Sullivan County IN Archives History - Books .....Chapter XIV 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, 6:37 pm Book Title: History Of Greene And Sullivan Counties, Indiana CHAPTER XIV. BY MISS S. E. M'KINNEY. GILL TOWNSHIP—TOPOGRAPHY—ERA OF SETTLEMENT— ADVENTURE WITH WILD ANIMALS—DOMESTIC AFFAIRS—A BIG HAIL-STORM—INDIAN DEPREDATIONS—MAIL ROUTES—MILLING—DISTILLERIES— NEW LEBANON—MEROM—MERCHANTS—MANUFACTURING—EARLY EVENTS—EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS—ACADEMIES AND COLLEGES—THE CHURCHES— CEMETERIES—CRIMINAL OFFENSES—NEWSPAPERS, ETC. GILL TOWNSHIP lies in the western part of Sullivan County. It is bounded on the north by Turman Township, on the east by Hamilton and Haddon Townships, on the south by Haddon and on the west by the Wabash River. It is drained by Turtle Creek and its small branches. It has several stretches of prairie, the largest and most important being Gill Prairie, a rich, fertile soil, on which are located fine farms. For many years after the first settlement of this section of country, progress was very slow; but during the past ten years improvement has been as rapid as possible. There now are within the township 2,200 inhabitants. THE ERA OF SETTLEMENT. The earliest settler, William Gill, gave name to the township. However, William Burnett, from Kentucky, came at about the same time William Gill arrived from Tennessee. Among the oldest settlers may be mentioned the names of Canary, Webb, Gill, Burnett, Sherman, French, Reed, White, Hughes, etc. The county was, with the exception of the small prairies, densely wooded. The woods abounded with game of all kinds, and furnished fuel for the settlers. At the same time the forest trees were good hiding places for the hostile Indians, of whom there were many, and for the much-dreaded panther. ADVENTURE WITH WILD ANIMALS. Encounters with bears were frequent, and often the neighbors would engage in several days' hunt to rid the woods of bears and wolves. Deer and small game were plenty, and the search for bee trees was continuous. The most successful day's hunt resulted in killing one bear, five deer, twenty-five squirrels, and finding of three bee trees, and only two hunters and their five dogs engaged in the hunt. Then there were hosts of coons, opossums, skunks and ground-hogs, etc., which were hunted that the species might be exterminated, and the hides of some of them were salable, forming some inducement to the hunters. THE BIG HAIL-STORM. Some of emigrants to Gill Township reached Gill's Prairie in 1814, and met with the most frightful storm of which early days can furnish any account. The women and children were put under the wagons to protect-them from the hail. Hailstones were so large and fell with such force that the wagon covers were torn to shreds. Large trees were twisted from the ground, and small live stock was carried away. INDIAN DEPREDATIONS. Twice did the early settlers have to fly to the fort for protection against the Indians. Some Indian tribes were hostile, as the Kickapoos and Pottawatomies; while the Miamis were friendly to the white people. It is said the Dudley Mack massacre occurred in Gill Township. At the time of the massacre, two boys, aged fourteen years, were taken captive by the Indians, and were never returned, but were sold and traded about until they became used to Indian ways, and preferred their kind of life to a return home. It is stated on pretty good authority that one of the boys, Campbell, became the leader of a tribe of Indians; and that he was killed in 1862, in a fight between the Indians and Gen. Pope. The old Indian trail followed along the edge of the bluff, and evidences of it still remain. MAIL ROUTES. Stages coaches were on the road as early as 1825, and in 1830 were constant in their trips. The line extended from Terre Haute, to Vincennes. Merom was a stopping point. Turtle Creek was bridged near the French farm in about 1830. Since that time, a bridge was put up across it on the road leading from Merom to New Lebanon, and another on the road leading from Merom to Sullivan. At first the mail was taken by stage, and the news was received about once or twice a week. When the Evansville & Terre Haute Railway was built, the mail for the western portions of Sullivan County was brought to Sullivan, and was distributed by short mail routes, run by what was termed hacks. At present, the narrow gauge is trusted with the mail, and there is also a mail line from Merom to Terre Haute, run by William Griffith. THE EARLY MILLS. DISTILLERIES, ETC. The first saw mill was owned by Bennett Bros., in 1818. It was located on Turtle Creek.near the French settlement. In 1S19, they attached a grist-mill to the saw-mill; the cost was about $1,500. In 1813, Bennett Bros, arranged their machinery to run by steam, at a cost of $1,500 more. For several years this mill did a good business. Several small stills were in operation, but the most extensive one was owned by James O'Boyle. It was located northwest of Merom, and was capable of producing fifteen to twenty barrels of whisky per day. The value of this distillery was estimated at from $6,000 to $10,000. Whisky of a pure quality was manufactured, and was