Center Township

Center Township

Ranges 9 and 10. Its greatest length from north to south is seven and a half miles, and from east to west five miles. It comprises an area of thirty-six and a half square miles, or twenty-three thousand three hundred and sixty acres. The northeastern portion of the township is drained by the Patoka River and iis

When the canal was built it extended through this township, and Francisco was then quite an important trading point. The track of the Air Line Railroad enters the township on the east on Section 18, and leaves it on Section 23. The lands of Center were originally covered with a heavy growth of timber, which furnished an excellent shelter for wild animals. It was regarded by the pioneers of the county as a good hunting ground.

Among the early settlers of this township was William Reavis. He was a North Carolinian by birth, and was descended from a long line of Szotch-Ivish ancestors, who were among the pioneers of the Carolinas, and during the memorable struggle for American independence they did valiant service for the cause of freedom, and aided by their brawny arm and strength of muscle in defeating the British forces at the battle of the Cow Pens. They are also ranked among the heroes of King Mountain. In the year 1817 William Reavis married Catharine Hensley, and soon after this event they made the long and tedious trip to this county on | pack horses, arriving in the summer of the same year. They settled near the present town of Francisco, about a mile southwest in the timber, where they cleared a tract, erected the usual humble log cabin, and by industry and perseverance made them a farm and home. The eldest child of Mr. Reavis and wife was Julia Ann, born in 1819. She married John T. Wallace, and is residing in Columbia on Section 23. The other children were James, Mary, Rebecca and Alexander. The latter was a soldier in the Union army during the late war, and died at Andersonville prison. Mr. Reavis died at the homestead in 1855. His widow survived him about two years. They were both mombers of the Regular Baptist Church.

Isam and Daniel Reavis, brothers of William, with their families, came in 1818, and made a settlement not far from their brother's place. They had both formerly resided for a while in Kentucky. About the year 1827 Isam was killed while assisting to raise a log house; one of the logs becoming dislodged fell upon him. The Reavis brothers, for a few years after coming here, oecasionally had their milling done at the then far distant Post Vincennes. Charles Reavis lived here for a while and then removed to Illinois. They were expert hunters, and killed large numbers of deer, wolves, bears and other animals. 'They all had large families and have numerous descendants, many of whom still reside in the county. David Johnson and his family were among the early pioneers of the county, having settled in the southern portion of the county in November 1801, and in the spring of 1817 he located on a tract in the timber about two miles north of Fiancisso. He was a native of Tennessee, but had lived several years in Kentucky before coming here.

Among the former old residents of this township was Thomas Birchfield, a native of Kentucky. He removed here with his family and settled in the fall of 1821. He was a brother of Larkin Birchfield, who was also an old pioneer of this county. When Thomas Birchfield came here the Indians were very numerous. He, however, got along with them in a quiet and eaceful manner. His first abode was in a small hes squatter's claim, and meats for his table during the first winter consisted of the deer, eturkey and other wild game of the forest won by the unerring rifle of the head of the household. -He subsequently bought out an improvement of Col. James W. Cockrum, situated where Francisco now is. Thomas Birchfield's wife's maiden name was Margary English, a daughter of Robert and Elizabeth English. She was born and raised in Powell's Valley, Butler Co., Ky., and during their residence in Kentucky they had to frequently resort to the forts for protection against the Indians, who were then making frequent incursions among the white settlers. Mr. Birchfield and wife were members of the Baptist Church. She died in 1839, and he survived her until 1861, though after the death of his first wife he married Sarah Beasley.

Samuel Beasley, a native of North Carolina, settled with his family about a mile and a half south of Francisco in 1880. He had a large family. Among his children were: - John, Landers and Hardy; the latter is now among the older residents of the township. John §. Meade, though not an old resident of this township, is a son of one of the early settlers of the county. His father, Stephen Meade, was a native of Duchess County, N. Y., and when a single man came to Gibson County in 1815. Here he married Mary Pritchett. She was the daughter of John Pritchett, who had been a Revolutionary soldier. The Pritchett family moved in an early day from Tennessee to this county. They settled in what is now Montgomery Township, a short distance from the present site of Owensville. Stephen Meade was married in 1820, after which he located in what is now Johnson Township. Mr. Meade-and wife had fourteen children - twelve sons and two daughters. Ten are yet living and eight are residents of Gibson County. His wife died in the year

1874. He survived her until May 13, 1880. John 8. Meade came to Center Township in 1877. In 1880 he was elected one of the county commissioners. He married Minerva Yeager, the daughter of Nicholas Yeager, an early resident of Montgomery Township. Thomas H. McKedy a native of this county, born in

1820. Heis a farmer, and resides on Section 6. He has been married three times. His first wife was Maria Teel. She died July 20, 1858; second wife, Lucretia

Douglas, who died July 23, 1876. The maiden name of his present wife was Priscilla Leach. Dr. James C. Patten, of Francisco, is a descendant of one of the early residents of the county. His grandfather, James Patten, was a captain in the Revolutionary War. After the termination of hostilities he moved to Tennessee, and in 1804 settled on Green River Island, Ky., and a few years later became a resident of Gibson County. He settled on a place about three miles south of where occurred about 1816. He raised a large family of children, among whom was Hugh H. Patten. He was. for many years a leading physician in Princeton. He died at the advanced age of cighty years in the year 1876. He was the father of Dr. James C. Patten.

Francisco

This was one of the towns that flourished during the time when the Wabash & Hrie Canal was in operation, and at one period it bade fair to become a thriving place. It was platted and laid out in January, 1851, by John Perkins. Mr. P. was living here and owned the land. The streets had a uniform width of fifty feet. It was originally located on the east side and up to the banks of the canal, situated on Section 19, Township 2 South, Range 9, and on the line of the Louisville, Evansville & St. Louis Railroad. It is the third station in importance on the line of the road in this county. Perkins was an enterprising man. He erected several business houses and residences, and did all that he could to encourage the growth of the place. He built two flouring mills. The largest mill had a run of five set of buhrs, and a large saw-mill which for several years did quite an extensive business while the canal was in operation. Mr. Perkins was quite extensively engaged in merchandising and dealing in real estate. The town was lively and flourished from 1854 to 1858. There were three large pork-packing establishments here, carried on by S. G. Barrett, Moore & Knowles, and Robert Baldwin; located here were also three large grain warehouses, and four general stores kept by John Perkins, Robert Baldwin, Moore & Knowles, and William Moore, besides several smaller establishments and shops of various kinds.

The first school was taught in the village by Mrs. Sweeney in 1851. Mrs. Sarah Redburn taught in 1852. Other teachers about this time were John R. Hartin and W. H. McCracken. The earliest schools were kept in a little log building a short distance from the village. In 1854 a school house was erected in town, another was built about nine years later, and the present two-story frame building was erected in 1878, at a cost of upward of $2,000. The school is graded and four teachers are employed.

The first church edifice was built here in 1855 by the Methodist denomination; and the denomination of General Baptists erected a church in 1880. Dr. J. M. Treland, who is still here, was the first resident physician. He located in the town in 1854. Dr. J. C. Patten, formerly of Princeton, became a resident here in 1878. Drs. D. P. Reavis and George Strickling are also practicing here.

Frovurine Mini. - ZJ. C. Sterns. The mill is a frame structure located on the line of the railroad west of , the depot; has a run of three set of buhrs.

1825, first election for the new township was held in October following at the house of John Farmer. James W. Cockrum was appointed inspector of the election.

Columbia is bounded on the north by Patoka River, east by Pike County, south by Barton and west by Center Township. The surface was originally covered with of move than six hundred square miles, embracing Olivet Church and the highlands dividing the water-shed of the Patoka and White Rivers, seven miles to the north.

peaks and hills which are just seen in the horizon beyond Winslow and Pikeville, in Dubois County, twentytwo miles distant. Southward are Kennedy Kuob, Snake Knob and Pigeon Summit, nine miles away; and to-the east Harbison's Hill within four miles of Princeton.

