Pipe Creek Township

Pipe Creek Township

This township, with the addition of Monroe, occupies the entire width of the county. It contains forty-two square miles, and has nine in-and-out corners. Among its first settlers were Jacob Sigler, Isaac Mills, James Beason, Elijah Dwiggins, William Taylor, Joseph Miller, John Gough, Jacob Siiepherd, Henry Pluraraer, and Joiin Quick. Among the Justices who have served we find the names of James Beeson, Jonathan Reader, Francis Sigler, Henry INIills, Henry McElircsh, Richard Miner, M. Mills, J. M. Doughty, Tremelous Beason, Rudolph Brown, Alexander AVood and John Little. The population, in 1850, was one thousand five hundred and twelve; in 1860 it was one thousand six hundred and ninety ; in 1870 it was two thousand three hundred; in 1874 estimated at two thousand five hundred. In 1870 it contained thirteen thousand five iiundred and forty-six aores of improved land. The value of farms and farm implements was $835,170; value of live stock, $125,442; value of all products, §238,179. The number of bushels of corn in 1870 was one hundred and thirty-four thousand five hundred and forty-seven ; number of school houses, eleven. The total value, including grounds, etc., $11,900. The number of grist mills, three; sawmills, five; post offices, two; blacksmith shops, five; harness shops, two; shoe shops, live; physicians, six; drug stores, four ; dry goods stores, five ; groceries, three ; wagon and carriage shops, one ; local preachers, four ; sabbath schools, six; voting precincts, two; carpenters, [eight ; Granges, five; Masonic Lodges, two; Odd Fellow Lodges, two. Frankton and Elwood are both in this township. Pipe Creek and Duck Creek both pass through the township. The Cincinnati and Chicago Railroad passes through the central part, and the Lafayette and Muucie Railroad, now in progress, passes through the northern part, and is, at this writing, graded and ready for the ties. The first town started in this township was New Madison, and was built iu 1835. Among the first ministers was Rev. Beach, who preached at the house of Jacob Sigler iu 1825. The first school house was built at Frankton ia 1830. The first Sunday school was organized by John Snell in 1832. A sabbath school was organized at Elwood, in 1855, by Joseph Anderson. The New Light Society first met at Hagerty's- School House, in 1859, when there was preaching by J. Depboy. Among the first members of this society were William King and wife, Lewis Bailey and wife, Berry Etchison and wife, S. Hurst and Malinda Etcherson. The first United Brethren Church was organized in 1832, at the house of William Montgomery. Among the first members were William Montgomery and wife. It will be seen by the above figures that Pipe Creek is among the foremost in the county, and its soil will compare favorably with the rest of the townships.

This township derived its name from the rich land within its borders. It is well named, for there is no township in the county containing as much good land proportionally. It contains twenty-seven square miles. It joins Delaware county on the east. It was settled in the year 1830, when we find the following were its pioneers : William Curtis, who built the first house in the township ; John Beal, B. F. Walker, Samuel Stephens, William McClosky, Solomon -Nelson, J. W. Westerfield, James and William Maynard and John Hunt. These were followed by J. E,. Holston, Randolph Chambers, Jonathan Dillon, John Coburn,Weems Heagy, Thomas Thornberg, and Madison and Samuel Falkner.

Big Kill Buck passes through this township from the northeast to the southwest. I^ittle Kill Buck flows along the eastern side and empties into Big Kill Buck in the southwest corner of the township.

The Anderson and Alexandria pike and the Anderson and Kill Buck pike both pass through this township. The county poor farm is located in the southern part of this township.

Among the first physicians were John and William A. Hunt and Andrew McNear. It contains two excellent churches aud seven school houses. In 1858 it had lour hundred and one school children, and in 1872 it had three hundred and eighty-six. The total value of school property in 1872 was ^4,500. The number of acres of improved land in 1870 was eleven thousand two hundredand ninety-eight. Value of farms and farm implements, §884,578. Value of live stock $96,203. Value of all products, |219,641. Number of bushels of corn, ninety-five thousand eight hundred and ninety-fonr. The population of the township in 1850 was eight hundred and fifty. In 1860 it was nine hundred and twenty-six. In 1870 it was one thousand and fifty-six, and in 1874 estimated at one thousand two hundred. It has a foreign population of twenty-six.

Among the first Justices were Christian Lower and Jacob Beals. The present Trustee is David E. Croan. It has two woolen factories, two saw mills, one blacksmith and two physicians.

have been discontinued. This township has furnished several prominent men who have served as county officers. They are as follows : John Hunt, John Coburn, David Croan, and Weems Heagy. Among those who have been more or less prominent we may mention B. F. Walker, William Parris, Samuel Falkner, Jacob Bronnenberg and William A. Hunt.

The general surface of this township is level, and as intimated above, very productive. The farm houses in this township are noted for being not only substantial, but tasteful, and i.i many cases elegant. Thus surrounded, the citizens of Richland should be a happy and contented people.

This township contains an area of twenty-eight square miles. Among the first settlers were Thomas Busby, D. E. Studley, Charles Fisher, John Anshultz, John Anderson, George Reddick, Henry Studley, and David Bodenhorn. Among those who* have served as Justices of the Peace we find the following : Thomas Busby, Henry Shederly, John Anshultz, Edwin Lemon, W. A. Fisher, Jacob Kellem, Phillip Anshultz, and Clinton Welch. The population of the township in 1850 was two hundred and ninety-one; in 1860 it was five hundred and ninety-seven-; in 1870 it was one thousand and eighty-two, and in 1874 estimated at one thousand three hundred. The number of acres of land in cultivation in 1870 was eight thousand seven hundred and twenty-four; value of farms and farm implements, $602,413; value of live stock, $67,911 ; number of school houses, nine; total value of school property, including grounds, etc., $4,400. The number of school children in 1858 was three hundred and seven; in 1874 it was four hundred and thirty. There are in this township one post office, three churches, four physicians, two stores, two pre- cincts, twelve miles of pike, two blacksmith shops, two saw mills, three local preachers, four Granges. The pikes from Anderson to Fishersburg, and from Pendleton to Fishersburg, pass through this township. The railroad now in progress from St. Louis to Anderson, by way of Noblesville, passes through Stoney Creek. The length of the line within the township is six miles. Stoney creek passes through the northwestern part. Tliis and the township derived their names from the large amount of stone in the bed of this stream. The first merchant was Charles Fisher; the first physician, James Barrett; first minister, Charles Bonner ; first smith, William Stanley.