Washington Township (part 3 of 3)

Relief, Bounty, Etc

In August, 1861, in response to a petition from the citizens, the County Board ''Ordered, That there be allowed the sum of $100 for the support of the families of those who have enlisted in the army of the United States in the present war." Michael Tomy, M. H. Parmelee, T. D. Calvin, E. T. Moore and T. L. Lucas were appointed a committee to expend the amount. In September, an additional $100 was appropriated for the same purpose. In September, 1862, |500 was appropriated for soldiers' families. The following were the township committees to expend the fund : Hamblen Township - Jonathan Watson, Conrad Kirby, W. P. Taggart. Jackson - J. Fleener, John Snyder, A. S. Anderson. Washington - Daniel Crouch, S. G. Pettigrew, G. L. Boruff. Johnson - G. W. Ard, W. H. Arwine, Asa Reaves. Van Buren - J. A. McKinney, G. P. Story, E. T. Moore. In December, 1863, a petition signed by 177 citizens was presented the County Board, asking that a bounty of $100 might be offered from the county treasury for each volunteer who should enlist before the 5th of January, 1864. The County Board refused as follows : " That they had no right by law to grant any such bounty as asked for by the petitioners, and although as private citizens they might entertain different opinions in regard to granting a bounty as asked for, still as Commissioners of said county they could not grant the bounty, from the fact, among others, that the petition embraced only a small minority of the tax payers of said county." In January, 1865, the County Board, with this order on the records staring them in the face, ordered sold county bonds to the amount of $27,000, to be used in securing volunteers at $300 each, to clear the county of the last quota. Sylvanus Manville was appointed to apply the fund, after selling the bonds. By the 8th of March, 1865, he had expended $19,500. It was found that $27,000 was not enough to cover the county quota, which by previous credits had been reduced to 101 men ; so the Auditor was ordered to issue in all $30,300 of county bonds. The Agent's final report in June, 1865, showed that $26,100 had been paid out. The remainder was claimed afterward and paid by the County Board. The following table for the entire war explains itself:

Number Of Men Furnished

Of course it is impossible to give the exact number of men furnished by the county to crush the rebellion. In September, 1862, the county was officially credited with having furnished 502 men. In 1863, the county sent out about seventy-five more. The quotas under the calls of February 1, March 14 and July 18, 1864, were respectively 132, 58 and 119. The number furnished under these calls by January 1, 1865, was 284 ; and the number furnished from that date to the end of the war was 135. The sum total of these numbers will give to within a close figure the men furnished by the county during the war ; 502 and 75 and 284 and 135 equal 996 - or say 1,000 men, a full regiment. Kind and afiectionate reader, how is that for a county which in 1860 polled for Governor 1040 votes, and in 1864 polled for Goveri;ior 1190 votes ? Where is the county in the State that did proportionately better ? Just ponder on that showing when you are led to accuse Brown County of disloyalty. "Facts speak louder than words." In the above estimate each man has been counted as often as he enlisted.

Calls For Troops During The War

troops were put into the field by the energy of Gov. Morton, but when their term of service had expired they were mustered into the service of the United States. These regiments were from the Twelfth to the Seventeenth inclusive. It was also during the same time, that the three months' regiments, from the Sixth to the Eleventh inclusive, re-organized and entered the three years' service. Regiments from the Eighteenth to the Sixtythird were also sent out prior to the call of July, 1862).

Twenty- second Regiment, three years' service. - Thomas J. Adams, died of wounds received at Pea Ridge ; John B. Alexander, died December, 1861, at Syracuse, Mo.; Henry D. Bruner, veteran, killed at Atlanta, August, 1864 ; John Campbell, died at Georgetown, Mo., October, 1861 ; William G. Chitwood, died at St. Louis, Mo., September, 1861 ; John A. CofiTman, killed near Glasgow, Mo., September, 1861 ; Henry M. Daggy, died May, 1864, of wounds received at Rome, Ga.; William B. Dalsbury, died at Jefferson City, Mo., October, 1861 ; Treat S. Dubois, killed at Kenesaw, June, 1864 ; William Gee, died at Boonville, Mo., October, 1861 ; William Hobbs, died January, 1864, of wounds received at Mission Ridge ; John Jackson, died in Andersonville Prison June, 1864 ;

*Thi8 " Roll of Honor " is made out from the Adjutant Generars reports, and though incomplete, owing to the fact that many of the boys could not be traced, is the best that can be given.

