USA > Indiana > Carroll County > Recollections of the early settlement of Carroll County, Indiana > Part 15
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
212
EARLY SETTLEMENT OF
from his brother Daniel's to his own new cabin ; a deep snow was on the ground; he got lost, and wandered around the whole afternoon. He passed his own cabin, and did n't know it !
He arrived at home, in Ohio, on the 28th day of December, 1826, where he remained until the 19th day of November, 1828, when he started with his family to remove, and in the company were his youngest brother, Harry M'Cain, and his wife's sister, Sarah Little. He had one team, two yoke of oxen. Came through Strawtown, Kirklin, and Dayton, and arrived at his brother Daniel's on the 10th day of December, 1828, all well and happy.
DAVID HARTER, SR.
DAVID HARTER, SR., removed from Montgomery County, Ohio, and settled on Bachelor's Run, in this county, in the Fall of 1827. He built his first mill in 1831. At the time he settled there, Samuel Wise, on Deer Creek, was his nearest neighbor, and no one lived east of him this side of the " Miami Reservation." The Michigan road was not then cut out. The deer would come within twenty steps of the house. They had no gun then. The Indians were plenty, but they gave no trouble. They frequently came to trade for corn, meal, etc.
Mr. Harter died June 12, 1840, leaving a large fam- ily. He was a good citizen, and very much respected.
JOHN KUNS.
JOHN KUNS, son of George Kuns, emigrated to this county from Montgomery County, Ohio. Daniel and Jacob Kuns, sons of George, were also residents of this county. Daniel, however, survived but a few years, and died on Rock Creek.
213
CARROLL COUNTY, INDIANA.
John Kuns was born April 14, 1795, in Huntington County, Pennsylvania. When he was seven years of age, his father removed to Montgomery County, Ohio. John married the daughter of Leonard Wolf, in 1817. In 1824, he attended the land sales at Crawfordsville, and purchased land, and on the 11th day of October, 1826, arrived with his family, and settled on his land. Aaron Merriman, James M'Dowell, and David Lucas were then the only settlers in the Rock Creek set- tlement.
The " Dunker " Church was organized in the Fall of 1827, by Peter Eyman, who was the first preacher. Having no meeting-house, he preached at John Kuns's, Samuel Wise's, and also at the houses of other brethren.
It was Mr. K. who first erected the flouring-mill near Delphi, afterward owned by Roach & Co. He also carried on a tannery on his farm quite extensively for a new country. He was a very energetic business man and a shrewd trader.
In April, 1859, having lost his wife, he removed to Piatt County, Illinois. The last time the writer saw him was on the 8th day of May, 1861, when he was on his way to Wild-cat, with the view of returning to Illinois with a buxom widow, the future second Mrs. Kuns.
JONAH T. HOPKINSON.
JONAH T. HOPKINSON, the fourth sheriff of Carroll County, was born in Connecticut, on the 15th day of October, 1789, and was brought up in New York, prob- ably in Onondaga County. He removed west to Switz- erland County, Indiana, in the year 1818, and was married to Miss Lydia Powers, of that county, on the 19th day of February, 1819. After residing in that county one year, he removed to Kentucky, then re- turned to Switzerland County, from which place he removed to Rush County, where he lived five years.
214
EARLY SETTLEMENT OF
In the year 1829, a neighbor by the name of Hays came to this county, and took a contract from Judge Isaac Griffith, to frame his saw-mill, on Deer Creek, three miles above Delphi. Hays was no carpenter; but he returned home, and induced Mr. Hopkinson (who was a carpenter by trade) to finish the job for him. Accordingly, in July, 1829, Mr. Hopkinson came here, in company with Hays and Randall, another neighbor, bringing with him his apprentice, William M. Young (since a resident of Delphi), and finished the Griffith saw-mill frame. He was so well pleased with the country, that he returned to Rush County, sold his farm, and removed to this county, arriving here about the 20th day of October, 1829. At Lafayette he be- came acquainted with Colonel Holt, who was then com- ing to this county, and the two families came together from Lafayette to Delphi.
