USA > Indiana > Wayne County > History of Wayne County, Indiana, from its first settlement to the present time : with numerous biographical and family sketches > 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).
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
John Wright settled near the north line of the township, and is still living, in his 85th year. John Ellis, where H. Wright afterward settled, on land now owned by Wright's heirs. Spahr entered early several sections in the north-west part of the township. On these lands, at present, are Daniel, John, and Mary Spahr Burris, Joseph D. Spahr, Samuel Clevenger, Philip Jenkins, and John S. Henwood. Michael Helms, from Virginia, bought lands in the south-west part of the township, now principally owned by his son, Isaiah Helms. Thomas -, where now George Rank resides. Daniel Clevenger, on land now owned by George Rodenberger, south part of the township; also bought where Samuel Clevenger, Jun., lives.
In the south-west part of the township are lands now or lately owned by J. Jones, E. McCashin; in the south part, by D. Lee, S. Dye, A. Dye, the early settlers on which have not been ascertained.
In the vicinity of the town are lands now or lately owned by I. M. F. Stevens, P. Slade, L. Manning, M. Manning, D. Weaver, J. Long, Merriman Brumfield, and others, the names of the first settlers on which have not been obtained. Nathan, son of David Railsback, Sen., (not the first settler,) settled on the land now owned by his heirs, about two miles north of town.
In the north part of the township the names have not been
147
ABINGTON TOWNSHIP.
obtained of the early settlers on the lands now or lately owned by M. Robbins, J. R. Meek, J. Crow, J. Frost and J. F. Rob- bins, R. Stevens, J. M. Snider, and others; also, A. Stinson, J. Stafer, J. Stinson, and S. Stevens in the western part of the township.
Hugh Endsley, brother of John, Sen., put up the first grist- mill [corn-cracker] on East Fork, a little below the mouth of Elkhorn, in 1808. Henry Whitinger, a few years after, built there a hewed log one, with two runs of stones, one for corn and one for wheat. It was afterward bought by Julius C. Wood, who built a good frame flouring mill, now owned by his son, Valentine Wood, and standing idle. The second grist-mill was built about the year 1826, nearly a mile from the village, by Joseph Cox. He sold it to Rafe Shawmbourie, who put up a better one, having a run of burr stones, and sold it to Merri- man Brumfield, who built another on or near the same site, with a saw-mill attached. Another saw-mill was built by Thomas Manning, at Abington, who, some years after [about 1839] sold it to D. & J. Weaver, who attached a carding machine and fulling mill, and in 1845 built a large woolen factory. This proving unprofitable, the building was sold and removed to the village for a wagon and carriage shop. The same firm built a large flouring mill a short distance below the old site, also a saw-mill in 1849, which are now owned by John B. Craft & Co.
The first Carding Machine-a rude establishment-was put up , by Richard Sedgwick and Smith Hunt, at the mouth of Elk- horn. John Brower next [1824, or about that year,] built a carding and fulling mill near the north part of the town.
The first Merchant in Abington was Moses Cox, son of John Cox, Jun., about the year 1818. Some of his earlier suc- cessors-though, perhaps, not in the order mentioned, were Samuel Hall, Hafer & Glanten, Middlecough & Beeks, Bone- brake & Manning. Later, the following were here as early, at least, as at the dates mentioned : Whitinger & Matchett, Thomas Ellis, and Michael Donlan & Co., in 1839; Wm. A. Beeks, Wm. Lipscomb, John Leach, in 1840; Williams & Dunbar, in 1841; James Rubey, Simpson Dye, in 1842; White & Hunt, in 1843; David M. Dunbar, Whitinger & Dye, E. F. Donlan, 1845. Present merchants, Joshua Dye, grocer ; Ha- man Dobbs, dry goods.
148
HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
The first Blacksmith was John Hunt, who was also a gunsmith. His widow, a daughter of Lazarus Whitehead, is still living, at the age of about 84.
