Jackson County, Indiana - Chapter 4, 1886

Chapter 4

Brownstown Township - Surface and Soil - Organization - Settle¬ ment - Forts and Block-houses - Murders by the Indians - Early Milling - Manufacturers - Elizabethtown - Shields - Gravel Roads - Churches, etc.

THIS township took its name from the county seat, which, as elsewhere stated, was named in honor of Gen. Jacob Brown, who was distinguished for his many acts of bravery in the war of 1812. The character of the soil and surface adapts it to the growth of a variety of products. Its broad valleys yield large crops of the cereals, while the higher lands are well adapted to the growth of watermelons, and on the summit of the highest hills thousands of fruit trees have been planted which yield large crops annually. The farmers are well advanced in the methods of tilling the soil; the implements are the inventions of modem civilization. The self-binder, the self-rake, the sulky-plow, and other modern inventions, when contrasted with the reaping-hook, mowing-scythe, the hand-rake, the wooden pitchfork, and the wooden plow of sixty years ago, readily show what invention has done for this generation.

On the 10th day of February, 1817, it is shown by the record that Abraham Huff, John Ruddick and Thomas Carr, commis¬ sioners elect of Jackson County, met at the house of John Milroy, in Brownstown, and organized the first Commissioners' Court of Jackson County. The first business transacted was ar¬ ranging the boundaries of the townships of Driftwood, Flinn and Brownstown. The township at this time included a considerable

The first settlement made in Brownstown Township, was in what was since known as the " Hutchinson neighborhood," in the year 1811 or 1812; but as to who the first settler was, is a matter that is quite uncertain. The following are the names of those who were here among the first : Abraham Miller, James Hutch¬ inson, Adam Miller, Abraham Huff, Aaron C. Day, John Weath¬ ers, Colby Tuell and others. James Hutchinson lived near where Christian Derr now lives; further north was John Ketcham, whose cabin stood near the residence now standing on the old Woodmansee place, near Brownstown. On Hough's Creek, about two miles south of Brownstown, John Springer had built a small log hut and had cleared considerable ground. William Ruddick settled in Section No. 6, near the old Indian boundary line. He built on land that is now owned by the Finley heirs. By some he is thought to have been the first settler in the township. James Mitchel, John McCormack and Abel Finley settled north of Brownstown. The last named built near where Mrs. Bridget Hamilton now lives. Daniel Reynolds, Robert Burge, Mathew Tanner, Lewis Ritter and many others were among the first.

Forts And Block-Houses

The only fort built in this township was on the land now owned by Christian Derr, and was known as Hough's Fort. This was a rudely constructed affair, enclosing something less than one acre of ground. The stockades were long slabs or posts, so set in the ground as to make an impenetrable wall. It was built in the form of a parallelogram, and at the northeast comer was a block-house which was built of hewed logs and extended several feet above the tops of the palisades. Port-holes were cut in all sides, through which they would fire in case of battle. In times of great danger, such as were experienced in the years of 1812, 1813, the settlers for miles around would repair within the fort for safety. Often all the domesticated animals were brought within the inclosure and for months were kept there beyond the reach of the plundering savages.

It is claimed by a few of the old settlers that a fort was built near Brownstown, on the farm of John Ketcham, but this is con¬ tradicted by a great many of the best informed, who claim that no such a fort ever existed.

Killing Of Buskirk

Even after the war had practically closed in this section, the Indians continued to commit many depredations, stealing horses and other stock, and in fact anything they could carry away. They added murder occasionally to their many crimes, and from among that class of outrages, the killing of a man by the name of Buskirk and the wounding of Ketcham, stand out conspicuously in the bloody annals of those perilous times. This crime has been so often and so variously told that the writer cannot vouch for its correctness. The facts as they have been handed from father to son are about as follows: In the early fall of 1813, not far from the present site of Brownstown, two men, one by the name of Buskirk, the other was either a Ketcham or a Buddick, authorities differ as to which, had been to the field to gather a load of pump¬ kins and were returning home, Buskirk walking behind the wagon, while his companion was driving. As they were passing a dense thicket by the roadside, they were fired at by a party of Indians, concealed in ambush: Buskirk was instantly killed and Driver wounded. The horse took fright and ran home, thus sav¬ ing the life of the latter. The Rangers who were at the time sta¬ tioned at Fort Vallonia, were immediately notified, and on the fol¬ lowing day visited the scene of the tragedy, where they found the body in a badly mangled condition, having been scalped besides otherwise mutilated. The remains were said to have been buried on the hillside, just north of Brownstown, but there was nothing left to mark the spot, and it was soon lost beneath leaves and grass.

