USA > Indiana > Sullivan County > Jackson in Sullivan County > The history of Jackson Township, Sullivan County, Indiana > Part 9
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There were born to Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert five children. They are.
Stella, Oscar, Alfred, Henry and. Helen.
Carey McAnally and Wife.
Mr. Carey J. McAnally, a Civil War veteran and well known resi- dent of Hymera, was born in Brooks- ville, Indiana. He was the son of. John and Mary Herndon McAnally, both of whom were natives of Frank- lin county, Indiana. Mr. McAnally lived in and near Brookville until 1857 when he came with his par- ents to Sullivan county and settled near where the St. Clair mine is now. He lived there for a time but later moved to a farm near Currysville, where he lived until the Civil War began. On Jan. 1, 1864, he enlisted as a soldier in Company H of the Eighty-fifth regiment of Indiana Vol- unteers and was with Sherman in his famous march to the sea.
He was married in 1872 to Nar- cissa Payne, daughter of Hosea and Sarah Asbury Payne, both of Sulli- van county. Later Mr. and Mrs .. McAnally moved to Hymera where they have since resided. To them were born seven children: Ivah and Mayme, deceased. Roscoe, Daisy, Hallie, Floy and Banis.
In 1905 Mr. McAnally was ap- pointed postmaster of Hymera and continued in the service of the gov- ernment until 1915. Mr. MeAnally is superintendent of the Sunday school at the M. E. church where he and his family hold membership.
Jim Luzader.
Jim W. H. Luzader wa- born in Bruceville, Knox county. Indiana, Sept. 5. 1839. lle was a son of G. W. A. and Nancy Harrison Luzader. When he was about seven years old, Mr. Luzader came with his parents to Sullivan and here his father fol- lowed the occupation of a tanner. Here Mr. Luzader learned the trade of a cabinet maker under Howard and Moore and worked there for six years until the outbreak of the war. In October, 1861, he enlisted in the service in Company D, forty-third regiment of Indiana Volunteers. He was in the army for three years, ten months. His time expired at the end of the third year but he re-enliste at Little Rock, Arkansas. for the re- mainder of the war. At various times he was under Gen. Steele, Gen. Pren- tis. Gen. Solemn and Gen. Gorman.
He was in the expedition with Gen. Banks when that general start- ed to Shrevesport, Louisiana. to cap- ture the city, but unfortunately they were captured themselves. They were taken as prisoners to Camp Ford Tyler, Texas. and held there for ten months. There were six thousand in the prison and their food consisted of corn meal and corn- ed beef. The prison was enclosed. by a very high palisade and guards were stationed without. There was no covering overhead so that they received the rain and the sunshine alike. They were afflicted with the scurry and numerous other diseases and numbers of them died.
Mr. Luzader gives an interesting account of how some of the prison- ers escaped from the prison. He says there was an old negro who carried the rubbish and garbage from the prison yards in a railroad dumping cart and the Yankees made a personal friend of him. So when the old negro would come for the rubbish the prisoners would put two or three of their number in the ne- gro's cart, cover them over with a blanket, and put the rubbish on top. Many times did he pass the guards unmolested. The old negro was kind and always went to the trouble of taking the rubbish quite a dis-
62
tance so that when he dumped it he might also safely dump the Yankees. This scheme worked well for quite a while, but there were men in the prison who would report things to the guards that they might gain fa- vors themselves. So the guards be- came suspicious and many times would stick their swords through the rubbish, but it seems as if for- tune favored them for when the sword went down there was never a Yankee, but when the guards let the old negro go by unmolested there was usually a Yankee.
Mr. Luzader himself escaped from the prison but in quite a difftrent manner. There was a hospital about a mile away from the prison and some of the Union men who were captured were put on parole and al- lowed to remain there and help take care of the sick and wounded. How4. ever, these men were allowed to visit their fellowmen in the prison and bring them a few necessary articles. Now Mr. Luzader had a friend who was on parole and who came to the prison to bring soap. Mr. Luzader secured his parole and forged one for himself and three companions. Therefore when it came time for the men who were on parole to return to the hospital Mr. Luzader and his three companions presented their paroles to the guards and passed out also. They then went to the hospi- tal and their captain who was then on parole, advised them to stay there that night for he had heard that there was a chance of their being exchanged within a few days. They also remained the next day and play- ed ball with the Confederate men, but having heard in the mean time that they would not be exchanged. they thought it best to set out that night. Their plans were to reach the Sabine river the following night. They had a compass and also were guided by the stars, the moss and the trees. The next morning as they were cooking their meat some hunt- ers passed along with their dogs. They eyed them rather curiously and asked a few questions, but on re- ceiving satisfactory answers they
passed on without further words.
