Jefferson Township

Jefferson Township

The southern, central and eastern parts of the county were pretty well settled up before emigrants pushed over into the northwest corner. The first settler in Jefferson township was a man by the name of Head who crossed over into the.se hills in 1809, and lived for a time some five or six miles from any other habitation. He was a squatter and lived on the section afterward known as the Jacob Banta place, about two miles southwest of where Rush creek is now located. He remained here but a couple of years when he disposed of his claim, saying the country was getting too thickly settled for him, and he put out farther west. The next settler was Richard Reynolds, who first stopped on what was afterwards known as the Reid farm, on the road as it now runs in a northwesterly direction from Kossuth. This was in 1809. His father, Xed Reynolds, came at the same time and took up a claim adjoining his sun's. In 181 1 John Soliday settled in the northwest part of the townshi]), and Robert Ellison and Nathaniel Chambers, a Revolutionary soldier, came in about the same time. Chambers lived to be one hundred years old and at his death was buried in the graveyard at the old ]\Ionroc meeting house. John -Graham located in the township in 18 1 3, and there was no settler in that part of the township nearer than three miles of hini.

The following sprnig Christian Prow, Sr.. and his two sons, Jnhn and Christian, with their families went o\cr into the hills on the hunt of homes, and C(.)ming across (irahani, were shown some desirable locations. Christian, Jr., was shown a s]iot where tliere was a fine siiring which Graham liad concealed with brush and bark in order that no one would find it and settle there unless he liked the looks df the newcomer, lie seemed to take a fancy to the Prow < and got them located near him. in 1S15 William \\'illiams, John Stagcrwalt, John Holler, the Dri-colP ami Denneys came in. Isaac Reid entered land on the ridge in 1813, made some im|iro\ements thereon, l)ut did not lirini; his fainii\- out till 1817. i'rom this d.ue to 1820 the Brannmans, Tippms, Merediths, Hojsapples. r.iisbes, MeClaskevs, Bowers and others mo\ed in.

Old Twlx Ckeek Mill

The first settlers kept out of the bottoms as they were marshy and people could not live there on account of malarial troubles. "Milk-sickness" was also said to prevail there. This was not an uncommon trouble among early settlers of the country. It was called "milk-sickness" from the fact that it was acquired from using milk and butter which had been obtained from cows infected with some peculiar poison which they obtained from drinking the water or cropping the herbage in the infected district. No one ever knew the exact cause, but the disease was dreaded almost as much as cholera - being very difficult to cure, often proving fatal. The first thing a newcomer inquired about was whether the neighborhood was subject to this troul^le. and if it was he invariably moved farther on.

Early Mills And Millers

The first mill in the township was built by James Meredith, in 1816, on Twin creek. The power to operate it was furnished by water dammed up in a cave. The water was carried down to the mill by hewn troughs to an overshot wheel which operated a corn buhr abotit two and one-half feet in diameter. Twin creek was declared navigable up to within a couple of miles of this mill, and farmers living adjacent to the stream were required to regularly remove all drifts and logs that would interfere with boats floating out, just as they had to work the roads. A few years later Meredith built a saw-mill about three-fourths of a mile farther down the creek. This mill was rebuilt in 1845 ^"^1 operated up to 1870. Fultz also built a gristmill, some distance above the saw-mill, which was afterwards known as the old McNeely mill. It was run by an overshot water wheel, and some of its remains are still to be seen. In 1824 Jehu Cox put up a corn and oil-mill about a mile above where the McNeely mill stood. It was afterwards known as the Keyes mill and was operated for a good many years, or till about i860, when the creek dried up s(3 there was no water to operate it, excepting for a few weeks in the s])ring of the year. There was also a carding machine oprated here by the Keyes, for several years.

