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Preface | Ch1 | Ch2 | Ch3 | Ch4 | Ch5 | Ch6 | Ch7 | Ch8 | Ch9 |Biographies

CHAPTER III.

COMPILED BY JOHN WOOLDRIDGE, A. 31.

SETTLEMENT OF THE COUNTY-CATALOG OF EARLY SETTLERS AND LAND ENTRIES BY TOWNSHIPS-HUNTING AND OTHER INTERESTING ANECDOTES-PIONEER INDUSTRIES AND CUSTOMS-LOCAL NAMES SLAVERY IN INDIANA-THE TOWNSHIP TRUSTEE WARRANTS-THE OLD FRENCH DONATIONS.

AUTHORITIES differ as to who the first settler of Daviess County was. Some say that William Ballow settled in the Sugar Creek Hills, sixteen miles southeast of Washington, in 1801. If this be correct, Mr. Ballow was probably the first settler. Others say that Eli Hawkins, who came from South Carolina and settled near the present site of Maysville in 1806, was the first settler. But this can hardly be correct, as Mr. John Thompson, who wrote a series of "pioneer papers" for The Age, and who is very generally recognized as good authority on early historic matters, mentions in those pioneer papers seven others who came to this region before Eli Hawkins. One of these seven, however, who is mentioned as the first settler by Mr. Thompson, located on the west bank of the east fork of White River, near the present site of Mount Pleasant, in Martin County. His name was William McGowen. David Flora, who is referred to by Mr. Thompson as the second settler, was therefore the second settler in Daviess County, admitting William Ballow to have been the first. Mr. Flora lived in a log cabin nearly opposite the present site of the Meredith House in Washington. Then came Aaron Freeland, who lived in a double log cabin. The next was Thomas Ruggles, and then followed in succession Dr. Harris, Richard Palmer, William Hawkins, and finally Eli Hawkins, in 1806, as mentioned above. That Eli Hawkins did arrive in what is now Daviess County as early as 1806 is not a matter of doubt, as the county records contain the copy of a deed made to him November 8, 1806, by John Rice Jones, and Mary Jones, his wife. The land deeded lay in the vicinity of Maysville, and consisted of 400 acres, and cost Mr. Hawkins $400. It was given to Charles Valle in 1783, according to certain laws of the United States in pursuance of an act of Congress. * John Rice Jones bought the land from the children and horse if Charles Valle. Eli Hawkins, on the 15th of August, 1815, sold 100 acres of this land to Solomon Lillie for 8200. This land was a portion of Section 6, Township 2, Range 7. This deed to Eli Hawkins by John Rice Jones and wife was not, however, the earliest deed made to land in Daviess County, as will appear later on in this chapter. But it shows the promptness with which Mr. Hawkins made his title clear to a homestead in the country selected for the future residence of himself and family, and contrasts somewhat strangely with the apparent dilatoriness of William Ballow, who did not, so far as the records of the county show, until April 28, 1809, purchase land, and thus secure a permanent location. The land purchased by Mr. Ballow was the northwest quarter of Section 9, Township 2, Range 7.

EARLY DEEDS OF LAND.

The first deed to land within the present limits of Daviess County, of which there is any record, was by Jacque Cardinal, and his two sisters and their husbands (Joseph Tonga and Jennette, his wife, and Joseph Severang and Celeste, his wife), to Henry Vanderburgh. This land consisted of 400 acres, which was given to John Baptiste Cardinal by the Congress of the United States, as the head of a family at Vincennes, and was a part or the whole of donation 157, and lay mostly in Section 14, Township 3, Range 8. The price paid for this 400 acres of land by Mr. Vanderburgh was $100, and the date of the deed was May 21, 1792. Mr. Vanderburgh evidently did not purchase for the purpose of settlement, for on the 28th of March, 1797, he sold the entire tract to John Instone for $200. John Instone sold this land with other lands on August 1; 1802; to Peyton Short. Mr. Short bargained to sell to certain parties, but died before executing the deed, and the court decreed the title to William Crogan, of Pittsburgh, Penn., and appointed a commissioner to convey it to him in 1832. Afterward Mary Shepley- proved herself to be the owner of this land, and sold it to Charles G. McCord August 27, 1884. Mr. McCord sold it to its present owner, Smiley W. Chambers.

THE EARLY SETTLERS.

It is designed to enumerate and locate as many as possible of those who became inhabitants of Daviess County previous to -forting times"—times remembered now by very few. And in order to locate them intelligently, it is necessary to state that in 1783 the Congress of the United States made numerous donations of land to the early French settlers about Vincennes, and in 1807 the Congress made what have since been called French locations. The donations lie mostly in what is now Knox County, in the history of which county, elsewhere in this volume, may be found a . full account of the origin of both donations and locations. A portion of the locations are within the limits of Daviess County, and their boundary lines run east and west, and north and south; while those of the donations run at an angle of nearly 45 degrees from the true meridian. Eli Hawkins settled on location No. 62, and his brother, William, on location No. 63, recently the property of Joseph M. Taylor. William McIntosh settled on location No. 87; William Morrison, on location No. 134; David Flora, on No. 159; Toussaint Dubois, on No. 300; Emanuel Van Trees, on No. 304; Samuel Baird, on No. 144; Jesse Purcell, on No. 185; Elijah Purcell, on No. 192; John Allen, on No. 258; William Flint, on No. 189; William Baker, on No. 193; John Aikman, on No. 192; James Barr, on No. 210; Amable Godall, on No. 202; and John McDonald, the old Government surveyor, on No. 242. It is not easy to determine the exact dates of the above mentioned settlements, but it is sufficient to know that most of them were made prior to the war of 1812. According to the records of the county, John McDonald purchased the northeast quarter of Section 8, Township 2, Range 7 May 30, 1807, and Abraham Rodarmel the southWest quarter of Section 5, Township 2, Range 7 June 10, 1807.