Robert C. Kelso, died at Syracuse, Mo., January, 1862 ; John P. Maguire, died at Jefferson City, Mo., October, 1861 ; George Parmelee, died at Jefferson City, October, 1861 ; Thomas Raridon, died at Otterville, January, 1862 ; Jefferson Reynolds, killed at Pea Ridge, March, 1862 ; James Snyder, died at Otterville, December, 1861 ; George W. Spaulding, died at Georgetown, Mo., October, 1861 ; Pleasant D. Weddel, killed at Perryville, October, 1862 ; David A. Whitehorn, veteran, killed at Kenesaw, June, 1864 ; Robert Worley, veteran, died April 1866 ; Frank Kennedy, died December, 1864 ; Elijah Lyons, killed at Rome, Ga., May, 1864.

Eighty-second Regiment, three years' service. - Capt. Jackson Woods, died of disease at Macon, Ga., May 27, 1864 ; Capt. Joseph Fraker, died of disease September 30, 1864 ; Sergt. Joseph Mead, died at home February, 1863; William Fleener, died at Nashville, Tenn., December, 1862 ; Barton Holly, died at Gallatin, Tenn., January, 1863 ; James McCoy, died of wounds at Chattanooga, November, 1863 ; Edwin Parks, died at Gallatin, November, 1862 ; John Pender, died at Bowling Green, Ky., November, 1862; Frederick Richardson, died at Danville, Ky., October, 1862; James Richardson, died at Chattanooga, November, 1863 ; James M. Sipes, died at Beaufort, S. C, April, 1865 ; John Truex, died at Murfreesboro, April, 1863 ; Jacob C. Walker, died at home, February, 1863; James P. Weaver, died at Louisville, December, 1863; Tilghman H. Watson, died of wounds near Broad River, S. C, February, 1865 ; James M. Wilson, died of wounds near Atlanta, July, 1864 ; Henry Henderson, died at Savannah, Ga., February, 1865 ; Oddy Sattethwait, died in Andersonville Prison, June, 1864 ; George W. Dubois, died at Gallatin, November, 1862 ; George W. Coflfin, killed at Chickamauga, September, 1863; John Weddle, died at Louisville, October, 1862; Joseph A. Mcllvain, killed at Atlanta, August, 1864 ; Wilson Price, died at Murfreesboro, March, 1863 ; Henry Hinsley, died at Atlanta, November, 1864; Martin Ault, killed at Chickamauga, September, 1863 ; Alexander Bailes, died at Louisville, December, 1862 ; Jackson W. Bradley, died at Louisville, January, 1863 ; Francis M. Bradley, died at Bowling Green, Ky., November, 1863 ; William R. Breedlove, died at Murfreesboro, March, 1863 ; Robert Honeycut, died at Bowling Green, December, 1862 ; Hugh James, died at Bowling Green, December, 1862 ; Benjamin Kelley, died of disease ; Henry Lucas (Berry), died at Murfreesboro, April, 1863 ; Washington Mosier, shot by his comrade at Irwin, Tenn., May, 1863 ; Elza W. Weaver, died at Nashville, December,

1863 ; John W. Wilson died of disease ; Jackson Woods, died of disease ; William Woods, died at Atlanta, August, 1864 ; Michael Waddle, died at Murfreesboro, February, 1863.

One Hundred and Twentieth Regiment, three years' service. - Fleming R. Followill, died at home, January, 1865 ; Isaac Harding, died at Louisville, April, 1864; William N. Hoover, died at Decatur, September,

1864 ; Jacob Honeycut, died of wounds at Raleigh, N. C, October, 1865 ; Jacob Robertson, died at Rasaca, October, 1864 ; Edward N. Smith, died at Nashville, Tenn., May, 1864.