From the time of Mr. Hopkinson's arrival here, he diligently followed his trade until he purchased a tract of land, which he improved with his usual energy. It was on this farm (since owned by Henry T. Lyon) that a man by the name of Jesse Fleming was buried in a well. The writer was on the spot the succeeding morning, and well remembers the thrill of horror that shot through the community, at an accident so dreadful. Mr. H. was digging a well; had dug down some fifteen or twenty feet, when he discovered that they were in a bed of quicksand, and perceiving the danger, concluded to go no further without curbing. Fleming was sent down for the bucket and tools, and, when in the act of being drawn up, the well caved in up to his neck, cov- ering his face, in fact; at which moment Archibald Slane, at the risk of his own life, jumped down and scraped the sand from his nose and mouth. In an in- stant, another avalanche of sand fell upon Slane, almost burying him up also, and he was rescued with diffi-
215
CARROLL COUNTY, INDIANA.
culty. Poor Fleming was not dug out until the next day. He was then dead. The sand was packed so tightly about him, that he could not be removed until they removed it down to his ankles.
Mr. Hopkinson was a member of the Methodist Church, and it was owing, alone, to his zeal and per- severance that the lot was purchased in Delphi, and the frame church edifice was erected. And, notwithstand- ing this undeniable fact, so rapid is the flight of time, and so very soon are the most important occurrences of life forgotten, that nine-tenths of the members who now worship in the new brick building have never heard his name. Is this either just or right?
In 1832, Mr. Hopkinson was elected sheriff of Car- roll County. In 1834, a man by the name of Thompson, having been convicted of stealing an overcoat from Levi S. Dale (then a young school-teacher), was sen- tenced to the State-prison. The author, having some business in Louisville, Kentucky, agreed to accompany Sheriff Hopkinson, as assistant, to convey the afore- said Thompson to his quarters at Jeffersonville. The trio started on horseback, the feet of the prisoner being connected together by a chain under the belly of the horse. The first night we reached Frankfort, the second Indianapolis, and the third Columbus, at each of which places the prisoner was secured in the county jail. The fourth night we put up at a cabin on the road- side. The prisoner being a very large, athletic man, the question as to the best method of keeping him secure for the night, became quite an important one. Finally, a straw bed was placed on the floor; the prisoner be- ing in the middle, one of his arms was chained to one of the sheriff's, the chain locked, and the key given to the man of the house. The author placed himself on the other side, with a pistol under his head.
But the whole party being very much fatigued, we
216
EARLY SETTLEMENT OF
soon fell asleep, and neither awoke till broad daylight. The next night we reached Jeffersonville, and delivered Mr. Thompson into the care of the warden of the penitentiary.
After residing on the Lyon farm for several years, Mr. Hopkinson sold out, and purchased the farm above Burt's spring, since owned by John Sidenbender. On this place he died. The author has before him a number of the old Delphi Oracle, of March 16, 1839, containing the following obituary notice : "Died at his residence, in this neighborhood, on the 11th instant, Mr. Jonah T. Hopkinson. Mr. H. was one of the earliest settlers of this place, and has ever been an industrious and enter- prising citizen. His loss will be deeply deplored by the community in which he has so long resided ; but, to a helpless family, his loss will be irreparable. To them, the ordinary form of condolence is mockery. May the God of the widow and fatherless have them in his special keeping !"
Mr. H. was kind, affectionate, and warm-hearted in his disposition. His attachments were disinterested, and no man loved his friend with a trner devotion than he.
Several years after the death of Mr. H., his family moved to Clinton County, and his youngest daughter became the wife of David P. Barner, clerk of the Clinton Circuit Court.
HUGH GRAHAM,
THE father of Levi M., Henry M., Hugh M., Amos M., and Milton R. Graham, was born in Greenbrier County, Virginia, on the 12th day of March, 1787, and removed to Clarke County, Indiana, in September, 1816. In 1818, he removed to Washington County, Indiana.
He started for Carroll County about the middle of December, 1828, and arrived here on the 6th day of January, 1829.
217
CARROLL COUNTY, INDIANA.
In 1836, Mr. Graham was elected a county commis- sioner, which office he held for three years. He was a man of strict integrity, high-minded and honorable; a kind neighbor, a devoted husband and father.