Coal and good building stone are found in this township; in digging the public well near the center of Oakland, at a depth of thirty feet a coal mine was struck.

of the township. A further description of the coal, stone and mineral resources of this part of the county is given in the chapter on Geology.

with a heavy growth of timber. Except in the southeast corner the water-shed tends to the north. Columbia is admirably drained by the Patoka River and its tributaries, among which are Keg and Bear Creeks, which drain the western and central part of the township.

~ Bear, Buck and Hurricane creeks all rise in the immediate vicinity of the city of Oakland, which crowns one of the principal eminences of the township.

In the early days this locality abounded in game, and even after the advent of the first settlers the Indians would frequently resort hither on hunting and trapping expeditions in the fall and winter seasons. Bears were very numerous and it was owing to the circumstance of a large number having been killed along its banks that Bear Creek derived its name.

John Farmer, one of the pioneers of the township, married Elizabeth Dill. She was the daughter of Philemon Dill, also an old resident of Gibson County, though at the time of this marriage Mr. Dill and family were living in Tennessee. Mr. Farmer was a Virginian by birth. Moved to Tennessee, thence came to this county in the year 1814, and settled on Section 84, Township 2 South, Range 9. The land was covered with a heavy growth of timber. He cleared and made afarm. He also turned his attention quite largely to stock raising and dealing, at least it was considered so for that early day. To him belongs the credit of introducing here the breed of the first short horn Durham cattle and Berkshire hogs. Mr. Farmer had but a limited elucation, though he was a very successful business man. When he left his Tennessee home for Indiana, he had only one horse which he and his young bride both rode, she sitting up behind. They traveled this way for a while, and finally, he had an opportunity to trade for an old Dearborn wagon; the balance of the trip they rode in it. The first ground broken by him after reaching this county, wa3 with a team of oxen, and his first crop of corn was tended with one ox. Mr, Farmer and wife reared a family of ten children who grew to man and womanhood. John A. is the eldest

In politics he was an old line Whig. He died over thirty-five years ago, at the age of sixty-three years. At the time of his death considerable specie was stored in an old trunk in one of the bed rooms, and two nights after the funeral had taken place, the house was entered and the trunk broken open and the money stolen. In those days money and valuables were kept in a more careless manner than now. The thieves escaped for the time being, and a few months after the occurrence, Dr. Lewis, of Princeton, then on a business trip to New Orleans, helped to discover two men who were suspected of being the parties, and who had hurriedly left Gibson County. He caused their arrest, they were brought back, tried, and one of them sent to the penitentiary. The widow of Mr. Farmer survived him about thirty years. She was for many years a member of the Baptist Church.

John A., the son of John and Elizabeth Farmer, was born in this county on the 31st of May, 1833. His education was such as could be obtained at the common schools of the neighborhood. He has for years been engaged in farming and stock trading. He was a soldier in the late war. His first wife was Martha J. Reavis. She was the daughter of Logan Reavis, one of the early settlers of Gibson County. As the fruits of that union, Mr. Farmer and wife had born to them seven children, three sons and four daughters; two children are deceased. After the death of his first wife Mr. Farmer married Mrs. Mary E. Wallace, mce Steel. As the issue of that marriage they have one son. Mr. Farmer is an active Republican, and filled the office of constatle for about twenty years in the township in which he resides.

Philemon Dill was a native of Tennessee, and of Scotch-Irish extraction. He came to this county with his son-in-law, Mr. Farmer, in the year 1814, and settled in this township, where he cleared up and made a farm. His wife's name was Amelia. They reared a family of eight children who grew to the estate of man and womanhood, and they, like their parent, married and reared families.

The Dills were an unusually robust and healthy people. Mr. Dillis spoken of as having been a very strong and athletic man, peaceable and friendly, but brave and generous to a fault. He would not take an insult when termed it, "at the drop of a hat." He died about the year 1859. His wife's death occurred a few years prior. They are both buried at the old Forsythe grave-yard. Mr. Dill was an old line Whig and Republican, and an opponent of the institution of slavery. During his early residence in Tennessee he witnessed some slight depredations committed by the Indians, and after arriving in Gibson County, he and his family passed through many of the trials and privations incident to

Ferris Farmer was a son of John Farmer by his first wife. He and his three sisters were born in Middle Tennessee and they came here with their father in 1814. On the 24th of January, 1838, Fezris Farmer married Lucretia Dill. She was born March 26, 1820. They had born to them a family of nine children, in the order of their ages, viz: Minerva Jane, married J. W. Skelton; she is now dead. Mary A. died in infancy. Embree C. lives at the old homestead. Philomen J., deceased. John L., deceased. Malissa A., the wife of Joseph M. Lance. They reside in Kansas. Maleteti A., wife of Harrison Fields, residents of Center Township, and Joseph F'., who lives a short distance from the' old home place. Mr. Farmer and wife were members of the M. E. Church; in politics he was a Whig and Republican. His death took place on the 26th of February, 1861. His widow survived him until Aug. 6, 1867. Mr. Farmer, during life, was an active and energetic citizen. He devoted his attention to farming and stock-raising and acquired a comforable competency. He cleared the old homestead place from a heavy growth of timber; it is the same farm on which his son Embree now resides. He was also a contractor when the first grading was done on the 'Straight Line R. R." He was a man of much enterprise and public spirit.

Embree C. Farmer, now living at the old home place, was married Dec. 25, 1870, to Mary I., daughter of Edward F. and Cindrella Crow. Her father's relatives, the Crow family, are among the pioneers of the county. Mr. Farmer and wife have had a family of six children, four of whom are dead. Those living are Kunice A. and Embree C. Farmer, Jr. In politics he is identified with the Republican party, and is one of the leading farmers and stock-raisers of Columbia Township.

About 1818 came William Hopkins and family. They lived here several years, then settled in the neighborhood of Princeton. Other early settlers were Adam and William Harper, Richard Barrett and Solomon Brown and their families.

In 1836 the venerable William Hargrove, wife and family settled in Columbia a mile east of Oakland, where he lived until his death, which took place in 1846 or 47. His wife died the same year. Mr. Hargrove and wife reared a family of fourteen children and several of his descendants became prominent citizens of the county. M. G.C. Hargrove, one of his sons, resides near Oakland. A grandson, William L. Hargrove, ex-sheriff of Gibson County, lives in Oakland. He is the son of Jacob W. Hargrove. Further mention of this family is made in the Pioneer chapter. The Cockrum family are also identified with the early history of this township. Col. James W. Cockrum became a citizen of Gibson County in 1818, settled on a farm at what is now Francisco, and in 1827 purchased the farm known as the Hargrove place. In 1833 he bought a steamboat and operated it on the southern rivers until 1886, when he returned and bought a farm, a portion of which he afterward laid out to form the city of Oakland. He had a family ot fourteen children, only two of whom are now living - William M. and James W.., citizens of Oakland. (See Pioneer Chapter.) Among the prominent descendants of one of the old pioneer families of Gibson County is Andrew Gudgel, a resident of this township. He is a farmer and lives on Section 25. He is the son of William and Lucy Gudgel and the grandson of Andrew Gudgel, mention of whom is made on another page of this book, in the chapter on Pioneers. Andrew was born at the old homestead near Owensville, in this county, on the 19th day of February, 1825, and lis early education was such as could be obtained in the district schools of that period. He remained with his parents, assisting on the farm, until the 3d of September, 1846, when he was married to Elvira, the daughter of John Wallace. By this union they have had eight children, one sou and two daughters deceased. Those living are William Henry, an attorney at Evansville, Ind., John T., a physician residing at Hazleton, this county, Levin Wilson, a lawyer at Princeton, James E., a physician at Cyuthiana, Posey County, this state, and Miss Nora, residing | at home. There are very few parents, especially farmers, who have succeeded so well as Mr. Gudgel in giving | their children the benefits of an education and making | professional men of all the sons. For a time, Mr. and Mrs. Gudgel were members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, but subsequently they joined the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he was largely instrumental in building the church about a mile west of his residence. He held the office of justice of the peace for several years and is among the strong Republicans of the county, though he has never been a man of political ambition. On the breaking out of the late war he enlisted in Company A, Fifty-eighth Regiment Indiana Volunteers, and participated in many hard-fought battles, and was severely wounded at the battle of Stone River.

