Sullivan County IN Archives History - Books .....Chapter XII 1884 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/in/infiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com June 15, 2006, 4:32 pm Book Title: History Of Greene And Sullivan Counties, Indiana CHAPTER XII. BY J. E. NORRIS. HADDON TOWNSHIP—ORIGINAL SETTLERS—THE FIRST BORN—LEDGERWOOD, HADDON, HOLDER, LISMAN—FOUR LEADING NAMES-INDIAN DEPREDATIONS—DUDLEY MACK MASSACRE—CAPTURE OF CAMPBELL AND EDWARDS—GOOD MARKSMANSHIP—A SAD INCIDENT—NARROW ESCAPE— A HOG STORY—LAYING OUT CARLISLE—SOME FIRST THINGS—PIONEER PASTTMES — THE OLD SCHOOLMASTER —COL. HADDON'S SQUIRT-GUN — THE PIONEER PREACHER—THE SHAKERS—SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES-CARLISLE—DR. J. W. DAVIS—TWO NOTED CHARACTERS—THE PRESS, SOCIETIES, BUSINESS INTERESTS, ETC., ETC. HADDON TOWNSHIP is the central of the three forming the southern tier of townships. The land was surveyed and laid off by the early settlers in an extremely peculiar manner, having its origin, we believe, in a French method. A large portion of the land in the center of the township lies at an angle of forty-five degrees, magnetic course from magnetic meridian. The soil is very productive and considerably diversified, being finely adapted to the production of fruit, whilst in the matter of the growing of cereals it has few equals, and scarcely a superior. Stock also, particularly hogs, are raised in large numbers, the shipment of that product, as well as wheat, affording a large annual revenue to the thrifty farmer. Fifty or sixty years ago considerable cotton was raised in this section—enough, at least, to supply the wants of the settlers. THE ORIGINAL SETTLERS. The shape of the township is extremely odd, as it at present stands, but it has been so repeatedly reduced from its original size that it is a wonder that it has any shape at all. Haddon, at an early day, was really the county, in point of settlement, numbers, progress and business, and within its borders occurred more that is genuinely historical than in all the balance of the county combined, for here came the first settlers, bringing with them their love of adventure, their hardy habits, their laudable ambitions, their bravery, their love of the true, and that sturdiness of character that has made the appellation, "pioneer," the synonym for all that is noble, self-sacrificing, courageous and progressive. Here, when the century was in its swaddling clothes, lived and died those old heroes who made possible this grand constellation of stars: here they improved the land and carried their lives in their hands that we, of to-day, might live in peace and plenty, and look forth upon the smiling landscape so generously gained and granted by the life-blood of many a martyr who fell at the deadly stroke of the savage tomahawk, or whose life went out amidst the cruel tires of the howling red demons as they danced in glee at their midnight orgies. All those who came here as men in the early part of the century, of course, have passed to their long homes, but their descendants are in our midst, many of thorn, too, who passed through scenes similar to those through which their sires passed, and it is due them that a record of some of the stirring events of their lives be placed upon the historic page. THE FIRST BORN OF HADDON. In the year 1803, James Ledgerwood, with his wife and several children, started from Kentucky and landed in what was then the county of Knox, Territory of Indiana, at a point on the Wabash not many miles from where he settled, and where he afterward died, and within a mile of where his son, Col. Samuel Ledgerwood, afterward settled and lived for many years, a highly respected and prominent citizen. He purchased a considerable tract of land and built his cabin on what is now known as the Curry farm. The year following his advent here, a daughter was born to him, and that child, now a lady of over eighty years of age, and in the possession of most of her faculties, is Mrs. Sallie Cartwright, from whom many of the facts found in this history have been obtained. James Ledgerwood was not only the first settler of this township, and his daughter the first child, but they were of the county as well. SOME PROMINENT NAMES. In 1806, John Haddon came from Virginia, bringing his wife and six sturdy sons—John, Jesse, David, Richard, Eliett and William B. They also settled in the vicinity of what afterward became Carlisle, and for their better protection built a block-house, as did Ledgerwood. In this same year came Joel Collins from Kentucky, a local Methodist preacher, one of that fearless class who, for the sake of his God and humanity, willingly braved the hardships of the wilderness and the scalping knife of the savage. He brought with him a family of colored people, one of whom. Violet, married Jim Calloway, quite a noted character in his way, and of whom more hereafter. Jim died many years ago and Violet two years since in this township. Others came in this year, but their names have slipped the memory of the "oldest inhabitant." In 1807, Thomas Holder came from Virginia with his wife and several children. Then came the Lismans, who were of German descent. In this year, also, came Mrs. Jenkins, mother of "Uncle Johnny" Jenkins, who was then one year old, having been born in 1806. The husband of Mrs. Jenkins died on the road from Kentucky, but the widow pushed her sorrowful way and reached here, where she found many friends in her new home. She afterward joined the Shakers, and her son, John, was brought up in the same faith, remaining with them until he was eighteen years of age. FOUR LEADING NAMES. These four families—the Ledgerwoods, the Haddons, the Holders and the Lismans—seem to have been the leaders of the early settlers of this section, as a fort, or block-house, bearing their respective names, was established, and some portions of them are still standing. In the next few years after 1807, quite a number of settlers came in from various sections, among whom were Franklin Williams, John McConnell, James Black, Edward Purcell, Thomas Anderson, Joel Price, John Ingle, and many others. The community now