History of Lawrence, Orange, and Washington counties, Indiana : from the earliest time to the present, together with interesting biographical sketches, reminiscences, notes, etc, Part 48

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 48
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 48
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 48

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).

CRIMINAL OCCURRENCES.

It has been the unlucky fortune of Jackson Township to be the scene of a number of tragic deeds. The first of these occurred about the year 1850, at the store of John A. Wininger, in the northwest part of the township. This was one of the old-fashioned "grocery" stores, where the custom was prevalent to keep plenty of whisky in the back room for accommodation of customers and others. The facts that brought about this affair seem to have been about as follows: Squire Kesterson, the victim, went to the Mexican war, and left his business affairs in the hands of Zachariah Nicholson, both of whom were residents of Dubois County. Soon after his return home, Kesterson became violently jealous of Nicholson, and accused him of being unduly intimate with his wife. It is said that Kesterson had several times threatend and attacked Nichol- son, who had often avoided him, as Kesterson was a large and powerful man. On this occasion of their meeting at the store of Wininger, Kes- terson had been drinking considerably, and when Nicholson came in, drew a knife on him. The latter immediately left the room, Kesterson following. When he had reached the farther end of a long porch in

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front of the building, Nicholson stopped, and having his gun with him, said that he would shoot Kesterson through if he came out to him. Kesterson said he was not afraid and started for him, but before he came in reach. Nicholson took deliberate aim and shot him. Death occurred soon after, and Nicholson succeeded in escaping, and has never since been heard from. It is said that the woman whom Kesterson called his wife, was not such. Some effort was made, mostly by ex-soldiers of the Mexican war, to capture Nicholson: other than this, popular opinion seems to have been charitably inclined toward him.

Another circumstance, the more to be lamented, because of the re- spectability of the persons engaged, was the killing of Alfred Smith, at Newton Stewart, on the 26th of January, 1870. On that day Joseph Denbo and wife, who lived in Newton Stewart, and who had not found the marital relations congenial, were separating, and a dispute arose as to which should have their children. Denbo had succeeded in gaining the possession of them, when Alfred Smith, a brother of Mrs. Denbo, rode up on horseback. A number of persons, relatives of both husband and wife, were there taking sides in the matter; among them were Wesley Shoulder and Washington Atkins. on the side of Denbo, and George A. and Alfred Smith. father and brother of Mrs. Denbo, for her. In the excitement and quarrel, Alfred Smith is said to have fired three shots, one of which took effect in Denbo's hip. Several shots were fired on both sides. Alfred Smith was shot in the back, and from this wound death soon after followed. Both Shoulder and Atkins were tried for the murder of Smith, but were acquitted. George A. Smith was tried for assanlt upon Wesley Shoulder, with intent to kill. and was also acquitted. Mrs. Denho was afterward granted a divorce with the custody of the children.

In February. 1552. the people of Newton Stewart were startled by the finding of a corpse of a woman in the waters of Patoka Creek, near the town. This proved to be the body of Abigail Knight, who was reported as having drowned herself about one month prior to this time, near Williamsburg. some five or six miles up the stream. A coroner's inquest was immediately held. in the course of which sufficient evidence Was developed to warrant the verdict of "death by violence." Suspicion pointed to certain of her relatives us knowing more in reference to the matter than they were willing to tell. She was a maid and not over bright. When found her corpse gave signs of violence, and this with other circumstances that would be irrelevant here. made strong proof that she had been foully dealt with.

SETTLEMENT OF .. REENFIELD TOWNSHIP.

Until September in the year 1531. Greenfield Township extended to the western boundary of the county, but in that year it was reduced to

