Wayne County, Indiana - Jefferson Township, 1884

Jefferson Township

Irs Metres anp Bounps. - Irs LANDED ARrEA. - WEALTH AND Vorr. - Its Torocrapay. - Its SetrLEMENT. - TuE PIONEERS. - Cuurcues. - Hacerstown. - Wuen Puarrep. - Its Bust- NESS IN 1839. - Anppitions. - Wuar It CONTAINED IN 1874. - Irs Bustness INTERESTS IN 1884. - POPULATION. - CHURCHES. - POSTMASTERS. - LODGES AND SOCIETIES. - BIOGRAPHICAL.

Metes And Bounds, Organization

Jefferson Township lies on the west line of the county, and north of the central part. It is bounded on the north by Dalton and a part of Perry townships; on the east, by Perry, Clay and Harrison; south, by Harrison and Jackson, and west by Henry County. It is six miles east and west, and five miles north and south less two sections on the south tier in the southeast corner of the township. This gives it twentyeight square miles of land, or in acres, 17,920. Of this number of acres 17,162.78 is found on the assessment roll without counting Hagerstown, and is assessed as follows: Real estate, 1882, $658,995; personal property, $264,623, a total of $923,578. Hagerstown, realty, $133,990; Hagerstown, personal, $85,720; total valuation of township, $1,143,288. The township poll number, 198 ; Hagerstown poll number, 164; total vote, 362.

The township was organized in March, 1834, and the voting precinct was located at Hagerstown. It is a good agricultural township, well watered, and in the valleys of the streams coursing through its territory can be found a superior quality of arable land, in fact unsurpassed anywhere. The West Branch of the Whitewater nearly divides it in two the township from north tosouth. On the east is Martindale's Creek, flowing in a southerly course, and on the west Nettle Creek, coming into the township near the northwest corner and flowing in a southwesterly course, empties into the West Branch. Below this are two other small streams flowing into the West Branch. Thus it may be said to be well watered, and a fine stock-raising section.

Its Settlement

The years in which most of the early settlers made their settlements, is not remembered, says '' Young's History," by any of the oldest inhabitants. As the sales of the lands west of the Twelve Mile Purchase did not commence until 1822, it is presumed that most of the early settlements were made in the eastern part of the township, many of them soon after the peace of 1814715. Some, however, settled on the west side of the line of the Purchase several years before the lands were offered for sale. Samuel Baldridge, from Kentucky, unmarried, settled, in January, 1814, three miles east of Hagerstown, and was one of the earliest settlers in Jefferson Township. Jonathan Platts, from New Jersey, settled early one and one-half miles southeast of town. * He was an early Justice of the Peace, and at several sessions President of the Board of Justices, which, from 1824 to 1828, was substituted for the three county commissioners; and from 1829, for several years, a county commissioner. Philip Baltimore settled early one nile east of the town. Isaac Pierce, from Tennessee, settled one and one-half miles northeast from Hagerstown.

David and Aaron Miller, brothers, settled three and onehalf miles southeast of Hagerstown, on Martindale's Creek, and removed afterward from the county. Both were German Baptist preachers. George Castator was an early settler, a cabinet-maker. Benjamin Parsons, from New Jersey, settled about 1813, two miles east of town, and died in 1864. Five of his children - Sarah, wife of Frederick Jenks; Amos, who married Jane Matchett; Martha, wife of Samuel Newcomb; and Harriet, wife of John Thornburg - reside in the township. John Miller, and afterward his brothers Jacob and

Samuel, settled two miles southeast of town. Jacob had served in the war of 1812, and was under General Hull at the surrender at Detroit. Among others who settled southeast of the town, were Daniel Petty, who, about the year 1832, settled on land bought of Aaron Miller.

Joseph Bowen, a native of Delaware, from Lebanon, Ohio, in 1822, settled one and a half miles eastof town; was a Methodist preacher; died in 1863; land now owned by Rebecca E. Bowen, a granddaughter. Wm. Brown settled early east of town. .

Among the other early settlers in and around Hagerstown were: Samuel Reprogle, Isaac Stonebraker, David Burkett, Jacob Crull, John Crull, Henry Crull, Isaac Pierce, Jos. Manifold, Hugh Allen, Abraham Reprogle, David Hardman, a German Baptist preacher, Geo. Stonebraker, Wm. Brumback, Samuel Pollard, Hugh Murphy and Isaac McLanahan.

