Shelby County, Indiana - Chapter 4: Pwskeks, 1909

Chapter 4: Pwskeks

Eacli vcar, as it nnlls its resistless way along- the niiL;lny pathway of time, is fast thinning- the ranks of the hardy pioneers and their sons and daughters, who, in their adventurous way. first l)rokc the broad pathway of emigration into what is now Shelby couiit}-, Indiana. The relentless hand of death, jinrsuing his remorseless and unceasing avocation, is cutting" down, one b\- one, the hardy and brave men and women whose fathers and mothers and grandsires were the first to tread this soil - those who first "blazed" their way through forest and glen, and became the true \-anguru-ds to a higher and Ijctter type of civilized life.

No pen can portray, no tongue can tell of the hard-hips and cruel vicissitudes of fortune endiu'ed in those early days l)y thusc who justly are nowenrolled in h.istory as "first settlers" in Shelby county. It was ninety years ago that the first to make permanent settlen-ient here, w-endetl their wa}- tlirough the dense forest lands, crossing unbridged and angry streams, in the face of wild beasts, camping where but a few moons before the red man had kindled lu's last caiiip-fire and vacated, in a peaceful manner, this fair domain and gone on to the great and th.cn little known ^lississippi \'alley country.

Some had left homes in a far nv-ve ad\anced cnuntry. in Ohio. Kentucky, and th.e Carolinas. w-hile nthers were former residents i>i Pennsylvania and Virginia. As one looks at the portraits of some tn" the pioneers of Shelby county, and notes thicir \veather-beaten forms, their furrow-ed brows, the preinatiu"e1y hoary locks, one is impressed by th.ese sad, }.-et eloquent evidences that theirs w-as no holiday life, while weathering the storms and turmoil of pioneer life. Penury, hardship and often absidute w-ant v,-ere their lot. while trying to conquer dame nature and establish h'-inies for tlumsel\"es and their faniilies in this boundless w-ilderness, but now in the garden spot of Indiana.

Let us hasten, then, to put down the words as they fall from the lips of th'jse yet remaining this side the strand, the words of the people whose sires performed grandly heroic deeds in those earlier decades, that their actions nia}- find the niche in history which they so richly deserve. Let their wi^rds and deeds form a monument that shall long outlast bronze wh.ich mi'iSt ere long mark the place of their rest. Let their epitaph be: "Tiicv Have BitUdcd Better Than Thex Knez.:"

From the Slate Rei)orls of Prof. John Colkit in u^Si. it is learned that: l^euiote from great rivers and actual beds of water, one is astonished to find aluLKt the whole surface ..f the county covered with aluvium. either ancient or modern. 'Jdu's explains at once the uniform depth an.d fertility of the soil and a^k^ wliat great llocd^ of water and ice plowed out these valleys, contrary to the usual direction of the drift s. nithwester!v. and afterwards covered the hilltop^ and glacial drift with clay, sands .,f the loess.

The tVux-st mould and peatty soils are caused by the decav of leaves, grass and other vegetable remains. The alluvial loams of creeks and river b./.ttoms are due to causes now in .action. Water in swift morion grinds nMliiig rocks and pebbles to sand and clay, a slow, btit sure and mighty mill, and these by Hoods, are spread up. ^n overtlowed lands, blessing- them with lenewed fenii'tv. always productive, and Commanding full prices.

There was a period when a great lake oi fresh water covered Southern Indiana and adjoining regions in Illinois, Kentuekx and ^[i?souri. .\ suijtropic, or tropic climate prevailed. .\ s.nuliern vegetation was known to exi-t. with the elephant, megalonynt. peccary, etc. This lacustral deposit in these parts exhibits a summit le\-el of about eight hundred feet al)o\e the ocean. hence, shallow on die elevated plateaus and d.?.tted with island hills, if deeply covered with its waters the valleys previously eroded. The inHowing stream's gave rise to slow currents, so that t';e deposits are often finely and distinctly laminated. Few. or ikj pebbles, only sands, are found even upon its shoi-es, for the temperature did not admit of the transporting agency of the ice. The loess deposit is seen on many of tlie highlaiKK of the connt\-, and is well exhibited in the \vagon road cut at the hill top at :vlount Auburn. Long exn>)sure to rainfall and other atmospheric conditions have remo\-ed most of tltc deposit from the slopes, and its material modified by tluviatile action largely forms the tenacious soil of the woods." or enriched by coarse sand, the loams of the river bottoms.

Of th.e glacial drift, it may be stated that t!ie surface features of Shelby county are due largely to the agencies of the great Ice Age. The b.ard-pan

As a general rule, the nortliern ice llou filled up ancient valley-, and river lieds, as was determined by test bores and shafts in Kn.jx, Clay, rutnani, I'ountain an.l Tijipecanoe counties, and as may be recog-'.rized in the sand and gravel pits near Waldrcm; pushing into such valleys, dividing Iiills and the masses of material Ijeneath and at the foot of the glaciers and forming innumerable lakes, which dotted the entire surface of the state. At other times the ice flow followed north and south valleys, or depressions parallel with the outcrops of the geological formations, as th.e rocks were more or less easily erodeil by it and the existing conditions.

But all these elements and agencies caimot account for the results exhibited in Slielljy and adjoining counties. The trend oi tlie streams and the vallevs do not coincide with the dip of underlying rocks. On the other liand. with slight southern deflections, they are parallel with the western extension of the axis of Lake Erie, crossing the state from east to v.est. The nortliern ice flow brought white, gray and black granites, and a multitude of specimens, positi\-ely indicating the line of transit by lakes Michigan and Superirir. In Shelby comity few such rocks are found, but instead massive bowlders fpjm small to six. eight and ten feet in diameter, and constantly, abundantly seen in the southern parts, of red felspathic granite, enough laminated to fix theu" gneissic or sedemenlarv origin, ckisel}' resembling the red granites of I.o\\er Canada and X'ermont.

Hot Wells

The construction of deep wells has <leve!oped the singular fad that for everv seventv-live feet in depth tliere is an increase in the temperature of the water in a well of one degree F. The temjierature of sjjring water at the surface is also known t.i be 52 degrees F.. so by this law one may determine tlepth by heat and heat by depth. Hence a change of temperature of twenty-eight degrees indicates a depth of 2,212 feet.

The Shelbyville Thermal well was put down in December. 1S70. in the east part of thexitv. near Blue river bridge. At a de[)tli of eighteen feet the water was found to be warm, and at the Iv itom. twenty-four feet from the surface, a constant temperature, winter and summer of seventy-six degrees, was maintained.

The Barlow Thermal well, near the old Barkwv :\lil!s. four miles we^t of Shelbvvilie. where there was an old well, at the residence of Henry Barl.w, that was twenty-three feet deep, and had been used for household purposes, and was lavorablv knov. n for furnishing cold water. 52 degrees F. Suddenly this well water became warm, and im loni^-er desirable: the thermometer indicating 65 deg'rees F. A pi])e was dri\en in Xi member. 1S70. from the h>ittom through fine sand and pebble-^, resting in a l_icd nf gravel. It went to a depth of thirty-nine feet from the >;nrface. The water was foiiiul to ha\e a temperature of eighty d.egrees F. and during the next winter attaine<l a maximuiu teni]-)cratiu'e of eighty-six degrees. These wells were excawited for potable water only, and being unfit for this use. were neglected and allowed to fill up. If found permanent, these springs will invite the attention of those needing baths of a h.ot nature, and suggests that it would be far cheaper, and doubtless as beneficial, to use these thermal waters of Shelby county, as to pay large stuns at a resort at soiue of the distant "hot springs" in the far Sotithwest and \\"est.

