Grant County, Indiana - Chapter 8: By William Neal, 1886

JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP--SURFACE, SOIL, Etc. - THE STREAMS - -"BUCKWHEAT'S'" GRAVE - FIrRsT LAND ENTRIES - FIRST SETTLER - INTERESTING INCIDENTS - CHURCHES OF THE TOWNSHIP - DEATHS - MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS - NEW CUMBERLAND - UPLAND.

HE township of Jefferson, inthe county of Grant, consists of Town 23 north, Range 9 east, and one tier of Sections off of the north side of Town 22 north, Range 9 east. By the surveys it contains forty-two square miles and is bounded on the east by the county of Blackford, on the north by Monroe Township, on the west by Mill and Fairmount, and on the south by Delaware County, Ind. Surface, Soil, ete- - This township was originally covered with a heavy forest of mixed timber of nearly all kinds to be met with in this region. The southwest, a little way back from the river, was almost entirely level, and the ash, maple, beech, poplar and such like timber prevailed. On the north the white oak was most abundant, and on the east there was the usual showing of mixed forest trees that grow on rich black land. The general surface is much more rolling than in some other parts of the county; indeed in some places, especially along the river, it is quite broken and somewhat hilly.

about "the lake." This body of water at the time of settlement contained from twelve to fifteen acres of water surrounded by an extensive flat or marsh; the water itself bordered by the pond lily and other water plants for some distance from the shore; then came the deep water (twenty to thirty feet), well stocked with pike and other fish that attracted the fisherman,"who was the only intruder on this lonely spot. This body of water has been greatly reduced by cutting the outlet, and the "flat" around it has been mostly reclaimed. <A great many ponds or basins and marshes have been brought into cultivation by drainage; such places received the name ''yoker" in an early day, and the "bear yoker" and the "cow swamp" and the big yokers along the six mile branch were common expressions, but are expressions that do not apply at this period of the township's existence.

The Streams. - The streams of this township are more numerous than in some others. Among them we note Kirkwood's Creek in the southwestern part; so named from an early settler, Thomas Kirkwood, who lived at the crossing of the Richmond and Logansport State road with his violin, and his house filled with dry goods, combining the useful with the agreeable. Crawford's Creek came down from the "great marsh" and flowed past the 'Black Horse" tavern, kept by John Crawford. Barren Creek crossed the road at John McWilson's. Just on the north side, between the creek and house, is the grave of " Buckwheat," an Indian who lived on the Mississinewa in early days. Hog Creek comes in from the north side with a rapid current and falls into the river at the "Steep Bank." Lake Branch, the outlet of the lake, has a circuitous course and for a considerable distance flows through a deep channel or ravine. The scenery is somewhat romantic along its course.

Ghost Run, so named in the first settlement, from the fact that a coon-hunting party, Solomon Reasoner, Peter Reasoner, Noah: Reasoner and Richard Graham, were along said stream and "camping out." They saw a light object of unusual appearance, which met all descriptions of a being of the supernatural world, as they imagined, but on approaching it, very cautiously, they found it to be a piece of bark, made white by exposure, hanging from a tree.

Steep Hollow Branch, so named on account of its flowing through a deep ravine or valley. It is quite romantic along its course, and while we wander along its margin we forget that we inhabit a level country, and for the time seem to be transferred to a mountainous region. The writer has heard these hills and this valley made vocal by the howl of the wolf.

