Magnus J. Carnahan House

Thomas Baird moved from Pennsylvania to Kentucky, and from Kentucky he moved to Indiana in 1801, and settled near Vincennes; in 1806 he moved on his farm near Bruceville, where he remained till his death. Joseph Baird, who is still living near Bruceville, is a son of the above. He was born in the county in 1803, and now has a silver medal given by the old settlers' reunion as the oldest native born of the county. From 1863 to 1872 he was engaged in merchandising in Bruceville. The remainder of his time has been spent on the farm. Bazil Parker came from Kentucky in 1818, and settled in the "Barrens;" later he lived near Bruceville. James Threlkeld (Tuccahoe) lived near Baird, where he remained till his death. Samuel Johnson came from Kentucky in 1826, and John Young from the Carolinas; they both lived on donations. Thomas Emison came from Kentucky about 1802 or 1803, and settled on Marie Creek. On that stream he built the first grist-mill and saw-mill in the community, at a much later date steam was added. Marks of the old mill are still visible, yet three-quarters of a century have rolled by since its first erection. James Kyle settled farther south in the township. It is probable he was from Ohio. He came while Indiana was yet a Territory. Samuel Thompson was from Kentucky. He bought the donation on which he lived from Gen. Harrison in 1804; for the 400 acres he was to pay §1, 000. The land was to be paid for in brick ; the deed was made and the land transferred to Thompson before a single brick was made, such was Harrison's confidence in Thompson. The bricks were made by Thompson on the farm where Mr. A. B. McKee now lives, and were used in build- ing the Harrison residence in Vincennes. John McKee came from Kentucky and settled near Emison's mill about 1807 or 1808. He was a farmer, a potter and associate judge for a time. John, Peter and David Hollingsworth were from South Carolina; they settled near McKee on Congress land. They had small stillhouses. Samuel Hollingsworth owned negroes, and on Indiana becoming a State he left his land and went South with his slaves. Nicholas Harper and "Washington Sartor lived near the Hollingsworths; the former was from Kentucky, the latter from South Carolina. He was also owner of a small still. Each came about 1810. Richard Posey settled a very short distance from Bruceville about 1805. He was a Methodist preacher and school teacher. He was the grandfather of Hon. F. B. Posey, of Petersburg. John Bolthus lived near lower part of the township. He came from Kentucky about 1807 or 1808. Daniel McClure came with the Thompsons from Kentucky not far from 1800. He was for a time justice of the peace and associate judge. A fort was built on his farm in 1812. Charles McClure was a member of the "Light Horse Company" in the war of 1812. Robert Elliott, from South Carolina, settled in Knox about 1802. He was a Baptist preacher and owner of a still-house - not an uncommon thing in those days.

Passage source: History of Knox and Daviess County, Indiana : from the Earliest Time to the Present; with Biographical Sketches, Reminiscences, Notes, Etc. ; Together with an Extended History of the Colonial Days of Vincennes, and Its Progress Down to the Formation of the State Government, published 1886.

A man named Chancellor bought a part of the land owned by Posey about 1806. He remained there till his death. Samuel Dunn settled near Bruceville about 1817, James McCord settled on the donation, where William Piety now lives. David McCord was another early settler. James Denny was from Kentucky. He lived near Posey; was a wagon-maker by trade. William D. Piety settled in Knox in 1815. He moved from Kentucky in a wagon. Shortly after settling in the township he had the misfortune to have his horses stolen. These he failed to recover. He was compelled to struggle against poverty and the un conquered forest. He was a man of sterling character. Maj. William Bruce came to Washington Township about 1804. He erected the house in which James Bruce now lives in 1811. He was the father of twenty-five children, all of whom lived beyond infancy except one.

Passage source: History of Knox and Daviess County, Indiana : from the Earliest Time to the Present; with Biographical Sketches, Reminiscences, Notes, Etc. ; Together with an Extended History of the Colonial Days of Vincennes, and Its Progress Down to the Formation of the State Government, published 1886.

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 Washington Township - 136,139 words on its settlement, mills, schools and churches.