Blooming Grove Township

Blooming Grove Township

The only village in the townsliip is Blooming Grove, with a present population of one hundred and twentv. It is in the central part of the township, and was platted in section 10 July 2^, 1816, by Surveyor Joseph Allen, for the proprietors, John Xaylor and James Sherwood. During February, 181 7, an addition was platted by the same men, and lots Xos. 18 and 23. were donated to the ]jul)lic for a "school and meeting house." The place was named Greensboro, but some who did not favor the site for a town dubbed it "Greenbrier." Perhaps no better accoimt of the early histor\- here can be given today than to quote what was written by Plenry C. Harvey about 1881 or 1882, which article reads as follows:

"The writer can:e to the town on the nrst day of September. 1834, to begin a six years' apprenticeship at a trade, which term he fully and faithfully served and from that date to the present time has witnessed the growth

-and changes that have occurred. The olt-repeated statement about the original name of our village being Greenbrier is incorrect. The founders of the village were natives of Maryland and they named it in honor of a town in that state. The township was called Blooming Grove. Some time between 1830 and 1835 (tor want of a mislaid old diary I cannot give precise datej the people of the tcnvnship petitioned L'ncle Sam for a postottice at their village, to be called Greensboro. In due time word came to them that there was already an oftice by that name in the state. Then they sent the name of Blooming Grove and also the name of the man chosen for i>ostmaster, and the petition was granted. The postmaster was an alien, but he made an efficient oflicer. At the next session of the Legislature after getting their postoffice, the citizens petitioned that body to change the name of the town from Greensboro to Blooming Grove, which was granted, and that is the way it all came about. As far back as 1820 the directory of business would have said: Samuel Miller, hotel, west of Mam street: Peter Miller, chairmaker, east of Main street; John Ply, potter, northeast corner of Main and ^Cross streets; Elanthan Cory, tanner and currier, north side. As yet there had been no store in the town, nor was there any until after 1825. Tb.e first store was kept by Beverly R. Voun ; the first wagonshop by Parismis Wil- ;kinson. In iS2(j Martin W. ;Mt)rris, of Ohio, bought and fitted up pr^.pcrty for a store and hotel. He occupied it for a time and then sold the property to William King, who also carried on merchandising and tavern-keeping, subsequently selling out to Coleman & Clements. Some time in 1830 or 1831 James Wliorten, of Cincinnati, brought out a large stock of old goods and remnants and sold them at auction on long credit, greatly to the disgust of the resident merchants. The sale lasted nearly a week. Up to this time there had been no blacksmith shops in town, but shortly afterward Thomas S. Webb, brother of Scpiire John A\'ebb, commenced the business. The first frame dwelling was built by Robert Runyan alx»ut 1834, and is now (1882) -occupied by William Cooper. About this time a lot of 'e.xodusters" from Maryland swooped down upon the town and it began to grow. As yet there was no meeting-house in town."

There are three churches within the township - "Old Ehenezer,' on the south line; the Methodist I^piscopal at the \illa,:^'e of liloomini; (jrove. and a Protestant Methodist church, all ot which are treated in detail in the chapter on Churches.

In the s])rinf:: of 1915 the followini,^ interests were represented at the viHage of Blo(jniing Grove: A Kin't^hts of Pythias lodge, an account of which the reader will find in the I.odge chapter of this volume. .\ .\fethodist Episcopal church - ^see Church chapter. General dealers. Powers & Perdiue and W. L. White. The former firm has Ijccn in h'usine-^s a Iialf century, and as the firm is now constituted >ince 181^1. Thomas Ellis is the village blacksmith. Fairfield is on the rurrd free delivery route from F'rookville, the postoBice, established many years ago, haA'ing been discontinued in 1905.

The brick and drain tile factory of this place is operated for the f»wner. Mrs. Jennie Waggoner, by John Van ^Nleter. Until recently there was a good steam saw-mill here, but it is abandoned.

Mrs. Mary Powers Deter, the oldest living resident in the township as well as in Franklin county, is in her ninety-m'nth year, ptxssessed of all her faculties, save defective eyesight. She is the last of a family of ten children, in her parents" family.

The township officers in 1915 in Blooming Grove township are: Trustee, Deward Wilson ; assessor. Lee W^right : advisory board. Charles L. . Scheisz, Aaron Apsley. Robert J. Winmeter : justice of the peace, Lcniis C. Chambers; constable, J. W. Chowning; supervisors. Lon Stewart. Xo. I. William J. Fields, Xo. 2.

