USA > Indiana > Vanderburgh County > History of Vanderburgh County, Indiana, from the earliest times to the present, with biographical sketches, reminiscences, etc. > Part 76
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The Hilliards came from Ireland in 1819, and about two years later formed a settle- ment in Scott township, which to the present time is known as the Hilliard neighborhood. Afterward the Hornbys, a prominent fam- ily, became a part of this neighborhood.
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For about twenty years there were no other settlements in the eastern part of the town- ship, and but few additions in numbers were made to those already established. In 1822 Samuel Miller came and stayed but one 'year. He was chief among the deer hun- ters; tall, lithe and as active as the animal he pursued. Arnold Henning was known among the pioneers as "a handy man to make a cradle or an ax-handle;" although his trade was that of a shoemaker, he was too fond of drink to accomplish much, and is remembered by the present generation as a good and honest, but unfortunate man.
Emery Cook lived and died near Ingle- field. He was a good hunter, but an un- skillful farmer. He won the long-continued gratitude of the pioneers for killing a par- ticularly troublesome wolf, that was known to have done great damage to the stock.
Another interesting character of early days was John McCann, who, with his fid- dle, traversed the entire country, attending all the old-time frolics, the huskings, the barn-raisings, the quilting bees, and every gathering that was likely to end in a dance. ' He did much to ameliorate the hardships of pioneer life by breaking its monotony, and by encouraging those indulgences which rest the mind and recuperate the body. McCann was a valuable worker in the still- houses, and often made whiskey for Samuel Scott and Richard Carlisle.
prominence by the inauguration of the great internal improvement system of 1835, im- migrants over-ran every township in the county, looking for lands and homes. Scott township, to some extent, shared the fate of other townships, and before 1840, the lands were nearly all taken, and the settlement of the township was practically completed.
Prominent among those who came in later, though in the pioneer era, and who became closely identified with the township history were: Richard Browning, John Sansom, George and Alexander McCutchan, Thomas Bower, the Rockett family, the Rustons and many other industrious, honor- able and worthy people. The Germans, who came in afterward were, as a class, good citizens, industrious, frugal and im- proved the country very much.
An Old Mill .- The first mill in the town- ship was erected by Richard Browning, about 1832. Prior to this settlers patronized the Anthony or Negley mill on Pigeon creek, erected in 1814. Mr. John Sansom thus tells of the first work of this mill: "I assisted in getting out the timbers for Browning's mill -a tread-mill at first. I remember very well the day we first at- tempted to run that mill. All things being ready we thought we would grind our grist. The grain was put in the hopper, the team started, the mill went round, but not the smallest particle of meal made its appearance. We were puzzled. After trying in vain to discover the reason why, we acknowledged ourselves beat, and Mr. Browning concluded to send for George Linxweiler, who was then, or had been, in charge of Negley's water mill, and let him, if possible, unravel the mystery. In a few hours Linxweiler put in an appearance. Imagine our amazement when he looked at the arrangement and quietly informed us, in
With the hard times that commenced soon after 1820, immigration was practically sus- pended. But from the older states and from across the sea occasional acquisitions were made to the settlements here. As "birds of a feather flock together," it was fortunate for Scott township that in her borders there was so early established an intelligent nucleus about which clustered a very desirable class of immigrants. When the state of Indiana brought herself into his German idiom, that we had been trying
34
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to grind flour by running the mill backward !. A more foolish, stupid-looking lot of lads probably never existed than that set of mill hands for a little while, when convinced of our mistake."
Towns .- On April 26, 1819, John Ingle laid out Sandersville. The plat covered 160 acres of land; and a public square 266 feet each way, was provided. An effort was made to build a town, but the project did not succeed. A number of small houses were put up, a store, a blacksmith shop, and such other conveniences as a farming com- munity might demand were located there, and a postoffice was established. In a few years its projectors abandoned their hopes, and their supporters went to more promis- ing localities. By 1830 the houses had all fallen into decay except the postoffice, which remained as a monument of departed glory. Inglefield, a station on the E. & T. H. R. R., is on the site of the ancient Sand- ersville. Darmstadt, a small place in the southwest corner of the township, has not been platted or incorporated, though for thirty years it has been in existence. It has a few country stores, a doctor, is the head- quarters of the German churches in the neighborhood, and enjoys considerable busi- ness as a trading point. Earle, on the Pe- tersburg road, near the southern township line, is without importance except as a sup- ply depot for a limited agricultural district. Christ Stock is the only merchant. A small store was established here by John Grant, as early as 1850, which he subsequently sold to John Earle (an English settler who came about 1828), for whom the town was named.
