Saltcreek Township

Saltcreek Township

Salt Creek township bears the distinction of being the last township laid out in the county. It was established by. the board of county commissioners of Decatur county, September 5, 1836, and, as recorded in the records of that date, its boundaries were as follow, to wit: "Beginning on the Franklin county line on the line dividing townships 10 and 11; thence west to the northwest corner of section 2, township 10, range 10; thence south to the northwest corner of section 26, township 9, range 10; thence east two miles ; thence south one mile ; thence east to the Ripley county line ; thence north to the place of beginning." This was taken verbatim from the record books of the county commissioners (volume III, page 104), but there seems to be some discrepancy in this record, as seen by following the line of boundary, for it would not strike the Ripley county line. The error may come in supplying the name Ripley when in fact the Franklin county line was meant.

The next record which we have defining the boundary of this township is given as follows, to wit : "Beginning on the Franklin county line on the line dividing townships 10 and 11; thence west to the northwest corner of section 2, township 10, range 10; thence south five miles; thence east two miles; thence south one mile; thence east one mile; thence south one mile to the Ripley county line; thence northeast with the Indian boundary line and north with the Franklin county line to the place of beginning."

Although the soil of Salt Creek township is not so productive as that of other subdivisions of Decatur county, its thrifty farmers, most of them of German descent, have brought the land to a state of dependable production, have erected commodious barns and substantial dwellings, so that, in most respects. Salt Creek township takes a high rank among tlie nine townships of Decatur county.

Settlement

Robert Ross and John Harding were two of the first six men to settle in Salt Creek township. Others who made homes in this township at an early date were : James Cook, William Barclay, Parkinson Barclay, Eli Pennington (who later laid out New Pennington), Lewis Castor, Wilson Ross, William Hart, Charles McHugh, John Calicott, Robert Atte, William Walker, Milton Walker, George Osborn and John Snediker.

Salt Creek township abounded in game in -the days of the early settlements, and the pioneers of this locality never had any trouble getting a supply of bear meat, but, of course, pork was a scarce article until bruin had been exterminated. Wild turkeys were seen in the vicinity of Xew Pennington as late as 1875.

The general character of the soil of this township is clay. However, it responds readily to scientific farming, so that, with careful attention, it produces a profitable crop every year. Salt Creek township timber is mostly oak and gum, of which a large amovmt has been sold for the manufacture of furniture.

The township was crossed by the Big Four railroad, from east to west. in 1853, this being one of the earliest railroads in the state. Newpoint and Smith's Crossing are located on the railroad.

The following- are the present officers of Salt Creek township : Trustee, Harley S. McKee ; assessor, Elza O. Walker; advisory board, William Schilling, Isaac Parmer, Sr., and Henry Travis; road supervisors, Clarence Colson, Rudolph Kramer and Taylor Ramer; justice of the peace, William Haas.

The town of Xewpoint is located in Salt Creek township on the Big Four railroad. It was laid out on November 11, 1859, by Ebenezer Nutting and has enjoyed a steady growth from the beginning'. A struggling village had existed at this place ever since the raih-oad had been buik in 1854, but it was five years later before it occurred to an enterprising proprietor that it would make a good site for a town. The stone industry has always been the chief business of Newpoint, and the stone quarry of J. J. Puttmann, a mile north of town has employed more men than any other enterprise in the community. He has employed many men and has the only quarries of importance in the township.

Among the men earlier connected with the commercial life of Newpoint were: George Brown, Joel Colson, W. E. Barkley, James Hart, Warner Clark, Leander Storks, John Lewis Hilliard. On September 2, 1866, Mr. Hilliard began his long and honest career as a clerk when he sold the first order in the store of W. E. Barkley, which stood on the site of the store now owned by George W. Metz. Joel Colson made to the town of Newpoint the addition which bears his name. From its founding, Newpoint has always been the chief trading and shipping point in the township and remains so at the present time.

The town is incorporated and divided into three wards. The town clerk is Robert Carr, and John W. Snedeker officiates as marshal. A volunteer fire department is maintained, which has proven equal to every emergency thus far. Three fire cisterns, a hand-power fire engine, hooks, ladders and an ample supply of hose are kept in the town house. A stone jail takes care of such ofi^enders of the law as need incarceration. The town is well lighted with gas, street lights being located at appropriate intervals all over the town. The Newpoint Gas, Oil and Mineral Company has ten wells in the immediate vicinity and sells its gas for fifteen cents a thousand. There is plenty of gas for both light and fuel. John Giberson owns the local telephone line and maintains a switchboard at his home, half a mile northeast of town, which connects with about seventy-five patrons. The White River Creamery Company, of Cincinnati, has a shipping station at Newpoint, in charge of Sanford S. Starks. Starks was granted a state license as milk tester by the state examining board on June 7, 191 5. From forty to sixty gallons of cream are shipped daily from Newpoint to Cincinnati.

The business and professional interests of Newpoint in 19 15 include the following: Bank, Newpoint State Bank; barber, Henry Wolf and James Myers; blacksmith, George Cornelius and Ephraim Deen; carpenter, Adam Hoover, James Blaire and Peter Grove; general store, H. M. Loyd, G. W. Metz, John Hofif and George Myers; grist-mill, Germany & King; harness, Benjamin Kaneve; hardware, J. J. Puttmann & Company; jeweler, E. F. Starks; livery, Fred Wolf; meat market, Fred Wolf; millinery, Mrs.

Henry Ennebrock ; painter and paper hanger, Robert Moulton ; phj-sician. Harley S. McKee and Joseph Coomes; restaurant, Ruth Gouge and Frank Hooten; saloon, Peter Schuh ; saw-miU, J. J. Puttmann and T. E. Day; stock buyer, Wolf & Barnard; wholesale liquor dealer, Greensburg Mercantile Company, William McWilliams, manager.

The present officers are as follow : Councilmen, George A. Redelman, Henry Ennebrock, Al Thomas ; clerk, Robert Carr ; treasurer. Will Thomas,

Smith's Crossing is now only a flag station on the Big Four railroad. It is situated in Salt Creek township, about two miles west of Newpoint. This little hamlet was laid out, January 2, 1859, by R. S. Ward. For many years a postoftice was maintained here under the name of ^^'inters\-ille. but it was discontinued with the establishment of the rural free deliver)-. There are only three or four houses in the place at present, and the only business interest is the store of Mrs. Edward Little.

Other Villages

There are three small places in Salt Creek township which appear on the maps of Decatur as towns, but none of them can hardly be said to deserve the title now. The first of these is Mechanicsburg, which was laid out by Robert Garrison and others, October 10, 1846. The next is New Pennington, which was laid out by Eli Pennington in 1851 and bears the founder's name. Last, but not necessarily least, comes Rossburg. which was laid out by D. Montague, founder of the town of St. IMaurice, March 16, 1836.

Salt Creek township has lately made rapid advancements in the consolidation of its schools. In 1909 a school building was erected at Newpoint, at a cost of twelve thousand dollars. This school maintains a three-years high school, in addition to the grade work. There are also three district schools remaining in this township, which have not been changed by the consolidation. Among those, who, in more recent years, served as teachers in the schools of Salt Creek township, are: G. M. Gard, Ellen Moody, James D. White, John H. Bobbitt, Dennis O'Dea, H. W. Jenkins, Mrs. H. W. Jenkins, Ed Glidewell, Grover C. Harding. J. G. CoUicott, now superintendent of the Indianapolis city schools, received his elementary education in this township, as did also Lewis A. Harding, prosecuting attorney, and Anna B. Collins, of Indiana University. Fred Baas was principal of the Newpoint schools in 1915- ^ , j'i^l