History of Randolph County, Indiana with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers : to which are appended maps of its several townships, Part 13

Author: Tucker, Ebenezer
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago : A.L. Klingman
Number of Pages: 664

USA > Indiana > Randolph County > History of Randolph County, Indiana with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers : to which are appended maps of its several townships > Part 13

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).

Two of the petit jurors also were from the Mississinewa, Meshach Lewallyn from Ridgeville, and James Jacobs from the settlement east of Deerfield.

HISTORY OF RANDOLPHI COUNTY.

The names of the Masseys appear among the patentees of the Land Office. They entered land and lived there a while, but seem to have moved away before 1823. Another entry had been made in that region several miles east of Deerfield and south of the Mississinewa River. Mr. Strain entered a whole section in 1816, which was by months the earliest entry on the Mississinewa. He does not appear, however, ever to have lived there. He entered it probably for speculation. The section lay just west of the west line of Jackson Township. Joab Ward, and Joel Ward his brother, settled at Ridgeville in April, 1819. Joab Ward did not enter land at that time, but bought a small tract (forty acres) of Meshach Lewallyn. Elias Kizer moved into that region in 1820, and was one of the prominent citizens of that part of the county for a considerable time, changing his residence to near Winchester, and dying there some years ago. Joab Ward stood as a bulwark of society during more than the average duration of human life.

The settlers of course endured great hardships, such as per- sons without any experience of the kind can neither comprehend nor believe. In fact, brought up as they have been to buy every thing they need, the present generation can hardly conceive how it would be possible for a family to move into a gigantic forest, with nothing but an axe, an auger, a frow, and a drawing knife; a few kettles, somne pewter plates, a log-chain or two, etc., and with these scant materials and a little corn to make into bread, and a gun to shoot game for meat ; and yet that they could, in a comparatively short time, come to be good livers. And yet it was so. Scarcely anything was bought except iron and salt, and powder and lead. Caps and hats were made of deer skins, or coon skins, or straw ; cloth was spun and woven out of linen, or linen and wool combined, or clothes were made of deer skins. Shoes also were made from buckskin. Buildings were construct- ed from the logs of trees. with no outlay but labor ; clapboards were in the place of shingles, and pins or weight poles for nails ; puncheons for floors, and doors, and benches, and chimney backs, and tables ; two anger holes in the wall and a post at the corner, driven into the ground, to receive the ends of the rails, with elm bark would be just the thing for a bedstead ; puncheon stools would hold a man up more firmly than the nicest chair that ever was made. Chimneys were built of sticks and clay, and fire- places and hearths of puddled clay : even the "lug pole " and trammel and hooks were made of iron-wood, and when any of them burnt down, another could be put in its place, just as easy as anything. The truth is that a dextrous, active family, in a very few years would make around them an amount of conven- iences that many households of high pretensions would find it diffi- cult to match at the present day. If anything was needed, from a doorlatch or a hoe-handle to a new house or barn, all that was to be done was to take hold and make it. And it is true, moreover, that families who were moral and religious, and who were free from vices, enjoyed more true, heartfelt comfort, and more solid happiness than they have ever done since ; or than their chil- dren or their grandchildren, pampered with all the luxuries that were ever invented to make people helpless and shiftless, are able to compass for themselves in these days.

But small space will be given in this place for either their pleasures or their sorrows. It is believed the story of the old pioneer himself, as told by his own lips, will give a more pleasing, as well as a more vivid picture ; and hence the feature has been adopted to introduce the personal statements of the ancient sojourn- ers, taken from their own mouths, if living, or from some cherished friend of the dear departed one, if the age.l veteran breathes no longer the health-giving vital air. The description of the trials of those times will be left to be given chiefly in the " Reminis- cences," which are a peculiar feature of this work, and which will be of surpassing richness, to refresh the memory of the old, and to inform the minds of the young as to what their fathers and mothers, and their parents, did to open this county to sight and labor and enjoyment for the sons of men.

FIRST THINGS.

The first settler was Thomas W. Parker, on Nolan's Fork, in Greensfork Township, west of Arba, in April, 1814.

The first boy in the county was Jesse Parker, son of Thomas Parker above, eight years old. He lived long at Bethel, Wayne County, Ind., a jovial, heurty old man, honestly earning his living by the constant " rap, rap, rap of his well worn hammer." (Died near Lynn, fall of 1881.)

The first girls were Celia and Sarah Parker, daughters of Thomas and (Anna) Parker above; Sarah was burned to death when a girl ; Celia was married to Benjamin Arnold, and now re- sides, an aged widow, at Arba.

