Highland Township

Highland Township

Richland creek was named for its good bottom lands ; Beech creek for its many beech trees ; Kelley's creek for John Kelley, its first' settler ; .Tack's creek was named by old Uncle Henry Jackson ; Goose creek took its name from the old women fussing about geese.

Intlinn Camp branch was named by t\w old settlers, on account of the many Indian camps, where Elisha McDaniel now lives ; Big Branch was named for its great number of big springs ; ^losquito Branch for its \>et bottom lands ; Bead Iloss branch was first called the Jewel branch, for old Mr. Jewell, its first settler, - The Jewell branch was afterwards named Dead Hoss, by a party of surveyors on the old central canal, down on the east side of White river. The Dover branch was named for its first' settler, !Neely Dover; and it is said of him that he moved from that house, and left an old hen sitting ; changing his location twice during his absence, lie finally returned to the first place before the hen had succeeded in hatching out her brood, thereby giving his wife a chance to take care of the chickens. The Beaver pond, near Aunt Katie Ballard's, was named by the old settlers on account of the dams made in the slough, by ancient water beavers.

The Babcr Hill, seven milca from Bloomfield, on the Newark road, was named for its first settler, old grand"- father Baber, father of George and Robert Baber. William Baber and -wife lived, died and were buried there. Uncle JackBabcr was born on the old Major Sarver farm, just southwest of that old cemetery.

The old Rock Bullet-Laidle, where the Indians used to meit lead, was found fifty years ago, and is yet in the same place, half mile east of James McCutchan's, in the old field of Charley Turley.

Our first school was taught by Samuel Dorrity, Esq., on the farm of old Johnny Cloud, near where Peter Ressner now lives. It was an old fogy subscription school of three months, and the teacher's wages were thirteen dollars per month. The names of the pupils were Bice and Anderson Cloud, John and Andy Hunter, Wash and Jack Baber, Riley and Bluford Greves, Barrel Long, Edmond Martin, Celia Martin, Lucinda and Mary A. Hunter, Mournen and Kissie Bland, Susanna and Cynthia Hunter, and Elizabeth Mar- "' tin. This little old school house was made of round logs, without floor, clapboard roof, stick and mud chimney, and no glass except a few milk bottles. W^e had a small window, pasted over Avith greased paper, and our desk wss a puncheon, placed on two pegs in the wall ; the seats -were benches, made of split poplar poles, with flat side up. The second school was taught by George R. H. Moore, at the old Bethlehem log church, on the farm of Simon Bland, with many pupils, among whom were Simon Bland, Moumen and Kissie Bland» George and Jamejs McCutchan, Dorrel and Sexton Long, Marinda Long, Elizabeth Martin, Hunter's girls and others. Our third school was taught by Samuel R. Tincher, in a log house, on Israel Wilkie's farm, thirty years ago.

We had a few old women medical advisoi's in those days: Aunt Rachel Jessup, Granny 'McCutchan, Lucy Arthur, Grandmother Hunter and Dr. Simon Snyder; and, by the wa}', Dr. Snyder was a practical faith doctor, it being said of him that he could cure a person just as well where he wasn't as where he was.

Dr. Snyder built a little tub-wheel, water-mill, on the Mosqnito branch, and afterwards sold it to George Walker. Walker's mill ground about eight bushels of corn per day.

At all elections and general musters, the candidates must and did treat the people to whisky, and when they succeeded in getting up a big fight at any place near here, big Isaac Stalcup and Benjamin Stalcup were the principal bullies in it.

altcrwards sold that farm to a Mr. , Allen, and moved to White river bottom, where he* built another brick liousc. John II. Dixon afterVards built his brick dwelling.

We had no peddlers in earlv times. Old (rrandmother Baber attended all l)ublic gathering?, and sold gingercakes at fourpence apiece, for pocket change and pin money.

The names of the first preachers Elder II. S. Doaty, Kev. Samuel INIedley, James Birtch, Thomas Oliphant, Abraham Kcarnes, Obediah Winters and others.

William Welton built the first'mill on Richland creek, at the old Benjamin Turley mill seat. Old Doctor Simon Snyder built a little corn mill on the Mosquito branch, and ground about three bushels per day. Tne toll taken at that mill was the eighth bushel.

Old John Hunter and wife raised ten children, five boys and five girls, all of whom lived to be men and women. The old man and woman lived to see them all buried, except one - Daniel Hunter - who has since died of consumption.

