Putnam County, Indiana - The whole text, 1887 (part 2 of 12)

FLOYD TOWNSHIP. This township is the full Congressional township 15, range 3. and is bounded on the north by Jackson Township, on the east by Hendricks ( -ounty, on the south by Marion, and on the west by Mouroe Township. The j Join soil is good, and compares favorably With the best townships of the county. Its surface is rolling, but becomes broken along the streams, which are Walnut Fork of Eel River, Warford's Fork. Monudbal's Fork, ami their branches, all running in a southwesterly direction. The valuable timber of this township consists of poplar, walnut, oak, maple, ash, elm and hickory. The most peculiar natural feature of the county is the sandy ridge iu this township. It extends north and south a distance of three miles, at an elevation of forty feet above the surrounding level. The and Aquila Pickett, J. M. and II. 15. Pickett, Isaac Yeates, Mr, Howard, Thomas Ogle, Joseph Evans, William Arnold, James Miller, J. Kinder, Moses Lewis, E. Tarburton, J. L. Bird, J. C. Wilson, I. J. Wilson, A, Wilson, L. Gibson. J. Westhart, J. Kurtz and William Todd. The next three years witnessed the arrival of John Gregory, Dr. Stadiey, Jacob McVey. Jacob Hoffman, Cooper Wilson, James Robinson, Dr. Josias 11. Robinson,

II. Herod, Charles Hunter, Thomas Ellis. Lewis Ellis and James Ellis. Between 1834 and 1839, Joshua Iddings. Archibald Miller. John Craver, Martin and Enoch Wright, Thomas Job, Henry Wain, Thomas Randall, John Millman, Levi Owen, James Shoemaker, George Ilnnselb Elijah Wilkinson, Samuel Shinn, John Shinn, .Jacob Millinan, Stephen Brown, Wesley Eigg. J. W. Chatham, and Thomas Job. son of Samuel J oil.

Among the old settlers still living are Harrison Monnett, Sanford Wise, Harvey Collings, William Todd, Susan Hunter, Delcomposition is of band and gravel, and is j phia Busby, Francis Hughs, Joshua Iddings. entirely different from any other geological Stephen Brown, Archibald Miller, Wesley

Th iirst settler was Joseph Warford, who j Thomas Job. located on section 33 in the year 1821. In j The iirst marriage in Floyd was that of 1822 came Wilson L. Warford, Washington j Wilson L. Warford and Nancy Monnett. Weatherford, Beadle Akers, Isaac Monnett, ! daughter of Isaac Monnett. This occurred Lawson Monnett and Reuben Smith. During j in 1823; and an incident in connection with the year lb23, Thomas Purcell, Cuthbert ; the wedding that is worthy of recording was Daniels, William Aldridge, Thomas Higgins ! that the family had no flour to make bread, and Harrison Monnett became pioneers of ! and therefore the feast had to be enjoyed without that necessary article of food. Delia Warford, born in 1824, was the first white child born in the township. The first who died was a daughter of Joseph Warford, in 1822. She was buried on the home farm, now owned by Vincent Day. This was the first grave-yard in the township, "but it lias not been used for many years. The first saw-ni il! was built by Anderson i'>. Matthews on section 33, in the year L829. Within the next year he added a grist-mill. These were water mills, and stood on Warford 's Fork. Mr. Ogle built a saw and grist mill on Walnut, in tli is township, in the year 1831 or 1835. William Arnold, who had a shop in section 20. in 1S2X. was the first blacksmith. Dr. William Matthews, son of Anderson 15. Matthew-, was the first resident physician in Floyd, lie located in the south part of the township, and became quite a noted man in his profession. The Doctor was author of several medical works, and correspondent of some leading journals of the country. At i later day he removed to Mason, Effingham County. Illinois, where he died a few years ago. Dr. J. II. Robinson is living in section 27, and does most of the practice in the township.

In the year 1838 John Millman, Sr., erected on section 2b' a factory for the manufacture of fur and wool hats, in which he continued to carry on business until the year 18(33, a period of just a quarter of a century. During this time he manufactured hats by the hundred and by the thousand, and hauled them in wagon-loads to neighboring counties where they were exchanged for furs and pelts, ile was a prominent member of the American Fur Company, and collected furs in large quantities, which he hauled in wagons to the company's depot at Detroit, Michigan. Mr. Millman was a man of great experience in his business, and a splendid work- i man, having produced from his factory hat-, which were worn for thirteen years in succession. It was a claim of the old gentleman that he made the first hat eves- worn by Bishop Simpson, of the Methodist church. The last hats he manufactured were sent to Scottsboro, Tennessee, during the civil war, to be worn by the Union soldiers. This old pioneer was a great lover of his country, having sent three sons to the Mexican war, and five to the Union army in 1861. He died in the centennial year, at the age of eighty-seven years, and was buried within sight of his old factory.

Anderson 11 Matthews was the first justice of the peace, holding the office in 1828, and continuing in the same until the time of his death, ile served for a number of years as President of the County Hoard of Magistrates.

Daniel Anderson preached the first sermon in this township, in the year 1822 or 1823, ar. the house of Joseph Warford, which was a place of worship for a number of years. These meetings were livid by the Methodists, who at an early day built -Wesley Chapel" and "Pleasant Grove." -Wesley Chapel" is the only church which this denomination now owns in the township. Their first minister was followed by S. Otwell, William II. Smith. Lorenzo Dow, Mr. Crimes. A. L. Ceilings, II. Ceilings, Isaac Owen, Mr. Cord and Mathew Simpson, with probably others worthy of record, if their names could be recalled.

The history of the Regular Baptists in Floyd dates from the year 1826, in which they farmed a society and built a house of worship called Erion, the same being the first structure of the kind in the township. They also built the second church in the township.

and named it Palestine. Charles and Carter itmter, of Marion Township, preached the first Baptist sermons in Floyd, in the year 1826. They were followed by J . Cost, Spencer Colli ngs and Thomas Broadsheet, who auk among the early Baptist ministers of /ns part of the county.

The village of Groveland, situated on sections 2 and 3. was laid out by Benjamin P. | and Daniel Summers, March 18, 1854, and now contains a population of about 100 per- j sons.

FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP. Franklin Township, lying in the middle of the north tier of townships in Putnam County, comprises tite Congressional township >Xo. 16 north, range 4 west, and is bounded on the north by Montgomery County, on the east by Jackson Township, on the south by Monroe Township, on the west by Russell Township. Its surface is roiling, presenting to the view a varied appearance. The township is drained by Raccoon Creole in the north, North Ramp Creek through the center, and South Ramp Creek in the southwest, all of which take a westward course. The soil of the township is very fertile, producing fine crops of grain and grass. The township is well supplied with timber, consisting principally of poplar, walnut, oak, hickory, beech and ash. The Louisville, New Albany & Chicago Railroad crosses the township north and south, running through the eastern tier of sections, and the Indianapolis, Decatur & Springfield Railroad runs east and west. It is inhabited by an enterprising class of farmers who, improving its natural advantages, have placed it in the front rank of the townships of Putnam.

1824, two years after the organization of the county. In that year James Gordon and "William Elrod settled in that part of the county, being the first to make their way thither. They were joined the next year by Garrett Gibson and James Fiddler. In 1820 came David ! James, Thomas House, David House, Joshua Burnett, William Giddons, John Miller, Samuel Osborn and Thomas Batman. The new-comers for 1827- '28 were James Makemson, the Lafolletts, the Henkles, Mr. Brothers and Thomas Grider. During the next year John Dickerson, A. Osborn, Samuel and Isaac Brown arrived, and were joined in 1830-31, by James Stephens, George Wright, the Catherwoods, Jesse Ilyraer, James G. Edwards, Philip Carpenter. A. S. Farrow and others.

The first habitation of the white man in the I township was erected in the thirty-sixth sec- ! tion by the first white inhabitant, James ! Gordon. The first blacksmith's forge that I rang its peals in that neighborhood was put | up °and worked in 1828 by Philip Lemon. I The first store was kept by Philip Carpenter, I and was located south of the site of Carpen- ! tersville in the year 1*31. The first white child born in the township was James Gor- don, son of Anderson Gordon. The first I school was taught by a man named Elliott in i 1839, in the neighborhood of Fincastle. i William Elrod was the first justice of the I peace. The present incumbents of that office | are Alexander Picked and Squire Dickerson. I Henry Rogers located here in 1832, and became the first practitioner of medicine in the. township. The present practicing physicians are Drs. Harris, Culver, Stanley and Stephens.

The first church organization was effected by the Presbyterians, who at an early day held meetings at the house of George Pearey, on section 1, Monroe Township, but soon removed into a church on section 36, in Franklin. This congregation was under the pastoral charge of Rev. James II. Shields. The Presbyterians now have a house of worship and a good membership at Carpentersville. The Christian denomination next organized about the year 1827. Eiders Coombs, Ilaney, Harris and G rider were among their first preachers. Their present church edifice is located at Fincastle. The Regular Baptists were organized in 1829, at James Fiddler's house, by Rev. Nathan Keeney. They at present have a fair membership, who worship ina church-building on section 21. For some cause the Methodists did not push their organization into Franklin as early as into other townships of the county. Their history is, therefore, more meager than that of other denominations. They have a church at Carpentersviile where they are represented by a good membership. They have, also, a brick church at Fincastle, the finest edifice of the kind in the township.

Carpentersviile, situated near the southeast corner of the township, on the Louisville, New Albany & Chicago Railroad, was laid out about the year 1840, by Philip Carpenter, who had been carrying on a tan-yard there for several years prior to that time. Logan Sutherlin was the first merchant and a Mr. Bradford the first blacksmith. William King taught the first school, and Dr. Cross, now of Bainbridge, was the first physician. The Methodist Episcopal church was the first organized, and the Presbyterian followed soon afterward. Both of these denominations now have church edifices in the village, which has 250 inhabitants.

