Sullivan County IN Archives History - Books .....Chapter XVIII 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, 10:32 pm Book Title: History Of Greene And Sullivan Counties, Indiana CHAPTER XVIII. BY J. E. NORRIS. FAIRBANKS TOWNSHIP—AN EARLY ELECTION—ORIGINAL SETTLERS—EXCELLENT FARMING—A GREAT CHANGE—EARLY NECESSITIES—HUNTERS AND FISHERS—THE FIRST BORN—CHURCHES—SCHOOLS—VARIOUS MATTERS—TOWN OF FAIRBANKS—GRADED SCHOOLS—SOCIETIES—NARROWS P. O. AS an evidence that Fairbanks Township was one of the earliest settled in the county, even if it had not yet been organized as a township, we give place to the substance of an extract from the records in regard to elections. It appears that an election was held in Fairbanks Township May 8, 1820, at the residence of Elias Moore, for Justice of the Peace, to fill the unexpired term of Joseph Liston, who had removed from the county, and that the following persons participated in that election: Joseph Ransford, Sr., Joseph Ransford, Jr., Ludwick Ernest, J. W. Durvois, Alexander Clark, James Pogue, William Rankin, Archibald Parker, Elias Moore, Alexander Rankin, Toplar Coleman, Joseph Thomas and Jacob Mattox. Alexander Rankin having received the highest number of votes—that is, all of them—he was accordingly declared elected. Alexander Clark and Archibald Parker were the Judges of Election. ORIGINAL SETTLERS. James Pogue was, possibly, the first settler, but it is a question whether he came before the Drakes. This family, which was, and is to-day, a very numerous and highly respectable and prosperous one, came in early, probably along about 1816-17. They came from Ohio, James Drake being the principal one or leader. Joseph Thomas, Enoch Thompson, Joseph Liston, Ludwick Ernest, Joseph Ransford, Sr., Joseph Ransford, Jr., Hezekiah Riggs, Barnett Rinerson, J. W. Durvois, Alexander Clark, William Rankin, Alexander Rankin, Elias Moore, Archibald Parker, Toplar Coleman, Jacob Mattox, all came to this section at a very early day in its history. Also came, at about the year 1820 to 1830, many others, some of whom are dead, and a few are still living. Benjamin Ernest came from South Carolina, and Jesse Davis, father of Mrs. Jane Ernest, came from North Carolina, both of whom settled in the vicinity of the spot where now is located the village of Fairbanks. Abram Debaun, John Harris, Joseph Dilley, Daniel Frakes. Elijah Pound, Jerry Thompson and Daniel Johnson are some of the names remembered by the older citizens. The descendants of many of those above named are still living in the township, and are among the most thrifty and influential farmers and stock-raisers of the county. There are a number of the Drakes—Manwarring, James, Gaston, Martin and Eli—Stephen Johnson, who is, possibly, the oldest man in the township; Samuel Ransford, who is eighty-four years old, and is claimed by many persons to be the oldest; Peter Frakes, James G. Pound, Stephen Powers, William Kirkham, John Paddock, Bethuel Johnson, William Davis, Abram Debaun, Wilson Thompson, James Brewer, G. W. Sullens, Mrs. Violet Whitlock. Mrs. Jane Ernest, Mrs. Aggie Frakes, Mrs. Sally Drake. Mrs. Hannah Harris, Mrs. Nancy Dilley, Mrs. Nancy Strain and many others. The name Fairbanks was given to the township, in honor of Lieut. Fairbanks, who had charge of the wagon with supplies and the detachment of soldiers guarding it when they were attacked by the Indians and most of them slaughtered, a full account of which will be found in the general history of Sullivan County. It is bounded on the north by Prairie Creek Township, Vigo County: on the south by Turman Township: on the east by Curry Township, and on the west by the Wabash River. NATURAL WEALTH. Fairbanks is one of the richest agricultural townships in the county. The land is gently rolling and highly fertile, all crops being easily produced, whilst in the matter of stock-raising, it is especially adapted. The country is well timbered, all varieties of the useful woods being obtainable in the greatest quantity. Coal, also, as it does almost everywhere in Sullivan County, underlies the surface at various depths in every direction, and, although no mining has been done, with the exception of a little for local use, immense treasures will some day be taken from under the rich farms as well as from the surface. The country is dotted all over with excellent farm buildings. But what a change has come