Jackson County, Indiana - Chapter 8, 1886

Chapter 8

Hamilton Township - Trials of First Settlers - Township Organi¬ zation and General Features - The Pioneers - First Land Pur¬ chases - Early Mills - Tanneries and distilleries - First White Child - Early Churches - Judge Lynch - Courtland.

THE settlement of Jackson County was made under difficul¬ ties, and amid hardships and dangers. For one decade following the first settlement it was almost a daily struggle be¬ tween the whites and the savages for possession of the country. The settlers worked and hunted in squads, with the trusty rifle for protection. During the period of the Indian war, which ended in the year 1814, soldiers were kept at the houses of the white settlers to protect them from savage brutality. For an in¬ dividual to be caught from the fort or block-house alone, was almost certain death, and when those within the walls of the stock¬ ade lay down to sleep at night, it was with grave uncertainty as to whether they would awake i n this world or the next But before the second decade of the present century had passed away, the power of the savages began to wane, and despairing of driving out the pale-faced invader, they resumed their mournful journey toward the setting sun. As the Indian depredations had ceased and the dangers that were brooding over the frontier settlements, began to disappear, the tide of immigration rolled hitherward, and settlements sprang up in every quarter of the county. Nothing was then left to threaten the lives of the frontiersmen save the wild and savage animals, and they were soon subdued the father of John B. Hamilton. He was at one time a member of the lower branch of the State Legislature, and was in many ways prominently connected with the county affairs. In area it is one of the largest townships of the county. The surface is hilly and broken in the western portion, but the greater part of the town¬ ship is level. The soil is quite fertile, and no section of Indiana yields larger crops of corn and wheat. It is, by far, the best agricultural township of the county. The farms are in a high state of cultivation. Where once stood the log-cabin, with its mud and stick chimney, its puncheon floor and big fire place, now stands the elegant brick or frame residence, with its carpeted floors and frescoed walls. The methods of farming are changed. The first little crop consisted of a "patch" of com, potatoes, beans, pumpkins, and a few other "eatables." Flax was also grown, from the lint of which the family clothing for summer wear was manufactured. This brought into use the spinningwheel and the loom, which had been brought by the pioneer, and which constituted the most important articles of housekeeping, as all the women and girls could spin and weave - accomplishments of which they were as proud as the modern girl is of playing the piano. The wolves prevented the farmer from keeping sheep for the first few years, so it became necessary for them to dress in the skins of wild animals. The boys and men wore buckskin hunting shirts, pants, and moccasins, and caps made from the skin of some furred animal. Afterward sheep were raised, and the wool carded into rolls, spun, and wove into cloth, from which the garments were made. In those days everybody worked - idleness was almost unknown.

Early Settlements

No sooner was peace declared with the Indians in 1814 than Indiana applied for admission to the sisterhood of State. Con¬ gress heard her appeals, and in 1816, out of the old Territory of

Indiana, made the State. Emigrants came thick and fast, and in less than two years every township in Jackson had had its first settler. In Hamilton Township, as in many others, no one knows who was first By some John Thomas is said to have been the first, and others claim that Charles Crabb was first The former settled in the northeast part of the township, and the latter on what is known as the Ward farm. Richard Hensley located near the river, and in a short time established a ferry, which was the first on the border of this township. James ^Hamilton came to this township in the year 1817 and settled near Jennings' Hill. The Robertsons settled in the same neighborhood. They were descendants of Blaze Robertson, who came to this country with Lord Berkley. Those who settled in this township were, John, George, William and Andrew, and their descendants are to-day among the most prominent and highly respected families of the county. The Browns were one of the prominent early families of this township. They were natives of Kentucky and Virginia, and came here while this was yet a wilderness. The prominent mem¬ bers of the family were Jacob, Stephen, William, Thomas, Nancy, Prunellia and Emily. Elias Bay, Chancellor Bower, John Bower, William Lux, John Simpson and Jacob Frank also settled in this township at an early day.

Land Entries Milling Enterprises

Another great difficulty in the way of early settlers was lack of mills. After the corn and wheat had been raised and harvested, there was in many localities no mill. Indeed, they thought they were fortunate if within ten or fifteen miles of a grist-mill. The early settlers of this, township, however, were more fortunate, as there was at Rockford, a few miles away, one of the best grist¬ mills in all this section of the State, and it was at this mill that the pioneer of Hamilton Township got his meal and flour.

