Polk Township

Origin Of The Name

Ier civil division of the county of Monroe, as will be seen more fully in another chapter of this volume, was organized soon after the termination of the administration of President James K. Polk, and in his honor was given the name it now bears. Some portions of the township are extremely rough, with soil of unfortunate sterility ; but other portions are mildly rolling, have numerous natural springs of excellent water, and a surface soil that is practically inexhaustible. Owing to the worthlessness of a few tracts, they were not entered from the Government until within the last ten or fifteen years. The soil was poor and too precipitous to be easily cultivated, and even such timber as grew upon it was comparatively worthless, consisting mainly of small, soft growths and numerous thickets of heavy underbrush. In other portions, however, and usually upon the better lands, grew a rich and varied native forestry of walnut, beech, ash, whitewood, oak and other woods, of equal worth. Scattered throughout the length and breadth of the township along the valleys and in the lower localities was the rich land which attracted the first settlers.

The Farly Land-Buyers

The first tract of land entered in Congressional Township 7 north, Range 1 east, was on Section 4. On the 10th of December, 1821, a dozen and more years before the general settlement of the township, Elijah Elliott bought ninety and a fraction acres, but did not erect buildings of any kind nor attempt to reside on the land he had bought. The next entries and the first permanent ones were by men who became the most prominent the township has produced and whose children and grandchildren continue to sustain the honor of the family name. In the year 1823, five years after the organization of the county, when what is now Polk Township was an uninhabited wildwood, except, perhaps, by some temporary family of trappers or hunters, the old settler, George Todd, bought a tract of eighty acres on Section 26, and made preparations to erect thereon rude log buildings for his family and others for his cattle and horses. With the help of bis brothers and a man or two who went out with him, the necessary buildings were soon erected and the family immured in their new home. The woods around were full of deer, and occasionally a bear would be seen near the cabin. Three years afterward Mr. Todd bought eighty acres more on the same section, and also eighty acres on Section 23. This gave him a good farm - more in fact than he could use to advantage. In 1831, Andrew Todd bought eighty acres on Section 15, and John Todd eighty acres on Section 14. The second settler, and a man who was to play a conspicuous part in the subsequent history of the township, Thomas Fleetwood, came to the township in 1826, and bought eighty acres of land on Section 36, near that of Mr. Todd. In 1833, he bought forty acres more on the same section. In 1829, Isaac Fleetwood bought eighty acres on Section 35, and in 1834, bought forty acres on Section 26. Solomon Fleetwood bought on Section 26 in 1837, and Joseph Fleetwood on Section 86 in 1839. Joseph Stipp became the owner of eighty acres on Section 20 in 1832, and four years later entered forty acres on Section 19. William Moss entered a piece in 1834 and another in 1836 on Section T, and Alexander Newton secured forty acres on Section 23. A piece on Section 10 was bought by William B. Todd in 1837, and another on the same section by David Hawkins in 1839. Robert Hicks selected a tract on Section 36 in 1834, William R. Coombs in 1836, and Benjamin Browning in 1837. Isaac Norman bought on Section 35 in 1836, and Moses Martin in 1839. An eighty-acre tract on Section 32 went to Green C. Mize in 1837, Sidney S. Meadows and Q. N. Cain purchased on Section 31 in 1836, and William Henry on the same in 1838. In 1836. both Natty Gougle and Thomas Chambers entered small pieces on Section 30, William Todd bought on Section 26 in 1837 and James Todd on the same in 1839. William Newton also entered land on this section - one piece in 1836 and another in 1837, and Samuel Axom did the same in 1839. William Henry, Jr., and Elizabeth Chambers became the owners of tracts on Section 18 in 1837 and 1838, respectively. John Hanson bought on Section 17 in 1887, and Jesse Davar the same year, and 1839 on Sections 5 and 4. Aaron M. Johnson obtained eighty acres in 1836 on Section 3, and Benjamin H. Halleck forty acres the same year on the same section. Nelson Robertson secured forty acres in 1837 on Section 2. All these tracts of land were in Township 7 north, Range 1 east, but this does not comprise all of the present Polk Township. Twelve sections were detached from Brown County by an act of the Legislature and made a part of Polk Township and Monroe County. The only entries on these twelve sections before 1840 were as follows: Jonathan Faulks and Joshua Repper on Section 31 in 1829, and Charles Sipes on Section 29 in 1836. These twelve sections are a part of Congressional Township T north, Range 2 east of the Second Principal Meridian. All the land entered in the township previous to 1840 has now been given.

