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 40
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 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140 | Part 141 | Part 142 | Part 143 | Part 144 | Part 145 | Part 146 | Part 147 | Part 148 | Part 149 | Part 150 | Part 151 | Part 152 | Part 153 | Part 154 | Part 155 | Part 156 | Part 157 | Part 158 | Part 159 | Part 160 | Part 161 | Part 162 | Part 163 | Part 164 | Part 165 | Part 166 | Part 167 | Part 168 | Part 169 | Part 170 | Part 171 | Part 172 | Part 173 | Part 174 | Part 175 | Part 176 | Part 177 | Part 178 | Part 179 | Part 180 | Part 181 | Part 182 | Part 183 | Part 184 | Part 185
No record of burials was kept for many years. The record was begun April 8, 1872, and has been continued to the present time.
The number of interments is given herewith: Rest of the year 1872, twenty-nine; whole of 1873, forty-one; 1874, thirty- nine; 1875, forty-five; 1876, sixty-nine; 1877, forty-five; 1878, thirty-six; 1879, fifty-two; 1880, forty-three; 1881 (part), forty.
The varying number of interments is somewhat striking: Last five months of 1880, thirteen; first five months of 1881, thirty-five; last three months of 1880, five; first three months of 1881, twenty-four; last two months of 1880, one; first two months of 1881, fourteen. The lowest number in one month is none; the greatest number is ten, viz., March, 1881.
This record of interments does not show the full number of deaths in the city or its vicinity. The Catholics have a cemetery in the neighborhood, and all persons belonging to them are in- terred in that inclosure. Many are taken to the places where friends or companions have been deposited in former years. Ever since the appointment of memorial services on Decoration Day, May 30th, (or May 31st if the 30th fall on Sunday), by the Grand Army of the Republic, appropriate and affecting, and sometimes greatly impressive observances have been held at the cemetery from year to year. The present burial-ground is apparently well suited to its objects, and will remain doubtless permanently consecrated to its sadly interesting purposes. The location is at a reasonable, yet not too great distance from the city. The ground is sufficiently rolling to present au agreeable appearance, and dry enough to answer the use to which it has been devoted, with sufficient slope, moreover, to allow a ready and adequate drainage, lying on both sides of the bed of the Little Mississinewa.
The situation is retired, yet not too much so, lying between the highway leading to the fair grounds on the one hand, and the two westward railroad tracks on the other, and only just out- eide the city limits. As already hinted, something has been done by way of ornamentation, many tasteful and some costly monu- ments have been erected in memorial of friends who are " loved, not lost;" and the whole result appears to approve tho judgment and justify the discretion of those who made this second selec- tion of a cemetery for Union City. The regulations as to en- trance and deportment are strict, yet not too severe, but simply intended to secure the quiet, order and decorum needful in a place allotted to the resting-place for the dead. Location Wayne Township, Section 26, Town 18, Range 1-Amasa Payne, November 2, 1856, 84 years. Catharine Roe, January 15, 1857, 59 years. Note .- The above must have been buried elsewhere and transferred to this place, or else there was a private burying ground here before its use as a public cemetery. Frederic Roe, October 17, 1871, 69 years.
John Hartman, March 19, 1864, 22 years, First Sergeant of Company C, Fifty-seventh Indiana Regiment, served two years and four months, and died at home.
Barbara, wife of Charles Patty, October 22, 1864, 64 years. Rev. Timothy Colclazer, September 26, 1865, 54 years. Isaac Beal, April 11, 1869, 60 years. Mary, wife of Enoch Rogers, October 4, 1868, 81 years.
Mary Swain, September 25, 1868, 64 years.
James M. Worstler, July 8, 1868, 27 years.
Samuel Janes, June 29, 1869, 79 years.
Mary Morris, September 14, 1869, 78 years.
Darius Converse, March 21, 1869, 52 years.
D. French, M. D., January 26, 1870, 68 years. Ann, wife of L. B. Pope, June 21, 1870, 75 years. Jacob Livengood, October 26, 1870, 63 years.
Sarah, wife of J. G. McKee, December 30, 1871, 65 years. Elizabeth Thomson, March 20, 1871, 84 years. James McFeely, September 23, 1872, 75 years.
Ariston Dwinell (teacher), February 17, 1872, 30 years.
Edward Starbuck, Jr., September 25, 1874, 61 years.
Mary Starbuck (first wife), January 13, 1860, 40 years.