The runaway prisoners then thought it best to be moving on. That day and also the next they made consid- erable progress. They always avoid- ed the towns and part of the time they were in hiding. The third night they reached the Sabine River, where they found an old skiff. This they calked up with leaves and grass the best they could and started across the river. This proved to be a diffi1 cult task for there had been a heavy rain and the river was swollen. For ;; tunately there was a holly bush which grew far out over the water and by means of it they managed to pull themselves ashore. They had no more than started again when they heard the baying of dogs. They then made for a swamp and remained in it from ten o'clock in the morning till ten that night, so that the dogs might lose scent of hem.
After the dogs had been called off they proceeded to go farther but they were doomed to disappointment, for they had not gone a great distance until they were met by the Confed- erates. There was nothing else to do but admit that they were Yan- kees and runaway prisoners. They were then taken to Mount Pleasant, Texas, where they would have been placed under guards, but that after having their word of honor that they would not try to escape they were placed on parole. They enjoyed themselves here and went to several parties given in the neighborhood. However they were always back and in their rooms at an early hour. One of Mr. Luzader's companions had a knack for getting things to eat and as the Confederates had a negro cook he managed to coax the old ne- gro into giving them many a good nieal on the sly. While . they were here the slaves were auctioned off' and the Provost Marshal asked them to come down to the court house and witness the auction, assuring them that they would not be asked any in- sulting questions, but that the peo- ple were curious to see what a Yan- kee looked like. The captain then asked them what they thought of the auction. Mr. Luzader replied that
63
he had seen auctions before but that this one would be the last one. At the end of ten days they were placed under guards and started back to their old prison. They fared well going back for they were under the protection of the Confederates and it was not a hard matter for a Con- federate to get either food or shel- ter in that country. When they ar- rived at the prison they were sent before the commanding officer, Col. Sweet. They knew that it would never do for them to say that they had forged a parole so they all told the same story, saying they had climbed over the stockade on a dark, rainy night. They were sent back to prison but three weeks later they were exchanged for Confederate prisoners and taken to New Orleans where they donned new suits and
were allowed to go home. Some of the other battles in which he took part were Ft. Doneldson, New Mad- rid, Poison Springs, Little Rock. Memphis and Island No. Io.
After his return from the war Mr. Luzader continued to follow trade of cabinet maker in Sullivan, with Crawley and Mckinley. Later he worked in the coach department for a period of ten years. It was; in 1889 that he came to Hymera and became a funeral director. He fol- lowed this occupation until the year 1915. There are not many families in Hymera and vicinity with whom he has not come in contact in the time of death .. He is now living a re- tired life and although well along in years he is yet very active and is fortunate in having the best of health.
64
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Chapter 10. District No. 9.
L Harding 10
R Aller 21
H. Wallace
2 5
GB Peterson /6 7]
1785
A Russe
R Runt 20
Berling mill . 37 35
A Holmes
É Treadme
940-
eterson
J Nelson 40
15
CH Harding
CF Portan 40
Mireadwals JC M' Daniel
C Nicholson 20
( Mc Garvey .40
R Peterson 40
Pierce 40
E Thompson 8 2
j Wheat 40
W MiAnally 20
CAUSTOna
ER.Chapman2
Doering CoalCo
92
C. L. ?
AAU
& RANKIna
RH Freeland
J For buz 32
HMANN
QThompson 39
Thompson Heirs 272 J Wheat
20
& Mahan
E B. Petersons
17 50
GB Hill
Deerings co.
25
14
AB: +Sin 23
Mai Paterson 39
D Everly 40
Charles Mahan 40
M Mahan 40
H Barnhart
7730
E Somclend
20
R.D Willemsen 20
20
M. Mahan
80
40
CACoalco 40
J Raines 30
West Jackson Hill Coal Ca. 350
WE Sparks 40
AJ. Cutler 160
-
Madge Patton 120
District No. 9 is not an agricultu- ral district, although a great deal of farming is done. It contains several mines and its inhabitants are chiefly miners. The district has one gravel read two miles long which runs across the center of the district from east to west. It was built in 1899. This district was settled in the early part of the last century. - It is not definitely known who the very first settlers of the district were but the records show that Abraham Plew en- tered land here in 1830; Thomas Manwarring in 1831; Richard Reg- ister in 1841: Soloman Manwarring in 1842: H. Peacock in 1843; and , F. Curry in 1843. Some other pio- neers were Nicholas Cochran. Jerry Mahan. Jacob Halberstadt. George
Nelson, Leander Berlingmier and Willis French.