In 1842 a saw-mill was built on Bufifalo creek by John Collins. This creek was so named because it had been in former years a good range for buffalo, the earliest settlers finding many skeletons of these animals scattered about over the valley and in the river bottoms. David Hamilton built a saw-mill on Rush creek in 1836. Thomas Peden and Ezekiel Shields put up a saw-mill on the creek just below where the store now stands, but it was

The first tan yard in the township was sunk by Thomas Young, on section 21, in 1829. A few years later another yard was started on the old Bottorfif farm. In 1856 Tr.omas Lockwood built a large steam tamiery near Cavanaugh's ferry, at a point where a small tannery had been operated in the forties. David Haley built a saw and grist-mill at Haleysburg. in 1871, which was operated quite extensively for several years.

Distilleries A Necessary Adjunct

It was once the boast of this section of country that it contained more distilleries than could be found in any other part of the county. As fast as they got enough land in cultivation to raise a surplus of corn nr fruit they either distilled it themselves or sold it to others to distill into whisky or brandy. Almost every hollow that had a good spring in it had its little copper still where the pure liquor was made. From 1820 to 1835 more than half the land in JefTerson township was paid for by the sale of whisky. Some of it was sent south by flat-boats down Twin creek, and much of it went to Salem. Malotte and McPheeters purchasing all that was for sale, had it hauled to Louisville in wagons and from thence sent south in boats. There was no government tax on it then, and it was sold at from twenty to fifty cents per gallon, according to age. On election and muster days political aspirants would be on hand and roll out a barrel of the "pure stufif," knock out the head and with gourds serve the attendant throng till all were satisfied. Those who are now known to have operated distilleries in early times were William Williams, Christian Prow, Thomas Sandy, William Sells, William Reid, Robert Ellison, John Collins, Isaac Denney, William Elliott, Alex Wilson, Solomon Bush, William and Mathew Marks, Booth Robinson, Henry Baker, John Holler, George Holsapple and Tippins Brothers.

The first store was opened by Christopher Prow, Jr., in 1836, who ran it till his death in 1845, when his son Christopher, the third, took it in hand and continued it for some fifteen years, when he mo\ed to Campbellsburg. Prow was the first postmaster, in 1845. I" 1857 Elkana Craycraft opened a store at Rush creek. It changed hands a number of times, \\-hen W. G. Williams bought it in i860 and operated it successfullv for manv vears. He succeeded in establishing a postoffice here in 1871. David Halev opened a store at Haleysburg, in 1871, and also had a postoffice there.

A Tragic Incident

Jn the fall of 1817 Richard Davicl and Catharine Chambers had fixed upiin a certain day when they were to be married. Every preparation had been made for the occasion, guests had assembled and were waiting for the arrival of the bridegroom, when a messenger came with the sad news that Mr. David had been bitten by a rattlesnake and had died the previous night. The entire party was thus" suddenly changed from one of rejoicing to that of mourning and they all turned out to the funeral on the same day the marriage should have taken place. The river and creek bottoms swarmed with venomous snakes, such as rattlers, copperheads and vipers, until the land was all put under cultivation.

John Caspar is the only known soldier who served under I^^'apoleon to find a last resting place in this township. He came in and settled upon what has been known as the Stanley place, about two miles southwest of Rush creek. He was said to be one of the finest looking men on horseback that was ever seen in the county. He was a German, six feet two inches high, and was with Napoleon in all of his campaigns and in all of his famous battles except Moscow, when sickness prevented. He was specially deputed by Napoleon to select the very finest horses that could be found for himself and his immediate attendants. He was the first man in the township to refuse to furnish whisky to harvest hands and at log rollings, which up to that time had been considered indispensable. His son, Lewis Caspar, was elected auditfir of the county in 1868, and died in office. John Caspar died in 1859, and was buried at the old graveyard.

