Washington Township

The Saltillo School

HE building was erected at a cost of $2,518.00, in 1910, on a lot 150 feet square. It consists of two rooms, 27 x 34 feet, a vestibule 8x 12 feet, and two cloak rooms 8x 21 feet. It is heated by Smith heaters and each room accommodates about 30 pupils. 5 New sanitary closets will be erected this year and a well is to be drilled equipped with a drinking fountain pump.

H. P. Case, Barney Gould and Isaac Holler, the Trustees, are much interested in the school and are always willing to do everything possible for its success.

The agriculture case was made by the boys. Each section is labeled so as to enable the pupil to know exactly where to find the data for his daily lesson. The boys are scoring seed corn prior to the final test, the rag doll test. The corn scored was gathered from the field in September, properly stored, and weighed at different intervals during the school months, thereby giving a lesson in shrinkage.

Live stock judging was a special feature of the work. The teacher always found time for this very important work. No type of live stock was left until they had visited some farmer who owned stock and scored it. The score cards were received from Purdue.

The mixing of spraying materials and practical spraying was done in a neighboring yard. Specimens of scales were studied under the microscope, then the spray applied and results noted.

Educational Report 35

The subject of feeds and seeds were carefully studied. The analysis was worked out, so as to show the relative value of each food as a food for stock.

The domestic science class did no cooking in school, being handicapped by lack of equipment. Recipes were studied in class and practiced at home with good results. Extensive work in sewing was done in the school room, The cut shows part of the work done. The large quilt in the center contains a block from each pupil in both primary and grammar rooms with his name embroidered upon it.

The greatest school day ever held in Saltillo was March 16, 1915. It was the red letter day for the industrial classes. The morning program consisted of a general display of school work in all classes. At ten o'clock the poultry judging began under the supervision of J. C. Clipp, one of the best poultry judges in southern Indiana. The picture shows some of the pens, the exhibitors, judges and class.

At the noon hour the Domestic Science Class served dinner to the exhibitors, judges, school board, teachers, County Superintendent, and W. E. Cox, M. C.

At 2:30 o'clock addresses were delivered by Superintendent Hopper and W. E. Cox, M. C.,, at the M. E. Church. The meeting was well attended and a new interest in school

There were many visitors during the school year. Farmers often came and asked for information along certain lines, asked for books and bulletins out of the library and showed a new zeal for school work.

The work done the past year has inspired patrons and school officials so much that they have promised we shall have equipment for Domestic Science, Agriculture and Manual Training next year.

Our Rural Schools

N SEPTEMBER, 1907, the County Board of Education passed a resolution requiring every teacher to teach music, and adopted a text book, "The Song Reader." Special instruction in music is given in every county institute for the purpose of helping the teachers do better work in this subject. Our teachers now do choral work in their institutes second to none. In the township institutes some teacher has charge of music. This subject has its place in each day's work. The immediate results in our schools are the mental development, greater interest, better school spirit, better discipline, punctuality and attendance, and a very noticeable social and cultural development in the community which is immeasurable.

Another advanced step was taken in 1910, when the Board of Education passed a resolution requiring our teachers to teach agriculture in the sixth, seventh and eighth grades, and adopted a text book. A specific outline of the work to be done was furnished the teachers. The work for each school month was discussed in the township institutes. Special work on the subject has been given in our teachers' institutes and associations and in farmers' institutes. The organization of industrial clubs for the boys and girls, and the exhibition of their work in the farmers' institutes, has helped much in the advancement of this work in the County. Horticultural demonstrations and practical demonstrations in domestic science have awakened a wide-spread interest in the subject of fruit growing and domestic science. The work done in our high schools in equipping prospective teachers for our rural schools has strengthened the industrial work, and has caused the older experienced teachers to put forth their best efforts. A few teachers are not doing much work, but all of our wide awake teachers are taking hold and getting results.

Two patrons' days have been observed during the past three years. Invitations were sent to the patrons and some patrons were placed on the program for the discussion of some community problem. The pupils have collected and prepared agricultural and other exhibits for these days. In many schools literary programs are given. Where the live teachers have put heart and soul into the work the patrons have responded enthusiastically.

Our aims have been to make the work in the school more concrete, to create a respect for dignified labor, to show that brain and muscle can accomplish as much on the farm as in the city, to bring the boys and girls into closer touch with farm life and Nature, to encourage a love for Nature by actual observation, to increase their natural love and sympathy for animal life, and to inculcate an appreciation of the beautiful in their own environment.

The results obtained thus far in our schools prove that our efforts and aims have not been amiss. The following photographs of our representative schools show the material progress of our work.

Educational Report South Boston District School

nine to fourteen, are enrolled in the third, fourth, sixth, and eighth grades. The menu consisted of chocolate cake, jelly roll, raisin cookies; peach, raisin, cherry, apple and mince pies, chicken and dressing, biscuit, ham and sausage.

The drills were taught during intermission. The children often took up the work themselves in preference to some of the worn out games which they had been playing. Some of the drills used were: Two Flag Drills; Elephant Drill for twelve girls; Doll's Lesson for eight girls; Star Drill for seven girls; Japanese Lantern Drill for twelve girls; Rose Drill for eight girls; Gun Drill; Wand Flag Drill for twelve girls; and the Old Maid Drill for six girls and one boy.

The ages of the boys in the band are from eight to thirteen years. They were punctual and very regular in attendance. They can play twenty-five or more pieces of music, some of which are:

Waltz - Anita; Jennie Schottische; Waltz - Fairies' Ball; Success; Waltz - Heart Throbs; The American Soldier; Under Arms; Show Boy; Welcome; Excelsior; Home, Sweet Home; Tell Mother I'll Be There; Meet Mother In The Skies; Nellie Gray; Silver Threads Among the Gold; What A Friend; Shall We Gather At The River; Daisies Won't Tell; Waltz - Lilia; America; Marching Through Georgia; On The Banks Of The Wabash; Quickstep; and Union Maid.