Having lost his wife on the 14th day of July, 1838, he went, in May, 1839, to Washington County, where he married the second time. He died on the 18th day of April, 1844, leaving surviving, his wife and two chil- dren, and several by his first wife, some of whom still remain, highly respectable residents of this county.
To many persons the following chapters may not appear interesting as reading matter; but a history of the county would not be complete without these tables and facts. Many of the records are found nowhere else, save as they are collected here.
19
218
EARLY SETTLEMENT OF
CHAPTER XV.
TOWN OF DELPHI IN OFFICIAL ACTS.
0 N the 15th day of September, 1835, the citizens of Delphi met in pursuance of previous notices, in accordance with "an act providing for the incorporation of towns," and "an act amendatory to said act." William George was appointed president, and Henry B. Milroy clerk. The meeting then proceeded to district the town, after which the following trustees were elected : District No. 1, William George; No. 2, David Hender- son ; No. 3, Henry B. Milroy ; No. 4, Samuel Grimes; No. 5, Andrew Wood.
The trustees met on the 14th day of October, 1835, and organized by the election of Samuel Grimes, Presi- dent, and Michael C. Dougherty, Clerk.
William George and Henry B. Milroy were ap- pointed a committee to draft rules and regulations for the government of the Board. On the 17th of the same month, the trustees met at the house of David Hen- derson, adopted the rules, etc., reported by the Com- mittee.
At a meeting held January 23, 1836, a large number of ordinances were passed. Samuel D. Gresham was ap- pointed assessor, Robert Adams and Thomas Cole, as- sistants; James P. Dugan was appointed treasurer.
April 23, 1836 .- Samuel D. Gresham was appointed collector; William M'Crery, superintendent of Public Works; Samuel D. Gresham, marshal.
May 14 .- Mr. John Armstrong was employed to re- survey the town.
219
CARROLL COUNTY, INDIANA.
July 9, 1836 .- Colonel Crooks appointed to superin- tend the improvement of the streets.
July 15 .- Aaron Finch, Esq., employed to prose- cute the suit for violation of ordinance against James Harris.
August 11 .- The clerk, M. C. Dougherty, resigned.
October 21 .- The second Board of Trustees met, to wit: C. Richardson, W. H. Buford, J. T. Hopkin- son, A. Sproul, S. Sherfey, and organized by the elec- tion of the following officers : President, Chevalier Richardson ; Michael C. Dougherty, Clerk; Samuel D. Gresham, Assessor and Collector ; Simeon Sherfey, Treasurer; and Jonah T. Hopkinson, Marshal.
February 13, 1837 .- Aaron Dewey was appointed to superintend the burying-ground and to locate the graves; John Carey, elected assessor and collector.
February 16 .- James H. Stewart and J. B. Larimer were appointed to assist the assessor.
May 5 .- William H. Buford, Andrew Sproul, and James H. Stewart, present. John F. Taylor was ap- pointed to draw off the duplicate. Curtis Keener was appointed collector.
May 13 .- A. D. E. Tweed was elected trustee of the Fifth Ward, to fill the vacancy of J. T. Hopkinson, resigned. Curtis Keener appointed marshal. Andrew Davis appointed to level Main and Washington Streets, and William H. Buford to superintend the placing of curb-timbers.
July 1 .- A. D. E. Tweed was elected president, and James H. Stewart, clerk of the corporation.
November 13 .- The Board met, consisting of Will- iam Crooks, Aaron Dewey, Andrew Wood, and Charles E. Sturgis. William Crooks elected president, and Charles E. Sturgis clerk. The following appoint- ments were made: Curtis Keener, Collector, and Aaron Dewey, Treasurer. An clection was ordered to be
3
220
EARLY SETTLEMENT OF
held on the 23d, to fill the vacancies in First and Sec- ond Wards.
November 28, 1837 .- The Board met. Present, Will- iam Crooks, Aaron Dewey, Alfred Ramey, and James Crumly. Alfred Ramey was appointed clerk in the place of C. E. Sturgis, resigned. Curtis Keener was appointed assessor and marshal. Grocery license was fixed at the sum of thirty-five dollars within the cor- poration.
