of the county, but if so, he was only a squatter. as he never bought any land of the Government here. If the stories that are told of him be true, he was indeed an eccentric character. Those pio- neer days were just suited to his taste when hunting was the chief occu- pation. He is said to have often boasted that when he first came to the county he did not need to work more than two days in a week, and that was to raise a Itttle corn for their bread. The balance of the time was spent'in roaming through the woods in quest of game. Powder and lead were the standards of value then. and the first white mau that ever came to Pruett's cabin had lost his way, and he offered a " load of powder " if Pruett would show him the way to his home two or three miles away. This was readily accepted and the powder delivered. John Pruett was not long permitted to enjoy in solitude his wilderness home. Several others with equal fortitude were crowding to the frontier.

In this township the first entry of land was made by Henry Shirley April 3. 1811. This was 160 acres in Section 6. at the present site of the town of Orangeville. The next was made by Valentine Shirley. south of this in Section 7, 480 acres, July S. in the same year. No other entries were made until 1813, when John Dougherty came, and in 1514 James Wilson. Prior to the year 1520, the following entries were made: In 1815, Andrew Wilson, Charles Shirley, Jacob Shirley. Joel Halbert, Adam Miller, Henry Shirley, Nicholas Blair, James Shields, George H. French, Samuel Blair and Stephen Jessup; in 1816, Thomas Inman, Isaac Scott. Charles Downs, John Marpin, Josseph Nichols, Moses Mathers, Jacob Shirley. John Blair and William Redmon: in 1817. Thomas Evans, Robert McCracken, Edward Bryant, Samnel Wilson and Michael Pipher: in 1818, John Field. Abraham Osborn and Neely Rayborn.

WILD HOGS.

In this section of the county "wild" hogs were plenty in early days and furnished the earlier settlers with all the pork they wanted. These hogs, were of course, the domestic breed but some escaping from their owners roamed wild in the woods. where they fattened on the abundant fruits of the forest. It is said that a great many were here, but why they should be more numerous than in other parts of the county is a mat-

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ter of some curiosity. They may have wandered to this section from the White River Bottoms, as they are known to have been in large numbers along that stream, and fed upon the copious drifts of mast which the over- flowing waters deposited upon the banks. Again the over-abundance of these swine may be a fiction that has grown with the lapse of time and repetition. Seth Halbert, the first visitor to John Pruett, and who paid the powder to find his home, was another of the hunters of this commu . nity, and some of the tales of his adventures are interesting and amus. ing. William Abel was a man who devoted much time to hunting. and was always accompanied by two large dogs. On one occasion he had wounded a large bear, but it was making its escape when the two dogs seized it. one at each side in the fleshy part of the ham or thigh. Just at that time the bear attempted to pass between two small trees not apart enough to allow both dogs to go through together. Maintaining their hold. the bear was held fast and he commenced his attack upon the dogs with great ferocity. While this was going on, Mr. Abel joined in the encounter, and with his small ax or tomahawk, succeeded in dispatching to his death this king of the American forests.

MILLS, TANYARDS, ETC.

In the north part of this township. Daniel Brooks had a horse-millin very early times. that was frequently resorted to for grinding. He also had a "still-house," at the same place. and some years later a store was establisbed there that continued to do a very creditable country retail trade for several years, but when Orangeville began to flourish this went down, never to revive. Abont 1845. Michael Ham began keeping a tan- yard near Orangeville, which was continued by his sons after his death. The old bark-mill is yet standing as a relic of this pioneer industry.

SETTLEMENT OF NORTHWEST TOWNSHIP.

At the re organization of Orange County in the year 1817 Northwest Township was made to include all of the present township of Orange. ville and that part of Orleans lying west of the meridian line, while its northern boundary was the East Fork of White River. After several reductions in size it was fixed as it yet remains. Its area is thirty square miles, and. as its name implies. is situated in the northwest corner of the county. The five sections on the south boundary were originally reserved as saline land, excepting Section 16. which was reserved for school pur- poses. In the other ten sections of Township 2 north and Range 2 west that are situated in Northwest Township, there were but three entries of land prior to 1520. These were Adam Shirley in 1813, James Wilson, 1515, and William Batman, 1\19. The other entries in this township prior to that year were Samuel Blair, 1816; William M. Blair, 1816; George H. French. 1817: George Held, 1517: Burton Southern, 1919; Thomas Brackenridge, 1519, and Thomas Reynolds, 1820. At an elec-

