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Thomas STROUD

Thomas Stroud was the first non-native settler of Crawford County, Indiana, as indicated by the resources, below, which were graciously abstracted by Lance Stroud - a descendant of Thomas Stroud.

1889

Biographical and Historical

Souvenir

Crawford County, Indiana

by

John H. Weathers

“There were pioneers in what is now Crawford County---hunters and adventurers were here as early as 1804, among them John Peckinpaugh, but none of them settled permanently in that year. In 1806, quite a number of families came to southern Indiana. One man settled on the Cider Fork of Whiskey Run Creek in what is now Whiskey Run Township. This was Thomas Stroud. He must, therefore, be accounted the first settler of Crawford County, having settled in March 1806.”

Source provided by: Lance Stroud descendant of Thomas Stroud

Illustrated Historical Atlas of the State of Indiana 1876

by

Alfred T. Andreas

Early Settlements

“In March, 1806, a colony of twenty-two families settled in Orange, Washington and Floyd Counties. Among them came Thomas Stroud, who was the first settler in Crawford County. He settled on Clear Creek in the northeastern part of the county not far from the Orange County line just beyond which several families of the company had located and among them a brother and an uncle of Mr. Stroud was followed by E.E. Morgan, William McKee and William Frakes, the latter of whom settled in the northwest part of the county.

In 1807, a number of families were added to the settlers. Among these were Peter Frakes and William Van Winkle. The former established himself on Big Blue River, near the eastern boundary of the county. The Stroud neighborhood, in 1808 was increased by the accession of John Peckinpaugh, and Jacob and Jonathan Rice and during the same year Malachi Monk settled on Whisky Run, near Big Springs. During these years settlers came into the county more rapidly than quite a number of years following.”

Source provided by: Lance Stroud descendant of Thomas Stroud

History of Indiana from Its Exploration to 1922

by

Logan Esarey, William Cronin, and Henry Barnhart

“In 1806 the settlers braved the hills of Crawford of county, settling in the northern part. It seems that the first setters were a part of a large colony that scattered over the northern part of Harrison county and the southern part of Orange and Washington counties. Among those who came to Crawford county were Thomas Stroud, E.E. Morgan, William McKee, and William Frakes. In 1807 came Peter Frakes, William Van Winkle, John Peckinpaugh, followed shortly by Captain Posey, and Conrads, the Clarks, and the Leavenworths. The latter laid out the town of Leavenworth in 1818. This county was a great hunting ground at that time.”

Source provided by: Lance Stroud descendant of Thomas Stroud

History of Crawford County

by

The Federal Writer’s Program of WPA

1941

“Into such an untamed wilderness of deep ravines, sheer cliffs, and stone-capped knobs, subterranean caverns, swift-flowing streams, and swampy malaria-infested bottom lands came twenty-two families which settled in Orange, Washington, Harrison and Floyd counties in March 1806. Among them was Thomas Stroud, whom history records as the first white settler in what was to be Crawford County.”

Source provided by: Collection Assistant, Reference Services, Indiana Historical Society

REPORT OF THE BUFFALO TRACE COMMISSION

CRAWFORD COUNTY (Pg 34)

In March, 1806, Thomas Stroud became the first settler in Crawford County. He settled on Clear Creek in the northeastern part of Crawford County, not far from the Orange County line. Several families, in 1807, settled on Big Blue River near the eastern boundary of the county. “Big Springs” is on Whiskey Run near the Buffalo Trace. It appears that these settlers came over the Fredonia, the Big Blue River and the Buffalo Trace and settled near the rangers’ camp on the Buffalo Trace. The Buffalo Trace rangers who patrolled the Trace east from their camp near the corner of Crawford, Orange, Washington and Harrison counties were in the charge of John Tipton who later took a fighting part in the battle of Tippecanoe, become a general of the Indiana state militia and still later a United States senator from Indiana. Traces in the Crawford County ran from the Ohio River to this camp and thus the junction of the traces became a place of more than ordinary pioneer importance.

By The Buffalo Trace Commission, 1936. Courtesy of Roberta Toby

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