Washington Township

Washington Township

SAS named in honor of George Washingrf| ton, the first president of the United 4 States. It is situated in the northeastern part of the county. The surface is di- J vided into bottom and uplands, and in some places it is much broken; it was originally densely timbered. The streams and water courses are still well wooded with oak, hickory, ash, walnut, sycamore, poplar, black and sweet gum, soft and sugar maple, linden, elm, beech, etc., sufficient for building purposes, fuel and fences for years to come.

The soil is quite productive, and-in some parts, especially in the fertile bottoms, yields bountifully to the hand of labor. The township is well supplied with streams which furnish an abundance of water for stock purposes. The surface water is drained by White and Patoka Rivers, Yellow, Engine, Goose, Pond, Sand Branch and other tributaries. The Patoka River flows in a northern and westerly direction and drains the southern part of the township, and White River flows in a southwesterly direction and drains the extreme northern portions of the township. Washington is irregular in shape, and is bounded on the north by Pike County and White River, east by Pike County, south by Center and Patoka, west by White River Township and White River. It comprises within its boundaries portions of Township 1 South, Range 9, Township 1 South, Range 10, and Township 1 North, Range 10.

Joseph Decker, Jacob Decker and Luke Decker, brothers, came to the territory now embraced in Washington Township about or before 1800, and established a ferry across the White River at a point where Buena Vista now stands, known as Decker's ferry. This ferry and the Severns' ferry across the Patoka were the first in the county, and were in operation long before this was a county, under the authority of Knox County.

At the May term of court, 1813, the first in the county, on petition of Joseph Decker, the commissioners ordered a road to be opened fifteen feet wide from Decker's ferry on the White River to Severns' ferry on the Patoka River, and Abraham Decker, Robert Falls and James Robb were appointed special commissioners to mark out, and Robert Crow supervisor to open said road. This was the first road ordered opened by the

Nathaniel West was, perhaps, the next settler in this town, about 1800. His wife's maiden name was Betsey Lewis, and their children were: - Susan, Nancy, Betsey, Mr. West settled on military donation 121 and improved a farm. Thomas L. West was a soldier and was wounded at the battle of Tippecanoe. He was shot through the shoulder and mouth, cutting his tongue in a way as to cripple his articulation for life. Miss Nancy West, the second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Nathaniel West, married Mr. James Cheek. This is said to be the first marriage in Washington Township and Gibson County, under the first license issued by this county.

Abraham Decker, a native of Kentucky, came from Knox County, Ind., to this township about 1802, and settled on and improved military donation 68. Mrs. Decker's maiden name was Rebecca Sullivan, a native of Vincennes, Ind. The children were: - Susan, Catharine, Sally, Lucy, Dianna, Eliza, Christiana, Joseph and Daniel. Abraham Decker was an active and enterprising citizen, having the confidence of the people and those in authority, as noted by the fact of his holding different offices of trust in the township in his day.

Robert Falls was an early settler. He came in 1803 to this township and built the first mill operated by horse-power, in 1809 or 1810. It was located on miltary donation No. 107. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Falls in an early day were in the habit of opening up their cabin house for church purposes and the feasting of preachers. On a certain occasion several Baptist ministers went to feast and hold services at Mr. Falls'. During service and before the meal some young chaps,

Robb, slipped the bread and baked ham from the Dutch ovens about the fire and handed them out at the top of the chimney to some other boys, when they all retired to an out-of-the-way place and devoured them to the great disappointment of the men of God and deep chargin of Mrs. Falls. The above prank resulted in some litigation, but we ave not informed he the boys came out. Mr. I*all lived a useful and quiet life, taling but little part in public affairs.

W. G. Collins and his wife, Naney Robb, eldest daughter of James Robb, are living qnictly in their advanced old age on military donotion No. 112, where they have lived for many years, she being blind and he quite deaf. He came to the township in 1803 and she in 1801. Jesse and John Dougherty, brothers, came to the township in 1804. John Hyneman came to this township to settle in 1802. He was in the county in the fall of 1800, and helped Maj. David Robb build his cabin. Mrs. Betsey Milburn (nee Kirk) came to this township in 1804 with her husband, who died, and she afterward married John Hyneman. This union was blessed with an issue in 1808, Robert Hyneman, born on Section 80, the first born of the township, who is still living, at the advanced age of seventy-six years, in Hazleton, this county. Robert Hyneman is blind, but is able to go about the town without a guide, and is quite active.

