Johnson Township

Johnson Township

comprises an area of about sixty-four square miles - torty thousand nine hundred and sixty acres. Johnson was organized by the county authorities at their August term of court 1828, and the first election was held at the house of Samuel Adams, on the first Saturday of April, 1824, Alexander Johnson was appointed inspector of elections. It is bounded on the north by

Tow Nship

Montgomery and Patoka, east by Barton Township and - the surface and indicate the great depths at which the ' workable coals must be sought.

According to the census for the year 1880 the population of this township, including the villages of Fort Branch and Haubstadt, contained 3,211. The population is composed of representatives of several nationalities, among which are English, Germans, Scotch, Irish and a few colored persons. The township is largely peopled by Germans in the central portion. the thrifty and enterprising citizens, and as careful farmers they have contributed very largely to the reputation which Johnson bears as being one of the best agricultural districts in the county.

beech, hickory, ash, gum, walnut, sycamore, cotton- | wood, elms, honey locust, cyprus, catalpa, and the early settler of sixty-five years ago well remembers a forest of papaw bushes, which attracted attention by their tree-like size, being nearly a foot in diameter.

| These forests, by the hardy industry of the pioneer, _ have given place to well appointed farms and comfortable homes. The knolls and hill tops in the spring are purple promises of fruitage. In autumn the valleys are odorous with the fragrance of ripening orchards, The land surface of this township in some localities is a little rough. The only rocky outcrops near Fort Branch

_ through the township from north to south, entering it on Section 13 and passing out on Section 18; the line ' almost divides the township in the middle from east to the southwestern part by Big Creek and its affluents. Beside the above there are several small branches which carry off the surplus water. West of Fort Branch and Haubstadt is one of the best agricultural regions in the county, embracing a variety of soils. MceGarry's Flat," a broad belt of rich black land, extends through a portion of this township. In the early times it was noted for its heavy growth of forest trees, among which were the several varieties of oak, poplar, maple,

This road has by furnishing easy and accessible markets, contributed largely to the development of the material resources of this séction as well as to the building up of the thriving towns of Fort Branch and Haubstadt. St. James, also a station on the line of The village of Warrenton is located on Section 16, and is

Pronzers. - The early history of what is now Jolnson Township dates as fur back as the year 1804, nine years before the county of Gibson was organized. The hardy pioneer and hunter, the advanced couriers of civilization in the West at that early day had penetrated its forest shades, where before alone had trod the stealthy Indian in search of the noble bison and smaller game that roamed at will on its grassy slopes. These pioneers were a hardy race; they were possessed of untiring energy, dauntless courage and physical constitutions that would withstand the hardships and privations

W which pracy to a pioneer life. It was their pee to clear the forest, push back the red man and blaze the way for the incoming tide of immigration and civilization that was pouring in with resistless force from the Old World into the New, and from the South and East to the great Northwest. How well and nobly they performed their task is well known and written in the history of every state in the West.

It is conceded by the old residents that the pioneer of this township was John Hamer and his family, consisting of himself, wife, two sons, and two daughters. They located in the timber in the year 1804, on Section 30, Township 3, Range 11, where they made a little clearing and built a small pole cabin. They were from the mountain districts of Tennessee. He made a precarious living for his family, principally by hunting, family subsisted. He became tired of the locality and in 1806 returned with his family to his old home in Tennessee. and family, who located on Section 20, Township 3, in the fall of 1806. He left numerous descendants who are still residents of the county, some of whom reside in Johnson, though most of them are citizens of Montgomery Township. nent citizens of the southern part of the county during the early days.

came with the Douglas family, and their cabins were built only a few hundred yards apart. Sides was quite a noted hunter and trapper, and was fond of the sports of the chase. He was an industrious and energetic man, and after years of toil accumulated a comfortable competency, and his posterity in the county and township are among its respected citizens.

Hiram F, Sipgs, born in Gibson County in 1821, and now a resident of Section 28, Township 3, Range 11, is one of the extensive farmers and stock raisers. His wife, whose maiden name was Nancy Brewer, was born also in this county in the year 1827.

From the mountains of Tennessee, the land of pure air and crystal waters, eminently fitted by nature for the habitation of man, but then accursed by slavery, came Samuel Spillman, in the year 1806, a tanner by trade, being compelled to labor for the sustenance of looked upon as being disreputable by the slave-holding aristocrats, he sought a home in the wilderness of Indiana Territory, where honest toil was not looked upon as a badge of servitude and disrepute. west of the present town of Haubstadt, he settled in the timber and raised the usual log cabin. Here he toiled, rearing a family of seventeen children, thirteen of the number being boys and the remainder girls. After being here a few years he established a tannery, rdiiotay was ihe first in that serie 6 the eaiee After years of arduous toil success crowned his labors, and he begun to acquire some property, and built himself a comfortable brick house, which was the first brick house in the township.

Among the prominent citizens of this township today are the Mangrum family, whose ancestor, William Mangrum, was one of the earliest settlers. By marriage was connected with the Wilkinson family. About four miles northwest of the village of Haubstadt he located in the timber. His descendants are many in number, some of whom are successful and practical farmers, men of property and influence, whose wise counsel and correct habits of life have done much toward elevating the social standing of the community. One member of this family, Jolin N. Mangrum, has received the deserved recognition of the people of this county by being elected to the responsible office of county commissioner.