February 10, 1838 .- Mr. Dewey was appointed a committee to ascertain from Mr. Vail, or Apsey, the terms on which they will take the subscription papers, etc., in payment for building the market-house.
February 12 .- Contract closed with Mr. Vail for building the market-house.
March 30 .- George Sherburn was appointed collec- tor and marshal, in the place of Keener, removed.
May 18 .- William Crooks produced his commission as mayor, and the Board organized under the new charter. Aaron Dewey, James Crumly, and Ambrose Phelps sworn as common councilmen. Henry Orwig was elected marshal, assessor, and collector.
November 19 .- Samuel Grimes, Mayor, and Samuel Grimes, Simeon L. Broadwell, John Bradshaw, and David W. Bowen, Councilmen.
November 20 .- Hiram Allen and Jesse R. Henry sworn as common councilmen. David W. Bowen ap- pointed clerk; William M'Crery, treasurer; Edwin R. Davis, marshal; Hiram Allen, corporation attorney.
February 25, 1839 .- Philip A. Clover, appointed marshal; R. C. Green, corporation printer; and Hiram Allen, clerk.
April 20 .- Joseph Lafleur, having paid thirty-five dollars, was licensed to keep a grocery, and George W. Goodlander to sell goods at auction.
June 13 .- William Brewster appointed surveyor.
221
CARROLL COUNTY, INDIANA.
All persons were prohibited from selling fresh beef or pork, except at the market-house, on regular market days.
February 15, 1840 .- William Simpson was appointed mayor, and Henry Orwig, John M'Curdy, and William Dunkle were appointed councilmen, to fill vacancies.
May 11 .-- Board met. William Simpson, Mayor, John M'Curdy, David W. Bowen, Henry Orwig, Wm. Dunkle, and Jesse R. Henry, Councilmen, present.
May 25 .- Lewis Martin appointed marshal and as- sessor.
June 22 .- H. Tuttle was appointed clerk.
At the corporation election, September 7, 1840, the following persons were elected : George M. Maxwell, Mayor, Henry R. Glazier, Jesse Osbourn, David W. Bowen, and William Dunkle, Councilmen. Jesse R. Henry held over.
November 12 .- H. Tuttle was appointed clerk. Messrs. David W. Bowen, Newton H. Gist, and Wm. Dunkle, were appointed a committee to examine chim- nies and stove-pipes. Thomas C. Hughes, appointed marshal. The Carroll Express appointed corporation printer.
December 26 .- Councilman Jesse R. Henry resigned, and William Bolles appointed in his place.
January 29, 1841 .- John M'Curdy was appointed treasurer, in place of William M Crery.
March 19 .- H. Tuttle, Clerk, resigned.
May 1 .- Levi S. Dale appointed clerk ; Thomas C. Hughes, assessor and collector.
December 20 .- James Witherow appointed treasurer. Henry R. Glazier, Collector, made report.
February 6, 1843 .- Present, George M. Maxwell, Mayor. William Burnett and Robert C. Green, new members, appeared.
February 7 .- Present, George M. Maxwell, Mayor,
222
EARLY SETTLEMENT OF
and Messrs. William Barnett, John Burr, Henry R. Glazier, Robert C. Green, and William Dunkle, Coun- cilmen. R. C. Green was appointed clerk.
April 1, 1843 .- O. D. Butler was appointed marshal and collector.
April 16, 1845 .- Present, William Dunkle, John Burr, William Barnett. The office of mayor was de- clared vacant, by reason of the removal of George M. Maxwell from the limits of the corporation. James R. Blanchard was appointed mayor, "until the next an- nual election."
April 24 .- Present, J. R. Blanchard, Mayor, and Messrs Dunkle, Burr, and Barnett, Councilmen.
Messrs. Charles Marquess and Newton H. Gist were appointed to fill vacancies in First and Second Wards. Levi S. Dale, appointed clerk.