The names and ages of some of the old people now living in this neighborhood : James A'andeventcr. aged 83 ; William Bays, aged 75; Aaron McDaniel, aged 77; John Bucher, William J. Mcintosh, ?.nd Mrs. Susanna Lang, aged respectively 83; Anna McCutchan, aged 82 ; Mickey Pickard, aged 81 ; and Elizabeth Moore, aged 82 years.

The first white chihfren born in Highland township, were John G. Owen, Charles Kellv, Armstead Owen, A. J. Baber, Willii.m W. Baber, Simon Bland, William Stalcup, Mary J. Turley, Mary Bland, George and James ^IcCutchan.

were Bailey McCutchan and Anna Baber; Aaron Bland and Lavina Bryant ; big Isaac Stalcup and Miss -^ Mournen Martin. It is said that Mr. Stalcup was a drinking man and a widower, having sold his first Avifo to another man for a new fur hat and ten gallons of whisky. The man and woman then floated down White river in a water craft. The next lucky couple were George Baber, aged 40 years, and Margaret Hunter, aged 15 years. Next were Reuben IVIartin and Jennie Beasley ; Hiram Martin and Margaret Cloud ; Eli Martin and Sallie Baber; Charles Turley and Nancy Walker; then Alexander Martin and Olive Walker, of nnotherfiimily, there being two families named AValker.

We will now give a short sketch ( f a few of the old pioneer settlers. Old Isaac Stalcup was born in North Carolina, and married Catharine Osborn. They came to Greene county in the year 1817, and settled on White river, and that fall built the first little log cabin, on the old farm where William Crites now lives. He crossed at the yellow brinks on the Ohio river, and came by way of ^'^incenncs to Greene county. Grandfather Stalcup and wife had twentyone children - fifteen boys and six girls.

James Stalcup was bom in North Carolina, from whence he moved to Sumner county, Tennessee, and married Miss Margaret Marlin, on Irish lady. They came to Greene county in the year 1818, and settled on the hill just east of where Worthington non stands. He established the first blacksmith shop in this neighborhood, Mr. Stalcup afterwards moved over on the east side of White river, and lived there fift^'j^ears. He made the best axes and Cary plows of any blacksmith in Greene county. He also built the first brick house in the county.

the first year in the old log school house on the farm "uhereJohn Quakcnbush now lives. Mr. Quakenbilsh and v,ife raised three boys and one girl.

James Stalctip and wife had eight children - three boys and five girls. About three years ago the old man and old lady passed away from among Us. He died at the age of eighty-six years, and was buried on the old homestead farm, just west of where JSolomon Dixon Mow lives.

George B. Stalcup was born in Sumner county, Tennessee, in 1814, and came with his parents to Greene county, in the year 1818. When he became a man, he married Miss Mary Buckner, the third daughter of Edward Buckner. Mr. Stalcup and wife have had eleven children, and raised only two of them to be women. Our friend Stalcup is a common farmer, sixty one years old, and owns one of the best fainus in this part of Greene county. He lives at home, and says that he can take care of himself without the help of the women crusaders.

John H. Owen came from Stokes county, North Carolina, to the new Indiana Territory, in the year 1814, and settled on Lost river, near Paoli, Indiana, and remained there two years, when he married Miss Susannah Elrod. They came to Greene county in the'year 1817, and settled on the old farm of Armstead Owen, in Highland township. John H. Owen and wife raised five children - four boys and one girl - and all of them lived to be grown.

Old Quaker-style, John Gallettley Owen was born on the 8th day of the 8th month, in the year 1818, or August 8th, 1818. John G. Owen married Miss Margaret Mock, eldest daughter of David and Elizabeth Mock. Mr. Owen and Avife have had seven children - three boys and four girls. Mr. Owen is a coJximon farmer, fifty-seven years old, and lives on a good farm, five miles north of Bloomticld.

Old Uncle Evan Owen came from North Carolina to Lost river, in Orange countj^ Indiana, in 1814, and from there to White river, in 1817. He brought apple and peach seed from North Carolina, and planted out the first orchard in Highland township. Mr. Owen married Miss Priscilla Sanders,and they had twelve children - six boys and six girls - and among them are our felloAV-citizens, Charles G. Owen, Hastin B Owen, Mrs. Verlin Jessup and Mrs. Martha Allen. Uncle Evan Owen died about fifteen years ago, aged seventy-four years.