Churches. - The pioneer preachers early pushed their way into the new west and, re- gardless of all hardships and difficulties, with untiring zeal and devotion, worked in the Master's cause. Often on foot, clad in the plain garments of the huntsman, with
rifle or gun on his shoulder, the preacher sought the hospitable roof of some lowly cabin and there with a thrilling description of the ineffable joys that awaited the saved, or a vivid picture of the never-ending tor- ments of a literal hell, which would be the sure portion of the damned, sought to per- suade or frighten his few hearers to flee from the wrath to come. All denomina- tions sought for supremacy, and in many cases the war waged between the advocates of different Christian sects over theological dogmas and doctrines, was fiercer and far more bitter than that waged against the common enemy. The Baptists, Presbyterians and Methodists all struggled for a foothold. The house of John Ingle was an early preaching place for all denominations. The doctrines of the Meth- odist Episcopal church were more generally accepted and became more firmly rooted in the minds of the people of this township than those of any other sect. The eloquent John Schraeder was the first to lift up his voice in behalf of Methodism. The first or- ganized class of Methodists in this township was probably that made in the Hilliard neighborhood, under the leadership of John and William Hilliard, and those beloved men, Joseph and Mark Wheeler, in 1824, which flourishes to this day, having now about sixty members. At first the little congregation assembled for the purpose of worship at the humble houses of its members, and at length raising a log cabin, set it apart and conse- crated it as a house of God. About fifty years ago this little structure gave way to a commodious frame building, more suitable to the demands of the growing congrega- tion, which remains in use. In early times among the preachers here, were: Revs. Joseph Wheeler, Mark Wheeler, Robert Parrett, Enoch G. Ward, Ravenscroff, Hensler, and Tower. The church is on the
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Blue Grass circuit, now in charge of Rev. Samuel McNaughten. The Sunday school, superintended by Mr. Arad McCutchan, is one of the best in the district.
Centenary Methodist Episcopal church, 'located near Inglefield, was built in 1867 at a cost of about $1,Soo.oo, chiefly through the instrumentality of John Ingle, William Ingle, Joseph Shaw, and George Browning. This church is also on the Blue Grass cir- cuit. The membership is now small, having been reduced by deaths and removals from the neighborhood, but regular services are held.
Noble's chapel, on the Petersburgh road, near the township border, though in Gibson county, which is attended by many of the citizens of this township, was built in 1860, at a probable cost of $1,000, chiefly through the instrumentality of Thomas McCutchan, Thomas Smith and Isaac Murphy. The so- ciety was formerly in a more prosperous condition than at present. It is in the Blue Grass circuit.
In the north part of the township an Epis- copal mission was once formed by some of the best citizens, which, after flourishing for a period, was abandoned.
German Lutheran .- The followers of Martin Luther organized a church, more than a quarter of a century ago, at the vil- lage of Darmstadt, and erected a frame house of worship. It was chiefly through the zealous work of Rev. Wile, who served the congregation as pastor for many years, that this church was founded and built up. The church now has regular preaching and a good membership. In late years when the congregation had become too large for the old church, a new edifice, handsome and commodious, was erected.
German Evangelical .- On the old Horn- brook farm stands a good sized, neat, frame church built by this denomination, about
forty years ago. The church has pros- pered, now has a large membership, and is doing good work in the Master's cause.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
GEORGE C. BEIERLEIN, a native of Bava . ria, was born July 15, 1813. He eni- igrated to America in 1846, and in the same year came to Vanderburgh county, where he afterward resided during life. He was a farmer by occupation. In July, 1856, he was united in marriage with Elizabeth Klousemeier, nec Elizabeth Weihe. She was born in Germany, April 24, 1822, and is the daughter of Herman and Fred- ericka Weihe. She came to America in 1854, with her first husband, Charles Klousemeier, a native of Germany, who wedded her in that country in 1847. He was born in 1823, and died in 1855, in Newburgh, Ind., where he settled on com- ing to America. By the first mar- riage she had the following children: Louisa, born March 6, 1849; Frederick, November 27, 1850; Caroline, December 12, 1852, and Henry, November 26, 1854. The marriage of George C. Beierlein and Elizabeth Klousemeier resulted in the birth of five children: Anna K., born September 12, 1857 (deceased); Herman, born Janu- ary 27, 1858; John, born January 2, 1861; Mary, born November 21, 1862, and Philli- pine, born December 13, 1864. The father of these children died June 7, 1882. The mother survives and is now beyond sixty-six years of age. Her home is Scott town- ship, this county, where she and her children own a farm of sixty acres. HERMAN BEIERLEIN, the second of these children, was born and grew to manhood in the county, and is now one of the prosperous farmers of Scott township, residing on sec- tion IS. He is an influential member of the German Lutheran church, and politically
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EARLY SETTLEMENT.
