Clay Township

Clay Township

Clay township was formed in the year 1832, from several of the townships adjoining, and included three sections which have since been annexed to Jefferson. Lying wholly within the bounds of the Twelve Mile Purchase, few families settled in it before the war of 1812. '

James Martindale, from North Carolina, is said to have been the first settler on Green's Fork bottom, within the limits of this township. He settled on the farm on which his grandson, James W. Martindale, a son of John Martindale, now resides, half a mile from the town of Washington. JSis purchase included lands now owned by Branson L. Harris and John Brooks. Jonas Hatfield, Sen., from Kentucky, in 1812, settled, with his sons, where the town of Washington now is, and where his descendants still reside. Thomas, one of his sons, laid out the town, and died many years ago. Jonas, another son, with several of his children, still resides there. Abel Jenny, about 1812, settled where Branson L. Harris now resides, east of and near the town. Jesse Albertson, from North Carolina, after stopping a year or two in Kentucky, settled two miles east of Richmond, and in 1815 removed to the farm on which he now resides, half a mile east of town. His brother Joshua, who came to Richmond a few years later than Jesse, after some years residence there, settled south of his brother, on land bought of Richard Ratcliff, now owned by John Bond, Jun., and Elwood Albertson. In 1813, Wm. Fox settled about one mile north of town ; land lately owned by John Brooks, now by George W. Davis. Fox removed in 1844 to Jeft'erson township, where he died in 1860. , Joshua

Benny settled one and a half miles north-west of town ; land now owned by Hichard and George Fancett, and James T. IS'icholson. James Spray, on land now owned by Jacob "Wood, afterward half a mile south on the farm since owned by John Brooks.

In the east i^art of the township, James Odell, about 1813 or 1814, settled on the farm where "Wm. Coffin resides. Samuel and Joseph Evans on land now owned by John Bean, of Green township, son-in-law of Joseph Evans, and Kansom Cheeseman. In 1814, Miles Murphy settled one mile southeast of town. John Baldwin, from iTorth Carolina, in 1825, bought the farm of Murphy, it being that on which his son Jonathan Baldwin resides. He had four sons, Jonathan, Isaac, David, and Caleb. Jonathan married Mary Ann, daughter of Jesse Albertson. James Porter settled early near the Friends' meeting-house. Moses Martindale, brother of James, where Alfred Underbill resides. Wm. Young, land owned by Josiah Clawsou. Benj. Augell, on land on the township line, now owned by Alfred Underbill. In 1814, John Pierson settled where Henry Atkinson resides. About 1815, Martin Martindale, son-in-law of Pierson, on land lately owned by E. Harvey, now by David Fowler. Wm. Beall, adjoining the township line, where he still lives. Joseph Thornburg where Daniel Williams lives. Benj. Albertson, on laud now owned by John Bond, Jun., one mile south-east of town. Owen Branson, on part of the land now owned by I. McDonald and Thomas Adams's heirs.

In the south-east j^art of the township?, Jonathan Cloud settled where now his son Joseph Cloud resides. Wm. Pike, on land now owned by the heirs of his son Stephen Pike. Isaiah Frazier, first, and afterward Jonathan Mendeuhall, on land now owned by Lewis Bailey and Henry Franklin. John Hunt, after him Israel Gause, on land now owned by Isaac Gause and Mrs. E. Brashure.

In the vicinity of Washington, south and west, were Jesse Bond, who, after a residence of six years near Richmond, settled a mile south of town in 1813 ; lands now owned by his sons Nathan, Wm. C, and the heirs of his son Robert. Benj. Hall, lessee of Henry Stidham, on land now owned by Larkin

In the south and south-west part of the township, were Stephen Horney, who still resides where he settled ; Moses Coffin, where Andrew Ilorney resides ; Absalom Williams, on lands now owned by his sons, Henry and. John Williams; Isaac Mendenhall, on lands lately owned by David Cook, deceased. Henry Hoover settled early on the east side of Green's Fork; lands now owned by the widow of his son Andrew, their son John, and Perry Wilson. Peter Hoover, brother of Henry, bought west and adjoining; land now owned by the widow of his son Emsley, and their son Owen P. Hoover, and Henry T. Bond. John Pincher settled near where O. P. Hoover now resides. Valentine Foland, in the south-west corner of the township, where he now resides. James Ridge, on lands now owned by Theodore Cook. John Wise, in 1832, on lands now owned by his sons George and Matthias Wise. He now resides in Jay county. Ephraim Gentry, land purchased of David Hoover, now owned by Wm. H. Gentry, son of Ephraim.