John Wallace and family are also among the early settlers of the county. He was of Scotch-Irish extraction, and was a native of Maryland, and moved with his parents to Virginia where he grew to manhood, and married Frances Taylor in the year 1805, soon after which he and his youthful bride removed to Ohio County, Kentucky, where he engaged in milling on Rough Creek. He was also by trade a carpenter and cabinet maker. In the year 1829 he migrated with his family to Gibson County, and settled in the woods ata place which is now about two and a half miles west of Kings Station, on the line of the EH. & T. H.R. R. The family lived there for a number of years, then moved to a timbered tract of land on the canal below

Francisco, where by dint of industry and perseverance they cleared and made another farm. In 1855 he moved to Section 23, Township 2 South, Range 9, where he resided until his death, which took place on the 4th of October, 1855, aged seventy-three years. His widow survived him one day over a year and died Oct. 3, 1856, at the age of sixty-nine years. They reared a large family of children, viz.: - Nancy, Franklin, Elizabeth, Robert, John T., William, Jane became the wife of Samuel A. Williams, James 8., Henry L., Violet Ann, and Elvira who married Andrew Gudgel, a prominent and well-known citizen of this township. All the family continue to reside in Gibson County except William and Franklin Wallace. The former moved to Warrick County, Ind., the latter to Kentucky. Mr. Wallace and wife were both members of the Methodist Kpiscopal Church and he was for many years a class leader. He was a Whig and Republican, and being strongly opposed to the institution of slavery it was the prime reason of his leaving Kentucky. He was also a botanic doctor and was successful in the practice, though his main occupation was that of a farmer.

John T. Wallace, a son of John Wallace, was born in Ohio County, Kentucky, in the year 1816, and came to this county with his parents, and he was married three times. His first wife was Nancy King. The issue of that union was two children, Charles and Frances, both deceased. The second wife was Nancy Taylor. One child was born to them, John W. Wallace, who was a soldier in the late war, is married and engigzed in farming and lives on Section 23. Mr. Wallace's third wife was Julia Ann Reavis. As the fruits of this marriage they had six children, three of whom are dead and three living, viz.: - Alexander C., Cornelius T., who married Amanda A. Foley, - he is a farmer and living on Section 28, and Priscilla, the wife of John T. Powers. They reside at the old home place. John T. Wallace died at the old homstead, Section 23, on the 12th of April, 1880; his widow still survives him. (Mention of her father, William Reavis, is made in Center Township.) Mr. Wallace in early life was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, afterwards became a member of the United Brethren Church. Two of his sons, Charles and John W., were soldiers in the late war. The former died at Tuscumbia, Ala. The Dodd family as it will be observed, though not among the pioneers of the township, yet through intermarriage with

| some of the old resident families, have become identified here, and it is therefore proper that we make mention of them. John W. Dodd was a native of Adams County, Illinois, born April 3, 1820. After he grew to manhood he moved to Gibson County, and settled near Fort Branch, and on the 5th of February, 1846, married Hannah C. Byer. She was the daughter of George L. and Elizabeth Byer. She was born in Baden, Germany, July 15, 1826. As will be observed, the Byer family were Germans. country, landing at Baltimore, and in that city Mr. Byer and one daughter died. His widow married John G. Weller and they moved in 1337 to the neighborhood of Fort Branch in Gibson County. Mr. Dodi and wife had a family of thirteen children, five of whom are deceased. \ Those living, in the order of their births are, Samuel, resident of this county; Elizabeth Ann, wife of Thomas J. Williams; Catharine M., wife of Silas Harper, now living in Wabash County, Ill.; John L.; Emily J., wife of Joseph F. Farmer; Joseph E., James W., and George Fletcher Dodd. Mr. Dold was a carpenter by trade, but also carried on farming at the place where his widow now resides. During the year 1859 he and his wife both joined the Methodist Episzopal Church and became members at Forsythe Chapel. He died at his residence on the 28th of June, 1875. Samuel A. Williams was born in Chester District, S. C., on the 4th of May, 1820, and came to Gibson County with his parents in the year 1827. His father's name was Thomas Williams and his mother's maiden name was Margaret Eston. She was a daughter of Samuel Eston. Thomas Williams and his family first settled in Patoka Township on Nash Creek southwest of Princeton. Thomas Williams' family consisted of nine children in the order of their ages, Samuel A. was the third child. His wife died Aug. 1, 1847. He survived her until J uly 18, 1875. His death occurred at Princeton. Samuel A. Williams married Frances J. Wallace April 27, 1848, She was the daughter of John Wallace. and wife have had a family of fourteen children, and it is rather a remarkable fact that they are all still living, and twelve of them residents of Columbia Township. The names of this patriarchal family in the order of their ages are Elvira, Thomas J., John D., William A., Elizabeth A., Margaret A., Henry L., Mary E., Eliza J., Harriet M., Martha S., Arminda, Naucy C., Jam2s E. In 1853 Mr. Williams removed with his family to his present abode in this township.

His son, Thomas J. Wilson, was born in Gibson County June 21,1845. He was a soldier in the late war, «member of Company D, One Hundred and Twentieth Regiment Indiana Volunteers, and participated in all the battles in which his regiment took apart. Dee. 81, 1869, he married Elizabeth Dodd. She was the daughter of John W. Dodd - above mentioned. He and his wife are both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. They have five children living. He is one of the enterprising farmers of the township.

Among the representatives of some of the old families of the county now living in this township may be mentioned the following: - James M. Steel is a native of Gibson County, born in the year 1831. He is a farmer and stock raiser and a resident of Section 34. He married Priscilla Barrett. Martin A. Steel was also born in Gibson County in 1885. He married Elizabeth

He is a farmer and resident of Section 26. He came here in 1839. He was a Tennesscean by birth. He died April 25, 1841. His vocation was that of a farmer. His widow, who afterward married Hugh Watt, is still living and resides on the old home farm. She isa native of Lawrenceburg, Ohio, and came to this county in 1839. William J. Summers, a farmer and resident of Section 19, was born in this county in 1836. His first wife was Cassander Heron. She died in August, 1863. His present wife is Mary Peed, nce Deadman. James Kennedy, an Irishman by birth, became a resident here in 1848. His wife is Jane Martin. She was of the early families. John V. Kell was born in Chester District, South Carolina, in 1827. The names of his parents were James and Jane (Sproule) Kell. His father was born in the year 1800; his mother in 1796. They were also natives of the state above mentioned. In 1827 they removed to Gibson County and settled a mile southwest of Princeton. Six years later removed to Wabash County, IIl., where the elder Kell died. The family returned to this county, and Mrs. Kell died in 1854. On the 11th of September, 1849, John V. married Jane M. Gillespie. To them have been born six children. His wife died Feb. 16, 1876. He subsequently married Harriet Hooper, nee Skelton. Mr. Kell has for many years been an elder of the U. P. Church, and is one of the well-to-do farmers of -this township. William Nossett was born in Frederick County, Va., Nov. 6, 1818. Came here in 1845 and settled at Somers, near where Oakland now is, and established a blacksmith shop. Followed the trade two years then removed to near where he now resides. He was married Sept. 5, 1835, to Elizabeth Johnson. From this union were eight children. Mrs. Nossett died Oct. 12,1855. The parents of our subjezt were William Nossett and Delilah (Hickle) Nossett. They had nine children - six boys and three girls. The old homestead was located ten miles from Winchestor, Va. All the children are deceased except William, who now, at the age of seventy-one years, is still engaged in farming in this township. Another resident isMartha Jane Eskew, whose first husband was Samuel J. Wakeland, and present husband John Eskew. Mr. Wakeiand died June 1, 1859. She was born in Warrick County, Ind., and came here in 1859. John Eskew is a Kentuckian and became a resident in 1848. This township originally extended to the south line of the county and also comprised a portion of Center, and the early settlers living in those portions are mentioned in the sketches of those townships. Some of the early officers in Coluinbia, between the years 1825 - '29, were John Farmer, justice of the peace and James W. Cockrum, inspector of election for 1825 to 1826, and Thomas Potts and James Skelton were constables from 1826 to

