Posey Township

Posey Township

THIS, the second township in size in the county, is situated in the northwestern part thereof, bounded on the north by Henry and Wayne Counties, on the east by Wayne County, on the south by Fairview and Harrison Townships, and on the west by Rush County. Its organization dates from 1823. The Commissioners of the county at their February session of that year ordered that "henceforth all that district of country and part of Harrison Township which is inclosed in the following bounds, shall form and constitute a new township to be known and designated by the name of Posey Township, to-wit: Beginning at the southwest corner of Wayne County, at the southeast corner of Section 28, running thence north on the county line live miles to the extreme northeast corner of Fayette County; thence west six miles to the northwest corner of said county; thence south five miles to the southwest corner of Section 27; thence east on the section line to the place of beginning." The boundary lines are the same to-day as when originally formed.

Land Entries

Section 5, sold in 1821. 1822, 1823 and 1824, to James Swofford, Henry Thornburg, Peter Wails, Daniel Mills, Nehemiah Stanbrough, Andrew Pentecost, Michael Spencer and Isaac Galbraith.

Section (5, sold in 1822, 1824, 1826 and 1836, to Rachael Frazier, David Galbraith, James McConkey, William Moore, John Frazier, Ezra Hunt and Benjamin Griffin.

Section 27, sold in 1821, 1823, 1824 and 1826, to Michael Brown, John C Cook, Reason W. Debriler, Samuel Knotts, Jonathan Hatfield and Greenbury Lahine.

Section 23, sold in 1821, 1823, 1826 and 1828, to Micajah Jackson, John Mallins, John Peanell, William Pattison, Matthew Marhland, L. Whitehead, Henderson Bragg and Nathan Wilson.

Section 14, sold in 1821, 1822, 1824 and 1825, to Robert Dollahan, John Banlill, Isaac Metcalf, William Beard, Samuel Alexander and Casper Stoner.

Section 22, sold in 1824, 1825, 1826, 1828 and 1829, to John Coleman, Isaac Personett, Robert Moulton, G. Pattison, A. J. Veatch and William Jackson.

Section 10, sold in 1821, 1826, 1830 and 1831, to Noah Fonts, Thomas Smith, Edward Frazier, John MoflBtt, Edward Fryan, William Shaw and Thomas Knipe.

Section 3, sold in 1822, 1823, 1829 and 1830, to William Walters, Isaac Metcalf, Charles Smith, R. Spencer, Peter Voorhes, John G. Eaton and Thomas K. Stiles.

Pioneers And Pioneer Notes

In the above list of names of the original purchasers of the land of Posey Township are many who were actual settlers, moved upon the land, cleared and improved farms, took part in the building of churches, schoolhouses and roads, figured in its political and civil history, and were identified with the various movements made in the direction of progress and high state of civilization.

The earliest settler of whom we have been able to get any definite information is George Manlove, a native of North Carolina, who attempted a settlement on the head- waters of Lick Creek in the southeastern part of the township in 1811, entering the northeast quarter of Section 28, October 31, 1811, the first purchase made in what is now Posey Township. Mr. Manlove was related to the Caldwell's who settled at the same time just east in what is'now Harrison Township. They had all settled for a time at Fairhaven, Preble Co., Ohio, from whence they came to what became Fayette County. It is said that Mr. Manlove, with the Caldwells, being somewhat afraid of trouble with the Indians, returned

John Loder emigrated from the State of New Jersey and settled on the land entered in 1814, in 1816 or 1817. He was the father of Mrs. Linville Ferguson, now of Milton, this State.

The Mungers, among the first to enter and settle upon land in the " New Purchase, " were from Rutland County, Vt. Edmund K. , with family, settled about one and a half miles southeast of the present site of Bentonville in the fall of 1821. He was the son of Brig.-Gen. Edward Munger, of Vermont, who in the early history of Ohio went to Belpre, and there raised and disciplined an army, with headquarters near Dayton. The Mungers settled for a time in that locality, where now, in Montgomery and Greene Counties (Ohio), a number of their descendants reside. Edward and Lazarus, now residents of this township' are sons of Edmund K.

