Hamilton County, Indiana - Chapter 10, 1901

Chapter 10

In 1822 Toel Brooks, Peter Wise, Michael Wise, Silas Aloffit. John Deer, Aquilla Cross, Benjamin Mendenhall, John S. Heaton and Joseph Eller entered land in this township. In the year 1823 they erected cabins upon the lands entered and with their families occupied the same. Thomas Baron came in 1823. He was followed in 1824 by Daniel Heaton and Thomas Morris, who were followed in 1825 by Abraham Williams and Ca])tam Throckmorton. In 1826 came George Metsker and Thomas W^est; in 1827 David Dawson and Dorothy Heady; John Kinzer and David Kinzer in 1828, and in 183 1 William Slater, Alexander Mills,

Isaac nallcHi^er. W illiain W est. Samuel Carey, John IMielps and Eli JMieljis; in 1S32, James Williamson, John Green, William AlcElvaine. Alexander Bovard, Isaac Jessup. i'eter West and Jose])li (ireen; in 1833, Samuel Hockctt, William Alurph)-. John A. Shaffer, Sylvanus Carey, William Fultz and llnmphrey Irwin. Xew settlers continued to arrixc until 1S36. at which time a1)out all the (loxcrnment land had been taken up. Those who hrst settled in this township selected lands near White Ri\er on both sides thereof. The}' joined hands in the erection of l)uildini;-s and rollinj^- logs and in all work that the pioneer was unable to do with his own forces.

The river divided this settlement, but conmiunication was kept up, when the river could not be crossed on horseback, by means of the old canoe.

These people came to this country for the i)uri)ose of making homes for themselves and families. The\- soon began to petition the Board of Conmhssioners of the count}' for the location of roads. They usuall\ asked iov the locaticju of roads connecting points of interest to them, and as a rule asked that they be laid out over the most suitable lands. This meant that the viewers shotild avoid, as far as ]:)ossible, wet, swam])y lands and ponds, which were at that time numerous.

For work done in those earl}- da}s by one settler for another in the way of erecting buildings, rolling logs and like work, no account was ke])t and no charges iiuulc. These people had no pasture ioY their stock except what was fouiul in the woods. The rule was to fence in the cleared lands for the protection of crops and turn all stock into the woods.

The settlers on the east side of the river did their niiriini^-. as a rule, at the Betts mill on Stony Creek. On the west side of the ri\ er they had their grinding done at the Conner mill on White River. For a number of vears these pioneers raised but little upon their farms to sell. Their purpose in the early days was to raise a sufhcient amount to supply the needs of the family. They were all, or nearly all, good hunters and trappers. The woods were full of wild game, which belonged to all alike. The skins taken b}- hunting and trapping vyere at all times salable, and in this way they managed to get along fairly well.

A man b}- the name of Bruitt had located in the south p-Avi of this township on the west side of the river before these settlers came. He had a small stock of such goods and trinkets as was usually kept in store for the Jndian trade. He bought all kinds of furs. The little trading these people did in those days they did at Bruitt's trading post, at Conner's trading post, and, after Conner's store was opened, at Noblesville. they did their trading there.

The wolves were very plentiful and were very bold and troublesome, frequently coming near to the buildings and picking up pigs and lambs and carrying them

(ill. I'licy sdUK'linu's allacl<c(l youni;' cal\es, so that ihc pioneers, in addilioii to the vast amount of hard \\( rk to l»c done, were compelled to be on the watch for these and other wild beasts. The wolves were sliot to death whene\er and wherexer found. Thev were also caught in traps. In fact, a rei^nlar hL;iit was made against them witli a \ie\v to their extermination. In these respects, howe\er, this neigh1>orhood did not differ from other neighborhoods in the county.

The following is a partial list of the persons who settled in this township from the year 1825 to the year 1836: James Heady, George Medsker, Thomas West, David Dawson, Dorothy Heady, John Kinzer, Jacob Kinzer, \Villiam Slater, Alexander Mills, Isaac Ballenger, William West, Samuel Carey, John Phelps, Eli Phelps. James Wilkinson. John Green, William Mc- Clain, Alexander JJo\ard, Syhanus Carey. Humphrey Irwin. Isaac Jessup. Da\'id Redwine, Ebenezer Osborn, Elijah lirock, William Roberts, James Farley, Reuben Stinson, George Kirkendall, Moses Mills. John Darrah, Jacob Faucett, John Demoret. The above named persons settled in various parts of the township. James Farley settled in the southwest corner; Williamson settled near him. A school house was built on Mr. Farlex's land and a cemetery laid off not far from the school house. The school house and the cemetery were called respecti'>c]\- the h\'irley school house and the Farley cemetery. In an early day Mr. Farley laid off and set apart several acres of his land to be used as a park for deer. This park was surrounded by a high rail fence. Mr. Farley was very proud of his deer park, and maintained it for a long time. The first school in this township was established in 1830 in a cabin on the land of x\braham Williams. This was a subscription school. In 1832 a school house was erected and a Mr. Lynch was employed to teach. This was a subscription school also. The Farley school house was built in 1837. Johnson Farley was the first teacher in this school house. About this time there was a school in a log cabin on the land of George Wise. Joseph Gore taught this school. These schools were all subscription schools.

About the year 1830 religious services were held on the east side of the river at the house of Dorothy Heady by Rev. Ray, of the M. E. Church. The Friends' Church, near Carmel, is in Dalaware Township, but the membership is made up of people from both Clay and Delaware. A description of this church will appear elsewhere. Hezekiah Smith, a local preacher of the M. E. Church, held religious services at private houses on the west side of the river as early as 1836. He was followed by W. D. Rooker, who was also a local preacher. In the year 1838 a class was organized, of which he acted as leader for a number of years. The meetings were held in the Farley school house until 1852. In that year a house was built on section 33 and was called

Silas Mofht erected a l)rick house on his land in 1827. William Wilkinson built a l)rick house in the same or the next year on Cool Creek, now owned 1)\- one of the children of W. W. Rooker, deceased. Both of said houses are well preserved. The Moffit house is now owned by one of Silas's sons. The title to the Moffit land has never changed hands. It came to the present owner by partition after the death of Silas in 1832.

W. D. Rooker erected a grist mill on Cool Creek. It received its motive power from that stream. Its capacity was limited, but was equal to the wants of the settlement. He subsecjuently added a saw to the machinery. The settlers began to tear down their locabins and build frame l)uildings in their stead. Mr. Rooker did a thri\ing lumber business. Amasa Bond succeeded Rooker. Peter Wise and son succeeded Bond. Wise & Son operated the mill for a time, when it was abandoned. \A'illiam Wilkinson erected a sawnnll on Cool Creek in 1840. It was west of the brick house built by him. He afterward added two rims of burrs, one for wheat and one -for corn. The flour ran into a box in which it was carried to the bolter, which was operated by hand. Mr. Wilkinson afterward built a better mill on the same site. Mr. W^ilkinson came from Pennsylvania. He carried a cross-cut saw with him to this county. He also carried a pack made up of goods carried in those days by the pack peddlers. From the sales made on this trip he derived in the way of protit a sutricient amount of money to defray his expenses.

The first settlement made in this township was at Horseshoe Prairie, a little west of south from Noblesville. This settlement has been fully described. There were a fe\v persons settled in an early day a little east of north of Noblesville. Among them w^ere Popejoy, Learning' and Potter. In the immediate ^-icinity of Nol)lesville no settlement was made until the land had been surveyed and was ready for entry. A few of those who first came and settled near X'ohles\alle ha\'e l)een noticed. We note others in this connection. The Dale famil\- was somewhat numerous. They all settled near to Xol)lesville. The Stoops family, with its many connections, were early settlers. As many as four different families bearing the name of Cottingham were early settlers. }.Iany members of these several families subsequently became identified with Noblesville as merchants and mechanics and assisted in its development.

