Jackson Township

Jackson Township

" Who was the first while settler of Jaekson Township ? " has always been n mooted ((uestion. The oldest living settlers sny that the honor is due to one of three men, vi?.., Henry Jones, Willian. Taylor, or Mr. HUnchc, father of Ctd. lilanchr, of Kokomo, Ind., who came here as early as the year 1828. Henry Jones settled three miles west, of Cicero, on the La Fayette road, and creeled a lar^c loj; cahin, which he soon after converted into a tavern. As early as the year 1H:l(l-:il, the Li Fayette road was cjtensively traveled hy cnllle-drovcra en rfiutc for Cincinnati with live-stock. It was also the popular route for croif;rant trains, bciup the most direct line from Strawtown to La Fayette and the Wild Cat I'rairic; and from both classes iMr. Jones derived n liberal patrona^'C. Kvcn at an earlier date than this, the Strawtown and La Fayette road (or " trace") was extensively (raveled by emi-rants, who found the neareU tavern, west of .Strawtown, at the farm of George Hoxley. Mr. Jones kept tavern at his farm for a number of years, but subser|iiently sold out and removed to California.

William Taylor setlled four and a half miles west of Cicero, and cleared a farm on tho ia Fnyetle roail, where he passed the remainder of his life.

Mr. IJIanclio fluttled on the hank of Cicero Creek, immediately west of tlic prcacnl town of Cicero, hut Bubsequcntly removed to Howard County,

In IHMl, Klijah Redman, Dennis I'ickcriil an within tho present limits of Cicero, and Abel Gib.son settled on Section (1. Isaac and Henry .Jones came in 1832 or ISii:!, and Jesse Kvans and Jefferson N. Kcdman came early in 18:12 or late in IS.H. Kach entered land in 1832, oil Section 3.").

David M. Anihony, Joseph Hndley, William ricketl and Jesse Beals settled near Deminj.', in IS:i3. Later in that year, the following named (,'cnllemen settled in tho township, and entered lands in various localities : Hancil Harlholomew, I'ctcr Lawrence, Jacob Hadlcy, William liamsey, Levi Cook, Klihu I'ickett, James Fisher, Jacob Crull, Joseph Moon, John Countryman, Daniel liane, Samuel I. I'ickerill, Scjuirc Tucker and John Hatfield. After this date new arrivals were of frequent occurrence, ami we are enabled, from the record of the tract b.iok of the county, to pivc a cnn.|dete list of names. In the year 1831, land was cnlered in various portions of the township hy the followiuK persons: Sandford Sparks, Zeno lladley, John H. Iladley, Kli Hadley, Adoniah Tickctt, John Mullin, Robert lievcrlin. Jehu Reeson, Henry K Sow'irs William (iarretl, Isaiah I'ickell, Absalom Sumner, Wilson Rarbcr, Jolin Moo'ro, Henry Crull. John Miller, Jesse Oonsb, Moses Mori/., William llunner, Hiram Steel, John Slack, Thomas J. HarbauBh, Isaac Taylor, James Orissom and James Harahman. 183.-. - Asa S. Shnul, Jesse Kellum, John Bailey, J.malhnn Arnold, Levi Wheatley, Michael Shiel, Knoch Warman, Philip Rhodes, Thomas Parker, John Doan, Furrcy Moss, Aaron Cook, James M. Thompson, William Carson, George Klaepfcr, Samuel Klaei<rer, I etor Miller, Jacob Brewer, Jacob Ream, Isaac Mortj;, Reuben Kinder, I'cter Kinder Oarrott Cruzan, Mead Fitzpalriok, John FiUpalriok, John Harrington, Isaac Ncwhy and Josiah Conklin, 183l!-Klli« Kvans, Alfred Redman, Joseph Sanders, George Haworth, Roland Burris, Noah B, Vick, Nicholas Zelt, Thomas Moore, William Hunter, Herman Jones, John Sl.nson Alexander Jonos, Zaie Roderick, John Little, Revel Kingsbury, Benjamm Clifford Bad Isaac Clifford.

Isaac aufi Moses Martz first came to occupy their respective farms in Sejitcniher, 1838. The land which they cnlered is situated in what is now tho suburbs of Arcadia, where both slill reside.