Andrew M. B. Cole, still a resident of the township, a brother-in-law of the Edmund K. Munger just spoken of, came to this locality with him, but soon returned to his native State, Virginia, and in 1826, with his parents, Samuel and Catharine, made a permanent settlement.

George Van Buskirk, Sr., and family, from Kentucky, settled in the vicinity of Cambridge City in 1815, and in 1831 a son, George, Jr., settled in the vicinity of where he now resides just west of Bentonville, where he has played well his part in converting the wilderness of that day into the beautiful farms of the present.

Among other pioneers of that part of the township lying in the " New Purchase" were the Galbreaths, Isaac and David, who emigrated from Kentucky in 1820, and in that year settled Jehu Vickroy, from North Carolina.

In 1821 came John Chapel, Micajah Jackson, Henry Thornburg, Reason Reagan and Bennett B. Cook, from North Carolina; John G. and William Eaton, from Ohio; John Middleton and Thomas B. Stiles, from New Jersey; Amos Goflf, from Kentucky; Peter Marts, from Pennsylvania.

In 1822 came John Hallis, William Beard, Robert Mitchell, James McConkey, Daniel New, William Patterson, Godfrey Peck, John and Peter Kemmer and Lawrence _Quinn, from Kentucky; William

Alger, John and James Gilleland, from Pennsylvania; Thomas Legg, Randall Brewer and Peter Voores, from Ohio; Isaac MetcaJf, from England; John Mullins, John Coleman and John Fraizer, from North Carolina.

The following is a copy of a poll-book of an election held in the township in 1826, and is given with a view of setting forth other pioneer names;

"Poll-book of an election held at the house of Thomas K. Stiles, in Posey Township, Fayette County, Ind., on the eighth day of April, A. D. 1826, for the pui'pose of electing one Justice of the Peace for said township, agreeable to an order of the Board of Fayette Justices at their March term, at which time and place the following persons appeared and gave their vote:

The candidates at this election were Thomas Kirkwood, Jacob Shinkle, and John Treadway, and the number of votes cast for each was 17, 21 and 16 respectively.

William Manlove, a son of George Manlove, was born January 19, 1815, and is believed to have been the tirst white child born in the township.

The tirst wedding is believed to have been that of Mr. John Case to Miss Mary Caldwell, which occurred at the dwelling of the bride's father, not far from the Bchoolhouse.

The first and only grist-mill in the township was built not far from 1830, in Section 5, on Simons Creek. It did service for probably twenty years. On the same creek, in Section 4, and not far from the same time, a saw-mill was operated by the father of J. A. Baldwin.

Schools, Churches And Gkave-Yaeds

The first schoolhouse built in the township stood in the southeast corner thereof, and in the portion of the Territoiy lying in the "Twelve Mile Purchase" (Section 28), and the first teacher was the pioneer, George Manlove, above referred to as settling in that locality in 1811. This school was conducted as early as 1818 by Mr. Manlove.

Just over the line in Wayne County, from the Loder settlement, stood an early built schoolhouse, in which, not far from 1826, was teaching Joseph Williams. Mrs. Linville Ferguson (then Miss Loder), attended this school.

The first erected in the Van Buskirk neighborhood, probably one mile and a half west of the village of Bentonville, stood on the land of Mr. Van Buskirk, and was built about the year 1831. It was of the first type - round logs, greased paper for windows, etc. Early teachers here were John Treadway, John Legg and Miss Lavinia Church, the latter being the first lady teacher in that vicinity. Among the children attending school in this building were those of George Van Buskirk, of Samuel Kemmer, of John Norcross, of Micajah Jackson, and others. This house was not in use many years when the neighborhood built another log-house, probably a quarter of a mile further west. These schools were all supported by subscription, but not long after this schoolhouses were built and kept up by public money. Merchant Kelly is remembered as having taught in the settlement west of Bentonville for many years.

