History of Lawrence, Orange, and Washington counties, Indiana : from the earliest time to the present, together with interesting biographical sketches, reminiscences, notes, etc, Part 84

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 84
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 84
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 84


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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.


SETTLEMENT OF MADISON TOWNSHIP.


The first settlement in Washington County was made in the extreme south part of this township, about one mile north of Hardinsburg, in 1803, by Thomas Hopper, from North Carolina. Hopper possessed con- siderable property, and entered in this, Orange and other counties, about 10,000 acres of land. He was followed there by others, who came in con- siderable numbers. From 1808 to 1815, the settlement was very rapid, and at the latter date probably two-thirds of the land in the township had been entered and settled, and the pioneers were prosperous. with good schools, mills and churches. Robert Hollowell lived on the place now owned by William Harned. Alexander Ralston, an Irishman and a store- keeper, settled on the farm now owned by Gen. Cravens. George S. Trabue, who was a clerk in Ralston's store, also settled on the same farm. Aaron Hardin entered land where his son Aaron now lives. Sampson Palton settled in the southwest quarter section of the township, in 1812. He died in 1814. His wife and son David then removed to the place where the latter still lives. In 1813 Jacob and Henry Trinkle settled in the southwest part of the township; also John Oustot and Paul Kester. Robert McIntyre, who was at one time a member of the Legislature, set- tled in Section 15, now the center of the township. In 1811 David Mckinney entered the quarter section upon which the northeast part of the town lies, and his son James settled on it the same year. At about the same time David Mckinney entered the quarter section just south of the above, and leased it to Jesse Ferguson. Borland Brown, about 1815, entered and settled the northwest quarter of Section 3. Elias Williams, a year later, settled the quarter section just north of the last named. These four quarters last mentioned include all of Livonia. Besides those mentioned, the settlers in the north part of the township previous to 1816 were: John Wible, James McPheeters, Daniel Westfall, Abraham Rife (who lived in what was known as the Poplar Cabin and kept store), Adam Wible, Alexander McPheeters, David Colglazier, Alexander Cockerel and his father (who was the first person buried in the old cemetery near Dr. Pattons'), John Simmons, Peter Chastain, Alexander Mckinney, Shadrach White, Samuel Wible and William McGill. In the vicinity of Sinking Spring, besides those already mentioned, were Joel Redus, James L. Archer, William Young and Absalom Sargent.


INTERESTING EARLY ANECDOTES.


In 1812 Alexander Mckinney came with his family from Kentucky. He brought with him a large six-horse wagon and a large drove of hogs and cattle. Alexander, his son, drove the wagon in which Mrs. McKin- ney and the younger children rode. Alexander, Sr., David Mckinney and a man named Walker, drove the hogs. Mckinney's two daughters. Polly and Elizabeth, drove the cattle. The men with the hogs were


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ahead, and as they neared their destination, it being nearly dark, they thought to push on ahead, in order to prepare the camp for the night. On reaching the forks of the road, near where Livonia now is, they took the wrong road, and did not discover their mistake until too late to turn back that night, so they camped where they were, with the hogs. The girls, who were some distance ahead of the wagon with the cattle, on reaching the forks of the road, were at a loss to know which to take. They resolved to "wait for the wagon," but the wagon met with an acci- dent and could not proceed. So the girls were compelled to sit under a tree without supper, and without a fire, with the wolves and "painters" howling all around them, until morning. The men, with the boys, thought they were with the wagon, and those with the wagon thought they were with the men.


On one occasion. John Mckinney, a long, awkward youth of about fourteen, was sent about dark for the cows. It had been reported that an old bear and her cubs had been seen on the hill where the cattle were grazing. About the time John got his cows together, ready to start for home, he heard something come tearing through the bushes. He looked around and saw a large dark object making straight for him. Not wait- ing for a second look he started for the house as fast as his long legs would carry him. At last, finding the bear was gaining on him, he decided to try to dodge it around a large poplar tree. He made the attempt when the bear stopped and-bleated, and he recognized his neighbor's black pet lamb. John seemed furious that it was not a bear, for in his anger he came near killing the lamb in the bushes as a sacri- tice.


EARLY INDUSTRIES, ETC.