The first Religious Society was the Methodist Episcopal, organ- ized at an early period of the settlement of the township. Among its early members were Thomas Moffitt and his wife; John Cox, his wife and son James; Peter Stevens, a preacher and also the first school teacher, near Moffitt's; Henry Long, also a preacher, and his wife; Eli and Clark Penwell, and David Railsback, and their wives; Henry Fender, his son Jacob, and John Fender, Sen. The first preaching was in dwellings. Their first meeting-house was a log building on the hill, near the site of their present brick house.
The United Brethren formed a society about the year 1818. Among their early members were Isaac Shelby, an exhorter, Thomas Manning, Wm. Dye, Daniel Clevenger, with their wives, and George Bonebrake, a preacher. Their first regular preacher is believed to have been John Ross. The society built a frame house about the year 1828; the present brick house in 1854-55. This was a well-built house, and its interior was well and neatly finished. [It has, since the above was written, been nearly or quite destroyed by fire.]
As in other places along the Whitewater, rattlesnakes abounded here at an early day. About a mile above where the town now is, a number of women who were, on a Sunday, sauntering, for pastime, along the stream, are said to have killed, with clubs and poles, upward of thirty rattlesnakes.
The Town of Abington was laid out in 1817, by John and Joseph Cox, proprietors. The certificate of the survey was recorded November 5, 1818.
Biographical and Genealogical.
WILLIAM DYE, a native of New Jersey, removed to Ken- tucky, and thence to Wayne county in 1810, settled one mile south-east of where the town now is. IIe served in the war of 1812, and died in 1820. His widow died on the farm in her 88th year. Their children, besides one that died in infancy, were John, Joshua, and Ellison, who were born in Kentucky; Simpson, Phebe, Eli, who died at 24, and Nancy. John and
Stropridge & Co ith lin. s.
MARY HUNT.
149
ABINGTON TOWNSHIP.
Ellison removed to Hancock county. Joshua married Mary Nicholas, and had nine children; six are living. He has been for many years, and is still a merchant in town.
CHARLES HUNT, from North Carolina, settled in the south- east part of the present township in the year 1807, about eight miles south-westerly from Richmond, and built, the same year, a grist-mill [corn cracker] on the Elkhorn, the first in the county. He had been preceded by his sons George, John, Smith, and William, who had been sent on earlier in the sea- son to build the mill, accompanied by their sister Sally, who came to cook for them. Charles Hunt had nine sons and four daughters. The sons were : 1. Jonathan; 2. James; 3. Timo- thy, who came with their wives some two years after the others. Timothy settled a mile east of town, where he and his wife both died. The farm is owned by his sons Charles and Levi, who live on it, and Andrew, who resides in town. 4. George, who married Patsey, daughter of Lazarus Whitehead; was a surveyor, and the first clerk of the county courts. 5. John, who married Polly Whitehead, also a daughter of L. Whitehead, and had nine children, all of whom but one were married, as follows: Caroline was married to Samuel Osborn; William, to Harriet Smelser; Patsey, to Horton Ferguson, and resides at Milton ; Lazarus, to a daughter of Dr. Matchett, of Abington ; Wilson, to - Beeson, and lives in Abington township; Lo- vinia, deceased, unmarried ; - - was married to David Hale, in Abington township. [Names of Mrs. Hale and the two other sisters not furnished.] John Hunt was probably the first blacksmith in Wayne county, and was also a gunsmith. He died October 30, 1851, in his 75th year. His widow, Mary Hunt, more familiarly and widely known as Polly Hunt, whose portrait is here inserted, is still living, in her 84th year. 6. Smith, sixth son of Charles Hunt, married Betsey, a daughter of James Lamb; settled in the township, and died October 6, 1855, in his 73d year. 7. William married Elizabeth, a daugh- ter of Isaac Esteb. 8. Charles married Boon, of Ken-
tucky. 9. Stephen G. married a daughter of James Lamb, and died November 18, 1837, aged 42 years. The daughters of Charles Hunt, Sen., were Polly, who married An- drews; Rebecca, who married - Bryan, of Kentucky;
150
HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
Sally, Richard Sedgwick; Nancy, David T. Wyatt; Catharine, Thomas Bradbury.
