Madison County, Indiana - Chapter 79, 1897

Chapter 79

This township was org;anized March 4, 1837, and named in honor of the eighth President of the United States at the suggestion of George Moore, one of the earliest residents of the territory comprising tlie township.

The township originally contained all of the territory lying in Congressional Township 22, Range 8 east. The record for its organization is as follo\\'s :

" On petition filed, and due deliberation thereupon had, it is ordered by the Board that Congressional Township No. 22, north of Range 8 east, in Madison county, be organized into a township, to be known and designated by the name of Van- Buren township. And it is also ordered that they hold an election in said township at the house of Hiram Palmer, therein, on the first Monday of April next, for the purpose of electing township officers and one Justice of the Peace. And it is ordered that the elections in said township be held at the house of said Hiram Palmer until otherwise directed. And it is ordered that Hiram Palmer be and he is hereby appointed Inspector of Elections for said township until a successor shall be chosen and qualified."

The township contains twenty-five square miles and is situated in the north-east corner of the county. It is bounded on the north by Grant county, on the east by Delaware county, on the south by Monroe township, and on the west by Boone township. The topography of the township is similar to that of the other northern townships of the county, being generally level, well watered and originally heavily timbered. The soil is principally black loam and well adapted to the cultivation of cereals, particularly corn and wheat, large crops of which are produced annually, especially of corn.

According to the best information obtainable the settlement of the township began about the year 1830, when Thomas Gordon, Jacob Davis and Hiram and John Palmer emigrated from Virginia and settled in the county just north of the pres- ent site of Summitville, on Section 20. Between the years 1830-30 quite a number from Virginia settled in the township, among whom were John and William Kelsej-, who located on Section 8 ; Thomas Cartwright and James Blades, who located on Section 31 ; John Cree, who located on Section 17; Samuel Fenimore, who located on Section 20. The latter came from Ohio, and chose as a location for his future home a spot on the Fort Wayne trace, where he erected a log house, which he subsequently converted into a tavern for the accommodation of hunters and travelers over the trace. This was the first inn, or tavern, in rhe township. The locality was afterwards known as " Old Wrinkle." In the fall of 1836 John Moore, of North Carolina, settled in the same neighborhood, also Robert Robb, of Johnson county, Indiana. They were soon after followed by Ephraim and Madison Broyles, John Shields, David Culberson, John !M. Zedeker, Harrison Allen and Zachariah Robinson. Many of the first settlers afterwards removed to Illinois and Iowa, particularly the latter, when those states were organized, believing that better opportunities awaited them in the " prairie country." This disposition to follow the " star of empire" was not peculiar to the early settlers of this township alone, it may be observed, as many of the first comers to nearly all of the townships in the county afterwards " pulled up stakes" and went farther west. Occasionally one would return and settle permanently, but not often. They preferred a country where it did not require so much labor to prepare the land for a crop.

From 1839 immigration to the township increased year after year. School-houses were erected and churches organized. In every township but this it has been an easy matter to ascertain when and where the first school-house was erected. But in this township there is so much diversity of opinion on the subject among the old-timers and their descendants that but little definite or satisfactory information can be learned about the matter. It is sufficient to say, that a small log school-house was erected at an early day, about a mile and a half north of where Summitville now stands. The name of the school teacher was George Doyle. In 1858 the number of school children in the township was 256; in 1874 it was 886, and at the present time the school enumeration shows that there are 516 children eligible to the privileges of the public schools. There are eight school buildings in the township, including Summitville, and ten teachers are employed. The

The early settlers in the township enjoyed religious services,without regard to their denominational predilections, long before a religious society had been organized. Itinerant preachers, during the pioneer period, would visit the township from time to time, when word would be sent out to the settlers that religious services would be held at a certain private cabin or log school-house. During the winter of 18o9-G0, a Christian minister of the name of George Newhouse visited the township and held a number of meetings, which resulted in the organization of a society composed of aiDout sixty members. A log church was afterwards erected, about one mile north of the present site of Summitville. Samuel Moore, Pleasant Victory, John Beck and Philip Cramer were among the mo'st active members of the society.