In the ivest part of the township, David Peacock settled on land now owned by his son David ; Wm. Widows, on land lately sold to John Allen, who owns other lands adjoining. Mason Fithen, about 1817, settled on land now owned by Jacob AVright and others; Enos Veal, Sen., and Peter Woolfert, in 1817, on lands now owned and occupied by James T. Nicholson and Daniel Strickler. Woolfert sold out and removed to section 15. Joseph Davis, on land adjoining the township line, where George G. Hindman resides. James Owen, Sen., on land now owned by Eulas Bunnell. In 1815, John Brockus and Miles Dimet settled on land now owned by Cyrus Osborn and John Bradbury. In 1824, Job Smith, on lands lately owned by Olinda B. Bunnell and William Faucett. Ezekiel Bradbury, about 1825, where Jonas Hatlield, Jun., resides. Jonas Hatfield, Sen,, father of the present Jonas Ilattield, Sen., bought the lands now owned principally by George Faucett, Cyrus Osborn, and Daniel Bradbury.

In the north-west part of the township, Jonathan Shaw settled, in 1815, on land now owned by Daniel Strickler on the township west line. On school section, [16,] first residents were Robert "Watkins and Wm. Elliott Land sold in 1832 to Daniel Bradbury, John Brown, Matthew Holcomb, Enos Veal, Samuel Adamson. Itharaar Lamb, Milo Bailey, and Lewis Strickler live on it. John Bradbury, from Ohio, in 1815, and his brother Josiah settled on Morgan's creek. John, a few years after, removed to the Wabash, and in 1829 to his present residence a mile west of town. Daniel Bradbury early bought of his brother Josiah, and settled where Milton R. Harris now resides ; and in 1866 at his present residence near town. The land first settled by John Bradbury is now owned by Eulas Bunnell. David Sears, in 1820, settled on land now owned by Edwin F. Ogborn. Enos Yeal, Jun., and Elias Yenniman, on land now owned by Jane Ogborn and John Fowler. About 1828 or 1830, Peter Woolfert, who settled about 1817 in section 27, and "Wm. Ball, settled on lands now owned by

E. Merritt Lamb and Jesse W. Brooks. In 1821, Eve, widow of Evan Shoemaker, (since removed to Wabash,) settled on land now owned by Joseph Lamb. James Starling, on the land now owned by Joseph Long. Henry Riggs, on the land Merritt Lamb owns. Wm. Ball and Frederic Dean, on land now owned by John Gilmore and Eli Wiseman.

In the north fart of the township, section 14, Wm. Underbill settled on land now owned by John Ball and Oliver Wilson. Jesse and Isaac Baldwin, on land now owned by Enos Veal and John Wilson's heirs. Philip and Henry Renberger, about 1819, on land now owned by John Gilmore and John Wilson's heirs. Henry Garrett and Abraham Elliott, as early as 1813 or 1814, on part of section 23; lands now owned by Samuel Cook and Wm. F. Dean. David Young, where Wm.

Absalom Williams, born in ]N'ortli Carolina in 1775, after a residence of seven years near Richmond, entered in Clay township the land where his son Henry resides. He died in 1868, at the age of 93. Wm. Osborn, about 1820, setttled near Washington, and died in 1831, aged 29. Cyrus, his son, resides half a mile below town. Daniel Williams, born in ISTorth CaroUna in 1792, from Pennsylvania in 1833, settled in the

John Brooks, from ^orth Carolina, in 1831, to this county, settled, in 1841, on the land entered by Wm. Fox, one mile from Washington, and is now living half a mile east of town.

Thomas Cook settled, at an early day, where his son Samuel Cook lives, two miles north from Washington, and where he died in 1824, aged 56. He is supposed to have been the first saddler in Washington. Samuel Ball, born in Virginia, from Tennessee in 1820, settled where Benjamin Thorn lives, and died in 1849, near where, his son John Ball resides. John Wilson, from South Carolina, about 1820, settled two miles north-west from Washington, where he died in 1852, aged 36. Joseph Lamb, from Korth Carolina, settled, in 1829, on land adjoining Perry, where he died in 1855, at the age of 73. His children were, Ezekiel, deceased; Esther, Smith, deceased; Elias, Mournen, Joseph, Ithamar. John Bailey, a native of Virginia, from Kentucky about 1810 to Richmond, thence, a few years after, to Perry, and next to Clay, in 1859, where his son Mile resides; died in 1863, aged 72. Wm. Hindman, from Ohio, in 1839, settled two and a half miles west of Washington, and died in 1843, aged 42. George, his son, lives on the west line. AVm. Wright, from Maryland, in 1825, settled two miles south-east from town, where he died in 1854, aged 74. Jacob, his son, lives one and a half miles west from town.