Thomas Gardner, a native of South Carolina, was an early settler of this township. He located on donation 106 and improved it. He taught school some time and perhaps was the first teacher in the township. William Gardner, the only living son of Thomas Gardner, born in South Carolina, came to this towuship with his father and is now eighty years old. His wife is two years older than he, and weighs between 200 and 300 and looks quite fresh and vigorous, and can go about with the assistance of a cane. James Crow settled in this township at an early day on military donation 113, and was the first sheriff of Gibson County. Many of his descendants still reside in the county and are among the enterprising and useful citizens. Thomas Sullivan, a native of Ireland, was also among the early settlers. He was in the battle of Tippecanoe. John Stookey and John I. Neely were also among the pioneers of this township. The latter gentleman was one of the best known men in the county; he held several official positions and is recollected by many of the pioneers, who speak of him as having been an officer of integrity and a genial, whole-souled man. He was noted for his hospitality and kindness of heart.

The first sermons preached in this township were by Joseph Milburn, a Baptist, and resident of White River Township, at the residences of James Robb, Abraham Decker and Robert Falls. The first church erected in Washington Township was built on the northeast corner of military donation seventy-seven, belonging to Hezekia Bennett. The building was a log cabin without any floor, and the sleepers made to serve as seats for the congregation. The name of the minister who presided at this temple was Rev. Hanks. The faith of the people who worshipped here was of the Baptist persuasion.

A little incident connected with this congregation will perhaps not be out of place here. Hezekia and Armstead Bennett, members of the church, had been indulging overmuch in "high lonesomes " and were brought to task for their over indulgence. Armstead was penitent and promised to reform, and was forgiven and retained in the fold, but Hezekia, being " muleish," stiffened his neck and would neither apologize nor make any promises, which created considerable excitement and confusion, and noise sufficient to awaken Sister Mollie Cheek, the sleeping member, as she was called, when she, learning the situation, exclaimed, " Turn him out! Turn him 'out! 'He' always will keep getting drunk." This turned the tide against Hezckia and he was dropped from the " ark of safety."

The first resident physician of this township was Dr. Joseph Davidson, Drs. L. Shuler and. McNamee, from Vincennes, practiced some in this township. Richard Garner was the first man who carried on blacksmithing here. The first justices were in order as follows: - William Phillips, J oe Gulick, Rebert Kirk, John Gulick.

We relate the following episode connected with the official capacity of William Phillips, the first justice: - Jack Chambers, a local preacher, had rendered service to the people of the township as spiritual adviser, for which he was to be paid in coon skins and other peltry, each subscriber agreeing to pay so many skins. His parishioners, as he thought, were slow to pay him, and he brought suit before Esquire Phillips on his subscription list against all and had service on each and every delinquent to appear and answer to the demands of the plaintiff, Jack Chambers. Pursuant to notice, court had convened, the parties, plaintiff and defendants were present, the plaintiff claiming satisfaction by means of judgment on his subscription paper, when one Mulholland, who was acting as agent or attorney for the defendants, walked into court loaded down with the stipulated furs or skins, and, to the surprise of the holy man, made tender of them in full satisfaction of the plaintiff's claim. The case ended in a general guffaw and pleasantness prevailed, all being satisfied with the practical joke.

The first death we have any account of in this township was a man by the name of McCoy. He died on a keel-boat and was buried on Military Donation No. 5, where cemetery is located, southeast of where Buena Vista now stands. The priority of the first graveyard in this township lics between this one and one located on the old Robert Falls land, Military Dona. tion 107. The first postoftice in this township was established in, 1858, at Buena Vista and was called "West Buena Vista." John Cunningham was postmaster. Other offices were located in the township, one at Kirksville, now Wheeling, and one on the route between Hazleton in White River Township and Petersburg in Pike County, but all are now abandoned, noi a postofiice remaining in the township.

In 1816, or thereabouts, John Claypole owned and kept a store of a general character at a point on White River where Buena Vista now is, at Decker's Ferry. This was the first store in this township. Robert Crow, at an early day, settled on Military Donation No. 98, and in 1826 brought " Packlett," an English blooded horse, into the township. He was said to be a descendant from the English stallion rode by Lord Packimgham at the battle of New Orleans. In 1840 Samuel Cunningham introduced on his farm, Donation 66, the first Durham Jong horn ever brought to the township. This township furnished one man, Logan Gasaway, in the Mexican War. Until 1824, the territory of what is now Washington Township belonged to and formed a part of White River Township. At the August term, 1824, of the board of county commissioners, they laid off the boundaries of Washington Township and organized the same by ordering an election to be held at the house of Patrick Woods, on the second Monday of September, 1824, and appointing John De- Priest imspector thereof. John DePriest was reappointed inspector in 1825. At this time the township extended further south than now, and Jacob Skelton was appointed constable - the first for the town-

