Carroll County, Indiana - Early Purchases of Land, 1882

Early Purchases of Land

Names ok Purciiaskus - Description of Tracts Purchased and THE Quantity, With the Date of Purchase, Arranged by Congressional Townships - Covering a Period ok Ten Years and More.

THE early piu-ohases of land in thi's county were, for the most part, in Congi'essional Township 25 north, Range 2 west, of the Second Principal Meridians of Indiana, embracing the lands that lie in the immediate vicinity of Delphi, where the first settlements were made. That township and some others adjacent were laid out and subdivided in the latter part of the yeai- 1819, and during the succeeding years of 1820 and 1821. These lands were platted and reported within a year after the completion of the work, and, some time in the year 1824, a land office was opened at Crawfordsville, and lands in that district, embracing those in Carroll County, were from that time forwai-d open to entry and sale. The fii'st public sale appeal's to have commenced on the 24th of December, 1824, yet, prior to that time, numerous entries of land were made in this county, as appears by reference to the record of original entries [Tract Book] in the Recorder's office, which is subject to the inspection of the public.

The tii-st entry in this township as shown by the record before referred to, was the west half of the southwest quarter of Section 18, which was fractional, containing only sixty-two acres and sixty-eight hundreths. The purchaser was Ephi'aim Chamberlain, and the date of entry, February 17, 1824. The second was the east half of the same quarter-section, containing seventy-seven (77) acres, entered on the 25th of August, 1824, by Edward Luny. On the 21st of December, 1824, Henry Robinson entered thn east half of the southeast quarter of Section twenty (20), which was a full half-quarter section. The same day. Hugh Manary entered the west half of the southwest quarter of Section twenty-nine (29), containing eighty (80) acres; Daniel Baum entered the east half, and also the west half, of the southeast quarter of Section thirty (30). The day following, Mr. Baum entered the west half of the southeast quarter of Section ten (10); Samuel Williamson entered the west half of the northwest quarter of Section eleven (11), and John Beard entered the east half, and also the west half, of the northeast quarter of Section twenty (20). These appear to have been all the entries made prior to the date of the public sale of lands, which commenced, as we have seen, on the 24th of December of that year. Purchases were made on that day and subsequently, as follows, dm-ing that year: By James Thornton, of the east half of the southeast quarter of Section seventeen (17), on the 24th; by Daniel Baum, of the east halt of the south(iast quarter of Section ten (10), December 25, haviiii; lul. r.'.l flir west half of the same section three days previously ; In L'uhiil Hi'.-itty, of the west half of the southeast quarter of Sc<-ti<iii Iwciily (20), on the same d.ay. On the 27th day of December, 1824, Daniel Baum purchased the west half of the northwest quarter of Section thirty-two (32), which comprised the entries and pm-chases of that year in what is now Carroll County. In 1825, they were more numerous. January 1, Thomas Stirlen purchased the east half of the northwest quarter of Section twenty-foui' (24); Nathan Clarke, the west half of the northeast quarter of Section twentyeight (28); Fr. Hoover, the east half of the northwest quaiier of the same section; William Clarke, the east half of the southwest quarter of Section twenty-eight (28), also. January 3, Benjamin D. Angell purchased the west half of the northwest quarter, and the west half of the southwest quarter of Section 28, and on the 10th of January, one week later, he purchased the east half of the southeast quarter of Section 29. On the 4th. Aaron Mills purchased the east half of the southwest quai'ter of Section 22, and on the 10th James Odell purchased the west half of the southeast quarter of the same section. January 31, Alexander C. Black pui-chased the northwest fractional quarter east of the Wabash River, containing 73.10 acres; and the north fi-action of the southwest quarter, containing 71.40 acres, in Section 9. February 16, John Kuns purchased the south fraction of the northwest and" all of the southwest quarter of Section 2. March 18, 1825, William G. Bishop entered the west half of the northwest quarter of Section 33. On the 18th of April, Abram Ciaypool entered the northeast fractional quarter of Section 19, containing 156.87 acres. And afterward. May 4, 1825, Jacob Abolt entered the west half of the northwest quarter of Section 23; May 6, 1825, John Cary entered the west half of the southwest quarter of Section 22; May 9, 1825, Samuel Wise entered the southeast quarter of Section 11; May 9, Samuel Wise entered the southeast quarter of Section 13; May 9, Samuel Wise entered the northeast quiu-terof Section 24; May 10, John Kestler entered the south fraction east of river of Section 8 : May 10, David Baum entered the east half of the northwest quarter of Section 20; May 10, David Baum entered the southwest quarter of Section 20; May 11, John Abolt entered the northeast quai'ter of Section 27; May 16, William McCain entered the southeast quarter of Section 21; May 16, William McCain entered the northwest (juarter of Section 22; May 16, Benjamin Gilbreath entered the east half of the southwest quarter of Section 2 1 ; May 1 6, William McCain entered the northeast quarter of Section 15; May 16, William McCain entered the southwest quarter of Section 15; May 18, Andi'ew Bm-ntrager entered the northeast fraction of Section 9; May IS, Andi'ew Biu'ntrager entered the west half of the northwest cpuirtcr of Srctidn 10; May 18, George I. Baum entered the fractional S.'clicn 1^; May 18, George Baum entered the west half of the nnvtliwrst .pi.-irtrr of Section 20; May 26, Samuel Milroy entered the west half (if th.- ^ontlnv.'^t .|Uarlrr ..f Srctioi, 21 ; June 1, John Hurt entered tln' \vr>t li.ilf of ih.' >. mihr.-i^t .|ii.ii'liT of Section2S; Au^rust9.Altl'e,l Snuth lli..>..n,tlnv.'>( fi;ictional quarter of Section 9; September :'4, Thomas McGnire entered the west half rf the northwest quarter of Section 14; October 30, William McCall entered the fractional northwest quai'ter north of river of Section 9; November 26, Joseph Smith entered the east half of the southeast quai'ter of Section 31 ; December 21,

Henry Robinson entered the east half of the northeast quarter of Section 29; December 23, Jesse Clarke entered the west half of the northeast quarter of Section 29; December 23, Jesse Clark entered the east half of the northeast quarter of Section 29.

In Township 2-t north, Range 2 west, David Mount, on the 23d of December, 1824, entered the east fraction of the southwest quarter of Section 6, and also the west fraction of the same quarter-section - the first tracts entered in that township.

In Township 20, Range 2 west, on the 3d of January, 1825, Newberry Stockton purchased the east half of the soiitheast quarter of Section 25; on the 22d day of the same month and year, Lewis Paddock entered the east half of the uoi;theast quarter of the same section. Februaiy 16, 1825, John Knns entered the southwest fractional quai'ter of Section 26, containing 63.17 acres, and the southeast fi-actioual quarter of Section 25, containing 21.77 acres. December 7, 1825, AVilliam Vermillion entered the west half of the southeast quarter of Section 26.

In Township 25, Range 1 west, John Odell, on the 6th of May, 1825, entered the east fraction of the southwest quarter of Section 18, and the west half of the southeast quarter of the same section.

On the 18th of May, 1825, Fr. Hoover entered the west fraction of the southwest quarter of Section 30, Township 26 north, Range 1 west, containing 78.70 acres - the &st entry made iu that township.

The iii'st entry made in Township 2-1 north. Range 1 west, was the east half of the southwest quarter of Section 30, on the 7th of March, 1828, by David Cleaver. The next tract was the north fraction of the northwest quarter of Section 4, entered by Joseph Buckner on the 30th of September, 1828.

The first entry made in Township 23 north, Range 2 west, was on the 19th of March, 1828, by James Enoch, of the west half of the southeast quarter of Section 4. On the same day, Alexander Murphy, entered the southwest quarter of the same section. May 3, 1828, Nicholas Garst entered the west half of the southeast quarter of Section 2, and three days later he entered the southwest of the same section.

In Township 24, Range 2 west, the first original entry was made on the 4th day of February, 1829, by Thomas Stoops, of the east half of the southwest quarter of Section 12. The next entry was made by Enoch Cox, on the 26th of April, 1830, of the north fraction of the northwest quarter of Section 6, containing 82.10 acres, and the south fraction of the same quarter-section, containing 76.94 acres. On the 30th of October of the same year, John Robbins entered the north half of he northwest quarter of Section 5, containing 82.82 acres, and on the same day, William McCraiy entered the south half of the same quarter-section, containing 80 acres.

The first entries in Township 23 north. Range 1 west, were made on the 18th of September, 1829 - of the northwest quarter of Section 5. containing 156.93 acres, by Benjamin McGee, and of the northwest quarter, containing 152.63 acres, by Andi-ew Gee, both tracts iu the same section.

In Township 26 north. Range 1 east, the iii'st pm-chases were made by Moses Standley, on the 18th day of March, 1829, of the west half of the southeast quarter of Section 32, and the east half of the southwest quarter of the same section. On the 11th of September, Eleazer Gray entered the west half of the northeast quarter of the same section.

Samuel Salyers, on the 27th of JanuaiT, 1830, entered the west half of the southwest quai-ter of Section 19, in Township 25 north. Range 1 east - the tu-st entry made in that township.

In Township 24. Range 1 east, the first entry was made by Israel T. Canby, of the east half of the northeast quarter of Section 34, on the 11th of March, 1830. The next entry was made May 11, 1830, by John Shively, of the northeast quarter of Section 6.

In Township 25 north, Range 3 west, the first pui'chases were made on the 6th of October, 1830, of the whole of Section 12, by John Burkholder; of the northeast quartei', the west half of the southeast quarter, and the southwest quarter of Section 13, by Thomas Smith; of the fi'actioual west part of the northeast, and the east half of the northwest quarter of Section 25, by Daniel F. Vandeventer; of the northwest quarter of Section 24, by Nathaniel Hamilton; of the west half of the northwest quai'ter of Section 27, by Abram Hornback.

Pioneer Reminiscences

PIONEER REMINISCENCES. The Family of Henry Rohinsox - An Account of Their Emigration Hither - Selection of Site for and Building of THE First Habitation - Sub,sequent Experiences - Early Days is Carroll County, as Related by the Family- Valuable Memoranda Giving an Account of Early' Deaths in the Settlement - Some Details of Progre.ss - Incidents.

HENRY ROBINSON, who was the first permanent settler in this county, was born in the State of Pennsylvania, in March, 1778, the son of James and Sarah (Best) Robinson, the former having descended from Irish parentage. About the time of attaining his majority, he was married to Elizabeth Coleman, a daughter of Benjamin and Esther Coleman. On the 12th of October, 1824, Mr. Robinson, with his family, consisting of Abner, Sarah B., Coleman, Sojihronia, Lydia Ann, Elizabeth and Samuel H., accompanied by Joseph Clymer and his son, and a Mi'. James French, left the place of their former domicile, in the neighborhood of Dayton, Montgomery Co., Ohio, en route for the Wabash Valley. After leaving Dayton, they came by the road usually traveled by emigrants on their way to the West, passing through Richmond, Centerville, Jacksonboro, to the northward of Newcastle, and thence to Makepeace Station, or Old Bucktown," as it was sometimes called - one of the most populiu' stopping-places on the road; thence, on the south side of White River, thi'ough Anderson [town] to Strawtown, situated on the margin of 'WTiite River, at that time a place of considerable notoriety, being a kind of general trading point and stopping place; hence the name of the road [Strawtown Road], to distinguish the route as the most popular one fi'om the fact that the major part of the travel went that way. From Strawtown, the road traversed the wilderness in the direction of and through Thorntown, the site of an old village of the Thorntown or Miami Indians, to the Wea Plains in the vicinity of La Fayette. This point was reached on the f om'teenth day fi'om the starting. The family remained on the Wea fi'om the time of their arrival, in the latter part of October, until after the land sales at Crawfordsville, which commenced the day before Chi'istmas. In the meantime, Mr. Robinson and his eldest son, Al^ner, had been up on Deer Creek, prospecting for and locating suitable vacant tracts, preparatory to jjiu'chase. Having done so; they retxu-ned to their families, and thence repaired to the land otfice at Crawfordsville in time to enter the lots selected. The entry was effected on the 21st of December, 1824, the tracts piu-- chased being described as the east half of the southeast quarter of Section 20, Township 25 north, Range 2 west, and the east half of the northeast quarter of Section 29, in the same township and range. The latter of these two tracts selected for the homestead, upon which, as soon as they could reach the place of making the purchase, the first "cabin home" was erected with all the activity at command. The building party consisted of Hemy Robinson, the father; Abner and Coleman Robinson, his sons; with a Mr. Starks and his son - five in number, the two latter having been brought from the Wea for the piu-pose. The party an'ived at the place selected about midday, on Friday, December 31, 1824. They left the place of their temporary residence on Tuesday, December 28, the parties above named being in company, Mr. Starks and his son taking with them an ox team to facilitate their progress, and to assist in getting the logs together for the cabin.

On the fii-st day, after laboring assiduously and traveling as rapidly as circiunstances would permit, they reached and crossed Wild Cat Creek, and encamped that evening on the bluff. The crossing proved to be somewhat difficult, because of their nonacquaintance with the route. The next day, after leaving the creek, they began their journey by cutting their way thi-ough the thick woods, without other pioneers and guides than themselves, avoiding, as best they could, the creeks that run toward the river on the left, and the swamps likely to obstruct their passage on the right. Dm-ing the day, they were overtaken by Benjamin D. Angell (father of Dr. Charles Angell), who traveled with them most of the remaining distance. On the evening of the second day, the party encamped about one mile beyond Sugar- Creek. The following day they proceeded, with their usual caution, encamping for the night on ''Walker's Branch," or ''Bridge Creek," as it was sometimes called, all enjoying themselves as only such pioneersmen can. On Friday, the last day of the year 1824, they started early, but, meeting with considerable difficulty in crossing a swamp that ran parallel with Deer Creek, about three-fourths of a mile south of the site of Delphi, they did not an'ive at the place of their destination until about midday. The fu-st proceeding after their aiTival was to ascertain where the section line was located, to determine if they were right before fixing a place to encamp until better quarters could be provided in the proposed cabin. In the meantime, the bushes and undergrowth had been cut out of sufficient dimensions for their fixture domicile. Having thus completed the day, the month and the year, they retired to the enjoyment of peaceful slumbers in the midst of an unbroken wilderness, with the tall forest trees standing guard over the unconscious

Arising at an early hour of the morning, they commenced the labors of a new year with an earnest purjiose to economize time by pushing forward the work of building as rapidly as cirevmistances would permit. At the end of the day ending the week that preceded the first Sunday of these first settlers in Carroll County, the logs had been cut, brought to the spot, th(( foundation laid, and the building was left five rounds high when the night ended their labors. Sunday was observed with all due jiropriety, and with as much humility as the situation would pei-mit. tha]ik ing the Giver of all good for the opportunities thus afforded them.

The work. of building continued on Monday, assistance being received occasionally from persons prospecting for lands who chanced to pass that way. In the meantime, provisions growing scarce, Abner Robinson, Mr. Starks and his son were sent back for more, with instructions to bring, on their retiu-n, such members of the family as might feel willing to brave the perils of the situation. Abner, his wife, and Sarah B. Robinson, his eldest sister, set out for their new home on Tuesday, the 4th of January, camping for the night on the same spot where the party of the first expedition encamped the second night. On Wednesday, the 5th, these three members of the family arrived here between 1 and 2 o'clock, the two females being the first white women who settled in the county. During the two days following, four men were busy at the cabin, completing it, so far as the inclosui'e was concerned, with a chimney started and doorway cut out, in the evening of January 7. Much more difficulty was encountered by the builders in preparing the material for and making the floor. No saw-mills nor whip-saws were within reach, and it was necessary to resort to other expedients to produce Imnber adapted to the pui'pose of flooring, and for doorway and window faciags. The idea of hewing out planks with a broad- ax suggested itself, and was adopted. Though somewhat tedious, and occasionally vexatious, the method was attended with success, and accomplished in due time. The floors, it is true, were a little less even than if the lumber had been sawed and planed, but equally solid and vei-y satisfactory. Indeed, that process of making lumber for floors became vei-y popular among the subsequent settlers, being generally adopted by them, fi-om motives of necessity, if not from choice.

On Saturday, the 8th of January, Henry Robinson, with his son Coleman and Mr. Starks, returned to the Wea settlements for the remaining members of the household, Abner, his wife and sister remaining the sole occupants of the new cabin. The absentees returijied the following Wednesday, when the two families became the joint occupants of the round log domicile thus erected for them in midwinter, under circumstances not the most propitious. All, however, made a virtue of necessity, and enjoyed the situation with a becoming satisfaction akin to real comfort. The experiences of the Robinson family in their efforts to find and secure a home in this wilderness were, in the main, tyjiical of what other families that came soon after necessarily passed through, the advantages being in favor of the later adventm'ers, who not only had the way mai'ked out for them, but the example of genuine fortitude and perseverance manifested by those who had come before.

Breaking, for the moment, the thread of oiu' narrative of events in the order of their occurrence, the following register of the deaths that occun-ed in the settlement dui'ing the rest five yeai's fi'om its commencement, kept by Miss Elizabeth Robinson, a daughter of Hem-y Robinson, is inserted in this place as a valuable appendage tooui' record of events in primitive Cai'roll County:

Chaptee Iii

.Vkrival of Othek .Settlers - Benjamin D. Angell, Also AApoN Wiles and John Cary - Death of James Gilbreath AND Mr. Angell - Settlement of Aaron Merriman - Daniel Baum, Sk. - Robert Mitchell, .Sr. - Robert Mitchell, Jr., John Kessler and Jacob Baum. with Their Families - Arrival by Flat-boat - Keel of the Old Boat in Deer Creek - John Odell and Mrs. Thomas Stirlen Arrive and Settle on Deer Creek - House Built for Mr. Bau-M- Hugh JIanary Arrives - Mill Built, f;tc. . O OON after the family of IVIi-. Robinson had ai-rived and become ^ firmly fixed in their new home, Benjamin D. Angell, father of Dr. Charles Angell, of Pittsbm-gh, in this county, moved with his family into the neighborhood. He was accompanied by Aaron Wiles and John Cary, his brothers-in-law, tho three having married sisters, the daughters of James Odell, Sr. They soon selected a location, and all settled together, occniiying for some time the same cabin, which was situated a little way above where Isaac Wilson subsequently resided. Jlr. Angell, however, did not live long after this to enjoy the fiiiits of his labors, for death came to claim him as its victim, and he obeyed the eai-ly summons. He expired on the 16th day of September, 1825, and was - excepting, perhaps, James Gilbreath, who died September 8, of the same year the tu-st among the early settlers of this county who paid the debt of natui-e. His widow and family, consisting of fotusmall ohilch-en, continued to reside in the neighborhood. Aaron Merriman came here and settled about the same time, and made an opening on Kock Creek.

On the 7th day of March, 1825, Daniel Baum, Sr., Robert Mitchell, Sr., Robert Mitchell, Jr., John Kessler and Jacob Baum, with their families, left Chillicothe, Ohio, on a flat-boat, en route for the Wabash; passed down the Scioto River to the Ohio; thence down that river to the mouth of the Wabash; thence up the Wabash to the mouth of Deer Creek, and up that creek half a mile to the place of their landing, which was about one hunch-ed yards below he old slaughter house. While they were on their way down the Ohio River, Mr. Baum traded oflf his flat and pm'chased a keel boat, with which they pursued their jom-ney to the place of destination.

The old keel-boat lay tied to the shore, as it was when vacated by the voyagers at landing on the 30th day of April, 1825, until the spring of 1826, when it was simk by a flood of ice which passed down the creek at that time. Its bottom, pai-tially tilled with stones, still lies imbedded in the sand and mud, at or near the spot where it was first di^awn ashore. About this time, also, or it may be a little before, Craig Black commenced an improvement above the dam, now known as the old Wells fanu.

Dm-ing the smnmer or fall of this year, Mr. John Odell and Sli's. Thomas Stirlen settled on Deer Creek. With these came also a Mr. Gilbreath, and built a cabin on the spot or adjacent to 'the former residence of Mrs. Gen. Milroy. Soon after his settlement at that place, himself and family suffered greatly fi-om sickness, losing a son, James Gilbreath, who died September 8, 1825, and was bm-ied on the bluff below the Milroy mansion. These early misfortunes so disheai'tened him that he left there a short time after.