retailed at 18 cents per gallon. There were two small tanneries—one east of Merom, the other south of Merom. THE VILLAGE OF NEW LEBANON. Gill Township has two villages—Merom and New Lebanon. New Lebanon lies in the eastern portion of the township, and was settled in 1827, by Josiah Boone and Thomas Springer. The ground on which the town stands belonged to James Mason, Jesse Haddon, Robert Burnett and Thomas Springer. Each of the four gave ten acres for the town location. The growth of the town has been very limited, there being only about two hundred and fifty inhabitants. Thomas Springer brought the first stock of goods to the place. His store was a general store, containing dry goods, groceries and hardware. Springer was followed by Burnett & Knotts, Giles & Redmond, Louis Sherman, and then Springer again. All of these did considerable business. The present stock of dry goods is owned by Mat Eaton. Calvin Wilkey has the grocery stock, valued at $300. The drug business is earned on by Mr. McClanahan and is worth $1,000. In 1835, a carding machine was located at Lebanon, and at present there is a tile factory owned by J. McCoy. These are the only manufactures ever were invested in in the town. In 1836, the first post office was established, and for quite a number of years was kept by William Dodd. He was succeeded by Capt Springer, and he in turn was followed by Tom Mason, the present Postmaster. In 1850, the Washingtonians formed a lodge in Lebanon, but did not flourish a great while. The order of Good Templars has also had organizations at different times during the history of the town. The medical profession has been represented variously. First in 1837, by Dr. Freeland, who was followed by Chambers, Nebinger, Harper, Thompson, Murphy and others. Lisman is resident physician. Charles Byrkit sold liquor by the quart, also John Faulkner was in the liquor business, James French owned the only licensed saloon that was ever permitted in the place. New Lebanon is strictly a Methodist community and has always been such. It is also an industrious, temperate community. The old academy of the decade of the fifties was at one time the most important educational institution in the county. THE TOWN OF MEROM. Merom is situated in the western part of the township. It has a beautiful site, being located on a bluff 200 feet above the Wabash, and commanding a view of Illinois for many miles. It is said it was named Merom from hearing the Indians saying "me rum," "me rum!" The town was laid out in 1817, and the land belonged to Hughes and White. There was an addition made to the town in 1859. known as the Springer Addition. The town was incorporated in 1807. The southwest portion of the town is beautifully built up, but the northeast portion contains many of the oldest houses and others, held for rent to the transient population. The town has grown very little for many years. The population is about 470 persons. For a great many years Merom was the leading point in the county. The farmers brought their produce here for sale, and supplies from abroad were all landed here by boats. In 1819, Merom became the county sect of Sullivan County, and remained such until 1842, when it was removed to Sullivan. The court house in Merom was burned at one time, destroying all the records of the county. The house was again rebuilt. The first stock of goods was brought on by Reed & White, and was worth several hundred dollars. Of the various firms that have owned stocks of goods may be mentioned Reed & White, Paul & Reed, Hubbs, Reed & Son. O'Boyle, Giles & Cooper, Burks, Colvin, Stanley, Griswold, Beagle, Heath, Kearns, Widner, etc. From 1830 to 1859, the firms of Reed and O'Boyle carried on a very extensive trade. Their stock of goods embraced anything that could be wished, and was worth many thousand dollars. These firms did quite a wholesale business with country stores. At one time there would be as many as 500 barrels of sugar unloaded from a boat, which is a sample of the extent of the stock kept on hand. On the opening of the Erie & Terre Haute Railway, trade fell away from Merom in favor of other points, and now the trade is a very ordinary one. Dry goods and groceries are now kept by two houses—Remington's, stock worth about $4,000, and Shideler's, stock worth $5,000. The grocery stock is owned by Foote & Stanley and is worth $1,500. The millinery business is controlled by Mrs. C. Smith and is estimated at $400. The drug business was begun by W. G. Wilhite in 1867, who brought a small stock of drugs worth a few hundred dollars. He was followed by Green, Ruddell Brothers, Willis & Ward. The present drug store is owned by D. Blue & Co.; their stock is worth $2,500. The first tavern was kept by Josiah Mann, who was followed by his widow, and she was succeeded by Adams & Carpenter Cushman. In 1840, a man by the name of McDonald built the old portion of the present hotel. He was succeeded by Hiram Dangherty and sold out to the present owner, Hiram Beagle, who has remodeled and refitted the original building. THE MEROM MILLS. In 1845, Cushman & Huff built a saw mill where the flouring mill now stands. In 1846, they added a grist mill to the former, and run the mill