USA > Ohio > History of the Ohio falls cities and their counties : with illustrations and bibliographical sketches, Vol. II > Part 73
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105
CHAPTER XXV. UTICA TOWNSHIP.
ORGANIZATION AND TOPOGRAPHY.
This is a township which lies in the southeast- ern corner of the county, organized some thirty- five years ago out of those larger similar divisions of territory by which it is surrounded. It took its name from the village of Utica, and is bounded on the north by the township of Charlestown; on the east by the Ohio river, which flows in a southwesterly direction and washes from eight to nine miles of its territory ; on the south by the river and Jeffersonville township; and on the west by the townships of Jeffersonville and Silver Creek.
There are few extremes of soil or surface, streams or timber. The climate is mild, similar to that of most of the other townships. There is a pleasant breeze during most of the summer, which makes the residences along the river, on the Utica and Jeffersonville turnpike, healthy places in which to live. Many years ago, before the present high state of cultivation was reached by the settlers, there was a good deal of ague and fever in the bottoms. The lowlands along the river were formerly somewhat badly noted, on ac- count of the malaria which seemed to hover over the country for many years. Sickness is now seldom produced by reason of decomposed veg- etation. The surface is level. It is properly an extended bottom, beginning at the Ohio river, and after rising in one or two terraces west of the village of Utica, continues without any marked interruptions until it reaches the knobs. It spreads out into the finest farming lands in the county. Fine dwelling-houses, with all their necessary out-buildings, dot the country all over the township. On the pike leading to Jefferson- ville this is especially true; also on the Charles- town pike-if a pike it can be called. The township above Utica is somewhat more elevated than that part lying below the village on the river. It is along these bluffs, where so much of the famous Louisville lime is burned, of which we shall speak more particularly in coming pages.
Prof. Borden, in the State Geological Report, says of the soil:
A part of the land in Utica township has not only the. wash of the corniferous and Niagara limestone of this region upon it, but is in good part a river terrace, composed of
395
HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
altered drift, sand, and gravel, with numerous aboriginal kitchen heaps. In the gravel or altered drift of this region are found mastodon remains and recent wood at as great a depth as thirty feel, which seems to indicate the situation of an old nver or lake bed. Some of these deposits belong to the Champlain epoch, and these ancient waters must have washed the highlands about Charlestown, as on several oc- casions, in sinking wells in the old court-house yard and other elevated positions in that town, pine or cedar wood has been exhumed.
Utica township is a noted market-garden locality, supply- ing Louisville and the cities about the falls with a large quan- tity of garden products-melons, sweet potatoes, Irish pota- toes, and a great variety of fruits. The soil is also favorable to the growth of corn and grass. Wheat does well and ripens early.
The geologist should have added that stock- growing forms a leading industry among the many wealthy farmers, and also that dairying is a source of much income. Some of the land around Utica is admirably adapted to grazing, many of the farmers dealing in stock almost en- tirely. One dairyman, living beyond Utica on the Charlestown pike, makes the run daily to Louisville, doing an immense business. There is certainly a fine opportunity for making money in this line of business in this section.
The original forest here was very dense and fine. All the country between the river and the knobs was covered by a splendid growth of oak, poplar, with some walnut, button-wood or sycamore, hackberry, blue and white ash, and buckeye. When the Woodses settled at the present site of Utica, nearly one hundred years ago, pea-vines covered the whole face of the' country from the river to the knobs, extending as far north as the ancient hamlet of Springville. They, however, only lasted for a few years after the settlements became pretty well established. Constant pasturage by the cattle which were turned out to range, soon destroyed their spon- taneity. These vines resembled very much the growth of clover nowadays. They were very nutritious, and during the fall stock lived without the least care from their owners, except that they had to be called in at night and turned loose in the morning.
