Fountain County IN Archives History - Books .....History Of Richland Township 1881
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Book Title: History Of Fountain County

RICHLAND TOWNSHIP.
BY I. M. COEN.

   Richland township, Fountain county, was originally organized July 24, 1826,
as follows: Beginning where the line dividing towns 19 and 20 cuts the center of
range 6; thence north six miles; thence west eleven miles; thence north six
miles; thence east to the place of beginning. At a later date it was changed to
its present boundaries, to wit: It is bounded on the north by Davis township; on
the east by Tippecanoe and Montgomery counties; on the south by Cain township,
and on the west by Van Buren and Shawnee townships. It is nine miles long and
six miles wide, except two sections in the northwest corner, and is situated in
four congressional townships, namely, in T. 20 and 21 N., R. 6 W., and in T. 20
and 21 N., R. 7 W. It is divided in the center north and south by the range road
or line. The Crawfordsville and Attica road passes through the township and
through Newtown in a southeasterly and northwestern direction. The La Fayette
and Covington road also passes through the town and township from the northeast
to the southwest. It is watered by five creeks running across it from east to
west: Big Shawnee runs half way across the north end of the township to the
range road, then leaves it to the south; Little Shawnee runs clear across three
miles south past Newtown; two miles farther south the north fork of Coal creek;
one and a half miles south of that Turkey Run, and lastly Dry Run.

   About half the township in its wild state was heavily timbered; the other
prairie, more or less undulating, with a rich and fertile soil, and dotted here
and there with groves, which, in the early days, furnished timber for buildings
and fences for the farms to which they belonged, and in places there were many
hard maple or sugar trees, which afforded the sweets for the early settlers.

THE FIRST SETTLERS.

   Aaron Hetfield was the first man to settle in Richland township. He came from
Elmira, Chemung county, New York, when he was thirty-five or forty years old. He
was married to Miss Isabella Miller, of New York, in 1821, emigrated to this
township in 1824, and settled where Newtown now is. He was a tanner by trade;
engaged in that business for a time, and then sold out to Peter Shultz, who
afterward settled on the farm now owned by the widow and heirs of Barzillai Kerr.

   Mr. Hetfield was engaged chiefly in farming. He laid out Newtown, in 1830, on
his own land. He died not long after in Illinois, while on a visit to his
daughter. He had four sons. Two are dead. Lew. Hetfield, hotel keeper at
Veedersburg, is his son. There was no white family nearer than six miles.
Indians plenty; not hostile, but troublesome: thieving and begging. Thomas Ogle
and family, David Ogle, and their children, perhaps settled in March, 1825, on
what is known as the Ogle farm, north of Newtown, now owned by Isaac Shultz.
Hetfield and Ogle built the first houses in the township. Daniel Clark and
family, Joseph Hibbs and family, Nathan Cooper, and a Mr. Coffenberry, all
settled near by soon after Ogle's settlement. The first school in their
neighborhood was taught in a house on John Stafford's place, near Little
Shawnee, by Mr. George Taylor, in the winter of 1825-6. The Ogles broke their
prairie with oxen. Their second crop, planted and plowed once, two farrows in a
row, yielded seventy-five bushels to the acre. They went to mill to the Dotonite
mill, near where Stone Bluff now is, and to Hillsboro. Cornelius Ogden and
family came in 1825 and settled on the Wood farm, southwest of Newtown. George
Long-mire, Robert Tanner, Jacob, and Abolt, with their families, came the same
year and settled along Coal creek, southwest of Newtown. John Stafford and
family came in 1825, but were so dissatisfied that they would not unload their
goods; said they would starve to death, and started back to Ohio. Some of the
settlers got them a good dinner, cheered them up, and told them there was no
danger of starving. They came back and settled on the farm now owned by Joseph
Reed, and never starved to death, but Stafford became one of the most energetic
and successful farmers and business men of the township.

   Jacob Hawk and Nathan Neal settled in the southwestern part of the township
in 1825. Neal is still living on the land he entered. Though he came into the
township very poor, as he says, with nothing but his hands and head, he has by
industry and economy secured a good home of some 400 acres of land, which he has
well improved, is out of debt, and says he has money at interest. He is now
about eighty years old, and looks to be good for a hundred. The first school in
Neal's neighborhood he thinks was taught by Moses Dudley, in 1827 or 1828. Mr.
Beedle, father of Abram, Isaac and Aaron T. Beedle, settled in the eastern part
of the township in 1824, and entered their land; the same in part now owned by
Jasper and Francis Beedle. They had first choice of the land, and made a choice
selection: good prairie, good water, and excellent timber joining. There was no
settlement for a long way east of them. William McClure and family settled in
1826 where James McClure now lives. Alex. Logan settled, about the same time,
where Hiram Palin now resides. James Gregory, who was well known all over the
countrv, came with the McClures. He went to mill with the McClures to a
corn-cracker somewhere near Rob Roy, and after looking at the speed with which
the mill ground, said a hungry hound could begin in the morning and eat the meal
all day as fast as it would grind. They also went to mill to Hillsboro. It was
built in a very primitive style: a water-wheel was fixed on the lower end of a
pole eight or ten inches in diameter, and the lower millstone fastened on the
upper end; the upper millstone was stationary. It was built by Charles
McGlothlin and Jesse Kesler. It is said that the Range road was marked or laid
out by Charles McGlothlin blazing it out along the range line, and Aaron
Hetfield driving his team and wagon after him from Hillsboro. James McClure, the
only one of his father's family living in Richland township, was eighteen years
old when he came to where he now lives, fifty-four years ago. He has secured a
competence of this world's goods, and is in circumstances to enjoy a quiet and
serene old age.