Survey and First Entries. - This township was surveyed and sectionized pursuant to an order of the surveyor-general, and we find the foliowing among the first entries, to wit: On April 13, 1833, James Moorman entered the east half of the northeast quarter of Section 7; Benjamin Rigdon in Section 7, December 12, 1833; Joseph Wilson in May 17,1830; Ichabod Dille in Section 7, June 10, 1831; Section 7, - James Griffin in Section 17, March 16, 1831; Jacob Eltzrolth in Section 19, June 18, 1832; Levi Lewis in Section 21, May 18, 1833; Hen-

First Settlers. - William Case erected the first house in Jefferson Township in the fall of 1829. His son, Elijah Case, lives on a part of the old homestead, and the traveler who had been along the road in former days has no difficulty in pointing out the site of the first settler in Jefferson. Thomas Littler settled over the river east of New Cumberland, in the fall of 1829, on the east half of the southwest quarter of Section 2, Town 22, Range 9. This farm is now owned by the Newbergher heirs. John Graham came in April 11, 1830, from Guernsey County, Ohio. He and his family came down the river on a boat from Luallen's Mill. James Griffin came in March, 1830, and settled on east half of fractional Section 17, but he shortly moved down on Walnut Creek. He traded with Jesse Adamson for a saw-mill, and Adamson moved on the Griffin farm in Jefferson, in February, 1833.

Joseph Reasoner came in the fall of 1832 from Muskingum County, Ohio, and settled where he now lives. He was a blacksmith. He also delighted in hunting deer, bear, or whatever animal came in the way that was deemed worthy of his ambition. In 1828 he made a tour, with some others, in the way of examination as to lands and situations, etc., passing down the Mississinewa, where he saw many Indians and a great deal of very fine land. He, however, selected the tract Which he entered and has lived upon ever since, and he is now nearly ninety-one, haying lived on this farm about fifty-four years.

John W. Milholland was the fourth Settler in Jefferson. He came in 1882, and settled in the southeast quarter of Section 2, Township 22, Range 9. Michael Pugh came in the year 1832, and lived on the tract of land owned by D. M. Needler, but he shortly moved over to Lake Branch and settled where J. M. Pugh, his son, now lives. Hiram Rogers came in 1832, and settled where he afterward lived. William Sanders came in 1832, and settled opposite New Cumberland, where his son, John Sanders, lives. J. B. Allen, Esq., came in 1832, and settled in the northeast quarter of Section 34, but moved over to Lake Branch, west of the McVicker farm. S. B. Fergus came in 1833, and settled on the northeast fraction of Section 28. Thomas Dean settled nearly opposite on the west side of the river in 1836. He served as justice of the peace, and one term as county auditor.

Henry Richards came in 1833, and settled on the west side of the river, on the northeast quarter of Section 33. Jabez H. Moore came from Preble County, Ohio, to Wayne County, Ind., then to Delaware.County, then to Jefferson Township, in Grant County, in 1832. Thomas Kirkwood bought the land entered by William Mc- Cormick; and settled on it in 1833. The house stood near where the residence of G. C. Careins now stands. He sold goods and was a great violinist. David McCormick, in 1833, settled in Section 4,

Township 22, Range 9, on land now owned by the Smiley heirs; he had a lathe driven by water. Solomon Gregg was also an early settler on Kirkwood's Creek. Jacob Richards settled where he lives now in 1845. He had lived in Iowa, but Abraham Rader had a lease on his land in the meantime. Daniel Richards was first owner. Samuel Moore, Sr., entered east half of the southeast quarter of Section 3, Township 22, Range 9, and settled thereon in 1832. He was father of Samuel Moore, of Jonesboro, and came from Botetourt County, Va.

John Patterson came in 1838, and settled on the Rigdon land now owned by Jesse Johnson, in Section 7. He died September 3, 1838. In October next the family moved over to Section 2, to the farm known as the Patterson place. Here they found as neighbors John S. Miller, father of Isaiah Miller, who came in 1838; Joseph Marshal, who came in 1834, and settled in the vyycinity of the lake. John Marshall came in 1834, also Robert Marshall, but he now lives in Monroe Township at the age of eighty-one, and also their mother, old Mrs. Marshall. Lorenzo Miles came in 1840. James Slater had previously settled on the land, now owned by Isaac Williams, in 1835. These were the principal settlers at these dates round about the lake,