In 1824 Stephen \Vall came to this neighborhood from Fayette County, Indiana. He settled a half-mile east of Xoblesx'ille on what is now known as the Conrad farm. An incident in his career is worthy of note. On the evening of the twelfth day after leaving Fayette

C"()inny he crossed l^'all Creek at what is now known as the bridge across FaH Creek on the Noblesville and Greenfield Road. Soon after crossing the creek he came to a cai)in and asked if he conld he accomm,odated with ludghiL;- for the niglit. He was informed that he ccnild sj)rcad his l^ed on the lloor of the cal)in. lie learned before leaving the cabin tliat the name of the man who lived in it was Bridge, the same man who one month later assisted in the murder of the Indians abo\ c Pendleton, and who was afterwards hanged for his crime.

The \vest side of Nobles\ille Township had no settlers until after the year 1830. About that time a cabin was built two miles west of Noblesville. A settlement was iformed soon after by Walls, Carey, Metsker and a few others. But to the northwest all was woods and swamps. As late as 1830 the wolves came at night to the first hill west of town and frequently kept up their howling until late in the night.

Mr. Beaty came later than those 1 have mentioned. He bought from one of the Dales the land east of Noblesville and lived upon it until his death. John Gascho purchased this land from the Beaty heirs. Mr. Gascho, wife and family of nine children came in wagons from Lancaster County Pennsylvania. At the time of his death, or before that time, he owned 600 acres of land. He and his sons were all good farmers. East from Noblesville, on the Pendleton road, the Gaschos own the land from the curijoratiuii hniit on either side of the road for a distance of very nearly two miles. These men were farmers and gave their entire attention to their business.

A settlement was formed as early as 1820 in what is now White River Township, extending from a point two miles below Strawtown to a point very near the east line of Hamilton County. This settlement was near the river and did not extend into the forest. The hrst persons who settled in this locality were John Shintafifer and a Mr. Bennett. Shintaffer built his cabin near the present site of Strawtown and Bennett built his cabin about two miles below Strawtown, near the rixer. Both of these men bought furs from the Indians, or rather, they receixed them in exchange for articles kept l)y them for sale. They were both called Indian traders. There was an Indian village not far from Strawtown at that time. On the 24th of September. 1822. Jesse McKay. Zenas Beckwith, William I Dyer. John Collip. Henry Poland. Jesse H. Wood and ^' Lambert Heath entered land near White River in White River Township. Some of these persons had I built cabins upon the lands so entered by them before purchasing them and lived upon and improved the same to some extent. The exact date of their settlement is unknown to me. Zenas Beckwith built his first cabin near Strawtown before the land came into market. He

The first incident of note in this settlement was the ti^ht between ShintalYer and the Inchans, in which one Indian lost his life, d he second incident was the killing' of one Indian and i benjamin Fisher at Shintaffer's cabin. The third was the estabhshino' of the first tollgate in the county. A trace, or ])artiallv opened roach lea(Hng from Anderson to \\ illiam Conner's, by the Indian village near Strawtown. crossed a creek some two or three miles above Strawtown. This creek was very difficidt to cross. Horses and cattle would frequentl\- stick- fast in the mud. .V scpiatter hunter and trapper built him a cabin near this ])oint and built a bridge across this stream and demanded toll froiti all traxelers passing" that way. Fhe tra\"elers were as a rule landseekers, and the)" ])ai(l the small fee rather than (piarrel with the hunter.

The lirst school t.'iught in White Ri\"cr Townshi]' was for this neighborhood and was taught by Amo> Palmer in a cabin near Strawtown. The second school

, tion schools, the teacher receixin^- from the parents of each ])upil from one and a cfuarter to one and threeipiarter dollars lor his services. As a rule he boarded

, wiih the parents of the pupils alternately. Itinerant ])reachers occasional! \ p.assed throu£^-h this neighborj hood and were well recei\ed by the pioneers. Preach-

' of animals, killed or caught in traps, were sold to traders in that line. The Hrst mill bitilt in White River Tow,;shi]) was built in and for this neighborhood. It was built near Strawtown on Duck Creek, on what has been known lately as the Couden farm. It was called a corn cracker. The Kemp family, very early settlers in this townshi)), built a mill on \\ hite River some distance abo\e Strawtown, on what is ntow known as the Shepherd farm. This mill ground wheat and corn. A still-house was also built and operated in an early day by tlie Kemp family, also a sawmill, and subsequently a carding machine was added to the grist mill and still-

Zenas Beckwith built a two-story brick house on the land he entered in 1827. This house has been in continuous use ever since and is now in a good state of ])reservation. There is an old-fashioned bake-oven j built into the kitchen. A barn built by Mr. I'cckwith { in 1824 is still standing and in good condition. A barn j built in j8j(; is also in a good stale of preservation. ' This farm has nc\-er been transferred out of the family : and is now owned and occupied by a granddaughter of | Mr. Beckwith. d his land was entered in 1822 or soon j after. It is doubtful if another such case can l)e found in the county.

Dr. .\mo^ Palmer, while teaching school at Straw- ; town, made his home with John ImucIi. four miles \ southeast of Xoblesville. TTis haliit was to leave the ; vicinity of the school house on Friday evening and Finch's on Sundav evening. On one occasion, there beiiii;- good moonlight, he left the Finches after nightfall. Palmer was making the trip on foot. The route was mainly through the woods. He followed a trace leading from the Finch place to Strawown. This trace crossed Stony Creek near the north line of lands now owned by Charles Zeis. There were plenty of wolves and panthers in the woods and occasionally a bear, so Palmer secured a good stout stick before starting from Finch's. Soon after crossing vStony Creek he was suddenly attacked by a number of wolves. Although taken by surprise, he used his stick as best he could and succeeded in keeping them off of himself. He finally found a low limb upon a tree, which he believed he could reach by a vigorous leap. Fie made the efifort and succeeded. Fie was for the time being safe, although the wolves made several attempts to reach him, but without success. Flow long he remained in this tree he could never tell. The welcome crack of the rifle and the barking of dogs gave him great comfort. The wolves on hearing the gun crack and the dogs bark left at once and Palmer was safe. To a party of hunters near by with their dogs Palmer owed his escape.

Benjamin Fisher settled on Government land in Hamilton County. Indiana, not far from the present site of StraAvtown, in June. 1820. At this time John Shintaffer. with his family, lived in a log cabin near the present site of Strawtown. Shin.taffer was a trader in a small wav. mainlv with the Indians, as there were but few white ])eoi)le in the county. A man by the name of Bennett settled below Shintatler about this time and he also did some trading. Both he and Shintaffer sold j whisky and bought furs. |

Shintaffer, probably for the purpose of drawing the trade of the white people, procured and hung a good j grindstone, which was the only one in the neighbor- j hood. There were at this time quite a numl)er of rov- . i'lg bands of Indians in tliat \icinit\- and an Indian \-illage northwest of Strawtown. P'^arly in the spring of 1821 two or three Indians, possibly more. (lro])])ed in on Shintaffer and commenced trading and <lrinking. A (juarrel ensued between one of the Indians and Shintaffer. resulting in a fight. Shintaffer got the better of the Indian and purposely or otherwise threw the Indian into the fire and held him there until he was so badly burned that he died. One of the other Indians and Shintaft'er also fought, and this second Indian was also thrown into the fire and badly burned, but recovered.

