Franklin County, Indiana - Chapter 5: Organization and Noundarv Cflanges of Townships, 1915 (part 1 of 2)

Chapter 5: Organization and Noundarv Cflanges of Townships

It is not certain when the first townships were created in Franklin county owing" to the fact that the records from 1811 to 1814 are missintf. The first mention of townshii)S is fcnind under the date of January 3. 1S16. at which time the county court appointed overseers of the poor for the townships of Posey. Pirookville and Bath. It is prol)aI)le that tliese townshijjs were organized previous to this date, hut if such were tlie rase tlie record has not been found. The first township boundaries are set forth in the county court book (D, p. 82) on Jaiuiary 6. 1816. .\t this time tlie boundaries of the three townships just mentiimed are given, as well as those of White Water township. In the following- table is given a list of the townships in the order of thejr organization. .As has been said, the date. January 3, i8i(). is the first time Bath, Brookvillc and Posey townshi})s are menrioned, and does not imply that they were organized on that date.

Three of these townships, Connersville, Liberty and L'nion, were in that part of Franklin county which was later set otT as Fayette and Union counties, and consequently disappear from Franklin county records with the organization of the c(junties of which they l)ecame a part. -\ fourth township. Somerset, was organi./ed in 1821 and included practicallv the same limits as the present township of Laurel, but before the vear was over the commissioners dissolved it and attached the territory in question again to Posey. This leaves thirteen townships in the county, the last two datingfrom 1849. The townships are discussed in the order of their organization with exception oi the four no lons^er in existence. They are treated at the close of the history of the present tliirteen townships of the county.

This is the central and largest civil sub-divisif^n in I->anklin county, and contains the whole of congressional tmvnship 9, range 2: sections i to 12, inclusive, of township 8. range 2; two fractional sections of township 9, range 3 west: three fractional sections of townshij; 10, range 3 west: nine full and six fractional sections of township 11, range 13 east: and six sections of township 12, range 13 east. The total territory embraced within Brookville township is about sixty-eight sections or square miles. The portion of this is within the original Wayne Purchase of 1795. while the remainder is between the 1795 line and the boundary line of 1809.

Brookville township was one of the three townshii)s which first appear in the commissioners' records on January 3, t8i6, and three days later its limits are defined as follow s :

"All that part of Franklin county included within the following Ix)undaries, towit : On the north by a line beginning on the west boundary line of the said county of Franklin: and thence running east so as to intersect the township line dividing the ninth and tenth townships ; thence runnmg east along with the said township line to the east boundary of said county, and on the south by a line beginning on the west boundary lin<; of said countv of Franklin; and tlience running east to White Water so as to cross White Water at the mouth of Big Cedar Grove creek : thence running along the Big Cedar Grove creek with the meanders thereof until the same intersects the line dividing the eighth and ninth townshijj line to the east boundary line of the county - shall compose a township, which to^\ nship shall be called and known by the name of Brookville township."

Thus it will be seen that Brook\ ille township extended across the county from east to west and for the Tuost part was seven miles and a half in width. On May 12, 1817, Springfield township was cut ofif with practically its present territorial limits. At some time in its history Brookville townshii) has included within its limits all or part of every townshij) in the county with the exception of Fairfield and Bath. In the historv of the various townships will be seen a discussion of boundary limits. At the present time Iiro(;k\ille ti»\vn>Iii|j incUules as mncli territory as is fouml in Bath, Fairfield. I'Msey and iialt of Hutlcr townsliii)-. a tact which leads one to suspect that there nia\' have been political considerations in the formation of townships in the county.

"Be<>-innin,^ at the '-outhca>t corner of section i_\ tf)wnsliip S in rant,'c 2 west: thence west on the section line to the (Jrouseland ])urchasc line; thence southwesterly on said line to the west corner of fractional section 6. town 10, rani^a' [.^ east: thence north on the t(nvn'~hip line to the northwest -corner of section i<). township 12. ranye 13 east; thence east on tlie section line to the old boundary line; tlience northwardly to where the line dividing towns 9 and 10 in ran<.:e 2 west intersects the said boundary line; thence east along the ttjwnship line 10 the n(jrtheast cmier of town 9, range J west: thence south on the township line to the place of beginning, to I)e called Brookville township.'" ft did ncjt get its present limits until after the organization of Metamora and Butler townships on September 5. 1S49.

Natural Features

Brookville township has a varied to|xigraphy and wonderfully beautiful :scenerv. The surface is (|uite une\en and broken. The many creeks that flow through its borders give much bottom land which is of a very productive quality and especially is this true along the White Water river where the valley is a mile wide in places. The main water courses include the West and East Fork of the White Water river. West Fork tlows from the west and north till it meets the waters of the East Fork, which come from the north, near the center of the township at the town of Brookville. Then the main stream flows on till it crosses the southeastern part of the township and crosses over into Dearborn county.

Little Cedar rises in the northeast part of the township and unites with the main river about three miles below Brookville. Big Cedar crosses the extreme southeast corner of the territory. Richland creek, a small streamlet, with a deep valley, lies between the Little aiid Big Ceelars. Templeton's -creek enters the East Fork of White Water river in the northern part of the township. Blue creek is the chief stream in the southwestern jx^rtion of the township. Wolf creek, in the southwestern part, unites with Blue creek hefore the latter empties into White Water. Others are McCarty's run.

Franklin Couxtv, Indiana. Ii3

The hillsides alon;:; most of these streams which are rapid running water courses, are ti-cnerallx- of such an easy slope tliat the lands can be cultivated ')r used for pasturiui^ [jurposes with ease and i)r<jfit. However, when the timber is cut from some of the steeper hills, and cultivation is attempted, the land washes badly. b\armin.c,^ and stock growing at present engage the attentiou of the land owners, although at an earlier date the forests were a source of much revenue.

Pioneer Settlement

It is not alwavs an easy matter in counties as old as Franklin to estab- 'lish the facts concerning who were the lirst to settle in a given township, for be it remembered that no one now li\es who saw the "green glad >olitude" of what is now Brookville township in its virgin state. It is known of record, howc-ver. that the first land entered from the government within what is now Brookville township was the east half of section 4. townsiiii) 9. range 2. and that it was entered by Robert Tem])leton on September 24, 1804. The second entry was made four days later ( Septeni])er jo. i8'04) by William Tvner. who claimed the southwest (juarter of section 33, township g. range _'. Then came the following land entries : William Arnett. December 27: James ]\[cCoy. Octoljer 22; James Taylor; October 27,: Thomas Williams. November 17; Amos Butler. December 4: John Ramey, October 13; Solomon Tyner, November 30, all in the year 1804.

[^n6 - William Hendersou, Anthony Haberstadt. Agnes Taylor, David Bell. John \'incent, .\braham Flackleman and four additional quarters of land by .\mos Butler.

Somf. Pioneer Familie.S.

The land entries alon^r the river southeast of the town of Brookville were nearlv all improved immcdiatelv after their (jri^inal eiitry. It i> £jen-, erally believed that William I'yner was among the Aery first to set stakes and commence building for himself a home in the forests of this township. His farm included the place later years known as the "Bruns Grove'' farm, on which was a fine group of springs. John Quick came in 1800 and entered land tlic next }car. He was a justice of the peace under the territorial government and later probate judge of Franklin comity. He was a leader among his fellow pioneers. He was descended from Marylan<J and Kentucky families.

David Stoops, who came with Amos Butler in 1805. settled on the river west of Brookville. Tie was the father of twenty-three children, of which number, Robert, William, John. Ricliard, David, Jr.. Thomas aufl Elijah reached man's estate here, and performed well their part in building up Franklin county. ]Many of the descendants of this pioneer family still reside here. John \^inccnt was one of the first settlers in the valley west of Brookville. He had been a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and here he became a leader among his neighl)ors during the Indian troubles. He was born in England, and was the father of ten children, one cif whom. Samuel, died from the effects of a rattlesnake bite. Henry Berry came in iS'iTi and settled east of town on the Hamilton road, where he carried on blacksmithing many years. He was a justice of the peace and became ])robate judge of this county. Giles Martin and his sons, A\'illiam and George, were among the early comers to Brookville townshiji; also Jacolj Hetrick, James Moore, b'ielding Jeter and the Halstead families. A Universalist minister named Daniel St. John came early and served as sheriff two terms and later was a justice of the peace in the county. James Goudie located near Judge

Berry's. He was an early nicnibcr of the Lei^islature from Franklin county. It is said he had the first grinclstone in all his section of the neii:jhborhood, and that it was freely used by one and all. Patrick McCarty settled west of town, near the stre.'ini called .McCarty's rnn, named for him. Spencer Wiley. a pioneer in these parts, was a member of the Legi>lature. and a member of the constitutional convention in 1S51. On the e.xtreme eastern side of Brookville township settled John W'ynn, who served as county surve}'or and justice of the peace at an earl}- date, (jiles Grant was numbered amonj^ the pioneer band; he was an associate judc^e and member of the Lecjislature from this county. In iSrj John Harris i)latted fractional section i.S, northwest of the town of Brookville, into out-lots. It was known as "Harris' Section.'' More than fifty years aj^o it was vacated and reverted to farm land.

There was a block-house in section 3, west of the boundary line. In 1813 there were four cabins picketed and fortified on the old Jeter farm.

Towns And Villages

Besides Brookville, the county seat. Brookville township has had platted within her borders small villages. Union (also called Whitcomb). was platted by Ebenezer Howe, Septemlier 14. 18 16. It was later added to 1a' Samuel Goudie about 1834 and again in 1850 by Isaac Updike. ^^'hitcoInb postoffice was established at this point and in the seventies there was established a grange of the Patrons of Husbandry. In the early eighties the village had the usual number of stores and small shops found in country villages. The steam saw-mill was another of the helps to the place. At present the population of W'hitcomb is about one hundred and ten. The towns of Buncombe and Butler's Run were platted July 11, 1851. and June 10, 1859,- respectively. Both joined Brookville on the north, but neither ever materialized as a town, although parts of both have later been taken within the coqjorate limits of Brookville. Another town which tlourished for a few years was located a mile west of Brookville and was known as Woodville. in fractional section 24. Its history is shrouded in more or less mystery. No plat ever was recorded and the flood of 1848 seems to have terminated its existence.