Dongola

1829, Samuel Baldwin and Jacob Skelton were overseers of the poor in 1825-26. The next year Solomon Brown and William Pearson had charge of the poor, and the same year Silas Edrington was appointed inspector of elections. In 1828 William Devin aud §. McDill attended to the wants of the poor, and in 1829 James Skelton and Silas Edrington filled the same office. In 18238 John Hargrove was inspector of elections and James W. Cockrum in 1829, and the same year Samuel Whitsitt was appointed constable. Columbia Township is well supplied with schools and churches and plenty of wagon roads, and her railroad facilities are as good as any other township in the county. The Louisville, Evansville & St. Louis Railroad (Air Line) enters the township on Section 17, crosses the "Straight Line" at Oakland and leaves the township on Section 15 on the west The I. & E.R. R., familiarly known as "Straight Line" enters Columbia on the south on Section 85 and extends in a due northeasterly direction through the township, crossing the Patoka River on Section 32, Township 10, Range 8. crosses the ''Air Line." DONGOLA is situated on the south bank of the Patoka River. The proprietors were William Carpenter and Isaac Street. They laid out the town in March, 1851, on Sections 81, Township 1, Range 8, and Section 6, Town ship 2, Range 8. It was herethat the old Wabash & Erie Canal and state road crossed the Patoka River. Dongola was laid out with broad streets ranging from seventyfour to seventy-six feet wide. Aboutin the center of town. Several business houses were established here, and for a few years considerable pork packing was done. After the canal ceased to operate the town gradually died, and at present the only business is a saw-iill operated by Ferdinand Knier.

OAKLAND é is situated on a beautiful eminence, and commands an extensive view of the surrounding country, and is located in the midst of a rich farming district. It has wmple railroad facilities, as the Louisville, Evansville & St. Louis, and Indianapolis & Evansville Railroads cross each other at this place, giving merchants, manufacturers and shippers direct communication with the principal cities and marts of trade, east and west, north and south. With these advantages and its healthful

Jesse Houchins, who sold his place in 1827 to Col. James W. Cockrum. The place was afterward better known as the old Hargrove farm. Cockrum resided there until, 1838, then went south and engaged in steamboating. In 1835 he returned and bought the land on which the greater part of Oakland now stands from Richard Barrett, his brother-in-law, who was living in a small cabin that stood about one hundred feet northwest of where the Air Line sand house now stands. He had lived in it for several years. Mr. Cockrum built two heavy hewed log cabins, built after the old style, with a large entry between. It stood a few yards west of where Abraham Cole now lives, near the First Baptist Church, where he lived and farmed a portion of the land that Oakland now stands on during the remainder of his life. His Ceath occurred in November, 1875. Another man prominently identified with the early history of the place was Jasob W. Hargrove, one of the founders of the town. He lived on his farm, east of town, from early boyhood up to the time of his death. He was a large dealer in leaf tobacco, a merchant, produce and stock trader; also a miller.

It cost, when completed, $8,000, and stood on what would now be the north part of town, on Mill Street fronting the railroad. The mill proved to be an unproved enough to support such a large mill. It burned a few years ago, together with a large woolen factory, The same year Jacob W. Hargrove and James W. Cockrum built the first store room. It stood a little north of the public well, on Main Street. They established a brought here. The stock cost $8,500. The Wabash & Erie Canal was in operation at this time. It touched a point two and a half miles north of Oakland at the town of Dongola, on the Patoka River. This was the shipping point at that time for this community. At this time considerable work had been done on the Straight Line Railroad, and it was supposed that the yoad would be completed very soon, but its projectors became involved, hence they were compelled, in 1856, to suspend business entirely, and the work was abandoned. Messrs. Cockrum and Hargrove did an extensive business for those times as merchants and general traders, besides shipping many flat boat loads of pork, corn and flour out of the Patoka and Wabash Rivers. Town Puarren. - Oakland was laid out by James W. Cockrum and Warrick Hargrove, on part of the southwest and part of the southeast quarters of Section 18, Township 2 south, Range 8. The streets and alleys are broad. The plat was filed for record on the 15th of

January, 1856, since which time several additions have been added to the original town. It was named Oakland on account of the beautiful oak grove which eoyered a portion of the site. From and after the town was laid out it began to grow, and for the last ten years has increased quite rapidly in population and wealth. The first blacksmith shop carried on here was by Solomon Harris, in 1856, and the first carriage and wagon shop was established in 1857 by Franklin M. Rose. James McCain built the first cooper shop in 1857. It was operated in connection with the mill. It stood on the grounds now occupied by George Pritchett's dwelling house. The barrels were then made by hand, the staves and heading being split from the tree. The first person born in the present city limits was D. C. Barrett, in 1827. He now resides in Pike County. In 1857 Jacob W. Hargrove and William M. Cockrum started the first harness shop. The same year these gentlemen established a shoe shop. Mr. N. C. Crister opened the first furniture and cabinet shop in the building now owned by Mr. T. Robinson, on Main Street, in 1857. Jonsiderable tobacco was grown in the vicinity of Oakland, and in 1857 William M. Cockrum established a compress establishment onthe grounds where his residence now stands, and that year shipped two hundred hogsheads of tobacco on the canal from Dongola, on which he made a large profit.

The Oakland Cemetery was laid out some time in 1855 by James W. Cockrum, and the first headstone put up at a grave here was to the memory of Helen Beatrice Jockrum, who died July 5, 1858. The General Baptist Church stands in one corner of the cemetery. This is the first church edifice built in Oakland, and the first meeting of this society was held July 15, 1858, Rev. Jacob Speer pastor, but the church was not built until 1859. Itis said that the first well dug in the town is in the yard of Henry Vickers. It was dug in 1889. The first physician who practiced medicine in Oakland was Dr. William R. Leister, father of Dr. W. L. Leister. He came from Warrick County and settled here in 1855. In 1871 the Independent was established, which was the first newspaper here. The first school-house built was in 1860. The building is now used for a dwelling-house, and stands on the east side of Grove Street, between Harrison and Depot Streets. J. M. Henderson taught the first school in this house in the winter of 1860-61. The present handsome brick school building, two stories in height, was erected by a number of enterprising citizens in 1863~'69, at a cost of about $8,000. It was called the Oakland Institute, and was a subscription school. The first superintendent was Prof. Lee Tomlin. Not proving to be a profitable investment, it was sold to the township in 1877, ta be used as a public school building. , (For some of the data on the history of Oakland, we are indebted to an article published by N, A. Spillman, editor Oakland Mnterprise.)