Henry Willils came in the spring of 1 837, and purchased a porli(Ui of the hind entered by Klihu I'ickett. He lived two years in the town of Dcniiiig, however, bcfor.' he pureha.sed this land. In 1S37, he erected a tannery at Doming - Ihc first in the township - ami operated it about fifteen years. He slill rcsiilcs on the farm which he pureha.sed in 1S3!I, soutn of Dcming. In 18311, William Ncal settled at (_'iecro. where he still resides. About the same time (or perhaps in the year 1838), acttlcmenis were made by Michael Winders, Henry (i.ischo, John Buscher, Christian Kauffmaii, Joseph Waliz, George S. Jacobs and Jacob 0. Bartholomew. In 1835, Micaiah Waldon, a colored freeman of North Carolina, came to the township and purchased a tract of land. Soon he was followed hy others of his own race, viz.: Dolphin and Stephen Roberts, Henry Wilson, Klias, Jonathan ami Hansel Roberts, who came in Ihc same year; Guilford Brooks anil Bryant Waldon, who came in 1830, and Harry Winhurii, and Jameson While, who came in 1838 and 183!), respectively. In 1 8 1 1 , ihey creeled a church of the Methodist Kpiscnpal denoininaiion, on land ilonaled for the purpose by Klias Rohert.s. It was used as n church and schoolhouse, and services were eonduelcd by ministers of the Westfield Circuit, About ISlil, o new church was creeled on the Fame lot, and at n later dale ihc congregation united with ihc Wcslcyans, by which denomination the church is now controlled. Rev. Talbcrt ia the present I'astor. They assisted in the maintenance of the subscription school of tho.se days, and their children enjoyed the benefits. They proved themselves sturdy pioneers and skillful farmers, and have kepi pace with their while neighbors in the march

E.\RI,V Iin.Mis, In the early days of eiiiigralion, the liio.st direct lino between two stations was the object sought by the emigrant, and Strawtown was, perhaps, tho most noted point on the line usually traveled by emigrant trains. Here they could find the provisions to replenish their supply and last until ihcy could reach the scltlcmcnls on Wild Cat Prairie, in Tippecanoe County. The most direct route between Strawtown and the latter point w,is indicated by an Indian "truce," which in time became a well-defined road, from tlie frci[uency with which it was traveled, but its course was rambling and irregular, as the driver would often bo compelled to make a circuit in order to ovoid a iniidhole. About the year 1830, this road was surveyed by order of tho State, and was oderward known as the Newcastle and La Fayette Slate road. About the

Townships HI and 211 norlli, and running west to Thornlown. It was known as Ihc Cicero and Thornlown Slate road. The Indianapolis and Peru Stale road was surveyed about a year later. It traverses the eastern portion of the township from north lo south. In the course of lime, these all became good roads, or at least good (Plough to admit of travel without danger to the occupants of vehicles who traversed the routes. They placed Cicero in communication with the outside world, and played no inconsideruble port in cslablishing the early prosperity of tho town, for a location on tho great public highways of that period was scarcely less beneficial lo a town llian a location on one of tho railroads of lo-day.

Between the several neighborlionds of the town-hip, roads were cut out through the woods to serve in facilitating communieation between the neighbors. Subscipicnt surveys changed the course of some of theso roads ; some, however, remain nearly oa at first located.

To supply a want long felt in tho settlement, William Taylor erected a rude mill at an early day. It was operated by two or more horses, bitched to levers in such a manner as to lurn the stones as Ihcy traveled around, grinding the wheat into a coarse flour. Like " the mills of the gods," it ground slowly, but it differed from those mythical institutions Id tho fact that it did not is'iui.'ied 10 Ihc eommuiiily, by whom they are cheerfully supported. Il!:/li - The buildin;: was erected by the Corporation Trys'

The school buildin): is a neat brick Blrueiiire, it 1x10 feet, with a vestibule lOxlill fed. Tho cost of the building was 8.".,(HI(). The nvorapc allendanoo of scholars is ino.

The third gr.ide was added in the the Principal at that time; M. l-',. Philli and. I. C. Sterrett, the Primary. Dur of lS7:i, M. T. Sliiel was Principal, Sterrett. The mxt term began in Oe The teachers during that term were : J Intermediate, and Henry Hoads, Primary.

M.,:n,l rirnmni M.lh«l!st Episcnp.,! Clnirch. - ^\w class was organized in March, ISIW, at the bouse of Wilson Darker, with the following conslitueni members: .Icssc (;ou;;li, .lanes liishop and wife, .Joseph Sanders and wife, Klijuh Huberts and wife, Mieajah Waldiin and wife. Hansel Itoberts and wife. Wade Roberts, Harry Winburn and wife, Wilson Barker and wife, Thomas I'itzpalriek and I-ec I'ilzpiitrick. The clasa-mcelinga were held nt the houses of the various members for several years. Subsci|uciitly, they erected a log church on land donated by .Joseph Sanders, on the bank of T.aylor'a Creek, and the services of tho chiirch were conducted in this house until ISCu. In that year, they creeled iheir pres, nl house of worship on the farm of U. V. Noble. The elmreh is in Cieeni Circuit, and since its organization has never been without a regular pastor. It is now under the pastoral eare of Hev. W,