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its present limits by an act of the County Board. Within what is now Greenfield Township there was no entry of land prior to 1815, but in September of that year Micajah Brooks entered the southwest quarter of Section 10, making the first in the township. The following year there was but little settlement in this neighborhood. among the first to follow Mr. Brooks being William Young, John and Richard Cantrell, Lewis and Absalom Williams, Jonathan Lomax and a few others. The following is a full list of all the land entries made in Greenfield Township prior to the year 1820: Luke McKain. 1817; John Cantrell, 1916: David Williams, 1817; Absalom Williams, 1818: Micajah Brooks, 1815; Will. iam McDonald. 1816; John Davis. 1915; Isaac Pearson, 1818: John Breeze, 1818; Charles Toor, 1817; James Critchfield, 1518; Joseph Paddox, 1S17; Joseph Bird, 1817; John Seybold, 1517; Nathan Pin- nick, 1816; Phillip C. Pearce, 1814: Jonathan Lomax, 1817; James Dickerson, 1$16; Richard Cantrell, 1916, and John Moore, 1818. The descendants of these are yet among the substantial citizens in the town- ship. Along the south and west of the county immigration was tardy in its movements, and prior to the year 1830 there were comparatively few people in these parts of the county. About that year, however, set- tlers began to arrive in larger numbers, and in course of the next twelve or fifteen years a large part of the land was taken up. The following list of voters at an election held on the first Monday in August, 1817. will give a tolerably accurate idea of who the settlers were in Greentield Township at that time. It must be remembered, however, that it then included the present township of Jackson. They were: Robert Ash- bourn. James Glenn. Abraham Hobbs. James Routh, Thomas Maxedon, Jesse Fulton, James Lane, Solomon Osborn. Gilbert Kellams, Nathan Hobbs, David Brown, John Glenn, John Lee. Joseph Osborn. Samuel Glenn, Neman Haskins, John Kellams, Isaac Kellams, Aaron Osborn. William Holtsclaw, William Walls. John Scott, Samuel Morrow, Alexan- der King, Andrew Mason, James McKee, Archibald Constant. Abraham Casey, Elisha Haskins, John Eastridge, John McWilliams, Major Spencer, William Hall, Thomas Logston. William Stout. Edward Riley. Isaac Riley, Joseph Kinkaid, John Causby. James Belcher, James Rollins. Robert Sauer, William Rollins, James Kellams, John Belcher, Isaac Eastridge, Reuben Allen, Uriah Hamblen. Elisha Spencer. Daniel Weath- ers, William Stoot, Edmund Golden. William Rickets. Phillip C. Pearce. Richard Black, Cloud Bethel, William Cornelius. Robert Scoot, William Scoot. At this election John Glenn was Inspector. David Brown and Joseph Kinkaid were Judges, Jame- C'elmer and Joseph Osborn Clerks, and the total number of votes cast was tifty nine. Within the present

· township of Greenfield there may have been, and probably were. a num- ber of squatters, but if so neither records nor recollection have brought any account of it to the present time, and so far as could be definitely

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ascertained Micajah Brooks, at the date before stated, was the first one to locate in the township. William Young, who is said to have come in the year 1816, located on the little creek in the northern part of the town- ship. and on his account it has ever since been called Young's Creek.

EARLY SAW AND GRIST-MILLS.

This township has had its full share of early mills. According to the best information the first mill was built about the year 1818, near the present site of what is known as Williamsburg, in the southern part of the township, by Lewis Allen. He owned this for some time and then sold to James Pitman, about the year 1827. Mr. Pitman repaired and operated this mill for several years. It was a log mill on the banks of Patoka Creek, whose waters furnished the necessary power for the grind- ing. When first built this mill was the principal one for several miles around and was consequently well patronized. Not many years passed, however, before several others were built. One was farther up this same stream by John Davis, near the "hogs defeat," but this is long since gone, and the former was abandoned about the year 1848, at that time owned by William McDonald. In the northwest part of the township Nelson Spalding had a mill run by an overshot water-wheel about the year 1$34, although prior to this John Seybold owned a smaller one at the same place. Both of these were upon the present location of the Seybold Steam Grist-mill. This last was moved from Paoli some ten or twelve years ago and has been in operation ever since. About the year 1948 two brothers. Samuel and Thomas Parks, built what is known as the " Government" Mill in the western part of the township, and oper- ated it for some time. It is yet doing a good business under the man. agement of William McDonald. By far the best in this township is the large steam grist and saw-mill at U'nionville built about 1855 by Jacob P. and H. H. Teaford and John H. Gilliatt. These men continued it until abont the year 1868, when Gilliatt sold to the others. Since then Jacob P. has sold to J. W. Teaford. who with H. H. Teaford is now doing a large business in grinding both wheat and corn. They have two sets of buhrs, and do in connection with this quite an amount of sawing of all kinds done with a circular saw. In the early times there were sev- eral horse-mills, one of the most important of which was one owned by Jacob Cook about the year 1830, and did a large business in custom grind- ing. All of the earliest mills were built of logs and would appear oddly enough beside the immense modern steam mills that do the grinding of the present day. They were simple in the extreme, most of them having but a water-wheel and a set of buhrs suited only for corn grinding. Indeed. the people had but little else to grind in those days when corn "pone" and bacon made the bulk of their bill of fare.