Manuracturinc Enrerprises. - The Columbia Mills are among the important manufacturing enterprises of the city. The building is a frame structure with three stories and a stone basement, in size 40x50 feet, with boiler and engine room of brick 80x40 feet. It is fitted up with the Stevens' roller process, and has a capacity of 300 barrels of flour per day. There is also one run of buhrs for grinding corn meal. The mill was completed in 1883, and is now operated by the Columbia Milling Company, formed Aug. 6, 1888, and composed of John M. Klench, Allen Gray and William C. Robinson.

Kaci Mitxs were completed in October, 1879, by the present proprietors, Crow & Williams. The capacity of this mill for making flour is sixty barrels per day. It has, also, one run of buhrs for grinding corn meal.

The barrel and stave heading factory of William M. Cockrum and Sons, located on the line of the Air Line Railroad, was built in 1882, and has a capacity of 25,- 000 staves, 25,000 set of heading per day, and they turn out 150 barrels per day. There is also a saw-1mill operated in connection with the business. The Oakland

Jity Slack Barrel and Heading Works was established in the spring of 1883, by Dryden, Conner and McClellen. It was quite an extensive establishment and was burned down in June, 1884.

Tile and Brick Works owned and operated by G. M. Emerson, are located west of the Columbia Mills. The works comprise the latest improvements and is an important acquisition to the town.

Gibson County, Ind. He settled near Francisco (the farm now owned by Capt. C. C. Whiting), but soon after removed to a farm east of Oakland, where he lived for many years. He subsequently removed on a farm where the town of Oakland now stands, where he remained until his death in 1875. He was in the early "training day" colonel of the militia, and he wore the title with becoming dignity ever after. He was a man of unusual intelligence and business capacity, and for ten years followed steamboating on the lower rivers. He was the owner of two steamboats, and also owned and ran a great number of flat boats that carried produce to New Orleans and other Southern cities. In addition he carried on farming and mercantile business at home. In his later years he became an active and zealous member of the General Baptist Church, and his devotion to the cause of Christianity led him into many charitable acts of both a public and private character. His efforts in building up that religious denomination of which he was a member, and supplying it with a suitable house for worship, is still recollected by and honest man, not from policy, but innately so from convictions of right and justice. It can be truthfully said of him that he died leaving to his posterity the legacy of a life and name untarnished by an act of wrong or injustice to a living man. His intelligence pointed out clearly to him that the basis upon which must rest the future security of our free institutions was the general knowledge and education of the masses, and that a free and liberal system of schools was the best safeguard of our liberties. Therefore any proposition in that direction found in him an enthusiastic and earnest supporter. He belicved that the masses could not be educated too much. The Oakland Institute stands as a monument to his educational enterprise and liberality in that direction.

Politically he was an old line Whig, and afterward a Republican. He represented Gibson County in the legislature, first in 1848 and again in 1852. He was an active promoter and one of the first directors of the Air Line Railroad. He was a firm temperance man,

He was also among the first business men of Oakland. In 1861 he abandoned mercantile pursuits and promptly shouldered his musket and went to the front in the defense of the imperiled liberties of his country. After the war he re-engaged in merchandising, and subsequently studied law and engaged in real estate business, in which he still continues. After the death of his wife Col. James W. Cockrum married Judah P. Barrett, sister of his Col. William M. is the only survivor of that union. He was born Dee. 8, 1837, on the old Cockrum homestead, now in the center of Oakland City. He is a self-made man. There was but poor opportunity in his youth for receiying an education. At the breaking out of the late war he enlisted in Company F of the Forty-second Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and rose through the intermediate grade from the second lheutenancy to the lieutenant-coloneley of the regiment. He veteranized with his regiment, and continued in the service until the close of the war. In the battle of Chickamauga he was desperately wounded, an ounce ball passing through his body at the hips. He was captured lying on the battle field and taken to Libby prison, where his wound received insufficient treatment at the hands of rebel surgeons. After suffering untold miseries his rugged and

| with his brother in a general store and produce business. They dealt very largely in pork and leaf tobacco. After the war he engaged in agricultural pursuits, and

Mr. Cockrum was twice married. His first wife was Sarah Barrett, a native of South Carolina. By that union is James M. Cockrum the sole survivor. He was born in 1828. He followed the bent of his father's vim, enterprise and push so characteristic of the free sons of the West. He has done more, perhaps, to build up the town of Oakland than any other resident. On the 5th of October, 1856, he was united in marmiage to Miss Lucretia, daughter of John and Mary (O'Neil) Harper. She is also of Scotch-Irish descent. Nine children have been born to them. Theiv names in the order of their birth are: - John B., who is a lawyer and member of the law firm of Handy, Armstrong & Cockrum, of Boonville, in Warrick County,

_ the leading law firm in that county; Ella Clara C., who is the wife of T. M. Campbell; Willie, dead; Oliver M., Zoe, Mary, James W. and Onie M. Cockrum. Mrs. Cockrum is a very earnest worker in the cause of and does all she can to promote and forward the interest of that religious denomination. Politically Col. | Cockrum has, since casting his first vote, been an | ardent Republican.

Come, Kot

As the name would indicate, the McGowan family are the descendants of that hardy and remarkable race of men known as Scotch-Irish. Felty McGowan, the great grandfather of the present family, was a native of

County, Ky., and there raised a large family. He married a lady by the name of McClelland, who was also of Scotch-Irish ancestry. By that union there were ten sons and two davghters. The fourth son was Samuel, the father of Doctor McGowan. He was born in Pulaski County, Ky., in 1794, and there died May 8, 1882, aged eighty-eight years. He was a volunteer in the Indian wars in 1812. grandfather, was a soldier under Gen. Jackson and was in the battle of New Orleans. ried. His first wife was Martha Back. She died leaving four sons and four daughters. Mr. McGowan children - six sons and five daughters. William J. is the eldest of the children by the latter marriage. He was born Oct. 1, 1833. He was raised on the farm and ical department of the University of Louisville and graduated therefrom in 1848 with the degree of M. D. He commenced the practice in Mintonville, Casey County, Ky., and continued there until in April, 1868, when he came to Princeton, in this county, and practiced there for several months. During his stay there he went to Memphis and Vicksburg in obedience to a call from Gov. Morton for physicians to attend the On the 6th of July, 1863, he came to Oakland City and here he has remained to the present. On the 26th of October, 1855, he married Miss Delila J. Rainey, daughter of Nelson and Ellen (Crisp) Rainey. Mrs. McGowan was born in Wayne County, Ky. Her parents were of Scotch-Irish descent, natives of the Carolinas, and from there removed to Kentucky. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. McGowan, one living - John W., who is a physician and graduate of the medical department of the Louisville University. Both the doctor and his wife are members of the Christian Church. He is a zealous Mason and a member of the subordinate lodges, a Knight Templar and member of the Consistory of Ancient Scottish Rite- Masonry. He holds membership with Oakland City Lodge, No. 476, Princeton Chapter, R. A. M., No. 75, Vincennes Commandery, K. T., No. 20, Indiana Consistory No. 8, P. R. 8. Politically he is a Democrat. In 1870 he represented Gilfon County in the legislature. While a member of that body he was chairman of the committee on Benevolent Institutions and a member of several other important committees. In all those positions he discharged his official duties in a manner creditable to himself and acceptably to his constituents.

The Mason family are of Scotch ancestry. Rezin Mason, the grandfather of George C., was a native of Scotland and emigrated to America and settled near Winchester, W. Va., where his son, Rezin Mason, was born in the year 1818. His father died when he was young. In 1886 he came with his mother and three sisters to Indiana and settled in the eastern part of Gibson County. They carried on farming, in which he continued until his death in 1866. In 1846 he married Elizabeth Martin, daughter of John and Jane (Steel) Martin. She was a native of Gibson County. Her parents were of Irish descent and her father a native of South Carolina and her mother of Kentucky. Mrs. Mason died Nov. 12, 1883. There were ten children the offspring of the union of Rezin and Elizabeth (Martin) Mason, seven of whom are still living. George C. is the eldest of the family. He was born in Gibson County, Ind., Jan, 24, 1848. His primary education was received in the district schools of his neighborhood. His father dying while he was yet young, and he being the eldest, the care and responsibilities of the family, in a great measure, devolved upon him, which prevented him from receiving such an education in the schools as he desired; but by self culture he fitted himself as a teacher and subsequently enteied the State University at Bloomington and pursued a classical course and remained in that institution for two years.