In the early days there were many wild animals here as else- where in the township. A story is told of the killing of a panther in this district. Mr. Sam Curry, a well known hunter, with a few of his neighbors, was cutting some wood in the forest. While they were working a panther crept up close to them. Upon seeing it the men climbed up some trees and left Mr. Curry alone. Fortunately he had a large hunting knife with which he finally killed the panther in the fight which followed. The men then re- sumed their work, just as though nothing had happened.
On Mr. Wallace's farm, in the
65
LIVIA Pallan 3950
DL Bakridge 4050
Mellisa Wardell 40
J Harding 20
40
Mary Peterson 20
3F Smith
20
Hillside Mine
12
TIM Ship's
DC2
H Gard 34.25
V. Cuminsn
M Perensont1
northwest corner of this district, there is a low field where the deer used to come at night to a "lick." The ground was so salty that no weeds or grass would grow there. The men of the neighborhood had a scaffold made so that they could hide in the trees. They used to go there before dark and climb the trees and watch for the deer. If a deer was coming in from the oppo- site direction to the wind, it usually could smell the scent of the person watching and would go away. Many deer were killed here.
A former resident of Jackson township tells the following story about himself:
"I took the advice of Greeley in the early seventies and landed in the west to hew out my fortune. I built myself a log cabin and went to clear- ing up the timber and brush in a circle around the cabin. I had cleared quite a distance back and was very busy chopping, when I heard a noise. On looking around, I saw a bear coming for me with a savage snarl. I dropped my axe and bolted for the cabin. Such. "going" would be hard to describe! At that juncture my wife came to the door of the cabin and began to yell, "Run Jim! run Jim!" emphasizing her words a little more each time, thinking to encourage me, but I needed no encouragement, for sure- ly I was making the run of my life. I landed face down in the middle of the cabin and my dutiful wife slam- med the door shut in the bear's face. She then began to tell me how she had feared for my safety. I said to her, 'Did you ever think that I would fall down on a deal like that?' "
The first school house built in the district was mode of logs and stood on the farm belonging at that time to Nicholas Cochran, but which is now owned by Ezra Thompson. It was built by subscription in 1850. It was heated by a large fireplace and the seats were puncheon. Willis French in 1860 hired a carpenter to make a seat with a back and gave it to the school as a present. The first trustee who hired teachers for
this building was James Plew. Some of the first teachers were Charles Wallace, J. A. Plew, W. Hatfield and L. Grant. .
The second school house was built in 1870. The township at that time had been redivided into districts two miles square. This school house was later moved away and used as a dwelling house.
The third school house was a brick building. It was partly de- stroyed by a storm which made a large crack on the east side. This made it both unsafe and uncomfort- able for the children. In 1907 a large frame building was erected, yet it was not large enough to ac- commodate all the children. Dur- *ing the years .1911, 1912 and 1913 a school wagon conveyed the child- ren of the sixth, seventh and eighth grades from this district to Hymer ?. The hauling of the children was dis- continued in 1914, the attendance having been decreased on account of the closing of the mines.
The men from this district who enlisted for service in the Civil War were W. Marshall, John Nelson, Jack Mahan, T. Mahan, Robert Montgomery, Henry Hughes, W. Nel- son and Heury Barnhart. Mr. Barn- hart is the only one still living. -
The first mines in this district were slope mines. One known as the Hinkle mine was situated on W. Peterson's farm and is now used as a manway to the Wilfred mine. J. Plew and Mr. Frost were managers of a slope mine on the farm .nowt owned by Dell Everly. Another was on the W. McAnally farm and was operated by Mrs. Dix and J. MeAn- ally. Another on the Pierce farin was operated by J. McAnally, W. McAnally and W. Moore .. .
The Hillside mine is situated Jn Mr. Thompson's farm, one-half mile east of the Wilfred mine. In 1904 the Baker Brothers bought the coal under twenty acres of land and op- ened the mine. They owned the mine for a few years, then sold it to Mr. City and Mr. Little. City and Little operated it only a short time, and then let it go back to the Baker Brothers. Mr. Frank Bolt and sons.
66
who are the present owners of the mine, bought it from the Baker Bro- thers in 1913. The present process of mining is pick work, although there has been a punching machine used in the mine. The vein of coal being mined is number six, about thirty-five feet from the surface, and it is a good quality of bituminous. The average output per day is twen- ty tons. The mining price is $1.00 for screen coal, the selling price is $1.50 for lump, $1.25 for nut and $.50 for slack. There are six men employed and the mine is worked throughout the year, if possible. But if the season is very dry the pond sometimes goes dry, and this makes it very difficult to supply water. They are sometimes forced to quit work for a short time.
