History of the Ohio falls cities and their counties : with illustrations and bibliographical sketches, Vol. II, Part 71

Author: Williams, L.A., & Co., Cleveland
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Cleveland, Ohio : L. A. Williams & Co.
Number of Pages: 680

USA > Ohio > History of the Ohio falls cities and their counties : with illustrations and bibliographical sketches, Vol. II > Part 71

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The original forest furnished a great source of income to the first settlers. When steamboat building was engaged in so extensively by the cities around the Falls, thousands of feet of sawed lumber were shipped yearly to these points. Nothing but the finest of timber could be used to good advantage, and in cutting no pains were taken to preserve the noblest of the trees. An unsparing hand cut them without a thought of the present scarcity, even of good rail timber. Trees from fifty to sixty feet in height, and as straight as a die, fell promiscu- ously.

There was never a dense undergrowth in the

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HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.

Silver creek valley. Ten or twelve years after the township was established, a fine crop of pea- vines completely covered the face of the country. For several years it was unnecessary to provide for the winter stock. All that was required was to turn loose the cows, and they lived in luxury. The vines were nutritious and for quite a while supplied all the necessary food for stock. Con- stant pasturage on account of their tenderness, caused them to decline rapidly, and after 1820, they ceased to grow.

An early resident, the oldest living woman in the county, Miss Rachael Fleharty, says the country when she came here was an unbroken cane-brake from the Ohio river at Utica to the foot of the knobs in Floyd county. A few paths led in circuitous routes to some of the principal springs or licks, but there was no well-defined track in any direction. The cane grew from fif- teen to twenty feet high, and so thick as so be al- most impenetrable. These cane-brakes were fairly alive with game. Bear, deer, wolves, foxes, and panthers roamed in complete possession of the forest. There seemed to be no end to their numbers. It was foolhardy to venture far from home without the best of protection and a com- plete mastery of the situation. The cane was generally got rid of by fires in the spring or a dry hot month during the summer. It was only by continual burnings that it could be kept down. There are left yet a few patches along the small streams, as reminders of a day long gone by.

Aside from the peavines and canebrakes, there was never a growth of saplings or briars to a great extent. After the first clearings were made, very little trouble was had on account of sprouts, bushes, and young briars springing up to harass the husbandman.

Silver creek is the principal stream in the township, also the principal one in the county. It forms the eastern boundary of the township. Its tributaries are few, the largest being the Elk run.

The Jeffersonville and Salem road passed through the township at an early day. It has been particularly described in the history of the township of Carr.

THE CEMENT BUSINESS.

The following extract from the State Geologi- cal Report for Clark and Floyd counties, made

in 1873 by Professor W. W. Borden, will illus- trate the extent of this industry in this region, although some of the facts and figures given have since changed in measure:

On the Indiana side of the river, in Clark county, six miles from Jeffersonville, on the J., M. & I. railroad, on the bank of Silver creek, is the cement-mill of Hobn & Com- pany. The hydraulic limestone ontcrops in the bank of the creek, and presents the same characteristics as at the Falls. This mill has four kilns and two run of stone. A short dis- tance farther down the creek, near the railroad bridge, on tract number forty-eight, is the Black Diamond mill of Dex- ter, Belknap & Company. This mill has sufficient capacity to manufacture seventy-five thousand barrels of cement per an- num. It contains two sets of burr-stones and three kilns, and furnishes employment to thirty men. The fuel used is Pitts- burg coal. The sales of the company amount to thirty thon- sand barrels of cement per annum, and it is shipped in bulk, sacks, and barrels to all parts of the country. The hydraulic limestone used is obtained from the bank of Silver creek, beneath the mill. A section measured here exhibits: I, alluvium, 4 feet; 2, dark-colored hydraulic limestone, six to eight feet; 3, hard, dark-colored cement stone, seven feet; 4, corniferons limestone in the creek, six feet. The four-foot bed of crinoidal limestone usually capping the hydraulic being absent in this quarry, the only stripping required is the removal of the earth. The stone, as a general thing, is con- siderably harder and of a darker color than at the exposures; but the quality of the cement manufactured is of the best brand.