Lydia Ann Starbuck (second wife), March 27, 1863, 37 years.
Hon. Jeremiah Smith, December 28, 1874, 70 years.
Cynthia Smith, wife of the above, July 7, 1872, 57 years. Eva G. Heck, May 1, 1875, 68 years.
Timothy Masslich, Litiz, Penn., March 4, 1875, 73 years. Hannah, wife of William Parent, October 28, 1875, 65 years.
John Keever, September 10, 1875, 61 years.
Jacob Livengood, June 23, 1875, 63 years.
Jolın G. Doser, Angust 13, 1876, 65 years.
James Rubey, M. D., December 17, 1876, 70 years.
Melissa A., wife of J. S. Lotz, March 26, 1876, 51 years.
Susan, wife of B. Harris, March 12, 1877, 84 years.
Louisiana, wife of Daniel Paulus, December 1, 1877, 68 years.
Louisa Wilkerson, March 21, 1878, 80 years.
Nathan P. Woodbury, March 15, 1878, 79 years.
John Fisher, February, 1881, 89 years.
Mrs. Masslich, mother of Bentley Masslich, summer of 1881; very old.
Jane Fisher, reliet of John Fisher, February, 1882, 78 years.
White River-Friends (Section 22, Town 20, Range 14) .- Thomas Wright, April 30, 1835, 74 years.
Thomas Ward, February 11, 1839, 80 years.
Margery Ward, May 12, 1843, 84 years.
Nathan Barker, April 24, 1839, 71 years.
Elizabeth, wife of Michael Hill, March 24, 1846, 62 yeare.
William McCristy, January 20, 1850, 84 years.
Joseph Moffatt, June 30, 1854, 78 years.
Mary Moffatt. April 19, 1855, 64 years.
Joshua Cox, May 19, 1853, 65 years.
Joseph Keys, October 6, 1854, 86 years.
Mary, wife of Thomas Nixon, March 29, 1857, 73 years.
Mary Hickman, November 1, 1857, 72 years.
Ruth, wife of Nathan Barker, April 24, 1859, 61 years.
Zachariah Hiatt, December 31, 1860, 82 years.
Anna Hiatt, December 17, 1859, 81 years.
Jemima, wife of Andrew Nesbit, June 3, 1859, 81 years.
Margaret, wife of Joshua Cox, April 16, 1861, 67 years. Martin Comer, April 29, 1863, 70 years.
Amy, wife of Joab Ward, August 27, 1864, 67 years.
William H. Broughman, Company C, Eighth Indiana Cavalry, April 12, 1866, 20 years.
Thomas Pierce, November 5, 1868, 68 years.
David Haworth, August 2, 1868, 74 years.
Joel Ward, October 2, 1869, 81 years.
Ruth Ward, May 12, 1871, 77 years.
John Fraze, October 12, 1871, 93 years.
Abigail Fraze, September 14, 1871, 77 years.
Benjamin E. Keys, August 4, 1872, 75 years.
Jacob Hickman, March 15, 1873, 63 years.
Joab Ward, November 5, 1874, 84 years.
Sally (Wright)Coats, July 11, 1875, 86 years.
John Coats, 1878, over 90 years.
--- Coats, 1877, 86 years.
Miranda, wife of Isaac Coats, September 8, 1878, 68 years. Isaac Coats, July 23, 1876.
White River Cemetery is very old, Friends' meeting having been established abont or even before 1820. Mrs. Edwards, mother of Hamilton Edwards, resident south of Winchester, was buried in the autumn of 1881, being of a great age, 84 years.
Whitesell (three miles west of Union, Section 8, Town 20, Range 15). - Mary Weld, August 19, 1851, 60 years.
132
HISTORY OF RANDOLPII COUNTY.
Thomas Weld, January 3, 1852, 69 years.
Eleanor Taggart, July 25, 1857, 92 years.
Jane W., wife of J. B. Lawrence, January 17, 1858, 68 years. Samuel Conklin, March 30, 1860, 73 years. Joel F. Smith, November 3, 1863, 18 years. Henry Whitesell, March 7, 1868, 82 years. William Martin, September 4, 1872, 67 years.
Jacob Whitesell, April 9, 1877, 78 years.
Mary, wife of Jacob Whitesell, November 14, 1863, 72 years. Magdalena, wife of Henry Whitesell, July 3, 1877, 83 years. Windsor (Stony Creek Township, Section 29, Town 19, Range 12) .- Three soldiers, no stone, and, of course, no inscription. John Dye, June 8, 1836, a soldier in the war of 1812, pro- bably, 44 years.