Statistical

The total value of lands, as taken from the tax duplicate of the present year, is .$416,595; value of improvements, 1975,005 ; total value of taxables, ii!689,930.

Summitville And Vicinitv

The original name of this town was " Skipperville," but was afterwards changed on account of its proximity to the " cone." or summit level, of the State, a point two miles iiorth of the town, from which the waters of Mud creek and Black creek flow in opposite directions, the former emptying into Pipe creek and the latter into the Mississinewa. Aquilla Moore, the oldest living inhabitant of the township, came to this part of the county and settled in the neighborhood of where Summitville now stands in 1836.

On his seventy-seventh birthday, the writer sat beneath the shade of a spreading cherry tree in the grounds surrounding his residence, and elicited from him much information in relation to the town and its surroundings.

John Palmer and Isaiah Davis were the first settlers, and came to this vicinity in the year 1835, and located about two miles north, having removed from the State of Virginia.

Robert Robb, the father of Mrs. Aquilla Moore, came here from Johnson county in the year 1837, and started the first store in this part of the country, north of Summitville about two miles.

Aaron M. Williams was among the early settlers, and erected the first and only tannery in this neighborhood, which he operated together with his farming interests for a good many years, and was for a long while engaged in the drygoods and merchandizing business, and kept a place to lodge the weary traveler. He sold the first town lots in the place, and was really the founder of the village. No regular plats of the lots were laid off, but when a man purchased one, Mr. Williams would stake off the amount and size of an ordinary town lot and describe it b)' metes and bounds. This manner of proceeding has since given the assessors and county officials much trouble in assessing the real estate in the place.

Summitville proper was laid out in 1867, by Aaron M. W^illiams. Henry Roby was the first merchant in the town, and opened business in November, 18(37, and did quite a thriving trade, and was succeeded by Aquilla Moore & Son.

Samuel Fenimore was an early settler and lived about two miles north of .Summitville, being one of a number of large land owners and thrifty citizens of that locality. Prior to the laying out of Summitville as a town, and before a settlement was made there, there was an old staging station kept near that place by Aquilla Moore, where the stage that ran from Anderson to iSIarion made a change of horses and stopped for feed and dinner. William Pittsford, Richard and A. J. Hunt, the Anderson liverymen, were among the prominent stage drivers of that day. The first stage coach that passed over the line was driven by the late Colonel O. H. P. Carey from Marion to Anderson. He owned the stage line for a number of years, and operated it until he volunteered his services in the army during the late war. The last one was driven by Walker Winslow in 1876.

When Aquilla Moore first settled in these parts, there was no mail route between Summitville and Anderson or Alexandria, the mail came there via Strawtown, being carried on horseback over roads blazed out through dense forests. Daniel Dwiggins was the first mail boy to deliver mail in this section, and Elijah Williams was the next ; both are long since deceased.

One of the first physicians in these surroundings was Dr. S. B. Harriman, who died in Richmond, Indiana, a few years since. He was succeeded by C. V. Garrett, John Wright, W. V. McMahan, M. L. Cranfill, S. T. Brunt and T. J. Clark. The first doctor in Summittville, after it became a town, was Dr. Cyrus Graul, who established himself here in 1867.

William Wellington and John S. Moore started the first grist mill in the township in 1854. It was a small corn cracker with a saw mill in connection with it. They did a very thriving business for a number of years. Farmers came for quite a distance from the surrounding country to have their sawing done, and have their grists ground.

The first flouring mill was built in Summitville by Columbus Moore in the year 1868. It was of an improved pattern .-ind for many years enjoyed an extensive business.

The first ministers of the gospel in this locality were William Brunt, a brother of the late Thomas Brunt and Peter Casteel. The old timers are not able to agree as to which of the two was the first.