Hugh Allen, from Ohio in 1820, settled three miles southeast from Hagerstown, near where he died, aged 6Q. His sou John lives about two miles west of Washington ; Jacob, another son, in Jefferson. David Cook, from Virginia, about 1831, settled one mile south of AVashington, where he died in 1870, aged 59. Theodore, his son, lives two miles south-west from town. Emsley Hoover, from Ohio, about 1811, settled on Green's Fork, south-west from Washington, where his son Owen P. lives; died in 1865, aged 69. Valentine Poland, born in Virginia in 1789 ; served in the war of 1812. In 1815 he bought, and in 1821 settled on the laud where he now resides, south-west corner of the township.

above town, about the year 1814. Jonas Hatfield soon after commenced building a saw-mill that year at Washington, but not living to finish it, it was completed the next year by his son Thomas, who four or five years after also built a grist-mill at the same place. Henry Hoover, (not of Richmond,) about the year 1840, built a saw-mill two miles below Washington, and afterward sold it to Samuel Boyd, who, about the year 1855, also built a grist-mill at the same place.

About the year 1825 - perhaps later - Thomas Hatfield built a Carding Machine and a Falling Mill near his other mills, and after running them about a year, he procured of Jesse Bond a site a fourth of a mile below, to which he removed them, and soon after sold them to the Bonds, who removed them further down to near where l^athan Bond resides.

Lisbon Basey and John Russell, in partnership, are supposed to have been the first Merchants, in the year 1818 ; next, Allen Osborn and Wm. Bunnell ; and next, John Martindale, son of James, who, in 1830, sold out to Mark E. Reeves, who, with an additional stock, established a store which he continued until 1840, when he removed to Hagerstown, continuing an interest in the store at Washington in partnership with James W. Scott for about five years. Jonathan & Stephen Cofiin commenced trade in 1843 ; and the business was continued by Stephen. Present merchants : Dry Goods - Dr. Lorenzo D. Personett and John M. McCowu. Grocers - Allen Daugherty, Wm. S. Hatfiekl.

The first Physician is said to have been a Dr. Howard, who was soon followed by Dr. Johnson. Dr. William Bunnell, who came about the year 1823, is said by some to have been the first " regular," licensed physician. He died, in 1853, of cholera. He was succeeded by his son, Rhodes W. Bunnell. Lorenzo D. Personett came in 1844. The two last-mentioned are the present practicing physicians.

Abraham Elliott is supposed to have been the first Justice of the Peace within what is now Clay township ; the next, perhaps, was John Martindale, brother of James.

meeting-house was built as early as 1814 or 1815, by Josse Bofld, below the towni, near the grave-yard. A frame house was afterward built at or near the same place. After the schisai of 1828, those calling themselves "Orthodox" built a house about a mile north-east of town, on land given for that purpose by Jolin Baldwin. The only society in the vicinity now holds its meetings in this house,

A Methodist Church was organized at an early day; but in what year has not been ascertained. Their meetings were early held at the house of James Porter, in the vicinity of the Friends' meeting-house, north of town. In 1815, Rev. "Wm. Hunt was on Whitewater circuit, and is known to have preached iu this place. Among the early members were James Porter^ James Odell, Wm. Fox, and their wives, and Polly Morgan, whose husband had been killed .by Indians at Morgan's Creek. The names of preachers who succeeded Mr. Hunt on Whitewater circuit are given elsewhere.

The church of the United Brethren is said to have existed upward of thirty years. The precise date of its formation is not remembered. The society built a frame meetinghouse near the creek, which they occupied until 1870, when their new brick house in town was completed.

The Town of Washington was laid out by Thomas Hatfield, and the description of the original plat, certified by him as proprietor, and Abraham Elliott, surveyor, September 28, 1818, was acknowledged for record November 19, 1818.

A Block-house without a fort was built in war-time on or near Joshua Benny's farm, a mile north of Washington. On John Martindale's land, four miles west of this town, a fort and block-house were built by Martindale and his sons, Elijah and William, Charles Morgan, Reynolds Fielder, Jacob Gallon, and Jonathan Shaw.

A Lodge of Free Masons, Acacia, No. 242, was organized under dispensation January 29, 1859, and held its first meeting February 15, 1859. Its charter is dated May 25, 1859. Its officers were Rhodes W. Bunnell, W. M. ; Wm. McCafi"erty, S. W. ; Hugh H. Keys, J. W. ; Charles Evans, Treasurer ; Daniel J). Rogers, Secretary. Walter Rogers, Sen. Deacon; Samuel Cook, Deacon.

Green's Fork Lodge, No. 184, 1. 0. 0. F., was instituted February 25, 1857, with the following named persons as the first ofiicers: James W. Scott, N. G. ; Calvin Conner, V. G.; Thomas M. Kerr, Secretary ; Joseph F. Reynolds, Treasurer.