The physical phenomena of Shelby cotinty represents ages of life, centuries of energy, cycles of time, writing with a mightier hand than wields pen of lead or iron, e\-cnts on the rocks fore\'er. The romantic history it tells of a deep, crild. quiet sea. an tmseen life of mollusk and radiate: it records attenrling astronomic changes of climate and time, and leaves a thousand log-books of wondrous ships of crystal silver, floating on a river-sea cif icy water.

The only earthworks by pre-historic man are to be seen at St. Paul, so far as Shelby county is concerned, says the tx'pert in this line of investigation. A mound thirty-two feet in diameter and nearly six feet high, is built on the brow of the terrace bluff overlooking the river in the valle>- and commanding a wide view toward "sunrise" between the rocky hills. W'lten explored it contained human bones, which on exposure, quickly went to dust. They were cr)vered with flags supported by a stone wall, indicating a national \'ault or grave. Several smaller tumuli, possibly habitation mounds, were seen near b}-. Many interesting stoue impleiuents have been found scattered along the valley of Flat Rock river, evincing the taste as well as the skill of the ancient inhabitants, and if not their permauent h.ome. this was at times a favorite hunting and visiting locality.

When th.e white race first settled America it \\as believed that the continent was pe.i])led by one family of Indians, and that they had one language, with a few modifications, as the English language has when spoken in different sections of the world. P)Ut this false notion did not long prevail among the white people who found that there vv'ere manv tribes and dialects, all unknown one to the other.

Sehooleraft. a on.ul authority on Indian tribal rcla.tions. says that this great Indian trihe had tlieir homes on the Atlantie. <ni the Delaware arid Susquehanna and the tributaries of these great rivers. Here it was that pcaeeful William Vev.n found them and made his first treaty with them in i'SSj. Thev were a powerful nation during Penn's lifetime, and lived on terms of peaee with the whites. After Penn's death things suddenly ehangcd. Prior to 1736 Ih.e powerful federati(>n of the Six Xatr t.s had waged sueeessful war against one of the divisions of the Delawares. a'.id had compelled it to acknowledge its suprem;icv. Thev claimed that by right of conquest they had acquired the ownership, not onlv of the lands belonging to the conquered portion, but to the whole territory belonging t the knowledge of the rightful o\\ right and title to the whites.

time, btit civilization kept up its ever march toward the sinking sun, and the sullen savages disdaining enlightenment of white men, retired constantly to the gloom of their native forests. Their next stopping places were in Eastern and Central Indiana, and parts of Ohio. Here they remained until liy treaiies made from time to time, they extinguished tlieir title to all the rich domain, and agreed to go beyond the ^ilississippi river.

Articles of a treaty with the Delawares at St. Mary's, in the state of Ohio, between Jonathan Jennings, Lewis Cass and Benjamin Parke, commissiiniers of th.e P'nited States, and the Delaware Indians.

Article 2. In consideration of the aforesaid cession, the I'nitcd States agrees to provide for the Delawares a country to reside in upf)n the west side of the ]\Iississii)pi river, and to guarantee to them peaceable possession of the same.

Article 3. The United States also agrees to pay the Delawares the full value of their improvements in the country hereby ceded, which valuation sh.all be made bv persons tri be ajjpointed for that purpose liv the President of the

Article 5. The I'nited States agree to i)ay to the Delawares a perpetual annuity of four thousand dollars ($4,000), which together with all annuities -which the United States by former treaty agreed to ])ay them, sliall ])e paid in silver any place to which the Delawares may renmve.

Article C\ The I'nited States agree to provide and >upp>in a hlacksmith for the Delawares, after their removal tn the west side of the Mi-;sis.-ippi.

Article 8. A sum not exceeding tlnTteen thousand three hund.rtd twelve dollars and twcnty-tive cents (813,312.25) shall be paid by the I'ni'.ed States to satisfy certain claims against the Delaware Xation.

In testimony the said Jonathan Jennings, Lewis Cass and Ben.janiin Parke, aforesaid, and the chiefs and warriors of the Delaware Xatinn of Indians, have hereunto set their hands at St. Mary's, in the state of Ohio, this 23d day of October, 1S18.

While the Delawares were permitted to remain in this terr-turx- for three Years after the said treaty described above, there were in fact but few here at the end of that period. Those that did remain were peaceable and gave the settlers no trouble. Indeed sn slKirt a time did they remain after the white settlers came in. that but little may be said of them in connection with the settlement made by the white race. We draw not from imagination. Irut from a well written reminiscence from the ready pen of the venerable Isaac Wilson. Avho was but twelve years of age when'he accompanied his father, wlio, by the way. was Shelby count\-'s first white settler. When an agefl and well matured. posted man, ^Mr. Isaac Wi'snn wrote these words:

"Ijy the terms of the trc-aty of Octr,l.)cr. 1818. the Ind.ians reserved the right to remain and Innit and trap in the Xew Purchase I'or tlie >pace nf three

M-ars. -\ii(l ihin'ni;- ihis peri' d tliiTO wore i 'CcasiMn;'.] (.-ncaiiiiiinent-; '.lie ii-il iiH-ii in \arious pan.-; <<{ wliat i,-; mnv Sliclliv ci iruv. Near Marian, laiiic^ \\]]<n:i eMal)li>liol a ira.lint^- i^ -^i an>l (.-XL-han-cl 'o>ar>c clothin-. blanks;-, tliiit.s. kni\c>. etc.. h^r i'ui> i1h'_\- l)r.:u-lil in. Siimelinie< as ln\--li as a liuivlri'il \i\i lo possibly nut hi.inih'L->l aii.l ih'iy wiaild ci nic- in iHis \)>'-l in a single ilav. As a general thing, they were (|uiri and friendly, and gave little irmible malarm to the whites. During the entire winter nt iSi()-_'(). twd Indiati families remained encani])ed within lialf a mile of ^^r. \\"il-~on"< home. Their names were Pislian Ouennm and Captain C'anam. Their h' u-ehold eonsi-ied solely of themselves and their wives. The latter having but little to do dm-ing the hunting seas(_;n often called on ^Irs. Wihou. ()ne one occasion thev arid their husbands were invited to tea and to sjiend the evening. The ladies arrived first, mounted on hand-ome ])onies and sealed upon perfectly beautiful side-saddles. The horns of the saddles, also the ne.il slii)per> in the siirruijs. were literally covered with gi-aceful silver bands of their own workmanshi]). Their toilets consisted of colored calico chemise, with ruffles upon the neck, bosom and wrists, brick-cloth leggins. moccasins, highly ornamentetl with beads and porcupine quills, together with the indispensable blanket. Their arms, both above and below the elbow, were encased in silver bracelets, tlu'ecfourths of an inch in width : upon their bosoms thev wore l)r'iaches nearlv as large as an ordinary tea-saucer. At the table they and their hn-^bands h.andled the tea cu]js and knives and forks in a most civilized mau'.ier. In the ci inersation but one at a time took part. A little boy of ?^Irs. Wilson's was iIk- obieet of much caressing to the Indians - especially the ladies. When thev were ab' .ut to depart, after spending a very pleasant evening, one of ihem took her husband apart, and after talking and laughing a liiile sprang toward t!ie little white baby boy. clasped her hand around the instep of his tiny foot, then placed the heel 1>etween. Iter thumb and linger, and extended her hand lengthwise of the foot, at the same time calling the attention of her husband, wlio gave a short grunt, as if to .say. 'all right.' Xot long afterward. v>hen she visited !Mrs. \\"ilson again, she caught up the baby and put upon his chubby little feet a beautiful pair of moccasins. They fitted as neatly as a pair of kid gloves. This pleasant incident indicates not only the friendly relations that exi.-ted. but also a degree of refinement we ilo not look for among the aborigines."