began to grow in earnest, but supplies were so hard to obtain and the Indians were so treacherous that the settlers were afraid to leave the vicinity of their homes for fear that upon their return they might find their cabins burned to the ground, and, worse still, to find their wives and children either killed or carried into captivity. And to make matters worse, the Indian war came on in connection with the war of 1812, when many of the settlers had to flee from their homes, leaving all behind them of their hard-earned property. But at the close of the war a "boom," as it were, struck this section, and we find such men coming into it as the Helms, the Wassons, and the Pauls, of New York; the Whittleseys, of Connecticut; the Davises, the Hoovers, the Shannons, Clippingers and Briggses, of Pennsylvania; the O'Havers,of Tennessee, and the Davidsons, theRiggses and the Triggses, of Kentucky. INDIAN DEPREDATIONS. Even after the close of the war the Indians continued to commit a great many depredations, stealing horses and other stock, and in fact anything they could lay their hands upon, without being actually seen by the whites. They added murder, also, occasionally, to their many crimes, and from amongst that class of outrages the killing of Dudley Mack and the wounding of his companion, Madison Collins, stand out conspicuously in the bloody annals of those perilous times. This crime, known as the " Dudley Mack Massacre," has so often been told, and so variously told, that the writer hereof has taken extraordinary pains to hunt down the real facts in the case, as well as the facts in the capture of the two boys, Edwards and Campbell, which occurred on the same day as the murder and wounding, and to Dr. H. N. Helms we are specially indebted for documents and information bearing upon the matter. There are two or three persons yet living who were almost within sight of the scene of the crime when it occurred, and heard the firing of the guns. THE DUDLEY MACK MASSACRE. On Sunday afternoon, February 12, 1815, Dudley Mack and Madison Collins were on their way home from Shaker Town, and had reached the east side of Busseron Creek, near Lisman's Ford, on Survey 20, now owned by Oliver Piper, when they were surprised by four Indians, who commenced firing upon them, killing Mack instantly and wounding Collins very severely. Thinking they were friendly, or "tame Injuns," as they called them, the two unfortunate men had approached very closely to the savages. When Collins was struck he fell from his horse, and, although bleeding profusely from several bullet wounds, he ran for a wagon road near by, and just as he had reached it, and was partly resting on a stump, his frightened horse came dashing up to him, and although extremely weak, yet with the desperation of the drowning man, he grasped his faithful animal and swung his body across his back, with the face downward. Just at this instant one of the Indians ran up and threw his tomahawk at Collins, which saved his life, for it struck the horse on the ear and caused him to dash off at full speed. The blockhouse was fully three-fourths of a mile away, but toward it the animal ran, and at every plunge the blood spouted from the numerous ghastly bullet wounds in the body of the rider. What a ride for life was that of Collins! Arriving at the blockhouse, the wounded man was well taken care of, but there being no surgeon nearer than Vincennes, one of the Haddons was posted off to that point, and hours had to elapse before the wounds could be properly attended to. Collins recovered after a time, and one can imagine what chance a sneaking redskin would have if he fell into the hands of the old ranger in the solitude of the woods or the lonely stretches of the prairie. The body of Mack was recovered the next day, Monday, and buried in the Jonathan Webb graveyard, on the edge of Gill's prairie. Two scalps were taken from Mack. CAPTURE OF CAMPBELL AND EDWARDS. On the same afternoon of the above occurrence, two boys, named Campbell and Edwards, took their guns along with them when they went for the cows, for the purpose of killing a wolf or two, which they suspected would be led to the body of a colt that was killed in a late storm, and which lay on the edge of a marsh not far off from their homes. These lads, about fourteen years of age, went out into the woods, but were never afterward heard of again. They were captured, doubtless, by the same band of marauders that killed Mack, and if the boys were not shortly afterward killed, they were taken so far away that they never could escape and return to their homes. It has been asserted that Campbell was seen some years subsequently, far to the north of this, and again that he made his appearance at St. Joseph. Mo., at the head of his tribe, he having become a chief. Whether these assertions are true or not cannot now be affirmed, but it is very singular that he should have not had a desire to visit the scenes of his youth and to search out his relatives, for he was a well-grown boy and could not have forgotten them. Mrs. Sally Cartwright, who was eleven years old at the time of the Dudley Mack massacre, and is consequently eighty-one years of age, says she heard the firing of the guns and remembers the day distinctly, as she was on her way with her mother to the house of a sick woman, and carried in her hand a small basket of sauerkraut for the sick (?) woman. Mrs. Violet Calloway, who died two years ago, said she was a young woman when the killing occurred and lived about half a mile from the blockhouse. She said the boys, Edwards and Campbell, had set a steel trap near the body of the colt, and they had gone to look after it when they were carried off. This colt, by the way, had been killed in the first cyclone of which we have any record as visiting this section. A man had seen the colt lifted fifty feet into the air, but his relation of that fact was never believed until late years, when such small articles as a house and lot became as ethereal as gossamer in the gales that blew so terrifically in the spring and summer of 1883. Mrs. Nancy Clark, widow of G. D. Clark, and daughter of Peter Lisman, says she