Benj. Parson, spoken of above, was the only man who had a grindstone in the whole settlement, and he was visited daily, not only by his neighbors but by the Indians, to sharpen their knives and hatchets or tomahawks.

There was also Samnel Taylor, a Baptist preacher, Jesse Thornburg, Jno. Caster and Philip Baltimore, all who came prior to 1820, being in the older settled portions of the township.

In the southwest part of the township the following named persons were early settlers: Adam Stonbraker, one mile south of town; Wm. Murray, who built a carding-machine and a saw-mil], and afterward a woolen factory. A saw-mill is still there, the property owned by his heirs.- Wm. Felton, a native of Pennsylvania, from Ohio, about the year 1821, near town; built a saw-mill and a corn-cracker. He died there at a great age. His wife also died there. Moses Miller settled near the Jackson line. Abel Johnson and Jacob Dilling, John Lail, Wm. Campbell, from Kentucky; Isaac Zook, Wm. Jenning, on the west side; Samuel Eiler, Jonas Hoover, one mile west of Hagerstown; Samuel Zook, Thos. Cooper and Wm. Brown. Following up the west side to the uorthwest section of the township quite a settlement was formed between 1820 and 1830 - sturdy farmers who cultivated their farms and became worthy citizens of the county. Among these were: John Small, from North Carolina; Jonas Harris, Enos Boyd, Abraham Teeter, Jacob Heaston, all came in 1823, or prior to that time.

Zachariah Albaugh, a native of Maryland, from Ohio, in 1826, settled in the northwest part of the township, where he died March 6, 1871, aged seventy-six. He had been a German Baptist minister since 1836.

John Street settled two and a half miles northwest of town; Wm. McLucas, one and a half miles north from town; Martin Keever, on land now owned by his heirs. John Lewis settled two miles north ; Absalom Cornelius, trom Virginia ; Joseph Stover entered the lands now owned by Samuel G. Newcomb and David Brown; Daniel Wagner, near and northwest of town. John Ritter, from Ohio, settled three miles east of Hagerstown. Peter Hardman, from Ohio, settled in the township; and David Wagner, from Ohio, settled one mile north of Hagerstown.

Samuel Gibson came with his father from Tennessee, in the year 1814 or 1815, and settled in the east part of Jefferson, and several years after removed to Madison County.

Daniel Burkett, from Pennsylvania, built the first gristmill one mile below town, on Nettle Creek. Another was built by William Bramback about a mile above town, and has passed through several hands. About the year 1847 George

Gillespie bought the woolen factory previously owned by Edmund Taylor, and converted it into a flouring mill. Its capacity is about- 150 barrels per day. An oil-mill and a clover-huller, and later asaw-mill, were built by Abraham Teeter, just above town, on West River. In 1864 the property was purchased by R. & F. G. Newcomb, who rebuilt the mill in 1867. A saw-mill was built at an early day, by Frederic and Peter Waltz, near the line of the township. Mark E. Reeves afterward built on this power a grist-mill. Samuel Burkett built in 1870, in town, a steam saw-mill. A sawmill was built two miles above town, on or near the site of Teeter's grist-mill, by John Small.

The first temperance society in the township, and one of the earliest in the county, was formed about the vear 1831, in a log school-house on the farm of Jonathan Shaw, now owned by Eli Petty. Among its members were Samuel Taylor, a Baptist minister; Joseph Bowen, a Methodist minister; Jonathan Platts, Jonathan Shaw, Isaac Pierce, Thomas Pierce, Andrew Pierce, Sarah Cheesman, Joel, Jeremiah, and William Bowen, Sarah and David Platts.

The first Sabbath-school in the township was taught in the same school-house. It was formed and conducted by Joseph Bowen, Jonathan Platts, Jonathan Shaw, Elizabeth Pierce and others. i

Baptist Church, Salem. - This church is located three and a half miles east of Hagerstown, was founded in 1817 by the earliest settlers, and continues to exert a wide-spread influence for good inthe township. In 1855 the society had grown to the number of forty members, and it was at one time the largest denomination in the township, at that time under the pastoral care of Elder Wm. Thompson. Among the old members of the society were James and John Martindale, Henry Garrett and Benj. Guffey. Rev. Geo. Harlan succeeded Elder Thompson, and he was successively followed by Revs. Jas. MeDoweli aud Jas. Martindale, the latter since 1867. The pastor between 1820 and 1830 was the Rev. Samuel Taylor. Their first place of worship was a log cabin followed by two frame churches, the latter still in use. They have no Sunday-school. Membership, thirty-one.

