Grant County, Indiana - Chapter 16: By William Neal, 1886

Chapter 16: By William Neal

all of Town 25 north, Range 8 east, except that part which lies west of the river, to which is added all that part of Sections 24 and 25 that lie east of the river in Town 25, Range 7. This township is bounded on the east by Van Buren, on the north by Huntington and Wabash Counties, on the west by Pleasant Town- _ ship, and on the south by Center.

Surface, Soil, ete - Washington Township is generally undulating on the surface, and without being hilly, except in a few localities, it is sufficiently rolling to insure good drainage, and but few ponds remain that once marked the surface with wet and overflowed lands. The drainage is all into the Mississinewa, except the extreme northeast, which flows into the Salamonia. The surface was originally clothed with a heavy forest of mixed timber, except a few small prairies that were open and were mown at an early day in the history of the township for hay for the settlers' cattle in winter; but these prairies have disappeared by young growing timber extending over the surface of the muck of which they were composed. Generally this part of the county is more rolling than most other parts, and was for this reason selected by the settler in preference to level lands in the south and west parts of the county. These rolling lands are well adapted to the raising of wheat and the small grains, but corn also does well, and potatoes are an excellent crop. Most kinds of valuable timber grew here, from the majestic oak to the "bitter sweet" that twines about the sapling or on the bush. Here we find the walnut, so valuable for timber in these latter days. The poplar rears its head to the skies and furnishes a long body and a clear trunk for the saw-mill and lumberman. The sugar-maple, so valuable for fire-wood and making maple molasses in the spring. The beech grew here in great plenty, a. tree producing hard wood for various purposes, and one that grows throughout the world in the temperate regions. We even have account of one that grew near the gates of ancient Troy. The majestic forest that. crowned the gentle elevations has, to a great extent, passed away, leaving fields of waving grain instead, and the wind that roared through the forest sighs over meadows and fields, clothed with grain growing for the benefit of civilization and furtherance of the onward march of the arts, sciences and religion among enlightened humanity. If Washington Township has fine farms on rolling lands, she has also a large number of churches and prosperous schools and comfortable schoolhouses.

Streams. - Hummel's Creek, the source of which is in Huntington County, enters this township near the northwest corner of Section 3, and flows southeasterly into Section 12, thence southwesterly entering the river near the east and west center line of Section 30. The upper portion of this stream had the usual showing of black land covered with maple and elm, and the beaver dam and pond were there in constant succession; the lower portion, however, is rather deeply imbedded below the general surface, and near the mouth there are high hills on either side forming quite a low valley, and the hills on the Huntington road were well known to teamsters at an "early day" when gravel roads had not "put in" an appearance. Massey's Creek has its source near the west side of Section 23, and flows southwesterly and enters the river in Section 31, nearly eighty rods north of the south line of said section. A great portion of this stream flows through a deep valley with high and rather broken lands on either side; the upper portion is found wending its way among ponds and sloughs which have recently been drained and at present are doing duty in the way of raising crops where frogs and turtles held control.

A440 History Of Grant County

The north branch of Lugar's Creek has its source in Sections 34 and 26, and flows northeasterly and southeasterly, leaving the township a little north of the half mile corner on the east side of Section 36. Brushy Run has its source near Hanfield and flows southeasterly into Black Creek, thence to Salamonia. In the southwestern part the drainage is into Metocina (Jocina) Creek; here the land is decidedly rolling, but well adapted to the production of crops of wheat and small grain of all kinds that grow in this latitude; corn grows well and extensive crops are produced and swine are raised for the market. There are numerous branches or small streams, and in the southwest part of the township amidst these small streams the observer feels as though he were transferred to some region among the mountains, and quite a number of these dells with a branch flowing through impress the beholder with grandeur and romance not to be found in other parts of the township; that which is known as "'Possom Hollow" would repay the visitor ten-fold when he becomes weary of the home situation to repair to this vale for recreation and meditation, and while there to

Godfrey's Trace. - Godfrey's Trace passed through this township, having the same general course as in Van Buren, and leaving that township in Section 18, and passing thence in a somewhat westerly direction, and passed near the residence of Moses Bond, in Section 15, and continuing the same direction left the township. The Indians often were seen passing along this trace from the Mississinewa to the Salamonia, frequently camping near the point where Moses Bond settled; always in single file when on the march and moving quietly forward without any noise or demonstration of any kind; the same could scarcely be said of civilized man under like circumstances. In those days the trace spoken of, as well as some others of less note, was known further and referred to oftener than a State road at the present day, for it was of the utmost consequence to the early adventurer and inexperienced woodsman to have a trace or line of "blazes" to aid him in passing from point to point in the boundless woods. Although some imagine "there is a pleasure in the pathless woods," this lacks confirmation in the experience of a great many hunters and first settlers. .

