Bethel Township

Bethel Township

Was formed August 14, 1821, and was named after P. C. Bethel, the first white man Who settled within its confines. It is in the extreme Northern part of the County, comprises a great deal of superior soil, and, in 1880, had under cultivation 4,993 acres of land, which produced 53,650 bushels of wheat and 80,011 bushels of corn, averaging fifteen of the former and thirty-five bushels per acre of the latter cereal. It is abundantly supplied with an excellent growth of timber, has good schools and good society.

Source changes here: from History of Posey County, Indiana : from the Earliest Times to the Present, with Biographical Sketches, Reminiscences, Notes, Etc. : Together with an Extended History of the Northwest, the Indiana Territory, and the State of Indiana, by Goodspeed Publishing Co, published 1886; 2,167 words in this source stream.

Bethel Township

was organized August 14, 1821, and was named after P. C. Bethel, the first white man settling in the township. It is in the extreme northwest of the county, lying contiguous to Gibson County, Eiobb Township and the Wabash Eiver. The present area is near 13,760 acres, about two-thirds being in cultivation. The surface is level with the single exception of about 2,000 acres of table-land which is situated in the extreme north of the township. The level land is very rich, and is principally of a black sandy loam. Wheat, corn, oats, rye, barley and many other crops grow in great abundance on the black sandy soil, while that adjoining the Wabash and Black Rivers, being subject to overflows, is cultivated for corn only. The soil of the tableland is not as black and rich as the lower lands adjoining, still it produces remarkably well. These high lands, usually called "the hills," rise from 100 to 200 feet above the level lands, the highest plateaus affording a fine view of the surrounding towns and country. The principal portion of the land in cultivation is valued at from $30 to $50 per acre, while a few swampy tracts can be bought at a low rate. The original forests that covered the ground contained much valuable timber, but the bulk of it was of the inferior grades. Sweet gum grew in immense quantities, the trees being very large and tall, much of it still remaining on the low lands near the streams. The largest burr oaks in the county, and perhaps in the State, are to be found on the bottom lands of Gen. Hovey. Many of these trees will measure from four to five feet in diameter, while occasionally one is found that will reach over eight feet. The General recently sold one of these mammoth trees on the stump for $51. On the table-land much black walnut, yellow poplar, oak and ash originally grew, but the greater went to market or was destroyed by the first settlers. Considerable oak, ash, poplar, sugar-tree and inferior grades still abound.

Land Entries

The records show that John Waller entered land in 1807 ; James Farris, 1808; John McQuidy and Mathias Mounts, 1811; Thomas Shous, 1812; George Eapp and the "Harmonic associa- tion," Isaac and Alexander Boyer, Samuel B. Williams and Joseph Green, 1815; John Neal, 1816; Qeorge Bar nett, John S. Campbell, Carmelia Carpenter, Thomas Jordan, John E. Wilson, 1817'; Eobert Allen, Jess Spann, John B. Eachels, Gillison Price, Nicholas Harding, 1818; Stephen Eaton, William Griffin, Jacob Whittaker, Jesse Williams and William Browder, 1819. There are now only about twenty-five freeholders living in the township, much of the land being owned by non-residents of New Harmony.