Olive Branch M. E. Church. - This church was organized in 1825 atthe house of Samuel Pollard, and was continued there most of the time until a frame church building was erected in 1836, about two and one-half miles northeast of Hagerstown. Unfortunately this church was burned by an incendiary fire in 1837. The following year the present brick edifice was erected. The first Methodist preacher in the township was Russell Bigelow,who is remembered as early as 1822. Then there were the Revs. John Strange, Jas. Havens, George Gatch, Johu C. Smith, Joseph Tarkington, Allen Wiley, and Robert Burns, who also preached in early days. The Rev. R. Bigelow preached in the house of Joseph Bowen. The original members were: Jonathan Shaw and a part of his family, Jos. Bowen and family, John Conway and family, Jas. Hartup and family, Joseph Manifold, and Isaac Pierce and family. At onetime there were eighty-five members, with Wm. ©. Bowen as Class-leader. Its present membership is thirty. Joel Bowen was the first Class-leader. In 1842 the church split owing to conflicting opinions on the slavery question. About one-half left and formed a Wesleyan society headed by Jonathan Shaw and others. Nathan D. Shackleford is the present pastor and the church though not numerous is united and strong.

Jacob Ulrich, in the year 1830, laid off a few lots, and called it Elizabethtown. It did not flourish. Greenbury Savoy passed over the ground a short time before, and some years later, 1839, returned to make it his home. The only evidence of a town was a small store on the roadside near where the Tceter Mill now stands, and on the old road from Richmond to New Castle.

On March 8, 1832, Jacob Ulrich and Jonas Harris, whose land joined, laid out the town and had it platted, the survey being recorded Noy. 15, 1832.

On Oct. 15, 1838, Messrs. J. Ulrich, Henry Herman and George Gillespie & Co. platted an addition to the town. In 1839 it boasted of three stores, James Reeves, now of Richmond, being the proprietor of one of them; two blacksmith shops, the first one started being owned by David Stonebraker, and the other by Peter Cable; one shoemaker shop, one saddle and harness shop, one tin shop, an hotel or tavern, aud about fifteen families.

The original plat lies in the center of the present town, and was composed of four blocks and two one-half blocks. Besides the addition of Oct. 15, 1838, the following additions have been added to the original plats.

It remained thus until Sept. 2, 1875, when Canaday and others also platted additions to the town, all of which composes the present area of Hagerstown.

The first wagon-maker was David Weaver, and he made a good, substantial article. Jos. Arment was the first cabinetmaker; also James Walker in the same line, a few years later. -

The first physicians were: Thomas J. Buchanan and G. G. Winchell, partners, the latter residing in Hagerstown; Buchanan, a few miles distant in Henry County. In 1835 Dr. B. removed to town in the place of Dr. Winchell, who had left, and in 1840 returned, and practiced there for several years. Dr. Augustus Weaver came about 1837; John Clymer, 1840; Calvin West, 1842 or 1843, and died here; Dr. Spencer, 1847; Dr. Widiken, 1850.

The first store was kept by Levi Antrim, about 1820, in a hewed-log house, yet standing, near Newcomb's grist-mill. An early store is said to have been kept by David Hardman, and another below town, by Hastings. Wm. Baker bought out Antrim in 1831. James Gray came about 1833;8Joseph Hawkins soon after. Mark E. and James E. Reeves, in 1836, bought out Hawkins, and James took charge cf the store; sold his interest to Mark in 1840, when Mark came. Among the large number who followed were A. B. Knode, Wm. Lewis, Gillespie & Co., Wm. Arnold, Christopher Tayior.

Hagerstown is located at the northern terminus of the Whitewater Canal, on the Whitewater Valley Railroad and the Richmond & Chicago Division of the Pittsburg, Cincinnati & St. Louis Railway, sixteen miles from Richmond.

In the year 1874 the town had one Christian, one Methodist, one Presbyterian and a German Baptist church, and the Hagerstown Academy. There were also four dry-goods stores, three drug stores, one hardware, one stove, one tinware, and six grocery stores, one planing-mill, one machine shop and a barrel factory. There were also one Odd Fellows' Lodge, one Encampment, and one Masonic Lodge.

