USA > Indiana > Posey County > History of Posey County, Indiana : from the earliest times to the present, with biographical sketches, reminiscences, notes, etc. : together with an extended history of the Northwest, the Indiana territory, and the state of Indiana > Part 28
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58
323
HISTORY OF POSEY COUNTY.
BETHEL TOWNSHIP.
was organized August 14, 1821, and was named after P. C. Bethel, the first white man settling in the township. It is in the extreme northwest of the county, lying contiguous to Gibson County, Robb Township and the Wabash River. The present area is near 13,760 acres, about two-thirds being in cultivation. The surface is level with the single exception of about 2,000 acres of table-land which is situated in the extreme north of the township. The level land is very rich, and is principally of a black sandy loam. Wheat, corn, oats, rye, barley and many other crops grow in great abundance on the black sandy soil, while that adjoining the Wabash and Black Rivers, being subject to overflows, is cultivated for corn only. The soil of the table- land is not as black and rich as the lower lands adjoining, still it produces remarkably well. These high lands, usually called "the hills," rise from 100 to 200 feet above the level lands, the highest plateaus affording a fine view of the surrounding towns and country. The principal portion of the land in cultivation is valued at from $30 to $50 per acre, while a few swampy tracts can be bought at a low rate. The original forests that covered the ground contained much valuable timber, but the bulk of it was of the inferior grades. Sweet gum grew in immense quanti- ties, the trees being very large and tall, much of it still remain- ing on the low lands near the streams. The largest burr oaks in the county, and perhaps in the State, are to be found on the bot- tom lands of Gen. Hovey. Many of these trees will measure from four to five feet in diameter, while occasionally one is found that will reach over eight feet. The General recently sold one of these mammoth trees on the stump for $51. On the table-land much black walnut, yellow poplar, oak and ash originally grew, but the greater went to market or was destroyed by the first set- tlers. Considerable oak, ash, poplar, sugar-tree and inferior grades still abound.
LAND ENTRIES.
The records show that John Waller entered land in 1807; James Farris, 1808; John McQuidy and Mathias Mounts, 1811; Thomas Shous, 1812; George Rapp and the "Harmonie associa-
324
HISTORY OF POSEY COUNTY.
tion," Isaac and Alexander Boyer, Samuel B. Williams and Joseph Green, 1815; John Neal, 1816; George Barnett, John S. Campbell, Carmelia Carpenter, Thomas Jordan, John E. Wil- son, 1817; Robert Allen, Jess Spann, John B. Rachels, Gillison Price, Nicholas Harding, 1818; Stephen Eaton, William Griffin, Jacob Whittaker, Jesse Williams and William Browder, 1819. There are now only about twenty-five freeholders living in the township, much of the land being owned by non-residents of New Harmony.
THE SCHOOLS.
Josiah Elliott, Ezekiel Harmon, William Harper, James Was- son and Jacob Taylor were among the first teachers. The first schoolhouses were very rough unsightly affairs but after the peo- ple became more prosperous they built houses after the following plans and specifications, viz .: "The house to be built 20x30 feet with ceiling eight feet high; the walls to be of hewed logs not less than ten inches in diameter; the floor to be well laid with the parts of logs split into halves, the face being smoothed with the broad-ax; the roof of shingles four feet long riven from white oak and held in place by logs or poles securely fastened on the roof, and the ceiling to be laid of the same material. The fire- place shall be four feet high, ten feet wide and four feet deep, and be built of puncheons notched at each end that they may be securely held in place. The fireplace to be provided with a chimney as high as the house and to be made of small poles or split sticks of timber. The door shall be substantially built of hewn or split oak timber, well pinned together and hung on stout wooden hinges made of hickory, and to be furnished with a wooden latch and a leathern latch string. There shall be two windows, one in each side of the room, and shall be one foot wide and twenty feet long, covered with raw hide or greased paper. The cracks between the logs shall be well chinked and daubed with mud. The fireplace to be filled with clay even with the floor of the room and the inside of the fireplace and chimney to be well plastered over with mud as a protection from fire. The furniture of the house shall consist of seats split from logs one foot in diameter and not less than ten feet long. The split side of the halves shall be well smoothed and freed of splinters, and the legs of the seats shall be of hickory two feet long and set in augur
325
HISTORY OF POSEY COUNTY.
holes not less than four inches deep, and the whole to be done in a neat and workmanlike manner." It will be observed that no nails were mentioned in the "plans and specifications," and none were needed, since houses were then built without driving a sin- gle nail, everything being put together with pins, The first school- houses in the township, though quite similar to the one, were not so elaborately constructed. The logs were not hewed, the cracks were not daubed, and no raw hide or greased paper covered the openings in the sides of the house left to admit light. There are now five school districts, and all supplied with neat buildings and modern furniture.
