Grant County, Indiana - Chapter 9: By William Neal, 1886

LIBERTY TOWNSHIP - SURFACE, SOIL, ETC. - STREAMS - WILD ANIMALS - Huntina INCIDENTS - SURVEYS AND EARLY LAND ENTRIES - THE PIONEERS - H ACKLEMAN - CENTER CHURCH - THE FRIENDS - INCIDENTS.

1 Indiana, consists of all of Township 23 north, Range 7 east, and one tier of sections off of Township 22 north, Range 7 east, and is bounded on the east by Fairmount and Mill Townships, on the north by Franklin, on the west by Green Township and on the south by Madison County.

Surface, Soil, etc. - To say that Liberty Township consists of a level, rich plain, covered with a heavy forest of most kinds of timber, would be expressing in a few words what the original condition really was. There was no hill, and but little elevation of any portion of the surface to diversify the scene or give variety to the eye of the beholder. A continuous plain, with here and there a gentle rise or depression to break the monotony. How fine to walk in these forests in the first settling, when all nature was budding forth in the fore part of the season, when spring hangs her infant blossoms on the trees rocked in the cradle of the western breeze, when the wild turkey "gobbles" from the tops of the tallest trees, the pheasant '"'drums" in the distance, the wolf howls in the depths of the forest, all vegetable nature is budding forth, the flower is beneath your feet, the infant leaf is on the shrub. The wild deer starts at the hunter's tread, and the crushing of sticks and breaking of brush mingled with the sound of the firing of the distant gun of the hunter, all convey to eye and ear an impression of frontier life amidst wild scenes not easily forgotten by those early settlers of Liberty Township on the west.

The northeastern part, in the vicinity of Deer Creek, is somewhat rolling and diversified on the surface, and on these higher lands stood the poplar in all its grandeur, the black walnut, the beech and sugar. There were at first elevations enough for build- ing upon, and the early settlers availed themselves of these, and the buildings and farms were made on the ridges, and consequently the poorer lands. Latterly, however, the lower grounds have been cleared and drained, and found to be most productive. The lands on "Grassy Fork" are rich without exception, and none finer for timber of all the various kinds, in great plenty and in the fullest perfection, from the majestic poplar to the buttonwood in the pond.

A prairie at one time existed in the northeastern part, from near the center line of Section 13 to near the center line of Section 12. This was open in the first settling, and was mowed by the settlers for hay before meadows were started, and thus it subserved a good purpose. This prairie was, however, very wet, being little else than a pond in the spring. It has been drained, however, and makes first-class farm land, where once grew a crop of coarse grass and was the home of the frog and turtle, and in the dry season the paradise of the black rattlesnake and the home of many unclean and hateful insects. The '" Big Pond," on '"' Wild Cat," was an expression heard in the days of hunting and hunters. This was a pond on Grassy Fork made by a beaver dam. It was rather noted as a camping place for hunters, and in days gone by a regular puncheon camp was erected for their accommodation, and many remarks were made about the good venison and turkey eaten at the camp at the Big Pond on "Wild Cat." Other camps were almost equally noted; one was the "Lynn Camp" on Middle Fork, made of lynn puncheons, where many a hunter slept and feasted on roasted venison and turkey in the fall of the year when all went well with him after a fortunate day's hunt, when he "snoozed" away in the Lynn Camp, and dreamed of the '"'girl he left behind him," of father and mother and all the rest of 'em.

Streams. - Big Deer Creek enters the township from Madison County in Section 3, a little east of the boundary line, and has a northerly and northeasterly course, and leaves the township a short distance east of the half-mile corner on the north side of Section 1, in Township 23, Range 7. This stream has but a moderate fall in its upper portion, but is much more rapid in flow as it reaches the north boundary of the township; so much fall that years ago one Sullivan Vinson, a mill-wright, erected a saw-mill just above the point where the creek cuts the north line of the township, near the residence of David Hutchins, about 1842. It soon fell into the hands.

of John Allen, and was known as Allen's mill during its existence. It did a good deal of work while it lasted, but has long since ceased its operations.

Little Deer Creek, a branch of " Big Deer," comes in from Madison County, in Section 1, Township 22, Range 7. It hasa general northwesterly course and falls into the big creek in Section 24. Its fall is very moderate, and was obstructed by dams which have all been cut, and the stream widened and deepened till at present the passer by sees cultivated fields and pleasant homes, instead of maple and elm forests.

Coon Creek comes in from the south, in Section 4, Township 22, and falls into Big Deer in Section 23. This stream has been greatly improved by " ditching out," and has some of the best farm lands along its banks to be found anywhere in the county.