The mercantile interests were represented as follows: Dry goods - Beck & Stonebraker, Stonebraker & Brumback, Nehemiah Cheesman, D. P. Slifer. Druggists - Walker & Dilling. Allen & Co., Walter Rogers. Hardware - H. Shiveley & Co. Stoves and tinware - E. Brown. Grocers - Wm. Dolley, Wilson Thornburg, H. D. Root, H. Lontz, John Lontz, Hannibal Matthews.

They have two hotels, the Newcomb House and the Hinman House, one graded school, one bank, four churches, one Masonic lodge, one Odd Fellows lodge, one G. A. R. post, two livery stables, five dry-goods stores, seven groceries, three hardware stores, three drug stores, four boot and shoe stores, with the usual complement of other industries; one carriage manufactory, employing six hands; one newspaper, the Æxponent; one grist-mill, both by steam and water-power. This mill was first erected by Edmund Taylor as a woolen-mill in the year 1847, and was, in 1850, converted into a flouring mill by Geo. Gillespie. It is now owned by Zachariah Teeter, having the past year been thoroughly remodeled and is now considered one of the best mills in Eastern Indiana. The first house erected in Hagerstown was put up by Jesse and Henry Harris, sons of Jonas.. David Platt came next. The farmers and others who settled around there were from the vicinity of Hagerstown, Md., and they gave this name to the village when platting. The postoffice is an old one, having been established in 1828 and was called Nettle Creek postoffice, and was kept in the little log store mentioned in another place as the incipient village. The office now is of some importance. The amount of stamps, postal cards, ete., sold from July 1, 1882, to July 1, 1883, amounted to $1,512.34. The office has been a money-order oftice since 1869, and Mr. A. C. Walker, the present Postmaster, has held a continuous term for fifteen years, having taken the office in 1869.

M. E. Church. - This church was established in 1840, and the members in the following year erected a small frame church which is now owned and used by the Disciples. The founders of the church were Rev. John Sullivan, then preaching on the Centreville circuit, and the members, Willis P. Davis and wife, Greenbury Savoy and wife, Mary Wynn, Dr. Manlove, L. Reed and wife, who lived in town, and Isaac Peirce and wife, and Thos. Livingston and wife, who lived near by in the country. Within about one year after, Elijah Van Sandt, Silas Ruggles, Bezaleel Taylor, James Linu, Joseph Manifold, Thomas Test and their wives joined. In 1877 they erected their handsome brick church about two squares south of the old one, which was on Perry street, and at this time have eighty-five members, and a Sabbath-school, kept up the year round, and the church and school are in a flourishing condition. Of their preachers whose names are remembered were: John Kiger, John Sullivan, M. Miller, Caldwell Robbins,

Presbyterian Church. - This church was formed Nov. 20, 1852, by the Rev. R. M. Overstreet, and Revs. Robt. Irwin and R. B. Abbott, pastors of Union and Hopewell churches, a committee appointed by the Presbytery of Muncie to assist in its organization. The first members were: Parker Jewett and wife, Wm. M. Dolley and wife, David Robertson and wife, F. K. Jenks and wife, Washington Robertson and wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Hughes, Mrs. Samuel Elliott, Mrs. James Buchanan, Mrs. Geo. Knode, Betsy Sennington, Michael Roney and Maria Henry. John Shearer and David Robertson were chosen Elders; Parker Jewett and Washington Robertson, Deacons. Their first minister was R. M. Overstreet, for two years. He was followed by the Rev. Mr. Laird, and he by the Rev. Mr. Montfort. The first church building was of brick, erected in 1854, the building committee being Rev. R. M. Overstreet, Samuel Elliott, Parker Jewett and F. K. Jenks. The lot was donated by Geo. Gillespie, but was traded for a half lot on which the church was erected, being considered more convenient. In December, 1855, Michael Roney and F. K. Jenks were elected Deacons. The following ministers have been connected with the church as pastors, viz: R. B. Abbott, William Armstrong, William H. \lolliday, H. K. Kennigh, H. M. Shockley, George Long, John H. Auyhey, S. S. Potter and J. M. Lawbach. The present pastor is the Rev. S. F. Beach, and the membership is thirty-one. They have a successful Sabbath-school in connection with the church.