Dalton, Ga., March, 1865; John Gosser, died at Chattanooga, February, 1865 ; Conrad King, died at Dalton, March, 1865 ; Thomas (John) Mobley, died at Dalton, April, 1865 ; Samuel Peake, died at Jeffersonville, Ind., July, 1865; John H. Porter, died at Dalton, April, 1865; John W. Rich, died at home, February, 1865 ; Francis M. Smith, died at Nashville, Tenn., March, 1865 ; Philip S. Smith, died at Nashville, Tenn., March, 1865; Aaron H. Wheeler, died at Nashville, Tenn., July, 1865; Richard Elkins (Thirty-first Regiment), killed at Fort Donelson, February, 1862; Syl^anus Greenlee, died at Oak Ridge, Miss., October, 1863.

Minerals, Oil, Salt, Etc

THE township of Washington was created in August, 1836, and at' first comprised a strip four miles wide and sixteen miles long entirely across the county from east to west. Afterward two tiers of sections from the northern part of Johnson were added, thus giving the township a total of eighty sections, eight more than two full Congressional townships. The area of this township is almost or wholly drained by the North Fork of Salt Creek. Its branches on the north are Jackson's Lick, Owl, Greasy, Clay Lick, and on the south Schooner, Hampton and on the east Henderson's. The township except the eastern part is a valley bounded south, north and east by high hills. Salt Creek enters the township from the northeast coming from Hamblen Township. The geology of the county teaches that North Salt Cr-eek is not as old as Bean Blossom. At the time of the glacial epoch, the ice masses could get no farther south, except in comparatively small quantities, at the ridge bordering Bean Blossom on the south. On the northern side of that ridge the ice melted and the water was forced westward, soon eroding the valley of Bean Blossom. It must be understood that at the beginning of the glacial epoch the surface of the county was almost level and was at the elevation of the highest lands. The streams, or rather their valleys, have all been cut down through the subsequent years to their present depression. The hills have not been raised ; the valleys have been out out by the action of the water. As the ice melted on the northern slope of Bean Blossom ridge (when the valley of that stream was almost as high as the ridge, and when Salt Creek Valley had not been commenced), large quantities of water, with some ice and some drift of soil from Canada were forced over the ridge, thus forming sluggish rivulets which slowly forced their way southward covering all the county and gradually wearing small depressions which have since been formed into North Salt Creek and its northern branches. The ice which passed over Bean Blossom ridge was stopped by the higher elevation of the central ridge (the one just south of North Salt Creek) and forced southwestward in the general direction of Salt Creek where an outlet could be had. The only portion of the county that seems not to have been under water during the glacial epoch is Weed Patch Knob and perhaps a few others of the highest elevations on the ridges. Around their sides the ice water has deposited slight terraces containing minute pebbles and some imported material as if to record the highest flood upon this meter of the great glacial river, while white and bare these storm-scarred summits looked out over the wintry wild and saw that rigid river of ice menace their base or turn to right or left into the two White River Valleys and float by in a stream of molten silver. A table of altitudes is here given :

In the western part of the township, notably on Section 31, Township 9 north. Range 2 east, and Section 12, Township 8 north. Range 2 east, are salt springs which were famous "licks " in early times, when deer in large numbers wandered browsing through the glades and forests and came there to get their salt. These springs, known of course to the Indians before the whites came, gave name to the creek along which they are found. On Section 31, above mentioned, Mr. Jackson, as early as 1823, bored a well about 300 feet deep, securing a good flow of brine, which was boiled down in eight or ten large iron kettles and sold to the early settlers, many of whom came forty or fifty miles for it. He manufactured thus about 2,500 bushels of superior salt per annum after the well had been fully secured, and gave employment to some six or eight hands, who watched the fires and water. At first the salt sold as high as $8 per bushel, but within a few years it went down, and after about 1836 did not pay, and the manufacture was abandoned. On Section 12, above mentioned, a company from Bloomington, at the head of whom were the Howes, sunk a well in the twenties and also manufactured a considerable quantity of excellent salt. This was called Howe's Salt Lick and the other Jackson's Salt Lick. Several other wells were sunk for salt, one being about three miles northeast of Nashville. During the great oil fever many years ago, an oil well was sunk at the old Howe's Lick by a company, of which Dr. Arwine of Nashville was a member. The well was on the Story farm, and the strata passed through were as follows : water, and when a lighted match was applied to the bubbles the gas therein took fire and burned as quick as powder. This gas was carbureted hydrogen very similar to ordinary coal gas manufactured for lighting cities. The oil brought up had a plainly perceptible odor, which was unpleasant. It was found only in small quantity. Brine was struck near the base of the slate in sufficient quantity and strength, it was estimated, to make one barrel of salt per day. The well northeast of Nashville was sunk to about the same depth, about the same formation being found ; the slate was not so thick. Gas, oil and salt were also found. It is estimated that $1,000 worth of gold has been found on Salt Creek (North Fork), principally near its head. Traces are found in places along its course.