Cary Wilkinson, wife and family of seven children came to Indiana Territory from Kentucky in the fall of the year 1808, and settled about two and a half miles The children who came with them were Mary, Betsey, Nancy, William, Rebecca, Deliah and Balam. Those born after coming here were Isaiah and Martha. With theaid of the few settlers living here Mr. Wilkinson built a log cabin to shelter his family. Most of his worldly goods utensils, a conestoga wagon in which they made the trip, two horses and a few head of cattle. Mr. W. only lived a few years after coming here. His death took place in the fall of 1815. His widow afterward married David Miller. Several of the descendants of Mr. Wilkinson are still residents of this township, and many of them of Gibson County. When he came here he found George Holbrook and family, who settled in 1806; Allen Ingram; Berry Jones, in 1807; Andrew Douglas and Elisha Prettyman in 1806; all of whom had families. The two former were North Carolinaians, and the latter from Tennessee. Further mention of the Wilkinson family is made in another chapter. In the year 1809 Andrew Robinson and family removed here from Kentucky and "squatted" on a tract of land a portion of which is now occupied by the town of Fort Branch.

According to the recollection of the venerable William Wilkinson, sheep were introduced by some of the settlers in the spring of 1815, but great care had to be taken in order to prevent their being killed by the wolves which were then quite numerous, and it was several years before sheep husbandry began to thrive.

Cotton was also raised by many of the farmers in this section of the country between the years 1815 and 1830. The crop and quality produced was medium, and ac- string around the neck. This served for their summer outfit. Thus clad, barefooted and with a cheap hat, the boy or girl of the pioneer era was ready for school or to go to "meeting," as church was then called. One pair of shoes for each member of the family was generally bought or made by the head of the house about Christmas.

After the introduction of sheep and cotton, cloth was made of what was termed linsey-woolsey, which was cotton chain and woolen filling. This was woven, and for many years formed the principal clothing of the settler.

this locality concluded it would be prudent to erect a fort or block house for the Letter protection of their fumilies against the anticipated attacks of the Indians, aud to make it large enough so as to provide a safe tlers, but also for their stock. It was built within an enclosure or stockade located across a small branch - in order to obtain a water supply - of Pigeon Creck (hence the name Fort Branch), a little north of the location of corner of the northwest quarter of Section 18, Township 8, Range 10, on an eminence, the highest point for several miles around. The site is now a cultivated field.

The stockade was made of split logs set upright in the ground, and the block house was mide of large, substantial logs two stories in height. There were portholes in the lower story, and the sccond story projected about two feet over the first, and it also had port-holes in it so that the settler could stand with his rifle and shoot down on the heads of his adversaries. There were two block-houses situated on the line and on opposite sides of the stockade. In size they were about 80x40 feet. A short time after its construction a rumor got out that the Indians were coming toward the settlement, and the residents of the neighborhood quickly gathered their families and resorted thither for protection. They remained a short time; no Indians coming they retuned to their respective homes. The old fort as it was called, has long since been demolished.

this township was by William Woods in1810, He was a bachelor and a man of fair education. He taught in a small log house erected for school and church purposes in the Walkinson settlement. His pupils numbered from twenty-five to thirty. It was a pay school, each parent paying a certwin amount for each child. The teacher boarded around, and the settlers vied with each other in treating him well, as they regarded his society as a valuable acquisition to their household. For in the long winter evenings he would aid the children in their studies. The next teacher here was James Johnson, and subsequently James Curry.

Preacuers and Cuurcues. - Stephen Strickland, though not a resident of this township, frequently came into the settlement to preach and hold services at the houses of some of the settlers. He was a Baptist preacher, denominated by some '* Whiskey Baptist." In the summer of 1811 he preached at the house of William Mangrum, and a few years later preached at the funeral of Cary Wilkinson. Some of the early residents say that Berry Jones tried to preach about this time but was not regarded as much of a success. He also built one of the first mills here. In 1812 an itinerant Methodist preacher came occasionally into the settlement and held services. In 1813 the denomination called the "old Hard Shell Baptists," built a small log church, just south of the present village of Fort Branch. <A few years later it took fire and was burned down. A few years later came Alexander Downey and family, They proved to be a valuable acquisition to the settlement. He was also a preacher of the Cumberland Presbyterian faith, A few of his descendants still reside in the county and are among its best citizens. Nicholas Robinson, in 1811, was the first to introduce slavery into

| was a man of some learning and a portion of the time | found employment instructing the children of the neighborhood. Poverty and a lack of education were the most formidable foes of these early settlers, most of whom were natives of North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee, and a few from Kentucky, where the hideous monster slavery caused the aristocracy and wealth to treat their poorer neighbors little better than the slave and deprived them of the means of obtaining the simplest rudiments of an education. Henry Real and family, consisting of wife and five children, moved from Kentucky and squatted on a tract of land abont two miles west of St. James, in the year 1809.

In 1810 Samuel Adams, wife and six children settled on Section 8, Township 4, Range ll. They were originally from North Carolina, though prior to coming here had lived in Jefferson Connty, Kentucky. The first blacksmith shop carried on here was by William Palmer, who resided on Section 20, Township 3, Range 11. In the year 1816 Nicholas Boren with his family came from South Carolina and settled in the western part of the township. There are many descendants of this family still residing here and in other portions of the county. Andrew Blythe and family were also early settlers here. He was « native of middle Tennessee.

