Clinton Township

Clinton Township

This township is the east center and in the north tier of townships adjoining Clinton County. It contains thirty-three square miles, six miles from east to west and five and one-half miles from north to south. Sugar Creek enters it at the northwest corner, cutting off about one section. Mud Creek and Brown's Wonder flow through the township in a northwestern direction and empty into Sugar Creek, the former just north of the center of the township in the edge of Clinton County, and the latter entering near Mechanicsburg in Washington Township. Tarepin Creek, or branch, also flows in the same direction. The soil is productive, and rapid improvements are being made in the way of ditching. The streams above referred to drain it naturally and afford an outlet to the countless ditches now being put in. The timber of this township at one time must have been grand, as there are yet standing some fine specimens of oak. The demand for walnut, poplar and cherry has about exhausted this once bountiful supply. The pioneers of this township had this to contend with in making their farms. Some of the finest timber was burned up and destroyed. There was no demand for lumber at that time. No doubt there has been enough timber burnt and destroyed to pay for the land at fifty dollars per acre. Among the early settlers of this part of the county we mention Jas. H. Sample, Geo. Fall, Henry I. Bennett, Robert Stephenson, A. B. Clark, Hoza Aldridge, Resin V. Garrett, Thos. Abernathy, Wm. West, David Evans, John Tucker, Jesse Scott, Hiram Roberts, Jesse Perkins, John Caldwell, Wm. I. Bennett, Newton Cassadav, John M. Burns, Hiram Brenton, Alexander Caldwell, (ieo, Mognett, Jas. Downing, Hugh

Wiley, Abner Knotts, J. A. McDaniel, W. H. Evans, John Evans, Obid Hardesty, Robert Perkins, F. C. Phillips, Hugh Sample, John M. Wiley, Frank Downing, Hiram Powell, Jos. Stephenson, Hugh McDonald, Ozias Robinson, Samuel Downey, John R. McDonald, E. Swope, Matthew McLear, "Marian Evans and Andrew Burns. Among the early ministers were John Reynolds (Presbyterian), John Bonner, Wm. Turner, Wm. Hall, Carson Buckbalter (Christian), and Henry I. Bennett, who yet resides in the township. The following were among the early school teachers : Jas. H. Sample, Hiram J. Roberts, Henry I. Bennett, Jas. Mulligan and John Foley. Mr. Mulligan is yet living in the township and has served as County Surveyor several years. Clinton Township was first settled in the year 1834. The first election was held in 1835, at the house of Newton Cassaday, when a man by the name of Maxwell was elected the first Justice of the Peace. It is said that Hugh Sample, son of Jas. H. Sample, was the first child to see the light of day in this township. He is yet living two miles west of Elizaville, on the Thorntown road. This event occurred in 1837.. Among the first marriages were John Stephenson to Miss Adams, Eris Stephenson to Margaret Wylie and John M. Burns to Miss Wylie. The first religious meeting was held at the house of A. B. Clark; this was in the year 1835. There was nothing like a permanent society organized fill a year or two later, when the old school Presbyterian formed a society and held meetings at private houses. Houses of worship were erected in due course of time. There are now five churches in the township, viz: Hopewell (Presbyterian), in the southwest part of the township on the Thorntown and Strawtown road, in section 31; Mud Creek, or Salem, is situated on Mud Greek in section 27; there is here, as well as at Hopewell, a cemetery where many of the pioneers are buried. The Baptists have a church at Elizaville, as also have the Christians. The Presbyterians have a brick church in the same town. The number of school children in the township in 1885 was 527; number of school houses, 10.

The Thorntown and Strawtown Road passes through this township from east to west. This has been a road or " trail" for sixty years. The number of voters in 1886 was 359; the number of school children in 1884 was 527; number of school houses, 10; population in 1870 was 1,220; in 1880 it was 1,487. The following persons have served as Township Trustees: John Caldwell, Wm. Wylie, John M. Burns, Ephraim Davis, Reuben Eaton, Wm. Brenton, A. C. Kern, J.C. Tomlinson. Mr. A. C. Kern was elected the second time in 1886 and is now acting.

