Sugar Creek Township

Sugar Creek Township

Sugar Creek Township occupies the northeast corner of the county. It is six miles from east to west, and five and one-half miles from north to south. It contains thirty-three sections, and is bounded as follows: On the north by Clinton County, on the east by Washington Township, on the south by Jefferson Township, and on the west by Montgomery County. It is drained principally by Sugar Creek, which enters the township from Washington Township at section twenty-five. Flowing west it leaves the township at section thirty-one, and enters Montgomery County. About one-half of the township lies on each side of the creek. The Indianapolis, Cincinnati & Lafayette Railroad passes through the township, entering at the southeast corner. It passes through Thorntown and leaves the township near where sections sixteen and seventeen unite. Wolf Creek flows northwest and enters Sugar Creek near the center of the township. Prairie Creek enters Sugar Creek at a short distance northeast of Thorntown. Morrison's Creek flows from the northeast and enters Sugar Creek at section thirty, on the west side of the township. Some of the finest land to be found anywhere can be seen here. That part known far and wide as "Sugar Plain " is the garden spot of the township and perhaps county. The township is number one as a rule, and coupled with this we find it is highly cultivated, has excellent buildings, commodious barns and other evidences of thrift and prosperity. Originally there was some of the finest timber here, such as walnut, poplar, oak and ash. A few remaining trees and stumps tell what it must have been in its former state. Thorntown, the only town in the township, located on Sugar Creek, is a town of some note. In another place we will say more about it under the head of " Sketch of Thorntown." The township up to the year 1828 was in the Indian Reserve, a strip of land ten miles square, occupied and owned by a tribe of Miami

Indians. They remained until the year 1833 or 34. Here may yet be seen some of their burying grounds. Thorntown was at one time the headquarters for French traders as early as the year 1800. They kept up a trade with the Indians and early trappers. At one time near Thorntown the Indians raised corn. Some of the people living there now remember seeing the hills where the corn grew, as well as other evidences of cultivation. Sugar Creek Township is historic ground. Here the Indian wooed his dusky mate, danced the war dance, sung the songs of the hunter, smoked the pipe of peace and buried their dead in a sitting position. Those who were actors then have long since gone to the happy hunting grounds. After the Government came into possession of the Reserve the land was offered for sale at Crawfordsville in November, 1829. Among the early purchasers were Cornelius Westfall, William Kenworthy, Samuel Lucas, paying from $1.25 to $4.00 per acre for it. The first settler was Geo. Harness, with the small family of wife and twelve children. This-must have been in the year 1830. Mr. Harness seems to have had a hard time. After he and his wife had worked in harness in more ways than one he finally lost his land. He lived to the age of 108 years, dying in 1876 on the Michigan Road in Clinton County, Indiana. This township was organized in 1831. The first election was held at the house of William Kenworthy, April, 1832, when Benjamin Sweeney and Jas. Van Eaton were elected Justices of the Peace, and Green Foster and David Laudrum, Constables. About this time quite a number of families came; among them were Joshua Burnham, Jas. Scott, Joshua and Jas. Van Eaton, John Skeen, Wm. Gypson, Isaac Gypson (now living). Later came Samuel Brenton, Hugh Moffitt, Jeremiah Moffitt, Mr. Benson, Mr. Baker, Mr. Blue, Wm. Childers, John Miller, Adrian Ball, Isaac Corbet, Benj. Lewis, John Furgeson, Abraham Utter, Wm. Turner, Nathan Maroney, Wm. Payne, Robert Cook, Robert Morrison, Thos. Goldsbury, Eli Goldsbury, Samuel Cass, Adam Boyd, Wm.

