Grant County, Indiana - Chapter 5: By William Neal, 1886

FAIRMOUNT TOWNSHIP - PHYSICAL FEATURES - STREAMS AND TIMBER - TIE LAKE - EARLY SETTLERS AND LAND ENTRIES - INTERESTING INCIDENTS EARLY ToWNsHIP OFFICERS - HUNTING WILD ANIMALS - DAVID L. PAYNE - FIRST MARRIAGE AND DEATH - CHURCHES, ETC.

Surface, Soil, ete. - This township presents some variety on the surface but is generally level except in the neighborhood of the streams where it is somewhat rolling; the greater portion consisting in a state of nature of black level lands where the ash, elm, and maple grew in great abundance, yet a great deal of the soil produced the walnut, poplar, beech, sugar and lynn, all growing together and in the fullest perfection and arriving at great size. Along Back Creek grew the poplar (tulip) in large proportion. Along Barren Creek grew the oak in full size and perfection. In the eastern and southeastern portions grew in great plenty all timber mixed in together, so the lumberman could get whatever he might want without going off the section where he might be located. The surface along Barren Creek and along the prairie is peculiar, and more or less uneven as compared with the other parts, and is almost exclusively covered with oak, mostly white oak mixed in-with black and red and even some jack oak.

Barren Creek enters the township in Section 4, Township 22. Range 8, and has a general northeasterly course and leaves the township a little south of the northeast corner of Section 24, Township 23, Range 8, then comes the prairie on the west of the creek and extending to the lake, a distance of four and a half miles, and the valley of one is sometimes not more than forty to sixty rods from the other. The space between lies high and is covered with oak, as are also the eastern and western banks of creek and prairie.

Animals. - Wild animals existed in this township in great numbers. Deer were very plenty and it was a very light task to procure a good supply of finest venison whenever desired. Bears were often seen and killed by the hunters of those days and the flesh of Bruin was no rarity to the settler. Wolves were very plenty and were killed in various ways. The steel trap was used whenever opportunity was offered; the wolf-pen was another method of taking this creature, and great numbers were shot by experienced hunters. The wild cats were numerous and a great pest to settlers by destroying pigs and lambs... David Lewis and John Weston killed twentyseven wild cats in the winter of 1835, besides other animals inhabit ing the wilderness in those early days. Otters were rather plenty in such parts as were adapted to their mode of life, and when taken their hides yielded a good price and well repaid the hunter's toil. Minks, musk-rats, and squirrels were plenty, and the oppossums were plenty till 1843 when the severe weather destroyed all of the 'possums and wild hogs. The wild duck inhabited the ponds and creeks in large numbers in the spring of the year. The wild turkey was a great favorite among the hunters in those days, and that which is esteemed a great luxury with the wealthy of to-day, was then very common on the tables of the first settlers.

The Lake. - The lake flows at no time into the creek although elevated several feet above the level of that stream, and at one point not above forty rods distant from valley to valley. But a ridge nearly twenty feet high, covered with the inevitable white oak and' composed of firm, yellow clay, intervenes. On this ridge we find an ancient mound of considerable height, and so far as examinations have been extended "burnt" clay seems to be contained within. While standing on this mound, in the midst of the oak forest, the lake on one side with its attendant marsh and tangled wildwood, and the creek with its prairie bordered with all its wilderness, we are led to exclaim, " Was this a habitation of ancient man, with its smoke quietly curling up amidst the scene; or was it a fortress, where scenes of carnage and blood were enacted amidst the war whoop and the shrieks of the expiring?" These inquiries remain unanswered and this mound only remains to speak a word from the ancient to the present race of men.