Clc.io M'lhu,i;>l /;/.iseo/,.i/ - The Mi.tbodistsor-anizi.d al CiiiTo in lS4:i, with forty-three conslituent members. The meeliiigs were held in a house that had been erected for a residence, but subsei|Ueiitly fitted up for a church by Dr. William Cliflbrd. This building is still standing, on the corner of liuckeye and East streets. The class worshiped in this building for a period of four or five years, then at private houses, and later at the sdioolhouso. In 1854, they oreelcd their present house of worship, at an expense of ei,5lin. Hcv. .J. V. II. Miller organized the class, and Itev. M. P. Armstrong was the Pastor in charge when the ebureli was begun. He, however, was transferred lo anolher field |irior to tin. completion of ihe building, wliich w,a3 dedicated by Uev, Samuel I-amb, then Pr'esidiiig lOlder. Since the organization of the class, Ihc following gentlemen have served as Taslor, in .addition lo tlio.se mcniioncd heretofore: Itevs. Jlilion Waynian. Ilezikiah Smith, in ISb!) purchased their present liou.se of about 181)4, by the Kvangelieal Associal the .Methodists. Hev. Charles Disbro remained two years, and was snceceded 1 Beall followed Mr. Curry and continued in Rev. Kreeman, bis sueeessof, remained Rev. W. H. McKaig, the present Pastor.

Kriiiytt (Vio/icMI!ucna Vista). - The Mclbodisla had a class al liuei Visin prior lo the year 18117, and held meetings at Ihc Union Church uii that building was sold. They had, however, no regular pastor. In 187 Rev. Curry wiLs assigtiod lo this charge, and, during his relation with ll ally toward tho building of tho church, and ?4ni) of the iudobtedncsa was paid by Mr. Kring himself. The lolal cost was $i',0;i5.nil. The nrebilccluro is similar to that of Oliver Presbyterian Church, at Indianapolis; iho seats arc of ash, neatly finished, and arranged in a scmi-circlo, so that tho enliro oongrofaiiim thr this date, and luet in a nei;;hhorins schoolhou.se. They have no regul.ar pjslnr, ^ William .'^i.uiiniii.', i;i. but arc visited every fourth Sunday, by

The Sunday school, which was or-anize,| in Lsilll, has an avera._'e attend, anee of lifly scholars. I'.'ler liryai. is the present Superintend, nl.

|.ie.l buil.lin- <,f C. W. llarriso,,, nt Cicero, an.l this room wasfill.al up by the oril.T, and oceupied as a lo.l-e room until ISlil. In ilial year, Ihe buil.lin;:, to-etlier with Ihe ree.ir.ls and repdia of the lo,l-e, was destroyeil by fire. Aiiollier room was furnished, lo servo iiiilil the lo.l-e should he able lo creel n

(itora^ie capacily of 15,1100 biisliels of jmiin. The en-ine in the basement of the elevator is operated by steam conveyed in pipes from the boiler in the main bnildin-. seventy feel di~tai,t. M.-Ms, .Virdliaiiier & Walton mannfaetiire stories hi-h; has three run of bulirs. and a manufaeluiinL' capacity of filly barrels of lioiir per day, by the old process. The machinery is operated by an eii-ine oflifty horc piwel. Mr. .Jones conducts his cslablislimelit as n mereliani and custom mm, and fimls his prineijial market at Indianapoli'.

A,cndia Ftu«ri«3 yl/,7/., -This hiiildiiii; was erected by Isaac Martz in ISfi^i, and opcr.alcd by him for about four years. Toward the latter part of the year 18W, he mided n .saw-mill to his e.-tablishment, and conducted b itli mills until he rented Ihe property to bis sons, about Ihe year I8G7. Three years later, .'Mr. Mariz sold the establishment to G. W. Myers, who operated it a little less than two years, and sold it to Arthur Kinj;. Suhscrpiently, a partnership was formed between King and (i. W. Marsh, whieli continued until King sold his interest to H. G. Slannard in 187G. On the Otii of April, 1880, Mr. Stannard iiurclia.sed the interest of his a.ssoeiafe, Mr. JIarsli, and is now sole projirietor.

Cirrrn Flouring Mi/I. - Thk building was erected in 1 8(17 by John Martz and Isaac (irissoni, by whom it was operated about one year. It was then sold to lleilz \ Main, from whom it pawed, nt variiuis limes, to James Quear, Charles Qucar, W. II. A].plcgate and others. Jacob Stehman and Alphcus IlobcrtB purchased it of W. II. Aiiphgate in 187ri. Mr. Roberts died, and William Kreag pureha.s.'il his share at administrator's sale. Two years later, Mr. Krcag sold to lOdward Kin^, who, in turn, sold to .'Samuel Jliller. Three years later, Jacob .Stehinan purchiiHed the interest of Mr. Miller, and continued as sole proprietor until tlm spring of 187!l. He then sold a lialf-inlerest to his son, llcnry M. Slehman, since which time the mill liiw been operated hy .Stolinian & Son.

