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The following has been abstracted primarily from the source: History of Hamilton County, Indiana,
with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of its Prominent Men and
Pioneers, to Which are Appended Maps of its Several Townships. Chicago : Kingman Brothers, 1880.
Select a topic from the list below, or scroll down to read the entire
historical sketch.
PIONEER PERIOD: Traders,
"A Negro Among the Indians",
Early Settlers.
HAMILTON COUNTY ORGANIZED: Organization of County, County Seat Selected.
HAMILTON COUNTY FIRSTS: Births, Burials, Houses and Tavern, Road, Food, Mill, Teacher,
Sermon, Shoemaker, Physician.
HAMILTON COUNTY ASYLUM (Poor Farm).
TOWNSHIP HISTORIES: Adams Township,
Clay Township, Delaware Township, Fall Creek Township, Jackson Township,
PIONEER PERIOD.
By treaty with the Delaware Indians, concluded at
St. Mary's, Ohio, on the 3d day of October, 1818, the lands embraced in the
territory occupied by Hamilton County were ceded to and became the property
and under the control of the United States. Pursuant to the terms of
that treaty, the Delaware, having been allowed the right to occupy the
improvements before made by them, during a period of three years subsequent
to the date thereof, yielded up all their possessions so guaranteed to them,
except such tracts as had been reserved by personal designation, in 1820 and
1821, and moved to the lands appropriated to their use and occupancy west of
the Mississippi River. In the meantime, however, early 1819, after the
ratification of the treaty by Congress, occasional adventurous pioneersmen, seeking homes and employment, made
settlements within these borders.
TRADERS:
The first person to embark in the Indian trade in
this county was William CONNER. His store was four miles below
Noblesville. Prior to the incoming of white settlers, his trade was
exclusively with the Indians, who were reported to have had great confidence
in his integrity and in the accuracy of his judgment. It is related of
him "that when the Indians came in to trade, they were paid in part for
their furs in whisky. They were required by Mr. CONNER to pay for each
article as it was sold. One gallon of whisky would be measured out to
them and then paid for, and then another; and so on until the furs were all
taken up." He had long resided with the Shawanoes,
and was also very familiar with the manners, customs and usages of both
tribes, and with the White Water, White River and Wabash
tribes generally. His word was apparently respected by them. In
the case of the killing of Indians in the spring of 1824, for which HUDSON
and others died on the gallows, it was chiefly through his instrumentality
and interposition that the laws of the State were permitted to be executed in
due course without the interference of the adjacent Indians, whose custom it
was to take such matters into their own hands and mete out retribution upon
the perpetrators of the outrage upon their people.
Another Indian trader, named BENNETT, a Frenchman,
had a store stocked with trinkets and other commodities incident to traffic
with the Indians, situated on the west side of White
River, below Strawtown. His
trade, though not large, supplied the wants of such of his customers as were
wont to exchange their furs and peltries for Whisky, blankets, powder and
lead. It appears little was known of him, beyond the fact of his
having, late in the days of Indian control in this county, held a portion of
their trade.
"A NEGRO AMONG THE
INDIANS":
The following incident was reported to be directly
quoted from the "Reminiscences of Mr. SHIRTS", an early settler of
the county:
"In June, 1819, on Sunday, my grandmother
had been to see some of her neighbors, and had worn the only pair of shoes
she possessed. On her return home, she had pulled off her shoes and set
them just outside the door of the cabin. Quite a number of Indians
were, at the time, around and about the cabin, and when they had all departed
for their camps, my grandmother's shoes were found to be missing. She
was very much annoyed and troubled on account of the loss of her shoes, for
two reasons: First, she did not have the money to buy another pair of
shoes, and, second, she could not procure another pair short of Connersville,
a distance of sixty miles. It so happened that soon after the loss of
the shoes, the negro, SMITH, called at the cabin, and my grandmother made
known to him her troubles. SMITH, who was reported as being a
good-looking negro and intelligent, said to her, 'Never mind, your shoes will
come back.' Sure enough, in a short time the negro brought back the
shoes. SMITH, from that time on, was a great favorite with the white
settlers. He remained in the new purchase, as this county was then
called, working for the white people, until some time in the year 1821, when
a stalwart Kentuckian came in to look at the country, found SMITH here,
immediately returned to Kentucky, prepared himself with proper authority for
the capture of SMITH, and carried him off to bondage in the cotton fields of
the South. SMITH protested that he was not the property of the persons
claiming him and the settlers believed him; but they were powerless to
protect him. And, in the opinion of those early settlers, the life of
an innocent man was sacrificed to and for the peculiar and pet institutions
of the State of Kentucky.
SMITH was a favorite among the early settlers on account of his good
qualities; was a man of good disposition, and was very kind at heart, ever
ready to assist those in distress. Why he was among the Indians at the
time I do not know, and I presume I never will."
EARLY SETTLERS:
Among the first of the early settlers, after William
CONNER, perhaps the very first, were the family of George SHIRTS, consisting
of himself, his wife and three children, who were said to have come to the
area in 1818, probably in the fall after the treaty, and settled on what
later became known as the "old William Conner prairie farm".
Soon after, Solomon FINCH and Sarah, his
wife, who with five children, crossed White River at the mouth of Stoney Creek, on the 19th of
April, 1819. With his family came also Israel FINCH, Aaron FINCH, Amasa CHAPMAN, James WILLISON, and William, John and
Jared BUSH. The following September, 1819, John FINCH, father of Hiram
G. FINCH, also came to settle. Hiram settled on "Horseshoe
prairie", two miles south of Noblesville. Hiram FINCH is said to
have chopped the logs for the construction of the second cabin in
Noblesville, it being built for Dr. John FINCH, in 1824, near the "elm
trees," on the bank of White River,
just above the Medical Spring.
It was reported that of the original pioneers of
1818 and 1819, only 2 were still living in 1880. They were Sidney
SHIRTS, who later became a resident of Iowa,
and James G. FINCH, one of the five children of Solomon and Sarah
FINCH.
About the spring of 1820, Charles LACEY, of Fayette County, Indiana,
selected a homestead, and, after "cutting of a patch of ground", he
planted corn. Having done this much, he returned to his former home,
and came back with his family. His early homestead continued to be
owned and occupied by him until the time of his death.
About the year 1821, John D. STEPHENSON came for
permanent settlement.
Jonathan COLBURN, with his wife and one child,
landed here on the 11th of March, 1823, and they became permanent
settlers. Mr. COLBURN was still alive and enjoying substantial health
in 1880.
On the 14th of February, 1824, Samuel WALLS,
father of Barton WALLS, settled on what became known as the "Conrad
farm".
HAMILTON COUNTY ORGANIZED.
When settlers had become sufficiently numerous,
application was made through the proper channels to the Legislature, for a
charter authorizing them to become, under the law, a separate and independent
county jurisdiction. This preliminary step was taken in the summer and
fall of 1822, and the application was presented to the Legislature at the
1822-23 session which was then held at Corydon, in Harrison County, at that time the temporary
seat of the state government. The act was passed and approved by the
Governor on the 8th of January, 1823, and the act took effect on the first
Monday in April (7), 1823. The following are the leading provisions of
the act:
SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General
Assembly of the State of Indiana, That from and after the first Monday in
April next (1823), all that part of the county of Marion, and north of
Marion, contained in the following bounds, shall form and constitute a separate
county, viz.: beginning on the range line dividing Ranges 2 and 3, east
of the second principal meridian, at the southwest corner of Section 7, in
Township 17, and Range 3, thence running north on the said range line, to the
township line dividing Townships 20 and 21, thence east on the said township
line to the northeast corner of Section 5, in Township 20, and Range 6,
thence south on the section line to the southeast corner of Section 8, in
Township 17, and Range 6, and thence west on the section line to the place of
beginning.
SECTION 2. The said new county shall be known
and designated by the name of Hamilton, and shall enjoy all the rights,
privileges and jurisdiction, which to separate and independent counties do or
may properly appertain or belong.
SECTION 3. Benjamin J. BLYTHE, of the county
of Dearborn, Martin M. RAY, of the county of Fayette, John SAMPLE, of the
county of Randolph, William REDDICK, of the county of Bartholomew, and James
WASSON, of the county of Sullivan, are hereby appointed Commissioners,
agreeably to the act entitled "An Act for the fixing of Seats of Justice
in all new counties hereafter to be laid off." The Commissioners
above named shall convene at the house of William CONNER, in the said county of Hamilton, on the first Monday of May
next (1823), and shall immediately proceed to discharge the duties assigned
them by law. It is hereby made the duty of the Sheriff of Marion
County, to notify the said Commissioners, either in person or by written
notification, of their appointment, on or before the 15th day of April next
(1823), and the said Sheriff of Marion County shall receive from the said
county of Hamilton so much as the County Commissioners shall deem just and
reasonable, and who are hereby authorized to allow the same out of any moneys
in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, in the same manner as other
allowances are made.