First Settlers. - In 1828 came John Pears, onto the mouth of Massey Creek, and settled on lands entered by Eli Overman, though Pearson owned this at the time; he remained only a short time till he moved to Henry County, but returned in 1832 and settled the D. S. Hogin farm in Center Township. Aaron Morris lived on this small farm one season in 1830. John Hummel came in 1830 and settled on what is known as the Hummel farm, being the northwest quarter of Section 29; Charles Hummel settled in 1830 in Section 6, on lands owned by him till his death; Henry Hummel came in 1830, and settled on the northwest quarter of Section 6, now known as the Lobdell farm. Moses Bond came in 1834, and settled where Mary Bond, his widow, now lives. Ed P. Gains settled on the north part of the old Hummel farm in 1834. Samuel McNary settled on the William Cox farm in 1834, then moved to the McNary place in Section 29. Benjamin Bond, Sr., in 1834, settled on the northwest quarter of the southeast quarter of Section 29. Samuel N. Woolman came in 1836; he bought of Isaac Lancaster and settled on the south side of the southwest quarter of Section 29. Benjamin Marks settled on Henry Bradford's farm in 1837; he was a noted blacksmith. John Lobdell came in 1836 and settled on the northwest quarter of Section 6. Jacob Line came in 1837 and settled on Lagro road in Section 19; was a long time a justice of the peace. James Marshall came in 1834 and settled on the west half of the southeast quarter of Section 15.

Magdalena Wiant settled on the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of Section 33 in 1835. Jacob Wiant came in 1835 and settled on the Jason Willson farm. Davidson Culbertson came in 1849 and lived on the same farm in the meantime. George Bradford came in 1839 and settled where Harvey Creviston lives at present, Alfred Bocock came in 1837 and settled where E. W. Creviston lives. Henry Renbarger came in 1826 and settled by the river in the east fraction Section 24. James Love came in 1830 and settled on D. F. Horton's farm; Mr. Horton had a nursery and did an extensive business. William Love settled the farm where Irvin Love lives in 1840. James Hix came in 1834 and settled where - Drook lives. James Thompson came to the county in 1837 and finally settled where he now lives. George Hobaugh came in 1835 and settled on land owned by James Charles. John King the tanner, settled the farm where Mrs. Feighner lives. Archillas Bocock settled on the lands of John Sears, now owned by John Williams. Leonard Bradford came in 1839 and settled on lands owned by E. J. Creviston. Maurice Howard came October 11, 1837, and settled on lands now owned by William P. Bradford. Christopher Sears came in 1839 and settled where he now lives. William Dailey came in 1836 and settled on the King farm in Section 28. Daniel Bradford came October, 1839, and settled where he now lives. John Hamaker came in 1838 and settled on lands now owned by William P. Bradford Richard H. Dicken came in 1888 and settled where he now lives; he was a great coon hunter. Enoch and John Hen. dricks both came in 1838; John died April 9, 1841. Redden Chance. came and bought of H. Clark the land now owned by Mark Hillsam- mer in 1836. Chance served as county treasurer. William R. Jackson came in 1840 and settled on lands now owned by the J. D. Beekman heirs. Nelson Turner came in 1844 and settled on lands entered by William Daily. Thomas Thomas settled the Boller farm in 1838. Dennis Dailey in 1835 bought of Jacob Hansley and settled thereon the lands now owned by James Charles. Jesse Marsh came in 1838 and settled on a farm now owned by Lewis Williams. Enoch Marsh came in 1837 and settled where Jesse M. Ballard lives. Benjamin Marsh settled on the farm where H. M. Stephens lives in 1837. Dow Marsh settled on the Joseph Lenfestey farm in 1837. William Bocock settled on the O'Farrell farm where Slack lives in 1843. Henry Tinkle came in 1837 and settled on the J. H. Baxell farm. George Wine came in 1838 and settled on the Ludlum farm. George Foster camé in 1849 and settled on the Magdalena Wyant farm.