In June, 1821, Benjanfin Fisher took his chopping axe to Shintaffer to have it sharpened. Two or three other white men were there for the same purpose. Before the white men were ready to leave some eight or ten Indians came to Shintaffer's cabin. They had no guns, but each had a tomahawk and a shar|) knife. The white men present at once took up the cause of Shintaffer and entered his cabin with him. A regular battle with clubs and stones ensued. The white men finally charged on the Indians and droxc them from the premises. l)nl were airaid ti» foHow them for fear of being ambnslied. Then the Inchans again advanced, and so the battle raged for some time. In one of these advances b\- the whites, h'isher stnmbled and feh and was cnt to pieces by the Indians. The Indians then ad- \anced npon the whites, wlio were ah inside the inclosure which snrroimded tlie lionsc. the Indians being ontside. One of the Inchans threw a chtl) at Shintaffer, striking him on the head and knocking him down. The huhans then advanced, knife in hand, for the pnrpose of scalping Shintaffer. and when in the act of crossing the fence the foremost Indian was met bv Jacob Hire with a mattock handle in his hand. He struck the Indian with iIk^ nrittock handle, killing him almost instantly. This ended the battle. The Indians secured the dead body and retreated to their \illage across the river. That niglit Shintaffer loaded all of his household goods and also his family into a large canoe and disappeared and was ne\er heard from. There was but little excitement caused b}- these iiicidents. ddie Indians continued at their village until their removal west. None of the white men who went to the assistance of Shintaffer were c\er molested by the Indians. There was a general feeling of unrest for a time. l)ut it all blew over.

lowii in l'\'lii'ii;iry. iS:;(). Wiiiiam James was at thai lime li\in,i; a halt' mile south oi Xewhy. James moxed away in alx^nt ten (la}s after Xewhy an'i\e(l. James r.nd Jesse Jnstiee li\e(l at that time one and a half miles southeast of Ncwby's cabin. William Juhvards came in two weeks from tlie arrixal of Xewby and settled one mile southwest of Xewby. James Carey lived southeast of X'ewby's place. \\ hen X"ewl)y came William W'yant a.:d Teter Carey li\e(l near James Carey. Ebenezer Holloway lived a mile and a ([itarter from Newby. He owned a grindstone, the onl)- one in the neighborhood. John V. Morris and William Birch lived on the Carey farm. Birch owned a yoke of cattle with which he hauled the logs for Newby's house. William Parker lived one and three-fourths miles from Newby, near ' Holloway. Mr. Mann lived two miles and a half from I Newby on Bear Creek. These parties united for mutual benefit in building cabins, rolling logs and all | other pioneer work. They constituted the first pioneer ; band north of the settlement made along and near | W'hite Ri\er in White River Township. These men cut ! the roads partly used by them in coming to their new i homes. This neighborhood relied on the Kemp mill for their meal and flour. They did their trading at Woodville, now called Strawtown. I

Kemp operated a still-house and secured a road ; from his mill to Logansport. This road ran through | the eastern part of this settlement, and was the only i road in existence for some time except the roads cut ])}- the settlers. The first school Newbys attended was taught by Coll)urn Birch in a log cabin on the Carey land. After this a log cabin was built on Newby's land and school taught there for some time. The first teacher was a Mr. Daugherty. The first church in the neighborhood was at Mr. Carey's house. Elder Havens and probably Mr. Carey did the preaching. This was a Methodist denomination. The second church service they attended was at the house of Rev. Blount, near the north line of Hamilton County.

After Kemp's mill burned these people got their grinding done at Shryock's mill, two miles below Strawtown, on White River. Mr. Hier owned a corn mill on the creek near the old Cowden farm. A still-house was attached to this mill. The Indians sometimes came here to get whisky.

Northwest of the Newby place Allen Sumner, S. Mendenhall and Dan Lister settled. The Newby and Carey settlement extended from the west line to the east line of the township, and north from the Strawtown settlement to the Ault. Leeman and Ransom Smith settlement. These people lived pioneer lives in pioneer cabins ; came to and conquered the wilderness and made it bloom and bring forth an abundant harvest.

North of this settlement in 1838 George, William and Cornelius Leeman settled between the present site of Omega, and Aroma, Harvey, Ault, Smith, Carj;>.> I'UlAl n 1\1': IllriTOHY OK penter. Urown and others \vliose names 1 lia\'e not been able to procure constituted tlie settlement at the north end of White River Townshi]). These men built the regulation cabin and l)e,i;"an i)ioneer life in the same manner that other settlers did. In that townshi]) they did their milling- at Perkins\ille and their trading- at Strawtown. This neighborhood attended church ai three different places. Ilarvey was a Ouaker. A (juaker church was i)uilt on his land at a date unknown , to me. The Leemans and all persons in that neighborhood believing the doctrine preached l)y Alexander | Campbell, attended meetings held by that demonination in a log church on lands owned by lve\'. Blount near the north line of Hamilton Count}-. They continued to attend these meetings until the Christian Church was built at Omega. .\ cabin was built for the United \ Brethren Church on the lands of Henry Ault. Serx'ices | were held in that cal)in for a number of years. They were finally discontinued. What was known as the Ironwood Seminary Building was built upon lands j owned b}' Cornelius Leeman at this time, but .after- i wards sold to ^Ir. Har\ev. Jabez Brown l)uilt this \ house with monc)" raised by subscrii)tion. He was the hrst teacher therein. This school building was largely ])atronized and was the best building for school i)ur- . ])oses at that time in the northern, part of the tow nship. <

The mounds in White River Township near Strawtown w ill e\"er be a niysterw William Conner, who had a l)etter opportunity than any man in the county to learn their origin or piu'pose. was iniable to learn anything dehnite concerning them. He said he had conversed with the oldest Indians of his acquaintance, and all that he could learn was that they were here when the Indians came, and that was all they knew about them except what could be seen.

The main work is a circle about 300 feet in diameter, thrown up in the center, but apparentl}" lexel. and surrounded by a ditch that fifty years ago was about six feet deep.

The site of these works is on the second bottom of White River about a quarter of a mile from the bank and thirty feet above the overtlow. Between the earth inclosure and the river there is a mound which commands an extensive view up and down White River. The large inclosure is one of the very few in the Misjj sissippi valley that have the ditch on the outside, and it is, therefore, worthv of more careful study. From the

This principal inclosure is situated about 700 feet west of the river and about 1,000 feet n(jrth\vest of the center of section 3 on an elevated point of land extend ing- in a northwesterly direction into the bend of White l\i\er. Surrounding- the major part of the northwesl cpiarter of the same section, this elexatcd jxiint overlooks a strip of low bottom land, varying in width from 400 feet on the east to 2,000 feet on the north and about 3.000 feet on th.e west, widening to the southwest and south. White River now occu])ies the outer boundary. ?Iigh blutf land borders the opposite side. The low bottom land just described is composed of light sand of loam or alluvium, indicating that when those works were erected White River covered the entire area, with the fortification little more than one hundred feet from its margin. An accurate measurement of the works shows a diameter of 280 feet from the middle of the embankment on one side to that on the opposite side. From this point the outer slope to the middle of the ditch surrounding is about twenty feet, the ditch having been about thirt\- feet wide and nine feet deep. The earth and gravel excavated therefrom forms the embankment. The material excavated appears to have been in large proportion composed of coarse gra\el, with a fair admixture of sand and loam inside the inclosure. The middle area was originally, no doubt, of equal elevation with the surface outside, since the embankment is still visible from the inside and apparently t\\ o or two and one-half feet high.

The purpose of this construction, it can scarcely be doubted, was for defense, the ditch on the outside being designed to resist assault. Within the inclosure numerous specimens of ancient pottery have been found; flint arrow heads of various designs and degrees of skill in workmanship were discovered, indicating with reasonable certainty the character of the works.

Almost directly to the west, near the western extremity of the elevated peninsula before described, and about 600 feet from the earthworks, is situated a sepulchral mound and general burial place for the occupants of the fort. Its location commands a fine prospect to the north, west and south and was v^'ell adapted to the purposes of a lookout station in case of expected invasion by enemies approaching along the river. On the site of this mound skulls and other human bones have been exhumed or otherwise uncovered in the process of cultivating the ground. Many fine and comparatively well ]M"eser\ed fragments of vessels, such as are supposed to have been used for sepulchral purposes, have been found here since the county was settled by white people. It is highly probable, also, that careful examination of these works would bring to light many valuable mementoes of the ancient inhabitants of this locality, who were interested in the fabrication of these archaeological monuments.