Yung was a hamlet in section 34, towmship 11. range 13. but was never platted. At this point there was a distil'ery established which ran until about 1905. The Yung brothers were proprietors. There was a postoffice

Tiath Tou'X.Siiii'

This is the extreme northeastern subdivision of Franklin cunty and was in existence on January 3, 1S16, at which time it included not only what is now Bath township, but also all n\ 1 '"airfield and a stri]) nine miles north of the present limits of I^'ranklin count\ and east of the JJ<j^ treaty line. On January 3, 1816, the commissioners' record described this township as follows: "All that ])art of Franklin county which lies within the tenth township, in iirst rang-e, the renth t()Wii>hip in the second range, the eleventh township in the first ranL;e and the eleventh townshi]) in the second range - shall compose a township, which township shall be called and known as Bath township."

The next change in lioundary- lines was made February 10. 1817, although no new townships were created at that time. At this date Bath to\»nship was described as follows: "Beginning at the northeast corner of Bro"kville township : thence north until it intersects the lines dividing the tenth and eleventh townships, range first : thence west along said di\-isiun line until it intersects the old boundary; thence southwardly along said old boundary line until it intersects the line dividing the ninth and tenth town.shifjs in range two; thence east along said line to the place of beginning.

Upon the organizatimi of Union county, February i, 1S21, Bath township was given its present northern limit and was reduced in width from twelve to three miles.

In i8j8, when there were eight townships in the county, the records show that Bath was described as follows: "Beginning at the southeast corner of township 10, range i west; thence north on the line between the states of Indiana and Ohio to tlic corner of L'nion county ; thence west on the line of .said county to the northwest corner of section iq. in the township and range aforesaid; thence south to the southwest corner of said township; thence east on the township line to the place of beginning - to be called Bath township." The present hiuiiuhiry conforms to the last-named description. Its territory now comprises the ><A\\.h half of congressional township lO north, range i west, and includes secticjns 19 and T,f>, inclusive.

The population of the township in iHyo was si.\ hundred and fifty-eight and twenty years later, or in 1910, it was placed by the census reports at si.x hundrefl and four.

Aside from the rough lands along the streams, this is a very level and even surfaced township, with some of the finest and most valual)le farms in Franklin county, and sells at from one hundred to one hundred and fifty dollars an acre. The central part of the township has a watershed sufficient to throw the waters each way into small streams, the i)rinci])al of which is Cig Cedar creek, and finally empties into White Water river. Pleasant run. or Brandywine creek, rising in the northeastern part of this township, falls into Indian creek, which crosses the corner of the township, .\nother stream is Templeton's creek, running to the west.

From the most reliable evidence it ajipears that the township was named Bath from the formerly well-known mineral spring, w hich in an early day was used for medicinal baths. This spring is not now within the present bounds of the township, however.

The first land entered in this township was the southeast quarter of section 27. The date was May 29, 1805, and the man entering this tract was William Forbes, who was not, however, an actual settler.

Daniel Hansel made the next entry, September 30, 1805. in section 24. In November, that year, I.ukIs were entered by Abraham and Daniel Miller, who selected lands in the same section last named. Other entries were by James Crooks, January 28, 1806. the northwest quarter of section 24: Thomas Burk, April 8, 1806. northeast fiuarter of section 26: William Dubois, January 21, 1806, southeast cjuarter of .section 30; Chatfield Howell. June 21. 1806, southeast quarter of section 30. Three other tracts were entered about 1806, but by men who were never residents of the township. Abraham Lee entered the southeast quarter of section 36 September, 1807. and settled there the following year. In July. 1808. Abraham Jones located in the southwest quarter of section 36. In 1809 James Barton entered several tracts: John Harper also claimed land in the ttnvnship that year. In 1810 came in Moses Maxwell, Jose])h Lee. \\'illiam Stephens. Andrew Comelison and David Gray, all claiming government lands by entry right. John. Sr.. and John.

Jr., of the ininl family, and also I'.cnjaniin Ilcarj^oridcr were settlers of 1811. In 1812 came Lemuel J.emm(;n, Abel Dare and Jacob bell. In 1813 the settlement was increased by the advent of pioneers William Goff, Samuel Kain, Adatn Xelson. Jolm Morris and possibly a few others.

Of Abraham Lee, one of the ])ioneers of this township, it is related that he temporarily located on what was later styled Lee's creek. He devoted much time to exploriiii;- the western portii/n of the Wayne I'urchase while it was bein,^ surveyed in 1 801 -2. After he had settled in present Fiath township, the Indians were (piite numerous and were hostile toward the whites on several occasions. He had to get his breadstufifs ground at a mill on Dry Fork. He lived with his wife and two children in a rude cabin. Their supply of corn meal was much reduced and someone must needs to go to mill again. The Indians had a camp near the Lee cabin. He believed that his family would not l)e safe in his absence, and the matter was talked over between him and his good wife, who felt that if her husband did not object she had best go to mill and leave him in charge of the cabin and children. He finally consented and she placed a sack of corn on the trusty family Iv^rse and started off to mill, many miles distant. She made the trip in safety and all ended well, notwithstanding the husband was called on several times by his Indian neighbors, and there came near Ijeing trouble, but, through Lee's firmness and tactics, they did not molest him.

First And Important Events

The first tavern license in the township was issued to John Flint, in May, 1817. By order of the court the elections of the township were held at this tavern for many years.

Bath township is first mentioned in countv records as being organized January 6, 1816, and the description of the township was as follows: "Ordered that all that portion of Franklin county which lies within the tov.nship 10, range i; township 10. range 2; township 11, range i, and township I.I, range 2, shall compose a township which shall be known and called Bath township." William Dubois was the first one to be appointed bv the court as superintendent of elections.

After January i, 18 1/. the board of Cf^unty commissioners had charge of county affairs largely. It was under this board that most of the township organizations were perfected. Esquire \\'illiam Dubois, supposedly a

Franklix Countv, Indiana. I I9

On July 12, 1S17, the board ordered an election of one justice of the peace for Bath township, to take the place of William Dubois, deceased.

It is believed by all of the older citizens that in 181 1 Col. John Miller built and operated a mill on Brandywine creek, in what is now Union county, but which was for many years in Bath township. This, or possibly the "Bake mill" on Indian creek, was the first in the township. Another mill was also constructed higher up the stream in this township at about the same date. Probably a horse-power system was employed when water was too low in stage to propel the old over-sh'it water-wheel. Another mill i.-^ re- -called as being located in section 25, built by Abraham Lee and Xathan Bourne.

The first reaping machine in Bath township was probably the McCormick reaper, with an iron finger-bar, purchased by John \V. Smolley in 1S53.

Joshua Harris was a pioneer tanner of the township, and conducted his ibusiness on Brandywine creek, where later resided Esquire Caleb Barnum.

The first school house was a log building standing where the hamlet of Mixerville now stands, on lands owned then by Abraham Jones. The earliest school taught was in a log cabin, where J. J. Lee later built. This scho-ol was taught by Aliss Abigail Smith.

William Bake was the first man wdio had courage enough to refuse to furnish intoxicating liquors for men working at harvest and logging bees in Bath township, he being a radical temperance advocate at a time when it was "very unpopular to say anything against the drinking habit. Times have -changed remarkably with the flight of a century in Franklin county.

W^ith the flight of years many changes have been wrought out in Bath township. \\'here a century ago were but a few settlers, forging their way through the forests and seeking to make humble homes for their families, today the scene presents one of charming rural life, with hundreds of beautiful farm houses, surrounded by all that the heart of an independent agriculturist might wish for. The scythe and cradle have given place to the reaper and har\ester, the mower and the hay-making implements which make farm life iiiurc dcsiraMe and ])n)lital)Ie. The lo}( cabin has <li>api;eared and in its (looryard one sees the modern farm home with all the conveniences found in city houses. Schools and churches abound and railroad facilities arc within reach of all the progressive husbandmen of the "kingdom of Franklin.'"

The present township officers are : Trustee, Charles Wilson : assessor. r^Iarshall Kay ; advisory board, John T. Briar, Bennett Raider and Mark Maloy.

Villages Of The Towxsiiii'

There are three little hamlets within Bath township - Colter'.-, Corner. Bath and Alixerville. These are small country trading places, with but few inhabitants each. The township being called Bath, it wa^ natural when a postoffice was established there, many years ago. that it should be called Bath, although it was located at a country store and a hamlet styled Colter's Corner, wdiich place is something over a mile to the west of the present railroad station on the Chesapeake iS: Ohio railroad, kn(jwn as Bath ( by some called New Bath, but not rightfully). Colter's Corner was established before the Civil-war period, and has never grown to a place of much im])urtance. At the present time the business is hi the hands of the following: A general store, operated by O. K. Elwell ; a grocery and meat shr)p. operated by D. \V. Spenny ; two blacksmith shops - one by J. C. Dare and one by W. E. Smith. Then there is one professional man. in the jierson of Dr. A. W. Johnson. Bath postotifice, which was formerly located here, was discontinued about 1907, and mail is now received by the rural free deliverv routes from Brookville and College Corners. This hamlet is within a most fertile and beautiful farming secti<in, with signs of prospentv on everv hand.

Bath, the railroad station of the township, is situated in section 27, township 10, range i west. The railroad was constructed through the township in 190J-0.S, and the station at once became the feature of this portion of the county. A two per cent, tax was voted in Bath township to aid in building this line of railway, and this brought about twelve thousand dollars in way of aid for the construction company. The first buildin-s in the village were the grain elevator and a residence of John Stout. The pioneer store of the village was that of John C. Hunt, a railroad engineer, who continued to run his locomotive until a year or so ago. since which time he has devoted his time to the store of ^general merchandise, which has been oper- ated ]arj,^ely l)y his wife since first opened, in 1903. F. A. Rigsby, an early factor in the build in- u]) n\ the town, came in as soon as the place was platted and soon opened a small f,'eneral store, and continued a few years, then sold to its present owner, Adam Kunkle. Mr. Rip^sby removed to Colorado.