4, Range 11, was born in Giles County, Tenn., in the year 1812, and after coming to this county he married Olivia J. Mangrum. She came here with her parents in the year 1814. They have reared a large family and he is one of the enterprising farmers of this township.

and fourteen children enjoying their noonday meal, as related to us by the venerable Mrs. Sarah L. Duncan, who was at that time a neighbor of the Mcad family. A native of Duchess County, N. Y., lett a home surrounded | ried Mary, the daughter of John Pritchett, a Revolutionary soldier, a native of Tennessee and an early settler of Montgomery Township. The young couple located in what is now Johnson Township, where they reared a family of twelve sons and twodaughters and by industry and economy secured a competency which enabled them to pass their latter years in merited comfort and ease. At the county fair this large family of childrcn presented the beautiful spectacle rarely seen, that of so large afamily all in robust health and mounted upon handsome gray horses. John 8. Mead, a son of this

Township and a member of the board of county commissioners whose name will be handed down to posterity, having for his monument the magnificent new courthouse now in course of construction. 'Tennessee, as_the reader has already. observed, furpee nae nished many of the pioneers of Johnson Township, and in the year 1821 another was added from that state in the person of Joshua Duncan. He had, however, when a boy, moved with his parents to Kentucky and thence to Indiana. At Evansville he became acquainted with the limits of the city of Evansville, Soon after their marriage Mr. Duncan and his young bride moved to Gibson County and settled in the dense timber about three miles southwest of Fort Branch, and by toil and industry cleared a small piece of ground, and by the assistance of some of his neighbors raised a log cabin. was made of round logs, and with a mud and stick 'chimney. Mrs. Duncan says that the first two years they lived on hominy, corn meal and game. That locality was then infested with moles and bears, and a few of abounded in great numbers, which furnished the table of the settlers with meat. The wife of Mr. Duncan was a native of North Carolina. They had born to them ten children, seven of whom are living, and five now residents of Gibson County. Mr. Duncan becamea_ pros- perous wuld well? to- ab eariies std was for many years a justice of the peace. A few years after coming here he built a two-story log house, which was the best house in the neighborhood. It had a shingle roof and was weatherboarded with poplar sidings. The floors were made of white-ash lumber. He had also a Jarge barn, and Esquire Duncan's place was regarded as among the finest in the township. Hedied in 1861. His widow survives him and now resides with their eldest daughter in Princeton. Lewis Duncan and his family were also early residents. He wasa brother of Joshua Duncan and was a member of the Baptist Church and occasionally preached at the houses of the settlers. Mrs. Lyda Duncan, a widow, and her family, moved here and settled on a piece of timber land about five miles west of Haubstadt, in 1818, She was quite a noted mid-wife of that neigh- afflicted for miles around. She was an excellent horsewoman, and on her trips generally rode a fleet and powerful stable-horse, and while on her missions of mercy to the sick, whether it be night or day, always carried with her a loaded pistol. Among the old and respected residents now living in Johnson Township is Stephen Harris, who came with his parents from their native state, South Carolina, in the spring of 1810 and where Stephen married Polly Emerson, and in 1824 with his young wife settled on Section 8, Township 4, Range 11, where Mrs. Harris died in February, 1869. They reared a large family of children. Mr. Harris still resides at the old homestead and even though at his advanced age, is in the enjoyment of good health. Prettyman Montgomery, a descendent of one of the old and historic families of the county, now a resident of Section 15, Township 4, Range 11, was born in Gibson County in the year 1815. He is one of the large land and agriculturists ot this part of the state. He married Milissa J. Trible, who is likewise a native of this county, born in the year 1823. Another native born citizen of the county and an ex-county commissioner, is John N. Mangrum, who is now engaged in farming and resides on Section 16, Township 4, Range 11. He was born in the year 1827, and married Matilda Williams.

raiser, residing on Section 31, in Township 8 south, Range 11. He was born in Gibson County in 1832. Joshua Kitchen, a resident of Section 85, Township 38, Range 11, became a citizen here in. 1817, he came here with his parents and subsequently married Julia Duff: She was born in Gibson County in 1819; her parents having moved here a few years before. William Mangrum, descended from the pioneer family of that name, is now living in the town of Fort Branch, and was born in Gibson County in 1824. His wife, Julia Rutledge, became a citizen of this county with her parents in 1527. Mr. Mangrum has been for years one of the enterprising men of the township.

Andrew D. Ralston settled in this township with his family in the year 1826, about one mile southeast of the present town of Fort Branch, where he died three years later. His widow is now residing at Fort Branch. (For and one of the principal representatives of this family | now living here is Andrew Gnaltney, a farmer and | His place is about a mile southwest of | itor pleasure to see the old man in his deer park, petting and caressing these beautiful and docile animals. Silas M. Holcomb, a lawyer and citizen of Fort Branch, and the following year Samuel Adams served as inspector of elections, and in 1825-'26 Joshua Duncan and Samuel Treble were constables. Other early township officers were Henry Kell, George Treble, Daniel Robb, Henry Reed. of elections in 1829, and Samuel Beloot was constable the same year.

