Greene County, Indiana - Chapter 22: Famplaytownshrp,greene County, 1875

f ROB ABLY the oldest village in Greene county, is the little log cabin town of Fairplay, located on the biuif just west of White river, about four miles south of Worth ington, on the old Vincennes State road. When the first white people settled in that villa^ it was an Indian camping ground, and the boys would often find curious old Indian relics there. John H. Dixon has several of those old relics in his possession now.

Patton, Daniel Ingersoll, Samuel Dixon, Seth Fields, Dr. John A. V^gg^ Elias Crance ; Leonard, Martin and WicklifF Wines, Mr. Dilley, Phillip Shintafler and a feAv others.

Uncle ISolomon Dixon built the first ferry boat, and between Dixon and Mr. Bradford^ 6 ferry was established at that place on the river and is kept up fo this day.

Dr. John A. Pegg built the first cotton-gin, and picked seeds for many of the farmers in that settlefiaent. Cotton was a staple crop. Rice was also cultivated, but the rice crop could not be cleaned out, consequently the farmers' rice crop failed to be planted, and a few years after- Wards the short summer seasons and cut-worms cut ofi" all the cotton fields.

Mr. Howard built the fitst blacksmith shop, near Dixon's mill. Several years after the old Dixon mill Was built at J'airplay. I'he Dfxon boys would go over on the Black Swamp Prairie and drive home a a herd of several cattle at a time, and the boys would put those cattle in the lot around the tread-mill, and every'.day^ the boys would drive about a dozen head, big and little, old and Jxung, wild and gentle, as they came, on to the tread-wheel, and the boys would put up the poles and bars to keep them on the wheel, and the Weight of beef made the mill run, while the boys had plenty of fun. Afterwards Elias Crance bought the mill arid for many years it was called Horse Mill.'*

Elias Crance kept a public house on the road half mile north of Pairplay, for many years, and was a very clever old pioneer and a good citizen in the neighborhood.

"When Greene county was organized, Judge Martin Wines t\'ag our Represenative in the Legislature at Corydcn, with a good prospect for the county seat to be located at Faifplay. But the influence of the old man VanSlyke, and his Big Spring*^ as Cary O'l^eal and Elias Dayhoif says, took the cotnty seat to Bloomfield.

At that time Fairplay had the largest population of any place in the cotinty. Since that the Dixon neigh' borhood had the best farms, the fast* est horses^ the biggest crowd at all their horse races, biggest corn-fields^ most corn in their cribs and the biggest Fourth of July batbecues.

"While speaking ot the Dixon I'ourth of July celebrations, we will say that at one time the provisions for the dinner was supplied by donations from the neighbors ; each one giving something he could spare the best. Mr. Eli F. Stalcup subscribed a wild deer in the woods, and agreed to have it there on the third day of Jtily, and on the day set he killed, dressed and furnished the deer.

Old Mrs, Rebecca Dixon sold a Inilch cow to old Mrs. Shintaffer^ for sixty-five head of geese, and then our friend, John H. Dixon, went over ta take a young lady. Miss Permelia Rickabaw, to a dance, at Mr. Benefield's,' at Pairplajj and, of course^ Johnny Dixon wanted to say something smartj and explain away al) mysterious embarrassment. So he told old Mrs. Rickabaw that he would not have come after Miss Permelia^ if there had been any other chance.

Old John Latta was a very noted old pioneer, among the hunters and ttappers, at an early day, in Greene county. Mr. Latta has the credit and honor of being the first white man that built a log cabin in Greene county, in the year 1817. His house was built on the bluff, just south of where the old canal crofs^s Latta's

Mr. Smith built a little corn mill, on Latta's creek, just south of Dixon Station, and ground corn there for a few yeai-s, for the first settlers.

William Lemons built the first house, and set out the old orchard, on the north side of the road, just east of where Jacob Evans now lives. We do not know who set out the Daniel G. Dixon old apple orchard.

