Steam Corner, 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.

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.

Volney P. Ludlow, farmer. Steam Corner, is a son of William and Ann (Abbott) Ludlow. William Ludlow was in the service of the government, and helped survey Ohio. While surveying he entered a piece of land near Cincinnati when he was eigJitcen or nineteen years old. There he was married to Ann (Abott) Merritt, a native of Pennsylvania. He was a member of a common stock society organized in Ohio, and about 1822 he came to B'ountain county, and entered land in Van Buren township in the interest of the company. The company becoming quarrelsome lie received as his share a mil! seat near Portland, which he left to his wife, and he returned to Ohio, where he was taken sick and died, aged seventy-five years. He brought to Indiana a half bushel of apple-seed, and became the first nurserjnian in Fountain county. He was also a rope-maker, and made the rope that hnng one Richardson, the only man ever hung in Fountain county for crime. He was a whig, and bitterly opposed to Jackson. His [M wife lived in Fountain county till 1861, when she died at the age of seventy-seven. In the family were six sons and three daughters. Volney P. Ludlow, son of William, was born September 3, 1S25, in Fountain county, Indiana. At the death of his father, Volney, at eight years of age, was left to work his own way in life. At the age of sixteen years he began the tanner's trade; then bought out his employer, and continued the business till he enlisted, in 1817, in Co. C, 5th Ind., under Captain R. M. Evans and Commander James H. Lane, for the Mexican war. Returning, he sold his land warrant received for services, or traded it for sixty-one acres of land, giving $50 additional. Mr. Ludlow built a cabin on his farm, and in 1819 he married Rebecca A. Furr, daughter of Enoch and Mary (Inlow) Furr. She was bom in Fountain county, and died in 1855, aged twenty-two years, leaving two children, yet living: Manford and Arrista. In March, 1857, Mr. Ludlow was married to Savannah Booe, daughter of John and Jane (Moffet) Booe. She was born in Fountain county in 1839, and her parents came from Ireland. Mr. Ludlow has added to his farm till he owns 192^ acres, good house, etc. Politically, he started a whig, then became a republican, and in 1880 espoused the doctrine of the national party. He was an early constable, and also township trustee five terms. During the war he was captain of the home guards. Mr. and Mrs. Ludlow are members of the Church of the Disciples. They have had nine children by the present marriage: Leona J., Charles S., Ross A., "Warren C. and Arthur, living, and three infants dead, and Conner, killed when six years old by a horse. Mr. Ludlow has had an unbroken residence in Fountain county for fifty-five years.

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 7 more 7 times.