Grant County, Indiana - Chapter 4: By William Neal, 1886

ENTER TOWNSHIP in Grant County, Indiana, contains twenty-four Sections or square miles, and consists of four tiers of Sections off of the north side of Township 24 north, Range 8 east, and so much of Township 25, Range 8 east, as lies west of the river. It is bounded on the east by Monroe Township, on the north by Washington, on the west by Pleasant and on the south by Mill Township.

Surface, Soil, etc - This township consists of a variety of surface, and in the eastern part somewhat uneven and broken, especially so along the river, creeks and branches. In the eastern part the white oak tree, in considerable proportion, has possession of the soil, yet there is quite a sprinkling of mixed timber. The lands in the west and southwest are more nearly level and are timbered with a full variety of the majestic productions of the vegetable kingdom. The poplar or tulip grows to great size and perfection, and the black walnut, so highly prized by the lumberman and timber merchant, grew to a great size originally, but the demand for lumber of this kind has almost rid the country of it. However the passer by will see groves and young trees of this.species in considerable numbers, and looking as though the original would be reproduced in quantity at no very distant day. The beach, sugar, ash and elm were trees of the old forest that grew to full size and perfection, but the slaughtering hand of man has nearly devastated the forest that once beautified this portion of the county of Grant.

The soil of this township was naturally of a productive kind, and along the river in an early day the bottoms were very desirable for agricultural purposes, and the best crops were produced here while the level lands were overflowed and unfit for cultivation, but these in turn have received attention in the way of drainage, and are now fully equal to the bottom lands in production. On the rolling oak lands in the eastern part there has mostly been a fair showing for wheat and other grain, and the productions of this part of the township have the weight that does not belong to the productions of the level black lands, while the timber of this portion has of late years become a matter of great importance in the trade among dealers in this commodity. If Center Township contains an uneven surface it has also a good soil for crops of various kinds. If the bottoms along the river are not as large as in some other parts they are equally productive and as agreeable to farm upon.

Streams. - Lugar's Creek enters the township from Monroe, a little north of the southeast corner of Section 12, and has a general westerly: course and-enters the river on the line between Sections 9 and 16. This stream lies in a deep valley below the general surface which was originally crowned by a heavy oak forest.

21 and flows into the-river just below the railroad bridge. Here are some of the best farm lands in the county, and they are not to be excelled anywhere in this part of the State in their fertility and productiveness.

Deer Creek enters the township in Section 20 and very soon flows out again and enters the river on the line between Center and Mill. This stream has very broken land along its course in Center Township and Mill were erected in this locality, and in the days when teaming was carried on the Deer Creek mills were spoken of in a way that showed how much the teamster dreaded this locality.

Boots Creek enters the township near the half-mile corner on the west side of Section 7 and flows in an easterly direction and a northeasterly and enters the river at McKinney's Mill.

Animals. - The animal kingdom was as fully represented in Center Township as any one in the county, but the disappearance of wild animals was earlier as a matter of time than in the newer and more sparsely settled townships. We find the bear, wolf, deer, raccoon, sometimes the panther, the wild cat, the squirrel, otter, mink, skunk, woodchuck, owls, hawks, wild turkey and the wild pigeon in great numbers. The river was well stocked with fish and parties came from the older portions of this and adjoining States to fish and hunt. Numerous stories are told of men coming from western Ohio to fish in the Mississinewa ; fish were caught by the wagon load and yenison was too plenty to be eaten unless of the best quality. The wolf prowled in the dense forest and made the situation hideous by his howl; and sheep, lambs, pigs and calves had to be kept very close, or else they would fall a prey to the wolf, bear or wildeat. The panther was both seen and heard, and was dreaded by all. The coon was sought for his hide, and also that of the otter and mink. The muskrat shared the same fate. The skunk was avoided for good reason, unless he was too familiar with the henroost, then he was murdered without merey. Owls and hawks were shot without question as to guilt or innocence.

First Settlers. - In the spring of 1826 came Martin Boots and settled near the mouth of Boots' Creek. He built the first saw and grist-mill in the county, employing James and Daniel Cox as millwrights. The settler as early as the spring of 1827 could have his lumber sawed and his corn ground, but flour could not. be obtained without going quite a distance, perhaps, even to Richmond, Ind. This mill of Boots' stood at the east end of the dam not far above the elm tree standing in the bottom to the left of the road or street as you go down the river.

John Ballinger came in 1826 and settled where the cemeteries are now located, on lands now owned by A. C. Jay. Ballinger was the second person to die in the county; adaughter of David Branson was first. Jesse Adamson settled in Section 21, on lands belonging since to the late Martin Griffin. - Adamson built a saw-mill and sold out in 1833, and moved to Jefferson Township.