Civil Division And Organization

Before the creation of Brown County in 1836, the western portion of Washington Township formed a part of Monroe County and the eastern of Bartholomew County. The dividing line, or the " old county line," as it is yet called, was a short distance east of Nashville. As soon as the township was created in August, 1836, John S. Williams was appointed Assessor, and upon the completion of his work was paid $3 in full in county orders. He was also paid 50 cents for making return of the September election in the township. Levin Tull was the first Constable. James Mclntire assessed the township in 1837. In 1838, J. S. Williams was Inspector of Elections ; Robert Henderson and William Jackson, Overseers o the Poor; John Hoover and Levin Tull, Fence Viewers ; Stephen Parks and Littleton Matthews, Constables. Joseph Stilson was Assessor in 1840, and James Taggart, Jr., in 1841. The old Sparks Ferry road extended north and south across the county, passing through the little village of Hedgesville, about three miles and a half east of Nashville. This road was divided into five districts : 1st. From the Jackson County line to Section 14, Van Buren Township ; 2d. Thence to Hedgesville; 3d. Thence to Owen Simpson's about Section 1, southern Hamblen ; 4th. Thence to Section 14, Hamblen ; 5th. Thence to the county line of Johnson. Alfred Weddel, in July, 1836, was appointed Superintendent of District No. 3, with the following hands : Hiram C. Weddel, John Harris, William Matthews, Matthew Matthews, Martin Matthews, Isaac Matthews, Henry Sipes, Jeremiah King, George King, Jonathan Fox, Joseph Fox. Alfred Young was appointed Superintendent of District No. 2, and was given the following hands : John Hampton, Edward Ayres, Henry Ayres, Samuel Ayres, Enoch Hampton, Ephraim Hatton, James Williamson, Asa Hatton, Alfred Young, William Rippey, John Rippey, William Kenworthy and Thomas Polly. At this time also (July, 1836) the Columbus & Bloomington road east of the old county line was divided into two districts : 1st. From the line to Hedgesville ; 2d. From Hedgesville to the Bartholomew County lines. Andrew Marshall was appointed Superintendent of District No. 1, his hands being John Floyd, John Ping, Edward David, John Whittingtpn, James Matthews, M. Hedges, Lemuel M. Hedges, David Randolph, Thomas Hampson and Gamaliel Millsap. Robert Henderson was appoi.nted Superintendent of District No. 2, with the following hands: Henry Whittington, Jamea MuUis, Henry Newkirk, Merrick Graham, Job Ping, Walker Ping, Lewis F. Baper, Ambrose Cobb, William Crouch and David Crouch. These names include many of the earliest residents of Washington Township.