remembers the day of the Mack massacre, in consequence of a showman exhibiting a baboon [sic] at her father's house the night before. Also, that a noted character known as Woolly Neck Brown, an Indian hater and fighter, was in the company at her father's house. Brown, surnamed "Woolly Neck," from the fact that his neck was covered with long, black hair, had been a soldier at the battle of Tippecanoe, and had been condemned to be shot for sleeping at his post, but was pardoned by Gen. Harrison a few minutes before his time to be executed arrived, came to this section some time before the massacre and left shortly afterward. It is said that Brown killed an Indian about this time, and that that was the immediate cause of the attack on Mack and Collins and the capture of the two boys. He turned up finally in Louisiana, where he became an overseer, and for cruelty to one of the negroes under his charge was shot in revenge. GOOD MARKSMANSHIP. After the occurrences of that fatal Sunday, for several mornings those in the Ledgerwood fort and near by heard the gobbling of a turkey, but John Haddon told them it was an Indian and not a turkey; so he and a young man named Tom Lackey started out pretty early, going in different directions, to where the gobbling came from, and after they had walked some distance they both, unknown to the other, espied the "turkey," which proved to be a redskin, in a tree, and both firing at the same time, a powerful Indian fell nearly at their feet, the balls from their trusty rifles entering his body almost at the same instant. AN UNFORTUNATE INCIDENT. About this time, 1815, a sad affair occurred. Joseph Ledgerwood, in sport, had gone outside of the blockhouse where he was stationed, and contrary to orders, and was throwing shelled corn at the house in order to frighten the inmates, who thought it was shot from the guns of Indians. John Ingle, who was on guard at the time, not knowing that any of his friends were outside, saw a moving figure, and raising his rifle drew a bead and brought to the ground his companion, Ledgerwood. His horror at the mistake, and the sorrow of his friends, can better be imagined than described. A NARROW ESCAPE. Jesse, the second son of John Haddon, made a narrow escape on one occasion. He had gone into or near a camp of Indians, when they seized him and were going to kill him, thinking that he was John Haddon, his brother, who had killed one of their tribe. He convinced them that he was not the fellow they were after, but they only released him after he made over to them a patch of corn, a patch of tobacco, and all the furs he had on hand. Jesse, in conjunction with Jim Calloway, was engaged to supply the forts with meat and they had many adventures. They were caught one night in the woods roasting a turkey, but, before the Indians were within shooting distance, they put out their fire and crawled away on their bellies through the underbrush, the savages in the meantime setting up a wild yell at their disappointment. THE WILY HOG. Of course game was plentiful in those early times. Bears were occasionally seen, but deer and turkeys were plentiful; wolves entirely too numerous, and the stealthy panther was seen in every thickly wooded section. Many hogs ran wild, and even the tame ones were extremely fierce. Thomas Holder, Sr., had a large lot of hogs, and one day a powerful panther attacked some of the pigs, when the older hogs, including several fierce boars, treed the " varmint" onto a large log, where he thought he was safely out of the reach of his porcine foes, but he had made no calculations for his tail, which being, like old Grimes' coat, was very long and hung down upon the ground, so one of the old and experienced porkers just closed his mouth on the beautiful caudal appendage, and snaked Mr. Panther off that log in Jay-Eye-See time, after which he was cut into mince meat so quickly that it made his head swim. The hog, parenthetically, permit us to say—the much abused hog, sneered at by Jew and Mahomedan—tabooed by the French and insulted by Bismarck—the hog is the only animal that will rash to the rescue of his fellow—will band themselves together and attack the common enemy. Man will do this sometimes; the hog always. LAYING OUT CARLISLE. Up to 1815-16 there were no nuclei in the township, save the blockhouses, around which could cluster the business of the community, but in 1816, two men by the names of McFarland and Sproule purchased from James Ledgerwood 100 acres of land for the purpose of laying out a town. After the arrangements for the purchase had been completed, Ledgerwood, seeing the advantages of sharing in the speculation, gave two-thirds of the property for a one-third interest in the same, and the three, becoming partners, laid out Carlisle, donating the Central Block, 330 feet each way, to the public, and which is to-day the Public Square. Whether the new town had any officers or not is not now known, but it is altogether probable they were not very numerous. The date of the laying out of the town is usually set down as 1816, but Mr. Smith Greenfield informed the writer that he had in his possession for many years two canceled notes dated 1S15, which were given for the purchase of two lots in Carlisle. Mr. Greenfield obtained them from his father-in-law, Adam Lisman. From the laying out of Carlisle, or rather from the organization of the township a year or two later, the history of one is the history of the other. After these dates many settlers came in, and among them several whose names became famous and even national. The settlement began to grow very perceptibly, and greater comfort was sought in better buildings. In 1818, the first church in the township, as well as in the county, was built, and which yet stands in Carlisle, as a dilapidated cooper shop. The Methodists, the usual pioneers in the work of the Lord in the wilderness, put up this building, and the first preacher who preached in it was Rev. Mr. Fisher. ORGANIZATION OF THE TOWNSHIP. The exact date of the organization of the township, as well as the first officers, are not now known, the records having been destroyed in the fire of 1850. The