Jacob Cline, February 1, 1840, soldier; must have been a mere lad, born in 1797, 43 years.
Isaac W. and infant daughter, children of Jeremiah and Cynthia Smith (Judge Jere), died August 6, 1850, and June 20, 1853, ages not given.
Luke Arnold, October 25, 1856, 60 years.
Samuel Wilson, September 9, 1858; a soldier, born in 1794, eighteen years old in 1812, 64 years.
John Gable, August 13, 1865, born in 1792, 74 years.
Christena, wife of Jonathan Clevinger, June 27, 1859, 71 years.
Thomas Wallace, February 7, 1870, 63 years.
Nancy Cline, December 10, 1870, 68 years. John Carver, May 13, 1866, 62 years. James Hays, September 16, 1874, 86 years.
Jonathan Clevinger, February 12, 1875, 87 years.
Amos A. Harold, December 20, 1875, 74 years.
Perry C. Gunkel, February 25, 1877, a soldier in the civil war, 36 years.
Arabella, wife of Owen O. Thomson, May 14, 1878, 59 years. Winchester (old ; David Heaston, proprietor; seventy-sevon lots: location, southwest of Winchester, Section 20, Town 20, Range 14; size, 1513x2273 feet; recorded May 22, 1862. A. J. Neff's addition; location, south side; thirty-six lots; recorded July 19, 1867. A. J. Noff's second addition, 126 lots; location, north and east sides; recorded August 14, 1816. Fountain Park Cemetery, established by Asahiel Stone, and donated by him to the citizens of Winchester for the purposes of a public cemetery; size of tract, forty acres; recorded March 1, 1880).
John Huston, March 11, 1849, 65 years.
Phebe Hull, wife of John Hull, Sr., August13, 1849, died of cholera, 76 years.
John Hull, Sr., born in Connecticut May 1, 1766, and died August 20, 1849, cholera, 83 years.
Susannah Reece, born April 10, 1776, and died May 31, 1850, 74 years.
Maria, wife of James Ramsey, February 2, 1852, 71 years. Jemima, wife of Jacob Kelly, Mareb 18, 1855, 73 years. John Way, September 25, 1856, 78 years.
Paul W. Way, October 20, 1856, 71 years.
Rebecca, wife of William Badgley, born in New Jersey Decem. ber 11, 1772, and died February 9, 1859, removed to Fountain Park Cemetery in 1881, 86 years.
Achsah, wife of Paul W. Way, May 1, 1859. 73 years. Rev. Simeon H. Lucas, October 31, 1860, 45 years.
Hester, wife of John H. Campbell, November 29, 1860, 77 years.
Esther, wife of Edmund Burton, October 7, 1861, 66 years. Martin R., son of E. and S. Thomas. Company G, Eighth Indiana Infantry, three years, August 3, 1862, 21 years.
Lieut. W. L. Steele, Company H, Eighty-fourth Indiana, died at Franklin, Tenn., May 16, 1863, 37 years.
Ann, wife of J. W. Steele, July 27, 1863, 63 years.
Elizabeth, wife of Jonathan Edwards, December 26, 1863, 78 years
David Ramsey, born in York County, Penn., October 17, 1802, and died. June 9, 1864, 62 years.
Susannah Craig. born August 16, 1794, and died June 3. 1864, 70 years.
Erastus H. Reed. son of Nathan Reed, Company F, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Indiana, August 20, 1864, 19 years. Elizabeth Nuff. oldest daugher of John Neff, Esq., and wife of Jacob Elzroth, Esq .. born in Botetourt County, Va., October 16, 1796, and died September 20, 1864, 68 years.
Jacob Elzroth, 1863, very old.
Capt. J. Lawrence Neff. Captain of Company G. One Hun- dred and Twenty-fourth Indiana, commissioned in February, 1864, Resaca to Atlanta, Franklin and Nashville; killed at Kingston, N. C., at the head of his company, March 10, 1865, age not given.
Edmund Burton, October 4. 1865, 85 years.
Cary S. Goodrich, October 14, 1865, 54 years.
John Bolender, served six years as a grenadier, three years in active service against Napoleon Bonaparte, and died December 9, 1865, 75 years.
David Heaston, December 18, 1865, born in Rockingham County, Va., came to Randolph in 1819, soldier of 1812, 72 years. Sarah, wife of Christian Heaston, May 1, 1866, 63 years.