over the face of the country since James Pogue and the Drakes, and Ludwick Ernest and the Ransfords and the Riggses came here, bringing with them their scant effects, sometimes not so much had the pioneer but that he could carry his outfit upon his shoulders, or at best, in a small wagon. PRIMITIVE IMPLEMENTS. Exceedingly rude, indeed, were the farming implements used by our forefathers, and they were as scarce as they were primitive in construction. The owner of an old bar-shear plow, with its wooden mold-board, or the fortunate possessor of a harrow of the most unwieldy pattern, was considered particularly favored by fortune, and those implements often went the rounds, to neighbors living ten and twenty miles off. To see the plowman of those days going across a field with his " bar-shear" hanging to a couple of horses, whilst he himself had as much as he could do to hang on the clumsy handles, was a sight that would make the plow-boy of to-day go off into a fit of laughter. EARLY NECESSITIES. In addition to the usual small crops raised by the early settler, necessity compelled him to put out a patch of cotton, in many instances, as well as a patch of flax, for clothing, which the women would card and hackle and spin into yarn, and weave into cloth. No fine silks and satins and broadcloth adorned the girls and boys of that period: yet they were as happy beneath their homespun garbs, and carried as high a head and as generous a heart, as any highflier of to-day. And it must not be thought that the dresses of the girls were ail of the same somber hue, for the good mother and the daughter who was to wear the new frock, would search the woods for barks and roots, and use their "indigo" and ocher with skillful hands. They could make dyes that would produce as lovely reds and greens and blues, in various shades, as the most fastidious lady of to-day could demand, and in the matter of fineness, particular pride was taken in the number of cuts of the finished flax yarn that would pass through an open thimble, being simply amazing. HUNTERS AND FISHERS. Elijah Pound was noted in his day as a very expert fisherman as well as hunter, and many stories are told of his adventure in forest and by stream. He took great delight in taking his rifle and his fishing tackle and starting off for a week's hunt into the woods and by the streams, which then abounded with fish. James Pogue, also a noted hunter, killed a very large bear upon the spot where now stands the village of Fairbanks. It was a very large and fat animal, and was the last of his kind that was killed in the township, as far as can be ascertained. Some of the old citizens tell some powerful hunting stories of the old times, as game was very abundant, turkeys being had almost for the asking. An occasional bear was killed, and sometimes a panther could be shot or trapped in a pit or pen, whilst coons, minks and other small four-footed beasts were in undesirable abundance. Thomas Riggs and a noted sportsman, a crack shot with the rifle, named Harris, hunted through all this section, and were always known to be very successful in their hunts. Considerable "pitting"—that is making a "pit" trap for large game, was done sometimes for sport—as in the case of a wolf—as much as for food. A tough old story about one of those pits is told, and it seems to be the standing hunting joke of the township. As the story goes, a trapper dug a deep pit, covered it with branches as usual, baited it and went home. The next morning when he went to examine the pit he was surprised at the nature of the contents and made quick tracks from the spot not stopping till he was safely housed in his own log cabin, with doors barred and windows nailed down. "What did you find in the pit?" asked one of those to whom he was telling the yarn. "Find! why a coon, a wolf, an Indian and the devil." "What were they all doing?" continued the questioner. " Doin'? why, every feller was a sittin' in his corner lookin' quite commojus." THE FIRST BORN. The first white child born within the confines of Fairbanks was Joel Harris, who is still living, a resident of Turman Township, and a highly respected, prosperous and influential citizen. This important event took place near the spot where the Fairbanks wagon defeat occurred, and gave intense joy, not only to the mother of the first born of Fairbanks Township, but the entire settlement. The