The township was sparsely settled only at this date, Benjamin Browning lived in the southern part, was taxed for 54 acres, which with improvements were listed at $218, and was assessed $3.16. Reuben Clark lived on section 10; he paid a tax of $6.15 on $436 worth of real and personal property. Q. N. Cain resided in the township, but seems to have owned no land; his personal property was $40. Joseph Cracraft owned no land ; and paid tax on $40 of personal property. John Cherry also resided in the township, as did also David Cherry. William Colder paid on $100 of personal property. Wiley Davar lived on Section 15, and was assessed $3.22. Thomas Fleetwood, who lived down on Section 36, was assessed a tax of $8.54; he had $1,400 worth of personal property and his total taxables were $2,138; his land amounted to 194 acres, a portion being on Section 85. William Hunter owned 175 acres on Section 31, and paid a tax of $6.50. Joseph Miller lived on Section 17, and paid $2.84. William Mize lived also on Section 17; his tax was $1.46. Peter Norman owned 240 acres on Sections 26 and 35; his personal property was $800 and total taxables $1,660; his tax was $8.14. The following entry appears upon the tax duplicate: 'Mr. Norman thinks he ia taxed too much and ought to be released." Isaac Norman paid a polltax. Nelson Robertson lived on Section 2, and D. A. Rogers on Section 4. John Sipes owned a cottage on Section 20. Joshua Stepp owned 120 acres on Sections 19 and 20, and paid a tax of $3.84. James Stepp paid a poll tax. John, Thomas and James Todd were assessed each a poll tax ; but George, Henry and William, although their names appear on the duplicate, seem to have been delinquent. Henry was assessed a poll tax, but seems not to have paid it whendue. John Todd paid a tax of $7.40; Thomas Todd $10.87; and James Todd $4.70; but $6.83: of the tax of Thomas was delinquencies settled. About a half a dozen more men were then Jiving in the township, but their names cannot be given for certainty. Some twenty or thirty families arrived during the remainder of the dec- ade of forties, but the real settlement in its fullness did not commence until the fifties, at which time most of the land was purchased and occupied. The township was organized in 1849.

The Counterfeiters

During the decades of the forties and fifties - late in the forties and the greater portion of the fifties - bands of counterfeiters, horse-thieves, burglars, etc., overran the greater portion of Indiana, and Monroe County did not escape the pestilence. Within its limits were partially uninhabited tracts of rough country, where ravines, morasses and impenetrable thickets furnished an excellent retreat for the light-fingered gentry to ply their unlawful depredations. In some localities of the State, neighbor could place no dependence on neighbor, for the inducements to pass counterfeit money were so strong, owing to the poverty of the masses and the great advantages of a few hundred dollars, that men of previous good character were persuaded to connect themselves with manufacturers of counterfeit bills or bogus coin in order to reap a harvest for a short time, after which they expected to resume their places of honor and good standing untouched by the stigma of crimeor misdemeanor. 'The southeastern portion of Monroe County early showed evidences of illegal transactions of this character. Several of the residents of Polk Township were suspected of complicity, but nothing definite was learned until late in the fifties. Before this, however, counterfeit bills on the various State banks and bogus coin of fair appearance, color and weight made their appearance in the county at the mercantile establishments, and steps weré taken to ferret out the rascals. But the system in vogue among the malefactors for anumber of years completely or nearly so bewildered the local authorities, and but little headway was made in ending the "reign of crime." It is likely that no unlawful money was manufactured in Monroe County. Passers of counterfeit money, however, were quite numerous. This soon led to the organization of companies of regulators - men of honesty in Polk Township and vicinity - who resolved to end the career of the lawbreakers if careful watch and persistent effort would do sv, and in this they susceeded.