in this manner for some years. The mill a few years later came into possession of Seth Cushman, a son of the original owner, and did away with the saw mill portion, and turned his attention to the improvement of his grist mill. He rebuilt the mill and enlarged it and improved it, and made of it a regular merchant mill. Thousands of bushels of corn and wheat were bought every year and ground and sold to the city markets. Within a very few years the mill has again changed hands, and is now owned by Tom Cushman and William Crowder. They have still further improved the mill by putting in several thousand dollars' worth of new machinery. They manufacture yearly many thousand barrels of flour, which is shipped by boat. A saw mill at the foot of the bluff has passed through numerous hands. First Pifer, succeeded by Humphrey, Hays, Blue and Larr; the present owner named Atkins. There have been several brick-yards at different times, and a small tile factory owned by McKea & Beagle. OrBoyle owned quite a pork packing establishment, also a man by the name of Penn Oney engaged in that business. The last to engage in that business was Thomas Kearns, in 1870. SECRET SOCIETIES, ETC. The first Postmaster was Samuel Coleman, followed by Andrew Wilkins, Porter Burks, William McKee, Thomas Stanley and Henry Shideler. The Sons of Temperance held lodge from 1852 to 1853. The Good Templars have held lodge at different times, but at present have disbanded. The Masonic order held lodge under dispensation with the following officers: N. G. Buff, W. M.; Leonard Shoemaker, S. W.; J. N. Halstead, J. W.: James Reed, Treasurer: Thomas Kearns, Secretary; A. T. Struble, S. D.; E. Ashley, J. D.; Hiram Daugherty, Tiler. The lodge obtained a charter in 1863 and had the following officers: N. G. Buff, W. M.; L. Shoemaker, S. W.; B. Judy, J. W.; J. Buff, Treasurer; Thomas Kearns, Secretary; D. F. Spade, S. D.; William Yowell, J. D.; Hiram Daugherty, Tiler. MEROM IN EARLY YEARS. The early settlers found Merom and its surrounding country very sickly. Many of those who came from a long distance sickened and died in a short time. Great need was felt for a physician. The first to come was Dr. Elliot in 1825. Then Robinson, Cook, Pemington and Curtis. Of later physicians, there were Wakefield and Duflfield, Humphrey and Harper and son, the resident physicians. Being the county seat, there were numerous lawyers about M^rom. Some of those remembered are John McConnel, N. G. Ferguson, Joe Briggs and Grafton F. Cookerly. The Justice Courts have been presided over by Anthony Bennett, John Creager, Andrev? Wilkin, John Cooper, Seth Cushman, William McKee, Li. G. Kearns, A. C. Norman, E. Smith and H. Woods. Liquor was sold in early times by any one who chose to do so. There were saloons kept, but the names of owners have passed into oblivion. Within the last six years a man made an attempt to build a saloon. He got the frame work up and that was all. He was notified that public sentiment would not permit any such a proceeding, and in addition he found his framework leveled to the ground. FIRES, EXPLOSIONS, ETC. Merom, for so small a place, has had numerous fires. In 1863, a small dwelling-house, owned by a family named Spilka, took fire and burned down, and two persons were burned to death within. In 1864, the store of Widner was burned, with most of the goods. In 1872, the entire town was shaken by a terrible explosion in the night. It was found that the store of George Griswold had been blown up, and was burning with all its contents. It was supposed to be the work of robbers. In 1875, the store of G. W. Titus was burned with its entire stock of dry goods and groceries. In 1877, the dwelling house of John Hacket was burned to the ground. In 1881, an attempt was made to blow the store of William Cooper up, but was discovered in time. In 1882, the dwelling houses of Henry Wood, Lucinda Griffith and John Dodd were burned. In 1875, a woman had a lamp explode in her hand, and the contents were spread all over her and she was burned to death. In 1882, a young lady was accidentally burned to death. Several cases of drowning have occurred in the river during the last twenty years. One was that of a merchant named Griswold, who, one night in the fall of 1873, went out in a skiff upon the river to fish. He was accompanied by a small boy. Griswold went to gig a fish and pitched out into the deepest portion of the river and was drowned. The river was dragged, and the search for his body was continued for months, but it was never found. EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS. The first, school in the township was taught by Mr. Jarvis, in 1818 and 1819. In 1824, Ben Sherman taught east of Merom two miles, and the only books he could find to begin school with were the English Reader and Spelling-book. Other teachers were Miles, Lindsey, Seth Cushman and others. The books in use were Pike's Arithmetic, Kirkham's Grammar, English Reader, Elementary Speller and writing. The methods used were the most normal ones. Discipline was enforced by a free use of the switch. Spelling schools were features of every school, and were given in the evening. Many lively contests in spelling