USA > Indiana > Wayne County > History of Wayne County, Indiana, from its first settlement to the present time : with numerous biographical and family sketches > Part 14
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The town of New Boston was laid out by James Iliff, Ste- phen Mc Whinney, Wm. Druley, Samuel Shinn, proprietors. The plat and survey were recorded August 30, 1832.
Downey Lodge, No. 233, of Free and Accepted Masons, was organized under a charter granted May 25, 1858. Charter Members : Nicholas Druley, W. M. ; John H. Stearns, S. W .; Joseph M. Bulla, J. W. ; Joseph Clengenpul, S. D .; Joseph T. Druley, J. W .; Louis Pigg, Tyler ; J. M. Jones, Secretary.
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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
Present Officers : John I. Rife, W. M .; W. P. Druley, S. W .; John Moss, J. W .; Joseph S. Benhem, S. D. ; Erasmus Sto- ver, J. D .; Samnel Oler, Treasurer ; Samuel I. Johnson, Secre- tary ; Charles Allen, Tyler.
Rinehart Lodge, 310, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was organized June 11, 1868. The charter was granted May 20, 1868, on application of Jacob F. Rinehart, Henry Hawkins, Enos Geary, Philip Schneider, and Charles Corns. First Of- ficers : Jacob F. Rinehart. N. G .; Oliver H. Toney, V. G .; Samuel J. Johnson, Secretary ; Henry C. Fouts, Per. Secre- tary; Levi G. Druley, Treasurer.
Biographical and Gencalogical.
JOSEPH M. BULLA, son of Thomas Bulla, an early settler, was born where his father first settled, on the Elkhorn, in the south- east part of Wayne township. He was married to Nancy Wilson, and settled in the township of Boston, about five miles from Richmond, where he now resides. They had eleven chil- dren, three sons and eight daughters. Besides sundry trusts of minor importance, Mr. B. held, from 1842 to 1848, the office of county commissioner, and was soon after elected a rep- resentative of the county in the state legislature.
JAMES P. BURGESS came to this county about the year 1820. He was married in 1821, and settled on the place where he now resides, in the north-west part of the township, about two miles and a half south from Richmond. Mr. Burgess and his wife are both still living. In March, 1871, the fiftieth an- niversary of his marriage was celebrated by the modern popu- lar festival, " golden wedding," at which, among the numerous guests, there were present five persons who attended the mar- riage in 1821. One of these was Lewis Burk, of Richmond, who then served at the table as carver, and who performed a similar service on the late occasion. Mr. Burgess, soon after his settlement, united with the Methodist Episcopal church in his neighborhood, and has ever since been one of its most ac- tive members and liberal supporters. He has been several times elected a justice of the peace, which office he now holds.
CONLEY, JOHN J., son of Isaac Conley, was born in what is now Boston township, February 23, 1812. After his majority
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he worked as carpenter and joiner and cabinet-maker about ten years. In 1841, he removed to Richmond, where he also, for several years, carried on the manufacturing of shoe pegs, and subsequently the horticultural business for eleven years. In 1864, he bought his father's farm at Boston, on which he still resides. He has been twice married; first, to Isabella Grimes ; secondly, to Martha Curry, of Eaton, O .; by each of whom he had two sons and two daughters : all but one daughter are liv- ing. The following are married: Robert G., who was in the late war three years; was in thirteen battles; was captured in the battle of the Wilderness; confined in Andersonville prison seven months; paroled and sent home, and discharged January 18, 1865. He married Ella Benton, and is a hardware mer- chant in Richmond, in the firm of G. W. Benton & Co. Mary, who married James Dean, and resides near Bloomingsport, Ind. Margaret, who married John Short, and lives in Wayne township.