Slenm Kkvninr CArcadia"). - This building was erected by W. B. Gentry in the summer of 1874. It is a frame building, 40x90 feet, and has a storage capacity of 8,000 bushels. About 35,000 bushels of wheat, and .10,000 bushels of com arc annually shipped from this clevotor to Baltimore, Philadelphia and other Kaslcrn markets.

,SV<ii-c - \H 180.'^, W^Jlon \ Whetstone creeled their lu-esenl factory in the town of liuena A'ista, in which staves are dressed, ready for (iudil-liarrel work. They operate one dre.s,ser, which Iiils a capacity of more than 2,000,000 slaves per annum, and sell their goods nt New York and Chicago. They ciiiploy from ten to twenty men, according to eireum.stances.

walnut, oak, ash, and I'ophir boards, the jiriiiciiial markets being Chicago. New York and Boston. They handle and ship from 300,000 to 500,000 pieces of sawed and rived heading for tighi-banel work, for which they find a ready B;de ill Kastern and Western markets.

Jknilwj Fnrlmy. - i'\m building was erected hy Edward Allis, nl Cicero, in lS71,and was occupied hy a hay-press. In 1878, E. Teter \ Co. furnished it with the machinery of a heading-mill, consisting of two planers, two jointers and one circling machine, for flour barrels, three jointers and one circular for tierce heading, n coiiiplele machine for sawing sipiare hendiiigs, and kilns for drying.

On the 13lh of April 1879, three lar-e dry-kiliis, full of lumber, were destroyed by tiro, entiiling a loss of .S2,5llO. The nmiii building was saved by the efl"orts of the ciii'.cns. About ninety days later, the kilns were rebuilt, nnd the mill in full ojteralion again. A steam dryer niid a new boiler and engine were put in nt this time. In March. 1880, Daniel Do Pue withdrew from the firm, since which limo the business has been conducted by Eljct Teter and Oliver C. Lindley, under the firm name of Teler fi Lindley. They saw from ten to twelve cords of timber per day, making a dnily average of about 10,000 flour-barrel and 4,000 oil-lmrrcl hcnds. They euiploy from twenlyfivo to thirty men, and sell at St. Louis and Chicago.

IVduiiifj Mill. - D. B. Dickover it Co. began Ibis business at Arcadia in 1873. The building is situated in tho cast part of the town, and has all the machinerj' necej*sary for the successful prosecution of the work in hand. They facture all kinds of building material, and sell principally in tho home iiiiifry ( Cicero. ) - This estahllshment was erected in the west part of the iif Cicero, about l.'<4.j, by Mr Buskirk. lie subso.|uently .sold it to Marti, who it until his death. It was then purclias.'d by

For many years, Cicero was the only voting precinct in the township. Here, on December 7, IS.'!:!, the Gr^t election was held, resulting in the clmice of Elijah liedman and Klias Kvans for Ju.^tiees of the Pcueo. In later years, voting precincts were eslabli.-^lied at Arcadia and Buena Vista as the number

The first jiost oDice in the township was established at Cicero, about the year 18:i;i. Henry Jones was the first Tostniasler, and held the office for several years. Since his resignation, the following gentlemen have served in this capacity: Jesse Kvans, Jcdin Criswell, William Neal. John 1). Cottingham, Samuel Hus.-cl, Kdward lieeves, Asbury Andrews, Hichar.l Amlrews. William Porter and T. D. Xeal. Mr. .Veal succeeded Mr. Porter in 1S7M, and still hol.ls the olTu-c.

Thi>si..ck».is.sold lo William U.l'ick- Mccupied by liood & Bro., and was next I th.n erected the building occupied at opened a stock of gooils, which he alV'r- : .s;jindcrs, from whom the establisliincnt passed to the then lo William Neal, from him lo Beeves ,t Sanders, and from them lo the present proprietors, Oooil .t Bro.

