Hamilton County, Indiana - Chapter 11: Washington Township, 1915

Topography

Washington is the center one of the western tier of townships of Hamil¬ ton county. It contains fifty-six square miles, being one of the three largest townships, Jackson and White River having the same dimensions. Wash¬ ington township was set apart at the November session of the commissioners in 1833. At the same time an election was ordered to be held at the home of Asa Bales on December 7, 1833, for the purpose of electing two justices of the peace and other township officers. The surface of this township is gen¬ erally level and the soil rich and productive. It is drained by Little Eagle, Cool creeks and several smaller streams. At the time of the first settlement the entire township was densely wooded and traveling from one place to another was almost impossible.

Early Settlement

In the year 1831 Harmon Cox brought his family from North Carolina and settled in the southeast part of what is now Washington township, but at that time still a part of Delaware township. Mr. Cox is generally conceded to be the first white settler to begin the work of clearing the forests and making a home for himself and family within the present limits of Washing¬ ton township. The following year, 1832, another child was welcomed into the Cox family, this being the first white child born in the township. Harmon Cox spent the remainder of his life in this place. Soon other neighbors joined and they assisted each other in log rolling and cabin building. Cox, with many others, lived to see some of the fruits of their labors in modem homes, cleared lands, passable roads and good schools and churches.

In 1832 Simon Moon and family settled on section 25. The following spring he entered the northwest quarter of this section, and, with the assist¬ ance of his sons, Riley, Simon and William, cleared and improved his farm. He lived in this neighborhood the remainder of his life and always stood for

Asa Bales, Aaron Sanders, Jesse Reese, Zachariah Reece and William Reynolds settled in the township in 1832. Isaac and David Baldwin settled in 1833 and some of their descendants still reside in and near Westfield.

Edward Bray and others formed a settlement three miles north of Westfield. John Moore lived on the land afterward bought by Aaron Lindley, now owned by Thomas- J. Lindley. Nathan Beals lived on the land im¬ mediately south of Moore's land.

Pioneer Schools

The first school in the township was a log building on Nathan Beals' land, the first teacher being William League, who came from Ohio and who was said to be "a good teacher." The next school was taught in the Friends meeting house in Westfield and under their jurisdiction, the teacher being Laban Hammer. Afterwards the people in the Beals neighborhood sent their children to Hinkle Creek school, while the greater part of the settlement attended church at Hinkle Creek, the majority of these early settlers being Friends in belief.

Early Industries

In 1833 a small settlement was formed near the present site of Eaglestown by Henry Woodruff and others. Ephraim Stout came to the neighbor¬ hood in 1835, an(l the following year he erected a small mill on Eagle creek. This mill was the first in the township and was of the "corn cracker" variety. The stones that did the grinding worked in an upright position and merely crushed the corn as it passed between them. These stones were known as "nigger heads." While this early mill was very primitive in construction and limited in capacity, it saved the settlers many weary miles of travel over almost impassable roads. William Moon an early settler and patron of this mill, said that he often went down early in the evening with a sack of com on his shoulder and waited all night to have it ground so he could start home early in the morning with his meal. Corn bread in those days was indeed the "staff of life." But with the addition of milk and butter and game shot in the forests, no one needed to go hungry who was willing to eat what the settlers could provide. Before Ephraim Stout built his "corn cracker" those wishing to go to mill had to make the toilsome journey to Conner's mill or Foster's mill on White river or to a mill near Indianapolis. At certain seasons of the year a journey to any one of. these mills was almost an impossibility over the roads as they were at that time. At best a trip to the mill was quite an undertaking, often requiring four or five days.

Brick was manufactured in the township by William Stanbrough as early as 1840. He built a kiln on his farm and manufactured brick, which his neighbors used in the construction of chimneys for their homes. Many of these brick chimneys stood the test of time for many years, monuments to the first brick manufacturer in Washington township.

Pioneer Churches And Schools

The schools of the neighborhood were at first held in private houses until a school house was built. The settlers traded at Westfield and Eagle village, a small town situated southwest of the settlement in Boone county.

In the year 1833 or 1834 William Harvey, John Price, Frederick Brendel, Benjamin Dye, Lewis Miller and others made a settlement on both sides of Little Eagle creek in the southwest part of the township. It is said the first comers to this neighborhood cut their own roads through the forest to their new homes. By following the traces left by hunters and trappers where the trees were blazed they finally arrived at their destination. In this case, as was true of other early settlements where streams were to be crossed and could not be forded by wagons, bridges were constructed by the travelers, parties thus crossing in safety.

