Hancock County, Indiana - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 4 of those read), 1882

Tm.s township takes it.^; name from Brandywine, the principal stream in the township. It was, organized in 1828, and then consisted of the entire central part of the county, what now constitutes the second commissioner's district, to-wit : Brandvwine, Center and Green townships. In 1831, it was reduced in size to thirty sections, its present length east and \vest and one mile greater north and south. This reduction was made by striking off Center and Harrison townships. Center then consisting of eighteen sections and Harrison of the remainder north. In 1835. Bi'^^ridywine tonwship was further reduced in size one tier of sections, six miles long on the north, which was added to Center. From 1835 to the present she has remained unchanged.

It is located in the central southern part of the county, and is bounded bv Center township on the north, Blueriver on the east, Sugar-creek on the west, and Shelby coimtv on the south. In extent, it is six miles east and west and four miles north and south, being the smallest township in tiie count}'. It is all located in township lifteen north and ranges six and seven east. Two tiers of sections on the west are in range six, and four on the east are in range seven. The range line dividing the two fractional congressional townships of wdiich Brandywine is composed, runs past J. G. Service's land, dividing the farm of B. F. Wilson.

The principal streams are Brandywine and Little Sugar Creek. The former enters the township on the north line, one and one-half miles west of the north-cast corner, and flows south b}' south-west through the township, passing out through section thirty-two into Shelby county. Little Sugar Creek is a small stream, which rises in the southwestern part of Center township, enters Brandywine township on tlie northern line, one mile east of the north-west corner, and flows south four miles to within one mile of the southern line ; thence south-west, entering Shelby county at. the south-west corner of the township. Both of these streams are small and sluggish, and not now considered available for water-power ; hence this township, unlike Blue-ri\'er, Sugar-creek, and others, intersected by larger streams, has no water-mills at present ; yet, in the earl\- hist()r\' of the countv there were two small mills on Branch wine - one in Harrison township and one in Brandywine.

by N. Swim in the year 1826, and located on Brandvwinc Creek, in the central part of the township. Swim afterwards attached a small saw-mill ; but soon sold out to Geo. Troxwell, who added a tiny bolt to run b\' hand. Troxwell was a man of considerable enterprise, lie carried on a hatter shop at the mill, and also built a still-house near by. The water some times got too low to grind, when the people patronized a small horse-power " coflee-mill " on the Dickerson farm, then in Urandywine, now Center, township.

In 1856, II. and J. Comstock erected a steam sav\'-mill in Carrollton. It was burned down a few years since, and was rebuilt by Wm. Gordon. It is now owned and run by James Boyce.

Brandy wine township was tirst settled in about 1820. Isaac Roberts and family came in 1819. Prior to which there were located: David Stephenson, James Montgomery, and a Mr. Rambo. Soon afterward came James McKinney, Jonathan Potts, James Montgomery, N. Swim, George Troxvvell, James Goodwin, J. II. Anderson, Robert and James Smith, Jacob and Joseph Zumalt, and William Lucas. Among the oldest present residents of the township are : Mrs. Isaac Roberts, J. P. Banks, John Roberts, William Thomas, sen., Mrs. Andis, Richard Milburn, Wellington Collier, and Alfred I\)tts.

The township once abounded in line timber in great quantities, similar to that in -adjoining townships. She has recently sold off her walnut and large quantities of the oak.

The first man married in the township was Zedric Stephens, who was married in a shed covered with brush. The supper consisted of spice-wood tea, corn-bread, venison and hominy.

The tirst church house was built of logs and puncheons, by voluntary labor, in 1830, on the farm of James Smith. It was burned down in 1858. The first ministers were Hale, Horn, Vangilder, and a blind man b}- the name of Hays.

Brandyxtine township has seven public school-houses, numbered and named as follows, and at present supplied with eight teachers, w^hose names are set opposite the respective numbers :

The estimated value of school-houses, including seats and the grounds, is $5,000: value of school apparatus, globes, maps, etc., $200 ; total value of school property, in the judgment of the writer, $5,200. Total number of school children, 416.

The township is democratic by about one hundred and forty majority. At the presidential election for 1880, the vote stood as follows : Democratic vote, 203 ; Republican vote, 57 ; Greenback vote, 22 ; total vote, 282.

This township has 15,245 acres of taxable land, valued at $351,940; improvements valued at $41,370; value of lots, $1,116 ; improvements on same, $3,245 ; value of personal property, $108,520; total value of real and personal property, $506,235.

farmer, tile manufacturer, democrat and a gentleman, is entrusted with the school interests of the township, and the care of her poor in addition to other minor matters.

B. F. Wilson and T. \V. Laribee preside over the scales of justice in this township. The following are the ex-justices of the township, with the date of election, since her organization, from the best information accessible :

Tae followinj^ are ths township trustaes, with the date of their election, from the time they were empowered with authority to lew local taxes : William Service, the father of J. G. Service, was elected in 1859, '^^^ served for ten years. Andrew Wdliamson was elected in 1869, and served his township faithfull}^ till the election of his successor. J. G. Service was elected in 1874, '^^^ continued till the election of the present trustee.

It was hare that Ezekial Wright, aged tvventy-tive, and Thomas Hughes, aged eighteen, were instantly killed by the falling of a tree, April 19, 1849. Mr. Wright's onlv daughter is now the wife of A. T. Brown.