Monroe Township

Franklin School Program, March 12, 1915 Cast Of Characters

alice ohn tc OE TOTS ORE AEE GIR tne eee Stella Stewart Wallet osenectue 1.o tre coc. aed coed Bok ee eeu eee pete ee Florence Plott WIGS FOUTS: TCAG HOR fete i vst id val tol gtr See lease Cee dc awe ce os ha eek Irene Sifers Mr. Petchati Tenant OMCer i iss x aseaecenoig weawawnawdeuce deew bhi Bernard Motsinger johnny Stout,a Pat, Lazy Boy: ic 5acuss<e evans ceacixtovenkcbucinnicten, Edward Walters

Source changes here: from Centennial History of Washington County, Indiana : Its People, Industies and Institutions : with Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records of Many of the Old Families, by Stevens, Warder William, published 1916; 3,505 words in this source stream.

Monroe Township

At quite an early day the backbone of land extending north from Salem to the Muscatatuck river was called "Wahiut Ridge'" on account of the fine groves of black-walnut trees that grew on these lands. Along the ridge, extending from the headwaters of Blue river to the Muscatatuck, there was an old Indian trail- that had, no doubt, been traveled over a great deal by redmen, for it was easily traced from one end to the other. The first white men coming into this county', finding this trail, rightly concluded that there must be a fertile country lying to the north, and would have gone there, but for some se;ven or eight years after they first located in this county, the river was considered the "dead-line," between the whites and the warring savages, and it was very liazardous for the pioneers to venture over into disputed territory. The Indians, who remained south of Muscatatuck and White rivers were friendly to the whites and never gave them any trouble. The depredations that were committed were by Indians who came across into the county from the north and west. Walnut ridge, which is now included within the boundaries of Monroe township, was for several years rather a dangerous place for scattered settlers, some of whom were killed by the Indians, and they frequently lost stock by thieving bands of these savages that roamed about through the country.

The first settlers to venture into the township were Adam Housh and Solomon Rink, in 1808. The first cabin built in the township was Housh's, which stood a few rods south of the Kossuth store. Rink had a sort of pen made of poles on his land about a half mile south of where Plattsburg stands. In the spring of 1809, several others moved in, including Jacob Hattabough, \\'illiam Logan and Thomas Denney. In 1810 George Hattabough, Jacob Rink, Michael Rink, Dempsey Rice and many others came in. Shortly after landing here Jacob Hattabough purchased Rink's right to the land he had squatted on. In those days lands sold at the land office for two dollars and fifty cents per acre, on the installment plan. Hattabough had been to Jeffersonville to make a payment on his land and had paid out all but fifty dollars and had a certificate showing that to be a fact, but on his way home he lost his receipt. The word went round that this certificate was lost, when Adam Housh went to Jeftersonville and finished paying out on the land, getting a land warrant in his own name. This gave rise to a lawsuit which came off at Corydon, in which nattabough was winner. Someone had found the certificate he had lost and left it at Royse's Lick, with Doctor Lamb, which put in evidence, with the other facts in the case, won the suit for Hattabough.

The Hamiltons, Logans and Denneys settled about a mile and a half south of the present site of Kossuth. At the close of the War of i8ij, the "ridge" was settled up more rapidly, and two forts were built, one on the Logan farm and the Hattabough fort near the place now called Plattsburg. The Hattabough fort was probably the only regulation old-time fort in the county. It consisted of a pen twenty feet square, built of logs hewed square, to, a height of about eight feet, and on top of this there was another pen twenty-six feet square, projecting three feet on all sides beyond the walls of the bottom pen. There were port holes on all sides of both pens, as well as in the floor extension of the upper pen, to enable inmates to shoot straight down in case of an attaclc by Indians or an attempt to fire the fort. A stockade was built around this fort, made of chestnut poles about ten feet long, set two feet in the ground and touching each other. There were port holes arranged through this fence, one about every six feet. This fort was on the east side of the road, not far from a big spring that comes out of the hillside, and it remained there till some time after 1830, when it nnted and tumbled down.