ranks himself with the republican party. He Episcopal church, and enjoy the esteem of is one of the highly respected people of the their neighbors. In politics Mr. Bohannon township. is a republican. During the civil war he
WILLIAM S. BOHANNON was born in Vir- served as one of the active home guards, ginia, January 21, IS28, and is the son of of southern Indiana. He started out in life Booten and Nancy (Claten) Bohannon. a poor man and has become prosperous, Both parents were natives of the Old Do- owning 265 acres of well-improved land.
minion. where they were married. This
WILLIAM BOWER, ex-president of the union resulted in the birth of the following board of county commissioners of Vander- children: Martha Jane (deceased), Sarah. burgh county, is a prominent farmer of Scott Eliza (deceased), Nancy, William S .. township. He was born near where he now Henry. Susan, James (deceased), George resides, February 5, 1836, the son of W. and Daniel. The first five were born in Thomas and Lucinda (Lee) Bower. The parents were born respectively in England and Ireland, the father June 15, ISII, and the mother June 27, ISOS. Emigrating to America when quite young, the parents were married in New York state, and at an early date in the history of Indiana came west, and located in what is now Scott town- ship, Vanderburgh county, where the father Virginia. and the last five in Kentucky, to which state the parents emigrated in the fall of ISS, settling in Cumberland county. There they lived for a great many years, later moving to Illinois, and still later going back to Caldwell county, Ky., where the fa- ther's death occurred. Still later the wid- owed mother returned to Cumberland county, and subsequently came to Warrick followed farming. He was quite prominent county, this state, where her death oc- and served as county commissioner for two curred. William S. Bohannon was about terms, and during the late rebellion per- ten months old when his parents settled in formed enrolling and enlisting service for the Cumberland county. In IS51 he was united government. His death occurred October 5, 1877, and that of his wife September 23, 1873. To these parents four children were in marriage with Mary Ann Cooksey, daughter of Samuel and Nancy Cook- sey, both natives of Virginia, and in an born, three of whom survive. William early day removed to Kentucky; later they Bower was reared on the farm, and through- out his manhood has been engaged in agri- cultural pursuits. He owns a fine farm of 250 acres, twelve miles north of Evansville, within one mile of the E. & T. H. railroad, on which he raises stock principally. Mr. Bower entered public life about IS68, when in that capacity for a period of six years. came to Warrick county, this state, and here their deaths occurred. Mrs. Bohannon was born in Cumberland county, Ky., No- vember IS, IS34. The following children have been born unto their marriage: Laura J., Agnes, John H., James L. and five others that are deceased, of whom three died in he was elected township assessor, and served infancy and two - Susan and Nancy -- reached womanhood. Mr. Bohannon and In ISS4 he was elected as a democrat to the wife settled in Warrick county, in 1852, and , office of commissioner of Vanderburgh county, assuming the duties of the office in
lived in that county for a period of thirteen years. In March, 1865, they came to this the following year, and in December, county. and have since resided in Scott ISS7, was chosen president of the board. township. They belong to the Methodist | Fidelity to trust and an undeviating rectitude
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SCOTT TOWNSHIP.
characterized his official career. During his term of office much important public work was done. The foundations of the new court-house were laid when he was a com- missioner. His good judgment and sagacity as a man of affairs made his conduct in this matter a valuable contribution to the public, and an honorable page in his own record. In the construction of bridges, the improve- ment of the public roads throughout the county, and the dispatch of general business, Mr. Bower always acted wisely and with a broad, liberal spirit, such as the wealth and condition of the county justified. Mr. Bower has been thrice married. His first wife was Martha J. Staser, who was born July II, 1838, and died May 20, 1865. The issue of this marriage was three children, as follows: Maggie L., born February 13, 1861, and now Mrs. Charles W. Vogel; Clara B., born November 8, 1862, now Mrs. E. D. Mc- federal Avoy, and Frederick J., born November 27, 1864, and died May 3, 1866. His sec- ond wife was Charlena Morrison, who was born April 14, 1839, and died April 7, 1871. The issue of this union was Annie J., born September 12, 1867, now Mrs. William Blankenship, and Thomas S., born Decem- ber 21, 1868, and died June 26, 1888. His third wife, to whom he was married Novem- ber 8, 1871, is Annie Dennison, who was born June 5, 1844, and to this union the following children have been born: D. W., born December 17, 1874; Martha E., born September 11, 1877; Kate M., born May 7, ISSO: John H., born March 5, ISS2, and James C., born August 17, 1885.
