History of Lawrence, Orange, and Washington counties, Indiana : from the earliest time to the present, together with interesting biographical sketches, reminiscences, notes, etc, Part 80

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 80
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 80
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 80

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).

THE KNOBS.

Running along near the northeast border of the county is a range of hills called the "Knobs," rising to an altitude of 960 feet above the level of the ocean. This range of hills forms the western shore of the " Collett Glacial River." A large portion of Gibson Township lies in this ancient river bed, and is one of the most productive sections of the county. The depth of the drift here has not been ascertained, as there have been no borings sufficiently deep. In digging a well in this drift a white walnut was found in a good state of preservation twenty-one feet below the surface.

THE ROCKY OUTCROPS.

Rocks of the Lower Carboniferous series form the surface strata in a wide belt west of the Devonian and east of the coal measures, and these, for the most part. constitute the rocky exposures of the counties of Har. rison. Crawford. Orange, Morgan, Putnam, Hendricks, Montgomery, Tippecanoe and Benton. with parts of Perry, Floyd and Jackson. The eastern line of this belt is composed of sandstones and shales of the knobstone group, while adjoining on the west are the great cavernous limestones of the State. Washington County is situated near the eastern border of this belt, and a line beginning near the southeast corner of the county and running through Pekin. Farabee's Station, Harristown and Canton, and from thence in a northwest direction through Mount Carmel to the Muscatatuck River, would be an approximate line dividing the knobstone from the limestone. The knobstone crops out east of this line along the knobs and along the bluffs of the streams, having a dip to the southwest. determining the course of many of the water-courses of the county. This shale forms the watershed in the eastern half of the county, consequently we find all the springs coming out between it and the limestone which lies immediately above it. The pyritous nature of this shale causes it to decompose rapidly when exposed to the atmos-

Doneo by Google

669

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.

phere. and the freezing and thawing causes it to crumble, and every spring freshet carries away what the previous winter had torn to pieces. It contains many spherical lumps of sulphuret of iron, some of which have for a nucleus very finely preserved fossils. In a deep ravine east of the residence of Allen Thompson in Gibson Township, in Section 32, may be found many of these spherical lumps, which have been weathered out, containing fossils which have lain entombed for thousands of years, yet retaining their silvery cuticle as perfect as if buried but yesterday. The ontcropping of this shale in some localities, especially along the knobs, presents truly a sublime and grand scenery. A measurement taken in Section 25. in Washington Township, gave a thickness of 285 feet. This does not indicate the entire thickness of the shale. but only what is visible. Fine specimens of Fucoides " Canda Galli" are found in Section 25. Overlying the shale we have the St. Louis, Keokuk and Burlington limestone, rich in fossils. making Washington County a paradise for the collector of geological specimens.

THE SPURGEON HILL FOSSILS.

The famous locality of Spurgeon Hill, situated in Section 24, in Washington Township, has a world-wide reputation for the variety and abundance of its finely preserved specimens. It has for years past been the resort of eminent geologists from all parts of the United States, and will still continue to be, as its treasures are inexhaustible. It has fur- nished thousands of fossils to collectors, and no cabinet, private or pub- lic, is now considered complete without a full suit of specimens from Spurgeon Hill.

The following fossils have been identified at Spurgeon Hill:

Pentremites Koninckana, P.' conoideus, Endothyra Baleyi, Orthis dubia, Productus biseriatns. P. Indianensis, Sperifer bifurcata, S. Nor- woodana. Athyris hirsuta, A. trinucleus Rhynchonea ricinula, R. Gros. venori, R. mutata, R. subeuneata. Eumetria remeuiliana, Terebratula turgida. T. Formosa, Cypricardella subelliptica, C. nucleata, C. oblonga, Sanguinolites (Gomophora !! ) plicata, Cypricardiana Indianensis, Edmon- dia ( !! ) sublana, Nncula shumardana, Leda nasuta, Conocardium catas- tomum, C. Carinatum, C. Cuneatum. C. equilateral, Euomphalus quad. rivolrus, E. spurgenenais, E. spurgenensis rar. planorbiformis, E. plani- spira, Pleurotomaria nodulostriata. P. humilis, P. Meckana, P. subglobosa, P. Worthini, P. Swaltorana, P. trilineata. P. elegantula, P. conula, Murchisonia insculpta, M. attenuata. M. vermicula, M. turritella. M. vineta, Cyclonema Leavenworthana, C. subangulatum, Loxonema Yan- dellana. Eotrochus concarus, Bulimorpha bulimiformis, B. canaliculata, B. clougatu, Holopea Prontana, Naticapsis Carleyana, Platyceras acuti- rosbis, Bellerophon subleris, B. textilis, Nautilus Clarkanus, Orthoceras epigrus. Spirorbis aunlatus, S. nodulosus, Leperditia carbonaria, Conu- laria Missouriensis, Connlaria (1), Dichocrinus (?)