The Schools

Josiah Elliott, Ezekiel Harmon, William Harper, James Wasson and Jacob Taylor were among the first teachers. The first schoolhouses were very rough unsightly affairs but after the people became more prosperous they built houses after the following plans and specifications, viz. : "The house to be built 20x30 feet with ceiling eight feet high ; the walls to be of hewed logs not less than ten inches in diameter; the floor to be well laid with the parts of logs split into halves, the face being smoothed with the broad-ax ; the roof of shingles four feet long riven from white oak and held in place by logs or poles securely fastened on the roof, and the ceiling to be laid of the same material. The fireplace shall be four feet high, ten feet wide and four feet deep, and be built of puncheons notched at each end that they may be securely held in place. The fireplace to be provided with a chimney as high as the house and to be made of small poles or split sticks of timber. The door shall be substantially built of hewn or split oak timber, well pinned together and hung on stout wooden hinges made of hickory, and to be furnished with a wooden latch and a leathern latch string. There shall be two windows, one in each side of the room, and shall be one foot wide and twenty feet long, covered with raw hide or greased paper. The cracks between the logs shall be well chinked and daubed with mud. The fireplace to be filled with clay even with the floor of the room and the inside of the fireplace and chimney to be well plastered over with mud as a protection from fire. The furniture of the house shall consist of seats split from logs one foot in diameter and not less than ten feet long. The split side of the halves shall be well smoothed and freed of splinters, and the legs of the seats shall be of hickory two feet long and set in augur holes not less than four inches deep, and the whole to be done in a neat and workmanlike manner." It will be observed that no nails were mentioned in the "plans and speciiications," and none were needed, since houses were then built without driving a single nail, everything being put together with pins, The first schoolhouses in the township, though quite similar to the one, were not so elaborately constructed. The logs were not hewed, the cracks were not daubed, and no raw hide or greased paper covered the openings in the sides of the house left to admit light. There are now five school districts, and all supplied with neat buildings and modern furniture.

The Chukches

The Eegular Baptists, near 1815, built a small log church house on the high table-land. Here they worshiped for many years until they were sufficiently strong to build a more commodious frame edifice at the foot of the hills, the same old building being in use by that denomination at this time. Jerry Cash, Louis Williams, and Peter Saltsman were their earliest preachers. The Disciples also preached in the little Baptist Church on the hill and organized a church there after the Baptists built their new edifice. After the Disciples grew in strength they also' built a new frame house at the foot of the hills. Elders Elijah and Moses Goodwin ministered to the wants of the flock in those early days. The congregation has long since ceased to exist in the township, about the year 1840 the Methodists built a small frame across the bayou, and James Bonner, John Scroder and F. A. Hester, preached to the little flock. They too have ceased to exist in the township as an organization. A schoolhouse now occupies the site of the little church, which has been moved to one side for a woodshed.

The Mills

Early in the history of the township John T. Morehead, established a water-power saw and grist-mill on the bayou. He operated it several years and was succeeded in the proprietorship^ by John Vanway, who soon after moved the mill to the mouth of the bayou, where he operated by steam-power. Before the introduction of mills of any kind the settlers were forced to manufacture their meal in a mortar, as was the custom of their Indian neighbors. Mortars were usually hollowed out of rock, but occa- sionally formed in a big stump. A stump mortar was formed by burning a deep funnel shaped hole on the top of the stump. A heavy wooden pestle, with the lower end pointed to fit the funnel shaped mortar, was used for crushing the corn into meal. After the meal was thought to be fine enough it was run through a buckskin sieve. It was then ready to be made into delicious "corn dodgers," hoe cake or johnny cake.

In 1880 the people of the township were asked to vote a donation of near $4,000 to aid the Peoria, Decatur & Evansville Eailroad in extending its line through the township. A vote was taken on the proposition and the donation was defeated. The township, however, secured the road and they now have both water and railway communication with the great markets.

Near 1811 a stockade was erected near Shows' Ford on Black River, as a protection against the Indians. It was about 50x50 feet and made of heavy timbers about twenty feet long split into halves. These timbers were set on end in a deep ditch dug all around the square, the split side being turned on the outside. In case of an invasion the families of the neighborhood would :flee to the fort, where they could better give battle to the foe.

Eichard Harris, Roily M. Highman, James M. Kennell, James Whitson, James L. Jolly composed the township board previous to 1859, at which time they were succeeded by John L. Brooks who was elected trustee. He continued in office till the day of his death, which occurred in 1881. He was succeeded by Riley Thomas, the brightest and most proufising young man in the township, and continued in office only a short time till death relieved him. The successorship fell to Harrison Sanders, the present efficient officer.