The plan or mode of regulation became quite popular, and was regarded as an effective and satisfactory way of settling with the lawbreakers. It led, however, to grave abuses. In more than one section of the county, a number of men who entertained a grudge against a neighbor would assemble at his residence at night, thoroughly disguised, and would then proceed to give him a terrible whipping. A man named Bingham, living in the county, was thus treated, and so severe was the punishment that his body was a mass of bruised and blackened flesh, from which he died in a few days. The man was no doubt an honest citizen. Another, named Vansickle, was terribly whipped, and after a few months died from the effects at what became Vansickle's mills, in the southern

Schools And Churches

The first school was taught in the vicinity of the Todds, early in the forties, but the name of the teacher cannot be given. The house was of logs, and had been built for a dwelling, but the family had vacated it, after which it was transformed into a seat of learning. Schools did not generally start up until the decade of fifties. In 1856, there were but four schoolhouses in the township, both of logs. There are now six or eight. Mr. Todd donated the land on Section 26 for a schoolhouse, and William Hunter the land on Section 31, Range 2 east; the latter included a fine spring of running water. Early in the fifties the Methodist Church, called Chapel Hill, was organized, and soon afterward the building was erected. Among the early members were the families of A. J. Temple, John T. Cracraft, David Miller, Jackson Cracraft and Felix Miller and others. Charles Bruner was an early pastor. Another early church was the one called Pleasant Valley of the Methodists. ` John Allen, Thomas Allen, Eldridge Prince, William Edds and others were members. Another early class was the Methodist Church, called Salem Chapel, some of the early members being the families of Peter Norman, William Hunter, Benjamin Browning, Lucien D. , John F. Walker, L. Q. Hoggatt, William H. Cornelius.

The First Elections

When the township was created in 1849, elections were ordered held at the house of John Todd, or "at Todd's Big Springs." These springs were fine ones and had induced Mr. Todd to locate in their vicinity. Elections were held at Mr. Todd's for several years. The old blacksmith shop there was probably used. Wylie Davar and Samuel Axam were the first Fence Viewers, Peter Norman the first Inspector of Elections and Wylie Davar the first Constable. The school section was not sold until the fifties.

Chapel Hill

In the month of October, 1856, David Miller and John Smith, owners, employed the County Surveyor to lay off twenty-seven lots on the northwest quarter of the southeast quarter of Section 31, Township 7 north, Range 1 east, and named the village thus started on paper Chapel Hill. Their hopes of having a thriving town spring up there, however, were doomed to disappointment. A start was made, but the infant was

Physical Description

HIS township was not} created until the forties, but remained a part of Benton during much of the early history of the county after the latter township was formed and organized. It is the smallest civil division of the county, but contains some of the best and most prominent citizens. Some of the finest and best cultivated farms are here, and the schools and churches will compare favorably with any other portion of the county. The township is generally rolling, the uplands being largely of clay, while along the streams and in several natural depressions a fine alluvial soil, mingled with more or less of sand, returns to the farmer abundant harvests for his labor. The timber is one of the township's best sources of wealth, and is usually allowed to stand on the poorer soil, and is taken from the better soil to give room for the husbandman. There are several fine springs, which furnish water as cold as ice and as pure and clear as crystal.

Geology

One-fourth of a mile southwest of Monroe's mill, on Hacker's Creek, the bed and banks are thickly strewn with granite bowlders. Some beautiful specimens of sienite, greenstone, quartzite and flesh-colored feldspar also abound. One mile east of Monroe's mill, the knobstone is 100 feet thick. On Honey Creek, black sand (magnetic iron ore), similar to the gold-bearing sand of Bear Creek, Brown County, may be seen. Granite bowlders strew the ground. Beautiful geodes and fine fossils are found. Black sand containing gold traces is also found in Wolf Creek, which has its head in Brown County.