SECTION 4. That the Circuit Court in the
county of Hamilton shall meet and be holden at the
house of William CONNER, in said county, until suitable accommodations can be
had at the seat of justice, and, as soon as the courts of said county are
satisfied that suitable accommodations can be had at the county seat, they
shall adjourn their courts thereto; after which time, the courts of the
county of Hamilton shall be holden at the county
seat of said county, established as the law directs; provided, always, that
the Circuit Court shall have authority to adjourn the court from the house of
William CONNER, as aforesaid, to any other place, previous to the completion
of the public buildings, should the said court, or a majority of them, deem
it expedient or necessary.
SECTION 5. The Board of County Commissioners
of the said county of Hamilton shall, within twelve months after the
permanent seat of the said county of Hamilton shall, within twelve months
after the permanent seat of justice shall have been selected, proceed to
erect the necessary buildings therein, pursuant to the directions of the
County Commissioners of said county.
SECTION 6. The agent who shall be appointed
for the sales of lots, at the county seat of the said county of Hamilton,
shall reserve and receive 10 per centum out of the proceeds thereof; and
also, 10 per centum out of the proceeds of all donations made to the county,
and pa the same over to such persons as may be appointed by law to receive
the same, for the use of a county library, in the said county Hamilton, which
he shall pay over at such time or times, and place, as may be provided by
law.
SECTION 7. provides
for the organization, support, conduct and management of a county library,
pursuant to the terms of an act for the incorporation of a county library in
Dubois and other counties.
By the 8th Section, Hamilton County
was made a part of the Fifth Judicial Circuit of the State.
COUNTY SEAT:
The appointed Commissioners met at the house of WIlliam CONNER, in Hamilton
County, and after having examined
sites proposed for the county seat, met in special session on the 4th day of
March, 1824, at that time choosing the town of Noblesville
for the permanent seat of justice for Hamilton County.
A portion of their report of that date follows:
"...We proceeded to examine the different sites
offered to our choice for fixing thereon the permanent seat of justice of
Hamilton County (with the exception of the site offered at Strawtown, which we thought not necessary, it being at so
great a distance from the center of the county), and not having agreed to fix
the same, adjourned from day to day until Thursday, the 4th day of march,
1824, when, having met at the house of William CONNER, aforesaid, after
having carefully, deliberately and diligently viewed and examined the several
donations offered to our choice, and having examined and duly considered as
well present and future population, and inquired what lands could be obtained
by donation or otherwise, and having, in all respects, endeavored to fix upon
the most eligible spot, taking into view all advantages of the different
situations offered to our consideration, as also from every inquiry which we
could make, have, therefore, finally fixed and established the permanent seat
of justice for the county of Hamilton, in the State of Indiana, on the east
side of White River, and on the west half of the southwest quarter of Section
31, Township 19 north, Range 5 east; and all that part of the southeast
quarter of Section 36, Township nineteen (19) north, Range four (4) east,
lying east of White River, the whole donation being bounded as follows,
to-wit: Commencing at the southeast corner of the west half of the
southwest quarter of Section 31, Township nineteen (19) north, Range five (5)
east; thence north, with the line dividing the quarter, one hundred and
twenty-two (122) poles; thence west to White River; thence, with the
meanderings of said river, to where the line between Townships eighteen (18)
and nineteen (19) crosses the same; thence, with said township line east to
beginning--a particular description of which will more fully appear by
reference to the plat of Noblesville--laid out by Josiah F. POLK and William
CONNER, and a bond given to the Commissioners of Hamilton County, for a title
to the donation to said county by said POLK and CONNER; and the said permanent
seat of justice for said county of Hamilton is hereby permanently fixed and
established at and in the town of Noblesville, on the west half of the
southwest quarter, and the fraction aforesaid, the same having heretofore
belonged to the aforesaid POLK and CONNER, but by them donated (as will
appear by bond, bearing date the 4th day of March, 1824,) to the county of
Hamilton for the permanent seat of justice..."
The bond of said William CONNER and Josiah F. POLK,
therein mentioned, including reservations of lots within the town to CONNER
and POLK, as follows:
"Know all men by these presents, that we,
William CONNER and Josiah F. POLK, of the county of Hamilton and State of
Indiana, are held and firmly bound, unto the Board of County Commissioners in
and for the county of Hamilton and State aforesaid (in their corporate
capacity as such), and their successors in office in and for said county, in
the penal sum of ten thousand dollars, good and lawful money of the State of
Indiana and the United States, and for the payment of which said sum we bind
ourselves, our heirs, executors and administrators, at the signing and
sealing of these presents. Dated this 4th day of March, A. D.
1824."
"The condition of the above obligation,
however, is such, that whereas a majority of the Commissioners--appointed
pursuant to an act of the Legislature of the State of Indiana, in the case
made and provided, to locate and fix the permanent seat of justice in and for
the county of Hamilton aforesaid--having met pursuant to the provisions of
the said statute, and having complied with the requisitions of the statute in
that case, also made and provided for fixing the seat of justice in all new
counties thereafter to be laid off in said State, and having, pursuant to
said statute, examined the county generally in said county, and a majority of
the said Commissioners having agreed to locate the permanent seat of justice,
of the county aforesaid, on the east side of White River, on and for the
consideration of the donations hereinafter mentioned, and other good and
valuable considerations, to-wit: On lands now owned and belonging to
the above-bound William CONNER and Josiah F. POLK, lying and being situate at
the county of Hamilton aforesaid, on the west half of the southwest quarter
of Section 31, Township 19, Range 5 east, containing about 50 acres; and also
a part of the southeast quarter of Section 36, Range 4, Township 19, east of
White River, containing, as supposed, 24 acres more or less; and the
undivided half of 16 acres of land, lying east of said town plat to an open
line, and more particularly known, designated and described by the town plat
to an open line, and more particularly known, designated and described by the
town plat of the town of Noblesville, on the east side of White River at the
county aforesaid, and situate and laid off on the two above described tracts
of land and nine in-lots--as will more fully appear by a reference to said
town plat--including the block of lots laid off in said town for a public
square, and all the fractional lots on said town plat that have numbers
assigned them, on the following conditions, to-wit:
"That the said above-bound obligors have
donated to said Commissioners appointed as aforesaid, fixing and locating the
permanent seat of justice of Hamilton County on the aforesaid, fixing and
locating the permanent seat of justice of Hamilton County on the aforesaid
lands--on the public square, as designated on said town plat--and the said
obligors hereby [by] these presents also donate, on the conditions aforesaid,
to the said county forever, the public square of said town plat number 10,
for the purpose of erecting public buildings on, for conditions aforesaid,
one-half of all the in-lots and fractional lots on said town except two
squares on said plat, known on said plat by their numbers, fifteen and nine,
in which said squares the said CONNER and POLK reserve to themselves lots
numbered one, two, three, four, five, six, seven and eight, commencing at
number one in square fifteen, on the northeast corner of said block, taking
in said last-mentioned block, one, two, seven and eight, and in block
numbered nine, they reserve lots numbered three, four, five and six; the
balance of the said entire last-mentioned blocks of lots are hereby donated
to the said county, containing eight lots, commencing at number one in square
nine, and taking numbers one, two; seven and eight in block nine, and in
block fifteen taking three, four, five and six; and also, one undivided half
of sixteen acres on the east side of said town plat, running north the full
length of said town lots--it being also situate on the west half of the
southwest quarter of Section 31, Township 19, Range 5 east. Now, the
above obligation to be void on the following condition, to-wit: That if
the above-bound obligors do well and faithfully, as soon as they may be
requested by the County Agent that may be appointed by the County
Commissioners for that purpose, or his successor in office, under the
direction of the County Commissioners for said county--make or cause to be
made, a good and sufficient deed in fee simple, to the said County Agent, for
the use of said county, every other or odd number of all the lots and
fractional lots; the fractional lots to be equally divided by the donors and
the county, in the town of Noblesville, that is to say: lots number
one, three, five, and so on ad infinitum, throughout the whole town
plat, on each and every block in said town, to be selected by said County
Agent under the direction of the County Commissioner for said county, or
their successors in office--except blocks numbered nine and fifteen, in which
said blocks the said obligors are to deed as aforesaid, to the said County
Agent, for the use of the county, the entire north half of said block
numbered nine, as aforesaid, and also the entire west half of block numbered
fifteen, as aforesaid, and shall, in like manner, make a good and sufficient
deed to all the undivided half of the said sixteen acres of land designated
as aforesaid, and in like manner convey to the county the public square or
square numbered ten, in said town, for the purpose of having fixed thereon
the permanent public buildings for said county, including a small fraction on
the southwest corner of said plat: Then, and in that case, this
obligation to be null and void, else to be and remain in full force and
virtue in law and equity, as witness, the day and year first above
written."
