Kirklin Township

Kirklin Township

This township was so named in memory of Nathan Kirk, to whom is due the honor of being the first white man in the eastern part of Clinton County. Some claim that Kirk was the first man in the county, but it is probable, from the most reliable authority, that William Clark settled on the west end of the Twelve Mile Prairie

It is positively known that as early as 1826, while Clinton was designated as * Washington Territory," Nathan Kirk settled on the east end of the Twelve Mile Prairie, on the farm owned by the heirs of Richard McEntire. Being an active, industrious man, his humble pole cabin, of crude and hasty construction, soon appeared in the forests, which for several years afterward was a favorite stopping place for travelers and those in scarch of land.

Until about the year 1829, Mr. Kirk was the only inhabitant of the township. In that year came Thaddeus Panburn, Daniel Hunter and William Wynkoop. The first two were in the employ of Mr. Kirk and never made entry of land. The exact location of the latter is to us unknown.

In 1830, William Harris, of whom we have spoken in the history of Sugar Creek Township, moved to Kirklin Township, fixing his home on what is now the Charles Bridgeford farm. It being now generally known that a permanent settlement was being made in this locality, before the close of the year 1830, the following persons came and east their lot with the infant colony; Henry Percifield, on the Moses Gee farm; John Russell, on the farm owned by his daughter Jane; David Galbreath, on the farm belonging to Charles Bridgeford and John Foster; location unknown.

Those of 1831 were as follows: John Gallaher, on the farm owned by A. Holleraft; Joseph Bickley, on the farm owned by his son; John Wheeler, on the MeEntire farm; Barney Step, on the farm belonging to the heirs of Bowers and John Mitchel, whose place of settlement is uaknown.

In 1832, Benjamin Bickley, father of C. H. Bickley, merchant of Kirklin, settled on the farm owned by the latter. Others of the same year were William Boils, on the Abraham Whittaker farm, and Adam Vincell, on the farm of Allen Williams.

settled on the farm where his son-in-law, Robert Cramrock, lives. This gentleman has taken an active part in the affairs of the township, and by his industry and careful management is classed among her largest landholders. We mention here the fact that Mr. Hollcraft has in his possession a relic of considerable value, being bound in a single volume - the copies of the Muryland Gazette, as published from the year 1776 to 1781. This carries the reader through the greater part of the struggle of the colonies for independence. Hence there is found within its pages much of rare and varied importance.

Continuing our list of early settlers, we mention as coming in the year 1833 John Thompson, Edward Miller, John Bland, James Holleraft and Anson Beech. The latter wasa minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is now living at Thornton in rather destitute circumstances.

Among those who came in 1835 and 1836, we name John Furgeson, David Bogan, Ambrose Whitaker, Williams, James Parks, Cornelius Hall, John Condry and Lewis Hall. Prominent among those who came soon after 1836, we mention Andrew and William Bogan, John Fulkerson, Jacob and Cleland Harley, George Wimbourough, S. Moore, Uriah Jones, James Davis, James Bogan, James Clark, John Swisher and a Mr. Brackenridge.

In the Winter of 1839 and 1840, an event transpired which did more to benefit the township financially than anything which occured before, or perhaps since. Coon, as was always the case ina new country, were very plenty. Their skins, when dressed, sold from six to twenty-five cents apiece. Walker & Co. were the only buyers. At the time mentioned above, however, Mr. John Fury, agent of the Northwestern Fur Company, came and contracted with Nathan Kirk to act as agent for him in buying fur. Mr. Kirk was rather reluctant to engage in such an enterprise, but, being assured by Mr. Fury of abundant means to compete successfully with any firm, his agents were soon scouring the country in every direction in search of fur. Walker & Co., not wishing to be driven from the field without a show of resistance, began to advance the price of skins. So great was the strife between the contending parties that soon the current price of a good coon skin was one dollar and fifty cents. It was an easy task to catch in a single night from one to six coons. 'This was a rare opportunity for every able-bodied man to better his financial condition, and it is almost needless to say that all profited by it. In the Spring an immense amount of fur had been collected by Mr. Kirk. This was to be conveyed to market by wagons. Three of the wagons bore each a coon skin nicely dressed, trimmed in blue ribbon; with the following inscriptions : " Competition is the life of trade," " John Fury against the world." "Tam not to be bought for aguarter." these teams passed through the villages and cities on their journey, they were loudly cheered, and general excitement pervaded the country.

The first religious meeting in the township wasat William Boil's, in 1832, by the Methodists - Anson Beach preaching. The next denomination was the Missionary Baptist, who held their meetings at the house of George Wimborough, about 1839 - Mr. Hill being the preacher. $

The first church was built on the Joseph Bickley farm, by the Methodists, in 1840 and 1841. - Previous to this, school houses had been used as places for worship.

In 1846 and 1847, the Christians, or Diseiples, built a ehurch on the Clark farm. Messrs, Lockhart and MeKinney were the eraly preachers of this denomination.

About the year 1836, the first school in the township was built on the Joseph Bickley farm. The next was on the land of Isaac Miller, the year following. About the same time (1837), another was built on the Thompson farm,

: Kirklin Township was organized at the March term of the Commissioners' Court in 1837. At the same time, an election was authorized to be held at Nathan Kirk's, A. Holleraft was appointed to act as Inspector. Joséph MeKinney was chosen Justice of the Peace i

As early as the year 1831, through the enterprising spirit of Nathan Kirk, a saw-mill, to which was attached a corn cracker, was built on Sugar Creek, on the farm now owned by Dr. Smith, of Lebanon. Some years later at the same place, a regular grist-mill was put in operation by Mr. Thompson.

In improvements, Kirkland has kept pace with her sister townships. She possesses a large body of fertile land, which is being rapidly brought into a good state of cultivation by her energetic citizens. The name and location of churches will be seen by reference to the map. Her school houses are ; eurolled school children

"This town was laid off about 1837, by Nathan Kirk, for whom it was named. As early as 1830, Mr. Kirk opened a tavern at the crossing of the New Castle and Michigan State roads. The New Castle road was laid out first, and on the opening of the Michigan road, it was thought that where the latter would cross the former, a town of considerable importance would spring up. Hence, when the Michigan road was being laid out, several men were waiting anxiously to make entry of the land at the crossing. Nathan Kirk, however, having his horse concealed in the wood near by, as soon as he observed the place of crossing, mounted his horse and rode hastily to Crawfordsville, where he entered the laud desired. The town, for a number of years and frequently at the present, is désignated as " Kirk's X Roads." In point of size, Kirklin perhaps has never reached the dimensions expected by her founder.

G.-M. Wilds, dry goods and notions; George Purdy, drugs and groceries; Dr. Stevenson, druggist; Charles H. Bickley, groceries, hardware, ete.; Dr. Wilds, druggist; Hodge & Hinkle, steam gristmill; Hodge & Hinkle, stave factory; Hodge & Hinkle, saw mill; Harding & Son, blacksmiths; Samuel H. McCord, blacksmith ; S. W, Niles, wagon maker; S. M. Smith, wagon maker; John Parmer, cabinet maker. One school house; brick Post Office, Geo. Purdy, Postmaster. Population, 300.

a Farmer and Teacher. ../Thorntown .....| Farmer. dix . Manson .........|Farmer. t Frankfort ...... Farmer. s e Farmer and Stock Raiser. Qon Farmer.