Little Creek has its source at the east side of Section 32, and has a general northeasterly course, and empties into the Big Creek in Section 11. This has been cleared out and well ditched.

Grassy Fork has its source in the " cottonwood ocean," and flows east, then north, then northwest, and passes into Green Township a little south of the northwest corner of Section 19.

Middle Fork enters the township near the southeast corner of Section 6, Township 22, Range 7, and has a general northwesterly course, and enters Green Township on the west side of Section 6. This is also a branch of '' Wild Cat," and its drainage is quite extensive. On the lands of Henry Meldrum it cuts a ridge of limestone which lies just below the surface. It is hoped that in the future a quarry may be opened that may benefit this part of the county.

Animals. - As has been said this township was the great hunting ground of this part of the country. In the early days when white men began to -be acquainted in this part of Indiana, there were bears, panthers, wolves in great plenty, deer, a few gray foxes, porcupines, skunks, wild cats, ground hogs (woodchucks), otters, squirrels (black-gray and ground squirrels), opossums, weasels, hawks, owls, wild pigeons by thousands, wild ducks of two or three kinds, and the creeks had a stock of pike and some other kinds of the finny tribe. Bears were killed in considerable numbers at different times, sometimes large specimens were secured by the hunters, and to see bear skins stretched at the end of the settler's cabin was no uncom- mon occurrence in the very early days. The panther was not plenty, and generally kept at a distance and appeared to be suspicious of the hunter and first settlers. The wolf roamed over the forest, making it hideous with his howl, and the settler had to look out for his pigs and lambs The porcupine was mostly seen in the spring on the elm, lynn and red oak, barking their limbs and looking down at the hunter, who sometimes levelled his gun at him; but this didn't often occur, for if he fell the inexperienced dog was sure to get the quills, and this gave trouble for them; the poor dog had to be held or staked down, and the quills drawn from his nose or mouth with the "'nippers." This was very painful and made him "yell" every time one was (lrawn.

The skunk was always where he was not suspected and least desired, and numerous were the incidents that occurred in which he played a conspicuous part. The settler frequently found that his faithful dogs had become very offensive companions, and whether attending the house-raising or log-rolling, or even the religious meeting, the offensive odor was equally disagreeable. The wild cats were not very, plenty, but there were enough to whip every dog in the country that encountered them. Deer were numerous, and in the fall season on the ridges the hunter would see numerous "scrapes," and when the leaves and sticks were dry he would see 'numerous tails," in spite of his anxiety to get "a chance" at them. Numerous "drives" were made and nearly always with success. This-was done by several men enclosing a large tract of ground where deer were supposed to be, and then contracting the circle and watching at points where escape was probable. The wild pigeon played a conspicuous part, for in those days they could be seen flying by tens of thousands, like clouds, almost darkening the air, and on alighting the last acorn or beech nut fell a prey to their devouring appetite.

A "squirrel hunt" was often undertaken by a number of men with guns encircling as large a tract as they could control, and then contracting the circle and killing all that came in reach (it was a point not to let any get away), and when the place was sufficiently scoured to be sure that none escaped the hunt was over. In the early days some such means had to be resorted to, or else the settlers' corn was greatly damaged, if not lost, by these numerous depredators. The wild bee was numerous in this township in the days of first settling, and almost numberless are the stories told of cutting bee trees and taking honey by "boring up" and cutting off the limb, or letting down the honey in a bucket from the heights, ete. 'Boring up" was done by a large auger and putting in a long pin, then another higher up and then from this still another, passing spirally around the tree till'a sufficient height was obtained.

Survey and First Entries. - This township consists of two surveys made by government authority, one part lying east of the old boundary line and the other west of said line.

