USA > Indiana > Tipton County > History of Tipton County Indiana > Part 7
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EARLY SETTLEMENT.
The southern division of Madison township was opened up for settle- ment about 1830, being at that time included in Hamilton county, while the northern sections formed a part of the Indian reserve and were not placed on the market for a number of years afterward. This necessarily meant that the southern lands were settled first, and indeed in the year 1836 there were not many people living there: James Shaw, Henry Eytchison, Pleasant Allman, and Henry Hobbs. Shaw came from Rush county, and located two miles south of the village of New Lancaster. Eytchison came from North Carolina, and took a claim in section 17. He later moved to Madison county. Allman located in the southeast corner of the township, and was the first there. He came from Marion county. Hobbs was a Virginian, and a man of first quality. He was once a candidate for probate judge. Absalom Hobbs, brother, came a year later and entered a tract of land in section 27. He ran for the office of sheriff in 1846, but was so unfortunate as to belong to the weaker party.
In the forepart of 1837 Joseph Henderson, from Ohio, secured land in the southeastern part. When he left Ohio he joined the Mormon sect under the prophet, Joseph Smith ; he was one of the Latter-Day Saints at the time of their expulsion from Illinois, and was one of a small settlement in Jack- son county, Missouri. He gave up the Mormon heresy before leaving Mis- souri. He entered land in Madison township in 1838, and lived there until his death in 1875.
In 1837 a Virginian by the name of Henry Hildebrand came to the township and bought land in the southern part. He afterward practiced medicine. About the same time settlements were made by Reuben Farlow. near the eastern boundary, and William Orr. a nephew, and by Absalom and Henry Hobbs in the southwest corner. Philip Letzinger came, in 1838. and was joined the same year by Mitchell and William Goings and Joseph A.
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Wright. The Goings located near the Hamilton county line. Wright came from North Carolina, where he left his family while he investigated the land of Tipton county. He selected a claim on section 22, on which he built a small cabin. He burned the first brick in the township and erected the first brick house in the county on his farm in 1848. Other of the settlers who came early were: Henry Harbit, a Kentuckian, who located a short distance south of New Lancaster; Reuben Harvey, in the eastern part, and William Carr.
In 1838 two brothers, Newton and Carter Jackson, came in with their families and settled near New Lancaster, the former in section 19 and the latter in section 20. They were natives of Kentucky, but left that state in an carly day and settled in Wayne county near the city of Richmond. At the organization of Tipton county in 1844, Newton Jackson took an active part and was elected as the first clerk. Carter Jackson was elected as the first representative to the state Legislature in 1845.
The following is a list of settlers who entered land from the govern- ment: Ansell Ballard, John Rader, John Gross, Samuel Potoff, Ebenezer Douglass, Eli Wright, Enoch Warman, Sanford Daniel, Alfred Daniel, Silas Mills, Lemuel Darrow, Obadiah Kinney, Henry Oldacre, Samuel Heck, Solomon Dill, Jarrett Nugen, Martin Rogers, Daniel Miller, William Orr, Jesse McAnally, Benjamin Baird and James Beeson. These men all received their patents prior to 1837. The following two years' entries were made by William Sheets, N. Stanbrough, James Tate, S. N. John, Joel Stephenson, Frederick Waltz, Jesse Hankins, James Armstrong. George L. Smith, Rob- ert Stutsman, Jacob Smith, John Sharpe, Ransom Mills, H. Mills, William Riddler, Jonathan Coffin, John Sleath, Zadock Darrow, John Wiley, William Birch, Thomas Cooper, Samuel Neece, Nathan Baird.
James Merritt, from Ohio, came in 1839, and took land in. the south sections. In 1846, at the time of his wife's death, he moved to Hamilton county. In 1839, also, Edward Sharpe settled in the southwest part of the township, where he remained until 1844, when, becoming weary of the country, he removed to Marion county, his former home. The Darrow family, Lemuel, Zadock, John and Simeon, came in 1839 and made a home on Duck creek, near the eastern boundary. They were natives of Massa- chusetts. These brothers had an unfortunate existence here. Lemuel died in 1843; John left the country to escape litigation, and Zadock committed suicide in 1858.
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FIRST IMPROVEMENTS.