The first mill was built by John G. Pierce, on Prairie Creek, in the spring of 1833. This was a saw mill. Silas Kenworthy built the first grist mill on Sugar Creek. Bonham Kester built the first carding mill in 1837, The first steam flouring mill was built in 1856 by David Binford and Henry Wetheral, just south of Thorntown. The first white child was born at the house of Green Forster in 1831. The first death was Jemima Harness, October, 1829. The second death was Mary A. Westfall. She was the first person buried in the old cemetery north of Thorntown. The first marriage was that of John Pauly and Emily Sweeney, in July, 1832. The first religious meeting was held at the house of Cornelius Westfall, by Claybourn Young. The first church organization in the township was in 1832; Stephen Ball was the preacher. Soon after the Presbyterians organized with Clayburn as minister. This was in 1833. <A few years later the Quakers built a log house that served them several years, when they built their present commodious house on the site of the old one west of Thorntown. The Christians, in 1842, organized a society, and first held meetings in private houses, as all other organizations did. The Missionary Baptist was the last to forma society. This they did a few years later. All now have houses to worship in in different parts of the county. The first tan-yard was started by Zachariah Gipson, in the summer of 1832. The first merchant was A. H. Baldridge. Isaac Morgan kept the first tavern. The first tailor was Robert Hamil. The first carpenter was John Alexander, the first blacksmith Moses McClure and the first shoemaker Thomas Young. The first hatter was Samuel Daily. The first wagonmaker was George McLaughlin. The first potter, Oliver Craven, now living in Thorntown. The first saddler was Mark A. Micham and the first doctor was Mr. Farmer, followed by Drs. Amons, Davis, Ephraim Rudasill W. P. Davis, Martin W. Gentry and J. J. Nesbitt, who ai afterwards County Treasurer. He died in Ohio in 1864. The first attorney was Rufus A. Lockwood, followed by J acob 'Angle, and John 8. Davis. The first postoffice was opened at ¢he house of Wm. Kenworthy, east of Thorntown, in 1832. Robert Hamil was the first postmaster proper in Thorntown. The first school teacher in Thorntown was Jefferaon Hillis. Mrs. Polly Gipson has been the longest resident in the place. She is the daughter of James Scott, who came in 1829. Oliver COraven has served as Justice of the Peace over forty years. The population of the county in 1870 was 3,138. In 1880 it was 3,015. There are ten school houses, nine of which are brick and one frame. The number of school children in 1884 was 535. Number of voters in 1886 was 713. Value of school property $12,600. The following have served as Trustees: N. W. Weakley, William Kirby, J. T. McCorkle, M. E. McCorkle, Joseph Cones, G. W. Cones, Robert Reese, I. N. Wilson, A. C. Clark and J. M. Wilson, elected April, 1886.

This township is bounded on the north by Marion Township, on the east by Hamilton County, on the south by Eagle Township and on the west by Center and Worth Townships. It contains twenty-five sections. The surface along Big Eagle and Mount's Run is somewhat broken, but is well adapted for grazing purposes. Big Eagle flows through the township from north to south, crossing the Michigan Road one mile south of Rosston and one-half mile north of Northfield in section three. Mount's Run flows through the township, entering Eagle Creek at the south part of section ten. Finley Creek comes in from the northeast and enters Eagle a short distance southwest of Northtield. Jackson's Run also enters the township. The Michigan Road passes through the entire township, entering at the south in section fourteen, running a little to the west of north and leaving in section twenty-eight, where it enters Marion township. It is perhaps the best naturally drained of all the townships in the county, excepting Eagle- The settlement of Union dates back as far as 1826, when the following pioneers entered the wilderness: Jesse Lane, Edward Lane, John Lane, Samuel Lane, Benj. Cruse, Henry Koontz, John L. Koontz, Jacob Johns, Geo. Walker, Riley B. Hogshire, George Shirts, John Davis, Jas. Richardson and the Sedgwicks. Soon after came Henry Nichols, Jacob Tipton, Jacob Jones, James and Wm. Ross, the Dooleys, Shoemakers, Washington Hutton, John Duiin, the Stephensons, Peterses, Alexanders, Wesley Smith, Kincaids, Wm. O. Carey, Vances, Andrew Harvey, John Pitman, James Alexander, Abraham Newcomer, the Giffords, Hicksons, Henry M. Marvin, John Murphy, Jas. Dye, Wysongs, John A. Dulin, Levi P. Shoemaker, Nelsons, Hollingsworths, Levi King, James Berry, Henry Good and Isaac Dye. The first religious meetings were held in 1832, at the house of Mr. Sedgwick. They were conducted by Thos. Brown. The first election was held in 1834, when John Berry was elected Justice of the Peace. He was succeeded by Abner Sanborn. The first mill was built and run by Hiram McQuindy. The Methodists built the first church. They were soon after followed by the Baptists. There are now several good churches, representing nearly all the denominations. There is a Methodist Church at Northfield, also a Seventh-Day Adventist Church, erected and dedicated December, 1886. The Baptists have a brick church at Mount's Run. There is a cemetery there where are buried a number of pioneers, Northfield, one of the oldest villages of the county, is located on the ichighn Road. This has been the voting place for a number of years. There is a postoffice also. Among the early physicians were Dr. Mc- Leod, Dr. J. 8. Hardy and Dr. Presly. Jacob Tilton, Hiram McQuiddy and Chauncey Cole were early merchants. Rosston, two miles north, was laid out about the time the Anderson & St. Louis Railroad was surveyed, It. occupies land owned by the Ross boys. There is quite a little trade here especially since the railroad was finished from Anderson i