First Settlers. - In 1833 came Uriah Moorman and settled where Sarah Bond now lives in Section 12, close to the prairie, which was sometimes Moorman's prairie. Uriah came here from Center Township, but originally from North Carolina. John Moorman, son of Uriah, settled in 1834 on the- northwest quarter of the southeast quarter of Section 12. William Howell came in 1834 and settled in Section T1, on the east half of the southwest quarter. Lindsey Baldwin settled in 1835 on land now owned by Barclay Johnson. James Hall came in 1834 and settled in Section 1, now a part of the estate of Mahlon Neal. Charles O. Fry settled where Samuel Amack lives in 1836. Joseph Small settled where John Carter lives in 1837, but John Baldwin was first settler. Small was a great hunter, and in the old days deer and coon had to be on a sharp look out or be captured by him. Isaac Meek settled in 1837 on lands now owned by I. W. Carter; he was also a great hunter, and it was always said among early settlers that Joseph Small and Isaac Meek could accomplish anything in the way of hunting that anybody else could. Mahlon Neal, Jr., in 1837 settled where his heirs now own. William Ballinger had lived there for a few years previous to this time. Allen Wright came in 1837 and settled on the southwest quarter of the southwest quarter of Section 24. John Haisley came in 1838 and settled on the tract where his widow now lives. Ira Haisley came in 1838 and settled on the east half of the northeast quarter of Section 14. Eli Overman came in 1838 and settled where Elwood Haisley lives. Ezra Bishop lived there meantime. Job Jackson settled where Fremont Neal lives in 1837. Lindsey Buller came in 1836 and settled in 1837 where he still lives. James Lytle came in 1836 and located in 1837. Harvey Davis came in 1836 and settled on the farm known as the Davis farm; he is living yet. Dempsey Bailey settled the Noah Rush farm in 1837. James Felton settled the south part of the Mahlon Harvey farm about 1837. Samuel Marshall was a squatter in about 1837, near the old boundary line in south part of Section 3, Township 22, Range 7. Mirajah Newby settled in 1835 where Amos Thomas now lives; he is Newby's son-in-law. Henry Winslow settled in 1838 where Abraham Goodykoontz lives now. James Scott came from Wayne County, Ind., January 4, 1837, and settled the south half of the no-thwest quarter of Section 23; he was a successful hunter of deer and coon, and always had venison when desired; the wolves sometimes came close to his cabin and pulled deer skins down from the wall of the cabin or smoke-house where they had been stretched to dry for the trade. James Wright, in 1836, lived on the lands of Moses Rich, where Lewis Hocket owns now; but he bought the southwest quarter of the southeast quarter of Section 23, and moved on this tract the next year. Jonathan Jones, in 1837, settled the Jesse Haisley farm. Francis Lytle, in 1836, settled the farm owned by Joseph Rich, the southeast quarter of the southwest quarter of Section 25. John Ham was a first settler, in 1835, where William Peacock settled in 1838, now owned by Lewis Hockett. Spencer Reeder came in 1839 and settled the southwest quarter of the southwest quarter of Section 25. Zeri Hunt was a wheelwright and came in 1837. Harrison Powell came in 1838, from London, England, where he followed the baking, and settled where his heirs own now. Richard Perry settled the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of Section 25 about 1837. Lewis Jones settled the east half of the northeast quarter of Section 36 in 1836. Mahlon Neal, Sr., settled in 1839 where Ira Haisley now lives. Wash. Johnson was an early settler. Nathan Jones settled where Sarah D. Jones lives about 1838. Zadok Tomlinson settled where his widow lives in about 1838. Joseph Morgan settled where he owns about 1837. William Harrold settled where Mrs. Ringgold lives in the fall of 1839; he killed a large bear, soon after he settled, that was worrying a hog; he took his gun and went to the rescue of the poor swine that squealed piteously; the hide stretched on the end of his cabin was nearly as large as a cow hide. John Felton, in 1839, settled the west half of the northeast quarter of Section 22. Abraham Goodykoontz settled on the farm where he now lives in 1856. Henry Winslow was the first settler in 1838. John Thalls squatted in 1846 on the land where John L. McCombs settled in 1856, and where he still lives. Peter Glunt squatted on the William Ayres land in 1848. William J. Milner bought of the Conger heirs and of Noble, and settled thereon and lived at the same farm till he moved to Marion to serve as county treasurer. Joseph Prine settled where he now lives in 1859; he kept Selma postoffice. Eleazer Hoover settled in 1849 where Isaiah Moon lives. John O'Banian settled the John Bayless farm in 1849; Bayless came there in 1862, James Titus settled where his: widow now lives in 1849. Dr, Prior Rigdon settled where he lives now in 1847. Pat- rick Reddington settled in the west part of the Conger land. Benjamin Dickey settled on the John A. Stukey farm in 1849. Robert Gordon settled the Henry Meldrum farm in 1852. William Harvey settled in 1849 where David Hoover lives. George Gibson settled in 1850 on the John Banister farm. Elias Rich settled in 1853 where Jacob Hoover lives. : Robert T. Wells, in 1852, settled on the Colville farm, but he soon moved into Section 4, on the south of where he first settled. Josiah Thrasher settled the McKinney farm in 1852 and then he moved near Independence, where his widow still lives. William P. Thrasher came in 1852 and settled on what has been known as the Barns place, and then he moved over north of Independence and settled on the southwest corner of the northwest quarter of. Secton 6, Township 22, Range 7. Cyrus Gibson came in 1850 and settled where the Widow Hodson lives in Section 28. George Davis, in 1848, settled where he lives now. Trustum Conner came in 1852 and settled on the Clenny farm where he now lives.. John Barrett bought the claim of Beeman and settled where James Noble now lives in 1849. Frederick Risener built the first house on the land where Abe Manlove lives in 1851. Garretson Johnson settled where Jeremiah Hartly lives in 1852. John Harrold came in 1852 and settled where he still lives. Daniel C. Spurgeon came in 1854 and settled on the land where Roser lives; Albert Lytle was first settler here. Frank Williams settled the George W. Flora farm in 1854. Merritt Williams settled where his son Enery lives in 1855. RK. J. Gauntt settled where he lives now in 1849. Josiah Hocket was first settler on the John Eaton place. William Wilson settled on south end of the Goodwin farm in 1849. Jacob Felton settled the Albert Kimmer farm in 1852. Joshua Freeman was first settler on the northeast part of the Gauntt farm. H. J. Baldwin settled the I. W. Carter farm in 1857, but various persons had lived here previous to this. Carter came in 1865.