About eight miles from Jeffersonville, near the Jefferson- ville, Madison, & Indianapolis railroad is D. Belknap & Co.'s Falls City mill. The hydraulic limestone here attains a thickness of thirteen feet, with no overlying crinoidal lime- stone. The quarry is very extensive, and furnishes all the limestone the mill is capable of grinding. The buhrs are of the best quality and four and one-half feet in diameter. The fuel employed in the four kilns used for calcining the stone is bituminous nut coal.

At Petersburg, near the crossing of the Jeffersonville, Madi- son & Indianapolis railroad over Muddy fork of Silver creek, and at Watson, on the Vernon branch of the Ohio & Mississippi railroad, Messrs. J. Speed & Co. have two of the largest mills engaged in the manufacture of cement. The one at Petersburg has the capacity to produce one hundred thon- sand barrels per year, and employs about sixty men. There are four sets of French buhrs, four feet and a half in diam- eter. The kilns are eight in number, built of the crinoidal limestone which overlies the hydraulic, and lined with fire- brick brought from Pomeroy, Ohio. They are each capable of producing from fifty to one hundred and twenty-five bar- rels per day.

.During six days of Angust, 1873, six kilns at this mil made 2,395 barrels of cement. A section of the quarry ad- joining showed the soil to be from four to six feet deep. The companies manufacturing cement on both sides of the Ohio river, in Indiana and Kentucky, have formed a co-partner- ship under the name of the Union Cement association, and have appointed Philip Speed, Esq., agent, with an office at No. 113 Main street, Louisville. To this association all the mills make returns, and are apportioned a certain amount of cement to manufacture, so as not to glut the market. From data obtained at the office we tabulate the following statis- tics :

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HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.

List of Firms.

Brands. Capacity. Sales.

W. F. Beach,

Clarksville, Ind. . Red Brand

50,000 22,350

W. S. Hohn & Co.

Cementville Ind. . Silver Creek

75,000 35.245

Dexter, Belknap &

Co. Cementville. . Black Diamond.

Dexter, Belknap &

Co., Sellersburg .. Falls City

300,000 137,471

Dexter, Belknap & Co., Louisville ... Crescent City

J. Speed & Co.,

Shippingsport, ... Louisville Cement Co. )

J. Speed & Co., Watson, Ind Louisville Cement Co. 8400,000 166, 100

I. Speed & Co., Petersburg, Ind .. Louisville Cemen! Co.

The month of December sales not included

30,000

Total barrels 391,166

This statement was made in 1873. Since that time there have been marked increases in capacity as well as sales. The future of the township, taken from the stand-point of the economic geologist, is one full of promise. Louisville cement, improperly so called, has a national reputation. It is safe to say that one- fourth of the cement used in the United States is manufactured in these two counties, but mostly in Indiana, as the table will show. Future his- torians must tell the story of what has been ac- complished within the next half century.

IMPROVEMENTS.

Before the boundary lines of the county were changed so as to throw that portion west of Silver creek into Floyd county, there were few roads of general importance. Perhaps it is safe to say there were no roads in the township, before that mentioned in the first paragraph of this sketch.

The Utica and Salem road ran from the Ohio river by New Providence and the way villages to its terminus. One authority places the date of this road at 18ro, but it is improbable, because about this time the canebrakes in the Silver creek bottoms certainly prevented any regularly established road in this section. The date of the Utica and Salem road can be safely placed at 1820. Several years after the first roadway was laid out, the route was made more direct by leav- ing New Providence to the south three or four miles.

In regard to the railroads of the township, they are all adapted to develop the resources of the country. The Jeffersonville, Madison & Indi- anapolis railroad enters the township at the south side, by crossing Silver creek, and thence pass- ing directly from one side to the other, mak- ing altogether about five miles and a half of rail-

road in the township. The Louisville, New Al- bany & Chicago railroad strikes the township in the extreme western corner, and passes through it from one quarter to half a mile. This latter railroad has a station in the township-St. Joseph's Hill.

MILLS.

The history of Silver Creek township, as related to mills, is very extended. It comprises many of the first and foremost mills of the county. Silver creek and Muddy fork were admirable streams for mill sites, and here many of the first mills in the county sprang into existence. There are few months of the year when these creeks fail to supply a sufficient quantity of water to carry on milling, but on a somewhat limited scale. Silver creek is fed by streams which take their rise among the knobs, and the numerous springs which gush forth from the extensive lime- stone formations in the county. For these rea- sons there is always a plentiful supply of water.