Back Creek. - This creek was named by Joseph Winslow, after the name of the creek where he lived in North Carolina, Randolph County. It enters the township in Section 6, Town 22, Range 8, and has a generally northerly course, bearing a little east, and enters the township of Mill a little west of the half-mile corner on the north side of Section 17;: Town 23, Range 8. The upper portion of this stream was very flat and rather marshy, and was cut wider and deeper about the year 1856, being the first work of any extent done in the county - and it is worthy of note that it was done by private enterprise, without process of law. It far exceeded expectation as to its benefits to lands and the public generally. It was a series of beaver ponds and when a channel was opened it was rather astonishing to see bits of timber with the marks of the teeth of these animals in them, and shells of different kinds, and in particular those of the muscle, of large size, which indicated that when these creatures were here that permanent water was held by their dams. Drainage has enabled the farmer to raise grain and grass on these lands where cattle "mired" in the first settling along -the creek. The higher lands and those farther down were first choice for farming and were settled first - mostly by a number of friends from North Carolina, but others soon came, and at an early day the settlement on Back Creek was quite dense for a new country.

Survey and First Entries. - We find the first entries to be by Robert McCormick, in Sections 11 and 14, on August 15, January 27, September 27, 1829; John L. McCormick in Section 13, March 18, 1833; Charles Baldwin in Section 14, August 14, 1830; Matthew Winslow in Section 17, December 28, 1829; Joseph Winslow in Section 17, December 28, 1829; Exum Newby in Section 17, December 28, 1829; Charles Baldwin in Section 17, October 31, 1831; Thomas Harvey in Section 18, October 10, 1832; Jesse Harvey in Section 20, October 10, 1832; Benjamin Benbow in Section 20, December 16, 1833; Seth Winslow in Section 20, October 20, 1831 and on December 28, 1829, in Section 20; Iredell Rush in Section 20, March 16, 1831; Nathan Morris in Section 20, April 9, 1833; Soloman Thomas in Section 23, August 9, 1830; Jacob Eltzroth in Section 24, June 13, 1832; Henry Osborn in Section 29, 1832; Daniel Baldwin in Section 29, December 16, 1833; John

First Settlers. - In 1829 came Robert McCormick from Fayette County, Ind., and settled on the northeast quarter of Section 14. He erected his cabin at the crossing of the Indianapolis and Fort Wayne and the Richmond and Logansport State roads, on lands now owned by James 8. Wilson. He moved his family in October, 1829. He was, therefore, the first settler in Fairmount Township There was, in those days, a great deal of travel on the State roads named, and he opened a tavern or hotel for their accommodation. Understanding the wants of the traveling public and that of the new settler, he brought with him four barrels of the best peach brandy. As time advanced travel increased and a commodious hewed-log, twostory building was erected on the southeast corner of the cross roads, with a two-story porch or veranda with banister of "turned" work on the north side of the house and overlooking the deer park, just on the north side of the road where a lot of deer were kept for the pleasure of the travelers, as well as profit to himself. The situation was romantic, being surrounded by hill and ravine, and was a great resting place for the traveler and land hunter.

