USA > Indiana > Lawrence County > History of Lawrence and Monroe counties, Indiana : their people, industries, and institutions > Part 38
USA > Indiana > Monroe County > History of Lawrence and Monroe counties, Indiana : their people, industries, and institutions > Part 38
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This stone represents largely the wealth-producing source of the town- ship, and is enhanced by the ease with which the stone is quarried and worked.
SETTLEMENT.
The first settlement here was effected by men whose names cannot now be given with any degree of certainty as to date of coming, only in an approxi- mate manner. The most of the lands within the township were entered by speculators, who subsequently sold to other persons. Land was thrown open to buyers in 1816. John Fullen purchased all of section 4, during the year last named. Soon after this came Nathaniel Gilbert to section 15, and he was one of the first pioneers within the township. John McCormick, a
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speculator, purchased lands in several sections in 1816. The same year, or possibly the year following, came Hugh Barnes on section 20, and Abner Evans, who by some it is stated was the first permanent settler in Bean Blossom township. He located on section 20, in 1816. He built a saw mill on Jack's Defeat creek, at a very early day -- about 1819-which he operated for a number of years. Jonathan Gilbert purchased on section 22, also in 1816, and became a prominent citizen. Other settlers in 1816 were Julius Woodward, on section 32, and William Millikan, on section 34. Millikan also built a mill and conducted the same a number of years. Traces of his dam were still visible in the late eighties. William Kelso bought land in 1816, on section 3.1, and soon became a permanent settler in the township. John Big- ger, of section 35, and Jonathan Lindley, of section 35, were here in 1816, while Phineas Stevens entered the township the year following. The settle- ment was added to by the coming of these gentlemen about to be enumerated, as well as others whose names have been lost with the passing of time : Samuel Jennings, section 36, in 1816: Robert Blair, 1817; F. V. Hall, 1817, on section 17. James Bradley on section1 23; William Puett, section 25 ; Moses Slaughter, section 25 ; Nathaniel Clark, on section 26; John Keys, section 36. John Bur- ton, in 1819. purchased a tract of land in section 9, and became permanently identified with the township's interests. He was the founder of the old town of Mt. Tabor, where he started the first grist and saw mill in the place.
Further settlers were: William Burton, 1821 ; Francis Evans, Anthony Reese, section 18; John Moore, section 30; Reuben Loving, in 1823: Simon Lindley, 1824; John Lemon of section 3, the same season ; L. L. Waldron, section 19, in 1825; John Summit, in 1828; Nicholas Whisenand. Solomon Teague, in 1827; Henry Ritzel, of section 21, in 1826; AAlexander Wilson, of section 27, in 1826; W. O. Stansberry, of section 29, in 1824, and George Sharp and Armstead Puett of section 30, the same year. In 1823, Henry Hopewell bought land in section 33, and in 1826 Martin Wampler in section 30: Gilbert Lytton on section 28, in 1828; Samuel Hartsock, of section 16, was among the very earliest to effect permanent settlement in this township. John Blain settled on section 16 in 1830; Henry Wallace on section 9, in 1829; Richard Shirley of section 6, in 1829; Andrew Robinson of section 1, in 1826; Benjamin Utterback, of section 2, in 1830. The above mentioned, and others, came in before 1830.
Wild game and bloodthirsty animals were the common rule in the first decades of the settlement of this township, bears being especially feared by the pioneers. The hunters killed many deer, which animals found ready sale.
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at from twenty-five cents to one dollar a hide, the same being largely used for making men's "breeches." The saddles of the deer were usually worth about as much as the hides were.
TOWNS AND VILLAGES.
The first village platted within this township was Mt. Tabor, which was the chief place for trading in Monroe county at an early date. As early as 1820 John Burton erected his mill at this point. He ground corn and cut lumber from the native forest trees. A blacksmith shop was set in operation in 1825 by James Turner and Jefferson Wampler. William Ellett sold the first merchandise there in 1828, from what would now be styled a "saloon," but also carried other goods, as well as a full supply of liquids to refresh the inner man, as was the universal custom in those early days. Mt. Tabor was platted in April, 1828, and sixty-six lots were disposed of. The county record still shows the plat and upon its face the paper has the picture of a saw and grist mill there. Park & Hite opened the first respectable stock of merchandise in 1829. There were numerous "saloons," then called "groceries," in which both "wet" and "dry" groceries were carried, doing a thriving business here in the thirties. Ellett & Kirkham started a store there in 1831. Other deal- ers there were, John S. Barnes, Gideon Walker, the Wamplers, John Bennett, 1835; Shelburn & Dunning, in 1836; A. W. Hill, 1843: W. J. Sparks, 1845 : Sparks & Davis, 1847: John C. Mays. 1849; Parks & Egbert, 1849: Sparks & Davis kept the last store in the village of Mt. Tabor, before the Civil war, and Levi Kean conducted the last one there, a little later on. Posey Brothers made many men's hats from fine lamb's wool.