Exploits Of Henry Baker

Henry Baker came to Washington county in 181 9 from North Carolina. His father Henry and four elder brothers all served in the Revolutionary War, and served through till peace was declared. He first located two and one-halt miles northwest of Salem, on Highland creek, but in 1821 moved out to what is now Jefiferson township. He built the second house on the ridge between Rush and Twin creeks. He was a man of great strength, raw-boned and muscular. There was only one man in the county who tneasured larger around the breast and that was Thomas Denney. Baker was a ])eaceable man. but upon rme occasion got into trouble with one James Elkins, which cost the latter his life One Sunday morning Elkins came to Baker's house and wanted him to go across to Prow's distillery for some whisky. They remained there most of the day, and when they started home Elkins insisted on the way that they should go around by his brother William's, which Baker ref.-sed to do. Baker was afoot and Elkins rode a blind horse. The latter rode up by the side of a log, got off his horse and thought he would compel Baker to go with him, but Baker refused, saying he had to go home. Elkins then picked up a piece of fence rail and struck Baker and then caught him by the throat. In the tussle that ensued Baker dealt Elkins a blow in the side, which caused him to loosen his grip and stagger over against the log. Baker then raised him up and went for water to revive him, but when he returned Elkins was dead. Baker then went home and related the occurrence to his son Isaac and William P. Enochs, who told him not to say another word about it to any living soul. They secured some other help and all went back where Elkins lay dead. Baker's clothes were torn and the scratches on his face and neck told all that anyone could learn about the affair.

Baker was indicted for murder, put on trial and acquitted. Parties accused were not then allowed to testify on the witness stand. He was defended by John Kingsbury and prosecuted by W. Payne, of Corydon, one of the best lawyers of his day. The theory of the defense was that the blind horse had stumbled and thrown Elkins, who was somewhat into.xicated and that his side had struck against the end of the log, which caused his death. The club Elkins had used in assaulting Baker was fmind by luiochs, just as Baker had told; but the full particulars 'i if the case were never revealed by Enochs until years after Baker's death. Baker frer|uently talked over the occurrence to Enochs and always felt very badly because it had happened, but he felt that what he did was in self-defense and he did not realize at the time that he was dealing a ileath blow to his assailant.

Henry Baker was a great hunter. Upon one Mcca>ii>n he and hi> son Isaac went down on White ri\er after deer. The)- sto])pe(l at a cabin where John Hovington li\ed, where se\eral men were butchering wild hrtgs. Several of them went out tn "rally" the hogs, that was to get them out of cnver. In the bunch there was a huge wild boar that showed fight and killed three dogs on the spot. There was a Ilo\-ington boy 'in the crowd, about sixteen years old. upon whom the boar rushed. The l)oy started for a fallen tree near by, but as he was in the act of climbing uj) a limb the boar tlirust his long tusks into his side and thigh. se\cring an artery. The boar then turned upon the rest, and Hovington and Henry Baker's guns failed to bring him

"My first memories of school life cluster around the old log church which stood on a spot now marked by the cemetery of the Covenanters. My mother was the teacher. I think the school was conducted more like the kindergarten of today than the district school. My first remembrance of a school house, as such, was a rude log building which stood on a corner of the McClaskey farm. There was a wide chimney and a huge fireplace, in a crack above which the children found a convenient place for their ink bottles where the ink did not freeze at night. The room boasted but a single door, but besides two windows, looking north and south respectively, from the east side of the house a log had been removed to admit a row of panes of glass reaching from corner to corner. A sloping shelf directly under it served as a writing desk for the young men and boys, the girls having theirs at another part of the house. The seats, innocent of backs, were made of slabs set on wooden pegs, some higher, some lower. Here 'the young idea was taught to shoot' for the term of three months, sometimes four, in the year, by school masters of various characteristics. One I recall who was very scholarly and stood high in the estimation of the people, was a little cross when pupils were not up in their lessons.

"The patrons of the school, some of whom lived at quite a distance, were hard to please and listened jjerhaps too much to what the children had to sav. One girl, as we were goiijg from school one evening gave vent to this terrible threat, 'I mean to tell father and he'll boil down thunder and lightning and scald the teacher with it.' One patron who wished his children to he at home earlier than they were wont to arrive sent in a note to the teacher the following command :

"Teachers in those days whether good, had, or indifferent were agreed as to one thing - the rod of correction. This instrument of torture ^tood in the corner and if any one became remiss in behavior it was thrown at his feet. He was then required to take it up and carry it to the master to whom he must give account.