"One day a settler whose caljin was near the bank of Sugar Creek, where the Indians had come to hunt, went to them for the purpose of trading dogs. It was in tlie morning of a beautiful Sabbath day. As he approached their camp, he was surpri-ed to see them all collected logcther. sitting ujjon the ground in a circle, in the center of which one of their n.umber was reailir.g from a Ij.hA-. That book prove<l to lie the Xew Testament, in the Delaware

"Their i(le;is i,i Christianity were few ami .Mmple. Ini and steadfast in their faitli. and stated that thev had been c the labiirs oi a mi.'-siunary by the name ui McCoy.

"Some time after the Indians had all gone, a family of fifteen, iir twenty returned and camped on Lewis Creek, five miles below Shelbxville. ]\1\' recnllectiou of it is that it was in the fall of 1X^3; and as the_\ were some distance frtmi an}- \\hite settlement, and peacea1j!e. they were permitted to remain and trap raccoon and niuskrat. While there the following occurence took place: One Lewis Buskirk. who had entered and settled upon what was later the Guy Johnson farm, purchased a horse at Lebanon. Ohio. The a.nimal escaped from his new master ar.d returned to Lelianon. pursued, by Buskirk on fo(.i and alone. After he had been gone several days his friends became a.hinned because of liis continued absence, and at once concluded that th.e Indians had killed him. A compan_\' was at once raised, consisting of John C. Walker, then Sheriff, William George and James Goodrich, J. M. Young, William .Morris, James H. Lee, Ximo'd Gatewood and some others, all well armea, and marclied into the Indian camp un Sabliath morning. To their great surprise they found the red men engaged in worship. After the services had concluded they were greeted by the Indian minister who inquired of tliem why tliey carried gims on the Sabbath. This no gootl. said he."

'J'he white men then told the Indians there was a man missing, and that it was the siippobition that they had murdered him. and fearing the result they had come to advise them to leave, which the_\ agreed to ilo in three davs. as soon as they could get ready. Before tlie time had expired thev had struck tents and departed for tlie far West. Buskirk returned from Lebanon with his horse in a few days, but not until tlie Ii.djans were well on their way west. Near the house of Esquire Wells in Marion township is the grave of one of this U'jble race, and tradition says that it is the last resting place of one of their distiuguislied xxarriors - one of the Delaware tribe. At eacii recurring anniversary of the death of this celebrated warrior chief, if such he was, the remnant of the tribe that inhabited this section would gather at this consecrated spot, and the exercises as described by pioneer Wilson, as follows :

"Quite a number of Indiians came to my latitcr's cabin. <jne bright spring morning and borrowed of my moth.er a coffee pot, into which they poured a quart of whisky. They then proceeded to the grave, forming a circle thereabouts, with the spokesman at the head, rle lifted the coffee-pot to his mouth as if in the act of drinking, and tlicn ])assed an-und the circle three times, each one pretending to drink the contents. This Isaxing been done thev fi ilflerl their arms ar.d stood for niinutes in the attitude of solemn mcfjitation or silent

Shelhv is uiie of t!ie central counties of Iiuliana, and its northwest corner comes within a few miles of the slate cajjital. h is bounded on the nortli by llaiicnek county, on th.e east by Ru^li and Decatur counties, (jn the scuitli by Decanu- and r.arthi.il<.nicw counties and on the west by Johnson and .Marian. Its l)readth is seventeen miles fnnn ea>t to west, while it is twenty-t'. uir miles from north to south. It contains two hundred sixty-one thousand one hundred twenty acres of land.

The face of the country is divcrsilicd. Around Xorristown llierc are lari^e and beautiful fields that skin hills of identic slope. Around Mount Auburn there is land that resembles the rolliuL;- prairies of llie far famed Missouri valley. Around }>Iorristown one .sees both highlands and lowlands, studded with farms that will bear comparison with any portion of the United States, .\gain. along the Flat Rock one sees a variety of scenery, hill and dale, plateau and undulation. Over this entire scope, embracing over two hundred and sixty thousand acres of land, the soil will bear the closest scrutiny of actual lest.

Droughts never have afflicted this section of the state. Streams of pure water, clear and fresh, pass over pebbly Ixnioms and traverse the country m almost any given direction. The eight principal water cour.ses have a total length of one hundred and forty miles, furnishing plenty of water for farm. stock and mechanical purposes. Along these various streams there is a fine. rich bottom land of extra fertile soil.

Xear the present village of St. Paul there has long i)een worked extensive quarries of a very superior article of limestone. The strata extends for more than five miles around and afford an abundance of choice building material for both city and country.

Geology

Of the geological formation of this county, let it be stated that, while some have termed' the county tiat and low. the fact remains that Cincinnati. Ohio, is four hundred thirty-two feet above sea-level, while Shelbyville has an altitude of seven hundred fifty-seven feet. Shelbyville is also about one hundred feet higher than the city of Indianapolis and two hundred and fifty feet higher than lake Michigan.

The surface deposits are chiefly derived frotn the glacial drift, subsequentlv modified by fiuviatile action. Hence, while the soil is compr.sed oi fine impalpable clays, extensive Ijeds of sand and gravel are found iKiieath the surface, and in the valleys and streams.

*Al ilic close of the glacial eiHich. this region was very deeply covered with howlder drift, as is plainl_\- imlicaletl l_i_\- liigii mounds and ridges of gravel and huwlders, reaching in height the .-umniit level of the cnuniy. They -indicate the enormous erosive agencies wliich have s\ve])t frum north, to sonth in this locality, and which have carried away the clays and hner materials, and left behind them the bowlders and gravel as indices and monuments of the depth which these deposits originally had.

In the western part of Shelby connty the soil is somewhat modified by admixture of detrital matter from the underlying shales, and hence the dark color and its tenacious character. In the central and more eastern portions of the county it is modified by a generous admixture of calcarions material from the lime rocks beneath.

The rocky beds of this county cnniprise the Devi^nian and the u])per part of the Sihu-ian formation. The black slate of the former under-runs the west and southwest sides of the county. The lime rock beds of the devonian contain but few fossils, and the whole exhiljit a thickness of from eighty to one hundred and fifty feet.

The rocks of the Silurian period succeed in age and come out to the surface from beneath the Devonian period formation in the central and eastern parts of the countv, and are from forty tu seventy feet in thickness. They contain a great many interesting- and well preserved fossils, which illustrate the life of the ancient ocean, whose deep v.'aters rolled over this region and upon whose muddy bott<im these animals li\ed and at last perished.