Springfield Towxsiiip

Springfield township lies between Bath and White Water townships, on the section line of Franklin county. It contains thirty-six sections. It is identical with congressional township 9 north, range i west. Prior to May 12, 181 7. it hatl been a part of Brookville township, but on that date the county commissioners set it ofi as a separate subdivision on the petition of Jacob Fausett and thirty other citizens of the township proposed to be formed.

The order read. as follows: "bu much of Urookville lownship as coniposed the ninlh congressional township in range I west, shall constitute and be known as bprniglield township, and that all elections in said township shall be held at the house of Xiinrod nrackney."

This portion of I'ranklin count}-, generally speaking, ia le'.el, except where broken b\ some (jue iji the stream^ that llow through its territory. Big Cedar creek tlows thrcnigh the western side of the township from north to south. '1 he banks along this stream are very steep and bold. The stream has a main branch coming from the north-central part. Dry fork, a tributary of White Water, rises east of the central p<jrtion, llows south and easterly and leaves the township near Scipio at the southeastern corner. When first known to the white settlers this township had several pcjnds, but with the passing years the hand of the owners has caused them all to be drained and today there is not to be discovered a trace oi them. The land in the old pond beds is among the most productive within the county.

Settle.Ment

The first land enteretl in this township was l)y Jnhn Remy, (October 13. 1804, in the southeast quarter of section 28, hence it starids as one of tlie first settled portions of the county. Samuel Stewart was ne.xt to invade the township, making h.is advent .August i. r8o6. During the same year lands were entered l>y William Cloud, John Coulter and William Rail. The complete entrv list, elsewhere in this volume, give the settlers bv years, .\fter the War of 181 2 the township grew rapidly and immigration kept up utitil most all of the good land was taken l)y actual settlers. The above entries have been copied and verified by public land records. However, there were manv who entered land, made slight improvements thereon, and. being dissatisfied with the country or because they were unal)le to pay for the same, to those who had loaned them money to enter the land at government prices, sold or traded "for a song" to some other man. who became a permanent settler. Hence, it does not necessarily follow that a man who entered land in the township was in fact a i)ermanent settler, but the man who ])urchased from him who had entered the government land was entitled to be classed among the first settlers in the township. So it will be understo-xl how easv it is to make the mistake of calling an original land purchaser "first settler."

Among the first to become settlers in the true sense was the Fruits family, in the central eastern part of the township, although tb.e name does not appear in the land entries.

Moses Karick-n came in fr<mi Kentucky with lii> family, and settled in .section 14 in March, 1810. He had previously entered and iniprovtru these lands, but througii some irrej^ularily in rec<jr(ls and red-tape rulea 01 the land office, the record was m>t made until iSio.

Philii) Lvnch was another actual settler who came in very early, purhasing an original claim. FollcAving came others, who were in after years well-knmvn laclor.-. in the devclopnicnt i.f thi^ township, and these included Nixon Oliver. Samuel Lee. W illiam Applegate. Moses Hornaday. R. P. Clarkson. Isaac Woods. Thniua.-, Mathews. Philip Imjwc. Cyrus Saunders, Joseph Wallace, Amos Applcton. Jamc.-> .Vrdery. X. \'. Simmouson. Samuel Shirk, David Shirk, Timothy Scohcy. David iJussclI. Eli James. Ira Stout, Powell Gulick. William Clark, Joab Howell. Henry Grover. John Merrill. John Barbour, William Armstrong, Samuel Carbour, Philip Jones. Daniel Shafer, \\'. T. Swift. John Abbott, Ximrod Prackney, James Thompson, Michael Owens, William Ferguson. W. and Thomas Crayton. Alexander Telford, .\rtliur Cunningham, Captain William Webb. William Gilchrist.

Events Of Ixtekest

During 181 J there was a block-house built on land owned by Moses Rariden. at least it was partly constructed when the war closed and no further trouble was expected by Indian invasions. This was near a large .spring, the waters of which were still llowing a few years since.

The early roads were merely traces blazcfl through the timber, with a notice at each end of the trace, telling where the trail ran t< and from.

The name of this township, it is believed, was derived from a large spring, where the block-house was to be erected. Others believe it was named for some town in the East from which came many of the pioneers.

