USA > Indiana > Montgomery County > History of Montgomery County, together with historic notes on the Wabash Valley; gleaned from early authors, old maps and manuscripts, private and official correspondence, and other authentic sources > Part 62
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lowship, and was vested with power to open the door of the church for membership at any meeting he thought it expedient. The church at the May meeting of 1845 declared in favor of the organization of a Sabbath-school. About the year 1849 they found it expedient to en- large their church building, and action was taken accordingly. The society at this time had secured an influence and power in the Indian creek country, and the forests along that stream were sacred with their baptismal songs as they consecrated the people by the sacred rights of the gospel. Up to 1848 they were under the pastoral charge of Elder Jacob Kerkendall. He resigned in October, 1844, to travel as an itin- erant for a year. The church accepted the resignation for the time, but recalled him in December, 1845, which call he accepted and served the church until 1848, and on the first Saturday in July of this year granted to him, at his own request, a letter of dismission from the church. The church, however, was raising up a man of piety and talent for her own service, and was already looking toward a young member, Reese Davis, as the coming man for the church, and in De- cember of the same year the church, by a unanimous voice, elected him to ordination, and called a council of the churches to help on the occasion of his ordination, appointed for the first Saturday in January 1849. The council convened at the time appointed, delegates being present from the following churches: Mt. Gilliad, Goshen, New Dis- covery, Crowfordsville, and Freedom. After due examination the couneil confirmed the action of the church in electing Rev. R. Davis to elder's orders, and appointed the next day (Sabbath) for that pur- pose, at which time he was ordained by the following elders : Elder William Baldwin, Elder P. M. Swain, Elder John Ball, and Elder Jo. B. Austin.
On the first Saturday of March following (1849) the church called Elder Davis to the pastorate. This was accepted, in which relation he served the church for twenty-three years, and had his presence and council. for thirty-two successive years, as member and pastor. After his demise, March 5, 1880, his many friends laid his remains tenderly away in the Freedom church-grounds.
On the second Sabbath of April, 1849, this church witnessed the or- dination of Thomas Conner. This church has not only sent out min- isters of the gospel into other sections of the country, but assisted in the organization of other churches of its denominational order. Among the ministers who have served the church in the last few years are Elders Palmer, Duly, and Cuppy ; the latter being the present pas- tor. A church of this order was organized at Brown's Valley, and
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built a frame house, in the modern style, commodious and attractive. John Hanna was elected first moderator, and M. L. Giltner first clerk, who was succeeded by Dr. Isaac Andrus, who served up to his death, which occurred January 16, 1881. Leonard Galey and D. I. Andrus served as deacons for several years. Elder Reese Davis was the first pastor of the church. Elder Kendall is serving as present pastor. The society has suffered by the burning of a new frame church building, on the ground on which the present church stands, and which was erected soon after it burned. Elder John M. Harris was among the first apostles of the Christian church in the bounds of Brown town- ship. About the summer of 1845 this pioneer minister preached in the school-honses and cabin homes of the early settlers of the country. The next appearing in this vicinity "preaching in the wilderness " was Elder John Okane, of Crawfordsville, who occasionally visited the fam- ilies of the church, and preached for them in their homes, the log school- houses, before an organization was effected. About this time a series of meetings was held in the old log school-house at Brown's Valley. The first organization in Brown township was constituted in the Pot- tenger school-house, situated in the east part of the township, about 1845. Church elders : Denis Pottenger, John F. Jones, and Henery Johnson. Their officiating minister at this time was Oliver Willson. On the Sabbath, after consecrating the elements for sacramental ser- vice, the consecrating elder, Henry Johnson, fell in the midst of the service and expired. Although his friends, with the entire church, were heavily crushed by the affliction, it was a source of gratification that he fell in a work so pure and sacred.
In the year 1847 the Antioch church was organized, in a frame building erected for that purpose on the old state road, and on the east bank of Little Raccoon creek, one and a half mile northeast of Wave- land. Church elders: John Huff, G. L. Harper. Deacons : Benjamin Smith and David Galey. John Okane was first pastor. The society was composed of many of the leading families of the vicinity, among whom may be mentioned David Graves and family, John McEntire and family, Charles Smith and family, Samuel Fisher and family, Rob- ert Moore and wife, Thomas Armstrong and family, Benjamin Smith and family, and David Galey and family. There were nine additions to the church at the first meeting, by profession and baptism. This or- ganization was under the labors of Elders John Okane, Oliver B. Will- son, and Elisha Scott, who were employed by the Montgomery County Association of all the churches in the county.