This township occupies the southeast corner of the county. It contains twenty-six sections, and is drained by Big and Little Eagle Creeks. They unite near Zionsville and from there Big Eagle flows southwest and leaves the county near where the old Sheets mill site was in section ten. Fishback rises in Worth Township, flows in a southern direction through Eagle, and leaves the township south of Royalton in section eight. The Long Branch comes in from Hamilton County on the east, enters Big Eagle east of Zionsville and below the oll "Dye mill dam." Eagle is somewhat undulating along the above streams. There is comparatively little waste land however in the township. Asa rule it is well cultivated, and the soil responds well to the agriculturist. It is nearly sixty-five years since it was first settled, and it was here the first settlement was made, possibly excepting Thorntown, about the year 1823 or 1824. Among those who first came to Eagle Township are the following: Patrick H. Sullivan, Jacob Sheets, John Sheets, David Hoover, Austin Davenport, Jesse Davenport, Nathan Carr, Wm. Carr, James McCord, John McCord, Frederick Lowe, George Dye, Jacob Stone King, John King, Jas. Harmon, Wm. and John Harmon. Coming soon afte we find the names of Washington and Thos. P. Miller, Benj.

Elijah Cross Mary Cross

Cox, Peter Gregory, Wm. and Jas. Marsh, Daniel and Hugh G. Larimore, Elijah Cross, the Duzans, Dodsons, Klinglers, Robert Thomas, James McCoy, John and Nelson Shaw, Wm. Smith, Daniel Lewis, Elias Bishop, John Ray, Noah Burkit, Wm. E. Lane, Joseph Bishop, Wm. Bishop, John Shelburne, Jerry Washburn, L. Tansel, John Wolf and Hiram Wolf. The first electien was held at the house: of David Hoover, when Jacob Sheets was elected Justice of the Peace. He was succeeded by T. P. Miller, Wm. Smith and Wm. Farlin. Rev. Jas. McCoy was the first preacher in the township. He was a Baptist minister, and it was as early as 1825 when he first preached in the township. His first meetings were held in the house of David Hoover. The first probate court was held at the house of David Hoover in November, 1830. David Hoover was the first clerk and Austin Davenport the first sheriff of the county. The first mill was built by Jacob Sheets on Eagle Creek. Geo. Dye built a grist mill on Eagle Creek, near where Zionsville now stands. There was a small mill built on "Irishman's Run," near where Wm. S. Smith now lives. Duzan's mill on Eagle Creek may also be classed among the early mills of the township. John Burton built a sawmill on Little Eagle Creek in 1840. |

The first marriage in the county was that of Elijah Cross and Mary Hoover in December, 1831. Mrs. Cross is yet living at Zionsville on a part of the farm entered by her father, David Hoover, in 1824. Mr. Cross died in 1869, and is buried at Crown Hill, Indianapolis. Eagle Village for many years was the voting place, and here it was where most of the business was done of the Eagle Creek country, extending into Hamilton County on the east and Marion County on the south. This continued until the completion of the Indianapolis & Lafayette Railroad in 1852, when Zionsville sprang up one mile farther west. This was a death knell to Eagle Village. It was here that the " Eagle Village Light Infantry " was wont to rally every month. Capt. J. F. Daugherty was in command. Among the early ministers were Jas. McCoy, 'Geo. Dodson, Isaac Cotton, Robert Thomas, Geo. Dye, Geo. Boroman, Geo. W. Duzan, Wm. Klingler and Wm. Gouge, all now deceased. The principal cemeteries of the township are one at Eagle Village, one just south of Zionsville, formerly called the Bishop graveyard, and the third one at Eagle Creek Baptist Church. The fourth on the Michigan road, near where the old Bethel Church formerly stood, known as the Bethel graveyard. It is located on the land entered by Austin Davenport. He as well as many other pioneers are buried there. The first brick house was built on the Michigan road between Clarkstown and Eagle Village, in the year 1835, by Austin Davenport. The population of Eagle in 1870 was 2,320, in 1880 it was 2,284, and in 1887 estimated at 2,500. Number of school children in 1884 was 414; number of voters in 1886 'was 542; number of school houses are 10, two of which are brick and eight frame. Around the early history of Eagle cluster many interesting reminiscences, for it was here the first cabin was built, the first marriage ceremony said, and the first mill built. Most of the actors have been summoned to another world. We can not afford to forget those names so dear to us all. Such men and women were needed at that time, and iuey came and filled their places. It took courage to undergo such privations and hardships. The young know comparatively little of the trials our early settlers underwent.. The following are the early doctors: William N. Duzan, H. G. Larimore, Warner F. Sampson, S. W. Rodman, Jeremiah Larimore, N. Crosby, Geo. W. Duzan and Dr. Sellers. The following have served as trustees: W. W. Atchison, A. J. 'Sanders, Manson Head, J. D. Swaim, S. M. White, Paul D. Leibhardt, T. J. Shelbnrn, and T. P. Mills, now acting.