Rebecca Pierce, widow of John B. Goodrich, born at Peters- burg, Va., August 31, 1787, and died June 1, 1867, 80 years. Polly, wife of Jebiel Hull, June 17, 1867, 61 years.
Catharine Fie, September 14, 1867, 80 years.
Christian Habigh, April 8, 1868, 69 years.
Nancy, wife of John Huston, February 5, 1869, 76 years.
Joseph Martin, June 16, 1871, 71 years.
Henry Summers, born in Augusta County, Va., July 15, 1784, and died August 10, 1871, 87 years.
Sarah, wife of Thomas Brown, December 26, 1871, 74 years.
Anna, wife of Nathan Reed, March 25, 1872, 64 years.
Henry Carver, August 19, 1872, 69 years.
Elizabeth Segraves, October 30, 1872, 68 years.
Walter S. Monks, March 28, 1873, 57 years.
George W. Monks, no stone.
Jehiel Hull, 1873, 70 years.
Ellis Mullen, November 18, 1874, 76 years.
Martha M. Watts, wife of Samuel Watts, Feb. 19, 1875. 68 years. Elizabeth, wife of Joseph Martin, born at Parmasen, Rhein, Bavaria, in 1815, and died June 9, 1874, 59 years.
Catharine, wife of George Hay, March 26, 1876, 67 years.
Jonas Lykens. August 15, 1876, 78 years.
Catharine, wife of David Heaston, Angust 9, 1876, 83 years. Thomas Brown, May 20, 1877, 85 years.
Christian Heaston, September 6, 1877, 77 years.
Philippine, wife of Henry Harmann, April 13, 1878, 68 years. David Wysong, April 26, 1878, 79 years.
George Hay, May 15. 1878, 63 years.
George G. Gerstner. April 5. 1879, 70 years.
Edward Wright, August 23, 1880, old. Soldier, unknown.
Mrs. George W. Monks, no stone; particulars unknown.
Promiscuous. - John Monks and wife are buried on the old Monks farm, south of Winchester; John Irving and wife are buried on the Irving farm, south of Winchester; Windsor Wiggs is buried in the cemetery on the Crist farm, southeast of Spar- tanburg. He died November 27, 1856: Sarah Wiggs, widow of Windsor Wiggs, died August 4, 1881; William Smith, father of Hon. Jore Smith, buried on his old farm in Section 5, Town 19, Range 13; burying ground 150 feet square, iron fence around the grave; Mrs. William Smith, wife of the above, buried at the same place; Daniel Bales, buried at Sparrow Creek Come- tery, southwest of Dunkirk.
Doubtless many persons are interred throughout the county in private grounds unknown to the general public at the present time, as also to the writer of these sketches.
In concluding this memorial to the dead, it is proper to state that great labor has been bestowed upon the subject, yet the re- sult obtained cannot be supposed to be entirely accurate, nor fully complete. But it may be truly declared that the whole is as thorough as it was in the power of the author to accomplish; and the hope is indulged that a generous public will appreciate the difficulties of the task attempted, and forgive such defects and errors as may by a critical examination be discovered to exist.
133
HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY.
CHAPTER X. COLORED PEOPLE.
SETTLEMENTS-TEMPERANCE-CHURCHES-BIOGRAPHY.
P DERSONS of color came so early to the county, and in such numbers, and have remained, during the years since those olden days, dwellers in these regions, and in Randolph County in particular, so extensively and so permanently, that it has been deemed advisable to give an account of them in a separate chap- ter.
SETTLEMENTS.
There are three colored settlements in Randolph County. 1st, Greenville Settlement, northeast of Spartansburg.
2d. Cabin Creek Settlement, on Cabin Creek, not very far from Huntsville.
3d, Snow Hill Settlement, Washington Township.
GREENVILLE SETTLEMENT.
In 1822, Thornton Alexander, Sr., with a wife and nine chil- dren, moved from Warren County, Ohio, to Greensfork Town- ship, northeast of Spartansburg. Within a few years, he entered 300 acres of excellent land. In a short time, other colored fam- tlies followed Mr. Alexander, so that a considerable settlement was soon formed. In 1833, eleven years after he had entered the wilderness, the following settlers were in the region:
Ezekiel Lewis, east of Thornton Alexander; Collier Simpson, north of Alexander; William Lewis; Philip Holland, near the Griffis farm; Allen Davis, near Jessup's Mill; John Randle, near Spartansburg, 1833.