James Needler came in 1834 and settled in Section 36, he was father of George W. Needler, the county commissioner; he lives in Section 35. John Lyon settled where he now lives in 1837, he built a saw-mill on Lake Branch. James Forehand settled where his son Timothy lives in 1838. John Ogan, in 1838, first settled the place known as the Capper farm, but more recently as the John Carter farm. John Oswalt settled on the southwest quarter of Section 10 in 1837; he was at one time the largest landholder in Grant County (2,240 acres); he sold a few goods to the early settlers, and was a confirmed bachelor and lived by himself most of the time. B. W. Furnish came in 1837 and settled on the northwest quarter of Section 6, Township 22, Range 9; he was one of the associate judges of Grant County for a time, and was of Democratic proclivities. John Crawford settled in 1834 where the Richmond and Logansport State road crossed Crawford Creek; he kept the Black Horse tavern, which was a place of considerable note in the early days among travelers and settlers; Jonah Kibby lives here and owns the farm, but the black horse on the sign is seen no more. Mason Brown, father of Clerk Browh, was an old settler and first postmaster at Trask. Aaron D. Bates first settled the Kidner farm, and Martin Bates first settled the Asa Marine farm. Jesse Arnburn was an early settler. Thomas Cozzens first settled the Adriel Simons farm, but Joel Littler was owner of the situation. James Terrel first settled the John Little farm. Samuel Todd settled in 1836 on the land now owned by Dan Duling. John McWilson, in 1838, settled where he lived during life, near Barren Creek Crossing. John Walker, in 1837, settled the farm where Fred Wilhelm lived. Isaac Smith settled in 1838 the farm where William Tibbits lives, known as the Jes. Marine place. Sam Case was first owner and settler, in 1835, of the Harmon Dunn place; he (Dunn) came here about 1850. Joshua Jones settled on the Owens place, where he lives, in 1850; Owens first settled here in 1835. David McVicker came in 1837 ' and settled where his widow now lives. Hiram Varner came in 1841. John Richards settled in 1834 the farm that bears his name; he built a.saw-mill at the mouth of Kirkwood's Creek. Isaac Carter came in the fall of 1835, and settled where J. N. Carter now lives; he had the first brick house in Jefferson. Moses McKeever came in 1837 and settled at the ford nearly opposite the mouth of Lake Branch, on the lands now owned by David Mittauk.- James Smith settled the Phi. Wilson farm in the year 1838, or near that time. About the year 1838 came Bradfield and settled where Ira Carter, Esq. now lives; Ira Carter settled the Hudson Stewart place in 1846. Nathan Lewis settled the Nathan Littler farm in 1835; Joseph Littler lives there now. Otha Hardy settled his own farm in 1841; John W. Lay settled a part thereof in 1838. John Graham settled the L. D. Watson farm in 1833. James B. McFerren settled where William Parks now lives. Thomas Snyder first settled the land now owned by David Hayworth. Enoch Parrill in October, 1835, settled where his widow now owns. Peter Culp, in 1834,(a son of Vulcan), settled on a tract of land immediately west of William Parks. James McHenry, in 1835, settled where H. M. Davis now lives. William Hollis came in 1834 and settled where he now lives. Abraham Secrist settled on the half section of land in 1837, where his son William K. Secrist lives at present. Jacob Linder settled on west half southeast quarter of Section 23 in 1837.