In 1856 the Pottenger School-House Society built a frame church-
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house on the Indian creek, into which they removed, and which wastherc- after known as the "Indian Creek Church," since which time they have been served by the pastoral labors of Elder O. B. Willson, Joel Ridge, Elder Davis, and Elder Walker. In 1867 the Antioch Society united with the Bank Spring church, of Parke county, to organize the Waveland Society. The Antioch building was removed to Waveland to accommodate the new organization. Before the removal of this church it had been served, as pastors, by Oliver B. Willson, Nathan Write, Elder Hodgkins, and others who visited them only occasionally. The Waveland church was organized under the ministerial labors of Elders O. B. Willson and C. G. Bartholomew. The latter preached the
dedicatory sermon in November 1867. These ministers were succeeded by William Holt, A. H. Morris, Thomas Morris, J. T. Piercy, and Elder James Conner, the latter serving the church at the present time.
Elders : Dr. J. P. Rusell, Martin Duly, and Frederick Smith. Dea- cons : John Warrick, Washington W. Spencer, and James L. Smith. James Woodgate, acting deacon. Trustees : Dr. J. P. Rusell, Martin Duly, and Frederick Smith. A Sabbath-school is associated with the church, under the present superintendence of Miss Alice Russell, with an attendance of fifty to sixty members.
There have been other denominations within the township which have contributed to some extent to the formation of the present re- ligious and moral principles so characteristic of Brown township and vicinity. The " Radical " Methodists have been represented by their pioneers, as may also be said of the United Brethren in Christ. In an early day the Old Lutheran church had her ambassadors on the fron- tiers, preaching in the cabin homes and baptizing the children of fami- lies who belonged to that church before emigrating to the wilderness of Indiana. But as the children of those households grew up to man- hood they found homes in other churches.
BROWN'S VALLEY.
This is a small village four and a half miles northeast of Waveland, and is situated on the northwest half of Sec. 21. It was laid out by Matthias M. Van Cleave, in 1836, under the name of Brownsville, which was since changed to its present name. It is on the state road, ten miles southwest of Crawfordsville, and is a station on the Logans- port, Crawfordsville & Southwestern railroad. It has an important local trade, and daily mail and express. Considerable shipping is done from this point in stock, barrel staves, and products of the country. In view of its central location in the township it was laid out in view of establishing a township town, and competed for this honor with Wave-
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land and a location called Fairview, one mile above Waveland, on the east bank of Little Raccoon, which, however, never attained the title of a village. It has a population of about 100, has three stores, one steam saw-mill, a beautiful village church, and a school-house in the vicinity. It is surrounded by a gently rolling land and fertile soil, cultivated by an industrious and well-to-do people. The farms adjacent are well improved, with pleasant and elegant homes. The first store was opened by Robert Carson, in a small frame building which he built in an early day, and is now occupied as a dwelling-house. The next store was opened by Messrs. Myre and Ulman, who continued in trade two or three years and removed elsewhere. Then William J. Davis built the largest store-house in the village, and stocked it with a full supply of notion goods, where he continued for a number of years, and left the mercantile field to Charles W. Ware, who occupied the same building for four years. In 1836, Mr. Matthias M. Van Cleave predicted that in forty years the cars would be running through the streets of Brown's Valley. It was regarded then the expression of a jest, but the locomotive whistled in Brown's Valley before the ex- piration of the forty years. C. W. Ware was the first ticket agent. The first physician in the village practice was Dr. Orear, who prac- ticed a number of years.
There is, in the south part of the village, a neat and attractive church edifice, built by, and for the use of, the Missionary Baptist church. This frame structure was erected in 1873 and 1874. The building preceding it was destroyed by fire; but while the ruins were yet smoking a subscription paper was circulating for means to erect another house, which was done, although the former had stood but a few months before it was consumed by the flames.
A lodge of the order of Good Templars has been organized in Brown's Valley a few years, and has done a grand work in restraining young men of promise who were subjected to intemperate influences and were tending to inebriation but for the social influences of the lodge-room.
NEW MARKET.
A portion of this village is embraced in Brown township. This . portion of the village is described in the plat thus: The part in the E. ₺ of N.E. } Sec. 1, T. 17, R. 5. The depot of the Logansport, Crawfordsville & Southwestern railroad, in the village, stands in Brown township.