Mason

He then engaged in teaching and wasat different times principal of the high school at Fort Branch, Hazleton, and associate principal of the Oakland normal school. He determined to study medicine and adopt that profession as the business of his life, and with this idea in

Genung, of Fort Branch. He soon after entered the Miami Medical College at Cincinnati and took one full course, then the next season entered the Indiana continues. ILe is a member of the Gibson County and Tri-State Medical Societies. On the 17th of July, 1873, he married Miss Elizabeth Henderson, daughter of Thomis W. and Jane Henderson. She is a native Two children have been born to them, whose Both he and his

Editor and proprietor of the Oakland Muterprise, was born in Gibson County, Indiana, Sept. 25, 1853. The Spillmans on the paterual side are of German descent. Samuel K. Spillman, the father of the subject of the following sketch, came to Gibson County at an early day. He was a physician and practiced medicine in Columbia Township. When the war broke out he enlisted in Company G, of the Fifty-eighth Regiment Ind- .iana Volunteer Infantry. He entered as a private and rose through the intermediate grades to captain of the company. During his term of service he contracted chronic diarrhea and was honorably discharged from the service on account of the disease, in the latter part of 1862, and died from its effects the following year. He married Martha Hanks, a native of Warrick County, Ind. She still survives her husband and is a resident of this county. Nicholas A. is the eldest of three children. He was reared in the county. His education in his youth was limited and cldsed with his eighth year. He followed various pursuits up until his sixteenth year. At that period he went to Princeton and appren- He served three years on newspaper work and four years learning job work in the office of the Clarion. After that time he worked in different offices in the county and at Evansville. The greater portion of the time, nearly four years, he was in the Democrat office in Princeton. On

- the 8d day of J uly, 1880, he went to Oakland and established the Oakland Hnterprise, which he still continues to edit and publish. He is a Republican in politics, but his paper is independent in tone.

On the 20th of December, 1878, he was united in wedlock to Miss Mary Coleman, a native of Tennessee, but a resident of Princeton at the time of her marriage. Three children have been born to them whose names, in the order of their birth, are: - Arthur K., Carl C. and Nettie Maud Spillman. He is a member of the Masonic Order and holds membership with Oakiand City Lodge, No. 467, and the beneficiary order of A. O. U, W., Princeton Lodge No. 76.

The Hargrove family were pioneers in this section of the state. William Hargrove, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was of Dutch descent and a native of South Carolina. He moved from there to Kentucky, and in November, 1803, came to the Territory of Indiana and settled on a tract of land now owned by Robert Mitchell. He married Sallie Jasper. Of that union, was Jacob Warrick Hargrove, the father of William L. He was born in Warrick County, Ind., in 1821, and there grew to manhood and moved to a farm one mile east of Oakland city, where he died, Apyril 5, 1879. In his life he was an active man, carrying on a large business of different kinds. The firm of Hargrove & Trippett, pork packers and stock shippers, was widely known, as was also the mercantile firm of Hargrove & Coskrum. He built the first business house in the city of Oakland. He engaged extensively in live stock business and farming - in short, was the life and energy of Oakland and vicinity. Garrett, nce Cockrum. She was born near the village of Francisco. By her form2r marriage she had two daughters, one of whom is living, named Mary C., wife with J. W. Hargrove there were five children, who have survived the parents. Their names are William L., Martha, wife of A. F. Strain, Frances C., wife of Dr. Lewis A. Steel, Jacob W. and Laura A., wife of George E. Burbank.

William Linzey Hargrove is the eldest of the family. He was born on the farm one mile east of Oakland city, March 18, 1848. He received a liberal education in the excellent schools of Oakland, which was further supplemented by one term in Asbury University, at Greencastle, Ind. From the latter institution he changed to the State University at Bloomington, Ind., where he remained until 1869.

The grandfather of the subject of this sketch was born near Salisbury, in Davis County, N. C. His son, John Jarrett, was a native of the same place. He came to Warrick County, Ind., in 1842. He followed mercantile pursuits at Millersburg, and subsequently at Lynnville and there died in June, 1882. He married Margaret Rough, a native of North Carolina. She still

County. Lawrence W. is the fourth in a family of nine children. He was born in Warrick County, Ind., Aug. 11, 1845. He received a liberal education in the district schools and several terms in the Nortlivestern Christian University, at Indianapolis. After his school

That has been his principal business, except the two years he was sheriff of Gibson County. On the 27th of December, 1871, he was united in marriage to Miss Arabella Stewart Donald, daughter

| of Hon. Alexander C. and Nancy K. (Duncan) Donald. _ Mr. Donald was a Scotshman by birth, and a distin- | guished lawyer and advocate known throughout the

Politically Mr. Hargrove is most soundly indoctrinated with the tenets and principles of the Democratic party. He is an active and zealous member of that political organization, and has followed its wavering fortunes through good and evil report from the time he cast his first vote to the present. In 1878 his fidelity to his party and worth as a man and citizen received honorable recognition by being nominated and elected sheriff of Gibson County. In 1880 he was nominated by acclamation, but was defeated by thirty-five votes, although he ran one hundred and forty votes ahead of his ticket. In 1882 he was again a candidate, and the election resulted in a tie vote, but owing to a miscount the clerk certified to the Secretary of State twenty-four majority for his opponent, and a certificate was issued to him. Mr. Hargrove secured a recount which showed the result to be a tie, but as the certificate had already been issued to Mr. Chambers, Mr. Hargrove's only re- do, as it involved too much time and trouble. He, however, in these elections, demonstrated that he was a strong and popular candidate in whom his party had every confidence. He is an honored member of the Masonic fraternity, and holds membership with Oakland City Lodge No. 467 and Princeville Chapter R. A. M. No. 75.

May, 1867, he married Miss Minerva, daughter of Samuel and Anna Hart, a native of Warrick County, Ind. Six children have been born to them. Their names are Williain F., Edgar A., John M., Lawrence F., Bertes

Source changes here: from History of Gibson County, Indiana : Her People, Industries and Institutions, with Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records of Many of the Old Families, by Stormont, Gil R, published 1914; 3,687 words in this source stream.

Center Township

Center township is bounded on the north by Washington township, east by Pike county and Columbia township, south by Barton and Patoka townships and west by Patoka township. The Patoka river and its tributaries, Lost, Keg and Mud creeks, drain the land. The heavy timber which originally covered the ground and furnished such excellent hunting grounds, is all cleared, and farms dot the country in places.

Perhaps the earliest settler of the township was one William Reavis, a North Carolinian by birth and of Scotch-Irish ancestry. Isam and Daniel Reavis came in 1818; David Johnson, Thomas Birchfield, Samuel Beasley and Thomas H. McKedy were other early settlers. The early history of this township coincides with the other and more important townships, in which its earlier history is included.

Early Settlers

In 181 7 William Reavis married Catherine Hensley and soon after this event they made the long and tedious trip to this county on pack-horses, arriving in the summer of the same year. They settled near the present town of Francisco, about a mile southwest, in the timber, where they cleared a tract, erected the usual log cabin, and by industry made them a fine farm home. One of their children was Alexander, who became a soldier in the Union army in the Civil war, and died in Andersonville prison. Mr. Reavis died at the old homestead in 1855. His widow survived him about two years. They were both of the Regular Baptist faith.