organization of the township, it is presumable, occurred at the organization of the county, as we find that the first court was held in Carlisle, with Judge Call presiding; G. R. C. Sullivan, Prosecuting Attorney; Robert Buntin, Clerk; Bailey Johnson, Sheriff. In 1819-20, the county seat was moved to Merom. SOME FIRST THINGS. The name of the township, Haddon, was given in honor of John Haddon. The first Justice of the Peace was Samuel Whittlesey, and the first physician to locate here was his son, Dr. Chauncey Whittlesey. Thomas Holder, Sr., built the first house, after the forts or block houses, in the township, and it stood about three-fourths of a mile northwest of Carlisle. He also owned the first wagon in the township. The first stock of goods brought to the township arrived in Carlisle in 1815. PIONEER PASTIMES. In those early days the pioneers had their sports as well as their labors, and the log rollings, cabin raisings, bee hunts and frolics of all kinds, where the jug went round as freely as the laughter, would often break the monotony of their toilsome lives. The big days, however, were the muster days, when everybody came into Carlisle. Several of the old citizens say that upon those days the boys would form a ring around the old .Revolutionary soldiers, six or seven of whom lived in the township, and listen, awe-stricken, to their tales of hard-fighting and hard marching in that grand old struggle that gave to us this beautiful land of peace and plenty. All honor to those old heroes—the immortals !—one of whom, Handy Handly, lies in the cemetery at Carlisle. He was one of the guard selected by Washington to watch and keep up the fires during the night before the battle of Trenton, in order to deceive the British commander as to the real movements of the Americans. INCIDENTS OF THE TIMES. As illustrative of the manners and customs of the dwellers in these parts along about 1820, the following two or three instances may be not inappropriate: A man named McGee, a tailor, living in Carlisle, was charged with having stolen some clothes from a clothes' line, and although there was no positive evidence against him, he was taken by a mob to the branch near where the bridge now crosses it above the depot, and so repeatedly ducked in the water that he died from the effects of it. The man was innocent, as the real thief was afterward discovered. The affair was a sad one, and it is said that justice reached the perpetrators in various ways before they died. Several years after the incident above occurred, a Frenchman named Louis Francois, somewhat of a drinking man, whilst on a spree in Carlisle, was set upon by a party of roughs, who poured whisky over his head and set it on fire. It is needless to say that the man was nearly killed, for whisky in those days burned in more ways than one. CRIPPLING THE OLD SCHOOL TEACHER. Dr. Helms relates how the boys of the school he attended crippled for life an old schoolmaster named John B. Haywood, who was extremely severe upon his pupils. The boys, of course, did not intend to cripple him, only to mash his toes a little. They managed to get a big back log they were rolling to fall upon the pedagogue's foot, but it was heavier than they thought, and the old fellow had to use crutches the balance of his life. Some of the muscles of the foot had been permanently injured. Even after that, the old fellow continued to teach school, and used his crutch on the boys as savagely as he had formerly a hickory. One day when he had gotten off of his horse, on a Saturday, a couple of his mischievous pupils slipped up to his "critter" and placed beneath the saddle, and next to the horse's hide, a couple of rough corn cobs. The doctor says, that when Haywood threw his weight full on the back of the animal, that language fails to describe the scene. The horse threw his tail into the air and started off at a speed that would have shamed Tam O'Shanter. Only a pale streak of horse was discernible as he made for the woods. COL. HADDON'S SQUIRT-GUN. The late Col. William R. Haddon, who served gallantly in the Mexican war, used to tell of a trick he played on his teacher. In the times when boys wore tow linen slips, he was attending a school where the teacher was very inquisitive and curious. The old fellow would, at recess, put his ear to a crack in the cabin and listen to what the boys said outside. William got one of those elder squirt guns, and filling it with dirty water, watched for the old man, and when he saw the ear at the crack, let fly the water. The teacher rushed out and finding the squirt-gun in the possession of Haddon, ran him into the brush near town, where the boy had to stay for two or three days, until the anger of the dominie had somewhat abated. AN OLD PIONEER PREACHER. Rev. Joel Collins, the father of Madison Collins, who was wounded with Mack, was the first Methodist preacher who set foot upon the soil of this county. He came, as stated above, in 1S08, and his voice was heard throughout the land calling to the Throne of Grace his sinning fellow-man. He carried his rifle with him, and was as quick to pick off a savage as he was to have a tilt with the Devil on Sunday mornings. He was a large, powerful man, with a voice that struck terror to all evil doers, but in his home life was said to be as kind as a woman. So potent was his influence with the Almighty, that it is said that one of his prayers for rain would bring a refreshing shower in twenty-four hours. On one occasion he lost a large auger somewhere about the house and could not lay his hands upon it, but one morning as he was kneeling at family prayer, and when he had reached about his ninth "I thank Thee, O Lord," he espied his auger sticking down through the planks of the loft, when he sang out to his wife, "Mollie, I've found the auger!" The old Christian always said that God rewarded those who looked up to Him. THE SHAKERS. The Shakers, for over twenty years, were a very important factor in the economy of this township, and from the last surviving male member of that peculiar sect, Uncle Johnny Jenkins, we glean the following facts: In 1805, or thereabout, the Shaker community in New