occurred. Teachers were paid by subscription at the rate of $1 per month for each scholar. Schoolhouses were roughly constructed and were built by donation, When the school decided the teacher must treat he was notified of the fact. If he refused he was barred out, and if he still remained stubborn he was taken to the nearest pond and ducked. The treat was usually apples, and sometimes whisky for the large scholars. Some time in 1850, the township was divided into twelve districts. Houses were soon after built at the public expense, and a free-school system was established. The houses have been remodeled and refurnished until at present the schoolhouses are models of comfort and convenience. The schoolbooks have been revised and illustrated, and branches of study have been added to the common school course, until there is nothing left wanting in the way of books. The teachers are both ladies and gentlemen, who have been drilled in the best methods of instruction. The average wages of teachers per day in Gill Township is $2.08. Township revenue per year is $2,737.23. and value of school property, $5,400. The present teachers are as follows: A. V. Stratton, D. C. Hunt, Robert Calvert, Miss L. M. Morris, W. H. Posten, R. Y. Railsback, A. F. Davis and Miss Giles, at Lebanon; M. W. McKinney, P. D. Over and T. L. Vaughn. THE NEW LEBANON ACADEMY. In 1852, the Methodist brethren of New Lebanon decided to open an academy. The building was erected later at a cost of $2,000, and school was opened by Prof. Allen and Miss Talbot. These teachers were succeeded by Prof. Deardoff and Miss McInstry. For several years, this academy flourished and enjoyed the patronage from all the country around. Owing to the founding of several other schools, New Lebanon Academy went down, and the building was sold to the township for public school purposes. THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF MEROM. Merom constitutes an independent district. The present public school building was built in 1864. The school has been taught by several different teachers. Of them may be mentioned Kearns, Ward, Hammond, Godley, Miss Baker, Gordon, and is at present under the able management of the Misses Wood. The average wages of teachers in Merom Public School is $45 per month. THE UNION CHRISTIAN COLLEGE. In 1854, Rev. E. W. Humphreys organized an academy in Merom. The old court house was purchased and fitted up for schoolrooms. Humphreys and wife did the teaching. There was a large attendance of pupils from the surrounding country, and from the neighboring towns. For several years the school remained in a flourishing condition. In 1858, E. W. Humphreys visited Europe. While sitting in his room in London, his mind was full of the school he had left at home, and he began to wonder why he could not make a college out of his school. As soon as he arrived home, he communicated his plans to some of his friends, who volunteered to help. A meeting of Christian ministers was called to select a site for the college, and to decide upon a name. Logansport, Sullivan and several other places asked for the college, but the little town of Merom won the day. The name of Union Christian College was suggested by Elder Abram Sneathen, and was adopted by the convention. The college is under the exclusive control of the Christian denomination. The college building and grounds are valued at about $40,000, and there is an endowment of some $60,000. The first President of the institution was Rev. N. Summerbell, who, with an able force of Professors, conducted a school of about 125 students. Summer-bell was succeeded by Rev. Thomas Holmes, and an entirely new set of teachers. The third President was T. C. Smith, a former graduate of the institution. He was at the head of the school for seven years, when he resigned, and Elisha Mudge was elected to fill the vacancy, and is the present head of the school. The salary of the President is $1,000 per year, and that of the teachers from $400 to $800 per year, ladies at present receiving $400, and gentlemen $700 or $800 for the same length of time, and for like services. The average yearly attendance at the college has been about ninety pupils. The college is supplied with suitable apparatus, and has quite a geological collection. READING ROOMS, SOCIETIES, BIBLE CLASSES, PAINTING, ETC. There is a convenient reading room, where students are permitted to spend all the time they may choose reading. There are found on its tables dozens of the latest magazines and newspapers. There is also a collection of several hundred books on various subjects. The literary societies are an interesting feature of the institution. There are two of them—the Franklin and Lincolnia. These societies hold their meetings on Friday night, and at these meetings may be heard a very high order of recitation, oration, debate and music. Each society owns its hall in the college building, and has placed furniture in it worth several hundred dollars. There is connected with the other departments in the school a Biblical class, composed of several young men, and taught by the President. The painting and drawing is under the instruction of Mrs. McHenry. The music is taken charge of by Miss