Two l)rollicrs by llic name of Thor]) cacli ])uilt a caMn (in wliat is known as 'I'liorp Creek'. This was after llie liani^ini;- of IJrids^-e and Sawyer, mentioned hereafter in this work. 'Idiese brothers did not remain lon^-. They gave the creek the name it now bears. It has never been niiide clear to me whetlier they came before or after McXntt.

.McXult was the hrst man. from wliat is now l^'all C'reek Townshi]). sned in the Circuit Court of Hamilton C"ount\- in a. ci\il action. The suit \\as in trespass. As will be hereafter shown in this work, a man by the name of Bridge and a man i)\- the name of Sawyer built the iirst cabins within the present bounds of Fall Creek 'i\)\\ nshi]), and the location of their cabins are gi\-en in a subsequent chapter. After Bridge and Sawyer were hung' for the murder of the Indians, an account of which will be given, their families removed from the county. So the settlers who came after them found their cabins empty. This was a mystery to them, and this mystery i was ne\'er disclosed in, i)rint until it was done in this . work.

The first wiiite man who made ])ermanent settle ment in this township was James AIcNutt. He settled not far from the cabin built by Bridge. He was an j Irishman, lliram Coffee. John W helchel and Abraham I Helms followed AIcNutt in the order named. F. Kin- I kaid. Samuel Holliday, Richard Curry and I'rancis i

Whelchel followed ihoso last iiainod. They all built and lived in pioneer cabins of the times. These were the men who were the first to penetrate the wilds of Fall Creek Township and inaugurate the struggie which terminated in the triumph of pioneer courage and endurance over the obstacles which stood opposed to their advance in civilization and wealth. Wild animals were found in this as well as other localities in the county. Game and fish were abundant in the woods and streams near by. The settlers were all good hunters and made use of their rifles to supply the family with meat. They found at that point grain for sale to supply them until they could clear and cultivate their own ground. The Indians had not all left this country when these persons settled this township, as the following incident will show :

Among the first pioneers of what is now known as Fall Creek Township was the father and mother of Wesley and Silas Helms. Among their earthly possessions they counted a fine specimen of the canine tribe. At a time in their pioneer life, before the red men had left this part of the State, Mr. Helms was called from his home on some kind of business. Some time during the day a heavy snow storm came upon them, and whilst the storm was raging in all its fury a very large Indian, armed with rifle, knife and tomahawk, appeared at the door of the cabin.

(liaii pointed willi liis liUL^cr In llie fast falliiii;- snow and iIkii lo the northeast and then to the door of the cabin, indiealinj;' that his cahin was some (Hstance away, the storm severe and liis desire to enter tlie caljin. The chimney to the cabin was on the outside and the roof extended some two or three feet over from the wall, affording some shelter. Airs. Plelms directed him to deposit his gun in the shed thus created, and while he was thus engaged she placed the dog in the hands of Uncle Wesley Helms, as we now call him, with instructions to let him go at the signal from his mother. She then secured a knife her husband had made from an old tile, which was long of blade and sharp at the point. This knife she secreted in one sleeve of her dress. Being thus prepared, she invited the Indian into the cabin. The Indian came in, took a seat pointed out to him by Airs. Helms and sat there almost motionless until the storm abated. He then arose, making signs that he could go I on his way and also his thanks, secured his rifle and departed. As the matter turned out it is clear that Airs. Helms' visitor was what was then called a good Indian.; The pioneers were of that kind of people who be-' lieved in educating their children. They were also, asj a rule, church-going people. Itinerant preachers came occasionally to this neighborhood and preached the' gospel to the pioneers. Among the first preachers whoj visited them was John Richmond, of the liaptist per-i suasion. Nathaniel Barnes was the first Methodist i preacher. Benjamin Legg was the iirst man of the Christian ministry who preached. .V j\Ir. Stuart, a United Bretliren. was tlie Iirst of this denomination to preach in this township.

These services were, as usual, held in the log cabins of the pioneers. The first school house was built on the Arnett farm. The first church building was built in the Kimberlain neighborhood and was called Perseverance. Abraham Helms was the first man elected justice of the peace, but he soon resigned his ofifice. He was conscientiously religious, and it was said that while he acted as justice he also attended the house raisings and log rollings, and on these occasions he heard more or less swearing; and as he understood the law, it was his duty to cause the arrest of all persons using profane language ; but, as these men were his neighbors, he did not wish to do this, nor did he wish to avoid the performance of his duty, as he understood it, so he resigned. L. M. Ogle was appointed to fill the vacancy occasioned by this resignation.

The first store was opened in this township by James Davis on the lands of Thomas Arnett. Samuel Arnett opened the next store, and the third store was opened iby Wesley Helms near the present site of Olio. Samuel Harrison opened the first blacksmith shop in the township. James Patterson was the first regular carpenter. The first grist mill in the township was built and operated by David Jones. This mill made both meal and tlour, and was built on Fall Creek. The first saw mill was built on Thorp Creek by Abrani Helms and one of the Kinnanians. 'Jdiis was the first plaee where lumber eould l)e purchased, or timber could be sawed on the shares in their own township, and the ])eople were proud of those two industries. The first distillery was erectd by Hartman & Rice. The first carding machine was started by John Doran. The first bridge o\ er Fall Creek was built near the Marion County line. The first school taught in this vicinity was taught by John P. ilolliday in a cabin near what is known as the Arnett cemetery. This was a subscription school and was taught on the same terms as other schools in those days. The second school was taught b}' one of the Kin- ' namans in a log cabin near the residence of Abram Helms. These cabin school houses were built on the ; same plan as the pioneer residence cabin. They, as a ! rule, had a log cut out on one side and greased pa])er for a window light. The table for the pupils who studied : Nvriting was placed under this window. i

In 1824 Francis McShane entered land in the southeast corner of what is now Clay Township, and in tlu' year 1825 1)uilt upon it his cabin. Fie was the first wliitc^ man with his family to make permanent settlement inl the township. He had no neighbors in Hamilton! County for some time. A settlement had formed in|

Marion County near him, so for the time being he joined forces with them for work and for school purposes. After putting up the necessary building the work of improying his land was begun in earnest. James G. McShane, who now .resides upon and owns the land entered by his father, was at that time old enough to attend school. A yacant cabin stood in Marion County a half-mile south of the Marion and Hamilton County line, north of Broad Ripple. In this cabin the McShane children attended their first school. Two Indian boys, sons of George Ketcham, attended this school. The family of Francis McShane consisted of himself and wife and two sons, Edward and James G. A

^ and partly in Hamilton County. His cabin was built on the Hamilton County side of the line. A few years later he burned brick and built a brick residence on the Marion County side of the line. In 1830 the first death

Frraiklin Hall settled in Hamilton County west of McShane and Gray, in 1832. Soon thereafter Isaac Sharp and others settled north of Hall and together with ^IcShane they formed a settlement for school and church purposes. The first school in this neighborhood was in a cabin on the land of Isaac Sharp and was taught by Hannah ( irifhth ; the second by Slej'hen Conner. The hrst church service in this settlement was at the same place where the first school was. The first preachers were Asa Beck and Hezekiah Smith.

Robert Barnhill entered land in what is now Clay i Township two miles west of the land afterwards en- \ tered by Franklin Hall. At the same time he entered land in Marion County, the county line dividing it. 1 1 e settled on this land in September, 1828. A part of lii> buildings were in Hamiltcjn and a part in JMarion. | Benjamin McDufTee, in Se])tember, 1828, entered }C^n I acres west of the land entered in Hamilton County by Barnhill and settled on it in October of that year. |

A man by the name of Standridge was living in a 1 cave with a hut over it on the land entered by I'.arnhill in Hamilton County. He moved a half mile north when Barnhill came, and as he was a hunter and trapper and soon moved away, I do not count him a settler. Barnhill and ^IcDufifee were the only settlers at tliis point at that time. In 1830 John Harden settled near the present site of Clay Center school house on land now owned by Isaac Powell. Samuel and Robert Morrow settled, in 1830, near John Harden. In 1832 Henry Cruse, Samuel P. Seely and Henry Davis settled near Barnhill and McDuffy, Davis, Seely and Cruse i joined hands with Harden and the Morrows for 1"- rolling, house raising and such work as required tliat amount of force.