The reader of today may not know anything about the existence of this defunct place, but once it was a lively commercial center. Here large amounts of grain and stock were sold: here tens of thousands of feet of hard wood lumber were cut ; here the him of the saw and flouring mills was heard day in and day out. year 'round. As high as five thousand hogs were slaugh- tered there in one season in the forties, the pork being shipped down the river. In the spring of the year the water from White river backed up far enough to allow flat-boats to be propelled in the very streets of Mt. Tabor. "As many as fifteen hoat loads were thus sent out from the village in one sea- son. Dr. W. S. Walker used to relate how he had made nine trips to New Orleans from Mt. Tabor, while Matthias Berry claimed the distinction of having gone to that far away city thirteen trips. Late in the forties steam (26)
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was introduced in the packing plants at Mt. Tabor, and successfully used in scalding hogs and running machinery for hoisting the product. A large cooper shop was in operation there many years, and the stave and hoop-pole business was no small item to the pioneers, who could thus obtain ready money with which to pay taxes, postage, etc.
Mr. Chambers manufactured all kinds of spinning-wheels and reels. In 1836 a fanning mill was built at Mt. Tabor and the factory had an exten- sive business many years. Twenty-five men were employed and four men and wagons were kept out on the road selling fanning mills. The village also had a large tannery. The place saw its best days between 1832 and 1852, possibly 1840 was its high-tide year for business. At one time in the forties Mt. Tabor had as high as three hundred and fifty population. After the Civil war a few years there was nothing left of this once prosperous village, save the tumble-down mills and a few houses. This, in brief, is the history of the first commercial center of Monroe county. It served well its day and generation, a convenience to many a pioneer family, which could hardly have hoped to exist without it. Its only monument is the village plat record at the court house and the word "defunct."
STINESVILLE.
Stinesville, now enjoying a population of about five hundred, was platted as a result of the construction of the New Albany railroad and was laid out by Eusebius Stine in 1855 on the southeast quarter of section 17. At first the place grew slowly, but with the development of the stone industry it took a sudden start and has come to be one of the enterprising towns of the county. The first work on a scientific plan in the quarrying of the American marble at a point near the village, on Big creek, was conducted by the Vir- ginia Company. Samuel Brisco started the first store in the place, and was soon followed by John McHenry & Son. Other early dealers were James Williams, Mr. Matheny and James Shell. Later came in Thomas Riggs, C. C. Dunn, David Miller. William Easton opened the pioneer hotel, and Dr. Mullinix was the earliest to practice medicine. The first postmaster was John McHenry. Before the town had been platted, its founder, Eusebius Stine, had built a saw mill and a small grist mill, and was the first black- smith of that locality.
Stinesville has a picturesque and interesting record. It is a typical stone town, and the folk of the town are proud of the clean, white stones that are quarried from the hills surrounding the village. J. Hoadley Sons'
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Company and George W. Henley Stone Company quarry and ship most of the limestone that is taken from this place, and the business is conducted on a large scale. Early morning brings scores of brown-skinned, stalwart work- ers through the town, down the hill to work, and throughout the day the hum and crooning of the mills may be heard, until evening, when the work- ers return, covered with fine, white stone dust. The old-timers point with great emphasis to the fact that all of the Indiana oolitic limestone used in the construction of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument at Indianapolis was quarried from a hill on the outskirts of the town. This is excepting the last addition, the immense stone groups at the base of the monument, which was quarried in Lawrence county, owing to the better facilities for the transpor- tation of the monstrous blocks. One old veteran of the stone-cutting trade said : "They told me at the city that the stone in the monument came from Bedford, but, sez I, you ain't makin' me mad, cause I can tell yu', standin' right here, every grade of rock from tip to toe, and how deep it was under level."
The commercial life of the town is typical of the villages of this county. The general stores are conducted by J. W. Easton. M. L. Easton and R. A. Dunn, the latter also being the postmaster. Eli Myers & Son and D. E. McHenry have grocery stores : J. O. Van Buskirk has a livery : the O'Haras, of Bloomington, have a branch drug store; J. C. Burgan runs a first-class hotel; A. J. Collier owns the restaurant ; Frank Fox conducts a barber shop; and R. G. Edwards deals in live stock. The physician of Stinesville is Dr. W. Rice Holtzman.