Dioned by Google

670

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.

These fossils belong to the St. Louis limestone and for a full descrip- tion the reader is referred to the twelfth annual report of the State Geolo- gist. it being for the year 1882.

THE FOSSILS OF OTHER LOCALITIES.

At the grade-cut on Paynter's Hill, in Section 27, many of the same fossils are found in the red clay in a good state of preservation, and so eager have been geologists to secure these fossils that the ground has been plowed and raked until not a square yard of surface has escaped the watchful eye of the collector. The overlapping and commingling of the different divisions of the subcarboniferous limestone makes it very difficult in many places to determine the precise boundary between the St. Louis, the Burlington and Keokuk, as the fossils of two or more are found in the same locality. In Section 12 in Washington Township, near the old Franklin Meeting-house, in the bed of the creek are found Batocrinus chrystyi, Goniasteroidocrinus tuberosus, Agaricocrinus nodo. sus, Cyathocriuns decadactylus, Synbathocrius (!). Dorycrinus remeri.

In Section 36 are found: Batocrinas remibrachiatus. Agaricocrinus nodosus, Onychocrinus erculptus. In Section 3 are found: Onychaster flexilis. Actinocrinus lower, Actinocrinns lagunculus, Syubathocrinus swallovi, Cyathocrinus Harrodi. East of the Friends' Church on the land of A. J. Parker, is found Platycrinns Halli. In Sections 13, 14 and 20 in Washington Township, fine and large specimens of Peutremites: Woodmani are found, also in Section 4 in Franklin Township. At the railroad cut southwest of Salem, one or two specimens of Lepidisthes Colletti have been found. The specimens found in these localities are generally well preserved, and especially those in the vicinity of Canton, which embraces some of the huge forms of the upper Keokuk of Iowa and Nashville, Tenn .. are very fine. It will require a critical survey to determine the exact boundaries of the different groups.

BUILDING STONE.

Good building stone can be found in unlimited quantities in almost any locality. In the eastern part of the county is found. in many places. a sandstone which is easily worked when first taken from the quarry. but becomes quite hard after losing its quarry water. It is used mainly for walling cellars and for foundations, and has proved to be quite durable on exposure to the weather. Fine quarries of Oolitic limestone are found in other parts of the county. The quarry formerly owned by Emuel Link, but now owned by Mr. Belknap. has been worked for many years, furnishing thousands of tons of sawed and undressed stone for private and public buildings in Louisville, Chicago and other cities. Mr. Belk. nap has recently adapted channelers, which greatly enlarge the facilities for quarrying. and the labor is so much modified, that blocks of any size can be obtained and shipped at cheap rates. Orders have been received

Dio ned by Google

671

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.

recently by the proprietors of this quarry to furnish the stone for the new State House in Florida. This stone is almost a pure carbonate of lime, and shows a wonderful resistance to weathering, retaining the marks of the hammer and chisel after many years of exposure. The average weight of a cubic foot of this stone is 144.28. Lime of an excel- lent quality is burned at the quarry, supplying a large local demand, besides shipping thousands of bushels to New Albany, Louisville and various other points along the Louisville, New Albany & Chicago Railroad.

CEMENT ROCK.

On the land owned by Francis Elliott, in Franklin Township, Section 7, is seen, cropping out along the branch, a strata of inferior cement rock, containing many geodes. At the bottom of the railroad cut at Harristown is exposed a thickness of from two to five feet of cement rock, but not workable, owing the the geodes found in it. Many of these geodes, although rough and uncouth externally, are filled with nature's purest, brightest gems, and when freshly broken, sparkle with the imprisoned light of past ages.

SAND AND GRAVEL.

Unlimited quantities of gravel for the improvement of roads are found along many of the streams, and can be had for the hauling. All that is needed in order to have good roads is the hauling and spreading the gravel on a properly graded dirt bed. Every spring freshet washes out a new supply to be used during the following summer and fall, which in the last few years has been utilized to the great improvement in our pub- lic highways. Sand of a good quality for building purposes is found along the branches and creeks in sufficient quantities to meet the demands for improvements going on throughout the county.

