Harveysburg, Indiana

Orange and otlier counties of Indiana, and not a few in Oiiio. Tliev came in four-liorse, two-horse, and even one-horse wagons, bringing their all, and with this little they began to open the way in the deuse forest for future progress in all the industries and professions. Progress at first was slow, but as the army of hardy workers was reinforced the woody foe gave way till fields of golden grain told the change. L. B. Lindley, son of Reuben, resolved to be the founder of a "citv," so he, about 1S56, laid off si.xteen lots for the town, leaving sixty feet streets. Mr. Lindley's first wife was the daughter of Harlan Harvey, now an aged and venerated citizen of the place, who suggested that the town should receive his name. Mr. Lindley acquiesced, and the town was called Ilarvcysburg. The land on which it is built was entered by James P. Crawford, and is situated in the northwestern part of Sec. 26, T. 18, R. 8 W. Heni-y Lindley, a brother to L. B. Lindley, laid off eight lots, forming the northwest part of the town. Charles Markins also made an addition. There are sixty lots of the Lindley land, and twelve lots in Sec. 23. John and Charles Markins built the first store-house, partitioning a part of it for a dwelling. The store is now occupied by G. W. Hutts. Tlie Markinses kept a general stock of goods. Charles ^[arkins was killed in the civil war. His wife and mother died in Harveysburg, and his father died in Parke county. L. B. Lindley built the next store-room, now occupied by T. J. Durman. Dr. McNutt built an ofiice and room, in which he kept a stock of drugs. He was the early doctor of the town. John Maris and son built the next store, in which he kept a general stock of goods. Wm. Yount now occupies the room with hardware. John W. Spencer built a small dwelling and kept travelers, and soon erected the house known as the Spencer House, now owned by Dr. A. Surbaugh. Mr. Spencer was the first cabinet-maker in the town, and his business is continued by his son, C. M., who has largely increased bis business, occupying two large buildings. Robert Briggs was the first blacksmith, Henry Lindley the first harness-maker, and "Wesley Lindley and i James Briggs did the carpentering. A post-oflice was early secured, , | and Dr. McNutt, John and Charles Markins, and Isaac Grimes were the early post-masters. The town is now the trading place for those living for miles around, and does an extensive business. Steam Corner is in tiie northeastern part of the township, but is scarcely a village yet. Joseph G. Lucas does a large trade in general merchandise.

Passage source: History of Fountain County : Together with Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley, Gleaned from Early Authors, Old Maps and Manuscripts, published 1881.