In the spring of 1575 a large number of men in this section of the

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county prepared for a grand circular fox-hunt. About three hundred persons are said to have engaged in this affair and formed a circle of over three miles. They gradually closed in toward the center with high hope of killing in cold blood an untold number of wily foxes. But alas, no foxes were there. This hunt was under the command of T. N. Robison. with Dr. Gilliatt, E. R. Wright. Ira Cook and J. W. Apple as Captains. The unsatisfactory result of this general hunt was undoubtedly the reason why more of these interesting pastimes have not been indulged.

SETTLEMENT OF SOUTHEAST TOWNSHIP.

Southeast Township, so named from its situation in the county. very justly claims the honor of being the scene of the first white settlement within the bounds of what now constitutes Orange County. This was made by John Hollowell, a native of North Carolina. who came from that State and located near the present site of Valeene, in the year 1907. The exact spot where he built his cabin is "et pointed out by the citizens of that place. and is a few rods west of the Christian Church, on what is commonly known as the "point." A cave in the rocks close by is said to have been his abode while the log dwelling was being shaped from the surrounding forests. Here upon the banks of Patoka Creek, seventy. seven years ago, stood the first home of white man in the county. John Hollowell was not long destined to be the lone inhabitant of his western wilderness. John Hobson and Robert Breeze soon bore him company, and but little later came Thomas Self. John Tarr. Thomas Ferguson, David Brown. Samuel Stalcup. George Moon. William Harned, Adam Beard, Abraham Cook, the families of Spalding. Pearson, Spivy. Crit- tendon and Saunders. Still later came William Holaday, Jesse Wells, William Wellman. Thomas Maxedon, Col John Lyon, Jesse Pirtle, Drury White. Charles Manslip. Samuel McIntosh, James Agan. Isom Stroud and Peter Stalcup.

LAND ENTRIES.

Up to and including the year 1812 the following entries of land were made in Southeast Township: Township 1 south, Range 1 east-Rob. ert Hollowell, November 30, 1809, 160 acres, Section 1; John Hollowell, November 30, 1809, 320 acres, Section 11: John Hollowell, June 30, 1907, 160 acres. Section 15. Township 1 south. Range 2 east-Henry H. Jones, March 20. 1812, 160 acres in Section 29. All other persons who entered land in this township prior to the year 1520, were: David Colela- sure in 1814; Thomas Wilson and Thomas Hollowell in 1815; Jacob Smith and Richard Weathers in 1816: John and Henry Holland and Arthur Whitehead in 1817; John Dougherty, William Harned, William White, Daniel Hadley. James French and Abraham Colclasure in 1919; John Coffee. Thomas Maxedon, Thomas Sulling. Samuel Staleup, Samuel McGee and Joseph Weathers in 1519.

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INDUSTRIAL ENTERPRISE.

It is difficult for the present generation, in the midst of modern ad- vancement and with the rapid transportation of the day, to comprehend the situation of early settlers. Modern appliances lightened not their task nor shortened their toil. To clear away the giant trees as they were found in the undisturbed forests was the first hard labor that engaged the hands of the pioneer. Soon the echoing ax and smoking log-heaps told where the van of civilization was advancing. Corn was then the " staff of life " and was the first crop of the soil. The difficulties to be surmounted in getting corn ground were indeed great to the first settlers. They went for this purpose to Jeffersonville, Ind., for some time after their settlement here, and their trip would usually consume two or three days. About the year 1818 John Hollowell built a " horse-mill " near his home, and although it did but a poor job at grinding, it was immediately resor t- ed to by nearly every one in that section of the country. Thomas Self built a mill on Patoka Creek about three years later, which soon super- seded the " horse.mill," and after several years of usefulness was finally abandoned, and is now entirely gone. The first and only steam grist-mill in the township was built in 1852 by William Pearson & Sons. This was for a long time one of the leading mills of the county, and in addi- tion to grinding both wheat and corn it did an extensive business in wool carding, having two sets of cards in operation. The mill was discontin. ned abont the year 1575 on account of being worn out, and since then the township has had no grist-mill. The first saw mill was built by Samuel Harned on bis farm near Valeene, and was run by the waters of Patoka Creek. For several years it was in full operation. but has for some time been destroyed. There are at present two steam portable saw-mills in the township. Besides these there is a chair factory about two miles north- west of Valeene, operated by George Daily, who does a good business in manufacturing split-bottom chairs.