Eli Robb was one of the first justices of the peace. The following persons were appointed to offices in 1822, viz.: Joseph Johnston, constable; Joseph Green and Joseph Johnston, overseers of the poor : Joseph Johnston, supervisor of all the roads in the township; Gillason Price, election inspector; John Oolvin, assessor. George Webb was licenced to run a ferry at Webb's Ferry on the Wabash in 1823.

DANIEL W. DIXON was bora March 4, 1826, in Craven County, N. C. His parents were Daniel and Arcada (Abrahams) Dixon ; the father was a native and farmer of North Carolina, his birth occurring in 1790. In 1828 he came with his family to Posey County, Ind., but a short time thereafter moved to Franklin Cbunty, 111., where he died in 1850. The mother was bom about 1795, and died in 1848. Our subject remained with his parents until about eighteen years old when he began working for himself. August 7, 1850, he wedded Martha Calvin, daughter of J. and D. Calvin. Mrs. Calvin is a native of the county in which she now resides, her birth occurring April 1, 1833; and she has borne her husband eleven children, these eight now living : Lizzie, John D., Robert T., George B., James "W., Edgar T., Martha E. and Virgil A. In 1847 our subject came to Posey County and purchased a small farm. By untiring energy he has increased his farm acre by acre, until he now owns a fine tract of land comprising 800 acres. He is a leading citizen, an enterprising farmer and Democrat, and he and wife are members of the Christian Church.

HARBISON SANDERS, a well to do farmer of Posey County, and native of the Hoosier State, was born January 29, 1851, and is one of five children of Martin W. and Lucinda (Casey) Sanders. The father is a native of the Blue Grass State, born 1818. He came to Indiana about 1838, and settled on a farm in Robb Township where he was married. In 1875 he moved to Bethel Township where he remained until his death in April, 1876. The mother's birth occurred in October, 1823, and she is living with our subject at the present time. Harrison received the education of the average farmer's boy, and remained at home aiding his parents on the farm until he was twenty-one years of age. He was united in marriage with Miss Barbara Heubner, May 5, 1879. She was born February 8, 1847, and is a daughter of John F. and Elizabeth Heubner. Mr. and Mrs. Sanders are the parents of these two children: Horace K. and Frederick A. Mr. Sanders is one of the leading and enterprising Democrats of Posey County, and is now efficiently filling the office of township trustee. Mrs. Sanders is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

CHAELBS N. WILLIAMS, son of Isaac and Martha (Colran) Williams, was born in Gibson County, Ind., September 1, 1846, and is one in a family of five children. He was reared among strangers without the protecting and loving care of father or mother, these natural protectors having died when he was quite young. Under such circumstances he received but little or no advantages. By self application and the rough school of experience has secured a very good practical education which is the best unless too dearly bought. He is the owner of a good farm and is quite well fixed financially. December IB, 1869, Laura Ellen Price became his wife. This lady is a daughter of Romelia and Permelia Price and was born in Posey County. Ind., about 1850. They became the parents of three children: Alida, Laranda and Martha May (deceased). In January, 1880, Mr* Williams died, and for his second wife our subject selected Margaret C, daughter of John L. and Midian Waller. To them have been born one child, Alberta. Mr. Williams is a Republican in politics and cast his first Presidential ballot for Hon. A. Lincoln.

Source changes here: from History of Posey County, Indiana, by Leffel, John C., B, published 1913; 893 words in this source stream.

Bethel Township

Was formed August 14, 1821. and was named after P. C. Bethel, the first white man to settle within its confines. Eli Robb was one of the first justices of the peace.

The following officers were appointed in 1822: Joseph Johnston, constable ; Joseph Green and Joseph Johnston, overseers of the poor ; Joseph Johnston, supervisor of all the roads in the township ; Gillison Price, election inspector; John Colvin, assessor.