Absalom Sargent had a horse-mill at Sinking Spring as early as 1815. He attempted to run a water mill at the Spring but failed. Dan- iel Sherwood had a horse-mill where William Crane, Sr., lives. The flour was bolted by hand. Aaron Hardin, Sr., carried on a cheese fac- tory, probably as early as 1835, on the place cwned by Gen. Cravens. Alexander Ralston, on the same section of the township, built a horse- mill and distillery about 1818. He also carried on a store there. Joseph Ash had a distillery un John Onstot's land, between 1820 and 1830. A church was organized at Sinking Spring as early as 1815. It was organ- ized by Rev. Pope. and was of the Regular Baptist Church denomination.


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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.


CHAPTER IV.


BY WESTON A. GOODSPEED.


ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY-THE ACT OF CREATION-THE COUNTY BOARD AND AGENT-FORMATION OF TOWNSHIPS -- COUNTY BOUNDARY ALTERATIONS-IMPORTANT ACTS OF THE BOARD-LATER EVENTS -- POPULATION-COUNTY BUILDINGS-THE COUNTY POOR-ORIGIN OF THE SCHOOL FUNDS-FINANCES-PLANK ROADS-RAILROADS -LIBRARIES- CATALOGUE OF COUNTY OFFICERS-MEDICAL SOCIETIES-AGRICULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS-LOCAL POLITICS, ETC .- THE FIRST ELECTION IN THE COUNTY.


P RIOR to the 17th of January, 1814, that portion of Indiana now known as Washington County was comprised within the old ter- ritorial counties of Clark and Harrison. At that early date, when Indiana was yet a Territory and while the war of 1512-15 was yet in progress, Washington County came into existence by the following enactment:


AN ACT FOR THE FORMATION OF A NEW COUNTY OUT OF THE COUNTIES OF HAR- RISON AND CLARK:


Be it enacted by the Legislative Council and House of Representatives, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same. That from and after the seventeenth day of January, eighteen hundred and fourteen, all that part of the counties of Harrison and Clark included within the following bounds, to-wit: Beginning at Freeman's corner, on the meridian line; thence southwardly with said line to the intersection of an east and west line running through the center of Township 1 south; thence with the same eastwardly to the summit of the Silver Creek Knobs; thence northeast - wardly with the extreme height of the same between the waters of Silver Creek and Blue River to the line dividing Ranges 6 and 7 east; thence with said range line northwardly to the Indian boundary: thence with said boundary to the place of beginning-shall compose one new county called and known by the name of Washington.


SECTION 2. And be it further enacted. That the county of Washington shall enjoy all the rights and privileges appertaining to the counties heretofore established in the Indlana Territory: and it shall be lawful for the Coroners, Sheriffs, Consta- bles and Collectors of said counties of Harrison and Clark to make distress for all taxes, levies and officers' fees remaining unpaid by the Inhabitants within the bounds of said new county at the time such division shall take place, and they sball be accountable for the same in like manner as if this act had never been passed. and the courts of Harrison and Clark Counties shall have jurisdiction in all suits, pleas, plaints and proceedings which may before the aforesald 17th day of January next have been commenced, instituted and depending within the present counties of Harrison and Clark shall be prosecuted to final judgment and effect. issue process and award execution thereon.


SEC. 8. And be it further enacted by the authority utforesaid. That Joseph Pad- dox, Peter McIntosh and Ignatius Abel, of Harrison County, Marston G. Clark and Joseph Bartholomew, of Clark County, be, and they are hereby appointed Commis-


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sioners to designate the place for the permanent seat of justice of Washington County, agreeable to an act entitled. "An Act for fixing the seats of justice in all new counties hereafter to be laid off." The Commissioners above named or others appointed by the proper court, shall convene at the house of William Lindley on Blue River, on the 17th day of January next, and then proceed to discharge the duties assigned them by law.


SEC. 4. And be it further enacted. That the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the new county aforesaid shall within six months after the permanent seat of justice be established, proceed to erect the necessary public buildings thereon.


SEC. 5. And be it further enacted. That until suitable accommodations can be had (in the opinion of said court) at the seat of justice of said new county, all courts of justice for the same shall be holden at the house of William Lindley. This act to be in force and take effect from and after the 17th day of January. A. D .. 1814.


JAMES NOBLE,


Approved December 21, 1818. Speaker of the House of Representatives.


TH. POSEY. JAMES BEGGS, President of the Legislative Council.


ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY.


