Jackson County, Indiana - Chapter 14, 1886

Chapter 14

A PLEASANTER task can scarcely be conceived than that which devolves upon the chronicler of early history, could he but reproduce the scenes of one hundred years ago with all their natural surroundings. They would present a series of tab¬ leaux, in which the reader might see the unhewn log hut, its crev¬ ices filled with clay, the stick chimney, the broad fire-place, the rough unseemly furniture and the small clearing. Such pictures were most familiar to the pioneers, and yet under all these uncomfort - able circumstances, they were happy and contented, and enjoyed life to the utmost. They knew nothing of railroads ; they had heard of no locomotives nor dreamed of the grand system of im¬ provements we have to-day. Steam thrashers, sulky plows, mowers and reapers, were alike unknown to them, and are inven¬ tions far beyond their most extravagent expectations. The old wooden plows drawn by a yoke of oxen, the scythe and cradle and reap hook, were implements with which they were better acquainted. To note the changes and improvements which have been in the eighty years that have come and gone since the first settlement of the county, is the most interesting part of the writer's work.

By the traditions handed down through the past generations, he sees the "wilderness rejoice and blossom as the rose," the sav¬ ages and wild beasts disappear, the log cabins changed into the comfortable and luxurious homes, and thus, in the great trans¬ formation presented, witnesses the culmination of civilization and refinement

Soil And Surface

Washington Township was named in honor of the " father of his country," a name that is dear to every American heart. The township lies between Brownstown on the west and Vernon on the east, and is comparatively regular in outline. Its external appearance is varied, presenting a surface from level to rolling, and from rolling to broken and hilly, the latter covering but a small portion lying in the north, known as Chestnut Bidge. This por¬ tion of the township'is not so well adapted to agriculture as hor¬ ticulture, which has in the past received considerable attention. Peach and apple orchards were numerous, and the production large. Vineyards have also been planted by the farmers of this section, and from the grapes a very excellent quality of wine has been made.

Leaving Chestnut Ridge, the surface becomes level or undu¬ lating, and some of the finest farms in the county may be found. The timber still standing consists of oak, ash, beech and other varieties peculiar to this climate. The township is well watered by the west fork of the Muscatatauk River and its tributaries.

Settlement

The precise date of the building of the first cabin by a white man is obscured in the shadows of seventy years, and we are left to conjecture, to a considerable extent, as to its first settlement by the whites. The first families that came were the Loves, Coxes, Kellars and Dudleys. It is said that no white man had settled in the township before the latter part of 1816, or the early part of 1817, and as to who was the first no one claims to know. The Kellars settled near Dudleytown - Abraham on the first or second farm north, Jacob west, and the farms of George and Isaac joined on ^e north. John Love settled further north in what is still known as the "Love neighborhood." He is long since dead, and

Love are also classed among the pioneers. Nathan Cox settled in the northern part of the township. William Cox, Andrew Cox and others of the Cox family were among the very first. William Dudley built near the present site of Dudleytown. James Dud¬ ley, the son of William, entered land near Dudleytown in 1820. He is said to have been the first resident physician of the town¬ ship. The Blairs were there at an early day. John Moore and Joshua Moore located south of the present site of Dudleytown, and Joseph Brown was still further south. Thomas Catlins, William Briner and William Marshall were in the same neigh¬ borhood. The last named was Indian agent for a short time. James Shewmater moved from Driftwood Township and settled on Chestnut Ridge. The Andersons and the Franklins built near Dudleytown. Tobias Crumb came a few years later, and settled about one mile east of Dudleytown. Edward Ballanger located on the farm afterward owned by Nathan Cox. The Brammers - Thomas and Robert - entered land one mile south of Dudleytown.

Land Entries

The following are all the land entries made prior to 1825: James Crane, 1817; G. Shipman, 1822; Resin Redman, 1820; S. White, 1820; Moses Holman, 1819; Thomas White, 1818; I. Moore, 1819; A. Johnson, 1820; Caleb White, 1821; William Cox, 1821; Joseph Hiat, 1818; ^Nathaniel Cox, 1825; Ebenezer Johnson, 1821; Isaac Kellar, 1821 ; Reuben Rucker, 1820; James Dudley, 1820. Many have questioned the correctness of the tract book with regard to first land entries. It seems unreason¬ able that with such a large number of early settlers tliat so few entries were made.