"Today the old log school house lives only in the memory of grayhaired men and women. One morning during the winter of 1851-52 teachers and pupils arrived to find only a smouldering heap where it had stood. The two stone steps at the donr remained until a few years ago when some ruthless hand removed them. The spring may still be found at the foot of the hill. In that early day it made a trysting place for many a pair of lovers. Here oftentimes some Sweet Alice and Ben Bolt found a

"Not many years since, one who was a pupil more than sixty years ago. came from the far West and stood upon the steps, went out o\er the i)lay ground, removed the debris from the old spring and looked in the water at a bald head which was once jet black and curly.

"The pupils of the old school were scattered far and wide, many ha\'- ing found graves in far-away lands. Some remained and have perpetuated their family names here, but the names of others are now no longer known in the communitw McCIaskey, Stewart, Reid. h^'iris. Mallicote. Monical among them.

"Sixty years ago the farmers of \\"alnut Ridge were wont to include a patch of flax in their planting that they might enjoy the luxury of having towels, sheets, tablecloths, etc., after the flax should be materialized. .Many a process the flax must undergo before coming into cloth, and the busy housewife worked the long season through, at spare times from the general routine of duties, before the cloth was ready for the wearer. Such beautiful table cloths as my mother made, bleached as white as snow!

"Every farmer had also his flock of sheep and the house mother usually asked her neighbors to a woolpicking. It would be in the month of May when green currants were just ready to be made into pies - the best of pies! After the wool was picked it was sent to the carder, then spun and woven at home by the good wife and the girls, after which it was made into winter clothing.

"In those old days every heart seemed full of 'the milk of human kindness" and when help was needed there was always someone ready to lend a hand. There were the wood choppings for those who were unable to get their own wood, and in cases of illness more nurses were available than could be used.

"One spot of interest to me as a child, was a little grave marked by rude stones at head and foot, which may still be found in a fence corner by the road side on a farm now owned by the heirs of the late Elhanan Elliott. A company of movers were passing when the child sickened and died. Being unable to procure the necessaries for a funeral, they cut a tree, slipped the l)ark, which was made to serve as a coffin, and buried the babe by the wavside. Time, with its ravages, has been kind to the little grave, made nearly a hundred years ago."

The first school in the township was taught by Isaiah Reid, Sr., in a small cabin near the John Doyle place on the Sparks ferry road from Kossuth. The branches required to be taught were reading, writing, spelling and arithmetic. A bunch of switches was an indispensable adjunct in every well-regulated school in those days.

The first preaching was by Rev. William Martin, a Presbyterian, who made occasional visits through that section of country, preaching at private houses, or in the groves in good weather. One Reverend Roland, a Methodist minister, also preached in that part of the country before any churches were built. The first church was erected on the James Rice farm. The walls were hewn logs, the roof of clapboards, the seats of split poplar saplings, with holes bored on the under side, into which legs were inserted. A few families of Covenanters erected this building and it was used first for a school house, and in it John I. Morrison taught his first school. Polly Lusk taught there in after years.

Danger Of Famine

In 1814 corn and provisions of all kinds were very scarce in the settlement, and there was nothing to be bought in the county. To avoiding suffering, if not starvation, Christian Prow, Jr., and William Williams took a five-horse team and started for Beargrass, Kentucky, to buy corn. On arriving there they found a man who had corn he had been selling at fifty cents per bushel, but he, unf(3rtunately for them, was on a big spree, and they could do nothing with him. They then heard there was corn twenty-two miles back in Kentucky-, to which place they dro\e. and got all they could haul. Over the roads as they then were a ti^Mi was a monster load for five horses. As they came back they stopped at Workman's mill in Clarke county to have their corn ground, and were detained there two days waiting for their meal. It took them about twelve days to make the round trip and the settlers began to be quite uneasy about them, supposing a stray band of Indians had ambushed them; besides, they were all out of meal, not a quart being in the entire settlement. Finally the wagon rolled in at Prow's where all were waiting. The meal was soon distributed and all were happy.