The St. Taul and Waldron beds have long been a school to scientists of the world, illustrating the geological reports of many neighboring states, and filling museums and cabinets with beautiful and interesting trophies of the long ago past.

As earlv as 1S76 the Centennial history of this county had this to say concerning tlie stone found at St. Paul: "This stone varies in color from a bluish dove to a light gray, and is in strata of from a few inches in thickness to several feet, averaging alxjut twenty inches. The colored stone has a great capacitv for resisting fracture under weight, and is used in piers, lime work, water-tallies and monumental bases. The gray stone is equally compact and adapted for door and window caps and casing columns. Subjected to the greatest tests known to science, this stone in endurance and all qualities required by the architect, is fully equal to the best. It has been used in many of the public buildings Jn this region of the state, and a demonstrative example of its merit and true excellency may be seen in the court house, at Indianapolis, the modest colors contrasting well with the neutral tints of r)ther hme stones. This building material commands a ready market in the cities of the \\'est as well as Xorth and South. In 1S7; there were shipped four thousand four hunilred eigh.ty-nine car loads of this stone.

Ear1.V Settlement Of Silelbv Covxtv

The scUleiiicnt of SIk-IIa- cnniUy is (li\ ided intr. two period? - that of tlie Indian IradLT, always in the vanguard of civilization in America, and the actual settlement of the white man, who came to remain, as a true builder of a great commonwealth. He came, he saw. he conquered and the present generation owe to him tlie great advantages they enjuy in iliis the early years of the twentieth century. W'liile tinged with sadnes^;. yet it is ever pleasant, to recall the scenes coincident witli the settlement uf any omntry. IMeasant, because in fanc) , we see dear faces again. Sad, because they have long since passed to the great unknown, and do not mingle with us, their pn^sterity, only in fancv and hallowed memory. It was more than ninety years ago that men first looked upon the fair domain now known as Shelby coimly, Indiana. Their sons and daugh.ters have seen the wilderness of tlicii Moss<jm into the rose of toiiay.

At the date of admission of Indiana into the Union, the Delaware tribe of Indians occupied this section of the "lloosier" state, and used it as tb.eir hunting grounds. Here they chased the deer and brought him down with how and arrow. Here they fished in the rippling streams that had been tiowing on toward the great sea for time unknown to man. If not this tribe, certain it is that this country was roamed over by other than civilized men and women. By a treaty with the United States C.overnmeiu. this tribe rclir.- all right an.d title to the lands within this county. October. iSiS.

Prior to this date but fev>-. if any. white men had trod this soil. It is believed that the first of our race were French traders who had dealings with the Delaware Indians, and also the whites traxeling from Detroit to \'inccnnes. by way of old Fort Valonia, in Jackson county. Following the White river and tributaries, they must have gone through wliat is now Shelby county. Tlie first one positively known to have entered this territory was William Conner, an In.dian trader, who at that time liad a trading post at the present site of Conr,crs\-ille. Early in 1816 lie lloated d.nvn Mat Rock river in a small boat filled with such goods as he could trade to the Indians for furs. Uater he traveled along the course of Blue river, and to bands of Indians that camped along its banks he became a welcome guest. In fact, he was often later on in hist,,rv. knr.wn as the "Father of Central Ind.iana:" was a true tvpe of a stalwart fr.jntiersman ar,d through his intimate relations with the Indian tribes found here, was able to give General Harrison, in days of Indian

\\"ilii the intelh'gence being made known in I-"raukliii count}- that tlie Delaware treaty had been ratiiied. Jacob W'hetzci .started for this section of tlie state, blazing his \va_v through the dense forest land, from Brookfield to White river. This trail thus established by his ax. passed through what is now Shelliy comity, in a norlhwesterl}- direction, and crossed the Blue river aljout four miles and a half north of the present site of Shelby vide. The Wdu-tzcls. Jacob and Cyrus, with their families, returned to the bluffs of \\"hite river in 1819. and permanently settled there. Richard Thcjrnbcrry settled at the point where W'hetzel had crossed the Flat Rock, now in Rush county. James Wilson, accompanied liy a man named Logan, and one named Hanna. followed the blazed trail to wliere it crossed Big Blue river, and became the iirsl actKa! scltlcrs in Shclb}' county.

Here in the wilds of a "'green glad solitude." Mr. Wilson and his party felled the trees, from a forest never before ti.uched with the true steel of a woodman's ax. and with these trees made into suitable logs, erected the first log house. It was sixteen feet square, had a slab or puncheon floor and a stick and clav chimney. The location of this rude but very useful cabin was on section i6, }vIarion township, about three hundred yards from where later stood the better made house of "Scjuire Wells.

After the cabin was under roof. ;>dr. Wilson left his sons to complete the structure, while he returned home and brought his first load of goods. He remained a few days, was much pleased at his future home prospects and returned home again, arriving late in Decemljer. iSiS. New Year's day. 1S19. the father, motlier. Isaac H. (then a boy of but twelve years of age) four little sisters, and the baby boy, bade farewell to the scenes of Franklin county and started en tlieir jwous journey to the home just being established in Shelby countv. The sons, William. Jonathan and Wesley, having been hard at work in the meantime getting the cabin ready for real winter quarters for the famih'. A deep snow had fallen and severe was the day. The creeks were frozen over, v.hich enabled them to cross en the ice. until they reached Flat Rock river, where the wheels broke through the none too thick ice. After some delay, the load was safely landed on the right side of the stream, but being thus belated, they did not reach the new home in the forests of Sh.clby county until ten o'clock at night of the third day after starting out. The three men. grown sons, had lieen expecting them and had lx:cn thoughtful in that they had killed and had roasting a fine venison, which was steaming and sending forth its savory smells to greet ar.d tempt the hungry new- conuTS. And who shal! say. tliat there in the -lariiitr Hglit of that nule tirep!ace witliin a new ly buih cabin, there was not a royal meeting and a happy family, though pc«r in this world's actual possessions? This is the story of the coming of the first family of white persons to Slielby countv. \'ast the changes since that cold winter night in January. 1S19.

Not content to be in a wilderness alone with his family. Mr. Wilson induced his friend and trusty neighbor. Bennett Michael, of Fairfield.. Franklin county, who was by trade a shoemaker. Init not a successful business man. to pull up there antl cast his lot in this county. He provided this shoemaker with a small cabin, situated near that of his own. Tims we have traced the coming and settlement of two, the first two, settlers in this cr.imty. To enumerate all wlio came in soon, is not possilile at this late date in the liiJtory of the county, now almost a century old. There are. however, records in earlier histories of this county, taken from relia]>le sources, including the entries of the land offices, to show the names of quite a goodly number of the pioneer band which commenced home-building in the count\-.

In the spring of 18^0 Benjamin Raster. John I'oreman, John Smith and Henry Fishel, with families all located on the school section in r^Iarion township, as now known. A list of those who made subsequent settlements in :\Iarion v.'ill be f..inid elsewhere, in cor.nection with -First Events" in the county.

Immediately after the signing of the Indian treaty, the government had tliis land sur\-eyed out. The parties who executed such worlc iii^ Shelbv countv. were as follows: \\'. B. Laughlin. completed his survev Tn.lv 23. '1819; A. Wallace, July 23. 1S19: B. Bcntly. May 31, 1S19; Abraham Lee. fuA 22. 1819: John Hendricks, April 20. 1820.