In the fall of 1829 Joseph Winslow came from Randolph County, North Carolina, and settled on the farm now owned by David Walthall. Mathew Winslow came in 1829 and settled on the William Pierce farm. Seth Winslow came in 1829 and settled on the farm he still owns. Henry Winslow, son of Joseph Winslow, settled also on the Walthall farm, northwest quarter of Section 17. Exum Newby caine in the spring of 1830 and settled on the farm where Lewis Faukboner lives. Thomas Harvey came in 1832 and settled on the south half of the northeast quarter of Section 18. William Osborn came in 1832 and settled on the south half of the southeast quarter of Section 18. Iredell Rush came in 1830 and settled where his son Nixon now lives. Dugan Rush came in 1835 and settled on the land since owned by Jesse E. Wilson. Charles Baldwin settled on the west half of the southeast quarter of Section 14, in 1830, but soon moved onto the Joel Wright farm, or Haisley place. Nathan Morris settled in 1831 on the Bradley farm on the east: half of the southwest quarter and west half of the southeast quarter of Section 20. Jabez H. Moore, Esq., came from Jefferson Township. An old citizen lived on the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter, of Section 22. Lewis Moorman was among the first settlers. Solomon Thomas settled the Galatia farm in 1830. This farm is now owned by Carroll. It was at first a wild and somewhat romantic place, with the oak forest on one side and the open cranberry marsh on the other, and at the same time in the midst of game of all kinds that were to be found in the country. In 1835 Solomon Thomas moved from the Galatia farm to the head of the prairie. Here he made afarm and built a horse-mill. This supplied a want that was felt by the first settlers, especially in the dry season, and this mill, driven by horse-power, was patronized quite extensively. A postoffice called Ai was established here in 1840. David Smithson came in 1837 and settled where his widow now owns. Thomas Edgerton settled where Milton Winslow now lives. Nathan Lee settled where Joel Little lives in 1834. John Lee, Sr., settled the McCoy place in 1834. John Wilson settled on the Bailey place in 1837. Thomas Morris settled on the Daniel Thomas farm west of Fairmount about the year 1833. Lancaster Bell, Franklin Reeder, George Mason, Nathan Hammer, Ephraim Bates and Loammi Lively were old settlers. Thomas Baldwin came in 1833 and settled at the point where Fairmount is located. Daniel Baldwin then lived where Jonathan Baldwin did, just north of town. Solomon Parsons came in 1833. Henry Osborn settled on a part of the Richardson farm in 1833, but soon sold out and settled where his widow now lives. Hopkin Richardson came in the fall of 1833 and settled where Harmon Buller lives at present. In 1834, October 20, Jonathan Willcuts settled on the farm now owned by Henry Davis. A cabin had been erected previous to this by Thomas Baldwin (Big Tom), who now settled just east of this on the Anderson State road, where John Shields now owns. Carter Hastings came in 1835 and settled where he now lives. He has been a successful farmer and of faultless character. James Montgomery came in 1837. He was a great hunter of deer and bees and he never failed to take coon or otter when it was possible to do so. William Wellington came in 1842. He was a fine carpenter and well informed on all general subjects. Thomas Winslow came about 1837 and lived in Section 19. Sullivan Vinson lived on Nathan Morris' land for a time and then moved to Jonesboro. He was a carpenter and mill-wright. George W. Simons came in 1839 and settled on the east half of the northeast quarter of Section 25. James H. Clark settled the land where John Hubert lives September 30, 1847. Edmund Duling came in 1844 and settled where he now lives on Duling's Branch. He was a county commissioner at one time. Thomas D. Duling came in 1845 and settled where he now lives. Joel Duling settled in Section 25, on the east half of northwest quarter, in 1862. Absalom Johnson first settled where John Hubert lives. James S. Wilson settled on the Muncie road in 1835. He kept a tavern for a long time, and still lives where he first settled. Gabriel Johnson settled on the Muncie road, at the crossing of the outlet of the lake in 1835. He also kept entertainment for the weary traveler. Henry Simons was first settler on the farm where he lives. John Weston entered and settled the Ben Ice farm in 1835. John Fankboner came in 1835. Phineas Henley came in 1837 and lived in Section 19.

John J. Heavilin, a noted blacksmith on the Muncie road on the north side, of the southeast quarter of Section 13 - few places in early days were more noted than "Heavilin's shop." A little southeast of this shop, in 1841, was laid outa place called Wright's Town, but no buildings were ever erected and it has long been abandoned as a town. William Leach came in 1836 and settled where his son Esom now lives. At the same time his sons Esom, Edmund and John came __Edmund moved to Sullivan County; John settled on'the Joseph Weston farm; David Lewis settled on Section 2, Township 22, Range 8 in 1837; he had lived in the township three years prior to this date. William Payne, father of D. L. Payne, of Kansas notoriety; Lewis Harrison, Joseph Corn, Morris Payne, Joseph Powers, Elijah B. Ward, John Brewer and George Christ were settlers in the township; and at a later date came William H. H. Beeder, Henry Winslow, Sr., Thomas Estell, Abraham Myres, Henry Simons, Thomas Weston, Joseph Weston, Sr., Stephen Brewer, Elijah M. Searle, George Nose and Charles Wright.