Benjamin Booher

Lebanon, January 22, 1887. There is a postoffice here, two variety stores, and a Masonic Lodge. A switch will soon be put in, when it will be a shipping point of some importance. The population of the township in 1870 was 1,057; in 1880 it was 1,092; the number of voters, 250; the number of school children in 1886 was 356. There are eight school houses, three of which are brick and five frame. The Methodists have a society at Big Spring anda good frame church. This has been a popular place for meetings for the last forty years, and many smal] camp-meetings are held here. 'The house is located near the Marion Township line. Theline between Marion and Union Townships divide the village of Big Spring. Union Township has made good progress as a rule in the way of buildings, roads, schools, ditching, ete. Many of the pioneers are dead. A few remain while others have moved away. Could some of them visit the township now what changes would greet them on every hand. The little cabin in the woods gone, the little bridle-path turned into a pike, the green woods into well-cultivated fields. The pioneers here, as well as in other townships, had much to.contend with in their new homes, no mills, no schools and no neighbors. But deprived of them they had their enjoyments. The people were sociable in the extreme. Their wants were comparatively few. The Trustees are as follows: J. F. Stephenson, Geo. Shoemaker, J. M. Koons, H. M. Marvin, R. G. Nelson, W. H. Dooley, Geo. Norwood, L. P. Shoemaker, J. M. Reed, Jas. Hubanks, and Geo. Stephenson, elected November, 1886.

Washington To Wnship

This township occupies the west center of the north tier of townships. Sugar Creek passes through from east to west. About one-third of the township lies north and two-thirds south of the creek. Spring Creek flows from the southeast part to the northwest, entering Sugar Creek in section thirty, at the S. Titus farm. Prairie Creek enters the township from Center at section ten, flows west and leaves the township at section seven, where it enters Sugar Creek Township. About one-third of this township was originally embraced in the "Indian Reserve," which was bought by the Government in 1828. This township contains thirty-five and a half sections, and nearly all is of the very best land. Here, where wellcultivated fields are now found, originally stood some of the finest timber. The Indianapolis, Cincinnati & Lafayette Railroad runs across the southwest corner of the township. Hazelrigg station is named after the late H. G. Hazelrigg, who formerly owned the land in and about the station. Mechanicsburg (Reese Mill P.O.) is located in the eastern part of the township near where Brown's Wonder unites with Sugar Creek. The first settlers began to arrive here about 1832, when the township was organized. The following are the names of some who came first: The first elec tion was held at the house of John 8. Polk, April, 1832, when John Slocum and J. S. Polk were elected Justices of the Peace, sixty votes being cast. John Pauly and Wm. Brown were elected constables at the same time. Among the first settlers were John N. Fall, John Wilky, Joshua Allen, Wm. West, Able Pennington. The above named persons came before the sale of land in 1829. After that time the following persons came: Joshua Burnham, Benj. Crose, James Scott, Samuel Reese, John Slocum, Thos. McCann, Wm. Pauly, Jas. Turner, Benj. Sweeney, John Morehead, Jacob Skeen, Abram Buckhalter, Samuel and James Foreman, John Kersey, Benj. and Stephen Titus, Nathaniel Titus, Samuel Cason and John Cradlebaugh. Among other settlers are John Higgins, Robt. Slocum, the Becks, Sleighbecks, Chambers, Thornberrys John Graham, the Buntins, Goldsbeys, Bowens, W. W. Phillips, Campbells, Nathan Garrett, Richie Bonam Stout, Jas. P. Mills, Samuel Long and Jos. Hollingsworth. The first grist mill was built by David-Ross in 1831, on Spring Branch. Bonam Stout built the first grist mill at