Fincastle, located in the western part of this township, was laid out in the year 1838, by John Obenchain. A store was soon opened by Allen Pierson, and a blacksmith shop by the Conner Brothers. The first school was taught by Wilson Turner who was also the first resident physician. The moral interests of the community are represented by two churches. The Universalist church was organized by W. W. Carry in 1861, and an elegant brick structure was erected for their accommodation in the same year. The following-named ministers served this church during its early years: S. E. Ballard, E. M. Manford, Miss Prudy LeClerc, B. F. Foster, Mr. Biddlecomb and T. S. Guthrie. The village has about 100 inhabitants.

Roachdale, in the northern part of the township, was laid out in the autumn of 1879, by Elijah Grantham, on the southeast quarter of section 1. It was named in honor of the late Judge Roach, of Indianapolis. The first buildings (a store and a dwelling) were built by Mr. Grantham. Both have been since burned. The first blacksmith shop was built by S. B. Sweeney, who still owns and runs it. The first hotel was begun by William Atkins, of Green castle, and completed by E. Grantham. It is the present McCoy House. The first harness shop was started by its present proprietor, W. 11. Rich. The postoffice was established in 1880. The first livery stable was established in 1882, by J. R. Miller. The first physician was Dr. J. T. Seller, who died in 1884. The village now claims 350 inhabitants, and has two drug and grocery stores, one harness shop, one hardware store, one implement store, one furniture and implement store, one shoe shop, one barber shop, two hotels, one restaurant, three blacksmith shops, two livery stables, one wagon and repair shop, two millinery shops, one flonring-mill, one sawmill, one grain elevator and two physicians. The village is incorporated, and has (in 1887) the following officers: Isaac Edwards (President); J. W. King, J. W. Sutherlin and W.

U18T0Hy Of Putnam County

II. Smith, Trustees: R. M. Redding, Mar- j shal; G.J. Hennon, Clerk; George Justice, ] Justice of the Peace; S. W. Boner, Treasurer; Dr. W. T. McCarty, Secretary of Board of j Health.

Greencastle Township is the central one of the county, exactly coinciding with Congressional township 14, range 4, and is bounded on the north by Monroe, on the east by Marion, on the south by Warren, and on the west by Madison. The surface of the township is generally rolling, though some parts along Walnut are broken, and some in the eastern portion are flat. The soil is good and finely adapted for all kinds of agricultural, pursuits suitable to its latitude. The creek bottoms are especially productive. It was originally covered with an abundant growth of as line timber as could be found in any part of the country. This consisted of the kinds common to such soil. The yellow and black walnut were especially attractive. With these were the other kinds common throughout the county.

The township is drained by Big Walnut, which crosses it diagonally from northeast to southwest, running to the north and west of Greencastle. A heavy and valuable bed of limestone underlies the entire township, giving character to its topography. The township was one of the first settled and is finely improved. Enjoying the location of the county seat near its center, it has special facilities for the development of its natural resources.

Greencastle Township was settled in 1821. by John Sigler, Thomas Johnson, John Miller, Benjamin Jones, Silas G. Weeks, Jubal Doweese, Amos Robertson. John F. Seller, David Deweese, Jefferson Thomas, Thomas Deweese and Samuel Rogers, In 1822 and

1823 came Abraham (oilman. Solomon Coifman. Nicholas GofFman, Isaac Legg, Colonel Lewis 11. Sands, General Joseph Orr, James Talbott, Aniasa Johnson, Robert Glidewell, P. S. Wilson, Ephraim Dukes, John W. Clark, William B." Gwathney, Michael Wilson, John Butcher, Master, and Spencer Hunter, William Talbott, Colonel Daniel Sigler, Lawson D. Sims, Matthew Legg, Rev. John Oatman, Joshua 11. Lucas. Greenberry Mnllinix, Joseph Thornburg, Arthur Mahomey, Jacob Butcher, Robert. Catterlin, James Trotter, Elisha King, Samuel Chipman, Arthur McGaughey, Reese Harclesty, Colonel Matthew W. Bussey, Jesse Neese, Henry Canote, John Lynch, Thomas Jackson, Noble Meyers. John McNary, James Allen, Lewis Gibson, Solomon Tucker, Jesse Purcell, Daniel and Samuel Chadd, John Reck, Hiram Catterlin, Samuel Hunter, Edo-;u- Thomas, James Duffield, Mr. Devoor, the Wrights, Joseph Thomberry, John and Benjamin Cunningham, and their father. During the years 1824 and 1825 George Secrest, Henry Secrest, Clark Burlingame (a Revolutionary soldier), and his sons Abel and Spencer Burlingame, General John Standeford, James Moore, James Day, Dr. Enos Lowe, John Gregory, Joseph F. Farley, George V. Waterman, Thomas Johnson, John Lockhart and William Peck became citizens of the township. The next two years brought Isaac Ash, John S. Jennings, Ephraim Blain, Dr. A. C. Stevenson, Dr. L. M. Knight, Colonel John R. Mahan, Isaac Malian, Lawson Seyj bold, John Hammond, John Oowgill, Peter I Rowlett, William Holland, Philip Carpenter, | Elisha Knight, John Knight and Wesley ! Knight, and perhaps many others whose | names are lost among the increasing multi- I tude who were rapidly filling the country.

To Wns11W Sketches

and of the city of Green castle, that but little remains to be told. The first births and deaths, the first physicians and ministers, the first business enterprises and the organization of the religions denominations, the building of the first mills and factories have all been mentioned elsewhere.

The first tannery was kept by Walter and Ilosea "Wright, who were followed by the Gillespies. Milton F. Barlow was the first hatter. Arthur Mahorney was the first justice of the peace. Other early justices were Isaac Mahau, David Dudley. Reese Ilardesty, John Cowgill, James M. Grooms, Samuel Taylor, Joseph F. Farley, John J. Taylor and Wesley White. The first constable was Joseph Lynch, who held the office for many years. Even some of the younger portion of the community can remember when he still discharged the duties of that office with promptness and energy though bearing the weight of many years,

There are several gravel-roads through the township connecting Greencastle with different portions of the country, and affording the farmers easy access to market, and along these at various points are to be seen many splendid farm residences displaying taste and liberality on the part of their owners.

The farmers of the township arc largely engaged in raising live-stock, and in their fields and stalls are to be found some of the finest in the State.

The village called Greencastle Junction is at the crossing of the Terre Haute tfc Indianapolis Railroad and the Louisville, New Albany £ Chicago road, and is located on section 29, Greencastle Township, two miies southwest of the court-house. It was laid out in 1864, by William Stegg, and surveyed by William H. Shields. The population numbers about 250. Asa shipping point its advantages are of a superior character. It is

' directly connected with the larger cities of the country, north, south, east and west. I The citizens support a good graded school. I The postoffice is called Limedale.

In the year 1856 a lime and stone quarry j was opened at the Junction by llellens, j Butcher & Stegg, and carried on extensive- ! ly, shipping stone and lime to the value of | £20,000 per annum. The Yandalia Railroad ! Company has, also, a quarry at this point, i from which the annual shipment of stone reaches the value of $50,000.

; drieks County, ou the south by Floyd Township, on the west by Franklin Township. It is divided diagonally from northeast to southwest, by the Walnut Fork of Eel River, familiarly known as -' Walnut. '' The' other principal streams vt' the township are Lick Creek in the north, Rock Brunch in the east and Clear ('reek in the southeast. There are many other small streams, but not of sufficient importance to deserve special notice. The land near the streams is either hilly or gently undulating, originally covered with a heavy growth of timber, among which the sugar-maple and poplar predominate; though interspersed with white oak. ehincapin oak, black walnut and sycamore, immediately along the streams, as well as some hack berry and honey locust.

The soil on the undulating lands, near the streams, is a rich, clay loam: but back from the streams it is wet and cold, interspersed with more elevated portions. It is in this township that the swamp land* ot Boone extend into Putnam County. The soil is

William Welch and John Smith built their cabins on section 34, about the year 1825 or 1826, being the first settlers of the township, George Sutherlin contests with these two the honor of making the earliest permanent settlement in the township. In the year 1827 Othniel Talbott, from Shelby County, Kentucky, settled in Jackson, where he found a Mr. Crabtree and Mr. Brown. Garrison Thompson and John Johnson, father of J. B. Johnson, of Greencastle, also came in 1827. In 1828 came James Chitwood, Levi Woods, Martin Ely the and Henry Harmon; and about one year later James Proctor settled in the township. Within the next two years there was a large increase of population. Among those who came at that time may be mentioned John Keith. John Boyd, Wilson Warford, William Eirod, William Hillis, Edward and Isom Silvey, John Blake, James Goslin, James Duncan, John Leach, William Beecraft, Isom George, James Moreland, the McClouds, the Pinkertons, the Rileys and the Barneses. This period, also, embraces the arrival of three more of the Talbott pioneers, Captain John S. Talbott, Lorenzo Talbott, Aquila Talbott. In 1831 and 1832 there was a large immigration, embracing Richard Biddle, Rev. John Case, George Keith, James Dale, S. Shackleford, George and Harvey Jeffries, Jacob Crosby, John and William Miller, and perhaps others equally worthy, who, with equal heroism, struggled with the hardships of pioneer life.

David Johnson, son of John Johnson, born on section 34, March 8, 1828, was the first white child born in the township. The first who died was the daughter of Wilson Warford. She was buried east of New Maysville, in a lot on section 26, which is yet used as a

John S. Talbott kept the first store. In 1832 he commenced to sell goods in a log building on section 27. This building is still in use as a grocery store, in New Maysville; but is now weather-boarded, and, to all appearance, is a frame building.