The first wheat raised in the township had to be hauled to Perkinsville and Strawtown, where but poor markets were afforded, the farmers get- ting forty-five and fifty cents per bushel for their grain. It was the absence of close and adequate markets which handicapped the early settlers in all parts of the county, and was a detriment to rapid growth. Some of the farmers took their crops to Lawrenceburg in the southern part of the state, where better prices could be obtained. The nearest mills where meal could be had were on Cicero creek in Hamilton county. They were simply rude corn-crackers, and ground very slowly. An inferior grade of flour could be secured at the Perkinsville mill, and it was for several years the chief source of supply. A fair market for grain and produce was offered by the Wabash canal, but the almost impassable condition of the roads leading to it pre- vented the farmers from taking advantage of the shippers.
The Indians, who were numerous in the northern part of the town- ship, gave no trouble to the settlers, only when they got drunk at Straw- town. They traded such articles as moccasins, dressed deer skins, venison, bead work, etc., for bacon, gunpowder and wearing apparel.
The first mill in the township was a saw mill erected sometime during the year 1848. It was the property of Gilbert Wright and was located on the west fork of Duck creek, from which it drew its motive power. It was operated by a large water-wheel, and supplied the lumber for many of the first frame houses in the township. Wright operated the mill until his death in 1854, and from then on it passed through several hands. B. F. Mar- shall erected a saw mill, run by steam, in 1868, at the village of Curtis- ville.
The New Lancaster tannery was established in 1849 by a Mr. Hillegoss. This man sold out a few months later to Martin Stevens, and from thence it passed through the hands of several owners, it passing out of existence many years ago.
The first orchard in the township was set out by Carter Jackson. He brought with him into the county three hundred small trees, which he raised from the seed in Wayne county, and started a small nursery. The second orchard was planted by James Merritt in the western part of the township in 1840.
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EARLY ELECTIONS.
The first election within the present bounds of Tipton county occurred in the year 1841, at the residence of Joseph A. Wright in the western part of Madison township. This was during the time that the township was a part of Hamilton county, and the election took place for county purposes only, no officers being chosen. Carter Jackson was appointed inspector, and eighteen votes were cast. The first election after the county organization was held at John B. Cole's residence in 1844. Newton Jackson was chosen jus- tice of the peace. The first board of township trustees was elected in the year 1854 and comprised the following: Levi Colvin, Gilbert Wright and Green Lilly. James Beeson was chosen treasurer, and Thomas S. Starkey, clerk.
MADISON TOWNSHIP IN 1914.
In an early paragraph of this review .of Madison township it is stat- ed that the bad conditions of the roads in an early day prevented the farm- ers from using the Wabash and Erie canals as a means of shipping their produce. This condition existed for several years, when steps were taken to improve the roads and accordingly corduroy roads were laid. Today these would seem as impassable as the old mud roads, but at that time they were a godsend. These roads were laid through the then wilderness, blaz- ed on ridges and high places, and thence to the main throughfares. The farmers of the township now have the advantage of the best macadam and gravel roads. There are six hundred and forty-six miles of improved roads in the county, and Madison township has a large per cent. of them.
Agriculture in the township is a highly developed art. In describing the condition, one might duplicate the words used in the review of the other townships. Time-saving equipment has been invented, and scientific methods of cultivation have been discovered, and of all of these the ag- riculturist has taken advantage. The broad, well-kept fields, the palatial farm residences, the orderly buildings are a source of great delight to the visi- tor. There are many beautiful spots in this township, among them Carr's Grove, near the town of Hobbs, which is used for picnics from Elwood, Tipton and other places.
The Lake Erie & Western Railroad and the Alexandria branch of the Indiana Union Traction Company traverse this township from east to west. Transportation is thus easily provided for passengers and for many chil-
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dren attending the larger schools. As in many other places, the system of many small school buildings throughout the township is being abandoned, and consolidation is being effected.
NEW LANCASTER.
New Lancaster is located in the southwestern part of the township, and was established to supply the need of a trading post. The original site' was owned by Carter Jackson, who sold small portions of his farm from time to time to those who desired to locate in the village. No plat was ever made, as it was not the intention of Mr. Jackson to found a town. The first residence in the village was erected by Abraham Ressler, about the year 1845. and soon afterwards two more dwellings were constructed by Granville Newby and R. R. Douglass. New Lancaster has no post- office, but it boasts of a school house, church, a lodge of Modern Woodmen, with a drill team which has won a statewide reputation. While the town is isolated, it is, nevertheless, a popular meeting place for people for many miles around.