The land office at BroikviHe was opened for the sale of lands the first iMonday in October. 1S20, and almost instantly settlements were made tiiroughout the entire countv.

By some it is affirmed that a settlement was effected in what is nov,- Flanover township, as early as the latter part of 18 19, by Joseph Hewitt and Firman Smith. The Yankee settlement at Freeport was among the most prosperous of the earlv settlements.

In Addi.son township the first settlement was eitected in the northwestern corner and was many years styled 'A\"ray's Settlement."' The pioneers in that section of the county were. Rev. James \\'ray, Isaac and James Tenupleton, Samuel and John Xail. Zeboniah S'ubbs. James ^.lontgomery. Zebedee and Barnabas Wray. all natives cf Xorih Carolina. In and about Shelbwille. tiic Hendrickses, Goudriches. Walkers. Davi'^sor.s. .Mayhews, Wingates'and William.s, with others whose names have been mentioned in the vari.vas chapters of this Mork.

In tlie southeastern part of Shelley county there were few. if any. squatters on land, hut soon after the survey liad heen completed .Mexander \'anpelt came with his family and settled at the mouth of Comfs creek, in what later was kn'Wvn as Xohlc t..\vnship. Others who came about the same date were: Arthur Ma-jor. Isaac .\very. Joshua and Daniel \\'illiams. William Major. Mathias Floyd, John and Anderson Wintcrrowd, Peter Bailey and Jonathan Paul. The last named was a conspicuous fgure in th.e setticmeni of both Shelby and Decatur counties.

During the year ]8_m. the settlers came into th.e county raiiidly that it is not possible to give them in the order in which they made settlement in various parts of tiie county.

The land-oftk-e was opened at Brookville, in the month of October, 18.20. an<l during the next three months, or thereabouts. th,e following entries of land were made to settlers :

Havino- rednr.ited the chief incidents connected with, tlie varions settlements made withi'.i this ctiunty. let us linger a momeiit and view what can now be learned, after mt long a jieriod of years, CMncerm'ng the real traits nf tlie pioneer characters of those whose offsprings still inhabit and make to blo,-«ini like the rose, this g-oodly heritage.

In the settlement of all new countries, there are scxeral elements entering into the niake-ui^ .,f tiie community. F(.r c.\am;.Ie. there is always found lb;u class of roving- men and women, who come, remain a few months or possiblv years: hunt. fish, trap and set a bad influence to others and then wiovc on to new fields, where they repeat the same nomadic I'fe, onlv ti. be aiipreciated by the better classes when they have forever forsaken the c untrw Then there has always been the professional sp-eculati-ir who couk- m with a sound of trumpets and flourishes many maps, many |jropositi<;ns to the honest toiler. He plats towns, builds mills and factories and establishes bdgliwavs. etc. - but c>nl_v in his niinJ - -lie in fact acc"mplisl-,es nothing I'f intrinsic value in the community. The real c(^:tnty builders are the men. and women, too, wito have the laudable ambitions of life and look to the building of permanent homes, where thev may rear and educate their children and at last be buried as honorable ar,d praiseworthy citizens, ever aimiu',:- at the right and law-abiding principles of the commonwealth in which th.ev live.

Xot a few of the worthies., shiftless class before nair;ed. found their way to the bounds of early-day Shelby c This will, in a great measure, account for the large number of cases of assault and battery that figured in the Courts of tin's C'-iuiUy in the fiist years, or p'.ssifily rlecadcs. in the county's settlement, ^'ei. tho'=e da_\ s were remarkably free from real capital crimes.

I poll the weisjlitv autlmiity ol n>.nc i.tliur than tlic linn. I'.anial)-i=: C. lli-hb,-. ].].. D.. it may lie staled in his lanL^uai^e : "These jjcople were hi.t;ht(ii;c(l and ])atriutic. and liad great regard for law and order. It was not sale for anv man to swear profanely when in the presence of any authority that c'.-.ild ip.ip-se a I'lne. Men had to obey for wrath if not for conscience. There was a slO'ng repugnance U) immorality generall)', h')we\er much the picnple might ha\e lieeri deficient in general culture ov learning. T'ic_\- were iinensely lint sincerely sectarian in their religious views. It was at an age cf brave men. being scon after the great War of 1S12-14. Though religious they were men of honor, and ever held themselves in readiness to vindiciitc their honor by hard kn''cks when they thought it necessary."

Little remains to be added that can be said to l)e historic concerning this ])cople. Tb.e early, true and actual settlers of Shelby county were men and women of industrious habits. coriteiU with small gnins and pileasuves not too dearly jiaid for. In brief these people ',\ho tirst set foot on this soil were not the type who could create the materials for a real stirring history. T'.ut in the language oi another. "Happy is th.e country whose annals are a blank."

To fully know of the pioneer liardships endured by the real Inidders r.f this one of Indiar.a's banner counties one must needs \'k'W th.e domain that it embraces as seen in the years of its first settlement. Hence, let us pull away the screen that di\'ides the early past from the prosperous present and gain a better understan.ding cf the premises, as they then existed.

This was not an inviting prairie-land, such as enchanted the pioneer band in the .settlement of Illinois. Iowa and other true prairie countries. Xo - this was an unbroken boundless, almost impenetrable woodland, where the kings of ilie great forest had lield sway mar.y centuries. The jjeople who CiUie here were mostly from Ohio. Pennsylvania, the Carolinas. Virginia and Kentucky. They were nearly, if not all. poor and usually, after entering and paying the g'enera! gi 'vcmment its price f'-r an eighty-acre tract of land, had not one dollar left to begi!i the improvement on tl.e same. Quoting th.e eloquent language of anotlicr - an eye witness, who has long since been niuubered with the h.onored. hut departed dead of the county, who said: "Without money, and without the assistance which mimey always brings, they had come here to make war upon Xature in o-.ic of tlie must forbidding forms. Where now we may see broad fields and wide jiasture^ of open woodland, then the thickly standing oak. the poplar, the bLCch. the maple, and the ash stood chisely intertwining their limbs. \\ b.en clothed in tiicir summer verdure, a shade so deep and dark was produced as t'l shut oiu the sun from ^lay to October. From the damp earth below sprang a growth of up.d.erbrush, so den^e that it presented in many places an impein.'traMc barrici' to tlie liorscman. and in st.nic in^tancc> alni^^t inacreS'^ible to the iV'L'lman. In cumicction with this. Id it be borne in niiml iliat the i'ri;-l lands, wliieh occuijv sd large a space in Shelb}- county, were at that time inundated more than (me-halt of tlie year. The forests were checkered over with the trunks of trees - si^me newly fallen., some sunk half their diameter in. the oozy soil, and these laying- in every direction, closed the drains until there was scarcely any escajjc for the flood, sa\'e by the slow jirocess of evaporation and percolation. The soil, rich as it was and is, in organic matter chemically mixing witli the watery element, rendered the paths and \\i>ods almor;i untraversible for man oi" beast.

'"Tiiere were no great roads upon which to travel : there were no markets in which to buy or sell: there were no broad fields in which to raise grain for liread. Under these circumstances, unpropitious as they were, the pioneer settlers were compelled to maintain themselves and families. We may well imagine that it was in many instances a very hard struggle for life."