"Signed { WILLIAM
CONNER, [SEAL.]
JOSIAH F. POLK. [SEAL.]"
"HAMILTON COUNTY FIRSTS".
BIRTHS:
Sidney Swift SHIRTS was claimed to have been the
first white, male child born in Hamilton County, being born before 1820,
however, the exact date of his birth is not reported; and Laura FINCH, daughter
of Solomon and Sarah, was the first female child born in the county.
The second white male child, Solomon FINCH, Jr., was reportedly born November
20, 1820, on "Horseshoe prairie"; and the second female, white
child was Lavina CONNER, daughter of William
CONNER. The third white male child born in Hamilton County
was A. J. LACY, born August 4, 1822. The first male white child born in
Noblesville was Milton COGSWELL, in 1825; the first female white child born
in that town was Eliza J. STEPHENSON, daughter of John D. STEPHENSON.
Additional early births in the county, reported in
Kingman's history, included: Amos P. FINCH was born March 21, 1824, to
Solomon and Sarah. William I. SHIRTS was born February 23, 1823, and
his brother, A. F. SHIRTS was born November 26, 1824.
BURIALS:
The first white person buried in this county, of
which there was record, was Mrs. George SHIRTS, who died sometime early in
1819, soon after the arrival of the family in the county. "A rude
coffin was made for her by the Indians, from puncheons, and she was buried by
them in an Indian graveyard." The first white person buried in the
old graveyard was Lawrence WILLISON, the father of James.
HOUSES and TAVERNS:
The first house built in Noblesville was built by
William BUSH for a Mr. [Josiah F.] POLK, one of the original owners of the
ground where Noblesville now stands. Mr. POLK was then a single man,
but it was reported that he was engaged to be married to a Miss Lavina NOBLE; and, it was said that he caused vegetables
to be sown in his first garden in letters that spelled her name, and she went
back on him. This house, or rather cabin, was built not far from where
a later seminary building stood.
Hiram FINCH is said to have chopped the logs for the
construction of the second cabin in Noblesville, it being built for Dr. John
FINCH, in 1824, near the "elm trees," on the bank of White River, just above the Medical Spring. It
was said that Mr. FINCH was especially proficient in the area of
construction, and numerous specimens of his handicraft were to be seen in the
neighborhood by the 1830s.
The first brick house built in the county was by
William CONNER, in 1823, near the northwest corner of Section 15, Township 18
north, Range 5 east.
The first building erected in Noblesville for hotel
purposes--a "tavern"--was built by Milburn DAVIS, but was kept by
George SHIRTS. Mrs. SHIRTS was said to be capital on making "corn
pone", as it was called, and the travelers inquired in for the landlady
that made good "corn-pone bread."
ROAD:
The first county road laid out and improved in this
jurisdiction, is described on the record as follows: "Beginning at
the road running from Pipe Creek past Strawtown,
near John BLACK's, and running thence the nearest
and best way, passing Jacob HIER's, down White
River on the west side, to intersect the aforesaid road at or near Jeremiah LEAMING's." On the 11th of August, 1823, the
Viewers before appointed, having viewed the route indicated, made their
report and were discharged. The board, thereupon, ordered that the road
be opened to a width not exceeding thirty-three feet, and Jacob T. HIER was
appointed Supervisor.
FOOD:
Corn bread was the recognized mainstay in the area, because corn,
being the staple production, supplied bread material for home consumption,
flour from wheat being rarely, or never, in demand. Wheat was not
raised, and, as a consequence, there was no flour except as it was brought
from Connersville,
and that was infrequent, because it was an expensive luxury and not well
adapted to the habits and wants of primitive settlers. Corn, however,
for immediate consumption, in advance of its being raised here, was purchased
and brought from distant settlements. At a later date, as early as
1820, the surplus products of this grain in Hamilton County
territory were sold chiefly to "new comers" to this
settlement. Subsequently, when permanent settlements were begun at Indianapolis and the
country adjacent, the needy settlers came here, purchased corn, and
transported it down the river in canoes.
During these early days of settlement, pressing
wants for a more varied diet were often supplied from the adjacent
forests. Wild game and wild hogs were plenty and fish abundant.
An incident which illustrates the natural bounty of the area was related by
Mr. A. F. SHIRTS, in reminiscent notes of an early county paper, and
reprinted in 1880 as follows: "I remember on one occasion, when
we had company but no meat, my father asked by mother how long she could wait
for meat. She said half an hour. He then threw off his
shoemaker's apron, took his gun from the rack, walked down to what is now
called Corner street, to the elm trees on the bank of the river; stood
there--say ten minutes, when I saw him cautiously raise his gun, heard the
report and saw him run. He had shot a fine young doe in what is now
called the "medical spring,' and we had venison for supper. The
young deer had come from Plum Prairie, as we
called it, for a good cool drink, and thereby lost her life. The Plum Prairie was what is now called the Prairie Farm,
and owned by Leonard WILD (in 1880). Such plums as grew there! My
mouth waters yet, when I think of the large red and yellow plums, and so
rich; the plums of this day, although cultivated, will scarcely bear a
comparison. There were strawberries there also, with such delicious
flavor. I would much prefer going into that natural garden for plums
and strawberries than to the gardens of the present day. But I may be
prejudiced in favor of these ancient customs and times."
MILL:
The first mill in the county was built by John
FINCH, run by horse-power, and known as "Finch's horse-mill;" it
stood a few rods above his house, on the prairie. The belt by which the
power was transmitted from the treadwheel to the
machinery ws made of rawhide, and answered the
purpose well. The power thus generated, however, was not very great,
nor was the machinery run at very high speed; hence, as a consequence, the
grinding process was very slow, but then there were only a few customers to
be accommodated in the immediate vicinity.
The first water-mill in the county was built by Mr.
FOSTER, on Stony Creek, just below what later became known as the "Dill
mill-dam," between that and the fording place on that creek. This
old mill was washed away by a freshet in 1824. Under the circumstances,
this mill being the only one in the vicinity to be relied upon for the necessary
supplies of "cracked corn" and meal, the neighbors, as soon as the
fact became known to them, came in from miles around and worked two days,
faithfully, to avert the calamity as far as possible, and compensate, by
their labor, for the damage sustained. Their active zeal in the work
was rewarded by a complete restoration of the dam and mill at the end of that
time, and the grinder was turning out "grists"
as if nothing had happened, on the second day after the accident. It
was long known as "Betts' mill".
TEACHER:
"Old Father Mallory", one of the early
settlers, was about the first of the pioneer schoolteachers, and he was also
the first Sunday-school Superintendent. "His efficient work in
this department is a lasting monument of his zeal and activity in well-doing."
The first Sunday school ever held in the county was also held at the house of
"Old Father Mallory", whose cabin then stood about one mile below
Noblesville.
SERMON:
The first sermon preached to white people in
Hamilton County, was said to have been at the house of John FINCH, on
Horseshoe Prairie, by what was then known and commonly called, a
"Hard-shell" Baptist preacher, in the summer of 1820. His
name was either CHILDERS or CORBLY, and the result of his labors at that time
was the addition of two members to his church, Sarah and Margaret
FINCH.
SHOEMAKER:
George SHIRTS, who, while probably the first
of the permanent settlers, as also the first shoemaker in the count.
His business was chiefly confined, in those early days, to shoe, pack and
moccasin making, in which maintaining a monopoly, he was recognized as
excellent.
PHYSICIAN:
The first physician in Noblesville was Dr.
John FINCH, an account of the building of whose cabin, the second on within
the original limits of the city, is given above.
He seems to have enjoyed a monopoly, if such it might be called in that day,
in the practice of his profession; yet, however, in view of the sparseness of
the population, it is not probable that he passed many sleepless nights in
attendance upon the calls of the sick.
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COUNTY ASYLUM [POOR FARM]
To provide for and maintain the poor and
indigent, relieve distress and provide for the necessities of those unable or
incompetent to take care of themselves, are important elements in the local
economy of every community, and public policy demands that they receive
proper recognition at the hands of society's representatives. The
history of this community, in common with that of others, especially in the
"new West", shows that active, living charity is right, and was an
integral part of Hamilton
County. Provision
was made by the law-enacting power of the State for the exercise of a liberal
charity toward all who were entitled to be recipients of public
benefactions.