Mechanicsburg in 1838. John and Noah Hardesty built the mill now known as the "Adney " mill on Sugar Creek in 1840. Michael and Augustus Chase built the Ben Crose mill. The first church was a log structure built by the Baptists in 1835, on the David Ross farm. The first meetings were held at the house of Wm. Pauly about the year 1830. The first school was taught by Daniel Ellis, Jas. P. Mills built the first tanyard in the township. The township has improved rapidly during the last few years. A system of drainage has been built in every direction, and much of the land is in a high state of cultivation. Mechanicsburg, the center of quite a local trade, was laid out in 1835 by Jas. Snow. Hazelrigg Station is also a very good town. The Cason graveyard, in the south part of the township, is one of the oldest burying places, as well as Bethel. Here many monuments are erected to the memory of the pioneers. A small cemetery is located on Brush Creek in the northwest part of the township; also one south of Pike's Crossing. Pike's Crossing is five miles north of Lebanon, at the crossing of the Frankfort and Lebanon Pike and the Strawtown and Thorntown Road. There is a postoffice and several nice residences here. The farms show every evidence of thrift and prosperity. The population in 1870 was 1,391; in 1880 it was 1,352. Number of voters in 1886 was 349; number of school children in 1886 was 441. There are ten brick school houses in the township. The following have acted as Trustees: John Higgins, H. G. Hazelrigg, Robert Slocum, B. F. Lumpkins, J. S. Harrison, Albert Helm and Robert Herr, elected in April, 1886. Washington Township is the only one in the county that has a Township House, that is, a place where the voting is done and other township meetings held. It is a brick building, centrally located, on or near the site of the old Bethel Church, and where there is a cemetery.

Source changes here: from History of Boone County, Indiana : With Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records of Old Families, by Crist, L. M. (Leander Mead), published 1914; 2,704 words in this source stream.

Sugar Creek Township

Sugar Creek township is located in the northwest part of the county. It is bounded on the north by Clinton county; on the west by Montgomery county, on the south by Jefferson township, and on the east by Washington township. It contains thirty-three square miles, sections i to 12 inclusive, in township 19 north, range 2 west and half sections 13 to 18 inclusive and sections 19 to 36 inclusive in township 20 north, range 2 west. This is as good land as ever a crow flew over and was well timbered originally. Chief among the trees of the forest was queen Acer, the maple, from which came the name Sugar Creek. It is thoroughly drained by Sugar creek and its tributaries, Wolf and Prairie creeks, and several smaller streams, both from the north and the south. The land is rich and undulating with Sugar creek flowing across the center from east to west, passing into Montgomery county near the southwest corner of section 30. Along the slopes of the streams were numerous springs, chief among which was the Big Spring, just east of Thorntown, which the Indians prized so highly, that it was made the center of their reservation.

A volume could be written of this historic center of the Indian and his home, until crowded out by the white man, but we will not enlarge here (see sketch of Thorntown). We will give here a few brief statements of the early settlements and first events. The Indian reserve here was one of the most important west of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, in the march of the Redman towards the west, from the aggression of the white man, and it will be touched upon in connection with the Indian in other chapters.

