Marion Township

Marion Township

Marion Township lies immediately south j of Floyd, and is the full Congressional town- j ship 14 north, range 3 west. It is bounded, j on the north by Floyd Township,, on the east j by Hendricks County and Mill Creek Town- j ship, on the south by Jefferson Township, j and on the west by Grgencastle Township, j Its surface is gently roiling; the soil good, j and finely adapted .to cultivation. The sup- j ply of timber is abundant, consisting of pop- j lar, walnut white, red and burr oak, hard j maple, beech, ash, and many inferior kinds, i such as elm, gum and sycamore, with a j plentiful supply of hickory on the more level portions. This township is drained by Deer | Creek, that stream having its source in the j northeast comer, and traversing the entire j extent of the township to the southwest cor- J ner, where it takes its leave on section 31.

The first settler in Marion Township was Reuben Ragan, who first came to the county in the year 1818, and prospected the country comprising Putnam and surrounding counties during that, and the following year. He then returned to the State of Kentucky, whence he again came to Putnam in the spring of 1820, staying two years in Green castle Township, west of the city. He entered land in the extreme north of Marion Township in 1822, and became a permanent resident there in October of the same year, continuing to

In October of the year 1824, Mr. Ragan built a hewed-log house, which, having been weather-boarded and plastered, now forms the front portion of the family residence, and is the oldest building in Putnam County, having been in use as a dwelling for more than fifty-four years. Like all of the builder's works it is well done, and it still stands firm, with the probability of withstanding the shocks of time for years to come. Mr. Ragan was a noted horticulturist, and possessed a fine talent ibr his occupation. He sowed seeds for an orchard on the farm of Mr. Thomas, west of Grecneastle, in the spring of 1820, which were, doubtless, the first seeds of the kind to fake root in the soil of Putnam County. A few years later he planted the first orchard in Marion Township, lie is still remembered by his neighbors as a man of vigorous intellect, pure mind, and scrupulously honest and upright in all his dealings.

From the time of Mr. Ragan's settlement in the township to 1824, he was joined by Judge Smith, Henry Wood, Mr. Davis, John Smith, Silas Hopkins and Samuel Hazelett. In the years 1825 and 1820 came William Bell, John Denny, William and James Smith, Bryce Miller, Isaac and George Legg. Jeremiah Nichols, Charles and Carter Hunter, Israel Moss, -John Gregory, James and William Denny, Mr. Acres, Enoch Stone, William Nicholson and Thomas Jackson. Within the next two years the population was increased by the arrival of David Wise, Henry Hunter, Bailey O'Neal, Daniel Chadd, John Benefiel, John and James A gee, Daniel Brewer, Charles Knetzer, Jacob Shaptaugh, Eli Fry, Henry Keller, Peter Lunsford, Daniel Bridgwater. The newcomers for the years 1829 and 1830 were Alexander Gor- ham, Ambrose Day, Thomas Jackson, Sr., William Frazier, John Runyau, Isaac Hope, Joseph Ellis, Anselin Mason, Henry Shields, Samuel Reeves. There probably were others equally worthy of mention. Some of these here named entered land, and, perhaps, lived near Greencastle before settling in what now comprises Marion Township. Nearly all have left here large families, who inherit the blessings of their labors.

The first house erected in the township was that built by Reuben Ragan in 1822. America Hazelett, daughter of Samuel llazelett, was probably the tirst white child burn in the township. Her birth occurred about 1824. The marriage of John Smith, son of John Smith. and Miss Willie Smith, daughter of Judge Smith, was the first that occurred in the township. The first grist-mill in the township was that built on Deer Creek by Samuel llazelett as early as 1820. It stood on section 17. It was in 1834 that Alien Burk put up his horse-mill. James Agee. who. in 1828, had a shop on section 20, was the first blacksmith. Shortly after Agee came Isaac Hope, who erected a shop near the old family residence on section 12. The first store was kept by Ahijah .Robinson at Nicholsonville about 1845. The first postofiice was also kept by Mr. Robinson at the same place. It was afterward removed to Fillmore; but, for several years thereafter, retained its original name of Nicholsonville. William C. IJopwood was the first resident physician, lie located in Fillmore in 1S53. John Denny was the first justice of the peace. He was followed by his brother James Denny, who held the office for fourteen consecutive years.

The Regular Baptist church was the first organized in the township. This was done November 25, 1826, at the house ot' William Denney, by Carter and Charles Hunter and wives, Thomas Broadstreet, Enoch Stone and

I wife, William Nicholson and wife, and Isaac I Monnett. They finally built a house of wor- S ship on the farm of Carter Hunter; but at \ present they have no church building in the ; township. The Missionary Baptists were j organized about 1841. Elders Jones and j Arnold were among their first preachers. ; They have a good frame church., called Bethel, ! two and a half miles southeast of Fillmore. : The first meetings of the Christian church ; were held at the houses of Charles Knetzer j and Ambrose Day. This was before the or- I ganization of the church, which took place I about 1839, and a building, known as Old

