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

CHAPTER XXIII.

GRANT TOWNSHIP—ORIGIN OF THE NAME—FORMATION—IMPORTANT EARLY EVENTS—DAVID OSBORN
AND THE BEAR—WOLF TRAPS—SWITZ CITY— ITS IMPORTANCE AS A RAILROAD CENTER—SURVEY
OF THE LOTS—THE MERCHANTS—SECRET SOCIETIES—THE TEACHERS OF THE TOWNSHIP— THE
GRADED SCHOOL—ORGANIZATION OF RELIGIOUS CLASSES.

GRANT TOWNSHIP is the youngest in the county, and was named in honor of the
"Hero of Appomattox." It was originally a part of Richland Township when the
latter extended westward to the Sullivan County line, but in May, 3828, when old
Dixon Township was created, it was included, and so remained until August, 1829,
when Fairplay and Black Creek Townships were created out of Dixon, thus
abolishing the latter, and Grant was included within Black Creek, but the latter
name was changed to Stockton in January, 1830, and Grant remained part and
parcel of it until March, 1869, when the founding of the town of Switz City and
other interests led the citizens to petition for the formation of a separate
township, which was done by the County Board, and in honor of Gen. Ulyssus
Simpson Grant, who had just taken the Presidential chair, was named Grant. It is
the smallest subdivision of the county but one, and much of the surface is low
and wet, though when drained, will, and does, furnish soil of the richest and
most enduring fertility.

EARLY EVENTS.

   One of the first settlers in this township was old Hiram Howard, who in his
way was a noted man. He was prominent in county affairs. He first located near
the old town of Fairplay, which he thought would become the county seat, but
when he found this was not to be he moved over to what is now Grant Township. He
was a Vermonter—was a live Yankee, who loved to be funny, and possessed all the
enterprise and genius of invention ascribed to the "Downeasters." He built a
blacksmith shop, where he made everything from a poker to a plow. He made many
steel traps for catching the various fur-bearing and larger animals, and sold
them to all the old hunters and trappers for many miles around. Being a great
bear hunter himself, he made one for his own use which weighed 110 pounds. The
spring was very strong, and had to be set with lever power, and when it once
snapped up on the limbs of a bear, or any other animal that roamed the woods, it
would not let go until leverage was applied. He caught a number of wolves with
it, placing it where those animals would have to pass to get the bait. He caught
some eight or ten bears in that one trap. One of these animals weighed about 600
pounds. The trap had been securely fastened to a large log, yet so great was the
strength of the bear, the log was dragged nearly a quarter of a mile, and was
then stopped only by becoming fast against a tree. Here the bear was shot by Mr.
Haywood. One of its paws was kept on exhibition in a store at Terre Haute for
many years. Wolves were usually caught in wooden pens. An opening was left, and
a trigger rigged so that when the wolf tugged at the bait a heavy log would
fall, completely closing the opening, and effectually preventing the escape of
the beast. It could then be killed at will. A creek in the township— Wolf Pen
Branch—derived its name from the fact of its being a great resort for wolves,
and the place where many were trapped in the manner described. David O. Harrah
was another early settler, as was Noah Wagoner, David Osborn, Daniel Fields and
many others. Later came the Germans, who soon constituted a great portion of the
township's inhabitants.

BLACK BEARS.

   The following is related of David Osborn, by Baber: He went one day to cut
buckwheat in the edge of Wright Township, and on his way to work, just after
daylight, while walking along, heard a hog squealing in the greatest distress
off some distance in the woods. He hurried to where the sounds proceeded, and
saw that a large bear had seized a hog and was busily engaged in tearing it to
pieces with teeth and claws. Mr. Osborn ran up as near as he dared, and hissed
and motioned at the bear to drive it from the hog, and succeeded, but the animal
made at him, and he ran for dear life, followed closely by the bear, and swung
himself into a small tree just as bruin arrived at the foot. The tree was not a
tree— only a sapling—and the bear, by rearing up on his hind legs, could nip the
feet of Mr. Osborn. This the animal immediately did, and the only objections the
settler could make were to kick like a mule and shout like a frightened darkey,
and break small branches from the tree and thrash the beast over the nose. After
its first rage was over, the animal left, to the great relief of Mr. Osborn. His
limbs were scratched, his cotton pants torn, and his shoes were ripped almost
from his feet. His exploit was the talk of the neighborhood for a long time.

SWITZ CITY.