DAVID RAILSBACK was born in Loudon county, Va., Decem- ber 12, 1769, and was married to Sarah Stevens. He removed to North Carolina ; thence, in 1806, to Whitewater, and settled a half mile east of where Abington now is, in March, 1807. He afterward removed to a farm now owned by Merriman Brumfield. He died October 17, 1856. He had twelve chil- dren, five of whom were born in this county. All lived to be married, and to raise large families; none having less than six, and one as many as seventeen. His children were: 1. Mary, wife of Wm. Lewis; they live in Iowa. 2. Enoch, who married Nancy Fouts. 3. Judith, wife of Thomas Cobb; re- moved to Lawrence county, Ind. 4. Edward, who married Frances, daughter of James Hunt, and died in Iowa, in 1859. 5. William, who married Mary Rhodes; resides at Kankakee, Ill. 6, 7. Caleb and Matthew, twins, who married Nancy and Sarah Barnhill. Matthew died in 1844; Caleb lives in War- ren county. 8. Joel, who married Elizabeth Fouts, and lives in Wayne township. 9. Darid, who married Mary Smith, in Wayne township. 10. Nathan, who married Sina, daughter of Smith Hunt, and died in 1863. 11. John, who married Pamelia, daughter of Jesse Davenport, and died in 1860. 12. Sarah, wife of Larkin Garr, died in 1857.
PETER SMITH, a native of Maryland, came from Kentucky as early, it is said, as 1805, and entered several quarter sections of land, though he did not settle on it until 1820. His chil- dren were : 1. Nicholas, who married Rebecca, a daughter of George Hunt, and lives near town. 2. Mary, who married David Railsback. 3. Barbara, who married Christopher C. Beeler, now of Richmond. 4. John P., who married Mary Sedgwick, deceased, a few years ago. He now resides one and a half miles west of Richmond. 5. George II., who married Clarissa, daughter of Joseph Lewis, of Green township. 6. James, who married Mary HI. Hunt. 7. Irvin, who lives in Alexandria, Madison county. 8. Joseph W., unmarried. 9. Margaret, wife of Nelson Crow, who lives on the homestead of her father, adjoining the farm of George Smith, but lying on the east side of the township line, in Boston township.
+
151
BOSTON TOWNSHIP.
BOSTON TOWNSHIP.
This township was formed from Wayne in February, 1835, and lies in the south-east corner of the county. Its length east and west is 6 miles; its breadth north and south is 4 miles, making an area of 24 square miles. The principal stream in this township is the Elkhorn, which enters it about 13 miles west of Ohio line, and, running a south-westerly course, leaves the township 12 miles south of the north-west corner, about half a mile above the month of the stream. Some of the carlier settlements in the county were made within its limits. With the exception of Holman, Rue, and a few others in that neighborhood, and John Cox, the Ends- leys, and perhaps a few others in what is now called Abing- ton, there were probably no earlier settlers in Wayne county. Thomas Bulla, Jacob Fouts, and Jesse Davenport settled on the Elkhorn, 4 or 5 miles south-east of Richmond; Daven- port and one or two of the Foutses, lower down, within the present township of Boston-all the same year in which the Hoovers settled north of Richmond. The Hunts, the next year, settled on and near the Elkhorn, several miles below where Davenport settled.
In the north-west part of the township, Peter Weaver set- tled in 1807, on a part of the section, [19,] in the north-west corner of the township ; the land now owned by Christopher C. Beeler, of Richmond. John Collins, in 1807, settled where Milton HI. Beeson lives. James Lamb, a native of Scotland, on land now owned by Catharine, widow of John Lamb. James Lamb died in September, 1841, aged 85 years. George Stevenson, on land now owned by his descendants. Abraham Gaar, from Kentucky, in April, 1807, where his son Larkin now resides. Aaron Martin, in 1807 or 1808, on a quarter, a part of which is now owned by Jeptha Turner. Jackson Rambo, an early settler, who died in 1816, aged 55 years, and in 1846, his widow, in her 87th year; his land
152
HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
owned after his decease by James Sulser, now by his sons, Garrison and Hiram Sulser.