Larextz Ziliak and Dr. Peter Ottmann from Alsace; Meinrod Lenden and many others. In thcir prosperity they have not been derelict in paying the proper respect to the religious teachings of their fathers. Many of their number are devout Roman Catholics, and have given a practical expression of their sincerity in the erection and sustenance of handsome churches and pa-

Fort Branch

This town is pleasantly situated in the midst of one of the richest agricultural districts of the county, and is located on the main line, and junction of the Mt. Vernon branch of the E. & T. H. R. R. Itisseven and a of Evansville, and is the largest and most enterprising town in Johnson Township, and comprises a population The growth of the place is gradual and substantial. In 1852 the railroad was built through here, and a station located, called La Grange, in honor of Aaron Lagrange who owned the land, and the postoffice was removed from Little York, which was a mile north of the station on the state road. In June, 1852, T. M. Strain and Charles Harrington opened a

_ store in a frame building. Mr. Strain was also postmaster. About the same time, James H. Jones, a shoemaker, established a shop here in a small frame house which he moved from Water Station.

and settled in Posey County, near Cynthiana, and there died. His son Absalom came to Gibson County in 1841, and settled in the timber in Johnson Township, and there yet remains among the substantial citizens,

Smarting under the oppression incident to the mon- | archical form of government in Germany, and disturbed | ly the revolution against the tyranny of their ruler, |

Schaeffer, George Lutz, Andrew Desch, Bartel Rheinhardt, Meier Heinmann, Andrew Zirhalbaugh, from Bayvaiia; Arnold Dieckmeier, Henry Dieckmeie:, from Hanover; Dr. V.. H. Marchand, now deceased, and John Sipp, late county treasurer of Gibson County, Wendolin Grunder, Peter Whitman, Charles Schmidt,

James Strain, when he located here, e1ected a frame residence and store-house, and did business here for over twenty years. Prior to the laying ou! of the town in 1859, considerable business was done by the parties above menticned, and when first laid out, it was partly in Patoka Township. A petition was made to the county commissioners to have a small strip taken off from Patoka and attached to Johnson, in order that all of the town should be in Johnson Township. The prayer of the petitioners was granted. In 1853 Lemuel T. Mead and Littleton Lowe formed a partnership, and erected a building and opened a general store, about a a half mile south of Fort Branch, and endeavored to draw the trade and establish a town there; that undertaking proved a failure, and in a year or two they quit business. Soon after Harrington & Strain located here, Logan McCrary came, built a business house and opened a general store; he also erected a residence, which was the first two-story residence in the place. He carried on quite an extensive business, also dealt in pork and grain. After an expiration of ten or twelve years he retired from business and subsequen'ly removed to Kansas. About 1857 Mr. Harrington retired from the partnership, thus leaving the two general stores of Strain and McCrary, which were the only ones for several years.

The next merchant was John M. Foster. Subsequently he became a partner in the firm of Lewis & Foster. Holbrook & O'Neal were the first blacksmiths, and L. T. Mead the first wagon-maker.

About the year 1860 Fort Branch began improving and grew considerably during the war, and since the growth has been healthy and gradual. The place was incorporated a few years ago. The first preaching was at the residence of T. M. Strain, by a clergyman of the General Baptist denomination. The town is now well supplied with churches, there being six. An Odd Fellows' Lodge was organized in 1867 and is in good working condition. The earliest physician to locate here was Dr. William B. Genung, in 1859. He was followed by Dr. Hamilton and Dr. John W. Runcie. Drs. Genung and Runcie still reside here and rank among the best physicians in the county.

Scuooxrs. - A frame school-house was built liere in 1861. It is now occupied as a resideuce by John Hamilton. The present school-house is a frame structure, in which a graded school is taught, giving employment to five teachers.

Manuracturers. - The tile works of J.. LL. Douglas is operated by steam power and has a capacity of 200 rods of tile per day. Has one kiln with 400 feet of sheding. James W. Douglas also operates a tile works having a capacity about the same as thatof J. L. Douglas. There are also two brick-yards operated by Peter Hoffman and Alexander Johnson.

The leading merchant of this city is Charles C. Kuha, who carties a general stock of goods, and by his enterprise and close attention to business has built up an extensive trade and contributed largely to the growth and develojment of the town.

Present Business

formerly known as Haub's Station, an old stage stand on the state road leading from Evansville to Vincennes. It is located on the line of the E. & T. H. R. R., and nearly in the center of Johnson Township. It is seventeen miles noith of Evansville and ten miles south of Princeton, and was laid out in the fall of 1855, by James H. Oliver, who had previously purchased the land. This town is peopled by a thrifty and enterprising class of German citizens. The Roman Catholics have a handsome church edifice, built of brick in the year 1877, at a cost of $12,000; also a beautiful frame parsonage ad- They also own a commodious building in which a parochial school is kept. The value of their property here is estimated at $20,000. The public school building is a two-story frame of three rooms, and gives employment to two teachers.

Henry Haub, after whom the town is named, kept the stage stand and also carried on a small general store here prior to the laying out of the town. He also built the first house, which was a store and residence combined. It was a frame structure. Immediately after Haubstadt was platted August Gelser came and established a general store. He remained until the breaking out of the Rebellion and then enlisted in the service. L. Ziliah was also an early merchant. Casper Keasel was the first blacksmith. Haubstadt has had a healthy growth from the first, a little slow but of a substantial character. It contains a population of about 500.

Gisson Mix was built by L. Ziliah. It is a frame structure, four stories high, having the roller process, with a capacity of 125 barrels per day, and is operated as a custom and merchant mill by Ziliah & Schafer.