THE CLAYS.

Good clay for the manufacture of bricks and tiling is found in abun- dance throughout the county. Brick-kilns have been burned in various localities, fully testing the value of the clay, both for brick and tiling. The steady demand for good bricks has justified a liberal investment in their manufacture. The kilns at Salem, under the management of Mr. Alfred Schunn. have turned out in the last ten years millions of the best of brick. which find a ready sale at home at good prices. He has recently added to this branch of industry the manufacture of tiling, in sizes vary. ing from three to eight inches, giving employment to quite a number of hands. The tile factory near Pugh's Mill, on Delaney's Creek, in Mon- roe Township, turns out a superior quality of tiling. and has proved remunerative both to the manufacturer and to the farmer owning bottom lands in this vicinity. No money will give a better per cent than that invested in underdraining the overflowed lands, not only by the increased

Diomed by Google

672

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.

crops, but as a hygienic measure, thus preventing the development of malarial diseases, so common on bottom lands along the water-courses. This branch of industry in this county is in its infancy, and it will not be many years before the frog ponds and swamps will be converted into fertile fields, adding greatly to the agricultural wealth of the county.

COAL DEPOSITS.

It is always important to know what a district of country contains, and it is sometimes of great importance to know what it does not contain. It is frequently asked, " Will coal ever be found in Washington Conn- ty!" Any one with only a limited knowledge of the rock formations, will unhesitatingly answer no. As has been said. the rocks of Washing. ton County belong to the subcarboniferous age. and consequently we are too low for coal. It is true that seams of coal occur in the subcarbon- iferous at many places in Pennsylvania and Virginia, but in Indiana the subcarboniferous is known to contain no coal, and it is a useless waste of time and money to search for it. The railroad track at Harristown on the Louisville, New Albany & Chicago Railroad is 210 feet higher than the track at Mitchell, and 264 feet higher than the surface of the ground at the court house at Paoli. The strata dips to the southwest, throwing our strata under the conglomerate sand rock found in the west part of Orange and the east part of Martin Counties, which isstill below the coal. So it will be seen that it is not nutil we reach the west part of Martin County that we find the true cual measures. The top of Spur- geon Hill is 135 feet higher than the railroad track at Harristown. one of the highest points in the county, but is still too low for coal. A single fossil coal plant has been found near the top of the hill, showing that the higher points would more likely reveal evidences of coal than by dig- ging down in less elevated localities.

THE PRECIOL'S METALS.

None of the precious metals will ever be found in Washington County, unless in minute quantities, because primitive formations in which mines of gold and silver are found do not exist. It is true we may find small particles of gold in the drift, but to search for it in pay- ing quantities is time misspent. Fine specimens zinc-blende are found in geodes in some localities, making nice cabinet specimen3, but valuable for no other purpose. The fabulous stories said to have been handed down through a long line of Indian chiefs in regard to rich silver mines in this county, is credited by some of the pale-faces even now, and noth- ing but a fruitless search will dispel this delusion from their minds.

CAVES.

There is quite a number of caves in Washington County, varying in size from those of small dimensions to quite extensive caves. These did

Digliand by Google

673

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.

not always exist. The rock is of marine origin, and was deposited at the bottom of the subcarboniferous ocean, having a probable depth of from 1,000 to 2,500 feet. Under the pressure of such a depth of water, the material, consisting of comminuted shells of animals and crinoids, was perfectly compressed before hardening. In the process of upheaval, checks and cracks were formed, through which the surface water found its way. Water charged with carbonic acid gas, coming in contact with the limestone in passing through these openings, would enlarge them by unit- ing with the lime, forming a soluble bicarbonate of lime. This process continuing through the ceaseless round of untiring time would continue to enlarge these openings, forming rivulets, which would finally become large subterranean rivers. When these openings became too large for the water to entirely fill them. the carbonic acid still carried on the work of dissolving the limestone. Such was the process by which caves were formed. One of the caves in Monroe Township in Section 19, known as " House's Cave," has been explored to a considerable distance, its fine stalactites exciting the wonder and admiration of the explorer, but vandal hands have shorn it of much of its former beauty and grandeur. From some of these caves streams of water run. "Cave Spring," situated in Madison Township, Section 34, on the land of J. A. Cravens, takes its name from the beautiful cave from which it issues. From a cave in Howard Township, Section 11, a stream of water runs sufficiently large to propel extensive machinery. In the waters of this spring swim eye- less fish. Organ Spring took its name from the sound, resembling that of an organ, made by the water as it flowed from a beautiful cave, situa- ted in Howard Township. In later years this sound has ceased owing to the damming up the water to run machinery. Clifty Creek has its ori- gin from a cave in Brown Township, Section 14. The scenery in this locality is highly romantic, and could be made a pleasant rural summer resort. A cave on the land of Emanuel Link, near Salem, has been visited and explored by many persons, and it has always paid the visitor for the time and trouble. There are caves in other localities of which mention might be made, all showing the cavernous nature of the St. Louis limestone. Future explorations may develop caves in Washing- ton County that will rival the famous Wyandotte Cave of Harrison County.