Colored persons continued to come in until, by 1846, the set- tlement had been quite large. About 1845, the Union Literary Institute, a manual labor boarding school, was established for indi- gent youth there by the munificence of Benjamin Thomas, James Moorman, James Clemens, Thornton Alexander and others, friends of the poor, both white and colored. Land to the amount of near one hundred and eighty acres was donated, and a charter obtained from the Legislature. Rev. E. Tucker was employed as Principal, and a boarding house, by donations from friends of the cause, was erected. The school was opened in June, 1846, and for years the school was somewhat famous throughout the region. Good schools were scarce then, and large numbers of all colors attended from Randolph and adjacent counties. Colored youth were members of the school from Dayton, Piqua, Cincinnati, Richmond, Logansport, Indianapolis, from Shelby and Mercer Counties, Ohio, and even from Mississippi. Many colored youth received an education there who have since done good work for their people.
Prof. Tucker left in 1854, and, after passing through various hands, and being intermitted for several years, the institution was revived again, and Prof. Tucker took charge, and taught from 1873 to 1879.
The school is now under the supervision of Mr. Milton A. Roberts, a graduate of Spiceland Academy, a gentleman of fine talents and of high promise for future usefulness as an instructor of youth. It was originally a boarding school, but the change of times has brought it to be chiefly a neighborhood school. How- evor, it is still accomplishing a good work for those who attend its instructions.
The settlement on the Indiana side of the State line now con- tains some thirty families, either owning the land or renting from others.
Most of the early settlers are dead. John Randle alone re- mains of the grown-up settlers, old and blind, but sprightly and cheerful. [He died, October, 1881.] Isaac Alexander, who came there as a boy seven years old, in 1822, still resides in the settlement.
Many of the men volunteered in the army and gave good serv- ice in helping to crush the rebellion and to secure freedom to the down-trodden millions of their race; and they are reaping their due reward in the enjoyment of a full citizenship, bestowed on them by a grateful country.
Some of the prominent residents now are William Shoemake, William Shaffer, Hiram Simpson, Jesse Flood, John Mason, Jesse Okey, Hiram Cotinan, John M. Thompson, Lemuel Stokes, Jack- son Okey, Charles Mason, Levi Linsey, Pierce Thomson, Reuben Randle, William Lewis, Douglas Holland, William Oglesby, John Randle, Sylvester Holland, Charles Fox, Thomas Burden, Isaac Alexander, Richard Goens, John W. Randle, Patrick Goodall, etc., etc.
The settlement here lies on both sides of the Ohio line, with by far the largest part in Ohio. In Indiana, a territory about one mile by three is occupied, while in Ohio nearly three miles square is covered by the colored residents. In Ohio, four school districts are to be found, with a good schoolhouse in each, three of them being new brick edifices of good construction and neat design, and schools are maintained for seven to eight months in the year.
The nucleus of the settlement in Ohio was formed about fifty- five years ago, by James Clemens, Sr., with his large family of boys and girls, there being eight or ten children, five of whom are still living. James Clemens and his wife, Sophia, are dead, both living to be about ninety years old. He took up in his life- time about six hundred acres of land, which is now mostly dis- tributed among his numerous descendants. The principal resi- dents now are Charles Clemens, James Mckown, Reuben Goens, William Burden, William Mckown, Zebedee Bass, Asaniah Goens, Elijah P. Clemens, Windsor W. Epps, Leander Swaney, Sandy Jones, Riley Bass, Perry Clemens, Layton Clemens, A. J. Clem- ens, J. W. Clemens, Charles Carpenter. John Carpenter, Willson Smith, Mrs. Mahala Clemens, Mrs. Durant, Alfred Clemens, Silas Wade, Moses Jefferson, Blake Durant, Sumner Durant, Silas Robbins and many others.
In the whole Greenville settlement, some years ago, there were about nine hundred people. There is on the Ohio side a Wes- leyan Church, and on the Indiana side an African Methodist Episcopal Church. The clergyman among them are: Rev. Lem- uel Stokes, Indiana side, A. M. E .; Rev. Charles Clemens, Ohio side, Wesleyan; Rev. Perry Clemens, Ohio side, Wesleyan.