Lazarus Whitehead, in 1806, settled on land now owned by John Sedgwick. William Burk, on land now a part of the farm of Stephen Farlow. Wright Lancaster, from N. C., in 1808, on the quarter lately owned by George and Nathan Farlow, now by Win. Paddock. Christopher Roddy, a black- smith, on land now owned by John Raper. Joshua Meek, where now George W. Stevenson lives. Hugh Cull, in 1806, on the land now owned by John W. HFort, lately by James P. Burgess. Isaac Beeson, from N. C., in 1807, where his son Augustus Beeson lives. Robert Grimes, about 1808, on land now owned by his son Robert, and Henry Rodenburg. Abraham Esteb, on lands where Samuel and John Moore, and Alfred and Jacob S., sons of John Moore, reside. Ja- cob Keesling, from Pa., afterward Wm. Fouts, on land now owned by Isaac N. Seaney. Armstrong Grimes on land now owned by Eli Kilmer. Wm. Parsons, where James Watson resides.
In the north part of the township, Fielding Gaar settled on a part of section 21, lately occupied by R. Rue, now owned by Justice Kroskopf. Wm. Williams settled in 1814, where Isaac Bulla resides. He was a maker of spinning wheels, and removed to Richmond; was also a minister in the society of Friends. Asa Jeffers settled on land now owned by Alonzo Osborn and Daniel W. Shaffer. Adjoining this section on the south, James, William, and Robert Grimes owned the land now owned by John T. Williams. Daniel Hart, from N. C., settled, in 1814, on the land now owned by Francis Hendricks. Jesse Davenport, before mentioned, in 1806, set- tled on section 22, adjoining Wayne. A part of his land is now owned by the heirs of George Grimes. Other parts of the section were owned or settled by Jeremiah Parker, Clark Williams, and Daniel Clark. Portions of the seetion are now owned by James McLain, Samuel S. Brown, Clayton Brown, Joseph Kokayne, Win. Roberts, W. Elmer, and others. On the section adjoining, south, [27,] John McCombs, afterward John Ray, settled where now Wm. Ray resides. Jonathan Townsend, on the land now owned by Edward Timberlake.
153
BOSTON TOWNSHIP.
Jacob Keesling bought the south part of the section, now owned by Joseph M. Bulla, David Fouts's heirs, and Nathan Druley.
In the north-east part of the township, [sec. 26.] Wm. Jones settled on the north half, now owned by Joseph M. Bulla, Wm. Feazel, and Benj. Brown. The south half, early owned by Jacob Keesling, now by Joseph M. and William Bulla, William Feazel, Henry H. Highly. Section 23, west half, first owners not remembered ; north quarter now owned chiefly by Andrew Gifford : the south quarter by Jacob Shaffer, James Watson, and Edward Scarce. The north-east quarter is owned by Nathan Druley. The south-east quar- ter, formerly owned by James Hartup and Samuel Watts, now by Wm. Wolf and Wm. Watson's heirs. Daniel Shaf- fer, from Virginia, came to the Whitewater country in 1809, and settled, in 1811, on seetion 24, on Ohio line, where he now resides, at the age of about 85 years. His wife died the 1st of January, 1867. On the quarter south, John Raper from Va., settled early ; land now owned by James W. Shaffer, and the heirs of Joseph Doran. Adam Zeek settled on the north- west quarter, which is now owned by his heirs, and David and Wm. Wolf. Henry Tinkle, on the quarter south, after- wards Benj. G. Moore, now owned by Harbin H. Moore. On the section south, [25,] John Hollett settled on land lately owned by Jacob Shaffer, now by Joseph Bosworth. Thomas Taylor, on the south-east quarter, where he now resides, at the age of 86 years. He first settled near the Falls of Elk- horn.