Early Enterprises

Various milling enterprises, besides a few tanneries and dis¬ tilleries, have at different times been operated in this township ; but since the development of the towns, all these enterprises have cen¬ tered there, except here and there a portable saw-mill may be found in the well wooded districts.

Probably the first grist-mill was a small corn-cracker, hardly worthy the name of a mill, that was run for a few years by James Hutchinson, in the south part of the township. A man by the name of Springer built a water mill on Hough's Creek, as early as 1816, but after a few years sold out to old Squire Morrison. After this Springer built a saw -mill on the same creek, and by permission of the board of county commissioners, built a dam which caused an overflow that inundated a large area of land. This caused the decay of a luxuriant growth of vegetation, which it is believed by many contributed largely to the disease and death of so many of the inhabitants of that vicinity. Whatever the cause, it is said that at that time more than one-half of all the inhabitants of Brownstown and vicinity died. John Ruddick was probably the next to own a milL This was a horse mill and stood about one hundred yards south of the new cemetery: he had but one set of buhrs and did the bolting by hand. This mill had a capacity of about fifty bushels a day. In 1818 the farm on which the mill stood was bought by Jacob Benton, and he thereby came in possession of the mill, which he operated for several years. The most important mill in this township, if not in the county at that time, was Crane's Mill, that was built at Elizabethtown, in the early part of the twenties ; it was patronized by people from all parts of the country ; there was a saw-mill run in connection for a short time. At various times in the history of this township there have been distilleries started to supply the home demand. The first was built on the Robert Weather's farm and had a capac¬ ity of about four or five barrels a year. In 1831 Dr. Wort built a large still house near the road leading from Brownstown to Vallonia. The grain was ground by a tread-mill, and about sixty bushels were consumed daily. It is said that the doctor lost about $2,000 in the enterprise.

Ewing is a thriving little town of about 600 souls, located on the line of the Ohio & Mississippi Railway, about one mile west of Brownstown. It was laid out May 14, 1857, by William H. Ewing, with a view to securing the location of the depot. In this he was successful, and Ewing at once began to assume the attitude of a town. Before the completion of the railroad a small house about 14x14 feet had been built and was used for tavern. This house was built by C. L. Way man, and stood near where the Ewing Hotel now stands. This was the first house built after the town was laid out. William H. Ewing's residence stood on Lot No. 1, and in one room of this house he kept a considerable stock of goods. John Dowing, who for a short time was in partnership with Ewing, built a store, which was the first brick building. The first blacksmith and wagon shop was by Baker &

Johnson, Charles Wayman built a saw-mill and com cracker some time in the sixties. The town now began to grow, new mer¬ chants came and either displaced the old ones or built other houses. The following is a partial list of those who have done business here since 1860: E. A. Rodman, B&les & Clarke, George

W. Bland, Henry Mullen, Phillip Zabel, M. RosenbaAm, George Smallwood and Edward Huges. The last named is the proprietor of the Ewing Hotel, and in that connection runs a livery stable.

The prosperity of the town is largely due to the manufactur¬ ing enterprises that have been established there ; and owing to the many natural advantages afforded, besides the shipping facilities, it is especially adapted to this class of enterprise. The first manufactory was a tannery, which was built some time in the sixties, and stood just south of the Ewing Flouring-mill. It was first owned by a man by the name of Wiles, then by James S. Ewing, who died, and the property passed into the hands of McMullen & Shields who did an extensive business until 1870, when the buildings burned. It was rebuilt but burned again in 1872. Otto Sontag and August Hatker did some business in the same line a few years later. The Ewing Mill, which is the only one of any consequence in this township, was built in 1881, by W. R. Bolles, John Scott, C. A. Robertson and J. W. Wayman at a cost of about $15,000. The mill is well equipped with all the late improvements necessary for the production of the best grades of flour and meal. Their capacity is about eighty barrels per day. Besides supplying the home demand they ship large quantities to many of the large cities. In 1881 the Ewing Manu- facturing Company began the manufacture of oak and hickory - spokes, and owing to the extensive growth of that kind of timber in this section, it would seem that there would be many advan¬ tages in this location. The capacity of this factory is about 700,000 spokes annually. A stave factory was built in this place in 1883, by J. T. Jackson, but after the successful operation of about eighteen months business was for a time suspended. The cooper shop of W. R. Bolles & Co., is one of the leading enter¬ prises of the place, and gives employment to nearly a score of men. In this connection a stave dresser is also operated. A large two-story brick planing-mill was erected in 1880, by Tid¬ well Bros., and from its inception has done a thriving business. In this connection we mention the name of Philip Zabel, who has for the past four years been engaged in the manufacture of furniture. John E. Newby's saw-mill is another important enter¬ prise worthy of mention.