The Wilfred Mine.
In the year 1900 an option was taken by Paul Wright on the land in this locality for the purpose of sinking a mine. He bought six hun- dred acres of land at thirty dollars an acre, Mr. Thomas Manwarring be- ing the first to sell. After the coal was obtained the Wilfred Coal Com- pany under the management of Har- man, Freeman and Black of Indiana- polis, begn drilling. Three prospec- tive holes were driven to No. 5 vein but No. 6 vein was the most profit- able, so in July, 1902, the mine was begun and was completed by Christ- mas of the same year. The No. 6 vein here was found at the depth of ninety-eight feet and proved to be a good quality of bituminous.
About thirty houses, all on the same plan, were built by the com- pany for the use of the miners. The railroad switch was built by the com- pany but was later taken by the E. & T. H. Railroad Company. The greatest output of coal at this mine was one thousand one hundred and fifty tons per day, although the av- erage output was seven hundred tons. The price of mining the coal varied from time to time but usually ranged from thirty-two to sixty-three cents per . ton for screened coal. There were about one hundred and fifty men employed the first year but later the average number employed
was about two hundred and twenty. The price of labor inside was from $2.56 to $2.84 per day.
This mine had few strikes. The longest one was caused by the issu- ing of checks instead of money. There have been a few accidents that have been fatal to some of the men employed. Some of the men who lost their lives here were Elmer De- Lap, Mr. Batson, .Mr. Trueblood, George Patton, and Harvey Marlow. After operating this mine for two years the - Wilfred Coal Company sold it to the Deering Coal Company who operated it for four years. Later it was leased by the Brazil Block Company and operated by them for four years. It was then leased by the T. Wooley Coal Com- pany who operated it for two years or until the coal was worked out. It was abandoned in April, 1914.
The Oak Grove Church and Cemetery.
About the year 1895 Mr. and Mrs. Monroe Peterson, Mr. and Mrs. Elijah Peterson, Mrs. Clara McAn- a'ly and John D. McDaniel, organiz- ed a Sunday school which met in No. 9 school house. Mrs. Clarke Richard- son was one of the first superinten- dents. Ministers came from other churches and preached here, for they had no regular preacher, at this time. In 1897 the old log house of the Presbyterian church at Bald- ridge was moved here. One acre of land just east of the railroad on the north side of the road was deeded by Mr. William Halberstadt for the church lot. When the log house was moved it had to be repaired. This work was donated by the people of the community. It was bought by the donation of the people. When the Wilfred mine was sunk the coal company traded one acre of land to the church for the coal which was under the lot where the church house stands. This acre was used as a cemetery. After the new church building was complete they organ- ized a United Brethren church and this building became known as the Oak Grove U. B. church instead of a union church as before. 'Some of the first ministers were Willie Hal-
67
berstadt, now minister of the U. B. church at Terre Haute, Newton Royar, of Clay City, Rev. Harbet, Rev. Miller, Rev. Eliot, Rev. Bran- denburg, Rev. Forewood and Rev. Schoonover were Jater ministers. Rev. Fouts is the present minister. The church was at first in the Lower Wabash Conference circuit, but is now in the Indiana Conference,
Washington District circuit. There have been no prominent gatherings except the regular quarterly meet- ings. There has always been a good Sunday school connected with the church. In the year 1908 there were fifty-two new members added to the church. Rev. Brandenburg carried on the revival. There are now only sixty-eight members, sev- eral having been removed by letter and a few by death.
The graveyard is north of the church house. There are not many graves in it. On account of the coal being taken out underneath, several have been taken up and buried else- where. There are but two stones, those of Claude Halberstadt and Roy McLennan's baby. All other graves are marked by wooden or stone slabs.
Mr. and Mrs. George B. Peterson.
· Mr. George B. Peterson, or "Un- cle George" as he is better known, was born in November, 1842, in Franklin county, Indiana. He came with his parents to Sullivan county when he was seven years old, and lo- cated in Curry township, near Eben- ezer church. He came to Jackson township a few years later and has lived here ever since, except four-
teen years he spent in Illinois. He was married to Lydia Barnhart Sep- tember 13, 1864. She is still living and is sixty-seven years old. Mr. Peterson's occupation is that of a farmer. He has had a few years ex- perience as a coal miner. He worked in No. 31 mine at Hymera (later No.
