Steele Township

Steele Township

This township lies north of Washington Township and along the White River. Very few if any land entries were made here previous to 1820. The following were made in 1821: On June 18, Andrew Coutchman, the west half of the northeast quarter of Section 20, Township 4, Range 7; Abraham Case, the southwest quarter of the same section; and Alexander R. Hinds, the west half of the southeast quarter of the same section. On the next day Elias Beddle entered the west half of the southwest quarter of Section 29 ; and on the 20th of August Josiah Culbertson entered the west half of the northeast quarter of the same section. Since this time Steele Township has kept even pace with the rest of the county in improving on the early condition of things, and now, in common with Elmore, has a valuable line of railway, and has also a flourishing village and railway station by the name of Plainville, about ten miles north of Washington.

Slavery In Indiana

It has been stated above that most of the early settlers in Daviess County came from the Southern States, and as was but natural many of them brought along their slaves. Eli Hawkins, who came from South Carolina, probably brought the first slaves into Daviess County in 180G. Their names were Jake and Ann. James C. Veal had one slave here whose name was Sam. William Ballow brought in four: Buck, Ralph, Isaac and Mary. John Coleman had one - known as Cornelius Simms. William Hawkins had four: Peggy and her three children, David, Henry and Judy; and there was a boy by the name of Dish residing with J. Forden, but belonging to the Flint family. William Ballow sold Isaac to Eli Hawkins, who thus became the owner of three slaves. All these colored persons, with one exception, remained in servitude until after the death of Eli Hawkins. His widow, Mrs. Catharine Hawkins, married a Mr. Merril, after which difficulties arose between Mr. Merril and the two boys, Isaac and Jake. Isaac and Jake thereupon brought suit against Mr. and Mrs. Merril to test the legality of their servitude, employing Amory C. Kinney, one of the first lawyers in the county. The case was tried before the associate judges of the county, Philip Burton and Ephraim Thompson, the decision of the judges being that the slaves by law were free. From the decision there was no appeal, nor were any other slaves obliged to sue for freedom. Almost imperceptibly the relations of master and slave were dissolved. The freedmen and women remained in the county acquired property, settled down and raised families of their own. Considerable prejudice against the colored people was, however, developed in the breasts of a few white persons by the success of Lawyer Kinney in obtaining the freedom of Isaac and Jake. Numerous threats and suggestions of violence were made against him, but none of them were ever carried into execution, and thebitter feelings and vindictive abuse gradually died away.

There was a case of attempted kidnaping which deserves brief recital. It occurred in Washington about the summer of 1824, and on Sunday, when most of the people were out of town, some fishing, some hunting and some attending a large campmeeting south of the village. The colored man's name was Sam. A family of McClures living near Vincennes claimed Sam as their property. Not daring themselves to come to Washington on such an expedition, they engaged Bichard Palmer to deliver Sam to them on the west bank of White Eiver in Knox Count}'. This " Uncle Dick " succeeded in doing, notwithstanding considerable opposition to his attempt. The McClures started with their property to St. Louis. On the second night, however, Sam slipped the rope which tied him, got away and returned triumphantly on horseback to Washington, waving his old hat over his head in token of victory. Uncle Dick was prosecuted, and attempted no more kidnaping from that time on.

One of the most colossal swindles ever attempted was that of B. B. Bollard and his associates and dupes indicated by the above caption. It consisted originally of the purchase by township school trustees of school furniture, apparatus and supplies, paying for them an exorbitant price in warrants upon the township. That is, it commenced by a stretch of authority or legitimate power. The first lawsuit that occurred in Daviess County was that of John L. Dodson against Beeve School Township. Brevious to March, 1883, William G. Edwards, trustee of Beeve Township, gave two township warrants each for $274.50 in payment for eleven of the McBride tellurians. March 24, 1883, suit was brought on these warrants which were endorsed by B. B. Pollard, for the recovery of the money, by John L. Dodson. His attorneys were O'Neal & Hefron, those of the township Gardiner & Taylor. Gardiner & Taylor entered a demurrer to the complaint of Dodson, which was overruled by Judge Malott. An appeal was taken to the supreme court of the State, and by that court, on January 31, 1885, a decision was rendered reversing the decision of Judge Malott. Judge Elliott of the supreme court said: "A township trustee has no authority under the law to issue a note for the township by which the township can be held for payment on a promissory note, but only on an implied contract; and such a contract can not exist unless it is shown that the township received consideration for the notes."

purely statutory in so far as concerns the financial affairs of the school corporation, and as this authority is prescribed by a public statute, all who deal with him are charged with a notice of the scope of his authority.