The Hanging Of Rodman

During the dark days of Jackson County, while lynch law held undisputed sway, a man by the name of A. E. Rodman, whose name is mentioned above as one of the early business men of Ewing, met with the fate that was so common in those days. Rodman at the time was accused of no crime, nor was he guilty of any crime for which he deserved punishment under the law, but was regarded as a desperado, and at the time had by some means terrorized the whole community, and so great was the con¬ sternation of a few of the citizens that the following plan was devised by which they might dispose of him. Rodman had gone to Jeffersonville to attend a congressional convention, and know¬ ing that he would return on the midnight train they sent a man, whom Rodman supposed to be a friend, to meet him there. He alighted, and, in company with his supposed friend, started home ; but before they had gone far they were confronted by a mob of four or five men who assaulted and quickly disabled Bodman, after which they dragged him to a little railroad culvert a few feet below the water tank, and there hung him to a cross tie. His body was discovered on the following day, and the coroner's verdict was, that he had met his death at the hands of a mob.

Elizabethtown was at one time a place of some little business importance, especially during the operations of Crane's Mill, of which mention is elsewhere made. It was situated in the north¬ east part of the township between the Ohio & Mississippi Bailroad and the old Indian boundary line, and was laid out by Asa Crane November 12, 1836. Besides Crane's Mill, which was the most important enterprise that was ever conducted here, goods were sold by Asa Crane, Henry Knost, Crane & Wheaton, Will¬ iam Wacker, Meyers Bros., Joseph Elliott and a few others. At one time there were as many as twenty that resided there. The only church house ever erected there was by the Baptists. This was a frame building that was in later years removed to Brownstown, where it is still in use by the same denomination. Charles Wayman and Thomas McCallum were among the first men who had charge of this congregation. The Cranes, Elliotts, Wheatons and Youngs were prominent among the early members.

Shields And North Brownstown

Shields is a small station on the Ohio & Mississippi Bailroad, four miles above Ewing, and at a place where a splendid county bridge spans White Biver, thus making it easily accessible to the farmers living in the southern part of Hamilton Township. The town was laid out by L. L. and William H. Shields April 29, 1866. About this time a dam was constructed across White Biver, and a grist-mill built, but after a few years, burnt down. Another mill was built on the same site, and it too was burned. The following are the names of the merchants who have sold goods at this place: William Wacker, Quade, Henry Knost, Murphy & Knost, Elisha Sewell, M. It. Coffman, Dr. Bergk and Harmon Sitlerding. North Brownstown was laid out in the northeast cor¬ ner of Section 11, on the line of the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad, by Samuel P. Mooney and Asa Woodmansee. A strong contest was made for the location of the depot at this place, and when defeated by Ewing, all hope for the fufrire of the town was lost. There was a store kept here at one time, although but little busi¬ ness was done.

Grand Army Of The Republic

Gordon Tanner Post, No. 159, G. A. R., was instituted in the year 1883, at Brownstown, but has since been moved to Ewing where its meetings are now held. The first officers were W. L.t Boyatt, Commander; Frank Fassold, Sr. Y. C. ; D. B. Vaine, Jr. V. C. ; W. F. Handcock, Adjutant; Charles A. Knight, Officer of the Day, and Phillip Gossman, Officer of the Guard. The post was organized with a membership of twenty-four, and at present has about forty active members.

Gravel Road

The Brownstown & River Valley Gravel Road Company was incorporated in the year 1875. The authorized capital stock was $10,000, of which but $7,800 was subscribed. Some of the largest stockholders were George Y. Benton (who had a con¬ trolling interest), Ralph Applewhite, W. L. Benton, Wright Vermilya, Frank Emerson, W. C. Benton, James H. Finley, A. E. Robertson and Capt John Scott, They at once commenced the construction of a gravel road leading from Brownstown to Ewing and thence westward. The main line is four miles long with a branch two miles, making six miles in alL Toll is charged at the rate of cents per mile for a wagon with two horses, and 2 cents for a one horse vehicle. The gravel with which the road was built was taken from the Driftwood Fork of White River. So

In the early days of Browns town Township religious meetings were held more frequently than at present There were not so many church houses nor such large congregations, but seldom did a Sabbath pass without a gathering in each neighborhood to attend some kind of devotional exercises. For many years all such meetings were held at the residences of the church mem¬ bers. In fact but few church houses were ever built in this township outside of the towns. The Methodist Church organized a class at what is now known as Pleasant Grove many years ago, and some time in the forties built a large frame house, 30x40 feet, which is still standing. William Smith, J. E. Stillwell, James C. Bichard, Henry Buetman, the Brownings and Jacob Cross were prominent among the early members. In the south¬ western part of the township a class of United Brethren has been organized, and hold their meetings in an old log house.