The Hattabough Family

The Hattaboughs were a very promment family in the develnpTuent of the countrv. Jacob was born in Dover, Delaware, in 1780. 11 is father, Warwick, served with honor through the Re\olutitin. When eighteen years of age Jacob Hattabough went to Kentucky. While there he worked at the tanning business and made four trips to Xew Orleans on fiatli(.>ats. At that time the Spanish controlled that city and fur their products was in Spanish dollars home afoot, ha\-ing a pack Imrse to carr\- I one occasion Hattal)Ough's party was attack a day out from New Orleans. In the assault the pack aiii frightened an<l broke away, but went back to the cit\-. whither turned and found ever\ thing -^afe. It was the custom of lai allow all boats to proceed quietly down the river with their produce, but they laid for the boatmen upon their return. As a means of self -protection several boat crews would join together for mutual protection on the return trip, all well armed. The roads were nothing but paths through the forests and canebrakes. The parties Hattabough returned home with at different times were attacked at several points, but they always put up a strong defense and never lost anything.

This was in the days when the celebrated Harpes roamed at will, robbing and murdering boatmen right and left when the latter were not able to protect themselves. There were two gangs of the Harpes, one headed by "Big" Harpe and another by "Little" Harpe. They became so bold and dangerous that large rewards were offered for their capture. "Big" Harpe was finally run down near Bowling Green, Kentucky, and his head was cut off and placed in the forks of a tree, by the roadside, and for many years this highway was designated the "Harpeshead" road. In 1807, Hattabough made a trip all alone over into the northwest territory. He journeyed over the old Vincennes trail and went on as far west as the American bottom, opposite St. Louis, but returned to what is now Washington county, and concluded the latter was the most desirable place in which to locate. He stopped in Louisville for more than a year, and while there was offered four acres of land, in what is now the business part of the city, for his horse, which he refused, not dreaming what such an investment would have yielded him in years to come. In the spring of 1809 he located in this county, as above related, where the remainder of his days were spent. In 1812 Jacob Hattabough married the Widow Spears, who was the daughter of William Logan. He had met her upon one occasion when he had stopped over night with the Logans on his way to the frontier settlements, when he was on his way back to Kentucky for provisions. He said then he would marry that woman if he could get her.

Jacob Hattabough was one of the "rangers" during the Indian troubles of 1812-15, and was one of the party that pursued the Indians after the Pigeon Roost massacre. Upon one occasion the Indians stole all his horses, some six head, and made way with them, excepting one that was blind, which he found across the river. He sunk the first tanyard in the township, if not in the county, in 1811, on the place where he settled. In r8-'4 he purchased the farm southeast of and in sight of Salem, on the Martinshurq- road, of Guthrie Bullet, where he erected a brick house and lived for manv vears.

When the rebel John Morgan and his army came through Salem, in 1863, Hattaboiigh was "crippling" around on the streets, having had a leg broken some years before. When a squad of soldiers accosted him and asked him if he was a Democrat or Abolitionist, he wiped his eyes and resiwnded loudly, "Sirs, I am a Democrat!" They then told him to hurrah for Jeff Davis, which he refused to do. They told him he could do as he was bid or be shot, at the same time cocking their pistols and pointing them at his breast.

"Shoot and be damned," he cried, "You can't cheat me out of much time anyhow." At this reply they passed on, swearing the while that he was the contraries! and ganiest old man they ever saw. The old man then went around and had an interview with General Morgan at his room in the hotel, and thought him a fine-looking fellow.

George Hattabough came to the township in the spring of 1810, locating on the piece of land just south of what is now Plattsburg. He had nine children, two sets of twins, all born in the Shenandoah valley, A'irginia. He, too, was one of the "rangers," and always ready to join in the pursuit of thieving, murdering Indians. The Hattaboughs were all powerful men and great fighters. They were not particularly quarrelsome, but at all musters and elections they were always present, and stepped around with a chip on their shoulders ; and whoever dared to knock it off had trouble right there.

Thomas Denney, who located on the west side of the road, nearly opposite the Logan place, married a daughter of Hattabough. His son Joseph was one of the stoutest men in the county during his day. A perfect lamb when not imposed upon, but a lion in his fury. Upon one occasion. during the Civil War, he was on the cars bound for a Democratic state convention at Indianapolis. There was a squad of soldiers on the train going home on furlough and they concluded they would have some fun out of the old "butternut," as they called him. Denney stood their slurs and abuse as long as he could when he arose and went for the whole bunch, which after a short set-to, retreated into another coach with bloody noses and battered faces. W^hen asked what the trouble was the soldiers said they had made a mistake and tackled a hurricane, instead of a "butternut."