York sent out to the far West two Elders as missionaries, Archibald Meacham and Issachar Bates, followed the next year by two Elderesses, Ruth Durham and Salomi Dennis. Elder Bates had been an old Revolutionary soldier. They came through Ohio, and after working and preaching there for some time, brought to this township fifteen or twenty families from that State and Kentucky, and settled on what is now known as Shaker Prairie, forming a small town called Shaker Town, one or two houses of which in a dilapidated condition are still standing. The site is about seven miles from Carlisle, the edge of the prairie about four miles. They built a saw and grist mill, and a fulling mill, also had a hat manufactory. In 1812, in consequence of threatened Indian troubles and their objection to serving as soldiers, they all went away, dispersing among the various societies in Ohio, Kentucky and elsewhere. After an absence of two years, they returned and took possession of their property. They continued to increase in numbers from this date (about 1815), for some years, adding to their ranks some of the best citizens of the county, till they numbered over 300 souls. But, in 1827, they finally left in a body, their numbers having decreased to less than 150. They took a boat and dispersed amongst the different communities in Ohio and Kentucky, having sold their property and divided the proceeds pro rata, according to number, amongst the communities to which they attached themselves. For some time previous to their exodus, much sickness prevailed among them, and numbers died of malarial diseases, the "rale shakin' ager" being as common almost as mosquitoes. A short time before their departure, an itinerant Methodist preacher, another of those sturdy old pioneer workers in the vineyard of the Lord, Job M. Baker, it is said, threw some terrific Bible bombshells into their camp and "broke 'em all up" by his presentation of their inhuman doctrine, they being opposed to the ordinary methods of marriage and the begetting of children. Brother Baker propounded the awful question as a clincher in his argument as to "Whar would we all be if Adam and Eve had been Shakers?" That settled it. They shortly after left for pastures new, but whether it was in consequence of the knock-down argument of the old preacher, or of the malaria, is not certain; yet there is still another theory: They say the young men were all leaving, and that the women began to think there would not be men enough to go around—that is, to fill the position in the household as Elder Brother. Mr. Jenkins and his sister, Mrs. Martha Martin, are still in the land of the living, having attained a ripe old age. Mr. Jenkins' sister had filled the position of Elderess, but her brother left the community when he was eighteen years of age. Notwithstanding the peculiar tenets of the faith of the Shakers, they are always extremely prosperous, and a credit to the sections where they reside, and their productions are famous all over the civilized world. In the western portion of the township, there is a settlement of colored people, numbering over 100 persons. James Calloway and family were the first among them. They have a preacher of their own, and hold services in their schoolhouse. OLD SETTLERS LIVING. The following list comprises about all of the old settlers now living, in the township: Dr. Hamet N. Helms, John Jenkins, Thomas Holder Jr., Marvel Nash, Elijah Williams, Hugh Wheeler, William Collins, Uncle Dickey Davidson, B. D. Johnson, Jacob Eslinger, William McDonnell, George Vester, Uriah Wolf, John Sprott, Israel Benefiel, Smith Greenfield, Mrs. Sarah Cartwright. Mrs. Peggy Trigg, Mrs. Martha Martin, Mrs. Jane Hoover, Mrs. Mary Ingle. Mrs. Nancy Clark, Mrs. Virginia Pierce, Mrs. John Sprott, Sr., Mrs. Smith Greenfield, and there may be one or two more who have been forgotten by our informants. TOWNSHIP OFFICERS. The following are the present officers of the township: Trustee of Schools, Dr. R. M. Whalen; Justices of the Peace, J. N. Land, J. R. Walker; Constable, J. W. Estabrook; Assessor, Bluford Menifee. SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES. The first school dates way back in the twenties, and the first school teacher is now forgotten. There are at present in the township 19 school-houses and 21 schools. Only 4 of these schoolhouses are frame, the rest are brick. Considerable interest is felt in education and a good attendance is secured. There are 6 churches in the township, 3 in Carlisle, 1 at Paxton, 1 east of Carlisle and 1 southeast of same. INCORPORATION OF CARLISLE. A petition to incorporate Carlisle was presented March 4, 1856, and the following are the signers: John Martin, John S. Davis, James D. Riggs, John Trigg, John D. Simerell, Joshua Davis, Joshua Alsop, Hosea Buckley, J. M. Parvin, Alexander Trigg, Lewis Gott, S. M. Curry, J. A. Curtner, Isom Shannon, John F. Curry, Spencer C. Weller, W. D. Blackburn, John Ledgerwood, J. A. Beck, Thomas E. Ashley, W. H. Mayfield, W. R. Hinkle, Benson Riggs, Jr., Josiah Wolfe, John M. Hinkle, Chester O. Davis, H. N. Helms, William Alsop, J. S. McClellan, Peter Hawk, Smith Greenfield, John Buckley, Henry Hill, Peter E. Warner, Samuel J. Ledgerwood, Benson Riggs, Sr., J. D. Whitaker, Franklin Deckerman, W. A. Watson, Mayo Jones, James S. Brengle, W. M. Akin, A. W. Springer, F. M. Akin, Hugh S. Ross. On the 25th day of March, 1856, an election was held in the town of Carlisle, to ascertain the sense of the qualified voters as to the incorporation of said town, which election resulted in the casting of 60 votes, 57 being for, and 1 against, incorporation, and 2 scattering. The election having resulted in favor of incorporation, the town was declared incorporated April 9, 1856, and the following officers selected: Town Trustees, Smith Greenfield, James M. Parvin, Aaron W. Springer, John S. Davis and John F. Curry; John S. Davis being declared Chairman of the board. John Martin, Clerk, and Smith W. Buckley, Marshal. The town of Carlisle is situated in Location 12, Township 6 north, Range 9 West, and is within four miles of the southern limit of the county. There is not a turnpike in