In the month of February, 1814, the Commissioners named in the above enactment met at the house of William Lindley, and after viewing several locations bought 174 acres where Salem now is. of Benjamin Brewer and William Lindley. and took title bonds for the conveyance of the same to the county. On the 7th of January, 1814, Isaac Blackford was commissioned Clerk and Recorder of Washington County by the Governor, and a dedimus was issued to him to swear into office all the civil and military officials of the county. At the same time a dediinus was also issued to Col. John DePanw to take the oath of all mem- bers of the Ninth Regiment of Territorial Militia just organized in the new county. There were eight companies, the following being the Captains: Thomas Denny, Samuel Huston. George French, Absalom Sargent, John Beck, Henry Dewalt, Charles Busey and John Royce. About this time also William Hoggatt was commissioned Sheriff; William Lindley, Sur. veyor; Jeremiah Lamb, Coroner: Jonathan Lindley, First Judge: Moses Hoggatt, Second Judge, and Simeon Lamb, Third Judge. of the Wash - ington Circuit Court. The land purchased of Brewer was the south west quarter of Section 17, Township 2 north, Range 4 east, and cost $1.300, the deed bearing date March 18. 1814. The following tract: "Begin- ning at the northeast corner of the northwest quarter of Section 20, Township 2 north, Range + east; thence south 7 degrees. east 28 poles, to the middle of Blue River; thence down the same westwardly to Brock's Creek; thence north to the section line; thence by the same east 7 degrees, north 78 poles to the beginning." was purchased by William Lindley for $50, and comprised fourteen acres, the deed bearing date March 21, 1814. The plat of Salem was drafted by John DePauw, County Agent. April 4, 1814. and shows 142 lots of the usual size and six large ones. In November of the same year the first addition was laid out, mostly in the west side of the creek -in all forty-four lots.


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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.


THE FIRST COUNTY BOARD.


The three Judges. Jonathan Findley, Moses Hoggatt and Simeon Lamb, met for the transaction of county business at the house of William Lindley, just south of Salem, February 2, 1814. Their first act was to appoint John DePauw County Agent, with bond at $5,000. The second Tuesday of April was fixed for the first public sale of town lots. Town land under cultivation not to be sold was ordered leased. At the March session held at William Lindley's, Superintendents were appointed to lease the school sections in the county. Various township officers were appointed at the April election. The following townships were created:


THE FIRST TOWSHIPS.


Madison Township-Beginning at where the line between the first and second townships north crosses the meridian line; thence east unto the second and third range line; thence south to Harrison County line; thence west to the corner of said county; thence to the beginning.


Lost River Township-Beginning at the same place; thence east to the line between the second and third ranges; thence north to the boun- dary of the county.


Blue River Township-Beginning at the second and third range on the south line of this county; thence north on said line to the north line of the second township north; thence east with said line to Clark County line.


Washington Township-Beginning at the northeast corner of Blue River Township; thence north along the Clark County line to the main branch of Muncatuck River; thence down the same to White River; thence down the same to Lost River Township.


Driftwood Township-Beginning where Washington Township strikes the main branch of Muscatatuck, thence with the Clark County line to the bounds of this county; thence with said bounds to the beginning.


IMPORTANT PROCEEDINGS.


It will be seen from this that Madison Township comprised all of southeastern Orange County and all of southwestern Washington County; Lost River Township all of northeastern Orange County and all of northwestern Washington County; Blue River Township all of the south- ern and southeastern Washington County; Washington Township all of central, eastern, northern and northeastern Washington County; Drift- wood Township, all the country attached to Washington County north of White and Muscatatuck Rivers. As soon as these townships were cre- ated the necessary officers were appointed. During the April session of the County Board several roads were ordered viewed; several licenses to keep tavern and to sell goods were issued. The tavern and grocery rates were fixed as follows : Bed 6} cents, meals 25 cents, horse over night to hay and fodder 12} cents; rum, peach brandy or wine. 37} cents


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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.


per half pint, all other spirits 12} cents per half pint, cider or beer 16§ cents per quart; tavern license, $2 per annum. Alexander Little was appointed County Lister for 1814. At the July session the Board first met at William Lindley's, but adjourned immediately to meet again in fif. teen minutes at the temporary court house in Salem. Reports were numer- ously received on many roads that had been ordered viewed. A tax of 1Są cents was levied on horses. Complete arrangements to build a per- manent court house and a jail were made at this term. Here at this inter. esting point the county records are missing, and no more can be said until February, 1817. when the records again are in existence, but the business was now in the hands of three Commissioners. The following enactment extended the bounds of Washington County:


Be it enacted by the Legislative Council and House of Representatives and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same. That all the tract of country contained in the boundary following be attached to and constitute a part of the said county of Washington, to wit: Beginning at Freeman's corner on the meridian line; thence north to the present Indian boundary line: thence with said Indian boundary to the line established by the treaty of Grouseland; thence with said line to the place of beginning: and the same so attached shall be deemed and taken as a part of the said county, in the same manner and under the same regulations as are prescribed for the said county of Washington.