Mr. James Gallettley,a Scotchman, Avhile stopping at Chillicothe, Ohio, wrote a letter to Colonel Jack Stokely, of Greene count}^, asking information about the new territory, opportunities, mode of living, etc.

The first school teacher was John S. Owen, and among the pupils Avere Lott Lindley, Amos Owen, Samuel Owen, William and Robert Owen, Aaron Bland, Jesse Osborn, Ruth Lindley, Hannah Oavcu, Susan Burris, Ruth Owen, Iredell Green, Frank Jessup, George B. Stalcup and others.

On the east side of White river, in Highland tOAvnship, on the land of John H. Dixon, stands the giant tree of the forest. This monster old sycamore tree is perhaps a thousand years old, nearl}' a hundred feet high and measures thirteen feet in diameter. We undertake to say that the tall sycjimorc of the White river valley, rather beats the Tall Sycamore of the Wabash valley^ by at least ninety feet inheighthand thirty feet in circumference. Our old tall, giant Bycamore never meddles with politics Oi" religion, and therefore occupies a very high position among men, and Aye hope the old tree may always be spared by the storms and the woodman's aX.

On the third day of August, 1875, ut five o'clock p. m., when the water in White river bottoms was at the liighest mark^ Mr. John D. Allen, John W. Padgett, John W. Carmichael, Thomas Walker and W^illiam Goodwin, paddled John D. Allen's big canoe, and ran it up in the fork of Dixon's big sycamore tree, and on .the south side of each tree, above the fork, cut the notch for high water mark for the year 1875. Having a bottle full of good whisky, they all took a big di'atn, find had a grand, high old time, while standing on the fork of that big tree.

WILL give the following U.i\^ list of names among the first settlers in 1818 : John Vanvorst and his tenant, Daniel Carlin, Peter C. VanSlyke, James Warnick, Reuben Hill, William Robinson, AVilliam Scott, Carpus Shaw, Sen., Judge I^. B. Edwards, Colonel Levi Fellows, 1819, Norman W. Pierce, Oliver Cushman, Elisha Gushman, Ruel Learned, Eli Faucett, Alexander Clenny, Samuel C. Hall, Oliver Lockwood, Jeremiah Lockwood, John Jones, Sen., John Mason, Barney Perry, John and Peter Hill, Isaac Anderson, Adam Stropps. John Shrycr. Orange Monroe, Ebenezer and "William Welton, "William and J. AVatson, Timothy Jessup, Robert Baber, Jacob Lakey, Jacob and Joshua Dobbins, Solomon, Joseph and Daniel Burchara, William liussol, Beniaroin Turlej, William and John Watson, Kelley Heaton, .Tohn Terrell, Abraham Workman, George Milam, John Herral, Samuel Smith, Charles Turley, and Dave Heaton.

William and Ebenezer Welton built the first water-miJl below the mouth of Beech creek, and afterwards that mill burned down and then changed hands, and wa-i rebuilt again by old Alexander Craig, and sold hy Mr. Craig to old Uncle Benjamin Turley.

Old Uncle Timothy Jessup was a Fncnd Quaker, and came from North Carolina to Greene county in the year 1818, and settled on the old State road, on the north side of Richland creek. He entered the land, built the house, made a good farm and set out the old orchard where Henderson Sarver now lives, seven miles from Worthington. Mr. Jessup sold out that farm to old John S. Moore, anti went to the Quaker, settlement at White Lick, Hendricks county.

Benjamin Turley came to this county over fifty years ago, and built the house and made a farm of thirty-five acres on Congress land in the heavy forest of white oak and sugar-tree timber at the place where Alfred Kutch now lives. Mr. Turlej and wife raised thirteen children - seven boys and six girls.

Mr. Kelley Heaton built a house, entered the land and made the farm where Mr. Charles Neyman now lives. Mr. Heaton Was drowned in Richland creek, about one mile east of Bloomfield, in the yedr 1836. lie was a good, honest farmer.

Mr. David Heaton was born in Lincoln county, Kentucky, and came to Greene county about a half a century ago, and was married to Miss Kerren Burcham, daughter of Joseph Burcham, and commenced work on the farm where he now lives. Mrs. Kerren Heaton died, and a few years afterwards Mr. Heaton was married again to Sallie Watson^ daughter of John Watson. He is about sixtythree years old, and one among the best farmers in Greene county. He lives on the old State road, four milea east of Blaomfield. Mr. Heaton has had two wives and eighteen children - ten boys and eight girls.