Many of the older meu of to-dny retain recollections that are both pleasant and interesting to hear narrated concerning the customs and habits of frontier life as it existed in Orange County years ago. It speaks much for their industry when in hearing them tell of the log-roll. ings they used to attend, you learn that it was the rule for the men to take a "heap around agin breakfast." The people there were generous and hospitable to a degree scarcely known in the present day, and if a neighbor was in distress, he at once received the undivided attentions of all in his vicinity. Nor did they look on and pity, but they took hold and helped. When a new settler came to their community, they all turned out to welcome him in a bearty way, often by gathering at his chosen spot. and in one day would chop and build his cabin home. House raisings were of frequent occurrence, and at these it was the cus- tom for the owner to have a pail of " grog" near by to stimulate his ben-

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efactors into greater efforts. The people of Southeast Township have this to their credit, however, that in matters of temperance their record has always been fully up with any in the county. Like every other new country, this section was blessed with the shooting-match. At these a beef was usually the prize to be won, and was divided into five choices as follows: The first and second were to have the two hind quarters, the third and fourth the fore quarters, and the fifth was to have the hide and tallow.

HUNTING INCIDENTS.

During the winter season hunting was the chief occupation of the earlier settlers, and many pleasing and curious stories are told of ad- ventures with bears, wolves and wounded deer. It is related that one day William Harned, while peacefully pursuing his way through the woods a short distance below Valeene, saw the track of a bear where it had climbed a tree. He at once called two or three neighbors together and repaired to the tree in question. By repeated yelling and pounding on the tree, Mr. Bruin was finally induced to show his head from the hole above where he had disappeared into the tree. Nosooner was he to be seen than a rifle ball came whizzing into his frame. which so enraged him that he at once came out and rapidly descended to the ground, where he fought vigorously with the dogs for a short time. He at last suc- ceeded in capturing one of the dogs, which he proceeded to hug with a strong embrace. One of the men, Abraham Casey, owner of the dog. grabbed an ax and entered into the conflict, much against the solicita- tions of his companions. With his aid the bear was soon vanquished and the dog was saved to render his master a longer service.

Many of these stories might be related, but they would only prove tedious to the reader. Prominent among the older hunters was John Davis, better known as "Tater." He was a curious character and many episodes in his life still survive him. He was also minister for some time of the Christian Church at Valeene. John Tarr was also another hunter and trapper of fame in this community.

VIGILANCE COMMITTEES. MILK SICKNESS. ETC.

Within the present boundary of Southeast Township but few crimes of notoriety have ever been committed. The usual amount of petty and evil deeds incident to every locality have been enacted. Several cases of horse stealing are recorded, among which is one stolen from Samuel Harned in 1868. The thieves were traced as far as Dubois County. where all clue was lost, and the horse was never found.

About this time a number of the citizens formed a Vigilance Com- mittee for the purpose of protecting their property and of ridding society of these lesser criminals. The members were sworn to maintain secrecy, but after a time the organization was abandoned without having accom- plished much. Among the members were J. N. Murphy, Joseph Faulk-

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ner. P. Maxedon, Joseph Bird, S. R. Stalcup and several others. The health of this part of the county has always been as good as any. Several years ago milk sickness prevailed to a considerable extent, but of late has not been of so frequent occurrence, although a case is now and then encountered. This disease has long been a puzzle to the medical fra- ternity. and a word or two here may be of interest to the citizens of the county. The exact cause of milk sickness has never been ascertained, but from microscopic and other investigation the theory is pretty well established that its source is an organic poison of some kind. By some it is thought to be inorganic. But whatever the cause, one thing is pretty sure, that it is something eaten by the animal or person afflicted, some- thing taken into the stomach. The cause of the disease in persons may be n-nally traced to the flesh, butter or milk of infected animals. How. ever. cases have been known to exist, when the patient had eaten nothing of the kind. Before the Tri-State Medical Society at Evansville, Ind., in 1879. Dr. J. Gardner advanced the theory that the cause was animal- culæ and were found in the blood in quantities varying according to the violence of the disease. These same animalculæe were found in the water that had been used by the persons afflicted, some of whom had used neither milk nor butter. But whence came these animalculæe? Some maintain that it is a poison deposited on decomposing wood, and thence gets into the streams and springs, thus impregnating the water. Others hold that it is some specific poisonous matter that never rises above a few inches from the ground, and that being deposited on the herbage, i- eaten by the cattle while the dew is yet on. Large rewards have been offered for the discovery of the true and definite cause of this dreaded disease, but as yet all attempts have failed. In the year 1875 a great epidemic in diphtheria prevailed in this part of the county, and some eighteen or twenty persons died in consequence of it. It was mostly confined to children, although a number of adults were afflicted with it. There were about one hundred and fifty that were attacked in all.