Singer. Barzer. - Anton Zeits. CoorrrsHor. - Charles Kiffert. Postmaster. - Jacob Heinan, Jr. AcricutturAL Impiements anp Grain DeaLer. - A. | Jeaser. Puysicians. - Drs. George A. Thomas, Peter Ottmann and John Ballard. Unpertaker. - John W. Wolf. Mercuant Tatmor. - J. G. Menke. Cigar Manuracturrr. - A. Zeits.

is located on Section 16, Township 3 south, Range 10. The original proprietors were John Withrow and Wright The village was platted in April, 1840, and now has a population of about one hundred and It is situated about two miles southeast of St. James, a station on the EK. & T. H. R. R. Haubstadt, | however, is its shipping point and postoffice. Warren- | and a substantial parochial school building, which is ton is about thirteen miles southeast of Princeton, the | ably presided over by Prof. N. J. Moster. The leading business of the place is carried on by John Ten Barge, general merchant and agricultural implement dealer. Paul Haller, one of the enterprising citizens, is a cigar was quite a thriving village, though even now considera- manufacturer. The number of his factory is 125. In the year 1881 Greely There is also another store and saloon, and blacksmith shop. A small store is kept by the station agent, who Warrenton was named in honor of Gen. | is also postmaster.

St. James

This village is located partly in Sections 13 and 18, Town 4, Ranges 10 and 11. Catholic Church was established here many years ago, and from it the station and village took its name. village is about a quarter of a mile west of the station. The church property here consists of a substantial church edifice, the interior finish of which is very fine, and reflects great credit on its pious and scholarly pastor, Rey. J. J. Merkle, under whose administration it was brought to the present perfection. church is the parsonage and residence of the teacher,

Po Omunty Intis An Pretivy Man M. Montgomery

The Montgomery family are among the oldest residents and settlers of Gibson County. Robert, the father of the present family, came to the county while he was yet a young man. Iu 1812 he married Patience Marvel, who was the daughter of Prettyman and Lavina Rogers Marvel. She was born in Delaware, and came years. Robert Prettyman in his life was an active and prominent man. He enlisted twice as a soldier in the Indian wars of the Northwest. He served under Gen. Harrison, and was in the famous battle of Tippecanoe, in 1811. During the early part of his life he taught school, but subsequently engaged in farming, in which he continued until his death. There are five of his children living, three sons and two daughters. Prettyman Marvel Montgomery was so named for his maternal grandfather. He was the second son. near Owensville, in this county, Oct. 20, 1815. Here he grew up and remained at home until his twenty. second year, when he entered eighty acres of land in |

Section 13, Township 4 South, Range 11 West, where he now lives. He borrowed the money from Joshua Wilson, to make the first payment; his uncle, Wiley Marvel, going hissecurity. He sommenced the improvement of the land at once by clearing it out and building a small cabin, into which he moved, and in which he his original purchase he has added many other tracts, and is now one of the largest landowners in the county. In 1837 hs married Patsy Prewitt.. She was born in Vanderburgh County, Ind., Dec. 4, 1815, and was the daughter of Moses and Phebe Prewitt. She died May 10, 1850. On the 12th of May, 1851, he married was the daughter of George and Elizabeth (Bingham) Trebel, who were natives of Delaware, and from there moved to Kentucky, and came to Gibson County, Ind., in the spring of 1823. Both of Mrs. Montgomery's parents died near Haubstadt, in this county. There first marriage, four of whom are yet living. Their names in the order of their birth are Phebe A., who married Franklin Hedrick, and are residents of Sedgewick County, Kas.; William R. is dead - he was twice married and left two children; - Nancy E. is also has eight children; Mary L. is the wife of Adam Maus, and has two children; James H. married Elizabeth Wilkinson and has two children. The names of the children by Mr. Montgomery's presnt wife are, Susan, the first born, died; Comfort is the wife of James Monroe, and has one child; Elizabeth the third, is also dead; John and George, who died; Prettyman D., who married Sarah J. McCleary, and has one child; Samuel and Thomas Newton Montgomery.

Mr. Montgomery's life has becn a busy one. He started in life poor; in fact, all he had was health and strength and determination to succeed and place himself in independent circumstances. This he has succeeded in doing, as he is recognized as one of Gibson County's most substantial farmers and wealthy citizens. Politically he has always acted with the Democratic party.

His first vote was cast for Martin Van Buren, in 1836, and from that time to the present he has not wavered in his fealty and loyalty to that political organization.

One of the representative German Americans of Gibson County, is the subject of this present sketch. He was born in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, August 25, 1829. He is the son of William and Barbara Sipp. In his youth he received such an education as the excellent schools of his mother country afforded. He learned the trade of blacksmith with his father and remained at home until his twenty-second year. Having heard and read much of this country and the advantages it afforded for the industrious young man, he concluded to leave his native land and try his fortune in America. Bidding adieu, he set sailand in due course of time landed in New York City. From there came West to Evansville, Ind., arriving at the latter place July 9, 1852. He then soon found work at his trade.

Evansville two years, then removed to Warrington, in . Gibson County, and there, in partnership with a fellowcountryman, set up a blacksmith shop. His partner dying soon after, Mr. Sipp carried on the business alone and continued for nearly twenty-seven years. In 1878 he was elected county treasurer of Gibson County and the following year he moved into Princeton to assume the duties of his office.

ter and continued in office four years. At the expiration of his term of office he removed to Haubstadt, where he at present resides. Politically Mr. Sipp has always been a Republican. He east his vote as an American citizen in 1856, for John OG. Fremont, and from that time to the present has advocated and upheld the principles of that political organization.