John Secrist came in 1843 and settled at the mill now owned by Charles. This mill was built by John Secrist in 1856. The sawmill was built by Riley Marshall in 1836. Secrist rebuilt it in 1843. The dam was swept away by the New Year freshet in 1847 and built again by Secrist; this dam was at the head of the old race, but in 1862 it was removed to its present site.

Samuel McClure, Sr., built a mill on the river in Section 25, Range 7, in the year 1828-29. This mill was of great consequence to the first settlers. Isaac Cradford came in 1844 and settled where he now lives. Frank Thompson came in 1841 and settled where he now lives. Conrad Barley came in 1840 and settled where George Coon owns. John Endsley came in 1829 and settled the place owned by Arthur Norton, or the Bowman farm; he killed more deer than any other man in these parts. At one time a minister by name of Brumley had a meeting at Endsley's house, and during the service (the house being full) two deer crossed the creek. Endsley was out of doors, pushed the door back and took the gun out of the sack and killed one of them, dressed it, and had a part served up for dinner. Brumley spoke highly of the venison as they sat at the table. 'Yes " said Endsley, "I killed it while you were preaching."

Daniel Shank came in 1843 and settled where he now lives. Elijah Cox came in 1841 and settled on land that is now a part of Nelson Turner's farm. He was noted for his ability as a hunter and his great success in taking deer and coon.

farm; he wasexcelled by none as a hunter of deer and coon, and especially was he an adept in finding where bees were located. No tree was too tall for him to reach its top by " boring up" as it was called in those days, and thereby having access to the honey. Robert Massey came in 1828 and settled on the farm now occupied by Michael Coon; none excelled him in trapping muskrat, coon or mink, and to outdo him in cheerful, faithful labor at a log-rolling or houseraising, was a thing no one need to try with any 'hope of success. The names of the following old citizens of Washington Township are equally deserving of special mention and entitled to the same honor and respect by their fellow citizens, as any that have been named yet. For lack of time and space we are compelled to notice in the manner following, to wit: Henson and Samuel Pulley, Joseph Lugar, James Dillon, Hiram Froat, James Philips, William Cranston, James Bloxham, Jonathan and Lot Bevard, Allen Edwards, Eli Rodgers, Martin Gingery, David Kingery, John Ellis, Abraham Calentine, Abraham Bish, Samuel Hawkins, J. W. Melick, James Carr, Jacob Rich, William Cox, William Williams, Albert Westfall, Andrew Ebbert, Phineas Skinner, Levi Carter, Anderson and John Maddux, Washington, Madison and Frank Helm, Wesley Allen, William Lenfestey. Samuel Williams came in 1838 and settled on the Noah Bradford farm. In April, 1829, Riley Marshall came from Randolph County, Ind., though formerly of Virginia, and taking a flatboat at Deerfield, came down the river bringing his family with him and settled on the southeast fraction of Section 25, now in Pleasant Township; about two years after this he bought Booth's mill at Marion, and in 1836 he built a saw-mill where the Charles mill is, and built a brick house in 1838, where Moses Bradford lives. Robert H. Lenfestey came in 1835 and lived at the McRae corner three years, then settled where Lew Smith lives. Thomas Lenfestey came in 1836 and settled where he lived and died. Daniel Bodger settled on the east side of the river, just below where the Charles Mill stands, on lands entered by about 1826-27; he sold to Solomon Wright, and he to Tence Massey. Reason Malott came in 1829 and settled on the Draper farm, £sw owned by Dr. Williams. George Conn came in 1837 and settled on the Cristman farm; he was perhaps the equal of Robert Massey at the log-rolling or house-raising and might be called the pioneer Methodist of Washington Township. His house was always open for religious meetings; besides he contributed largely to the support of yearly camp meetings on neighbor James Hix's premises. At an out-door meeting on Maurice Howard's land, a swarm of bees came along just as an old gentleman by the name of Briggs began to shout, the bees coming down and settling on a sapling in the limit of the camp grounds of said meeting; this Mr. Briggs claimed the swarm, on the position that it was his shouting that brought them down.