The first mill erected in the township was built by Mr. Joseph Hillis. The next mil! was erected by George Sutherlin, the next by Abraham Hillis. The first named and the last, were on Walnut; the second, on a small tributary. The last-named ground corn only, the other two ground wheat also.

I). Barnes and Othniel Talbott were the first justices of the peace, followed by Thomas Watkins, John C. Goodwin, George Stringer, Wallace Perry, L, T. Herod, O. Owsley, James Moreland and Jesse Kendall.

The first postmaster was John S. Talbott, the office having been established in his store in the year 1832. He was followed by William Long, John II. Roberts, William Epperson, R. C. Boyd and Jesse Kendall.

The Methodists held the first meetings in the township, at the house of John Johnson, under the ministry of Rev. William Smith. Shiloh Church, on the east bank of Walnut, erected by this denomination, about the year 1834, was the first structure of the kind in the township. Rev. Thomas J. Brown dedicated the building and preached the first sermon within those venerated walls. Lorenzo Dow, E. Wood, L. Smith, Joseph White

The Regular Baptists organized a congregation here about'1832. John Case, "William Hogan and Carter Hunter were among their first preachers. The second house of worship in the township was built at New Maysville by this denomination, soon after the town was laid out.

The organization of the Missionary Baptists in the township dates from 184-1. Elders Palmer, Davis; Kirkendall and Rhinerson \ were among 'the first pastors of this corigre- j gation.

The Christian church was organized in 1831), by Nathan Waters and Gilbert Harney, j In 1840 they erected a church at New Maysville, which was occupied until 1856, when they built another house in the same village. I The early preachers of this denomination were Elders Thomas Lockhart, Oliver P. i Badger, Wilson Barnes, Coombs, Blankenship and O'Kane.

There are two villages within the bounds j of Jackson Township. New Maysville is i located on sections 27 and 34. It was laid out in 1832, by Richard Biddle, on land owned by John Johnson, William Welch and I Aquila Talbott. The present population ; numbers about 125. The place was named by Richard Biddle, after Maysville, Mason j County, Kentucky.

Fort Bed is located on sections 1 and j 12, and was laid out by William DeMoss in 1876. It received its nanie from a red school-house located at that point. William | DeMoss was the first postmaster. He was succeeded by B. F. Wilson.

There are in Jackson Township ten schools, I including the New Maysville school, which I is controlled by a school board of three trus- j tees. The length of the present term of school is one hundred and twenty days. The I average price paid for teaching is 81.65 per day, there being no difference in the price paid male and female teachers. The schoolbuildings, though of rather old structure, are good, and well supplied with apparatus. The percent, of enrollment based on enumeration, is 81. The general average per term is 69 per cent, of the enumeration. Both teachers and patrons take a lively interest in whatever tends to the advancement of the schools. The township library, though old, is good and well patronized.

In regard to its moral status, Jackson stands as high, perhaps, as any other township in the county, never having had a representative in the penitentiary, or even in the county jail. The township has never contained a saloon. Three of the leading religious denominations have a fair representation in the township. The Odd Fellows and the Good Templars have each an organization in New Maysville. In politics, the township is overwhelmingly Democratic; especially is this true of the north and 'northwest side of Walnut; on the southeast side of the creek the parties are more equally divided.

Jefferson Township consists of the first thirty sections of township 13, range 3, and is bounded on the north by Marion, on the east by Mill Creek, on the south by Cloverdale, and on the west by Warren Township It is drained by Mill Creek, and was originally timbered, as the neighboring townships. The soil is a rich loam, suitable for the production of grass and grain. At one time it formed a part of what was called Deer Creek Township, which included Jefferson, Warren and Cloverdale. In the year 1846 Warren and Jefferson gave off enough to make

The first settlers, called squatters, consisted of four families - three named Uiggins, and one named Kirk - who made temporary settlements on section 16, in the year 1819. John 0. Sherrill made his entry of land in the autumn of 1822. Jacob Clark, George Ilendrick, William Albin, George Hurst, David Hurst, John Gillman, Absalom Hurst, Abraham Hurst and a Mr. Langwell,all came in that year or the early part of the next.

After this, settlements were made so rapidly that it is almost impossible to note them as they occurred. From 1822 to 1833 the larger portion of the land was taken up by entry, and but few pieces remained unentered after the year 1836.

Mrs, J. M. Buntin came to the township at the age of three years, with her father, William Albin, in 1822, and has resided continuously on the old homestead for a period of fifty-six years.

The first marriage was that of William Aldrich and Betsey Iliggins in the year 1823. The next was that of Henry Nosier and Mary Hurst, which was solemnized by David Scott, Esq., in 1821.

The family record of John C. Sherrill shows that his daughter Caroline was born on February 27, 1823, and she was probably the first child born in the township. She became the wife of Elijah McCarty, but is now deceased. Probably the next was Andrew McMains - named after his father - born June 10, 1824.

The first mill in the township was built by John Hadden in 1826; the next in 1829, by John Allee. These were both horse-mills. The first water-mill was built on Higgins' Creek in 1834 by John Smith, These mills afforded all the facilities then required for the production of meal and flour.

It appears from the church records that the Regular Baptists organized Mill Creek Church at the house of Rev. Absalom Hurst, in 1828, and in 1830 built a log meetinghouse near the site of their present one. They have maintained their organization ever since, and have twice rebuilt.

The date of organization of the Methodist church cannot be given. In 1838 they built a hewed-log church, called Jones' Meetinghouse. The congregation went down in 1856, after which the house was used as a shop.

The Missionary Baptists organized jSTew Providence Church at the house of John C. Sherrill in 1839, and built a log house of worship in the succeeding year. They have since rebuilt, and now have a commodious, handsome house. There are at the present time in the township five houses of public worship. Rev. Absalom Hurst was the first resident minister in the township, and was considered the founder of Mill Creek Church.

The schools of the township were organized in 1834, The books containing the records, kept by John Allee, treasurer of the township trustees, show that he received from the school fund commissioner of the county, the following amounts : In the year 1834, $116.3% 1835. $191.93f ; 1836, $131.06 J; 1837, 8152; total for four years, $591.31*.

The village of Mount Meridian was laid out by William Heavin and Bryce W. Miller, in the year 1833. It was at first called Carthage, but in order that the town and the

To Wnship Sketches

Madison Township is formed of the Congressional township 14, range 5, and, lies immediately west of Greeneastle. It is bounded on the north by Clinton, on the south by Washington Township and on the west by Parke County. It is drained by Little Walnut, along which the township is considerably broken. The timber and the soil of this township are similar to those of the adjoining townships.

The exact, date at which the pioneers of this township came cannot now be given. Tiie first piece of land entered in the township was by Richard Moore, December 13, 1820; the next by Arthur McGanghey, March 3, 1821; the third was by Benjamin Bel], April 2, 1821, and, in order of time, Isaac Wolvertbn, April 12,1821; Isaac Matkins, December 20. 182L Among those who made entries here in 1822 may be named Frederick Leath.erman, 'Samuel Wright, [saiah Wright, Benjamin Wright, Jesse Wright, John Dougherty, Jesse Oatman, Jacob Curtis and Henry Williams. Fn 1 823 Joseph Thornburg, Abraham Wool ley and George Hansel entered land in this township. Other early settlers of the township were Peter Stoner, Levi Mann, John Anderson, Andrew Frank, Amos Wright, William Torr, John McPheeters and his lather, James Swinford, John Swinford. Jesse Lathram. William P. King, Mr. Albaugh and Rowley. Some of these may have settled earlier than those whose entries are given above.

The following named are among the oldest settlers now living; John Leatherman, Jesse : McPheeters, Joseph Wells, who served on the first grand jury in the county, James

The first death in Madison Township was that of George W. Matkins, son of Isaac and Sophia Matkins, and the first birth was that of John Thomas Matkins, son of the same parents.

The first mill in the township was built by ! Benjamin Bell on the Walnut Fork of Eel j River. It was sold in a few years to James \ Townsend, who laid out Putnamville.

The Predestinarian Baptists organized the : first church in Madison Township about the ; year 1832. About a year afterward this con- | gregation built a log house in which they ! worshipped for near a score of years, and I then built a second log house, which they j occupied until 1S73, when they replaced it 1 with a substantial frame building. Amon°" the early ministers of this church were Benj jamin Parks. Aaron Harlan, James Edwards, I Reuben Siavens, Abraham Leatherman and John Leatherman.

About the year 1834 a Methodist Episcopal church was organized at the house of Isaac Matkins. This church was organized by Rev. William < '. Smith, and the first quarterly meeting was held at the house of Isaac. Matkins. by Rev. Aaron Wood, still actively engaged in the ministry. The congregation continued to hold services regularly there for two or three years, when they built a log house, which they occupied until about the year 1858, and then built a good frame church to- take its place. Among the other early ministers of this church were Revs. De Motte, lieck, Tanzy, Preston, Wright and Fairhurst.

had been preaching for the congregation for several years before this time and continued to do so for a number of years afterward. They erected a log bouse in 1844, which they occupied until 1867. They then built a frame house on the hill west of Ezekiel Wright's, j .Noah Buchanan, John Harris, Nathan Wright, j Lorenzo Dow, Oleghorn and Ezekiel Wright j were the early ministers of this church.