In l.M.')-, the first slock of merchandise was openc'l for sale by Joscplius Mundic, on the corner of Itailroad anil JIain streets. About two years later he disposed of his goods at auction, and Isaac Mariz opened a store in the same building. This hou.-e was occupied, between that time and 185:1, by Mr. Myers, (J. B. Scribner and Seth Maker. In the fall of IS.-,!), ,J. S. Correll .\; Bro. rented the room and opened a stock of goods. They occupied the building foralillle more than two years, at the end of which time s..|d "Ml, and J. S. Correll formed a parlnersbip with John I. Cavlor. In lsi;i, Ml. I reeled the house now occupied by llie firm of Devaii.v.V llnlhii, and W. T. Smith with him as pariner. Mr. Correll d a- the senior member of this linn until the fall of 187L', when he .sold hi- ioi, r. -i i., S. J. Myers. In the meantime, the junior membership of the lino l.a.l li.cu oeeupicd by James Carter and A. Burgess, respeetively. In the -yxuv- of 1877. J, S. Correll, James K. Hershn.an, Joseph Correll, Benjamin Diekover and T. II. I )rr creeled the brick block on the corner of Washington and Walnut .sire.i,., and on the Kilh day of August following, Correll .t Hershman opened their new .«ioek in that buil.liiig. Mr. Correll retired froiu this firm in 1S7II.

The town of Buena Vista was laid on in IS.J 1 by An Ciecro and Arcadia, it is situated on the Indianapolis, Pe way, and is an active, enterprising town.

The town of Deniing was laid out by Klihu Pickett in 18:i7. Itwiu. originally known as Farinington ; hut, as there was already n post office by that n.amc nt another point in the Stjite, the name Deniing was selected in the application for IX post office, and thj name of the town was changed to correspond. The business men of the town tire B. P. Holliday and M. Stanley, dealers in general merchandise, and W. A. Perry, blacksmith.

inireanlile trade at Hiicnn Visin, in which he continued nnlil 1811", when Mr. WolIT retired from the firm nnd Mr. l>nni(d Whetstone became a partner.

.Mr. Walton has become widely known as one of the iiinst prominent luisin.'ss men of Indiana. In the slayc and lumber Irn.le, ho is n.s.socinled with HanicI Whetstone. nnd their business has grown to immense proportions, reach, log in some years In Sl.'inidllll. In Ihc mercantile trade, his partner is Mr. J. M. Whisler, nnd they linyc a succc».sfnl business. In 18ii7, Mr. Wnlton, in eo-pnrtni'rship with .Mr. Willinm A. Xei.lhnmer, erected a largo flouring-mill ami elevator containing five fun of stone, and they are doing a largo busincas in the nianufnctnro of flour nnd in purcbas'ngnnd handling nearly all the grain of the surrounding country. In addition to tlio above, Mcests. Walton &

Km.Iott Simnkr

Una in 178"). On reaching manhood, he was married to Nancy Cornelius, in Virginia, nnd, soon after, removed to Highland County, Ohio, where he engaged in farming, nnd in 1814 he reiuove.l with his family to Indiana and .settled in Wayne Cnnnly, near Ccnlervillc. He rcmnined there until 1 832. when his wife died of ch.ilera, at the age of forty-niuc years. She was the molhcr of eight children, four of whimi grew to manhoo.l, named Klliott, KliMbelh, Thomas and Grecnbury C, who are all living at ibis lime. After Iho death of hit wife, William Sniuner broke up his hou.sebold nnd resided at various places until his death, in ISfi!), at the residence of his eon Oreenbury, in Marshall County, Ind., nt the ngc of eighty-four years.

Elliott Sumner wns born in Highland County, Ohio, on iho 2M day of October, 1813. Ho obtained a common-school education in his boyhood days, nnd, at tlieiip'(iroi;;litocnyt'ars, left Iiouiennii went to learn the trnde of cnljinet-iiiakjrif^. He enntinued lit tlint fur ei-litoen iimntlis, when lie ^-nvc u]! (hut oceiip.ilion, nnd then went (lul to work nt fariiiini; (hiriiii; the snniiner se.isons, nnil attended 8ehnnl in tlic winter. He continued wniking out on faniis and at hriekmaliing nnd various otlier employments until 18:i!l, when he was married to Eliza AllierlFon, daughter of Joshua mi.l Ahi-ail Alherlson, a Quaker family, of Wayn- County, Ind. They were miiterl on the ;;5tli day of July, 18.'i3. After his marriage, he iiiirsned farming on leased lands in Wayne County until IH.jli, when lie removed to Hamilton County, Ind., nnd settled on a tract of wild land in the township of Jackson, which lie had purchased n few years before. Here he has ever since resided, cleared nnd improved his farm, and reared his children. He lixs a beautiful location, and his farm is justly considered one of the best in the county, nnd is well nda|iled to the produciion of all the various crops nnd fruits that arc common in this latitude. They live in n comfortable residence, surrounded by convenient outbuildings, orchards, etc.

