Fountain County IN Archives History - Books .....Early Settlers 1881
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Book Title: History Of Fountain County

EARLY SETTLERS.

   Imperfect as it is, this sketch of Fountain county must now be brought to a
close. It has been written under the most serious disadvantages and with a haste
that has not admitted of corrections, much less of revision. There are many
things omitted that ought to have been noticed, and that under other
circumstances would have been noticed. Prominent among these are the pulpit and
the press. At some other time it is hoped that opportunity may come to take up
this work again and to complete it in a manner worthy of the subject. Appended
are some matters connected with the personal history of a few of the early
settlers, for which the writer is in the main indebted to Mr. Cyrus Rush, of Van
Buren township.

   It was not the intention originally to embrace matter of personal mention
like the following in this part of the history of the county, but the fear that
it would not appear elsewhere in any form has induced its production here. The
writer has secured a pretty full list of the names of the settlers of 1823 and
1824, but has been unable to procure any of their personal history except that
furnished by Mr. Rush, and that which appears elsewhere under the head of
biography.

   William Cade was one of the earliest settlers in the county. He came to the
county in 1823. His wife was a sister of Joseph and Samuel Campbell, both for a
long period prominent and valuable citizens of the county. Mr. Cade settled in
Van Buren township, and died in 1846, leaving two children, Samuel and Jane, the
latter the wife of David Patton, and now living in Ford county, Illinois, and
the former a well known and respected citizen of the county, living in Wabash
township. Mrs. Cade, who came with her husband to the county, died in 1838, and
was an estimable lady. Mr. and Mrs. Cade were members of the Methodist and
Presbyterian churches respectively.

   John Corse has already been mentioned in connection with his office as
sheriff of the county. He came to the county in the spring of 1824, and built
the first mill in Van Buren township. The neighbors for miles around assisted in
building the mill, and Mr. Corse agreed that the one who did the most work on
the mill should have the first grist ground on it. Mr. Joseph Glascock was the
lucky man. All who helped in building the mill were paid for their work in
grinding their corn. Mr. Corse is said, by one who knew him, to have been "a
quiet, just and honorable man."    He died in 1843.

   Benjamin Kepner came from Preble county, Ohio, in 1823. His wife and one
child and Mr. and Mrs. William Cade came with him, all using the same wagon. He
settled on and improved a tract of land east of Veedersburg, afterward owned and
occupied by Dr. Stevens. This farm was for a long time noted as a place for
holding camp-meetings. Permanent tents and seats were constructed, and a rude
pulpit built of rails and slabs was provided for the preacher. In front of the
pulpit there was a square pen made of poles and tied together with hickory
withes, used as a place in which to collect the mourners, as those were called
who felt the necessity of repenting their sins. Mr. Kepner died in 1839.

   Hiram Funk and his wife Eliza moved from Ohio to this county in the spring of
1823. They first settled near where Hetfield's mills now are, but soon after
moved to the north part of the county and lived there until they died. When Mr.
Rush left the central part of the county he sold his land to Samuel Rush, who
was himself one of the first settlers, and one of the county's best citizens.

   John Scott was a native of Kentucky, and came to the county in 1823. He was a
minister of the gospel, and Scott's prairie was so-named in honor of him. He was
a brother-in-law to Joseph Glascock, of whom mention has been made.

   John Shelton came to the county in 1823 with a single ox, worked to a cart.
He built a cabin in a pawpaw thicket south from the Hetfield mills, and in a
little while abandoned it and was not heard of again.

   John Simpson was a native of Bermuda island, West Indies. He came to the
county at a very early period, probably in the spring of 1823. It has been
claimed that he came in February, 1822, but this cannot be correct. Before his
removal here he had lived in East Tennessee, and for a short time in Vigo
county, Indiana. He planted an orchard soon after he came to the county, many of
the trees of which are still growing on the farm owned by Noah Harshberger in
Van Buren township. He was a noted hunter, a fair scholar, and was honored by
all who knew him. He was scrupulously honest in his dealings with his fellow
men, and his memory and that of his wife are so far respected to this day that
their graves have been kept in order and plainly marked—a thing unusual in the
case of persons who have been dead for half a century. In his cabin the first
Sunday school and the first religious service in the central portion of the
county were held. He died in 1838; his wife died in 1829. They were both kind,
charitable and just people, and by their quiet, kind and neighborly manners they
so endeared themselves to those who knew them that their memories are kept fresh
to this day in the neighborhood which they honored with their residence in life.

   Joseph Glascock was a native of Virginia, and removed with his parents, while
a boy, to Kentucky. He was born December 24, 1791. After he came to manhood and
married, he removed from Kentucky to southern Illinois, and from there he came
to this county in February 1823. He first settled on the land now owned by Riley
Greenley, southeast from Veedersburg. Some years after, he took up his residence
on the farm, owned by him at his death, located on the Crawfordsville &
Covington road, about three miles west of Hillsboro. He was the father of twelve
children, many of whom survive, and who are well known as respected and useful
citizens. No man in the county, during the early years of its history, was more
useful to his neighbors and to the public generally than Joseph Glascock.
Mention has already been made of his public service. He was constantly employed
for many years in administering estates of deceased neighbors and of their minor
children, and always with the strictest integrity. He was for fifty years a
consistent church member, and was a generous, large-hearted man. His wife was
loved and respected by all who knew her, and was a woman of more than ordinary
intelligence and energy. Mr. Glascock lived until 1872, when he died full of
years and honors, and with the consciousness that he had acted well his part in
life.