Spencer Collins, one of a family intimately connected with the first settlements in Monroe township, built a grist-mill on Muddy fork as early as 1800, near where the village of Peters- burg stands. Here he worked at his trade for a number of years, until the mill finally came into the hands of Samuel and Peter Bottorff, in 1815. The original Collins mill had two buhr stones, and was of the undershot pattern. In 1816 Henry Bottorff gained possession of the mill, which he continued to run until 1850. During its history of three-quarters of a century it has been rebuilt three times, changed names often, and passed through several hands.

One year ago it stopped running on account of several causes, and yet stands idle with all the machinery in it. There is a plan on foot, however, to set the old mill to work, and let it terminate its existence in 1900-one hundred years from the time of its birth.

"The old Redman mill," as people are wont to call it, occupies a fine site on Silver creek, east of the center of the township. It was here as early as 1815. It was of the undershot kind, and for many years did a large amount of work for the pioneers. Like its predecessor, the Col- lins mill, it has undergone many changes, both in rebuilding and proprietorship. During its event- ful experience it has been actively engaged, and is now owned and run by Mr. William Straw.

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HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.

Steam power is used to a considerable extent, but more particularly when the busy season brings in a large country trade. There is also a steam saw-mill attached to the flouring depart ment.

Montgomery's mill, one and three-fourths of a mile above Petersburg, on Elk run, was one of the first mills built in this end of the county. Its capacity ranged from two to three bushels per hour. It was kept busy during the fall and spring; but when summer came the supply of water fell short, and grinding had to be sus- pended for a few months. At last it went down, the natural result of all similar enterprises which belong to a pioneer age, and which are left to maintain an existence against modern mill- wrights.

An early writer says:

Many of the best citizens of the township had still-houses. The manufacture of whiskey was a paying business; and preachers, or those who took more interest in religion than anything else, considered it an honorable as well as a profit- able industry.

SCHOOLS.

Owing to the earliness with which the town- ship was settled, some of the first schools in the county were originated in the Silver Creek valley. They were like most other schools of that day, which have been minutely described in other township histories. The school which, perhaps, more than any other, deserves mention, was one kept by Richard Slider, or on his farm, on the bank of Elk run, as early as 18ot. Of course the house was a rude affair. Scholars were sent from the thin settlements roundabout, and were only in attendance from six to eight weeks within the year. Among the first teachers were James McCoy, Andrew McCafferty, George McCulloch, and Spenser Little. The old Slider school was kept in running order for a number of years, after which, on account of untoward circum- stances, it ceased to exist.

Mr. Wells's school, on Camp run, was early set in motion. It was not so ancient as the Slider school, but is generally recognized as of pioneer relationship by many of the settlers. Mr. Ballard was one of the first teachers. After the State school laws came into force, the first of what are now called district schools was the John A. Smith school-house. There are in the township at present six schools and about four hundred and twenty-five scholars.

Mr. James Brown, now of Wood, but who for many years was a citizen of Silver Creek town- ship, engaged in farming and whip-sawing, speaks of the early schools thus :

The first school-house of which I have any knowledge was built on Camp run, a quarter of a mile above where the · Jef- fersonville, Madison & Indianapolis railroad crosses the creek. The house was built of logs; and the windows, which sufficed for light, were made by cutting a log partly out on each side of the house. Across the holes were pinned perpendicular sticks, with greased paper pasted over them, which served for glass. A large mud-and-stick chimney was at one end of the house. Long, rude puncheons, with the upper side smoothed by means of a broad-axe, and legs put in the outer side, served as seats when turned upside down.' Another house, pretty much after the same fashion, and built about the same time, was the Cunningham Settlement school, a quarter of a mile above where Hamburg now stands, on the State road leading from Jeffersonville to Terre Haute. Around this house at one time was quite a large graveyard ; but it with the house has long since disappeared, with now but a single evergreen to mark the old site.

Mr. Brown says also of the old Redman mill :

The first mill I have any knowledge of was an old-time water-mill, with a saw-mill attached to it, about two and a half miles from where the Jeffersonville, Madison & In- dianapolis railroad crosses Silver creek. It was built and owned by Rezin Redman, a Tippecanoe veterans.