" The Trustee of the township is Mr. Hathaway, who is cautious and economical. He is serving a second term, and has the approval of the school men of the township. His teachers are a fair average of the county, with one or two exceptions. The number of schools in the township is six. Mr. Hathaway visits bis schools, is present at township institutes, and con- ducts the same, and is favorable to the interests of education in every way. He maintained a high school last fall at Bentonville. Number of scholars: Male, 127; female, 128. Total, 225. This township has a time-piece in every school, but needs more blackboards, etc."

Among the earliest settlers of the township were a number of Methodists who at once formed a class or society and met at private dwellings, and in the summer season in the groves, which wei'e "God's first temples," and there held communion with the Almighty. In 1823 the class met at Lowers, and among the members at that time were Jacob and Joe Lower, the Hardins, Millers, Wilsons and others. The appointment was on the Connersville Circuit, which had only recently been formed. The circuit was a large one, and preaching was held at many of the appointments through the week, the Sabbath preaching generally being conducted by the local preachers. Among the later Methodists were Thomas Stiles and wife, George Patterson and wife, and John Eyestone and wife. Their first meeting-house was a log one, and was built about one and a half miles southwest of Bentonville. Later they built a frame house at Bentonville, where services are still occasionally held, though the society is weak, and some four or five or more years ago they disposed of the building, which was converted into a public hall by the township. The appointment was long on the Connersville Circuit, and later became a part of the charges along the western part of the county.

The Christian Church at Bentonville was organized not far from 1836 by Rev. John O'Kane. Among the first members were George Van Buskirk and wife, Philip Shrader and wife, Trueman Munger and wife, Moses Ellis and wife, and Richard Kolb and wife. Services were held in private dwellings and in schoolhouses until in 1840, when a frame church building was erected just south of Bentonville, which the society occupied until they became too large to be comfortably seated, when it gave way to the present neat and substantial frame edifice built a year ago at a cost of about $2,500. The ground, one and a half acres, was deeded for church and burial purposes to the Trustees of the society by John Gilleland. Among the early ministers of the church were Revs. John O'Kane, Elijah Martindale, John Longley, John Brown, Jacob Daubenspeck, R. T. Brown, Thomas Conly and Elijah Goodwin. The present membership is about seventy-five, which is in charge of Rev. Lewis Wilson.

The grave-yard at the church is about the age of the society. Among the first interments made in it were the bodies of Sutherland Gard, Richard Kolb and Price Shortridge. The latter, according to the inscription on the tombstone, died August 30, 1834. From the inscriptions on the tombstones and more pretentious monuments it is evident that many of the pioneers were here interred. Some of the aged are as follows:

John Engels, died in 1859, aged sixty-five years; Rosey Engels, died in 1877, aged seventy- four years; Hester Loder, born in 1790, died in 1874; Mahala Cole, died in 1882, aged seventy-one years; William Van Dyke, died in 1875, aged eighty years; Samuel Pierson, died in 1883, aged seventy-seven years; James Gilleland, died in 1854, aged seventy-three years; Amos Gilleland, died in 1876, aged eighty-six years; Mary WesterBeld, died in 1856, aged seventytwo years; John Gilleland, died in 1876, aged eightyseven years; Mary Gilleland, died in 1865, aged seventy-seven years; John Treadway, died in 1838, aged forty-three, years; Phoebe Brown, died in 1852, aged eighty-three years; Thomas Shipley, died in 1846, aged seventy-three years; Eleanor Shipley, died in 1857, aged seventy-four years; Philip Shrader, died in 1870, aged seventy-eight years; Isabella Loder, died in 1863, aged seventy-eight years; Thomas Stiles, died in 1864, aged eighty years; Rebecca Stiles, died in 1867, aged eighty-one years ; Ruth Middleton, died in 1861, aged seventy-two years.