Thk Bakly Settlers

It is probable that old man Schoonover, who located on Schooner* Creek in Washington Township, as early, certainly, as 1820, was the first permanent white settler within the county limits. He was a trerman and was semi-barbarous, preferring to live in the wilderness than in the settled localities. Some state that his location in the township, on Schooner Creek, was as early as 1817 or 1818, and there is postitive and undoubted evidence that he was living on the creek in 1820. Others also state that, for a time, at the period of his earliest settlement, he owned a small stock of trinkets, ammunition, etc., which he kept to trade with the Indians for their furs. This is purely traditionary, and could not have continued longer than three or four years at the farthest, as the great bulk of the natives was removed early in the twenties. What finally became of the family cannot be stated. It is likely that the second settlement was at the old Jackson salt works, about the year 1821. The presence of salt there became known to hunters and others in Monroe County several years before, and finally families moved there to open the industry of manufacturing salt. A well was sunk, and a fair article of brine was secured and boiled down in iron kettles until a hard cake of salt was the residue, which was pulverized and rendered fit for market. In after years large quantities were prepared. Several familes located there and in a few years a little settlement sprang up around them. Edward David located in the eastern part of the township as early as 1822, though it is stated that he was not the first there. A man named Henderson, and perhaps others, settled on a creek of that name about the same time, and perhaps earlier. The early entries of land will show the early settlement in a fairly correct light. '

The early entries on Township 8 north, Range 1 east, were as fpllows : Section 1 - Finney Coatney, 1844 ; Joshua O. Howe, 1826 ; John W. Lee, October 21, 1824 ; the east half of the southwest quarter;- Henry Wampler, 4ugist 17, 1824, the west half of the southwest quarter. Section 12 - Dawson Debord, 1836 ; J. 0. Howe, 1826 ; Moses Williams, November 26, 1821, the west half of the northwest quarter, and in June, 1824, the east half of the northwest quarter. Township 8 north. Range 1 east. Section 1 - Samuel Dunn, 1831 ; Fred Fleener, 1844; Michael Fleener, 1836 ; Elizabeth Fleener, 1837. Section 12 - Nathan Pruett, 1839, Township 8 north. Range 2 east. Section 3 - George Henry, 1839; William Followell, 1836. Section 4 - George Cox, 1839. Section 6 - John B. Williams, 1844 ; Elam Carter, 1839 ; Jacob Stephens, 1836 ; James B. Chandler, 1839. Section 7 - Robert Robertson, 1843 ; William Johnson, 1831 ; Peter Sink, 1839. Town-

William S. Roberts was one of the first Justices of the Peace of this township. His old docket exhibits manv amusing items. Fighting to see which was the better man was as fashionable as drinking to see which could carry the more liquor. Many of the best citizens were in- T° , oon° o^ ' ^^^ ^^""^ required to swell the seminary fund by fines. In 1839 Stephen Gibson was fined $1.50 for an assault and battery on Samuel Parsley. He was also fined $10 for profane swearing, which fine seems not to have been paid, probably because it was excessive. James Stephens was fined $2.50 for thrashing L. Marshall. Matthew Mathews and Calvin Huff were fined $1.50 each for an affray. A. J. Diet^i and H. C. Weddel were fined each $1 for an affray. Banner C Briim- mot and Littleton Matthews were each fined f 1 for contempt of court. And so the record goes on. In 1840, the township officers were as follows : James Taggart and Willam Followell, Overseers of the Poor ; Roily Rains and Henry Jackson, Fence- Viewers ; William S. Roberts, Inspector ; John Hoover, P. C. Parker, Littleton Matthews, Henry Newkirk, Road Supervisors.

The township was yery wild even in 1836. Deer, bear, wolves and panthers were quite numerous. Green Graham tells that on one occasion, at night, he had occasion to pass from Jackson's salt works to the eastern part of the township via Weed Patch Knob. He was on horseback, and was unaccompanied except by a small colt and a cur dog. Just before reaching the summit of the hill, he heard what he took to be some one calling him on some distance in advance, and he returned the call, which was soon repeated. He again answered, and this was repeated several times, and the person calling seemed each time to be getting nearer. At last, just before reaching the top of the knob, he observed that his dog was so frightened that it ran under the side of the mare he was riding, and remained cowering there. The mare also began to prick up her ears and , sniff the air in fright, and shy off to one side of the path. A minute later the leaves rustled out to his right, and looking that way, the already frightened settler saw two large cat-like forms skulking along through the weeds. He knew then that the animals were panthers, and without further parley he put whip to his mare, and regardless of the consequences, went down the steep hill at a break-neck pace. He was soon away from the spot and saw no more of the panthers whose cries had so misled him. He stateii that he was so scared that his hair rose straight up on his head.