Such was Shelby county four score and seven years ago. It was forbidding and gloomy and the prospect bad indeed. But the men who had come here went to work with a dauntless courage and uncon.|uerab!e energy. Thcv bore cheerfully and contentedly the toils and h.ardshi])s ?,]\i\ privations of the herculean task before ihcm. buoyed up liy the hope of leaving to their children a good inheritance.

The result is seen today. They labored and we reap tlie harvest of all that is good and excellent in character, and are counted one among- the best counties within Indiana.

First F.Vexts

There is always more or less curiosity clustering about the "first events" of any sectiijn of the country settled. There are children - some and grandchildren many - living within this county who will read with a just pride and due interest the narraticjn of th.c first happenings of this goodly portion of the Hoosier state, where their forefathers first settled and erected their rude l<ig cabiii houses and made their first "clearing" in-im out tlie native I'orests. It is for the benefit of sitch persons, as well as the future h.istorian. that the following "first event" list is published in this work:

First actual settler was James ^^'ilson. who came in Xovember, iSiS. Tlie location was on the southwest (juarter of secti'.in 9, township 13, range 7, east.

First town site was Marion, located in v.diat is now Marion township (before the county's organization, and in 1820. by James Wilson and John Sleeth. It was named for Gen. F"rancis Marion, of Revolutionary fame.

First will was nia.le h\ Jaeoh Le-vi>. on March 4. i8jj. First dwelling- of any kind erected within the county was th.e log' cal>in. of pioneer James Wilson.

First public building- was the school-house erected on the I'ublic square, in the town of }*Iarion. as early as the autunin of i8ji. It was built of l'g;s and was in size, si.xteen by eighteen feet.

First judges were Hons. John Sleeth ai-id \\'illiam Goodrich. First court bu-Mncss was to admit five applicants \o practice :is attorneys at law "in this court."

I'irst Prosecuting- Attorney in the county was lliram W. Curry. Fsq. First oath of allegiance was administered to J;>!in X. Calvert, a former subject of Great Britain and Ireland.

The first instrument placed on record within Shelby county was a warrantv deed of David and Eeniah Guard to J(.'hn J. Lewis, dated June 25. 1822.

'The first election took place at the forks of a tree on the Shelbyville pullie square, for the purpose of electing a major of the militia and resulted ni the

First Grand Jury in the county was in session in ^S22. and consisted of the following- gen tl erne r, : Jame- Gregory f foreman ) . Jc-e Bird. Abel Cole, Zachariah Collins. Flenry Shearer. Zadock Plummer.

A little ni(>rc than a third of a century after the signiing- of the Dcclaratiun of IndependeTiCe. and in iSi(5. Indiana was admitted into the Union o1 States. Five years later Shelby county was organized liy an iinahling act of the State Legislature, the date Iwing December 31, 1S21.

With this date begins the history proper, of what i^ now Shelby county. The act for the formation of the county north of Partholomew county, reads as follows:

Section I. Ce it enacted by the General Assembly of the .state of Indiana, that from and after the first day of April next, all that part of Delaware county contained within the following bounds shall form a separate county viz.: Beginning at the southeast corner of sectiiin 35, in. township 11 north, range 8. east of a second principal meridian: thence nortli [vicnty-four miles, to the northeast corner of section 4, township 14. north of range 8 east; thence west seventeen miles to the southwest corner of section 2, township 14. north of range 5 east ; thence south tvrenty-four miles to the north boundary of Bartholomew county ; thence east seventeen miles to the place of beginning.

Sec. 2. The said new county shall l;e known and designated by the name of Shelby oumty, and shall enjoy all the rights and privileges and iurisdiction, which t-. separate and independent counties do and may properly belong.

Sec. 4. The Circuit and all other cnirts of the county of Shelby shall meet and be holden at the b.ouse of David Fisher, in said county of Shelbv. until suitalde accommodations can l;e had at tlie seat of justice; and so soon as said criuntv is satisfied that suitable accommodations can be had at the countv seat they shall adjourn their courts thereto, after which time tlie cr)urts for the county of Shelby shall be holden at the county seat of Shelljy cour.tv.

Tlie naming of Shelby county was in honor of tliat distingnislicd general of RevouTtionary fame, who became governor of I\.cnlucl<y - Gen. Isaac Shelby. Xoi less than a dozen counties in the L'niied States have been named for him. He was born near Hagerstown, Maryland, 'December ii, 1750, and died in Kentucky in July, 18^6. It was in 1813 that he joined Gen. \\'il!iam Henry Harrison at the head of four thousand gallant Kentuckians, and rendered brilliant ser^-ice in the battle of the Thames and brouglit him into intimate association \Vith the people of Indiana.

The first term of the Commissioners' Court for Shelby county was held at the residence of Dayid Fisher, near the town of Alarion. on Tuesday, April 9, 1822. Haying presented their certificates of election, the oath of oflice was administered to Richard Tyner, Joseph Dayidson and Dayid Fisher, who at once organized by electing Richard Tyner. president. Hiram Aldredge was appointed clerk of the Board and William Dayis County Treasurer, for the term of one year. The first official business of the first Board of the newdy made county was the division of the county into sub-divisions or townships. Four townships were thus made - Union. [Marion, Hendricks and Xoble. civil townships. An elecii'in was ordered in each of these four townships, to be held April 27111. tVu" the election of Justices of the Peace, the following places being designated as polling places : Union township, at the house of Cvrus H. Stone: JNIarion township, at the house of John Summer; Hendricks township, at the house of Eli Adams; Xoble township, at the house of Samuel Drake. Election inspectors were appointed, after wdiich the Board adjourned sine die. A special session was held in }*Iay of the same year. Benjamin Hodges \\~as appointed "lister" for the year 1822. A superintendent was appointed for each school .section of the county, after which the business of the session was largely taken up by hearing road petitions, which were signed by "divers and sundry" citizens and set forth in glowing terms the public utility of tlie proposed lines. The prayer of the petitioners was always granted, and viewers appointed to survey and report as to the practicability and convenience of such proposed highways.

The county seat commissioners, appointed h\ the Legislature, were : George Eently. Benjamin PUythe, Amos Eoardman. Joshua. Coiib and Fljenezer Wart]. They met at the house of David Fisher on the first }iIonday in July,

1822. and jji'iicecilod In examine tlie several pi'i'pijjcd site?, iiamely : Vim. ^farion : seomd, the farm of Isaac Lemaster. who offered a donation of forty acres of land: third, the present site of Shelbyville. near the -eo^raphical center of the county, where seventy acres were I'ffered,, Major John Hendricks, forty acres. James Davison tuenty acres and' Hon. John Walker. ten acres. After spending four tkiys in careful deliljeratioii. the commissioners accei>ted the Shelhyville site and- the announcement was maiie on the l'"ourth of July and was the sr)urce of much enthusiasm on the jiart of the throngs wlici had luet to celeljrate the Xati^>nal ]ndei)endence Day. C>f course, as would be looked for. some rejoiced, while others lisiened to the announcement with deeji regret, if not in bitterness. Criticism was rife in the county and for years the decision was thought to have been an unwise one on the part of the commissioners appointed by the Legislature for the purpose. The ])rincipal cause for this criticism was the fact that for a numlier of years the town site of Shell\v\-ii1e was partly CAered with water a good share of the year. On the contrary, the other proposed sites were on high and dry lands. But. all in all. the ccnml)- sea.t difiirulty in Shelliy county was settled without the usual ain.ount i.^f tn.ulile, litigation and bitterness that has characterized many another county in this and other states.