The same gentleman, in speaking of other things, says :

Great changes have taken place since then in regard to the forests of the township. Many of the settlers, the pioneers of the forest, those who came here before the canebrakes were cleared off, have passed away, leaving, however, im- pressions which time can never erase.

In speaking of fruit he says :

Wild fruits in the forest at that time (18ro) were quite common. Towards the fall of the year apples lay profusely on the ground in different places, also wild plums and grapes. Now there are scarcely any left.

TAVERNS.

John A. Smith's tavern on the old State road, one mile and a half southeast of Bennettsville, was one of the first stopping-places for travelers in the township. It was on this highway that a stage made regular trips between Salem and Jeffersonville; and here at Smith's tavern horses were changed and passengers given time to alight, stretch themselves, take a nip of whiskey or a bowl of toddy, and again take their seats for the rest of the journey. The buildings were of logs -dwelling-house and all. A part of the old building is yet standing, though a few years more will convert the logs into their original elements.

CHURCHES.

Religiously, Silver creek township is promi-

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HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.

nent. It was from within the narrow limits of this little body of land that many of the most striking incidents in this county were enacted. There emanated from this valley a succession of religious tenets which resulted in a vast amount of good. There was, probably, no township in the county which was so admirably adapted to thorough religious growth. The set- tlers were made up of men well balanced and incapable of being led astray by fanatical theories on theological subjects. Church members were careful in the observance of law in spirit as well as in form; hence the result.

The old Hard-shell Baptist church northwest of Hamburg, one half-mile, was erected in 1820, or thereabouts. It was a log-house, fashioned after the style of churches in those days. The Littells, Absalom and Thompson, brothers, were the first preachers of this denomination on this side of the county. Their influence extended for miles in all directions, where they were well and favorably known. For their members there were the Cunningham family, some of the Bot- torff's, and others. When Dr. Alexander Camp- bell created so much excitement in 1832-35, the old church divided, the major portion of its members going over to the new faith. The old log-house, with most of its first members, those who came here attracted by curiosity and a love of display, everybody who helped to make up the audience, mostly have passed away.

At an early day the Methodists had no regu- lar place of worship in the township. The first appointment of the Rev. William McMahon, one of five brothers who were Methodist Episcopal preachers, after his admission.on trial at the Ohio conference of 1811, was to the "Silver Creek circuit, on Clark's Grant, in the territory of Indi- ana." This was a year of Indian troubles, dur- ing which the battle of Tippecanoe was fought, and as much of Mr. McMahon's large circuit was on the frontier, he found the people very much alarmed, fortifying themselves in block- houses and forts, and himself thought it expedi- ent, if not necessary, to carry his gun constantly as he traveled from station to station preaching the Word. It was also the earthquake year, and this combined with the Indian terrors to make his early ministry very effective. He soon in- creased the membership in his circuit from three hundred and eighty-one to five hundred and

fifty-five. He was afterwards the chief human instrument in establishing Methodism in northern Alabama, and became very celebrated. He was still living in 1869.

Mr. Henry Bottorff's home on Muddy fork was always a stopping-point for traveling preachers. Here services were held for a number of years once every month, to which everybody came re- gardless of doctrine. Mr. Bottorff was a man of great religious zeal, and aided in many ways in promoting the cause of Methodism.

Revs. John Garner, Mr. Garner (probably the father of the former), and Cornelius Ruddell, were early preachers. These men traveled the country for miles in all directions, but mainly be- tween the Big Miami and the Wabash rivers. Mr. Brown, of Wood, says again:

The first church of which I have any knowledge was the Silver Creek church, on the bank of Silver creek, between a quarter and a half-mile above where Harrod's mill now stands. It belonged to the Regular Baptist denomination. About 1826 it divided into three classes : the Missionary Bap- tists, the Christians or Campbellites, and the Regular Bap- tists. The leaders of the various denominations were as follows: Of the Regular Baptists, Rev. Isaac Wherl and Mr. M. Sellers; of the Missionary Baptists, John McCoy and others; Christians, A. Littell. The house was held by the last of these; but they have since removed their place of worship near Charlestown to a place called Stony Point. The old church has long since been removed, as far as I know.