Utica township had, early in the century, an almost impenetrable canebrake, which covered the lower lands, those more particularly known as the "wash of the corniferous or Niagara lime- stone." These fastnesses were alive with all manner of game, from the otter and muskrat to the bear and the deer. Cane grew in great
.
abundance along the creek bottoms. It was along these streams, in later years, after the " pea-vine country," as the emigrants called it, had totally disappeared, that the great hunters of the county delighted to watch for an unlucky fawn or black bear. Many hard-fought battles were had in that wilderness, which will never be recorded in history. The State Geologist, in speaking of prehistoric animals, has this to say :
Some years since Mr. McWilliams, Colonel J. F. Willey, and J. Coons obtained in a sand bank, on track number fifty- five of the Grant, the skeleton of a mastodon (11. giganteus). A part of the bones were sent to the old Louisville museum ; the remainder are in possession of Mr. J. Coons, who pro- poses to forward them to the State cabinet. A tusk six feet in length, which was taken out at the time, crumbled to pieces soon after being exposed to the air. Mastodon remains have frequently been found in the bank of the river at New Al- bany, in the same geological position.
When the surveying parties laid off the tracts -supposed to contain five hundred acres -- "more or less," as the deeds said, but which nearly always had "more"-the Grant abounded in game of all kinds. Those who by chance re- ceived their tracts in the rich bottoms of Utica were displeased, because at that time game was more plentiful in the knobs. The land itself had no value to the soldiers of General Clark, except for the game which it provided. It is said that some of those who received their land in the bottoms made even exchanges with some of their friends for land in the knobs. The former is now worth $100 per acre; the latter from $1.50 to $10.
Miss Rachael Fleharty tells many wonderful stories of pioneer life in Utica township at an early day. Not only did the fox, the panther, the wild-cat, the bear, and wolf infest the pio- neer's premises, but the red man was not always on terms of the friendliest intimacy. Before 1800 there was no time when it was considered safe to venture far from home without weapons and a complete confidence that one white man was equal to two Indians. Bands of roving sav- ages prowled around, often causing much alarm among the settlers at Utica.
GEOLOGY.
This is one of those rich geological fields where both the amateur and the experienced geologist can find many things of interest in their science. The Cincinnati group, of which we have spoken more particularly in the history of Bethlehem township, outcrops here in fine order.
396
HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
The following section corresponds with the stone at Utica: "1, corniferous limestone; 12 feet ; 2, yellow rock, magnesian limestone, 20 feet; 3, "grandad" limestone, used for building purposes, 4 feet; 4, gray crystalline limestone, Niagara, 14 feet ; 5, crinoidal limestone, 6 feet. Total, 50 feet." This section is quarried exten- sively for building purposes and for making lime.
From the time the Woods families settled at Utica to the present day, lime has been manu- factured in this vicinity. It was not until 1868 Of 1870, however, that lime-burning was con- sidered a profitable industry here. The burnings previous to this time were on a limited scale. Within the above-named year the Utica Lime company, with headquarters at Louisville, erected two kilns, with a capacity of one hundred barrels per day, and valued at $10,000. This company has been actively engaged during the last fifteen years in burning lime, employing from ten to twenty hands regularly. Wages average $1.50 per day. The lime stratum is fourteen feet in thickness.
The first gentleman prominently engaged in the manufacture of lime at Utica was Mr. M. H. Tyler, who had built a kiln and made additions until at last its capacity was about two hundred barrels daily. In 1870 the Louisville Cement company bought out Mr. Tyler, also the firm of H. C. Emerke, whose capacity for burning was about one hundred and twenty barrels per day. This company has four kilns, two for coal, which turn out one hundred barrels daily, and two which burn wood, making in all a capacity of five hundred and twenty barrels a day. Lime is now selling (December 1, 1881) at fifty-five cents per barrel. The cost of burning is twenty-five cents, not including the stone. The property is valued at $25,000. Thirty-five hands are em- ployed, wages ranging from $1.40 to $1.75 a day.
The rocks used for lime belong to the Niagara epoch. The following section of the Niagara group was obtained at Speed's quarry: Cornifer- ous limestone, twelve feet; yellow rock, impure limestone, twenty feet; building stone, four feet ; gray crystalline limestone, burned for lime, four- teen feet ; upper bed crinoidal limestone, two feet; crinoidal bed containing Caryocrinus ornatus, etc., etc., four feet; gray limestone, eight feet ; magnesian limestone, five feet; total, ninety-six feet.
.