In 1865 he married Mary E., daughter of John C. and Margaret(Clinton)Staser. She was born in Ohio, but was aresident of Vanderburgh County at the time of her marriage. Her father was a native of Germany, but came to America while yet young and to Vanderburgh County, Ind., as early as 1814. Mrs. Sipp died April 27, 1882. There are four chiidren living, the offspring of this union of Mr. and Mrs. Sipp. Their names in the order of their birth are Margaret, William, Lula and Ollie. Mr. Sipp has demonstrated in his life that suecess is assured to those who have the energy and industry to make an honest effort to succeed and who will live economically and within their means. These traits, so eminently characteristic of the German people, are largely developed in him,

Dr. William B. Genung

The Genung family were originally inhabitants of the lower Rhine Country in Germany, and were of French extraction. They settled many years ago in the fertile provinces of Alsace and Lorraine, and from there immigrated to America, some time during the last century. They formed a settlement in New Jersey, and there Elam, the father of the present family, was born. In 1818, while yet a young man, he came West on a tour

Indians. He remained here a short time, then returned to his native state. In 1832 he came West for the sccond time, and settled at the village of Terre Haute, where he followed farming, on land which has since become a part of the city. Before coming West the second time he had entered the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal{Church, and here, in 1840, he re-entered it, and continued in that ministerial calling until his death, which took place in 1845, near New Albany, Ind. He was twice married, first to Elizabeth Tucker, a native of New Jersey. She died in 1833. He subsequently married Susan Tucker, who survived him many years, and died in Fort Branch in 1882. There are two of the offspring of the first marriage living, viz: - the subject of this sketch and Phebe, the wife of Capt. Henry C. West.

Dr. William R. Genung was born in Somerset County, N. J., March 18, 1827. He was five years of age when his parents carne to Indiana. Here he grew to manhood, and has been a resident of the state to the present. He received his primary education in the common schools, and his classical and literary education in Asbury University, at Greencastle, Ind. He remained there four years and graduated from that institution in 1845. The same year he commenced the study of medicine in the office, and under the direction of Dr. Somerville E. Leonard, at New Albany. He continued his studies up until 1849, when he entered the Medical

_ graduated with the degree of M.D. After his graduation he returned home and came up to Fort Branch to pay his step-mother a visit. He was induced to stay his services. and has there remained to the present in the active practice of his profession. He married Miss Louisa, daughter of Rey. T. M. and Elizabeth (Lagrange) Strain, and a native of Gibson County. Her parents were old settlers and came here in an early day. Five children living have been the offspring of the union of Dr. W. R. and Louisa Genung. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Samuel Montgomery, Sr., was born in Virginia, and from there moved to Kentuky and cme to the Territory of Indiana about the year 1809 or 10. They setted in what is now known as Montgomery Township, and there entered land which he cleared up and farmed and there died. He married Hannah Copeland in Kentucky. She died some years before herhusband. There was a large family of children, among whom was Jesse, the father of the subject of this sketch. He was born in Kentucky, near the town of Danville, about the year 1795. In his youth he was apprenticed to the trade of blacksmith, and when his parents came to the Territory he remained behind to complete his trade. About two years later- he also came here and cpened a blacksmith shop on his father's farm and there carried cn the trade until he got married, and then mcved on his own place and there built a shop and there lived the greater part of his life. Along towards the close of his life he sold the farm and moved to Owensville , where he died in 1861. He married Monica Mounts. She came here with her father, Smith Mounts, when she was but eight years of age. She died some time before her husband. Of the family were five children, two sons and three daughters, all of whom survived the parents. Lewis Young Montgomery is the eldest; Susan, John W., Mary and

1856 he joined the young Republican party, which for the first time crystallized into a national organization, and had for its standard-bearer John C. Fremont. In 1860 he voted for Abraham Lincoln, and from that time has given his active support to that political organization.

In 1882 he was honored by his party with the nomination and election to represent Gibson County in the state legislature. He served in that body with credit to himself and those who honored him with their suffrages.

_ is L. was born August 30, 1820, on the place where his father settied after his marriage, and there he grew to manhood, and married and moved to a place on Section 3, Township 8, Range 11 West, which he had bought in

_ 1841. It is the place where he now lives. The land was improved and on it was a small pole cabin. Mr. Montgomery built a cabin for the reception of his wife and there they lived until 1859, when he built his present residence. The date of his marriage was Dec. 23, 1841. He married Mrs. Mary A. Wilson nee Daugherty. She was the daughter of Stephen Daugherty, born in Adair County, Kentucky, in 1822. There was one child by her former marriage, named Nathan Wilon. Three children are living by the latter union of L. L. and Mary A. Montgomery, whose names are Henry C., who married Cordelia Knox and has five children; Ella, wife of Thomas Emerson, and has one child; Florence N., wife of Cornelius Redman, and has one child. Both Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery are members of Gencral Baptist Church. Politically he has been opposed to the Democratic party since 1840. As will be seen by the foregoing, Mr Montgomery is among the pioneers of Gibson County.

Source changes here: from History of Gibson County, Indiana : Her People, Industries and Institutions, with Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records of Many of the Old Families, by Stormont, Gil R, published 1914; 2,257 words in this source stream.