CURTISVILLE.
Near the year 1859 the town of Curtisville was founded by L. B. Col- vin, who built a saw mill in section 31, on the railroad, and sold lots for the purpose of securing a switch and a station. Among the first men to buy lots were R. T. Moon, John Balser, C. D. Colvin and A. B. Newman. The latter opened up the first stock of goods for sale, erecting a building in the east part of town for that purpose. Jacob Stamm, John Tuttle, John Starkey were subsequent owners of this business. The early blacksmiths were Will- iam Little, Joseph Leach and James Hamilton. The manufacturing interests of the place have been represented by several steam saw mills; at one time the village was a popular trading point and shipping point for lumber.
A postoffice was established at the village in 1859 and Jacob Oldacre appointed postmaster.
Curtisville was platted in 1873 for the following proprietors: R. T. Moon, Philip Staum, Boswell Colvin, William Spray, John Fouch Samuel Harbit. W. W. Colvin and J. W. Murden.
Curtisville has reached the climax of its growth and now is in the fourth act of its existence. There are not two hundred people in the village and the chief industry is the Curtisville Tile and Brick Company, manu- (6)
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facturing, as the name signifies, various sizes of drain tile and various kinds of brick. The town is not incorporated in any form and, like Hobbs, has no officers. The Pittsburg, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad runs through the town, stopping a few accommodation trains there daily. This is the only avenue of commerce there, intercourse being even cut off from the county seat, except by way of Elwood, in Madison county. Curtis- ville has one of the most modern public school buildings in the state of Indiana, it heing a model recommended by the state board of health for other schools to pattern after.
HOBBS.
Hobbs was located by Henderson Hobbs on the Lake Erie & Western Railroad, on his farm in section 10. This occurred in 1878.
At the present, in 1914, the village of Hobbs has about two hundred people living there. The village has not grown very fast since its founding, due to the fact that other trading centers are very close in any direction. A flouring and saw mill are the chief industries of the place; there is a bank, newly started, and one or two general stores. The people of Hobbs have easy access to Tipton and Elwood by the route of the traction line. There are two doctors and no attorneys. The two large elevators are the most noticeable of the town structures and, with the newly established bank, attest to the prosperity of the town and community. There are two churches and a postoffice.
CICERO TOWNSHIP.
The first settlers in the township of Cicero were the Miami Indians, who resented the first few scattering white men who entered the territory to make settlement. The portion north of the Indian reserve line was occu- pied by these Indians, and was then called Hamilton county, but later was severed from the name by act of the Legislature, approved January 15, 1844, and the county named Tipton created. The Miamis were forced to relin- quish their hold upon these lands in 1845 and were transported to the reservation set aside for them in the state of Kansas. The first permanent white settlements were made in the territory south of the reserve line, while that portion was still a part of Hamilton county. There were no entries at the government land offices prior to the year of 1834; in fact, there were but two during that year, Absalom Sumner and Philip W. Barger. During ing the following four years all of the remainder of this portion of the
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township was entered, several land speculators, among them Stoughton A. Fletcher and Nichols McCarty of Indianapolis, taking a large portion of the ground. The name of the first settler in this locality known as the "Old Purchase" cannot be ascertained with any certainty. Suffice to say he came very early and pitched his rude hut in Hamilton county. One Charles Freel, a trapper, came early and settled in the eastern part of the township, but disappeared when the other settlers begun to build up homes.
From Wayne county, Indiana, in 1837, came Isaac J. Parker, and he settled one mile east of the present site of Tipton, where he lived until his death in the year 1866. Parker was a native of New Jersey. He encoun- tered the usual strenuous hardships of the pioneer and was forced to carry on his ordinary trade at Strawtown, in Hamilton county, twelve miles distant. Joab E. Parker, a brother, came into the county about the same time and entered land farther south. He passed to his reward in 1859. In 1836 Thomas Corbin located in the eastern portion of the township, with no neighbor within a distance of five miles. Allen and James Goodpasture came in 1836, also, and remained until their death. Land was entered in this same year by Joseph Shank, and he moved his family thereon, died in 1882, and.left a good estate to his widow. James Egler settled later in the western part of the township. He died in 1882. Land was purchased by William Bishop in 1835, but he did not make a settlement on it until a few years later; Daniel Smith also lived in the southern part as early as 1835 or 1836.