March 10, 1847 .- Present, Levi S. Dale, Mayor, and Messrs. John Boggs, Samuel D. Gresham, Joseph Evans, Jesse R. Henry, and Nathaniel W. Bowen, Councilmen. E. W. Hubbard was appointed clerk ; Edwin R. Davis, marshal ; and Enoch Rinehart, treasurer. The copy of the notice for the election for mayor and common coun- cil, was ordered to be spread upon the Minutes. The notice reads as follows: "An election for mayor and councilmen of the town of Delphi, will be holden at the usual place of holding elections in each ward in said town, on the third Saturday of January next." Dated December 31, 1846. Signed by Enoch Rinehart, W. H. Buford, L. A. Gaylord, M. Simpson, D. R. Harley, N. B. Dewey, A. G. Leadbetter, John Phelps, V. Holt, H. Foreman, W. H. Calvert, Charles Ruffing, James H. Stewart, J. A. Reed, L. S. Dale, Hiram Allen, William Simpson, William Rees, William Potter, N. G. Gist.
September 1 .- Present, Levi S. Dale, Mayor, and Messrs. Samuel D. Gresham, John Boggs, Nathaniel W. Bowen, Jesse R. Henry, and Levi M. Graham.
223
CARROLL COUNTY, INDIANA.
June 7, 1848 .- Present, Levi S. Dale, Mayor; Messrs. J. R. Henry, William Barnett, S. D. Gresham, Levi M. Graham, and John Boggs, Councilmen. R. H. Gordon was appointed marshal.
January 16, 1849 .- Present as above. Aquila Jones was appointed marshal, and Messrs. John J. Gibson, James R. Blanchard, and Thomas C. Hughes were ap- pointed a Board of Health.
April 6 .- An election was ordered for mayor, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Levi S. Dale.
At the election for mayor, on the 17th day of April, 1849, the following was the result: N. G. Gillam, 97; J. H. Boylan, 50; Samuel Rinehart, 4.
July 25 .- Officers all present except Nathan G. Gil- lam, the mayor; and, in his absence, L. M. Graham was called to the chair. The following resolution was adopted :
Resolved, That the proprietors of the hotels in this place be earnestly requested to refuse entertainment to all persons passing or traveling from places infected with the cholera for any length of time-say, time to get a meal of victuals.
Ordered, That the marshal be empowered to prevent canal- boats from putting off emigrants, or transient persons, to remain among us; and that the Board co-operate with him in carrying out said order.
August 1 .- The celebrated
CHOLERA ORDINANCE PASSED.
" Be it ordained by the Mayor and Common Council of the Town of Delphi, That all persons passing or traveling from places infected with the cholera, be pro- hibited from staying in our midst more than time suf- ficient to procure a meal of victuals; that all places of public entertainment be required to prohibit the stay of all such persons for a longer time; and that our
1
224
EARLY SETTLEMENT OF
own citizens, except physicians, be hereafter prohibited from going to, or visiting places, near or distant, where the cholera is prevailing, unless there is absolute ne- cessity for so doing; and that any person or persons offending against or violating any of the provisions of this ordinance, be fined in any sum not less than three nor more than ten dollars, for cach offense. This ordi- nance to take effect from its passage."
[NOTE .- The cholera was prevailing at Lafayette at the time of the passage of the above law, and the citizens of that city were very indignant at the mayor and council of Delphi, on account of the prohibitory ordinance. We understand that one of the citizens of the "Star City " was at the expense of framing the ordinance, and the subject was one of jest and ridicule there for a long time.]
CORPORATION ELECTION, September 3, 1849 .- Jona- than C. Applegate was elected mayor, and Messrs. Charles Marquess, Archibald Slane, John Burr, Nicholas Smith, and J. H. Boylan, Councilmen.
October 15 .- The mayor and common council met.
Augustus Linville was elected clerk, Matthew Simp- son treasurer, and John J. Gibson marshal.
November 27 .-- William Potter was elected clerk.
January 16, 1850 .- Board met. Present, Jonathan C. Applegate, Mayor; Archibald Slane, James H. Boy- lan, John Burr, Nicholas Smith, and Charles Marquess, Councilmen ; William Potter, Clerk; and John J. Gib- son, Marshal.
Archibald Slane and the clerk were ordered to report what alterations were necessary in the by-laws, etc.
The bond of Matthew Simpson, Treasurer, approved. March 13 .- John J. Gibson, the marshal, resigned ; and Enoch Rinehart was elected to fill the place.
March 26 .- Enoch Rinehart having declined to serve as marshal, William B. Givins was appointed.