Others to obtain land titles prior to 1814 were the following: In 1808, Daniel Corner, May 16, southeast quarter of Section 4, Township 2, Range 7; Richard Steen, May 20, southwest quarter of Section 4, Township 2, Range 7; Josiah Culbertson, August 2, northwest quarter of Section 5, Township 2, Range 7 ; Simon Nicholas, November 25, southwest quarter of Section 8, Township 2, Range 7; Friend Spears, December 13, southwest quarter Section 3, Township 2, Range 7 ; Amos Rogers, December 28, east fraction of Section 13, Township 2, Range 8. In 1809: William Ballow, April 28, northwest quarter of Section 9, Township 2, Range 7; John Wallace, April 28, northeast quarter of Section 9, Township 2, Range 7; Clayton Rogers, September 7, east fraction of Section 24, Township 2, Range 8; Daniel Gregory, southeast quarter of Section 8, Township 2, Range 7. In 1810: Thomas Aikman, May 5, northeast quarter of Section 4, Township 2, Range 7 ; William Horrall, October 10, southwest quarter of Section 9, Township 2, Range 7; Thomas Horrall, October 13, southeast quarter of Section 9, Township 2, Range 7. In 1811: Hezekiah Ragsdale, April 29. northwest quarter of Section 4, Township 2, Range 7; Ebenezer Jones, August 5, southwest quarter of Section 3, Township 2, Range 7; Vance Jones, December 11, northwest quarter of Section 10, Township 2, Range 7; John Aikman, December 14, southwest quarter of Section 10. Township 2, Range 7. There was no land entry made in 1812 and only one in 1813, indicating an unsettled or even a disturbed state of society, which rendered it questionable whether Daviess County was the proper place to locate. The one made in 1813 was by Jeremiah Lucas, September 18, northeast quarter of Section 3, Township 2, Range 7. It will be observed that all of the above mentioned individuals settled within the present limits of Washington Township, except Clayton Rogers, whose land lay in Veal Township, and who was, therefore, somewhat isolated from his neighbors. During the period which elapsed while these entries were being made, additions were constantly being made to the settlement. The pioneers were prosperous and were making steady progress ift clearing up their claims, in improving and adding to the comforts of their homes, until the latter part of 1811, when troubles with the Indians began and lasted for a number of years.

LAND ENTRIES CONTINUED.

The reader will remember that the Indian troubles, independently of and connected with the war of 1812, caused a cessation of land entries during the years 1812 and 1813, no entry being made in 1812 and only one in 1813. A list of those made during the next subsequent four years is here introduced. In 1814 the following: February 8, Joseph Case, north fraction Section 7, Township 1, Range 6; June 20, Thrice Stafford, southwest quarter of Section 7, Township 1, Range 5; September 22, Robert Hays, southwest quarter of Section 9, Township 1, Range 6; November 5, John Tranter, east fraction of Section 7, Township 2, Range 7; November 12, John Case, north fraction of Section 22, Township 1, Range 6; November 25, Elias Stone, southeast quarter of Section 6. Township 1, Range 6. In 1815: February 25, Jonathan Morgan, east fraction of Section 25, Township 2. Range 8; March 8, Daniel Clift. northwest quarter of Section 9, Township 1, Range 6; and George W. Clift, southeast quarter of Section 9, Township 1, Range 6; April 29, William Ballow, southeast quarter of Section 7, Township 1, Range 5; November 1, William Williams, southeast quarter of Section 29, Township. 3, Range 6; November 24, .Jacob Reeder, north fraction of Section 20, Township 1, Range 5. In 1816: February 23, Joseph Hays, southwest quarter of Section 14, Township 1, Range 5; April 4, Edward Adams, southwest " seven-eighths " of Section 9,   Township 1, Range 5; April 15, John Davidson, north fraction of Section 13, Township 1, Range 6; April 19, Benjamin Hawkins, east half of the southeast quarter of Section 14, Township 1, Range 5; and George Gregory, west half of the southeast quarter of Section 14, Township 1, Range 5; August 30, Caleb Brock, southeast quarter of Section 10, Township 1, Range 5; October-1, Henry Foster, west half of the southwest quarter of Section 10,  Township 1, Range 5; October 21, William Peterson, southwest quarter of Section 31, Township 3, Range 5; October 25, Nicholas Hutson, southwest quarter of Section 2.6; Township 3,.Range 6; and James Montgomery, half southeast quarter of Section 23, Township 3, Range 6; December 2, John Johnson, northwest quarter of Section 6, Township 2, Range 5. In 1817: January 11, Robert Burris, east half of the southeast quarter of Section 20, Township 3, Range 6; August 12, Alexander Stephenson, northwest quarter of Section 3, Townhip 2, Range 6; August 30, James Henry, southeast quarter of Section 17, Township 2, Range 6; September 26, Dennis Clark, northeast quarter of Section 17, Township 3, Range 6; and George Keith, east half of the northwest quarter of Section 17, Township 3, Range 6; October 9, Jesse Morgan, northwest quarter of Section 31, Township 3, Range 5; November 1, Alexander Bruce, southwest quarter of Section 32, Township 3, Range 5; November 16, Samuel Corner, southeast quarter of Section 10, Township 1, Range 6; November 24, Thomas Patten, southwest quarter of Section 11, Township 1, Range 5.

The above list will serve to give an idea as to the rapidity of the settlement of the county in those early days, and the location of the settlements as well as to furnish the names of many of the early settlers.

ORIGIN OF LOCAL NAMES.

Steele Prairie was named from a family by the name of Steele, as also was Steele Township. English Prairie took its name from John and Alexander English; Owl Prairie from the great number and variety of owls found there in early timers. The name of the, township comprising Owl Prairie and other lands is Elmore, from a family of early settlers in that portion of the county. Peterson Prairie was named after Frank and William Peterson. William Peterson settled where the town of Odon now stands, but Frank settled on the prairie which has since borne his and his brother's name. Veal Creek was named after James C. Veal. Prairie Creek was named from the nature of country through which it flows. Smothers' Creek derived its name from an early settler by the name of Smothers.