Marion Township lies immediately south j of Floyd, and is the full Congressional town- j ship 14 north, range 3 west. It is bounded, j on the north by Floyd Township,, on the east j by Hendricks County and Mill Creek Town- j ship, on the south by Jefferson Township, j and on the west by Grgencastle Township, j Its surface is gently roiling; the soil good, j and finely adapted .to cultivation. The sup- j ply of timber is abundant, consisting of pop- j lar, walnut white, red and burr oak, hard j maple, beech, ash, and many inferior kinds, i such as elm, gum and sycamore, with a j plentiful supply of hickory on the more level portions. This township is drained by Deer | Creek, that stream having its source in the j northeast comer, and traversing the entire j extent of the township to the southwest cor- J ner, where it takes its leave on section 31.

The first settler in Marion Township was Reuben Ragan, who first came to the county in the year 1818, and prospected the country comprising Putnam and surrounding counties during that, and the following year. He then returned to the State of Kentucky, whence he again came to Putnam in the spring of 1820, staying two years in Green castle Township, west of the city. He entered land in the extreme north of Marion Township in 1822, and became a permanent resident there in October of the same year, continuing to

In October of the year 1824, Mr. Ragan built a hewed-log house, which, having been weather-boarded and plastered, now forms the front portion of the family residence, and is the oldest building in Putnam County, having been in use as a dwelling for more than fifty-four years. Like all of the builder's works it is well done, and it still stands firm, with the probability of withstanding the shocks of time for years to come. Mr. Ragan was a noted horticulturist, and possessed a fine talent ibr his occupation. He sowed seeds for an orchard on the farm of Mr. Thomas, west of Grecneastle, in the spring of 1820, which were, doubtless, the first seeds of the kind to fake root in the soil of Putnam County. A few years later he planted the first orchard in Marion Township, lie is still remembered by his neighbors as a man of vigorous intellect, pure mind, and scrupulously honest and upright in all his dealings.

From the time of Mr. Ragan's settlement in the township to 1824, he was joined by Judge Smith, Henry Wood, Mr. Davis, John Smith, Silas Hopkins and Samuel Hazelett. In the years 1825 and 1820 came William Bell, John Denny, William and James Smith, Bryce Miller, Isaac and George Legg. Jeremiah Nichols, Charles and Carter Hunter, Israel Moss, -John Gregory, James and William Denny, Mr. Acres, Enoch Stone, William Nicholson and Thomas Jackson. Within the next two years the population was increased by the arrival of David Wise, Henry Hunter, Bailey O'Neal, Daniel Chadd, John Benefiel, John and James A gee, Daniel Brewer, Charles Knetzer, Jacob Shaptaugh, Eli Fry, Henry Keller, Peter Lunsford, Daniel Bridgwater. The newcomers for the years 1829 and 1830 were Alexander Gor- ham, Ambrose Day, Thomas Jackson, Sr., William Frazier, John Runyau, Isaac Hope, Joseph Ellis, Anselin Mason, Henry Shields, Samuel Reeves. There probably were others equally worthy of mention. Some of these here named entered land, and, perhaps, lived near Greencastle before settling in what now comprises Marion Township. Nearly all have left here large families, who inherit the blessings of their labors.

The first house erected in the township was that built by Reuben Ragan in 1822. America Hazelett, daughter of Samuel llazelett, was probably the tirst white child burn in the township. Her birth occurred about 1824. The marriage of John Smith, son of John Smith. and Miss Willie Smith, daughter of Judge Smith, was the first that occurred in the township. The first grist-mill in the township was that built on Deer Creek by Samuel llazelett as early as 1820. It stood on section 17. It was in 1834 that Alien Burk put up his horse-mill. James Agee. who. in 1828, had a shop on section 20, was the first blacksmith. Shortly after Agee came Isaac Hope, who erected a shop near the old family residence on section 12. The first store was kept by Ahijah .Robinson at Nicholsonville about 1845. The first postofiice was also kept by Mr. Robinson at the same place. It was afterward removed to Fillmore; but, for several years thereafter, retained its original name of Nicholsonville. William C. IJopwood was the first resident physician, lie located in Fillmore in 1S53. John Denny was the first justice of the peace. He was followed by his brother James Denny, who held the office for fourteen consecutive years.

The Regular Baptist church was the first organized in the township. This was done November 25, 1826, at the house ot' William Denney, by Carter and Charles Hunter and wives, Thomas Broadstreet, Enoch Stone and

I wife, William Nicholson and wife, and Isaac I Monnett. They finally built a house of wor- S ship on the farm of Carter Hunter; but at \ present they have no church building in the ; township. The Missionary Baptists were j organized about 1841. Elders Jones and j Arnold were among their first preachers. ; They have a good frame church., called Bethel, ! two and a half miles southeast of Fillmore. : The first meetings of the Christian church ; were held at the houses of Charles Knetzer j and Ambrose Day. This was before the or- I ganization of the church, which took place I about 1839, and a building, known as Old

Union, was erected on the farm of Ambrose | Day. John M. Harris was their first preach - j er, followed by James M. Matthews, Gilbert i Harney, Nathan Waters, <). P. Badger, Chat- ; terton, James and Perry Blankinship, Cooms, | as well as many others. They have a church I in Fiiimore, which was erected soon after ! the town was laid out. The Methodists or- I ganized a church at what was called "Denny's ; School-house," at' a wry early day. John ino church. In 1838 meetings were held at the houses of Matthew Brann and others. Rev. Owen Owen. Davis, Hancock. Forbes, President Simpson and Prof. Cyrus Nutt were the first preachers of this organization. I The first Methodist church was built on section 16 and called Mount Carmel. After the building of the new church in Fillmore, Mount Carmel was given or sold to the Regular Baptists. Soon after the erection of Mount Carmel, another .Methodist church, named Liberty, was built on the farm of Abbott Robinson, on section 11. This building remained until the congregation erected an elegant frame building, in 1ST1, on a lot given for that purpose by Morris Oliver. Fillmore, the only village in the township, is on the Torre Haute & Indianapolis Rail- , bounded on the nortli by Hendricks County, road, six miles northeast of Greencastle. It on the east by Hendricks and Morgan, and was laid out in 1852, by Benjamin Nichol- on the south by Morgan. It is drained by sou, James Sill and Leonard C. Catterlin, on j Mill Creek, which forms the eastern and land then owned by them, but formerly form- southern boundaries. There are a few small ing a part of Richard Sinclair's farm. tributaries, hut none of any size, which enter

The first store in the town was kept by | that stream within the limits of Putnam Hardin A: Brown in 1852, followed by Ben- County. This township was annexed to jam hi Nicholson, Hardin Wilcox and Moses Putnam County by order of the Hoard of T. Bridges, general dealers; and William T. County Commissioners at the September Smith, who kept a grocery and provision term, 1860, confirmed by act of the Legislastore. Mr. Bridges did wry much toward tu re, approved March 11, 1861. building lip the town, having erected a hotel, | The first settler in this township was and in many other ways added to its prosperity, j Thomas Broadstreet, Si-., who was burn in

Bryce \V. Miller taught the first school in 1826. at the age of thirteen, he came West the township, at his own cabin. He after- with his father, who settled within one mile ward taught at the neighbors' houses - a | of the west edge of the township. Although favorite place being at John Smith's, in what but a boy at that time, he was acquainted was called a three-faced camp, open in front with nearly all the early settlers of the townand built np with iogs on the other three j ship. The first log cabin in Mill Creek sides. This stood on section 10. The next | Township was built in the year 1820, on the was a three-months' school, taught by Alfred west bank of the stream from which the Burton, in a log cabin on section 29, that j township takes its name, one and a halt* miles some one had built for a dwelling and then south of Stilesville, by Jacob Holmes. This deserted. This school was broken up by a j house was afterward sold to James Sallust. man named Nat Hammond, who, becoming , The next was built on what is known as the dissatisfied with the school, went one night | Clark farm, by Thomas Skelton. William and pried down the chimney. The first ' Parker entered [and and built a house close school-building was erected on the farm oi by, u\u\ then cameElisha ilurst and Norman John Denny, on section 28, about the year j Nunn. They were all early settlers, and 1828. and was known as ".Denny's School- I owned land adjoining the Clark farm on the house." John Evans taught, the first school west. William Ileavin came here in the in this house, lie was followed by Lawson year 1827, and at first built a log cabin, but D. Sims and Thomas C. Duckworth, who within a few years erected a good hewed-log taught the first " six-months school " in the house. At a very early day, Mr. Heavin township. The township is now well sup- built a water-mill of the kind known to old plied with good schools, and education is the settlers as a hominy-pestle; and he also order of the day. j planted the first orchard in the township.

Mill ('reek Tow nship lies east of Marion, of "William Ileavin, who died in the year Jefferson and Cloverdale townships, and is I 1830, and was interred near the family dwelling. After eight years more of toil in this new country, her husband followed her in death, and was laid beside the remains of his companion.

James Sallust, father of John and William Sallust of this township and of J. R. Sallust of Oregon, came from Virginia to Mill Creek in the year 1829, and lived in his travelingtent until he built a cabin in which to live. It is remarked of Mr. Sallust that he was a man of great industry, and he put under cultivation a large pavt of the farm on which his son John Sallust is now living. Mr. Sallust made the tirst kiln of brick in the township. His inolder and burner was a man named Daniel Elliott. Mr. Sallust lived to the year 1851. Mr. Mellaffie, from Knox County, Pennsylvania, lather of M. F. Mellaffie, bought land in the north part of the township in the year 1831, to which he removed in the fall of the next year. He built the first water-power grist-mill in the township, in the years 1835-'36. Samuel Beadie, Pleasant Allee and William Allee all came to the township in the year 1837.

The iirst child born in the township was Nancy E. Holmes, daughter of Jacob Holmes, who built the first house in the township. Her birth occurred May 7, 1830. This child died at the age of four years. The first marriage was that of Eli Lee and Polly Ileavin, daughter of William and Barbara Ileavin, in the year 1832. Mr. Lee built the first horse-mill, which was one widely known and extensively patronized for many years. The first school-house in this town- ! ship was built on the farm of a Mr. Bricks. ! The puncheons for the floor and seats of this house were hewed by Pleasant Allee.