Georgia Harvey. Elisha Mudge, President; B. F. McHenry, Secretary and Professor of Mathematics; Prof. Woodworth fills the Latin chair; Miss Lib Hatten occupies the position of Professor of Greek. The Executive Committee consists of Thomas Stanley, Parmer McClain, Rev. Graves, J. T. Phillips. B. F. McHenry and President Mudge. THE FIRST RELIGIOUS MEETING IN THE TOWNSHIP. In 1813. the first meeting was held by Rev. Shrader, a Methodist minister, at the house of William Burnett. Class was formed of the following persons: William and Mary Burnett, William and Annie Gill, Berry and Elizabeth Taylor, Deborah Graham. Catherine Strain. Patty Hollenback and William Burnett. In 1816, Rev. McCord succeeded Shrader, and in 1823 the Mount Zion Church was built and a Sabbath-school was established in the same year. OTHER CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS. The Lebanon community has been from 1813 a Methodist community. In 1830, the Methodist Church in Lebanon was built, at a cost of $1,000. It was the scene of many wonderful revivals, and continued in use until 1871, when the floor gave way and a new brick church was built at a cost of $6,000. It is said to be finest church in the county. The church at East Chapel was built, in 1861, at a cost of $300. There are three churches in this circuit—East Chapel, Walker's Chapel and Lebanon Church. There are some three hundred members. Prayer meetings and Sabbath schools are sustained, and the minister's salary is about $800 yearly. Donations and festivals have been of frequent occurrence. The Lebanon Church conducted camp meetings several years ago, which were attended by large numbers of persons from quite a distance. The old frame church in Lebanon was dedicated by the celebrated Bishop Simpson. The new brick church was dedicated by Bishop Bowman. The present pastor is Rev. Walls. In 1837, the Methodist Church in Merom was erected at a cost of $600. The church numbers between thirty and forty members, and comes under the charge of Rev. Hawse, who has charge of the Graysville Circuit. At different times, Sabbath school has been organized at this church and a small library collected, but the town being: small and there being: another Sabbath school, the Methodist school was discontinued. In 1854. there was preaching in Merom by the Christian ministers, Humphreys, Hayes and McKinney, but a Christian Church was not organized until 1S60. The following members composed the church at first: Leonard Shoemaker, Margaret Shoemaker, James Richey, Hiram Daugherty, Elizabeth Daugherty, Harrison T. Buff, Rosanna C. Buff, N. G. Buff, Martha E. Buff, J. N. Halstead, Mary J. Halstead, Margaret Gurnsev. Emerson Barber and Callista Barber. From time to time since, members have been added, and membership of the church since the first meeting, including students who have joined the church, numbers several hundred. At present there are some seventy-five active members. The pastors of the church have been the Presidents of the college, except Rev. Sneathen and Rev. Collins, each of whom served one year as pastor. Within the history of the church several revivals have occurred, the most important having been conducted during the time of Presidents Summerbell and Holmes. An interesting Sabbath school of over 100 members has been maintained. At one time a very interesting library was in circulation in the Sunday school. The books all having been read, the interest in them has somewhat slackened. There are papers and lesson leaves, however, which are always new. Officers are: Superintendent, Prof. McHenry; Assistant Superintendent, Henry Shideler: Treasurer, Lib Hatten; Secretary, Betty Hanchett. CEMETERIES. The old Lebanon Cemetery has been in use for a great many years. The Webb Cemetery, on Gill's Prairie, is the oldest in the township and is still in use. There are, besides these, several family burying grounds. The old Merom Cemetery, southeast of town, a spot almost inaccessible, has not been used for twenty years. It contain graves marked with rude stones, and the names carved upon them are strange to the present generation. The present Merom Cemetery was selected and bought in about 1861 or 1862. The first person buried in it was Mrs. Ashley. Arrangements have been talked of for enlarging the present grounds. It contains many handsome monuments, and some portions of it are exceedingly well kept. OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST. Financial panics have not been of a serious nature. A few business failures have occurred which affected several farmers who were security. In the early settlement of the country vegetation was very rank, causing the otherwise malarial tendencies to assume the form of epidemic in the shape of malarial fever. People coming from Down East were unable to withstand the deadly attacks. Two brothers, named Hubbs, came to Merom and went into business, and in a short time took on severe malarial trouble, and died within three days of each other. No attempt at counterfeiting is known to have been made, but two or three parties are known to have sent off money to buy counterfeit money to circulate, and it is furthermore known they received in return the traditional