Source changes here: from History of Boone County, Indiana : With Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records of Old Families, by Crist, L. M. (Leander Mead), published 1914; 1,310 words in this source stream.

Clinton Township

Clinton township is situated in the northern tier of townships bounded on the north by Clinton county, on the west by Washington township, on the south by Center and on the east by Hamilton county. It contains thirtythree sections of land. Half sections 13 to 18 inclusive, and sections 19 to 36 inclusive, in township 20 north, range 1 east, and sections 1 to 12 inclusive, in township 19 north, range 1 east. Its surface is generally level, sloping gently towards the northwest. Section 12 in the southwest corner is the highest and most level in the township, and the northwest corner is the lowest and most broken. Sugar creek cuts off a small portion of the northwest corner. Mud creek, Terrapin creek and Brown's Wonder, all flow toward the northwest and drain the entire township into Sugar creek. There is a story about the origin of the name of this latter creek. It is stated that when the surveyors were surveying this part of Boone county and came across the head waters of this stream in Center township and it twisted and flowed in so many directions that much controversy arose among them as to where the creek would empty. It was no easy work to survey this wild land. To cut a way through the brush and wade through the bogs and lazy crooked streams was a tedious task. Added to this was the difficulty of telling a stream that was lost in the woods from a regular bog or swamp. This sluggish, twisting stream was a wonder to all three of the men and especially to a young man of the company by the name of Brown. So when the riddle was solved and the perplexed stream was landed in Sugar creek, near Mechanicsburg, it was christened Brown's Wonder. The streams previously referred to drained the township naturally and made it easy to complete the work by ditching so that the rich soil was easily drained. The township is comparatively level except the northwest corner, and yet there were only forty acres of swamp land in the entire township, the southwest one-fourth of southwest quarter of section 2.

The first religious meeting was held at the house of A. B. Clark, in 1835. A year or two later the Old School Presbyterians held meetings in private houses and formed a society. Among the early ministers were John Reynolds (Presbyterian), John Bonner, William Turner, William Hall, Carson Buckhalter (Christian), and Henry I. Bennett. The early churches were as follows: Hopewell (Presbyterian), in section 31, on the Thorntown and Strawtown road. Mud Creek or Salem, in section 27, organized with twenty members in 1836 as the Social Reform Presbyterian church. In 185S it joined with the United Presbyterian and henceforth known by that name. In the year 1836 the Old School Presbyterians in the west part of the township on the Thorntown road. The Baptists, Presbyterians and Disciples each organized and erected churches at Elizaville, making in all five churches for the township. The report made in 191 1 by the survey of the Department of Church and Country Life in Indiana by the Board of Home Missions of the Presbyterian church is as follows, viz: The three churches of Eliza- ville, Baptists, membership 137, standing still. The Presbyterian, membership 12, losing ground. Disciples, membership 152, growing. The United Presbyterian, Salem or Mud Creek, membership 102, standing still. The Presbyterians west part of the township, membership 53, losing ground. At Salem and Hopewell are cemeteries where many pioneers are sweetly resting until the resurrection morning-.