   Soon after the McClures, Samuel Archer, father of James Archer, came to the
township, and settled near to them. He was one of the first justices of the
peace in the township, if not the very first. He was also a practical surveyor,
a good business man, and worthy every way. The first school taught in the
McClure neighborhood was in a house near to them, on the south bank of Coal
creek, by David Hacker. Peter Schultz, William Kiff, Aaron Insley, James
Stafford, Jackson King, and others, principally from Highland county, Ohio, came
in 1827. Peter Shultz bought a large tract of land, was an energetic man, a
tanner by trade. He bought out the yard of Aaron Hetfield, and moved it over a
little south of the lane leading to the cemetery through the Kerr farm, which
Shultz then owned and where he settled. He carried on the business, in
connection with farming, till about 1842 or 1843. He worked up his leather, what
was suitable, into horse-collars, and his make of collars was considered the
best that could be obtained. He was the owner of about 1,000 acres of land,
mostly under cultivation. His children settled on it here and there with the
expectation that it should be theirs, though not yet deeded to them. In an evil
hour he indorsed for his son-in-law, who was in the mercantile business in
Attica, and in the financial crash that occurred in 1838 and 1840 he failed, and
with his failure swept the whole of Mr. Shultz' valuable property from under
him, except about 150 acres, which the creditors deeded to his wife to induce
her to relinquish her right in all the balance. James Stafford, Aaron Insley and
Jackson King, by untiring industry and thrift, secured good homes and valuable
property, and were among the most substantial men of the township. They kept the
best stock of every kind, and were among the very best men to handle stock who
have lived in the community. Mrs. King, or Aunt Betsey, as she is universally
called, is the only survivor of the pioneers of the Stafford and Insley
connection, except Noah Insley, her brother, of Montgomery county, although it
used to be said that all the people from Newtown to Sugar Grove were related,
and James Stafford was their uncle. Mrs. King is eighty-two or eighty-three
years old. Ellis Insley came at a later date, and, aside from his being a man of
superior intelligence, a staunch supporter of the Methodist Episcopal church and
all its institutions, a friend of temperance, education and every good cause, he
was noted as the keeper of the best stock of any man in the township. In the
cattle line especially he was a public benefactor, by introducing and selling a
superior grade of cattle. Although he left the township some fifteen years ago,
the improvement in the cattle has not entirely disappeared. He removed to near
Indianapolis; but in a few years, while on a visit to his daughter, Mrs. J. J.
Schermerhorn, near his old home, he was taken sick and died. There were a number
of other families who came early into the township, among them John Hamilton,
who settled where Oliver H. Falin now lives; a Mr. McCollum, who settled where
I. M. Coen lives; David Dodge, who settled in the northeast corner of the
township. It is said that he was very poor when he came, but by industry and
good management he obtained a good property, and left snug little homes for his
children. Edward C. Sumner, who came into the township between 1830 and 1835,
was one of the most noted men. He farmed largely, was a dealer in cattle and
hogs, and fed large numbers for market. He drove his fat cattle every season,
May and June, to the eastern market. There being no railroad to ship on, the
cattle had to walk clear to the seaboard cities, New York, Baltimore, or
wherever the best market might be. His hogs were sold to the packers along the
Wabash, La Fayette and Attica, and sometimes they were driven to Chicago. He
became one of the largest land-holders of the township, if not the largest.
Samuel Dimmick, Nuss, Leathermans, Deters and Henry Witt now live on the land
Sumner owned. He left the township about 1852 or 1853, went to Benton county,
Indiana, on Sugar creek, and, it is said, has become very rich. Nelson Sumner,
his brother, was thought to be his equal in mental capacity or capacity for
making money. He worked with E. C. Sumner some twelve years, he says, supposing
he was a partner and would get a good share of their profits, but says he was
let off with a few hundred dollars, and consequently has not been able to keep
pace with his brother in the race for wealth. Between 1830 and 1835 John Mick,
or grandfather Mick, came into the township and settled north of Little Shawnee,
two miles east of Newtown. "Was a local preacher or exhorter in the Methodist
Episcopal church, a man respected by everybody and regarded as one of the best
of men. He owned a considerable amount of land. John, or Judge, Mick, his son,
also a preacher, was a merchant in Newtown. He was also a farmer, fed cattle and
hogs and packed pork and beef some years in Newtown. He was one of the large
land-holders of the township. He bought goods in large amounts in New York on
credit, his father going his security. Failing to make payment when due, all his
land and all his father's land was taken to satisfy the debt. I. M. Coen, J. J.
Coen, R. A. Stephens, James Carter, John and Ephraim Martin, now occupy the Mick
land; Ephraim Martin and Josiah Kerr Martin buying James Mehary in 1833, and
Kerr buying out Joseph Hibbs a year later, Martin settling where Ephraim Martin
Jr. now lives, and Kerr where Samuel Kerr lives, Mehary and Hibbs having
preceded them in settlement a short time. Martin and Kerr, each by good
management and industry, became what is called in this community well off, and
although both have been dead a number of years, what is an exception rather than
the rule, their families have not squandered their estates. Mr. Kerr was a
respectable preacher in the Christian church, and Martin an acceptable member of
the Methodist Episcopal church. Amos and John, sons of E. Martin, are among the
wealthiest and most substantial men of the township. Amos is a prominent member
of the United Brethren church, and John of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Samuel Kerr, son of Josiah Kerr, is one of the most successful fanners and
largest land-holders we have, and withal a first rate neighbor and citizen.
Barzillai Kerr deceased some two years since, was one of Richland's best men. He
served nearly two years as county commissioner, and the general verdict is that
Fountain county never had a better one. He was also a leading member of the
Christain church. It is rather a remarkable coincidence that, although Ellis
Insley, Ephraim Martin and Josiah Kerr all sold the farms they first settled on,
Insley and Martin leaving the county, yet Insley came back near his old home to
die; Martin to the farm he left, dying at the house of his son John; and Kerr to
the house of Samuel, his son, the very house he left. William Templeton settled
about 1830 or 1831 on what is known as the Templeton farm, east of Newtown. He
was the first man elected representative of the county in Richland township. He
was elected a second time, and under circumstances which rarely occur. He was
elected after he was dead, dying on the day of the election. The first 4th of
July celebration and barbecue was held at Templeton's. Isaac Beedle and John
Riffle settled at an even earlier date, near by. Their farms are now owned by J.
Martin, S. Kerr and P. T. McKinney's heirs. They and their companions served
their day, and rest in the Riffle graveyard. The west and northwest part of the
township was settled by David Parrott, Evan Stephens, Isaiah Jones, Joseph
Flora, Abednego Stephens, John Stephens, Isaac Coon, William S. Coon, John Bake,
the Clawsons, Charles Taylor, John Wilkinson, James Dove, Wilsons, Curtis,
Newell, John Day, and others. These all, in connection with the settlers
heretofore named, endured the hardships incident to the settling of a new
country, fenced and broke the prairie, cleared off the timber where timber was,
built houses and barns, school-houses and churches, and they too, most of them,
have left their farms, all the improvements and institutions they helped to
establish, to their children and successors, and have passed away.    Many of
these deserve favorable mention, but let it suffice to speak of a few. John
Stephens who lived two miles northwest of Newtown, on the farm now owned by
Joseph Flora, was a successful farmer, and everybody had confidence in his
honesty and integrity. He was a democrat in politics. Was elected representative
by his party in 1850 or 1852, and served one term in the legislature.