In speaking of the establishment of Sunday- schools, he says:

Among the oldest farms of Silver Creek township was one owned by a Mr. Neal. He had cleared the ground, culti- vated it, lived, died, and was buried on the farm where he first settled. After his death it came into possession of a Mr. Clayton, who about fifty years ago opened a Sunday- school at his house and held it for over three years. He either furnished the books himself or they were presented to the school by the Presbyterian church of New Albany. This school was of great advantage to Silver Creek township, and is the first Sunday-school of which I know, although it is said there was one held at Utica previous to this time by the Methodist order.

Among the most efficient and intelligent preachers of the township and county is Nathan- iel Fields, now of Jeffersonville. "He has been an earnest exponent of the Scriptures for over fifty years, and a journalist of more than ordinary ability."

Rev. A. N. Littell gives this choice bit of church and biographical history:

In 1799 that part of the county known by the name of Sil- ver Creek township was inhabited only by the red man of the forest. There was no song save the savage chant, no prayer

389

HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.

save that offered to the Great Spirit under the shadows of the tall oaks.

In the latter part of the year 1799, Elder Absalom Littell, of the Presbyterian church, emigrated from Pennsylvania to what was then the far west, settling on the west side of Silver creek, in Clark's Grant, in the Northwest Territory. Indiana at that day was sparsely settled. There were no settlements between the Territory and the Rocky mountains except a few French settlements or forts, containing but a small number of Americans. In 1788, twelve months preceding the emigra- tion of the Littells, the first Protestant congregation was organized in the State. This was a regular Baptist church, composed of four members and established on the Philadel- phia confession of faith. The organization was effected a few miles northeast of the Littell settlement, but the first house of worship was subsequently erected on the east bank of Silver creek, near the Littell farm. It afterwards became widely known as the Regular Baptist church at Silver creek, the oldest Protestant church in the State. The sons of Ab- salom, Sr., Absalom, Jr., and John T. became members. They afterwards became ministers, and as such preached for their church many years. In consequence, however, of some theological difference, the church split, one part retaining the old name. But before this trouble it had attained to a goodly number of members, among whom we might men- tion Moses W. Sellers, who afterwards became a preacher, and Elder John McCoy. The other part renounced all creeds and confessions of faith, taking the Bible alone for their guide. Upon this platform the Christian church was organized, with Absalom aod John T. Littell as leading spir- its. They occupied for a while alternately the same house with the Baptists. Afterwards a regular class was organized at a small school-bouse on Camp run, with Elder A. Littell as pastor. He had as co-laborers Jacob Cris and John Mar- vitz, with John Adams and George Campbell as deacons. Here they continued from 1832 10 1837, but in the meantime Rev. Solomon Jacobs (Methodist) had preached 'to good profit. A good Sunday-school was organized, with William Hartley and A. N. Littell as superintendents. In 1837 the Camp Ruo Christian church concluded to build a church at Hamburg. The house was a brick, built on lot number three, School street, and had a seating capacity of three hun- dred. In 1840 the class removed to their new house. In the year 1859 Absalom Littell, nephew to Elder Absalom Littell, was ordained for the ministry, having been licensed to preach one year before. In 1861 the younger Littell was chosen elder of the church, and was ordained as such.

About the year 1828 the Regular Baptists organized a church in the town of Sellersburg, building a frame house capable of seating four hundred. M. W. Sellers, assisted by John McCoy, was in charge. After some years of use the house was burned, which greatly afflicted the church. But by the zeal and undying energy of Moses W. Sellers and others, the house was re-built-a frame, on the other side of the street. It had a seating capacity of four to five hundred. Mr. Sellers still remains as pastor. A Sunday-school was organized, with A. N. Littell as superintendent. It was com- posed of all denominations.

The Regular Baptists, as they were then called, continued to worship in their house for several years. Finally they changed their name from Regular to Missionary Baptists, worshipping as such for quite a time. For some cause they got in the background, and continued to go down. In the meantime Rev. George K. Hester, of Charlestown, preached occasionally, followed by Rev. Peter H. Bottorff and others.

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History of the Ohio falls cities and their counties : with illustrations and bibliographical sketches, Vol. II, Part 71

Author: Williams, L.A., & Co., Cleveland Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Cleveland, Ohio : L. A. Williams & Co. Number of Pages: 680

Author: Williams, L.A., & Co., Cleveland
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Cleveland, Ohio : L. A. Williams & Co.
Number of Pages: 680