Great Expectations

How very few persons there are today in Washington county who ever heard of the town of "Rotterdam," situated at the junction of two navigable streams, with a safe harbor and in less than fifteen miles of Salem. Annals of the past report that on the 3rd, 4th and yth of June, 1819, a great sale of town lots was to come of¥, and that "the safety of its harbor and the fertility of the surrounding country will doubtless be a sufficient inducement for merchants and mechanics to buy an interest there." Dr. John Ramjeau was the hopeful proprietor of that town. He advertised the sale of lots on the above days in the Jeffcrsonz'iUe Indianian, Charlcstown Intelligencer, Corydon Gazette ami Salem Tocsin. Beyond question, he anticipated a rapid growth for his coming little city - a place where steamboats would land, and discharge large amounts of freight, and take on whole loads of farm and manufactured products; where flat-boats would be loaded with various products from the interior country, and travel would be immense.

Men of this day may smile at the Doctor's credulity, and why? The enterprise of his day was as daring and reckless as it is todav. Then, as now, money gave power, influence and position. Then, men labored hartler, underwent more perils and risked more for the Nake of wealth than they do now in ail individual way. At the very time Doctor Ramjeau's "Rotterdam" was struggling to become a noted place of shipment, traffic and manufacturing, there was in view a "White River Steamboat Company," with its energetic, enterprising commissioners passing up and down the land, taking subscriptions of stock to be invested in steamboat building. When put afloat these steamboats would, not infrequently, anchor in "Rotterdam's safe harbor." Such were some of the buoyant dreams of the past. But at the junction of Drift Wood and Muscatatuck rivers there is today no flourishing "Rotterdam" and the name of Doctor Ramjeau is not known, except in this connection. What might Jefferson township have been today if the project had materialized as the old doctor had it all pictured out in his very fertile imagination.

Killing Of The Solidays

The only white men that were ever killed in the county by Indians were the two Solidays, on Good Friday morning, 1813. During the previous winter a few Indians would pass through the settlement occasionally, apparently on hunting excursions, and all seemed to be very friendly and sociable, for redskins. None of the settlers knew that some forty, lodges were wintering across the river, just a short distance above where Spark's ferry was afterwards located. After they had crossed over and killed the Solidays and retreated, their camp was discovered. There were found logs, in which holes had been chopped out, where their ponies had been fed; places where they had pounded up their corn, skins of hogs, .skeletons of wild animals and gourds full of grease. If the settlers had suspicioned this band of savages were encamped so close to them they could very easily have banded together during that long, cold winter, crossed the river on the ice and dealt death and destruction in their camp. But they were slipped up on unawares, and the wonder was that the whole settlement was not killed outright - as the savages had no doubt planned.

The evening before Good Friday the Indians crossed the river in canoes and lined themselves up into squads, expecting the following morning to lie in wait for and despatch such of the settlers as might venture away from their homes. It was learned afterward that other cabins were endangered by the presence of Indians, but there was" no favorable opportunity presented for them to attack the inmates. Daniel Soliday was working for a Mr. Ellison, who lived on what has latterly been known as the John Doyle farm: while Jacob Soliday lived with Richard Newkerk, about three miles farther west, on the farm generally known as the John Bennet place. Ellison and

Daniel Soliday started out, after having an early breakfast, to hunt a mare that was on the range and which they rightly supposed had a young colt. Tiiey came across them about a mile from the cabin, and as the mare was th:n in tlesh and tixi weak \n get up and nourish the colt, I-dlison sent Soliday back to the house to get some nnlk tor the colt, .\ficr waiting a long time for him to return, l'".lli.son concluded he would g(j to the liouse and see what was the matter. .\rri\'ing there, he found that Soliday had not been seen since they both started away together.

