Elwood Downtown Historic District

This township, with the addition of Monroe, occupies the entire width of the county. It contains forty-two square miles, and has nine in-and-out corners. Among its first settlers were Jacob Sigler, Isaac Mills, James Beason, Elijah Dwiggins, William Taylor, Joseph Miller, John Gough, Jacob Siiepherd, Henry Pluraraer, and Joiin Quick. Among the Justices who have served we find the names of James Beeson, Jonathan Reader, Francis Sigler, Henry INIills, Henry McElircsh, Richard Miner, M. Mills, J. M. Doughty, Tremelous Beason, Rudolph Brown, Alexander AVood and John Little. The population, in 1850, was one thousand five hundred and twelve; in 1860 it was one thousand six hundred and ninety ; in 1870 it was two thousand three hundred; in 1874 estimated at two thousand five hundred. In 1870 it contained thirteen thousand five iiundred and forty-six aores of improved land. The value of farms and farm implements was $835,170; value of live stock, $125,442; value of all products, §238,179. The number of bushels of corn in 1870 was one hundred and thirty-four thousand five hundred and forty-seven ; number of school houses, eleven. The total value, including grounds, etc., $11,900. The number of grist mills, three; sawmills, five; post offices, two; blacksmith shops, five; harness shops, two; shoe shops, live; physicians, six; drug stores, four ; dry goods stores, five ; groceries, three ; wagon and carriage shops, one ; local preachers, four ; sabbath schools, six; voting precincts, two; carpenters, [eight ; Granges, five; Masonic Lodges, two; Odd Fellow Lodges, two. Frankton and Elwood are both in this township. Pipe Creek and Duck Creek both pass through the township. The Cincinnati and Chicago Railroad passes through the central part, and the Lafayette and Muucie Railroad, now in progress, passes through the northern part, and is, at this writing, graded and ready for the ties. The first town started in this township was New Madison, and was built iu 1835. Among the first ministers was Rev. Beach, who preached at the house of Jacob Sigler iu 1825. The first school house was built at Frankton ia 1830. The first Sunday school was organized by John Snell in 1832. A sabbath school was organized at Elwood, in 1855, by Joseph Anderson. The New Light Society first met at Hagerty's- School House, in 1859, when there was preaching by J. Depboy. Among the first members of this society were William King and wife, Lewis Bailey and wife, Berry Etchison and wife, S. Hurst and Malinda Etcherson. The first United Brethren Church was organized in 1832, at the house of William Montgomery. Among the first members were William Montgomery and wife. It will be seen by the above figures that Pipe Creek is among the foremost in the county, and its soil will compare favorably with the rest of the townships.

Passage source: History of Madison County, Indiana, from 1820 to 1874 : Giving a General Review of Principal Events, Statistical and Historical Items, Derived from Official Sources, published 1874.

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 Pipe Creek Township - 1,200 words on its settlement, mills, schools and churches.