In the year 1868, Columbus Moore was appointed the first postmaster in Summitville, receiving his commission from Andrew Johnson, President of the United States. George Moore, the father of Aquilla Moore, was one of the first Board of Trustees of Van Buren townsiiip, and died at the residence of his son about eighteen years ago.

At an early day Aquilla Moore and his neighbors hauled wheat raised upon their farms to Hamilton, Ohio, the nearest market, and sold it for thirty-seven cents per bushel.

The first railroad agent in Summitville was J. P. Smith, who came to this place on the completion of the C. W. & M. railroad in 1876. The first grain warehouse was built by James H. Woolen about the time of the building of the railroad. Harrison and Reuben Allen were also early settlers in the immediate vicinity of Summitville, having moved here from North Carolina in the early '40s.

the town and surrounding country. In 1888 the Summitville Times was published here by J. A. Wertz, lately connected with the Anderson BtiUct'ni and other Anderson publications. The first paper published here was by a young man of the name of Pinkerton, in 1885.

Summitville from the time of its first location as a village very slowly and made but little progress until the time -of the perfecting of the C. W. & M. Railway, when it took on an air of prosperity for a short time, and remained stationary until the discovery of natural gas, when it at once entered upon another season of rapid growth, and it is at this writing one of the liveliest and most enterprising towns in Madison county, having many industries, fine school buildings, brick paved streets and handsome residences, and many fine brick business blocks erected on its main thoroughfares.

It was incorporated as a town on the 31st of December, 1881. The first Board of Trustees was elected on the first Monday in May, 1882, and took the oath of office before Miles F. VVood, a Justice of the Peace, on the 3rd day of the same month. The first Trustees were Moses Stone, George W. Fear and Joseph A. Allen. The Board organized by electing Mr. Stone, President; Frank Hernley was the first Clerk, and W. H. Williams, the first Treasurer, and J. M. Williams, the first Marshal of the town.

The present officers are William Howard, Clerk ; Vincent R. Love, Treasurer, and Jeremiah Simons, Marslial. A. F. Kaufman, Eddie E. Thomas and William J. Peale are the present Trustees. The School Board is composed of Robert McLain, John M. Gordon and George W. Green.

A question was raised as to the legality of the incorporation of the town, and therefore an act was passed by the Legislature of 1895, through the influence of Hon. J. M. Hundley, legalizing the same.

The following industries are located at Summitville : The Central Glass Company; the Crystal Window Glass Company ; the Rothschild Glass Company ; W. C. Fear & Co., saw, lumber and planing mill ; W. W. VanWinkle, saw mill ; and L. R. Webb, flouring mill ; the Summitville Brick Factory ; and last, but not least, the Summitville Tile Works, owned solely by Samuel C. Cowgill, being the largest manufacturer of farm tile in the United States. It was erected in 1880, commencing in a small way, but has grown at the present writing to be of huge dimensions. Mr. Cowgill employs on an average about one hundred men all the year around, and has a weekly pay roll of $500. L. R. Whitney is the general book-keeper and business man of the institution, to whom we are under obligations for valuable information, and for having shown us through this establishment. We are also indebted to Mr. George Whitney and J. A. Allen for much information in reference to this place.

Summitville enjoys the distinction of being the home of several secret societies. The Knights of Pythias lodge. No. 361, was organized on the 5th of May, 1892. It has a large membership and is in a flourishing condition. J. D. Armstrong is the Chancellor Commander, and A. H. Jones, Keeper of Records and Seals.

The Improved Order of Red Men, Lodge 149, Neoskaleta Tribe, has a membership of one hundred, and was organized in the year 1893. James Farmer, Sachem.

The Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Summitville Lodge No. 475, was organized in the year 1875, and has a membership of seventy-five. It owns a handsome lodge property, built in the year 1892.

The Methodist Episcopal church, the Presbyterian church, the Baptists and the Wesleyan Methodists, each have congregations here and own their own houses of ^vorship.

Summitville has two banks, both of which are on a sound financial basis, and enjoy a large patronage in the community and the surrounding country. The Citizens' bank has a capital of 125,000. J. T. Sullivan is president, and A. B. Hardgrave, cashier.