Col. E. D. Logan

of the militia and iieaded several raids upon Indians who infested the country, threatening life and property of early settlers. The sabre he carried upon all expeditions and at musters is preserved at the Indiana University museum. Monroe township suffered more from Indian raids than any other part of the county. When the Pigeon Roost massacre news was received Colonel Logan hastened to inform settlers of the fact, and they expected the Indians would visit the settlement on their return the next day. All the women and children were taken off into the woods and hid in the hollows where no Indian would ever go, while the men remained at the forts and prepared for fight. They kept watch all day and night, but no Indians put in an appearance; having crossed the Muscatatuck farther up in beating their hasty retreat. Many of Colonel Logan's men joined Col. Henry Dawalt's volunteers, who pursued the savages some days, but could not overtake them.

Delaney's creek took its name from an old Indian named "Delaney," who remained in the valley several years after the others of his tribe had gone. He had a wigwam on the banks of the creek about a mile from where it empties into the Muscatatuck, and subsisted by hunting and fishing. He was finally persuaded to go West, but the old fellow very reluctantly turned his back upon the scenes he had so long enjoyed - the streams and woodlands that had afforded him so much pleasure in his latter days. In those days all the smaller streams.as well as the large ones, literally swarmed with fish. Fish dams were made across the Aluscatatuck where everybody came and got all they wanted.

Fresh Fish For All

To make a fish dam, small poles were driven in the mud at the bottom of the river, a space one to one and one-half inches being left between each stick. These stakes extended above the water, during the summer season, about two feet, and were bound or withed together at the top with vines or willow houghs. Two or three openings were left between the stakes to allow fish to i)ass up the stream. Below the oiiening a fish -trap, or box, was set, and any time these traps were raised all sorts of fish, eels, gars and turtles were taken out. If the traps were carefully watched when fish were running it took but a little while to get a whole wagon body full.

about one mile northeast of Kossuth, where they operated on the sly for several years. Several prominent men in the township were accused uf lending the nefarious project countenance and support. Xo effort was made to circulate the spurious -oin in the county for fear of l>eing detected, but men from other parts of the country would come in and purchase sui)plies as needed. A couple of the most notorious characters connected with the "joint" were punished severely one night, and ordered to leave, which caused operations to suspend. The}' left some of their molds and dies behind when the cabin was abandoned.

In 1819 John DePauw erected a saw and grist-mill on the Muscatatuck. and named the place "Millport." It was a water mil! and was operated regularly until about 1850, when the dam washed out during a spring freshet. From this point several flat-boats were sent out every spring as the waters subsided; many of the Salem merchants put their surplus farm products in these boats, it being then the most convenient method of getting their stuff to the southern market - New Orleans then being the only outlet for farm products for all the Ohio and Mississippi valleys. After the dam at Millport washed away the farmers owning lands about the mill seriously objected to its being replaced, whereupon W. C. DePauw put in a steam power which he operated for several years; Jonathan Pidgeon being the head man of the entire plant, he being the owner of the mill when the dam washed out. ^Vhen the Salem and Millport plank road was completed in the fall of 1851 and the spring of 1852, most of the lumber used was sawed at Millport; there being much fine timljer on the knobs near the mill. This was the only plank mad ever completed in the county, se\'eral nthers being talked of and even rights of way being secured for the saiue. One was to lead from Harrstown from Delaney's creek and on to Brownstown, and some grading was begun on the same, but work ceased for lack of funds.

.The second tan yard sunk in the township was done by Adam Housh. between Plattsburg and Millport in 1816. James and John Weston had one in Delaney's creek in 1820. It changed hands several times, Imt was kept running until about 1865, and did (|uite a business. James Coffey had one about 1830, which was afterward operated liy [lenr\- BottoriT. There were some others in the township operated a short time.

Marten Robinson built a saw and grist-mill on Delaney's creek, about two miles from its mouth, in 181 7, whicli was run about thirty years. Like all other saw-mills of the day it was the old-fashioned, up and down sash saw. James Weston & Son had a saw-mill on Delaney in 1835. Joseph Goodson also built and operated for a time a saw-mill on the creek. S. B. Paugh built a saw and f^our-mill near the mouth of the creek in i860. It was afterward operated by the Peugh Brothers and a. general store was opened. They also built and operated a tile factory, finding a ready sale for their products all along the river bottoms as they were cleared up and put under cultivation.

