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CHAPTER XXI.
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP-OFFICERS-LAND ENTRIES-THE ARRIVAL OF THE SETTLERS-TILE
FIRST RESIDENT-THE HOMELY STRANGER AND TILE KETTLE-OTHER FACTS CONCERNING
TILE FIRST SETTLEMENT-HUNTING. ANECDOTES-THE INDIAN AND THE WHISKY-OTHER
ITEMS OF VALUE PIONEER INDUSTRIES-EDUCATION AND RELIGION-VILLAGE OF
LYONS-THE MERCHANTS-RESIDENTS-INDUSTRIES.
AS will be learned more fully from the chapter on Stafford Township, the
township of Washington, prior to 1830, was part and parcel of the former
named township. The first officers who presided over its affairs will be
found named in that chapter. Several of them lived within the present
boundaries of Washington Township, and were in after years its most
prominent and valued citizens. In November, 1830, upon petition of the
residents, the County Board ordered that all of Stafford Township east of
the line dividing Ranges 6 and 7 should constitute a new township, to be
known and designated as Washington Township, and elections were ordered held
at the residence of Thomas Morris. Thomas Bradford was appointed Inspector
of Elections.
LAND ENTRIES, SETTLEMENT, ETC.
The first tracts of land entered in the present Washington Township were as
follows: John Haddon, on Section 30, in October, 1816; Joseph Dixon, on
Section 30, in 1817; Thomas Plummer, on Section 4, in the eastern part in
181'7, and also on Sections 8 and 9, near there, in the same year; Jesse
Stafford, on Section 19, in the western part in August, 1818; Joseph
Ingersoll, on Section 18, in the eastern part in 1818; George and Elijah
Chinn, on Section 10, in 1818; Benjamin Stafford, on Sections 20 and 8, in
1819; Gamson Evans, on Section 29, in 1819; Joel Collins, on Section 29, in
1818; William Harrison, on Section 30, in 1820; Simon Camp, on Section '7,
in 1821; George Hoke, on Section 10, in 1822, and also, on Section 28; W. D.
Lester, on Section 24, in 1823; Moses Ritter, on Section 24, in 1825; Thomas
Stafford, on Section 28, in 1823; Peter Herington, on Section 8, in 1819, on
the river ; John O'Neall, on Section 19, in 1820. These were all the
earliest entries in the present. township of Washington. But the entries of
land do not really exhibit the earliest settlement, as land was often
entered several years after being occupied and also very often by
speculators who never resided thereon.
THE FIRST SETTLER.
No doubt John Haddon was the first settler, as his land was entered in
October, 1816. He came to the township either that fall or early the next
spring, as he raised a crop of corn on Section 30 in 1817. He located on
what is known as the Morgan Prairie, and built a small log cabin, which
afterward became the first schoolhouse of the township. Joseph Dixon settled
on Section 30 (the same one on which Haddon located) in 1817. His early
affairs are noticed in the chapter on Stafford Township. The Staffords, who
were early in the township, have been noticed in the same chapter. Henry and
Madison Collins were in the township by 1819, and James and William Harrison
came about the same time. John Seaman was an early settler in the
neighborhood. William Pomroy was in before 1822.
A HOMELY STORY.
Peter Herington was early and prominent. He owned and operated a ferry on
White River. It is said that one day a well-dressed stranger crossed on the
ferry and had such a remarkably homely face as to attract general attention.
After he had reached the bank and paid his fare, he took from his wagon a
very fine copper kettle, a very valuable piece of domestic houseware in that
day, and handing it to Mr. Ingersoll, told him to give it to the homeliest
man who should cross the river at the ferry within the next year. With that
parting instruction, he resumed his journey. Mr. Ingersoll was an honest
man, and resolved to follow the stranger's instructions implicitly. He
watched for many months; but could not find a face among the many he saw to
induce him to part with the kettle.
At last, near the close of the year of probation, a man appeared so very
homely—with such singular disproportion of size and form of features that
the ferryman concluded after one glance, and without further hesitation, to
give him the kettle, which he accordingly did, telling him why and how he
came to do so. The stranger, with a homely grin on his homely face, took the
vessel in a homely way, without any hesitation and without feeling in the
least aggrieved or insulted by the judgment or words of the ferryman. His ox
team moved on like snails, and after a time disappeared behind a neighboring
clump of timber. lie was scarcely lost to sight, ere another stranger drove
up and called for passage across the river, going the same way as the former
traveler had. The newly arrived man, who for the sake of his descendants,
some of whom yet live in the county, shall be nameless here, became a
permanent citizen of the county, and was well-to-do and prominent. Mr.