The , Methodist church was' organized in the township in the year 1829, at the house of Mr. Bricks, mentioned above. Services were afterward held at the school-house until the erection of Mount Pisgah Church, onthe land of Norman Nunn, in the year 1844 or 1845. Mr. Thomas Broadstreet was one of the earliest if not the first minister in the township.

Thomas Elliott improved the place at the forks of the Greencastle and National roads, where he first built a log house, in which he kept tavern, as did also Mr. Keller, just across the line in Hendricks County. In the year 1837 Mr. Elliott built a brick house, and, in the following year, Mr. Keller built a two-story frame. These were rival houses, and attained to great notoriety. They were known as the "Indian Chief ".Tecumseh and kt Washington Hall." They were together called " the twin taverns."

While the National Road was constructing, in the years 1833 and 1834, the General Government built two bridges over small creeks just west of the twin taverns, the stone abutments of which are good to this day. This is true also of other works of the same kind constructed on that road at the same date.

MONROE TOWNSHIP. This township was one of/ the first settled, and is one of the best in the county. It is Congressional township 15, range 4, and is bounded on the north by Franklin, on the east by Floyd, on the south by Greencastle, . and on the west by Clinton townships. The surface is mostly level in the north part, but more rolling in the south. The soil is a rich black loam, superimposed upon a yellow clay subsoil. Like the rest of the county, Monroe was originally covered with a splendid growth of valuable timber, most of which has been cut and sold. The streams of the township consist of a few branches of Big and Little Walnnt, the latter just cutting the southeast corner on section 38. ' The township is well improved. It has two gravel roads, one running north from Greeueastle, the other west from Bainbridge. Along these roads lies some of the finest country in Putnam Count)'; and the farms are well improved, presenting the evidence of care and skill on the part of their owner*.

The first settlers were Jesse and Rollin James, Elias Gibson and John Powell, who built their cabins in 1821,m the- west part of the township, not far from where Brick Chapel now stands. In 1822 came Isaiah Vermillion, Thomas Head}-, Barnabas Frakes, George W. Hewlett and Philip Ford. During the next two years Levi Stewart, .John, Abner and O. Goodwin and George Pearcy became citizens. Within the years 1825 and 1820 they were joined by William Randall, James W. Hillis, Joseph Logan, Mr. McCorkle, William II. Thornburg, Andy Sigler, Captain Tumbrick, Jonathan, Aaron and Henry Myers, Mr. Glover, John and George Jackson, Mr. Baileys, Thomas Benge, "William Moss, Reuben Slavens, Edward Parish, Andrew Byerly, Joseph Heath, Philip Slater, Hudson and Eli Brackney, Robert N. Allen, Thomas Starks, Mr. Busey, John Allen, Mr. Penny, Abraham Leatherinan and Luke Gardner. The years 1827 and 1828 mark the arrival of Robert C. Brown, Addison and Josiah Lane, Samuel Job, Elswick Risk, George Gibson, John F rakes, J. and P. Clement and W. Hansel. There was a large increase of population in the following two years, among whom were James Montgomery, Daniel Chadd, James Fisk, Phelan and Corbin Priest, dames O'Hair, John Brown, Henry Foster, Alexander Tolin, PeterGraves, John Gilkey, Hiram B. Slavens,

Alexander Farrow, Thomas Tinsley, William Garrett, Sharp Spencer, Mrs. Brother* and her: son Robert lb-others ami Mr. Dale. Among those who came soon afterward may be named the Darnal'ls, 'the Starrs, the Thorntons and the Fyffes.

The marriage of George Jackson and Susannah Tomlinson was the first in the township. The first blacksmith was John Jackson, who built a shop on section 32. Thomas Heady Was the first justice of the peace. Then came Reuben Slavens and Alexander Tolin as his successors in office. The first who died in the township was a man named Lane. He was buried on the farm of George W. Hewlett. The Brick Chapel graveyard is one of the oldest in the township, and has a beautiful 'location. The first school was taught by George Pearcy on section 1, north of Bainbridge. About the year 1826 Addison 'Lane taught a school near the site of Brick Chapel, which was the first in that neighborhood. He was followed by Joseph Farley, Hiram B. Slavens and John Slavens. The Christians held the first meetings in the township at the house of George W. Hewlett in 18^3. Gilbert llaniey preached and conducted the services. This house was used as a place of worship for several years by different denominations. Rev. Benjamin Jones, a Methodist minister, held services also at the house of Mr. Hewlett, shortly after the Christian meetings at the same place, and here the Methodist church was organized by Daniel Anderson and Benjamin C. Stevenson. This must have taken place in the conference year 1820-'27, as Anderson and Stevenson were then pastors of the Eel River Circuit. Meetings were also held in a log schoolhouse that stood where Brick Chapel now stands. The first church-building was erected by the Methodists on the present site of the Montgomery Chapel. It was a small brick

Towmship Sketches

Bainbridge is a flourishing village on parts j of sections 1, 2, 11 and 12, and is a station j on the Louisville, New Albany & Chicago Railroad. Its history will be given in a j subsequent division of this department of I the volume.

This township was originally a part of j Clinton, but in 1828 Clinton was divided, j and Russell was formed as it now stands. It occupies the northwest corner of the county, | and is bounded on the north by Montgomery County, on the east by Franklin Township, on the south by Clinton Township, on the j west by Parke County. This township is 1 composed of the Congressional township 16, | range 5. The streams that drain Russell are Raccoon Creek and Ramp Creek, with their ; several tributaries, all taking a southwestward course. The timber is of an excellent quality, and of a variety similar to that of the neighboring townships. The soil is excellent, especially in the northern and northwestern portions, the country around Russellvillc being charming in its natural character, and finely improved. The southwestern portion is considerably broken, though the soil is good and there are many fine farms. The township, upon the whole, is considered one of the finest in the county.

Russell Township was one of the first settled. David Swank, who came in 1820 and built his cabin on what is still known in the neighborhood as the "Swank farm," in the northeastern part of the township, was the first settler. In the same year came Allen Elliott, who settled on Big Raccoon, near the center of the township; Austin Puett, who settled near the site of Portland Mills, and

In 1821 came John Anderson, John Westfall, Christian Landis, Andrew Robertson, B. Rosencranze, William Sutherlin, John Gleason, Samuel Steele, Thomas Thompson, Jacob Beck and a brother, John Doherty and Andrew Boyd. John Fasher built his cabin on Ramp Creek this year, and removed his family thither in 1822. The year 1822 marks the arrival also of John Guilliams, Jacob Pickle and A. 13. Denton. From 1822 to 1825 Mark Horaan, R. Y. Garrott, Thomas Page, I. Aldridge, Jacob Stid and Thomas Norman became residents of the township.

Within the next five years the ancestors of the Wilsons, the Evanses, the Clodfelters, the McGaugheys, Spencers, Burketts, Forgeys, Blakes and many others 'were added to the pioneer population.

The first birth which occurred in the township is a matter of dispute. The priority belongs either to a child of Christian and Matilda Dearduff, or to Miss Guilliams, who was born about the year 1823. The first marriage was that of John Guilliams and Miss Lydia Fasher, which took place in. July, 1822. They were married by the Rev. Mr. Qninlet. The manner in which this wedding was conducted serves to illustrate the character of the times and the simple habits of the pioneers*. Mr. Guilliams, who was busily engaged in plowing his corn, made arrangements with his intended wife that on the day of the marriage, when the preacher should arrive and she should be ready, she should inform him of the facts. In. due time the preacher came, and a child was dispatched to notify the groom that all things were ready. Hitching, his horse, in the. field, he repaired to the house, where the ceremony was . performed, when he returned to his labor as though nothing unusual had taken place.

Daniel Anderson, who ministered unto tlie people of ,the township during the years 1821 | and 1825, Mas their first preacher. He was i followed by William II. Smith, Lorenzo Dow j and others of the noble band which they j represent. The iirst school-house .was built on the farm of John Foaher in 1823, in j which the first school was taught the same j year. The Iirst mill in the township was I built by Jacob Beck, and was long known as j "Beck's Mill." This was erected in 1820 j and 1821. The burr's of this mill were made j bv John Guy, from a bowlder which lay near j the mill site. The next was -Swank's Mill," j bnilt in 1823. James Secrest opened at Blakesburg the Iirst store from which .goods were sold in Russell Township. In 1823 John Fasher established a tan-yard on Bam p Creek, which was the first- in this portion of the comity. ' (Jolonel James Blake erected a | » 'Sang factory " at the "same place, and operated it from 1820 to 1830. This factory gave employment to all who were not otherwise employed, in digging "'sang," which found a ready market. Jesse Blake, also, who is. still. living in the vicinity, had an interest in this factory. The iirst church was built at Russellville in 1880. When the town was laid out in 1828 arrangements were made for the erection of a church, which was completed two years later. The first Fourth of July celebration/ was held on the' farm of John Dougherty, near Portland Mills, in 1828, General George K. Steele acting as marshal of the day. Drs. James B. Clark, Copeland, Winslow, Rogers and John Slavens were the1 first practicing physicians in this Community.

In the year 1828 the town of Russellville was laid out by Jacob Durham, who was the first merchant and carried on the first blacksmith-sno'p. Dr. Striker was the first physician who resided there. The educational and charitable interests are provided for by a graded school, and a very large, prosperous Masonic lodge. The Methodist church was the first organized in Russellville. It now has aboil t' 300 members, and a remarkably large and ' Well-conducted Sabbath-sehool. The population is about 175.