In view of subsequent developments this decision of the supreme court seems almost providential, as upon it and in accordance therewith are based all subsequent decisions of inferior courts, and thus most of the counties of the State are saved from the most stupendous robbery.

These subsequent developments began to be made about the 1st of September, 1885. It became known and was announced through the columns of the local press that Charles H. Brown, trustee of Washington Town ship;. John Grimsley, trustee of Steele Township; and John Clarke, trustee of Barr Township, had suddenly disappeared. The rumor spread, and it soon became a settled conviction in the minds of the people that they had issued at a discount large amounts of township orders or warrants in payment for school furniture, and also in some cases probably without any consideration whatever. It was thought that Washington Township had outstanding orders to the amount of nearly $10(1,000, and that each of the other townships had outstanding about $40,000. For a few weeks all was excitement, and the minds of the people, besides being shocked with the surprise and mortification caused by the commission of the crime, were filled with the gloomy foreboding of impending bankruptcy. This was before the decision of the supreme court was generally known, and before the public could realize its far-reaching application. R. B. Pollard, the genius of the swindling scheme, and all of the trustees were safe in Canada, that asylum of defaulting American bank cashiers and general rogues. Orders were heard of in all directions, and for very large amounts, in Washington, Seymour, Bedford, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Springfield, 111., and Chicago. Large quantities of furniture had been shipped on these orders, and some of it was in Washington. A specimen of one of these orders is here presented:

Washington Township, in the county and State aforesaid, will, on or before the 1st day of January, 1895, at the Bank of Washington, pay to the waiving valuation and appraisement laws of the State of Indiana, with interest thereon at the rate of eight per cent per annum from the 1st day of August, 1885, until paid, and attorney's fees.

The undersigned, trustee of said township, hereby certifies that the aggregate amount of indebtedness hereby incurred on behalf of said township, does not exceed the funds now on hand, out of which the same is payable, and the amount of funds to be derived from the tax assessed against said township for the year in which said indebtedness is incurred.

A partial list of warrants is here introduced for the purpose of showing the industry of the trustees, and the facilities with which money could be made by them. The following were drawn by Charles H. Brown:

Opinion Of The Supreme Court

The feeling of despondency and gloom gradually disappeared as mist before the rising sun as knowledge of the decisions of the supreme and other courts became generally known. But as the decision of the supreme court merely sustained the demurrer of Gardiner & Taylor, the question as to whether the townships were not liable to at least the value of the furniture remained to be decided. On this point, however, Judge Bicknell, of the Martin County Circuit Court, on or about November 15, 1885, rendered a decision in a case known as Henry Miller, administrator of John Miller, vs. Perry School Township, on demurrer to the complaint which alleged that Kimberlin & Co. on the written obligation of Joseph Cannon, trustee of Perry Township, delivered seven McBride Tellurians at the aggregate price of $385; that Kimberlin & Co. endorsed the obligation to John Miller and that Henry Miller was the plaintiff. The decision of Judge Bicknell was to the effect that the trustee while he has no express power to bind the school corporation, yet he has an implied power so to do that the township is liable, not upon the obligation given by the trustee, but upon the equities arising from the facts. Hence it is indispensable to aver that the goods purchased were necessary and of reasonable value. It is the reasonable value of necessary articles that is to be recovered in cases of this kind. In this way did the courts come to the relief of the people, and thus dispel the fear of impending general bankruptcy.

JOHN CLARK, a very prominent farmer and county commissioner, of Daviess County, Ind., is a son of William and Elizabeth (Cunningham) Clark. The father was a native of England, and came to America when a young man, and located in Dearborn County, Ind. The mother was born in South Carolina, and when quite young came to Indiana with her parents, who were among the early settlers, and were- obliged to protect themselves from the Indians by taking refuge in a block-house. Mr. and Mrs. Clark were married in Dearborn County, and when John, our subject, was but seven years old his father died. The mother died in 1875. Of their five children, our subject and one brother are the only surviving members. John's birth occurred July 22, 1824, in Indiana, He obtained his education in the old time log schoolhouse of other days, He remained with his mother until twenty -foiu' years old, but worked for himself at the cooper's and carpenter's trades for several years. In 1848 he married Caroline Coman. and settled on a part of the old homeyi2 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY.