John Terrell built a house and made a small farm and set out the old orchard at the place where Peter Terrell now lives, on the south side of Richland creek, cast of Bloomfield. Mr. Terrell was a noted old pioneer bear and bee hunter, and he never bought lead for bullets. lie always made bullets from lead ore found on Richland creek, close to the old Welton mill seat. But Mr. Terrell died without disclosing the secret where this lead mine is located.

Jacob Dobbins settled the place now owned by Mr. M. H. Shryer. Mr. Dobbins was a good citizen and served as a Justice of the Peace for fifteen years.

orphan boy, and Avas' raised by old i name Edward Walker, John and Colonel Levi Fellows and Mr. Darling ] James Dobbins, Dave Heaton, Charles Fuller. Mr. Eurchara married Miss iTarley, Sallie Roach, Elizabeth Dob- Rebecca Dobbins, and afterwards I bins and others, made a good farm, and is a number I The first blacksmith shop was built one iarmer, on the old Jonesboro ; by Judge Thomas Bradford, about State road, about tliree miles east of i one mile south of Bloomfield. Bloomfield. j The first store was established by

William Scott was a native of | house was built by Peter C. Van- Guilford county, North Carolina, and ! Slyke, at the place where Colonel married Miss Elizabeth Mason, and Adin G. Cavins now lives.

Scott and wife raised eleven children Miss Fannie Cushman, daughter - eight boys and three girls. Joseph ! of Oliver Cushman, taught the Scott, the oldest boy, was born in] first school, near Colonel Fellows' December, 1820, half a mile east of i mill, and Mr. Elisha Cushman taught Bloomfield. | the first school in Bloomfield. The

Old Uncle Peter Lester built the {old log school house was on the lot first mill at the old Tibbettmill seat, now occupied by the Democrat print- Mr. Lester is j-et living in Greene 'ing office, county, near Newberry. I Our first doctors were Dr. Dean the 14th day of August, 1796, in the vicinity of Burgoyne's consecrated battle of Saratoga plains. The Judge is now seventy-nine years old, and yet reads well without spectacles or glasses. His father came from" Long Island, and is a direct descendant of the New England branch of the Edwards' family. Judge Edwards has been married four times, and they have raised five children - two boys and three girls. The Ju'lge has told us more of the early history of Greene county than any other man.

The first weddings were Carpus Shaw and Miss Sallie VanSlyke, Thomas Warnick and Lydia Gilam, Samuel Smitii and Lydia Kossolow. Jes3fl Branham and Elizabeth Johnson, James Stone and Mahala Heaton, Andy Johnson and Elizabeth Lawrence.

Our old school teachers we're Joshua Dobbins and Thomas Warnick, with many little chaps at school, where the Richland church now stands. Among the pupils wc will

Early Recollections Of Alfred L.

By request, I will give some of my recollections of my early days, and, in order to do so, I shall speak of my father. He w;i3 from the State of Maryland to North Carolina; thence to Kentucky ; thence -to W^asbington County, Indiana, near Salem ; thence to Brownstown, Jacison coanty. I was born near Salem, in the year 1814, December 2d.

Now it is but justice to the reader of this to note that the State of Indiana was only a territory at that time. After staying in Jackson county, Indiana, two years, father removed to Monroe county, Indiana; and as there was no road from Brownstown to Bloomington, only what was known as Bigger's trace, he took^his family on horse-back to the place he settled on, one mile and a half south of John Ketcham's water-mill, and eight miles south of Bloomington, on clear creek. He then went back t;o Jack- son county, and (lug himself a lnrn;e j taken from tlie side of the house, and wiitor cr-'t't, anil hinilcd it in the Mus- paper pat>ted in tp give light. The cUiitak rivei', and mndo his Vay scholai-s had to go from one to three down stream, to where it empties in- 1 miles to Kchool. The earl}' settlers tn the cast fork of White river;! had a nice time killing deer, bears thence down AVhite river to the and turkeys. The range for stock mouth of Salt creek ; thence up SaltUvas good, ovcck to the mouth of Clear creek ; | When the AVriter was in his fourthence up Clear creek -within three (juartcrs of a mile of Hnrrodsburgh. As that was as far up as. he could get, lor fallen timber in the creek, which had been foil by William Chamber*;, w ho had settled there oneyear before, he landed within four miles of where ho ^settled. This was about the 17th of April, 1<S17. lie built a small, round log house, cleared and fenced the land, and raised a crop of corn that year. When ho got out of bread stuff, he went to Shakeftown, on Shaker prairie, and carried his meal on horseback. There were no mills there, at that time, and but few settlers, and not much else, except a howling wilderness. The most frequent sulutotion was the howl of the or the yell of the Indian. The e;;rly settlers were, William, David, John and Anthony Chambers; Jacob, John and David Sayers.