the county, but the E. & T. H. Railroad passes within half a mile of the center of the town. It was constructed in 1854, as the Evansville & Crawfordsville Railroad, from which time considerable improvement has been going on. New buildings have taken the place of many old ones, until now its churches and stores will compare favorably with many towns of larger growth. The population is about 503 in the town proper, but the suburbs about the railroad, which really belong to the town, will run the figures up to over 600. The financial condition of the town is excellent, there usually being a surplus in the treasury. But one act, at the time of the building of the railroad, stands out conspicuously in the history of Carlisle, and gives substantial evidence of the enterprise and generosity of her citizens. When the Evansville & Crawfordsville Railroad Company had obtained all the subscription it asked from the citizens of Carlisle and vicinity, an underhand movement was made to divert the road three miles away from the town, and $30,000 was demanded by the company to locate the line so as to pass near Carlisle. Now $10,000 had already been subscribed, and this large amount came almost as a thunderbolt, for the unsuspecting citizens of this vicinity were under the impression that their $10,000 secured the road to them; but not so; there was a loophole for the company to get out at, and they must have the $30,000 additional, or no road for Carlisle. Then it was that sixteen gentlemen stepped into the breach and guaranteed the $30,000. The names of these men should ever be held in respect by all who have at heart the prosperity of this ancient town, which, by the way, is among the oldest in the State. The names of the glorious sixteen are Joshua Alsop, Wm. D. Blackburn, James D. Riggs, James K. O'Haver, James H. Paxton, Garrett Bros., Smith Greenfield, Alonzo Cotton, Joseph W. Briggs, William Alsop, William Collings, William Price, Josiah Wolfe, Benson Riggs, Jacob Hoke, Murphy & Helms. EARLY MATTERS. As has been stated, two Circuit Courts have been held at Carlisle, and such men appeared at her bar as Hon. Charles Duley, Col. Thomas Blake and Harlan S. Moore. Two young men who rose to distinction afterward also appeared here—Samuel Judah and John Law. The first male child born in Carlisle was Chauncey Hall, and the first female Matilda Pitts. The first Justice of the Peace was Esquire Creager; the first tavern was kept by John Hall, who erected the same, and the first frame building was erected by George Wasson. In the early days there was a tannery here: also, a woolen factory, a couple of distilleries and a cotton gin. Stage lines ran across the county at that time, but the roads have always been so bad that travel has not been very extensive. There is very little artificial drainage in the township, but as the land is so productive the farmer has left to nature all the processes of production, deeming artificial means unnecessary. Good roads would add much, not only to the comfort but the business of the town. A small library, instituted under the McClure bequest, existed here in days lang syne, but it has vanished, and in its place a small one, under the charge of Mr. C. B. Robbins, is maintained. DR. JOHN W. DAVIS. In the spring of 1823, there arrived in the town of Carlisle a young physician from Lancaster County, Penn., who, according to his own account, had but 3 cents in his pocket. Yet this same young man afterward attained to such importance by virtue of his ability, tact and manhood, that he came within one vote of being President of the United States, for at the convention that nominated Pierce he was only one vote behind the number to nominate, and his nomination then would have been equivalent to an election. This gentleman. Dr. John W. Davis, of whom all the citizens of Sullivan feel justly proud, was the first delegate to the Legislature selected from this town. He served several terms in Congress, was Speaker of the House of Representatives. Minister to China and Governor of Oregon. After a life of faithful service to his township, county, State and country, he died at his home in Carlisle, and his obsequies were attended by two of his most eminent-countrymen—Judge Huntington and Thomas A. Hendricks, then Secretary of the Interior. A fuller account of this eminent statesman and exemplary citizen will be found in the general history of the county. REPRESENTATIVE MEN. The second Representative to the Legislature from Carlisle was Capt. Joseph W. Briggs. Dr. James K. O'Haver also served in the Legislature. The late Col. R. W. Akin and the late Joshua Alsop served in the Senate. John Benefiel was a member of the first constitutional convention that met at Corydon. Col. William R. Haddon was a member of the last constitutional convention. Carlisle has furnished five Sheriffs —Med Wilkes, Henry Mayfield, Thomas Land, J. F. Curry and J. L. Berry; one Judge and one County Treasurer—Judges Shannon and John S. Davis. Many of her citizens are occupying places of honor and trust throughout the country, and one of her sons is an honored officer in the United States Navy. Col. Ransom W. Akin, father of the present Akins, came to Carlisle in 1838, and immediately took rank as one of the most prominent, progressive and public-spirited citizens of the county, and was honored by a large constituency with a term in the State Senate. The descendants of Col. Akin are to-day among the most prominent business men of not only Carlisle, but of the county, having few equals in business capacity, and no superiors in their lines of trade, which reach out in various directions. A NOTED CHARACTER. A noted and peculiar character who located in this section of the country in 1818 was George Boon, who came from Shelby County, Ky., and was a descendant of the famous Daniel Boone family. He represented Sullivan County fourteen years in the Legislature, and was as honest and straightforward as he was ungainly in appearance. He was over six feet in height, and so phenomenally awkward, that one felt almost nervous in his presence for fear he would fall over. He had terribly long legs and awfully big feet. Many