Posey Township

Posey Township

The old Vincennes and Ohio Falls trail passed through Posey township, and it was along this trail the hrst white men located within the present borders of the county. Thomas Hopper settled a short distance north of Hardinsburg in 1803. He was probably the only white man living between the Ohio river and Vincennes. He had no neighbors but Indians and managed to keep on good terms with them. Thomas Poison was the first settler in the township, locating near where the old town of Fredericksburg was mapped out. He came in 1805, when he. Hopper and Spurgeon, up near the salt lick, east of Salem, were probably the only ones living within the present borders of the county. Poison's cabin was only a short distance from the trail, and he was kept from getting lonesome by occasional bands of Indians, soldiers and adventurers who passed over the trail, bound either for the Falls or Ft. Vincennes.

Martin Royse and his sons, John. William and Martin, came early in the spring of 1806 and took up land where Fredericksburg now stands This was a very inviting spot, as the lands were fertile, there were lots of fine springs round about, and hunting and fishing were all that could be desired. Elijah Harriman and John Butler came into the neighborhood in 1808 and Benjamin King a year later. John Butler settled on blast Blue river, about four miles abo\'e Fredericksburg. The Catlins settled just below Butler, in November. 1808, and Benjamin King came into the neighborhood the following spring.

In the summer of 1S09 some one started a fire in the barrens, whicli swept the country. An Indian came to Poison and tried to tell him that "bad men set the woods afire," but he could not understand what the Indian was relating and thought he was giving them a warning of an Indian attack. The neighbors round gathered at Catlins and barricaded the bouse as best they could. Later on some one saw the Indian who could understand him, and learned there was no imniinent danger nf attack, and all parties returned to their homes. Thev built a fort at Catlins in i8t2.

A Revolutionary Soldier

Jacob Doan, a Revolutionary soldier, located on Honey creek in 1809, where a squatter had opened up a few acres of land the previous year and left it. He was the first permanent settler on that creek. Jacob and Abram Colglazier settled in iSio. and James McGrew in 1811. Isaac Loften came early in the spring of 1810, settling near the forks of the river. Aaron Rollins settled south of Hardinsburg in 1815; Jacob Horner came in 1816 and paid a man nanit-d Linthecum twenty-five dollars for his claim and started a ta\ein. Quite a number of travelers stopped with him, and when the pike was completed he moved up to it. Peter McMikel, Thomas Bentley and Evans Hinton were among the early settlers at Fredericksburg. Mc- Mikel "was a shoemaker and went from house to house plying his trade, as was the custom of the day. E. C. Hunter came in 1816 and settled a half mile below McPheeters' mill. Jacob Harris and William Cathcart settled a few miles down the river from the trail. Antony Denner was an early settler, and was so tall that they said of him that he could wade the Ohio without wetting his shot pouch.

Samuel Catlin'was twelve years old when his father came to the township. He lived to be over eighty years old and at his death was the oldest settler in the county and loved to relate early reminiscences. He said he had seen and counted over forty head of deer in a single drove. He would rather kill bear than deer. Pie used to hunt with Beck. Turkeys and squirrels would eat up their corn. Upon one occasion a huge old gobbler put his head in the rail pen where the crack was large and kept slipping it along after the corn until he got it fast where the crack was small. He was an easy prey for Catlin. There were a few Indian villages, from six to ten wigwams each, at a few points along the river when first settlers came in.

Early Industries

John McPheeters built the first water-mill in the township in 181 3, on Mutton fork of Blue river, a mile and a quarter east of Fredericksburg. It remained in tlie McPheeters family for three-quarters of a century and was operated and sustained a good patronage all the while. A few years later Elijah Harriman built a mill a little lower down the river, which was run several years. John Royse put up a grist-mill on Blue river, a couple of miles below Fredericksburg, in 1814. It was twice burned and rebuilt and (38) did a good business for those days. About 1S32 Samuel Hogan had a mill which he ran for several years, a short distance below the town. It changed hands several times and went into disuse. Benjamin Radcliff had a watermill and distillery on Hor°y creek, in section 14. which was operated until about 1835.