Just north of the old part of the church-yard and adjoining it - all within the same enclosure - some years ago another tract of an acre and a half of land was purchased of James Huston, which was planted in evergreens and regularly laid out into lots, and a beautiful cemetery established which is now thickly dotted over by marble columns and granite monuments of elegant and costly design.

Until recent years a congregation of Missionary Baptists worshiped about a mile west of Bentonville. The society was organized in that vicinity many years ago, and among the early members were the Longwells, Carvers, Thomases, and Knopps. Services were held in the neighborhood schoolhouse, which was finally purchased by the society, who built an addition to it, and until the society disbanded used it as a house of worship.

On the land now owned by Andrew Cole, about three miles northwest of Bentonville, is the oldest public burying-ground in the township. In the early history of this section the land was owned by Isaac Metcalf ; the spot comprising the place of burial was suitable for such, and a public grave-yard was soon made of it. A Mrs. Spencer was among the first buried in this yard. After the establishment of the graveyard at the Christian Church, not many interments were made in the Cole burying-ground, although it is still used to some extent.

Benton vi lie, so named in honor of the late statesman, Thomas Benton, of Missouri, is a little hamlet situated south of the center of the township and is a station on the J. M. & I. R. R. Thirteen lots were platted by Joseph Dale, the proprietor thereof, on the 7th of August, 1838. The surveying was done by William Dickey on the same day.

Before the hamlet was laid out William Young had built a house there and was employed as a tailor. Among the early business men of the place was Bradley Perry, who was the neighborhood blacksmith; a Mr. Woodson, Samuel Dickey and Joseph Mc- Cauley, Woodford Dale and Alfred Loder, merchants; William Stockdale, tanner.

The hamlet today, in a business sense, consists of one blacksmith shop, three groceries, one shoe shop, one wagon shop and a steam saw-mill.

Half-Century Citizens

C. Thompson and wife, David Kimmer and wife, Sarah Kimmer, Sam Lamberson and wife, John Lamberson and wife, William Lamberson and wife, A. M. B. Cole and wife, George Van Buskirk and wife, T. Van Buskirk and wife, Temple Beeson and wife, Jesse Manlove and wife, S. W. Gifford and wife, John Scott and wife, James Scott and wife, John Weaver and wife, Luther Oldlield and wife,William Manlove and wife, Peleg Hathaway and wife, Levi Ayers and wife, Linville Ferguson and wife, 0. Wallace and wife, Rozzell Spencer and wife, Thomas Heck and wife, Lewis Shaw and wife, Byrned Baldwin and wife, J. H. Tyner and wife, Clarrissa Knapp, William Freeman, John Miller, Eunice Monger, William Berry, Millie Thatchei-, Lewis Longwell, Daniel Longwell, William Longwell, Elmira Kellogg, Zellah Longwell, Daniel Heck, Isaac Brittingham, James Lowry.

Source changes here: from History of Fayette County, Indiana : Her People, Industries and Institutions, by Barrows, Frederic Irving, published 1917; 2,312 words in this source stream.

Posey Township

Pose?\r township,. named in honor of Thomas Posey, governor of Indiana territory from 1812 until the state was admitted to the Union, was created out of Harrison township by the county commissioners in February, 1823. The boundary lines as first defined in 1823 have never lieen changed. They follow: "Henceforth all that district of country and part of Harrison township w^hich is inclosed in the following bounds shall form and constitute a new township td be known and designated by the name of Posey township, to-wit : Beginning at the southwest corner of Wayne county, at the southeast corner of .section 28. running thence north on the county line five miles to the extreme northeast corner of [''aNette county; thence west six miles to the northwest corner of .said county; thence south five miles to the southwest corner of section 2~\ thence east on the section line to the place of beginning."'

Section 5 - Sold in 1821, 1822, 1823 and 1824 to James Swofford, Henry Thornburg, Peter Wails, Daniel Mills, Nehemiah Stanbrough, Andrew Pentecost, Michael Spencer and Isaac Galbraith.