David Branson came in 1826 and settled where the eastern part of Marion is located, but finally located near the spot where the late John Overman lived, near McFeeley's mill. Thomas, a son of David, came at the same time. Jacob Branson, in 1826, located on the Joel Overman place. In 1827 John Odell settled on what was afterward the Symons farm, on the school section. Eli Overman, in 1827, settled on- the farm where his son, Joel, is still living - he entered and sold a great deal of land and aided the new settler to locate in the wilderness advantageously. Reuben Overman settled, where the Cincinnati, Wabash & Michigan Depot is located, in 1827. He was a blacksmith and quite an artificer in various ways. Seth Burson came in 1829 and settled on the Burson farm in Section 22, east of Griffin's mill. David Adamson settled east of Griffin's mill in 1827. . Ephraim Overman settled on the (Schooley) E. P. Jones farm in 1827, lived there six years, then swapped with Silas Overman for the farm where George Overman now lives. Samuel Adamson in 1829 settled on a part of the Martin Griffin farm. John Lamb settled on the Beatty farm in 1828, and sold out and went up on Deer Creek and bought Silas Overman's mill. John Pearson came back from Henry County and settled on the David S. Hogin farm, about the year 1832. Jesse Thomas came in spring of 1829 and settled in river bottom where North Marion is located; then in February, 1831, he settled where his son Eli lives. Jesse Small, Sr., settled on the land now owned by Joab Wright in 1829, at the old orchard in the bottom. Benjamin Knight came in 1829 and settled on the farm now owned by William Knight. Solomon Knight settled the Eli Thomas place in 1829; he sold to Jesse Thomas and moved up to Back Creek in 1831. Joshua Small settled on the southeast quarter Section 17 in 1832; this is known as the Hollingsworth farm, owned in part by Joseph Small. Thomas Symons came in 1834 and settled on Section 16. Solomon Carter had lived there previously. Isaac Elliott came in 1828 and settled where his son now lives. John James came in 1832 and settled on

Deer Creek, where Cincinnati, Wabash & Michigan Railroad crosses. Thomas Knight came in 1829 and settled on the Foster farm, now owned by William Baldwin. John Thomas bought of Silas Overman the land where Jesse Wright lives and settled thereon in 1830. He was father of Jesse Thomas. Jesse Bogue came in 1829 and settled where J. W. Baldwin owns. Barnaba Bogue settled on the farm where his son Thomas lives about 1829. Thomas Mason in 1832 settled the Jerry Arnold farm, where J. L. Barnes lives. Stephen Overman in 1836 settled on land now owned by Eli Thomas. Solomon Whitson came in the fall of 1832 and settled on land belonging to the estate of the late Martin Griffin. The first permanent improvement made on the Fankboner farm at the stone quarry was made by Jacob Smith, though some work had been done before Reuben Small settled on the Joseph Overman place in 1835; he shortly moved up on Deer Creek. Henley Thomas (Red Head) came about 1828 and entered and sold various tracts, but didn't live long on any one. Jonathan Lamb came at an early period and was a great cripple and invalid. Nathan Coggeshall came in 1834 and settled on the land owned at present by David Thomas. He remained here four years and then went up on Deer Creek, in Mill Township, in 1838,