box of sawdust and blank paper. Occasional burglaries have been committed in the dry goods establishments. Petty thieving occurs, as in all other towns and communities. SERIOUS CRIMINAL OFFENSES. In 1872, an inoffensive man, named John Stanbaugh, was set upon by three desperate and half drunken men in the streets of Merom, and was stabbed in several places, from the effects of which he died in a few days. The three offenders were tried and convicted of manslaughter, and were sentenced to the penitentiary for a term of years. In 1875, a desperate character moved to Merom and began to threaten citizens in various ways. It was learned that his name was Newman, and that he did not sustain a good name at his former home. He was a good workman, a skillful thief and a great bully. Finally, in August, 1876, while making an attempt to kill a young man of Merom, Newman was shot down by the Town Marshal, and lived only a few hours. A DEFIANT ROBBER. In 1860, a man rode into Merom and stopped at the hotel. He gave his name as Paul Lindsey, and claimed to be from away East. In a short time Lindsey had selected the worst and lowest people in the country as his associates, and finally married a woman of low character, noted for her size, immense strength and terrible temper. It was believed by many of the citizens of Merom that Lindsey harbored thieves and gamblers, and he openly threatened any citizen who would dare interfere with him. Finally, however, he concluded Merom would no longer tolerate him, and took possession of the island in the Wabash River, and in plain view from Merom's promenade ground. This island belongs neither to Indiana nor Illinois, and here Lindsey felt safe. He defied the law, built him a strong house, threatened all of the prominent citizens of the town and county, and constituted himself the receiver of stolen goods, and his house the harbor of thieves. No man felt his life or property safe, and it was decided that some measures must be taken to rid the community of such a dangerous person. Accordingly, one Sunday morning the children on their road to Sabbath school were surprised to see such numbers of men riding into town. It was learned that the island was to be taken that day. The men armed themselves well and took the way to the island. Several men took skiffs and started for Lindsey's home. It being Sunday, the bold robber felt safe and had lain down to rest and was soon fast asleep. The first intimation he had of any intrusion was to suddenly find himself confronted with loaded revolvers. He surrendered at once. His house was burned, his wife and children were brought over to Merom, and he was disposed of—no one knows how except those who were present. A few days later one of Lindsey's gang was pursued and killed. Since that time the island has been turned into a productive farm, and Paul Lindsey and his gang are almost forgotten. SLAVERY, TEMPERANCE, ETC. Previous to 1860, the introduction of slavery was looked upon with favor, especially by those from Southern States. Since 1860, the anti-slavery feeling has grown until hardly a man can be found who is in avor [sic] of slavery, no matter what his political views may be. The temperance question has been agitated and discussed, temperance leagues have been organized, public sentiment no longer permits men to treat their work-hands with strong drink, and saloons are not allowed to exist, and the saloon-keeper is considered among the outcasts of society. With all this temperance feeling in active existence, drunkenness is alarmingly prevalent. The subject of prohibition is presenting itself to the minds of those who favor and work for temperance. The ease with which strong drink may be obtained is surprising to those who wish to believe in the strong temperance sentiments so universal in Gill Township, where not one man in a hundred has one word to say in favor of strong drink of any kind. NEWSPAPERS, STATISTICS, ETC. In 1850, the poll of Gill Township was 181, and in 1882, it was 429. In 1875, a literary magazine entitled Our Work was published by members of the college faculty at Merom. It had a considerable circulation, and treated of the subjects taught in and pertaining to Union Christian College. Our Work was published two years, and was then discontinued. At present the College Record is a lively little college paper, published by the Alumni and students of Union Christian College. The social growth and improvement have kept even with other advancement. The horse-races and other amusements have given place to more refined pursuits. The young people are mostly possessed of moderate education at least, and a good education is within the reach of every one of them. Gill Township ought to be somewhat in advance of some other portions of the county, from the fact that she has from an early day possessed such good educational advantages. The last ten years has witnessed the greatest improvement, both in town and country districts. The publication of several newspapers has been undertaken, but only for short periods. 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/chapterx42ms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/infiles/ File size: 31.7 Kb