Mr. Sumner and his excellent wife enjoy the respect nnd esteem of nil their ncquainlaiiccs and the love and reverence of their children and friends. They nre the parent.s of eight children, named Nancy A., George C, Ann K., Sarah J., Martha K., Thomas Iv, lienjnniin A. and Albert H., all living except Ann K, and Martha A., nnd ail married except Benjamin nnd Albert. On nnotlier page mnj be found a fine view of the residence of Mr. Sumner.

White River Townshir

vicinity of these slreains is of an undulating nature ; CCS, wliieli, in early days, were accounted of but little inhecdcd by the seekers for homes in this locality, -ed III later years, and a Ihorongli system of drainage i>s their prndii'tivnie.ss has been developed, nnd they he ri,l itnin.laiid. of White River.

eiit earthwork, the remains of which nre .still n camp, but antedated their oeeiipaney by bo '- to give any informntion touching it. verc placed in market in the year 1821, but came nnd settled jirior to that date, with the the first opportunity. Some were fortunate im|iroveni.nts. Zenas Deekwitli was one of this elii.ss ; he settled on a tract of land nt Ktrawtown, in IHl'.l, nnd cleared a portion of it. At the land sales, however, he wa/» out-iiidden by some capitjilist.s, who gave him the use of his improvement for another year, in ordqr that ho might gather the crops then growing on the fnnii. Ho afterward entered Innd on Section 2, in October, 1822.

Just |irior to the arrival of Mr. Beekwitli, Lambert nnd Jerry Heath and A. Jolin.son settled near Sirawtown. Jacob Hycr came in the same spring an.l embarked in trade with the Indians. Benjamin Fisher came from Clermont, County, Ohio, in the fall of 181 !), nnd settled on the farm now owned by Thomas Caster. He iilniited a crop on the occasion of his first visit, nnd in June, 18l'tl. brought his family to live on the land. Henry Shatterly came from Clermont County, Ohio, in the same year. He was n brother-in-law to Mr. Tisher, nnd settled on nn adjoining tract of land, where he resided for upward of ten years. He removed from here to Madison County, nnd in \S'>0 removed to the State of Iowa.

Spencer Blackmore cnnic in 1821, and settled on n tract of laud entered by Je.s.se McKay, about two miles northenst of Strawtown. He 8ubsec|uentlv removed to the Stale of Illinois. Michael French settled near Strawtown early in the year 1S21, nnd William I'cek and Klias Hoddy came in the fall of the same year. Jlr. Peck settled on the farm now owned by James Webb, north of Sllawlown, and .^lr. Hoddy, then an unmarried man, settled south of the village, where he remained several years. He then entered the land on which he now lives. Benoni Freel settled in 1821, near Strawtown, ond Snniuel Mull settled on Section 1 in tlie same year.

George I'oland came early in 1822, and, in September of the same yenri entered a tract of land on Section 0. Jesse Wood came soon after Mr. Foland, anil entered the land upon which the town of Woodville w,i.s subsocpiently laid out. The name Woodville was .scarcely recogni/.cd by the ciliz.ens, nnd the villnge lost its identity in Strawtown. Jacob Siglcr settled nt Strawtown shortly after Mr. Wood, "in the year 182:i, there were other settlements clleeted in various portions of the town.ship by the following persons: Jnuies Cochran, Joseph Wilson, Jacob White, Aitliur Davidson, James Lee, Solomon points lit which settlements were first made, and this wius especially true of the White Hiver bottoms. The interior of the township wns settled nnd improved slowly, nnd, up U, the year IS.'IH, there were BovernI sections in this portion of the township still remaining uninhabited. Entries were nindc in vnrious portions of the township, between the years 1,830 nnd 1839, by the following persons : Homer Brooks, Jomes Tucker, I'cler Auekciibniigh, I'eter Dover, Jesse Justice nnd George Hollowny.

Early Events

The first election at Sirawtown wns held in the spring of 182,'i Leaming and Michael French were appointed Overseers of tli William Dyer, Inspector of Elections for one yenr. At this election, J. K Learning was cho.«cn Justice of the Peace, nnd was the first who held tlii offiee in the township.

Source changes here: from History of Hamilton County Indiana, by John F. Haines, published 1915; 2,059 words in this source stream.

Topography

Jackson township was organized in November, 1833, in which year com¬ missioners divided the county into nine townships. It was formed from the territory originally in White River township. It is the central one of the northern tier in Hamilton county. The surface is generally flat, but is well drained by four streams, viz. : Big and Little Cicero, Hinkle and Taylor creeks. Originally this township was covered by dense forests and a thick under¬ growth, making the clearing of the land a very difficult task. The soil is a rich black loam with a substratum of clay which produces abundant crops. At first the township was dotted with depressions which formed numerous ponds, consequently the first settlers had to fight chills and fever until these ponds were drained. But they were brave, hardy men and women and no amount of chills and fever or forest and undergrowth could turn them from their new homes and self-imposed tasks.