HUGH CULL, who has been mentioned as one of the earliest settlers in the county, was born of Roman Catholic parents, in Havre de Grace, Maryland, October, 1759. He removed, when four years of age, with his father, to Pennsylvania, and thence, in 1777, to Kentucky, near where the city of Lexington now stands. He was married in 1785, in Henry county, to Rachel Meek, then in her sixteenth year; and in 1805 removed to the place where he died, now in Boston township, about five miles below Richmond, near the Elkhorn. He was a Methodist local preacher, and actively engaged for years in preaching the gospel before traveling preachers had found their way into the new settlements. He was a member of the convention which framed the first constitution of the state, and which then met at Corydon. His biographer, Rev. Wm. C. Smith, dates his death August 31, 1862, and adds, "aged 104 years and 10 months." If, however, he was born and died at the dates given, he would have been but 102 years and ten months. As he is generally said to have been 105 years, Mr. Smith probably erred in giving the year of his birth or that of his death.
NICHOLAS DRULEY, from North Carolina, in 1812, settled in Wayne county a mile and a half south of the town of Boston, now in Union county. He had nine children who attained to
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the age of majority, and were married. 1. Lethe was married to Greenup Holman, and removed to Grant county, where she now resides. 2. Leri, to Agnes Sedgwick, and lives in the township. 3. Elizabeth, to Leonard Templeton. 4. Aaron, to Martha, daughter of Stephen G. Hunt, son of Charles Hunt, Sen. 5. Dennis, first to Nancy Jane Grimes, and after her death to Mary Jane Watson. 6. John, to Nancy, daughter of Stephen G. Hunt. 7. Martha, to Levi Wyatt, now in Preble county, Ohio. 8. Nicholas, to Elizabeth Nut- ter, (?) and lives in Harrison, Union county. 9. Joseph, to Elizabeth Price, and resides in Richmond. Several of the sons of Nicholas Druley, Sen., are large landholders. Levi and Nicholas own nearly equal quantities, about 700 acres cach.
ABRAM GAAR was born in Hanover county, Virginia, Feb- ruary 28, 1769, and in 1805 removed to Kentucky. In 1807, he came to this county, and settled about four miles and a half south of Richmond, in the north-west part of the present township of Boston, where his son Larkin Gaar now resides. He lived on the farm on which he first settled until his death, August 20, 1861. He married in Virginia, and had eight chil- dren : Jonas, who resides in Richmond; [Sk.] Fielding, who died in Utah; Larkin, who lives on the homestead ; Abel, who resides at Berrien, Michigan ; Fanny, wife of Wm. Lamb who died in Iowa, where she resides; Rosa, wife of John In- gels who died at Milton, where she resides with her son ; Martha, who married Jeptha Turner; Eliza Jane, who married Thomas Henderson.
THOMAS YOUNG, a native of Virginia, after a residence of several years in Ohio, settled in this county in 1833, on the farm on which Jacob Shidler now resides, about a mile and a half west from the town of Boston. He had six children, four sons and two daughters; of whom only two sons, John F. and Thomas N., settled in this county. John F. married a daugh- ter of Nathaniel MeClure, Jun., of Wayne township, and after her death, -, of Ohio, also deceased. He resides in Richmond. Thomas N. also resides in Richmond. [Sk.]
Strobridge & Co . Lith . Cin 0.
ABRAHAM GAAR.
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CENTER TOWNSHIP.
CENTER TOWNSHIP.
This township was formed in August, 1817, and comprises an area of about 49 miles. It is 9 miles in length, north and south. Its average breadth is less than 53 miles, being on the north line 33 miles, and on the south about 62 miles. It is watered, principally, by Noland's Fork and its branches. The main branch of the stream enters the township near the north- east corner, and passes through it to the south-west corner. It derives its name from Daniel Noland, the first settler in its val- ley, about four miles south-west from Centerville, now in the township of Washington.
Among the earliest settlers in the township were those who first settled on this stream. They were the following: Isaac Julian, on the land now owned by Oliver HI. Brumfield, 1} miles south-west of Centerville. Mr. Julian's cabin was, in the time of the Indian alarms, altered to a block-house. In this house, which stood a little below Ephraim Merritt's pres- ent residence, his first three children were born. Nathan Overman settled near and west of town, the land now owned by Wm. S. T. Morton. Henry Bryan, Wm. Hosier, Robert Culbertson, Greenburg Cornelius, some of the Kings, and others, also settled in this valley.