The person familiar with the appearance of Summitville twenty-five years ago, and who has waded through its muddy streets during its early existence, could hardly imagine that it would in so short a time become the handsome, thrifty business center that it now is, and from all indications we predict a great future awaiting it. Many accidents and incidents that have occurred in its early history are detailed elsewhere.

Accidents And Incidents Killed While Cutting A Tree

Mr. Jesse Buller, a young man about twenty-three years of age, working in Van Buren townsliip, near Summitville, was instantly killed the 15th of January, 1878, while cutting trees in the woods. He was in the act of felling a tree, when it lodged against another one near by, and in trying to dislodge it a falling limb struck him on the top of the head, crushing his skull, from the effects of which he almost instantly died. Young Buller was working for a Mr. Eli Xeal, who was with him at the time, and seeing the falling limb called to him to get out of the way, but it was too late, - the limb struck him before he could make his escape. Mr. Neal ran for assistance, which was near at hand, but the unfortunate man had breathed his last before aid could reach him. He was a young man, well liked and respected. His home was in Fairmount, Grant county, a few miles north of Summitville. The Coroner of Madison county held an inquest, and a verdict of accidental killing was rendered.

Burned To Death

In the month of February, 1878, a little six-year-old daughter of John J. Said, of Summitville, was terribly burned, from the effects of which she died a short time afterward. She, with her oldest sister, was playing around a fire when her clothing became ignited, and before it could be put out there was scarcely a spot left on her body that was not burned until the flesh peeled off. She lived in great agony for a few days, but died from the effects of her burns. Mr. and Mrs. Said had the sympathy of the entire community in their sad affliction. It is said that the child was a bright little girl, and a general favorite in the community where this terrible accident occurred.

Fire At Summitville

The hardware store of E. B. Vinson, at Summitville, was destroyed by fire on the night of the 28d of August, 1889. It was discovered about eleven o'clock and nothing could be done to check the devouring flames, which soon consumed the building, and also a millinery store belonging to Mary E. Wertz, adjoining. The loss on the hardware store was $8,500, covered by .|:?,500 insurance; on the millinery store the loss was estimated at $400, with .$800 insurance. The residence belonging to Mr. Vinson, the proprietor of the hardware store, was also damaged to a considerable extent. The origin of the fire

A Distressing Accident

Turry, the three-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sylvester Jenny, was burned to death near Summitville on the 28th day of February, 1896, by having her clothing ignited while lighting the fire with some scraps of paper. She ran out of the house to where her father and mother were, but before reaching them she was enveloped in the flames and burned in a most horrible manner. An uncle of the name of Curtis Diltz was attracted to the place by her screams and hastened to her relief and taking the child in his arms carried her to the house, where her parents soon came, but too late to render her any assistance. Her little body was burned to a crisp, the flesh falling from her bones.

A physician was summoned, but no medical aid could relieve her suffering, and she died soon afterward, remaining conscious to the last moment.

The funeral was largely attended, which took place at Epworth church, the services being conducted by the Rev. J. A. Rudy. The body was interred at Mt. Pisgah cemetery.

An Old-Timer Killed

Moses Simonson, an old resident of Madison county, was killed by being run over by a train of cars on the C. \V. & M. Railroad near Summitville, while on his way home from Alexandria on the night of May 19th, 1894. He was in an intoxicated condition and had fallen asleep on the track.

Moses Simonson was one of the last of a generation that has passed away. He was one of the early settlers of the county, who in pioneer times made a greater part of the living for the family by hunting and trapping. He at one time lived in the neighborhood of Anderson, and there is not an old resident of that city who does not remember of seeing Mose Simonson on the streets with a hunting shirt on and a pack of hounds at his heels.

The rifle, the shot-pouch and long-eared hound are now things of the past in Madison county. They have given way to the steps of progress, and in a few years tliere will be none living who can tell of having ever seen them. Tradition alone will tell of the e.\ploits of the noble pioneer.