Among the first provisions made by law for the
alleviation of the poor, was the appointment of "Overseers," whose
duty it was to hear and examine into the nature of all complaints in behalf
of the poor, in each civil township of the county, and see that their wants
were sufficiently provided for; that they should not suffer for the common
necessaries of life, nor allow them to be ill-treated. It was also the
duty of "Overseers" to keep a record, in which they should record the
names of all persons in their respective townships who were unable to take
care of themselves, and who, in their opinion, were entitled to the benefits
prescribed by law for the maintenance of those unfortunates. A further
provision made it their duty to put out, as apprentices, all poor children
whose parents were dead, or were found to be unable to maintain them--males
until the age of twenty-one, and females until the age of eighteen
years. The general provision governing the duties of such Overseers is
as follows:
"It shall be the duty of the Overseers of the
Poor, every year, to cause all poor persons who have or shall become a public
charge, to be farmed out on contracts to be made on the first Monday in May
annually, in such manner as the said Overseers of the Poor shall deem best
calculated to promote the general good; provided, nothing herein contained
shall prohibit any Overseers of the Poor from receiving and accepting
propositions at any time for the keeping of such poor, and others who may at
any time thereafter become a county charge; provided, however, that the
Boards of County Commissioners of the several counties in this State may, in
their discretion, allow and pay to poor persons who may become chargeable as
paupers, who are of mature years and sound mind, and who, from their general
character, will probably be benefited thereby, such annual allowance as will
be equal to the charge of their maintenance, by employing the lowest bidder
to keep them; the said Commissioners taking the usual amount of charges, in
like cases, as the rule in making such allowances; provided, however, that
the Overseer of the Poor in no case shall farm out any pauper under the age
of twenty-one years, if a male, or, if a female, under the age of eighteen years,
if such Overseers of the Poor can possibly bind out, as apprentices, any such
paupers." For the purposes contemplated in the foregoing act, such
Overseers of the Poor for the several townships were made, in name and in
fact, bodies politic and corporate in law, to all intents and purposes, with
perpetual succession, liable, by the name of "The Overseers of the
Poor" of their respective townships, to "sue and be sued, plead and
be impleaded, in all courts of judicature, and, by
that name, purchase, take or receive any lands, tenements or hereditaments, goods, chattels, sum or sums of money, to
or for the use of the poor of their respective townships, of the gift,
alienation or desire of any person or persons whomsoever; to hold to them,
the said Overseers and their successors in trust, for the use of the poor
forever." The Legislature, in the enactment of this law, had in
contemplation, in the near future, the erection of proper buildings, such as
the County Commissioners might prescribe, to be
used as asylums for the poor who might become a permanent charge, as paupers,
on the county.
during the early years of
the county's history, but little advance was made in the methods whereby the
poor were provided with the means of subsistence and the necessaries of
life. Until 1846, no movement appears to have inaugurated looking to
the erection of buildings for the accommodation of paupers. At the
March session of the County
Board of that year, in
contemplation of the establishment of an asylum, Jesse Fisher was appointed
Superintendent of such an institution, the appointment extending over a
period from the first Monday in May, 1846, until the second Monday in March,
1847. This was in consideration of the location and use, as provided,
of the farm, buildings and appurtenances recently occupied by H. DALE,
described as the one-half quarter of Section __, in Township 19 north, Range
5 east, containing eighty (80) acres; the premises to be furnished said
Superintendent free of rent, the board providing accommodations for paupers
on the said grounds, construct log-cabins, etc., supplied with beds,
bedsteads and bedding, and in addition, allow him $300 per annum, for an
average of seven paupers, and, in proportion, for a greater or less number,
and the proceeds of the pauper labor, the Superintendent providing them the
necessary food, drink and clothing. Under this arrangement, all the
Overseers of the Poor, in the several townships of the county, were notified
to remove all the paupers under their charge, in May of that year, to the
farm lately occupied by Samuel MONROE, near NOblesville.
At the same session, the board employed Abner JONES
to build, on the poor farm, a round-log cabin, containing two rooms, each
ten-feet square, one eight-feet story in height, with a door and window in
each room, for the use of paupers, and have the same completed by the first
of May following, at a cost of $24. After completion, however, he was
allowed, at the June session, $35 for the work done.
Superintendent FISHER, at the session in June, 1846,
submitted a detailed report of his management, and of the condition of the
asylum so established:
"The undersigned Superintendent of the asylum
for the poor of said county, submits, respectfully, to your body, the following
report, showing the number of paupers that he has taken under his charge
since his appointment to the superintendency of
said asylum by your said board, together with the time and manner of the
reception of each, their health, fitness to labor, etc., to-wit: He
has, in all, eight paupers, five of whom he received from the Overseers of
the Poor of Clay Township, to-wit: On the 21st day of April, 1846, they
consisted of an old lady, to-wit, Mary WALL, with four young children.
The mother is not capable of performing any labor, she being old and not of
sound mind. The two oldest children, aged about nine and seven years,
are capable of performing some service, and might be bound out with
advantage; the two youngest are probably too young to put out with any
advantage. The sixth pauper he received from the Overseers of White
River Township, on the 4th of May, 1846, is Leonard DICK, and is supposed to
be about seventy-four years old, and incapable of performing any labor, he
being confined to his bed continually. Thomas GEERING, the seventh
pauper, was received on the day last mentioned, from the Overseer of the Poor
of Wayne Township. This pauper is also incapable of doing any work, he
being a complete-idiot. Mrs. BARCLAY, the last, was received from the
Overseers of Noblesville Township, on the same day. She is also
entirely unfit to do any labor, being very old and infirm.
The following are the articles which the undersigned
has received from the county for the use of the said paupers, to-wit: 4
straw beds, 4 bedsteads, 4 cords, 2 feather beds, 4 blankets, 8 pillows, 10
pillow-cases, 12 sheets, 4 comforts, 12 chairs, 1 chamber. He needs, in
addition to these articles, for the better accommodation of the said paupers,
one more room to the building, and two chambers."
JESSE FISHER, Sup't.
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ADAMS
TOWNSHIP
Adams, the northwest corner township of Hamilton
County, was set apart by the Board of Commissioners in November, 1833, and,
due to the limited population of this and the adjoining township of Jackson,
the two were temporarily united for jurisdiction. At a subsequent
session of the same board, however, this union was dissolved, and they were
declared separate townships.
The First Settler: a Fugitive from
Persecution - Other Early
Settlers of Adams Township -
Early Roads - Early
Schools - Early Churches - Local Industries -
Town of Boxley - Millwood / Sheridan -
THE FIRST SETTLER: A FUGITIVE FROM PERSECUTION
At Spottsylvania, Va.,
prior to the war of 1812, lived a wealthy and influential citizen, George
BOXLEY. He was a man of strong character, and, when he believed himself
to be right, he was immovable. By honest toil, he had acquired his
wealth, and, at the time of which we write, was the proprietor of a saw-mill,
grist-mill and "carding-gin" or woolen-mill, all three being
operated under one roof, in a building situated on the bank of one of the
streams of Spottsylvania
County. Like many
persons of means in those days, he possessed a number of slaves, but became
impressed with the injustice of the institution and liberated them.
During the war of 1812, he was tendered an honorable
and responsible position by the Government of the United States, which he filled
with credit, receiving as a token a handsome silver-hilted sword from the
Government. He was held in the highest esteem by his neighbors.
His conviction of right, however, prompted him to commit a deed that turned
him into a felon in the eyes of his countrymen. It was an act in the
interest of humanity, yet one which was a flagrant violation of one of the
most rigidly enforced laws of that day, and the penalty was death.
His crime was this: One night in the winter of
1814, two negroes stole up to his house, knowing his sympathy for the
fugitive slave. They were endeavoring to make their escape from a cruel
master, and Mr. BOXLEY's sympathies were at once
enlisted in their behalf. He concealed them at his mill, and, as soon
as circumstances permitted, he conveyed them to Greenbrier County,
and started them on their road to liberty. By this act, he compromised
his own liberty; some one had heard of his deed, and he was arrested and cast
into the county jail, where he was bound down with chains. A court
convicted him of the felony with which he was charged, and the sentence of
death was passed upon him. Shortly before the day set for his execution,
his wife and children were admitted to the jail to take an eternal farewell
of the loved husband and father, but the watchful guards little thought that
the gentle, tearful woman who came as a mourner, was to be the power through
whom their condemned fellow-citizen should be restored to life and liberty;
yet such was the case. In the agony of her soul, she had determined to
brave the terrors of the law, in one last desperate effort to release her
husband. On this last occasion, she came with a fine spring-saw concealed
in the hem of her skirt, and delivered it to her husband during the
visit. That night he sawed his shackles apart, and escaped from the
jail through an aperture previously made in the wall during his confinement,
and which had been carefully concealed during the day time. He reached
the prison yard safely, and looking up saw the guards pacing the walls.
