Jackson Township

Jackson Township

; drieks County, ou the south by Floyd Township, on the west by Franklin Township. It is divided diagonally from northeast to southwest, by the Walnut Fork of Eel River, familiarly known as -' Walnut. '' The' other principal streams vt' the township are Lick Creek in the north, Rock Brunch in the east and Clear ('reek in the southeast. There are many other small streams, but not of sufficient importance to deserve special notice. The land near the streams is either hilly or gently undulating, originally covered with a heavy growth of timber, among which the sugar-maple and poplar predominate; though interspersed with white oak. ehincapin oak, black walnut and sycamore, immediately along the streams, as well as some hack berry and honey locust.

The soil on the undulating lands, near the streams, is a rich, clay loam: but back from the streams it is wet and cold, interspersed with more elevated portions. It is in this township that the swamp land* ot Boone extend into Putnam County. The soil is

William Welch and John Smith built their cabins on section 34, about the year 1825 or 1826, being the first settlers of the township, George Sutherlin contests with these two the honor of making the earliest permanent settlement in the township. In the year 1827 Othniel Talbott, from Shelby County, Kentucky, settled in Jackson, where he found a Mr. Crabtree and Mr. Brown. Garrison Thompson and John Johnson, father of J. B. Johnson, of Greencastle, also came in 1827. In 1828 came James Chitwood, Levi Woods, Martin Ely the and Henry Harmon; and about one year later James Proctor settled in the township. Within the next two years there was a large increase of population. Among those who came at that time may be mentioned John Keith. John Boyd, Wilson Warford, William Eirod, William Hillis, Edward and Isom Silvey, John Blake, James Goslin, James Duncan, John Leach, William Beecraft, Isom George, James Moreland, the McClouds, the Pinkertons, the Rileys and the Barneses. This period, also, embraces the arrival of three more of the Talbott pioneers, Captain John S. Talbott, Lorenzo Talbott, Aquila Talbott. In 1831 and 1832 there was a large immigration, embracing Richard Biddle, Rev. John Case, George Keith, James Dale, S. Shackleford, George and Harvey Jeffries, Jacob Crosby, John and William Miller, and perhaps others equally worthy, who, with equal heroism, struggled with the hardships of pioneer life.

David Johnson, son of John Johnson, born on section 34, March 8, 1828, was the first white child born in the township. The first who died was the daughter of Wilson Warford. She was buried east of New Maysville, in a lot on section 26, which is yet used as a

John S. Talbott kept the first store. In 1832 he commenced to sell goods in a log building on section 27. This building is still in use as a grocery store, in New Maysville; but is now weather-boarded, and, to all appearance, is a frame building.

The first mill erected in the township was built by Mr. Joseph Hillis. The next mil! was erected by George Sutherlin, the next by Abraham Hillis. The first named and the last, were on Walnut; the second, on a small tributary. The last-named ground corn only, the other two ground wheat also.

I). Barnes and Othniel Talbott were the first justices of the peace, followed by Thomas Watkins, John C. Goodwin, George Stringer, Wallace Perry, L, T. Herod, O. Owsley, James Moreland and Jesse Kendall.

The first postmaster was John S. Talbott, the office having been established in his store in the year 1832. He was followed by William Long, John II. Roberts, William Epperson, R. C. Boyd and Jesse Kendall.

The Methodists held the first meetings in the township, at the house of John Johnson, under the ministry of Rev. William Smith. Shiloh Church, on the east bank of Walnut, erected by this denomination, about the year 1834, was the first structure of the kind in the township. Rev. Thomas J. Brown dedicated the building and preached the first sermon within those venerated walls. Lorenzo Dow, E. Wood, L. Smith, Joseph White

The Regular Baptists organized a congregation here about'1832. John Case, "William Hogan and Carter Hunter were among their first preachers. The second house of worship in the township was built at New Maysville by this denomination, soon after the town was laid out.

The organization of the Missionary Baptists in the township dates from 184-1. Elders Palmer, Davis; Kirkendall and Rhinerson \ were among 'the first pastors of this corigre- j gation.

The Christian church was organized in 1831), by Nathan Waters and Gilbert Harney, j In 1840 they erected a church at New Maysville, which was occupied until 1856, when they built another house in the same village. I The early preachers of this denomination were Elders Thomas Lockhart, Oliver P. i Badger, Wilson Barnes, Coombs, Blankenship and O'Kane.

There are two villages within the bounds j of Jackson Township. New Maysville is i located on sections 27 and 34. It was laid out in 1832, by Richard Biddle, on land owned by John Johnson, William Welch and I Aquila Talbott. The present population ; numbers about 125. The place was named by Richard Biddle, after Maysville, Mason j County, Kentucky.

Fort Bed is located on sections 1 and j 12, and was laid out by William DeMoss in 1876. It received its nanie from a red school-house located at that point. William | DeMoss was the first postmaster. He was succeeded by B. F. Wilson.

There are in Jackson Township ten schools, I including the New Maysville school, which I is controlled by a school board of three trus- j tees. The length of the present term of school is one hundred and twenty days. The I average price paid for teaching is 81.65 per day, there being no difference in the price paid male and female teachers. The schoolbuildings, though of rather old structure, are good, and well supplied with apparatus. The percent, of enrollment based on enumeration, is 81. The general average per term is 69 per cent, of the enumeration. Both teachers and patrons take a lively interest in whatever tends to the advancement of the schools. The township library, though old, is good and well patronized.

In regard to its moral status, Jackson stands as high, perhaps, as any other township in the county, never having had a representative in the penitentiary, or even in the county jail. The township has never contained a saloon. Three of the leading religious denominations have a fair representation in the township. The Odd Fellows and the Good Templars have each an organization in New Maysville. In politics, the township is overwhelmingly Democratic; especially is this true of the north and 'northwest side of Walnut; on the southeast side of the creek the parties are more equally divided.