In the south-east part of the township, [sec. 36.] Joshua Benton settled on the quarter owned by David Fouts's heirs, on Ohio line. Jeremiah Girton on the quarter owned by Nathan Druley. On the section west, [35,] James Holman settled where Dennis Druley lives ; John Jordan, about 1810, south-east gr. ; sold out about 1813, to John Esteb, from Pa., and removed to Perry township, where he died ; land now owned by Wmn. Esteb's heirs, Levi G. Druley, and Edward Ryan. Absalom Rambo, on the south-west quarter, now owned chiefly by Nathan Druley and Sylvester Girton. Jo- seph Cravens settled about 1818 at or near where Charles
154
HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
and Richard Allen own, on the corner section of the town- ship ; the north half of the section owned by Levi Druley. On a part of the section west, Thomas Wyatt, from Tenn., carly, on land now owned by John Druley. He was a Rev- olutionary soldier and pensioner, and died at a very advanced age. Isaac Conley, on the quarter adjoining the town, now owned by his son, John J. Conley, where he died in 1864. He had early settled a mile north-west of town, on a small farm, where he also carried on for a few years the tanning business.
Wm. IIolman settled on the south-east qr. of section 34, adjoining town, now owned by Levi Druley. North-east qr., owned lately by A. Lane, now by Nathan Druley. John Miller, one of the first settlers on the south-west qr., where his son Win. Miller lives. The north-west gr., land now owned by David Fouts's heirs ; first settler not remembered. Thomas Ward, early on section 33, where Ira Starr lives. Thomas Young, where Peter Shidler now lives. John Brat- tan, from N. C., where Levi Stanley lives. Sec. 3, south-west of town, Samuel Beck, from N. C., on the south-east qr., where Wm. Davenport lives. James Fisher, north-east qr., now owned by Wm. Seany and Oliver II. Fouts. Owen . Seany, Sen., from N. C., about 1809, south-west gr., where he resided until his death, in 1831. Pleasant Seany lives on the farm. Owen Seany, Jun., on a part of north-west qr., where he died in March, 1871 ; land previously, though per- haps not first, owned by Thomas Cuppy. Section next west, [4,] Peter Mellender, 1 mile west from town; land lately owned by Isaac Mellender, his son, now by Polly Mellender. John Rife, (not first,) on the land now owned by his son, Ja- cob Rife, a German Baptist [Dunker] preacher. Isaac Esteb, on the north-west corner of the seetion, now owned by his son Isaac M. Esteb's heirs. Benj. Jarvis, very early on the south-west qr., at or near where Zachariah Osborn lives. IIe died in 1862, aged 82 years.
In the south-west part of the township, Joel Moore is said to have settled on the qr. now owned by Samuel Moore. His son John Moore and sons, Jacob and Alfred, own and live on the cast half of the section north, [32.] Samuel
1
155
BOSTON TOWNSHIP.
Jobe, a Baptist preacher, on the land now owned by Samuel Osborn's heirs. Lazarus Whitehead, in 1805, where now John Sedgwick lives; land on west line of the township. Isaac Beeson, probably, where his son Augustus now resides.
The first Physician resident in the township is not remem- bered. Among those who have at different times lived and. practiced here, were Drs. Stevens, Butler, Wheeler, Hiram Bull, David S. Evans, and Wm. H. Evans. Present prac- ticing physicians, John J. Rife and Wm. F. Miller.
The first Merchant is supposed to have been a McMaster. According to the recollection of early settlers, the following succeeded McMaster, verly nearly in the order named : James Iliff, Baxter & Dunham, Jacob W. Fisher & Win. Fouts, Bull & Haines, Wm. & John Russey, - Irvin. From 1839 to 1845, the following are on record as having paid for store licenses : In 1839, Doughty & Widup, Joseph F. Chapman, Isaac Craig, until 1845, (perhaps later.) In 1844, Strattan & Burbank, John Strattan ; in 1844 and 1845, Harvey & McCul- lough, Aaron Druley. There have also been named, Samuel & LeRoy Mc Whinney, Iliram Bulla & Joseph Druley, Smith, Druley & John Deal, John Druley, John Steele, Jacob F. Rinehart, Robert Swishey & Frank Templeton, David Jenks. Present merchant, Jacob F. Rinehart.
The following names of justices of the peace appear in a number of old dockets now in the office of J. F. Rinehart, Esq. The years in which their respective records commence are also given. Isaac Esteb, 1819; James P. Burgess, 1829 ; Abraham Cuppy, 1834; Joseph A. Simpson, Stephen Mc- Whinney, 1835 ; Isaac Mellender, 1839; Wm. Druley, 1841; Alfred Moore, 1851; John II. Stearns, 1854; James Esteb, 1856; Jacob F. Rinchart, 1869. Present justices, Jacob F. Rinchart, James P. Burgess.