stead and began farming. In 1854 he moved to Decatur County, and five years later came back to Dearborn County and engaged in the general merchandise business. From 1867 to 1871 he operated a saw-mill in Ripley County, and at the latter date moved to the farm of 160 acres, where he now lives. His farm is well improved, furnished with good barns, granaries, and an excellent frame residence. Mrs. Clark bore her husband ten children, four of whom died in infancy. Those living are Mary J., Clara A., Ada E., Ida O., John L. and Howard H. In 1870 Mrs. Clark died, and three years later Mr. Clark married Elizabeth E. Ferguson, a native of Ohio. They are members of the Methodist Church, and he is a Mason, and a Democrat politically. He has held different offices in township and county, and has been county commissioner for five years. As a farmer he has been successful, and as a citizen is known as a thoroughly upright and honorable member of society.

JAMES HEINBAUGH is the third of eight children born to Samuel and Elizabeth (Shull) Heinbaugh. The father was a native of Pennsylvania, and moved to Indiana in 1849. He was a farmer, and died in 1863. The mother was also a native of Pennsylvania, and is now living in Missouri. James Heinbaugh was born in the "Keystone State" March 4, 1838. He came to Indiana when about eleven years old, where he received limited educational advantages. When twenty-two years old he began working as a farm hand, and at the end of four years farmed on rented land, and after coming to Daviess County rented land for two years, and then purchased part of his present farm. He now owns 108 acres of good land situated near the station of Plaiuville. In 1863 he wedded Tamzen Price. They became the parents of six children, four of whom are living: Charles W., Cora B., Lillie M. and Anna L. Mr. Heinbaugh is a member of the I. O. O. F., and in politics is a Democrat. He has been justice of the peace four years, and is now holding the office of trustee. He was a soldier in the late war, enlisting in Company G, Eighty-fourth Indiana Volunteers in 1861, and served eighteen months.

Biographical Sketches

(Cloud) Millis. The father was a native of Orange County, IncL, born in 1816, and was a farmer in good cinmmstances. He moved to Kansas in 1868, where he now lives. The mother was born in North Carolina, and when about six years old came to Indiana, where she was raised. She was born in 1815 and died in Kansas in 1875. Of this parentage was born the subject of this sketch in Orange County, Ind., May 22, 1845. He passed his boyhood days on a farm, and when eighteen years old enlisted in the army in Company K, Fifty-third Indiana Infantry and served until the close of the war. By exposure and hardships incident to army life he contracted chronic rheumatism, which has led to disease of the heart and gives him great trouble. After returning home from the war he attended school at different academies for about three years and afterward taught two schools. He began attending school at the State University but took only a part of one year's course, when his health failed him. He then studied medicine for several years, and took a course of lectures in the Kentucky School of Medicine at Louisville. He practiced his profession in Lawrence County, Ind., until 1880, when he came to Plainville, Daviess County, and still continues his practice. He owns ninety-five acres of good land, which his son cultivates. After his return from the army he married Eliza A. Burton, who was born April 25, 1816. They were married in 1867 and became the parents of five children, one of whom died in infancy. Those living are Tillie, Burton J., Carrie N. and William E. Dr. Millis is a Kepublican in politics, and he and wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church. He is a successful physician and one who is eVer ready to support worthy enterprises. His eldest daughter graduated in the common school course at the age of fifteen years, and taught her first school very successfully when sixteen years old.

JOHN C. WEIGHT is the youngest of a family of five children born to the marriage of Wiley Wright and Anne Coleman, natives of North and South Carolina, respectively, the father born in 1799 and the mother in 1802. They both came to Indiana with their parents when quite young. They were raised near Washington, where they lived and died. The father died April 17, 1855, and the mother April 21, 1855. Our subject was born uear Washington, in Daviess County, February 11, 1841. He was reared on a farm and attended the common schools. His parents died when he was fourteen years old, and he then lived with different persons until eighteen years old, when he enlisted in Company D, Twenty-fourth Indiana Infantry, in 1861. He was discharged August 18, 1864, after three years' service. He was uninjured except by army exposure. After his return from the war he began farming near where he now lives. He has prospered fairly well and owns eighty acres of very fine land. January 31, 1865, he was married to Emma Lee. They became the parents of three children, one of whom is dead. Those living are Amy I. and James E. Politically Mr. Wright is a zealous ^Republican, and is now assessor of Steele Township, and is mucb respected as a neighbor and citizen.