Fall Creek Township

Topography

Fall Creek forms the southeast corner of Hamilton county. It was not set apart from the original township of Delaware until 1833. In November of that year the county board of commissioners ordered the forming of the new township giving the boundaries. At the next session the order was amended as there was an error in the boundary lines first given, the following being correct: "Beginning at the southeast comer of county and running north on the county line to the line dividing sections 17 and 20, township 18, north, range 6, east, thence west to the line dividing sections 19 and 20, town¬ ship 18, north, range 5 east, thence south with said section line to the south line of said county; thence east to the place of beginning.,, The township embraces an area of thirty-five square miles.

A glance at the map of Fall Creek township shows three principal streams each flowing in a southwesterly direction almost entirely across the township. Fall Creek the largest stream flows a little southeast of the center diagonally across the township. Mud creek crosses in almost the exact center from northeast to southwest while Sand creek waters the northwest corner. The township thus favored is an exceptionally good farming district, the creek bottom land being unusually rich and productive.

Early Settlement

There is some uncertainty as to who was the first white settler in the township. There were two brothers by the name of Tharpe who came early and gave their name to a small creek, a tributary of Fall creek, but it seems they did not become permanent settlers, having returned to their former home after a brief sojourn in the wilderness.

In the year 1821 Francis Kincaid settled in the township and began improvements on the land which he subsequently entered. Mr. Kincaid is thought by some to be the first permanent settler. Hiram Coffee also came to the township about the same time and many others support his claim to priority of settlement. In support of the latter claim there is the testimony of William McKinstry, who settled in the township in 1832, but who some years prior to that time made a visit to the township with a view to entering land there. He said, "We stopped at Hiram Coffee's house in 1824 to feed our horses and refresh ourselves. He then had quite a large clearing on his farm, and I do not think that his improvements could have been, at that time, less than two or three years old. Mr. Coffee told me then how long he had been living on the land, but so many years have passed since that time that I have forgotten.,,

Not long after the settlement of Francis Kincaid and Hiram Coffee, they were joined by others, among them being Samuel Halliday and James Nutt. In the following year Richard Curry, Abraham Helms and Francis Whelchel settled in the same neighborhood. In 1825 the latter-named parties entered lands which they cleared and farmed for many years and which is today, for the most part, in the hands of the descendants of those early pioneers.

When these first settlers came to Fall Creek township they found there two deserted cabins and for many years it was a great mystery as to who could have lived there prior to the settlers above mentioned. In later years it has been proved conclusively that these deserted cabins were built by the two men, Bridges and Sawyer, who murdered several Indians, for which crime they were afterward hanged in Fall Creek township. So the mystery of the vacant cabins was explained after many years.

After these first settlers had made homes and clearings for themselves, other families seeking new homes in the rich lands of the west were not slow to avail themselves of the opportunity offered by the opening of the new settlement on the banks of Fall creek. By the year 1836 every section of land in the township had been settled upon except section 16, which was reserved as school property. Among the next settlers of the township are found, in 1826, the names of James Brown, Josiah Humbles, Thomas Lackey and John Heath. The following year John and Isaac Helms, James Murrer and Absolem Setters joined those already mentioned, each entering land and beginning improvements as soon as possible. Each succeeding year, until 1836, came other families, until finally the whole township was settled and the land gradually improved to its present high state of cultivation.

The soil of this township is a rich loam intermixed more or less with sand. Along the streams the soil consists of the "black ground," the fertility of which is almost inexhaustible. The drainage is excellent and in all parts of the township fine crops of corn, wheat, rye, oats, etc., are produced.

A Happy Hunting Ground

In the early days Fall Creek township was one of the best "hunting grounds/' not only for the red men but later for their pale-faced brothers. It was in this section that the Indians who were murdered by Bridges and Sawyer were hunting and the fine furs and pelts in their possession, coveted by the two whites, were the direct cause of the murders. The streams and forests in Fall Creek were unequaled as watering and feeding grounds for the wild game which was so abundant a century ago.