Section 6 - Sold in 1822, 1824, 1826 and 1836 to Rachael Frazier, David Galbraith, James McConkey, William Moore. John Frazier, Ezra Hunt and Benjamin Griffin.

Section 7 - Sold in 1823, 1824 and 1829 to James Kirkwood, James Gilleland, Thomas Kirkwood, Robert Harrison, James S. Kirkwood, Levi Charles, Andrew Pentecost and Garrison Miner.

Section 3 - Sold in 1822. 1823, 1829 and 1830 to William Walters, Isaac Metcalf, Charles Smith, R. Spencer, Peter \'oorhees, John G. Eaton and Thomas K. Stiles.

Section 10 - Sold in 1821, 1826, 1830 and 1831 to Noah Fonts, Thomas Smith, Edward Frazier. John Moifitt, luhvard h>yan. William Shaw and Thomas Knipe.

Section 13 - Sold in 1821, 1823, 1824 and 1827 to Thomas K. Stiles, John Treadway, Enoch Warman, Jane Gilleland, John Norcross and Jesse Dobbins.

Section 14 - Sold in 182 1, 1822. 1824 and 1825. to Roliert Dollahan, John Banfill, Isaac Metcalf, William Beard, Samuel Alexander and Casper Stoner.

Section it, - Sold in 1821, 1823, 1826 and 1828 to Micajah Jackson. John Mallins, John Peanell. William Pattison, Matthew Marland, L. Whitehead, Henderson Bragg and Xathan Wilson

Section 27 - Sold in 1821, 1823, 1824 and 1826 to Michael Brown, John C. Cook, Reason ^^^ Debriler, Samuel Knotts, Jonatlian Hatfield, and Greenbury Lahine.

The earliest settler of whom there is any authentic information was George Manlove. who came to this country from North Carolina in October, 181 1, and settled on the northwest quarter of section 28. However, it seems that he remained on his purchase only a short time, as he feared trouble with the Indians and consequently returned to Preble county, Ohio. He remained in Ohio until 1814 and then returned to the place of original settlement.

The Hungers, among the lirst to enter and settle upon land in the "New Purchase,' came from Rutland county, Vermont, and settled about one and one-half miles southeast of Bentonville in the fall of 1821. Among others who settled in this territory were, Isaac Galbreath, David Galbreath, both from Kentucky, and Jehu Vickroy, from North Carolina.

The years of 1821 and 1822 were periods of greater settlement up to that time and included settlers from many parts of the Eastern and Southern states. Among the number were, John Chapel, Micajah Jackson, Henrv Thornburg, Reason Reagan, Bennett B. Cook, John Mullins, John Coleman and John Frazier from North Carolina; John Hallis, William Beard, Robert Mitchell, James McConkey, Daniel New, William Patterson, Godfrey Peck, John and Peter Kemmer, Lawrence Ouinn and Amos Gofif from Kentucky; Thomas Legg," Randall Brewer, Peter Voores, John G. and William Eaton from Ohio; Peter Marts, William Alger, John and James Gilleland from Pennsylvania; John Middleton and Thomas B. Stiles from New Jersey: Isaac Metcalf, from England.

Following is a copy of a poll-book of an election held in 1826 and includes the names of many of the pioneers. "Poll-book of an election held at the house of Thomas K. Stiles, in Posey township, Fayette county, Indiana, on the eighth day of April, A. D. 1826, for the purpose of electing one justice of the peace for said township, agreealsle to an order of the board of Fayette justices at their March term, at which time and place the following persons appeared and gave their vote : Henry Thornburg, Paul Coffin, Randall Brewer, John Thornburg, Aaron Youke, John Frazier, William Russell, Thomas H. Stiles, John Huston, Peter Kemmer, Joseph Spencer, Thomas Dancen, Abijah Haman, George Weirick, Robert McCann, John Rasher, George Raines, Andrew Penticost, John Treadway. Jaco]> Shinkle, Nehemiah .Stanleydogh, Barnes Claney, Samuel Ridgeway, Tittman Kolb, James Kirkendall, Daniel New, Micajah Jackson, Masters Vickroy, George Shinkle, John Norcross, David Canady, William Sutton, Isaac Sutherland, Solomon Sprang, Samuel Minanda, Jehu Vickroy, Jacob Watson, James Denkearad, Thomas Legg, Nathan Billson, James Sprang, Samuel Peaks, John Shinkle, Moses Gard, Thomas Kirkwood, John W^eaver, Lawrence Guinn, Cornelius Wadword, John Mullins, Thomas Patterson, Peter Shepler, Edmund K. Munger, Samuel Banther. James Gilleland."