For many years the nearest church to this settlement was at Eagle village, in Boone county, five miles distant. The early pioneers were of a deeply religious type, however, and a five-mile ride through unbroken forests did not daunt their zeal; so Sunday after Sunday they loaded their family into wagons or on horseback and in spite of the ever-present dangers of being overturned or "stalled in the mud," in the wagons, or being swept from the backs of their horses by overhanging limbs, the hardy settlers made the journey many times to worship God and meet and greet their widely scattered neighbors. As the settlements grew in number the settlers held their meet¬ ings in private houses and when barns became general in the neighborhood meetings were often held in these latter humble shelters.

These people did some of their milling when grain was to be ground either at Conner's mill or at Foster's mill. Sometimes, when only corn was to be ground, they patronized Stout's mill at Eagletown. Most of their trading was done at Eagle village. The first school was held in a cabin east of William Harvey's and was taught by Lucinda Hunt.

Several religious denominations were organized in the township besides the Friends, including the Wesleyan and Episcopal Methodists, United Breth¬ ren and Congregationalist. The latter church flourished in Westfield at one time, but the membership diminished from one cause or another, being thus scattered until during the Civil War the church was abandoned and never has been reorganized. This was the only church of this denomination ever established in Hamilton county.

The first cemetery was situated just south of the present site of Westfield. In 1833 Simon Moon set apart this tract of land and donated it to the Society of Friends for a place of interment. A child of a neighbor had died prior to this donation and was probably buried on the home farm, but the exact place is not known. This was the first death in the township. Mr. Moon, the donor of this cemetery, was the first to receive interment in the new cemetery, his death occurring in 1835. In I^33 the first marriage took place, the contracting parties being William Hiatt and Mary Moon. The marriage was performed according to the ceremony of the Society of Friends, in which the contracting parties "marry themselves," eaclj taking the vow separately. No minister pronounces the couple "husband and wife," the twain becoming "one flesh" by mutual agreement in the presence of a number of witnesses.

Influence Of The Quakers

Washington township was settled largely' by Quakers, particularly the eastern part, including Eagletown. As these people stand for uprightness of character and the thoughtful education of their children and are hard¬ working, thrifty and persevering, the township soon became notable for its churches, schools and the scholarly attainment of its citizens. The homes and the farms are among the best in the county. For many years Union high school, under the jurisdiction of the Friends, was the only seat of higher education in the county. At present this institution of learning is not in the flourishing state it once was, for it has been superseded by a fine public high school, where pupils of all classes, rich or poor, may attend in complete equality. But Union high school served its day and generation most accept¬ ably, and many men and women are proud to claim Union High as their alma mater. In the township at present there are four district schools and three-room schools at Hortonville and Jolietville and two-room schools at

Eagletown and Lamong. A township high school is maintained at Westfield, this being the first consolidated school in central Indiana. This school had the first high school course of agriculture in the state and now gives two years of work in this branch. The rest of the state is now following Westfield's lead, and agriculture is taught in all the public schools. The first Carnegie library in the county was built at Westfield.

Pioneer Roads

The first road in the township was surveyed about 1836, from Westfield to Indianapolis. For a year or more it was only a "blazed" trail, but after a time the farmers turned out and cut the road through, though it was many years before the road might properly be termed a "good road." This road was later known as the Indianapolis and Westfield pike. The Noblesville and Lafayette road also is an early highway and is claimed by some to be the first in the township. Another early road was that from Noblesville, passing the present site of Westfield, thence west to the county line. Other roads were made to connect the various settlements and were known as neighborhood roads. Now the township is crossed in all directions by excellent gravel pikes. No more does the farmer stay at home pining for a sight of town or distant friends, but, in his automobile, tours wherever his desire directs over as good roads as can be found in Indiana. The proposed Lincoln highway is to pass through Westfield on the range line. This highway undoubtedly will prove of great advantage to the town as well as to the township and county at large.

Westfield is the only town of any size in the township. It is connected with the outside world north and south by the Monon railroad and east and west by the Midland railroad. Eagletown and Jolietville are two small vil¬ lages directly west of Westfield. Hortonville lies north of Westfield, to which it is connected by the Monon railroad.