Approved September 1, 1814.


By the act creating the county, given a few pages back, Washington County had about the following limits : Beginning at about Orleans, thence south on the meridian line to the present projected south boun- dary of the county; thence east to the Clark County line; thence with the same to near Seymour on the Indian boundary; thence southwestwardly to near Orleans. By the act last quoted above there was added to this a triangular tract of country bounded about as follows: Beginning at near Orleans, thence on the old Indian boundary to near Seymour; thence on the new Indian boundary northwestwardly to about seven miles north . east of Bloomington, Monroe County, on the meridian line; thence south to the beginning near Orleans. The junction of several Indian boundary lines near Orleans was known as "Freeman's Corner," which point was established in June, 1803, by the treaty of Fort Wayne. Freeman was either the name of the surveyor or of a squatter who located there at a very early date.


In December, 1815, both Orange and Jackson Counties were created, thus taking a large tract from Washington, reducing it practically, with the exception of Scott County stricken off in January, 1820, to its present limits. It is well to mention at this point that in the Constitutional Convention of 1816 held at Corydon, then the capital of the Territory or State, Washington County was ably represented by John DePauw, Will- iam Graham, William Lowe, Samuel Milroy and Robert McIntire. Scott County was created in January. 1820, and in the following Decem- ber the following act was passed by the General Assembly:


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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.


Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana, That so much of the county of Scott as is south of a line commencing on the boundary line between the counties of Washington and Scott at the southwest corner of Section 20, Town- ship 2 north, Range 6 east; thence running east with the sectional line until it inter- sects the Clarke County line, be and the same is hereby attached to and shall form a part of the county of Washington in the same manner as if it had never formed a part or been attached to the county of Scott. This act to take effect and be in force from and after its passage.


Approved December 26. 1820.


For many years the boundary between Clark and Washington Coun- ties was in doubt, owing to its extreme roughness and wildness, but a few years ago three Commissioners were appointed by each connty to have a definite line surveyed. which was done, and the line thus established was sent to the Legislature with a petition that the same be permanently established as the division, and the Legislature accordingly so enacted. This is the present line.


RE-FORMATION OF TOWNSHIPS.


On the 10th of February, 1817, the first Board of Commissioners met at the court house in Salem for the transaction of business. They were Robert McIntire, Alexander Huston and Nathan Trueblood. The first act was to redivide the county into townships, as follows:


Washington Township-Beginning on the township line one mile west of the line dividing Ranges 4 and 5; thence north on said line two miles into Township 3, Range 4; thence west two miles into Township 3, Range 3; thence south to the line dividing Townships 1 and 2; thence to the beginning. Franklin Township-Beginning on Muscatatuck one mile west of the line dividing Ranges 4 and 5; thence south to the line dividing Townships 1 and 2; thence east one mile to the line dividing Ranges 4 and 5; thence by said line sonth to the Harrison County line; thence by said line to the beginning. Posey Township -- Beginning on the township line dividing one and two; thence one mile south; thence west to Orange County; thence south to Harrison County; thence to the line dividing Sections 14 and 15, Township, 1 Range 3; thence north to the beginning. Jackson Township -- Beginning at the southeast corner of the county; thence north to the line dividing Townships 1 aud 2; thence two miles west of the line dividing Ranges 3 and 4; thence on the section line dividing Sections 2 and 3, Township 1, Range 3, south to the line of Harrison Connty; thence east to the beginning. Vernon Town- ship -- Beginning on the line dividing Townships 2 and 3, two miles west of the line dividing Ranges 3 and 4; thence west to Orange County; thence south one mile south of the line dividing Townships 1 and 2; thence east to the line dividing Sections 2 and 3. Township 1, Range 3; thence north to the beginning. Brown Township -- Beginning on the Orange County line at the line dividing Townships 2 and 3; thence east to the line dividing Sections 34 and 35, Township 3, Range 3; thence


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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.


north two miles; thence east on the line dividing Sections 23 and 26 Township 3, Range 4, until within one mile of the line dividing Ranges 4 and 5; thence north to White River; thence with the same to Orange County; thence south to the beginning.


IMPORTANT EARLY ITEMS.