SETTLEMENT OF STAMPERS CREEK TOWNSHIP.

The middle of the eastern tier of townships in Orange County is Stampers Creek, so named from a small stream that has its origin near the east side of the township. This creek in its turn derives its name from a man named Stamper, concerning whom there is but little now known and that little largely traditionary. By some it is maintained that he was never a resident of Orange County, but lived in Washington County. whence he came to the neighborhood of this creek for the pur- pose of cutting some of the fine timber that grew along its banks. Another and more probable account is that he formerly lived on the farm now owned by Riley McCoy, and near one of the large springs that con- stitute the source of the creek. This township contains some of the

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best farming land in the county, and many of the farmers are among the wealthiest that the county affords. Probably the first settler in the present bounds of the township was Peter Maban, who is said to have come in the year 1509. His descendants are still among the influential citizens of the township. Immediately after him came the Doughertys, Brooks. Doaks. Snyders, Dillards, Kirbys, Moores. Burks. Duncans. Wibles. Cornwells, McCoys, Wolfes, Vandeveers, Vancleaves, Holmeses, Lynds. Galloways and Murphys. names yet familiar in the castern part of the county. Nearly all the early settlers were from Kentucky and North Carolina, who left their native States to rid themselves of slavery and to found a home and fortune where that evil bad no footing. Irami- gration flowed freely until about the year 1535, when it almost entirely ceased and has been at a stand-still ever since.

EARLY LAND ENTRIES.

The following is a full list of all land entries in Stampers Creek Township prior to the year 1820: Township 1 north, Range 1 east. Asa Bart. October 11. 1911. 160 acres in Section 1. Township 2 north. Range 1 east. William Busb. November 25. 1512. 100 acres in Section 25. Peter Maban, March 10, 1812. 160 acres in Section 35. Township 1 north. Range 2 east. Thomas Hopper. September 21. 1811, 150 acres in Section 3. Thomas Copeland. April 1, 1812, 160 acres in Section IS. Township 2 north, Range 2 east; Thomas Scott. September 18. 1512. 160 acre- in Section 32. Thomas Hopper, September 26. 1810, 160 acres in Section 32. In 1813 came David Finley, William Wire, Benjamin Vancleave, George Hinton and William Rigney. In 1814. George and Samuel Dougherty, James J. Murphy, Jacob Wagouer and James Conley. In 1815 Joshua Reed, George Peters, William Brooks and Peter Cornwell. In 1816 William White and Francis May. In 1917 James Baker, John Gresham, Robert Hollowell, Zachariah Lindley, Harvey Findley, Hugh Holmes, Presley Allgood and Humphrey Smith. In 181S, William and John Dougherty, J. W. Doan, Robert Dougherty. Jacob Wagoner. Cornelius King, Samuel Wible. Henry Wolfe and Wil- liam Dillard. In 1919 Henry Dougherty, Robert Sanderson, J. Rigney, Robert Montgomery, John Wolfe, Robert Martin, John Vandevrer and J. Raney.

ANECDOTES.

The first settlement made in this township is said to have been on the farm where Samuel Mahan now lives, in the western part. Here for several years stood what was known as the Moore Fort, where the earli- est settlers resorted for protection from the marauding Indian, which then infested this section of the country. All traces of this fort are now gone, but Mr. Maban is able to point out the spot where it. stood. So far as can be ascertained. Edward Kirby kept the first "corn cracker" in

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this township. This was a horse mill on the farm now owned by Henry Edwards; but Cloud's Mill, now known as Spring Mill, near Paoli. soon superseded this, as the latter was run by water- power and was an im provement over the horse-mill. It was here that the first settlers repaired with their grists for a considerable time, but after a while several mills were established along Stampers Creek. Among these Hugh Holmes owned one at the present site of Millersburg, which he operated until his death. Jarvis Smith operated another on the present Henry Wolfe farm about 1840, and William Brooks had a corn-mill a short distance further down the creek: but these have long since disappeared. The only grist- mill in the township at present is the one owned by Allen McCoy at Millersburg. It has two sets of " buhrs" operated by water-power. In connection with his grist-mill Hugh Holmes had the first saw. mill in the township, and is said to have done a good business. The Tarr brothers built a steam saw-mill in the western part and it was operated by them and others for several years with good success, but has recently been moved and the township is now without any saw. mill.

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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 48

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