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
D. W. Galey, farmer, Brown's Valley, is one of the old and most respected citizens of Montgomery county. He was born in Mercer county, Kentucky, October 19, 1801. His father, Benjamin, was a native of South Carolina, and removed to Montgomery county with his family in 1822. His wife was Elizabeth Woods. They lived a pioneer life, having settled in the woods, and improved a large farm. They both died in the county, after living to a good old age. The subject of this sketch has taken an active part in improving and culti- vating quite a large tract of land in the county, and now owns 540 acres. February 16, 1832, he married Sophia Fisher, daughter of Samuel Fisher. She was born in Fayette county, Kentucky, August 9, 1809. They have had six children: Thomas M. served in the rebellion, and had two horses killed from under him, and had the crown of his hat shot off; Benjamin M. ; Sarah E., wife of J. Armstrong ; and the deceased are Eliza, wife of R. Smith during her life ; Samuel F., taken prisoner at Macon, Georgia, and died from the effects of starvation ; William B., killed at Chattanooga. Mr. Galey has been a constant member of the church since 1844, and Mrs. Galey has been since 1827, which speaks well for them in their old days.
William Canine, woolen mills, Waveland, was born in Shelby county, Kentucky, December 25, 1815, and came to Montgomery county in 1825. In 1846 he bought the old Deer grist-mill, and has been connected in that and the woolen-mill and dry-goods business almost constantly, and is now superintending the woolen-mill in con- · nection with Joel Deer, the firm being Canine & Deer. He served as township trustee of his township for six years, and a devoted member of the Old School Baptist church for many years. In 1845 he married Martha JJ. Ellis, of Shelby county, Kentucky, by whom he has three children : Mary A., John C. and Thomas.
C. L. Canine, farmer, Waveland, was born in Montgomery county, Indiana, February 22, 1827, and is the son of Ralph and Margaret (Warman) Canine. The father was born in Pennsylvania December 3, 1789, and married in Shelby county, Kentucky, in 1809, and the mother was born November 18, 1780. They removed to Montgom- ery county, Indiana, in 1825, and settled in Brown township, where they lived till their death, the father dying September 27, 1879, and the mother November 5, 1863. The subject of this sketch has been a resident of the county all his life, and has been an humble tiller of the soil. November 5, 1845, he married Miss K. Montgom- ery, daughter of James Montgomery. She was born in Shelby county,
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Kentucky, December 17, 1827. The issue of this happy marriage is four sons and four daughters : Marion M., Edney L., Annie E., William Rice, Eva J., Walter B., Lula A., Cornelius L. ; and two deceased, Mary C. and Sylva.
Blakely Brush, retired, Waveland, was born in Shelby county, Kentucky, March 1, 1807. His parents were of Scotch-Irish descent, and were natives of Virginia, from whence they came to Kentucky in 1806, thence to Montgomery county, Indiana, in 1825, locating in Brown township, on Sec. 24. Here the subject of this sketch helped his father improve a farm, after improving one for himself. He has been a member of the first Presbyterian church organized in Wave- land for fifty years, and has been one of its elders for thirty years. IIe has always been a strong advocate of the cause of temperance, and taking part in all enterprises which he believes to be right. He has always voted the republican ticket since the organization of that party. In 1831 he married Rebecca G. Glenn, of Woodford county, Kentucky. She died in this county in 1864, leaving five children to mourn her loss : Mary A., wife of Prof. Kritz; John C., attorney- at-law, of Indianapolis, Indiana; Sarah M., wife of Dr. Steele, of Waveland : David B., farmer ; William T., attorney-at-law at Craw- fordsville.
H. E. Rhoads, wagon-maker, Waveland, was born in Northum- berland county, Pennsylvania, August 31, 1827. He is the son of George and Sarah Rhoads, who were of Union county, Pennsyl- vania. The father was born in 1799, and mother in 1797. They removed to Wayne county, Indiana, in 1835, and to Hancock county in 1836; thence to Parke county in 1837, thence to Montgomery county in 1840. Here the father died, in 1875; the mother is still a resident of Waveland, where they settled when they came to the county. Mr. Rhoads has been a resident of Waveland since 1840. At the age of seventeen he served an apprenticeship at the wagon- maker's trade, which has been his occupation ever since. In 1860 he married Miss Elizabeth Benet, a native of London, England, who was born September 28, 1834. The issue of this marriage is Harry B., Charles F. and Sarah E.
T. L. Hanna, merchant, Waveland, is one of Montgomery coun- ty's prominent and successful business men. He is a native of the county, born in 1835, and is the son of William Hanna, who is one of the pioneers, having come to the county in 1827. The subject of this sketch served a short time in the rebellion, in the 78th Ind. Vol. Inf. He was elected county commissioner in 1877, and reëlected in 1879. He owns 620 acres of fine land in the county, and a first-class
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dry-goods establishment in Waveland, where he does an extensive business. He buys all kinds of grain and produce, and is a useful man to have in any community.