Ascending the valley of the creek, on the west side from the south-west corner of the township, were the following, not all of whom, however, were among the earliest settlers in the township : David J. Woods, who built a grist-mill and a saw- mill. A saw-mill is still continued there by Robert Delap. James - -, on the land now owned by S. Neff. Thomas McCoy, from Kentucky, who had settled, with Holman and others, in 1805, a few miles south of Richmond, and who re- moved, in 1813, to this township, where his sons John and Morgan now reside. Joseph W. Jackson, now next north, was an carly settler, and near there, Jacob Hyers, who died in Madison county. Wm. Crawford, where now Richard G.
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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
Charman lives. Crawford also manufactured whisky on a small scale, and was, probably, the first distiller in the county. Caleb Jackson, where his son Caleb B. Jackson now resides. Greenbury Cornelius, in 1811, on the land belonging to the present county asylum. Wm. Harvey, on the quarter east of the above. John Harvey, from North Carolina, on land now owned by the heirs of John P. Harvey. Robert Commons, from Virginia, settled, in 1813, where he died December 19, 1837, aged 90 years; the place now owned by John Myers. James Townsend, from South Carolina, on land now owned by Melinda King. Joseph Holman, on the land now owned by Wm. Q. Elliott. Axium Elliott, from North Carolina, three miles north from Centerville; land now owned by Mark Elliott's heirs. Robert Galbraith, where Joseph A. Commons resides, four miles north from town. John Copeland, first, afterward Daniel King, from Kentucky, about 1816, near where he now lives. His son Levi now lives on the home- stead. Robert Culbertson, from Kentucky, in 1815, on land lately owned by Leonard Wolfert, now by Lorenzo D. King. IIe lives with his son William, four miles north of Centerville. Edward Benbo, on the land now owned by the heirs of Jack- son Culbertson. Walter Roberts, from South Carolina, son of Thomas Roberts, an early settler near Richmond, settled, in 1816, where he now lives. John Stigleman, where his son Henry now resides. Joseph Overman, from North Carolina, about 1813, where he still resides, in the north-east part of the township. Michael Harvey, from North Carolina, in the north-east part of the township, where his sons reside. Whitson, about 1812, where his son John resides. John El- wood, from Delaware, where his son Levi lately lived.
Descending on the east side of the stream, we mention Jacob Griffin, from North Carolina, about 1813, who settled two miles north from town, on land now owned by his son Joshua and Walter G. Stevens. John Maxwell, from Tennessee, a blacksmith and farmer, about 1814, where his son John M. lately resided; the land since sold to James Dunbar, from Abington in 1844, who died in 1869, aged 48, and now owned by his heirs. John King, from Kentucky, entered, about 1812, the land since owned by his son Joseph, now by Joseph's
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heirs. Joseph Cook settled on land now owned by James Russell. Jehu Wickersham, in 1816, on land now owned by Oliver T. Jones [not where O. T. J. resides]. John Garrett, where Joseph J. King resides. Wm. Hosier, from North Car- olina, in 1811, on the quarter section now owned and occupied by David Commons, and on which he lives. Robert Harvey, from North Carolina, on the adjoining quarter north, also now owned by David Commons. Wm. Sumner, from Virginia, near town, sold to John King, now owned by Jackson King, his youngest son. His other sons were James W. D., Wm. S., Joseph, and Presley. All settled in the township, west and north-west of the town. Wm. Sumner also owned the land on which Centerville stands. Israel Elliott settled on the land lately owned by Norris Jones, near town. James Junkins, afterward Elisha King, on the land now owned by George Houck. Robert Black, on land now owned by his widow and sons. Henry Bryan, a native of Delaware, removed from Pennsylvania, in 1811, to the farm on which he died, now owned by the heirs of Wm. Gentry, near the south-west cor- ner of the township. He was the first county surveyor.