   W. S. Coon, son of Isaac Coon, also a successful farmer, a prominent member
of the Baptist church at Newtown, a democrat, and served one term as
commissioner of the county. Isaiah Jones was a leading member of the Big Shawnee
Baptist church, was also prominent in his day as a crier of sales. David Parrott
was a farmer and cooper by trade. He was a prominent member of the Coal Creek
Presbyterian church, and was elected one of the first elders in 1827. He was
also a leader of the music of the church. Curtis Newell settled where Amos
Martin now lives; was a farmer and merchant. He failed in merchandising and gave
up his farm to pay for his goods. He was in connection with the Newtown
Presbyterian church, one of its elders, and considered a very excellent man.
About 1851 he removed to Warren county, Indiana, and died there some years ago.
John Day, John Clement, old Mr. Duncan, his sons John and David, the Yalivas,
Jefferson, William, and Nathan, Alex Whitehall, the Rices, William, Isaac,
Bonaparte and Jackson. Solomon Shoemaker, the Daggers, though not the first, yet
were early settlers and were among Richland's best citizens. The Yalivas,
Whitehall, Clement and Shoemaker, were all members of the Methodist Episcopal
church. The Rices, so far as they were professors, were in connection with the
Baptist churches.

   The first road in the township was the Crawfordsville and Attica road, which
came from the southeast to where Newtown now is, about as it does now, crossing
Little Shawnee where the Range road does, running north about a mile, thence in
a northwesterly direction to Attica. It was laid out in 1826. George and William
Howe kept the first store as far as can be ascertained. A Mr. Webster was the
first justice of the peace. The first shop was a cabinet shop, built by Noah
Insley, who came in 1826. He made the first bureau, the first table, and the
first clock-case made in the county. The first wagon-maker was ____ Hysong. The
first blacksmith was Samuel Rodgers. The first physician, Dr. Holmes. There were
several men who practiced pettifogging before justices of the peace, but the
first lawyer was Delos Warren. The post-office at Newtown was established in
1831, but it is said the people of the township had mail facilities earlier; the
first postmaster, William Howe or Richard Hicks. The first hotel was kept by
Ambrose Kiff. The first school in Newtown was taught by Amos Webster. Samuel
Newer kept the first saloon, grocery, or doggery, as they were called in those
days. The first saw-mill was built by a Mr. Teazle, in 1826 or 1827, on Coal
creek, three miles southwest of Newtown, and a saw-mill is still there. Peter
Shultz, Samuel Low, Richard Hicks, and Hawkins, built the first flouring-mill,
in 1830, just above the Teazle mill on Coal creek, and the only one ever built
in the township except the Boggs mill, four miles south of Newtown on Dry Run,
which has just been taken down and removed to Jacksonville. The company mill was
a short-lived affair, Coal creek being a sluggish stream, not having sufficient
fall to get good power, and the water running too low in the dry season. Henry
Beedle, son of Aaron T. Beedle, or James Archer, was the first person born in
the township. Montreville Seely and Mrs. Heacock, or David Inyard and Miss Rispy
Buck, were the first to marry. Both couples were married in 1826.

   Newtown was laid out by Aaron Hetfield in 1830, who owned the land which it
occupies. It is situated in the S.W. 1/4 Sec. 6, T. 20 N., R. 6 W., and the S.E.
1/4 Sec. 1, T. 20 N., R. 7 W. It has 188 lots surveyed. It has streets running
north and south: Shawnee, Range, Adams, and Spring. Running east and west it has
Ridge, Main, Washington, and Clay. Its population is 307. Its merchants have
been George and William Howe, Richard Hicks and Samuel Low, John Stafford and
Dewitt Kiff, William and Robert Miller, John Mick, George Hicks, A. J. Danforth,
Reddick Hunnings, Aaron Black, A. S. Frankenfield, Samuel Reeves, Robert
Campbell & Son, William and Isaac Rice, John Gebhart, dry-goods men. Druggists,
Dr. E. Detchen, Anthony Dengler and Dr. J. S. Riffle, J. W. Moore and Alexander
Graves. Physicians, Holmes, Pomeroy, Scott, Chestnut, Ritchey, Cole, Kelly,
Fraley, Weaver, McElwee, Riffle, Wiles, Kellenberger, Sherman, and Van
Dervolgen, of the allopathic school; and Menefee, Hartley, and Crane, of the
eclectic. Tailors, Gamer, Abram and Robert Campbell, Hunnings & Shields.
Wagon-makers have been Hysong, A. B. Earl, Dawson, Win. Sayers, Wm. Nelson,
Joseph Gal-breath, Samuel and Scott Clark, David Ewert, Simeon Tresler, and P.
V. Law. Blacksmiths, Rodgers, John Crane, Wm. Ewert, Richard Donovan, Miller,
Johnson, Nabors, Jesse White, Harvey White, Colby, H. Floyd, J. Bittenbender,
and others. Stafford & Kiff were successful merchants till 1841 or 1842, when
Stafford died. Kiff removed to Attica and continued the business there. He left
part of his goods in Newtown, in the hands of Henry Clark. Kiff died not long
after in the south, where he had gone for his health, leaving quite a handsome
estate. Danforth, after a time, sold his store and went to Indianapolis. A. S.
Frankenfield was a popular and successful merchant, highly esteemed by almost
everybody. He ako bought and shipped a great many hogs. He was everybody's man.
He died in 1864, lamented by the whole community. Robert Campbell & Son, and
Isaac Rice and Gebhard, are the present dry-goods men, each firm keeping a good
assortment of dry goods, groceries, boots and shoes, clothing, and hardware, and
are doing a good Dusiness. Robert Campbell has long been the only tailor in
Newtown. He makes the fine suits for the gentlemen, old and young, always
keeping posted in regard to fashions, and fitting up his work in the latest
style. He has also been postmaster for twelve or sixteen years, with an
occasional interval.