RELIGION. The United Brethren church seems to have been the pioneer church of Mill Creek township. Classes were organized in different parts of the townsliip, meeting at the dwellings of the members and at log gchool-houses. A class was organized about ISS-t, hy Eev. Cook, called the sample class. Another class was organized by Jacob "VYajmyer, at the Corey school-house ; prominent among the members were John and Levina Mayhew, Levi and Jane Johnson, Jacob and Jeriisha Teegarden, "William and Christina Newnum, Amariah and Caroline Elwell. Joseph Sines was class-leader, and Jacob Teegarden steward. "When the class became large it divided, part going to the Myers class and a part to the Harveysburg class. The Harveysburg class was organized prior to the civil war. Ira Maber and Jackson Griffith were the early preachers, who probably organized the Harveysburg class. John P. Ephlin was the first local preacher, and has preached in nearly every school-house and dwelling in the township. Tiiey then, in connection with the Methodists, built a union church, and about 1ST2 built a church which tliey still occupy. It cost $1,900, and was dedicated by Bishop Edwards. Present membership about seventy ; classleader, J. P. Ephlin ; steward, Joseph Marshall ; preacher in charge, Wm. Vail ; trustees, J. P. Ephlin, Andrew Marshall, James Eatcliff, Philip Weaver, and John Marshall. A class was organized at Abraham Myers' about 1837 by John Hoobler. This was on Scott's prairie. Here George Redenbaugh, David Simons, Jonatlian Wolf, Wm. Myers, and others met for worship. Iii 18il Wm. Myers settled on his present farm, and meetings were soon held at his home; also at George Redenbaugh's and other private houses. This was known as the Myers class, and was organized by John Hoobler and John Dunham, a visitor here. James Griffith and Wm. Hoobler were early itinerants. About 1843 a log school-house was built, about 20x22, round logs, puncheon benches, etc. This was then used as a meeting-house. The church numbered at that time twelve or fifteen members. David Simons was class-leader and Wm. Myers steward ; then Wm. Myers class-leader and David Simons steward. George Redenbaugh was also an early class-leader. In about ten years after, a new schoolhouse was built, this time frame. Meetings were held here for a time. In 1871, feeling sufficiently strong, it was decided to build a house of worship. A contract was let to Wm. Ervin to build a house 31x40, for which he received §913. It was dedicated by Thomas M. Hamilton. Ira Mater was present. The membership at that time was about 100. The church prospered for four years, when, in February 1876, while a protracted meeting was just finished, and the people at dinner, a fire broke out in the church, entirely destroying it. Nothing daunted, the members went immediately to work, and the timbers were soon on the ground for a new and larger church. Meetings were held in the meantime at the jSTew Light ciini-ch near by- A contract waa let to Miirphey Lewis to erect an edifice 31x46, 15 feet to tlie eaves. This cost $1,852.12^; is nicely furnished and well finished. It was dcflicated the first Sunday in August 1870, by Elder Nye, assisted by Elder Warren, of the Christian church. The land on which the church is built was donated by Wm. Myers. Levi Rcdenbaugh is class-leader Peter and Edward ISTewnum stewards, and Wm. Vail preacher. The trustees are "VVm. Myei's, Calvin Myers, Amariah Elwell, F. J. Eedonbaugh, John M. Bailey, and Peter Newnum. The church is called Centennial, from the fact that the new church was built on the oiio liundredth anniversary of the denomination.

Passage source: History of Fountain County : Together with Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley, Gleaned from Early Authors, Old Maps and Manuscripts, published 1881.

Methodism in Mill Creek township is not as old as the other denominations. About 1852, at a school-house which stood on tlie present site of Steam Corner, a class was organized by William D. Parret and Rev. Jones. The members were Mr. and Mrs. William D. Parret,' William and Mary Ball, Moses Bales and wife Julia. William D. Parret was class-leader. These people met for four or five years in the log school-house. They then held meetings in a frame house for many years. K. C. Workman and Rev. Brown were earl}' missionaries. Not fiir from ISGl they built a small church. At that time they had about forty members. The church was dedicated by Rev. Webb. This body is now small. At Harveysburg a class was organized, which held its meetings in a room over Lindley's store, and there also they held Sunday-school. John W. Spencer was class-leader, and Dr. J. H. McNutt was local preacher and a pillar of the organization. Father Edwards was probably the first regular preacher. Alfred Cox was steward and se.x'ton. Other members were Mrs. Cox, Henry Lindley and wife, and M. C. Lindley. A church was contemplated, and arrangements were made to build a union church, with a second story to be used as a Masonic liall. The Masons laid the corner-stone, but a disagreement arising, the Masonic fraternity withdrew, and a union church was built by the Methodists and United Brethren. Dr. MciSTutt donated the site, and the chnrch was completed not far from 1860. It lias decayed, and is now useless. The United Brethren people have built, and an effort is making to build a Methodist edifice under the leadership of Eev. Hargreaves, son of the noted pioneer Methodist minister of Indiana. Prominent among its abettors are Dr. A. Surbaugh, Moses Bales, and others. The education of Mill Creek township has kept pace with other progressive ideas, and in fact has been a motor in the progress of the township. Under the trusteeship of S. H. Elwell a good attendance is secured.

Passage source: History of Fountain County : Together with Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley, Gleaned from Early Authors, Old Maps and Manuscripts, published 1881.

Machine-read from a century-old scan, so expect the errors a machine makes: misspelled names, dropped words, stray characters.

Read the whole chapter on Millcreek Township - it names this place 29 more 29 times.