Johnson Township

This is one of the southern sub-divisions of Gibson county. Originally it took in much more territory than at present, for in 1899 the county commissioners created a new township from the southern part of Patoka and the northern portion of Johnson township, known as Union. As now constituted, Johnson township is four by twelve miles in extent, running the longest way from east to west. The southwestern portion of this township is drained by Big creek. McGarry's Flat is a strip of rich black land, superior for its agricultural value. The early forests are nearly all gone and where the great trees stood a century ago now may be seen well-tilled farms. At an early day its forests were known for their wild, yet charming scenes, that changed with the passing of the four seasons. Here was found the oak, poplar, maple, beech, ash, gum, walnut, sycamore, cottonwood, elm, honey locust, Cyprus, catalpa and other trees. The pioneer well remembers the pawpaw bushes, some of which were almost a foot in diameter. In the springtime the knolls and hill-tops are plumed with bouquets, brilliant with red, white and purple promises of fruitage. In the autumn the valleys are odorous with the fragrance of ripening fruits. The only rocky outputs in Johnson township are those at or near Haubstadt where the rash coals and their companion strata lay. These are of no economic importance, as the great depth at which anything valua1)le can he found ])recludes mining.

E.A.Rly Settlement

The first history of Johnson township dates back to 1804, nine years before the county of Gibson was organized. John Hamer and his family were indisputably the first pioneers of the township. They came from the mountains of Tennessee, and cleared a plot of land in the timber of section 30. Jesse Douglas and family, John Sides, of South Carolina, Samuel Spillman, William Mangrum, Gary Wilkinson, George Holbrook, .^.Uen Ingram, Berry Jones, Andrew Douglas, Elisha Prettyman, Andrew Robinson were other first settlers.

In the spring of 1811 the people of the township became alarmed at the frequent outbreaks among the Indians, and accordingly a stockade of split logs was erected at the site of the present town of Fort Branch. The old fort has long since passed from view.

Probably the first schools were taught in this township in 1810 by William Woods. The teacher boarded around, of course, and his pay consisted of a small sum from each family represented by a child in the school. James Johnson and James Curry were later teachers. Stephen Strickland, the "Whiskey Baptist," was probably the first man to preach in the township. Other early settlers were Samuel Adams, James Blythe, Lewis Duncan, Prettyman Montgomery, Andrew D. Ralston and Joel Yeager, and many later were Germans, who came here to escape the monarchial oppression of the fatherland.

Among the early settlers of this township, as it was known before the formation of Union township, as above indicated, were the following : Jesse Douglas and family of section 20, township 3, in the autumn of 1806. He left many descendants, who still reside in the county, mostly in Montgomery township. During early days this was a prominent family in the south part of Gibson county.

John .Sides and family, who came from South Carolina, came with the Douglas family, and their cabins were built only a few hundred yards apart. Sides was a noted hunter and trapper and very fond of the sports of the chase. He was an industrious, energetic man, and after years of toil accumulated a handsome fortune.

Another settler of 1806 was Samuel Spillman from the mountains of Tennessee. He was by trade a tanner, and there had to earn his living under the ban of Southern aristocracy, which looked upon labor by white man as a disgrace. He sought out the wilds of this county and built him a rude cabin home near where Hau1)stadt now stands. Here he toiled many years and reared a family of seventeen children, all sons but four. After being here a few years he established a tannery, the first in this portion of the county. He built the first brick house in Johnson township.

Other early families were those of Mangrums, Wilkinsons, etc. Cary Wilkinson, wife and family of seven children came in from Kentucky in the autumn of 1808, settling about three miles southwest of Fort Branch. According to the best memory of Pioneer Wilkinson, sheep were first in- troduced by some of the settlers in the spring- of 1815, but great care had to be taken that they were not killed by wolves. It was several years before they could be successfully raised. Cotton was also raised by many of the farmers in this part of the county between 181 5 and 1830. Flax was introduced with the coming of the first settlers, and the fibers of this product made valuable tow which was woven by the good housewife and her grown daughters into a rough kind of cloth and found its way into the clothing of the family. Any boy or girl was counted fortunate if they had two suits of tow garments in a single year. These garments were made a good deal like a bag, open at each end, and a drawing string about the neck. This was for their summer outfit. Thus clad, barefooted and with a cheap hat, the boy or girl of the pioneer day was ready for school or to go to "meeting," as church was then always called. One pair of shoes for each member of the household a year was considered a plenty to have. These generally came about Christmas time. After sheep became more plentiful, cloth was made of wool and cotton into what was styled linsey-woolsey (cotton chain and woolen filling). This was universally woven for many years and formed the chief clothing material for the settler and his family.

James Blythe came in 1812 from Giles county, Tennessee, locating on section 11, township 4, range 11, and after coming here married Olivia J. Mangrum.

Another pioneer character whose name must ever be handed down by each historian of Gibson county, for its true interest and unique qualities, was Stephen Mead, who came from York state to Gibson county in 181 5, and married Mary, daughter of John Pritchett, a Revolutionary soldier, a native of Tennessee, and an early settler of Montgomery township, this county. This young couple located in what is now Gibson county, in Johnson township, where they reared a family of twelve sons and two daughters. By industry and frugality they managed to get on well in the affairs of this world, and later years made up for the trials and hardships of those early times. Then, it is related, they had no plates upon which to eat, so they made a long table of puncheon and on the top surface of these puncheon they dug out sixteen holes the shape of a bowl, and thus each member of the family had their own dish out of which to eat - a stationary wooden plate! At one of the Gibson county fairs this entire family was present and all were robu.st, well-cared-for persons and each rode a fine gray horse. John S., one of these twelve sons, was later county commissioner and had to do with the building of the present court house, a monument to him so long as it stands.