EARLY MEANS OF SUBSISTENCE.

Most of the early settlers of Daviess County came from the Southern States, about one-half of them from South Carolina, one-fourth from Kentucky and the rest from North Carolina and Tennessee. Their object in coming was to secure homes in the prairies and timber lands of this portion of Indiana Territory. To obtain a livelihood was the first prime and principal duty- of all, and in accomplishing this purpose, it was necessary to use considerable ingenuity and all the means nature had placed within their reach. Their houses or cabins were for years wholly of logs, round or hewn, as the case might be. During " forting times" most of these were abandoned for the forts, but some families, possessing an extraordinary amount of courage, recklessness or means of defense, remained at their homes. The food of these early settlers consisted in part of game, which abounded in great variety in the woods. Deer were very plentiful for several years. "If Friend Spears, who lived down in the edge of what is now Salty Row, or Jacob, Charles or Abner Cosby, all of whom ived just beyond Veal Creek, wanted a mess of venison, they would take a little walk out in the barrens, be out an hour and return, having killed the deer and hung him up; then take a horse, bring him in, and live fat until they wanted more. As it was with them, so it was in most places throughout the county, and for many years after I moved on this lot I bought venison hams at from 12 to 16 cents per ham. At two different times while in the peltry trade I had in the house 800 deer skins all bought in that winter's collection, all killed that season."* There were also immense numbers of squirrels, quails, wild ducks, wild geese and wild turkeys.

HUNTING THE BEAR, ETC.

Rare sport was occasionally had in hunting Bruin.' At one time a big black bear passed by William Ballow's house. Mr. Ballow had two sons, and a slave named "Buck" The dogs attacked and treed the bear. The boys and Buck cut down the tree, which fell with the bear into a ravine. Buck was anxiously hissing on the dogs, when he slipped and fell headlong into the crowd. While the dogs kept the bear busy, Buck safely scrambled out. Mr. Ballow then shot the bear in the head. George Ballow, one of the boys, thought the world of Buck, and said,when he saw him come out safe, lie did not care what became of the bear.Friend Spears also had an adventure with a bear. He went to "Paddy's Garden" one day to hunt ; stepped up on the body of a large tree that had been blown down. The roots of the tree were large and, standing upright, made a fine hiding and sleeping place for the bear in the daytime. A bear raised himself up on his hind feet, just high enough for Mr. Spears to see his head, at which he took deliberate aim and laid Mr. Bruin low. There were also in those early days large numbers of bees, which collected honey from the blossom of the " Spanish needle," with which all the low, wet lands were overgrown. Every hollow tree and stump was filled with this delicious wild honey. The Peterson brothers, mentioned above, gathered this honey by the barrel, which they hauled to and sold at the falls of the Ohio. When the country became too densely settled for the carrying on of this business they moved to Illinois.

IMPLEMENTS OF LABOR.

But civilized man cannot subsist on what nature in her wild state produces. His labor must assist, his genius must direct nature's forces. Timber lands must be cleared, marshy lands must be drained; cleared, drained and prairie lands must be cultivated. These various kinds of necessary labor require implements of industry. These, in the early days in Daviess County, were few, simple and rude. For clearing away the timber and shaping into building material, recourse was had to the ax, broadax and whip-saw, augur and draw-knife. The first lumber, which it is proper to call by that name, was made by the whip-saw, which it does not seem necessary to describe. This kind of saw continued to be used after saw-mills were introduced. It is generally conceded that James C. Veal built the first saw-mill, but authorities differ as to the year in which it was built. It could not have been earlier than 1808, nor later than 1810. It was located on Veal's Creek, but did not make sufficient lumber to supply the demand. Slabs from this mill, however, to some extent, superseded, for the flooring of cabins and other dwellings, the use of what the early settlers called "puncheons." Logs were split into pieces, which were hewed on only one side, brought to an even thickness at each end, jointed with the broadax, and laid with the hewn side up for the floor. These were the puncheons. Veal's mill was carried away by a freshet in the spring of 1812, and after a considerable time rebuilt. The second. mill of this kind was built, also on Veal's Creek, by Eli Chapman in 1815. It was of greater capacity than Years mill, furnished more lumber, and continued longer in existence, but was finally suffered to decay. The third mill was of a different design from either of the above. The motive power, instead -of being water, consisted of two or three yoke of oxen walking on an inclined wheel. This mill furnished a considerable quantity of lumber, but not sufficient to supply the home demand. hence the broadax and whip-saw still continued to be used. This ox-mill was located in the town of Washington, and was erected by William McCormick. The next saw-mill, and the last that it  is deemed necessary to mention specifically. was also erected in Washington, by B. Duncan, William and R. Graham and J. Thompson. This was the first. mill to manufacture lumber for export, the surplus being shipped in considerable quantities down the river to a Southern market. After this steam saw-mills began to be erected. and, of course, for the most part superseded other kinds.

Corn was the first of the cereals to be raised in Daviess. County by the early settlers. It was more easily cultivated than wheat, yielded a quicker return and was better adapted to the use of both man and beast. being used by the inhabitants for bread and also the chief food during the winter for horses, cattle and hogs. The main difficulty experienced at that time was in the preparation of the ground for the seed, as the plow, harrow and cultivator were then not nearly so perfect as at the present day. Plow irons, hoes, mattocks, etc.. were brought here from the original home of the settler. and by dint of ingenuity and hard labor he managed to "stock" them, as it was called, or furnish the necessary woodwork, at first out of green timber and to content himself with a very rough and unhandy implement. But as his means and facilities improved, he has supplanted the unhandy and unwieldy with the convenient and durable.