Union, was erected on the farm of Ambrose | Day. John M. Harris was their first preach - j er, followed by James M. Matthews, Gilbert i Harney, Nathan Waters, <). P. Badger, Chat- ; terton, James and Perry Blankinship, Cooms, | as well as many others. They have a church I in Fiiimore, which was erected soon after ! the town was laid out. The Methodists or- I ganized a church at what was called "Denny's ; School-house," at' a wry early day. John ino church. In 1838 meetings were held at the houses of Matthew Brann and others. Rev. Owen Owen. Davis, Hancock. Forbes, President Simpson and Prof. Cyrus Nutt were the first preachers of this organization. I The first Methodist church was built on section 16 and called Mount Carmel. After the building of the new church in Fillmore, Mount Carmel was given or sold to the Regular Baptists. Soon after the erection of Mount Carmel, another .Methodist church, named Liberty, was built on the farm of Abbott Robinson, on section 11. This building remained until the congregation erected an elegant frame building, in 1ST1, on a lot given for that purpose by Morris Oliver. Fillmore, the only village in the township, is on the Torre Haute & Indianapolis Rail- , bounded on the nortli by Hendricks County, road, six miles northeast of Greencastle. It on the east by Hendricks and Morgan, and was laid out in 1852, by Benjamin Nichol- on the south by Morgan. It is drained by sou, James Sill and Leonard C. Catterlin, on j Mill Creek, which forms the eastern and land then owned by them, but formerly form- southern boundaries. There are a few small ing a part of Richard Sinclair's farm. tributaries, hut none of any size, which enter

The first store in the town was kept by | that stream within the limits of Putnam Hardin A: Brown in 1852, followed by Ben- County. This township was annexed to jam hi Nicholson, Hardin Wilcox and Moses Putnam County by order of the Hoard of T. Bridges, general dealers; and William T. County Commissioners at the September Smith, who kept a grocery and provision term, 1860, confirmed by act of the Legislastore. Mr. Bridges did wry much toward tu re, approved March 11, 1861. building lip the town, having erected a hotel, | The first settler in this township was and in many other ways added to its prosperity, j Thomas Broadstreet, Si-., who was burn in

Bryce \V. Miller taught the first school in 1826. at the age of thirteen, he came West the township, at his own cabin. He after- with his father, who settled within one mile ward taught at the neighbors' houses - a | of the west edge of the township. Although favorite place being at John Smith's, in what but a boy at that time, he was acquainted was called a three-faced camp, open in front with nearly all the early settlers of the townand built np with iogs on the other three j ship. The first log cabin in Mill Creek sides. This stood on section 10. The next | Township was built in the year 1820, on the was a three-months' school, taught by Alfred west bank of the stream from which the Burton, in a log cabin on section 29, that j township takes its name, one and a halt* miles some one had built for a dwelling and then south of Stilesville, by Jacob Holmes. This deserted. This school was broken up by a j house was afterward sold to James Sallust. man named Nat Hammond, who, becoming , The next was built on what is known as the dissatisfied with the school, went one night | Clark farm, by Thomas Skelton. William and pried down the chimney. The first ' Parker entered [and and built a house close school-building was erected on the farm oi by, u\u\ then cameElisha ilurst and Norman John Denny, on section 28, about the year j Nunn. They were all early settlers, and 1828. and was known as ".Denny's School- I owned land adjoining the Clark farm on the house." John Evans taught, the first school west. William Ileavin came here in the in this house, lie was followed by Lawson year 1827, and at first built a log cabin, but D. Sims and Thomas C. Duckworth, who within a few years erected a good hewed-log taught the first " six-months school " in the house. At a very early day, Mr. Heavin township. The township is now well sup- built a water-mill of the kind known to old plied with good schools, and education is the settlers as a hominy-pestle; and he also order of the day. j planted the first orchard in the township.

Mill ('reek Tow nship lies east of Marion, of "William Ileavin, who died in the year Jefferson and Cloverdale townships, and is I 1830, and was interred near the family dwelling. After eight years more of toil in this new country, her husband followed her in death, and was laid beside the remains of his companion.

James Sallust, father of John and William Sallust of this township and of J. R. Sallust of Oregon, came from Virginia to Mill Creek in the year 1829, and lived in his travelingtent until he built a cabin in which to live. It is remarked of Mr. Sallust that he was a man of great industry, and he put under cultivation a large pavt of the farm on which his son John Sallust is now living. Mr. Sallust made the tirst kiln of brick in the township. His inolder and burner was a man named Daniel Elliott. Mr. Sallust lived to the year 1851. Mr. Mellaffie, from Knox County, Pennsylvania, lather of M. F. Mellaffie, bought land in the north part of the township in the year 1831, to which he removed in the fall of the next year. He built the first water-power grist-mill in the township, in the years 1835-'36. Samuel Beadie, Pleasant Allee and William Allee all came to the township in the year 1837.

The iirst child born in the township was Nancy E. Holmes, daughter of Jacob Holmes, who built the first house in the township. Her birth occurred May 7, 1830. This child died at the age of four years. The first marriage was that of Eli Lee and Polly Ileavin, daughter of William and Barbara Ileavin, in the year 1832. Mr. Lee built the first horse-mill, which was one widely known and extensively patronized for many years. The first school-house in this town- ! ship was built on the farm of a Mr. Bricks. ! The puncheons for the floor and seats of this house were hewed by Pleasant Allee.

The , Methodist church was' organized in the township in the year 1829, at the house of Mr. Bricks, mentioned above. Services were afterward held at the school-house until the erection of Mount Pisgah Church, onthe land of Norman Nunn, in the year 1844 or 1845. Mr. Thomas Broadstreet was one of the earliest if not the first minister in the township.

Thomas Elliott improved the place at the forks of the Greencastle and National roads, where he first built a log house, in which he kept tavern, as did also Mr. Keller, just across the line in Hendricks County. In the year 1837 Mr. Elliott built a brick house, and, in the following year, Mr. Keller built a two-story frame. These were rival houses, and attained to great notoriety. They were known as the "Indian Chief ".Tecumseh and kt Washington Hall." They were together called " the twin taverns."

While the National Road was constructing, in the years 1833 and 1834, the General Government built two bridges over small creeks just west of the twin taverns, the stone abutments of which are good to this day. This is true also of other works of the same kind constructed on that road at the same date.