The first woman was Anna Parker, wife of Thomas Parker above. Thomas and Anna Parker died more than fifty years ago.

The first county formed in what is now Indiana, was Knox County, created in 1790, under Governor St. Clair, with Vin- cennes as the county seat, and including all Indiana and Michi- gan. The settlements were few : Vincennes, possibly a few set- tlers along the Ohio, a fort and garrison at Fort Wayne, and one at Detroit.

The first settlement in Indiana was at Vincennes, by the French (perhaps) in 1702. A post was established by Sicur Juchereau and Missionary Meret at that date.

When General Gage, a British officer, demanded of the French settlers at Vincennes that they should leave their homes and their lands, the French protested that they had held them by charter from the French King for seventy years, and that to drive them away now would be unjust and cruel, and they were allowed to remain.

The first county east of the " Old Boundary " (Wayne's), agreed on in 1795), was Dearborn, erected by Indiana Territory in 1803, settled in 1796, before any surveys had been made ex- cept the " gore " between the Ohio line and the " Old Boundary" line, which was surveyed in 1800, three years before, and em- bracing the whole region west of the Ohio line and east of Wayne's boundary.

Wayne County was organized in 1810, embracing all the ter- ritory east of the "New Boundary," and north of the southern boundary of the county.

Randolph County was organized in 1818, at first extending westward only to the west boundary of the twelve mile stop. It was first settled in 1814.

The first organization of the Northwest Territory was by the (old) Congress of the Confederation in 1787.

The first Governor was Gen. Arthur St. Clair, October 5, 1787.

The first capital of the Northwest Territory was Marietta, es- tablished by Gov. St. Clair shortly after his appointment.

The first capital of the State of Indiana was Corydon in Harrison County, in the southern part of the State, almost ex- actly south of Indianapolis.

The first Governor of Indiana was Jonathan Jennings, elected in 1816.

The first Representative for Randolph County is not known. The first Senator was Patrick Baird, of Wayne County.

The first two townships in Randolph County were Greensfork and White River, established in 1818 by David Wright, Sheriff, and embracing the entire county. .

The first road opened through the county was the " Quaker Trace," from Richmond to Fort Wayne, in 1817.

The first " public road " established was from Winchester to Lynn in 1819, at the May session of Commissioner's Court.

The first Justice of the Peace may have been John Wright. At any rate he officiated at the first wedding in February, 1819.

The first marriage license was issued by Charles Conway, Clerk, to Jacob Wright and Sally Wright, February 2, 1819.

The first licensed store was opened by William Connor, No- vember, 1818, on Sections 10, 18, 14, two or three miles north-

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY.

west of (Old) Snow Hill, in Washington Township. (Jesse Con- non, son of John Connor, and nephew of this William Connor, says that he was born in that first store, and that the place was where Lynn now is, and not as above stated. Mr. Jesse Connor was born, however, not before 1831, thirteen years after this store was licensed. This William Connor was a bachelor, and unsettled in residence and business):

The first town laid out was Winchester in November, 1818.

The first house in Winchester' was built in the spring of 1819. It was a round log-cabin, one-story, "scutched down ' with clapboard ronf and stick and clay chimney. It stood on Inlot No. 9, North Front, and was owned and occupied for many years by Martin Comer.

The first steammill was built at Winchester by Elias Kizer, in about 1835.

The first steam engine brought to the county was for that mill.

The first dwelling in the county was erected by Thomas Parker, in the spring of 1814, on Nolan's Fork, west of Arba.

The first meeting house was built by the Friends, at Arba, in the fall of 1815.

The first school was taught in Friend's meeting house at Arba, during the winter of 1815-16, by Eli Overman.

The first Methodist meeting was held at the dwelling of Ephraim Bowen, northwest of Arba, in 1815.

The first Methodist sermon was preached by the Rev. Holman, of Louisville, Ky., at the cabin of Ephraim Bowen, in the year 1815.

The first white child born in the county was Robert Thomas, son of John W. Thomas, the second settler in the county. The child was born near Arba, December 18, 1814.

The second child was a son of Clarkson Willcutts, who was the third settler, and it was born February 13, 1815.

The oldest person born in the county, and now living therein, is supposed to be Elihu Cammack, son of John Cammack, near Arba, born April 15, 1817. [Elihu Cammack moved to Iowa, fall of 1881].

The first child born in White River is thought to be Fanny (Diggs) Hill, daughter of William Diggs, Jr. (now "Old Billy Diggs," living in Iowa), wife of Matthew Hill, of Jericho; she was born September 11, 1817.