The early settlers had a very hard timegettingbreadstuff, having to beat their corn in a mortar - a hole burnt in the end of a log of wood, such as Ijcech or white oak ; and the most of the time the corn-Avas frost-bitten, which made poor bread. After the second an<l third years, they managed to have biscuits on Sunday mornings. Clothing, also, was very hard teenth year, his mother sent him to his aunt's oTi an errand ; and it was in the winter season. I had to cross Clear creek and a mill pond. When I got to the pond there was a girl ami boy there with a large dog, playing on the ice, and I thought I would spend a short tiuptc with them. When 1 was very near the middle of the pond, the dog came at me as vicious as he could, and sprang upon rac and aimed to catch me by the throat, but missed his aim and caught my hat by the brim^ jerking me down on the ice. Being a very large dog, he kept me down and bit several large holes in my leg, besides several wounds on my shoulder. 1 could have run my thumb in them. Finally, I raised with him, and we had quite a combat for awhile. There was a lady heard the noise the bo}' and girl made, and she came to my relief. She was something over a quarter of a milo distant Irom where the dog and 1 were, and the tight ^'as continued until a very short time before she got there. Some of the time I had him down, and some of the time he had me down. At last, I caught him around the neck, with his head under ray breast, and held him down as long as I had strength ; but being bitten and mangled so badly,my strength failed me so much that I was obliged to L't him go. But before 1 let him to get. They raised flax and hemp I loose, I thought he would be sure to for shirting and overhauls for spring ! kill me, because I could do nothing

When the settlement became thick enough settled, they built round, log school houses, cut out about seven feet of one end for a fire-place, and the scholars had the Avood to get, the most of ^hc time. There was one log more. If I had been in possession of a knife, I might have used it to good advantage, but I had nothing at all with which to defend myself. I let him loose, however, and he arose to his feet as I did. He growled, showed his teeth, and then left me. I had nearly a mile to travel, before reachy//fe Early History of Greene County.

ing homo, and when I arrived there I was not able to stand alone. These are recollections I will never forget. My father was a farmer, and had eleven children - seven boys and four girls - and all except three lived to be married. The oldest girl was scalded to death, by falling into a tub of hot water, when she was two years old. One of the boys died from the effect of rheumatism. The youngest boy was a cripple, from birth, and died at about the age of thirty years. Father and mother belonged to the Christian Church, in which th^ lived until their death. Mother died at the "kge of sixty-one, on the farm where her and father first settled, in Monroe county. Father died December 11th, 1869, in his eighty-third year, at Uarrodsburgh, within threequarters of a mile of where he landed his water craft, in getting to his place of destination.

Samuel R. Gavins was born in Greene county, Kentucky, in 1792. Before he was of age, he went to Vincenues, and" remained there several years. While at Vincennes he went on a hunting excursion (about the 3'ear 1813,) up White river, and the party landed in Greene county, just above the mouth of Richland creek, near the old Indian graveyard. After that he returned to Kentucky.

In 1822, he returned to Indiana again, and settled in Monroe county, near Harmony. In 1825, he moved to Lawrence county, near Springville. He moved to Greene county, in 1827, and settled on Indian creek, near Owensburg. In the year 1833, he settled on a farm in Richland township, adjoining the farm of David Heaton. In 1835, he moved to Bloomfield, and resided there until his death, which was in 1864.

Judge of the Circuit Court, and held the ofiice until 1834, when he resigned. He was Assessor for the east side of White river for the year 1834.

He was well known throughout the county for his hospitality and liberality, and especially remembered for the numerous instances in which he befriended the poor.

Honorable Elijah H. C. Cavins, one of the best lawyers at the Bloomfield bar, furnished us with a correct copy of the records of the county for this book, for which he has the thanks of all the old pioneer settlers in our county.