Among the first to bring to the township graded stock was John Barbour. One of the first blacksmiths was the father of Isaac Wamsley. whose shop was located on Big Cedar, where the pike crosses that stream.

The Seal family owned a small single thresher, known by some as a "pepper-mill."' This was probably the first threshing machine in the county.

"Grannv Singhorse," as Mrs. Singhorse was commonly called, was probablv the first to treat diseases in this township. She used to travel on horseback and wore a hat of peculiar make-up. The earliest regular physi- in the county were Drs. Freeman Perry and G. Oliver.

The first school was taught in section 24. in 1814. by ^.largaret Rariden. About 1816 a school was taught by Thomas Craven, in section 2,3- on. the

Fkanki.Ix Colxty, Indiana. I45

One of the first mills in this township was erected by Moses Rariden, on a branch of Dry fork, in section 14. Another was constructed by Isaac Wanisley, in section 2<S', en the Big Cedar. Another very early mill is recalled as iiaving Ijctii built near Scipio. What was styled a "husk frame" mill was erected by James Seal in either section 32 or 33, on Big Cedar. Here he had a run of mill stones and did coar.se grinding. Later this mill was removed to Laurel Hill. It was covered by a rude shed and had a hand bolting machine, each customer having to turn the crank if he wished l>o!tcd flour or meal. Power was furnished by means of a ten- foot overshot waterwheel.

A tannery was established by Thomas ^Lathews. and Thomas L'pjohn also, at a \ery early date, had a tannery in the township. John Shafer had a tannery in the neighborhcjod at a very early date.

^V. H. Tucker, of Decatur county, many years ago furnished the subjoined incident for the newspapers: "Walter Tucker settled on Litrle Cedar creek in 1815. About i8i8 he built what was styled a 'tub-wheel' mill on his place.

"There were plenty of Indians about then. One day an Indian came to his house, when there was no one but a sister of Tucker's at home. The Indian, of course, wanted something to eat, and. upon looking up the chimney, he espied some hog entrails which had been hung there to smoke and dry. Mr. Indian pulled down a 'gut' or two. and. after fea^-ting fr-jin a pewter plate upon which he laid the sweet morsel, he threw the plate under the bed and the remains of his "feast' upon the floor and glided out of the house."

John Clendening, one of the township's most influential and energetic pioneers, v. as killed by lightning while standing under a tree in 1844.

The first brewery in Franklin county was in Springfield township. It was located in the southeastern part of the township, not far from the Indiana-Ohio state line, and was owned and ojjcrated bv a Mr. DeParr.

. Up to 18S0 there had been four villages, four postoffices. seven churches and nine brick school houses within this township, bespeaking the thrift and enterprise of the population.

1819, is also now defunct. Scipio was platted in 1826, the post office being called rhilanlhropy. Mt. Carmcl was i^latted in 1853 and now has one hundred and forty-three population. Other villages were Palestine (called VVynn now), jjlatted in Octol)cr. 1847, by Paul Holliday, havinj^ a present population of about twenty. Peoria, another hamlet of this township, has fifty inhabitants. The latest platting in the township is Raymond, platted in 1903, as a railroad statirm on the Chesapeake iK: Ohio railway line.

Mt. Carmel

The principal village is Mt. Carniel, in the southern part of the township, which was laid out by J. and S. S. Faucett. in February. 1832. and August, 1S36. This section of the county has much <)\ historic interest connected with it. At one time there were numerous factories located here, including the celebrated red factory of Bishop, which factory manufacturer!. for forty years or more, reeds for woolen mills and cotfrn factories in all parts of the United States. It was the tirst industry of its class in all the West.

The first stonj at Mt. Carmcl was conducted by Joseph Ilal.-tcad. It was a log building. The next to engage in merchandise was Isaac Burkholder, after whom came the Faucett brothers, who platted the town and remained many years.

The town took its name from Mt. Carmel Presbyterian church, which was organized previous to the platting of the town. If it were not celebrated for anything else, ^vlt. Carmel would have a ])lace en the map. because of the fact that it was the birthplace of ^liss M. L(juisa Chitwiod, a child of genius, whose poems are known far and near: among these may be named "The Old Still Mouse." .Mention is elsewhere made in this volume of this striking character, who passed from earth's shining circle all too early.