Later Settlements

More than forty years ago the Germans began to settle in this township, and the number has steadily increased, and at present four-fifths of the entire population are Germans. Many of them came directly from the old country, while others came from Cin¬ cinnati, Louisville and the older German settlements in the south¬ eastern part of Indiana. They possessed all the characteristics of their people - hardihood, indomitable perseverance, frugality, and a strong determination to prosper. They now have comfort¬ able homes and large and well-improved farms. By economical living and industrious habits they have now placed themselves in easy circumstances. They were in the beginning inclined to be clannish, but they are now thoroughly Americanized, with Ameri¬ can ideas and in sympathy with American institutions. The leading German families of the township are descendants of these old families, who came here when the country was yet new and sparsely inhabited, and filled with various wild and dan¬ gerous animals. The children of- to-day are educated in the free schools of the township, where both the English and German languages are taught; besides, they have parochial schools, where the children are required to attend one or two days of each week during the school term. They sustain two .church organizations within the township, in which the serv¬ ices are conducted in the German language. As a rule, the Ger¬ mans are uncompromising in their devotion to the tenets of the denomination to which they belong. All the leading German families of the township are members of one or the other of these church organizations.

Early Churches

The pioneer preacher, with no companion save the faithful horse he rode, came across the country without other guide than his knowledge of the cardinal points and made his appearance in the settlement above Dudleytown early in the twenties, and pos¬ sibly at a still earlier date. It is quite probable that the first sermon ever preached in what is now Washington Township was by a Baptist preacher, from either Washington or Clark County, by the name of McCoy. While passing through the settlement en route to some point north, he met some old acquaintance who induced him to stop for the night and preach. Messengers were sent to invite the neighbors, and on that night the first sermon was preached. (The old newspaper from which this was taken neither gives the exact date nor the place at which the meeting was held.) A few years later a Baptist church was organized, but no house was built until some time in the thirties. This was an old log church which stood north of Dudleytown. The most prominent early families that belonged to the Baptist Church were the Kellars, Cumstocks, Blairs, Collinses, Briners, Brammers, Densfords, and some of the members of the Love family. The early preachers were Jesse Robinson, John Bell and William Gillaspy. The last named was the first to proclaim the missionary sentiments in the Brownstown Association. The advocacy of this doctrine brought upon him strong opposition, which at times almost led to persecution ; but, ever zealous in support of what he believed to be right, he never ceased to advocate this doctrine until he had converted hundreds. After forty years of continu¬ ous labor for the cause of Christ he died, December 25, 1878.

Many of the settlers of the southern part of the township were members of the Mount Pleasant Class of Grassy Fork Town¬ ship. The Methodists had no organization in this township, but frequently held services at the residence of Edward Ballanger, William Anderson or Joseph Brown. The ministers from the Brownstown Circuit, Rev. Rutlage, Waller, Benton and Asa Beck, were the most prominent

Panther Hunting

As toldjby Josiah Shewmaker: "Elisha Ruddick went out for a hunt in the autumn of 1819, on the banks of Horse Lick Branch, about four miles east of Brownstown, in Washington Township. There was a large thicket near the branch in which panthers were supposed to have a den. While he was strolling leisurely through the woods, he was startled by the rallying of hogs near the thicket, which quickly turned his course in the direction of the noise. When he came in sight he discovered two large panthers making war on the hogs. He determined to kill one if he could get in easy gunshot, which he did by crawl¬ ing upon his hands and knees to a log which would conceal him from view. When he reached the log he saw one of the pan¬ thers crawl up near the bed of a sow and pigs which the mother hog viciously chased for some distance. While the sow was in pursuit of one panther, the other would steal a pig, which they would come together and eat. This was the manner in which they would rob the hog of her brood. Elisha picked the larger panther, and at the crack of the gun it sprang eight feet high, and fell to the ground dead. He was then in possession of a pan¬ ther which measured, from the tip of its nose to the end of its tail, about nine feet."

Dudley town was named in honor of James Dudley, by whom it was laid out April 12, 1837. The plat consisted of seventeen lots, 70x140 feet. The first house was built by Henry Leister, which was used for a dwelling and a store. Soon after, James Stephens embarked in the mercantile business, keeping a general stock of goods. Nathan Newby and William Weathers sold goods there a few years later. The first tavern was kept by Hardin Carter. This was called the Galt House, not because of its re¬ semblance to a house by the same name in Louisville, but was probably applied in derision. Mr. Starks, Peter L. Carter, Henry Otte and Jesse Robinson belong to the catalogue of merchants. The first physician was Dr. James Dudley; then came Dr. J. H. Greene, and at present there is Dr. Greene, Jr.

Langdon, And Chestnut Ridge

ison & Indianapolis Railroad ; the former is located near where the railroad crosses the West Fork of the Muscatatauk River. A water-mill was built near this place more than sixty years ago, by a man by the name of Langdon, and it was at this mill that the early settlers of Washington Township got most of their grind¬ ing done. Very little business has been done at this place, al¬ though there has been a store kept there for many years. Chest¬ nut Ridge is about two miles further north, near the line dividing Jackson and Washington Townships. The business that has been done heretofore is now practically abandoned. Saw-mills which have been operated in the section were the most important industry, and consequently a great deal of lumber has been shipped from this point. In the early part of the thirties John Love kept a small stock of goods at his residence on Chestnut Ridge, and James Shewmaker manufactured a sufficient quantity of whisky for home consumption.