The records show that John \\'aller entered land in 1807 ; James Ferris, 1808; John McOuidy and Mathias Mounts, 1811; Thomas Shouse, 1812; George Rapp and the "Harmonic .Association," Isaac and Alexander Boyer, Samuel B. Williams and Joseph Green, 1815 ; John Neal, 1816; George Barnett, John S. Campbell, Carmelia Carpenter, Thomas Jordan, John E. Wilson, 1817; Robert Allen, Jess Spann, John B. Rachels, Gillison Price, Nicholas Harding, 1818; Stephen Eaton, William Griffin, Jacob Whittaker, Jesse Williams and William Browder, 1819.

A water-power saw and grist mill was established and operated b}^ John J. Morehead on the bayou for several years. John Vanway finally became his successor as proprietor of the mill and he moved it to the mouth of the bayou and changed into a steam mill. Before mills were invented the settlers made meal in a mortar after the manner of their Indian neighbors. The best mortars were hollowed out of rock, but occasionally a large stump was used as a mortar. A large, deep, funnelshaped hole was burned in the top of the stump, and a heavy wooden pestle, with the lower end pointed to fit the shape of the mortar, was used to crush the corn into meal. After the meal was thought to be fine enough it was run through a buckskin sieve.

So named on account of its location in the center of the county, was formed from parts of Robinson, Lynn and Harmony townships in March, 1859, by order of the county commissioners.

The early settlers were Andrew Cavitt and sister, Joseph Robinson, Joshua and Caleb Wade, John Ashley, Sharp Garris, John Parish, Benjamin Gwaltney, David Ball, Moses Cross, Abner and Ajax Campbell, Reuben and Wright Stallings. Other families were the Wallaces, the Smiths and the Wilkinses.

Mills, cotton-gins, distilleries and tanneries were a necessity in every neighborhood. Joseph Robinson supplied his neighbors with meal and whiskey and ginned their cotton for a long time. Cotton was high and money scarce, so every farmer had his cotton patch. Corn or wheat was carried to the mill on horseback and the settlers had to wait their turn, in some instances having to wait a day or two, as the capacity of the mills in those days was all the way from ten to twenty-five bushels per day. If it was a "horse mill" each man furnished the horse-power to do his own grinding. Distilleries were often connected with the mills and many indulged in drinking while waiting their "turn." They were small copper stills with a capacity of only a few gallons per day. The price of liquors, meals and lodging was regulated by the commissioners. Whiskey was 12JX cents per half-pint, wines 50 cents, food and lodging 25 cents, a horse with hay and stall all night 50 cents.

Let a resident of Posey county go among strangers almost anywhere in the United States and tell anybody he came from Posey county, Indiana, he will be required to answer the question: "Are you from Hoop-pole township?" And many who ask that question really believe that such a township actually exists in Posey county.

It is hoped that the following may disabuse the minds of those who entertain the idea that there is a township by that name in Posey county:

Soon after the county seat was removed to Mt. Vernon, which was in the year 1825, barrel making became an important business in Mt. Vernon. William Hatfield and John Cooper were engaged in that business on a rather extensive scale for that time. In those da3-s there was a class of robust, fearless men who followed the river for a livelihood, known as flatboatmen. It was not uncommon to see a dozen or more of this kind of craft afloat or lying at the landing. One day, about the year 1833, some ten or fifteen flatboats were at the wharf while their owners were up in town at the taverns and groceries drinking, making merry, and having a good time, and some of them became involved in a quarrel with residents of the town, in which the latter were worsted and routed. The news of the defeat spread over the town and several of the rougher element determined to avenge the wrong perpetrated upon their fellow citizens, so they equipped themselves with hoop-poles from the cooper shop, and another fight ensued, in which the river men were badly beaten, and made a hasty retreat to their boats, and pushed int(5 the stream as quickly as possible. They passed, and were passed in turn, by boatmen, and their unsightly appearance called for explanation, and the questioner soon heard the story about the hoop-poles.

After that when a flatboatmen was seen with a broken nose or a black eye, or otherwise damaged appearance, he was accused of having been to Vernon, and the place soon came to be known up and down the river as Hoop-pole township.