Early Settlement

The first settlement was made near the vicinity of Cicero in 1828 by three men, Henry Jones, James Taylor and Mr. Blanche. Henry Jones settled three miles west of Cicero on the road leading from Strawtown to Lafayette. He erected the customary log cabin, which he soon converted into a tavern to accommodate travelers and emigrants on their way to and from the points above named. Which of these three men was the first to settle in the township is not known, as all came in the same year. Taylor settled four and one-half miles west of Cicero and Blanche on the bank of Cicero creek, one-half mile west of the present site of Cicero. He subse¬ quently removed to Howard county.

In 1831 Elijah Redman, Dennis Pickerell and James Freel settled within the present limit of Cicero, the town being laid out later by the two latter ofthe men named. Other early settlers in this vicinity were the Hall family,

William Jones, Adam B. Wildes, William Rollings, John Clark and John Harbaugh. German immigrants of the name of Mapes, Nicholas Zelt and the Gardeners settled in this neighborhood. These families proved an excellent addition to the new settlement, as they were industrious and thrifty men and women.

In 1833 several families, including David Anthony, Jesse Beals, Jacob Hadley, William Ramsey, Mr. Pickett, Levi Cook and Elihu Pickett, settled near the present site of Deming. Later in the same year a settlement was made near the present site of Arcadia by the Jones and Bishop families. Jn the years immediately following came the Wells family, Phillip Bowser, 1834; John Miller, 1836, and Moses and Isaac Martz, 1838. The Martz brothers entered land in the suburbs of what is now Arcadia, where both resided during the remainder of their lives, clearing and converting into fine productive farms the wilderness tracts which they had entered.

In 1836 Michael Shiel came to the county and settled near the present site of Atlanta. Allen Sumner and George Tucker settled near the Shiel cabin on the opposite side of the line later followed by the Lake Erie & Western railway. Later comers included James Thompson, Alexander Smith, John Ehrman, Frederick Smelce and Caleb Sparger. Sparger's land joined Shiel's on the west. Later both Sparger and Shiel laid out a town, calling them, respectively, Spargerville and Shielville, which towns later were merged into one called Buena Vista, and which at present is called Atlanta. Other settlers included the following: Phillip Roads, Peter Miller, Daniel Smith, Daniel and William Haskett, John Harrington, John and Jacob Crull, George Hives and Jacob Whistler.

The colored neighborhood, today known as the "Roberts Settlement," was settled in 1837 by John Roads, Micajah Waldron, Bryant Waldron, Harry Winburn, Dolphin and Stephen Roberts and Elias, Jonathan and Hansel Roberts, all colored. These colored men were peaceable, hard-work¬ ing, law-abiding men, who came to Jackson township to make homes for themselves and their families as did their white neighbors. They purchased their lands, cleared and tilled them and soon were prosperous farmers. They later built a church and a school house. At first they assisted in the payments for a white teacher and enjoyed equal privileges with the white people. Later a school was maintained exclusively for the colored children and they were usually taught by a colored teacher. This school was abandoned in 1914, as the number of colored children was insufficient longer to maintain the separ¬ ate school. But there are today a number of colored families still living in

Jackson township is unique in one respect, as it has within its limits more towns and settlements than any other township in Hamilton county. Cicero, Arcadia and Atlanta are about equal distance apart, along the eastern part of the township, with Deming, a village in the southwestern part, and the Roberts settlement slightly northwest of the center of the township.

Pioneer Highways

Most of the important early roads were surveyed through this town¬ ship. Long prior to these early surveys, however, there was the old Indian trail, before mentioned, running from Strawtown to Lafayette. This trail became in time a well defined road, owing to the frequency with which it was traveled, but its course was of necessity irregular and rambling, the driver perforce being oft^n compelled to turn out of the direct course to avoid the ponds and mud holes so numerous at that time. In 1836 this road was sur¬ veyed by the state and thereafter was known as the Newcastle and Lafayette state road. At about the same time the Cicero and Thorntown state road was surveyed, running west to Thorntown on the dividing line between townships 19 and 20 north. The Indianapolis and Peru state road was sur¬ veyed the next year, 1831 or 1832, and traversed the eastern portion of the township from north to south. In due course of time all these roads evolved from the blazed trail stage to fairly good roads. They put Cicero in com¬ munication with the big world outside of Jackson township and gave to the town many advantages which aided materially in its early development and importance. For a town to be situated on one or more of these early high¬ ways was as great an advantage to it as it is today to be located on a railroad or interurban line. Neighborhood roads, distinguished from the state roads by the manner of "blazing" the trees, were cut through the woods for the convenience of- the various settlements. Later the location of some of these roads was changed, but some of them remain on almost the identical lines on which they were first blazed through the forest.