In the south part of the township, Isaac Williams settled on land afterward owned by Samuel McConnaha, now by Thomas McConnaha, his son. David Galbraith and his son John, where Jacob Wagoner lived ; land now owned by Joshua Eli- ason. Nathaniel Bell, from Kentucky, one mile south of town, where Martin U. Eliason lives. Daniel Crow, a native of North Carolina, two miles south from town, where he still resides, his youngest son, Jacob, living with him. ITis other sons are, Stephen, in Washington township; Ashford and Ja- cob, on the homestead ; Nelson, in Boston township.
John Smith, son of John Smith, an early proprietor of Rich- mond, settled one and a half miles south-east from town, on land afterward owned by Paul Frazier, now by his heirs. Wm. Bundy settled where, at the age of 84 years, he still lives with his son-in-law, Amos Haines. Peter and Zachary Dicks, from North Carolina, about 1812, three miles south- east from town on land now owned by their heirs. Beale Butler, in the south-east part of the township; the land now the property of Isam Smelser and Stephen Farlow. Butler
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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
was a judge and a county commissioner. John Jones, from Virginia, three miles south from town, where he still lives, at the age of 82 years. He was several times elected to the legis- lature, and is a highly respected citizen.
In the east part of the township, John C. Kibbey, from New Jersey, settled at Salisbury, and owned considerable land there, a part of which is now owned by John P. Voss. Jeremy Mansur, from Massachusetts, settled at Salisbury. He was a blacksmith, and famed as an ax-maker; was afterward a farmer. Parts of the farm are now owned by Joseph C. Rat- liff and Thomas Wyatt. Joseph Kem, early on section 15, the section now owned by Joseph C. Ratliff, James Forkner, T. & J. Miller. Kem resides in Richmond. Isaac Miller set- tled on the east line of the township, on lands on and near which he and his sons, A. J., James A., L. D., David, and Oliver reside. Richard Pedrick, (probably not the first,) where are now Thomas and J. Roberts. James E. Bryant, on land early owned by Thomas Alred. Vinnedge Russell and Rich- ard Pedrick, on the section [10] on which John M. Eliason and others reside. Wm. Culbertson, on land first improved by George Vinnedge. Thomas Culbertson and Richard Cheese- man, early, where Presley, Caleb W., and Lorenzo D. King reside, on and near Noland's Fork. Joseph Overman, where he still lives, and his son Emsley. Wm. Thornburg, from Virginia, in 1810, to Wayne, and thence in 1816 to Center, near the north line, and near where his son Walter resides. He died near Indianapolis in 1841, aged 64.
In the west part of the township, Jacob Brooks, a native of Virginia, from Ohio in 1827, settled, where he lately lived, on the township line; now lives on section 22, north side of the National road. Conover, also on the west line; land now owned by Wm. Conover, first settled by John Woodward. Charles Canaday, early, where David B. Beeson resides. James Martin, from North Carolina, where his son James B. resides. Samuel Parker, where Henry Gates resides. Jehu Wickersham, (not the Jehu Wickersham before mentioned,) settled where Eli Cook lives. Philip Kitterman, (not the first settler,) where his heirs reside. Ezekiel Commons, in 1813 or 1814, where James Black resides. Daniel Stone, afterward
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CENTER TOWNSHIP.
James Neal, a farmer, blacksmith, and innkeeper, on the land now owned by J. & C. Starr. John Hill, from North Caro- lina, about 1814, on the land now owned by Wm. Norman's heirs. Peter Edwards, from North Carolina, on land now owned by Jesse and Stephen Horney. Francis Coffin, from North Carolina, on section 11, the land now owned chiefly by Cyrus, Dorelis, and Hiram Huff. John King, from Kentucky, settled, in 1828, where widow Sarah King lives. He died in 1859, aged 75. Mark Elliott came from North Carolina, with his father, Exum Elliott, and settled in the north-west part of the township, near where he died in 1858, aged 44, on the place where his widow lives. His son William, who married Rebecca, daughter of Joseph Jackson, now lives near his mother. Sarah E., daughter of Mark Elliott, married Marion J. Barr.