   This village is one of late origin, dating its commencement to the
establishment of the railroad. At that time, about 1868-69, Henry and Allen
Conduitt erected a long frame building in which they placed a general stock of
merchandise, valued at $5,000. About the same time, W. W. Dowell erected a
boarding house. Both these establishments were commenced then to secure the
trade of the railroad men mainly. Dr. Jesse Hanna was another early resident. He
built a small office. The Taylor Brothers opened the second store, and C. A.
Meacham soon came in with drugs. Switz & Walters opened a general store with a
large stock in 1874. Ed Foster succeeded Taylor Brothers, and in 1878 John Switz
bought out Foster. H. & H. Switz opened their saloon in 1879. Hunt & Pegg
started in business about this time. John Switz erected the Odd Fellows building
for a store room and dwelling attached, and put in a general stock of goods.
Milendorff, Martin and Hartzell have had restaurants. Hervey & Riley opened a
general store in 1881, and Spencer & Grace put up the brick store. Henry Fry was
the first blacksmith. Wesley Hale started the first saw mill, and J. M. Hunter
the second. The former had a small grist mill, which was operated by the same
motor as the saw mill. James P. Terhune had a livery stable of four or five
horses, which is now owned by Samuel Harrell with three horses. The grain
elevator was built by Hughes East; Dugger & Neal are the present owners. The
town has a present population of about 200.

SECRET SOCIETIES.

   Beehunter Lodge, No. 507, Odd Fellows, now at Switz City, was organized at
Linton, the first officers being: J. F. Wood, N. G.; J. P. McIntosh, V. G.; D.
A. Sherwood, Secretary; W. F. Cornelius, P. Secretary; H. Ramacher, Treasurer;
B. F. Kertchner, Warden; H. Blair, Conductor. The charter members were Wood,
Fleming, Blair, Kertchner, Ramacher, McIntosh, Cornelius, Sherwood and Watson.
The lodge was organized at Linton in 1875, and removed to Switz City in 1879, at
which time the "Odd Fellows Building" was built. The first officers at Switz
were: J. M. Martin, N. G.; A. Hall, V. G.; W. B. Spencer, Secretary; J. Mortz,
Per. Secretary; A. H. Shoplow, Treasurer; G. W. Kenard, Warden. The present
officers are: G. W. Ellis, N. G.; H. S. Terhune, V. G.; C. J. Sinclair,
Secretary; Robert Kirkum, Per. Secretary; Patrick Dundon, Treasurer; W. M. Hale,
Warden; Joseph Mullane, Conductor. The present membership of the lodge is
twenty-two. The lodge owns the upper story of the building in which is their
hall, and have property worth about $1,000. Switz City was laid out in February,
1869, by Hughes East, on the east half of the northeast quarter of Section 22,
and the west half of the northwest quarter of Section 23, Township 7 north,
Range 6 west. A total of 192 lots was laid out, and the town was named in honor
of the prominent German living: there—John Switz.

THE TEACHERS.

   The first school in the township was taught in dwellings, but the facts in
detail cannot be given. Several terms were taught in various portions, and it is
said that Hiram Howard was one of the early teachers. It is quite certain that
one of the Wines was among the first teachers. An Irishman named Patterson
(probably not the historical "Billy" that was "struck") also taught very early
in the township. The first real school-house was erected in the northwest
corner, but was a cheap affair and was used only about three years, if*that
long. A hewed-log structure—a much more substantial building, erected in the
same neighborhood—took its place. School was taught in the Wagoner neighborhood
as early as 1826, and a few years later a log schoolhouse was built. In 1835,
there were three or four schoolhouses in the township, all well attended and
doing well, and all being subscription schools. At this time, the territory was
a part of Stockton Township. A small brick schoolhouse was built in Switz City,
in 1873, by Fred Hinebrook, who made the brick and took the contract. One of the
first teachers in this house was James Drennon.

THE GRADED SCHOOL.

   The present house was built in 1883, by Thomas Williams, contractor, and cost
$2,385. It is a fine two-storied brick, with two commodious rooms—one above and
one below, and is a credit to the township. The first teacher in this
building—winter of 1883-84—was Prof. Poindexter, a young man of fine ability and
excellent promise.

RELIGIOUS CLASSES.

    The earliest settlers belonged to churches at Linton and vicinity. D. O.
Harrah belonged to the Methodist Church there, and later others belonged to
Methodist and other classes in Fairplay Township. The Methodist Church at
Harrah's was built about twelve years ago; among the membership were the
Terhunes (very prominent people), the Harrahs, Dr. Morgan, of Wright Township
(one of the county's best citizens), the Sharps, the Jameses, the Smiths, the
Hofferdeitz, the Duncans and others belonged about the time the church was
built, and afterward came the Barnses, the Andersons, the Bohleys, the
Letsingers, the Modrells, the Sherwoods, et al. The Winters Church was built
about the same time the Harrah Church was, or perhaps a little earlier. The
Winters, the Hinebrooks, the Nowltings, the Jacksons, the Gastineaus, the Fields
the Humphreys and others. A small class of Methodists has been lately organized
at Switz City by the Shoptaws, Wakefields, Lundys, Meachams, Mrs. Bump and
others. A Sunday school was organized 1883-84, Mr. East, Superintendent.


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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