The limestone one, two, and three, taken in their order from the above, were used in the construction of the Ohio river bridge al Louisville. This bridge is one of the finest structures of the kind in the United States, and was built at a cost of over $2,000,000. The following communication concerning it is from the Louisville Bridge and Iron com- pany :
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, November 25, 1873. WILLIAM W. BORDEN, EsQ.,
Assistant Geologist, Indiana.
DEAR SIR,-Yours of the 25th instant is at hand. We made no detailed experiments of the crushing strength of the Utica stone which is used in the Ohio river bridge, having been perfectly satisfied with its character, appearance, and chemical composition, that there was no doubt of its being able to do all that would be required of it in this respect. We compared its ability to withstand the action of the frost with that of five or six other stones with which we were ac- quainted, by the method given in Millan's Civil Engineering, page eleven, and found it perfectly satisfactory. We did not allow the ledges with blue seams to be used in the face work. Regretting that I am unable to give you more definite information, I am
Yours respectfully,
J. W. VAUGHN, Vice-president.
J. Speed, Esq., has erected at Utica two of Page's patent kilns, each producing one hundred and twenty barrels of lime per day. At Robinson's landing, a few miles above Utica, Mr. Jacob Robinson burns of the same stone ten thousand barrels per year. The fuel used is wood, and it re- quires four cords to burn one kiln. The Utica Lime com- pany use a mixture of wood and coal, and have two kilns, each producing ninety barrels of well-burnt lime per day. The Louisville Cement and Lime company, the Utica Lime company, and Mr. Jacob Robinson, burn one hundred and twenty-five thousand barrels of lime per year, employing in the business a large number of hands.
The Niagara limestone is seen again a short distance above Utica, at Charlestown landing. This is one of the oldest landings on the river. It was selected by the early set- tlers as being free from danger, which might occur upon landing their arks near the Great Falls, of which they had heard so much and knew but little. The outcrop at Charles- town landing is on the lands of Capt. S. C. Rucker and J. K. Sharpe, Esq. Here are several extensive quarries, and the stone has been extensively worked for building purposes and for making lime.
STREAMS AND LICKS.
There are no streams of any size in the town- ship. Pleasant run, which heads in the vicinity of Charlestown, flows across the western side for a distance of two and a half or three miles, and joins Silver creek near Straw's flouring-mill. Lick run, a very insignificant stream, which takes its rise in the bluffs, a mile or more from the river above Utica, flows with a rapid current and enters the Ohio below the village. The only stream which amounts to anything is Silver creek ; but it does not enter the township. It forms the northwestern boundary for a distance of about three miles, making some remarkable
George Schwartz
397
HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
curves before it passes out into or between Floyd county and Jeffersonville township. At Straw's mill this stream makes a circuit of about three miles, forming a sort of peninsula, similar to that on Fourteen-mile creek at Work's old mill, but much larger in its circle. The stream runs for a distance of about one mile at this point without making any perceptible curve- the most striking feature in the creek at the lower end of it. The township is subject to wet weather somewhat, presumably so on account of its drainage. The Ohio forms the entire eastern boundary; and at both the upper and lower ends of the township, an island of considerable im- portance lies opposite or midway in the river. The former is known as Diamond or Twelve- mile island; the latter as Six-mile island, to Louisville.
More than forty years ago, while a company of men were engaged in digging a well on E. B. Burtt's place, salt water was found. A move- ment was made to utilize it so as to produce salt, but for want of proper encouragement the proj- ect never succeded. On the same farm is a noted buffalo lick, which has every indication of constant use by the denizens of the forest and plains a century ago. Before the canebrakes were wholly destroyed, many of the hunters of this region watched here for game. It is related that a famous fight was had at these licks about the time the first settlements were made in the township, between a bear and a buffalo, both of whom had come here for salt, and that the battle was watched by a hunter, who dared not disturb the contestants for fear of his own safety.
MOUNDS, CAVES, AND FORTS.