William Hanna, retired, Waveland. In writing sketches of old settlers of Montgomery county we find William Hanna, who was born in Shelby county, Kentucky, July 5, 1805. He remained at home working on his father's farm until a man grown. In 1826 he came to Montgomery county, and entered eighty acres of land in Brown township, and in 1827 moved to it and bought two eighties adjoining and added thereto until he owned 900 acres. He im- proved 300 acres, being the first stock farm in that part of the county. When he began life his capital consisted of $200, but by hard work and economy he accumulated quite a property. He has always been a strong advocate of temperance and practiced what he preached, having never used tobacco, or intoxicating drinks as a bev- erage. His first wife was Elizabeth Glenn, of Kentucky. She died in 1837. He married again, in 1839, Mary Watson, also of Ken- tucky. She died in 1874. He has six children by first wife : Wil- liam G., Adam, Tyre L., James T., Lindsey, and Margaret F., and by second wife eight: Joseph T., Henry C., Philip P., Josephine, Nancy . A., Jennie, Daniel W., Albert A. Mr. Hanna is one of Montgomery county's most respected citizens and has been a con- stant member of the Baptist church since his sixteenth year. He voted with the whig party until the organization of the republican. since which time he has cast his vote with the latter.
G. S. Durham, farmer, Russellville, was born in Putnam county, Indiana, in 1835. His father, Jacob Durham, was a native of Boyle county, Kentucky, and married Hannah Spears and came to Putnam county about 1827 and settled at Russellville, where he was one among the first. He kept the first dry-goods store of that place. The subject of this sketch owns as fine a farm, consisting of 320 acres, as Montgomery county affords. In 1861 he married Miss Maggie M. Black, daughter of Miller and Maggie Black, of this county. She was born in Montgomery county, Kentucky, in 1841. Their family are two sons and two daughters: James E., Mary C., Florence M. and Lee S. Mr. Durham has for many years been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and votes the demo- crat ticket.
J. M. Rice, farmer, Waveland, one of the old and respected citi- zens of Montgomery county, was born in Shelby county, Kentucky, February 17, 1826, and is the son of Isaac and Narcissa M. (Allen) Rice, who were natives of Pennsylvania and Kentucky, and came to
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
Montgomery county in 1827, and settled on the farm where the sub- ject of this sketch now lives. Here they lived until their death, the father dying Jannary 11, 1852, and the mother in 1845. Mr. Rice has remained at the old homestead ever since his parents came to the county. He served five years as justice of the peace, and has long since been a devoted member of the Presbyterian church. He always votes in unison with the republican party. In 1848 he married Miss Mary E. Demaree, who was born in Mercer county, Kentucky, in 1829, and came to Parke county, Indiana, with her parents, in 1832. The issue of this marriage now living are: Charles C., Susan N., William A., Mary E., Thomas A. and Harrison C.
Joel Deer, miller and merchant, Waveland, is one of the old and respected pioneers of Montgomery county, and was born in Boone county, Kentucky, in 1828. His father removed to Montgomery county, Indiana, in 1828, and in 1829 built the first grist-mill that was built in the county, on Sugar creek. It was of log construction, with one run of stone, which were made of common stones, using the same for wheat and corn. After running this mill for about ten years he built a frame mill close to where the old mill stood, which has been in constant use ever since. He died in 1861, after spend- ing a life of usefulness. Ile is still fresh in the memories of all of the old settlers, and is missed by the people of the county. The sub- ject of this sketch has been in active business all his life, and at the same place where his father first located, with the exception of short intervals. The firm name is Canine & Deer. They added, in 1873, a woolen-mill, which is a great advantage to the community. They buy wool and wheat, and also have a saw-mill attached. In 1849 Mr. Deer married Miss Mary MeGrigg, whose parents were early settlers in the county.