Peter Peyton also had a distillery and water-mill near Hardinsl)urg. and Nicholas Smith had a distillery at the Mitchell spring. It was a large distillery for that day, three stills being operated. James Ferguson had a distillery in operation in iSjo, and se\eral years after, at Fredericksburg, an abundance of corn was grown on the l)ottom lands to supply it, and being on a much-frecjuented trail he diil a thriving business. William Lofton operated one on the Salem fork of P>lue river some distance above the town. Edwin C. Hunter owned one near McPheeters' mill between 1820 and 1830. John McPheeters also had one at his mill, which he sold to Jacob who moved it to his place. He kept a ta\'ern and made whiskv to supply his guests. William Lofton owned a tan-yard where his distillery was, operating both from the same spring. Joseph Harris did a good business with one in old Fredericksburg. It was in operation as early as 18 16.

The New Albany and A'incennes turnpike was projected about 1835 and completed through the township in 1838-3Q. This made both Hardinsburg and Fredericksburg good business centers, and farmers could cart their surplus products to a ready market at the Falls. It usually took four davs to make the trip and disjiose of their load. That section of countrv was noted for its "quarter horses." Horse racing was indulged in most every Saturday, and considerable money e-\changed hands on the results. .\ (|uarter mile straight track was graded on .\l\in r,ro\e's farm, afterwanls owned by N. H. Cadle. Enthusiastic horsemen for fift\" miles round would get together at this track and stake considerable money on their favorites. L'pon one occasion a S]iortsman from Kentuck}- came out to rejilenish hi'; purse by putting his thoroughbred against some of the "backwcKMls s.-nil)^," but before he got away he left o\-er a thousand dollars with the local hnrsenien.

The early settlers all cl:iinied that the tirst schonl taught in \\';isIiington county was in a cabin between McPheeters' mill and William Rice's, built and abandoned by John Scott. The\- claimed this school was taught In- Nicholas Coster in the winter of iSoS-(), but the best evidence obtainable fixes the date of this scIumiI in the winter of 1800-10, the same winter that a school was first taught l)v Barnes, two and one-half miles northeast of Salem. It has been generally conceded that the school near Salem was the first one in the countv, hut it is safe to say that there were two "first schools" in the county in the winter of 1809-10.

The intelligence and progressiveness of those who inhabited the township from the very earliest times up to the present is evidence that good schools were early inaugurated and supported by earnest patrons. The roll of teachers is long, and not a few made their mark. Some of them left behind specimens of penmanship which will be preserved, no doubt, for \ears to come. Now anrl then a neat pen drawing, that has been preserved between the leaves of an old family Bible, may still be found, the execution of which could be hardly excelled, if equaled, by any penman of the present day.

.\mong the more prominent instructors of the township, from the very earliest down to those of later years, were George Trabue, Simon Gresham, Thomas Andrews, Maggie Sweney. Rebecca Bringle, Nim Hudson, Levi Pennington, Joseph Cromer, James W. Adaims, Benjamin Cravens, Henry Gregory, John B. Cromer, James G. May, John A. Beck, E. B. Caress, A. A. Cravens, Samuel H. Mitchell and R. B. Mitchell. A few of the last named are still living. George Trabue is said to have taught the first school in the vicinity of Hardinsljurg, about a mile south of the town in a double log house, one room being used for school, the other by the Methodist people. The next school in tliat part of the township was taught in a cabin that stood for many years on the old Mitchell farm.

The first school in Hardinsburg was taught by William Cheever in 1840. The house was of the imprnverl log jiattern, with glass windows, but the seats or benches were made of slabs and no backs to them. The following year school was taught by J. B. Cheever in what was afterward the Hofl^man home. Tn subsequent years schools were held in the Methodist church and in the Cravens school house. In 185 1 the citizens of the town, by private subscription, raised funds to liuild a commodious school building. Good teachc-s were eni]iloyed for several years and the school was well patronized from the surrounding country. F.xcellent results attended the labors of v.. 1!. Caress and S. H. Mitchell, the latter an attorney at Salem. Many pupils made commendable advancement in what are now termed high school branches.

During the winters of 1880-81 a series of literary and scientific lectures were deli\ered by professional men from adjoining towns. They proved to' be vcrv entertaining ami instructix'e to the people of the town as well as pupils. Good schools have always been the rule in Fredericksburg. The very best teachers obtainable were employed and some successful normal schools were held. The township is n<iw provided with comfortaUe buildings and equipments, and the ^chonl districts are so arranged that all ]iatrons can be accommodated without incon\-cnience.