Sugar Creek township was organized in 1831. The first election was held April 1832, in the house of William Kenworthy. Benjamin Sweeney and James Van Eaton were elected justices of the peace and Green Foster and David Landrum, constables. Sugar Creek township was all included in the Indian Reserve which was not closed until 1828, and the Indians lingered with the early whites until 1833 and 1834. In 1829 James Van Eaton and Cornelius West fall entered land in section 35 where Thorntown is located. The same year William Kenworthy entered in 36 just east of Thorntown. Charles Moffitt and Joseph Ratcliff, section 34; Levi Fouts, section 33; John Skeen, section 25 and Jeremiah Cox, section 30.

gospel family of twelve children. The date is given as 1830. He settled on the east half of the southeast quarter of section 3, township 20 north, range 2 west. It must have been as early as 1828. His first abode was in an Indian hut near the famous Big Spring. He cleared about twenty acres around his home and when the land sale came in 1829, he bought what he thought was his home; but being illiterate he bought the land north of his home and William Kenworthy bought where Harness lived. Afterwards when Mr. Kenworthy told him that he owned the land upon which he lived, there was a difficulty between them which was settled by Mr. Kenworthy paying Mr. Harness one hundred and ten dollars. Among other troubles that came to Mr. Harness was the death of his daughter, Jemima, who fell from a fence and so injured herself, that she died October, 1829, and was buried in the northwest quarter of section 31, township 20 north, range 1 west. There it remains to this day, a lonely grave on the south banks of the run and unmarked. For a long time it was enclosed but even that has passed away. Mr. Harness soon afterwards moved to Carroll county, on the Old Michigan road, and later to Deer Creek township, Cass county, and died there January, 1876, at the advanced age of one hundred and eight years.

Soon after the election of 1832, a number of families flocked into this garden of the young county, Joshua Burnham, James Scott, Joshua and James Van Eaton, John Skeen, William and Isaac Gipson. Later there came Samuel Brenton, Hugh and Jeremiah Moffitt, John Miller, Adrian Ball, Isaac Corbet, Benjamin Lewis, John Ferguson, Abraham Utter, Robert Cook, Robert Morrison, Thomas and Eli Goldsberry, Adam Boyd, Asa Fall. Elisha Riley and Oliver Craven followed by others that laid the foundation of the township. The first saw mill was built by John G. Pierce on Prairie creek. The first grist mill on Sugar creek was built by Silas Kenworthy. Bonham Kester built the first carding mill 1837. The first steam flouring mill was built by David Binford and Henry Wetherald. The first white child was born at the home of Green Foster, 1831. The second death was Mary A. West fall, who was the first person buried in the old cemetery. The first marriage, John Pauley to Miss Emily Sweeney, occurred July, 1832. The first religious meeting was held at the home of Cornelius Westfall by Claybourne Young. The first church organized was the Methodist Episcopal, 1832 Rev. Stephen Ball, pastor. The Presbyterians organized in 1833, Reverend Clayburn as minister. In 1835, tne Friends built a log house on the site of the present church at Sugar Plain. The Christian church came in 1842 and the Missionary Baptist later. First tan yard, Zachariah Gipson; first merchant, A. H. Baldbridge ; first hotel, Isaac Morgan ; first tailor, Robert Hamill ; first carpenter, John Alexander; first blacksmith, Moses MaClure; first shoemaker, Thomas Young ; first hatter, Samuel Daily ; first wagon maker, George McLaughlin, first potter, Oliver Craven ; first saddler, Mark A. Micham ; first doctor, Doctor Farmer ; first attorney, Ruf us A. Lockwood ; first postoffice at the house of William Kenworthy. Robert Hamill was the postmaster in Thorntown. The first school teacher was Jefferson Hillis. Oliver Craven served as justice of the peace for forty years.