.\l)uul 1S35. new settlers having arrived in sufficient numbers to support a subscription school, a cabin was built where Clay Center school house stands. This school did not receive any support from Barnhill, Mc- Dutiy. Seely or Davis. Seely attached himself to the Shari)e school. .Davis. Barnhill and McDutTty sent their children to a school in Marion County.

Joshua ^^'rig-ht settled in 1832 on the land now owned by the Hussey heirs. New settlers continued to arrive until \ery nearly all the land in this neighborhood was taken up.

The men who composed this neighborhood were hard working men. The task of clearing the land was apparently an endless one. There was but little money with which to supply the wants of the pioneers; true they did not need as much money as we do now. In addition to the hard labor of the men in their clearing, many other things had to be done. The pioneer had to learn to turn his hand to almost any trade. Mr. Barnhill made tubs and buckets for the neighborhood. He also made shoes and repaired gun locks. Much of this work was done after night. Henry Davis was a wheelwright; he could also make chairs and looms. Some stocked plows, others repaired old wagons. The women carded the wool into rolls, spun the rolls into yarn and wove the yarn into cloth.

Xo chnrcli was cstahlislicd in this nci-liborliood for a number of vears. Xo .^rist mill was built until iSf);. In that year the e"are_\ brothers, of Carmel, built a saw an.d lyrist mill on the land of James G. McShane. They did ni.t remain there long.

A settlement was formed west of Robert BarnhiU's in an early dav. partly in Marion and partly in Hamilton I Count V. This settlement extended west to the Michigan Road. ]£lijah Patterson, Peter Dauliinspeck, Man- j nel Michaels, Nathan Wilson and others whose names 1 do not now recall were of this settlement. I

The school house for this settlement was on land ' owned by Michaels. Tn 1836 or 1837, a class was organized and met at the house of Nathan Wilson. The-r l^eople continued to worship at private houses for a vear or more. A lot was donated by Elijah Patterson |j to the society and upon this lot a hewed log church was soon thereafter built. This w-as called Poplar ChuNc Church. It stood until 1856. Early in that year Nathan Wilson donated a lot east of this log church upon which a neat frame building w'as erected. The Baptists formed an organization at an early day 1)Ut had no es- ji tablished house of worship. The houses of members I of the congregation and the school houses were tlio places in which the services of their church w^ere con- ^ ducted until the year 1867. In that year John \\\\-\

In 1827 Benjamin Mendenhall settled near the present site of Carmel. Charles White, John Morris and \Mlliam Hawkins came in 1838. Harmon Cox, Tmii othy Sumner, Barnaby Newby. Daniel Warren and Jonas Hoover came in 1831. Stephen Hiatt, Eli Johnson, Jacob Cook, Isaac Rich and Charles Davis came in 1832. From 1832 to 1835 the following named persons came: Zimri Cook, Jonathan Carey, Eli Phelps, Abraham Jessup. Jonathan Evans, William Comber, Samuel Small, George West, Nathan Harold, Joseph Randall, Jr., Isaac Davidson, Benjamin Wells, John Kinzer and others. These people formed the settlement around Carmel. Their story would be the story of the other neighbors as to labor and hard fare. The nearest cabin west of this settlement was on the Michigan Road eight miles from them. The nearest south was the McShane cabin heretofore spoken of.

When it was found that there was a sufficient number of children of school age to enable the parents to employ a teacher, a subscription school was opened in a cabin northwest of Carmel. This cabin stood on land now known as the Wilkinson land.

In 1830 a few Friends met at the house of Harmon Cox one and a half miles northeast of Carmel, to consult about a place to hold public meetings for worship, and this cabin was agreed upon. For nearly three years this continued to be the meeting" place of those upright Christian famiHes who formed the first meeting of Fdends in Hamilton County. Subscription schools were taught here also for al)out three years. The most of these people came from North Carolina, coming through Kentucky.

When the first of these pioneers came they found Charles Ketcham and his family living in a cabin on the Hawkins' eighty-acre tract north of Carmel. He had good title to it and afterward sold it to a white man. He was an Indian Chief and was waiting for his tribe to get ready to go west. George Ketcham had a son, Charles, i8 or 19 years old. He was a great hunter and trapper and had a great many deer and coon skins. Daniel Warren had a good silver watch which Charles : wished to buy, so he asked Mr. Warren if he would ! trade the watch for furs. Mr. Warren said yes, so , Charles said bring your wagon to our cabin. Mr. War- | ren did so. Charles threw deer and coon skins into the ; wagon until Mr. W^arren told him to stop. Mr. War- | ren passed the watch to Charles and drove his wagon [ home. The next day Charles called on one of their \ neighbors and told him about his trade with W^arrcn and said "white man bad, watch bad." The white man , saw that the watch had run down, so he asked Charles j for the key with which he wound the watch and started ; it. then pointing to the setting sun. lie made Charles | * understand that at that time each day he must wind his 1

These people procured Iheir grinding- at the little mills on Cool Crqek and at the larger ones on White River. Before the days of Bethlehem, now Carmel, they did their trading at Indianapolis. The road from Westfield to Indianapolis was the first one opened. A road from Robert Morrow's place led out to this road. The balance of the roads for a long time were cut by the pioneers to suit neighborhood purposes. They were merely brushed out and never worked, but they got along with them.

In about the year 1840 Josiah Senior settled on lands in Clay Township, a part of which is now^ used for church and school purposes at Poplar Ridge. Robert Ellis and others settled in that neighborhood about that time. Josiah Senior was a member of the Christian Church and through his infiuence a log building was erected upon the lands above mentioned. This log house was used by persons belonging to the Christian Church as a place of w^orship as long as Mr. Senior owned the land. In 1849 ^^^'- Senior sold his land and the society erected a church building southwest of the old house in what was called the Tanner neighborhood. This neighborhood extended to the west line of the County and ran north for some distance. The Tanner family, the Nichols family, the Beard family, the Debruler family and others were of this neighborhood.

1 kvekiah Collins came in the latter part of the year 1850. At this time the nearest Friends' Clunxh \Yas at Carmel, so the Friends in this settlement asked for the organization of a church, 'ihis recjuest was granted and Jonathan Wilson donated land upon which to erect a huilding to be used for church purposes and for school pur])oses. Jn the early autunm of the year 1850 a good hewed log house was erected and a Friends" Church was organized on the 26th of December, 1850. The land donated by Jonathan Wilson w^as two acres of the north end of the land purchased by him from Air. Senior. Two years later a frame church building was erected to which was given the name "Poplar Ridge." This society took an early stand in favor of a higher education than was thought necessary in many other neighborhoods at that time. A good school l)uilding was also built by this society. Good teachers were employed. A iew years later, through the influence ot Mr. Wilson, a seminary building was erected, which was intended for a graded school building. This neigh borhood increased very rapidly after the establishmem

The first settlement made in this township was in the vicinity of the present site of Cicero by Henry Jones, William Taylor and Mr. Blanch in the year J828. Henry Jones settled three miles west of Cicero on the line of what is now known as the Cicero and Lafayette Road, ^^'illiam Taylor settled four and a half miles west of Cicero. Mr. Blanch settled a half mile west of Cicero on the bank of Cicero Creek. All of these persons built cabins upon the lands entered by them and cleared for themselves each a farm. Mr. Blanch subsequently removed from that vicinity.