The town officers are: Ezra Dunning. marshal: D. C. Pugh. Robert Welch and Frank Whetzel, councilmen ; and L. N. Williams, clerk and treas- urer.
The Masonic order, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias are all well represented in Stinesville. The Baptist, the Southern Methodist and the Christian churches make the religious denomina- tions.
CHAPTER XVII.
BENTON TOWNSHIP.
Benton township was organized in 1833, and includes all of congres- sional township 9 north, range I east, with the exception of the east tier of sections which is a part of Brown county, and includes the whole of town- ship 10 north, range 1 east, south of Bean Blossom creek. The township was named after Thomas H. Benton, of Missouri.
As an agricultural township, Benton is inferior, due to the many high bluffs and rocky ravines. There is much clay in the soil, and in even the low- lands there is material washed from higher altitudes which is a detriment to crop raising. There are spots, however, upon which the best cereals may be cultivated successfully. The nature of the land, the topography and the timber, make the township an excellent grazing section. The stone found in this township is mostly the Keokuk limestone, also there are found many crinoids, geodes and various other kinds of fossils.
SETTLEMENT.
On September 17, 1822, Elisha Pollard made the first entry of land, choosing section 34. Thus it will be seen that land was not at a premium in this township, most of the other townships being filled up first. The second entry of land was on section 18 by Henry Kimble in December, 1823. Robert Young was the third, on section 8, in January, 1824. David Barrow was the next, on section 5, in 1830. William Florer purchased on section 8 in 1832; George Richardson on section 21, and George Skevin on section 31. in the same year. In 1833 the following entries of land were made within the township: Isaac W. Young, on section 6; Abram Young, on section 8; Isaac Cox, on section 18. In 1834 Edward Jackson bought on section 8; Jacob Calor, on section 9; William Richardson, on section 9; David Chit- wood, on section 10; Osaac Cox, on section 18; Henry Kimble, on sections 18 and 19. In 1835 Sampson Hensley purchased ground on section 19. 1836 saw the following entries : William Florer, on section 3; Mary Craw- ford, on section 3: Jacob Young, on section 3; Rufus Ward, on section 4;
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Charles Bates, on section 6; David Young and Isaac W. Young, on section 8; James Alexander, Joab Mershon, Hugh McClung and Pleasant Robinson, on section 9; David Chitwood, on section 10: Adam Stevens and Joshua Richardson, on section 15; Jacob Mosier, Pleasant Robinson and Isaac W. Young, section 16; Joab Cox, section 17; Sampson Hensley, section 19; Abraham Ealy, section 20; Jacob Mosier, section 27; William Cox, section 28; Michael Buskirk, section 30; John M. Sluss, section 31; William Cox, section 33; Jacob Romans and Lewis Rains, section 34. In the year 1837 these entries were made: John W. Riddle, on section 6; Nancy Rains, sec- tion 6; Joab Cox, section 7; Thomas Gardner, section 9; William Richard- son, section 9; Abraham Young and Joshua Richardson, section 16; James Rader and Jacob Mefford, section 19; Adam Stephens, section 22; John B. Cox and Adam Stephens, section 28; Abraham Ealy, section 29; Thomas R. Stephenson, section 31 ; Stevenson and Martin Gamble, section 32; Finney Courtney, section 33. In 1838 Hugh McClung purchased on section 9; Nathan Hensley, on section 22; Lewis Mosier, on section 27; and Jacob Romans, on section 34. In 1839 Edward Jackson bought on section 6; Sam- uel C. Harbison, section 15; Adam Stephens, also section 15; Isaac W. Young and G. H. Johnson, section 18; Nathan Hensley, sections 21 and 22; George Richardson, section 21; William Kerr. section 31; Joseph Horton, section 32: James Thompson and Thomas Kelley, section 33. These purchases were all prior to 1840. The settlements came very slowly, a great deal of the land being empty until the fifties. The Young family is credited with being the first family to settle within the borders of Benton township, also the Cox family came in early. Other families which occupied the center of the town- ship were the Chitwoods, Richardsons. Youngs, Stevenses, Robinsons and Alexanders.
UNIONVILLE.