This defunct village, on Section 27, had a short and insignificant existence. It is thought that Merrick Graham first lived there. Some of the Hedges located there probably as early as 1834, thinking that a new county was to be formed, and built a few houses, designing to start a town near the probable centre of the new county, and expecting to lay claim to the county seat when the county should be created. One of them started a small grocery and liquor establishment, which was conducted for a year or more. Joseph King lived in the village. It is stated that a tavern was also kept by the Hedges, and was well patronized by the travelers along the Columbus & Bloomington road. It is said that John Whittington had a store there for a short time. Not more than five or six fiimilies ever lived at one time in the village. Jacksonsburg was no sooner founded than the little village was deserted. The residents there and in that vicinity had put in a claim for the county seat, but failed to secure the prize.

This town was founded in 1836, and was laid out in August of that year by Banner C. Brummet, County Agent. It was named Jacksonsburg from the township in which it was then located; James Dawson prepared the plan of the town, and was the surveyor under whose direction the lots and streets were measured. The first sale of lots took place on the 12th of September, 1836, and was continued privately during the autumn months. The names of the purchasers cannot be g'^®°* _, I^."* to January 3, 1837, fifty lots were sold for $694.87^, of which $91.90^ was cash, and the remainder, $602.97, in notes, one-fourth due in eight months, one-fourth in eighteen months, and one-fourth in twenty-four months. The results were not flattering for the future prosperity of the county seat. By the 2d of May 1837, the County Agent received $42.50^ more for town lots, $5.68| being cash. Sales continuedto be made from time to time. In September, 1837, it was ordered that one-third of the purchase price of town lots could be. paid in county orders. In March, 1838, the County Agent's report was as follows, from the commencement of the sales in 1836 to that date: Total proceeds of all sales, $759.37 ; total cash receipts, $260.31 ; total paid out, $246.28 ; leaving on hand ipl4.03. In August, 1838, all lots south of Washington street were ordered sold by auction. The sales by January, 1840 (from the commencement), amounted to $864. 87J, of which $569.38 was cash, and f 543.08 had been expended. And so the sales went on very slowly, and with meager available results.

The first house built at Jacksonsburg, or that immediate vicinity, was a log structure erected about 1835 by Banner C. Brummet, and was located about one hundred and fifty yards northeast of the present poor-house. About the same time, or soon afterward, Isaac Matthews built a log cabin in the northwest part of town. Henry Jackson's log cabin, near the cemetery, was erected about the same time. W. S. Roberts built in town in May, 1836, before the lots were laid out, and placed in one apartment of his double log cabin a stock of goods worth $1,500, which he brought with him from Bloomington, where he and Mr. Barnes had been in business together. Mr. Barnes owned an interest in the store, but continued to reside in Bloomington. Elijah Preston came in about this time, as did also Avery McGee, the Deputy County Clerk and Recorder. Lorenzo D. Head came in not far from this time. He was a gunsmith, and had a small shop in his cabin, and was also a blacksmith, building a shop soon afterward. He was a single man, and boarded with Henry Jackson, up by the graveyard. His widowed sister, with three children, kept house for him later. Lewis E. Wayland moved his family in soon afterward, as did also David Deitz. The latter built a double-log cabin, in one room of which his family was domiciled, and the other of which he opened a store of probably $2,000 worth of a general assortment of goods. The crash of 1837 was felt in Jacksonsburg, and Mr. Roberts was forced to close his doors. He was entirely broken up, and saw the Constable drive away his last cow. In 1839, he managed to start in business again, however, with a fair stock, which was rapidly increased. Banner C. Brummet opened a grocery (liquor), in 1837. William Davidson also began selling liquor about the same time. William M. Mason, Thomas M. Adams and Henry Whittington came to live in the town early. P. C. Parker was the first tavern keeper. He owned a double-log cabin and sold liquor and groceries. William Pollowell began selling liquor early. Davidson's liquor was kept for sale in Ike Matthews' house. Pierson Brummet also sold liquor early. This was the town of 1837-38, or nearly 80. The Section 19 upon which the town was located was entered as follows :