James Stout came in February, 1836, and as he was a carpenter he lived in Marion and built a number of houses before moving on his farm. Nathan W. Frazier came in 1836 and settled on the Philip Matter farm; the place is more widely known as the Frazier farm. He purchased of Martin Boots, and different persons had lived on the farm in the way of leasing, renting, ete. Among them was John O. Boots. John Wall was the first settler on the Eyestone farm. Norman settled on the north side of the Frazier farm; cabin stood at the turn of the lane north of the Frazier House. William Massey settled on the south half of the southwest quarter of Section 80, in 1834. Uriah Moorman settled the Stackhouse farm in 1831. Riley Marshall entered it in 1833. William Howell first settled the land now owned by Isaac Vandeyanter in 1831. Henley James settled where his widow lives in 1836. Joseph Pearson first settled on the Thomas Hays farm in 1836. Smith Lounsberry settled on the Barley farm, now owned by J. Troyer, in 1836. Jonas Wolf settled in 1834 on the farm where he died, Section 11. Jonathan Pearson settled where Ira Hodson now lives in 1837. John Coulter came in 1838 and settled where his son, James, lived before he went to Kansas. John Pierce came in 1836 and settled on the farm in Section 13. James Griffin came in 1833 from Jefferson Township, where he settled in 1830, and having bought out Jesse Adamson he settled on the premises and reconstructed the mill in 1833,s0 as to grind both wheat and corn. Reuben Overman was the principal hand in cutting out the buhrs, made of bowlders. Robert Griffin settled where he lives in 1834. Martin Griffin settled where his widow now lives in 1836. Case Broaderick settled the McRae farm. Noah and William Thomas came in 1830 with their father, John Thomas. Samuel A. Campbell settled where he lives now, February 21, 1837. Joab Wright came in 1844 and settled where he now resides. Alexander Frazier came in 1836 and settled where he now lives. William Middleton came in 1840 and bought of Joseph Pearson the Middleton farm. John Draper settled the farm on the bluff east of Marion in the fall of 1833. Joshua Draper settled the Shambaugh farm in the fall of 1833. Josiah Symons, in 1834, first settled the Vanvacter farm, but Dr. Virling Kersey owned it in the meantime. Jesse Draper settled on the Breedlove farm in 1832. Bellfield Jenkins settled on the Ring farm in 18-40. Jesse Embree came in 1836 and settled on the Smith Lonsberry place; he built a steam saw-mill in 1850. Jesse Swift settled on Section 12 in the year 1836. Jesse Symons settled the Bob Andrew farm in 1737. Jesse Jackson settled the Stebbins farm in 1836. Jonathan Burson settled where his widow lives in the year 1837. Noah Nelson came in 1839 and settled in the southeast corner of the township. Reason Bevard settled the Dr. Winchell farm in 1837; he was the first one buried in the Burson Grave-yard. Nathan Symons settled the Leander McKinney farm in 1834. Ben Schooley settled the Hartsook place in 1842. Adam Barley came in 1847 and settled where he now lives. Willis Davis came in 1838, and lived a while in the old schoolhouse at Mississinewa, then settled on part of the Jesse Wright farm and taught school for years, and then moved to Mill Township. Amos Small moved from Mill Township and settled where Rose Hill Dairy is kept. John Howe came September, 1836, and settled in Section 24, near the Howe Meeting-house. Shadrach Nelson settled on the farm now owned by his son, J. R. Nelson, in 1836. James Coulter settled where he now lives in 1837.

Elisha and Hezekiah Nelson both came in 1836. Amos Davis came in 1835. Abraham Oppy was an old settler; he bought Martin Boots' mill in1834. Riley Marshall came from Pleasant Township, where he settled in 1829, to Center in 1831, having swapped property with Martin Boots; he became owner of the Boots Mill, and Boots had the west part'of the Philip Matter farm. Marshall - gold out in 1834-35, and settled at the Massey Creek place and built a saw-mill near the Charles Mill in 1836, and the brick house where Bradford lives in 1838.

Incidents. - About the year 1839 it was known that a wolf had taken up in Foster's swamp, just south of Marion. A company sur- 'rounded that portion of the swamp, and contracting the circle the wolf was soon routed and killed by Hugh Stephenson near the point where the pike goes up the hill south of town.

In the year 1829, near the spot where Joel Overman now lives, and while a number of land hunters were stopping over night at Oli Overman's, the dogs, four or five in number, treed a large wildcat on a hickory elm. A number of shots were fired before he received a wound sufficient to bring him to the ground. At last he fell, the dogs were soon whipped, and an additional shot killed him; he was near six feet long.

About the year 1829 or 1830 Jesse Thomas, having settled where North Marion is now, located about half way from Washington Street bridge to Mr. Bradford's. He, in company with Aaron Morris, when passing through the woods on the ground where North Marion now stands, shot a large rattlesnake six and a half feet long and four or five inches thick; it was of the yellow variety. There was aden of these in the bluff on the opposite side of the river in those days.

Other Matters. - About the year 1829 the Indian " Buckwheat" came and camped near the spot where the ice-house is situated, near the cemetery; he had his twelve-year-old son with him; he remained one or two months; was very mild, and rather inclined to be social. The boy was an excellent marksman with a bow and arrow.

In 1838 a saw-mill was built on Lugar's Creek by Martin Nelson, Matthew Nelson and Alex. Frazier. It stood on the lands of the late H. James. §, A. Campbell and David Campbell were

Campbell's mill on Lugar Creek, was begun in 1836 by Jesse Jackson, but finished by David Campbell, and set in motion in March, 1837. It did good work for years.

In 1837 William St. Clair built a saw-mill on Lugar Creek at the point where the pike strikes the creek as you go east on the land known as the Oppy place.

In 1839 Thomas Rooks built a saw-mill on Lugar Creek, a little below the St. Clair Mill, at the mouth of the race on the opposite side of the creek. None of these mills are in operation at present, and have not been for years.

The Branson Mill was set in motion in the fall of 1834, only a saw-mill at that time. The site fell into the hands of Nelson Conner, who put up a grist-mill from 1840 to 1845. Various disasters have attended mills at this place in the way of " washouts," but for some time it has been doing a good business in the hands of McFeely & Co., the present owners. .