At this, he felt a chill of fear, but pushed bravely on, knowing that death
awaited him in either event, and his discovery by the guards would only hasten
the inevitable. He reached the wall, and scaled it safely, dropping
quietly on the outside of the prison bounds and breathed the air again, a
free man. Traveling by night and by obscure routes, he reached Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,
where he changed his name to BURKE, and engaged in the vocation of
school-teaching. During his sojourn here he wrote two pamphlets which
were largely circulated--one in opposition to the banking system of that day,
and one in opposition to the institution of slavery. During this time,
he contrived to inform his wife that he was still living, but, believing that
locality to be too near his former home for her to join him with safety, he determined to go to Missouri, where he was shortly afterward
joined by his family. Subsequently, he removed to Fayette County, Ohio,
where he hoped that he was safe from his persecutors; but his hope was
suddenly dispelled.
Two men, named respectively Jury and Walls, passed
through the vicinity of his Ohio home with a
drove of horses for Virginia,
and recognized him. Upon their arrival in that State, they saw an
advertisement offering a large reward for the capture and return of the
fugitive, and, arming themselves with a copy of this paper, they started for Ohio, thinking to
enrich themselves by returning him to the
authorities. As they neared his house, they saw him in the field, and
approaching him one of them took him roughly by the shoulder, exclaiming,
"You are my prisoner," and presenting the advertisement in lieu of
a warrant. They overpowered him, and dragged him from the field and
into the woods; but his sons, Thomas and Addison, knew where to go for
assistance, and lost no time in giving the alarm.
Two friends, John HOWE and Jona
MARCHANT, armed with guns, started in pursuit of the kidnappers, and, after a
chase of about two miles, overtook them. An exciting scene ensued, and,
in view of the danger that menaced them, the drovers concluded to surrender
their prisoner. Mr. BOXLEY remained at home that night, but, knowing
that his whereabouts could not long be kept secret, he fled the next day,
again going to Missouri. After a few months, he received a message from
his friends in Ohio,
persuading him to return, and pledging themselves to
stand by him and protect him. He did as they suggested, and lived
quietly in Fayette
County for several
years. He lived in dread, however, and determined to seek greater
security in one of the new settlements of Indiana.
He started West, reaching Strawtown,
and then decided to go farther, to the settlement on the Wabash, in Tippecanoe County. His route led him past
the land upon which he subsequently settled, and which he marked at the time,
intending to return to it, if not satisfied with the location on the Wabash. The latter proved to be the case, and in
the fall of 1828, he came to reside on the land where he passed the remainder
of his life.
When George BOXLEY's
family joined him in Indiana,
and he took up the life of a pioneer, feeling secure from any further pursuit.
He was never again molested, and passed to a peaceful old age and
death. On a portion of his farm he erected a little log cabin, in which
he conducted a daily school for the instruction of his own children, and as
new settlers came to his neighborhood at a later date, he offered to their
children the benefit of his fine attainments, free of charge. Under his
training, his children grew to honorable and useful maturity. One,
however, met a violent death while in the midst of happy, innocent boyhood.
After school hours, the children used the building for a play-house. On
this occasion, a violent storm passed over this section, destroying corps and
tearing away trees, and the absence of the son was marked by the family, who,
however, supposed him to be safe in the school-house; but after the storm the
parents learned his fate; he had started to the house, and the wind had
uprooted a tree, which fell upon him as he ran, imprisoning him among its
branches, where they found him, mangled and dead. This was the first
death of a white person in the township. He was interred on his
father's farm.
Kingman's History of Hamilton County relates that
George BOXLEY's son Caswell was still in residence
on his father's land in 1880. A platt map of
1880 identifies a C. BOXLEY as land owner, of 80 acres, in the northeast half
of the northeast quarter of section 31, and also of the neighboring 55 acres
in the west
half of the northwest quarter of section 32, both within Township 19
North, Range 3 East, of Adams Township, near the settlement of Sheridan
(located in section 32). C. BOXLEY is also shown as land owner of another,
smaller parcel of 45 acres, in the northeast quarter of the northeast
quarter, of section 6, in the same township and range. It is likely
that the smaller parcel was taken up, as additional farm land, at a later
date.
OTHER EARLY SETTLERS of ADAMS TOWNSHIP
In the fall of 1829, Thomas B. SPENCER located on
a tract of land about a half-mile south of the present town of Boxley,
where he remained during the winter of that year. In the following
spring, he removed to a tract of Government land at the present site of Boxley, and, in 1833, entered the land about 4 miles
northwest of that town, upon which he still remained in 1880.
In 1830, John BLANCHE located on Section 32, and
James L. MASTERS settled upon an adjacent tract of land about the same
time. Each entered his respective tract in the following year. Z.
ACORDS settled near the present site of Boxley in
1830. He cleared a farm, and subsequently removed to Delaware County, Indiana,
where he died.
Mr. SPENCER was accompanied, in 1829, by his father
and Washington McKENZIE, the latter a
brother-in-law. Both subsequently returned to Ohio,
and within a year or two Mr. McKENZIE came back and
settled near the town of Boxley, where he improved a
farm. At a later date, he purchased a farm near his brother-in-law,
Thomas B. SPENCER, where he resided until his death. In 1832, James
MANN settled upon a tract of land in Section 27, and entered it in the
following year, and Thomas J. HARBAUGH settled on an adjoining tract at the
same time. Thomas JONES settled, in 1832, on the farm later owned by W.
P. HARBAUGH (in 1880). West of the present town of Boxley,
Payton HARRIS settled in 1833, and Reuben TANSEY in the following year.
James HARBAUGH settled on Section 27, in December, 1834, and Eber TETER settled on an adjoining tract in 1835.
In 1834, land was entered and settlements made in
various portions of the township by the following persons: Christopher
WILLIAMS, on Section 1; Uri HODSON, on Section 1; Joseph McMURTRY,
on section 14; Stephen MASTERS, on Section 22; James A. LACKEY, on Section
23; and George RUSHTON, on Section 25.
The settlers of 1835 included: Wilburn DAVIS,
on Section 6; Daniel SMITH, on Section 10; Leroy FITZPATRICK, on Section 20;
George RAMSEY, on Section 26; James HIGBEE, on Section 28; Jeremiah DUNN, on
Section 29, and Joseph McLAUGHLIN, on Section
30. In the same year, Heman PEARSON entered
land in Section 33, and came to reside upon it in 1836.
Other settlers who came in 1836 were: James HAWKINS,
who settled on Section 4; John B. HAMMACK, on Section 9; Nathan BLANTON, on
Section 11; Thomas MOORE, on Section 11; John BALDWIN, on Section 17; Elias
and Wesley BOWEN, on Section 17; Joseph HORN, on Section 29; John PEARCE, on
Section 31, and Joseph P. PEARSON, on Section 33.
In 1837, James K. WIGGS settled on Section 2, Thomas
HARROLD settled on Section 15, Daniel ANDERSON, on Section 29, and Eleazer WASHBURNE on Section 4.
EARLY ROADS in Adams Township
About the year 1830, the Strawtown
and La Fayette State road was surveyed and cut out across the township, from
east to west. It was then a route that had long been traveled by
emigrants going West, but, until 1830, no measures had been adopted for its
improvement. It became one of the principal highways of the time, and
merchants and tradesmen derived a lucrative patronage from the travelers over
this route. The various county roads were surveyed at different times,
in response to petitions from the residents of the neighborhood in which it
was desired to have them located.
SCHOOLS in Adams Township
The private school taught by George BOXLEY was
the first educational institution in the township, and the only one, until
1838. In that year, a subscription was secured for the purpose of
conducting a school during the winter, and Mrs. PIERCE was employed as
teacher. The schoolhouse was a log cabin which stood on land then owned
by Mr. JESSUP, of Hendricks County,
Indiana. After this date,
schools were taught at various places in the township every winter, the money
for their maintenance being secured by a tuition fee charged for each
scholar. This method was in vogue until after the passage of the school
law of 1851-52, under the provisions of which the township schools were then
conducted. The first building under the new regime,
was erected at Boxley in 1854, and during the
following year, similar buildings were erected in other school districts of
the township, the trustees erecting buildings according to the enumeration of
children, until each district was supplied. In 1874, the members of
Spicewood Meeting, feeling an interest in the cause of public education,
erected a high school, at an expense of $1,400, to which they gave the name
of "Spicewood
School." S.
W. COOK, Jesse MILLS and Paris COX were the Trustees. It was conducted
as a private institution until 1878, when it was purchased by the Township
Trustee, J. B. BRADFIELD. By 1880, the school was sustained by the public
money of the township, with the addition of a guarantee fund, made up by
those interested in educational matters. Prof. John PENNINGTON was the
Principal about that time.