Again in 1837, at the May term court, the boundaries of this township were enlarged by adding a part of White River Township to it, making the line between the two townships follow the road leading from Severns' Bridge on the Patoka River to Robb's Ferry on the White River. There was also at this term an election ordered on the 22d day of May at the house of John Ennis, for the election of two justices of the peace. John Ennis was also appointed inspector of said election, John

The manufacturing in this township is not extensive, Lucian Dunning established a wagon factory in 1870 on military donation No, 88, at his residence, for the manufacture of the "Imitation Studebaker" wagon, where he now manufactures plows, wagons, carriages and all kinds of wheeled vehicles, and does all kinds of repairing in wood and iron. His steam power is eighthorse. He has one run of buhrs for grinding rye and corn attached to his machinery. There is some stone in this township. There is one quarry near the Patoka River, where stone have been taken out and flat boated down the river from Kirksville, now known as Wheeling. This place at one time was quite a business center, haying a large flouring mill, stores, blacksmith shop, postoffice, etc. It is situated in Section 19, on the northeast branch of the Patoka River. This town is too far from the KE. & T. H. R. R. to be benefited by it, and still so close as to be injured by it. Its flouring mill was burned down, and from its loss and railroad influences, the town has gone to decay, nothing remaining but a few time-worn and shattered buildings. There is at present a small store, tobacco and whisky being the main staples or articles of commerce, There are a considerable number of logs rafted from this point.

Buena Vista is in the north part of this township and county, situated on the east bank of White River, on military donation No. 2. It was laid out in 1848, and prospered for six years, haying four business houses that carried a good stock, two packing houses, one saw mill, hotel, one blacksmith shop, wagon shop, two doctors, one saloon, one church and one school house, When the BE. & T. H. R. R. was built, Hazleton, a station on that road, drew the business from it, and left it to dwindle on the sand hills of White River. There is a small business, one store, here now.

Hargrove, the old pioneer, was of Dutch descent, born | ' five years one of the associate justices, and also assessor of the county in 1829.

in South Carolina. From there the family went to Kentucky, and in November, 1803, came to the Terriowned and occupied by Robert Mitchell. During the Indian wars in 1811, he raised a volunteer company of

Hargrove grew to manhood, and passed the greater portion of his life. In 1819 he settled on 160 acres of land in Lost Creek, in Warrick County, and remained there until the fall of 1821, when he removed back to Gibson County, and in the spring of 1822 he moved back to his farm on Lost Creek, and remained there until 1830, then came back to Gibson County, and here remained the rest of his life, and died in October, 1874. He was a shrewd business man, and possessed unusual foresight, and predicted with unerring certainty the future in the direction of lands, which in the end made him one of the wealthy men of the county. He took an actrust, and in all merited the confidence and esteem of his constituency, who recognized in him a faithful and honest servant of the people. In the county he was far

In August, 1881, he was elected to represent Gibson County in the state legislature, and was re-elected in 1832, '83 and'34. He served altogether eight sessions in the legislature. In 1836 he was elected Sergeant at Arms of the House. In 1837 he was commissioned by Gov. Noble as probate judge, to fill a vacancy. At the end of that term he was elected, and altogether served three full terms as probate judge. In 1838 he was elected to represent the counties of Gibson, Pike and Dubois in the state senate, and subsequently was re-elected and served six full terms in that body. He was recorder and clerk of the county for one term. On the 31st of December, 1818, he was united in marriage to Isiphina Latham. She was born in Virginia in 1798. Her parents moved from Virginia to Kentucky in 1805,

| these one son and four daughters are yet living. Samuel, the only surviving son, is a farmer and resident of Pike County. He married Miss Mary, daughter of John and Sarah Ewing, in 1866, and has two children, named Minnie and John Ewing Hargrove. During the tive and conspicuous part in the public affairs of the | county, and was for many years the leading representative of the Democratic party, in whose principles he most earnestly believed and advocated. During his long and active life, he filled many offices of honor and

Hightieth Indiana Infantry. He enlisted for three years, and served until the close of the war. Politically, he is a Democrat, and represented his party in the state legislature. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the G. A. R.

Wilson

John C. John w. Joseph Joseph §. Joshua Lettie J. Levin Lewis Lydia A. Mary A. N.B. Nancy Nancy A. Nancy E. Nathan Robert Rollin Baaue) H. Saaue) S. Thoaas J. WoL. Walter Williae William A. Williaa WwW.