The first and only threshing machine manufactured in Daviess County, was invented and built by James and William Thompson in what was generally known as McTagart's barn. This barn was 30x48 feet in size. Thirty feet of the west end of the barn was used for the horse power, consisting of one driving wheel sixteen feet in diameter, by which, by means of gearing and belting, the thresher and cleaner were propelled. The cylinder of this thresher is worthy of description. It consisted of a wooden shaft three feet long, the width of the thresher, with an iron axle. From each end of this wooden shaft projected eight arms, to the outer ends of which eight ribs were fastened. The ribs were faced with heavy hoop iron, and as this cylinder or reel revolved the sheaves of wheat were fed to it through rollers, and thus the grain beaten out of the straw. The grain was separated from the straw by passing into a hopper through a wire grating three-feet wide and six feet long fixed in the floor, the straw being passed out of an upper window in the barn. From the hopper it was fed to the cleaner as fast as threshed. Two horses were required to run this machine, and with it six hands—three men and three boys—could thresh and clean 100 bushels of wheat in ten hours. The first portable threshing machine was introduced by a Mr. Parsons. It was an iron four horse-power, and only threshed the wheat, which had afterward to be fanned. Richard Graham brought in the second thresher, which was similar to that of Mr. Parsons, and after him came the combined threshers and separators, propelled by horse-power, and later by steam as they now are seen.

The first mills to grind both corn and wheat were turned by hand. Richard Palmer built the first grist-mill on Palmer's Creek, on land afterward owned by William McCluskey. It had a bolting apparatus. A_ short time afterward a second mill was built on the same stream and on the Hawkins' farm by William Hawkins, both of these it .is believed in 1816. Palmer's mill was built of round logs without chinking and was a cold place in cold weather, but Hawkins' mill was neatly built of hewn logs and was much more convenient and comfortable. The old-fashioned tub wheel was used in both, which was substantially on the same principal as the turbine wheel of the present day. The capacity of each of these mills was about two and a half bushels per hour.

CLOTHING MATERIALS.

Clothing, scarcely secondary in importance, required even more forethought and skill to provide than food. Flax was the principal dependence at first, and its cultivation and manufacture into fabrics were attended by no little exertion and anxiety. The cultivation of cotton was attempted, but the seasons proved too short, the facilities for clearing it of seed were too meager, and after a few years it was abandoned. Sheep were few at first, on account of the difficulty of protecting them from the wolves. But, as wool was an absolute necessity, this protection had to be afforded. As the wolves decreased in number, sheep increased and wool became more plentiful. It was at first carded and spun by hand, but in 1813 Eli Chapman erected a carding machine in connection with his saw-mill on Veal Creek, previously mentioned. Deer skins were also used for clothing.

DISTILLERIES.

Besides food, shelter and clothing. it seemed as necessary then as now to have recourse occasionally to a stimulant, and various kinds of stills and distilleries were, from time to time, brought into use. "Teapot stills," as they were called, were -common. The first distillery within the county was erected by " Obe " Flint in 1810, in Veal Township, two miles south of Maysville. But it was not before 1836 or 1838 that more whisky was made than the early settlers needed for home consumption. The first store in the county was opened in 1812 by George W. Curtis, about two and one-half miles southwest of Washington, near Maysville; the first in 0-whown by a Mr. Fairbanks; in Newberry by Cary O'Neall; the first in Raglesville by Hosier Crook; the first in Plainville by William McCluskey, and the first in Washington by James G. Read.

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VEAL* TOWNSHIP.

Veal Township was named after James C. Veal, who was the first, or at least one of the most prominent of the first settlers within its limits. Parmenius Palmer arrived here in 1812. Christopher Coleman was also an early settler, as was also a Mr Lett, who had three sons-William, Hamilton and James. William and Elijah Chapman, Moses Morgan, Thomas Wallace and a Mr. Goodwin were among Veal's earliest inhabitants. Following are some of the earliest land entries: In 1807-James C. Veal, June 24, southwest quarter Section 17, Township 2, Range 7. 1808 William Smith, September 22, northwest quarter Section 29, Township 2, Range 7; Henry Edwards, October 23, northwest quarter Section 20, Township 2, Range 7; 1809 -James Lett, September 7, southeast quarter Section 20, Township 2, Range 7 ; 1811-Robert Hays, February 11, northeast quarter Section 29, Township 2, Range 7; 18 12-James Arrell, December 1, east fraction Section 19, Township 2, Range 7. 1813-Christopher Coleman and Samuel Comer, August 5, southwest quarter Section 29, Township 2, Range 7. 1814-Elijah Chapman, December 3, northwest quarter Section 15, Township 2, Range 7, John W. Horrall, December 14, fractional Sections 13 and 14, Township 1, Range 7. 1815-Jonathan Morgan and Alexander Teverbaugh, February 25, east fraction of Section 30, Township 2, Range 7, about 600 acres; James C. Veal, southeast quarter Section' 17, Township 2, Range 7; John Edwards, northeast quarter Section 20, Township 2, Range 7; Parmenius Palmer, December 21, northwest quarter Section 21, Township 2, Range-7 ; March 7, William Trayler, northeast quarter Section 26, Township 2, Range 7. 1816-John Edwards, west half of southwest quarter Section 27, Township 2, Range 7; April 4, Samuel Hughey, Jr., northeast quarter Section 21, Township 2, Range 7. 1817-William Veal, May 23, northeast quarter Section 32, Township 2, Range 7; William Chapman, September 1, east half of northeast quarter Section 2, Township 1, Range 7; September 18, Moses Morgan, northeast quarter Section 22, Township 2, Range 7. After 1817 land entries were made rapidly.