In 183 1 Elijah Redman, Dennis Pickerell and James B. Freel settled within the present limits of Cicero, and, as will be hereinafter shown, Pickerell and Freel after that date, laid out the town of Cicero. John Harbaugh, John Clark, \\'illiam Rollings, Adam B. Wildes, William Jones and the Hall family settled at an early day in this vicinity. There was at that time an Indian trail leading from Strawtown to Lafayette. This trail led past Henry Jones' cabin. When the emigrants passing from Strawtown to Lafayette wished entertainment, they found it at the cabin of Mr. Jones between Cicero and White River.

Sonic of the land in lliis \icinity was ciUercd 1)\ Gcrnians, among whom were Mr. Mapes, who came early, Nichohis Zelt, the Gardeners, and others whose names 1 do not recall. W Iielher these men formed a neighborhood independent of those who settled at Cic ero and west of that place, I am not able to say, but they have preserved their identity and have ever been known as hard working men and w^omen. These men by honest toil cleared the lands and converted them into beautiful farms. As a rule the lands are still owned by the children and grandchildren of these pioneers.

\Mlliam Taylor built what in those early days was called a horse mill, the capacity of wdiich mill was limited, but answered a good purpose. This mill was built in and for the neighborhood above named.

In about the year 1834 the first school in the township was taught in a log cabin standing in the w-oods at or near the present site of Cicero, the town not ha\ iiii; been laid out then. In 1835 a school was taught in a cabin on the land of William Taylor. Both were sub scription schools.

In 1833 David Anthony, Joseph Hadley, William Pickett, Jesse Beals, Jacob Hadley, William Ramsey. Levi Cook and Elihu Pickett settled near the present site of Deming. A small mill w^as built on Ilinkle Creek and for a time this neighborhood had their corn ground at this mill. School was taught at or near Ilinkle Creek Church. At this church the Friends in the neighborhood worshiped for a long time.

The next settlement in this township was made west of the present site of Arcadia in 1833 and soon thereafter. This settlement was composed of the Jones and Bishop families. Mr. Wells came next. Phillip Bowser came in 1834 and John Miller in 1836. His cabin was east of Arcadia. The Martz brothers, Moses and Isaac, came in 1838. These men all entered land and at once began the pioneer work of converting the wilderness which surrounded them into fine, producing farms.

The first school taught in this vicinity was in 1840 in a log cabin on what is now known as the Burgess farm. The teacher was William Harrington. The next school was at the present site of Arcadia, taught by \Mlliam Stewart in the year 1841.

The first church was a small barn on the farm now known as the Shearer farm. It was a Dunkard church. The first Christian church in this township was organized southwest of Arcadia. C. W. Harrison, Lockhart and Stinson were among the first preachers. The first church service by the Methodist denomination was held at the house of Samuel Caylor three miles west of Arcadia. Mr. Caylor settled at this point in 1831 or 1832. A Lutheran church was established in an early day in this township northeast of Arcadia. John KefTer was the first preacher. This church has been well supported and is still in existence. Thomas Luther was the first Methodist preacher. About the year 1835 a num- ber of Lutherans settled in Jackson and White River Townships. Rev. Abraham Reck and Rev. John Carver, residents of Indianapolis, came on horseback to visit this people and preached for them in private houses. In 1837 a congregation of fifteen members was organized and a church council was chosen. Rev. John Carver was pastor during the first year. Five new members were added to the fifteen. The minister received for his services for one year $20. Arrangements were now made for building a house of worship. Peter Achenbach donated a lot situated near Cicero Creek, east of Arcadia, and a neat frame church was erected thereon during the next year. Many of the members were Cermans and the preaching was mainly in that language. Ministers came from a distance fnr several years. Finally the Rev. David Smith of Nobles ville was secured and retained as pastor for several years. The membership of this church grew rapidly, but was seriously weakened by the withdrawal of the Cerman members, who erected a building of their own east of Arcadia.

The above mentioned Bishop built a corn cracker on Little Cicero Creek, west of Arcadia, in 1839, ^'^^^ Phillip Bowser erected a mill east of Arcadia on Cicero Creek in 1840.

An Indian tradition, much discussed at this time, was to the efi^ect that a lead mine existed on the farm of EHjah Redmond; that the Indians, before the white men came, supplied themselves with lead from this mine, but that since the white men had come among them, the Indians had carefully concealed its locality.

In 1837 the colored neighborhood, as it was called, was settled by John Roads, Micajah Waldron, Dolphin and Stephen Roberts, Elias, Jonathan and Hansel Roberts, Br}'ant Waldron and Harry Winburn, all colored. In 1841 they erected a church and school house. These colored men were peaceable, law abiding, hard workingmen. They cleared the lands they had purchased and soon made for themselves and families comfortable homes. Before building their church, they assisted in paying- white school teachers, and their children received their share of the benefits.

In 1836 Michael Shiel came to this township and built his cabin near the present site of Atlanta. Allen Sumner and George Tucker settled near the Shiel cabin on the east side of the Lake Erie & Western Railroad. Later came James M. Thompson, Alexander Smith, Jacob E. Whisler, John Ehman, Frederick Smelce and Caleb Sparger. Sparger's land laid west of Shiel's, adjoining his tract. Phillip Roads and Peter Miller settled south of Shiel's. Soon after this Daniel Smith and his brother, whose first name I do not know, settled in this neighborhood. Soon thereafter came Daniel and William Haskett. John Harrington settled early east on Cicero Creek. John and Jacob Crull, George Illyis and Jacob Whisler were also early settlers. The above named i)ersons constituted tlie pioneer settlement at and near the north line of Hamilton County, and banded themselves together for work. The lands were covered with a very hca\ \ growth of timber and a very heavy coat of undergrowth, making it hard to clear. In this neighborhood there were many ponds, in which water stood most of the year. These ]:>onds caused the people to sufifer a great deal from chills and fever.

Church services in this neighborhood were held at private houses, in school houses and in log barns before a church building was erected. Dr. Blount. John Stinson and Carey W. Harrison did the preaching. The first church building was erected in old Buena Vista. It was called Union Church. It was built by all denominations and by those who were not members of any church, was open to all regardless of nationality or color, and was well attended. This building was used for other purposes as well as a church. The first physicians in this neighborhood were Dr. Blount and Dr. Driver. Jameson. Butler, Stanford and Amos Pettijohn were afterwards added to the list.

The first mill w^as erected on Cicero Creek east of Atlanta. This mill was a saw and grist mill combined. The next mill on Cicero Creek, below Tucker's, was erected l^y Henry Gascho. These mills sawed lumbciand ground corn only. Klias Johnson and James Bisli op erected a saw mill and corn cracker on Little Cicero

Creek. None of these mills eould I)e relied on in time of lont^" drouth. Then the settlers were compelled to go to the White River mills heretofore spoken of.

Peter Miller was the first shoemaker for this settlement. He was a coarse workman, but the work to be done in that line was coarse work. Shoes for boys and girls were made from the same kind of leather, viz. : Cow hides tanned in a country tan yard.

Schools were in log cabins having puncheon floors and slab seats with no backs to them. The teachers were (i) Wiley Watkins, (2) Jacob W'hisler, (3) George Howard and (4) Henry Sowers. Salaries were small and were paid by contributions from the patrons of the schools.

After the dates herein named this township improved rapidly, both in population and wealth. It is impossible to name all the grand men and women who came to this wilderness to fight the battle of pioneer life. Each and all are entitled to the lasting gratitude of their children and grandchildren.

The only roads in this township ])rior to 1830 were the Indian trail from Strawtown to Lafayette, heretofore spoken of, and such byways as were used by the early settlers in passing from one cabin or one settlement to another. As has been stated, the Board of Commissioners of this County, about the year 1830, by order of the State, caused a road to be surveyed and laid out, which road was known as the New Castle and

Primitivio Iiistoiiv Of

1 ,;il';i\ ctU' Slate road. A load was also sur\eycd and laid out 1)y order of the Slate, known as the Cicero and 'riiorntown State road Later the Inchanapolis and ]'ern State road was surveyed and laid out. These roads all ])assed through this townshij).