The candidates f(ir this election were Thomas Kirkwood, Jacol) Shinklc and John Treadway, and the numher of votes cast for eacli was seventeen, twenty-one and sixteen, respectively.

Some First Events

The first and onl\- jurist -mill in tlie township was built about 1830. in section 5, on Simon's creek. The mill was in operation for nearly twenty years. Located on the same stream in section 4, and about the same time, was a .saw-mill operated by the father of J. A. Baldwin.

Early Schools

The first school house in the township was located in section j8, in what is commonly known as the "Twelve-Mile Purchase." The exact time that the school house was built is not known, but it is known that .school was held there in 1818 and that George Manlove, who settled in the vicinit}' in 181 1, was the first teacher, .\nother one of the early schools in this community, but which stood just o\er the line in \Vayne county, was the one in the I.oder settlement, erected about 1826, Joseph Williams being one of the first teachers there. During the period from 1820 to 1830 as many as five school houses were built in various parts of the township.

The first school hou.se erected in the \'an Buskirk settlement, just west of Rentonville. was on the land owned by one of the Van Buskirks in 1831. The house was of the usual iM-imitive t\i)e - round logs, large fireplace, greased jiaper for win(k)ws, etc. .\ni(ing the first teachers here were John Treadwav, ?ilerchant Kellev, John Legg and Lavinia Church. This Iniilding had not been in use man\- years until it was su])planted by a more niodprn one, located about a quarter of a mile farther west.

Bentonville, named in honor of Thomas Benton, of Missouri, is located near the center of I'ose}' township (Mt the I'ittshurgh, Cincinnati, Cliicago & St. Louis railroad, twelve miles northwest of the county seat, and six miles from Dublin, the nearest banking jwint. William Dickey surveyed and platted the site of the village for the proprietor, Joseph Dale, December 7, 1838. The original plat consisted of thirteen lots. A small addition was made in 1844 by Thomas K. Stiles.

William ^"oung. a tailor, built a liouse nn tlie townsite before it was surveyed and doubtless was the first business m;ui on the ground. Among other business men were Bradle\' Perr\-, a blacksmith ; Samuel Dickey, Joseph McCauley, Woodford Dale, Alfred Loder and a man by the name of Woodson, merchants; William Stockdale, tanner.

The business interests of the present time are represented by the followin.g; A^an !). Chance, general store and postmaster: Smullen Brothers, groceries: Mason & llacklcman, farming implements: Connell & .\nderson. Grain Company.

The I3enton\'ille jjostdflice was formerly known as I'luni Orchard and was established under the latter name November 28, 1827, with Moses Ellis as postmaster. On February 13, 1838, the name of the office was changed ti) P)enton\-ille and Samuel Dickey was tlie first postmaster. In connection witli the office is one rural route.

The first teacher in Posey township was George Manlove and he taught in the first house erected for school purposes, the same standing in the southeast corner" of the township, in section 28. A school house just across the line in Wayne count)- from the Loder settlement was in use as early as 1S20 and was patronized by the residents of Posey township. This school was in charge of Joseph Williams, one of the best known of the earl\- teachers of Wayne county.