MINERAL SPRINGS.

The mineral springs of the county have not as yet been sufficiently tested. to give them more than a local reputation. A spring on the land of Mary Fultz, in Franklin Township, Section 30, yielded on analysis made by Prof. E. T. Cox: Chloride sodium, bicarbonate lime, sulphate of lime, bicarbonate magnesia, sulphate magnesia, sulphate soda, sulphate of iron. Its virtues as a medicinal agent have not been fully tested, but will no doubt be found to act beneficially as an aperient, alterative and

Dianizoo by Google

674

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.

tonic. The mineral well of J. W. Underwood, situated in Jefferson Township, Section 26, affords an ample supply of medicated water which had been analyzed by Prof. H. A. Clark, of the Ohio Medical College, and found to contain sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, sul- phuric acid, hydro chloric acid, carbolic acid. phosphoric acid. The water has been tested and found to be highly beneficial in diseases of the digestive and urinary organs. Many other springs throughout the county, although their waters have not been analyzed, give ample evi- dence of possessing medical qualities, and it is only a matter of time when these springs will become known and be the resort of invalids, thus saving expensive trips to the seashore and elsewhere. The salt well between Canton and Salem on the land of Mary Ann Trueblood, in Sec- tion 15, over half a century ago, furnished a local supply of salt, but now there remain only faint traces of the locality where the hardy pio- neer " earned his salt."

TIMBER.

The variety and quality of timber in Washington County will com- pare favorably with that of any other county in the State. At the time of the early settlement of the county it was magnificently wooded with white, black and chestnut oak, white and black walnut, beech, hickory, ash, elm, sugar tree, chestnut, sycamore, poplar, gum, dogwood, sassafras, wild cherry, and some other varieties of less note. Much of the valuable timber was recklessly destroyed in the original clearings. As the popu- lation increased, the demand for timber for different purposes continued to make sad havoc with much of the best timber, and an active demand at home and abroad has been so steady for black walnut, wild cherry and poplar, that now it is seldom we see those grand old monarchs that once were the pride of our primeval forest. The boy who lives fifty years from now will be slow in believing that we had such large forest trees. One or those giant poplars was cut on the land of William Brewer. Sec. tion 32, south of Salem, in the year 1878, that measured eight feet across the stump. The tree made six logs twelve feet long. It took fourteen horses to haul the first cut to Salem, where it was sawed into five-eighth inch lumber by Col. L. D. Sayles. It made 3,000 feet of Ininber, many of the planks measuring forty two inches wide. The entire tree made 12,000 feet of lumber. The enormous amount of wild cherry, black walnut and yellow poplar sawed into lumber in the county, and shipped to eastern cities, may be roughly estimated when we learn that one single saw-mill, that of Col. Sayles, has annually for the past thirteen years averaged 750,000 feet of lumber, while the county is dotted all over with mills running constantly. The tempting prices offered for good timber have in many instances induced land holders to part with all their mer - chantable timber, and in some cases it has led to the neglect of the more legitimate business of the farm. and to a depreciation in the value

Da zedby Google

675 -

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.

of real estate. The timber once recklessly destroyed on many tracts of land, would now, if standing, be worth more than the land on which it grew.

CHAPTER II.

BY WESTON A. GOODSPEED.

INDIAN HISTORY-THE CESSION TREATIES-THE INDIANS WHO INHABITED THIS COUNTRY-THE RANGERS AND MILITIA-THE OX FAMILY-CAPT- U'RE OF JIMMY AND JOHNNY-DEATH OF THE SOLIDAS-THE FORTS. STOCKADES, BLOCK-HOUSES, ETC. - THE SCOUTS - ANECDOTES - THE MOUNDS AND THEIR CONTENTS.