Hackleman. - This place has not been regularly laid out, but is a point where considerable business is transacted with the country in buying and handling produce, We find James W. Jones, dry goods and general store; Robert Mitchel, general store, dry goods and notions; Milton Peters, blacksmith; Albert & Kirkwood, saw and planing-mill; Wilson, Hartley & Johnson, tile factory. | ganized in 1875. Trustees at the time of organization, M. S. Friend, William J. Milner, Cyrus Gibson, William H. Ayres, John L. McCombs; elders, William H. Ayres, William IL Milner, John L. McCombs; ° deacons, Cyrus Gibson, John Harrold; pastor, Frank Collins; clerk, Williami Jones; present trustees, J. M. Dickey, Jasper Wilson, J eremish Hartley, William Jones; deacons, John Harrold, William Jones, Jasper Wilson; elder, George Mason; _ pastor, Vincent. Regular service on Sunday and regular Sunday-schools on Sabbath, with a membership of ninety.

Sugar Grove Church is held at the Prine Schoolhouse and has been organized a number of years; Joseph Prine and wife, Jacob Galbreath and wife and Mrs. Eakins are the principal members.

Oak Ridge Meeting of Friends was organized in 1840 or 1841. The prominent members at that time were Mahlon and Rachel Neal, William and Phebe Peacock, Jonathan and Dorcas Jones, Ira and Rebecca Haisley, John and Ann Haisley, Eli and Piety Overman.

Little Ridge Meeting of Friends was organized about 1853. Some of the prominent members at that time were William Harvey, John Wright, Thomas Larrance, Azel Rush and their wives.

Bethel Meeting of Friends was organized about 1864. Among the prominent members may be named Thomas Jay, a minister; Isaac W. Carter, Willis Cammack, Mahlon Neal.

The Colored Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1852 with James Burden, Absalom Hill and Beverly Pettiford as trustees, and Benjamin Skepworth as pastor. At present Frank Weaver, Elisha Wallace, Simon Ward, Mekin Ward and Barbary Scott are trustees, and J. A. Jordan, pastor.

Bellficld Wesleyan Methodist Church is located at a point called Bellfield, where there are goods} sold and a postoffice is located. The prominent members of the church are ©. 8S. Stewart, Con. Stewart, George Peterson, Squire Young; Isaac Ward is pastor.

Incidents. - In the fall of 1839 William Neal on returning from work with an ax on his shoulder came within a few rods of two bears. They appeared but little alarmed, but took to flight, making a noise like two cattle running in the woods; this was about 100 rods north of the cross roads at Oak Ridge.

In January, 1837, Dugan Rush, Jonathan Jones and James Lytle having started three bears which "cleaned the dogs out," they came home, and next morning they and some others went in pursuit and killed one of them, but the other two made their escape. 6

James Scott thinks he must have killed a hundred wolves; they would kill his sheep and come right to the cabin door at night for stray bones and such things as they could eat.

Hopkin Richardson stopped over night with Uncle Job Davis, a mile east of Oak Ridge, and next morning took his gun and went over north to the prairie to look for turkey, as they had been heard to "gobble" in that direction. He began calling for turkey and was answered by some strange sound in the brush; he felt sure it was not a turkey, but kept on calling and the sound still seemed nearer; at last he saw two large wolves come in sight, one of which he killed and skinned and hung the carcass up by the path; it dried hard in the sun and remained there for weeks. Hop thought all such wolves ought to be killed.

Lindsey Buller and Mary Lytle were married April 17, 1837. James Lytle and Easter Buller were married April 25, 1837. A daughter pf Britton Wall was the first buried at Oak Ridge. Milton, infant son of James Scott, was the first death in the township; he died in 1838. Newton Lytle was the first birth. James Scott and Spencer Reeder were among the first justices.