HARRISON TOWNSHIP.

was originally divided between Veal and Reeve Townships, but was in 1840 created by the board of county commissioners. The territory now within its limits was settled almost as early as any other portion of Daviess County. It is not easy at this late day to ascertain the exact date of the arrival of all the early settlers, and the dates given below are in some cases only approximations. Among the first to arrive were William and Lewis Jones, who came from South Carolina in 1812; Christopher and Jeremiah Gregory, also from South Carolina; Daniel .Jackson, from New York; Tolliver Colbert, who was born in Virginia, and who lived a short time in Kentucky, and also in Ohio, before reaching Daviess County, in 1819; Samuel Comer was among the earliest, from South Carolina; James Allen was from Kentucky, and John Edwards from South Carolina, both arriving in 1820; Green, John and Thomas McCafferty came about 1820. A son of Green McCafferty, John, is now keeping a general store in Washington. John Ellis came from North Carolina ; Joseph and William Jones came from South Carolina, and were among the first; John, Thomas and Franklin settled south of the present site of the Ebenezer Methodist Episcopal Church; Campbell Vance and John C. Steen were also early comers, from South Carolina; Jeremiah Allen came from Kentucky in about 1822.

The first Irish settler in Harrison Township was " Grandad" Molloy, who came here almost directly from Ireland, having lived in Cincinnati only a few years. John Toy arrived in 1827, William Smoot in 1835, William Donnelly in 1838, and William Jett about the same time. Of those who were living in this township in 1840 only five remain: William Donnelly, William Jett, John Gregory, John Arms and Thomas Baldwin. William Stone was among the earliest settlers, as was also William Morgan. The latter was a fine singer and something of a composer of rhymes, as witness the following stanza, designed to apply to Mr. Stone, who was a Methodist preacher:

" Old Mr. Stone preaches elegant well;

He loses his hogs for want of a bell:

Because he can't watch them wherever they go,

They catch them and mark them in doggery row.'"

Some of the first land entries in Harrison Township were the following: In 1814, February 8, Joseph Case, north fraction Section 7; September 22, Robert Hays, southwest quarter Section 9, and on November 25, Elias Stone, southeast quarter Section 6—all in Township 1, Range 6. In 1815 the following: March 8, George W. Clift, southeast quarter Section 9, and Daniel Clift, northwest quarter Section 9, both Township 1, Range 6; and on July 26, John De Pauw, west half of the northwest quarter Section 6, also in Township 1, Range 6. In 1817, January 1, George "Belize " and Elijah Hammond, a portion of Section 8, and on October 10, Samuel Corner, southeast quarter Section 10, both in Township 1, Range 6.

REEVE TOWNSHIP.

The name of the first settler in this township is perpetuated in its name. He was Joshua Reeve, from South Carolina, who came to this part of Daviess County in 1807. He was an enterprising and active pioneer, as is shown by his having blazed a trace from his home in this township to Vincennes. James and William Alford were also very early pioneers, having come in about 1809 or 1810. James and Robert Gilley were not much if any later, nor was Peter Helpenstine, none of whom came later, probably, than 1811. " Old Bill Allen," as he was called, came about 1812, and a Mr. Kelso was also an early arrival. The first land entry was made by Joshua Reeve, April 13, 1812,and consisted of the north fraction of Section 23, Township 1. Range 5. The next entry was made in 1814, June 20, by Trice Stafford, he taking the southwest quarter of Section 7, in the same township and range, and on December 8, 1815, Mr. Stafford entered the northwest quarter of the same section. During the same year three other entries were made-Jacob Reeder, July 24, the north fraction of Section 21, and William Ballow, April 29, the southeast quarter of Section 8, and on September 18 the north fraction of Section 17, all in the same township and range. In 1816 the following entries were made: February 23, Joseph Hays, southeast quarter Section 15; April 19, Isaac Hollingsworth, east half of the southwest quarter Section 14; April 4, Edward Adams, southwest quarter Section 9; October 1, Caleb Brock, southeast quarter Section 10, and on the same day, Henry Foster, the west half of the southwest quarter, Section 10, all in Township 1, Range 5. From this time on settlements and land entries were more frequent, and the township has since kept pace with the rest of the county in the general march of progress.

BARR TOWNSHIP.

Among the earliest settlers in this township were Hugh Barr, James Montgomery, William Dant, Nicholas Kidwell, Joseph Miller, John Shepard, John Allison, John R. Kendall tind Williams. Most if not all of these, with numerous others, whose names occur in connection with some of the early land entries, came from Kentucky. Williams Prairie was named after William Williams, and was located nearly two miles west of Montgomery. Barr Township is the largest in the county, containing seventy-six sections, and a proportionately large number of early land entries; hence only those made previous to 1817 are here recorded. Isaac Burgin. on June 1, 1815, entered the northeast quarter of Section 23, Township 3, Range 5. and on the 26th of December Robert M. Davis entered the northwest quarter of Section 5, Township 2, Range 5. In 1816 the following entries were made: February 7, John Hutson, southwest quarter of Section 23, Township 3, Range 6; March 12, James Barr, southeast quarter Section 31, Township 3, Range 5; October 1, William George, east half of the northeast quarter Section 4, Township 2. Range 5; October 25, James Montgomery, the northwest and southwest quarters of the southeast quarter of Section 23. Township 3, Range 6, and the northeast quarter Section 26. Township 3, Range 6; Nicholas Kidwell, northwest quarter of Section 26, and Robert Barr, northeast quarter Section 34, same township and range ; November 25. Francis McDonald, southwest quarter Section 9, Township 3, Range 6, and on December 12, John Johnson, northwest quarter Section 6, Township 2, Range 5.

One of the early incidents, remembered by most of the early inhabitants of this township who still live, is that of a barbecue, which was held at Billy" Williams' house in about 1820. " Billy" Williams, after whom Williams Prairie received its name, had a pet bear, and it was thought it would be rare fun to see the bear fight with the dogs of the surrounding country. In accordance with this sentiment about twenty dogs were brought in and set on the bear, which, after quite a long and exciting fight, came off victorious over them all. It was then determined to have a grand barbecue, and the pet bear was killed, cooked and eaten by the forty or fifty persons assembled to enjoy the sport furnished by bruin in conquering the twenty canines.