The grain business has Ijeen in the hands of Rigsby & Stout, who sold to the Tnter-State Grain Company, and they'in turn sold to the W'illey. lirown Company, who n(jw have a line of five grain elevators along the line of road running through Hath.

O. S. Dubois cK- Son came in if;05 and have lx;en the only ones engaged in buying and selling live stock. They bought and shipped before the railroad was finished by driving the stock to Cottage Grove.

The first blacksmith in Bath was George Collier, who fired his glowing forge about as soon as the town had an existence. He was succeeded by several other smiths. The present blacksmith is Ward Lcjper.

J. C. Hunt, before mentioned, built a hotel in 1913, but its landlords have not been successful and today the house is vacant. At one time it was conducted by Ed. Peek, and later by the telegraph operator, John Gormaine. It is a good two-story frame building.

Soon after the tcnvn started a tile manufacturing company was formed and operated for a while and then failed, causing a loss to many of the stockholders.

Milk is bought and shipped daily to Richmond. Both the local and long distance telephone systems are to be had from this point. Lands sell from one hundred to one hundred and fifty dollars per acre, and not much changing hands at this time ( 1915)- The chief products are corn, hogs and wheat.

As to schools, it may be stated that the patrons of schools here send their children to the new graded school building, a brick structure erected a half mile west of the village in 191 1. It is modern and has a basement and is heated with steam.

Mixerville is a small trailing hamlet in the southeastern portion of Bath township, in section 36. Here the first postofiice in the townshijj was established, but \ou<j since it has been served bv the rural free deliverv system.

The only Ijusincss there at lliis date is the general merchan'lise store of Mrs. \V'ilsijn. A town was platted here in iX4(") hy William Mixer, hut it never materialized into a place of much importance.

Posky Touxsiiip

The extreme ni)rthwc>lcrn .^nhdivision of hranklin c(junty is I'osey township. It is west of Laurel and nijrlh (jf the western [portion of Salt Creek township. It derived its name frrjm Thomas I'osey. governor of Indiana Territor}- 1812-16. Posey t()wnshii> was one of the three township.-, in the county on January 3, iSiO, the other two being Crook ville and Bath. At that time Posey included all of the land between the middle of town 12 north and town 14 north, l}-ing between the treaty line> of 1795 and i8o<j - an area approxiiuately twelve miles s(|uare. On July \(k 1816, it was cut in two in -order to form Connersville township on the north. Somerset township was> cut off from it May 14, 1821, but before the end of the year ( X(n-emher 12. 182 1 ) this townshi]) ceased tc; exist and its territory again became a i)art of Posey. Blooming Grove township was cut off of Posey on May 12, 18 17. The formation of Salt Creek (May 8, 1844) and Laurel (March 5, 1S45), reducetl Posey township to its present size, six miles in length by three in width. It is composed of eighteen sections of township 12 north, range 1 1 east, or the east half of congressional 12 township. The township was settled by pioneers who came late, and as a rule followed the streams, as this location was best suited to pioneer life. The population of Posey township in 1910 was 713, as against 810 in 1900, and S82 in 1S90.

Org.Vnizatiox .Vxd Boundaries

- On January 6, 1816, Posey township was defined by the commissioners as "all that part of Franklin county which lies within the following boundaries, towit : On the north by so much of the northern boundary line of -said county as lies between the northwest corner of township 11, range 2. and the northwest corner of the county, on the west by so much of the western boundary line as lies between the northwest corner of the county and a line to be drawn so far south that the same by running east will strike the line -dividing the ninth and tenth township in the first and second range, on the -south bv the last described line, and on the east bv the western boundary line

-of the tenth anrl elc\enfh township of range 2 - shall compose a township, which township shall be called an<l known by the name of Po>ey township."

The next chanj^e was (jn i'ebruary lo, 1817, when the county commissioners ordered the county of h'ranklin to be divided into six townships, White Water, Flrookville. Posey, Bath. 1 'nion and Connersville. I'osey township was ordered bounded as follows :

"Beginning at the northeast corner of Brookville township: thence running east to the (^Id Ixnindary line at the corner of ninth and tenth townships: thence along the said boundary line in a northerly direction to the center of township 13 and range 13; thence west to the western boundary Hne of said county, thence to the place of beginning, running on the western boundary line of said county.''

"Ordered, that all that part of Brookville township lying west of a line 'drawn due south from the southeast corner of Posey township, until it intersects the north line of White Water township be added to Poscv township."

In October, 181 8. the central ])art of the state was purchased bv the "United States government from the Indians, and this immense tract of land comprising all or parts of thirty-eight counties, has always been known as the Xew Purchase. New counties were organized out of this territorv as fast as the population would justify, and many of the counties already formed were contigtious to this tract Avere enlarged by incorporating parts of the territory in question.

The state Legislature of 1823 added part of the New Purchase to Frankh"n county, and on February 11. 1823, the commissioners of Franklin countv "ordered that all that part of Franklin county which has been attached to Franklin by a late act of the Legislature, which lies west of Posev township, be and the same is hereby attached to the said township of Posey."

"Ordered, that the fifth township be bounded as follows : Beginning at the southeast corner of township 12. in range 12 east; thence due west along said township line to the western boundary of Franklin countv: thence north along said boundary line to the northwest corner of Franklin countv: thence east along the northern boundary of said county to the northeast corner of 12 in range 12 east: thence south on the township line to the place 'of beginning, to be called Posey township."

Its Streams arc Little Salt creek, which takes its rise near the nurtlnvest angle of the tounsliip and courses in a soutlieastern direction thrmigh m(^re than a third of its area. Bull's fork of Salt creek drains the southwest corner of the township. 1"he South fork of the Little Salt creek crosses much of the territory antl passes out near the southeast corner. The streams afford a good acreage of rich bottom land. The general surface of the township is gently rolling, with some level table land in the central portion. Its soil is substantially the same as that found in Salt Creek and Ray tcnvnships.

The first white man to invade this portion of what is now Franklin county was a Rev(jlutionary soklier who was present at General Braddock's defeat. The name is J(jseph Mires, who settled on Seine's creek. He was a model frontiersman, and his name is frequently referred to by older residents and writers of local liistory. Just what spot he located on is not known, but that it was near the townsliii) line is usually c(jnceded b>- hist<jrfanSy It is hkely that he was a "scpuitter," as his name does not appear on the gV)vernment land oftke records. The following entered lands, at governmel^t prices, at the dates indicated in the subjoined list of land entries :

There were iiuinennis saw-mill.^ and cc^rn-crackers scattered here and there through) mt this towiislii]) at an early clay, hut owinjj to the uncertainty of the water i)o\ver and other reasons they have all disappeared. The last in the township - the old John Barher mill - erected in 1849, two and a half miles south ut .\n(lcrsf)n\ illt-. was found one morning in September, H;r4, to have collapsed aud in ruins. It was not oijerated after about 1898. The dam went down stream in ifji.V It was a typical old sash sawmill, wlio.se lon^^, uprii^ht saw could handle \ery larj^e logs. It was propelled by the waters of Salt creek, running through a doul)Ie-turbine wheel. giving sixt\-liorse jxtwer. M.r. Barber cut thousands of feet of the finest black walnut lumber m\lt seen, ami at first he shipped it to Cincinnati, bv the -old canal, and later by rail. It is bL-lie\ed that this was the last of the many saw-mills jiropellcd by water [)ower tht'it ever run in this count}'.

First Events

.\ Store and tavern was o]x"ned at a \ery earlv date by lliomas .Vnderson at the forks of the Brookville and Shelbyville state road. His tavern was a popular one and he soon became an influential, prominent i)ioneer.

The first tannery in the settlement was estalilished by a .Mr. Redpath. He remained only a short time and removed from the township. He was -succeeded as a tanner by Alexander Power, whose tannery was a little distance east of "Bull Town." He als(T made shoes and horse-collars.

The first saw -mill in this township was on Little Salt creek and was put in operation by Samuel Jinks. .\ steam saw-mill was next set in motion by Simpson Barbour, who continued to cut lumber manv vears.

The first school in the township was kept Iw a Mr. Sallv. in a hewed-log "house, which had a clapboard roof; the windows were exceptionallv high and very narrow. Idiis was, of course, a subscription school. More concerning the schools of the township is found in the Educational chapter.

"At our log-rollin<^s and raisinj^s we used to have what they called 'good whisky,' which made ihciii feel very funny sometimes and would occasionally cause friends and ncii,dihor- to get into difficulty and tight. In 1831 I thought sf>niething ought to he done ahout it, so I made an appointment to deliver a temperance lecture at a certain time and place. When the time arrived tliere were rpiite a nunihcr out and I delivered the first temperance lecture I ever heard and the fir-^t one in the township. We «oon had a strong temperance society, and the jiractice of using liquors at pul)lic gatherings soon ceased to a great extent.''

Villages Of The Town.Siiip

Andersonville. a part of old lUiena Vista and. Dull Town, arc all the attempts made at town building in this township. Buena \'ista is only a small hamlet, while Anderson is a thriving village of about three hundred and fifty inhabitants. Bull Town has ceased to e.xist and is only 'KU'.un in memory.

"As to the improvements at Bulltown we might say that there arc in and near the place three very respectable water saw-mills (one of which has just been rebuilt), all owned and run by very worthy, industricnis. re>])ectable men, and in which large quantities of lumber are annually manufactured, both for home consumption and for the Cincinnati mar'ket. besides a steam saw-mill, which we bear has recently been sold for over two thousand five hundred dollars. r>esides this, the workmen are now acti\ely engaged in constructing through the place one of the finest turnpikes in the countrv, the grade of which in no one place exceeds three degrees: and that neigiiborhood does its full share of the work."