EARLY CHURCHES in Adams Township
Methodist
Episcopal, Carmel Church, Sheridan Church,
Spicewood
Society of Friends, Wesleyan
Methodist Boxley Church, Liberty Church
Methodist Episcopal.--
In the year 1837, the Methodists first began to hold
meetings in the township, and one of the first places of meeting was the
house of Eber TETER. Ministers of the church
came to this locality at irregular intervals, and there was no
organization. In 1838, however, a meeting was held at the house of
Samuel BAKER, and the first class in the township was organized on this occasion,
with about a dozen constituent members. The class was attached to
Noblesville Circuit, and the ministers in charge of that circuit conducted
services at the homes of various members, about once a month. After a
few years, they transferred the meeting-place to a schoolhouse in the town of
Boxley,
and from this organization emanated the Boxley
Methodist Episcopal Church. This, however, was not erected until the
year 1852, by which time the original class had almost lost its identity by
the death of some of its older members and the removal of others.
The church at Boxley was
built in 1852, and dedicated by Rev. William H. GOOD in the summer of
1853. Mr. GOOD was then Presiding Elder, and Rev. Thomas STABLER was
Pastor in charge of the circuit. During the succeeding years, the
congregation increased, and the organization was successfully
maintained. By 1880, the church was under the pastoral care of Rev. A.
M. PATTERSON.
Carmel
Church.--
This class was organized in the winter of 1838, by
Rev. L. P. BERRY, then in charge of the Noblesville Circuit. He visited
the class at regular intervals, and preached at the house of Robert
CUTTS. Several years later the class was divided--a part meeting at the
house of Mr. CUTTS, and the balance at the house of Daniel SMITH. This
arrangement was made for the convenience of members who lived at a distance
from the former place of meeting.
In 1845, Willis ATKINS,
donated a lot upon which they erected a hewed-log house of worship, which they
occupied for a number of years. Finally, however, it became too old for
use, and was abandoned. Meetings were continued at a neighboring
schoolhouse, and occasionally at private houses, until about 1871, when they
erected a new church, under the ministrations of Rev. T. H. C. BEALL.
The church continued prosperously from its organization, and was under the
pastoral care of Rev. A. M. PATTERSON in 1880.
Sheridan
Church.--
In the winter of 1867-68, Rev. R. A. NEWTON
organized the class at Sheridan.
They held meetings in the schoolhouse until 1870, and after that date at
private houses. In the spring of 1873, they purchased two lots from
Caswell BOXLEY, in Sheridan,
and in August of the same year began the building of a house of
worship. The financial crisis of 1873 caused the Trustees to suspend
work until the following summer. The new building was 36x50 feet, 18
feet between floor and ceiling, and the spire 77 1/2 feet from ground to
top. The house was at $2,400, and the lot at $150. The dedicatory
sermon was delivered by Elder J. V. R. MILLER, after which a subscription of
$1,200 was secured, to free the church from debt. The church was built
in a very liberal spirit, and remained open to the religious denominations of
the town and vicinity. In 1880, it was under the pastor care of Rev. A.
M. PATTERSON.
Society of Friends--Spicewood.--
This congregation held its first meeting at a house
on the land later owned by Elijah JAY (in 1880), one-half mile west of
Spicewood, in November, 1865. The preparative meeting for business was
held July 26, 1866, in a log cabin on the land of Amos COOK,
one-half mile south of Spicewood. Jesse MILLS, Elijah JAY, Patty FURNAS
and Lydia Ann COOK constituted the committee then appointed.
Christopher SPRAY and Eunice FURNAS were the first permanent Clerks, and
Samuel W. COOK the first Treasurer.
The first persons who joined the meeting were Amos
HARRY and family, Carey LINTON and family, and William EMRY and daughter
Ollie. In the fall of 1869, the society erected their house of worship,
at a cost of $910. (This house was still in use in 1880.) The
Spicewood Monthly Meeting was first convened for business October 26,
1871. It then had no minister, but by 1880 had four, viz.: John COOK,
Eunice FURNAS, Marian SIMONS and Charity REAGAN. John B. and Mary
FOULKE were the clerks in 1880.
Wesleyan Methodist--Boxley Church.--
About 1844, the first class of this denomination was
organized in the schoolhouse at Boxleytown, under
the leadership of Eber TETER, who was afterward
recognized as one of the leading spirits in the church. During
protracted meetings, they were granted the use of the log church owned by the
Christian denomination at Boxley, but on ordinary
occasions they held their meetings at the schoolhouse for about 2 years after
organization. Mr. TETER then donated a lot in the town of Boxley,
upon which they erected a small frame church. This building was still
in use as their house of worship, in 1880, and was at that time under the
pastoral care of Rev. William TALBERT.
Liberty Church.--
In 1869, a class of the Wesleyan denomination was
organized at a log cabin on the farm of John JESSUP, under the ministrations
of Rev. Jesse W. HIATT. In 1871, they erected a church, at a cost of
$1,200. Rev. H. C. WEST succeeded Mr. HIATT as Pastor, and remained
about 2 years. Rev. John FALL was his successor, and he was followed by
Rev. Eber TETER. Mr. TETER was, in turn,
succeeded by Rev. William TALBERT, who was the pastor in 1880.
LOCAL INDUSTRIES in Adams Township
Flouring Mills.--
About the year 1867, Robert DRAKE erected a saw-mill
at Boxley, and subsequently added a
grist-mill. The latter was a two-story frame building, and had two runs
of buhrs (in 1880).
Mr. DRAKE operated the mill for several years, then sold it to Riley WILSON, by whom it was sold to
HINKLE & HARPER, several years later. In 1878, Henry KERNS
purchased the interest of Mr. HINKLE, and the firm became HARPER &
KERNS. On the 14th day of February, 1879, Mr. KERNS met a violent
death. While endeavoring to adjust a belt in the mill, he was caught in
the machinery, and so badly mangled that he died on the evening of that
day.
The mill was still owned by Mr. HARPER and the heirs
of Mr. KERNS, in 1880, and rented by SMITH and RYKER, by whom it was then
operated. During the ownership of HARPER & HINKLE, the saw-mill
machinery was removed, and replaced by a set of heading machinery. The
latter was operated until the winter of 1879, when it was also removed.
Sheridan
Mills.--
In 1866, Egbert HIGBEE erected the flouring-mill at Sheridan, and the
building remained unoccupied for two years. In 1868, Mr. HIGBEE
associated with him as partners, Cyrus JESSUP, Eliel
JESSUP and J. O. PEARSON. The machinery was then put in, and the mill
was operated by the firm of HIGBEE, JESSIP & Co. About eight months
later, Cyrus and Eliel JESSUP sold to J. P.
PEARSON, and the firm became HIGBEE, PEARSON & Son. About a year
later, Anthony BAKER purchased the interest of Mr. HIGBEE, and the mill was
operated for a time by PEARSON & BAKER. Mr. BAKER subsequently sold
his interest to J. O. PEARSON, and the mill was then operated by PEARSON
& Son.
When HIGBEE, JESSUP & Co. adjusted the machinery
for the grist-mill, they erected a shed, back of the main building, in which
they placed a large circular-saw, and combined the flouring and saw mill
industries. In 1872, another frame building was attached, and supplied
with the machinery for a planing-mill. W. E.
DUNCAN was a member of the firm at that time, but only interested in the planing-mill. He sold his interest to J. O. PEARSON
in 1877.
The flouiring-mill, in
1880, was a two-story, frame building, 28x36 feet, and had two runs of buhrs. It was conducted as a custom-mill, and the
flour sold in sacks in the home market.
The planing-mill was 40x80
feet (in 1880), and contained one planer, one edging-saw, one resawing machine and attachments. In the saw-mill
the average amount of timber sawed per day was 3,000 feet, and the average
number of men employed was 6, in the year 1880.
Saw-Mill (Sheridan).--
In 1879, the firm of OWEN & Brother erected the
present building at the west end of Sheridan.
It was a frame building, 20x80 feet, containing one double circular saw,
boiler and engine, one edging-saw, one cut-off saw and one heading-saw.
They sawed an average of 3,000 feet of timber per day, and from 5,000 to
8,000 pieces of heading, in 1880.
Cheese Factory.--
The Adams Township Cheese Manufacturing Company
erected their establishment, one and a half miles south of Boxley, in the spring of 1879. It was a two-story
frame building, thirty-one feet square, and contained one boiler and engine,
one 600-gallon Barclay patent vat and six presses, with a manufacturing
capacity of 500 pounds of cheese per day. They made a full-cream
cheese, by the Cheddar process; the mild was not skimmed, the whey was
removed, and the curd thoroughly cooked at a temperature of 98° Fahrenheit.
In 1880, this was the only enterprise of its kind in the county, and the
proprietors had a good demand for thier products in
the home market.
THE TOWN of BOXLEY
In 1836, Addison BOXLEY founded this town, by
dividing a portion of his property into town lots and selling the same.
It was originally known as Boxleytown, but in later
years the name was abbreviated, and it became known more familiarly as Boxley. Here the first store in the township was
kept, by Addison and Thomas P. Boxley. Here,
too, the first post office was established, and Dr. Thomas P. Boxley served as Postmaster for a number of years.