The Whisler brothers, John and Jacob, settled about two and a half miles east of Tipton prior to the year of 1830. Jacob Whisler was the first treasurer of the county, but later moved into Hamilton county. John Whis- ler moved. with his family, to Kansas in 1833. Near the opening of the year 1838, if not in that year, William Deal made a settlement in this township, and a trifle later John Emehiser emigrated here. Emehiser was a native of Pennsylvania and of German descent. His first inroad into Indiana was to Wayne county. In 1838, or a year later, William Dickson came, also Anson King. Samuel King was one of the largest owners of land here, at one time possessing over one thousand acres. He first entered land in 1835. John Forkner entered land south of Tipton in 1839. Dr. Silas Blount moved from Ohio and located just north of the Hamilton county line in 1841. The village of West Kinderhook was afterward established there by him. He was one of the first physicians to practice in Tipton county. He was also one of the first associate judges. For a period of forty years he followed diligently his practice and was esteemed by all
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who knew him. In the eastern part of the township Jackson Reed settled at an early date. Records show that probably the first Methodist religious services in the county were held in his home. Harvey Goodykoontz locat- ed in the southern part of the township near the subsequent site of the Peru & Indianapolis Railroad. He, during his life. held the positions of justice of the peace and assessor, being the second of the latter officer in the county. His death occurred in 1882. Newton J. Jackson, John S. Ressler, Martin Prilliman, William Buffington, Jesse Brown, William H. Nelson, William F. Brady and others settled in or near the town of Tipton.
The majority of the early settlers of Cicero township came from the southern portions of Indiana, also many from Ohio and Kentucky. Many of the settlers moved north of the Miami reserve line, which lands were not open to purchasers before 1838, although there were many squatters prior to that date. It is appropriate to give the names of many of these men, without attempt to enlarge upon the personal qualities and courageous struggles to create a habitable residence in the wide and uncultivated lands. Some of them follow: John Beck, George Smith, Joshua Elison, Thompson Innis, Andrew Tucker, Peter Hyde, Joseph W. Jackson, William Donaldson, Benjamin Clifford, Daniel Haskett, John Clifford, William Buffington, Minor L. Thomas. James Basey. Joseph Van Buskirk. John C. Williams, David Webber, Alexander Smith, Lewis Jones, William Johnston, James Copley, George Bowser, Brighton Bailey. Thomas G. Carson, Samuel Downhour, John B. Carson. William Williams, Louis Beck, Richard Hall, John Laudig, Thomas Jackson, John Craighead, George Osler, Sr., George Rhodes, David King. Joseph Morgan. Michael Short. James Molden, Minor Mallory, Piatt Molden. John Bailey, James Fielding. Caleb Parish, Martin Kleyla, James Ragsdale (colored), David Lilly. Joseph Sumner, George Johnson. William Conoway, March Tucker, Sr., Samuel Paul, George Tuc- ker. Squire Tucker, James Tichenor. Martin Smith. Timothy Tichenor, Sime- on Yelton. Robert Barton. John McNeal, John Murphy, Frederick Smel- ser, Dr. Aaron A. Hensley, Alexander Pennock. William Bracken, Harrison A. Woodruff, George Kane, John Alexander, Conde Bishop, Milton W. Shafer. James King. Andrew J. McClannahan, Henry Kinder, William Fer- guson. Jonathan Reed. Justice Meyers, Henry Shoemaker, Charles Meyers, John McCarty, Wilson Crowe, James Walker, Gurnsey Smith, Robert E. Davidson, James Daly, Andrew J. Redmon, David Robinson. Arthur Davis, Seth Buffington. Robert Davis, Joseph Goar, George Cloud, John Lyman, William B. Young. Fleming Eliston. James McElhaney, William Gregory, John W. Chambers, William Welshons, William Stivers, Daniel Welshons,
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Andrew Evans, Reuben Childers, Daniel R. Redmon, Henry Goar, David J. Caldwell, Matt F. Goar, James Palmer, John Simmons, George Kelly, James McMurthy, George Motes, Jacob Miller, Henry Shirley, Samuel Miller, Solomon Hedrick, William McNeal, Milton Mozingo, George McNeal, James Sparks, Joseph Nelson, Jefferson Cook, Henry Shafer, Robert Stewart, Allen Hopkins, Aaron Steelman, William Innis, Elias R. Conner and David G. Wilks.