Isam and Daniel Reavis, brothers of William, with their families, came in 1818 and made a settlement not far from their brother's place. They had both formerly resided in Kentucky. About 1827 Isam was killed while assisting in raising a log house, one of the logs falling upon him. The Reavis brothers, for a few years after coming here, occasionally had their milling done at the then distant Post A^'incennes. Charles Reavis later removed to Illinois. They were expert hunters and killed many deer, wolves and other

David Johnson was among the early jiioneers nf this county, having settled in the southern part in November, 1810, and in the spring of 1817 he located on a tract in the timber, alK)ut two miles north of Francisco. lie was from Tennessee and had lived in Kentucky before coming here.

Thomas Birchfield was among the old settlers of the county, a native of Kentucky. He came here with his family in iSji. He was a brother of Larkin Birchfield, who was an old-timer in the county. When Thomas Birchfield came in Indians were very numerous. He, however, got along with them in a peaceful manner. His first abode was in a small squatter's cabin. Meats for his table the first winter consisted of the deer, wild turkey and other games of the forest. He later bought out the improvements ot" C"ol. James W. Cockrum, where Francisco is now situated.

Samuel Beasley, a native of North Carolina, .settled with his family a mile and a half south of Francisco in 1830. He had a large family. John S. Meade, though not an old resident here, is a son of one of the earliest settlers. His father was a native of New York and, when a single man, came to Gibson county in 1815. Here he married Mary Pritchett, a daughter of John Pritchett, an old Revolutionary soldier. The Pritchetts moved from Tennessee to Gibson county very early. They settled in Montgomery township a short distance from Owensville. Stephen Meade married, in 1820, and located in Johnson township. This couple had fourteen children, twelve sons and two daughters.

Dr. J. C. Patten, of Francisco, is a descendant of one of the early descendants of this county. His grandfather, James Patten, was a captain in the Revolutionary war. After the war ended he moved to Tennessee, and in 1804 settled on Green island, Kentucky, and later came to Gibson county, Indiana. He settled near Fort Branch, lived there imtil 1816 and died there. He raised a large family, among whom was Hugh Patten, who was for many years a leading physician in Princeton. Dr. Hugh I'atten died, aged eighty years, in 1876. He was the father of Dr. James C. Patten, who was a resident of Francisco during the later years of his life.

Francisco

This was a town whose heydey was during the time of the Wabash & Erie canal. It was platted and laid out in January, 185 1. by John Perkins. Originallv it was on the east side and up to the banks of the canal, on section

19, township 2 south, range 9. Several business houses and two flouring mills were built by Perkins, and the town flourished until 1858. Mrs. Sweeney taught the first school here. The first church was built in 1855. Dr. J. M. Ireland was the first resident physician.

Those who remember Mr. Perkins say he was energetic man. He built two flouring-mills, a saw-mill and several houses. For a number of years he was a merchant and real estate dealer. Francisco was a very busy place in 1854 and 1858. Three large packing establishments, three large grain warehouses, a number of general stores and a few smaller places of business gave an impetus to the hamlet.

Among the pioneer merchants and business men, who labored earnestly for Francisco were Reuben Baldwin, William Moore, S. G. Barnett and Moore & Knowles.

Francisco was incorporated as a town m the year 1907 and has at present a population of six hundred. The trustees are George Schafer, R. C. Stormont and John H. McConnell; the clerk, Ralph Goldman; the treasurer, A. J. Peveler; the marshal, A. L. Wright. The business interests are as follows in 1913: Physician, D. H. Swan; general stores, A. J. Smith, O. T. Downey, A. J. Loveless, W. M. Stormont, Joseph Thompson; meat market, Horace Swartz; blacksmiths, William Gentry, George Schafer; barbers, Monroe Hubbard; livery, C. H. Alarden; hardware, Stanford Witherspoon, William Hasselbinck; drugs, L. B. Wallace; restaurants, Walter Downey, E. W. Dill, Shuh & Peveler operate a tile factory. The Wyoming Coal Company operate mine here, mining a good quality of bituminous coal, which is shipped to all parts of the country.

The Francisco State Bank was organized in igo8 and chartered in the same year. The first officers were: D. H. Swan, president; J. R. Morrow, vice-president; W. B. Critser, cashier. The first capital was $25,000, and is the same at present. The officers of the institution now are : S. R. Davis, president; J. R. Morrow, vice-president, and J. W. Finch, cashier. The surplus is $3,500, and the deposits, $55,000. The bank building, which was erected in 1908, cost $1,900.

Early Days Of Francisco

Situated seven miles directly east of the Gibson county seat lies the pretty and flourishing town of Francisco, with a population' of some seven or eight hundred, and as I have known the little town for many years most inti- mately it will perhaps he of some interest on this occasion (the centennial celebration) for readers of the Clarion-News to hear something of what the town was fifty years and more ago.

This is my remembrance of it in the early fifties. It was situated on the east side of the Wabash & Erie canal, then but a few years' in operation. Running south from Hugh Murphv's blacksmith shop was a road that led to Evansville. and one led west to Princetun. While there were other winding country roads, these two were the onlv established roads intci or out of Francisco. The Princeton road did indeed wind on east to Sonierville and the same kind of road found its devious wav to Oakland City, east of us. b>ancisco at that time was but a little hamlet of perhaps a dnzen houses and I will place them as I now remember them.

At the southeast was a little log cabin in which lived a family l)y the name of Taylor; just northeast of this cabin was our home, a small frame house of four rooms; just across the street - the streets were laid out north of our house - lived a family named Cassel. A little north of Cassel's lived "Uncle" Hughey Murphy, the village blacksmith pioneer; west of Alurphy's lived John Perkins and family; across from this, the other side of Main street as it was then and ever since known, were three resiliences, one occupied by James Perkins, one by Mike Redburn, the other by George lieasley. A little farther north was a very small log cabin, but I do not now remember by whom it was occupied ; farther west, near the grist mill which stood on the banks of the canal, was where John Shanner lived; south of the grist mill was a saw mill; south of the saw mill, near the canal bridge, was another log house, but I do not remember who lived in it. There was a little ])ostoffice on Main street and to the best of my recollection it was kept by John Perkins. The mails were received and distributed once a week, every Saturday. Attached to the postofTice was a .small store, also conducted b\- Mr. Perkins. The school house, a frame building probably sixteen by eighteen feet in size, was just south of our home. This building was also used as a church. Dr. J. M. Ireland had just located there to practice his profession and he made that place his home until less than one year ago, when he was calleil to his reward to answer for all the good deeds during a long and useful life that he had done for the people of Francisco.

As the years rolled on other houses were l)uilt. Stores were opened, pork and warehouses were established along the canal and the place became a good market for all kinds of produce. Among some of the earlier comers should be named Reuben Baldwin, who had a store on Main street; Joseph

Moore and others, who had stores along that thoroughfa,re. Stephen J. Lindsey had a big cooper shop, George Granger and Seth Fairchild established a blacksmith and wagon shop and a number of other enterprises started up.

At that time Francisco bade fair to become quite a place, but the canal was found to be too expensive to keep up and compete with railroads, then in operation and being established. It was making no money for its stockholders and gradually began to run down. When we consider that it took two days to make the trip by canal to Evansville from Francisco it is not to be wondered at that it was not a popular mode of transportation. I can just remember seeing the boats pulled along by two horses hitched tandem to a big cable fastened to the boat, the horses on the tow-path and the small boy riding one of them. Think of traveling that way now.