There is scarcely another branch of study which is now attracting more scholarly attention than the races of prehistoric man. And there is no field so rich in remains of this extinct people as the country around the Falls of the Ohio. Centuries ago this race must have congregated here in great numbers to hold councils of war, or to decide what we now call questions of interna- tional concern. They were attracted here be- cause it was a point almost midway between the pineries of Maine and the plains of the South, and because it was easy of access. The ancient Silurian sea had left the country about the Falls in an admirable state for thriving tribes or clans
of people. This race undoubtedly was driven toward the southwest, much in the same manner as the Indian has been dispossessed of his coun- try. Whether or not the Mound Builder crossed Behring's strait, and by a succession of advances during an indefinite period of time peopled the whole present area of the United States, is a doubtful as well as very interesting question. This part of archaeology and paleontology must be decided by future scientists. It is certain, nevertheless, that a very enterprising people in- habited this beautiful country centuries before the red man. It is true, also, that the sciences were raised to a degree of sound practicability, especially that part of mathematics which relates to angles and the knowledge of enclosing in a circle an area equal to that of a square. The old tort at the mouth of Fourteen-mile creek was a striking example of this kind. Along the sec- ond or upper terrace are remains of ancient kitchen heaps. Boncs of some race previous to the Indian are frequently taken from the mounds in this vicinity. There seems to be no definite information as to what has become of the Mound Builders; the supposition is, however, that they degenerated until, finally overcome by a hardier race of people, they were driven down into Mex- ico, where we now find them, but in a much im- proved state of civilization.
Their mode of warfare was radically different from ours at the present time. The situation of their mounds is proof of this fact. War then was probably carried on by incursions into the enemy's country ; but the advances were doubt- less made on water, under some system of mari- time warfare with which we are not conversant. Mounds were evidently used for at least two pur- poses, as points of observation and as places of sacrifice or worship. The former are generally found on higher points of land and commanding a view up and down a river or valley from the northeast to the southwest. Sacrificial mounds are distinguished by their smallness and the de- posits frequently found in them, and also by the femur, pelvis, and temporal bones being the most common.
Their system of signaling was perhaps by lights or rockets. There is no evidence which appears conclusive that it was otherwise. Food was gathered from the rivers, the woods, and the plains. Clothing is a question still open to spec-
398
HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
ulation. In fact, there is much doubt in refer- ence to all the daily transactions of this prehis- toric race. One thing, however, is true, viz : A race of people inhabited this country centuries before the red men, and that the Indian himself could give no information as to the origin or disappearance of this remarkable race which is satisfactory to the whites.
Among the mounds of note in Utica township is one on the farm of David Prather. It often gives up bones, pottery, and articles which are evidently implements of war. On Mr. David Spangler's place, in the forks of Battle creek is an ancient burying-ground. It is undoubtedly the place where many of the Mound Builders or the Indians buried their dead. No information was ever obtained as to when it was first used. It may be worth while for some of the archaeolo- gists in the cities of the falls to make it a subject of excavation. The stream between whose forks it lies took its name from the burying-ground as early as 1800. Many bones are found here, which are pronounced by good authority as be- longing to an extinct people.
On the old McCauley farm, on tract number fourteen, is a cave of considerable dimensions. Many years ago the Indians, in frequenting this section, made it a place of shelter. It has a spring of delicious water, which cools the in- terior so as to make it an excellent place for dairy purposes. The water empties into Lacassagne creek, which is near by. This stream derived its name from an old settler, who lived on its banks more than three-quarters of a century ago, by the name of Lacassagne.
When the first ferries began to carry passen- gers across the Ohio at Utica, there was much un- easiness among the settlers on account of the In- dians. The different tribes of the frontier were making a decided stir among the thinly settled districts between the Ohio and Vincennes. When the news came that the settlers at Pigeon Roost had been massacred, the greater part of the pop- ulation hastened across the river into Kentucky. Not only was this true of Utica township, but the entire country bordering on the river was for a time almost without citizens. These circum- stances induced a goodly number of the settlers to erect a fort or block-house in 1812, where the new chapel Methodist Episcopal church now stands. There are no remnants left to mark
the exact site. It is safe to say that not one who aided in its erection is now living-a reminder that the pioneers have nearly all passed away.
FERRIES.