The present business of the village is as follows: General stores. T. J. Gates & Son, Roy Patterson: blacksnnth siiop, F. M. Gant. Alexander Campbell; steam saw-mill, Henry Ferung; hotel, Charles Logan.

The village has Odd bellows and Knights of Pythias bxlges. an account of which is given elsewhere. in this volume in the Lodge chapter. The present churches are the Aletliodisl Fpiscopal. Universalist and Presbyterian.

Franklin Countv, Indiana. I47

The followiiij:^ persons have scr\c(l as postmaster at what is now known as Mt. Carniel postofiice since its cstabHshment, in January, 1H32. The list was furnislicil the author I)y the post<jfficc department at W'ashin^'ton and the elates indicate time of ajjpdintment : R. P. Clarkson. appointed as postmaster of what was then known as Sentinel, January 12, i^T)2: name changed to Mount Carmel, February 14. 1840, R. P. Clarkson still postmaster: Jacob Lanius, March 16, 1848; Caleb Yocum. December 31, 1849; James Hasson, September 4, 1850: Casper Foi,^el. May 26, 1853; Philip Rowe. February 13, 1856; S. B. Jenkins. March 24. 1863: I. S. Larue, March 9. 1864: J. B. Smith, April 28, 1868; J. A. Gates, October 21, 1869; T. E. McCoy. January 27, 1870: E. M. McCready, January 18, 1871 ; P. B. Millepaugh. June 4. 1873; Thomas Heap, August 12, 1873: C. \V. Stewart. August 24, 1H74: William Laird. April 12, 1S89: J. \V. Merrill, April 14, 1890; Emma Riciiard, November 14, 1893; Thomas J. Gates, December 13, 1897: office discontinued March 31, 1906.

The corporation officers in 1915 were: Trustees, William Luse. T. J. Gates, J. J. Jollifif; clerk. .\. \V. Lewis; treasurer, E. L. Gates. The date of incorporation was i88r.

Peoria is a small village on the state line, three miles north of Scipio. Inglesidc Institute, once a popular academy, was located there. Prof. William Rust was the founder of the school. Prof. J. P. Gassedy opened a normal school in the same building at a later date; both educational institutions have long since passed out of commission.

Mt. Pisgah was a small community of people in the vicinitv of Asbury church. There, at one date in the history of the township, there was a saw and grist-mill, which made it a business center; this place, however, was never platted.

The present officers of Springtield townships are: Trustee. Rosc(^ HubbarcL- assessor. John Waltz; advisory board. Albert Biddinger.l^hn B. Xutty. Thomas J. Gates; justice of the peace, Addison Lewis: constable. Harry West; supervisors. John Rockwell, John S. :\IcClure. Al. George. Thomas Freeland.

Highland Tuwnshii'

Hio-hland township ib on tlie soiitlicrn boundary of Franklin county, between White Water and Cutler townships. It is bounded on it> north by Brookville. which als(j e.xtends a chstauce of one mile on the west. This civil township of the county comprises twenty-four sections of congressional township 8 north, range 2 west, three wdiole and four fractional sections of township 9 north, range 3 west, and three fractional sections in txjwnship lO north, range n, east; in all about thirty-one sfjuare miles. This town.ship ua> originally a part of White Water township, which once extended across the lower part of the county. It was cut off from White Water township Ijy an order of the county commissioners February 12, 1821. at which time it was '"Ordered, that all that part of White Water townshi]) lying west of White Water compose and constitute a new township to be called Highland township, and it is further ordered that all elections held in said township to be held at what is now called the Republican school house on the lands of William Fred."

In 1828 the county commissioners described the boundary of this township as follows: "Beginning at the southeast corner of township 8 in range 2 west; thence north on the township line to the northeast corner of section 13 in township 8 in range 2 west ; thence west along the section line until it intersects the Grouseland purchase line: thence a southwesterly course on said line to the western corner of fractional section 6 in town 10 north, range 13 east; thence south to the anmty line; thence east to the place of beginning to be called Highland township."