In 1835 came Timothy Kelley and bought the Galatia farm of Solomon Thomas; this farm had a cranberry marsh ~Which extended on a few adjacent tracts; the cranberry interest was a source of revenue in those days. Amaziah Beesen settled in 1837 on the land he entered between the creek and prairie; he built the first brick house in the township in 1848, and at one time he did considerable business in distilling various plants, roots and flowers and obtaining their oil.. This locality produced a great variety of botanical specimens. Otho Selby settled the southeast quarter of Section 22, entered by him just on the north side of the prairie. He leased his land to parties soon after entry, but did not become a permanent settler till after he was married to Jane C. Allen, November 3, 1845. Jacob Fry lived on the land and at the spot where John Selby, son of Otho now lives. Otho taught school for eleven years in Shelby County, Ind., after coming to the West, before he located as a citizen of Grant County.

David Stanfield came in 1836, and settled east of the point where Fairmount is now located, but he afterward bought the land where he laid out the town and lived till his death. He was a minister in the Friend's Church, and a highly esteemed citizen.

William Hall came in 1839 and settled where Levi Scott lives. He established a tan-yard in 1840, being the first in the township. He worked at tanning for ten years. He and David Stanfield went into partnership in the nursery business in 1844. A nursery had been carried on previous to this by Stanfield & Williams on Stanfield's land. These firms supplied a large house demand and shipped a large amount down the river from Jonesboro to Peru, and thence along the canal above and below.

Thomas Harvey had also a large nursery on his farm about the same time, or as early as 1840, and these two supplied a large amount of the trees for the numerous orchards of the county, and the settler often points out the trees he obtained at Harvey's or Stanfield's.

Matters of Interest. - In 1836, David Lewis, Henry Osborn and Thomas Osborn hired a pirogue and went down the river from Wilson's Ford to the mouth of the Mississinewa, then down the Wabash a few miles below Lafayette, for the purpose of obtaining grain for use during the remaining portion of the season, or till wheat should mature and be harvested and threshed. They were gone on this memorable tour fourteen days. It was all wilderness on the Mississinewa from Conner's mill to Peru, and they were in the midst of Indians -who came frequently to look at these early navigators.. On their return trip it was necessary to unload and get a team to haul the pirogue around the dams. They arrived safely at the starting point with grain enough to last till harvest. Such are only some of the hardships and privations that the first settlers of a country have - to endure.

goods east of Fairmount in a room on the land of Z. §. Rich. ardson ; these were the first goods sold in the township - about 1848 or 1849. In the spring of 1834:a hog was heard squealing west from where Fairmount is situated ; it was found a bear had hold of the swine. Thomas Baldwin fired on it but it made its escape. In the winter of 1834 Joseph W. Baldwin and some others followed a bear track in Madison County, when they perceived that a moceasin track was following the same bear. They gave up the chase and returned disgusted with bears and moccasins. In 1838 David Lewis and John Weston killed a bear on the lands of George Mason, after wounding and chasing by dogs.

In'1845 David Lewis killed a wolf on the north of "wild cat" pond. He caught it in an old-fashioned "wolf-pen." This was the last one killed in the township. "Uncle Billy" Said caught three wolves in the "fust setlin'" in a wolf-pen all at one time. Isom Portice was bitten by a rattlesnake on his big toe, but being "full" at the time and taking a little more he came over it manfully. Lewis Harrison was hunting for coon, treed one, and the wolves hearing the "fuss" came and tore the old dog to pieces and chased the young 'one away. There were a dozen or more of them.

.. William Leach stood in his own cabin door and killed three deer at one time in the good old days. The last wild deer seen in the township was in 1871. In 1833 the Indians came hunting on the lands where the town of Fairmount now stands, a part of Meshingo-me-sia's band, including Wa-ka-coon-a, and they remained in huts on the lands owned by Henry Davis, known as the Bates place, most of the season.