a joke has been cracked at the expense of honest George Boon, but he had that hard common sense and correctness of perception that made his uncouthness a secondary matter when the interest of his constituents was at stake. They used to tell of how Boon went to wash his feet in one of those old-fashioned iron pots, but when he got one foot in he couldn't get it out, and they had to break the pot to release him. Also, that at one of the hotels where he stopped, the room being too small for his length, he stuck his legs out of the window, and in the morning discovered that the turkeys had been roosting on them all night. ANOTHER ODD CHARACTER. Jim Calloway was another odd character in his way. He was a colored man, who came from Kentucky in the early times, and fought gallantly in the battle of Tippecanoe. He used to love to relate how he helped to clean out the redskins, and how he and the Haddon boys used to hunt together. The poor old fellow endeavored for years to get a pension from the Government, but never succeeded, although he was justly entitled to it, and died with his face toward the office, an example of the ungratefulness of republics. Shortly after the opening of hostilities at the commencement of the late war, some persons undertook to drive out of the county some of the negroes, and among others visited was Calloway. They showed him the Constitution of the State, inhibiting his presence in the sovereign State of Indiana, but Jim threw himself back on his reserved rights, as it were, and told them that he antedated that modern document. His answer was duly filed, and he was never afterward bothered by patriotic interlopers. THE PRESS. The first newspaper published at Carlisle made its appearance about 1841. It floated at its masthead the name Jackson Democrat, and was commanded by Jere Young. The next candidate for public favor was the Carlisle Messenger, with George W. Bee & Co., editors and proprietors. It was born in 1844, and gave up the ghost after the election of James K. Polk. The Herald. Republican, was published for a year or two previous to 1876, by a man named Herron, but at the date mentioned changed its politics to Democratic, the concern having been purchased by W. W. Bailey & Co. In this connection, Dr. Helms informed the writer of a case of prayer-cure, the subject being Steve Sumerick, who was the "Company" in the firm of G. W. Bee & Co. The Doctor says that after Sumerick had been given up by himself and another physician, some of the dying man's friends opened a prayer meeting for him, and that he immediately rallied, and soon after entirely recovered. The doctor has a rational theory in regard to the matter, and thinks that it would take some tolerably tall praying to save some editors he has in his mind's eye. FIRST SCHOOLHOUSE. The first schoolhouse stood nearly opposite Mr. Greenfield's blacksmith shop, and the first teacher who taught here was James Gray, about 1823: then Jim Rogers, in 1824; Job M. Baker, in 1825; James Garrett, in 1826; then Hugh Ross, followed by Consider Mitchell, Mr. Hays, John B. Haywood, M. E. Nash and others: and along in the fifties, Miss Ann Colbert, 18-54: Miss Kate Harper, 1855; Miss Mattie Wolsey, about 1856-57. On the 29th day of July, 1856, proposals were received by the Board of Trustees of the town for building a schoolhouse, one of which was accepted, and the erection of the building at once begun, it being finished in 1S57. It stands in the center of the Public Square, and is a large, tasteful and commodious brick structure. It is an ornament to the town, and reflects much honor upon its projectors and builders. It contains four rooms, three of which are used for school purposes, and the other for entertainments. It is and always has been liberally patronized, both by the citizens of the town, as well as of the vicinity. The school, now known as the Carlisle Graded School, is under the control of Prof. W. H. Cain, Principal and in charge of advanced grades: Miss Sarah M. Cain, intermediate grades; and Miss Anna Turman, primary grades. The enrollment is: Primary grades, fifty-five; intermediate grades, forty-seven; advanced grades, thirty-two. FIRST CHURCH. The first church built in the town was the Methodist Church, which was erected in 1818, and the old building still stands near the site of the new one. Rev. Orsenith Fisher was the first pastor in charge, the next, Rev. Wesley Harrison, then Rev. Job M. Baker, Rev. Samuel Hull, Rev. Armstrong and others following. From the records of the Quarterly Conference, which run back to 1852, we find that the first Presiding Elder was Rev. James Thompson; Rev. John Ritchie, pastor. At that conference, the name of Dr. W. W. Hitt appears as a class leader, that gentleman afterward becoming a noted physician of Vincennes. The name of Dr. Isaac Owen, afterward famous as a divine on the Pacific coast, appears at that conference as a local preacher. In 1873, the congregation built the neat edifice they now occupy, at a cost of about $2,000. It is 60x36 feet. Rev. John M. Baxter is the pastor in charge. They have a membership of eighty persons, and a Sunday school of about seventy-five; Superintendent, C P. Gwin. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. The First Presbyterian Church was organized by the Rev. Orin Fowler, a missionary from Connecticut, on the 31st of January, 1819, and nine persons subscribed their names as members—William McCrary, Mary McCrary, James Watson, Rachel Porter. Mary Gould, Lydia Silliman, Ann Broady, Mary Watson and Martha Watson. William McCrary was elected Ruling Elder. The congregation met in the Methodist Church and elsewhere for some years, and in 1832 we find the name of Rev. R. Hawley, who filled the charge as supply. Then came Rev. Alexander, and in 1835 Rev. Calvin Butler, who was succeedod [sic] by Rev. Thomas Alexander, and after him Rev. C. K. Thompson, who was succeeded in 1814 by Rev. M. G. Wallace, and in 1845 Rev. T. Alexander again took charge. The first church was erected in 1840-41, and dedicated the first Sabbath in June of 1841, the Rev. C. K. Thompson being the first pastor. Revs. Barr, Beard, Tygart, Venable, Bovell and McFarland, all were pastors of it. In 1877, the present fine edifice was erected, and Rev. A. P. Kyle was first pastor; then came Revs. William and Thomas Smith, Allen, Rodgers, and finally the present pastor. The congregation now numbers about forty-five, and Rev. J. P. Fox preaches for them every other Sabbath. CHRISTIAN CHURCH. The first Christian preacher who preached here was Rev. Morris Trimble, and the first organization occurred on the 5th day of October, 1866, Elders Joseph W. Wolfe and A. D. Dailey presiding, with a membership of forty-four. Rev. Joseph W. Wolfe then became pastor of the church. They have a fine frame church, which cost $5,000. built in 1868. Rev. P. C. Cauble preaches for the church occasionally, but they have no regular pastor. They have a membership of 135. A. F. & A. M. In 1821, Hiram Lodge, No. 18. Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons, was chartered, but we are unable to get the names of the first officers. In 1835, the charter was arrested, but for what cause does not now appear, and its number, 18, given to Attica Lodge at Attica. In 1850, May 29, the charter was renewed, or a new one granted, and the lodge re-organized as Carlisle Lodge, No. 3, the number being taken from Blazing Star Lodge, which had been arrested. The officers of the re-organized lodge were: W. R. Haddon, W. M.; J. K. O'Haver, S. W.: Alexander Trigg, J. W. They have a fine brick hall in which they meet, and are in good condition financially and otherwise. Dr. John W. Davis was made a Mason in this lodge in 1823, shortly after he came here, and one of the sets of old minutes of the proceedings records the fact that he paid his dues as follows: "J. W. Davis, by one quart cherry bounce, in payment of dues." Lorenzo Dow, the famous itinerant, visited this lodge several times, he being an enthusiastic Mason, and having passed the chair. The lodge at present numbers fifty members. I. O. O. F. On January 30, 1850, a charter was granted to Carlisle Lodge, No. 50, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the charter members being J. H. Massey, T. Leuep, John Caldwell. Edward S. Hussey, James A. Curtner, A. M. Murphy, Thomas Marks, Henry W. Davis and John L. Ledgerwood. The grand officers signing the charter were: Job B. Eldridge, M. W. G. M.; James L. Silcox, R. W. G. M.; Oliver Dufour. P. D. G. M.; J. H. Starley, P. G.: Taylor W. Webster, D. D. G. M.: Lazarus Noble, R. W. G. Secretary; P. B. MeChesney, R. W. G. T.: Willis W. Wright, R. W. G. Messenger. The present officers are: S. D. Helms, N. G.; Lewis Wallace. V. G.: William J. Curtner, R. Secretary: E. D. Denison, P. Secretary; R. L. Jenkins, Treasurer. The lodge meets every Monday night, the number of members being fifty-five. They have a neat hall, and possess property worth over $3,000. ENCAMPMENT. A charter was granted Morse Encampment, No. 139, on the 16th day of May, 1876, on application of Benjamin R. Helms, John Wheeler, John W. Speake, Robert Massey, R. H. Milam, M. S. Heavenridge and S. P. Troxell. The present officers of the encampment are: Thomas Hardy, C. P.; R. L. Jenkins, H. P.; J. T. Akin, S. W.; William Hackney, J. W.; E. D. Denison, Scribe, and John Wheeler, Treasurer. Encampment meets first and second Friday nights of each month. OFFICERS OF TOWN. The officers of the town are: Trustees, A. C. Malone, William Trigg, Wiley Howell; Town Clerk and Treasurer, William D. Ballow; Marshal, Frank Buckley; Secretary Board of Health, Dr. E. D. Denison; School Trustees, C. P. Gwin, B. L. Jenkins, E. W. Akin. BUSINESS INTERESTS. The following are the business firms: General stores, R. W. Akin's Sons, C. T. Akin & Co., A. C. Malone, George Whipps, R. W. Benefiel; grocers, P. Romele & Son, Frank Davidson; meat markets, Frank Davidson, Charles Cummins; J. W. Warner, confectionery and restaurant; Mrs. Mary Malone, bakery and restaurant; W. J. Curtner, druggist; Roberts & Alembaugh, hardware and agricultural implements; F. M. Davidson, barber; blacksmiths and wagon makers, S. Greenfield, John Lisman; coal dealers, Joseph Rooxbury, G. G. M. Arnold; J. E. Speake, loan and collecting agent: C. B. Robbins, lawyer; physicians and surgeons, C. N. Young, E. D. Denison, W. A. Lisman, J. M. Mathes; dentist, A. C. Davis; Carlisle Flouring-Mill, R. W. Akin's Sons, proprietors; Eureka Flouring-Mill, Benefiel & Harvey, proprietors, dealers in grain and hay, Rotramel & Gwin; Jenkins & Davidson, harness and saddles; Mary A. Markey, millinery and sewing machine agent; Helms & Webb, broom manufacturers; Eugene Ice Company; saloons, William Dant, G. M. Davidson; Telephone Company; Haddon House, D. Haddon, proprietor; J. M. Warner, postmaster; Carlisle Cemetery, controlled by Town Board. Mercantile business amounts to about $150,000 per year. Large shipments of grain and hogs are made: one firm alone, R. W. Akin's Sons, having paid out as much as $75,000 per annum for wheat. PAXTON. The village of Paxton, which lies on the E. & T. H. R. R., three miles north of Carlisle, was laid out in 1868 by W. P. Walter, who set apart twelve acres for that purpose. The depot of the E. & T. H. R. R., called Paxton, had been located near the site of the village for some years, and that name was taken. The population is about 100, and the village contains two general stores, kept respectively by J. T. McKinney and R. F. Turman; a tile manufactory and a blacksmith shop. Two physicians, Drs. Charles Briggs and Harvey Peyton, attend to the needs of the sick. A Christian Church, with a membership of about 100, is located here, and Rev. P. C. Cauble preaches for them sometimes. A graded school, with a neat brick schoolhouse, affords instruction to the young. A. B. Smith, Principal; Miss Mary Love, intermediate, and D. A. Haddon, primary grades. Numbers of scholars attending, advanced grades, 24; intermediate grades, 30; primary grades, 30. Considerable grain, cattle and hogs are shipped from this point. 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. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/in/sullivan/history/1884/historyo/chapterx39ms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/infiles/ File size: 49.7 Kb