The boundary line between Brookville and Highland townships was not definitely established (Record Book I., page 179) until September 6. 1842'. when the commissioners ordered Thomas \\'inscott. the surveyor of Franklin county, to establish a line between Brookville and Highland townships, commencing at the corner of sections 12 and 13 on the boimdary line and running due west until it strikes a line dividing Brookville anil Ray townships. On December 6. same year, the commissioners declared that the boundar}' line established by Thomas Winscott pursuant to the order of the board on September 6, 1842. be set aside, and ordered that "said line be re-established on the section line south of the line dividing sections 12 and 13 in township 9. range 13; thence southwest with said boundary to the southeast corner ot township II. range 12: the last named points to be the line between Brookville township and Highland township." Subse(|uently it was reduced to its present size by the formation of Butler township. Septemlier 5. 1845. It was named on account of tlic hii^h land within its limits. W'liite Water crosses the northeast corner of the township. Blue Creek flows across the westcentral portion, having several branches, all of which unite within the township, (logic's and Kauiscy's Iiranches are small tributaries of White Water. Tlie soil is of clay nature and in a few places quite thin. By proper care the farmers have been able to produce good crops of corn, wheat, barley and oats, while live stock has always been a paying branch of the agriculture of the townshi]). The townshij) was originally heavily forested, but most of the valuable timber is now gone.

Here, as in other places in the county, the first settlement was effected along the streams. Along White Water river, the extreme northea'-t corner of the township, there was a settlement of "squatters," who made slight improvements before 1805. 1*^ John Conner will ever be credited the honor of being the first white man to enter land in this lownshij). but the record shows that he did not buy government land until August, 1810. although he had without question been a resident of this section a few years before that date. It was in this neighborhood that Conner had a store and Indian trading post. In an old account of the first settlement there appears paragraphs such as the following:

"During the latter portion of the last and the first years of the present century [meaning the last years in the eighteenth and first of the nineteenth century], there stood on the river bank a half mile up stream from present Cedar Grove village, a trading post, known as Conner's Post. At present all trace of it has gone, even the land where it stood has long since been washed away by the changing of the stream's current. After it was vacated, the trader, Conner, went further up the river and established another post at the point where now stands Connersville, the town being named for him. This structure was rudely and strongly built of logs, containing for barter those necessities required by the first settlers and many trinkets and bright woven fabrics to attract the Indians to whom they were exchanged for furs. Chief among these commodities were powder, lead and whisky

"At this post the trappers, scouts and hunters would meet and relate their various experiences and purchase their staples, and often the squalid Indian, too, would idle away the long hours in lounging and drinking.

with the trader and each other, there strrjlled into their midst a tall, powerful savage with an evil ctnintenance, who. for want of a lx;tter name, may be styled 'The Wolf." He deposited a small quantity of furs and asked for liquor in return, and. having received it, he immediately swallowed it and sat down, glancing here and there, his black eyes flashing with delight and a metallic glitter. He seemed to be known and disliked by the whites, as they seemed to be hated and suspected by him. He drank freely of the whisky traded for, and as his brain became elated with it, he forgot his cunning and grew garrulous and boastful, seeking to awe the hunters by stories of his powers and of what to him were his mighty deeds of valor, but which, in reality, were thefts and murder, executed oftener through treachery and cunning than any boldness on his part. Stopping every few sentences to refresh his memory with potent drafts of the whisky, he boasted of securing scalp after scalp, until he led up to what he gloried in as his grandest feat of arms, which victory procured ior him the most beautiful of all the scalps which hung in his lodge."

"The Indian finally boasted of having killed and scalped a beautiful young white girl : told all the cursed details, as only a drunken Indian can tell such particulars.

"At the tennination of the narrative some of the white men sprang to their feet with bitter curses on the red demon, whose heart was stone, and while the hand of all sought guns and knives, the trader hurried forward, and a gray-haired scout, with a fierce, determined look, pointed up the river trail and said. 'Wait.'

"The vaunting savage dimly understood that he had told too much, struggled to his feet, and. after again drinking freely of the liquor, purchased a quantity of powder and lead and staggered away from the post up the trail.

"It will not be necessary to follow the Indian very far on his course, because he came to a sudden halt about sunset, at which time a sharp report rang out, a puff of blue smoke floated heavenward, a heavy bodv fell to the earth. Two hours later the moon rose and sent down through the branches long slanting rays of light that touched red stains which were not drifted sumach leaves! The Indian was never seen again: none of the white men at the post ever questioned whither he had gone."