Enoch McKay, one of the pioneers, was a famous Nimrod of those days, while all his neighbors participated in the hunt to a greater or less degree, none, however, being more enthusiastic or showing better evidence of skilled marksmanship than he. An early historian gives an account in Mr. McKay's own words of some of his numerous experiences. He says: "I shot and wounded an old buck, and then advanced upon him with the intention of cutting his throat. As I sprang upon my wounded prey he rose up with me and got his horns fast in a close-fitting roundabout which I wore. We had a desperate struggle, and soon both fell, but in opposite directions. I regained my feet instantly and grasped his horns with one hand, while with the other I clutched my hunting-knife. I made a stroke at his throat, but broke my knife about the middle of the blade and directed several blows at the same point afterwards, before I knew that it was broken. When I made this discovery I began sawing at his throat with the broken blade and finally succeeded in severing the jugular vein. The fight was soon over and I had a big, five-pronged pair of antlers and a splendid lot of venison as trophies of the conquest." Mr. McKay also tells in the following his way of trapping a bear : "I remember discovering the track of a bear where he came to water. There was a hollow log, which he would have to pass, and I determined to use this log for a trap and capture him without getting within his embrace. I put a piece of venison into the log and set my gun in such a way that it would be discharged as soon as he touched the meat. I then went away to await the result of my scheme and about six o'clock in the evening I heard the explosion which I had expected. I repaired to the spot the next morning and found it was as I had expected, a 'dead shot.' I took him home and had a fine lot of bear's meat." Mr. McKay enjoyed the hunt for the hunt's sake as well as for the pleasure of supplying the family larder with meat, for in this township, as well as in the others at an early day, hunting and fishing were stern neces¬ sities. The settlers usually farmed about ten or twelve acres, raising some¬ times scarcely enough to supply their own family needs, but the land in Fall

Creek township was rich and each year new clearings were added to those already under cultivation. In the earlier years there were no markets at which to dispose of any extra produce had there been any raised. Despite the common diligence, however, the settlers invariably helped their neighbors when the necessity arose. In case of a newcomer or a failure of the crops of an old neighbor, he who had some grain to spare loaned to the neighbor in need, the grain being repaid, bushel for bushel, when the next year's crop was gathered. No interest was ever charged for such loans and ofttimes, if the crops were scanty, the debt was not all returned till some succeeding and more prosperous year.

A Friendly Indian

The Indians had not all left the township when the first settlers came. Abraham Helms, one of the pioneers, had some sort of business that called him away from home one winter day, requiring him to leave his wife and children alone. During his absence a very severe snow storm came upon them. While the storm was raging a tall Indian, "armed to the teeth/' with rifle, knife and tomahawk, appeared at the door of the Helms' cabin. By signs he made Mrs. Helms understand that his cabin was far away, and that he desired to shelter in her cabin till the storm was over. In modern par¬ lance Mrs. Helms was "up against it," but, like most pioneer women, she was very brave and while hoping for the best she prepared for the worst. The extended eaves of the cabin formed quite a shelter and so she ordered the Indian to place his gun there, which he did. While the aboriginal was disposing of his rifle Mrs. Helms secured the family watch dog, a very fine animal, and placed him in the hands of her son, Wesley, with orders to release the dog at her signal. Hastily she armed herself with a long-bladed, sharppointed knife, which she slipped into the sleeve of her dress. Then she invited the Indian into the cabin. The man stalked into the cabin, took a seat as indicated by Mrs. Helms and sat motionless until the storm abated. He then arose, making signs of thanks to his unwilling hostess and departed as he had come. The relief with which the good woman "sped the parting guest" may well be imagined.