The first mill built in this township was in 1854, by Brown & Holmes, at Courtland. This was a large frame building, which with the machinery cost in the aggregate about $12,000. After three years of successful operation it burned down, but was immediately rebuilt by B. S. Holmes. This mill had a capacity of about seventy-five barrels per day. After going through the hands of two or three companies it too burned, in 1881. A stock company was then incorporated, under the style of the Courtland Milling Company, and a large brick building was by them erected, at a cost of $15,000. This met a like fate and was burned in 1885. The walls and what remained were sold to John Yanoy, who has refitted it and has recently commenced grinding. A large steam saw-mill was bought in 1847 by Brown & Holmes*

Tanneries And Distilleries

At first it was difficult to obtain even the necessaries of life, but soon the ingenious pioneer saw the demands of the people and at once began to devise means for the supply of whatever was needed. So David Parsley began the manufacture of whisky. He was followed by Solomon Parsley, who operated rather exten¬ sively for that day. He sold to John J. Kester, whose name is prominently mentioned in connection with the business interests of Rockford South of Courtland was a distillery owned by James and Isaac McClain. This whisky was copper-distilled and sold at 37£ cents per gallon.

The only tannery which deserves special mention was that of Alexander Hass, which stood on White Creek, four miles from Courtland. This was sold to Asa Peacock, by whom it was oper¬ ated till 1861, when it was burned to the ground.

Miscellaneous

It is said that the first child bom in the township was Amanda Hamilton, daughter of James Hamilton. The first in the " new purchase " was Sarah Thomas. Esther Robertson was born in 1819, and was one of the first. The first death was that of Charles Crabb. As to the first marriage authorities differ, though it is said that the first was that of Henry Sullivan to a Miss Thomas. The first road was an Indian trail that passed through the center of the township, from Rockford to a point in Salt Creek Township. At first the settlers got their mail at Brownstown, then at Rockford, and in 1846 a postoffice was established at Courtland.

Religious Meetings

close upon the footsteps of the pioneers. The settler's cabin was scarcely completed before an itinerant was there with his Bible and hymn-book gathering* the families for devotion around the altar in the wilderness. The first settlers were an intensely earnest people; they manifested no half-way religious feeling, but worked for their Master as they worked for themselves, with loud shouts and heavy blows. The first sermon was preached by Charles Crabb, at his own residence. He was of the regular Bap¬ tist faith, and some time in the twenties organized a church at a schoolhouse about one mile south of Courtland. The Threlkelds, Days, Wamsleys, Wheatleys and Brookses were prominent mem¬ bers. J. B. Tinder and Isaac Bell were early ministers. The next church organized was by the Campbellites, or Christians, some time in the thirties. Jacob Wright was the first minister. To this church belonged the Browns, the families of Andrew and George Bobertson, James Day and others.

The first services held by the Methodists were in an old store¬ room at Courtland. The first ministers of that denomination were Bev. Pruett, Bev. Fish, F. A. Huring, T. A. Whitted and Bev. Brace. These early organizations first met at the cabins of the settlers, later in the old schoolhouses ; but as the country became more densely populated, and the settlers became inspired by a spirit of progress, church edifices were erected. So in 1857 the Methodists, Baptists and Christians united in the erection of a union church building. This was built at a cost of about $1,400. All sects are allowed to use this church when they do not conflict with either of the above denominations. The United Brethren have an organized class at this place, although the mem¬ bership is comparatively small. Nearly all the leading families of Courtland and vicinity are connected with some one of these organizations. Church organizations are sustained in nearly every neighborhood of the township, which fact alone speaks for the character of the inhabitants.

Judge Lynch

The soil of Hamilton, like that of many other townships of Jackson County, has been stained with* the blood of a victim of mob law. However, the credit or discredit, whichever it may be, belongs to the citizens of Salt Creek Township. In the latter part of the sixties the store of George Matlock, a merchant of Houston, was burglarized by two young boys by the name of Stewart, in company with a negro. Search was instituted, and a portion of the stolen goods found in possession of the above named. The Stewarts were arrested, and a large party of citizens went in pursuit of the negro, who they supposed had fled toward Seymour. After twenty-four hours' search the negro was arrested, and on the way back to Salt Creek, where the preliminary trial was to be held, they were intercepted by a mob, and the negro was hung to a dogwood tree. The following day an inquest was held, and the body buried on the hill-side, near the Isaacs Schoolhouse. The body, it is said, was exhumed, by a member of the medical profession, and doubtless contributed no little to the science of the age.

Courtland is situated four miles east of Seymour, on the turn¬ pike leading from Seymour to White Creek It was named in honor of the birth-place of Hon. Cyrus L. Dunham, who was a member of Congress at the time the postoffice was established. The first house ever built within what is now Courtland was by Jacob Brown, in the year 1821, and stood but a short distance from where he now lives. The second was by James Wilson, early in the thirties. Next came Samuel W. Holmes and Benja¬ min F. Hopewell. Jacob Brown was first postmaster, and kept the first store. The goods were bought at Madison, Ind., and were transported by means of the four-horse wagon. People thought nothing of hauling their produce to Cincinnati, and bring back a load of goods. Prominent among the other business men

Physicians: Robert Cavender, Haws & Ennis, James Shields, A. L. Rice, Burns, G. O. Barnes, Woodward, Cooper, Freeman, Sanderson, Rains, Kyle, Davis and Y. H. Monroe.