Greene County IN Archives History - Books .....Chapter XX! Washington Township 1884
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Book Title: History Of Greene And Sullivan Counties, Indiana

CHAPTER XXI.

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP—OFFICERS—LAND ENTRIES—THE ARRIVAL OF THE SETTLERS—THE FIRST
RESIDENT—THE HOMELY STRANGER AND THE KETTLE—OTHER FACTS CONCERNING THE 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 1817, 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 19, 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 Hitter, 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 reacned 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. He 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 utter
astonishment. He saw before him a face so remarkable in its deformity of nature
and its hideous disproportion or feature— such an absolute chaos of size, form
and color—such a frightful and unpardonable abuse of the permission men have to
be ugly—that 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 Goldsberry 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 deer in one day, and is said to 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 numerous 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
200 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 wreather at one time. The skins and hams were usually saved, but the
remainder, except the tenderloin, was fed to 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 rude 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 be 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 used 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, bat 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 eaves 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 dewberry, 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 part, 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 was 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 & Carpenter, 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 Boss 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.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

HISTORY OF GREENE AND SULLIVAN COUNTIES,
STATE OF INDIANA,
FROM THE EARLIEST TIME TO THE PRESENT; TOGETHER WITH INTERESTING BIOGRAPHICAL
SKETCHES, REMINISCENCES, NOTES, ETC.

ILLUSTRATED.

CHICAGO: GOODSPEED BROS. & CO., PUBLISHERS.
1884.

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