Herington had no sooner caught sight of his face than he stopped and stared
at the man in titter astonishment. He saw before him a face so remarkable in
its deformity of nature and its hideous disproportion of feature—such an
absolute chaos of size, form and color—such a frightful and unpardonable
abuse of the permission men have to be ugly—tlaat without an instant's
hesitation, and before he had taken a step toward ferrying the man across
the river, he called to an assistant and dispatched him with the greatest
haste after the man who had taken the kettle with instructions to bring the
vessel back to be given to the new arrival. This was done, and the man was
so amused at the occurrence that he concluded to locate in Greene County,
which he accordingly did. Charge the homeliness of this story to the
characters mentioned and not to the writer. The facts given are said to be
true.
SETTLEMENT CONTINUED.
John and Edward Goldaberry came to the township early and engaged in
clearing and improving farms. George Hoke was another early settler.
Jonathan and Solomon Pitzer came early in the twenties, as did also Jacob
Pitzer, the man with one leg. How he lost his leg was a mystery. When asked,
he would turn the matter off with a joke. It was generally supposed that he
lost it in the war of 1812, though there is no evidence to show that he did.
He had been in several battles with Indians, which could only have occurred
during the war of 1812, or 'the bloody Indian border wars immediately
preceding it. It is related of him, though this is probably a modern story
re-applied, that on one occasion a lady of his acquaintance asked him how he
lost his limb, and, upon his avoidance of a reply, insisted upon knowing. At
last, Mr Pitzer told her he would tell her if she would promise not to ask
him any more questions. This she did, whereupon he replied, " It was bitten
off." Then the lady begged to ask just one more question, but Mr. Pitzer was
inexorable and refused. By the year 1820, about eight families were living
in the township, but within the next five years not less than fifteen more
arrived, and by 1830 there were probably fifty families living within'the
township limits.
HUNTING ANECDOTES.
John Haddon was an experienced hunter and trapper. He is said to have,
caught some half dozen or more otter on the creeks near his cabin. He was a
noted deer hunter, and but three men in the county are said to have killed
more than he in the first few years after his arrival. He was one of the
very first settlers in the county, if not the first, as his date of
settlement may have been as early as 1815, for aught any one now living
knows to the contrary. He killed as high as ten door in one day, and is said
td have confessed that though he often tried to exceed that number, he could
not do it. In one winter he is said to have killed 120 deer. The hides were
worth from 50 cents to $1. He caught large numbers of mink, coon, possum,
etc., and always had on hand many valuable furs, which were regularly
purchased by traders from Vincennes, who visited his cabin for that purpose.
One day he killed two deer at one shot, and without leaving his tracks
loaded and shot another. He killed both panthers and bears in the county. He
went out near his cabin one morning, so the story goes, long before
daylight, to watch at a deer lick, and while there, just as daylight was
breaking, saw a panther approaching, which he shot dead at the first fire.
One of its paws hung in his cabin for many years, and was remarkably large,
with claws two inches in length. The Indians were very humorous when he
first came to the township, and often visited his cabin for warmth, or to
beg food or tobacco and ammunition. He secured many valuable furs from them
for a comparative trifle, for which he received a handsome sum from the
French traders. He hunted with the Indians, and could beat them shooting at
a mark.
THE INDIAN CHIEF AND THE WHISKY.
It is related that on one occasion an old chief named Met-a-quah came to his
cabin just at meal time, and was invited to eat with the family, which
invitation was accepted. He had no sooner sat down to the rude table upon
which was wild turkey, potatoes, corn bread, etc., than he took from his
clothing a bottle about half full of whisky, and placing the nozzle to his
mouth took a long swig, smacked his lips, and passed the vessel to Mr.
Haddon. The latter was nothing loth, and followed the example set by his
guest. The bottle passed around and returned to the owner empty. The Indian
then took from his clothing a deer bladder containing a fresh supply of the
liquor, and filling his mouth squirted the contents into the bottle to the
intense amusement of all present, and repeated: this act until the bottle
was again full, when he handed it out to be again passed around, but this
was refused. All had had enough. Henry Collins was also a hunter of skill
and courage. He could bring down all kinds of aquatic. fowls on the wing,
off-hand, with his rifle. In one day he is said to have killed forty wild
geese in and around the Goose Pond in Stafford Township. While hunting in
the woods one day, he found two bear cubs in a hollow tree, which he took
home and kept until they were large enough to be troublesome, when they were
killed. One of the Collinses had at his house a pet
deer which had been captured when a fawn, and had grown up with the family.