little squaller was visited by all the neighbors, and it can readily be imagined that all the delicacies procurable in that backwoods settlement were freely lavished upon Mrs. Harris and the little stranger. CHURCHES. The Methodist circuit-rider was usually the first to arrive in the settlements, and his familiar form on his strong horse was greeted by voting and old. Denominationalism was scarcely thought of; all that was required, until later years, was that a man should be a Christian. Of course all the early preachers were sent out by some particular church, and in addition to the Methodist, there were Baptist ministers. They came at a very early day, also, and first among the number we find Revs. Evans and Stansil. These Baptist preachers held services at various points for some years, but not until 1824 was a regular church organized. It was an Old School Baptist society, and was near where the town of Fairbanks now stands. A little later, Rev. Mr. Rinerson, also a Baptist preacher, came into the township, and preached for some years. The township is not as well supplied with churches as one would expect from the population and resources of the country, there being but two; one about one and one-half miles south of Fairbanks, belonging to the Missionary Baptists, with Rev. Fuson as pastor, and the other in Fairbanks, New Light Baptist, Rev. Mr. Shepard, pastor. SCHOOLS. The first schoolhouse was built in 1823, and was located not far from the present site of Fairbanks, but the name of the first pedagogue who ruled within its classic precincts is now forgotten, but it can easily be imagined what an important personage he was, and what a part that old schoolhouse played in those early days. Pupils came from long distances, some of them from as many as six and seven miles, but children in 1823, in Fairbanks, were not quite so tender-footed as they are at present. There are at present in the township ten frame schoolhouses, outside of the town of Fairbanks, and the attendance is good, as there is much interest manifested in the cause of education. VARIOUS MATTERS. Hezekiah Riggs was the first Postmaster in the township. He kept the stage station at Turman Creek, and there was then a post office there, but none now. There was formerly a large tannery in the township, but it was discontinued long since; also a saw and grist mill, which is now numbered among the things that were. The first stock of goods brought to these parts was opened by a Frenchman named Josef Jacobs, in 1843, and, as a matter of course, supplied a "long-felt want." There is a saw mill now in operation southwest of Fairbanks, owned by Layer & Frakes. The population of the township is about 1,500. TOWNSHIP OFFICERS. Trustee—Owen Kisner; Assessor—W. B. Harris; Justice of the Peace —John G. Parker. TOWN OF FAIRBANKS. This thriving little town is located at about the center of the township, and is surrounded by a very beautiful and fertile country. It was laid out in 1840 on a tract of twenty acres, by Benjamin Ernest, James Pogue and Samuel Myers. It contains a population of about 135, and the following are its social and business interests: General store, Charles C. Ernest; grocery store, W. H. Thixton; drug store, Henry Sharples; millinery, L. E. Sharples, Abigail Harman; blacksmith and wagon repairing, T. H. Holmes; physicians, Dr. Henry Sharples, Dr. John H. Plew; notary public, W. H. Thixton; Postmistress, Laura E. Sharpies. There is one church, a very neat frame building, belonging to the New Light denomination, but they have no regular pastor, Rev. Mr. Shepard preaching for them occasionally. Fairbanks Graded School—Principal, Prof. Ed Liston. Fairbanks Lodge, A. F. & A. M. building, in which they have a hall, the lower floor being occupied as a store-room; it was built in 1882. Fairbanks Literary Society has a membership of about thirty, and meets every Thursday night in the schoolhouse; James G. Pound, President: W. H. Thixton, Vice President: Laura E. Sharples, Secretary; W. B. Harris, Treasurer. NARROWS POST OFFICE. At a steamboat landing on the Wabash, there is a post office kept by Milton Badger, who also has a warehouse for the storage and shipment of grain and provisions. Mr. Badger is building a grist mill. 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/chapterx44ms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/infiles/ File size: 13.8 Kb