   The present physicians are Drs. Riifle, Wiles and Sherman. The wagon-makers
are D. Ewert, P. Y. Law, S. D. Clark and A. B. Earl. The blacksmiths are Colby,
Johnson, Bittenbender and McLane. The druggists, Alex. Graves and J. W. Moore.
Saddle and harness makers, Jas. Haas, R. Harris and Wm. Hudson. The carpenters,
Wm. and Horace Gray, N. Y. Fisher, Chas. Bettice, Harry Beckly, Joseph and
Jirris Wilson and Daniel Reed. Furniture dealer, cabinet-maker and undertaker,
Daniel Reed. Painters, Irvin and Henry Beckly, Sam'l Sinnett and A. Hannon.
Tinner, Jarrard Crane. Boot and shoe maker, Mr. Helbig. Rev. B. P. Russell,
dealer in windmills, Perkins' patent. James Hudson, plasterer. Jas. and F. Haas,
stonemasons. Sam'l Low, clerk in Campbell's store, has served several terms as
township trustee. Dr. Henry Wilson, dentist. Thos. Newell, tanner. Wm.
Dinwiddie, butcher. Joseph Reed, farmer and stock dealer. Thos. and J. Barnett,
ditchers and well-diggers. Geo. Duncan, stock dealer. Ed. Keyt, D. P. Parrott
and Benj. Voliva, stock dealers and farmers. Isaac Shultz, Michael Bever, Hiram
Palin, Robt. Parnell and Chas. McClure are among our most successful and wealthy
farmers and stock dealers. Frank Scott, hotel keeper. Wm. M. Rice, township
trustee. Sam'l Reeves, justice of the peace. Jas. H. Voliva, justice and
attorney-at-law. There are three resident ministers in Newtown: Revs. D.
Handley, of the Methodist Episcopal church; J.W. Mann, of the Presbyterian
church, and B. P. Russell of the Baptist church.

   There are three churches in town, Methodist Episcopal, Presbyterian and
Baptist, all of them kept in good repair. The Masons have a good hall over
Campbell's store; the Odd-Fellows over Rice's store, and a town hall or Good
Templars' hall over Reed's furniture store. The township has a graded
school-house in Newtown, 40 X 50 feet, two stories high, with four rooms; built
in 1873 by Samuel Low, trustee; architect, William Gray. It is a neat,
substantial, brick building, cost $6,400, $2,200 of which was raised by
donation, the balance by taxation. The house is a credit to the township and the
pride of its citizens. The population of the township is 1,818. The property of
Richland is valued at $919,000. The personal at $189,400. Mr. Elias McAuley was
principal of the graded school three sessions, the first two and the fourth; Mr.
James Sym, the third session; Mr. Warren McBroom, the fifth; Mr. William
McClure, the sixth; Mr. William Smith, the seventh. Mr. Preston is the present
principal. There are thirteen good school-houses in the township besides the
graded school-house.

   There are seven church buildings: Shawnee Chapel, three and one-half miles
north of Newtown, on Big Shawnee; United Brethren, Big Shawnee Baptist Church,
three miles west of Newtown; the Christian Church, at the Coal Creek cemetery;
Center Chapel, United Brethren, four miles southwest, and the three churches in
Newtown. There are seven cemeteries: Newtown, Coal Creek, Riffle's, McKinney &
McClure's, Sloan's, Flora, and the Shawnee Chapel. There are two extensive tile
factories: Daniel Carpenter's, in the southwestern part of the township, and J.
W. Leatherman's, in the northeast. There are twenty windmills in the township,
all Perkins' except two or three. There have been repeated efforts made to
secure a railroad through the township. About 1850 the Eel River Valley Railroad
Company was organized, Newtown being a point; the citizens subscribed liberally
to the stock of the company. The track was graded from Newtown west four or five
miles, and then the project died, leaving the subscribers to foot up expenses.
About 1868 or 1869 the La Fayette, Rockville & Terre Haute Company was formed,-
a road to be built by way of Newtown. Some $25,000 was raised in La Fayette, and
$25,000 in the vicinities of Shawnee Mound and Newtown. The line was surveyed,
estimates of the cost of grading made, an appropriation voted by Richland
township, and it went the way of all the earth, leaving the subscribers to pay
the funeral expenses. About 1875 the Frankfort & State Line Railroad Company was
organized, proposing to be a link of the Toledo & St. Louis railroad, and
Richland voted a two-per-cent appropriation in June, 1876, to aid in its
construction, provided Newtown be a point. The township is still threatened with
a road if it raise enough money, but not much afraid.

FIRES.