The Board of County Commissioners met in special session. July 5th. and accejited the report, which detincs tJie boundaries of the doii.ated lands as follows :

''Coiumer.cir.g at a ,-take di\"iding sections 5 and 6. in range 7. east of the second principal meridian, township u north: thence east on township hue dividing townships 12 and 13, along the northeast r|uarter of section 5, towriship and range aforesaid, supposed to be i6o rods, more or le-s : thence south to enclose twenty acres. Also twetity acres on the southeast quarter of section 31, range 7. township 13. lying as foll'jws : Commencing at the southeast corner of sectic'U aforesaid: thence running north to Blue river; thence down. IViue ri\-er to make twenty acix'S. Ten acres in section 31. range 7, township 13. as follows: Commencing at the southwest quarter of section afores;iid. at the southwest corner, thence cast across said f|u:uner section: th.ence north to inclui.le ten acres, and tliat the said site Itereby located, shall f)e known by the name of Shelljyville"

Hon. Abel Cole was appointed county agent, and directed to have al! of the west h.alf of the Hendricks donation, as well as that of Walker, laid i'.it'j town lots, streets and alleys. The first sale of lots was advertised to take place Se])t ember 23d. and the terms of sale fixed as follows: '-One-twelfth in cash, balance payable in three semi-annual installments, with interest from date, if r.ot paid at maturitv." The price of lots was from ten to fiftv dollars.

dcpciuling- on locaii^ni. 'i'lic cash procL-cils from ihe first lot saic were hiU S15.75, of whicli Si. 75 wa.s cxpciulcd for \vhid<y to lie u-ed .mi tlic da_\ i^i llie puljlic sale, not to increase l>i(ls. but as was remarked by erne pioneer ])resent. as a preventive of the malarial di>ease that '-llesli was heir to in those

The record discloses the fact that at the Jannarv, iSj^. teiin of the Ojniinissi.iners* G'uri. that the Clerk. Treasurer and SherilT were each allowed iwenly-two dollars for their services for one year, which to.lay would hardlv temjit one to run for county otnce.

At this session of the Board the rate of ta.xation for tavern^ was fixed. Vov each meal of victuals, twentydive cents; for one bed. six and a fourth cents; fur horse at hay. twelve and a half cents; f. ir each o-all,,n of grain. twelve and a half cents; for each hilf pint of v.hisky. ten cents; oiic-iialt pint of brandy. twenty-h\e cents. Prohibition unthonght of.

A pound was ordered contracted for by liids, the same to be tifty feet square, a ]>05t and rail fence six feet higli. with a gate five feet wide.' The southeast lot of the public square was designated as th.c location of said pound, and Benjamin Williams appointed keeper of the same.

A county seal was agreed upon at this session, also, it was descri!>ed .-.^ a circle, around the ed.g-e of v,hich were the words. "Shelby Countv Seal. Indiana.'" In the center of the circle is an eagle perched upon the head of a lion.

At the meeting of the Board in Se])lember. 1826, the Board made an allowance of ihirty-se\en ami a half cen.ls for whisky furnish.ed the countv by Smith \\'ingate. and ordered that tlte same be paid out of the monev in the treasury, not otherwise already appnjpriated. The ])rice of whisky', as fixed by the Board was ten cents per pint, hence it will be r.bserved that tlic price paid and the quantity were not very excessive. The next time the county needed liquors in its routine of oibcial business was in Xo\ember. 1827. when sevcntyd'i\e cents' worth of brandv was n-ed.

County Board Abgi.Ished

In 1824 the lav,- creating a B lard of County Cijmmis^ion.ers was abolished and in its stead a similar Board, having the same office, was created from the various Justices of the Peace within the several townships within the county. One of its number was elected President, the Clerk of the Court being an ex-ofticio Secretary. The first of such boards was composed of the following gentlemen, each a Justice of t!ie Peace; Alexander Vanpelt. Mc;Ty ^IcGuire. Willis Law. H. H. Lewis. b_.hn Kenncdv. Nathaniel Davis, J,,.epli Hough. James \\"ray. John P,. Mr.rgan. Lewis Ilcn'dricks. John ^I. Goung. David Layman. David" Brawn. Richard V.'illianis. William

Hawkins. Adam Wri-ln. Nathan W'lieckr an.l J.^siah Williams. The fust meeting was held at the liuuse of Benjamin Williams, and Josiah Williams Avas elected President. After four years this ia.w was repealed and the former system re-established.

Many changes ha\'e tal<cn place in the various 5uh-di\"isions of this, in common with most cunnties witinn tlie state of Indiana. At first there were but four civil townships, made up as follows : Union township was Congressional township Xi\ 14: Marion was made up of Congressional township 13; Hendricks township was Congressional townshi]) 12: Xoble township was Congressional township 11.

Oa the first !^,londa_\- in January, 18 10. the B'jard of County Commissioners met in regular session and proceeded, among other transactions, to re-organize the townships of the county. Xew townships were also ci'cated from parts of other civil townships.

Jackson township was organized out of the territor_\- of township 11, range 6 east, and all of township 11, range 5 east, lying in said county.

Hendricks town,ship - All of that part of township 11, range 5, lying in Shelby county, and that part of township 12, range 6. contained in the following boundaries : Beginning at the southeast corner of section 34, thence north to the section line to the northeast comer of section 3 ; thence west to the nr.rthwest corner of said township; thence south to the line dividing townships II and 12; thence east four miles to place of beginning.

Sugar Creek township - Beginning at the southeast corner of section 34. township 13, range 6: thence north on section line to the northeast corner of section 3. in the aforesaid township: thence west along the line dividing townships 13 and 14, to the west line of said county: thence south to the line dividing townships 12 and 13: thence east to place of beginning.

Marion lownshi]] - Beginning at the pnutheast cortier of section 2:;. townsliip 13, II., nil Mt range 7 cast: thence nwrth on secriim line to the nurthca^l corner of ^eclion 35. in township 14 north and range 7 east; thence on section line to the range line, dividing ranges 6 aiid j. at the northea-t corner of section 31. township 14. range 7: thcMice south to the line dividing townshi])s 13 and 14: thence west two mile.-, to the northeast corner of section 5, lownsh,ip 13. range 6; thence .south on section line to the s^nillnvest o.rneiof section zt,. township 13. range 6; thence east on the section line to place of beginnmg.

Hanover township - Beginning on the east line of Shelhv cmmty. at the southeast corner of section jS. township 14. range S: thence' west ori '^ccti..m line dividing ranges 6 and 7, at the southeast corner of section -,o. t...wnship 14. range 7; thence north on county line : thence ca.^t to tlie northeast corner of said 'county : thence south To jilace of begintiing.

Addison township - Beginning at the southeast corner of section y-^- township 12, range 7: thence north on section line, to the northeast corner\if section 26, township 13. range 7; thence west seven miles to the northwf>^t comer of section 26. township 13. range 6; thence south ejoht miles to the southeast corner of .section 35, township 12, range 6; thence east .seven miles to place of beginning.

township 14, range 6: thence cast on said line to the couii on said county line to the northwest corner of section 2, 6: thence south to tl;e place of beginning.