Andersonville, in the northwest part of the township, in section 10, was laid out in Xovember. 1837, by Fletcher Tevis, and it was first known as Ceylon, later changed to Andersonville. on account of Thomas .\nderson dedicating an addition to the place in May, 1849. He later -ucceeded in having the postoffice named for him, adding the "ville" to his name and making it Andersonville. Anderson conducted a tavern, where liquor wa? freelv sold and used by traders and hunters thereabouts. At present the town has numerous churches, good schools and lodges, each of which are mentioned in chapters relating to sucli topics, 'i he I'niled brethren are a strong sect at and near .Xndersonx illc. The lod,;,'es inchide the Masonic and Iinjjroved Order of Red Men. .\ very unique new.spaper is pubh>hed there, known as the Herald, owned and echted by V. W'ilscjn Kaler. and it is said to be the only publication at a rural free delivery point in tiie world, Andersonville being six miles off of the railroad, t(> the west of Laurel. The merchants of the village in the spring of i<)r5 were Messrs. Grier. Eryson, Morgan and Ste;vens. The physicians there are Doctors Coffee and Metcalf.

The township officers serving in 191 5 are as follow: Trustee, George Meid : assessor, C. H. Mitchell; ad\isory board. H. H. Stevens, Thomas G. Kelso, Leroy Barber; constable. Clark Denumbrum ; justice of the peace, George McBarber; supervisors. James W. York, Luther T. Davis.

White Water is in the extreme southeastern corner of Franklin county, and is bounded on the north by Springfield, on the west by the Indiana-Ohio state line, on the south by Dearborn county, and on the west by Highland and Brookville townships. This subdivision of the county contains thirty-six sections and comprises all of congressional township 8 north, range I west.

White Water township was created by the commissioners on Januan.- 6, 1816. The record ( Book D, p. 82), shows that it was one of the four civil townships in the county at that date. Its territorial limits were described as follow: All that part of Franklin county which lies south of a line beginning at a i)nint on the west side of the said county and thence running east to Wliite Water so as to cross the river at the south of Big Cedar Grove creek; thence running along the Big Cedar Grove creek, then meanders thereof until the same intersects the line dividing the eighth and ninth townships; thence running east with the said township line to the east boundary of the count)- - shall compose a townshi]). which township shall be known and called by the name of White Water township."

The next change in boundary appears on pages yj of Record Book E. and bears date of February 10. 1817. when Samuel Rockafeller and Enoch D. John, commissioners, ordered that the townshi]-) limits of White Water. Brookville. Posey. Bath. I 'nion and Connersville be redefined. The record shows that White Water township was described b\- the comnu'ssioners as follows : vvitli the soutlK'rn IxniiKlarv line of snifl county to the southeast corner or said county: thence north alon.i,^ the eastern IjfMuulary of said county until it intersects the line dividinij the eit,ditli and ninth townships on range I ; thence west with the aforesaid line until it strikes the Big Cedar Grove creek: thence d<>wn this same with the meanders thereof to the mouth of said Cedar (]rove creek: thence due west to the western boundary line of the county: thence south to the place of

In 1828 the. commissioners defined all the township limits and at this time "ordered that the eighth congressional township, in range i west, shall com])ose and constitute the first township t(j he called White Water Ic.wnship." And it so stands at the present time.

White Water river courses across ahout si.\- sectir.ns of the .-outhwest portion of the township. Johnson's fork takes its rise in the north-central portion, runs south and easterly lo the White Water, which it forms junction with in Dearborn county. Big Cedar creek crosses the northwe.st .section. and a good-sized branch of Big Cedar crosses the north-central portion and unites with the main stream in Brookville township. Dr\- fork crosses the extreme northeast corner, while Syers" run rises in three of the northeastern sections of the township.

The north and eastern portions of the township are quite level, Init other parts are rolling, and along the streams the surface is very hilly and rolling: yet there is but a small anK)unt of waste land. The streams of the township are not constant in their stage of water, varying with the seasons, sometimes almost dry. For this reason it is hard to maintain and keep in good rejjair mill-dams, hence luit little has been attempted at milling, though .several earlyday attempts were made, nearly all ending in failure.

Settlement

Coming to the pioneer settlement here, it may be stated that most of the early settlers passed through this township t(^ other townships and adi.-ining counties. The first land entered here was section 32. by Beniamin McCarty. in May, 1S03. Then other entries were made, as shown in the "Original Entry List" of all lands entered in the county, the same appearing el.-ewhcre in this volume, liy townshij) and range. (See township 8. ran^^e i west.)

names are here given came sooner than these entries indicate. It is also well established that settlements were made at an early date by men who bought government lands of those who had entered them.

John H. and Samuel Rockafellar came in 1805, purchasing a portion of section 32, originally entered by Benjamin AlcCarty in 1803; the land later fell into the hands of John Allen. The Rockafellar family came from New Jersey, as did other families who located in this neighborhood. Among this -colony may be recalled the names of John Allen, the Watkins, Ralph Rieley, Ralph Wildridge, Benjamin and William Lewis. John H. Rockafellar settled on the west side of the river opposite and alx)ve the present site of the town of Xew Trenton. Thomas Manwarring's place was directly west of New Trenton, across the river. Samuel Rockafellar located where now stands the village of New Trenton, at the northern part, where the main road turns to the left in passing up the valley, and there stood his fauT-tus old tavern, one of tiie most popular stopping places in the entire White Water valley for many years. He commenced business in a lug house, which was soon replaced by a good brick structure. Hon. E. K. Rocka feller had it for -a residence in the eighties. It was among the first brick Iniilding- in the valley. Thomas Atanwarring, however, kept his hotel in Xew Trenton, at a much later date, and was also popular.

Benjamin AlcCarty made experiments and sought to obtain salt from a spring which flows into the White Water near Xew Trenton. It is believed these experiments were carried on about the summer of 1803. It seems quite certain that some salt was produced from the waters of this spring, but the article was not, of sufficient strength or purity of saline properties to make it a prolitable enterprise. A deeper shaft was sunk and a strong stream of pure, fresh water came gushing in and ruined all prospects of obtaining salt at this point. AlcCarty had numerous workmen, who scattered here and there through the valley, became roving "squattfers," and none ever became permanent settlers in the county.

On the lands of A. R. Case, Esq., a little west of the railroad station, there are several graves, supposed to contain the remains of a few of these -early explorers.

In the northwest portion of the township, chietlv on sections 5 and 8. was an English settlement; the families were those of the Ashtons, Kerrs, Millers. Carters, Beesleys, Bertenshaws, Heaps. Halls. Harts and a few others.

Down in the southeastern portion of the town-hijj. and up as far as Drewcrsburq-, there was scattered a class of settlers from Xew Vork state. These included the names of Gulley, Israel Uavis (an early jjapti^t preacher), Seeley Russell, Hollowell Centon and Stalcup.

The Jenkins families were in the e.xtreme northwestern jjart of the township of Whitewater, where Prince Jenkins entered land in 1.S14. in the eighties this family was among the most prosperous in the town^hi]).

After a sufficient number of settlers had entered and .settled permanently in the township, it was legally organized as one of the subdivJsion> of the county. This was el'tected i)y the act of the comity commissioners. I'"el)ruary 10, 1817, at which time the territory consisted of all its pre-e"t area and al.so the greater portion of Plighland, Butler and Ray townships. It was a narrow strip running across the southern portion of the count\-. with a line due west from the mouth of Big Cedar creek f(jr its northern boundary. When Highland was formed about 1822 or 1823, the present boundary appears to have been established. Matthew Sparks was appointed sn])erintendent of the school sections: Adolph Guiley, Lister and Ralph W'ildridgc, overseers of the poor, at the Alay term in 18 17. Elections were ordered to be held at the house of John V^anblaircum ; Thomas Manwarrinc^ was appointed inspector of elections at the same session of the county hoard.

In July, 1 817, Ralph Wildridee was licensed to conduct a hotel: Joseph Bennett, John H. Rockafellar and Benjamin Gulley were appointed constables. Ralph W^aldridge kept an early tavern, for his license was issued to "keep a tavern or house of public entertainment" in April, 1812.

White Water township has had man\- towns and villages jjlatted. manv of which are now defunct and their names unknown to manv. These include New Trenton, Edinburg (now Drewersburgj , Rockdale. Sbarptown and Ashby.

The present township officers are : Trustee. Reed Mofifett : asses.-or. F. 'Si. Wright: advisory Iioard. W. 5. Stout, W. F. Winters, C. Strohmier; supervisors, William Yauger. Albert Waltz, Louis Lenkel. J. F. Hass.

Fuanklix Colnty, Indiana

New Trentfjn. situated in section 32, was laid out in Decenihcr. 1816, by Solomon Manwarriiiy-, as surveynr, for Samuel Rockafellar and Ralph VValdrid-,^', proprietors. In September, 1847, William B. Cox made an addition of a small tract of Icjts. This old village is on the Whitewater river and was one of the important points on the (;ld canal. It \va.s popular on account of being where the Rockafellar tavern was situated. Mere Thomas Man warring also kept a tavern and conducted a general store, entertained the public, l)oth '-sacred and jjrofane." Me was a well-known class leader in the Methodist den(;mination ; attended camp-meetings; opened his doors to all traveling preachers; made a good grade of whisky, and sokl it to all who desired it.

The first schools were kept in the cabins of the pioneer settlers. The first regular school house was a log building at Xew Trenton ; the next was on Elkhorn creek, a mile and a half to the west of the village.