Officers for all the townships were appointed, and places of election fixed. A " scrawl" was adopted as the temporary seal of the Board. Christopher Harrison was employed to make three maps of the county on a scale of half an inch to the mile. In May the county was divided for the first into road districts, and about thirty Superintendents were appointed. The making of roads was the most important feature in the early history of the county. It continued on an extensive scale for many years. The county tax of 1816 had brought this revenue: Horses, $617.81; town lots, §123.17; stallions, $19.50; store licenses, $173.25; tavern licen- ses, $20; total, $953.73. This amount, with that derived from the sale of town lots and from the levy on land, furnished the county with ample revenue. In November, 1817, James Harbinson was given the contract to erect a bridge over Blue River at Salem for $475; the work was completed the following June. Burr Bradley, instead of C. Harrison, made the county maps, for $15. A water-closet for the court yard was built by Adam Cau- ble for $129.00. John Smiley was County Lister in 1818. Books for the Clerk's office were bought of James R. Higgins for $50.37. Tavern keepers in Salem were taxed $10; outside of Salem, $7. Dr. Burr Brad. ley was the first Poor or Pauper Physician. In May, 1819, Jonathan Lyon was appointed Inspector of flour, beef and pork. He was succeeded by Edward Carom the same year. Alexander Huston was the Census Taker of 1820. The court house was kept locked, only to be occupied by the courts and for divine worship. Beebe Booth succeeded John DePauw as County Agent in 1821. The Clerk's office was in the southwest room of the court house. Joel Coombs was County Collector in 1824. During these years important roads were laid out from New Albany to Salem, and on to Bono and Bedford; from Salem to Vernon; from Salem to Charles- town; from Salem to Brownstown; from Salem to Paoli; from Salem to Corydon; from Salem to Scottsburg, and connecting various points in the county.


LATER EVENTS OF INTEREST.


In 1833 John Hardin was appointed Three Per Cent Commissioner. The books of the Fredericksburg Bridge Company were ordered examined. License was granted the Washington County Trading & Manufacturing Company to do business. Before this (1831), the bridge over Blue River at Salem was declared a nuisance by the Board, and ordered removed. In 1835 the Salem & Ohio Turnpike Company was given the right to occupy any road in the county. In 1835 Livonia was incorporated.


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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.


Elijah Newland was Three Per Cent Commissioner in 1840, the total fund being $4,522. 75, used in the construction of roads. No record seems to have been kept of the creation of new townships. In 1841 J. O. Mc- Kinney was appointed student to the State University; Dennis McMahon was appointed in 1842. In September, 1842, in special session, the Board refused to receive Indiana State Treasury notes in payment of taxes In 1842 the grade of the Salem & Jeffersonville Turnpike was declared a State road. In September, 1843, Peter Noggle and Henry Young con- tracted to build a county seminary for $600. In 1844 there was spent of the three per cent fund $200 on the bridge over Blue River on the Salem & Jeffersonville Turnpike. Upon petition of A. H. Cheever and four- teen others, Hardensburg was incorporated in 1849. Upon petition of D. G. Campbell and others, Salem was to be incorporated in 1849.


In March, 1851, the County Board, out of the three per cent fund, took $1,500 stock in the Salem & Millport Plank Road Company. At the same time the right of way was given the Brownstown & Charlestown Plank Road Company. March 3, 1853, the townships of the county were reorganized with new boundaries, and new townships were created, all as nearly as possible to coincide with the Congressional townships. The following were the townships: Gibson, Monroe, Jefferson (new), Brown, Vernon, Washington, Franklin, Polk (new), Pierce (new), Howard (new), Madison (new), Posey and Jackson. Gibson and Monroe had been cre- ated between 1820 and 1840. The others not new had been formed in 1817. The townships created as above stated, were substantially as they are at present. March 3, 1853, the line between Clark and Washington Coun - ties was ordered surveyed. Dennis McMahan was agent of the three per cent fund, in 1853; the fund amounted to $6,575.21. In Septem- ber, 1853, the question of incorporating Salem was carried by a large majority; accordingly a tract of 298 acres was ordered incorporated. In 1854 the Washington Guards, with Wiley R. Reeves, Captain, had 100 muskets, and drilled quite regularly. In 1855, Hiram Wilcox was given the right to manufacture liquor in Brown Township. In 1859, Freder. icksburg with 642.48 acres was incorporated. In 1860, P. O'Beirne & Co. of New York City made a wall map of the county.




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