It wore a bell on its neck, and would pasture with the domestic cattle. At
last it became missing, and after a few weeks it was learned that the truant
animal had been killed for a wild one by a hunter. Many other incidents
similar to the above might be related.
OTHER INTERESTING EVENTS.
Buck Creek is said to have received its name from a circumstance which
occurred on its banks at a very early day. A large buck frequented the
neighborhood, and was seen there on several successive seasons, and was an
enormous old fellow with a remarkable spread of antlers, and was so shy and
so alert that no hunter could approach within shooting distance of him.
Emanuel Hatfield and others from the eastern part of the county came there
to hunt, and succeeded in heading the old fellow and killing him. He is said
to have weighed 260 pounds. This creek was a famous resort for the deer, as
there were numerous brackish springs, and a succession of dense undergrowths
which favored their escape when pursued. Alexander Plummer was another
famous deer hunter. He is said to have killed more deer than any other
hunter in Greene County except Emanuel Hatfield. He had as high as a dozen
dead ones lying in his door yard in cold weather at one time. The skins and
hams were usually saved, but the remainder, except the tenderloin, was fed
tu the hogs. In later years, the wolves became so troublesome that a small
crowd of citizens surrounded a portion of the township, and moved in toward
a common center to hem those inclosed in the circle to smaller limits, so as
to shoot them. Not a single wolf was killed.
PRIMITIVE INDUSTRIES.
At an early day, the citizens of the township, or rather those in the
western part, engaged quite extensively in the raising of cotton, which they
took, when picked, to the old cotton-gin of Hugh Massey, in Stafford
Township, and had it torn into shreds ready for carding, and the seeds taken
from it. A detailed account of this interesting enterprise will be found in.
the chapter on Stafford Township. Another interesting early enterprise was
the distillery built by John Stafford and Joseph Dixon. It was a rule
concern, with a small copper still, but furnished a fair article of corn
-whisky. It is said that men stood around with cups ready to take the liquor
as fast as it came from the still. It ran a few years and was then
abandoned. The first physicians were John W. Davis, Dr. O'Haver, Dr. Dean
and old Mrs. Dixon, who in her way was a superior nurse. She knew how to use
all the roots and herbs possessing medicinal properties, which grew in the
woods or on the prairie, and always kept a supply on hand. She presided at
the entry into the world of many of the children born in the township. In
the vicinity of Marco was an old Indian Village which had disappeared before
the appearance of the Whites. They raised corn there as the stalks were to
he seen, as well as the hills of earth heaped around them, when the first
settlers arrived. Even to this day an occasional arrow or spear-head, or
flint or jasper is. found on or near the town site. The first birth was that
of Chancey Collinder, son of Henry Collinder, which occurred in 1819.
EDUCATION.
The first school in the township and one of the first in the county, if not
the first, was taught in the old cabin of Haddon, which had been erected in
the year 1816. It was taught as early as 1820, by James Harvey, who
afterward taught many terms in the same neighborhood, and in surrounding
schoolhouses. This house stood east of Marco on Section 30, where Haddon
first settled, and was mad two or three times and then abandoned. At this
first term, the scholars were from the families of Stafford, Hodgin, Joseph
Dixon, Wm. Harrison, James Harrison, William Reaves and others. Two
full-grown men came from Daviess County and boarded in the neighborhood to
go to school. What common people wanted in that day was to be able to read
writing and print, to be able to write and to cast accounts. When that was
accomplished, nothing more was wanted, as it was thought unnecessary to
learn more. They looked upon a longer course at school as time and money
thrown away, and as in that day schools were wholly by subscription, cost to
poor people was an important item. Many a poor boy with bright intellect and
noble heart, but with no means at his command, was obliged to stifle his
ambition and bend his energies of mind to the humble pursuits of pioneer
life. How true are Gray's words in this connection:
" Perhaps in this neglected spot is laid
Some heart once pregnant with celestial fire;
Hands that the rod of empire might have swayed
Or waked to ecstasy the living lyre.
* * * * * * * *
" Full many a gem of purest ray serene,
The dark unfathomed caves of ocean bear;
Full many a flower is born to blush unseen,
And waste its sweetness on the desert air."