There are several promising young men, most of whom are or have been teachers:
Elijah P. Clemens, teacher; Windsor W. Epps, teacher and studying law; Silas Robbins, now practicing attorney at St. Louis, Mo .; Wesley Robbins, teacher, and practicing medicine; Wiley A. Robbins, farmer; John Wade, attending school; Mar- tin Clemens, teacher and farmer; Sumner Durant, teacher and farmer; Blake Durant, teacher and farmer; Cassius F. Stokes, teacher at Kokomo, Ind .; Lee Roy Stokes, teacher at Nobles- ville. Ind .; Jackson Okey, teacher and farmer; Milton A. Rob- erts, teacher and preacher and law student.
During the nearly sixty years of the existence of this settle- ment, great numbers have emigrated from this " hive" and gone to other regions, to help form new settlements, or to the towns for readier access to the facilities for work. New accessions have been as constantly made to their numbers, and the growth from without and from within, combined, despite the ceaseless drop- ping out to Grant County, to Panlding County, to Michigan and where not, has raised the numbers in the settlement to eight or nine hundred souls. It is wholly a farming community, not hav- ing even the shadow or semblance of a town, unless, indeed, the old shell of a village at Tampico, on the Ohio side, be reckoned such, wherein no business, except liquor-selling occasionally and a blacksmith shop now and then, has been located or transacted for years.
MUSIC.
The people of color seem to have a natural aptness for music. The settlement has long been noted for the ability of many of its members in this respect. Many "schools" have been held among them there, with pleasing success.
From 1874 to 1878, a glee club existed in the Greenville set- tlement, composed of a few enthusiastic young persons-Elijah P. Clemens, Adeline Clemens, Richard Cotman, Pbilo A. Tucker (white), Jane P. Costen, Emma Goens, Ellen Goens, Elizabeth Goens and Lillie F. Tucker (white). The club took great delight together in their musical efforts, spending much time in prepar-
134
HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY.
ing amateur entertainments at exhibitions, temperance meetings, etc., etc.
Several of the same company formed themselves into a " band of singers," and gave several concerts through the region, with good acceptance and success.
During the years that are past, many celebrations have been held in.the settlement. First of August, Sabbath schools, tem- perance, emancipation, politics and other subjects have called the people together at various times and their white fellow-citi- zens as well, in great numbers, and much pleasure and profit have been imparted by the addresses and exercises upon the several occasions.
At one celebration, some thirty years ago, Hon. George W. Julian, then a young and earnest anti-slavery man, since and for many years a noted and powerful advocate of freedom and right in the national councils, and in still later times an adherent of the modern Democratic faith, gave, before a numerous and enthusiastic assembly, in a pleasant and shady grove in the Greenville settle- ment, a most feeling and eloquent appeal for human liberty and right, which has not even yet been forgotten by some who that day listened thereto. And it still continues, in the minds of the advocates of human freedom who knew the earnestness of Mr. Julian in that former day, and for so many subsequent years, in the advocacy of anti-slavery, to be a standing and inscrutable mystery how he could join himself to that party with principles, aims and methods still unchanged, against which, for five and twenty years, he had waged a war so fierce, so bitter, so unrelent- ing. But this, like the ways of the "heathen Chince," may be one of the things which no man can ever find out.
CABIN CREEK, COLORED SETTLEMENT.
The Greenville colored settlement began about 1822, in the State of Ohio. Not long after that date, others songht for homes in the wilderness farther west, and a nucleus was formed of what became Cabin Creek Settlement, lying chiefly, perhaps, in Net- tle Creek, but extending also into West River and Stony Creek, and slightly into White River Township. Colored families be- gan to come into the region not. very long after 1825, from North Carolina and Virginia, and, after a time, the settlement greatly increased, embracing several miles in extent, and compris- ing some eighty to one hundred families and several hundred people. During later years, the number has materially lessened, the families having sold their possessions and moved to locations more suited to their notions. There are now some thirty to forty families, forming a single school district.
John Demory came first to the western part of the county about 1825, with Lemuel Vestal, from North Carolina, Demory being the first colored person in that part of Randolph County.
Two other colored families came soon afterward-Drew Tay- lor, on Eight Mile Creek, and Obadiah Anderson, in the south- east part of the county. After them came Richard Robbins, Samuel Outland and Benjamin Outland, who, as to the colored settlement proper, came first, or nearly so, shortly after 1825, settling in Stony Creek Township. Nearly all the families at present reside in Nettle Creek Township. The settlement is ex. clusively a farming community, as there is no town whatever in connection therewith.
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.