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

CHAPTER  XIX.
BY J. E. NORRIS.

JACKSON TOWNSHIP—BOUNDARIES AND ORGANIZATION—FIRST SETTLERS-SOME LIVING OLD
SETTLERS—GAME—EARLY SPORTSMEN—SOME NATIVE HUNTERS—AN ODD CHARACTER—FIRST
MILL—EARLY AND PRESENT SCHOOLS—EARLY AND PRESENT CHURCHES — A LONELY GRAVE — A
FEARFUL EPIDEMIC—TIMBER AND COAL—IIAILROAD TALK—PITTSBURG OR HYMERA P.
O.—CORNERS P O.

THE township of Jackson, as will readily be surmised, was named in honor of the
immortal "Old Hickory," the old hero of New Orleans, whose "By the Eternal" has
passed into an almost classic phrase, and whose stern and unflinching will in
public matters is now looked upon as something wonderful in a public man, and
whose mantle in that respect has not fallen upon nor fitted the shoulders of
many of our rulers since he left the Presidential chair.

BOUNDARIES AND ORGANIZATION.

    The township is bounded on the north by Pierson Township, Vigo County, on
the south by Hamilton and Cass Townships, on the east by Lewis Township. Clay
County, and Wright Township, Greene County, and on the west by Curry Township.

   The organization of the township occurred about 1825, as near as can now be
ascertained, as the records of that event, like most of the other townships of
Sullivan, were destroyed in the fire of 1850. For many years previous to the
organization, the section of country which was afterward created into Jackson
Township was pretty well settled for that early day, as the land was excellent
and offered homes to the newcomers at very little outlay, the country being well
timbered and well watered, and the climate genial.

THE FIRST SETTLERS.

   It is more than likely that David Plew was the first settler who bought land
in Jackson, and settled down to farming in earnest; or at ail events, he was one
of the very first, for at about the time of his coming, William Pitt arrived and
bought land. Samuel Brown was also one of the very earliest to settle here, and
so was Adam Wilson. Samuel Brown represented the county in the Legislature, and
was a man who had the respect of all who knew him. Old Uncle Billy Mattocks, a
noted singer at religious meetings, was also one of the earliest, as well as old
man Barcus, Richard Clampitt and John Mahan, of Kentucky, and Michael Ring, of
Virginia. About the same time or a little later, came Phillip Heck, and then
there were Thomas, John, William, Jerry and George Mahan, also old Charley
Nicholson, George Barnett, John Godwin, and many more, some of whom left shortly
after coming, and some died, who are now forgotten by all but relatives, and
even they, in many instances, have lost all trace of some of their friends.

OLD SETTLERS LIVING.

   The descendants of most of the early settlers still occupy the lands their
fathers and grandfathers tilled, and are, of course, not only among the most
prominent citizens, but can be classed as old settlers themselves, they
certainly having the right to be thus classed, having been born and reared where
they reside. Among the number may be mentioned James S. and John K. Brown, sons
of Samuel Brown; Joel Manwarring, Nathan Hinkle, Esquire Claiborne Wood, who
served as Magistrate for many years; Harman Halberstadt, Benjamin Thomas and Asa
Mahan. John McCammon, Joshua, John and William Becketts, Samuel and William N.
Pattons, Dr. J. A. Baldridge, William Edwards, Michael Zink, Benjamin and G. T.
Barcus, J. W. Ridgeway and many others.

EARLY SPORTSMEN.

   As in all the early settlements, there were in Jackson many noted hunters,
and among that number none were more prominent than John Mahan, Michael Ring and
William McCammon. The former had inherited his love of the woods and its game
from his native State—Kentucky, as he came of a race of hunters and Indian
fighters. Game was so plentiful and tame, according to his statement, that he
didn't consider a woman a very smart one if she couldn't, when the occasion
required it, knock a couple of them over back of the house with a broomstick,
and clean and roast them for the 11 o'clock dinner Ring's great specialty in
hunting was the large game. William McCammon and several others took much
delight in turkey and deer hunting, and they sometimes made long excursions,
bringing back with them loads of game.

A NOTED CHARACTER.

    Uncle Billy Mattox, as stated above, one of the early settlers in the
township, was an extremely peculiar character. He was known all over the county
almost, and was noted as a singer at religious meetings. He attended all
gatherings where any singing was to be done, and his voice was always heard in
the lead.

THE FIRST MILL.