In the year 1(831 Harmon Cox settled in Washington Tow'nship south of the present site of Westfield. In 1832 Asa Bales, Simon Moon, I'aul Wood and Mr. Osborn settled north of Cox in and around Westfield. Soon after this date Isaac Williams, Mr. Bowman, Mr. Rams, Nathan Parker, Mr. Washburn, Mr. Jackson and Mr. Hunt came, and soon thereafter came Zachariah Rees, Isaac Baldwin, Moses Coffin, David I'aldwin, William Patterson and others. Among them were the Whites, Roberts, and Newbys. These parties joined hands in raising their cabins, rolling logs, building stables and all other heavy work. They su])ported a subscription school. They attended the same church. They also w'aited upon the sick in the neighborhood. Their milling was done for a time at the Conner mill, two miles below Noblesville.

The next settlement was made three miles north of Westfield by Nathan Beals, John Moore, Edward Bray, Anderson Scott, Ernsley Wade, Eli Morris and others. John Moore lived on the land afterward bought by Aaron Lindley, now owned b}- Idiomas J. Lindley. Na- than Ucals li\c«l on land immediately south of Moore. Tlie lirst school house built in Washington Township was in this settlement on Nathan Beals' land. It was a log cabin. The first teacher was William Legne, an (3hio man and a good teacher. The next school in the neighborhood was taught at the Westfield meeting house by Laban Hanuiicr. Afterwards the people in the Beals neighborhood sent their children to Hinkle Creek school. Those who attended the Friends' church attended at Hinkle Creek Church. For two years after this settlement was formed the grain was ground at Conner's mill before mentioned. After that the grinding was done at Cook's mill at or near Deming. Here the flour was bolted by hand. This mill did not stand many years. The community also had grinding done at John Shryock's mill on White River, fi\e miles north of Nobles ville. This settlement was near what was called Dismal. It was infested with wolves and panthers, many of which were killed by the settlers in those early days.

In 1833 a small settlement was made in this townshi]) near the present site of Eagletown by Henry Woodruft", Mr. Bowman, Mr. Gilpin, Mr. Jackson, Ephraim Stout and others. This settlement was on Little Eagle Creek, as it was then called. Ephraim Stout erected in 1837, on Eagle Creek, a small corn mill, the capacity of which was about ten bushels per day. The roads at that time were so bad it was for a large portion of tin- \oar .-ilmosl iinpussiliU' lo i;cl lo W liilc K'wvv or lo lii(li.mai)(«lis with a load. ("(M-ii broad, milk and but ter constituted tlic principal diet, to^ctlicr with .i^anir which wa.s ahnndant and easily captured, so that for meat they had plenty. School was in private houses for some time and until a school house was built. Their trading;- was done at Westlield and at Eagle Village, a small town southwest of the settlement, situated in Boone County on the Michig-an road. Those among them who ])e]ong-cd to the iM-iends, attended service at Westlield.

About the year 1833 a settlement was formed near the west line of Washington Township on both sides of Little Eagle Creek. Among the first settlers in tlial >-icinity were William Harvey, John Price, Frederick Brendel, Benjamin Dye, Lewis Miller, Daniel Miller, Francis Joseph, Phillip Stultz, Benjamin Wagoman, Jesse Lane, William Bragg, Cyrus Bowman, Mr. Mower, Mr. Smith and Mr. Osborn. When these pioneers came to this township they cut their own roads, following blazed traces made by hunters, wdiich they knew would lead them in the vicinity, of their destination. In many cases bridges had to be made by each of the settlers ii this as well as in the other settlements in the township.

The first school in this neighborhood was in a cabin east of William Harvey's house. Lucinda Hunt was the teacher. Schools in this neighborhood were main- tained by subscription. There was no church building nearer than Eagle Village in Boone County, five miles distant. Many of the settlers attended church service there. They usually went on horseback, those having children taking them up on the horses with them. The passage through the woods was difficult. There was constant danger of being swept from the horses by overhanging Hmbs. Some of the pioneers loaded their family into wagons drawn by two horses or sometimes a yoke of oxen. It was more difficult to get through the woods in this manner than on horseback, but it was either this way or stay at home. Finally they began to have meetings at private houses. After barns were built, meetings were frequently hekl in them.

They had their grain ground at Co ner's mill or at Foster's, both on White River, one below and the other above Noblesville. They sometimes had corn ground at Stout's mill near Eagletown. What trading they did at stores was mainly done at Eagle Village.

In about the year 1836 Aaron Lindley came to the township. He bought the land where Thomas J. Lindley now lives. In 1837 he erected the first brick house in the township. In 1833 Simon Moon set apart from his land a small tract of land and donated it to the Society of Friends for a place of interment. The cemetery is located south of the town of Westfield. The first corpse interred in the cemetery was that of Mr. Moon. In 1832 the first white child in the township was born to Harmon Cox and wife. In 1833 the first marriage ceremony performed in the township occnrred. The contracting parties were William Hiatt and Mar>' Moon.

The first road laid out in this township was the Noblesville and Lafayette road. The second was from Noblesville past the present site of Westfield and Eagletown and west to the county line. The next road laid out was the one from Westfield to Indianapolis. Other roads in this township w^ere made by the early settlers for their convenience. Soon after the events herein narrated the land in this township was taken up and improved rapidly. All of the eastern part of the township w^as settled by Friends, including the settlement near Eagletown. They preserved their identit\ for a long time and to some extent do so yet.

John and Israel Finch settled on government land near the Horseshoe Prairie in 1819. When the land came into the market they failed to enter the tracts upon which they settled and the land was entered l)y other parties. They entered land four miles ;i little south of east from Noblesville. 1'he land entered by John Finch is now known as the Sohl farm and the land entered by Israel Finch is now known as the Zeis farm. These men built cabins upon each tract of land in 1823, and occupied them by moving their families into llieiii later in the same year. David Osboni settled northeast of the two Finches, about one mile. The following year Milo Bush, Clement Passwater, William Davidson, Peter Passwater and Elijah Guffy settled near the Finches. William Passwater came in 1825. These persons constituted the Finch settlement. At that time John Finch was a gunsmith and Israel Finch was a blacksmith. They worked some at their trade, but a great deal of their time was spent in clearing and fencing their lands. They both made knives, hatchets and a fine article of hoes. They carried on a good trade with the Indians, taking furs from them in exchange for knives, watches and such other articles as the Indians wanted. A log cabin was built northeast of Bethel Church on land noAV owned by My. Zeis. In this cabin the first two schools were taught. The first was taught by Mary Finch and the second 1)y Rebecca Finch. These schools were taught in summer time and were supported by the parties above named. After the second school was taught the cabin burned down.

David Osborn was a man of some means and by this time his cabin had been torn down and a two-story hewed log house had taken its place. There were two rooms below^ and a kitchen in the rear. The second story was one large room in which the carding, spinning and weaving were done. The first winter school was taught by Henry Scarce, the second by Theodore Gilleland and the third by Thomas O.

Sci-;iii,u in lli's room. Tlu'sc scluiols were supjxn-tcd l)y tlie same parlies who sui)poited the siinimer schools. 'The Osboni house was sold by George Stephens, who now owns the land, to Allen Shoemaker, an adjoinino- land owner, and is now doini;- service as a barn.

The state early established a ro:id, called the Winchester State road, which run through the township from northeast to the southwest, passing near the residences of William, Peter and Clement Passwater. It also run through the lands owned by Osborn, the two Finches and William Davidson. About this time a road was laid out leading from Xoblesville to the Bells mill on Stony Creek, crossing the creek below the dam, thence up the creek until it intersected ihc "V\'inchester road near William Davidson's. These were the only roads in the township at that time except such as the settlers cut out for their own convenience.