THE CHURCHES.
The Regular Baptists, near 1815, built a small log church house on the high table-land. Here they worshiped for many years until they were sufficiently strong to build a more commo- dious frame edifice at the foot of the hills, the same old building being in use by that denomination at this time. Jerry Cash, Louis Williams, and Peter Saltsman were their earliest preachers. The Disciples also preached in the little Baptist Church on the hill and organized a church there after the Baptists built their new edifice. After the Disciples grew in strength they also built a new frame house at the foot of the hills. Elders Elijah and Moses Goodwin ministered to the wants of the flock in those early days. The congregation has long since ceased to exist in the township, about the year 1840 the Methodists built a small frame across the bayou, and James Bonner, John Scroder and F. A. Hes- ter, preached to the little flock. They too have ceased to exist in the township as an organization. A schoolhouse now occupies the site of the little church, which has been moved to one side for a woodshed.
THE MILLS.
Early in the history of the township John T. Morehead, es- tablished a water-power saw and grist-mill on the bayou. He. operated it several years and was succeeded in the proprietorship. by John Vanway, who soon after moved the mill to the mouth of the bayou, where he operated by steam-power. Before the in- troduction of mills of any kind the settlers were forced to manu- facture their meal in a mortar, as was the custom of their Indian neighbors. Mortars were usually hollowed out of rock, but occa-
326
HISTORY OF POSEY COUNTY.
sionally formed in a big stump. A stump mortar was formed by burning a deep funnel shaped hole on the top of the stump. A heavy wooden pestle, with the lower end pointed to fit the funnel shaped mortar, was used for crushing the corn into meal. After the meal was thought to be fine enough it was run through a buckskin sieve. It was then ready to be made into delicious "corn dodgers," hoe cake or johnny cake.
In 1880 the people of the township were asked to vote a dona- tion of near $4,000 to aid the Peoria, Decatur & Evansville Rail- road in extending its line through the township. A vote was taken on the proposition and the donation was defeated. The township, however, secured the road and they now have both water and railway communication with the great markets.
INCIDENTS.
Near 1811 a stockade was erected near Shows' Ford on Black River, as a protection against the Indians. It was about 50x50 feet and made of heavy timbers about twenty feet long split into halves. These timbers were set on end in a deep ditch dug all around the square, the split side being turned on the outside. In case of an invasion the families of the neighborhood would flee to the fort, where they could better give battle to the foe.
Richard Harris, Rolly M. Highman, James M. Kennell, James Whitson, James L. Jolly composed the township board previous to 1859, at which time they were succeeded by John L. Brooks who was elected trustee. He continued in office till the day of his death, which occurred in 1881. He was succeeded by Riley Thomas, the brightest and most promising young man in the township, and continued in office only a short time till death re- lieved him. The successorship fell to Harrison Sanders, the present efficient officer.
Eli Robb was one of the first justices of the peace. The fol- lowing persons were appointed to offices in 1822, viz .: Joseph Johnston, constable; Joseph Green and Joseph Johnston, over- seers of the poor: Joseph Johnston, supervisor of all the roads in the township; Gillason Price, election inspector; John Colvin, assessor. George Webb was licenced to run a ferry at Webb's Ferry on the Wabash in 1823.
327
HISTORY OF POSEY COUNTY.
CHAPTER III.
ORGANIZATION OF POSEY COUNTY-ACT OF FORMATION-ALTERATIONS IN BOUNDARY-A SON OF GEORGE WASHINGTON-PROCEEDINGS OF THE COUNTY BOARD-NEW TOWNSHIPS-CHANGE OF THE COUNTY SEAT-PUBLIC BUILDINGS-SECOND CHANGE OF THE COUNTY SEAT- LATER PUBLIC BUILDINGS-COUNTY OFFICERS-FINANCES -ELEC- TIONS-RAILROAD PROJECTS.