RICHARD BROWNING was a native of Lon- don, England, born February S, 1791. He was reared in the city and learned the opti- cian's trade, which he followed till he emi- grated to America. He came to America soon after 1820, and after residing in Massa- chusetts and New York for a short time, he
came to Indiana and located in Scott town- ship about 1827. The lands he purchased of the government, and the deed to one tract has the signature of Pres. Jackson, in IS31, and another the signature of Martin Van Buren. He married in his native country, December 30, 1817, wedding Lucy Wiles, a native of Bedford county, England, born October 2, 1797. To them, in England, wore born Richard S., January 22, 1819, and Lucy C., May 16, 1821, and in America, were born Mary, February 10, 1824; Will- iam J., June 11, 1826: Anthony S., March 25, IS29; Thomas Wiles, July 3, IS31; George B., July 7, 1833; Annie E., Febru- ary 5, 1835; Ebenezer E., August 9, 1836. Of these, Richard, Mary, Annie and Eben- ezer are deceased. Richard died in Califor- nia, Mary and Annie in this country, and Ebenezer at Nashville, Tenn., while in the service during the rebellion. Soon after coming to this country Rich- ard Browning erected the first grist- mill in Scott township. This was a tread- mill, and with some changes has been in operation up to date. It is now the oldest mill in the county, and has been run by steam since about 1833. It is now owned and controlled by Geo. B. Browning, the son of the founder. Richard Browning continued in the county till his death, dying on the same tract of land he settled upon June 26, 1874; his wife died in this county, August 26, IS72. GEORGE B. BROWNING was born and reared in this country, and has followed farming and milling for his occupation, his vocation being milling. He has made his home in the county during life, excepting a period of short duration spent in California. On October 2, 1856, he married Margaret, the daughter of George and Ellen Trimble. She was born in County Longford, Ireland, January 19, 1839. The following are their children: Mary E., William A., John T.,
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EARLY SETTLEMENT.
Morris G., Joseph E., and Lucy de- ceased. Mr. Browning and wife are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics he is a democrat.
HENRY BURGGRABE was born in the kingdom of Prussia, Germany, Novem- ber 30, 1829, and is the son of Henry and Charlotte (Kramer) Burggrabe, both na- tives of Germany. They reared five child- ren, of whom Henry is the second. He was reared in Germany, and received a thorough German education. On reaching his majority he determined to emigrate to America, and in 1850, he came to this county and located June 27, at Evansville, where he continued to live for about thirty years. He came to the city when it was but a small place, and the thirty years of his life which are identified with the growth of the city entitles him to more than a pass- ing mention in the history of the county. He came here a poor man, and on fixing the place as his future home, he set to work. as a laborer, and by honest industry in the various occupations he has followed, as gardening, lumbering and railroading, he has become a prosperous and well respected citizen. In 1880 he removed from the city, and located on a farm near Inglefield, and for the last eight years he has been engaged in agriculture. He owns and cultivates a farm of 120 acres which he has all paid for and well improved, with good buildings, fences, fruit trees, etc. July 13, 1854, he was united in marriage with Mary Sagar, born in the kingdom of Hanover, Germany, De- cember 24, 1833. They have had eleven children, of whom ten are living: Henry, Ferdinand, William, John, Charles, Mollie, Fred, Christian, Augusta and George. Mr. and Mrs. Burggrabe and children belong to the Lutheran church, and have a wide circle of friends. During the rebellion Mr. Burg- grabe did service as a home guard.