The first Grist-mill in the county was built by Charles Hunt, in 1807, on the Elkhorn, about a mile above its mouth, now near the west line of Boston township. It was a tub mill, and a cheap one, called in those days "corn-cracker." He afterward built a new mill, which, after four or five years, was destroyed by fire. A steam saw-mill on the same site, is now owned by James and John Ensley. [Since the above
156
HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
was written, John Ensley has died.] Jesse Davenport built a grist-mill on the falls of Elkhorn creek, believed to have been the third one in the county. A few years later he built a saw-mill at the same place. These mills are but a few rods above the present mills, on the Richmond and Boston turn- pike. There are at present a grist-mill and a saw-mill, called "Relief Mills," owned by Samuel S. Brown, Wm. A. Elmer, and John Wolf. A steam saw-mill was built in 1837, by Eliphalet Stanley, at Boston, and sold soon after to Jacob W. Fisher and Wm. Fouts, who sold to Smith Rader, and he to Irvin and others. James L. Harris, half a mile north of town, built a steam saw-mill, which is now owned by Win. T. McCoy. There was for a time attached to it a run of burr stones for grinding corn. A lath-machine is now attached.
There are at Boston two tile factories; one owned by Sylves- ter Girton, the other by Wm. Hart.
A sorghum mill was built in 1866, by John J. Conley, near town. It has the capacity to manufacture 100 gallons of syrup per day. During the season, which continues through- out the fall months, about 4,000 gallons are made.
A Baptist Church was formed in 1806 or 1807, in what is now the west part of this township, composed chiefly of set- tlers on and near the Elkhorn creek, and is familiarly known as the " Elkhorn Church." It was the earliest church organ- ization in the county. The number of its members was small. Richard Rue, Lazarus Whitehead, Charles Hunt, and Isaac Esteb, and their wives, are believed to have been among its first members. Lazarus Whitehead was their pastor, and was the first minister with a charge in the county. Their meeting-house is near Elkhorn creek, about a mile above its month. Probably none of its first members are now living.
The Friends, soon after the Baptists, formed a society, and built a log meeting-house about 2} miles north of Boston. The house had a stick and clay chimney, and was warmed by a charcoal fire in the center. Few persons living remember the names of their early members. Only two have been mentioned, as certain : John Clark and Jeremiah Parker.
A Methodist Episcopal Church, in the north-west part of the township, was formed early, 1807 or 1808. Hugh Cull, who
157
BOSTON TOWNSHIP.
settled there about the time Ruc and Holman came, was a Methodist preacher. Hc early invited the few families in the neighborhood to come to his cabin, and preached to them. As soon as the itinerant ministers came within reach of him, he invited them to his home. They formed a class at his house, which was a regular preaching place for many years. This church still exists, and, it is believed, has been regularly supplied with preaching until the present time.
A second Methodist Episcopal Church in the township was formed at the town of Boston. The date of its organization has not been ascertained. An old inhabitant, and one of the early members, names the following as having joined at the time, or very soon after the class was formed : Jacob Meek, Peter Mellender, Nicholas Druley, Samuel Druley, James Holman, Samuel Beck, Joseph Craven, Andrew Jones, Absa- lom Rambo, John Esteb, James Esteb, and probably the wives of some or all of them. They built a frame meeting- house in or about the year 1838. As in some other places mentioned in our history, a separation was caused by anti- slavery agitation. The church was greatly enfeebled by the division-so much so, that for many years it could hardly be said to have an existence. Although it has recently been reorganized, its membership does not exceed about twenty- five in number.
The Free Methodists organized a church some five or six years ago. Some of their early members were Ira Starr, Harbin H. Moore, John Druley, Wm. Miller, Emsley Daven- port.
The Universalist Church was organized in July, 1869. In 1868, they built a brick meeting-house jointly with the Free Masons, who occupy the upper story.
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.