A T the organization of Indiana Territory, a large part of the southwestern portion was embraced within the boundary of Knox County. On the 9th of March, 1813, the Territorial Legislature created all that part of Knox County south of White River and its east fork, up to a point near the present village of Haysville, in Dubois County, and south of a line running from there west to the Harrison County line, into two new counties. All that part south of Rector's base line was called Warrick County, and that part north was called Gibson County. Rector's base line is the line dividing Townships 4 and 5 south, and passes through the southern portion of the present town of New
Harmony. Each of these new counties is yet too large, and neither of them long enjoyed such extensive dominion, as will be seen by the following act of the Territorial Legislature:
AN ACT FOR THE FORMATION OF TWO NEW COUNTIES OUT OF THE COUNTY OF WARRICK AND PART OF GIBSON COUNTY. APPROVED SEPTEMBER 7, 1814.
SECTION 1. Beit enacted by the Legislative Council and House of Representa- tives, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, that from and after the first day November next, all that part of the county of Warrick, which is included within the following boundaries, shall form and constitute a new county which shall be known and designated by the name and style of the county of Posey; that is to say, beginning on the Ohio River where the range line passing between the tenth and eleventh ranges, strikes or intersects the said Ohio River north with the said range line passing between the said tenth and eleventh ranges to its intersection with the line dividing the counties of Gibson and Warrick, thence west with the said line dividing the said counties of Gib- son and Warrick to the western bank of the Wabash River; thence down the western bank of the Wabash River with the line of the Illinois Territory to its junction with the Ohio River; thence up the Ohio River with the meanders thereof to the beginning. (The second section establishes and bounds Perry County.)
SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That the said counties hereby formed and established, shall severally and respectively enjoy and exercise all the rights,
328
HISTORY OF POSEY COUNTY.
privileges and jurisdiction which to separate counties of this territory do or may properly appertain or belong: Provided always that all suits, pleas, plaints, actions and proceedings which may before the first day of November next, have been commenced, instituted or depending within the present counties of Gibson and Warrick, sball be prosecuted to final judgment and execution, in the same manner as if this act had never been passed; and that the territorial and county taxes which are now due within the boundaries of the new counties hereby established, shall be collected in the same manner and by the same officers as they would have been if this act had not been passed.
SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That until a court house shall be erected in the said county of Posey, sufficient for the accommodation of the court, the courts for the said county of Posey shall be held at the house of Absalom Duck- worth, in said Posey County. * * * "
SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That Robert W. Tevault, William Bris- coe, Joseph English, Adam Young and Samuel Snide, all of Warrick County, be and they are hereby appointed commissioners to fix the seat of justice in Posey County, who shall meet at the said Absalom Duckworth's on the third Monday in November next, and proceed to fix the seat of justice for the said Posey County, agreeably to the provisions of an act, entitled "an act for fixing the seats of justice in all new counties hereafter to be laid off."
SPECIAL ACTS.
On the 18th of December, 1815, an act was passed to attach a part of Gibson to Posey County; a portion of it reads as fol- lows: "That from and after the first day of March next, all that part of the present county of Gibson, to wit: Beginning on the township line dividing Townships 4 and 5 where the line dividing Ranges 13 and 14 crosses the said township line; thence with said range line north till it strikes the Wabash River; thence with the meanders of said river to a point where the township line aforesaid strikes said river; thence eastwardly with said township line to the place of beginning, shall be, and the same is hereby separated or taken from Gibson and added or attached to the said Posey County."
This embraced a large part of the present town of New Har- mony, and the change was made for the accommodation of the citizens of that place. The Rappites were then in full possession there, and it was most likely at their request that the change was granted.
Another act approved on the 1st of January, 1817, added the following to Posey County, taken from Gibson: "Beginning at the northeast corner of Posey County, running thence north with the line dividing Ranges 10 and 11, six miles to the line dividing Townships 3 and 4 south; thence west with said line
.
329
HISTORY OF POSEY COUNTY.
dividing said Townships to the Wabash River; thence down said river with the meanders thereof, to where the present line of Posey County strikes the said river."