In 1839, on lands where Alexander Dohman settled, being in Fairmount Township, David Lewis and Uncle Neddy Moore came hunting and treed wolves in a hollow log, and came to Elijah Lucas' to get assistance. David C. Lucas went back with them, taking an ax, and finding the old ones absent David crept into the log and brought out eight young wolves, about the size of half-grown, ordinary sized cats. They peeled bark off of saplings and tied the young creatures to trees and whipped them with switches so their cries would bring the old ones so they could be shot, but this experiment failed. They could be heard round about in the brush, but did not come close enough to get ashot. They killed all but one and gave it to Lucas for a pet. He kept it for a year, but it didn't "pet" worth anything and had to be killed. As wolf scalps brought a good price in those days not much loss was sustained.

David Lewis Payne the son of William Payne, of Fairmount Township, was born in 1836, and received his education mostly at schools taught in the township by William G. Lewis from 1848 to 1858. He then went to Doniphan County, Kas., and engaged in the saw-mill business. He represented his county in the Legislature three times; was sergeant-at-arms twice; had a clerkship at Washington for a time; was captain in Custer's command before his defeat.. He was captain of the "Oklahoma Boomers," the last act of his life.

Churches. - Back Creek meeting was instituted and set up in 1831; some meetings were held at Joseph Winslow's, but very soon a house was erected on the present site on the land of Exum Newby. The monthly meeting was authorized about 1838, and the brick church was built in 1841.

The United Brethren Church (now on lands of Louisa Payne) was built in the fall of 1842; this place of meeting was abandoned and a church now stands west from this on the pike. The first trustees were Solomon Thomas, James Montgomery and William Wellington. Some of the members were Solomon Thomas, Solomon Parsons, Hopkin Richardson and their wives. This church was reorganized on the pike, and about 1864 John Smith, Carter Hastings and William Hall were trustees. The present house was erected in 1872, and Robert Hastings, Carter Hastings and William Hall are the present trustees, with a membership of ninety. A. J. Bolen is minister at present.

of Joseph Weston, where John Leach lives now. The Rev. Wade Posey conducted the meetings in 1837. The members were Joseph and Lydia Weston, Elijah and Elizabeth Ward, David and Nancy Lewis, George and Martha Christ, William and Celia Payne, and Anna Austin. Sugar Grove Church was built in 1839, of hewed logs, stick and clay chimney, etc. Pleasant Hill has taken the place of Sugar Grove.

The Wesleyan Church, located at present near the residence of John Plaster, was first built on land obtained of Martin Bates, in 1853. _ Some of their ministers at this place are Emsley Brookshire, Alfred Tharp, Paxton, Dr. Lewis, Beckford and Isaac Meek,

Other Items. - About the year 1854 William Chamness came into possession of the Kelley farm, and latterly known as the Galatia farm, and about this time the spiritual "rappings" and ''writings" made some manifestations in Mr. Chamness' own household, and it was soon made known that a paper should be issued to more fully proclaim to a fallen world their lost and undone condition. It was not long before a personage was "hit upon" to "carry on" this part of the work ordered by spirits from the other world. About this time Mr. Chamness' house and premises became the rallying point for all believers in spiritualism, as well as the curious in reference to the matter. Indeed, quite a crowd was there most of the time for months, of both believers and the faithless who were quiet lookers on at the doings there. They looked and held their heads closely, but could not catch one glimpse or hear one footfall but what was proclaimed by some medium or other. At length it was made known to Mr. Chamness that he should be the proprietor of a town to be called Galatia, and to be laid out as the spirits might direct. Even the streets were named by "writings," and the dimensions of lots were given in like manner. Thus matters went on for some time and Galatia was laid out under such directions as are here recited. A saw-mill and a few cheap buildings were erected ; meetings were held on Sabbaths by spiritualists and sometimes by others; preaching was heard from various texts and bearing upon various points in relation to such matters as pertdined to events that were passing at the would-be town of Galatia, and among the texts one chosen from Gal. iii: 1 was most admired by the hearers. - but no town now exists. Prosper Town was laid out as an opposition to Galatia by Samuel D. Kennedy, June, 1854, but it had no prosperity whatever.

Leachburg was laid out in July, 1855, on the survey of the Cincinnati, New Castle & Michigan Railroad, in Section 36, by John Leach, but no railroad and no.town were built.