Lydia (Wright) Jones, sister of Solomon Wright now living near the mouth of Cabin Creek, was born October 5, 1817, three weeks after the arrival of her parents from Clinton County, Ohio.

The first sheriff was David Wright, appointed by Governor Jennings to organize the county in 1818.

The first county election was held in August, 1818.

The first officers elected were Wm. Edwarda, John Wright, Associate Judges; Charles Conway, Clerk and Recorder; David Wright, Sheriff; Solomon Wright, Coroner; Eli Overman, Ben- jamin Cox, John James, Commissioners.

The first Commissioners' Court was held in August, 1818. The first Circuit, Court was held at the house of William Way, October 12, 1818, by Associate Judges Edwards and Wright.

The first attorney admitted to practice law in Randolph County Circuit Court was James Rariden, who was also appoint- ed first Prosecuting Attorney.

The building of the first court house was let to Abner Over- man, for $254.50, December 6, 1818.

The building of the first jail was undertaken by Albert Banta, for $125.00, December 6, 1818.

They were both accepted by the Commissioners October 6, 1820.

The first bill by the grand jury was John P .. Huddleston versus James Frazier, for an affray, found June, 1820.

The first trial in the Circuit Court was Conway versus Conner. The first judgment rendered by the court was in the same

case. The judgment was for the plaintiff, and the amount $135.00. Time of rendering judgment April, 1820.

The first criminal case was State versus James Frazier. Ac- quittal.

The first divorce granted was in favor of Huldah Way from her husband, Nathan Way, August, 1823.

The first settler in Greensfork Township was Thomas Par- ker, west of Arba, April, 1814.

The first settler on White River was William Diggs, Jr., who came during the summer of 1816, with Paul, Henry H., William and Robert Way. He married during the winter of 1816 or 1817, and settled, perhaps, February, 1817.

The first settler in West River may have been William Blount. He first entered land, and may have been the first set- tler. His entry is dated April 10, 1815. It was afterward the Zimmerman (Retz) farm, on West River.

The first settler in Ward Township is not now known. James Strain entered a section of land in 1816, but he is said never to have lived on the land. Fifteen entries were made in 1817, the first being Daniel Richardson, May 21, 1817, southwest quarter of 12, 21, 14, on Mississinewa River, northeast of John Key's.

The first settler in Nettle Creek was probably John Bur- roughs, southwest of Losantville, in 1822. His widow is living there still.

The first settler in Stony Creek may have been Isaac Bran- son. "Aunt Patsy " Branson, now living at Muncie, says that she came with her husband to Stony Creek Township in 1819. She is perhaps mistaken. He entered his land November 28, 1822. Yet, he may have resided in the county some years, and he entered land in that township November 28, 1822.

However, David Vestal made the first entry October 31, 1822, four weeks before Isaac Branson did his. Yet Mr. Bran- son is said to have come in February, 1819, and "Aunt Patsy" thinks they were first, and perhaps they were so.

The first settler in Green Township may have been Martin Boots. His entry was made August 18, 1832, six entries being made in that year.

The first settler in Monroe Township was perhaps John Rody. At least, he entered the first land April 10, 1833, one mile south of Morristown.

The first settlers in Wayne Township were probably Benoni and Henry Hill and Amos Peacock, in the spring of 1818.

The first resident of Jackson Township is thought to have been Philip Storms. He lived at a very early day at the Allens- ville crossing of the Mississinewa, and still before that in the southern part of the township. He was poor and not- able to purchase land, and once or twice had land entered from under him, which greatly provoked him, as well it might, since that was justly enough reckoned a very serious breach of "squatter unwritten law." He resided in the region in 1830.

The first settler in Washington Township may have been Travis Adcock. At any rate, he made the first land entry in that township, 1814, and he was residing there at a very early date.

The first settler in Franklin Township was Meshach Lewallyn, during the summer of 1817.

The first framed bridge (probably) was made over White River north, toward Deerfield.

The first railroad through the county was the Indianapolis & Bellefontaine (now Bee Line) Railroad, completed in 1852-3.

The first wagon-shop, so far as now known, was owned by Thomas Butterworth, before 1840, now living two and a half miles southeast of Winchester.

The first blacksmith shop may have been John Way's, at Winchester, (not known). James Frazier, father of Francis Fra- zier, the bellmaker, was a bellmaker and blacksmith. He came in 1817 (in the spring). Jere Smith's father came in August, 1817, and he was a blacksmith and worked at his trade.

The first brick may have been burned by David Wysong,

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY.

south ef Winchester. He burned the brick for the court house, built in 1826.

