Stafford Township

Stafford Township

MONG the first old pioneer settlers in Staftbrd townsiiip, were Josiah Carrico and Joseph Dixon. Afterwards came Bartlett Goodman, old-Mason Pitts, Isaac Hubbell and James AValker. The Carrico marsh was named for the old man Carrico, as that swamp was his pasture, where he kept his stock.

The first log cabin was built by the oldest settler, Uncle Josiah Carrico, on the farm where James Burris now lives. Old Grandfather Benjamin Stafford was born on the Monongahela river, in Pennsylvania, and married Miss Eve Caress, ol Kentucky, and they came to Greene county in the year 1819. Mr. Stafford and wife had eleven children, six boys and five girls, and the mother died many years ago. The old gentleman lived to see his youngest child married. He died in the year 1842, and was buried at the old homestead, Stafford Cemetery, near Marco. His son Benjamin Stafford, jr., was born in Jefferson county, Kentucky, and came to Greene county, Indiana, in 1818, and settled on Black creek, just east of Marco. He married Miss Martha Ball, daughter of Isaiah Ball, who died in the army many years ago. Mrs. Martha Stafford had five children and died in the year 1844. Mr. Stafford afterwards married Miss Nancy Ann Page, and they live at home, on a good farm in Stafford township, about three miles northwest of Marco. Mr. Stafford is a good, substantial farmer and a good citizen in his neighborhood, and Has. made two very good farms besides his present homestead farm . He first made the farm where young George Morgan now lives, and afterwards he made the Burch farm and his home farm of near one . hundred acres. Mr. Stafford also built the first little water mill on Black creek and sold that mill to our old social friend Druery B. Boyd. Honorable Druery B. Bo3'd sold out and moved to Illinois, and died several 3'earis ago.

Old Uncle Aaron Brewer, one of the oldest settlers, is now eighty-five years old and performed the duties of constable up to one year ago, was a soldier in the war of 1812 and draws pension for same ; also, P. M'. OTlaver, seventy-five years old, and Joseph KnowJs, about sevent}^-fivo 3"ears old. One of the early settlors of 'this township was Siiffon Hagerman. He built a cabin and set out the old orchard where George W. Simes now lives. Old Uncle Abraham Garret (father of our present Trustee), settled on Delaware fork and established a carding machine to make wool rolls, which did good service until 1851. Uncle Abe died in 1867.

Creeks And Branches

Delaware fork of Bogard's creek, in the west part of the township, was called so for the last tribe of the Delaware Indians that was seen hunting there. That creek empties into the cane drain and passes out into Knox county. The Goose Pond is a very large marsh and prairie, covering about five miles of soil with water and geese. We have wild geese here every year by the thousands. Carrico marsh w_as the old man Carrico's stock pasture and range for over twenty-five years. It has been a great place for old pioneer hunters. . Mr. Carrico raised the first crop of corn in this township. Mr. Hugh Massey was a colored man, and he built the first little horse mill and the first cot- ton "in to pick out cotton seeds for our farmers. Mr. Massey and the old mill have long since passed away. ^Xhe Carrico log cabin was on the place where James Buesis now lives.

The first school teachers were Thomas Cartwright and James llar- Vey. Clark Anderson is a proinitient matt in his neighborhood, just over in Knox county* Mr. Anderson is a common farmer, fifty=seven years old. Christopher Winer, Just in the edge of Knox county, is nn other dever old man and a Jack^of-all-trades. He is a wagon maker, shoe maker, carpenter, and very good farmer. Mr. Winer is hear sixty years old, was born in Morgan county, Ohio, and married Susan Johnson. They have, ten children, eight boys and two girls.