An amusing story is told by Robert Shercliff. One morning Thomas Shercliff heard some one far in the woods calling his name. Jumping on a large horse, and taking Robert behind him, he hastened toward the call of distress. Upon reaching the spot from which the call proceeded, he found James Seal up a large tree, with only a knot for a foothold, a large buck watching at the foot of the tree, and Mr. Seal's dog watching the deer. Mr. Shercliff dismounted, and from a sapling as rest fired at the deer. At this the buck made for Mr. Shercliff, who effected his escape by climbing a tree. Robert, also, not willing to risk his life by remaining on the horse, had recourse to the same means of safety. At this moment the brave and faithful dog seized the deer, which served as a signal for all three to descend from their perches, and the brave but unfortunate buck soon found all his enemies on him at once, and was compelled to sacrifice his life to satisfy the ravenous appetite of a hunter whom he had held a prisoner for three long hours, and whose cries for help had at length been heard and answered, as above recorded.

VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP.

Van Buren Township had very few land entries made within its limits previous to 1820, and so far as is now remembered, but very few settlers. The two brothers Peterson, who have been mentioned as great bee hunters, were there among the first. Jabez Osmon was there as early as 1818, and William Baker on November 12, 1818, entered the west half of the northwest quarter of Sections 31, Township 4, Range 5. Francis Williams was one of the early settlers, and also an early justice of the peace. Squire Bruce and Joseph Bruce were among the early arrivals, as were also Asbury Sims and Cyrus Crook, the latter of whom lived where Raglesville is now situated. Charles Kilgore came in 1827, bringing with him his three sons: Hiram, Simpson, and Stephen. Jacob Byrer became a resident of this township in 1828, and is still living. He recollects a small distillery having been built on the south part of the township by a man named Lance, and that there was soon quite a little settlement around the distillery. He also remembers his hound chasing and failing to catch a big black bear.

MADISON TOWNSHIP.

This township lies in the northeast corner of the county, and coincides with Congressional Township 5 north, Range 5 west. It is not easy to arrive at a conviction as to who was the first settler within its limits; but among the first was Baldwin Howard, who lived on the farm now owned by James H. Garten, about three-fourths of a mile south of Odon. The first land entries were made in 1821, by Zebulon Jenkins, May 19, east half of the northwest quarter of Section 4; August 20, by Robert Evans, Sr., west half of the southeast quarter of Section 4, and by Samuel Hughen, the northeast quarter of Section 4. William Gilmore made an entry August 26, 1822, the west half of the southeast quarter of Section 20, immediately west of Odon, and the low land in that location is known to this day as " Gilmore's Swamp." Benjamin Coombs, who is still remembered by some of the inhabitants of Madison Township, entered the east half of the southeast quarter of Section 30; on the 20th of August 1823, Joseph B. Van Matre, who is also still remembered, entered the east half of the northeast quarter of Section 9 on the 7th of April, 1829, and on the 21st of October of the same year, Joshua Manning entered the east half of the northwest quarter of Section 7. Some of the other early settlers were Joseph, John and Harvey Hastings; Reuben and George Rainey, who came about 1830, as also Wilson Webster about the same time. Jacob and Eli Kinneman came to this township in 1838, directly from Stark County, Ohio, with, their father and the rest of his family,' traveling the entire distance in a four-horse wagon. Jacob declared upon arrival here that he would return to Ohio as soon as he had money enough to pay his way back, he was then so disgusted with Indiana; but he is still living on the old. homestead, and has never yet been back, even on a visit. A few names are given of other but later arrivals. Emsley Odell and William Hubbard came about 1840, William Boyd in 1845, Clement Correll and Andrew Sears in 1850, Howard Crook in 1854, and C. R. Burns in 1855.

There was also a colored man named Ben Perkins, who was among the early settlers, in connection with whom a good story is told. He was well known to everybody, having attended all the log-rollings and cabin-raisings from the first. He was also a general favorite. Not being very dark he had tried to pass himself off as a Portuguese, but was not very successful in this direction. He was, however, successful in voting regularly, without opposition, at a time when the colored man had no right to vote in Indiana, and, as was natural, had uniformly voted with the Whigs. In the spring of 1856, at the first election the Know-nothing party attempted to elect candidates in Madison Township, there was much curiosity manifested as to what " persimmon" would fall to Ben Perkins' lot, and at last it became known that Ben was left entirely out in the cold. At that time each township elected three school trustees and a clerk, and the Democrats, in order to surprise and reprove their Know-nothing friends, promptly made Ben Perkins their candidate for township clerk, and, perhaps to their own surprise as much as to their candidate's, succeeded in electing him. Ben Perkins, being something of a scholar, made a very efficient clerk, the best, it is said, the township ever had. The next fall the Democrats confidently expected Ben's assistance and vote in their efforts to elect Buchanan; but, much to their surprise, and this time quite as much to their disgust, Ben cast his ballot for John C. Fremont, the first Republican candidate for the presidency.

ELMORE TOWNSHIP.

This township was named after the Elmore family, in the vicinity of whose homes the first voting precinct was established. But the Elmores were not the first settlers. The names of no settlers can be obtained who arrived in the township before those who made the first land entries in 1816. These were made on September 18, by Edward Johnson, who selected the southwest quarter of Section 17, Township 5, Range 6, and by William Paddock and Solomon Dixon, who together entered the southwest quarter of Section 8, same township and range, and also by Joseph Taylor, whose choice was the northwest quarter of Section 17. There were a few more entries made in the same year, but either by some of the same parties or by non-settlers.

In 1818,October 5, Isaac Elmore entered the southwest quarter of Section 4, Township 5, Range 6. Among other settlers who came in about this time were James Robison, Terry Tate, Alexander Rogers and Thomas Rogers. The Rogerses did not remain many years. Thinking they could do better elsewhere they made a fiat-boat and floated clown the White River, and to the southwest. John K. Long arrived here in 1824, as also did Christopher, Jonathan and Isaiah Johnson, Pascal Rucker, from Kentucky; William Moore and Jackson Haynes from Tennessee, and from the same State about the same time Stephen, Eleazar, Thomas, Reason and Isaac Elmore. In 1825 the following named parties arrived: William and Isaac Dillon, from Tennessee, and also probably Andrew Hannah. In 1826 Silas Ketcham, with his wife and two children, Marshall and Jane, and also Jacob Smiley, all from Tennessee. Charles Nugent came, it is believed, about the same time from North Carolina. Two of his sons are still living here: Martin and Thomas. In 1830 came James Courtney, and since this time the township has settled up quite rapidly, so much so that it would be useless to attempt to make a list.