The town of Unionville is the only one of any importance ever developed in this township. J. J. Alexander opened a store of general merchandise in 1836, and conducted a very thriving trade. Late in the forties James Carter engaged in business. also C. C. Fleener. In 1852 F. R. Miller started in the mercantile business. The inevitable blacksmith shop, which served as the meeting place, a postoffice, and other small shops featured the town of Union- ville.
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THE COX TRAGEDY.
In September, 1861, occurred a bloody crime in Benton township, which has remained a source of mystery ever since. Neighbors found the family of John B. Cox brutally murdered, their first discovery being Mr. Cox, who was lying unconscious on his front porch, with severe cuts around his head and neck. Mrs. Cox lay upon the bed within the house, with her throat slashed from ear to ear. Upon another bed lay a ten-year-old girl, terribly mangled about the throat, and on the floor nearby was another girl, younger, with her head almost cut from her body. A trundle-bed held two other chil- dren, badly wounded, but alive. The baby of the family was found unhurt.
Mr. Cox had trouble with the neighbors and was taken to Bloomington . for safe keeping, where he was questioned closely when he arrived there. His story was that several men had attacked the family during the night, knocked him senseless, after which he knew nothing until the following morning. Several men were arrested and tried, but were acquitted from lack of evi- dence. Others believed that Cox himself, who was subject to fits of insanity, had committed the deed. This was the end of the case, which will probably never be solved.
CHAPTER XVIII.
CLEAR CREEK TOWNSHIP.
Lying in the fork formed by Clear creek and Salt creek is Clear Creek township. For agricultural purposes the township is one of the best of Mon- roe county, the country being mostly lowland, and narrow and rich valleys adjoining the stream. The surface soil is especially rich in elements neces- sary for the raising of crops, and every square foot of available soil is at present producing to its utmost capacity. The geological description of this township is very complicated, although interesting to the scientist. Keokuk and St. Louis limestone are found in great outcroppings in the township and in places where the surface soil has been washed away may be found hun- dreds of geodes, comprising crystalline and butryoidal. The argillaceous layers containing these beautiful geodes also hold numerous species of fos- sils, some of them of plants that have thousands of years been extinct. A portion of the western side of the township is covered with the Warsaw division of the lower St. Louis limestone, also containing other and different species of fossils, some of them being placed in the most complete scientific museums of the world. From the east the first stone found is the Knob. sandstone, then lapping this west of center is the Keokuk limestone, and lapping the Keokuk is the Warsaw division of the lower St. Louis limestone. thus giving the township, at the surface, both limestone and sandstone of the most excellent quality.
SETTLEMENT.
Clear Creek township holds the honor of having the first settler of Monroe county. This was David McHolland, who settled in the northwest corner of the township in 1817. He came to this place in 1815, when the state of Indiana was but a territory. Mr. McHolland had been preceded by white hunters and Indians, but none of them brought their families and made a home. This early settler, or squatter, supported his family by his rifle, and also cultivated a few acres of ground. After a few years the McHollands moved to the northwest portion of the county, where they lived for many years. The second settler is not known, although in 1816 Bartlett Wood-
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ward entered considerable land in the township and built a log cabin thereon for his family. Mr. Woodward became a very influential citizen in Clear Creek township, and in 1818 was elected as one of the county commission- ers. The early industries were composed mostly of mills, of all descriptions, and among the first ones being built were those owned by Colonel Ketchum, Chambers, and Shirley. Green's mill was another. The Taylors built flat- boats and transported the first boat load of pork, grain, etc., either down Salt creek or Clear creek to the Southern marts. The Chambers, Colonel Ketchum and Elias Bruner were others who shipped their goods southward.