The land entries in this township were, according to the countv and government records, as follows: In 1811. William Helm. Thomas Clark and Stephen Goble. 1814. Nathaniel Henidon. William Ramsey. 181 5. Robertson Jones, William Fread.' James Jones. Jr. 1S16. Peter Prifogle. the first

Gemian in Highland, and among the earliest in the county; Corbly Hudson. In 1817, John Halborstadt, William Mintz, Samuel Price, Levi Fortner, William Knuwls, J. B. Chapman. In iSi8, John Stafford, George W. Matthews, Robert Douglass, William Walker, Bradbury Cottrell, Joseph McCart'erty, Phineas Johnson. In 1819. Joshua L. Sparks, Edward Blackburn, Jonathan Ivloore.

The following are the present, 191 5, township officers of Highland township : Trustee, Theodore B. Schuck ; assessor, Anthony Ripperger ; advisory board, Frank Bischoff, William Beckman, John Fohl : justice of the peace. John J. Willielm; supervisors, Charles Schuck, Joseph Strothman, Lewis Klemme, Joseph Boehmer.

Before 1830, the great mass of new-comers to the western lands were beyond Franklin county, where a rich soil could be had to build homes for themselves. .About 1831, the unoccujiied area of the southern and western part of the county began to attract the atteiuion of certain German emigrants, who had assembled at Cincinnati as a center from which to diverge for final settlement. Many of the good people came in parties of two <jr more families, and had lived in the same neighborhood in the Fatherland.

There were a few farms settled and improvements begun between i?J(J and 1830, mainly by the following persons: John Lefforge. 1829; Joseph S. Whitney, 182 1 : John Bradburn. 1828, he was the pioneer doctor of the township; Samuel Ward, 1826; John Hardin, 1826; Colvin Owen, 1826; Henry Speckman, 1826; Valentine Dill, 1826; William Spradling. 1827; John Spradling, 1833: James McCleary, 1830, the last named settling in what was long known as "Burnt Woods."

In 1832-33 the German people began to settle this part of the county. The immigration came from Cincinnati, by way of Harrison and Dearborn counties, and was entirely independent of the Brookville settlement, except for legal and civil purposes. Among the earliest Germans were Michael and Ignatz Ripperger. who entered lands in section 31, in September, 1833. adjoining the town of St. Peters.

Later settlers were : Louis Shockley, William Sturwold, Conrad Schomler (who was killed by a falling tree), Christian Floor, John Stockinger (who was bitten by a rattlesnake in the harvest field, and from it lost his life), Catherine Ripp, John R. Dirkhuesing, Henrj- Holbert, Joshua Bacher. Philip Waldorf, John H. EUerman, Henry Beckman. Henry Mires.

Henry Poppe, Valentine Dill, Valentine Fuller, Sarah Keeler, all of whom settled here previous tu 1837. John Bath settled in section ^^ in 1837.

In 1838 Godfrey Seibel built a brewery on the branch of Blue creek. This was the tirst brewery in all this section of the country, save one in Springfield township.

Among the English-speaking settlers may be named Jaincs Robf-sun, of Keinucky, who came in i(Soy to Brookville toun.slii[) and to Highland in 1816. William Robe.son. uhr; settled in iX^i, was justice of the peace and county treasurer two terms, as well as county conmiissioner.

The first school house in the township was on Joshua Baker's land, built of buckeye logs, which persisted in sprouting for a long time after the logs had been laid up. George W. Matthews was one of the t"irst teachers.

The first meeting house in this township was built of logs. .->ituated west of present South Gate village. . It was first used by the Meth(xli.-,t denomination.

Towns And Villages

The towns and postoffices of this township are, Cedar Grove, with a population of 185; St. Peters, with 150; Blue Creek, with j^; S<nith Gate, with 100, and Highland Center, a mere hamlet.

Cedar Grove is situated on the White Water river, on the railroad and the old \'alley pike. It was platted and christened "'Rochester." by John Ward, in September, 1837. Iii i^44 D. F. Cooley made an addition to the town. This place sprung into existence on account of the construction of the old canal, and was fori'^^rly a very important point along tliat waterway. The Wards erected a large flouring mill on the opposite side of the river and were important factors in building up what was at one time a busy commercial center.

The great flood of 1847 destroyed the Ward mills, and parts of the saved machinery were taken to the Cedar Grove side of the river and placed in operation as a mill by Withers & Knote. The present mills, built about twenty years ago, are operated by Casper Fohl.