Benj. Maudlin, from North Carolina, in 1807, to Wayne township, and in 1813 to Center, two and a half miles north of Centerville ; removed to Michigan about 1835, where he died. His son John married Rebecca Elliott, and lives three miles north-west from town. Mark, his son, resides two miles north- west from town. John W. Tindale, from Ohio, in 1840, settled in Green, and in 1854, where he now resides, in the north part of Center. Joseph Palmer, from Virginia, in 1829, settled south of Centerville; his son Daniel now lives in Center, one and a half miles west of Dover.
James Thompson, a native of New Jersey, removed from Ohio to the place now occupied by his son-in-law, Wm. Frame. He died in 1869, aged 76 years. His son William lives on land adjoining on the west. Lewis Forkner, from North Car- olina, settled in Centerville in 1817, and died in 1824. His son James is a merchant in Centerville.
The first Saw-mill in the township was built by Asa Provo, about the year 1817, on Noland's Fork, three miles north of Centerville. Another, about a mile below, by John Cope- land, about the same time. Robert Harvey, another, on the same stream, one and a half miles north-west from town, on the present site of the mills of David Commons. Axum White built a saw-mill above Harvey's, afterward owned by Norris Jones, since rebuilt by Daniel Shank; no mill is now
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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
running there. Another was built by Nathan Overman, about 1827, one mile west of town; and another below that, by Nathan Hollingsworth, where one is still running. A steam saw-mill was built in 1868, in the east part of the town, by Lyman & Haines.
The first Grist-mill [corn-cracker] was built about 1816, by James Crawford, one mile south-west of town. It was after- ward owned by Jacob Wolf, who run it ten or fifteen years, and sold it to Jacob Crull, Jun., who rebuilt it, and sold it to Nathan Hollingsworth, who also improved it, and run it about twenty years ; and after passing through the hands of several owners, it came into the possession of its present proprietors, Clark and John P. Smith. Robert Harvey built a cheap mill near his saw-mill, sold it to David Commons, who built in its place a first-class flouring-mill, which he thoroughly repaired in 1869. David J. Woods built a grist-mill and a saw-mill in the south-west corner of the township. A saw- mill is continued there by Robert Delap. A steam flouring- mill was built about ten years ago by Wm. Platt, and fell into the hands of Norris Jones, who sold it to John Latshaw. It was afterward destroyed by fire. Another was built in its place, but is not running at present.
A Carding-machine was built by Nathan Overman, one mile west of Centerville, believed to have been the only one ever in the township.
Among the early Blacksmiths-perhaps the first in the town- ship-was John Maxwell, about two miles north of town. Jeremy Mansur, the famed ax-maker, settled in Salisbury. There were few of the old settlers who were not supplied by him with that indispensable article, of a superior quality.
A Tannery, supposed to have been the first in the township, was established by Robert Galbraith, three miles north from Centerville. John Lewis built one in town about 1818.
Town of Centerville.
This is the oldest town in the county of Wayne. The ground was a donation from Israel Elliott and Ethan A. Stone, of Cincinnati. It was laid out by the trustees, Isaac Julian, Joseph Holman, and Wm. Harvey. The survey,
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CENTER TOWNSHIP.
made by IIenry Bryan, is dated October 20, 1814, and certi- fied by the trustees, Jan. 2, 1815. Additions were made to the plat, as follows: By Joseph Evans, March, 1818; by Lot Pugh, Micajah T. Williams, and Arthur Henrie, June 1, 1818; by Wm. Sumner, Jan. 21, 1819; by Wm. M. Doughty and Wm. Elliott, Dec. 14, 1830; by Israel Abrahams, Dec., 1833. The cemetery was laid out by the trustees in May, 1849. Certain lots were specially appropriated for the burial of col- ored people.
The first Innkeeper in Centerville is said to have been Rachel Neal. Other early keepers of public houses were Wm. Vaughan, Levi M. Jones, and Samuel Hannah. The present one is T. L. Rowan, proprietor of the American House. He is a son of IIenry Rowan, who, since 1835, was most of the time a resident of Centerville, until his death, in 1869.
The first Blacksmith in Centerville is supposed to have been Isaac Forkner. Lewis Burk, now of Richmond, and Frederic Dillon, came soon after.