Jesse Bond was born in Grayson county, Ya., and was married to Phebe Commons, a daughter of Robert Commons, in North Carolina. In 1807 he emigrated from Virginia to Indiana Territory, and settled on the farm on which the Earlham College buildings stand. In 1813 he removed to a farm near the present town of Washington, where he continued to reside until his decease, April 11, 1862. He was a member of the Society of Friends and a minister from his youth. He was one of the earliest ministers of the Whitewater meeting. The existence of American slavery he deplored most deeply; and had his life been protracted another short year, he would have had the satisfaction of witnessing its overthrow. He is represented as having been exemplary in his deportment, and singularly faithful in the discharge of domestic, social, and religious duties. He had eleven children.

1. Nathan, who married Tamar Kenworthy. 2. Robert, who married Rachel Thornburg, and died in 1864. 3. John, who married Mary Barnard, and died in 1867. 4. William C, who married Hannah Locke, daughter of Wm. Locke, an early settler in Perry. 5. Fnos, who married Susan Hoover, and removed to ISTewcastle, where she died in 1869. 6. Iso7n, who married Dinah Kenworthy, and removed to Miami county, Ind., where he died in 1847. His widow married Jediah Bond ; they live at Louisville, Henry county. 7. Ruth, wife of William Nicholson, and resides at Newcastle. 8. Hannah, wife of John Wilson, who died in 1852. 9. Isaac, who married, first, Catharine Eargood, and resides at Peru ; second, Millicent Mendenhall. 10. Jesse, who married, first, Jane Cox ; second.

Daniel Bradbury was born in Warren county, Ohio, in tTie North-western Territory, September 22, 1800. He removed to this county in 1819, and settled in what is now Clay township, on Morgan's creek, three miles north-west of Washington. He was married, August 23, 1821, to Mary Elliott, at Jacksonburg. In 1866 he removed to the farm on which he now resides, half a mile north of the town. He had six children, of Avhom three died young. Of those who survived them, John died from injuries received from the running away of a team; his widow and a son died a few years after. Jane married, first, James Wilson, who died about three years after his marriage; second, Edwnn F. Ogburn. Matilda married Milton R. Harris. All reside in the, neighborhood of Sugar Grove. Mrs. Bradbury died April 4, 1868. Mr. B. married for his second wife, Hannah Buck in 1869. He was in 1839 elected a county commissioner. In 1840 he was elected a representative in the legislature, and in 1841 declined a nomination. He has also served for thirteen years as assessor, principally in four townships, and for twelve years as superintendent of the county asylum.

Valentine Foland was born in Virginia in 1789, and was married in 1811 to Sarah Roler. He served in the war of 1 812. In 1815 he purchased, and in 1821 he settled on the land where he now resides, in the south-west corner of the township. Anne, his daughter, born December, 1811, was married, in 1828, to John Kepler, of Harrison, and had a daughter, Mary Catharine, who was born in 1839, and was married, in 1856, to Wm. A. Black. Their children living are Lycurgus, Virginia B., Frank M., and Charles.

Henry Hoover, a native of IsTorth Carolina, from Ohio in 1811, settled on the land now owned by his son John, two miles south of Washington. He died in 1842, aged 68. His children were Lelah, Rebecca, Levi, Rachel, Andrew, Nancy, Elizabeth, Catharine, Henry, and John, of whom Lelah, Elizabetli, Catharine, Henry, and John are living.

half west from town. His children were Joseph; Mary, deceased; Edwin F. ; Allen W., who lives in Dublin; Evan; Ljdia, wife of Francis Elliott; Ezra, in Chariton, Iowa; Joel, Union Mills, Iowa; Ann, deceased, wife of Rev. G. H. Bird, Fairview, Eandolph county.

Source changes here: from Memoirs of Wayne County and the City of Richmond Indiana, by Hon. Henry Clay Fox, published 1912; 136 words in this source stream.

Clay Township

Clay Township

rison and Jefferson townships. The township was first organized in 1831, and few settlers located within its limits before the war of 1812. James Martindale, of North Carolina, is said to have been the first settler. Other early settlers were Jonas Hatfield (of Kentucky), Abel Jenny, Jesse Albertson, William Fox, Miles Murphy, John Baldwin, James Porter, William Ball, and Jonathan Cloud.

A large number of the settlers came from North Carolina. The first grist mill was built about the year 1815, and during the war of 1812 a block house was built north of the present town of Green's Fork. A Friends' meeting house was built within the limits of the township as early as 1813 or 1814, and the Methodist Episcopal church was organized about 1818. The town of Washington was laid out in 1818.