TOPOGRAPHY.
The first settlers of Cicero township were not pleased with the general .topographical features of the land. They thought that the land was flat and low and would be difficult to drain. So strong was this opinion that it might be said to have been one of the causes of the tardy settlement of this district. However, the passing of years brought a well-defined idea- a change from the old. The altitude of Tipton above the sea is 875.5 feet, affording a natural water-shed and adequate fall for any drainage system. It has come to be a light task for every farmer to tile his land, and conse- quently added value is thereby given.
Although the struggle to make the soil of Cicero township valuable agriculturally was a terrific one, the ground within the locality may now be classed with the best in the state. It is deep, rich, tillable, and yields large crops annually. Superfluous water and timber have been eliminated; the water as waste, but the timber, comprising magnificent oaks, walnuts, beech- es, ashes, was put to economic use. Little of this original timber is left to- day, but in many places a luxuriant second growth is springing up. Several small streams, of little consequence, including Cicero, Buck, Prairie, Tur- key and Dixon creeks, flow through the township.
ORGANIZATION.
The first session of the board of county commissioners was held at the home of Jesse Brown, about one mile south of the present site of Tipton, on June 3 and 4, 1844. Nearly the first official act of this new board was to divide the newly created county into townships. Cicero, now the largest township in the county, was apportioned as follows: Beginning at the south- east corner of section 32, township 21 north, range 5 east, thence north six miles, thence west six miles, thence south six miles, thence east to the place of beginning. Afterward, the township was enlarged to its present dimensions, eight miles north and south and eight and one-half miles east and west.
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Forty-three thousand five hundred and twenty acres are included at present in the township. In the spring of the year 1820 the land south of the reserve line was surveyed by William B. Laughlin, deputy United States surveyor, assisted by Charles H. Test. The latter gentleman afterward served in of- ficial capacities in Tipton county. The land north of the Miami reserve land was not surveyed until the winter of 1842-3.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS.
At the first meeting of the board of county commissioners mentioned above, elections were first ordered, to be temporarily held at the home of Jesse Brown, owing to its central location. At this same session, the town- ship of Cicero was given two justices of the peace, to take care of the law and perform wedding and funeral ceremonies. In August of the year 1844 Jesse Brown was elected as the first justice of the peace, and commissioned for five years from the 20th day of that month. In September Elias R. Con- ner was appointed as constable, being the first for the township. It is re- corded that he made a return of the Presidential election in that year, and for his services received the sum of thirty-seven and one-half cents. At the June session. 1844. the first assessment list was received by the commissioners. It had been prepared by Jesse Brown, acting under appointment by Nathan C. Bales, assessor of Hamilton county. For his work during the time of twelve and one-half days. he was allowed eighteen dollars and seventy-five cents.
At the June term of 1845, the county board authorized the congressional townships to elect trustees. The electors of congressional township 21 north. range 4 east, were directed to meet at the town of Canton (now Tipton), which town had been established the previous year. on the last Saturday in August, 1845, for the purpose of electing three trustees for the township for school purposes. The inspector of this election was Daniel Smith. In Sep- tember of this year all elections were ordered to be held at the town of Can- ton. Jesse Brown, although acting as justice of the peace. in 1844, acted also as township assessor from March, 1846. to March, 1847, being then succeeded by Harvey Goodykoontz, and then by George Cloud. Daniel R. Redmon was the second man to be named as justice of the peace in the township. having been commissioned from 1845 to 1850.
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ROADS.
At the September term, 1844, the board of county commissioners di- vided the township north and south into three road districts, each two miles wide, but the roads were by no means improved and graded as we see them now. Highways were, at different times, made the subject of petitions, and work was done after permission was obtained from the board, but the work was productive of only temporary benefit. Especially during the wet sea- sons of the year did the roads loom up in their true colors, for they were usually impassable. The advantage of corduroy roads, or rather plank roads, was never had within Cicero township, for records show that a very few corduroys were laid at one time in the most sunken places. The first super- visors of roads in this township were David G. Wilks, Jesse Brown and Allan Goodpasture. The witness of the highly improved and convenient roads of today cannot well appreciate the conditions and character of the early-day road. One may drive across the township now in a couple of hours, but fifty years ago it was a matter of a day and sometimes longer time.
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