Two Good Towns

There are twn good business towns in Posey township. Fredericksburg was surveyed and fifty-nine lots platted out September lo. 1815. William Lowe, then county surveyor, did the work under the direction of Frederick Royse, who owned the land and in whose honor it was named. This was Old Fredericksburg. located a half mile north of the present town. Owing to repeated overflows of the river and the location of the pike farther down the stream, John Horner caused to be laid off fifty-one lots along the turnpike on the south side of the ri\'er and in the northern part of section 16.

one time there were twenty families living in the old town, but it was soon abandoned after the new town was started. Catlin & Geiger kept the fir^t store in the old town. Warren Luce and Jeremiah Roland came next, then Bradley and Skinner. James McClung and John T. Ferguson were also early merchants. AlcClung built the first brick building, which in those days was a sight worth going some distance to see. and he was the first postmaster. Dr. William .A. Bowles was the first resident physician, and after him came Dr. Alexander McPheeters.

To distinguished the new town from the old it was called "Bridgeport" for a time, taking the name from a toll bridge which was built by act of the state Legislature on petition of the residents of the town. Jacob Horner was the first postmaster of the new town, taking the office about 1840. Among the first merchants were John and William Horner. .Mexander Mc- Pheeters and James Gasaway. Among subse(|uent merchants the names of Morgan & Bright. John Rriggs. \Mlliam .Andrews, Ira Boyd. Peter G. Sensney, Jefiferson King, Martin Cromer, Charles Alitton. John \'oyles. Robert Gibson and Rhodes & Stout.

In January, 1838, Aaron Hardin laid off the town of Hardinsburg, naming it for himself. The original plat consisted of thirty-six lots in section 3. John Ellis added twenty-two lots in 185 1. On March 24, 1849, the town was incorporated, with A. H. Cheever, president; James Alexander, clerk, and J. ,C. Boyden, treasurer. It was incorporated under the state's statute of 1833.

The first store was opened by Aaron Hardin in 1835, before the town was started. A few years later James Mcintosh built a store. James King and Wesley Poison were in the mercantile business for a term of years. Michael Swartz opened up a stock of goods alx)Ut the time the turnpike was completed, and James Kirkwood, Isaac Wellman and W. J. Lapping have also been in business in the place. Dr. Charles Ellis was a prominent and successful physician of the town for many years and had a fine home. Major J. A. Cra\ens built a steam saw- and grist-mill about i860, which has been operated by a number of persons, latterly by A. A. Cravens, the present owner.

Hardinsburg is the center of a good farming district and is quite a commercial center. It supports a bank, with George Harvey, president, and Richard McKinley, ca.shier. There is a good flouring-mill, with A. A. Cravens, president. General merchants are M. M. Harvey and P. H. Cravens Company; grocer, W. J. Lapping; restaurant, George Akers; undertaker, F. C. Mcintosh ; stock dealers, James Mcintosh and J. F. Hallowell. The town has three churches - Methodist, Baptist and Christian. The physicians are Jesse Bentz and F. A. May.

The Old Plank Road

In 1834 the state entered upon the work of building a pla:nk road from New Albanv to Vincennes. but on account of the tremendous cost and lack of funds the project was abandoued after reaching Paoli, in 1839. In 1851 the state turned the road over to a stock company. Stock books were opened and fifty thousand dollars was subscribed to the fund. The commissioners in this company from Washington county were Charles Ellis, James Cravens and James Alexander. Every eight miles a toll gate was erected. Toll rates were twelve cents for every four-wheeled vehicle drawn bv one animal, each additional animal, four cents ; two-wheeled vehicle drawn l)v one animal, eight cents, and four cents for each additional animal; for each horse or mule over six months old. led or driven, three cents; cattle, two cents: sheep and hogs, one-half cent. Xo tolls were exacted from persons going to or from religious gatherings, elections, musters or funerals. W. C. DePauw was "he first president of the company and held the position till his death. Posey and Madison townships purchased their portions of the road a few years ago and it was thrown open to the public. A -vvooden bridge, with one span one hundred and twenty feet long, was built across Blue river at Fredericksburg in 1838. The stone for the abutments and timbers for the bridge were procured nearby. It was a wonderful bridge for the times and saw continuous service for over seventy-five years, being recently replaced by a concrete structure.