34), when he first came to Jackson township. He . became a charter member of Oak Grove church when the class was organized. Mr. and Mrs. Peterson are both in very poor health. They have no children.
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Barnhart.
Henry Barnhart, a son of Henry and Margaret Barnhart, was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, April 23, 1843. In the fall of 1847 his father moved to Owen county. Indiana, where he lived for six years. In 1853 his parents moved to Sullivan county, one-half mile south of Hy- mera. Mr. Barnhart has lived in Jackson township ever since. He was drafted to serve in the Civil War, October 14, 1864, in Company A, of the 57th Regiment of Infantry. He was wounded and taken prisoner at Franklin, Tennessee. He came home in the fall of 1865. On Oct. 1. 1868, he was married to Emily Jane Zink, daughter of Michael and Clarice Zink. To them have been born six children, four girls and two boys. In the fall of 1868 he became assessor and served for two years. Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Hinkle Nelson.
Nathan Hinkle Nelson was born in Vermillion county, Illinois, August 10, 1848. At the age of three years he came with his parents to Jackson township. When he was four years old his father died and his mother found it very difficult to rear her large family. His opportunities for education were limited. He atten- ded school at the Plew school house at the time when the school was on- ly three months long. At the age of twenty-four he was married to Amelia E. Harding, daughter of ci local preacher. There were born ta Mr. and Mrs. Nelson four children. They are Margaret, Helen, Mary and Charles. All are living but Charles, who was killed in the tile factory in November. 1914. Mrs. Nelson died March 10, 1910.
68
Chapter 11. District No. 10.
SoranSharp
Thealls Plen 76 /2
H Butler
TTigton
B. Typtan
Joe Tipten
Case
J Benefield 3062
Abe House 3736
3 VABrock
J Curry Estate 695€
A Marshall 465
Gardener
A Bos .
16
CS B.dders $160
Sills 60
coal Co 40.15
Frank $ curry
6 Everhart
Vanarsdal 39
Fairbanks LandCo 140
6
C Dumond 29
10
6. Shepherd J. Crynes
Warren Coal Co
80
£ A Marrain 13 45
16 MINODA
Fair banks LandCo
P. Shophand 39 %
40
No 10 SchonT
-
Mary Bedden 40
Fill Nead
741
Jackson Hill Coat Ca 100
N Clark
fairbanks Land + Construction Co
472
C. Shophan 40
C Rusher 40
1
357
Ceo Brown 19.80
L Marshall 40
Jackson Hill Cost Co 30
E Bursa
O Bello 4
District No. 10 is very rough and broken, although there is some good farming land. This section of the, township has more mines than any other section. Mining is the prin- cipal industry, although some farm- ing is done.
This district was settled In the early part of the last century. It is not known just when the first set- tlers came to this district. However, the records show that in 1829 Mich- ael Ring entered a tract of land in this district. Land was also entered by James Smith in 1832, by . Adam Wilson in 1837, .by Ezekiah and Stephen Shepherd in 1837, by Thos. and George Shepherd in 1838. by Francis Jolinson in 1838, and by Wabash and Erie Canal Company in
1847. Some other old residents were Daniel Ring, Hosea Payne, Soloman Manwarring, Jacob Wyman, W. N. Patton, J. Patton and , Milton Wilson. The first school house in this district was built in 1855, and was made of logs. Some of the first teachers who taught here were Mr. Gant, Mr. Wolfenberger, Leander Botts, Mr. McMullen, Mr. King, Miss Sallie Canan, Miss Susan Johnson, Miss Mary Jane Ford, (now Mrs. Curry), George Ford, Miss Divine, U. E. Nead. and J. Marlowe. The names of some of the families whose children attended here are Marratta, Shepherd, Hays. Welty, Gaskell, Pat- ton, Johnson, Ring, Ford, Everhart. Campbell, Hamilton, Nead, Marshall, Hughes, Wyman, Wright, Zink, and
69
.
36 50 D Cain
14
34
Fairbanks Land Co 10153
20
.
WS ClorN 10
.
714
2
20
18
Payne. "Spelling Bees" and debates were held in this school house dur- ing the winter evenings. A Sunday school was conducted here during the spring, summer and fall of each year. The second school house, a frame building, was built in 1872 south west of the old log house. This building is still standing and is used as a dwelling house.
The third building used for a school house was a Jackson Hill Coal Company house at Jackson Hill. This was rented because the second one was too crowded. The last school building built in this district is the present brick building, built in 1897.
The first mill in this secton of the country was built by Richard Clam- pitt about the year 1829. It was lo- cated southeast of Hymera and all the grinding done for a large sec- tion of the country was done at this mill.
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