   The first fire in the township was Zachariah Hodson's house, in 1827 or 1828,
said to have been fired by an incendiary. The next was the house of the supposed
incendiary. The first fire in Newtown was James Bake's wagon shop, in 1838. The
second, George Hicks' store, in 1844. The third, David Haas' dwelling, 1859.
Wilson's house the same year. Aaron Black's barn, by lightning, 1856. Rice's
store, 1868. Nathan Neal's and Amasa Ball's barns burned, in the southwestern
part of the township, in 1843 or 1844. Ambrose Kiff's house burned 1861. John
Higbee's saw-mill burned 1867, by incendiaries. Jefferson Ray's house burned
about 1865. John Riffle's house, 1865; also Geo. Riffle's saw-mill, near the
same time.

ACCIDENTS.

   Noah Insley and Ambrose Kiff were hauling lumber. In crossing Little Shawnee,
four miles west of Newtown, the fore-wheel of the wagon dropped off the frozen
bank into the creek, Kiff fell off, and the hind-wheel, with 600 feet of green
walnut lumber on the wagon, ran over his head. Insley, finding he was not
killed, unhitched his team of three yoke of oxen, turned them all loose but one,
got Kiff on that one and held him on till he got him to Newtown. He recovered.
Aaron Black accidentally shot a son of William Howe in the arm, about 1850,
making a severe and troublesome wound. Augustus Hannon fell twenty feet out of a
tree, October 12, 1861, while gathering wild grapes, and was so badly hurt that
for a long time his life was in peril. He finally recovered so far as to be able
to hobble around and work a little at his trade of painting. A limb fell on
William McClure in 1870, while working in the timber, striking him on the head.
He was supposed to be killed, but he rallied and recovered. Henry Beedle, about
1858, while chopping trees felled one on his little boy and killed him. Perry
Strader, a young man of seventeen years, while hunting ducks and
prairie-chickens, in crossing a ditch accidentally shot and killed himself. It
happened about a mile southeast of Newtown, on April 5, 1858. In 1863 or 1864
Ambrose and Elizabeth Kiff had a little daughter burned to death. In the absence
of the parents a three or four-year-old brother, playing in the fire with a
cornstalk, set her clothes on fire. In the fall of 1874 a young man, son of
Thomas Twiddy, while raccoon hunting, was killed by a falling tree.

   In 1832 a Mr. Kelly, from the vicinity of Pleasant Hill, was killed by
lightning in Newtown, while riding through for Dr. Holmes.

TRAGEDIES.

   There have been four persons killed by violence in the township: Mrs. Flora
about 1842 or 1843. But we draw a veil over the transaction. Edwin King, killed
by William McCouch, in Attica, April 5, 1861. Dr. A. B. Cunningham,
brother-in-law of King, had bought a house, and King went to Attica to help him
move into the house. It was occupied by a Mr. Longsdorf, who refused to get out
of it. Cunningham, acting under the advice of a] good attorney, after giving
Longsdorf timely notice, began setting his goods outside of the house. Longsdorf
resisted, and a row ensued. King, seeing the trouble, went to the house.
McCouch, having a clothes-beetle or maul, six or eight inches in length and four
or five in diameter, struck King on the head, killing him instantly. He was
greatly lamented by the family and a large circle of relatives and friends.
McCouch was arrested, had a preliminary trial, was recognized to appear in court
and answer to the charge of murder, and was released on bail. The trial was put
off from time to time, on one pretext and another, till the prosecutors
despaired of ever bringing him to trial and ceased to appear against him.
Sylvester Cheney killed Jonathan McGlothlin in the fall of 1863, at Squire
Riley's, in the south part of the township. They were engaged in a lawsuit.
Cheney was tried at Crawfordsville, by change of venue from Covington, and the
jury found him not guilty, and he was discharged. The weapon Cheney used was a
revolver. McGlothlin was shot three or four times.

   The last case was William Woolen, killed at a dance at John Johnson's, on the
Flora place, two miles west of Newtown, in November 1878, as charged, by a Mr.
Gallimore and Mat McDaniel. McDaniel was arrested, tried and sentenced to the
state's prison for six years. He was taken to prison, but soon brought out under
a grant for a new trial, but as yet has had no trial, and is at liberty on bail.
Gallimore fled the country and has never been arrested. Woolen was stabbed to
the heart with a knife, dying at once.

WAR RECORD.

   The township made a good record in furnishing men to aid in putting down the
rebellion. It furnished men for the 40th, 72d, 86th, 116th, 150th and 154th
regs. It furnished two captains, James Ira Jones and William McKinney. Three
lieutenants, O. K. Vinton, Dr. George Hays and James Stafford, and about two
hundred of the rank and file. Quite a number of our boys and men gave their
lives to save their country. Some of them sleep on southern soil in unmarked,
yet not in unhonored, graves.

INDIAN SCARE.

   In the summer of 1826 the settlers were terribly frightened by a report that
an Indian raid was about to be made, to cut off all the settlers from Attica to
Crawfordsville. The people fled from their homes, hiding their bedding in the
cornfields and whatever else they could quickly remove, expecting their
dwellings to be burned. 

   The men, women and children collected in the night at Thomas Ogle's, north of
Newtown, and Richard Hicks', two miles west on the Kellogg farm, and prepared
for defense as best they could. At Ogle's, pickets were stationed out to watch
the approach of the savages. Women and children were crying, men quaking with
fear. Pretty soon the Indians were seen stealthily approaching; the pickets were
driven in, and they were expecting every moment to feel the deadly bullet and
the scalping-knife of the merciless savage. But as they did not approach the
house, the faithful dog holding them at bay, Noah Insley proposed that they
venture and see if the Indians were really around. They went and found that the
Indians that had been seen wrapped in their blankets, skulking around, was an
opossum that the dog had on top of the fence, walking back and forth. It turned
out that there were no grounds whatever for the alarm; that there were no
hostile Indians anywhere in the vicinity. It is said that two men in Warren
county got up the scare to stop emigration till they could go east and get money
to enter some land that they feared emigrants would take up; that they rode
through from Attica to Crawfordsville, giving the alarm at every house and
stopping every emigrant wagon.