As nearly as can be learned, the second schoolhouse in the township, or
rather the second building used as a schoolhouse, stood north of Newberry,
about a mile and a half. School was taught there as early as 1825, by one of
the Plummers, it is said. The Hawkinses were very prominent people in this
neighborhood. Another early school was taught by a Mr. Cartright in the
eastern part of the township. It is said that James Finney was the second
teacher in the township, and that he succeeded Harvey in the old Haddon
building. He had a school of over twenty scholars, many of whom came two,
three and even four miles. They had a lively time, no doubt. In 1836, there
were five school districts in the township. Vincent Lester was Treasurer,
and reported that during the year $63.50 of
the school fund from the sale of the sixteenth section had been expended in
conducting the schools. In 1846, there were six school districts. Washington
has good schools.
RELIGION.
The first meetings were held in the western part by the Baptists. A full
account of this old class will be found in the Stafford history. Many of the
early settlers in all that vicinity, and many that were not early, were
members of this class. A Methodist class was organized in a school house in
the central part in the forties, and another in the eastern pa'rt, both of
which flourished in a small fashion for a number of years. There were
representatives of all the leading denominations in the township—the
Methodists, the Baptists, the Christians or Campbellites, the Presbyterians
and perhaps others. In later years, a Christian class was organized in the
southwestern part, and a neat frame church was erected at a cost of about
$800. The Methodists also, in the eastern part, united means and numbers a
comparative few years. ago, and built a small frame church, which has
endured until the present. Both of the last-named classes are rather weak
numerically, and are so changeable that attempts will not be made to name
the members.
LYONS.
This town, like several others in the county, owes its existence to the
Indianapolis & Vincennes Railroad. On the town site, a house owned and
occupied by Samuel Simons was standing when the railroad was built, and had
been standing for several years previously. Jonas Slinkard probably built
the first building when it became known that a station wad to be located
there. This was a log house, in which he put a small stock .of general
merchandise. This building was built, it is said, in 1868. The next year, A.
J. Clark built a frame house, and placed therein a general stock of goods.
Isaac Halstead moved into the old Simons building soon afterward, and
William Owens moved in town about the same time. William Wills erected one
of the first dwellings. Buzan & Wills built a boarding house for the
railroad hands when the grading and ironing of the road were occurring.
Humphreys' also built an early building. Owens & Mitchell erected the
Galbreath House for a saloon, and at the same time put up a dwelling on the
same lot. They also erected the Kaufman House. Thomas Craft put up a
dwelling, as did J. M. Vails. E. S. Stephens built his present storehouse in
1872, and Mr. Bynum erected his drug store in the fall of the same year. He
also built a dwelling a little later. The leading merchants from the
founding of the town to the present, in nearly the chronological order, are
as follows: Jonas Slinkard, Clark & Wagoner, Joseph Newsom, Devalt Keller,
Stalcup & Keller, Moses Kaufman, David Halstead, E. S. Stephens, Daniel
Bynum, Aaron Swords, Thomas J. East, John M. Ross, Gilbert & Car. penter,
Emil Stein, James Carpenter, J. H. Quillen, Abe Halstead, Frank Hornbeck, E.
S. Stephens, Jonas Fortner and Carpenter & Bull. Of these, the following are
yet in business: Moses Kaufman, Emil Stein, Frank Hornbeck, E. S. Stephens,
J. H. Quillen, Jonas Fortner and Carpenter & Bull. Thomas Craft was the
first blacksmith. Among the resident physicans have been Aydelotte, Rose,
Arnold, Wilson, McKissick and Mullane. Ed Hall was the first Postmaster, and
Mr. Mayhood is Uncle Sam's present servant. The first schoolhouse was built
in about 1871, and was a small frame structure. The first teacher was Ed
Livingston, and the second was Charles Bull. Others were Frank Hornbeck,
Miller Ross and Miss Zeppie Hornbeck. The second schoolhouse was built in
town in 1879, and is a one-storied frame structure, about three times as
large as the, other. It was found necessary, in 1882-83, to have two
teachers. The village has good schools, and will the coming year (1884) very
probably erect a two-storied brick schoolhouse. The Christians, Methodists
and Cumberland Presbyterians have had organizations in the village The
Christians had an organization in the vicinity before the town started up.
Among the leading members are the families of Wagoners, McIndoos,
Carpenters, McKees, Jarvises and others. The Methodists organized in the
winter of 1873-74, in a big revival conducted by a minister from
Pleasantville. Among the members are the Halls, Wilsons, Meeses and Wells.
These two classes yet maintain their organizations. The Presbyterian class
has gone down. Mr. Halstead was the leading member. There is no church
building in the town.
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 07/04/07 08:28:36 AM -0700