John Milligan, retired, Waveland, father of the above named village, was born in what is now Perry county, Pennsylvania, March 29, 1803. In 1814 his parents removed to Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, and located near Pittsburgh. Here Mr. Milligan re- mained until about nineteen years of age, after which he went to live with his uncle at Georgetown, D. C., and attended school, and at the age of twenty-two he taught his first school, and in May, 1827, he came to Ohio, where he taught school for eighteen months, and in 1828 came to Montgomery county, Indiana, where he taught school for a short time. In 1829 he engaged as clerk for J. Powers, at Crawfordsville, and in 1830 sold goods on commission for I. C. Elston in the country, in Brown township, afterward embarking in the business for himself at the same place, where he continued until
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1834, when he came to where Waveland now is, then a wilderness, and purchased land and built the first house that was built in the town. In 1835 he laid ont the village of Waveland, and January 25, 1835, sold the first lots. In 1829 he married Miss Lucinda Elmore, daughter of John Elmore, who was one of the pioneers of the county. Their marriage has been blessed with eight children living and one deceased; the living are Edwin M., Matilda J., Sarah E., Thomas E., John W., Samnel J., James R., William ; and Mary, deceased. Mr. Milligan has been a constant member of the Presbyterian church since 1829, and has always voted the repub- lican ticket.
Alexander Buchanan, farmer and stock raiser, Waveland, son of George and Diana Buchanan, was born in Rutherford county, Ten- nessee, August 2, 1809, and settled with his parents in this county in October 1828. He was married December 12, 1833, to Matilda Rice. They have twelve children : George, Jacob, James, William Thomas, John, Esther, Margaret, Robert Alexander, Matilda Jane, Mary Elizabeth, Nancy Ann, and one that died in infancy.
Andrew McCormick, farmer, Waveland, was born in Shelby county, Kentucky, November 12, 1809. His parents were John and Martha Jane (Todd) McCormick. The father was a native of Vir- ginia, and came to Kentucky in an early day, where he married and lived until his death, 1817. In 1828 Mrs. McCormick and family of five children removed to Montgomery county, Indiana, and settled in Brown township, within one mile and a half of the village of Waveland. Here she died, in June 1844. The subject of this sketch is one of Montgomery county's pioneers. He has improved a large farm, having taken it in the woods, and is now the owner of 360 acres. In 1842 he married Miss Martha E. Green, daughter of Joseph and Nancy Green. She is a native of Connecticut, born in 1808, and came to this county with her mother from Kentucky, in 1833, her father having died while in Kentucky. Mr. McCormick has been a constant member of the Methodist Episcopal church since 1828, and was one of the organizers of the Methodist church of Waveland. He was formerly a whig until the organization of the republican party, when he joined its ranks and has worked in unison with that party ever since.
Andrew Lydick was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, January 22, 1796, and came to Montgomery county in 1829, and settled on the farm where he now lives. He has been twice married ; on May 22, 1823, to Sally A. Fisher, who was born in Fayette county, Ken- tucky, June 29, 1807, and died July 18, 1847. He married again,
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
July 30, 1849, Harriet Wilson, daughter of John Wilson. She was born in Fayette county, Kentucky, April 20, 1824. Mr. Lydick is the father of eleven children : John L., Adam, Mary A., Sarah I., Andrew W. ; and deceased : James S., Barbara E., Paulina J., Jacob D., Robert M ; one living by present wife, Martha M.
J. Reynolds, miller, Waveland, was born in Kentucky, September 4, 1826, and came to Montgomery county with his parents, William and Mary Reynolds, in 1832, and settled in Brown township. Mr. Reynolds was raised on a farm, but since 1853 he has been engaged. as miller at Deer's mills, one of the first mills built in the county. He has been a faithful man, having been their miller for twenty-seven years. In 1853 he married Annie E. Cook, and has two children, George T. and Hugh E., and two deceased, William A. and John H. Mr. Reynolds is a member of the Baptist church and is a republican.
Simon C. Davis, retired, Waveland, was born in Tazewell county, Virginia, April 14, 1807, and removed to Montgomery county, In- diana, in 1830, locating in Brown township, where he has resided ever since. He remained on his farm until 1867, after which he re- moved to Waveland, where he is able to live a retired life. In 1840 he served as revenue collector for Montgomery county, and has filled the office of justice of the peace for sixteen years, and is its present incumbent. He has also served as township trustee, is a deacon of the Missionary Baptist church, of which he has been a member since 1841. He was married in 1825, to Rebecca Bryan, of Virginia. She died in this county in 1867. Was married again in 1872, to Ann E. Galey, formerly Ann E. Srader, whose parents came from Kentucky to Montgomery county in 1837. She is a native of Fayette county, Kentucky, born in 1825. Mr. Davis has six children by former wife: Matilda J., wife of M. Williams ; George W., Andrew B., Sarah A., wife of P. C. Mullikin ; Mary K., wife of William Galey ; and America E., wife of J. Stillwell.
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