The powder-horn and the bullet-moulds hanging over the cabin door, as they once did in the humble home of Moses Simonson, is a scene that many men and women, now of mature years, who have been reared in Madison county, have never beheld.

Whatever maj- have been the faults of Moses Simonson in his days among men, let us cover them with the mantle of charity, and remember him, along with the many other hardy men who lived in the wilderness of our county and helped to make its meadows bloom like the sweet fields of Eden.

A Store Burglarized

Vinson & Hughes for several years operated a general store at Summitville. On the night of April 27, 1876, they were the victims of burglars. There was a McNeale & Urban safe in the store, which was cracked and rifled of its contents, consisting of !i!148 in money and some valuable papers. The robbers also took away with them twenty gallons of whiskey and many articles of merchandise.

The noise of the blowing of the safe aroused Mrs. A. S. Dobson, who was sleeping in an adjoining building, but being timid was afraid to make any stir, so the burglars worked at will without molestation and made good their escape. No one ever knew who the perpetrators of the deed were. They were evidently professionals, as their work was done in a neat and handsome manner.

Barn Burned

A large frame barn owned by William F. Huglies, one and one-half miles west of Summitville, was destroyed by fire on Monday, the 9th of August, 1880, together with all the contents, including two horses, wagons, buggies and several tons of hay, two hundred bushels of wheat, two hundred bushels of corn, his farm implements, several sets of harness and other articles of value. The contents were partially cov- ered by insurance to the amount of |5H0, but there was no insurance on the building. It was evidently the act of an incendiary, but who the guilty party was has never been ascertained.

The loss fell very heavily on Mr. Hughes. He had the sympathy of the entire community. Mr. Hughes was a prominent farmer, having held the honorable position of Township Trustee, and being prominent in business circles in that community. He has long since passed away, but a number of his family are still residing in Madison county, one son being engaged in the grocery business in Anderson at this writing.

Killing Of Solomon Parsons

On Monday, the :28th of April, IS'.K), the body of Solomon Parsons was found on the right-of-way along the C, W. & M. Railway track half a mile north of Summitville, his right leg and side being fearfully bruised, and with a deep cut in his head. Life was extinct when he was discovered. A small boy who happened to be standing near by saw the accident and gave the alarm. Neighbors came and conveyed his remains to his home which was only a short distance from the scene. Dr. Armington, Coroner of the county, was notified and held an inquest. The facts elicited were tliat Parsons, who was an old man about eighty-two years of age, had gone up the railroad in search of a cow and evidently having not heard the approaching train was run down and killed. John Torrence, the engineer in charge of the engine, testified that he knew nothing about the matter until he had reached Anderson, when he was apprised of the accident by telegram. He insisted that he saw no one on the track and seemed greatly surprised when informed that his engine had killed a man at Summitville. It was a very singular circumstance that he did not discover Mr. Parsons, who was walking before the engine. The Coroner returned a verdict of accidental killing without laying any blame on the company.

A Voitng Woman Burned To Death

Miss Sallie Mittong, a young woman about nineteen years of age, who was employed as nurse in the family of Mr. (Jeorge Reeder, about three and a half miles east of Summitville, was burned to death on Friday, February 28, 1879. She had been at a social gathering during the evening, and about 10 o'clock.

Becoming dro\vsy, it is supposed, she fell asleep, and while in that condition her clothing caught fire. Upon awakening, she ran into the yard, and finally extinguished the flames by rolling in the mud and water. No one was present in the house at the time but Mrs. Reader, who, being sick, was unable to help her. The agonizing cries of the unfortunate girl eventually attracted the neighbors, who kindly cared for her.

While assisting her into the house some of the burned flesh actually dropped from her bodv. vShe lived only fifteen hours after the accident, during which time she endured great agony. Her remains were buried at Summitville on the follo%ving Sunday.

Disastrous Fire

On the 27th of March, 1885, a destructive fire visited the town of Summitville, burning the business room occupied by R. A. Menefee & Co. and Aquilla Moore, together with the office of Dr. Judd Swallow. The fire originated in the east end of ^Moore's store, at 3 o'clock in the morning, and in a few minutes the flames had reached Dr. Swallow's office, which stood just across the alley, and also Menefee's drug store. The flames spread so rapidly that within an hour from the time the alarm was given the three buildings ^vere in ashes. It was by good management and hard work that further progress of the fire up the street was checked and that further damage was averted. The loss to Mr. jSIoore was about !j!4,000, partially insured. Menefee's building and stock of drugs, valued at 12,500, were insured for !}!1,600. It is supposed that the fire was the work of an incendiary, but no clew was ever found that would lead to the conviction of the guilty party. Dr. Swallow has since died. Mr. Menefee and Mr, Moore are yet residents of Summitville, being prominent in business affairs.

Killing Of Sarah Dawson By Nancy Swope

One of the bloodiest tragedies in the history of Madison county occurred on the 21st of July, 1887, in which two women ^vere the actors, one of them being a colored women. Nancy Swope, during an altercation between herself and Sarah Dawson, a colored woman, plunged a butcher knife into the body of Mrs. Dawson, causing almost instant death.

About a year before this event, Mrs. Swope, accompanied by her little child, had gone to Summitville and had taken employment at a hotel as a domestic. Mrs. Dawson was also employed at the same house in tlie capacity of washer-woman. These two females did not get along together very amicably. For some time prior to the killing, Mrs. Dawson alleged that Mrs. Swope had circulated slanderous reports against a Miss Cartwright, a daughter of the proprietor of the hotel. On the evening of the tragedy, the colored woman, as was her custom, took the washing she had finished to the hotel, and while there became involved in a quarrel with Mrs. Swope, who was in the kitchen, ironing. Mrs. Dawson had started to leave the place, when Mrs. Swope, who was almost beside herself with rage, hurled an iron which she had in her hand at Mrs. Dawson, but without effect. Then Mrs. Swope, still white with rage, grasped a large butcher knife that lay on the table and started for the colored woman, overtaking her near the door, when she plunged it with deadly effect into the body of her victim. The weapon penetrated the abdomen and caused the death of ]Mrs. Dawson in a very few minutes. A boarder at the hotel entered the room just as the fatal thrust was made, and, springing forward, threw Mrs. Swope to one side of the room, and then helped the injured woman into an adjoining hall.

Immediately after the commission of the crime, Mrs. Swope left the hotel and went to the residence of 'Squire Fenimore, where she remained until she %vent to the Anderson jail. Here she was incarcerated to await the result of the Coroner's investigation and the action of the grand jury. Mrs. Dawson had come from Tennessee to Summitville five years previouslj-. She was a hard working woman, and was generally respected by the people. Her remains were interred in Vinson cemetery after the Coroner's inquest.

In an interview with Mrs. Swope at the jail by an Anderson reporter she said in justification of the act that the negress had been circulating stories about her, damaging to her character, and also about Aliss Cartwright. She also stated that the woman had come in where she was working and began to abuse her, and finally threatened to do her bodily harm.

An affidavit was filed by Constable ^V . R. Blake, of Anderson township, before William Roach, a Justice of the Peace, charging Mrs. Swope with murder. A preliminary examination was held and the prisoner was bound over to the

She was remanded to jail, where she was detained for a considerable time. In the trial of her case a disagreement by the jury resulted, and she was subsequently acquitted at the March term, 1888. She died near the scene of the tragedy about two years afterwards.

Youthful Depravity

On the 21st of September, 1885, a large barn belonging to Joshua Vinson, a few miles west of Summitville, was destro}-ed by fire. It was evident from the first that it was of incendiary origin, but no clew to the party committing the deed was obtained until several days afterward, when a lad about twelve years old, who lived with !Mr. \^inson, inadvertently dropped the remark that he " would not have to go to that barn any more." Acting upon the theory that the boy had fired the building, \^inson accused him of it, and he, being pressed, finally admitted his guilt. He was placed under arrest and was lodged in the Madison county jail. He was quite small in statue, and evidently not a bad boy at heart. Upon being questioned upon the subject he fully admitted that he had set fire to the barn, but said in justification of his act that he was mad at Mr. Vinson for making him follow a wheat drill when he had a sore foot and could not walk. He further said that Mr. \'inson had sent him to the barn for an oil can and then sent him back again for something else, and then again ; that in all he had made three trips, and that he then concluded to just set fire to the barn.

At the time of this occurrence the young man had been living with the Vinson family for three years ; his mother was dead, and his father had remarried and gone to North Carolina. The lad was convicted, but was let off with a light sentence. The loss on Vinson's barn was about |1,500, with but small insurance.

Found Dead In A Buggy

Near the town of Summitville, on the 22d day of May, 1895, William Snelling was discovered at the roadside, dead in a buggy by some passer-by, and it was supposed that a murder had been committed. The Coroner was notified and an investigation was held, at which it was found that Snelling had been to Summitville on that day and had been drinking heavily, and had started home, and had in some manner fallen forward out of his buggy, lighting upon the horse, which had kicked him in such a manner as to cause his death. No one saw the occurrence and it was only conjecture as to how it happened.

Found Dead In Bed

On the morning of April 2(5, 1893, the citizens of Summitville were thrown into a state of excitement by the finding of the dead body of James Wood, a cripple, who was in the employ of ^. C. Cowgill's tile factory. He had both legs off and was therefore a confirmed cripple, but not wholly incapacitated from labor, and had employment in the factory at light work such as he was able to perform. From the use of opiates to kill the pain he often suffered, he became a confirmee} victim of the morphine habit, and it is supposed that the use of this drug caused his deatli. He lived at Pendleton.

Death Of An Old Citizen

No citizen of Madi.son county ever died who left behind him a more lasting memory than that of Isaac U. Cox, of Van Buren township. His death took place at his home on the ()th of June, 1881. Mr. Cox was above the average farmer in the county as to enterprise and in a general knowledge of the business of the countr)'. He was looked up to as an encyclopsdia of information by his less fortunate neighbors by whom he was surrounded. He was at one time quite a prominent politician in the Democratic ranks, and on several occasions aspired to the office of County Treasurer, but was never successful in receiving enough votes to gain the nomination.

He was born in Tennessee in December, 1S21, and came to Union county, Indiana, in 1839, and from thence to Huntsville, in this county, in 184?. In the year 1845 he was married to Mary C. Smith, who survived him and lived for some time after his death. In 1849 he purchased a tract of land, on which he was living at the time of his death, about seven miles north-east of Alexandria. Mr. Cox was scrupulously honest in all his dealings with his fellow-man. He was a very kind father, and was particularly devoted to his wife. There was no more hospitable home in Madison county than that of Isaac U. Cox. No person from Anderson, or, indeed.

from any part of the county, ever visited the home of Mr. Cox who was not generously welcomed. He and his wife were both genial, hospitable people, and it was a real pleasure for them to entertain friends at their home. Mr. Cox's death was long lamented, and his memory will long be green in the recollections of the old citizens of Madison county.

Miscellaneous

The first election held in the township occurred November 1, 1837, at the house of Hiram Palmer. It is related that Samuel Fenimore and Hiram Palmer were opposing candidates for the office of Justice of the Peace. Each candidate had his "wires" in proper order and thought that he had things "fixed," or at least Mr. Fenimore did. The voting population of the township at that early day did not exceed ten or fifteen voters, so that it required but a few votes to elect, and consequently not so much effort on the part of candidates as at present. On the morning of the election Mr. Fenimore. with three of his friends, appeared at the polls and cast their votes for Fenimore. They lingered around the polls until it was nearly time for them to close, and, as Palmer and his friends had not made their appearance, they were congratulating themselves over their success. But just before the hour fixed by law for the closing of the polls Palmer and his " force," consisting of four voters besides himself, emerged from the brush and voted for Palmer, much to the chagrin of Fenimore and his following. Palmer was elected by one vote, and re-elected subsequently a number of times.

Prominent Citizens

Among the prominent citizens of the township who have been specially honored by the people of the county is Calvin H. Allen, at this time a resident of the city of Anderson. Mr. Allen was elected Auditor of the county on the Democratic ticket in 1890, and served one term. In 1894 James M. Hundley was elected Joint Representative for the counties of Madi-

James M. Hundi,Ev

While the subject of this sketch is not a pioneer of the county, he may, on account of his long residence, be classed among the old-timers. Mr. Hundley was born in Clinton county, Ohio, July 6, 1848, and came with his parents to Grant county, Indiana, in 1852, where he resided until 1868, when he enlisted in the army. During his absence his father moved to Van Buren township, this county, and located. James served his country faithfully until July, 1865, when he was discharged, and, not being of age, returned to the home of his father, thus becoming a resident of Madison county. He was educated in the common schools of the county, with the exception of two terms in the high schools of Anderson and Marion. After leaving school he engaged in teaching in Van Buren and ]Sloni"oe townships for a number of years. His efforts in this vocation were earnest and painstaking and highly satisfactory both to pupils and patrons. While teaching he devoted much of his spare time to the study of the law, and on the 17th of March, 1883, was admitted to the Madison county bar, since which time he has been actively engaged in the practice.

Through the partiality of his fellow-citizens Mr. Hundley has held a number of local offices and in 1894 was elected Representative to the State Legislature from the district composed of the counties of Madison, Tipton and Clinton, serving one term with credit to himself and his constituency. He has alwaj'S taken an active interest in politics and is prominent in local affairs generally. Although an ardent Republican, he is not oft'ensive in expressing his views of measures or men. He is unostentatious both in manner and method, but firm in his beliefs, whatever they may be, and always ready to defend them. Whatever of success he has achieved in life he attributes to his mother, who induced him to attend school and take a course of study, although limited, after his return from the army. He takes pride in the fact that he has seen his township and county make such rapid strides m the arts of peace - has seen the wilderness disappear and the waste places become the abodes of industry and learning. No native contemplates the present proud position of the county with greater satisfaction than he, and no one is more enthusiastic over the possibilities of its future.

Mr. Hundley is a resident of Summitville, where he has an oflice and attends to the duties of his profession. These duties frecpiently require his presence at the county seat, particularly during the sessions of the courts, where he is held in the highest esteem, not only by the members of the bar, but by all who know him.

Mr. Hundley was married October 21, 1874, to Miss Sarah F. Fenimore, a member of one of the most prominent and highly respected pioneer families of the county.

Owing to the proportions this work has assumed the names only of citizens of the county who have served as Senators and Representatives in the State Legislature are given. From 1823 to 1835 Madison county was represented in the Senate by citizens residing in other counties comprising the Senatorial district of which it was a part. The names of Madison county citizens who Iiave been elected to the Senate are as follows : Thomas Bell, Andrew Jackson, Dr. John Hunt, Andrew Jackson (again), Hervey Craven, M. S. Robinson, R. H Cree, Charles T. Doxey, Charles L. Henry, A. E. Harlan, Lafe Johnson.

Madison county by an act of the Legislature of 1896-7 was tjiade a district by itself, and is now entitled to one Senator and one Joint Senator, also two Representatives and one Joint Representative.

The following in their order have been clerks of the county: Moses Cox, William Curtis, Ansel Richmond, R. N. Williams, Andrew Jackson, James Ilazlett, P. H. Lemon, Joseph Peden, W. C. Vleming, T. J. Fleming, R. H. Hannah, Jesse L. Henry, C. A. Henderson, J. J. Netterville, Edmund Johnson.

Joseph Watkins, an Anderson barber, enjoys the distinction of being the first negro who ever sat upon a jury in Madison county. Mr. Watkins is one of the best informed and most progressive of his race in this county. To Sheritl" John Starr belongs the credit of selecting Mr. Watkins as a juryman.