By the same act Walter Wilson of Knox County, John Bras- elton and Isaac Montgomery of Gibson County, Hugh McGary of Warrick County, and Adam Hope of Pike County were "ap- pointed commissioners, whose duty it shall be to repair to the house of Elias Allister in said county of Posey on the third Mon- day of February next, and proceed to designate the place for the permanent seat of justice of Posey County." The town of Blackford was to be vacated and the town lots sold under the di- rection of the circuit court, and the proceeds turned into the county treasury. This act was signed by Isaac Blackford as speaker of the House of Representatives. January 7, 1818, an act was passed to create Vanderburgh County, and for that purpose, one Range, No. 13, was taken from the east of Posey and given to the new county. In this manner the boundaries of Posey County remained until January, 1823, when another row of sections was taken from Gibson County and added to the northern end of Posey. The change since that date has been but little, if any.
ORIGIN OF THE COUNTY NAME.
Posey County is unfortunate in its name. It is doubtful if any county in any State is better adapted to agricultural pur- poses, and certain it is that none in Indiana excels it. Notwith- standing this it has a national reputation for poverty and igno- rance, the very antithesis of its actual condition. It was named for Thomas Posey, who was governor of the Territory at the time the county was created. Tradition tells us that he was a son of George Washington, born out of wedlock, and several circumstances seem to indicate the probability of such a story being true. While the future father of his country was surveying in the vicinity of Fort DuQuesne, it is said that he made the acquaint- ance of a widow who became the mother of Thomas Posey. The personal resemblance of the father (of his country) and the son (of the widow) was most striking. Posey owed his political prosperity to Gen. Washington, who took every opportunity to favor him, and on one occasion went so far as to almost peremp- torily interfere with a duel which had been arranged with Posey
ยท
330
HISTORY OF POSEY COUNTY.
as one of the principals. These things, among others, are pointed out as evidences of the parentage of Thomas Posey, but it is said that all signs fail in dry weather, and it may have been that the attachment which the illustrious founder of our nation enter- tained for this early governor of Indiana Territory was only such a friendship as the ordinary intercourse of mankind begets. During the early settlement of this portion of the country no county was more favorably situated than Posey. Two navigable and principal rivers formed more than half its boundary, thus af- fording, for those days, unusual and advantageous facilities for trade and commerce. So fortunate a location brought with it many of its natural results. No other county in southern Indi- ana was more rapidly settled, and that, too, with as industrious and as good a class of people as any new country could well ex- pect.
ACTS OF THE COUNTY BOARD.
The first session of a board or court of any kind to do busi- ness for Posey County, began Monday. January 6, 1815. It was held at the house of Absalom Duckworth, and in the record is called a court of claims. The members were Thomas E. Casselberry and Dan Lynn, the associate judges of the county. It was really a court to do the county business and corresponded to the present board of county commissioners. William E. Stewart filed his bond as clerk and recorder for the county, and John Carson did the same as sheriff. John Graddy was recommended to the governor for justice of the peace for Lynn Township; Peter Wilkinson and Nathan Ashworth for Big Creek Township; Will- iam Wagoner and S. R. Marrs for Casselberry Township. For
these three townships respectively, were recommended: Charles Symmons, Samuel Canady and Robert Denny for constables; John Talbert for county surveyor, and Samuel Jones for coroner. The boundary of Casselberry Township was fixed as follows: Beginning on the Ohio River where the line dividing Posey and Warwick Counties, leaves said river and running thence with said line to the Gibson County line, and thence with the line dividing Gibson and Posey Counties until it strikes the main fork of Big Creek; thence down said Big Creek until it strikes. the line dividing Ranges 12 and 13; thence with said line south to the Ohio River; thence with said Ohio River to the place of
331
HISTORY OF POSEY COUNTY.