In the year 1816 the following entries were made of the land in Clear Creek township: Thomas Grimes, Henry Burkhart, William Anderson and Bartlett Woodward on section 3; Adam Darling on section 4: Robert Fields on section 5; William Bigger and Routt & Brenton on section 6: Fetters & Hughes on section 7; Bartlett Woodward entered one hundred and sixty acres on section 10; Thomas Grimes, George Paul and John Musser, section 15; Michael Buskirk, section 17; John Vanderott and Fetters & Hughes, section 19. also Michael Harvey ; Jacob Mumma and Jonathan Lindley, sec- tion 20; George Paul, section 21; William Chambers and John Durham. section 28: Jonathan Lindley had three hundred and twenty acres, George Paul one hundred and sixty acres, and Samuel Caldwell on section 29: John White entered the whole of section 30; Jonathan Lindley and Fetters & Hughes on section 31 ; William Carl on section 32, and William Craig on section 33. In the year 1817 the following entries were made: Solomon Lucas, on section 2: James Cully and Thomas Hancock, section 5; John Scott, section 9: Bartlett Woodward one hundred and sixty acres on section IO: Silas Woodward, section 11; Jacob Beals, section 18; Joseph Strean, section 20, with three hundred and twenty acres: William Chambers, sections 21 and 28; Samuel Allen and John Farley, section 32; Conrad Hanson, section 33. In 1818 there were: James Mitchell on section 5; John Storm, section 8; George Buskirk and Thomas Grimes, section 10: William Way- more and John Storm, section 17; Thomas Duffield, section 18; Samuel Smith, section 19: John Smith, section 32: William Shields, section 33; Elias Bruner. section 34. Andrew Mckean settled on section 22 in 1819; Michael Myers on section 2 in 1825; John H. Anderson on section 4 in 1824: the same again in 1827; David Scott, section 8 in 1828; John Deckard, section 11 in 1824: George Kimberlin, section 14 in 1828; Edmund Phillips, section 18 in 1824: Anthony and William Chambers, section 21 in 1829; George Paul, section 21 in 1829; Michael Deckard, section 22 in 1824; John
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Scott, section 26 in 1819; George Reddick, section 28 in 1821 ; Elijah Elliott, section 32 in 1827, and William Lemon, section 33 in 1829.
TOWNS AND VILLAGES.
Harrodsburg, the principal town of the township, was laid out by Alexander Buchanan and Surveyor John Sedwick in December, 1836, on the northeast corner of the southwest quarter of section 29. township 7 north, range I west. The whole comprised twenty-four lots, and was first given the name of Newgene. Levi Sugart added three lots in May, 1837, and for some unaccountable reason the town name was changed to Harrods- burg.
In the commercial interests of the town Berkey & Isominger first took out a license to run a general store in 1836, and were followed closely by Tilford & Glass, and A. & P. Carmichael. Jacob Corman paid twenty-five dollars for a liquor license in 1839. The early families in the village were those of Henry Berkey, Joseph Cranshaw, Job Horton, Samuel Baugh, Richard Empson. Alexander Buchanan and the Widow Cully. In the year of 1844 S. WV. and J. D. Urmey opened general merchandise stores. James Beatley held the honor of being the first resident physician in the town, being also a teacher of considerable merit. Baugh and Empson were tan- ners, also Rufus Finley. The latter conducted his tannery down the little stream which flows past the village, and which, the settlers have said, took its name from Ro-si-neah, an old Delaware chief, who was encamped in a huge hollow sycamore tree on the bank when the first white men came into the township. Distilleries, grist mills and woolen factories have flourished in the town at different times since that faraway day, some of them prospering and others dwindling to failure. In 1884 the town had a population of about two hundred and sixty, and in 1913, three hundred and fifty-eight.
The traveler to this village of Clear Creek township experiences no little difficulty, as the residences and business houses are fully a mile, over winding roads and steep hills, from the one railroad station. Despite this deficiency. however, Harrodsburg has developed a commendable status of commercial- ism and other standards by which a town is measured. The general stores are conducted by Johnson & Jackson, Gore & Meredith, R. F. Voightchild, and Sam McGlothlin: there are two blacksmiths, those of James Buchanan and Treadway & Crum; one barber, Ollie Graves: Andreas Conder runs a livery : A. W. Young has a restaurant. and H. Bricefield buys and sells live stock. Nance & Brassfield have a general store, where implements, buggies, wagons and general farm equipment, including cream separators, are sold. J. T.
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Nance, one of the partners, is the postmaster of Harrodsburg, also an under- taker. E. M. Lowery runs a first-class hotel. F. E. Walther owns a grist mill, and grinds grain for most of the farmers of Clear Creek township. Dr. D. J. Holland is the only doctor of the village.
Harrodsburg is not an incorporated town, and there is just one official, the justice of the peace, who is Frank Dowd. The citizens have a town hall.
The Masonic order, the Knights of Pythias and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, including the Rebekahs, are represented with over a hun- dred members each, almost every man being interested in fraternalism. Re- ligiously, the town of Harrodsburg has the Cumberland Presbyterians, the Methodists and the Church of Christ.
The village of Fairfax has also existed since early in the thirties. N. Whisenand and R. Wilson started a liquor shop there in 1835, and in 1838 Scarborough & Wilson opened a merchandise store. The old Helton grist mill was an early landmark of the town, and was a successful plant, its owner shipping quantities of goods down the creeks south.
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