Stores And Distilleries

The first store was opened in 1830 by Thomas Denney, on his farm about seven miles north of Salem. He carried only a small stock of groceries and dry goods. Two years later he moved it to Plattsburg. Then Jacob Prince opened a small store in 1833, about one-half mile south of Kossuth, to which place he moved it in 1834, and sold the same to Botts & Logan. John DePauw about 1825 had a store at Millport, conducted by Jesse Patterson.

There were distilleries in operation in almost every neighborhood in the township from 181 8 till i860. Almost every farmer had a good-sized orchard and fruit was mostly made into brandy. Every flat-boat that floated down the river had aboard more or less brandy or whisky. Dempsey Rice operated one in the southwest corner of the township; William Logan, one near Ivossuth; George and Philip Hattabough, one each at Plattsburg; Samuel Brown, one on the old Rice place; George Housh, one on the old Elliott place : Ezekiel Logan, one on George Pugh's place, and Thomas Denney, one jnst north of Logan's. Then ^^'illiam Laine, William Warriner, Reuben Shields and Mathevv Robinson each had distilleries down on Delaney's creek.

Early Postoffices

The first postofflce was called "Walnut Ridge" and the first postmaster was Thomas Denney. In 1852 Dempsey Rice was postmaster instead of Denney, wht-n an office was established at Kossuth, with S. B. Pugh postmaster. Soon afterward the postoffice at Walnut Ridge was annulled. Al)c.ut 1S50 an office was established at Millport, with Dennis Sandford postmaster, on the north ^ide of the Muscatatuck. This was soon after transferred lo the Alillport ston-, with Jesse Patterson postmaster. In 1871 an office wa> established at Delaney's Creek. 1*'.. II. Peugh was the postmaster.

Most of the very early settlers of Monroe township were devoted friends of education, and many j)ossesscd the necessary qualifications of a good teacher, to wit : A fairly good education for that ila}- and a superabundance of muscle. As soon as the children were safe from the scalping knife of the lurking savage a home was found for them in the primitive school room. As soon as a sufficient number of the first settler.s could be collected together two forts were erected on the ridge, to guard against Indian excursions from across the river, where the hostile savages still lived in considerable numbers. The fort that stood within about one hundred yards of what is now Plattsburg was used for school purposes for a time, until a cabin could be built.

The first school was taught on the farm known in later days as the Norvall Peugh place, in 1812. Among the earliest teachers are the names of John Sutton, Jesse Rowland, James Blythe, William I\Ic.-\fee, Benjamin Hamilton, a Mr. Dake and Joseph Denney. Mr. Dake taught the first "silent" school in all that section. In discipline Mr. Blythe was very severe and lucky was the urchin who escaped chastisement at his hands for infringement of rules. These rules were written on a page of foolscap }>aper and tacked up on the door by means of W(joden pegs. At each curner of the sheet a penknife blade was inserted, extending into the wood, and into this hole a wedge sort of wooden peg was driven. They had not come to "brass tacks" yet in those days. I\Ir. Joe Denney probably taught more terms of school in this township than any other one man.

The hand-writing of most teachers of that date was almost i)erfect as is yet witnessed by some of the old deeds and papers which they wrote and which have been preser\-ed. Children were encouraged to learn to write well and it was considered one of the greatest accomplishments they could possess to be able to make a good quill ]>en and handle it de.xterously.

Un<ler the administration of Charles Lockwood, in 1903-4, the first central township school in the cmnit}- was built, just south of Plattsburg. The children were carried to and from school in wagons, or busses, built expresslv for the purpose. The school soon became quite popular, as l)v this means first-class teachers could lie em])loyed and a grading system adopted.

.-\ three-year high school course has been added to the work in the grades, and three teachers are now employed. The enrollment in the high school course, during the year of i()i4-i5, was sixteen. The following teachers have had charge of this department since it was estaWished : Norvil R. E. Cavanaugh, Wilbur Peugh, Earl Richardson, Edward Bundy, Wilbur Hottel, \'ance Trueblood and Vinnie Denny. The school and its work have been eminently successful and its usefulness is expected to increase from year to year.

At the present time there are three general stores in operation in the township, Alexander Sutton and Frank Lockwood each have a store at Kossuth, and Virgil Hattabough conducts one at Millport. Dr. S. B. Howard is a physician at Plattsburg.