As has already been observed, Tennessee furnished many of the early settlers in Johnson township. Among others from that state was Joshua Duncan in 1821. He had, however, when a boy, moved with his parents to Kentucky and thence to Indiana. At Evansville he became acquainted with Sarah L. Logan and they were married in 182 1 at old Stringtown, which hamlet is now embraced within the limits of the city of Evansville. Soon after their marriage Mr. Duncan and his young bride moved to Gibson county and settled in the dense forest about three miles southwest of Fort Branch and by toil and industry cleared a small patch of ground and by the aid of his neighbors raised a log cabin. It was made of round logs and with a mud-and-stick chimney. Mrs. Duncan says that during the first two years they lived on hominy, corn meal and game. That locality was then infested with wolves and bears and a few of the small animals of prey. Deer and wild turkey also abounded in great numbers, which furnished the tables of pioneers with good meat. The wife of Mr. Duncan was a native of North Carolina. They had born to them ten children. Mr. Duncan became a prosperous, rich farmer and for many years was a justice of the peace. A few years after coming here he built a two-story house which was the best in his section of the county. It had a shingled roof and was weather boarded with poplar siding. The floors were of white ash. He also had a large barn and Esquire Duncan's place was regarded as among the finest in Johnson township. He died in 1861. His widow survived him and later resided at Princeton with a daughter.

Lewis Duncan and family were also early settlers. He was a brother of the above and was a member of the Baptist church and occasionally preached at the settlers' houses. Mrs. Lyda Duncan, a widow, and her family moved here and located on a timber land tract about five miles west of Haubstadt in 1818. She was a noted midwife of that section and was frequently called to minister to the afflicted for miles around. She was an excellent horsewoman and on her trips generally rode a fleet and powerful stable horse and while on her missions of mercy to the sick, whether it be night or day, always carried with her a loaded pistol. Among the old residents of the township was Stephen Harris, who came with his parents from South Carolina in 1810, and settled in what is now Posey county, where Stephen married Polly Emerson and in 1824, with his young wife, settled on section 8, township 4, range 11, where Mrs. Harris died in 1869. They reared a large family of children.

families of this county, was born in this county in 1815. He became a wellto-do farmer and stockman. John N. Mangrum was born in 1827 and was in after years a county commissioner. Another of the respected families of this township were the Yeagers, whose ancestor, Joel Yeager, a native of Virginia, emigrated to Kentucky and there married and in 1826 came to Indiana, locating in Posey county, near Cynthiana, and died there. His son, Absalom, came to Gibson county in 1841 and located in the timber in Johnson township. He was the father of seven children and aniong them was Henry A. Yeager, an attorney in Princeton.

From 1838 to 1841 there was a large influx of emmigration from Germany, on account of the tyranny of the ruler of that country, and this township received her full share of this German element, among whom may be recalled such noble characters as Dr. V. H. Marchland; John Sipp, who became county treasurer; Larentz Ziliak and Dr. Peter Ottmann. Many of them were Roman Catholic in religious faith. Later, they established schools and churches at Haubstadt and St. James.

Since the creation of Union township, which took much of the original territory from Johnson, it leaves Johnson with only one town, Haubstadt.

This was formerly known as Haub's Station, an old stage stand on the state road from Evansville to Vincennes. It is ten miles south of Princeton. The town was laid out in the fall of 1855, by James H. Oliver, who had before bought the land. Henry Haub, after whom the town is named, kept the stage stand and a general store. August Gelser was another early merchant, also L. Ziliak. Casper Keasel was the first blacksmith.

The present town of Haubstadt numbers about six hundred people. The election for incorporation was held on July 2Q, 19 13, and shortly afterward officers were chosen. They were: \V. W. Sipp, George Stiefel and Jacob Pfeiffer, trustees; Matthew Halbig, secretary and treasurer, and Joseph Gruebel, marshal. The town is composed almost exclusively of Germans and is a very flourishing and growing community. Good schools, progressive business interests and a well ordered town government are elements which contribute to the upbuilding of the place.

The following compose the business interests of 1913: Ziliak & Schaefer Milling Company; George D. Seitz, lumber dealer; general stores, the Henry W. Luhring Company, A. M. Schultheis Company, Heldt & Riffert Company and Stunkel & Halbig; hardware, George S. Trible; grain dealers.

Theodore A. Stunkel, Ballard & Busing; implements, F. D. Luhring; drugs, Peter J. Emmert ; saloons, William Hughes, Jacob Shultheis ; blacksmith and wagon ahop, Schiff & Pfeiffer; hotel, Margaret Singer; barbers, Anslinger brothers; restaurants, O. E. Padellar, Albert J. Singer; millinery, Henry W. Luhring, Helton & Riffert. V. H. Marchand is the resident physician.

The Haubstadt Bank was organized in 1904, chartered on June 4, 1904, and started September 2d of the same year. The first officers were : Alois Ziliak, president; Henry W. Luhring, vice-president, and Thebes Ferthing, cashier. The present officers are: W. W. Sipp, president; George D. Seitz, vice-president; A. J. Lynn, cashier. The capital stock is $25,000, surplus, $10,000, and deposits, $140,000. The bank building was erected in 1904, at a cost of $6,500.