Madison Township

Madison Township

Madison Township is formed of the Congressional township 14, range 5, and, lies immediately west of Greeneastle. It is bounded on the north by Clinton, on the south by Washington Township and on the west by Parke County. It is drained by Little Walnut, along which the township is considerably broken. The timber and the soil of this township are similar to those of the adjoining townships.

The exact, date at which the pioneers of this township came cannot now be given. Tiie first piece of land entered in the township was by Richard Moore, December 13, 1820; the next by Arthur McGanghey, March 3, 1821; the third was by Benjamin Bel], April 2, 1821, and, in order of time, Isaac Wolvertbn, April 12,1821; Isaac Matkins, December 20. 182L Among those who made entries here in 1822 may be named Frederick Leath.erman, 'Samuel Wright, [saiah Wright, Benjamin Wright, Jesse Wright, John Dougherty, Jesse Oatman, Jacob Curtis and Henry Williams. Fn 1 823 Joseph Thornburg, Abraham Wool ley and George Hansel entered land in this township. Other early settlers of the township were Peter Stoner, Levi Mann, John Anderson, Andrew Frank, Amos Wright, William Torr, John McPheeters and his lather, James Swinford, John Swinford. Jesse Lathram. William P. King, Mr. Albaugh and Rowley. Some of these may have settled earlier than those whose entries are given above.

The following named are among the oldest settlers now living; John Leatherman, Jesse : McPheeters, Joseph Wells, who served on the first grand jury in the county, James

The first death in Madison Township was that of George W. Matkins, son of Isaac and Sophia Matkins, and the first birth was that of John Thomas Matkins, son of the same parents.

The first mill in the township was built by ! Benjamin Bell on the Walnut Fork of Eel j River. It was sold in a few years to James \ Townsend, who laid out Putnamville.

The Predestinarian Baptists organized the : first church in Madison Township about the ; year 1832. About a year afterward this con- | gregation built a log house in which they ! worshipped for near a score of years, and I then built a second log house, which they j occupied until 1S73, when they replaced it 1 with a substantial frame building. Amon°" the early ministers of this church were Benj jamin Parks. Aaron Harlan, James Edwards, I Reuben Siavens, Abraham Leatherman and John Leatherman.

About the year 1834 a Methodist Episcopal church was organized at the house of Isaac Matkins. This church was organized by Rev. William < '. Smith, and the first quarterly meeting was held at the house of Isaac. Matkins. by Rev. Aaron Wood, still actively engaged in the ministry. The congregation continued to hold services regularly there for two or three years, when they built a log house, which they occupied until about the year 1858, and then built a good frame church to- take its place. Among the other early ministers of this church were Revs. De Motte, lieck, Tanzy, Preston, Wright and Fairhurst.

had been preaching for the congregation for several years before this time and continued to do so for a number of years afterward. They erected a log bouse in 1844, which they occupied until 1867. They then built a frame house on the hill west of Ezekiel Wright's, j .Noah Buchanan, John Harris, Nathan Wright, j Lorenzo Dow, Oleghorn and Ezekiel Wright j were the early ministers of this church.