The first lime kiln was probably at Maxville.

The first orchard is thought to have been set out by Henry H. Way, near Sampletewn, about 1817 or 1818. Some of the trees are still standing, two to two and a half feet through, and in a bearing condition.

The first reaping machine was owned (owner unknown).

The first brick house in Winchester, and perhaps in the county, was built by Martin Comer, where the National Bank now stands [year net now known].

One of the oldest brick dwellings in the county now stands on the Brickley farm, one mile southwest of Dunkirk meeting house. The brick were burnt on the farm for the purpose.

The persons who have been longest in the county now resid- ing in it are James C. Bowen and Squire Bowen of Greensfork Township, who came with their father to Randolph County, Oc. tober 22, 1814, nearly sixty-eight years ago.

The person who has lived longest in White River Township is probably Jesse Way, who came to White River in the early spring of 1817. Moorman Way perhaps is the next, having comne later in the same year. [See below].

The persons who have lived longest in Winchester are Hon. Martin A. Reeder and his aged mother, Mrs. Mary A. Reeder, the latter now eighty ene years old. They came to Winchester in 1822, and have been residents of the town during sixty years. The next is Moorman Way, Esq., who came in 1831, and the next is Jesse Way, who came in 1832 [Mr. Way died in the fall ef 1881].

The first frame house in the county was built in Winchester, by Judge John Sample, in 1820.

The first penitentiary sentence was rendered in the August terin. 1824, against David Banta, for hog stealing. The prisoner escaped into Ohio and was never captured, and so the sentence remains not carried out to this day.

The first conviction was David Banta's.

The first slander case was tried August, 1826.

The first slander conviction was February, 1828.

The first water-mill in Greensfork Township may have been Jessup's on Greenville Creek, east of James Rubey's, on land now owned by Rubey. It was built as early as 1820, and per- haps earlier.

The first mill in the county may perhaps have been Lewallyn's, near Ridgeville, as early as 1819, and probably sooner than that.

The first mill on White River was probably Sample's mill, west of town, or Jeremiah Cox's mill near Jericho. Cox's mill was built in 1825, five or six miles east of Winchester. No mill is found there now.

The first carding machine in the county was owned by Daniel Petty, east of Winchester, very early, exact date not known.

The first carding machine in Winchester is supposed to have been built by Moorman Way, Esq. It was run by ex-power, and was built about 1832.

The first grist mill in Jackson Township is thought to have been a corn-cracker, built soon after 1833 by Jacob Johnson.

The first water inill in Jackson Township is thought to have been built on the Mississinewa by Hinchey. The exact date is not known.

The first school in Jackson Township was taught by Mrs. Beach in 1838, in her own house.

The first pike in Randolph County is thought to have been the Greenville and Winchester pike, still unfinished (or a pike near Bloomingsport).

The first two-story hewed log cabin in Winchester was built in the fall of 1819, on Inlet No. 1, west front, by James Mc- Cool, a blind man. It was good and substantial, and was occu- pied by him as a hotel in 1819, and stood until not long ago.

The first cook stove brought to Randolph County was by -

Edward Edger, of Deerfield, about 1838 or 1839. It cost $50 in silver at 10 per cent premium, equal to $55 in currency, besides the cost of hauling it from Cincinnati.

Another cook-stove was brought to the county at the same time for Mrs. Kinnear, south of Deerfield. It was just like Mr. Edger's and cost the same amount.

The first entry in Randolphi County was by Jeremiah Moffatt, in Wayne Township, northwest of Harrisville, December 1, 1812, northwest quarter Section 18, Town 20, Range 15. He never occupied the tract.

The first entry in Greensfork Township was by Clarkson Willcutts, January 9, 1814, southeast quarter Section 28, Town 16, Rango 1.

The first entry in Washington Township was by Travis Adcock, May 14, 1814, northwest quarter Section 14, Town 18, Range 14.

The first entry in West River Township was by William Blount, April 10, 1814, southwest, quarter Section 8, Town 18, Range 13.

The first entry in White River Township was by Shuball Ellis, November 30, 1814, northeast quarter Section 18, Town 20, Range 14.

The first entry in War Township was by James Strain, October 16, 1816, Section 13, Town 21, Range 14. He never lived on it.

The first entry in Jackson Township was by John Aber- crombie. October 16, 1816, southwest quarter Section 7, Town 21, Range 15. Jackson Township was not settled till long after- ward.

The first entry in Stony Creek was by David Vestal, Octo- ber 31, 1822, southwest quarter Section 8, Town 19, Range 12. Two more entries were made the same day by John Connor, and five more in the month of November following, or 880 in all in less than a month.