   A horse mill was built by Richard Clampitt about the year 1829. It was
located southeast of Pittsburg, and all the grinding for several years of a
large section of country in all directions from it was done there. It was. of
course, of very limited capacity.

EARLY AND PRESENT SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES.

    The old schoolhouse at Pittsburg was probably the first building erected in
the township for educational purposes, but those who taught in it originally are
now forgotten. One of the old teachers was an extremely severe man, and the
whacks he used to give the palms of the hands of his pupils are remembered by
some of them to this day. He had a heavy ruler, made of oak, and he would take
the scholar by the ends of the fingers, press the fingers downward and the palm
upward, thereby tightening the skin, when he would bring his cruel instrument
down with full force upon the hand, and cause a howl of anguish to escape from
the lips of the sufferer, that ought to have softened the heart of a savage.

    There are at present eleven schoolhouses in the township, all of them neat
frame buildings, and with an attendance of about 525 pupils. Much interest is
evinced in the cause of education, and good teachers, with improved curriculum,
are now the needs of the hour.

    Bethel Methodist Episcopal Church, an unpretentious log building, was the
first building of the kind erected in the township. It was erected upon the site
of what has since become Pittsburg, but has long since passed away, and in its
stead a more costly and commodious structure occupies its place. The original
building was erected sometime in the beginning of the thirties. Previous to the
erection of Bethel Church, services were held at the house of William Pitt, and
at other points of convenience in the township. There are now four church
organizations in the township:

   Bethel Methodist Episcopal Church, Pittsburg, Rev. William McK. Johnson,
pastor; membership, one hundred.

   Shiloh Methodist Episcopal Church, in east part of township, Rev. William
McK. Johnson, pastor; membership, fifty.

   Nye's Chapel, United Brethren in Christ, about center of township, Rev. D.
Bussard, pastor; membership, sixty-five.

   Union Chapel, United Brethren in Christ, east part of township, Rev. D.
Bussard, pastor.

   Some time after the grounds were set apart for the burial of the dead at
Bethel Church. The spot was untenanted, but one day William Browning died and
was buried there, his remains lying solitary and alone in this humble "God's
Acre" for a long time. His lonely grave was a solemn landmark.

A FEARFUL EPIDEMIC

   About 1851, a fearful visitation of Providence fell upon a large portion of
the township, in the shape of a disease that baffled the skill of the
physicians, and carried off a large number of persons, in many instances entire
families. Some physicians pronounced it one thing and others something radically
different. It would make its appearance in splotches of purple on the face,
which, rapidly spreading, soon caused death. One of the most remarkable features
accompanying the disease was that in case of death, mortification set in with
wonderful rapidity, necessitating burial in a very short time, as the odor
emanating from the corpse was almost overpowering.

TIMBER, COAL MINES. ETC.

   Jackson is well timbered and well watered, and the land is not only
excellent, but is underlaid with coal of fine quality at almost any spot where
one would seek it. In the matter of timber, in has no superior in Sullivan
County. There are two saw mills in the township, owned respectively by Messrs.
Hughs and Crawford, who cut considerable lumber for shipment as well as for
local use. The mines at Pittsburg are yielding finely, but it is only a matter
of removing a few yards of earth in many instances, to obtain as much coal as is
desired.

   There is renewed "talk" in regard to the construction of the Eel River &
Vincennes Railroad, and it is now said (March, 1884) that "dirt will fly" ere
another moon shall wax and wane.

   There is a lodge of Good Templars in District No. 5, two miles north of
Pittsburg, which is in quite a flourishing condition.

TOWNSHIP OFFICERS.

   Trustee, Thomas Scott; Assessor, Ed Braden; Justice of the Peace, William
Frakes; Constables, G. W. Mahan, William Vanarsdel.

PITTSBURG, OR HYMERA POST OFFICE.

   The town of Pittsburg was laid off on the land of William Pitt, and was named
for that gentleman, as well as having reference to its being a coal center, like
its great prototype of Pennsylvania. It is a very thriving little village of
about seventy-five souls, containing one general store, kept by James
Manwarring: one blacksmith and wagon repairing shop, two physicians, Drs. Plew
and Trails. Hymera is the name of the post office, and T. J. Scott is
Postmaster. There is also a lodge of I. O. O. F., Hymera Lodge, in good working
order and flourishing.

POST OFFICES.

   Corners is the name of a post office near the center of the township, and
Alexander Buchanan is Postmaster. There is another post office in the northern
part of the township called Ascension.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

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

ILLUSTRATED.

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

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