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tion held in Northwest Township, February 20, 1819, at the house of Samuel Glenn, the following persons voted: Robert Elrod. John Max- well. Thomas Inman, John Jarvis, John Sanders, Benjamin Pinkley. George Head, George Pinkley, Zelek Fisher, Wright Sanders, Charles Shirley, James Donnell, Thomas Jervis, Joseph Pearson, Henry Shirley. Stephen Elrod, William Hoard. James Blair, William Kirkman, Will- iam Blair, John Cook, Samuel French, Burton Southern. David Hudson, Joseph Sanders, John Been. Adam Shirley, Simon Snyder, Charles Downs. Jacob A. Shotts, Lewis Byram, Henry McGee. Abel Robbins, William Bland, John Byram, James Wilson, William Batman and Joseph Wilson. Total number voting thirty-eight, Burton Southern receiving twenty votes for Justice of the Peace and John Cook eighteen. John Blair was Inspector, Henry McGee and Lewis Byram were Judges. and Charles Downs and Jacob A. Shotts were Clerks. At this date, how. ever. Northwest included Orangeville Township, where a large number of these voters then resided. In March of the following year there was another election, and the list of voters shows the following names in addition to those just given: John Bryant, John Hinson. Jonathan Lind- ley. David Hudland, George Hinson, Levi S. Stewart, Jacob Shields. Thomas Wadsworth, Richard James, Michael Pipher, John Stewart, Samuel Scarlett, James Shields, Jr., Nathan Bond. Thomas Lindley, Pedigo Watson, Thompson Freeman and George Hoggs. Up to this date there had been land entered by only about forty. four persons, and these two returns show a vote of fifty-six, and many more than twelve of these were then strangers to the land entry record. This would pretty clearly indicate the presence of a considerable number of squatters at that date.

WILSON THE BEAR HUNTER.

One of the historical characters of this part of the county, in its early settlement, was Capt. James Wilson, familiarly known as " Bear Jim." He was one of the most famous hunters of the county, and to narrate one-half of the tales that are still told concerning his fearless and eccen- tric daring, would till a large volume in itself. He was especially fortu- nate in hunting the bear, and from this be derived his curious cognomen. One of the most thrilling episodes, in which he was the hero, and one familiar to everybody yet living in the neighborhood, was this: His favorite mode of capturing the bear was by going into the small caves, in which southern Indiana abounds, and where he knew a bruin to have its den. In these subterranean exploits he always carried a torch light and his rifle, besides his dirk that nearly always accompanied him. On this occasion he went into the cave, equipped as usual, and left a man who was with him, at the entrance. When he had proceeded into the cave but a short distance, he saw the bear, which, in its turn, also saw him. and being no doubt partially blinded, and considerably scared by

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the light, it started for daylight in which to wage its conflict. But, in order to get that, it was necessary to pass the doughty hunter in the narrow ' passage. way. and at once began that business. " Bear Jim " at once saw the danger of his position and commenced a retreat. but the bear advanced faster than he retired, and a fearful contest began for the right of way. He had no opportunity to use his almost unerring rifle, and in the struggle the light was put out. Instead of coming to bis rescue, the man outside ran away through fear, and left Wilson to fight out his own battle. This proved to be a bloody one, for, when he finally managed to effect an escape from both the cave and the brute, the renowned hunter was much the worse for wear, having several severe bites about the shoulders, and being badly scratched on the head and face, with clothes torn in shreads. He recovered from these, however, and lived to prowl in many a cave in search for other bears, having profited but little by his former perilous experience. Probably the last bear killed in the county, was in this township about the year 1925, and Alfred Bruner tells of the excitement it created in the neighborhood, and that the meat was divided among the persons who helped kill it.

MILLS, POSTOFFICES, STORES, ETC.

Uncle John Bedster who is now over eighty years of age, was one of the early settlers, and tells of the hardships the pioneers endured; how they used to grind their corn in an old hand-mill or grate it on a tin grater made by punching nail holes in the bottom of an old tin pan. That was pioneer life sure, and Mr. Noblitt thinks he can yet feel the wounds inflicted by these old-time "gritters" on his fingers.

In the early part of the twenties James Wilson had a small mill on Sul- phur Creek in this Township, but it only ran part of the year when there was sufficient water to turn the undershot wheel. Adam Bruner had one in the north part near the Lawrence County line, and there have been a few circular saw-mills in this township. It is here that some of the famous whetstone is found for which Orange County is so well known. There are several places where it is quarried, the principal being along the Lost River. The Excelsior Mill here is owned by Dr. John A. Rit- ter. and is run by water power. Including the quarry men there is et- ployed about a dozen hands in all. Lewis Chaillaux has a steam whet. stone mill in this township, and is said to be doing a very prosperous business. Near the northwest part of this township there was a post. office called Campbell, established sometime in the twenties, which was continued until about 1958. This was on the farm now owned by Alex. ander Keith, and was on the old stage route from Louisville to Vin- cennes. James Southern kept a store there in early times, and was Post- master for awhile. This was one of the old-fashioned "grocery" stores. where "cap. lead. calico and whisky" were always called for. There

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History of Lawrence, Orange, and Washington counties, Indiana : from the earliest time to the present, together with interesting biographical sketches, reminiscences, notes, etc, Part 46

Author: Goodspeed Brothers Publication date: 199-?] Publisher: [Salem, Mass. : Higginson Book Co.] Number of Pages: 954

Author: Goodspeed Brothers
Publication date: 199-?]
Publisher: [Salem, Mass. : Higginson Book Co.]
Number of Pages: 954