July 3 .- James Armstrong appointed sexton for the old grave-yard.
CARROLL COUNTY, INDIANA. 225
August 14, 1850 .- The following places were ap- pointed for holding elections : First Ward, Marquess's shop ; Second Ward, the recorder's office; Third Ward, the Court-house; Fourth Ward, Arthur G. Connelly's shop; Fifth Ward, Dunkle & Kilgore's shop. M. Simp- son was appointed inspector in the First Ward; John J. Gibson, Second Ward; Jesse R. Henry, Third Ward; Arthur G. Connelly, Fourth Ward; and William Dun- kle, Fifth Ward.
Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays were estab- lished as market days, and all persons prohibited from selling during certain hours, except at the market-house.
September 5 .- Councilman Nicholas Smith resigned, and David W. Bowen appointed in his place. E. W. Hubbard was appointed clerk.
September 11 .- Councilman John Burr resigned, and Jesse R. Henry was appointed to fill the vacancy.
September 24 .- James Armstrong removed as sexton, and Mr. Rinehart appointed in his place.
October 21 .- William B. Givins resigned as marshal, and Samuel D. Gresham was appointed.
November 14 .- Henry P. Tedford was appointed marshal.
January 7, 1851 .- John M'Carthy was appointed treasurer.
May 15 .- William Riley appointed marshal.
June 14 .- The mayor, Jonathan C. Applegate, ten- dered his resignation, and Samuel D. Gresham was appointed to fill the unexpired term of said office.
July 24 .- Samuel D. Gresham was appointed mar- shal; Henry M. Graham, collector; and William Bar- nett, mayor, to fill out balance of unexpired term.
-August 9 .- The clerk was ordered to give notice, in the Weekly Times, of an election, on the first of Sep- tember next, for mayor and common council. The following persons were appointed inspectors :
.
226
EARLY SETTLEMENT OF
First Ward .- John Boggs, polls at his office.
Second Ward .- A. Slane, polls at Gillam's office. L
Third Ward .- J. C. Applegate, polls at the Court- house.
Fourth Ward .- A. G. Connelly, polls at his ware- room.
Fifth Ward .- William Dunkle, polls at his shop.
At the said election, William Barnett was elected mayor, and Messrs. John Finley, Archibald Slane, An- thony Foust, Robert H. Milroy, and Levi M. Graham, councilmen.
October 25, 1851 .- E. W. Hubbard was appointed clerk, and John M'Carthy treasurer.
June 2, 1852 .- D. I. Jackson accepted appointment for councilman for First Ward, in place of John Finley.
March 19, 1853 .- Frazer Duff was appointed council- man for the Fourth Ward, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the removal from the ward of R. H. Milroy.
April 9 .- James H. Dunlap, James H. Boylan, and D. I. Jackson were appointed school trustees.
April 16 .- Henry M. Graham was appointed marshal. ELECTION, September 5, 1853 .- Ebenezer W. Bolles was elected mayor; and Messrs. George Robertson, Christian Brolyer, Anthony Foust, James Kilgore, and John Cul- ler, Sr., councilmen.
October 29 .- E. W. Hubbard appointed clerk; Noah B. Dewey, treasurer; and Henry M. Graham, marshal and collector.
November 19 .- Lewis B. Sims was appointed attorney for the corporation.
December 24 .- John Rinehart was removed from the office of sexton, and John Culler, Sr., appointed in his place.
March 11, 1854 .- The old charter was surrendered, and the town was incorporated under the act of the Legislature of June 11, 1852.
227
CARROLL COUNTY, INDIANA.
May 3 .- James H. Dunlap resigned his appointment as school trustee ; James H. Stewart appointed to fill the vacancy, and Noah B. Dewey was appointed in the place of D. I. Jackson.
The following is the result of the election held May 1, 1854: Messrs. George Robertson, Enoch Rinehart, Washington L. Black, Nicholas Smith, and James H. Stewart were elected councilmen; John D. Simpson, clerk and treasurer; Henry M. Graham, marshal and assessor.
May 31, 1854 .- J. C. Applegate was appointed coun- cilman in place of Washington L. Black, deceased.
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.