At New Trenton the following is a list of postmasters who have ser\ed from the establishment of the office in April, 1817. to the present. This list was furnished by the postal department at Washington especiallv for this history, and the dates indicate time of appointment: Samuel Rockafellar. April 5, 1817; Thomas Alanwarring. November 11, 1833; Eliphalet Barber. September 5, 1836; Joseph Sizelovc, b'ebruary 20, 1838; Moses Hornaday. February 7. 1840; J. B. Sparks, March 31. 1840: George Barber. January zy, 1841; Earl Power. February 18, 1842; Samuel Boateher. Afay 7. 1845: J. B. Campbell. .May 19. 1847; Samuel Davis. June 15, 1849; J- B. Carter, June 25. 1852; Fred Deike, April 28, 1853; J- R- Cooley, August 20. i860; H. J. Carr. January 2~, 1864; Samuel Davis, February 21. 1865: Fred Deike. February 8, 1868; Samuel Davis. September 20. 1869; E. K. Rockafellar, Jr.. July 13, 1870: Conrad Hull, November 8. 1871 ; George M. Lewis. December 20, 1880: Conrad Mull. June 14. 1881 : Mannah Miller. August 7. 1885; Conrad Hull, April 15, 1889; Hannah Miller, June 24. 1893: A. R. Greatbach, December 24, 1897; James A. Mabis. July 6, 1914.

At New Trenton, in fact in various parts of the township, there were two classes of settlers - one known as tlic "Tuckahoes," from the two Carolinas, and the others the "Easterners,"' and when these two met in arguments and dickerings over l)usiness affairs, they frequently disagreed. At general training occasions and house raisings, etc.. especially in political campaigns and election times, both sections were warmed to fe\ er heat by the free use of liquors, when enc(junters ensued, resulting in many black eyes' and not a few loosened teeth.

It is believed that tlic Hrst to eni^age in merchandise at Xew Trenton was William Walker, in a log building, which was still standing twenty-five years ago, possil)ly jjartly in existence today. It was later weatherboardcd and painted, making it look like a m(jdern frame structure.

All of the pioneer merchants have long since been gathered to their fathers and in many cases their names have been long forgotten to the community of which they were once a part.

An Old Lan D-Mark

The old ]Man warring tavern in this township was one of the most prominent "meeting houses" in early times. In the same room in which Mr. Manwarring sold whisky, of his own make, by the dram, he also preached the Gospel on the .Sabbath to a score or more old settlers. The bottom step of the stairway served as a pulpit and from this improvised rostrum the early ministers wielded a wide influence for good. This old brick tavern still stands and with its large "L" of rooms extending from the side of the building, it is practically as good as it was more than a century ago. This old bar room and "meeting house" is now used as a general store room. It was built in iSio, hence it antidates the little Cedar Baptist church building which was erected in 1 812.

The business of New Trenton in the years 1914-15 was as follows: General dealers - Albert Witt, Miller Sisters, successors to their mother. Mrs. C. Witt; hardware, Clarence Lake, John Sintz: hotel. August Widan : saloons, Omer Brown, August Sintz; postmaster. J. A. ]\Iabis; lumber and planing mill, Louis Brown, who had a yard and mill at this point until the flood of 191 3, when all his property was washed away, even the lot on which his plant stood, tie then removed to the village of Cedar Grove where he is now located; blacksmith. John Sintz.

On Little Cedar

Among the first events of this village may be named the following: The first cook stove brought to the village was in 1832 by Z. A. Xye. The first piano of the place was that purchased by Z. A. Nye, about 1852. The first sewing machine was that purchased for the family of \)r. Samuel Davis, in i860. The first railroad ticket and freight office was erecte.l and opened to the public in August, 1866. The substantial wagon bridge was built over the swift-flowing waters of the White Water at this point in 1877-78.

Drewersburg, originally called Edinburg, now has a population of about seventy-five. It was platted in Xoveniber, 1833, by J(;hn W. Hancock, William Ranie}-, Joseph Stevens and John Russell. It is located on the southeast cpiarter of section ;^^. It took the name Drewersburg from William S. Drevver, who resided there at the time of the platting. It has a few business houses and afifords a trading place for those living along the eastern line of the county.

Sharpstown was originally a ];ostoffice on the 'Sh. Carmel and Johnson Fork turnpike. A store or two and a few shops were all that ever went toward making up a village. The population is placed at thirty. It is situated on section 3.

Rockdale is an interesting little village, situated at the foot of a large hill, and it is safe to say that no village of the county can rival it in natural scenery. This is one of the newer tov/ns of the county and its buildings indicate that its people are possessed of thrift and prosperity. The mercantile interests of the town are in the hands of James Stewart and David Jaisle, both of whom have well-stocked general stores, doing a flourishing business in the town and immediate vicinity. One of the best rural school buildings in the county is found here and the people take a just pride in their excellent schools. A United Brethren church serves the religious interests of the town and has exerted a wholesome influence in the community ever since it was established.

On the southern boundary of the county, second from the western border, is Butkr civil township, with ^letamora and one section of Brookville township at the north, Brookville and Highland townships to the east and to its south is Ripley county, while to the west are Ray and Salt Creek townships. It contains thirty full congressional sections in townships 10 and II north, ranges 12 and 13 east. The township was erected by the board of county commissioners September 5, 1^549, by taking nine sections of township II, rnngc 13; nine off of township 11, range 12; six off of township 10, range 12; and six from township 11, range 12, which sections were previously, respectively, in Brookville. Highland, Ray anrl Salt Creek townships. This change was effected on account of the inconveniences of getting to and from elections when the water was at a high stage in the creeks. It was named for Cutler county. Cjhio, from which many of the settlers had emigrated. At the same time the township was set off as a sej)arate subdivision, its first officer was appointed, in the person of Aaron B. Line, who was made inspector of elections for the newly created township.

The surface of Butler township is somewhat broken and in many places extremely rough. Yet within the bounds of the territory there is a sufficient amount of both bottom and upland to afford a good farming district. The soil, which is largely clay and drift soil mixed, is well calculated to produce good crops of the grains and grasses common to this latitude and climate. Originally, the township was covered with a good growth of timber, especially valuable trees of oak of various varieties. On Pipe creek there is a grove of cedars, which for many years attracted the passer-by. There stood, in the eighties, a huge cucumber tree, measuring fully two and a half feet in diameter and si.xty feet high - the only one known in this section of country. It stood on the farm owned then by Mrs. Grinkemier.

The streams are Pipe creek, a branch of the West fork of White Water river; Wolf creek, which rises in the central portion, runs north to the northeast part of the township, turns directly east and from Brookville township falls into Blue creek. Cedar fork takes its rise in the southwest part of the township, finally finding its way into Pipe creek. Little Walnut fork of Pipe creek and a few more lesser streams aft'ord an abundance of water and good drainage for the adjoining lands.

The records show that the first land was entered in this township by James xMley, who settled in the northwestern quarter of section 19, township II, range 13, in October. 1812. Regarding the actual settlement, it is known that John Alley, father of Samuel, Thomas W. and Rev. David Alley, moved into the township in 1814. John Gibson came the same year. The mother of James T. Osborn (then a widow) settled near where St. Mary's church now stands, in 18 16, or possibly as late as 1817. So far as can be learned the first white man to effect a settlement and remain a resident of Butler tounbhij) was William Russell, who scltled at the niouth of Russell's branch, and remained there some forty years, then removed to Morgan county, Indiana, where he died at a riye old age, respected by all who knew of his many manly virtues.

The settlement in 181H-19 included Eli Stringer, who claimed a tract on the uplands of this township, in section 21, township 11, range i;^. In 1836 this tract was occupied by a Revolutionary soldier named Richard Smith, w^ho later purchased the land where stands St. Mary's church, and at that place he died.

In 1822 John Longacre effected his settlement; his family consisted of his mother, two sons and two daughters. This property was sold in about

In 1832 Bernard Myrose, a German, located in the township, and it has been said that he was the first of his nationality who claimed land and established his home in Butler township.

The Ronnel^aums, Ackermans, Michael Schafer. Quirin \'olz and Henrv Crusa came in a little later. (3thers came in. but not \ery many, until 183^). when the building of the White Water canal attracted many home-seekers to this part of the state. This caused most of the vacant lands in Butler township to Ije taken up for actual settlement or for speculation. It was during

1836 tliat two men named Roberts, residents of Cincinnati, entered all the remaining vacant lands in the county, except a few small tracts. These speculators held these lands for higher prices, and the result was that settlement was retarded west of the boundary line for a number of vears. In 1846 this land syndicate was broken, after which actual settlers had a better chance to procure lands. William McCarty purchased the interests held l)v one of the Roberts brothers, and George Holland, of Brookville, was made the agent of the other interests. Soon the lands w^ere sold out in smaller tracts to settlers at reasonable prices. The last lot entei-ed was an eightvacre piece in section ;^^, township 11. range 13. bv John D. Shrver. about 1843. ' ' ' "

About 1830 John Allcr erected a mill on Pipe creek, but, owing to the wash-outs of his dam, it never amounted to much and was soon abandoned. The same year James Alley built a saw-mill on the creek running across section 30, township 11, range 13. Later there was added a corn-grinding attachment and, between the saw-mill and corn-grinder, for many years the enterprise proved ui great usefulness to the pioneers. It was still m operation early in the eighties, when it was owned by Jeremiah Jones.

It was not far from 1830 thai William McCatlerty built his saw-mill and corn-cracker on section 8, lownshii) 10, range [3. .\ Mr. Clark l)uilt another mill on the same stream further up than McCafferty's, and a corncracker was put in operation on Pipe creek by Mr. P.atzner about 1S41. Other mills were erected by Jacob Jones on Wolf creek in 185 i, and Lawrence & Flemming started their steam saw-mill in section 3_'. township 11, range 13. Later two run of stones were put in niteration. and both flour and corn were ground in large quantities. It was in 1857, or possiblv a year later, that John F. Dickman commenced to operate his steam saw-mill. About that date W'illiam Eiglehoff operated another steam mill, both having circular saws, an innovation in the saw-mill business in the county. The Jerry Jones grist-mill was early and long since gone, save a trace of the race and mill-posts which can still be seen on Pipe creek.

