Monroe Township

Monroe Township

This township was one of/ the first settled, and is one of the best in the county. It is Congressional township 15, range 4, and is bounded on the north by Franklin, on the east by Floyd, on the south by Greencastle, . and on the west by Clinton townships. The surface is mostly level in the north part, but more rolling in the south. The soil is a rich black loam, superimposed upon a yellow clay subsoil. Like the rest of the county, Monroe was originally covered with a splendid growth of valuable timber, most of which has been cut and sold. The streams of the township consist of a few branches of Big and Little Walnnt, the latter just cutting the southeast corner on section 38. ' The township is well improved. It has two gravel roads, one running north from Greeueastle, the other west from Bainbridge. Along these roads lies some of the finest country in Putnam Count)'; and the farms are well improved, presenting the evidence of care and skill on the part of their owner*.

The first settlers were Jesse and Rollin James, Elias Gibson and John Powell, who built their cabins in 1821,m the- west part of the township, not far from where Brick Chapel now stands. In 1822 came Isaiah Vermillion, Thomas Head}-, Barnabas Frakes, George W. Hewlett and Philip Ford. During the next two years Levi Stewart, .John, Abner and O. Goodwin and George Pearcy became citizens. Within the years 1825 and 1820 they were joined by William Randall, James W. Hillis, Joseph Logan, Mr. McCorkle, William II. Thornburg, Andy Sigler, Captain Tumbrick, Jonathan, Aaron and Henry Myers, Mr. Glover, John and George Jackson, Mr. Baileys, Thomas Benge, "William Moss, Reuben Slavens, Edward Parish, Andrew Byerly, Joseph Heath, Philip Slater, Hudson and Eli Brackney, Robert N. Allen, Thomas Starks, Mr. Busey, John Allen, Mr. Penny, Abraham Leatherinan and Luke Gardner. The years 1827 and 1828 mark the arrival of Robert C. Brown, Addison and Josiah Lane, Samuel Job, Elswick Risk, George Gibson, John F rakes, J. and P. Clement and W. Hansel. There was a large increase of population in the following two years, among whom were James Montgomery, Daniel Chadd, James Fisk, Phelan and Corbin Priest, dames O'Hair, John Brown, Henry Foster, Alexander Tolin, PeterGraves, John Gilkey, Hiram B. Slavens,

Alexander Farrow, Thomas Tinsley, William Garrett, Sharp Spencer, Mrs. Brother* and her: son Robert lb-others ami Mr. Dale. Among those who came soon afterward may be named the Darnal'ls, 'the Starrs, the Thorntons and the Fyffes.

The marriage of George Jackson and Susannah Tomlinson was the first in the township. The first blacksmith was John Jackson, who built a shop on section 32. Thomas Heady Was the first justice of the peace. Then came Reuben Slavens and Alexander Tolin as his successors in office. The first who died in the township was a man named Lane. He was buried on the farm of George W. Hewlett. The Brick Chapel graveyard is one of the oldest in the township, and has a beautiful 'location. The first school was taught by George Pearcy on section 1, north of Bainbridge. About the year 1826 Addison 'Lane taught a school near the site of Brick Chapel, which was the first in that neighborhood. He was followed by Joseph Farley, Hiram B. Slavens and John Slavens. The Christians held the first meetings in the township at the house of George W. Hewlett in 18^3. Gilbert llaniey preached and conducted the services. This house was used as a place of worship for several years by different denominations. Rev. Benjamin Jones, a Methodist minister, held services also at the house of Mr. Hewlett, shortly after the Christian meetings at the same place, and here the Methodist church was organized by Daniel Anderson and Benjamin C. Stevenson. This must have taken place in the conference year 1820-'27, as Anderson and Stevenson were then pastors of the Eel River Circuit. Meetings were also held in a log schoolhouse that stood where Brick Chapel now stands. The first church-building was erected by the Methodists on the present site of the Montgomery Chapel. It was a small brick

Towmship Sketches

Bainbridge is a flourishing village on parts j of sections 1, 2, 11 and 12, and is a station j on the Louisville, New Albany & Chicago Railroad. Its history will be given in a j subsequent division of this department of I the volume.