WARREN; .TOWNSHIP. Warren Township, comprising the first thirty1. sections of 'the Congressional' township 13, range 1, lies immediately south of Greencastle Township, and is bounded on the east by Jefferson, on tlie south by Clover'dale, and on the west by Washington.' The surface of the "township is undulating, and in parts quite broken. The soil is a clay loam, with some

Creek. The township was once heavily timbered with oak, poplar, hard maple and beech, with some groves of walnut and hickory, and a' .plentiful .suppty of sycamore along the streams, it is drained by Deer Creek, together with its tributaries, which traverses the township from northeast to southwest. Along this stream there are numerous neverfaiiing limestone springs.

James Townsend also kept the first store in The Presbyterian church was organized Putnamville. lie was soon folio wed by a Mr. \ at this place November 7. 1*30, at the Me Kane. The first school was taught in the house of .Fames Townsend, by the Rev. Isaac town the same year in which it was founded Reed. The following named members conby Mr. Wakefield. Archibald Cooper built stitated the first organization: John Robinthe first blacksmith-shop, and carried on the son, Samuel Moore, Mary Moore, Alexander business for several years. John Akin also Oonley, Jane Conley, James Townsend, Cathkept a shop about the same time. Hugh erine Townsend, Sarah Shell, Martha Ash- Thompson carried on the first wagon-shop, ! baugh and Julia Ann Merrill, not one of and John Morgan put up the first carding whom remains among the living. James machine. The first grist-mill was erected on Townsend was the first ruling eider. The Deer Creek, one-half mile southeast of Put- i first inin inters were Rev. Jeremiah Hi!} namville, October 16, LS26, by Alexander (deceased), Rex. Samuel C. Lowery, Rev. Conley. Another was built on the same James II. Shields, Rev. William W. Woods. creek, one-half mile southwest of the town. About the year they erected a neat in 1831, by Samuel Steele and Dr. D. W. and commodious brick church, which they Layman. : occupied until 1849, when the Old and the

During the building of the National Road New School members separated, and the New the town improved rapidly and business was School bnilt a good frame church, which was quite brisk. In an early day Putnamville dedicated in February, LS50. A few years also rivaled Greencastle for the location of afterward the < >ld School sold the brick the county seat, and a little later made a church to the Methodists. Some of the memvery creditable effort to secure the location hers joined the New School and some went of Asbury University at that place. To se- t > other churches.

cure this end. her citizens agreed to edve the The Rev. Ransom Ilawley came to Putuniversity a donation of $25,000. ; namville in the year IS 11. and acted as pastor of the Presbyterian church till 1805, a period of twenty-four years. The length uf his pastorate is ample evidence of the accepfableness of his ministry and the uprightness of his life.

The Christian church was organized by Elder O. P. Badger in 1871. This congregation has a good frame house, erected soon after their organization.

Dr. D. W. Layman settled in Putnamville in 1831, being the first practitioner in the town or the township, and so successful lms been his practice that no oilier physician has ever remained in Putnamville for any great li of time.

gton, the oldest of the townships, lies in the southwest corner of Putnam County, and is composed of township 13 and the north half of township 12. range 5. It is bounded on the north by Madison Town ship, on the east by Warren and Cloverdale townships, on the south by ('lay and Owen counties, and on the west by Clay County. The surface of the country in this township is rough and broken. There is a great, deal of excellent bottom land along the streams, finely adapted to the cultivation of corn and other cereals. It was originally covered with the same character of timber as was found throughout the county, consisting principally of white oak. walnut, poplar, beech, hard maple, ash, hickory and sycamore.

Among the early settlers now deceased were James A they, the first settler of the county, John Reel, John Horton, William Roberts, John M. Coleman, Thomas II. Clark, William K. Matkins, Dr. Lenox N. Knight,

The riot house in the township, that of James Athey, erected in the winter of 1818- '19, stood very near the. site of Robert Huffman's residence. The first mill in the township Mas that of Luther Webster. It stood on Deer Creek, about one-fourth of a mile south -of Manhattan. Lloyd B, Harris kept the first hotel in the township, at Manhattan. Thomas II. Clark was the first postmaster. The first shoemaker was Thomas Lewis. The honor of carrying on the first blacksmithshop belongs to John ITooton. Esquires Bu&ick and Athey were among the first justices of the peace in the township. It is worthy of note that Thomas McCullongh was the tallest man that ever lived in the township. He was almost seven feet high, symmetrically proportioned, and of a great physical power.

The first church organized in the township was the Predestinarian Baptist, commonly called "Hard-Shell Baptist," It was organized at Manhattan, in the year 1828, by Rev. Isaac Denman, who continued to preach for the congregation for a period of two decades. A house of worship was built at an early day, which continued to be occupied by the original owners until theyearl802,whenitwas sold to the Missionary Baptists. They in turn sold it, in the year 1875, to the Methodists, who formed a congregation there- about that time. The Methodists erected a new house

The Christian church was established in Manhattan, in the year 1838, by Elder John Harris, and it has ever since had a eonm-egation at that place.

Manhattan is the oldest village in the township, having been laid out in the year 1829, on the National Road, by John M. Coleman and Thomas II. Clark. The first merchant there was Wilson Devore. Dr. Lenox X. Knight was the first practicing physician. Mrs. Judge Clark taught the first school. The first justice of the peace at that place was Lloyd Harris.

Old 'Squire Boone, brother to Daniel Boone, now living in the township, once lived in a house w^hich stood on the ground now occupied by that in which Simeon Stoner lives. On the 3d day of July, 1837, his house was struck by lightning, by which two of his children were killed. Three years later his wife presented him with twin boys, whom he named Tip and Tyler. Some time after that, in the same house, two of his daughters were married on the same day.

HE early settlers of Putnam County mostly came from older States, as Kentucky, Virginia, and North Carolina. where their prospects fur even a competency were very poor. They found those States good - to emigrate from. Their entire stuck of furniture, implements and family necessities were easily stored in one wagon, and sometimes a cart was their only vehicle.

Ie Log Cabin

After arriving and selecting a suitable location, the next thing to do was to build a loo- cabin, a description of which may be interesting to many of our younger readers, as in some sections these old-time structures are no more to be seen. Trees of uniform size were chosen and cut into logs of the desired length, generally twelve to fifteen feet, and hauled to the spot selected for the future dwelling. On an appointed day the few neighbors who were available would assemble and have a " house-raising." Each end ol every log was saddled and notched so that they would lie as close down as possible; the next day the proprietor would proceed to " chink and daub " the cabin to keep out the rain, wind and cold. The house had to be re-daubed every tall, as the rains of the intervening time would wash out a great part oi the mortar. The usual height of the house was seven or eight feet. The gables were formed by shortening the logs gradually at each end of the building near the top. The roof was made by laying very straight small logs or stout poles, suitable distances apart, generally about two and a half feet from gable to gable, and on these poles were laid the -- clapboards " after the manner of shingling, showing about two and a half feet to the weather. These clapboards were fastened to their place by '-weight poles," corresponding in place with the joists just described, and these again were held in their place by runs" or -'knees," which were chunks of wood about eighteen or twenty inches long fitted between them near the ends. Clapboards were made from the nicest oaks in the vicinity, by chopping or sawing tlteiu into four-foot blocks arid- riving these with a fro w, -which' was a simple blade fixed at right angles to its handle."' This was driven into the blocks ol wood by a mallet. As the frow was wrenched down through the wood, the latter was turned alternately over from side to side, one end being held by a forked piece of timber.*

The chimney to the Western pioneer's cabin was made by leaving" in the original building n large open space in one wall, or by Cutting one after the structure was up, and by building on the outside from the ground up,1 a stone column, or a column' bf sticks and mud, the sticks 'being' laid up cob-house fashion." The lire-place thus made "was often large enough to receive firewood six £dr eight feet long. Sometimes this wood, especially the "back-log;"' would be nearly' as large as a saw-log. The more rapidly' the pioneer could burn up the wood in his vicinity the sooner he had his little farm cleared and ready for cultivation. For a window, a piece about two feet long was cut out of one of the wall logs, and the' hole closed sometimes by glass, but generally with greased' paper. Even greased deer-hide was sometimes used. A doorway was cut through one of the walls if a saw was to be had; otherwise the door would be left by shortened logs in the original building. The door was made1 by pinning clapboards to two or three wood bars, and was hung on wooden hinges. A wooden latch, with catch, then finished the door, and the latch was raised by any one on the outside by pulling a leather string. For security at night this latch-string was drawn in; but for friends and neighbors, and even strangers, the " latch-string was always hanging out " as a welcome. In the interior, over the fire-place, would be a shelf, called " the mantel," on which stood the candlestick or

I an old clock, and * other articles; in the fireplace would be thC'Crane, sometimes of iron, sometimes of wood: on it the pots were hung for cooking; over the door, in forked cleats, hung the ever trustful rifle and powder-horn; in one corner stood the larger bed' for the "old-folks," and under it the trundle-bed for

; few cups and saucers and blue-edged plates, -standing- singly pit-: their edges against the back, to make the display of table furniture more conspicuous, while around the room were scattered a few splint-bottomed or "Windsor chairs and two or three stools.

: always welcome, although how they Were disposed of at night the reader might not easily imatnne,; for. as described, a single room was made to answer for kitchen, dining-room, sitting-room, bed-room and parlor, and many while the family disposed of themselves in another corner of the room, or in the " loft." When several guests were on hand at once, thjy were sometimes kept oyer night in the following manner: When bed-time came the men were requested to step out of doors while the women spread out a broad bed upon the middle floor, and put themselves to bed in the center; the signal was given and the men came in, and each, husband took his place in bed next his own wife, and the single men outside them again. They were generally so crowded that they had to lie " spoon " fashion, and when any one wished to turn over he would say " Spoon,'' and the whole company of sleepers would turn over at once. This was the only way they could all keep in bed.