Other Interesting Events

The first mowing machine was brought to Butler township in 1864, but threshing machuies had been in use a dozen years before that. Foster & Alley brought the first grain separator from Hamilton, Ohio.

George Ertel, Sr., and George Ertel, Jr., father and brother of Jacob Ertel, were killed by falling trees near the old salt works. These accidents occurred a year apart and cast a gloom over the settlement.

About 1852 a young man named Hutchinson was drowned in Clear creek fork on a Sunday while bathing. .\ .Mr. Coleman was drowned in the same stream while attempting to cross in a high stage of water about 1847.

In 1882 it was stated that the oldest inhabitant of the township who was born here was Mrs. Scpiire Harvey, who was born in the village of St. Marys in 185 1.

Franklix Cointv, Indiana. I37

Very early in the .settlement oi the township there was much excitement over a supposed "find" of salt, a commodity then much more appreciated, than now, when it has come to be such a cheap article. Wells were !?unk and there was much exploring for the saline product. John Shaw, in 1832, made and sold salt from wells at the mouth of Salt Well branch of F'ii>e creek, in Butler townshi]). He died in the autumn of that year and there were no further developments in the salt industry he had started.

Raymond was made a postoflice in 1S61, with Henry Moorman as postmaster. This is also known as vSt. Mary's, after the Catholic church at that point, and has a population of about fifty. It is located in section 5, township 10, range 13 east. Its present interests are inclusive of these: The large Catholic church, a history of which appears in a chapter on this denomination ; a general store by Joseph Ronnebaum. who also conducts a saloon. Then there is another saloon by Henry Kruthaupt, and a blacksmith shop run by William Jansing. The village is on the rural free delivery route from Batesville.

Jennings postoflice was established in 1838. Franklin was laid off on Pipe creek, where about a dozen buildings, including a school house, were erected. The school house burned in 1858. Xew Vernon was laid off by Jacob B. Lawrence about 1839. There were erected a few cabins and one large frame building. It is the site of St. Mary's Catholic church. The history of this, with all other churches of the county, form a .->eparate chapter in this work.

Oak Forest, in the northeastern part of this township, now has a population of one hundred and twenty-five. There one finds, today, a general store, for many years prior to 191 3 operated by Fred Stumpf : two blacksmith shops, one by William Becker, to the west end, and George Williams, to the north side of the village, which is on the rural free delivery route from^ Brookville : there is also a saloon run by Josei)h Vonderheide. There have been churches of the Catholic. Methodist and United Brethren denominations located at this point.

The present (1915) townshi]) officers are as follow: Trustee, Ben H. Vonderheide; assessor. Henry Masplioler : advisory board. Joseph T. Lanning, Ben Langfermann. Tharles Aniherger; justices of the peace, Henry Pulskamp; constable, josepli W'alipe: supcrvisf^rs, Henry I*"riese. Herman Fleddermann, Frank Laker, Jacob Hildebrand.

Blooming Gro\e township is on the northern line of the county, midway east and west, with Fairfield and Brookville on the east, Brookville and Metamora on the .south and Laurel on the west. It consists of twenty-four sections from congressional township 12, range 13 east, which are numbered from one to twenty-four. Four of these sections are fractional - i. 12. 13 and 24 - being so made by the Indian boundary line of 1795. which di\-ides the Ohio and Indiana system of surveys. There are twent_\-one and onehalf square miles within the limits of lilooming Grove township. But prior to the date w hen tlie above boundaries were set, and really the first mention made of this subdivision of Franklin county, we find in volume E, commissioners' records, page 7, under date of Monday, May 12, 181 7. a statement. part of which reads as follows :

"This day came Isaac M. John and presented to the ijoard a petition signed by thirty and more signers praying for a division of Posey township, in the county of Franklin, aforesaid. And it appearing to the satisfaction of the board that it is expedient and necessary that the di\-ision should be had of the township aforesaid, it is therefore ordered that the following shall be the boundaries of the said new township: Beginning on the Brookville township line, at the southeast corner of Posey townshi]-). thence with the boundary line between Bath and Posey townships to the center of township 13. range 13: thence west with the line dividing P(jsey and Ct)nnersville tow-nships to the line dividing township 13. range 13. and township 13. range 12; thence south to Brookville township line: thence east to the ])lace of beginning."

"Said township to be known and styled Blooming Grove, and that all elections in said township shall l)e held at the house i^f E:^ra McCabe. in the town of Greensboro." Later there were three tiers of sections detached and placed in Fayette county, leaving the present territorv of Blooming

The first olticers of the township in 1817 were as ffillow : John Walter, lister; James Crai.t;. o\ersccr of the poor: Isaac M. Jolnison, inspector of elections: John Crown and W illiain Skinner, con.-,taljles : William Goe and Christ(Ji)her Swift, supervi.-,(jrs of the roads of the new township. .Ml these above officers were appointed by the county commissioners. Among the earlv justices ot the peace were Samuel Miller. John Allen and Joseph Evans.

In iS'j8 the commissioners defined the boundaries of the eight townships in this county and Bloominc,' Grove was given the following limits:

"Ordered, that the fourth township lie bounded as follows: Beginning at the southeast corner of section ^2, in township 10, range 2 west: thence north on said section line to the south boundary of Union county: thence west along said county line to the old boundary line: thence northwardly along said boundary line to the southeast corner of Fayette county: thence west on the line of said county to the northwest corner of township 12, range 13 east: thence south along said township line to the southwest corner or -section 18 in said township: thence east on the section line to the old boundary line: thence northwardly to the line dividing townships 9 and 10 in range 2 west: thence east along said section line to the place of beginning, to be Blooming Grove township."

Streams, Soil, Etc

The most important stream in the township is Duck creek, which takes its rise in the north-central portion of the township, among a cluster of never-failing springs and creeks, and takes its course in a general southwesterly direction, leaving the territory less than a mile from the scjuthwest corner. near where it received the waters of James creek, or commonly called "Timmie's Run." Wolf creek heads in the central part and riows eastward to the East fork. All other streams mentioned are branches of West fork.

The township is an excellent agricultural section. The northeastern portion is well timbered with the varieties of trees common to the entire countv. The center and eastern parts have a clay soil, with a slight loam mixture. The central and eastern p(M-tion, however, are better as a farming section. Underdraining. in the western part of the township, has subdued and changed the soil so that it has come to be very productive of later years.

No general settlement was effected here until the close of the War of 1812-14. There were but two entries in 1811, none in 181 2 and seven in 1813; in 1814 and 181 5 the real tide of immigration set in.

The major part of the original entries up to 1817 were as follows: Jacob Baldridgc and Ralph Williams settled (probably first in tiie township) in 181 1 ; David Ewing, Josiah Allen, John Allen, Jr., J. Curry. Benjamin Norwell, Christopher Swift, all in 1813; Tyler McW hortcr, Michael Kingery, Solomon Shepard, Caleb C. Clements, James Webb, Tliomas Sherwood, James Sherwood, William and James Harvey, William Smith, Charles Harvey, William Skinner, John Delaney, Richard Clements, Joseph Hughell, Thomas Smith, all in 1S14; Samuel Steel. James Fordyce, Thomas Slaughter and Richard Dunkin, in 1815; Emory Scotton. 1816; Colvin Kinsley. 1817", William Harder, 1817.

It is thought tliat Jacob Baldridge and Ral])h Williams were proljably first to enter the township. Thev located .in section 19, in tiie -southwest corner of the township. I'rom records and general hearsay, it is believed that such men as the following were prime movers in starting the de\elopment in this section of the county, laying well the foundation for future township and county government: The Webbs. Swifts, Harveys. Sherwood?, Slaughters and Glenns. with their near neighbors.

Village Of Blooming Grove

The only village in the townsliip is Blooming Grove, with a present population of one hundred and twentv. It is in the central part of the township, and was platted in section 10 July 2^, 1816, by Surveyor Joseph Allen, for the proprietors, John Xaylor and James Sherwood. During February, 181 7, an addition was platted by the same men, and lots Xos. 18 and 23. were donated to the ]jul)lic for a "school and meeting house." The place was named Greensboro, but some who did not favor the site for a town dubbed it "Greenbrier." Perhaps no better accoimt of the early histor\- here can be given today than to quote what was written by Plenry C. Harvey about 1881 or 1882, which article reads as follows:

"The writer can:e to the town on the nrst day of September. 1834, to begin a six years' apprenticeship at a trade, which term he fully and faithfully served and from that date to the present time has witnessed the growth

-and changes that have occurred. The olt-repeated statement about the original name of our village being Greenbrier is incorrect. The founders of the village were natives of Maryland and they named it in honor of a town in that state. The township was called Blooming Grove. Some time between 1830 and 1835 (tor want of a mislaid old diary I cannot give precise datej the people of the tcnvnship petitioned L'ncle Sam for a postottice at their village, to be called Greensboro. In due time word came to them that there was already an oftice by that name in the state. Then they sent the name of Blooming Grove and also the name of the man chosen for i>ostmaster, and the petition was granted. The postmaster was an alien, but he made an efficient oflicer. At the next session of the Legislature after getting their postoffice, the citizens petitioned that body to change the name of the town from Greensboro to Blooming Grove, which was granted, and that is the way it all came about. As far back as 1820 the directory of business would have said: Samuel Miller, hotel, west of Mam street: Peter Miller, chairmaker, east of Main street; John Ply, potter, northeast corner of Main and ^Cross streets; Elanthan Cory, tanner and currier, north side. As yet there had been no store in the town, nor was there any until after 1825. Tb.e first store was kept by Beverly R. Voun ; the first wagonshop by Parismis Wil- ;kinson. In iS2(j Martin W. ;Mt)rris, of Ohio, bought and fitted up pr^.pcrty for a store and hotel. He occupied it for a time and then sold the property to William King, who also carried on merchandising and tavern-keeping, subsequently selling out to Coleman & Clements. Some time in 1830 or 1831 James Wliorten, of Cincinnati, brought out a large stock of old goods and remnants and sold them at auction on long credit, greatly to the disgust of the resident merchants. The sale lasted nearly a week. Up to this time there had been no blacksmith shops in town, but shortly afterward Thomas S. Webb, brother of Scpiire John A\'ebb, commenced the business. The first frame dwelling was built by Robert Runyan alx»ut 1834, and is now (1882) -occupied by William Cooper. About this time a lot of 'e.xodusters" from Maryland swooped down upon the town and it began to grow. As yet there was no meeting-house in town."