WILLIAM CRISP was a native of England born October 12, 1812. He died in Van- derburgh county, April 20, 1878. He was the son of James and Sarah (Cranfield) Crisp. Both parents were natives of Eng- land, and to them were born the following children: William, Elizabeth, Mary Ann and Sarah. In 1833, James and Sarah Crisp and family emigrated to America, and in the same year settled in Vanderburgh county, on section 10 of Scott township, where the father and mother both lived until their deaths. The father died December 9, 1863, aged seventy-six. The mother died April 27, 1863, aged seventy-two. William Crisp was twenty-one years old when his parents came to America, and up to that time his work was that of a shepherd's son. His life in this county was devoted to the cultivation of a nursery. On September 14, 1837, he was united in marriage with Avis Earl, daughter of John and Mary (Cran- field) Earl, both natives of England, who emigrated to America in 1820, and in 1822, came to the city of Evansville, and in 1828, settled in Scott township. Earl was named in honor of John Earl. He was an early set- tler of the township, and was identified with the history of the county for a number of years. Avis (Earl) Crisp was born in En- gland, January 8, 1819, and died in this county, April 2, 1886. There were born to William and Avis Crisp, the following chil- dren : John (deceased ), James B. (deceased), Mary Ellen (deceased), R. Fletcher, E. Wesley, Daniel N., Sarah E. and Mary A. (deceased). The surviving sons are farm- ers by occupation, and reside in Scott town- ship. The surviving daughter is the wife of Isaac Wood, of Evansville. R. F. CRISP, the eldest surviving son, was born in Scott township, August 6, 1845. February 27, 1878, he was married to Margaret Henry, daughter of Robert and Mary (Laheed)
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SCOTT TOWNSHIP.
Henry. She was born in this county, July 19, 1850. The children born to this marriage are: Mary Avis and Edith. Mrs. Crisp's first husband was Robert Stinson, by whom she became the . mother of one child, Annie Leona, by name. DANIEL N. CRISP, the youngest son of Will- iam, was born in Scott township, March 15, 1850, and was reared on the farm, and com- pleted his education at the Asbury Uni- versity. He was married March 24, 1880, to Sarah Ruston, daughter of Richard and Jane (Law) Ruston, born January 29, 1855. Two children, John Wesley and Ada Belle, have been born of their marriage.
THOMAS ELLIOTT was born in County Longford, Ireland, in the year 1809, and was the son of Edward Elliott, of Irish lineage. Thomas was reared on the farm, and throughout his life made farming his occupation. He was united in marriage in the year IS37, with Jane Foster, daughter of John Foster, of Irish descent. Jane was born in County Cavin, Ireland, in 1820. Unto the marriage two sons were born in Ireland, William and John. In 1842 Thomas and Jane Elliott and their son Will- iam emigrated to America, and in the same year settled in Scott township, Vanderburgh county. Here the father purchased a tract of 120 acres of land and began to till the soil in America. He was a practical and successful farmer, and though he never as- pired to public life or took to politics except as a faithful adherent of the republican party, he was a man well known. He was faithful as a friend, kind as a father, and progressive as a citizen. Dur- ing the time of his residence in this county, he was engaged in auctioneering a great deal in this and Warrick counties, and thus formed a wide acquaintance, by which he was highly respected. His death oc- curred in Vanderburgh county in 1876. chan, daughter of Thomas and Sarah Mc-
His wife survives and resides with a son in Scott township. After coming to this country the following children were born to them: Edward, Margaret, James, Mary (deceased), Sarah, Jane and Thomas. It has been noted that two sons, William and John, were born in Ireland. John was left with an uncle in Ireland, by whom he was made a foster-son, and now he is a citizen of Wales. The various homes of all the other children, now living, are in Vanderburgh county. William Elliott was born in County Longford, Ireland, February 2, 1838, and was four years old when he came with his par- ents to America. His youth was spent on a farm, and he gained a common school edu- cation in the country schools of Vanderburgh county, where his home has continuously been. He followed farming in this country up to the outbreak of the civil war, and then enlisted October 8, 1861, in Company A, Forty-second Indiana Volunteer infantry as a private, with William Atchison as captain. The first regular engagement in which he took part, was at Perryville, Ky., where with others of his company he was taken prisoner by the enemy, and later was ex- changed. Among some of the important engagements in which Mr. Elliott took part were: Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, and the battles of the campaign to Atlanta. About this time the three years' term of service for which Mr. Elliott enlisted, ex- pired, and at Rome, Ga., he was, October 8, 1864, discharged by reason of the expiration of term of service. He returned to his home in Vanderburgh county, and has since lived in the county. IIe purchased from his father the farm he now owns, and subsequently leased it for three years, during which time he went to Evansville and followed the carpenter trade. May 10, 1868, he was united in marriage with Annie M. McCut-
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