Pioneer Highways And Industries

The first road in the township was surveyed along Fall Creek from In¬ dianapolis to Pendleton before the township was settled. This road fol¬ lowed the course of the creek, but in later years fell into disuse as a shorter route was surveyed between the two points. James Davis was the pioneer store-keeper, he having opened a store on the Arnett farm in 1835. As there was very little cash in the country at that time, he received farm produce in turn to restock his store. Samuel Arnett opened a store in 1837-38 and soon after Wesley Helms wrent into business near the village of Olio. Samuel Harrison owned the first blacksmith shop in 1834. In addition to his labors as a farrier he manufactured hoes and sharpened plows. James Patterson was the first carpenter. He erected several barns, which stood for many years. Mr. Thomas Arnett was a pioneer in more ways than one. He erected the first frame house in the township. The neighbors saw how much superior this house was compared to their primitive cabins and it wasn't many years until frame houses were the rule rather than the exception. Mr. Arnett introduced a new and improved breed of swine, somewhat similar to the Poland China stock. Prior to that time the hogs most common in this section were called 'long-nosed grazers," or "elm peelers," and were very inferior to the present-day stock. David Jones built and operated the first grist mill in 1834. It was a frame structure, and was supplied with the best machinery available at that time. After being operated for several years and passing through the hands of several owners it fell into decay. A new and larger mill was built near the site of the first one. The first saw mill was built on Thorpe creek by Abraham Helms and Mr. Kinnanman. This was the first mill that sawed timber on the shares, or where lumber could be purchased. The people naturally were very proud of these two industries. In 1841 John Doran established the first card mill near the site of the Jones grist mill. He carded wTool but manufactured no goods. Also, in 1841, Benjamin Murrer operated the first threshing machine. It was of the class known as chaff pilers and only separated the wheat from the straw, after which it was necessary to run the grain through a fanning machine. This machine was vastly super¬ ior to the old method of threshing by hand. The first bridge over Fall creek was built in 1836, near the Hamilton-Marion line. It was erected by Jacob Lingel, John Brown, Samuel Brooks and Robert Fousit. It was used till 1847, when it was washed away by a freshet.

A Sensitive Justice Of The Peace

Mr. Shirts tells of the first justice of the peace, as follows: "Abraham Helms was the first man elected justice of the peace, but he soon resigned his office. He was conscientiously religious, and it was said that while he acted as justice, he also attended the house raisings and log rollings and on these occasions he heard more or less swearing. As he interpreted the law it was his duty to cause the arrest of all persons using profane language, but as these men were his neighbors he did not wish to do this, nor did he wish to evade the performance of his duty as he understood it, so he resigned. L. M. Ogle was appointed to fill the vacancy occasioned by this resignation."

Matilda Coffee, a daughter of Hiram Coffee, was the first white child born in the township. John T.'Kinnanman set aside one acre for a cemetery, the first interment in the same being that of the body of a child named Mary Moon, about five or six years of age. in 1836 or 1837. John T. Kinnanman, the donor, was the second to receive interment, his death occurring in 1843. Other early burying grounds were the Butterfield cemetery, the Rager ceme¬ tery and the Arnett cemetery.

Pioneer Schools

The first school was taught in a cabin on the farm of Samuel Holliday about 1827-28. Robert Fausit, son of Jacob Fausit, who settled in Fall Creek township in 1829, stated that this school was in operation when his father settled and was being taught by Jacob Kimberlin on the subscription plan. The first cabin built especially as a school house was never completed, although a summer school was taught there by Smith Goe. One of the early school houses was situated on the Arnett farm. There is no high school within the limits of the township. However, upon their completion of the common school grades, many students go to Noblesville or Lapel to take the high school course. Arza Kinnanman, the present trustee, has built up the schools by prudent management and care in the selection of teachers.

Pioneer Churches

The pioneers of Fall Creek were, as a rule, church-going people. Itiner¬ ant preachers came in the early days and preached to the people in their homes first and later in houses of worship built for the purpose. Among the first preachers visiting the neighborhood were John Redmond, Baptist; Nathaniel Barnes, Methodist ; Benjamin Legg, Christian, and Mr. Stuart, United Breth¬ ren.

In 1841 or 1842 the first church edifice was erected by the Methodist de¬ nomination. It was a log building erected on the land of Peter Staats and known as the "Staats church." Later the congregation joined with the Fortville church and the log church was torn down.