A grist-mill was erected on Boots' Creek near the point where Third Street crosses said stream, by Boots, Conner & Co., and was good property in its day of prosperity, but it has long since failed to be useful. . The building has been moved, and is now the millhouse of D. R. McKinney, and years ago it was used as a woolen factory. Lewis Foster's wife was the first person buried in the Foster Grave-yard. The wife of John Howe was the first person buried in the Howe Grave-yard, July 27, 1837; then in the woods John Lancaster and Edwin Lancaster were both buried in one grave in 1833, in Friends' Cemetery. A little child of Joseph Mills was the first one buried at Lugar Creek Grave-yard.

In a double log cabin, just opposite the mouth of Walnut Creek, a general store was kept by Samuel Pierce about 1830. He became discouraged and sold out and went to Richmond. Edward Mason sold goods in a house on Eli Overman's land about 1831. James Beard first sold goods in Marion at northwest corner square. Dr. Buckman came in 1830; he was an Englishman, and had an office near where the Foster Grave-yard is located, in the house in which the first school in the county was taught by William James in 1828 _29-30. Joseph Cadwalader was the second physician in the county. He lived in Marion in 1832; he and his wife both died while here.

Benjamin Benlow and Mary Morris were married ind anuary,1833, (Friends). Robert Griffin and Eleanor Hines were married April 24, 1834, by William Roberts, justice of the peace; Thomas Rooks and Rachel St. Clair were married February 14, 1833, by Nathan Branson, justice of the peace; Martin Griffin and Penina Nelson were married in 1836; James Coulter and Jane Howe were married in 1837; James Griffin and Rachel Murdock were married February 10, 1834, by William Roberts, justice of the peace.

Deaths from Accident. - A man by the name of Bratton, in 1837, was drowned in the river a little above where the Cincinnati, Wabash & Michigan Railroad Bridge is located, in an attempt to swim ashore from a flat-boat. Stephen Gregg was killed in a millwheel where Third Street crosses Boots' Creek, in 1842. Joseph Jadden was drowned at McFeely's mill. The wife of Dr. William McKinney fell down a stairway at D. R. McKinney's, and was instantly killed. A lady by the name of Roush was burned to death. A son of Jacob Smith was killed by a cart. Ernst Guenin's wife hung herself. James Eviston was drowned in the river in 1854. A little daughter of Dr. Chadwick died from poison. Matthias Stotler was drowned at the ford below the upper bridge. Davis killed Shipley in the winter of 1856-57. John Haun, killed by cars at Chicago, St. Louis & Pittsburgh depot. An unknown man drowned at the bend of the river. An unknown man drowned at the island. John Middleton, killed by Josephy, 1874. David Moore, an albino, was drowned July 4, 1879. Andrew Druly took morphine. - - Williams poisoned himself. An unknown person drowned. Guy Work, killed by lightning. C.S. Ratliff, killed by being thrown from a horse. James Kiley, killed by a shot at the jail. Ryan took poison and died in jail. Allen Hunt fell dead; he was a portrait painter and crayon artist. Mrs. Hahn died from the effects of poison. John Adamson hung himself. Lindsey White, killed on the railroad, Alva Evans poisoned himself. William Ramsey, killed on the Narrow Gauge Railroad. Lemon Waldren, killed in a well. L. J. Sterrett's little son drowned in a spring.

Churches. - The Mississinewa meeting of the Friends' denomination was instituted and set up in the year 1828. The house and place of meeting was where the cemetery is now located, just to the northwest of the I. O. O. F. Cemetery. Meetings were held here till the fall of 1837, when the present site was occupied. Monthly meetings were established in 1832, and quarterly meetings were held ten or eleven years later.

A meeting of Friends was set up and held for a short time on the east side of the river, in the Allen neighborhood, called '" New Hope." A small burying ground is still there on the land of James Paxton.

Lugar Creek Church was established on July 10, 1843. Jesse Embree, William Roberts and William McKinney were trustees. It has now quite a large membership. The Howe Church was organized in 1839. Elisha Cast was a deacon, and James Coulter was clerk, Shadrach Nelson, John Pierce, Jonas Nelson, Lawrence Nelson, Thomas Beckford, Benoni Wilson, Smith Grant were prominent members. Liberty Chapel was first organized in Mill Township, but was moved and a house erected on the present site. George Carter, Micajah Weasner and Syvanus Thomas, trustees. The pastors for some time past were L. N. Jones, Z. McNew, Oaler, D. E. Myers. J. Demundrum, and Cyrus Smith.

Methodist Protestant Church was organized in 1872, and a church building was erected at the southwest corner of the east half of the southwest quarter of Section 15. This is a good, comfortable church edifice. Some of the leading members are Robert Griffin, Charles Love and wife, Thomas Williams, Joseph Vanvacter, John Adamson, Michael Futrell, Frank Vanvacter.