The first church of the town was a union building erected in 1850, and built by subscription, and it is still used by any Protestant denomination who chooses to use it. The churches of today are the Catholic and Methodist Episcopal (see Church chapter).

Canal boat building was at one time quite a proiitable industry in tiiis town. A lar,L;e number of the boats used on the White Water canal were built there. The following from a newspaper published in October, i>i42, is self-explanatory:

"Canal Boats. - The subscribers have cstabli.Nlied a f'.'jat Yard, for building Canal Uoats at Rochester, on the White Water Canal. Tuo of the Company are regular ship-builders of long experience, and will be engaged in the construction of boats in a few weeks. They solicit the patronage of the public. They have good lumber ready, and boats will be built on reasonable notice. The business will be transacted under the style of T. Morse & Co.'

Cedar Grove was incorporated in 1907 and its fu'st (jfficers were: John Fohl. president; Charles Jonas. Charles Wiwi. Its officers in 191; are: Thomas ]\Ioore, president; John II. Schuck, Charles G. Jonas; clerk and treasurer, Alfred Moore; marshal, E. Merkel. The council meets at the townhall.

Lumber and Wood Work - Louis J. Brow^n, who for years operated at New Trenton, but the flt^od of 1013 swept all he had away, including the land on which his plant stood, causing a total loss to him of all that he had accumulated by years of toil. He is an ex-county commissioner of Franklin county. He is now installing modern wood-working machinery and has a fine lumber business.

Another village is South Gate, situated in the southeast portion of Highland township. This was platted in September. 1850. by Richard Wood. The postoffice goes by the same name. The population of the village is about one hundred. The usual amount of stores and shops of a hamlet of its size are found there. In February. 191 5. the list of business places were: General dealer, Jacob Shuck: blacksmith, Peter Emerein: the postoffice is a star-route office, and its postmaster is Adam Stinger. The place has a brick school house. The following have been postmasters at South Gate since June, 1843, flate of the establishment of the office: Tames Tread. June 7, 1843: John E. Shilling, September 29, 1852: Joseph Saner. March 23. 1855: J. J. Ripperger, October 31. 1856; Albert Knabe. April 29, 1858; Jacob Schuck. December 5, 1859; Philip Eschemback, February 19. 1862; Jacob Schuck, April 9, 1862; Adam Stenger, November 8, 1878'.

St. Peters is another little village of this township: it is the seat of a large Catholic church and a German settlement established in 1853 and added to later by that nationality. The moving spirit in establishing this colony was Rev. Maurice de Palais. It is located at the corners of sections

-25. 30, 31 and 36 in to\vnslii]i S'. ranges 13 and 14. Its present population is about one hundred and fifty. It receives mail over the rural free delivery route from Brookville. Its present dealers are: General stores, Anthony Gillnian and Zeif^Ier Brothers. Zeigler Brothers also conrluct a hotel, or at least accommodate travelers passint^ to and from the villaj^e.

Highland Center is situated between South Gate and St. Peters, in this township. It is on the rural free delivery route from St. Peters and "has but few residents. Its business interests consist of a f^eneral store, conducted by Joseph Schuck, who also runs a small saloon. Mr. Strothnian is the village blacksmith.

Klemme's Corner (old Blue Creek) is on section 17, township 8, range 14, and receives its mail from Brookville over the rural free delivery system. There are two Lutheran churches there, an account of which will "be seen in the chapter on churches. There is one general store oj)erated by Albert Klemme. The village has a population of about seventy-five persons.

The St. Peter's Mutual Fire Associatic/U was organized in 1869 by a of ])roniinent citizens in the vicinity of St. Peters. The first officers were as follow: Godfried Huber, president; Mathew Fussner. treasurer; Joseph Boehmer. secretary: Conrad Weiler and George Zimmer. appraisers. According to the incorpc^ration articles, tiie membership was restricted to those living within a radius of eight miles from St. Peters. This means that the company does business in Ripley and Dearborn as well as in Franklin county. The companv insures both personal and real property against fire, whether caused by incendiaries, spontaneous combustion or lightning.

This company has done a safe and conservative business for more than forty-five years and now has a membership of more than four hundred. The present officers are as follows: John Hornberger (Dearborn), president; Henry Ranch (Franklin), secretary; George A. Ripperger (Franklin), treasurer; Frank Rosefeld (Franklin) and John Huber (Dearborn), appraisers.