Near this time Benjamin Purdum, Parnell Coverdale, Nathan Shoemaker and Benjamin Shoemaker settled in the Pinch n.eighborhood. They were industrious men and went to work with a will, m iking for themselves and posterity good homes. In i^jy Calvin Granger settled north of Israel Finch but died soon afterwards.

In the fall of 1823, after the Finches had settled in the township, Joseph Waddle, James Hare, John Hare, Sr., John Hare, Jr., James Stephenson and William

Waddle settled north of David Osborn on the nortr\ side of Story Creek. This was known for a long time as the Hare and Waddle settlement. They sent their children to school in the Finch settlement. They were not very long, however, in deciding to build a school house for themselve?, which was known as the Hare and ^^'addle school house. The names of the first teachers cannot be learned. In this school house and at private residences the Methodists held their meetings as early as 1826, the first church in the township l)eing built by the Methodists at or near Avhat is now known as Bethel, in the Finch settlement.

In the year 1831, or thereabouts, a neighborhood was formed north of the Hare and Waddle settlement. This was called the Castor settlement, and it extended to the north line of the township. Schools were taught in private houses and church services held there until the two neighborhoods went together and built a church in the Hare settlement, x^t an early day Samuel Fisher. William Aldred. John Zimmerman. William Stephens. James INIcKinzie and many others settled east of the Finch neighborhood. In the year 1830 a settlement was formed at the present site of Clarksville. Among the early settlers were Peter Lennen, Samuel Lennen. William and Solomon Bratton. Joseph Dean. John Addison, John Wiseman, Henry Burcham, Joseph Whetsell. Thomas Richardson. Peter Boyer, Martin Barnhizer, N. W. Commins and Jacob Wiseman. These men came to make a ])ermancnt settlement and tlu'\ converted the swamps and forests into farms. Their first school house was erected on the lands of Mr. Davis west of Clarksville. and tlie first term of school was taught by Henry Burcham. No religious ser\ices were held in this settlement, so far as I am able to learn, until some time afterwards. The west portion of the settlement attended at Bethel. Peter Lennen settled near the line of the county where the Pendleton Road now crosses the line. East and west of his house the land was low and marshy and the road w'as almost impassable in the spring time. Lennen kept one yoke of oxen ready to pull wag-ons over these bad roads for hire. There is nothing of interest to relate that occurred in this neighborhood that differed from other settlement-. William Davidson ow-ned and operated the first saw mill in this township. Persons wishing to have sawing done could do so "on the shares." j\Ir. Davidson opened the first stone quarry in the county. He used an ox team for the purpose of hauling the stone t<i Noblesville where it was sold. The mill and quarry w^ere on Stony Creek, four miles east of Noblesville.

George Boxley was the first white man that made permanent settlement in what is now Adams Tow^nship. His cabin w^as built on the knoll north of the j^resent site of Sheridan. An excavation was made in the oTOund about four feet deep by fifteen feet square and his cabin set over this hole. Boxley was in many ways a very peculiar man. He was a Mrginian by birth and had served with distinction in the war of 1812. He was a man of wealth and the owner of a large number of slaves, but upon this question he became conscientious and liberated them. From that day he fought the hated institution of slavery, often giving aid to slaves who were escaping from bondage. In some one of the acts done by him he violated the penal laws of Virginia. He was arrested, tried, convicted and sentenced to death, but before the day of execution he escaped from prison. His wife, who was given permission to see him, carried a small saw to him with which he sawed his way out. Leaving his family and his wealth behind him, he made his way to Pennsylvania and from there to Ohio, where he was again arrested on the old charge but again escaped. He traveled a great deal in the west under an assumed name and finally settled in Hamilton County, where he remained undisturbed until his death. He was kind and generous to his neighbors and taught their children in a cabin on his own land before a school was organized in the township. Milch cows were .-carce in those days and Mr. Boxley would loan his to the neighbors, exacting only the increase. By his kind acts he became one of the most popular men of the township in those days. He was opposed to banks and to all forms of government that required the payment of taxes. He was opposed to the collection of debts by legal process. At one time he was induced by B. 1". Cogswell to purchase cloth for a cloak on credit. \\'lKn the debt came due he refused to pay the bill. Cogswell brought suit against him and obtained judgment by default. An execution was issued and placed in the handof an officer who levied upon and advertised for saksome of Mr. Boxley's cattle. When the day fixed for the sale came the cattle could not be found and a second advertisement was made, when the cattle were taken to Noblesville for safe keeping, but were driven back to Boxley's place to be sold. The officer deputized nine men to go with him to see that the sale went ofT without interference. W. W. Conner was there as agent of Mr. Cogswell and was instructed to bid the cattle in in payment of the debt. - During the morning men came in from the surrounding country armed as was the ]m<)- neer custom until there were as many as fifteen persons present. When the officer stepped upon a bench and offered the cattle for sale notice was given by the neighbors of Mr. Boxley that any one buying in the cattle would be in. danger of bodily harm. The odds in num bers were in favor of Boxley, so Conner very wisel\- concluded not to bid and the sale failed. The men who appeared for Boxley were men who had received aid from him in time of need. Cogswell never collected his debt.

cattle belongiiit;- to Mr. Boxley to satisfy a claim for dcliiu|Uonl taxes. The officer started for Noblesville, taking;" the cattle with him. Boxley mounted a horse and followed the officer until they came to a thicket when he uttered a peculiar call which the cattle understood. \\'hen they heard this they broke from the officer and he was unal)le to stop them. The tax collector was compelled to return to Noblesville empty handed while Mr. Boxley returned home with his cattle.

"llie first settlement was made in this township by Thomas Spencer, John Blanch, James L. Masters, Z. Acord and Washington McKinsey a little west of the present site of Boxleytown. This settlement was made soon after George Boxley settled near Sheridan. Soon after this James Mann, Thomas and William Harbaugh, Payton Harris and Reuben Tansey joined this settlement. James Harbaugh, Eben Teter and others came later. This part of Adams Township was called at that time Boxley's swamp. Two trails, one leading from Noblesville to Lafayette, the other from Strawtown to Lafayette, were the only roads in the township at that time. The people who came in from 1830 to 1833, made their own roads and in doing so they kept to the high ground, avoiding the ponds and swamps that existed in this tow^nship. When they came to the "slashes" the old corduroy bridges were built. This was done by laying two large logs parallel and a few feet apart across the "slash." Then across llicsc wore laid a number of snialU'r loj^s until the entire ereek or branch was bri(lij;ed. At the sides strong stakes were driven to hold the first and last logs in place. ]n some cases dirt was tlnT>wn on top of this structure to make it smooth.

The following persons formed a settlement in thitownship near the present site of Bakers Corner, be tween the years 1831 and 1837: Christopher Williams, ]\Ir. Hodson, Stephen Masters, James Lackey, George Rushton, William Davis, Daniel Smith, Leroy Fitzpatrick, George Ramsey, James Higbee, John B. Hammock, Nathan John Baldwin, J. Dunn, N. Pearson and James Hawkins. For some time after this settlement was formed schools were taught at private houses until a cabin was built for that purpose near Bakers Corner. These schools were supported by the parents of the pupils on the subscription plan. A majority of this settlement belonged to the Friends' church. They had no meeting house of their owai, but attended at Hinkk' Creek church until the West Grove church was buili. There w^ere a few- Wesleyan Methodists among them and they held services at private houses and at the school house until the Mount Pleasant church was built. These settlements comprised the population of the township at that time. They had their milling done at the SInvock mill, live miles north of Noblesville, and at the Fallis mill, two miles south of Noblesville, until a mill was built on Cicero Creek in Jackson Township.

About the year 1859 the present system of doing township business was established. Between that date and the year 1866 the following" named persons served as trustees :