I T is conceded by the authority of historians of the Indian tribes, notably Schoolcraft, Tucker and others, that originally upon the set- tlement of this country by the whites all of the present Indiana was the domain of the Miamis. According to the statement of Little Turtle or Mish-e.ken-o-quah, the head chief of the Miamis and one of the most intelligent and renowned warriors of the aboriginal tribes, made at the treaty of St. Mary's, Ohio, the original tract of country occupied by the Miamis was bounded about as follows: Beginning at Detroit, thence south to the Scioto River, thence down the same to the Ohio River, thence down the same to the mouth of the Wabash, thence up the Wabash to near Covington, Ind., thence north to the southern point of Lake Michigan, thence east to Detroit. This was the Miami land until about a century ago. The whites being stronger constantly encroached upon the hunting-grounds of the Indians in western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio, and the latter gradually kept retiring westward, relinquish- ing by compulsory desertion at first and cession treaties later the land owned for centuries by their forefathers. The retiring Indians, often depleted by periodical border wars of long and bloody continuance, were forced for tribal protection to sue for adoption into the stronger tribes on the west whose strength had not yet been partially crushed by the invading and land-relentless whites. This procedure eventually led to the great Miami Confederacy, composed of the original Miamis and the "permitted " tribes which had been driven westward. Among these " permitted " tribes were the Delawares, the Shawnees, the Kickapoos, the Wyandots, the Senecas and other fragmentary tribes. The Pianke- shaws and Weas seem to be related to the Miamis, or had previously united with them.

THE EARLY INDIAN OCCUPANCY.

The territory now comprising the county of Washington, with the exception of a small portion of the southwest corner, was acquired of the

De zedby Google

676

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.

Delawares, Miamis, Piankeshaws and other tribes by the treaty of Grouseland, held near Vincennes, August 21, 1805. The excepted south- west corner was acquired the year before. The Delawares seem to have had the greatest claim to the land of this county and mainly occupied it, though Miamis, Piankeshaws, and occasionally straggling Pottawatto- mies or Wyandots were seen by the first settlers. There was no celebrated permanent Indian village in this county at the time of white settlement, but there were seen in numerous places open plats of ground which, doubt- less, for years had been cultivated by the Indians. There were also a half dozen or more temporary villages on the streamny, comprising ten to twenty families who lived in wigwams built for a few months, while the hunting, fishing or trapping season lasted.

THE RANGERS AND MILITIA.

At the time of first settlement, and prior to the year 1811, the whites and Indians lived in comparative peace and friendliness as neighbors. But when it became known later that a war was brewing. the Indians left for the North and soon became the allies of Great Britain. Soon after this they began to invade the white settlements in war parties, in paint and feathers, to pillage, burn and murder. This led to the forma- tion of militia companies and companies of mounted rangers, who were regularly sworn into the service of the United States. As early as March, 1811, Zachariah Lindley, afterward so well known in Orange County, was made Captain of a militia company in that territory, where he then lived, and James McVey was his First Lieutenant. Numerous companies were formed in Harrison County, to which Washington was then attached. At that time the entire county composed the Fifth Militia Regiment, the officers being, John Tipton, Colonel; John DePauw, Major, and the follow. ing Captains: Absalom Sargent, James Mckinney, John Bell, Zachariah Lindley, George French, John McVey, Noah Wright, John Beck and Henry Dewalt, who were succeeded by the following among others: Samnel Huston, George French, Charles Busey and John Royse. Among the Lieutenants were: Joseph Shields. Elijah Veach, William Cunning ham, Jacob Zenor, who was afterward Captain and Major, Jesse Dur. ham, John Carter, John Maris, E. C. Hunter and others. Upon the for- mation of Washington County in 1814, it was given a separate regiment -the Ninth. The order for the formation of this regiment was given January 10, 1814, and John DePauw was commissioned Colonel, and to him a dedimus was issued by the Territorial Governor to swear into the service the officers and men of the regiment. The first Captains of the Ninth Regiment were Deney, Huston, French, Sargent, Beck. Dewalt, Busey, Royse, Jerry Rankin and Samuel Maris. Some of them were soon succeeded by Clifton Glazebrook, William Kennedy, Jesse Roberts, Jesse Durham, Noah Wright, John Maxwell and others. Jesse Roberts

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Lawrence, Orange, and Washington counties, Indiana : from the earliest time to the present, together with interesting biographical sketches, reminiscences, notes, etc, Part 80

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