Here, in 1837, the first township election was held, resulting in the choice
of Reuben TANSEY as Justice of the Peace. Within a few miles of this
town, Vinton SPENCER, the first white native of the township, was born in
1830, and, in 1833, the first marriage was said to have been celebrated, the
contracting parties being Stephen BLEVENS and Miss Elsie McKINZIE.
It was a prominent point in the days of overland emigration, being on the
direct route from Strawtown to the Wabash. Addison BOXLEY kept the first tavern
here, and received a liberal patronage from the emigrants and drovers over
this route. The following-named firms constituted the representative
business houses of the town in 1880: General merchandise: T. P. BOXLEY,
Smith & Rodeman, J. M. RICHARDSON; physicians:
Dr. T. J. McMURTRY and Dr. J. C. NEWBY;
wagon-maker: George PALMER; blacksmiths: J. R. OGLE and Steffey
Bros.
MILLWOOD / SHERIDAN
In 1860, Egbert HIGBEE laid off a town on the
south side of the pike running east and west, to which he gave the name of
Millwood. Upon application for a post office at this point, several
years later, it was found that there would necessarily be a difference
between the name of the former and that of the latter, as there was already a
Millwood post office in the State. On the north side of the pike,
Caswell BOXLEY laid out an addition to the town, and, to harmonize the
respective names of the town and post office, both were united under the name
of Sheridan.
The first business house in Sheridan was the harness-shop of P. G.
PEARSON, opened in 1866; and the first stock of merchandise was sold by Dr.
H. MOORE, in the building later occupied by H. J. Thistlethwaite.
Business Directory of 1880.--
General
merchandise: Thistlewaite & Bros., H. J. Thistlethwaite, Hamilton EMMONS;
Drugs: P. B. STOUT,
David FOIGHT;
Clocks: P. G.
PEARSON;
Physicians: Dr.
H. E. DAVENPORT, Dr. J. W. FANCER, Dr. H. MOORE;
Shoemaker: J. Y.
GREEN;
Milliners: Mrs.
W. CLEMANS, Mrs. M. EMMONS;
Undertakers:
Mace & Sackman;
Saddle and harness
maker: Julius PEARSON;
Wagon-makers,
blacksmiths and painters, Wainscott, Mann &
Cropper.
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CLAY TOWNSHIP
The following has been abstracted primarily from the source: History of
Hamilton County, Indiana, with Illustrations and
Biographical Sketches of Some of its Prominent Men and Pioneers, to Which are
Appended Maps of its Several Townships. Chicago : Kingman Brothers, 1880.
Select a topic from the list below, or scroll down to read the entire
historical sketch.
Clay Township is located in the southwest corner of Hamilton County. It is bounded to the
north by Washington Township; to the east by Delaware
Township (both in Hamilton County);
while Marion County
is to the south, and Boone
County to the
west.
Clay Township was established by the Board of
Commissioners in November, 1833, with the following boundaries:
"Beginning at the west line of Hamilton County, on the northwest corner
of Section 19, Township 18 north, Range 3 east; eat on the section line to
the line dividing Ranges 3 and 4, thence south with said line to the south
line of hte county; thence west to the southwest
corner of the county; thence north to the place of beginning; said township
to be known by the name of Clay Township."
The First Non-native Settler - Other Early Settlers of Clay Township
-
Early Births - First Death and Cemetery - Early Mills - Other Early Events -
An early Incident: Lost in the Woods
- Early Schools - Early Churches -
THE FIRST NON-NATIVE
SETTLER
In the year 1824, Francis McSHANE,
then a farmer in Harrison County,
Ky., started on horseback, in company
with a friend, Mr. ANDERSON, both of whom were determined upon a removal to
the West. After their arrival at Brookville, we hear nothing more of
Mr. ANDERSON. Here was located the land office, and on the occasion of
this visit, Mr. McSHANE entered two tracts of
land--the east half of the northeast quarter, of Section 12, in Township 17
north, Range 3 east, and the west half of the northwest quarter of Section 7,
Township 17 north, Range 4 east. Having made this purchase, he returned
to Kentucky,
where he remained a year. In December, 1825, he started with his family
to locate with them on the newly purchased land. He left them in the
adjoining county
of Marion, while he
came to the land and constructed a cabin from the timber by which he was surrounded.
This completed, the family were soon settled with as
much of comfort as the circumstances permitted. His family at that time
consisted of himself, wife, and two sons, Edward and James G. Early Hamilton County marriages report that Edward McSHANE married to Anna WAY, on 30 December 1849; and
James G. McSHANE married to Martha Jane SILVEY, on
28 November 1840. Edward had reportedly died by 1880, while James G. McSHANE remained the owner of the old homestead. In
June, 1826, a daughter, Sarah L., was born to Mr. McSHANE
and his wife. She was the first white child born in Clay Township.
She was said to be residing at Indianapolis
in 1880.
The struggle with the wilderness was inaugurated by
the father, and all through the winter of that year his time was occupied in
the labor of felling timber and preparing the ground for cultivation.
He was almost alone in his undertaking, there being at that time no other
white settlers within the limits of the township. An Indian by the name
of Ketchum had adopted the white man's mod of living, and had cleared a
portion of the farm subsequently entered for him by Benjamin
MENDENHALL. The date of his settlement is not known, but it is thought
that he began clearing his land not later than the year 1824. There
were then several white families living in Delaware Township,
but Mr. McSHANE was the Indian's first white
neighbor in Clay. The latter spent seventeen years in the improvement
of his farm, and at the end of that time, his life-work closed in death.
He was taken to the Farley Cemetery, in Delaware Township,
where his remains rest.
OTHER EARLY SETTLERS of Clay Township
Franklin HALL came toward the close of the year
1825, and settled on a tract of land from which he subsequently developed a
fine farm. James GRAY came early in 1826, and entered a tract of land
situated partially in this county and partially in Marion County.
His first cabin was located on the Hamilton
County side, but within a few years
he erected a brick house in Marion
County, where he
afterward made his home. Robert BARNHILL and Benjamin C. McDUFFEE came in 1827, and each entered land in the
autumn of the following year: Mr. BARNHILL the east half of the
southeast quarter of Section 10, and Mr. McDUFFEE
the entire southwest quarter of the same section. Darius POWER and DAniel WARREN came in 1829, and both entered land, which
they improved and cultivated for years afterward. In 1830, Samuel
MORROW, Robert MORROW, John CRUSE, Barnaby NEWBY, John HARDEN, Isaac RICH, Stephen
HIATT and William DAVIS, settled in various locations within Clay
township. Henry CRUSE and Samuel P. SEELY came about the close of the
same year, and entered land the following year. By this time there was
what was known as a "good settlement," or
men enough to make a full party at house-raisings, log-rollings,
or other gatherings in which the leading feature was the labor of the
residents who contributed to assist one of their neighbors in the improvement
of his home. New settlers continued to arrive each year, until all the
land int he township had
been entered. The settlers between this date and 1836 were as
follows:
In 1832: John PIERCE, Elias HARVEY, Abraham, Jacob and
William JESSUP, William HAWKINS, Jacob COOK, Stephen HINSHAW, Jonas HOOVER,
Eli JOHNSON, David SMITH, Micajah ELSTON, Robert
ELLIS, James SANDERS, John ESSEX, Clayton COOK, Joshua WRIGHT, Owen WILLIAMS,
Nathaniel WEBBER, Henry DAVIS, Daniel SMITH and Absalom HAROLD.
In 1833: Wyatt DALTON, Samuel REESE, Stephen
MACEY, James TANNER, James DAVIS, James NUTT, Robert LEEPER, Thomas HARVEY,
John SMITH, Rezin DEBRULER, Richard POWER, Thomas
TODD, James HAMER and William WALDON.
In 1834: James BECK, Jacob PHILLIPS, Richard
NORRIS, George S. LYON and Peter RUARK.
In 1835: Isaac SHARPE, George WEST, Reason D.
LYON, Abraham RANDLES, David METSKER, Henderson BRAGG and Jesse ESSEX.
In 1836: Thomas HOAGLAND, Josiah SENIOR, John
SENIOR and John DAUBENSPECK.
EARLY BIRTHS in Clay Township
Among the children born in this township at an
early day, Sarah L. McSHANE was the first. A
child was born to the family of Daniel WARREN in 1830, and Samuel, son of
John HARDEN, was born in 1831. The latter was reportedly a resident of
Madison County, Indiana in 1880.
THE FIRST REPORTED DEATH in Clay Township
In 1830, the first reported death in the township
occurred. The victim was a daughter of James GRAY, who was taken to the
Whitinger Cemetery, in Marion County,
for interment. There were then no cemeteries in Clay Township,
and many of her pioneer citizens sleep in graves more or less remote from the
scene of their labors. The Farley
Cemetery, in western Delaware Township
(see
map), and the Whitinger
Cemetery, in the northern part of Marion County, were the usual burial places
until 1838. Evidence suggests that the name Whitinger Cemetery
referred to a cemetery located on land purchased by Jacob WHITINGER, in
section 15, Township 17 N, Range 3 E (Washington
Township), Marion County.