BOGARD TOWNSHIP.

This township is the only -inland" township in the county. It was settled in an early clay. Among the first, if not the first, was Elias Myers, who came from North Carolina in 1816. His land entry was made May 23, 1817, being the east half of the northwest quarter of Section 30, Township 4, Range 6. On the 23d of the next January he took up the other half of the same quarter section. Others who came about the same time were Joseph Summers, who on June 30, 1817, entered the west half of the southeast quarter of Section 7, and on the 2d. of July, following, the southwest quarter of the same section. John Benefield was also there, and on the 14th of August entered the southwest quarter of Section 8. John Anderson, whom some of the present residents of Bogard Township still remember, entered the southeast quarter of Section 8, on the 28th of the same month. John Burch, on the 9th of October, entered the northeast quarter of Section 30, and Smallwood Canwood on the 4th of December, the east half of the southwest quarter of Section 19. David Killion, who is said to have settled in Bogard in 1816, entered the west half of the southeast quarter of Section 30, on February 12, 1818, and in the same year the following entries were made: August 24, Daniel Ruminer, northwest quarter of Section 31; Mathew H. Blackburn, July 7, west half of the northwest quarter of Section 20, and Jacob Tourney, October 20, the northwest quarter of Section 29. In 1819, on the 22d of January, Samuel Stewart entered the west half of the southeast quarter of Section 9, and Adam Killion on the 27th of December entered the east half of the northwest quarter of Section 6. Among the very early settlers were Abraham Snyder, who located immediately east of Epsom; Joseph Myers, who settled immediately south of Epsom, and John Ruminer, immediately west. The present schoolhouse at Epsom is on what was formerly Mr. Ruminer's land. This township, it is claimed, was named for W. Bogard,who was killed by,the Indians, as is narrated elsewhere.

STEELE TOWNSHIP.

This township lies north of Washington Township and along the White River. Very few if any land entries were made here previous to 1820. The following were made in 1821: On June 18, Andrew Coutchman, the west half of the northeast quarter of Section 20, Township 4, Range 7; Abraham Case, the southwest quarter of the same section; and Alexander R. Hinds, the west half of the southeast quarter of the same section. On the next day Elias Beddle entered the west half of the southwest quarter of Section 29 ; and on the 20th of August Josiah Culbertson entered the west half of the northeast quarter of the same section. Since this time Steele Township has kept even pace with the rest of the county in improving on the early condition of things, and now, in common with Elmore, has a valuable line of railway, and has also a flourishing village and railway station by the name of Plainville, about ten miles north of Washington.

SLAVERY IN INDIANA.

It has been stated above that most of the early settlers in Daviess County came from the Southern States, and as was but natural many of them brought along their slaves. Eli Hawkins, who came from South Carolina, probably brought the first slaves into Daviess County in 1806. Their names were Jake and Ann. James C. Veal had one slave here whose name was Sam. William Ballow brought in four: Buck, Ralph, Isaac and Mary. John Coleman had one—known as Cornelius Simms. William Hawkins had four: Peggy •and her three children, David, Henry and Judy; and there was a boy by the name of Dish residing with J. Forden, but belonging to the Flint family. William Ballow sold Isaac to Eli Hawkins. who thus became the owner of three slaves. All these colored persons, with one exception, remained in servitude until after the death of Eli Hawkins. His widow. Mrs. Catharine Hawkins, married a Mr. Merril, after which difficulties arose between Mr. Merril and the two boys, Isaac and Jake. Isaac and Jake thereupon brought suit against Mr. and Mrs. Merril to test the legality of their servitude, employing Amory C. Kinney, one of the first lawyers in the county. The case was tried before the associate judges of the county, Philip Burton and Ephraim Thompson, the decision of the judges being that the slaves by law were free. From the decision there was no appeal, nor were any other slaves obliged to sue for freedom. Almost imperceptibly the relations of master and slave were dissolved. The freedmen and women remained in the county acquired property, settled down and raised families of their own. Considerable prejudice against the colored people was, however, developed in the breasts of a few white persons by the success of Lawyer Kinney in obtaining the freedom of Isaac and Jake. Numerous threats and suggestions of violence were made against him, but none of them were ever carried into execution, and the bitter feelings and vindictive abuse gradually died away.

KIDNAPING.

There was a case of attempted kidnaping which deserves brief recital. It occurred in Washington about the summer of 1824, and on Sunday, when most of the people were out of town, some fishing, some hunting and some attending a large camp-meeting south of the village. The colored man's name was Sam. A. family of McClures living near Vincennes claimed Sam as their properly. Not daring themselves to come to Washington on such an expedition, they engaged Richard Palmer to deliver Sam to them on the west bank of White River in Knox County. This " Uncle Dick " succeeded in doing, notwithstanding cr consid- erable opposition to his attempt. The McClures started with their property to St. Louis. On the second night, however, Sam slipped the rope which tied him, got away and returned triumphantly on horseback to Washington, waving his old hat over his head in token of victory. Uncle Dick was prosecuted, and attempted no more kidnaping from that time on.

THE TOWNSHIP TRUSTEE WARRANTS.