()])taining the milk, Ellison and two more of the famih' started back to the mare and colt. They pursued a little different route ivnm the one over which Ellison had returned, and they had not gone but a little way till they passed by some beech trees about two feet in diameter, liehintl which Indians could very easily hide. Here they found Solidav, stabbed to death and sealped. The leaves were torn up considerably which showed there had been a tussle, Init Solidays's body lay across an old log and the bkiod lay in pools around. The Indians had not fired a gun for that would have aroused the whites and made it difficult for them to escape. Soliday would never carry a gun, as other settlers did in those days, but even if he had had a gun at the time it probably would not have availed him, as the Indians no doubt, were ambushed behind the trees, and no doubt pounced upon him unawares - felling him with the tomahawk and killing him outright. Besides the stabs in the breast tliat he received his skull was crushed in several places.

Jacob Soliday was a powerful man, and had always said that he had no fear of being killed or hurt by an Indian on an even show with gun or tomahawk. He and Xewkirk started out this same morning to hunt stock, they having some cattle that had not been seen about the cabin for some days. They thought they heard a calf bawling some distance from the house, among some heavy timber, but never thought of Indians. It was the custom of these wily savages to imitate tlie bawling of cows, the bleating of sheep or the scjuealing of pigs awa\- from the clearing, so as to decoy settlers away from home to look after stray stock in the brush, and then shoot them down or tomahawk them. .'\s Newkirk and Solida}- started out in the direction in which they thought the}' had heard the cattle, they had gone but a short distance through the woods ]ief<ire a half dozen redskins jumped out from behind trees, completely surrounding them. They had their guns along with them but the surprise was so sudden that there was no time for shooting. and a hand-to-hand fight ensued. Newkirk received a scalp wound and a bad cut on the shoulder, but succeeded in breaking loose from his assailants and made back for the liouse and gave the alarm. Sohday was less fortunate, and being a powerful man. fought like a tiger before he was overpowered and killed : for the ground gave evidence of a desperate struggle and his gun was broken and the barrel bent and in his still clinched hand was found about half the top-knot of an Indian. Soliday was scalped twice. How badly the Indians were hurt no one ever knew, as they seldom left their dead or wounded behind, unless the retreat was a very hasty one.

The Alarm And Pursuit

The news of the killing spread very rapidly through the settlements, and where forts were within reach, the women and children were rushed in for safety. When they remained at home every precaution possible was taken to bar doors and make ready to resist an attack if one should be made. The early settler, as well as every member of the family were always determined to sell their lives as dearly as possible, in preference to being captured and in all probability die at the stake.

As soon as they could be gathered together, about forty armed men, under Col. Henry Dawalt, started in pursuit, on the day following the killing. Ellison, the Dennys, Houshs, Rices, Hattaboughs, and others unknown, were in the company, all on horseback. They started in pursuit of the Indians the morning after the killing. They reached White river about ten o'clock and the stream was rising full and the current swift. They had no boats and rafts had to be constructed out of driftwood to carry them over. The logs and poles were bound together by grape vines and wythes. The day was far spent by the time they got across and all together again. The crossing was made about two miles below the forks. They soon struck a trail and pursued on as rapidly as possible. Andrew Housh was in the lead, as a sort of advanced guard, and coming in sight of the Indian camp, which was about two miles below where they had crossed, he yelled back, "Here they are," which alarmed the Indians, who had already prepared to break camp, and they fled precipitately. Some shots were fired at them, but none took effect that they knew of.

It being now about dusk. Colonel Dawalt stopped his troop at the camp over night, but early next morning was on the trail of the fleeing savages. They had several ponies and it was not difficult to follow them up. They kept on the trail for two days until they reached a stream called Bean Blossom, in the neighborhood of Bloomington. It had been raining hard and the stream was overflowing its banks, so that a crossing under the circumstances would have been quite difficult. Colonel Dawalt consulted his men and they concluded that it would be very hazardous for them to go much farther west, as Indians in large numbers were known to he in that part of the country. Returning to the old Indian camp they halted f(ir a day to rest and recuperate themselves before recrossing the river. Luckily the_\- found a couple of canoes on the river bank that had been used by the Indians, which aided them very much in getting back to their home side of the river.