Edward Benbo, Daniel Lantz, and Wm. Hill were early Wagon-makers. The present is John Lantz. Carriage-maker, John Houck.
Jacob N. Booker was probably the first Hatter. George Troxell and Wm. Widup also were carly hatters. There was in those days in almost every hamlet a hatter, who sup- plied the inhabitants as generally with hats of his own man- ufacture as the cooper, or the wagon-maker, or the cabinet- maker did with his fabries. Few hats were seen in country stores except such as had been taken of the village hatter in exchange for store goods. Men's and boys' hats for common wear were made of wool. For "Sunday wear," the wool bodies were covered with fur, and resembled the silk hats of the present time.
Early Cabinet-makers were - Hiatt, Wm. L. Reynolds, Iliram E. Hurlbut.
Martin Hornish and John Chapman were, perhaps, the first Shoemakers. Those at present engaged in the making and sale of boots and shoes in this town, are Alfred Lashly, Scott & Strayer, James Kirk.
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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
The first Tailor was Charles F. Reed, and after him were John E. Dunham, Matthew W. Jack, Wm. B. Hornish.
Early Carpenters were Jesse Willetts, Jacob Hornish.
The first Merchant in Centerville who kept a considerable stock and general assortment of goods, is said to have been Samuel P. Booker. He had, however, been preceded by Lawrence H. Brannon and Caleb Lewis, in partnership, with a small lot, to supply the more pressing needs of the early in- habitants. Next to Booker was James Blair, in 1823, and soon after, Israel Abrahams, from Washington township, in which he had kept the first store, about three miles east of Milton. Among those who came within a few years afterward were Isaac Burbank, about 1824, Richard Cheeseman, Lot Bloom- field, Thomas Commons, and Jesse Williams. The follow- ing named persons are known to have traded here in the years mentioned, some of them, perhaps, earlier as well as later : In 1838, Myers Seaton, Snyder & Adams, Jacob Fisher, A. W. Ray & Co. In 1839, Holman & Ray, Hannah & New- man. In 1840, J. & H. Purviance & Co., Isaac Burbank. In 1841, Elmer & Forkner, Wm. B. Hornish, Richard H. Swain. In 1844, Wm. Arnold. Present merchants: Dry Goods- Isaac Burbank, James Forkner, Win. S. T. Morton, John B. Vanaernam, Samuel C. Doughty. Grocers-Henry C. Lee- son, C. Failor & Co., Michael L. Hornish, -- Bowers, Fletcher Medaris. Druggists-Pritchett & Dickey, John E. Pugh.
The first Physician residing in Centerville was David F. Sacket, from Salisbury, where he had also served the county as recorder. Next came Dr. Ira Pier, after whom, Drs. John C. Cruise, Wm. Pugh, Isaac V. Dorsey, John Pritchett, and others. Present physicians-John Pritchett, Wm. Dickey, Wm. F. King, Calvin Wood, John Cleveland.
The first Lawyer is supposed to have been Bethuel Morris, from Virginia, in 1818 or 1819. He removed to Indianapo- lis; was for many years a circuit judge, and the president of a bank. He died there at an advanced age.
James Rariden commenced practice in Centerville about the year 1820, and continued it there about fifteen years. Cyrus Finch, from about 1824, and died there about 1828.
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CENTER TOWNSHIP.
Martin M. Ray came in 1827; was a good lawyer, removed to Indianapolis, where he died. John S. Newman com- menced practice in 1828; removed to Indianapolis in 1860, where he now resides. John B. Stitt practiced here several years, removed west, and died about a year ago.
Charles II. Test came to Centerville in 1838; now resides at Indianapolis. Jacob B. Julian commenced in 1839. George W. Julian was admitted in 1841. Jesse P. Siddall commenced practice at Centerville in 1842 or 1843, and was for many years a law partner of John S. Newman. Michael Wilson commenced practice here in 1842. Thomas Means in 1843. Present practicing lawyers-Jacob B. Julian, Mi- chael Wilson, Wm. A. Peele, John F. Julian, Thomas J. Study, S. C. Whitesell, John L. Rupe, Henry C. Fox, -- Walker.
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