One of the most colossal swindles ever attempted was that of R. B. Pollard and his associates and dupes indicated by the above caption. It consisted originally of the purchase by township school trustees of school furniture, apparatus and supplies, paying for them an exorbitant price in warrants upon the township. That is, it commenced by a stretch of authority or legitimate power. The first lawsuit that occurred in Daviess County was that of John L. Dodson against Reeve School Township. Previous to March, 1883, William G. Edwards, trustee of Reeve Township, gave two township warrants each for $274.50 in payment for eleven of the McBride tellurians. March 24, 1883, suit was brought on these warrants which were endorsed by R. B. Pollard, for the recovery of the money, by John L. Dodson. His attorneys were O'Neal & Hefron, those of the township Gardiner & Taylor. Gardiner & Taylor entered a demurrer to the complaint of Dodson, which was overruled by Judge Malott. An appeal was taken to the supreme court of the State, and by that court, on January 31, 1885, a decision was rendered reversing the decision of Judge Malott. Judge Elliott of the supreme court said: "A township trustee has no authority under the law to issue a note for the township by which the township can be held for payment on a promissory note, but only on an implied contract; and such a contract can not exist unless it is shown that the township received consideration for the notes."

It was held that the trustee of the school township is a special agent of very limited authority, that authority being purely statutory in so far as concerns the financial affairs of the school corporation, and as this authority is prescribed by a public statute, all who deal with him are charged with a notice of the scope of his authority.

In view of subsequent developments this decision of the supreme court seems almost providential, as upon it and in accordance therewith are based all subsequent decisions of inferior courts, and thus most of the counties of the State are saved from the most stupendous robbery.

These subsequent developments began to be made about the 1st of September, 1885. It became known and was announced through the columns of the local press that Charles H. Brown, trustee of Washington Township; John Grimsley, trustee of Steele Township; and John Clarke, trustee of Barr Township, had suddenly disappeared. The rumor spread, and it soon became a settled conviction in the minds of the people that they had issued at a discount large amounts of township orders or warrants in payment for school furniture, and also in some cases probably without any consideration whatever. It was thought that Washington Township had outstanding orders to the amount of nearly $100,000, and that each of the other townships had outstanding about $40,000. For a few weeks all was excitement, and the minds of the people, besides being shocked with the surprise and mortification caused by the commission of the crime, were filled with the gloomy foreboding of impending bankruptcy. This was before the decision of the supreme court was generally known, and before the public could realize its far-reaching application. R. B. Pollard, the genius of the swindling scheme, and all of the trustees were safe in Canada, that asylum of defaulting American bank cashiers and general rogues. Orders were heard of in all directions, and for very large amounts, in Washington, Seymour, Bedford, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Springfield, Ill., and Chicago. Large quantities of furniture had been shipped on these orders, and some of it was in Washington. A specimen of one of these orders is here presented:

TOWNSHIP ORDER.

                                            $1,000

State of Indiana Daviess County Washington Township in the county and state aforesaid, will on or before the 1st day of January 1895 at the _____ Bank of Washington pay to the order of , one thousand dollars for school supplies, value received. waiving valuation and appraisement laws of the State of Indiana, with interest thereon at the rate of eight per cent per annum from the 1st day of August, 1885, until paid, and attorney's fees.

The undersigned, trustee of said township, hereby certifies that the aggregate amount of indebtedness hereby incurred on behalf of said township, does not exceed the funds now on hand, out of which the same is payable, and the amount of funds to be derived from the tax assessed against said township for the year in which said indebtedness is incurred.

Per CHARLES H. BROWN, Trustee of Washington Township, Daviess Co., Ind. Dated at Washington, August 1, 1885.

A partial list of warrants is here introduced for the purpose of showing the industry of the trustees, and the facilities with which money could be made by them. The following • were drawn by Charles H. Brown:

 The following were issued by John Clarke:

The following were issued by John Grimsley: 

As an illustration of the liberality of the township trustee with the agent for the sale of school furniture, the following bill for school desks is introduced:

OPINION OF THE SUPREME COURT.        

The feeling of despondency and gloom gradually disappeared as mist before the rising sun as knowledge of the decisions of the supreme and other courts became generally known. But as the decision of the supreme court merely sustained the demurrer of Gardiner & Taylor, the question as to whether the townships were not liable to at least the value of the furniture remained to be decided. On this point, however, Judge Bicknell, of the Martin County Circuit Court, on or about November 15, 1885, rendered a decision in a case known as Henry Miller, administrator of John Miller, vs. Perry School Township, on demurrer to the complaint which alleged that Kimberlin & Co. on the written obligation of Joseph Cannon, trustee of Perry Township, delivered seven McBride Tellurians at the aggregate price of $385; that Kimberlin & Co. endorsed the obligation to John Miller and that Henry Miller was the plaintiff. The decision of Judge Bicknell was to the effect that the trustee while he has no express power to bind the school corporation, yet he has an implied power so to do that the township is liable, not upon the obligation given by the trustee, but upon the equities arising from the facts. Hence it is indispensable to aver that the goods purchased were necessary and of reasonable value. It is the reasonable value of necessary articles that is to be recovered in cases of this kind. In this way did the courts come to the relief of the people, and thus dispel the fear of impending general bankruptcy.

Index

Preface | Ch1 | Ch2 | Ch3 | Ch4 | Ch5 | Ch6 | Ch7 | Ch8 | Ch9 |Biographies

This information is the research of many people across the United States and may contain errors. It is presented as the best information to date. Like all of those whose work I have incorporated herein, my research is a work in progress and subject to change without notice. A special thanks to Marlene Ricci of CA, Dwayne Meyer of CA, Jacqueline Bean of TX, Debbie Dick of IN, Milus Miller of IL, Carol Hendricks Miller of IN, Clarence Miller of IN, and Harold Glen Miller of IN. There are numerous others too; many of which are unknown, but their findings and stories are still much appreciated. Much of this would not have been possible with out their information. Also this website includes historical facts gathered from Washington County History, Indiana History, Rowan County and Salisbury North Carolina Historical sources and other US Historical sources.

James A. Miller- Great -Great -Great -Great Grandson of Adam Miller and Hannah Sheets.

©2007 The Millers of Washington County

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  Last Updated 07/02/07 03:08:37 PM -0700