They were gone iust a week. Reaching home their families were brought back from the forts and hiding places and they set about their usual vocations. It was in the fall of this year that the Pigeon Roost massacre occurred, and it was in pursuit of th.ise blood-thirsty demons that John Zink and Spurgeon were killed in Jackson C(iunt\-.

One incident in the life of Nathaniel Chambers is worth commemorating, as it was told by his son John, who lived on a farm adjoining' his father's place. While i)lowing up a field for corn, John heard thei-r dogs making a great uproar about a (piarter of a mile back in the tnnber. From the hullabaloo they were making, he felt certain they had cornered a bear, and he knew if his father heard them he would rush to the scene, to ai<l the (logs. He hitched his team, got his gun that was concealed in a fence corner near by and hastened as fast as he could to the scene of conflict. As he reached a steep decline on his side of a ra^-ine he saw his father on the opposite side, trotting along as fast as he could t<i\\'ar(ls the bear and dngs. He called to his father not to venture further until he could get Xo him, Init the old hero answered, "He's got the little dog in his hug," and pressed in. Suddenly his feet slijiiied from under him and he slid right down to the bear, when it let loose of the dog an<l seized one of his legs below the knee and Ijegan chewing it. He called to John to shoot, but fearing he might hit his father he waited until he was near enough to place the muzzle o\ his gun close to the bear's head, and then fired. The bear relaxed his hold on the leg and rolled over dead. The old gentleman h.i.d to be a'-^.isted to the house and .after the wound healed he carried a lame limb to the day of his death.

In steamboat-llatboat days, when it seemed that the only means of transportation that ever could be i)rovided for the northern portion of the county was by water, another town was planned on White river, which, in the fertile imagination of the founder, would rival the famous city of "Rotterdam." This town was called "Baltimore," because the founder was a Marylander and the name sounded large to him. The founder's name was Wilford Johnson, and "Baltimore" was located in fractional section 20, town 4 north, range 3 east ; nearly opposite Sparksville, Jackson county. Altogether thirty lots were laid off, sixty-six by one hundred and twenty-two feet. There were two streets running north and south called Main and Market, and another east and west called Patrick street. The date of the founding of this city was September 14, 18 18'. Two cabins were erected on the site, but the population never at any one time exceeded ten persons.

School.S And School Teachers

From the earliest settlement, Jefferson township was noted for its thoroughness and progressiveness along educational lines. Salem's leading educators used to say that those who came in from Walnut ridge and the Covenanter settlement were always well versed in rudimentary education and made rapid progress in the higher branches. To educate their children well was a matter of conscience with the strict Covenanters. Their systematic catechetical exercises establishel in each household a species of home school. They would have good schools, even before the state was able to contribute much to their support. As already stated John I. Morrison was called to this Covenanter neighborhood to conduct a school, and his manner of teaching attracted the attention of outsiders, who took him up and started him on his successful educational career. James Ci. May tiuight his first school in the county in this township. Rev. Robert Lusk, the Covenanter minister of early days, was such a staunch friend of education, that he would assume the role of teacher at any time when there was no one else to be had who was competent to carrv on the work. The\' were a<hanced educators in this also, that they believed in educating females the same as males : an idea which a great many jieople antagonized a hundred years ago.

Among the long-ago teachers in the township were Robert Lnudon, Robert Ti])pen. Isaiah Tippen, ilar\ey Thomas and the Reids. Mr. Roudon was an Irish Covenanter and made teaching the business of his life till he was quite old. It is said that his penmanship was not only beautiful, but well nigh perfect. He was often called on to "set co])ies" for other teachers as well as his own pupils, and it was said that where the same wording was used, the lines were almost as exactly alike as if they had been struck from a printing press. In those days teachers usually wrote a whole page of fool'scap paper with "copies" and then cut them apart and passed them around among the scholars when tne hour for writing was called.