Education

Since the days of Jefferson Hillis, who taught the first school, there has been a commendable spirit for advancement in education in this township. School houses were erected at convenient places over the territory as soon as settlements were made. First the round log cabin that has so often been described and so well impressed upon the memory of the people. This was followed by the hewed log cabin which was a better and more substantial structure. Next came the frame and last of all the modern brick. Schools were multiplied until there were ten distributed over the township. Under the concentration system now in vogue there are seven active schools which enrolled during the school years 191 3 and 1914 one hundred and seventythree pupils and graduated during the year seven pupils. The enumeration of school children the spring of 1914 was two hundred and thirty-nine, not quite one school child for each eighty acre farm in the township. There has been a decline of the number of children for the two last decades. In addition to the rural schools there was the Thorntown Academy (see separate sketch elsewhere), which attained to a wide reputation in its day and titled Thorntown as the Athens of Boone county. It was finally changed into a public school and is so continued to this day, and has in its system a commissioned high school which graduated this year a class of twenty-three.

The first church established in Sugar Creek township outside of Thorntown, was the Friends' church at Sugar Plains. This society was organized December, 1833, and met at the home of Hugh Moffitt. They continued to meet at this place twice a week until 1835, when a small log house was built near the site of the present Sugar Plains church, which served the double purpose of school and meeting house, until the growth of the members increased. The log house was too small to hold the people and a frame building was erected. The monthly meeting was established in 1840, embracing a territory of a radius of six or eight miles. The people came on horseback regularly and the interest grew. The third house, a spacious frame, sixty-four feet square with an eighteen foot ceiling was erected into which throngs of people weekly gathered. This house served the society for about forty years, when it was replaced by a more modern and smaller building which still serves the people for worship. There was also a Friends' church established at Walnut Grove in the southwest part of the township, which served for a long period of years and finally was discontinued. The Methodists organized and established a church three and one-half miles northwest of Thorntown known as Sharon. This society flourished for several years in the Colfax circuit and many spirited meetings were held and precious souls saved. It finally met the fate of rural churches, discontinued services and finally died. The neighborhood is still in mourning over the death of the church. This malady has overtaken all the rural churches in this township until but one remains, Sugar Plains.

No township in the county is blessed with better roads than Sugar Creek. It has good drainage and abundance of road materials. All the leading roads are graded and graveled, the streams great and small are bribed. The first gravel road was made between Thorntown and Darlington and was a toll road for many years, afterwards turned into a township road. All other roads have been built by taxation. The excellent condition of the roads,. (7) the high cultivation of the farms and the beautiful and well arranged homes are making rural life pleasant and desirable and is doing much toward solving the question of keeping the young people on the farm.

Jefferson township is located on the west border of the county being the middle township. It is bounded on the north by Sugar Creek and Washington townships, on the west by Montgomery county, on the south by Jackson and a small portion of Center township, on the east by Center and Washington townships. It contains 46 square miles of land. Sections 13 to 36 inclusive, in township 19 north, range 2 west and sections 1 to 12 inclusive, in township 18 north, range 2 west, also sections 19, 20, 29, 30, 31 and 32, in township 19, north, range 1 west and sections 5, 6, 7 and 8, in township 18 north, range 1 west. It is drained by Walnut creek in the southern part, by Muskrat creek in the central and by Wolf creek in the northern and eastern parts. The farm land is excellent, rolling enough to be drained without difficulty. The streams flow into Sugar creek; thence into the Wabash and on to the Gulf and the wide sea.

Settlements began as early as 1829. It is stated that James Scott entered the first land, followed by William Young, who was elected justice of the peace; Michael W. Campbell, Allen Lane, Ed. Cox, William Hill, John Thompson, Lewis Denny, Wm. M. McBurroughs, Abraham Utter, R. Cox, Clayburn Cain. Following these came the Caldwells, Taylors, John Hill, Adam Kern, John Stephenson, Wm. Darrough, Thomas M. Burris, Samuel Moore, Sampson Bowen, Gid Jackson, Rural Jackson, Erskins Threilkelds, James A. Thompson, James Davis, Samuel Hollingsworth, Nathan Cory, Manual Heistand, Wm. Sanford, Jesse Jackson.

