Hancock County, Indiana - Chapter 26: Sequel to R.randywine Township Introductory, 1882

In the eastern part of Brandywine township settled James Smith, who built a mill on Brandywine creek, tour miles south of Greenfield. This mill ground about two bushels of grain every twelve hours. He run it day and night, and furnished the meal for a large scope of country. If a customer came in the evening with a grist, it was put in the hopper, and he was told to come back next morning and get his grinding. The miller in the meantime went to bed and left the mill faithfullv at work all night while he slept. Said Smith was a member of the Protestant Methodist Church, and gave the ground for the old Mt. Lebanon Church, besides giving more monev than anv other member. East of him, on what was called Hominv Ridge, lived old man Porter, father of the late Harry Porter. He started a tan-^ard, which supplied the neighborhood with leather. His nearest neighbor was Mark AVhitaker, a Justice of the Peace for a great many years. There also lived on the Ridge George Dillard, J. and Henr}' Duncan and William Marts.

In the south part of the township settled John Arnett, who built the first still-house in the township. Soon after, John Trent built another distillery on an adjoining eighty acres, and at this place was made the last whisky ever manufactured in the township. John P. Banks was the pioneer preacher for the Christian Church. James Baker preached both for the Protestant Methodist and Christian Churches. The men used to meet to muster at James Gooding's, the place now occupied by John Richie. The first meeting-house was built at Mt. Lebanon, and was a Protestant Methodist Church. The next was a Christian Church, built on the land of James Baker. Eleazar Snodgrass was the preacher in charge. Mr. Snodgrass did great good as a minister, and as the fruits of his labor there now stands a nice church-house, where congregate for worship Wellington Collyer, George Furry, John S. Thomas, Smith Hutchinson, Hiram Thomas, the Lows, and other prominent citizens of this township. The first school teachers were Peter Newhouse, Jackson Porter and William Whitaker. Jackson Porter was arrested and tried in the Hancock Circuit Court on a charge of murder for severely whipping one of his pupils one evening, from which he died on the following day. James Brown was the first colored m:in that ever lived in the township. He was a blacksmith by trade, and lived on the Harr}- Porter place.

now residing in Brandy wine township, in his seventy-third year, moved from Boone county, and settled in Greenfield in 1830, and followed teaming for two years, hauling produce to Cincinnati and goods in return. He afterwards purchased a farm, and mo\'ed to Brand3'wine township, and engaged in agriculture, which business he has followed ever since. Mr. B. has been failing very rapidly for the past few years, yet we are still permitted to look into his honest face occasionally upon our streets. Mr. B. was a preacher in good standing for a number of years, and is ever recognized as an honest, conscientious man.

was born November 15, 1829, in Ripley township, Rush county, Indiana, where he received his early education, attending the Friends' school at Walnut Ridge. His father living on a farm, young Ephraim's time was occupied in working thereon, and aiding in the support of a large family. Mr. B. was married September 26, 1855, to Pheriba Mundon, with whom he is still happily living. Mr. B. has spent most of his life farming, stock raising, and milling. For a time he run a saw-mill, and for ten years was the proprietor of what is now known as the Blue-River Flouring Mills. Mr. B. became a member of the I. O. O. F. in 1857, and is still an honored member thereof. In October, 1878, he was elected County Commissioner for the middle, or second, commissioner's district, which position he is still holding.

was born in Aberville District, South Carolina, September 19, 1807. His father moved to Indiana Territory- in 1808, and settled where Franklin county is now located. Here thev resided until 1813, when the}?^ moved to the territory now embodied in Fayette county. In 1829 the subject of this sketch was married to Lucinda Caldwell, with whom he is still happily living. In 1835 ^^^'' T-, wath his small family, moved to Hancock county, and settled in the green woods in Brandywine township, cleared an extensive farm, on which he still resides, and is enjoying the fruits of his labors at this date. Although Mr. T. is now past his three-score and ten, he truthfully says what probably few can sav at his age, that he never was under the necessity of having a doctor to attend him except through one " spell of sickness." Mr. T. is a member of the orthodox Baptist Church, known as Shiloh, a substantial Democrat, and has served a number of terms as County Commissioner of the second commissioner's district, being elected in 1849, 1861, 1866 and 1872. During his official life he was recognized as a safe custodian of the county's best interests.

was born in Brandywine township, July 11, 1852. He was the son of Elijah Pope, one of the early settlers in the township. His earl}' education he received at the common schools of his neighborhood, after which he took a course in the business college of Hannibal, Missouri, from which he graduated in 1873. Mr. P. traveled, taught school, and worked on the farm for a few years, when he was married, March 25, 1879, to Miss Almedia Moore, daughter of the late Roland Moore, of Green township, with whom he lived happily until the date of her death, which occurred February 2, 1880. Referring to his early life, his father died when he was but about four years of age, and, notwithstanding he w^as left without paternal care, he grew up an exemplary, modest, unassuming young man. After a short sickness, Mr. P. was called from works to rewards, January 26, 1882, leaving surviving him a mother and Coleman, an only brother, and his remains were followed by a large concourse of weeping friends to their last resting place, in Mt. Lebanon cemetery.

was born in New Jersey in 1797, moved to Hamilton county, Ohio, in 1812, thence to Hancock county in 1835, and entered land in Brandy wine township, upon which he now resides. He is now in his eighty-fifth year, is a wellto-do farmer, a good citizen, and was one of the early blacksmiths in the township.

was born in Knox county, Kentucky, in 18 10. His parents moved to Franklin county, Indiana, in 181 1. There he resided until eighteen years of age. He came with his parents to Hancock county in the year 1829, and settled on Little Sugar creek, three miles north of the Brookville road. His nearest neighbors were John Baker on the south, James Gooding on the east, and Joseph Bellis on the west. Hiram Thomas is the father of ex-Sheriff Thomas, as has been noticed elsewhere.

now residing in Brandywine township, emigrated to this country from Europe in 1819, and located in Baltimore, where he engaged in the mercantile business for a time, and afterwards in manufacturing cloth, but not liking the latter business, he soon came to Indiana, and settled in Brand^^wine township, where he still resides. Here he began farming through the week and preaching on Sunday. Mr. M., as noted elsewhere, was the second preacher for the Albright Church, in Sugar-Creek township, and is still standing on the walls of Zion. He served as captain of a company in the late civil war at the advanced age of sixty-six years, and did his dut\' well, and was honorably discharged. About two years since a few remaining members of his companv made him an agreeable surprise in the presentation of a gold-headed cane as a token of their high regcard for his faithful services.

was born in the State of Ohio in the 3'ear 1816, and can therefore compare ages with the State of Indiana, and lose nothing by such comparison. In 1836 he came to Hancock county, and entered land, on which he now resides. Mr. Collyer is a strict, exemplary member of the Christian Church, in good standing, and has given freely of his means for its support. He is a staunch Democrat from education and principle rather than policy. Though firm in his convictions of right, he is not dogmatic in his views, but accords to others what he reserves for himself, the privilege of independent thought.

Mr. C. is one of our most industrious, pains-taking farmers, is in hearty sympath}' with the poor and oppressed everywhere, and is one of the representative men of the township.