Jones, in the spring of 1834, settled where Jehu Jones, his son, now lives. James Dunn, in 1846, settled where his family now resides. Samuel Reasoner, in 1844, settled where Jehu Crow lives. Basil Lucas settled, in 1836, on the farm at the crossing of Barren Creek, on the west side, on the hill. Thomas M. Lucas settled, in 1836, where his son now lives. James Lyon settled in 1849. Elias Lyon settled on the Parrill place in 1834, then went to the Slater farm; then he went, in 1841, where he last lived before he moved to Upland. The Liberty-Hamilton farm was settled by David Carter in 1836. Hillman Carter settled a part of the Jacob Richards' farm in 1835. James Johnson settled where he now lives in 1843; he is one of the large land owners of the county. John Ballinger settled where he now lives, west of Upland, in 1852. Eli Rigdon was the first settler on the Jesse Johnson place. Bingham Simons, in 1835, settled on the lands now owned by William M. Duling, on the Nottingham farm. James B. Neal settled on the north half of the northwest quarter of Section 4, Town 23, Range 9, in 1837. Jesse Ballinger came, in 1837, and settled on the south half of the northwest quarter of Section 4, Town 23, Range 9. Joseph Day came in 1837 and settled where Frank Ballinger lives. Charles Capper settled on the John Carter place about 1839. Garrett Dodd lived on the Billy Nelson place in 1835. Jacob Bugher came in 1851 and taught school for some time, and settled where Upland was in 1857. Richard and James Deeren are both old settlers.

Incidents. - In 1833, as Peter and Jacob Reasoner were bee hunting, they found a large, leaning oak that had bees in it. Three or four persons went to cut the tree, taking three buckets. When the tree fell they found a large hollow containing bees. They took three buckets and two tubs full of honey, besides a lot of dry comb. On another occasion Peter Reasoner, in 1843, cut a tree for bees and got enough to make fifteen gallons of strained honey.

In 1832 Soloman and Jake Reasoner went fire hunting and killed three deer the first night, near the mouth of Kirkwood's Creek. Fire hunting was very common, and about 1832 the Griffins killed seventy-five deer in one season. Elijah Case, in 1833, caught a deer on the ice by chasing it.

Near the farm of L. D. Watson a bear was seen climbing a tree. The dogs caught it and pulled it down; it was killed by those present. Isaac Lanning and others had an experience with bears.

They were with axes going from work when a cub was seen running up a sapling; one of the men climbed after it, but the old one which (had not been seen before) made a rush for the sapling and, climbing after, our hero had cub above and bear below. The bear was shot and thus he was greatly relieved.

When the eddy above the Kidner Ford was first seined by parties from Ohio, they "set in" at the upper portion of the eddy and "hauled down," coming out on the bar of the ford. They had three barrels of fish fluttering and floundering on the sand and gravel. At another time, in the recollection of Jesse Adamson, a party had camped near for fishing and hunting. This same eddy was seined every day for a week, and on Saturday they caught half a barrel.

In 1837 a poplar tree was cut by Robert Marshall for coon, not far from where Isaiah Miller's house now stands. He got twelve coons out of it, and one had escaped. He cut an oak and captured it, making thirteen in all; it was the whole gang. In January, 1831, an ash was cut near the mouth of Lake Branch and thirteen coons were captured by Martin Griffin and another.

Churches. - As a great many of the earlier settlers in this township attended church or belonged to organizations in Delaware County, there were none in this township till some time after its organization, but meetings and preaching were held at the houses of citizens till buildings could be erected. Meetings were held at William Heal's, in Delaware, and at Isaac Carter's, in Grant, as early as 1833 and 1835. E. W. Sweet preached at William Heal's; Farnsworth preached at Carter's; Roby preached at Carter's and Heal's; Swank preached at same places; Wade Posey preached at same places in 1837, and organized some other churches ; G. W. Bowers, in 1838; J. H. Bruce, in 1839. This was the Methodist Episcopal Church. The Presbyterians also had an organization; Robert Irwin, of Muncie, was the minister, and Joseph Reasoner, J. B. Allen, J. B. McFerren and Andrew Homer were first members. The Presbyterians built a church on the lands of David Horner in 1845, but it has not been used for years. In 1850 or 1851 the Methodists built a church on the land of James Needler, which has not been used for twenty years. About 1853 or 1854 Shiloh was erected. This is a good church building with a cemetery attached. The church is on ground obtained of Elias Lyon. New Harmony, a Baptist Church erected in 1847 or 1848, stands.

Here, also, is a cemetery located. Kingsley Chapel, at Trask postoffice, was erented about 1867. Some of the members are Otha Hardy, David Mittauk, Albert Lucas, T. M. Lucas. The Protestant Methodist Church near William M. Duling's, was erected about 1865. Olive Branch was erected about 1862, and in 1885 the building was removed to New Cumberland. Hazel Grove was built about 1852 on the south side of the Muncie road, a few rods east of the west line of Jefferson Township. It was burnt down in 1868. The

Accidental Deaths. - Ulrick Walters was drowned at New Cumberland in 1840. Three boys were drowned at Mittauk's Ford, 1864. Mark Martin, an Italian, was killed on the Hollis farm, by the fall of a tree. Peter Stephens was killed by the fall ofa tree. A little son of Thomas Littler was drowned. Caivin Dunn was killed by being thrown from his horse and the horse falling on him, in 1881.

Other Matters. - Justina (Case) Klein was the first person born in the township in the fall of 1831; she lives now in Muncie, having married a Mr. Klein. Rebecca Ann Littler, daughter of Thomas Littler, was the first to die in Jefferson; her death took place in 1830. John Watson's wife was an early death in the township. William Wharton and Rachel Graham were married July 2, 1835; this was the first marriage in the township. Joseph B. Allen was first justice of the peace.

New Cumberland was laid out September 16, 1833, by Robert Sanders as proprietor, and Samuel R. Collier as surveyor. The lots were sold in the fall of 1833 at public sale. William Wharton read the conditions of sale, and Jabez H. Moore was crier.

Nathan Henderson built the first house of logs about 1836, and with some alterations it was occupied by Jacob Newberger in the spring of 1840 as a store-room. The next store was set up by George Moore in 1847. The postoffice was set up in 1863. A sawtit Ve erver mill was erected at the present site by Orville Dennison in 1848, and the grist-mill in 1853 by Dennison & Kisner. The heirs of Thomas Dunn own the mill property at present. Samuel & James Kisner bought out George Mcore and carried on till 1854; Case & McCormick bought them out and closed business. Wharton & Girton opened out in 1855. Wharton bought of Girton and failed in 1859. George Stevenson and Henry Lyon set up in the fall of 1864, Lyon sold to Stevenson and he to Esla Stevenson and he to John H. Carter.

Lee O. Hayworth came in 1856 and carried on blacksmithing, and became the patentee of a corn planter, etc.; he left in 1878. David Hayworth carries on a general blacksmithing business, makes farming implements, and keeps a boarding house.

A steam saw-mill has recently been erected. A good schoolhouse was built in 1871, with an I. O. O. F. lodge in the second story in a flourishing condition; also a G. A. R. post set up in 1885. William L. Wharton and Oscar Ardrey are physicians. An addition has been laid out by William Wharton; also an I. O. O. F. cemetery.

Upland. - Upland was laid out by Jacob Bugher September 30, 1867. The Chicago, St. Louis and Pittsburgh Railroad passes through east and west. It contains nearly 300 inhabitants, and does a brisk business in grain and timber. A dry goods house by Bugher; drug and dry goods rooms by the Lyons Bros. ; Jesse Nelson, hardware; Haines and Ballinger, drugs; Layfayette Johnson, grain and flour; B. F. Newport, wagon-maker; John W. Brushwiller, boot and shoe-maker; D. W. Walton, blacksmith; Thomas Deeren, carpenter; Pugh and Horner, livery and feed stable; John Wilhelm, dealer in grain; Morris Ballinger, meat market, S. Hollis, J. B. Ward and Dr. Stout, physicians. A good graded school is in comfortable building. The Methodist Episcopal Church was erected in 1885; the trustees are J. W. Lyon, Richard Deeren, J. W. Connelly, James Deeren, David Lyon, John Wilhelm, with a good number of members. 'There is also a Friends' Church in a flourishing