CHURCHES.

   The Christian church of Newtown was organized in 1841. Their first preacher
Rev. Obadiah Ward; second, Rev. John Ocain. Revs. William Young and Joseph
Galbreath also preached for them. Their first officers were Obadiah Ward, Daniel
Clark and Joseph Galbreath, elders. First members, James Ogle and Elizabeth his
wife, Elizabeth Clark, Ruhamah Galbreath, Ira Cumming and Catharine his wife,
Rebecca Clark, Lynna Stafford, Mrs. Templeton, Kezia Clark, Jemima Clark,
William Clark, Dolly Hodge, John Clark and Delilah his wife. Owing to the
removals and death of many members of this church, it disbanded about 1848.

   The Christian church at the Coal Creek cemetery was organized July 17, 1871,
with a membership of seventeen. The first minister was Elder Phelps, who labored
for the church one year. In 1872 Rev. W. T. Warbington was employed as pastor
and continued until 1878. He was a popular preacher and instrumental in building
up and largely increasing the church in numbers. In 1879 the pastoral labors of
Rev. T. C. Smith, president of Merom College, were secured, and his pastorate
continues at the present time. The first officers of the church were: deacons
David Whitesel and Josiah Rusk; clerk, James Rusk. There was a union
Sunday-school organized a short time after the church, which is still in good
condition, being kept up both summer and winter. The church now numbers 150. The
present deacons are David Whitesel, Reuben Lister and Thomas Miller. Barzillai
M. Kiff is the present clerk.

   Shawnee Chapel United Brethren church was organized in 1871. The following
persons composed the organization: Rev. John M. Bottenberg and Priscilla his
wife, Edward Dunkin and Lucinda his wife, Silas Bittle and Fannie his wife,
Henry Witt, Wm. Guen and Ann his wife, Richard Bittle, Jeremiah Busenbark,
Jeremiah Houts, Cyrus Houts, Elizabeth Houts, Huldah Ann Bottenberg, Conner
Bottenberg, John Hale, John Calton, Martha Mattox, Amos Martin and Hannah his
wife. The first trustees were Amos Martin, J. M. Bottenberg, and Joseph Bittle.
First preacher, Rev. W. N. Kofftnan; others, Revs. Teague, Carrigus, H. N. Rice,
Adam Wainscott, Comer, Newell, Smith, Geo. Shapley, and M. L. Cheadle, the
present minister. The church at present numbers sixteen. A Sunday-school is kept
usually in the summer season.

   The Hopewell Regular Baptist, of Newtown, was organized June 27, 1835, in
Montgomery county, at the house of Wm. Davis. Peter Metzler, Robert Arhart, Ruth
Arhart, Catharine Davis, Simeon Davis, and Ruth Davis at first composed the
church. July 23, 1836, the church met at the house of Wm. Davis, and, on motion
of Isaac Coon, the church was moved to Newtown, Fountain county, Indiana. May
27, 1836, Isaac Coon was chosen deacon. Elder Wm. Reeves was pastor two years,
the church numbering twenty. James Titus, clerk. * November, 1837, Elder Peter
Webb was chosen pastor, and served five years. Received into the church
twenty-two; membership, thirty-one. November, 1839, Wm. Dinwiddie was chosen
clerk, and also elected deacon. - November, 1842, Elder P. T. Palmer preached
for the church three months. June 24, 1843, Richard Donovan, Richard Stephens,
and A. J. Danforth elected trustees. Elder Webb was again called to the
pastorate, and continued sixteen years. Received, twelve members; dismissed,
sixteen; died, fourteen; excluded, seven; leaving five members. January, 1860,
Elder C. J. Bowles became pastor; continued fourteen years. At the close of his
labors the church numbered seventy-four. March, 1860, Dr. S. M. El wee chosen
clerk. July, 1860, W. S. Coon elected deacon. September 13, 1864, Jacob Haas, W.
S. Coon and J. C. Smith elected trustees. November, 1872, S. W. Coon elected
clerk. December, 1874, Elder Wright commenced preaching for the church,
continuing seven months. July, 1875, Elder Davis became pastor for one year. A
Sunday-school was organized April, 1875, and continues to the present with a
fair degree of prosperity. S. W. Coon, superintendent; J. L. Freeman, secretary.
July, 1876, Elder Cartwright commenced preaching for the church for one year.
Church membership eighty-seven. November, 1878, Elder B. P. Russell was secured
as pastor, and preached for the church three years. October 2, 1880, Elder C. J.
Bowles again called to the pastorate of the church, and is the present minister.
Membership eighty-two.

   The Regular Predestinarian Big Shawnee Baptist church was organized July,
1829. A presbytery was called together consisting of Elder Johnson and brethren
Jess Osborn, Asa Smith, Roads Smith, James D. Drake, and John Orr, of Coal Creek
church, and Elder James Buckles, of Sinking Creek church, Ohio. Elder George
Johnson was chosen moderator, and E. W. Jones clerk. The following persons
presented letters of dismission from other churches, and were organized into the
Big Shawnee church: Isaiah Jones and Leah his wife, James Smith, David Stephens
and Susan his wife, Hannah Buckles, Francis Wilkinson, and E. W. Jones. August
15, 1829, David Stephens was chosen deacon. Isaiah Jones was appointed clerk in
1836. November, 1838, Elder James Buckles was appointed moderator. February,
1849, Elder John Brady was called to the pastorate of the church. June, 1S50,
Elder Vaughn was called to preach for one year in connection with Elder Brady.
February, 1S52, Elder Vancleve was called to preach once in two months with
Elder Brady. From January, 1859, to September, 1859, Elders J. J. Goben and S.
C. Johnson preached for the church with Elder Brady. December, 1859, Isaiah
Jones and Isaac Rice were elected deacons. The third Sunday in April, 1860,
Elders Brady, Johnson, and Vancleve being present, the deacons elect were
ordained by prayer and the laying on of hands. Elders Brady and Johnson preached
for the church from July, 1860, until November 1869. April, 1864, John Crumley
was appointed clerk. Elder Brady has continued to preach for the church most of
the time, assisted by Elders J. Swearingen and S. Cox part of the time, and
others, from 1869 to the present, preaching for the church in all about
thirty-one years. A great many other ministers have visited and preached to the
church from time to time.