To witness the various processes of cooking in those days would alike surprise &,nd amuse those who have grown up since cooking stoves and ranges came into use. Kettles were hung over the large lire, suspended with pothooks, iron or wooden, on the crane, or on poles, one end of which would rest upon a chair. The long-handled frying-pan was used for cooking meat. It was either held over the blaze by hand or set down upon coals drawn out upon the hearth. This pan was also used for baking pancakes, also called "flap-jacks," " batter-cakes," etc. A better article for this, however, was the cast-iron spider or Dutch skillet. The best thing for baking bread in those days, and possibly even yet in these later days, was the flat-bottomed bake-kettle, of greater depth, with closely fitting cast-iron cover, and commonly known as the " Dutch oven," With coals over and under it, bread and biscuit would quickly and nicely bake. Turkey and spare-ribs were sometimes roasted before the. fire, suspended

Hominy and samp were very much used. The hominy, however, was generally hulled corn - boiled corn from which the hull, or bran, had been taken by hot ]je\ hence sometimes called " lye hominy." True hominy and samp were made of pounded corn. A popular method of making this, as well as real meal for bread, was to cut out or burn a large hole in the top of a huge stump, in the shape of a mortar, and pounding the corn in this by. a maul or beetle suspended on the end of a swing pole, like a well-sweep. This and the well-sweep consisted of a pole twenty to thirty feet long fixed in an upright fork so that it could be worked " teeter " fashion. It was a rapid and simple way of drawing water. When the samp was sufficiently pounded it was taken out, the bran floated oif,and the delicious grain boiled like rice.

The chief articles of diet in early days were corn bread, hominy, or samp, venison, pork, honey, beans, pumpkin (dried pumpkin for more than half the year), turkey, prairie chicken, squirrel and some other game, with a few additional vegetables a portion of the year. Wheat bread, tea, coffee and fruit were luxuries not to be indulged in except on special occasions, as when visitors were present.

Besides cooking in the manner described, the women had many other arduous duties to perform, one of the chief of which was spinning. The " big wheel " was used for spinning yarn and the " little wheel " for spinning flax. These stringed instruments furnished the principal music of the family, and were operated by our mothers and grandmothers with great skill, attained without pecuniary expense and with far less practice than is necessary for the girls of our period to acquire a skillful use of their costly and elegant instruments. But those wheels, indispensable a few years ago, are all now superseded by the mighty factories which overspread the country, furnishing cloth of all kinds at an expense ton times less than would be incurred now by the old system.

The loom was not less necessary than the wheel, tliougli they were not needed in so great numbers. Not every house had a loom; one loom hud a capacity for the needs of several families. Settlers, having succeeded in spite of the wolves in raising sheep, commenced the manufacture of woolen cloth; | purchased it from the merchants. The white wool was carded and made into rolls by hand blanket coat, known as the cajpot, was the ferent epochs. The Indians themselves are credited by Charlevoix with being " very laborious " - raising poultry, spinning the wool of the buffalo, and manufacturing garments therefrom. These must have been, however, more than usually favorable representatives of their race.

"The working and voyaging dress of the French masses,*' says Reynolds, -' was simple and primitive. The French were like the lilies of the valley [the Old Hanger was not always exact in his quotations] - they neither spun nor wove any of their clothing, but.

sometimes need ("or spinning and twisting stocking yarn. They are turned with the hand, and with such velocity that it will run itself while the nimble worker, by her backward step, draws out and twists her thread nearly the whole' length of the cabin. A common article woven on the loom was linsey, or linsey-woolsey, the chain being linen and the filling woolen. This cloth was used.

--In the house, and hi, good weather, it hung behind, a cape to the blanket coat. The reason that I know these coats so well is that I have worn many in my youth, and a- working man never wore a better garment. Dressed deer-skins and blue cloth were worn commonly in the winter for pantaloons. Th,e blue handkerchief and the deer-skin moccasins covered the head and feet generfor dresses for the women and girls. Nearly | ally of t'qe French Creoles. In 1800 scarcely all the cL>-:is worn by the men were also a man thought himself clothed unless he had home-mac. ; rarely was a farmer or his son j a belt tied round his blanket coat, and on one seen in a" coat made of any other. If, occa- i side was hung the dressed skin of a polecat sionally, a young man appeared in a suit of [ filled with tobacco, pipe, flint and steel. On "boiighten" clothes, he was suspected of j the other side was fastened, under the belt, the butcher knife. A Creole in this dress felt like Tarn O'Shanter filled with usquebaugh; he could face the devil. Checked calico shirts were then common, but in winter flannel was frequently worn. In the so much light upon their conditions and | summer the laboring men and. the voyages limitations that in order better to show the j often took their shirts off in hard work and circumstances surrounding the people of the j hot weather, and turned out the naked back- State, we will give a short exposition of the ! to the air and sun.'' manner of life of our Indiana people at dif- | « Among the Americans," he adds, "home- made wool hats were the common wear. Fur I "The blue linsey hunting-shirt, with red or hats were not common, and scarcely a boot ! white fringe, had given place to the cloth was seen. The covering of the feet in win- coat. [Jeans would be more like the fact.] ter was chiefly moccasins made of deer-skins i The raccoon cap, with the tail of the animal and shoe-packs of tanned leather. Some wore ! dangling down behind, had been thrown aside shoes, but not common in very early times.' | for hats of wool or fur. Boots and shoes had In the summer the greater portion of the | supplanted the deer-skin moccasins; and the young people, male and female, and many of I leather breeches, strapped tight around the the old, went barefoot. The substantial and I ankle, had disappeared before unmentionables universal outside wear was the blue linsey ; of a more modern material. The female sex had hunting shirt. This is an excellent garment, | made still greater progress in dress. The and I have never felt so happy and healthy * old sort of cotton or woolen frocks, spun, since I laid it off. It is made of wide sleeves, i woven and made with their own fair hands, open before, with ample size so as to envelop j and striped and cross-barred with blue dye the body almost twice around. Sometimes I and Turkey red, had given place to gowns of it had a. large cape, which answers well to save the shoulders from the rain. A belt is mostly 'used to keep the garment close around the person, and, nevertheless, there is nothing tight about it to hamper the body. It is often fringed, and at times the fringe is composed of red, and other gay colors. The silk and calico. The feet, before in a state of nudity, now charmed in shoes of calf-skin or slippers of kid; and the head, formerly unbonneted, but covered with a cotton handkerchief, now displayed the charms of the female face under many forms of bonnets of straw, silk and Leghorn. The young ladies, insteadbelt, frequently, is sewed -to the hunting ; of walking a mile c«? two to church on Sunshirt. The vest was mostly made of striped day, carrying their shoes and stockings in linsey. The colors were made often with ' their hands until within a hundred yards- of alum, copperas and madder, boiled with the j the place of worship, as formerly, now came bark of trees, in such a manner and propor- -j forth arrayed complete in all the pride of tion as the old ladies prescribed. The; pan- j dress, mounted on tine horses and attended taloons of the masses were generally made of j by their male admirers." deer-skin and linsey. Coarse blue cloth was j The last half century has doubtless witsometimes made into pantaloons. j nessed changes quite as great as those set "Linsey, neat and fine, manufactured at forth by our Illinois historian. The ehronhome, composed generally the outside gar- j icier of to-day, looking back to the goldeir ments of the females as well as the males,, j days of 1830 to 1840, and comparing them The ladies had linsey colored and woven to with the present, must be struck with the suit their fancy. A bonnet, composed of j tendency of an almost monotonous uniformity calico, or some gay goods, was. worn on the head when they were in the. open air. Jewelry on the pioneer ladies was uncommon; a gold ring was am ornament not often seen."

in dress and manners that comes from the easy inter-communication afforded by steamer, railway, telegraph and newspaper. Home manufactures have been driven from the

In 1820 a change of dress began to take ' household by the lower-priced fabrics of displace, and before 1830, according to Ford, taut mills, the Kentucky jeans, and the most of the pioneer costume had disappeared, j copperas-colored clothing of home manufac- ture, so familiar a few years ago, having- given place to the cassimere and cloths of noted factories. The ready-made clothing stores, like a touch of nature, made the whole world kin, and may drape tlte charcoal man in a dress-coat and a stove-pipe hat. The prints and silks of England and France give a variety of choice and an assortment of colors and shades such as the pioneer women could hardly have dreamed of. Godey and Demorest and Harper's Bazar are found in our modern farm-houses, and the latest fashions of Paris are nut uncommon.

Family Worship

The Methodists were generally first on the ground in pioneer settlements, and at that early day they seemed more demonstrative in their devotions than at the present time. In those days, too, pulpit oratory was generally more eloquent and effective, while the grammatical dress arid other -"Worldly" accomplishments were not so assiduously cultivated as at present. i'ut in the manner of conducting public worship there has probably not been so much change as in that of family worship, or "family prayers." as it was often called. We had then most emphatically an American edition of that pious old Scotch practice so eloquently described in Burns' " (.'otter's Saturday Night: "

Those strains that once did sweet in Zion glide; He wales a portion with judicious care, And " let us worship God," he says with solemn air.

Compared with these, Italian trills are tame; i The tickled ear no heart-felt raptures raise; Nae unison hae they with our Creator's praise.

Once or twice a day, in the morning just before breakfast, or in the evening just before retiring to rest, the head of the family would cull those around him to order, read a chapter in the Bible, announce the hymn and tune by commencing to sing if, when all would join; then lie would deliver a most fervent prayer. If a pious guest was present he would be called upon to take the lead in all the exercises of the evening; and if in those days a person who prayed in the family or in public did not pray as if it were his very last on earth, his piety was thought to be defective.