Early Mills And Industries

An early historian says: "To supply a long felt want in the settlement (Cicero) William Taylor erected a rude mill at an early date. It was operated by two or more horses hitched to levers in such a manner as to turn the stones as they traveled around, grinding the wheat into coarse flour. Like the 'mills of the gods/ it ground slowly, but it differed from those mythical institu¬ tions in the fact it did not grind exceedingly small. Although primitive in construction, and limited in capacity, it nevertheless proved a benefit to the settlers, for which they were duly thankful. Prior to this, they were com¬ pelled to make long journeys to mill, often occupying an entire week in the trip." Jonathan Arnold built another mill on Cicero creek, from which it derived its motive power, in 1836. This mill was operated until its machinery was worn, when it was abandoned. In the northern part of the township George Tucker erected a mill in 1837-38. It was operated both as a grist and saw mill and, being situated on Cicero creek, received its power from that stream. Portions of the old mill stood for many years after it had outgrown its usefulness.

' The first shoemaker of the Atlanta settlement was Peter Miller. He used cowhides, tanned in a country tanvard, for all kinds of shoes, both for boys and girls. His work, as well as the shoes he turned out, was rather crude and coarse, but feet that trod the rough ways of that far-away time, needed to be shod with heavy and coarse shoes to stand the wear and tear imposed upon them.

Pioneer Schools

The first school taught in the township was in 1834 in a log cabin in the woods at or near the present site of Cicero, for that was before the town was laid out. The following year, 1835, a school was taught in a cabin erected on the farm of William Taylor. Both these schools were subscrip¬ tion schools, the teacher receiving $1.50 for each pupil for a term of three months. In 1840 the first school house in the vicinity of Arcadia was erected on the farm of Moses Martz. This school was a log-hewed building. Three years later a similar building was erected on the farm of Jacob Stehman. In 1841 a school house was built in the western part of Cicero, for the cost of which the trustees were allowed fifty dollars of the public funds. A teacher was engaged to teach, but the public money barely paid one-third of the expenses, so the remainder was raised by subscription.

The first schools near Atlanta were taught by Wiley Watkins, Jacob Whisler, George Howard and Henry Sowers. These schools were taught in log cabins having puncheon floors and slab seats with no backs and, as for a desk, this latter was an unheard-of luxury in those pioneer schools.

Following the enactment of the law of 1852 schools were built all over the township and high schools were later established in the towns. At present there are several district schools in the township and a high school at each town, Cicero, Atlanta and Arcadia. In recent years Jackson township has done wonderful things in an educational way. Manual training and domestic science are being successfully taught, not only in the graded schools but in the one-room district schools. Township fairs are held, where won¬ derful displays of work of all kinds, products of the farm, the garden and the school are on exhibit. Township supervision has been tried and proved successful to a great degree in Jackson township. These are all comparatively new things in an educational way, and in adopting these modern jnethods Jackson township has set an example which other townships could follow most profitably. The schools are treated more fully in another chapter. Mr. Jacob Kepner, the present trustee, has favored every forward movement in education.

In most pioneer settlements various homes or a school house were used as the first places of worship, but Jackson township, like the Babe of Bethle¬ hem, chose a stable for the birthplace of its churches. This was a barn on the Shearer farm and was used by early settlers of the Dunkard denomination as a place of worship. The first Christian church was organized southwest of Arcadia. Among the first preachers were C. W. Harpison, Lockhart and Stinson. The first church service by the Methodists was held at the home of Samuel Caylor, three miles west of Arcadia, about the year 1832, Thomas Luther being the first preacher. The first Lutheran church was established northeast of Arcadia, John Keffer being the first preacher. About 1835 another Lutheran church was established, many settlers of that faith having settled in Jackson and White River townships. The Reverends Reck and John Garver, both of Indianapolis, came on horseback to preach for these people. In 1837 a congregation of fifteen members was organized, Rev. Garver being the first regular preacher. He received twenty dollars for his services for one year. The following year a frame church was erected near Cicero creek east of Arcalia, where services were held for many years. In 1841 the colored people in the Roberts settlement built a church and a school house.

Not only along educational and church lines has Jackson township forged ahead, but in business enterprise and excellent farming methods it also is very much up-tQ-date. Factories and thriving business interests are found in the towns and the fertile, level acres of its farms are cultivated with modern tools in a modern way. The beautiful homes, both in town and rural districts, give further evidence that the prosperity of Jackson township is second to none.