The Settlement

Marion Township was not settled generally until long after the organization of the county, but this was not due to any natural unattractiveness. It probably arose from the fact that the township was far removed from the county seat, from the larger water-courses where settlements then congregated, and from the highways uniting the leading commercial centers of the early times. This was no fault of the township. It lay there with its broad, rich acres, inviting the agriculturist to homes of plenty and comfort. And at last he came. Like all portions of this part of Indiana, it is difficult to give with any degree of certainty the name of the first settler, and it is still more difficult to give the time of settlement. Many early settlers lived on their lands a number of years before they had been purchased, simply enjoying a squatter's rights. Many others lived on lands which they cultivated for a half dozen or more years, and did not finally buy, as they were simply occupied temporarily, owing to the poverty of the pioneer or to his intention to locate elsewhere. But at last the settler came, and came tostay. The first tract of land purchased in the township was on Section 6. It was entered on the 30th of July, 1823, by Osborn & Brown, merchants, who did not locate for residence in the township at all. They sold the land to others. The second entry was on Section 18, in 1827, by Jehu Buckner, who was no doubt the first permanent settler. He entered a tract on Section 7. at the same time. He built a Jog cabin, in which his family resided for many years. Of course he saw hard times, but not as much so ag did those early settlers who had no mills nor stores nor markets nearer than twenty or thirty miles, and no teams but half-starved oxen. The Buckners grew up with the township, saw the lands yield to the efforts of themselves and their neighbors, saw prosperous homes dot the expanse where they had once seen impenetrable forests, and saw their possessions increase and widen out as the years passed. Shad Martin entered a tract (the third) on Section 18 in September, 1829. James Stepp came to the township in 1832, and purchased two tracts on Section 2. His family and relatives have since resided in the township. They have been among the most enterprising and respected of the citizens. A. H. Fulford purchased a tract on Section 4, in the year 1832. Members of this family have since resided in the township. James and Wylie Poynter bought land on Section 4 in 1833. Their families also became prominent and influential. During the same year - the year of the great meteoric shower, one of the most memorable in the history of the world - Adam Wall bought a fine piece of land on Section 21. His family and that of Conrad Wall were prominent in early times. In 1834 the Hendricksons - as good citizens as old Monroe or young Marion has - came to the township for permanent residence. They bought land on Sections 15, 21, 22, 14, and perhaps others. There were three of them - Thomas J., Joshua and Ezekiel - who established homes in the woods of Marion. By the way, the township was named for that hero of the Revolution,

The old settler, Reuben Stepp, bought land on Section 21 in 1835, and became a prominent resident of the township He also bought a small tract on Section 6 in 1836. William Stewart bought on Section 2 in 1837, and Henry Hicks on the same section the same year. George Downey obtained a tract on the same section in 1836, and bought more on Section 3 the following year. John M. Thomas and Spencer McDaniel secured farms on Section 4 in 1887. Valentine Hacker and G. Percifield bought in 1836 on Section 6, and Thomas M. Graham in 1837 on Section 8; David Wampler and Savoy Stepps secured tracts on Section 9 in 1837; and William McMillen and Joseph Baugh on Section 14 in the same year. William McCay bought on Section 19 during the same year.' Michael Fleener bought on Section 35 at an early day. His relatives and himself became prominent in Marion and Benton Townships. John J. Graham became the owner of a piece of land on Section 3 in 1838, and George M. Fry on Section 2 in 1839; William Woodall bought on Section 36 in 1839. These were all the entries of land prior to 1840. The decade of the forties saw but little increase comparatively in the number of permanent and substantial residents. During the fifties, however, nearly all of the land in the township was bought by men who were, or who became, actual residents of the township. In 1841, the following well-known men resided in the township, and may be called the pioneers of Marion; Jehu Buckner, who owned land on Sections 6, 7, and 10, and who paid a State and county tax of $13.22, the highest in the township; Thomas Bates, on Section 15; Absalom Fulford, on Section 4; John Goodwin, on Section 18; J. J. and Samuel Graham, on Section 7; Abraham Goodsey, on Section 10; Ezekiel Hendrickson, on Sections 22 and 27; Thomas Hendrickson, on Section 17; Valentine Hacker, om Section 6, who paid a tax of $9.88 ; Reuben Stepp on Sections 21 and 27; Conrad and Adam Wall, on Section 21, and David Wampler on Section 9.

Schools did not start up until late in the forties, and even then inferior and few. The first houses were of logs, rudely built, and were uninviting places until cold weather came, and the huge fire-places were filled with roaring logs and the dark room with a glow of ruddy light. A good school was started in the Hendrickson neighborhood early in the' fifties, and fora time was the only well-conducted institution of learning in the township. Soon afterward, however, another was established in the northern part, in the Stepp neighborhood, and was well attended, the teachers usually being citizens of the neighborhood. Late in the fifties, a schoo] was conducted for a few years in the northeastern corner, and about the same time in the southeastern, near the creek. Four or five good schools are now conducted in the township. 'The early residents of the southern part were forced to go to Unionville to get the advantages of religious instruction. A congregation of the Church of Christ was established there during the forties, and drew a portion of its membership from Marion. The residents of the western and southwestern parts went to the '' Separate Baptist Church " on Section 13, Washington Township, and also to the Methodist Church in the southern part of the same township. When Reuben Stepp deeded a small piece of land to the Township Trustees to be used for school purposes, a proviso was inserted that the building should be used by any religious denomination when not occupied for educational purposes. 'This land was on Section 9. Ezekiel Hendrickson deeded the

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