In 1815 there were ten ferries in the county regularly licensed. At that time all ferrymen were taxed by the county commissioners in pro- portion to the business done. The amount of the tax was from $r to $10 each. The ferries were kept by the following persons: Joseph Bowman, William Clark, Marston G. Clark, Peter McDonald, John Pettitt, Richard Astor, Robert Patterson, N. Scribner, James Noble Wood, and (William) Plaskett. Rates of fare were established by the "honorable board of county commissioners," as witness these:
For each man, woman, or chitd, twelve and one-half cents; for each animal of the horse kind, eleven and one-half cents; for each head of neat cattle not over three years old, eleven and one-half cents; for all cattle under that age, nine cents; for each sheep, goat, or hog, four cents; for each four-horse wagon (in addition to charge for horses) and the load there- in contained, one dollar; for each two-horse wagon or two- wheeled carriage and horse, and the load contained therein, fifty cents.
The above rates were established for the year 1821. James Noble Wood was in 1794 an acting ferryman of Utica, whither he had come from Louisville immediately after his marriage to Miss Margaret Smith, on the 27th of Septem- ber of that year. The mode of conveying trav- elers was simple. A canoe, large enough to carry from three to five passengers, was the rud- est boat in existence. The ferryman sat in the center, and with a pair of oars brought the boat across. Considerable skill was necessary in or- der that the little bark should be safely managed. Any violent action by the passengers might cause some unnecessary floundering in the water, from which all, however, were likely to escape.
During the interim between 1800 and 1825 the ferry at Utica did an immense business. The earliness with which this crossing point was established caused it to be known far and wide. Emigrants were streaming into the interior of the central counties like bees. The white-covered - wagon was as familiar then to the citizens of Utica as the steamboat is now.
Utica had the advantage over any of the other crossing points, in that it was first above Louis- ville, the latter place being considered dangerous by the emigrants and those who knew it best.
399
HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
Many boats with their cargoes have gone to the bottom on the Falls, the result of inexperience and lack of care. This was truer during the first half of the century; hence the importance of the ferry at Utica.
Emigrants took the Charlestown road, passed by way of New Washington or near the Pigeon Roost settlement and on to the Wabash or the Muscatetack. These regions were then covered with a dense forest. Chills and fever prevailed to a fearful extent, and it was no uncommon thing to ferry across the river again within a year the same family on their way back to their old home. Few of the immigrants escaped the ma- laria. Even those who settled in the Grant suf- fered terribly the first few years.
ROADS.
As will be seen, the first road led to Charles- town. As soon as the county records were taken there (emigrants, by some silent force which im- pels people to travel and pass through, if possi- ble, on their way, all the towns of any impor- tance, and especially county seats), this road grew into considerable importance. At first it was a track which led through the underbrush, canebrakes, pea-vines, around hills and up ra- vines, until the county seat was reached. From this point there were several roads leading to the interior of the State. The New Providence road was the one to take if Washington county was the destination. If Bartholomew and the adjacent counties were points of settlement, the New Washington road was generally taken; like- wise for any other place.
Formerly the old Utica and Salem,road ran by the Franklin school-house, passing east of Watson about one mile. This highway was used considerably by the Washington county people. Perhaps the most useful as well as the earliest, in some respects, was the Jeffersonville and Charles- town road, laid out about the year 1810. It passed through the Fry settlement, and on to Charlestown by way of Springville. This road was petitioned for by the citizens of this little village, in language found in the History of Charlestown Township.
Before the township of Utica was"organized, there were three roads leading from Charlestown to Jeffersonville, all of which passed through the township as it now is. They were designated as
the Western, Middle, and Eastern roads. The Fry settlement road was known as the Middle road; the Eastern road passed through Utica village and down the Ohio by Port Fulton. That which led to Springville cut off a small slip of the northwest corner of the township. It has long been discontinued.
Utica township has more miles of turnpike than all the rest of the county. The Charlestown and Utica pike was surveyed in 1866. It is ten miles in length, and unites with the Jeffersonville and Charlestown turnpike four miles from the old county seat. Originally the stock of this com- pany was valued at $60,000. The company, for some reason or other, failed. Eleven years after the first macadamizing, the road was completed and open to the public. Mr. M. P. Howes is the present superintendent. The value of the road is put by a good judge at $30,000. More grading and a thorough macadamizing will be necessary before this road can be considered equal to the best.
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.