The decade between 1820 and 1830 witnessed the erection of live scIkjdI houses in Posey township, scattered over the township in such a way that schools were in easy access to all the pupils living in it. One of these stood in the Van Buskirk neighlx)rhood, alx)ut a mile and a half west of Bentonville, and was erected about the end of the decade. It was one of the typical log \-ariety - round logs, greased-paper windows, log seats and puncheon floor. Among the first teachers were John Treadway, John Legg and Lavinia Church. Miss Cinn-ch was the first woman teacher in the community and probably the first in the townshi]). The house was in use only a few years, being replaced by another log structure about a quarter of a mile farther west. These schools, as were all the schools of an early day, were what were known as subscription schools, although the second one mentioned was maintained by public funds Ijefore the introduction of the free public-school system in the fifties. Merchant Kelly taught in the settlement west of Bentonville for many years.

There were never more than six school houses in the tow'uship. Even as far back as the seventies there was a high school at Bentonville, although it was later discontinued and was not re-established until a few years ago. Hyatt Frost taught there in 1879, and from 1880 to 1884 B. F. Thiebaud taught the school. There is now an accredited high school in the \illage doing three years of high-school work. Within the past few years a modern brickschool building has been erected at Bentonville and all but one of the rural schools has been discontinued. The pujjils from the various parts of the township are hauled to the consolidated school, which has four teachers, two of whom devote all of their time to the high-school wurk. The highschool teachers are L. S. Miller, princijjal, and Mayme Thonii)son, assistant; Sarah Hussey and Emma Sutton, grade teachers. The one rural teacher is Mrs. Charles Freeman. The enumeration in tins township has dropped from 218 in 18S7 to 145 in 1916.

Fairview township was not organized until 1851 and hence the schools of that part of the county prior to that year were either in Harrison or Orange township. The township lies in the part of the county west of the Indian treaty line of 1809 and was consequently not settled until in the twenties. The first school house was erected in 1825 about a half mile east of what was known as Moffit's crossing and was the third district of what was then Orange township. This building was the typical log structure, but, unlike most of them, it had a stone fireplace in the center of the room. Jonas Price was the first teacher in the building.

The Fairview neighborhood had its first school house about the same time, the building standing just across the line in Rush county at the old burying ground. In fact, the building was erected to be used for both church and school purposes, the site being donated by Robert Groves. A Mr. Noble was probably the first teacher there.

There were two other schools which made their appearance within the present limits of the township before 1830 : One was in the Jeffrey neighborhood where Thomas Dawson became the first teacher; the other was in the northern part of the township, then a part of Harrison township, in which John Legg was the first preceptor, he later was followed by a pedagogue by the name of McClure.

While not in Fayette county it seems that mention should be made of the Fairview Academy, just across the line in Rush county, an institution of learning established in 1848, which was patronized as liberally by residents of Fayette county as by those of Rush county. Among those instrumental in organizing the school were Dr. K]3hraim Clifford, W. W. Thrasher, William Shawhan, Rev. H. R. Pritchard, Rev. George Campbell, John Campbell, John Thrasher, Donovan Groves and G. B. Bush. The brick building was erected by Josiah Smith at a cost of three thousand five hundred dollars. The first principal of the academy was A. R. Benton, a graduate of Bethany College, W^est Virginia, who resigned after alx)ut ten years of service to accept the chair of Greek in Northwestern Christian University at Indianapolis. Other instructors were Rev. Daniel Van Buskirk, William Thrasher, Walter Campbell and Professors Hull, Bowen and Piercy. The school was under the control of the Christian church and during its prosperous years numbered students from all over Indiana, as well as from Illinois, Ohio,

There have never been more tiian five schools in the townsiiip, hut since the system of consohdation has been introduced the number has been reduced to two, a certified high school at Falmouth with six teachers and one district school. It is the intention to have the high school in shape to obtain a commission as a full commissioned high school during the coming year. The principal for the present year (1916-17) is Ernest JeiYrey, his assistants in the high school being Florence Doane and Alfred Hall. The grade teachers in the school are \'ina Lockhart, Xellie Retherford and C. W. Saxon. The one district school in the township is in charge of Frank Tlinchman.