Brandywine township - Beginning at the range line dividing ranges 6 and 7. at the northeast corner- of section 36. township 14. range 6- thence one mile south tothe town.ship line dividing townships 13 and 14; thence two miles west on said hue t.j the northwest corner of section 4, township 115. range 6; thence south si.x miles to the township line dividir.g townships i^' and i^: thence two miles on said line to the southeast corner on said line, tothe southeast corner of secti.Jii 34. town.ship 13. range 6: thence north, two miles to the northwest corner of section 26. township i -,. range A; thence two miles east to th.e range line dividing ranges 6 and 7: thence north on said line tojjlace of beginning. Organized March 7. 1S43.

ships II and 12. rantjc 6. at tlic crner of the northeast (]uarler of. and the northwest (|narter of section ^v townsliip 11. ranL;c ('i\ thence running south on said hue nf sections 3. 10. 15. 22 and 2J. to ]-"lat Rock river, to tlic county lir.e: ilicnce east ( mi said line to the southeast corner of section 33. township II, range 7; thence nurth cm said h'ne to tlie tnwnship line (h\'iding townships II and 12: thence west on said line to place of lieginning. This township was organised in the month of April. 1S43.

Shelhy township - Beginning at the sotithcasl corner of section 35, tc^wnship 12. range 6, which jujint is the southeast corner of Addison township; thence north on the line diviiJing the townships of Addison and Hendricks, to the southwest corner of section 14. in said townsliip and range: thence east on section line to the northeast corner of secticjn 13, and also range line, to the northwest corner of section 8 ; thence east to the northeast corner of section 14. township I J. range 7: also to the west line of Liberty township; thence south on the seciir)n line dividing Addison fron.i Lilieriy townships, to the sc'Utheast ctirner of section 35. to\\nsh!p 12. rarjge 7; thence west on section line between Addison and Xoble and Washingtr.m townships, to the place of beginning.

After the organization of the townships of the county, the work of the County Boiard was reduced chiefly to the running of the routin.e go\erument. such as providing a set of public buildings, caring for the poor, building bridges, making suitable highv,-ays. etc. With tlie parsing of the years multiplied into decades and scores in number, the great de\elopment of the county has steadily gone forth, only interrupted l_\v a few financial panics and the Civil war from i86i to 1865. The present high moral and intellectual standing of the society of Shelby county is sut'hcient evidence to the stranger, that the men and women who h.ere laid the foundations and drove the first stakes of this section of Indiana were sturd\' and high-minded in their character, for the most part. In all that is good Shelby county desires only the best. From the days of jiine knots to the age of brilliant electric lights, this people ha\'e "builded better than they knew."

"Sold to Abel Summers and William H. Sleeth. lot number 7. on \\'ashington street, in the town of Shelbv, at ninety dollars, which when paid according to the conditions of the sale, will entitle them to a deed for the same. Signed, Shelbyxille. Indiana, September 2t,. 1822. bv William H. Sleeth. Recorder, and A. Cole, Count}' Agent of Shelby count}-."

The record of this plat is to be found in Deed Book "A," page five. All lots were laid out in uniform size, eight rods, or one hundred thirty-two feet east and west Ijy ninety-nine feet north and south. The plat extended north of the iiublic square to the al!e\" now runnincr east and west between Franklin and

:\Icclianic street. S(u,t!i to the line .^t P.roraluay street ; east to the allev runninnorth and south, midway between Pike and Xohle streets: west to the tier o'f Ir.ts liey.md Tompkins street. U-a^liin-ion and Harrison streets were made mnety feet wide, crossing- at ri-Iu angles in the center of the public .square, which was lai^i out in .such a manner by the intersection of these streets, as to give twelve corners, four inside corners and eight street corners: or three corners to eacli quarter, that is one inside corner and two street orners. All streets, aside from Washington an.l Harrison, were platted forty-nine and one-half feet in width. The public s.|uare is two hundred eightv-eig-ht feet north and south by three hundred fifty-h.ur feet east and west, givin- an area of abrait two and a third acres.

\\ ith the passing of the years and tlie corresponding g-rowth of the town, numerous additions have been made to iJie original platting. These for the most part are as follows:

I'irst adflition was made by County Agent Abel Cole. Tuly 2. 182 v It extended from Cig Ditch alley. (,f the original plat, to Hamilton street and was surveyed by Alaj. John Hendricks, the Countv Sunx-vor.

Second addition was thirty lots - fifteen on either "side of .Afechanic street to the north end of the original platting, and extcnde.l east to" the first alley cast ol Xoble street, tb.en known as ^ladison street. This was made bv John \\'alker, ,.ne of the original doi^ors. December 5. 182:;, and is sometimes known as "\\'alker"s addition."

Third addition to Shelby ville was run to the river and platted by Maj. John Hendricks, June 12, 1S27. Tliis included the land later used for the old cemcter\-.

Kent's and Hendricks' addition was platted April 10. iS^v bv Rev. Elaphlat Kent and .Major Hendricks, and consisted of ten lots ninetv-niite bv one hundred thirty-two feet in size, on the south side of Brotidway ..treet^ east from Harrison.

Fletcher and IMcCany's addition to Shclbyville, comprising one hundred tnenly-five lots east of Harrison street and north of Pennsvlvania. extended east to East street. This was platted September 28. 1S48. bv Calvin l^letcher and Nicholas AlcCarty. both of Indianaix.Iis.

Western addition was eight lots west of the original plat, running from section hue twelve (12) to Broadway street. This was affected bv William Little and James Randall, Tilitha Capp, Benedict Worland and Andrew H. Mc- Xcely. It was duly recorded April 2t. 1849.

Toner and Bennett's addition was from Depot street (now Hendricks) to one tier of lots soudi of South street and west from Harrison street. The court house and jail are located on this addition. It was platted 'uy Edward loner and Jeremiah Bennett, October 3, 1R49.

Miller's and McKarland's addition, platted March 8. 1858, was by William C. Miller and Thomas McFarland, and is commonly" styled "Miller's Addition."

The more recent additions to Shelljyville have been: Duini's addition, April 18. 1890, and Murdock's addition of June. 1884. There are numerous sub-divisions and smaller plattings to this city, as show n by recent plat-books, but are of lesser conseijuence and here omitted.

The first town platted vidtldn this county fas now known, but v.'as then in Franklin county) wa.- Marion, jilatled in December, 1S20, by John Sleeth and James \\'ilson. It was recorded at Brookville. the then seat of justice for Franklin coun.ty.

Shelby ville (original plat") was made by the County Commissioners, the work being executed by Fber Lucas, s^r^-eyor, September i, 1822. This plattino- was acknowledged before Count^- Agent Abel Cole, September 23. 1S22. ^

Among valuable tabulated information gleaned from tlie "Centennial Histoiy," prepared by a cummittee of citizens, at the general request of P'resident L". S. Grant, who desired that some historical data be prepared and published m pamphlet form for the Centennial at Philadelphia in iS76,.of every county in the United States, if possible, the following will throw much liglit on the names (at various dates) and the plattings and piipulation at tliat time. of th.e i.-illages and towns within Shelby county: