Clinton County, Indiana - Chapter 24: Owen Township, 1913

Owen is one of the northern tier of townships, hounded on the north bv Carroll county, east by Warren township, south by Union township, and west by Ross township. The surface is somewhat rolling and the township has good natural drainage to the north and west by branches of the middle fork of Wildcat, reinforced by two large ditches, and partly to the south bv branches of Killmore creek. The soil is a productive sandy loam, especially fitted for grain and the interests of the township are chiefly agricultural.

This territory was originally included in Jackson township, but was organized as a separate township in March, 1843. As established, it was five miles east and west by six miles north and south, but when Union township was created, in 1889, a strip was added to it from the southern part of Owen, one mile in width. This included the town of Killmore, which had formerly been in Owen township. The township is now five miles square and is the only one of that shape in the county.

The settlement of the township began before the organization of the county by the advent of Elihu Short, Samuel Gray, John Temple and John Miller. Short entered the first land claim in the township and brought his family there in 1828. The homestead is still known as the Short farm. Gray and Temple settled on section 33, west of the present town of Moran. Miller died in 1832, this being the first recorded death in the township. In 1830, Lew is Shepard and his son Abraham, settled on section 35 : and Philip Kramer with his family located on section 4. In 1831 came Lewis Chaney, who settled on section 2 : \V. H. Addison, on section 34 : and Abel Leach on section 36. It will be noted that these locations made a rather compact settlement in the central part of the township.

In 1832, George Salmon settled on section 10; NToah Bunnell on section 34; Thomas Kennard on section 24; Thomas Kitley on section 34; and Major W. H. Reed on section 33. In 1834. John Coapstick settled on section 23;

John Smith on section 24; William Smith on section 25; John Castalor on section 4; and Andrew Connaron on section 9. In 1834-6 additional settlers were John Starrett, Thomas Leach, David Long, David Sample, John Fitzgerald, Jacob Bresler, Reuben White, William Mabbitt, James Smith, David Shrover, John Humer, Arthur Crumpton, James Campbell, Jacob Miller, Levi Herr, Amos Punier. John Boyles, William Alexander, John S. Hayes, Alvin Vice, Asburv Vice, William Reed, Abel and Henry Cheney, William Campbell and William Bosworth.

The pioneers of Owen township were mostly religious people and believers in education. The first religious services were held in 1831, at the house of Lewis Shepard, by Methodists of the neighborhood, and it is said that the first sermon was preached by Rev. Miller, a Methodist clergyman. This, however, is disputed, there being a claim that the first sermon was preached at the house of John Miller, by Rev. Gilalen, a Presbyterian clergyman. The next meeting was held by the same denomination at the house of Lewis Chaney, who was a licensed preacher of the Methodist church. Other pioneer preachers were Tames Boyles and Tsaac Merrill. The first church was built by the Methodists, in 1836. on Mr. Chaney's land. The Presbyterians built what was known as the Mount Hope church in 1837. The first schoolhouse was built in the fall of 1834, on section 4, and the first school was taught there in the winter of 1834-5 by Joshua Leach. The Methodists have churches at Sedalia and Moran, at which services are held by Rev. C. B. Smith, who is stationed at Rossville, and who also officiates at Killmore. There are five hundred and seven members and six hundred and twenty-five Sundav school members reported from the four churches.

There are three towns in Owen township, none of them incorporated. Moran and Sedalia are stations on the Vandalia road, which crosses the township from north to south. Cambria is a station on the Monon road, which crosses the southwestern corner of the county. Moran was laid out by Xoah L. Bunnell. October. 1873. an(' named for an official of the Vandalia road. There i> here a Methodist church, served by Rev. C. B. Smith, of Rossville.

Sedalia was platted March 31, 1873 by James A. Campbell and Jackson B. McCune. Mr. McC'une built the first house here and was the first postmaster. Win. A Tiller opened the first store. Dr. Keeny was the first physician. Allen Branch was the first blacksmith. The place is a considerable business center and the location of a private bank - the Bank of Sedalia. - with resources of sixtv-nine thousand nine hundred forty-seven dollars and seventv-six cent'. There was some thirty year' ago a church here called the Baptist Union, which was discontinued. The Methodists have a church at which Rev. C. B. Smith, of Rossville. officiates.

Cambria is a new but ambitious village. Owen Lodge. Tndepnedent Order Odd Fellows located here, has sixty-four members. Henry Schnepp is noble grand and D. H. Sharp, financial secretary. Eventide Lodge. Daughters of Rebekah. has a membership of thirty-one brothers and forty-five sisters. Minnie Strange is noble grand and Myrtle Mohler. financial secretary.