The first entry in Nettle Creek Township was by John Burroughs, October 21, 1822, southwest quarter Section 15, Town 18, Range 12. Within less than a month 760 acres were entered in that township.

The first entry in Franklin Township was by Meshach Lewallyn, July 19, 1817, Sections 1 and 12, Town 21, Range 13.

The first entry in Monroe Township was by Jelin Rody, April 10, 1833, southeast quarter of southeast quarter Section 17, Town 21, Range 12.

The first entries in Green Township were made by John Michael and Martin Boots, August 18, 1832, northwest quarter Section 8. Town 21, Range 12, and northeast quarter Section 9, Town 21, Range 12.

The first carding machine in Randolph County was en Salt Creek, east of Winchester, owned by Daniel Petty, date not known.

The first tan-yard was probably set up by Hugh Botkin south- east of Huntsville. Mr. B. came very early. The first one may have been at Sampletown.

The first death is not known.

The first burying ground was probably at Arba. Arba, Lynn, Cherry Grove, Jericho, White River and Dunkirk meet- ings were all established shortly after the settlement of the county' Arba being almost certainly first.

The first drain-tile made in the county, as alse in the State, were manufactured by hand by John K. Martin in a machine made by himself in 1856. He made 200 rods and burned them in a brick-kiln in his father's yard.

The first woolen factory in Randolph County is thought to have been at Unionsport by Hiram Mendenhall. The date can- not be atated.

The first teacher's institute was held at Winchester under the direction of Prof. E. P. Cole, Principal of Randolph County Seminary, about 1850. Those early institutes were full of in-

Ai ther of The

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY.

terest and profit, and would compare very favorably with many held in later times.

The first session of the Union Literary Institute commenced June 15, 1846, with Rev. Ebenezer Tucker as Principal, in a two-story hewed log house, upon ground cleared from the heavy green woods for the purpose. A huge tree-trunk, four feet through, lay for years not twenty feet from the door, that had just been felled "in the green," and the boarding house erected the next year had several green stumps under the floors.

The first hotel in Winchester was kept by James McCool, a blind man. It was set up in 1819.

The first hotel in the county may have been kept by Joseph Gass, between Economy and Winchester. At least it was there in the spring of 1817, when the " Way Company" came through from Carolina to White River.

The first atore in Winchester would seem to have been kept by Esquire Odle, at what date is not now known.

The first hatter's shop was owned by James Oldhamn, which was begun perhaps in 1819.

The first County Treasurer was perhaps Jesse Johnson, ap- pointed by the Commissioners, November, 1818.

The first assessor (lister) was George Bowles, appointed Feb- ruary, 1819. He made his report in May and was allowed $10 for assessing. the county.

The first Treasurer's report was made May, 1819; sum re- ceived $10; expenditures, $20.

The first grist-mill on the Mississinewa, above Lewallyn's, was built by Mr. Parsons, who came there in 1829, and built it soon after.

The first murder in the eastern part of the State was done in Wayne County, in 1816. A man by the name of Criss killed his son-in-law, Mr. Chambers. He was tried, convicted and bung at Salisbury, then the county seat of Wayne County.

The first post offices in the various townships were probably as follows : White River (and in the county), Winchester, Ward, Deerfield; Greensfork, Spartanburg; Washington, Bloomingsport ; Franklin, Ridgeville; Wayne (old) Randolph; Stony Creek, Windsor; West River, Trenton; Nettle Creek, Losantville; Jackson, New Lisbon ; Green, Fairview ; Monroe, Farmland.

MANNER OF LIVING.

Some articles have been furnished by Hon. Martin A. Reed- er, who has been a resident of the county for about sixty years, the substance of which is given below, with also some additions from other sources :

BUILDINGS.

Many would put up a "camp," and live in that for some weeks or months, and wait to build a cabin until the large trees had been cleared from a place extensive enough to prevent dan- ger from the tree trunks falling on the house. Others would put up their cabins in the dense woods, with perhaps a dozen trees near, any of which might, in a storm of wind, have crushed the dwelling and all its inmates ... And yet, though scores of cabins were erected thus, it is not known that a solitary tree ever threw its huge trunk upon the roof of a single settler's dwelling.

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History of Randolph County, Indiana with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers : to which are appended maps of its several townships, Part 13

Author: Tucker, Ebenezer Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Chicago : A.L. Klingman Number of Pages: 664

Author: Tucker, Ebenezer
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago : A.L. Klingman
Number of Pages: 664