beginning. In addition to the present townships of Marrs and Robinson this comprised all that part of the county that was afterward added to Vanderburgh County. Big Creek Township comprised all that part of the county lying west of the line divid- ing Ranges 12 and 13, and sonth of the main branch of Big Creek. It coincided very nearly with the present townships of Point and Black. Lynn Township was all that part of Posey County lying north of Big Creek, and it included the present townships of Lynn, Centre and the southern portion of Harmony, It will be remembered that all the present part of the county lying north of the line between Townships 4 and 5 south, and embracing Smith, Robb, Bethel and the northern portion of Harmony Townships then belonged to Gibson County. The ap- pointment of a few minor offices and the fixing of the ferry rates concluded the first day's session. On the following day the com- missioners appointed to fix the seat of justice made the following report of their work:
We, the commissioners appointed by a special act of the General Assembly of the Indiana Territory, for to fix on the permanent seat of justice in Posey County, do certify that we the undersigned have selected 320 acres of land, to wit: The northeast quarter of Section Number 30, in Township Number 6 south of Range Number 12 west, also the southeast quarter of Section Number 19 in township south of Range Number 12 west, a beautiful situation and ex- cellent soil. We do certify to the honorable judges of Posey County that the above named is land selected for your permanent seat of justice of Posey County.
Given from under our hands and seals this 14th day of January, 1816.
ADAM YOUNG. JOSEPH INGLISH. WILLIAM BRISCOE. SAMUEL SMYTH. GEORGE W. TEVAULT.
This was to be the county seat of Posey County and the loca- cation is scarcely a mile north of Caborn Station on the Louis- ville & Nashville Railroad, in the northwestern portion of Marrs Township.
Samuel R. Marrs was appointed county agent to receive the land for the county and to perform other such business as was the custom in those days. The office of county agent lasted until the adoption of the present constitution. This completed the busi- ness for the second day. On the fourth day of the term, or the 19th of the month, it was ordered that the seat of justice for Po-
332
HISTORY OF POSEY COUNTY.
sey County be called Blackford. The county agent was instruct- ed to lay off the town in a certain manner. The first public sale of the lots was advertised for the first Monday in March following. Eight of the lots adjoining the public square were to be sold at $40 each, those on Main Street at $20, and the others at $12 each. On the eight lots one-fourth was to be paid down, one-fourth in six months and the balance in twelve months. The rest of the lots were to be paid for, one-half in six months and the balance in twelve months. The agent was ordered to advertise to receive on the same day, at the house of Absalom Duckworth, proposals for building a court house and jail. A small house was already built upon the land and occupied by James Martin. This build- ing the county agent was ordered to rent for $3 per month. The first orders for money out of the Posey County treasury were in favor of Thomas E. Casselberry for $102, and Jacob Landers for $60, money loaned to the county. At this same session plans were adopted for the court house and jail. There was but little other business then to do, and the court adjourned. The second session began on Monday, the 1st of May, 1815, and it was held by the same judges as before, at the house of A. Duckworth. It at once adjourned to meet at the town of Black- ford, where William Hutchison had offered the use of his house, free of rent. The contract for building the county jail was given to Samuel Jones for $565, and that for the court house to Jacob Winemiller for $125, and each gave bond to fulfil their engage- ments. Another auction of the town lots was ordered for the first Wednesday after the third Monday in June. The out-lots were to be sold at $12 per acre. Thomas E. Casselberry was appoint- ed to superintend the surveying of the lots in Blackford, and the county agent was to advertise for bids for clearing the streets "smack smoothe."
ADDITIONAL ACTS OF THE BOARD.
In November William Hutchison was allowed $6 for whisky furnished at the sale of town lots. At the old price of this bev- erage $6 would buy enough to make everybody at an ordinary public sale feel very happy and liberal. No doubt it was a good investment for the county. William E. Stewart was allowed $63 for his services during the year as county clerk. Thomas E. Cas-
333
HISTORY OF POSEY COUNTY.
selberry $46 as associate judge, Dan Lynn $35, William Prind $45 as prosecuting attorney. In May, 1816, Jacob Winemiller tendered the court house to the board, but its acceptance was put off until July for alterations to be made, and John Stapleton and Elsberry Alexander were appointed to inspect the building and see that it was done according to contract. Another sale of the town lots was ordered for the second Monday in July. The per- sons appointed for that purpose reported that the court house had not been built according to contract. In July it was finally ac- cepted by deducting $10 from the original price, making the total cost of Posey County's first court house $115. The jail was received at the same time and $100 was taken out of the contract price for alleged deficiencies, leaving $422.87} the total amount of its cost. It is scarcely necessary to say that these were both constructed of logs, and in the primitive style of that period. By the law the associate judges were then the officers before whom people were adjudged insane. The first case of the kind in Posey County oc- curred in July, 1816, and a jury of twelve men decided that James Cook was non compos mentis.
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.