There are three churches within the township - "Old Ehenezer,' on the south line; the Methodist I^piscopal at the \illa,:^'e of liloomini; (jrove. and a Protestant Methodist church, all ot which are treated in detail in the chapter on Churches.

In the s])rinf:: of 1915 the followini,^ interests were represented at the viHage of Blo(jniing Grove: A Kin't^hts of Pythias lodge, an account of which the reader will find in the I.odge chapter of this volume. .\ .\fethodist Episcopal church - ^see Church chapter. General dealers. Powers & Perdiue and W. L. White. The former firm has Ijccn in h'usine-^s a Iialf century, and as the firm is now constituted >ince 181^1. Thomas Ellis is the village blacksmith. Fairfield is on the rurrd free delivery route from F'rookville, the postoBice, established many years ago, haA'ing been discontinued in 1905.

The brick and drain tile factory of this place is operated for the f»wner. Mrs. Jennie Waggoner, by John Van ^Nleter. Until recently there was a good steam saw-mill here, but it is abandoned.

Mrs. Mary Powers Deter, the oldest living resident in the township as well as in Franklin county, is in her ninety-m'nth year, ptxssessed of all her faculties, save defective eyesight. She is the last of a family of ten children, in her parents" family.

The township officers in 1915 in Blooming Grove township are: Trustee, Deward Wilson ; assessor. Lee W^right : advisory board. Charles L. . Scheisz, Aaron Apsley. Robert J. Winmeter : justice of the peace, Lcniis C. Chambers; constable, J. W. Chowning; supervisors. Lon Stewart. Xo. I. William J. Fields, Xo. 2.

Springfield Towxsiiip

Springfield township lies between Bath and White Water townships, on the section line of Franklin county. It contains thirty-six sections. It is identical with congressional township 9 north, range i west. Prior to May 12, 181 7. it hatl been a part of Brookville township, but on that date the county commissioners set it ofi as a separate subdivision on the petition of Jacob Fausett and thirty other citizens of the township proposed to be formed.

The order read. as follows: "bu much of Urookville lownship as coniposed the ninlh congressional township in range I west, shall constitute and be known as bprniglield township, and that all elections in said township shall be held at the house of Xiinrod nrackney."

This portion of I'ranklin count}-, generally speaking, ia le'.el, except where broken b\ some (jue iji the stream^ that llow through its territory. Big Cedar creek tlows thrcnigh the western side of the township from north to south. '1 he banks along this stream are very steep and bold. The stream has a main branch coming from the north-central part. Dry fork, a tributary of White Water, rises east of the central p<jrtion, llows south and easterly and leaves the township near Scipio at the southeastern corner. When first known to the white settlers this township had several pcjnds, but with the passing years the hand of the owners has caused them all to be drained and today there is not to be discovered a trace oi them. The land in the old pond beds is among the most productive within the county.

Settle.Ment

The first land enteretl in this township was l)y Jnhn Remy, (October 13. 1804, in the southeast quarter of section 28, hence it starids as one of tlie first settled portions of the county. Samuel Stewart was ne.xt to invade the township, making h.is advent .August i. r8o6. During the same year lands were entered l>y William Cloud, John Coulter and William Rail. The complete entrv list, elsewhere in this volume, give the settlers bv years, .\fter the War of 181 2 the township grew rapidly and immigration kept up utitil most all of the good land was taken l)y actual settlers. The above entries have been copied and verified by public land records. However, there were manv who entered land, made slight improvements thereon, and. being dissatisfied with the country or because they were unal)le to pay for the same, to those who had loaned them money to enter the land at government prices, sold or traded "for a song" to some other man. who became a permanent settler. Hence, it does not necessarily follow that a man who entered land in the township was in fact a i)ermanent settler, but the man who ])urchased from him who had entered the government land was entitled to be classed among the first settlers in the township. So it will be understo-xl how easv it is to make the mistake of calling an original land purchaser "first settler."

Among the first to become settlers in the true sense was the Fruits family, in the central eastern part of the township, although tb.e name does not appear in the land entries.

Moses Karick-n came in fr<mi Kentucky with lii> family, and settled in .section 14 in March, 1810. He had previously entered and iniprovtru these lands, but througii some irrej^ularily in rec<jr(ls and red-tape rulea 01 the land office, the record was m>t made until iSio.

Philii) Lvnch was another actual settler who came in very early, purhasing an original claim. FollcAving came others, who were in after years well-knmvn laclor.-. in the devclopnicnt i.f thi^ township, and these included Nixon Oliver. Samuel Lee. W illiam Applegate. Moses Hornaday. R. P. Clarkson. Isaac Woods. Thniua.-, Mathews. Philip Imjwc. Cyrus Saunders, Joseph Wallace, Amos Applcton. Jamc.-> .Vrdery. X. \'. Simmouson. Samuel Shirk, David Shirk, Timothy Scohcy. David iJussclI. Eli James. Ira Stout, Powell Gulick. William Clark, Joab Howell. Henry Grover. John Merrill. John Barbour, William Armstrong, Samuel Carbour, Philip Jones. Daniel Shafer, \\'. T. Swift. John Abbott, Ximrod Prackney, James Thompson, Michael Owens, William Ferguson. W. and Thomas Crayton. Alexander Telford, .\rtliur Cunningham, Captain William Webb. William Gilchrist.

Events Of Ixtekest

During 181 J there was a block-house built on land owned by Moses Rariden. at least it was partly constructed when the war closed and no further trouble was expected by Indian invasions. This was near a large .spring, the waters of which were still llowing a few years since.

The early roads were merely traces blazcfl through the timber, with a notice at each end of the trace, telling where the trail ran t< and from.

The name of this township, it is believed, was derived from a large spring, where the block-house was to be erected. Others believe it was named for some town in the East from which came many of the pioneers.

Among the first to bring to the township graded stock was John Barbour. One of the first blacksmiths was the father of Isaac Wamsley. whose shop was located on Big Cedar, where the pike crosses that stream.

The Seal family owned a small single thresher, known by some as a "pepper-mill."' This was probably the first threshing machine in the county.

"Grannv Singhorse," as Mrs. Singhorse was commonly called, was probablv the first to treat diseases in this township. She used to travel on horseback and wore a hat of peculiar make-up. The earliest regular physi- in the county were Drs. Freeman Perry and G. Oliver.

The first school was taught in section 24. in 1814. by ^.largaret Rariden. About 1816 a school was taught by Thomas Craven, in section 2,3- on. the

Fkanki.Ix Colxty, Indiana. I45

One of the first mills in this township was erected by Moses Rariden, on a branch of Dry fork, in section 14. Another was constructed by Isaac Wanisley, in section 2<S', en the Big Cedar. Another very early mill is recalled as iiaving Ijctii built near Scipio. What was styled a "husk frame" mill was erected by James Seal in either section 32 or 33, on Big Cedar. Here he had a run of mill stones and did coar.se grinding. Later this mill was removed to Laurel Hill. It was covered by a rude shed and had a hand bolting machine, each customer having to turn the crank if he wished l>o!tcd flour or meal. Power was furnished by means of a ten- foot overshot waterwheel.

A tannery was established by Thomas ^Lathews. and Thomas L'pjohn also, at a \ery early date, had a tannery in the township. John Shafer had a tannery in the neighborhcjod at a very early date.

^V. H. Tucker, of Decatur county, many years ago furnished the subjoined incident for the newspapers: "Walter Tucker settled on Litrle Cedar creek in 1815. About i8i8 he built what was styled a 'tub-wheel' mill on his place.

"There were plenty of Indians about then. One day an Indian came to his house, when there was no one but a sister of Tucker's at home. The Indian, of course, wanted something to eat, and. upon looking up the chimney, he espied some hog entrails which had been hung there to smoke and dry. Mr. Indian pulled down a 'gut' or two. and. after fea^-ting fr-jin a pewter plate upon which he laid the sweet morsel, he threw the plate under the bed and the remains of his "feast' upon the floor and glided out of the house."

John Clendening, one of the township's most influential and energetic pioneers, v. as killed by lightning while standing under a tree in 1844.

The first brewery in Franklin county was in Springfield township. It was located in the southeastern part of the township, not far from the Indiana-Ohio state line, and was owned and ojjcrated bv a Mr. DeParr.

. Up to 18S0 there had been four villages, four postoffices. seven churches and nine brick school houses within this township, bespeaking the thrift and enterprise of the population.

1819, is also now defunct. Scipio was platted in 1826, the post office being called rhilanlhropy. Mt. Carmcl was i^latted in 1853 and now has one hundred and forty-three population. Other villages were Palestine (called VVynn now), jjlatted in Octol)cr. 1847, by Paul Holliday, havinj^ a present population of about twenty. Peoria, another hamlet of this township, has fifty inhabitants. The latest platting in the township is Raymond, platted in 1903, as a railroad statirm on the Chesapeake iK: Ohio railway line.

Mt. Carmel

The principal village is Mt. Carniel, in the southern part of the township, which was laid out by J. and S. S. Faucett. in February. 1832. and August, 1S36. This section of the county has much <)\ historic interest connected with it. At one time there were numerous factories located here, including the celebrated red factory of Bishop, which factory manufacturer!. for forty years or more, reeds for woolen mills and cotfrn factories in all parts of the United States. It was the tirst industry of its class in all the West.

The first stonj at Mt. Carmcl was conducted by Joseph Ilal.-tcad. It was a log building. The next to engage in merchandise was Isaac Burkholder, after whom came the Faucett brothers, who platted the town and remained many years.