The Christian Church was organized in April, 1867, and its first record shows twenty-four members as taking part in its formation. The ministers officiating were: William T. Wacbington and James T. Lynn. Of the members who joined at the time were: William Stonebraker, James Mc- Neill, James W. Strode, Charles Earl and their wives, the wife of Daniel W. Mason, the wife and danghter of Jacob Bowman, James Stonebraker, Jane Beck. They worshiped in Melodeon Hall until 1869, when they built their present substantial brick church, on the corner of Washineton and South Market streets, at a cost of some $12,000. ;

The membership at this time is ninety-six, and the Rev. William T. Warbington continued as pastor until September, 1883. The Sabbath-school is conducted the year round, and prayer-meetings once a week. The church has existed since 1825, in the Stonebraker settlement, south of town. Samuel Boyd, a Revolutionary soldier, was their first preacher, and next, Elijak Martindale. ,;

The Disciples Church was organized in December, 1877, by Brother B. M. Blount. Fifteen members joined, three only of whom were male persons, these being: Dr. C. M. Blount, Watkins Williams and Elisha Brown. They at tirst purchased the old M. E. church property before spoken of. The church may be said to be yet in its infancy. A Sunday-school is kept up with an average attendance of sixty scholars. Preaching is regularly held once a month by the Rev. W. F. Ackerson, of Muncie. They have service each Sunday morning, and the Sunday-school in the afternoon. They have had regular preaching since its organization, excepting the years 1881 and 1882.

" The German Baptist church (known also as Dunkers and Tunkers) was organized about the year 1824, its members residing in the townships of Jefferson and Jackson, and in adjacent townships in Henry County. Among its early members were: David and Aaron Miller, Benjaman Bowman, John Ritter, Jonas Hoover, Samuel Eiler, David Hardman, Benjamin Hardman, John Ulrich, Jacob Caylor, Henry Cruli, and Samuel Cripe. Meetings were first held at private houses, in groves, barns, etc., until their meeting-house was built, one and one-half miles southwest of Hagerstown, about the year 1843. Their first preachers were: David and Aaron Miller, and Benjamin Bowman, the first ordained Elder, succeeded by John Bowman, David Hardman, Zachariah Albaugh, Daniel Bowman, Jacob Bowman, John Holler, David Bowman, Lewis Kinsey, William Lindley, Daniel Smith. All but Holler, Kinsey, David Bowman, and Smith became Elders. Early Deacons were: Jacob Caylor, Benjamin Hardman, John Hardman, John Ulrich. This church has, for the accommodation of its:members, three other meetinghouses: One, six miles northwest of Hagerstown, in Henry ©ounty; one, five miles southwest, also in Henry County; and another, four miles northwest, in Jefferson Township. The members attending worship in these different houses constitute but one church. Preachers are elected by the members of the church, male and female. Elders are chuseu from the preachers, who, after sufticient trial, have given evidence of faithfalness and ability. The office of elder is the highest in the church. Deacons are chosen in the same manner as elders."

HHeneosis Adelphon Lodge, No. 25, I. O. O. F., was instituted at Hagerstown, Jan. 20, 1846. Its charter members were: Robert Gordon, Benj. Lippencott, Christopher Taylor, Jr., Philo Johnson and A. Cunningham. The lodge erected a fine hall in 1881, the equal of any building in the town. It is three stories high, of brick, 41x90 feet in size, with a height of fifty-three feet. The hall occupies the third story, and is splendidly finished and furnished, including a fine organ. The membership is fitty, and meetings are held once a week. The present officers are: H. C. Knode, N. G.; Rudolph Quickle, V. G.; Frank Baldridge, Secretary; J. Bell, Ree. Sec., and Knode Porter, P. G.

Hagerstown Lodge, No. 49, F. A. M. - This ledge was organized May 27, 1847, and its charter members were: A. S. Higgins, Geo. Fisher, Robt. Gordon, Dan'! D. Rodgers; Aaron Beard, Thos. Livingston and Geo. Springer. It has now a membership of forty, and meets regularly every four weeks. Present officers: J. T. Bohrer, W. M.; Jos. Winslow, S. W.; Bennet Weaver, J. W.; Allen Pierce, Treas.; Geo. Wiggins, Sec.; W. O. Barr,S. D.; Frank Pierce, J. D., A. Kordle, Tyler. This lodge also owns a fine hall, a threestory brick, the hall being handsomely finished and furnished.