The familiar tunes of that day are remembered by the surviving old settlers as beinomore spiritual and inspiring than those of the present day, such as Bourbon, Consolation, China, Canaan, Conquering Soldier, Condescension, Devotion, Davis. Fidncia, Funeral Thought, Florida, Golden Hill, Greenfields, Ganges, Idumea, Imandra, Kentucky, Lenox, Leander, Mear, New Orleans, Northfield, New Salem, New Durham. Olney, Primrose, Pisgah, Pleyel's Hymn, Rockbridge, Rockingham, Reflection, Supplication, Salvation, St. Thomas, Salem, Tender Thought, Windham, Greenville, etc., as they are named in the " Missouri Harmony."

Hist011Y Of Putnam County

Members of other orthodox denominations also had their family prayers in which, however, the phraseology of the prayer was somewhat different and the vuice not so loud as characterized the real Methodists, United Brethren, etc.

Hospitality

The traveler always found a welcome at the pioneer's cabin. It was never full. Although there might be already a guest for every puncheon, there was still " room for one more," and a wider circle would be made for the new-comer at the log fire. If the stranger was in search of land, he was doubly welcome, and his host Mould volunteer to show him ail the " fir.st-rate claims in this neck of the vvoods£" going with him for days, showing the corners ami advantages of every u Congress tract " within a dozen miles of his own cabin.

To his neighbors the pioneer was equally Hberal. If a deer was killed, thechoieest bits were sent to his nearest neighbor, a halfdozen miles away, perhaps. When a k4 shoat" was butchered, the same custom prevailed. If a new-comer came in too late for " cropping," the neighbors would supply his table with just the same luxuries they themselves enjoyed, and in as liberal quantity, until a crop could be raised. When a new-comer had located his claim, the neighbors for miles around would assemble at the site of the new-comer's proposed cabin and aid him in >w gittin'" it up. One party with axes wonld cut down the trees and hew the logs; another with teams would haul the logs to the ground; another party would the cabin; while several of the old men would k* rive the clapboards " for the roof. By night the little f >st domicile would be up and ready for a " nouse- warming," which was the dedicatory occupation of the house, when music and

An instance of primitive hospitable manners will be in place here. A traveling Methodist preacher arrived in a distant neighborhood to fill an appointment. The house where services were to be held did not ! belong to a church member, but no matter j for that. Boards were raked up from all ; quarters with which to make temporary seats, one of the neighbors volunteering to lead off I in the work, while the man of the house, j with the faithful rifle on his shoulder, sallied ! forth in quest of meat, for this truly was a i " ground-hog " case, the preacher coming and j no meat in the house. The host ceased not i to chase until he found the meat, in the j shape of a deer; returning, he sent a boy out ! after it, with directions on what "pint" to ' find it. After services, which had been ! listened to with rapt attention by all the ! audience, mine host said to his wife, " Old | woman, I reckon thin 'ere preacher is pretty j hungry and you must get him a bite to eat." I ""What shall 1 git him?" asked the wife, who | had not seen the deer; '- thar's nnthin' in the : house to eat." - Why, look thar," returned ' he; thar's a deer, and thar's plenty of corn in - the field; you git sonu- corn and grate it | while 1 skin the deer, and we'll have a good I supper for him." It is needless to add that ! venison and corn bread made a supper fit for ! any pioneer preacher, and was thankfully ; eaten.

Trade

In pioneer times the transactions of comj merce were generally carried on by neigh bor- | hood exchanges. Now and then a farmer ! would load a fiat-boat with beeswax, honey, i tallow and peltries, witli perhaps a few 1 bushels of wheat or corn or a few hundred \ clapboards, and float down the rivers into the Ohio and thence to New Orleans, where : the letter had not been bronirht 500 miles in he would exchange hi.s produce for substan- a day or two, as is the case now-a-days, but tials in the shape of groceries and a little had probably been weeks on the route, and ready money, with which he would return by the mail was delivered at the pioneer's postsome one of the two or three steamboats office, several mile? distant from his resithen running. Betimes there appeared at dence, only once in a week or two. All the the best steamboat landings a number of mail would be carried by a lone horseman, "middle men " engaged in the " commission Instances are related illustrating how misand forwarding" business, buying up the representation would be resorted to in order farmers' produce and the trophies of the chase j to elicit the sympathies of some one who was and the trap, and. sending them to the various i known to have "two bits" (25 cents) of distant markets. Their winter's accumula- money with him, and procure the required tions would be shipped in the spring, and the Governmental fee for a letter. manufactured goods of the tar East or distant Peltries came nearer being monev than South would come back in return: and in all anything else, as it came to be custom to these transactions scarcely any money was estimate the value of everything in peltries. seen or used. Goods were sold on a year's Such an article was worth so many peltries. time to the farmers, and payment made from Even some tax collectors and postmasters the proceeds of the ensuing crops. When were known to take peltries and exchange tne crops were sold and the merchant satisfied, them for the money required by the ( roverntlie surplus was paid out in orders on the ment.

-> tliey generally supposed that their a working man, his employer would ask. ban! struggle would be principally <-wr after "Well, what store do you want your order the first year; but alas! they often loot sd on?" The answer being given, the order for "easier times next year" tbr many years was written and always cheerfully accepted, before realizing them, and then the} came in so slily as to be almost imperceptible. The sturdy pioneer thus learned to bear hard- Money was an article little known and sel- ships, privation and hard living as tfood dom seen among the earlier settlers. Indeed, j soldiers do. As the facilities for makimr they had but little use for it, as they could money were not great, they lived prett\ well transact all their business about as well with- j satisiied in an atmosphere of good, social, out it, on the "barter" system, wherein great : friendly feeling, and thought themselves as ingenuity was sometimes displayed. When good as those they had left behind in the it failed in any instance, long credits con- East. But among the early settler.- who tributed to the convenience of the citizen,-., came; to this State were many who. accus- But i'oi- taxes and postage neither the barter tomed to the advantages of an older civilizanor the credit system would answer, and ! tion, to churches, schools and society, became often letters were suffered to remain a long speedily home-sick and dissatisfied. They time in the postoftice for the want of the 25 would remain perhaps one summer, or at cents demanded by the Government. With most two, then staling whatever claim with all this high price on postage, by the way, its improvements they had made, would re,- turn to the older States, spreading- reports of the hardships endured by the settlers here, and the disadvantages which they had found or imagined they had found in the country. These weaklings were not an unmitigated curse. The slight improvements they had j made were sold to men of sterner stuff, who were the sooner able to surround themselves with the necessities of life, while their unfavorable report deterred other weal: lings from corning. The men who stayed, who were willing to endure privations, belonged j to a different guild; they were heroes, every one, - men to whom hardships were things \ to be overcome, and present privations things to he endured for the sake of posterity, and " they never shrank from this duty. It is to these hardy pioneers who could endure, that we to-day owe the wonderful improvement we have made, and the development, almost miraculous, that has brought our State in the past sixty years from a wilderness to the front rank among the States of this great nation. I

Milling

Not the least of the hardships of the pioneers was the procuring of bread. The first j settlers must be supplied at least one year from other sources than their own lands: | but the first crops, however abundant, gave j only partial relief, there being no mills to j grind the grain. Hence the necessity of. grinding by hand-power, and ninny families were poorly provided with means for doing this. Another way was to grate the corn. A grater was made from a piece of tin, sometimes taken from an old, worn-out tin bucket | or other vessel. It was thickly perforated, j bent into a semi-circular form, rough side upward, on a board. The corn was taken in the ear, and grated before it got dry and hard. Corn, however, was eaten in various :

Soon after the country became more generally settled, enterprising men were readyto embark in the milling business. Sites along the streams were selected for waterpower. A person looking for a mill-site would follow up and down the stream for a desirable location, and when found he would go before the authorities and secure a writ of ad quod damnum. This would enable the miller to have the adjoining land officially examined, and the amount of damage by making a dam was named. Mills being so great a public necessity, they were permitted to be located upon any person's land where the miller thought the site desirable.

Ag Kig C Ltubal Implements

The agricultural implements used by the first farmers in this State would in this age of improvement be great curiosities. The plow used was called the " bar-share" plow; the iron point consisted of a bar of iron about two feet long, and a broad share of iron welded to it. At the extreme point was a coulter that passed through a beam six or .-even feet long, to which were attached handles of corresponding length. The moldboard was a wooden one. split out of windingtimber, or hewed into a winding shape, in order to turn the soil over. Sown seed was brushed in by dragging over the ground a sapling with a bushy top. In harvesting the change is most striking. Instead of the reapers and mowers of to-day, the sickle and cradle were used. The grain was threshed with a flail, or trodden out by horses or oxen.

Bog Killing

Hogs were always dressed before they were taken to market. The farmer, if forehanded, would call in his neighbors some bright fall or winter morning to help -v kill hogs." Immense kettles of water were heated; a sled or two, covered with loose hoards or plank, con- | almost every merchant had, at the rear end stitnted the platform on which the hog was of his place of business or at some eonveneleaned, and was placed near an inclined ient building. a « pork-house," and would buy hogshead in which the scalding was done; I the pork of his customers and of such others a quilt was thrown over the top of the latter as would sell to him, and cut it for the marto retain the heat: from a crotch of some j ket. This gave employment to a large numconvenient tree a projecting polo was rigged ber of hands in every village, who would cut to hold the animals for disemboweling and and pack pork all winter. The haulin<>- of all thorough cleaning. When everything was this to the river would also give employment arranged, the best shot of the neighborhood to a large number of teams, and the raanuloaded his rifle, and the work of killing was facture of pork ban-els would keep many commenced. It was considered a disgrace coopers employed.