   Thomas Patton was a native of Pennsylvania. He was born near Wheatland,
Lancaster county, in the year 1784. He came to Fountain county in March 1823,
and took up his residence on the land now occupied by his son William. For
several weeks after his arrival himself and family made their home in the wagon
bed; this was their only protection from the weather until a cabin could be
built. Mr. Patton recollected with pleasure, and often mentioned the fact, that
the weather was mild and the flowers in bloom when he landed in the county. He
was a frugal, industrious and just man, and the father of seven children, to
whom he left a good name and sufficient property to give them a fair start in
the world. Both he and his wife were honored, useful and respected citizens, and
good, kind neighbors. They were both members of the Christian church. Several of
their children survive them and are citizens of influence and usefulness. Mr.
Patton died in May 1848, having survived his wife for several years.

   Jacob Strayer was one of the first settlers of this county, coming here in
November 1824. He was a Virginian, and was born in 1797. He married Elizabeth
Harmon, near Circleville, Ohio, soon after he attained his majority. He came to
the county with Abner Rush and settled near where Veedersburg now is, on the
land now owned by William Dice and George Dice Jr. Afterward he owned the land
now belonging to Christopher Kuling, and built a house upon the site now
occupied by Mr. Kuling's residence. Mrs. Strayer was an aunt to Mr. Cyrus Rush,
from whom the facts concerning these early settlers have been obtained. Mr.
Strayer died a member of the Christian church in January 1867.

   The Fountain County Medical Society was organized in the spring of 1867.
There had been an earlier organization, which had continued several years, and
held its last session in 1851. The most active and prominent members of the
early society were Drs. Evans and Fisher, of Attica, and Drs. Ritchie and Scott,
of Newtown. Drs. L. D. Lyon, of Attica, and C. V. Jones, of Covington, are the
only physicians remaining in the county who were members of this society. In
1867 a call was issued by the physicians of Covington, and a meeting was held in
the old town of Chambersburgh, being the central town, and a temporary
organization was effected. Dr. C. V. Jones was elected president, and Dr. G. S.
Jones secretary. Measures were instituted to secure a permanent organization,
and at a subsequent meeting a constitution was adopted and the society became
active and effective. It was migratory in its character, holding its meetings at
various points to suit the convenience of the members. In a very short time
nearly all the regular physicians of the county were enrolled with the
membership. The office of president was held by Drs. C. V. Jones, of Covington;
S. J. Weldon, of Covington; A. Bigelow, of Attica; and C. D. Watson, of
Covington. The secretaryship alternated between Drs. C. D. Watson and G. S.
Jones, of Covington.

   In 1872 overtures were made by the Warren County Medical Society looking to a
consolidation, and the two societies merged into one, known as the Fountain and
Warren Medical Society. In 1876 the State Medical Society altered its
constitution, making itself a representative body, and requiring its members to
be delegates from county auxiliary societies. Conforming to this arrangement,
the Fountain County Society reorganized, and has continued an effective
organization until the present time. The position of president has been held
consecutively since 1876 by Drs. C. V. Jones, of Covington; G. C. Hays, of
Hillsboro; G. S. Jones, of Covington; W. Armstrong, of Hillsboro, and W. C.
Cole, of Shawnee township. The secretaries have been: Drs. T. F. Leech, of
Attica, two years; J. W. Mock, of Covington; G. C. Hays, of Hillsboro, and C. D.
Watson, of Covington. The plan of the society is to hold two stated meetings
annually, one in April and one in October. At the spring meeting the election of
officers for the year is held; also the selection of delegates to the state and
national associations. All legislative business, as amending the constitution
and by-laws, resolutions requiring debate, etc., is referred to the October
session. Intermediate meetings may be held at the call of the president. At
these meetings, both stated and special, it is customary to have papers on
medical subjects read and discussed, and reports of interesting cases, both
verbal and written. The present membership is twenty-three, and includes, with
but few exceptions, all the regular practitioners of medicine in the county.

   An interesting fact in the medical history of Fountain county, and one which
should find a place among the reminiscences of the county, arises in connection
with the origin and development of a plan to found a state hospital for the
insane. In the winter of 1842-3 Dr. John Evans, of Attica, and Dr. Fisher, of
the same place, united in a petition to the state legislature to take steps
toward the building of an insane asylum. ~No result being obtained at that
session, the same gentlemen renewed their petition during the following winter,
and placed it in the hands of Dr. C. V. Jones, who had been elected to the state
senate from Fountain county, and it was presented by him to the senate and
referred to the committee on education, where, after consideration, a favorable
report was made, and an assessment levied to raise a fond for the purpose. The
next winter an appropriation was made to proceed with the erection of a
building, and Dr. Evans was elected the first superintendent. Thus to Fountain
county physicians, two of whom were petitioners and one a member of the senate,
belongs the credit of instituting proceedings which resulted in the
establishment of a hospital for the insane of the state, which has already
attained great proportions. Dr. Evans retained the superintendency several
years, when he removed to Chicago, where he held a professorship in Rush Medical
College. He laid out the suburb of Evanston, which is named for him, and was
subsequently appointed territorial governor of Colorado by President Lincoln,
and is still a prominent citizen of that state.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

HISTORY OF FOUNTAIN COUNTY,

TOGETHER WITH
HISTORIC NOTES ON THE WABASH VALLEY,

GLEANED FROM EARLY AUTHORS, OLD MAPS AND MANUSCRIPTS
PRIVATE AND OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE, AND OTHER AUTHENTIC, THOUGH, FOR THE MOST
PART, OUT-OF-THE-WAY SOURCES.

BY H. W. BECKWITH,
OF THE DANVILLE BAR; CORRESPONDING MEMBER OF THE HISTORICAL SOCIETIES OF
WISCONSIN AND CHICAGO.

WITH MAP AND ILLUSTRATIONS.

CHICAGO: H. H. HILL AND N. IDDINGS, PUBLISHERS.
1881.


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