In that year, a cemetery was laid out on the farm of Isaac SHARPE, near the
site of Pleasant
Grove Church
(see
map). The first interment in this cemetery was the daughter of
James HAMER.
EARLY MILLS in Clay Township
The first mill in the township was a saw-mill,
erected some time during the year 1836. It was the property of John
HARDEN, and was located on the bank of Williams Creek,
from which stream it received its motive power. It was operated by an
old-fashioned water-wheel, and furnished the lumber for some of the first
frame houses in this and adjoining settlements. Near the same time,
certainly not later than the year 1837, John Smith erected a saw-mill on
Section 10. It also received its propelling power from Williams Creek, and contained a sash saw of
primitive style. It was a custom mill, and was only operated when some
of the neighbors had lumber to saw. Its trade extended into Boone County. Both of the above mills
were run for a number of years, until they outlived their usefulness and were
abandoned. Grist-mills were not among the early institutions of the
township. There were mills in the north of Marion
County, and in the adjoining township of Delaware, prior to the year 1836, all
easily accessible from this settlement. The first flouring mill was
that of the Carey Brothers, erected in 1865, on the land of J. G. McSHANE.
OTHER EARLY EVENTS in Clay Township
The first frame house was erected about the year
1833, by Jacob COOK. The lumber for this house was sawed by Benjamin
MENDENHALL, at his mill in Delaware
Township. About a
year later, Zimri COOK erected a frame house on his
farm.
The first brick-kiln was burned by James GRAY in
1835. He did not, however, make this a speculative enterprise; the
brick were manufactured for the purpose of erecting a house on his farm, and
the kiln was probably destroyed as soon as its purpose had been
consummated.
The first road was surveyed through the township
about the year 1829 or 1830. It was known as the Indianapolis and Peru State Road. Like many roads
at that period, its name was the chief end of its identity, for no effort was
made by the authorities to improve it after it was surveyed; and for years
afterward all that distinguished the "Indianapolis and Peru State
Road" from the wilderness through which it passed, was the three notches
cut in the trees along its course. It was a bad road at all times, and
during the wet seasons of the year, was absolutely impassable in certain
localities. Shortly after the organization of the township, it was
divided into districts, and a thorough system of roads opened, until finally
there was a public highway on nearly every section.
The first store was opened in 1834 or 1835.
The proprietor was Joseph BOGGS, formerly of Shelbyville, Indiana,
and the store was kept in one room of the residence of Richard POWER.
Mr. BOGGS subsequently removed his store to the town of Carmel, Indiana, where he was identified
with the early mercantile interests of the town.
AN INCIDENT of the EARLY DAYS
in Clay Township
There is nothing terrible in the words "lost in
the woods," as applied to this locality at this time; but, half in the
1820s, such an accident was fraught with dangers which could scarcely be
escaped by an unprotected person, as the woods were infested with bears and
wolves, as well as venomous reptiles. So, when, one morning in the fall
of 1827, the news west out through the settlemtn
that Mrs. Margaret GRAY had wandered into the woods and had failed to find
her way home, every one who heard it was struck with consternation, and,
abandoning work, joined in the search which soon became general. She
had already passed one night in the forest, before the news of her absence
was spread through the settlement. On the preceding evening, she
started out in search of a missing pig, her only guide thorugh
the forest being a narrow cow-path. Failing to find the pig, she
endeavored to retrace her steps, but only to be convinced of the utter
futility of such effort.
Nigh was coming on rapidly,
and the alarmed husband, accompanied by a few of his nearest neighbors, began
scouring the woods in all directions. During the progress of the
search, bear tracks were discovered by one of the party. This added to
the horror of the situation, and they were constantly in dread of coming
suddenly upon her mangled remains; but, about sundown of the second day, she
was discovered by Col. Daniel HEATON--a pioneer of Delaware Township,
and a thorough woodsman--and was placed upon his horse and taken to his
house, where she remained until the following morning. A great load of
suspense and anguish was lifted from the hearts at home when the Colonel rode
up to the door with the old lady by his side, alive and well, and the signal
was immediately given to the party in the woods, who hastened to join the
scene of general rejoicing and hearty congratulations. Mrs. GRAY was
the grandmother of James G. McSHANE, of this
township, and Joseph GRAY, Esq., of Noblesville, and was eighty years of age at
the time of this occurence. She died at the
age of eighty-four years.
EARLY SCHOOLS in Clay Township
There were few children of school age in the
township prior to 1835, and, in the labor which occupied the time of all
alike in those early days, there was little time to devote to
education. The first school was taught in the winter of 1834-35, in a
cabin which stood on the farm of Isaac SHARPE, opposite the site of Pleasant Grove Church.
In 1837 or 1838, a building was erected on the farm of
James HAMER, in which a school was taught during the winter of that
year. This was the first building erected especially for school
purposes. It was the usual style of log architecture, and both schools
were supported by subscription, as were all the schools of the township, for
a number of years later. The provisions of the school law of 1851-52
were adopted as soon as practicable after the passage of that law, and an
excellent system of free schools was established. By 1880, there were
seven school districts in the township, each supplied with a comfortable
house, for the education of all who would accept the proffered boon.
EARLY CHURCHES in Clay Township
Methodist Episcopal.--
During the early days fo
the settlement, the Methodists held regular meetings at private houses, but
without organization. The earliest preaching was at the houses of
Darius POWER, Samuel P. SEELEY and Isaac SHARPE, and the ministers were Rev.
Hezekiah SMITH, Rev. WELSH and Rev. Asa BECK.
At that time the congregation comprised all the religious people of the
settlement, irrespective of denominational preferences. About the year
1833, a class was organied at the house of Isaac
SHARPE, and, within a year after organization, a hewed-log church was erected
on land donated by Mr. SHARPE for that purpose. It was known by the
title of "Sharpe's Meeting-House," and was occupied until 1854 or
1855. In that year, the congregation had so increased that the log
building was scarcely large enough to accommodate them comfortable, and a new
frame edifice, "Pleasanat Grove
Church," was
erected in its place. Rev. Michael JOHNSON was Pastor, and Rev.
Franklin HARDEN, assistant, at the time the building was erected. Among
other pastors who served at various times after its organization were the
following: Rev. Hezekiah SMITH, Rev. Asa
BECK, Rev.WELSH, Rev. Miles HUFFAKER, Rev. Aaron
WOOD, Rev. Jonas BELOTE, Rev. STRITE, Rev. MYERS, Rev. Thomas BARTLETT, Rev.
H. H. BADLEY, Rev. CALVERT, Rev. W. S. ANDERSON, Rev. John M. MANNY, Rev.
HOPKINS, Rev. Thomas COLCLAZER, Rev. N. GILLAM, Rev. KITCHEN, Rev. E. RAMMEL,
Rev. John McCARTY, Rev. George BOWERS, Rev.Silas PIPER, Rev. F. A. FISH, Rev. John SNAY, Rev.
LAMB, Rev. BROWN, Rev. HARRISON, Rev. BLACK, Rev. George HAVENS, Rev. ODEN,
Rev. PECK, Rev. BLAKE, Re. D. D. POWELL, Rev. T. H. C. BEALL and Rev. I. N.
RHODES. Rev. R. B. POWELL was the pastor in 1880.
Poplar Grove Church.--
About the year 1836, a class was organized in the
southwestern part of the township, and met at the houses of Nathan WILSON and
other members, for a year or more. A lot was donated to the society by
Elijah PATTERSON, and upon this a hewed-log church was soon afterward
built. Early in 1856, Nathan WILSON donated a lot half a mile east of
the log church, upon which a new house of worship was erected in the summer
of that year. This church was under the pastoral care of Rev. R. B.
POWELL in 1880.
Mount
Zion Baptist Church.--
The Baptists formed an organization at an early day,
but had no established house of worship. The homes of members of the
congregation and the district schoolhouse were the places in which the
services of their church were conducted until 1867. In that year, John
WILLIAMS donated to the society a lot off the southwest corner of his farm,
upon which they erected a frame house of worship in the same year.
Meetings were continued regularly until the summer of 1877, after which time,
the society was without a regular pastor. By 1880, the building was
occupied at intervals by the Methodists and Friends.
DELAWARE
TOWNSHIP
The following has been abstracted primarily from the source: History of
Hamilton County, Indiana, with Illustrations and
Biographical Sketches of Some of its Prominent Men and Pioneers, to Which are
Appended Maps of its Several Townships. Chicago : Kingman Brothers, 1880.
Select a |
