HISTORY OF HAWTHORNE TOWNSHIP SOURCE: History of White Co 1883 This township borders on the Great Wabash River, and lies between Phillips on the north and Emmma on the south. It consists of township 5 south, range 10 east, and comprises forty-six square miles. Among the early bettlers were Aaron Williams, Nathaniel Blackford, Enoch Hargrave, Daniel Winkler, the Lands and Sellers. Mr. Winkler started a ferry and ran it for some time, and then sold to a man by the name of Collins. The latter sold to Aaron Williams, and the ferry was long known as Williams's Ferry. Martin H. McCreery is one of the oldest settlers of this township, and, in fact, of White County, having come here with his parents as early as 1811. A more extended account is given in the history of Grayville. This was also the home of the McHenrys, Joneses, Lawlers, McCowns, Kuykendalls and Chisms; the elder ones bearing their names have passed away, and their survivors should feel proud of their ancestors, for a more noble lot of men never settled in the county. The Cairo Vincennes Road runs through this township; also the Louisville & Nashville Railroad. Like most of our Western countries in pioneer times,tbe Indians were numerous and sometimesvery troublesome. Mr. Richard Davis, one of the early settlers, was riding along a bridle path when he was fired upon by some Indians and had his thigh broken by the shot; he,however, managed to remain on his horse and finally reached home. He lived a number of years after this and died in Gray Township; he will ever be remembered as one of the most prominent citizens of the county. One of the numerous bear-killings of the township took place a few rods from where James R. Brown now lives, on section 25 A path was being cut through the brush, when a large and very fat bear was discovered. One of the party thought to kill it, and cutting a club went at the bear; but the bear being "the better man of the two," was getting the best of the fight, when the other men went to his assistance with their axes, and soon "bear bacon" was plenty in the neighborhood. A few hundred yards from Mr. Brown's house he killed a very large buck one morning, with twelve points on each beam, or horn. The antlers were taken to Nashville,Tenn., by Government Agent G. W. McKinzie, and by him were gold gilded, and are now in his office. James R. Brown's name is engraved beneath the antlers. Another large pair, taken from a large deer killed by Mr. Brown, are in the office of Wolfin & Co., at Mt. Vernon, Ind. These are the largest antlers known in this part of the country. Buffalo used to be abundant in this township, but are now extinct; also tigers, catamounts, wild-cats, wolves and panthers, but all are killed off with the exception of now and then a wild-cat. Wild turkeys are abundant, though not so many are found as at an early day. Squirrels, though somewhat abundant, are not so plentiful as formerly; prairie chickens and pheasants used to be found, but are nearly all gone; in fact, all kinds of game are becoming scarce. Fish used to be very plenty in the Wabash and Skillet Fork, and other streams around, but are becoming quite scarce, although a considerable many are still found in the Wabash. Mr. Brown has a very fine fish pond of about fifteen acres where fish are easily caught, and by calling on him a permit may be had to fish here. Mr. Brown has been one of the best hunters in this township, frequently killing from four to nine deer in one day; from six to fifteen turkeys was a fair night's work for this game. He once shot a deer and made six holes through his skin. Mr. Solomon Bryant killed two white deer in this township. Mr. Brown has the largest and best pecan orchard in White County, there being about 200 bearing trees; hundreds of bushels are gathered nearly every year. Mr. Brown is now fencing this orchard. ------------------------------------------------------------- UGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organiza- tions or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contri- butor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ------------------------------------------------------------- File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Misty Flannigan