   In the course of God's providence, a few of the friends of Zion, members and
adherents of the Presbyterian church, having settled on Coal creek, in Richland
and Shawnee townships, far from God's sanctuaries, having no one to break to
them the bread of life, resolved, in the fall of 1826, to meet together every
Lord's day to read the Scriptures and unite in singing and prayer to God; and
God, who is the hearer of prayer, heard the voice of their supplications. They
were visited in the fall of 1827 by the Rev. James Thompson, from the presbytery
of Cincinnati, who engaged to preach for them once a month until further
arrangements should be made. It was then agreed to appoint Saturday, December 3,
1827, to organize a church. December 3, the members and adherents of the
Presbyterian church met at the house of William Miller. The Rev. James Thompson
was chosen moderator, and Dr. Samuel Fullenwider, clerk. The following persons
then presented certificates of membership from other churches: William McClure
and Esther his wife; William Miller, Edmund Parrott and Mary his wife; Alex.
Logan and Anna his wife; Jane Brandenburg, David Parrott and Nancy his wife;
James Miller and Mary his wife; Isabella Miller, James Brier and Mary his wife;
Mrs. Jane Miller, Miss Jane Miller, Dorcas Brier, Samuel Fullenwider and Jane
his wife,-nineteen in number, and were organized into a church. William McClure,
William Miller and David Parrott were elected as the first elders; James Brier,
Alex. Logan and James Miller were elected trustees, and Dr. Samuel Fullenwider
treasurer of the church. The ministerial labors of Rev. James Thompson were
secured for one year. May 1, 1829, Rev. John Thompson's labors with the church
commenced. October 1, 1829, the church had increased to forty-nine. During the
year 1829 this organization built a house of worship, 30 x 40 feet, on or near
the ground now occupied by the Coal Creek Cemetery church. It was burned down a
year or two after its erection. Another was built soon after on James Millers
land, a quarter of a mile west of the first. Rev. E. O. Hovey located near the
church about January 1, 1832; preached for the church acceptably and
successfully for three years. January 1, 1835, Rev. John Crawford began
preaching, one half the time in the Coal Creek church, and the other half in the
McClure neighborhood. In June 1833, August 1834, and August 1835, Presbyterian
camp-meetings were held near the church, resulting in much good. A church was
erected near McClure's, in 1835, called Pleasant Ridge Meeting-house, and
meetings were held there regularly. May, 1835, John Logan and James Gregg were
elected elders. Rev. John Crawford died in June 1839. In 1838 the church
divided, the eastern, or Newtown portion, going with the New School, and the .
western, or Coal Creek portion, going with the Old School, and so became two
churches. In 1840 Rev. Samuel G. Lowrie supplied the church for a time. In
January, 1841, the Rev. John Fairchild, a licentiate, commenced ministerial
labors in Newtown. In March, 1841, the church adopted the name Newtown
Presbyterian church. The Coal Creek church kept up its organization till about
1860, when it disbanded. Rev. John Fairchild was ordained June 18, 1841.
November 6, 1841, Benjamin Botsford and P. T. McKinney were elected and ordained
elders. P. T. McKinney was chosen clerk of session, and retained the office till
death. Benjamin Botsford, elder, died December 12, 1846. John Logan, elder, died
December 20, 1846. Curtis Newell, elected elder February 7, 1847. Edward McQuig,
chosen elder December 7, 1850. William Persing, chosen elder August 1852.
September, 1851, Rev. William Bacon began ministerial labor one-half the time
for a year. August, 1852, Rev. Alex. Lemon settled in Newtown, and preached to
the church till August 1857. May, 1858, Rev. S. B. King, a licentiate, commenced
preaching in Newtown. He was ordained December 4, 1858; continued to labor for
the church till March, 1873, except an interval of a few months. I. M. Coen,
chosen elder September 1858. Church rebuilt in 1861; dedicated December 15,
1861; dedicatory sermon by Rev. James Carnahan; prayer by Rev. John Hawks.
December, 1865, Orange K. Vinton and Edward Parrott elected deacons. A. C.
McCorkle and Capt. J. Ira Jones also served as deacons. November, 1866, W. B.
Van Dervalgen elected elder. October, 1873, Rev. W. J. Essick commenced
preaching for the church, continuing two years. P. T. McKinney, elder, died
September 8, 1874. Elder William Persing died January 23, 1875. April, 1875,
James McClure and Edward Parrott elected and ordained elders. Horace Gray and
Frank McKinney elected and ordained deacons same date. October, 1875, Rev.
Essick closed his labors with the church, and Rev. John Creath supplied it
temporarily. April, 1876, secured the labors of Rev. M. L. Milford. He continued
two years. May, 1878, John J. Coen chosen deacon. August, 187&, Rev. J. W. Mann
began preaching for the church, and is the present pastor. March, 1879, Charles
P. McKinney was elected elder, and Thomas Shultz deacon. Present membership
about 100. The present officers are: James McClure, W. B. Van Dervalgen, Edward
Parrott, Charles P. McKinney and I. M. Coen, elders; Capt. James Ira Jones,
Frank McKinney, Horace Gray, John J. Coen and Thomas Shultz, deacons; James
McClure, Edward Parrott and William M. Gray, trustees; I. M. Coen, clerk of
session. The church has a prosperous Sunday-school, and has had during most of
its history. Has been kept running winter and summer for some ten or twelve
years. Thomas Shultz is superintendent, and Mrs. Edith Kerr, secretary. The Coal
Creek church, of which this is an outgrowth, was the first organized in the
township. It built the first church building, and organized the first
Sunday-school. The church built a snug parsonage near the church building in the
fall of 1879, costing about §1,100, house and lot.