Robert Mitchell, Sr., one of the company who came here with Mr. Bamn, put up a cabin on the bank of Deer Creek. Mr. Daniel Baum, of whom mention has been before made, built the house afterwai-d occupied by Mi-. Christopher Vandeventer. John Kessler settled on the farm since owned by Speai's & Case, adjoining the "Bondie Reserve." Jacob Baum settled on the fai'm situate one mile from Delphi, on the Logansport road, owned by Peter Toughman many years after. With the exception of Robert Mitchell, Jr., who returned to Ohio, the foregoing paragi-ajih shows the several locations of the families composing the emigrant company who arrived here with Daniel Baum. Of these, again, severally, mention will be made hereafter.

In the fall of 1825, Hugh Manary, Sr., settled in the bottom on what is now known as Manary's Addition to the town of Delphi. He sold a mill seat ofl' his land to Phillip StaiT, and afterward moved across the creek, on the hill just above where the old slaughter house stood.

Early in the season of 1S25, Henry Robinson commenced the improvement of the mill site on the creek just above town. The work progressed slowly for the want of proper tools, and the nearest blacksmith was at Crawfordsville. The mill at which the settlers were obliged to get their gi-inding done, and the store at which they did their shopping, as well as the post office where they received and deposited their mail matter, were also at Craw- fordsville. It was the common practice, therefore, for some one person of the neighborhood to go with an ox team to mill, and at the same time transact all the other business at that point required by the whole settlement, which usually occupied some eight or ten days in going and retm-ning.

Some time in the spring or summer of this year, 1825, John R. Ballard, with a few other young men, ai-rived in the settlement and commenced improvements.

On Sunday, the 18th day of Januaiy, 1826, the people of the settlement met and held their first social prayer meeting, which has been continued, with more or less regularity, ever since. At this time, there were but ten heads of families in Carroll County, and among them there was no observance of caste, but all was sociability and good feeling.

In May or June of this year, a saw-mill was erected where the upper mill now stands. The mill commenced operations some time in September, and, in two or thi-ee weeks after, a pair of small mill-stones was placed in the mill and adjusted for the purpose of grinding corn. This addition to the facilities for promoting the comfort and lessening the uncertainties of subsistence of the settlers was hailed with delight, as an omen of good to the community. It obviated, in no small degree, the necessity they were subjected to in being obliged to go sometimes to Fountain County, other times to Crawfordsville, and then recently to La Fayette, where a mill had been erected but a short time before, to get their corn ground. This mill was the result of efforts directed to that and by Mi-. Henry Kobinson, to whom, in this and succeeding evidences manifested by him of endeavors to add to their convenience and comfort, the early settlers of Carroll County owe a debt of gratitude.

At the time when the saw-mill above alluded to was raised, all the men from Wild Cat to Rock Creek were invited to assist in putting up the frame. There were twenty-eight persons present, including three or fom- fi-om beyond the limits of Carroll County. This was probably the last time that all the men in what is now the limits of CaiToll County were together, and was an occasion long to be remembered by the surviving participants on that occasion.

About the same period, the settlement received several accessions to the number of its inhabitants by the arrival of Isam Atkinson, James McDuwel, John Kims, and the late Gen. Samuel Mih-oy, with their families. There were also some others, among them a number of young men. James McDowel arrived here in August of this year, from Vigo County, Indiana, and was accompanied by David Lucas and family. Alexander Chamberlain, formerly of Cass County, afterward of Fultou County, in this State, came with him also.

Robert Mitchell, Sr., who came from Ohio with Daniel Banm, Sr., in April of the preceding year, died on the 27th day of August, 1826, and was biu'ied at the section corner, at what is now the foot of Front street, in the town of Delphi, which is not now, nor has it been for many years, markcil l>y ,iiiy iiji'iiiorial that one of the earliest settlers of the county iv|m,s.s tli,.|-,. hciusith the sod; and few, if any, are there now who can iirD^niizi- the place of his rest Not far fi'om the same spot rest the ashes of William Sims, who was a stranger in the country, stopping temporarily near where Logansjiort now stands. He was taken sick there, and, having no one to care for him except his brother-in-law, was brought to Mv. Daniel Baum's residence, in what is now Delphi, that he might be better cared for. He remained sick about two weeks after being brought down, and died at the house of Mr. Baum on the 5th day of September, 1826.