Among some of the families living near Francisco in the early fifties I can mention the following : Living west was Thomas Harbinson and family, Mrs. Margaret Wilson, the mother of Squire James Sprowl, of Princeton; James Hussey, Dustin Mills, the Lawrence family, while north of Francisco lived Thomas McKedy, James Aydelotte, Thomas Johnson, James McClelland, Vardiman Yeager, David Johnson and Fleming Farmer. To the east lived Jackson Malone, Calvin Drysdale, McGrady Downey and Thomas Burchfield, while south there lived Charles Cross, who was a Methodist minister for that circuit; Porter Carnahan, Hardy Beasley, William Davis and several families of the Reavis'. Southeast lived the McConnells, one of whom was "Aunt Nancy," or better known as Granny McConnell, who was in those days famed the county over as a doctor. There was no practicing physician anywhere in the county who had a larger practice or better success than had "Granny" McConnell. She was one of the first and greatest charity workers that Gibson county ever had. She refused no call from the suffering; the night was never too dark, the weather too bad, the roads - which, after all, were often only cattle paths through the woods - too muddy or rough for her to travel to help those who needed her aid. Her pay was small, very often nothing at all and in cases of obstetrics her charges were only two dollars and fifty cents, her aim and sole object in life seemingly to be to do good to her fellow beings.

There are a few incidents in my life in Francisco that stand out more -vividly in memory's book. In November of 1857, when I was but a small child, a tornado started near the head of the old reservoir and, coming northeast through the heavy timber that covered nearly all the intervening country.

it struck our little home, co!ii])Ieteh- demolishing it. My mother and grandmother were most seriously injured, but through some dispensation of Providence, though the bed I was lying upon was torn to fragments, I was not injured, but the recollections of that day - or rather morning - are indelibly stamped upon my memory. Several other buildings were wrecked, but no one was killed. The Methodist church near our house was wrecked, but none of the buildings were so completely demolished as was ours.

Killing Of Worrell

When the Civil war came on and there was a call to arms, the patriotic zeal of the men and boys of Francisco was not excelled by any town of its size. No other town in the state sent more brave men to the war than did this little community and the country surrounding it, and many who answered that call never returned to their home. I remember the time when there was not a single able-bodied man in that place, except a very few whose sympathies were with the South and they were wise enough to keep a still tongue in their heads. Some very thrilling occurrences took place in the town while the war was in progress, one especially that was not only dramatic Init full of tragedy to one of the participants.

It was during the exacting days when the country was thrilled by the report that Morgan's men were invading Indiana and sweeping all before them. A few months previous to this there had come to Francisco a stranger who seemed to be a very cjuiet. inoffensive kind of man, but one who told no one his business or where he came from. Some looked upon him as a Southern spy, interested in the Morgan movement, yet, try as they might, no one could find out anything about the stranger. During those ])erilous times it was the understanding among the soldiers that no Southern man could come into the North without giving a strict account of himself and live. While this stranger was in Francisco a number of the Gibson county soldier boys were home on furlough and with the Francisco boys came several of the far Southern state boys, who had joined them in Tennessee and decided to spend their furlough at home with them. It was on Saturday afternoon and, knowing of the presence of the soldiers, a great many had come into town until quite a crowd was upon the streets. Francisco had become quite a little village by that time and politics was all the talk. The fact that the strange man had been seen in company with several well-known Southern sympathizers was mentioned and, he coming upon the street about that time, one of the foreign soldiers deliberately shot and killed him there upon the street.

It created a terrible excitement and the soldiers who were implicated were hurried to Evansville and gotten out of the way. It looked like brutal murder, but the man would give no account of himself and those were days when it was not safe to be so reticent. The name the stranger gave was Worrell and he was buried in the Francisco cemetery. I remember how, as a child, I was afraid to go into the old cemetery for fear I would see "Worrell's Ghost." The man who shot him was a Tennessee soldier by the name of Wells.

I have spoken of the loyalty of the men and boys of Francisco and how every able-bodied man at one time was out in defense of his country, but it can be said that not all who stayed at home were loyal to the cause of the Union. In and around Francisco were a few men whose sympathies were all with the South and they were known as "Copperheads," or "Butternuts," and, while I suspect they were brave enough when they met in their secret conclaves, the gatherings of the "Knights of the Golden Circle." one thing is very sure even among the women of that town, it was not safe for them to boast of their disloyalt3^ Some of them had a little experience in that line and it taught them that while the men of Francisco could fight on the battle fields, it was also regrettably true - for their part - that the loyal women of Francisco could fight too, when treasonable words were uttered in their presence. Over the vale of years there arises between fifty years ago and the present the angel of charity and forgiveness has spread her wings and we now try to believe that these men believed they were right in what they did, but even then it is hard for many of us to entirely forget the acts of some of those days.

Incidentally, I want to say also that not all of the women by any means were loyal to the Union and, unwomanly as it may now seem, many were the hair pullings indulged in by the women of the town. Among the militant women of Francisco who fought as they prayed in those days - for the Union - I will mention Mrs. Susanna Skelton and Mrs. Julia Dill, both wives of soldiers then in the field; Mrs. Edna Bilderback, another soldier's wife; Mrs. Aurelia Shanner, an aged widow whose father and eleven uncles were in the Revolutionary war and who had two brothers and four brothers-in-law in the war of 1812, and who still hated with a holy hatred any man or woman who advocated the dissolution of that Union for which they had offered their lives. Some of the girls were disposed to favor the cause of the South, but they were few and generally wise enough to keep a still tongue. But of all those to whom my mind reverts there are none now alive.

Gibson Couxtv, Indiana Getting The News

During the war everyone was anxious to hear tlie news from the seat of war and, as Francisco had l3ut one mail each week, it was arranged that each evening someone would go from that place to I'rinceton and get the mail out of the Francisco box and the home ])apers and the Evansville Journal and the Cincinnati Gazette or Enquirer. 'Vo meet the expenses incident to all this, clubs were formed and then at night the club would meet at some member's house and all would listent to the reports of the war. Many amusing things incident to those days could be related.

I have referred to the method of getting the daily news, but an additional fact might be mentioned. It was understood whenever the church bell rang outside the regular devotional hours there was some important news from the front and all gathered to hear it. Many who had husl)ands, sons, brothers or sweethearts went in fear and trembling and many indeed were justified in that dread, as it was not an uncommon thing to hear when the news was read that some brave home man or boy had laid down his life in defense of his country. Some who left their homes in the flush of vigorous manhood came home physical wrecks from starvation and exposure in Southern prisons. But it was the fate of war and in nearly every case the bereaved ones patriotically looked upon the taking of loved ones as l)nt their tribute to their country in its danger and loyally bore their burden of grief in tearless silence.

A great many of the women who were left at home to make, as it were, an "Adamless Eden" could not read or write. My mother, .Mrs. Mary .\. Anderson, would write regularly for a number of the women who were unable to do their own letter-writing, and as she generally li;id to read to them the replies to the letters she was thus made the confidant of many amusing as well as serious matters. I remember one instance of a girl who could neither read or write and she would always want my mother to write a great many love expressions in her letter. This correspondence was kept u]) for some time and burning messages of love were passing between them all the time. Some of the home boys came home on furlough and what was ni}- mother's astonishment when the girl for whom she had l)ecn writing such undying love to her soldier sweetheart came to her and said, "Aunt Mary, I am going to be married right away." Mother was astonished, as she knew the soldier with whom the girl had been corresponding was still in the field. "Yes." said (24) the girl, ''Jim (with whom she had been corresponding) may get killed and Mack (naming a Francisco boy then at home on furlough) looked so purty in his sojer clothes that I jist could not refuse him.'' And sure enough, they were married before he returned to the army, thus proving, in her case at least, that absence did not "make the heart grow fonder."

Of all those who have made Francisco their home since 1855, Mrs. Lizzie Perkins Ireland is the only one who has had a continuous residence there. It has been her abiding place all these years. Francisco has a very warm place in my heart. It was my home for about twenty years of my life and a happy home it was to me.