Philip Shintaffer settled in the edge of the prairie, a little to the south of where Daniel F. Shryer now lives. Mr. Shintaffer had sixteen yoke of work oxen, and his wife had sixteen boys and five girls, to help her do the work on the farm, and ibout the house, on washing days.

Dr. John A. Pegg built a brick house, on the west side of Dead creek, where he planted out many evergreen trees, and also that noted old apple nursery, one mile west of Fairplay.

The first school te'acher in this part of Greene county, was Judge Martin Wines, and among the pupils, we have the names of George B. Stalcup, Daniel and Peter Ingersoll, John Padgett, William Solsberry, Sanford and Nathan Dixon, James Craig, Stephen Dixon, Rachael Ingersoll, Lucene Pegg,Margaret Dixon,Louisa Patton, and many others.

The first old pioneer Methodist camp-meeting, was held in the oak just north of Fairplay, near where Mr. Crance afterwards built his house. Rev. Eli P. Farmer was a preacher at that noted old campmeeting, and old Uncle Richard Wall was there with his little family, and by some mistake, on the part of the managers, in dividing the ladies and gentlemen in separate groups and tents, some of the would-be leaders, and a manager, succeeded in a rude manner, to insult Mr. Wall, and he left the Church, because a few men seemed to not mind their own business, on that occasion. We understand that Mr. Wall never went back on his religion, and has always maintained a good name and character, in his neighborhood.

Our first candidates for Congress, were Hon. Ratliff Boone, of Sullivan county, and Judge Thomas H. Blake, of Terre Haute. When they made a little speech, at Fairplay, Mr. Blake said he would beat Mr. Boone, that year, and gave about this reason for it : Judge Blake told the people, that all along the river, as he came down, he heard a few big bull-frogs, in the river, saying, "Ratliff Boone! Ratliff Boone 1! Ratliff Boone!!!" while over among the small farmers, and the little frogs, on the prairies, and along the creeks, all the frogs wero saying, "Blake! Blake!! Blake!!!" And sure enough. Judge Blake was elected to Congress.

"Will stand the present season, commenelng on the flrnt of A-prll, and ending the ftrst of July, (public days excepted,) at the following places to wit : - Mondays and Tuesdays at the stable of Nathan Hogan 2,Vi miles east of Osbern's ferry, on White river; on Wednesdays and Thursdays at the stable of Wni. Williams 2%, miles west of Osbern's ferry; on Fridays and Saturdays at the stable of the subscriber one half mile eastof smith's ferry 1h Highland township, and will be lot to mares at "2)4 dollars single leap cash In hand, four dollars the season, and six dollars to insure a mare with foal, to be paid when the fivct Is ascertained. - Any person parting with an insured nvare boforc it is Known she is with foal, shall be bound for the insurance money. Care will bo takea to preveutaccidents,but I will not be accountabLo for a;iy. Wheat and corn received in. payment at cash prices, delivered at Point Commerce Warehouse, and at the subscriber's in November next.

Is a beautiful dark chestnut sorrel, riv? years old this spring, and was sired by Sidahamet. he by celebrated horse Boanerges, and he by old Printer so much adra.i red for his speed and symmetry; his -grand dam by S?Um a full blooded Janus horse, his dam by Tlodges sobr-r Irishman, he by the Irish grey, he iTj- C'nb. and he bj* that unquestionable horse old Janus PIls grtiDd dam on the dam side was sired by Gen. Jacksan's horse Booy a lui) bloo<ied Janus horse ; his great grand d.ini was by Nestor, he by imported Bedford, ht\by Dungannon, and he by the second best hor->.? ever in Europe, to wit. Eclipse. Sidahamot's g. g d. on riLs sires side was by ALBORAX. - He Is not inferior to any horse. Call and examine for yourselves. March J-?, \^iX. , ..JOHN IT. DIXSON.