Unionville, Indiana

HIS township was named in honor of Thomas H. Benton, of Missouri, al: one of the ablest men the country has ever produced. It was organized in 1833, a full account of which may be seen elsewhere in this yolume. It comprises all of Congressional Township 9 north, Range 1 east, except the eastern tier of sections, which was attached to Brown County many years ago, and in addition includes all of Township 10 north, Range 1 east, lying south of Bean Blossom Creek. The Town- ship is generally rough, with precipitous bluffs here and there, and is cut by numerous ravines, where small streams find their beds. There is too much clay in the soil to bring the best results to the agriculturist. This is true even of the lower lands, which contain much material washed down from higher altitudes. In some places, however, the soil is rich and deep, and furnishes excellent crops of all the cereals. As a whole the township is superior as a grazing location. The heavy forests, deep declivities and numerous bluffs afford abundant protection to domestic animals from the blasts of winter. The geology of the township is much similar to the balance of the county. The section of formation at Unionville is as follows :

Passage source: 1884 History of Monroe County Indiana, published 1884.

This is the only village in Benton township. It is likely that J. J. Alexander was the first merchant; at any rate he opened a store of general merchandise, worth about $900, in the year 1836, and soon had a flourishing trade. He continued in the business many years. Late in the forties, James Carter engaged in business in the village, continuing for several years. About the same time C. ©. Fleener also opened a general store. In about 1852, F. R. Miller engaged in the mercantile pursuit. Thus the business went on, usually one or two mercantile establishments present. A blacksmith shop, a post office, a carpenter or two, a dozen families, a doggery, etc., make up the sum and substance of Unionville.

Passage source: 1884 History of Monroe County Indiana, published 1884.

Jounty, Ohio, was born February 14, 1838, and is the eidest of the six children of John and Jane (MeNelley) Barnhill, natives respectively of Ohio and Pennsylvania, and of German-Ivish and Irish descent. Onur subject was sent to school in boyhood and reared to husbandry as a business. When he had reached his eighteenth year, his parents moved to this county, where he attained his majority,and afterward labored by the day for three years, receiviug but 50 cents per day. March 7, 1860, he married Miss Mary C. Alexander, of this township, born May, 1842, a union which gave being to six children - Florence J., Charles A., Olie, Eddie, John and Edna. Shortly after marriage, Mr. Barnhill moved to Unionville, where he has since made his home. He now owns and occupies the old Alexander farm, which comprises 358 acres with good buildings and varied improvements, thus constituting a valuable home and property. In 1877, he engaged in merchandising, and was commissioned Postmaster in 1879. He is a prominent Republican, and has been Township Trustee two terms.

Passage source: 1884 History of Monroe County Indiana, published 1884.

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 Benton Township - it names this place 3 more 3 times.