Salem Church (United Brethren), in the southwestern 'part of the township was erected and dedicated in 1857. The services on said occasion were conducted by Bishop David Edwards, of Dayton, Ohio. First trustees were C. B. McRae, David Hillsammer, Peter Bowman, David O'Farrel and John Y. Parlett. Present trustees: Catharine Shank, John Y. Parlott and N. J. Feighner. First pastor, David O'Farrel. Present pastor, William Hall, with a membership of about sixty. ;

German Baptist, built of brick on the east line of the township in 1874. The building committee were Albert Burris, Wiliam Pulley and Henry Finkle. Present oversight of the church is in the hands of elders. Present officiating elders, John M. Baker and Jacob Tinkle, with a membership of fifty-five. The house was partially destroyed by a cyclone May 20, 1877, but was immediately rebuilt. "At the time of the cyclone Sunday-school was in session Two young men were killed: Eddie Mills, son of John and Jane Mills, and John Jackson, son of John and Margaret Jackson; several were more or less injured. Mrs. J. A. Howard, Mrs. Samuel Pulley, Miss Margaret Jane Pulley and Mr. Benjamin Cranston were seriously hurt.

Fletcher (Methodist Episcopal), in the southeast part of the township, was erected in 1853. The services on dedication were held in 1854 by Rev. O. V. Lemon. First trustees: Dow Marsh, Andrew Riggle and Jonathan Bevard. First pastor, Rev. - Robinson. Present pastor, Rev. Gamble. Conspicuous among the early members of the church were Uncle Jesse Marsh and wife.

Hanfield Chapel (Methodist Protestant), is situated near the east side of the township, was erected in 1886 and dedicated in July of the same year by Rev. Hugh Stackhouse, of Mooresville, Ind. Trustees, Levi M. Cole and Hamilton Hix. Pastors, Charles and Alice Love. Members, forty. | the township, was built in the year 1862 and dedic same year. Services on dedication were conducted by Rey. Lucius C. Matlock, of New York. First trustees, George W. Camblin, Gasper Bradford, Noah S. Bradford and Christopher Sears. First pastor, Rev. Alfred Sweet. Present trustees, John Sears, E. H. Trowbridge and William Raxton. Present pastor, Jacob Hester. Members, fortyfive.

Bethlehem Church (Methodist Protestant), in central part of the township, was erected in the year 1876, and dedicated same year. Service conducted by Rev. Hugh Stackhouse, of Mooresyille, Ind. Trustees: Van D. Hobaugh, John Allen, Abner Line, Benjamin Gaines and H. Z. Blinn. First pastor, Rev. B. M. Clark. Present pastor, Rey. W. H. Rogers. Present membership, thirty-five.

Union Chapel (United Brethren), in northeastern part of the township, was erected in 1876 and dedicated the same year by Rey. J. W. Hott, of Dayton, Ohio. First trustees, William R. Jackson, ©. R. Porter, Isaac Bradford and Daniel Shank. First pastor, Rev. Cyrus Smith. Present trustees: Harvey Creviston, Isaac Bradford, William R. Jackson, Jefferson Hamaker and Daniel Shank. Present pastor, William Hall. Members, sixty-five.

Range Line (Disciples), northwest corner of the township, was built in 1856, Trustees: John Lobdell, Timothy Green and William Martin. Members, about 150.

Morris Chapel (Methodist Episcopal), in the northwestern part, was erected and dedicated in 1864. Services on dedication conducted by Rey. Thomas Stabler, assisted by Rey. A. Greenman. First trustees, J. C. Stallings, Lewis Smith, William Bruner, C. W. Bowman, Moses T. Bradford. First pastor, J. T. Iddings. Present trustees, J. C. Stallings, Job Watson, jeorge Oatess, C. W. Bowman and Moses T. Bradford. Present pastor, J. W. Caine. Members, 100.

Sugar Grove (United Brethren), at the center of the township, was erected in 1850, and was the first church building erected in the township the same or the following year.

Bethlehem (Methodist Protestant) was built a mile south of Sugar Grove. The first house was of hewed-logs, and for years it served wellits purpose, but many years can be counted since a beautiful frame building took its place.

the township, was erected in 1854, almost exclusively the work of Enoch Marsh, a local preacher in the Wesleyan Church. His ambition seemed to be not confined to preaching the Word, but to build a house for the Lord also. For years it stood as a witness of his liberality and fidelity to his Master's kingdom. The same grove that was set about this temple is still there, lending shade and beautifying the spot where Jesse M. Ballard's new residence now stands.