   The Center Chapel class of United Brethren was organized about the year 1842,
with a small membership, most of whom have passed away. Prominent among them
were Hiram Royal, Fleming Davidson, John Davidson, Daniel Strader, and Jacob
Hawk. The building, four miles southwest of Newtown, known as Center Chapel, was
erected in 1860. The church remains a permanent organization, is regularly
supplied with preaching, and keeps up a Sunday-school regularly in the summer
season. H. F. Huff is the present superintendent. Name of the pastor not known.

   The form of religious faith and worship known as Methodism was introduced
into Richland township by the earliest settlers. But it is to be regretted that
much of the record of the early organization and labors of those pioneers has
been lost. Enough remains, however, to give us the following facts of their
history.

   The first organization of the church was at the residence of Peter Shultz,
near the village of Newtown, in the year 1827, by Rev. Hackaliah Vredenbnrg, a
local preacher, who had emigrated to this country a short time previous. The
following named persons united to form this organization: Peter Shultz,
Elizabeth Shultz, Anna Ogle, Andrew Insley, Isabel Insley, Betsy Hamilton, Betsy
King, Jesse Cook, Nancy Cook, and Charles Mick and wife, with perhaps some
others whose names have been lost. Of these Betsy King is, so far as known, the
only surviving member, and she retains her membership with the Newtown church,
though residing with her son-in-law, Dr. Cunningham, in Attica.

   The first official appointment of pastor was in the year 1828. It was
included in the Crawfordsville circuit, with Stephen R. Beggs as preacher in
charge, and the next year the celebrated James Armstrong was the preacher in
charge, and John Strange, of precious memory, was the presiding elder. The
society continued to worship at the residence of Peter Shultz, who was
class-leader, for several years, until a school-house was erected in the
neighborhood, and for better accommodation the place of meeting was changed. So
rapidly did the society increase in numbers that in a few years a church was
demanded, and erected on the site of the present Methodist Episcopal church, in
Newtown. The first church was thirty-eight feet in width by seventy feet in
length, and was none too large to accommodate the congregation in that early
day. This edifice was remodeled and rebuilt in 1853, and again in 1867.

   The Newtown church was connected with the Crawfordsville circuit until 1831,
when the La Fayette circuit was organized, and Newtown became a part of the new
circuit. This continued until 1835, when the Covington circuit was organized,
embracing this territory. This arrangement continued for three years, when the
Newtown circuit was organized, and Allen D. Beaseley and Samuel Low were
appointed preachers in charge.

   In the spring of 1879 the beautiful residence property of Dr. J. S. Riffle
was purchased for a parsonage, under the pastorate of Rev. D. G. Le Sourd, and
at the ensuing annual conference the Newtown church was connected for pastoral
service with Bethel Methodist Episcopal church, in Logan township, and Rob Roy
Methodist Episcopal church, and the present pastor, Rev. D. Handley, was
appointed to the pastorate.

   The present membership of the church numbers 120. The following are trustees:
Rev. J. J. Schermerhorn, John Leatherman. Michael Bever, John S. Martin, H. Y.
Fisher, Samuel Low, John Stafford, J. M. Yoliva, and Henry Clement. There is a
flourishing Sunday-school connected with the church, numbering 120. A. C.
Schermerhorn is superintendent, and Charles Frankenfield assistant, and Miss
Carrie Frankenfield secretary. Social meetings are regularly maintained. Rev. J.
J. Schermerhorn, Samuel Low, and J. M. Voliva are class-leaders, and Isaac
Shultz, Henry Clement, J. M. Voliva, and J. J. Schermerhorn are stewards. Henry
Clement is recording steward.

   Richland Lodge, No. 205, F. and A. Masons, held its first meeting at Newtown,
Fountain county, Indiana, June 2, A.D. 1856, A.L. 5856, under dispensation
granted by Alexander C. Downey, grand master of the Grand Lodge of Indiana, and
worked under dispensation until May 26, A.D. 1857, A. L. 5857, when it was
organized under a charter from the Grand Lodge of Indiana, with Jacob
Schermerhorn, P. W. Lamb, James F. Fraley, John Havlin, William M. Gray, David
Whitesel, Samuel Kelly, A. C. Odell, J. W. C. Shultz, Charles L. Johnson, Reason
Jones, Samuel. Parrott, David Hodge, Robert Campbell, Edwin King, William Rily,
William Coen, Richard Donovan, as charter members, with Jacob J. Schermerhorn,
W. M.; P. W. Lamb, S. W.; and James F. Fraley, J. W.; and has been in a
prosperous condition ever since its organization, building and furnishing the
comfortable hall which it now occupies in the winter of 1865, at a cost of about
$1,000, although a number of its members have dimited, removed, or been taken
away by death, its last report to the grand lodge, dated January 1, 1880,
showing fifty-one members. It has been presided over by the following named
worshipful masters: Jacob J. Schermerhorn, Samuel Kelley, James F. Fraley,
Samuel Low, William K. Stafford, and James H. Voliva. Its officers for the year
1880 are Robert N. Voliva, W. M.; William Dinwiddie, S. W.; N. T. Fisher, J.W.;
John Bittenbender, Tr.; Robert Campbell, Sec.; P. V. Law, S. D.; Asher Clawson,
J. D.; and John Stafford, Tiler.

   Richland Lodge, No. 171, I. O. O. F., was instituted January 16, 1856. The
charter members were William A. Young, A. S. Frankenfield, Isaac Haupt, Samuel
Dimmick, and Daniel R. Haas. The charter records, all the regalia and fixtures
belonging to the lodge, were destroyed by fire June 28, 1868. The lodge numbers
now about twenty. The present officers are Thomas J. Dill, N. G.; Luther Haas,
V. G.; A. S. Helbig, Sec.; John Smith, Tr.; Randolph Harris, D. G. M.


Additional Comments:
Richland Township

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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