The town took its name from Mt. Carmel Presbyterian church, which was organized previous to the platting of the town. If it were not celebrated for anything else, ^vlt. Carmel would have a ])lace en the map. because of the fact that it was the birthplace of ^liss M. L(juisa Chitwiod, a child of genius, whose poems are known far and near: among these may be named "The Old Still Mouse." .Mention is elsewhere made in this volume of this striking character, who passed from earth's shining circle all too early.

The present business of the village is as follows: General stores. T. J. Gates & Son, Roy Patterson: blacksnnth siiop, F. M. Gant. Alexander Campbell; steam saw-mill, Henry Ferung; hotel, Charles Logan.

The village has Odd bellows and Knights of Pythias bxlges. an account of which is given elsewhere. in this volume in the Lodge chapter. The present churches are the Aletliodisl Fpiscopal. Universalist and Presbyterian.

Franklin Countv, Indiana. I47

The followiiij:^ persons have scr\c(l as postmaster at what is now known as Mt. Carniel postofiice since its cstabHshment, in January, 1H32. The list was furnislicil the author I)y the post<jfficc department at W'ashin^'ton and the elates indicate time of ajjpdintment : R. P. Clarkson. appointed as postmaster of what was then known as Sentinel, January 12, i^T)2: name changed to Mount Carmel, February 14. 1840, R. P. Clarkson still postmaster: Jacob Lanius, March 16, 1848; Caleb Yocum. December 31, 1849; James Hasson, September 4, 1850: Casper Foi,^el. May 26, 1853; Philip Rowe. February 13, 1856; S. B. Jenkins. March 24. 1863: I. S. Larue, March 9. 1864: J. B. Smith, April 28, 1868; J. A. Gates, October 21, 1869; T. E. McCoy. January 27, 1870: E. M. McCready, January 18, 1871 ; P. B. Millepaugh. June 4. 1873; Thomas Heap, August 12, 1873: C. \V. Stewart. August 24, 1H74: William Laird. April 12, 1S89: J. \V. Merrill, April 14, 1890; Emma Riciiard, November 14, 1893; Thomas J. Gates, December 13, 1897: office discontinued March 31, 1906.

The corporation officers in 1915 were: Trustees, William Luse. T. J. Gates, J. J. Jollifif; clerk. .\. \V. Lewis; treasurer, E. L. Gates. The date of incorporation was i88r.

Peoria is a small village on the state line, three miles north of Scipio. Inglesidc Institute, once a popular academy, was located there. Prof. William Rust was the founder of the school. Prof. J. P. Gassedy opened a normal school in the same building at a later date; both educational institutions have long since passed out of commission.

Mt. Pisgah was a small community of people in the vicinitv of Asbury church. There, at one date in the history of the township, there was a saw and grist-mill, which made it a business center; this place, however, was never platted.

The present officers of Springtield townships are: Trustee. Rosc(^ HubbarcL- assessor. John Waltz; advisory board. Albert Biddinger.l^hn B. Xutty. Thomas J. Gates; justice of the peace, Addison Lewis: constable. Harry West; supervisors. John Rockwell, John S. :\IcClure. Al. George. Thomas Freeland.

Highland Tuwnshii'

Hio-hland township ib on tlie soiitlicrn boundary of Franklin county, between White Water and Cutler townships. It is bounded on it> north by Brookville. which als(j e.xtends a chstauce of one mile on the west. This civil township of the county comprises twenty-four sections of congressional township 8 north, range 2 west, three wdiole and four fractional sections of township 9 north, range 3 west, and three fractional sections in txjwnship lO north, range n, east; in all about thirty-one sfjuare miles. This town.ship ua> originally a part of White Water township, which once extended across the lower part of the county. It was cut off from White Water township Ijy an order of the county commissioners February 12, 1821. at which time it was '"Ordered, that all that part of White Water townshi]) lying west of White Water compose and constitute a new township to be called Highland township, and it is further ordered that all elections held in said township to be held at what is now called the Republican school house on the lands of William Fred."

In 1828 the county commissioners described the boundary of this township as follows: "Beginning at the southeast corner of township 8 in range 2 west; thence north on the township line to the northeast corner of section 13 in township 8 in range 2 west ; thence west along the section line until it intersects the Grouseland purchase line: thence a southwesterly course on said line to the western corner of fractional section 6 in town 10 north, range 13 east; thence south to the anmty line; thence east to the place of beginning to be called Highland township."

The boundary line between Brookville and Highland townships was not definitely established (Record Book I., page 179) until September 6. 1842'. when the commissioners ordered Thomas \\'inscott. the surveyor of Franklin county, to establish a line between Brookville and Highland townships, commencing at the corner of sections 12 and 13 on the boimdary line and running due west until it strikes a line dividing Brookville anil Ray townships. On December 6. same year, the commissioners declared that the boundar}' line established by Thomas Winscott pursuant to the order of the board on September 6, 1842. be set aside, and ordered that "said line be re-established on the section line south of the line dividing sections 12 and 13 in township 9. range 13; thence southwest with said boundary to the southeast corner ot township II. range 12: the last named points to be the line between Brookville township and Highland township." Subse(|uently it was reduced to its present size by the formation of Butler township. Septemlier 5. 1845. It was named on account of tlic hii^h land within its limits. W'liite Water crosses the northeast corner of the township. Blue Creek flows across the westcentral portion, having several branches, all of which unite within the township, (logic's and Kauiscy's Iiranches are small tributaries of White Water. Tlie soil is of clay nature and in a few places quite thin. By proper care the farmers have been able to produce good crops of corn, wheat, barley and oats, while live stock has always been a paying branch of the agriculture of the townshi]). The townshij) was originally heavily forested, but most of the valuable timber is now gone.

Here, as in other places in the county, the first settlement was effected along the streams. Along White Water river, the extreme northea'-t corner of the township, there was a settlement of "squatters," who made slight improvements before 1805. 1*^ John Conner will ever be credited the honor of being the first white man to enter land in this lownshij). but the record shows that he did not buy government land until August, 1810. although he had without question been a resident of this section a few years before that date. It was in this neighborhood that Conner had a store and Indian trading post. In an old account of the first settlement there appears paragraphs such as the following:

"During the latter portion of the last and the first years of the present century [meaning the last years in the eighteenth and first of the nineteenth century], there stood on the river bank a half mile up stream from present Cedar Grove village, a trading post, known as Conner's Post. At present all trace of it has gone, even the land where it stood has long since been washed away by the changing of the stream's current. After it was vacated, the trader, Conner, went further up the river and established another post at the point where now stands Connersville, the town being named for him. This structure was rudely and strongly built of logs, containing for barter those necessities required by the first settlers and many trinkets and bright woven fabrics to attract the Indians to whom they were exchanged for furs. Chief among these commodities were powder, lead and whisky

"At this post the trappers, scouts and hunters would meet and relate their various experiences and purchase their staples, and often the squalid Indian, too, would idle away the long hours in lounging and drinking.

with the trader and each other, there strrjlled into their midst a tall, powerful savage with an evil ctnintenance, who. for want of a lx;tter name, may be styled 'The Wolf." He deposited a small quantity of furs and asked for liquor in return, and. having received it, he immediately swallowed it and sat down, glancing here and there, his black eyes flashing with delight and a metallic glitter. He seemed to be known and disliked by the whites, as they seemed to be hated and suspected by him. He drank freely of the whisky traded for, and as his brain became elated with it, he forgot his cunning and grew garrulous and boastful, seeking to awe the hunters by stories of his powers and of what to him were his mighty deeds of valor, but which, in reality, were thefts and murder, executed oftener through treachery and cunning than any boldness on his part. Stopping every few sentences to refresh his memory with potent drafts of the whisky, he boasted of securing scalp after scalp, until he led up to what he gloried in as his grandest feat of arms, which victory procured ior him the most beautiful of all the scalps which hung in his lodge."

"The Indian finally boasted of having killed and scalped a beautiful young white girl : told all the cursed details, as only a drunken Indian can tell such particulars.

"At the tennination of the narrative some of the white men sprang to their feet with bitter curses on the red demon, whose heart was stone, and while the hand of all sought guns and knives, the trader hurried forward, and a gray-haired scout, with a fierce, determined look, pointed up the river trail and said. 'Wait.'

"The vaunting savage dimly understood that he had told too much, struggled to his feet, and. after again drinking freely of the liquor, purchased a quantity of powder and lead and staggered away from the post up the trail.

"It will not be necessary to follow the Indian very far on his course, because he came to a sudden halt about sunset, at which time a sharp report rang out, a puff of blue smoke floated heavenward, a heavy bodv fell to the earth. Two hours later the moon rose and sent down through the branches long slanting rays of light that touched red stains which were not drifted sumach leaves! The Indian was never seen again: none of the white men at the post ever questioned whither he had gone."

The land entries in this township were, according to the countv and government records, as follows: In 1811. William Helm. Thomas Clark and Stephen Goble. 1814. Nathaniel Henidon. William Ramsey. 181 5. Robertson Jones, William Fread.' James Jones. Jr. 1S16. Peter Prifogle. the first

Gemian in Highland, and among the earliest in the county; Corbly Hudson. In 1817, John Halborstadt, William Mintz, Samuel Price, Levi Fortner, William Knuwls, J. B. Chapman. In iSi8, John Stafford, George W. Matthews, Robert Douglass, William Walker, Bradbury Cottrell, Joseph McCart'erty, Phineas Johnson. In 1819. Joshua L. Sparks, Edward Blackburn, Jonathan Ivloore.

The following are the present, 191 5, township officers of Highland township : Trustee, Theodore B. Schuck ; assessor, Anthony Ripperger ; advisory board, Frank Bischoff, William Beckman, John Fohl : justice of the peace. John J. Willielm; supervisors, Charles Schuck, Joseph Strothman, Lewis Klemme, Joseph Boehmer.