The first religious services held in Jefferson was at the home of William Young and the services were conducted by his brother Claybourne, 1831. Religious services were held in private houses for several years. The Pleasant View church was the first organized in the township. The meetings at first were held in the home of Adam Kern. Benjamin Beeman conducted the meetings. This was in the fall of 1836. The following eight persons were the parties that organized the church: Adam Kern, James Hall, Jane Hall, Arice Pauley, John Bowen, John Pauley, James Kern and Miles Hall. This church has been one of the most substantial country churches of the county. Over one thousand persons have been enrolled among its members. The fiftieth anniversary of the church was held November 6, 1886, at which time over one thousand persons attended. This church is located three miles east of Dover, and six miles west of Lebanon. This church is reported in the Rural Church Survey 191 1, with one hundred and sixteen members and losing ground. There are six other churches in the township, three at Dover and two at Hazelrigg. At Dover are the Disciples with one hundred and seventy-six members, losing ground. Baptists, members, fourteen, losing ground; Presbyterians, dead. At Hazelrigg there are two churches, Disciples (non-progressive), twenty-one members, standing still. Presbyterians dead. In the southeast part of the township is the United Brethren church with a membership of seventy-five, losing ground.

There are no towns or trade centers in Jefferson township except Hazelrigg in the northeast corner. The district school is the people's college. It grew first from the primitive cabin school-house through the frame to the brick of this day. From the private or subscription school through the halffree to the public schools of the present. To supply this want there were erected over the township thirteen district school houses, through which the youth of the township for a generation received the instruction necessary to fit him for the duties of life. Under the present system of concentration, the number of schools has been reduced to eleven.

There were no state thoroughfares in Jefferson township to aid the people in the early development of the country. The road leading from Crawfordsville to Lebanon, running on the section north of the line between townships 18 and 19 north was the first principal road. All others have come up through the Indian trail, blazed way of our fathers, the cut away, corduroy and grade to the splendid gravel roads of the present that mark most section lines and many half-section lines. It is a pleasure to drive over these splendid roads and view the handsome farms on either side with the attraction of beautiful homes and landscapes.

The Big Four railway runs across the northeast corner of the township and the Indiana Central across the southeast corner. The Terre Haute & Indianapolis Traction line runs across the township on the line between townships 18 and 19 north, and affords very convenient accommodation for the people.

The first settler was George Harness with a wife and twelve children, about the year 1829. This township was organized in 1831. The first election was held at the house of William Kenworthy in April, 1832, when Benjamin Sweeney and James Van Eaton were elected justices of the peace and Green Foster and David Laudrum, constables. The first white child was born at the house of Green Foster in 1831. The first death was Jemima Harness, October, 1829. The second death was Mary A. Westfall. She was the first person buried at the old cemetery north of Thorntown, marked off by Mr. Lavebin the surveyor. The first marriage was that of John Pauley and Emily Sweeney in July, 1832. The first religious meeting was held at the house of Cornelius Westfall by Claibourne Young. The first church organization in the township; Stephen Ball was the preacher. Soon after the Presbyterians organized with Claibourne Young as minister in 1833. The first tan-yard was started in 1832 by Zachariah Gibson. Isaac Morgan kept the first tan-yard. The first merchant was A. H. Baldridge and the first tailor, Robert Hamill. The first carpenter was John Alexander. The first blacksmith, Moses McClure and the first shoemaker, Thomas Young. The first hatter was Samuel Daily. The first wagon-maker was George Mc- Laughlin. The first potter was Oliver Craven. The first saddler was Mark A. Michem and the first doctor was Mr. Farmer. The first attorney was Rufus A. Lockwood, followed by Jacob Angle and John S. Davis. The first post office was opened at the house of William Kenworthy, east of Thorntown, in 1832. Robert Hamill was the first postmaster proper in Thorntown [certificate of appointment]. The first school teacher in Thorntown was Jefferson Hillis. The first hotel was kept by Isaac Morgan, the next by David Daily. This hotel was a double log house, which stood where the old Brown Academy was afterwards built.