Early in the settlement a stranger built a cabin, became tired of pioneer life and deserted the country. This log cabin was converted into the first school house and the first school was taught by James H. Sample in 1835. This school teacher has the honor of being the father of the first white child born in the township. He was christened Hugh in 1837 and still lives to wear the crown of his distinction. The schools increased with the growth of the township until under the public system there were nine. Under the centralization system of our day the number has been reduced.

In the fall of 1835 the voters met at the house of Mr. Cassady on Terrapin creek to elect their officers. The Democratic candidate, Mr. Maxwell, was chosen justice of the peace, but his election was successfully contested by his opponent, James H. Sample, who became the first justice of the peace in the township.

The first marriage was that of John Stevenson to Miss Adams in 1837. The next to join the nuptial train were Eris Stevenson to Miss Margaret Wiley, John M. Burns to Miss S. Wiley.

The following persons have served as township trustees, viz : John Caldwell, William Wylie, John M. Burns, Ephraim Davis, Reuben Eaton, William Brenton, A. C. Kern, J. C. Tomlinson.

In the winter of 1835, George, son of Robert Stevenson, was engaged in felling a large tree, which fell upon and killed him. This was the first death in the township. In the following spring Samuel Downey's son was killed by a falling tree, which was uprooted by a storm, and struck him as he ran across the clearing. In 1837 occurred the first natural death; Mrs. Mary Sample died at the home of her son-in-law, A. B. Clark. All were buried in the Mud Creek cemetery.

Elizaville is the only town or trading point in the township. It is located on the Strawtown road in the east part of the township. It was laid out on the farm of Hiram Brinton in 1852 but was never incorporated. Silas M. Cory was the first merchant and was followed by A. B. Clark in the same enterprise. The village now contains one general merchandise store, one blacksmith shop, one steam grist and sawmill, one wagon shop and one resident physician.

Clinton township was first settled in 1834. Hugh Sample, son of James H. Sample, was the first child to see the light of day in 1837, in tjhis township. He is yet living. Among the early ministers were John Reynolds, Presbyterian; John Bonner, William Hall, William Turner, Carson Burckhalter, Christian; and Henry I. Bennett. The following are among the early school teachers: James H. Sample, Hiram J. Roberts, Henry I. Bennett, James Mulligan and John Foley. The first religious meeting was held in 1835 at the house of A. B. Clark. The first election at the home of Newton Cassady. First marriages were John Stephenson to Miss Adams; Eros Stephenson to Margaret Wylie ; John M. Burns to Miss Wylie.

J. M. Larimore, of Eagle Village, was the first Odd Fellow in Boone county. He was the son of Daniel Larimore, who came from Fayette county, Indiana, early in the thirties. J. M. Larimore died in 1849, °f con" sumption. T. P. Miller, of Zionsville, was the second Odd Fellow in the county.

There was a Saleratus factory in Eagle Village in an early day, the only one in the county. It was started by J. M. Larimore and the factory was called "The Ashery."

The Odd Fellows organized a lodge at Eagle Village in 1846 or '47. Charter members were J. M. Larimore, T. P. Miller, J. F. Daugherty, Joseph

Patrick H. Sullivan was the first settler in Eagle township, also the first settler in the county. He was on the committee that located the county seat. Jacob Sheets, John Sheets, David Hoover followed him. In December, 1831, occurred the first marriage, Elijah Cross to Mary Hoover. The first brick house in Boone county was on the Michigan road between Clarkstown and Eagle Village, was built by Austin Davenport in 1835. First doctors were William M. Duzan, H. G. Larimore, Warner F. Sampson, S. W. Rodman, N. Crosby and G. W. Duzan.