In the vocal work in music the pupils were taught the rudiments and school songs (four to six songs were taught each month). Some of the part songs were: The Little Persimmon Tree; The Boat Song; The Whippoorwill; Our Dollies; The Village Bells; Good Night, Ladies; Oh, Blue Eyes Closed in Slumber; Upidee; O Tiny Boat; Call to Arms; Soldiers' Chorus; Perfect Day; Love's Old Sweet Song; Where Are You Going To?

Educational Report 39

This picture shows the industrial work done by the boys and girls in the South Boston District School. The maps and mottoes are burned in wood and colored.

Above the mottoes and at each end are collections of the different kinds of wood and shrubs which grow in the neighborhood. One collection contains 139 varieties.

The following picture shows the crowd at the last day of school at South Boston. The entire community turned out with well filled baskets and had a good social time. The school entertained them in the afternoon with music, exhibition of drills and literary work.

Mr. Walter Elliott, the teacher in this district, has had eight years' experience and has had special normal training in rural school supervision and music.

At the close of four years' successful teaching in this district he was given a position in the schools of Clear Water, Florida, at an increased salary.

Educational Report 41 Farewell Address

HE time has arrived when I appear before you for the last time serving in the capacity of township trustee. This is not only the closing of that work, but to-day I also sever my relation with the schools here which began the fall of 1898.

I do not feel justified in using the time allotted me in mere review of what I have done or failed to do. I deem it the time of rendering thanks. These six years of varied experience have been ushered into the past and whatever I might now say could not change their reality. I also recognize that whatever has been accomplished was made so by the help of others. And, too, I am not unmindful that friends would still smile and those unfriendly still frown regardless of what might here be said. I want then to render thanks to-day to those who have helped me in this great work. In doing so, I wish to offer my sincere thanks to my predecessors in office. To my knowledge I have never been unduly criticized by them.

While I have tried to do my best in every line of the work, still I am free to confess my greatest delight has been in the school work. I hope you will not count it boastful when I say I firmly believe the school work has never been higher in Franklin Township than now. It would be extreme egotism should I say it is because of my own efforts. I have every reason to believe the honor belongs to the teaching force. As evidence, I need only recall that when teachers of the highest order were in demand and important positions were to be filled, teachers of this township have been sought, some of whom are now filling with credit these places both within and without the State.

I, therefore, feel greatly indebted to the teachers of my entire term for their loyal support and untiring efforts to do the greatest possible good to our boys and girls. Our work together has been pleasant. As I stand here gazing backward I see six fleeting years each holding a finished record. Methinks I can see "Father Time" unroll the scroll and bid me gaze a moment. I behold the recorder dipping his pen in ink of gold and writing boldly, "Pleasure unlimited," "Co-operation without mutiny." Now with ink of darker hue he has written, "Blasted hopes," "Faulty judgment." Now the sunbeams have kissed the page and "Partial success" has been written. Thus the record assures us, success and failure, pleasure and care, fair judgment and poor judgment have given us a common place with all others. As with those before and those to follow I have been unable to do many things I had hoped to do.

Each question requiring our decision has been tested by these three questions, Is it lawful? Is it right? Is it within the reach of the township? I have tried to be mindful of the taxpayers in my expenditures. Yes, I am leaving with an indebtedness of $2,000 on the township. All of you know that for every dollar's worth of debt the township has received 100 cents in value.

At the close of Mr. Taylor's speech, Mr. P. G. Houston arose and in behalf of the teachers of the township presented a new typewriter to Mr. Taylor.

ERHAPS no one teacher has so influenced v educational affairs in Franklin Township as Jason Brown. He began his career as a teacher in 1877 and taught for thirty-four consecutive years. His teaching was all done in Franklin Township. Mr. Brown was left an orphan in early life and is in every sense of the term a self-made man. He mastered the common school subjects in the glare of the midnight oil.

Mr. Brown made a deep impression on the minds of his thoughtful pupils. Many a teacher has boasted that he received instruction from Jason Brown. He inspired his pupils to look beneath the surface of the subject studied and to leave no subject unmastered.

Organization Of Pupils

OR the purpose of carrying on the school work in a more systematic way and at the same time providing the pupils with some excellent training along certain lines of business, an organization of the pupils was affected as follows:

The President was supposed to preside at all of our meetings except the Spelling Bees, but in practice this was not quite accomplished. The work of looking after and arranging the industrial exhibits of the girls was given to her. This phase of the work has an excellent effect upon the discipline of the school.

The work of the Vice-President was less varied. He had charge of the boys' part of the industrial exhibits. Some good specimens of their own make were brought to school. One of the best was a bird box of a very complex pattern.

The Secretary had charge of the correspondence of the school. Through her aid we secured some valuable bulletins and circulars for our Agriculture and Domestic Science classes. We also secured for the school exhibits from the Washburn-Crosby Company, of Minneapolis, Minnesota; Postum Cereal Company, of Battle Creeck, Michigan; Chilian Nitrate Propaganda, of New York City; The Pacific Lumber Company, of San Francisco, California. We also received literature and circulars from many other firms, such as The International Harvester Company, of Chicago, Illinois; American Agricultural Chemical Company, of Cincinnati, Ohio; Darling & Company, of Chicago, Illinois; American Manufacturers' Association of Products from Corn, of Chicago, Illinois; The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, of Akron, Ohio.

The Treasurer had charge of all the finances of the school. The funds were deposited in the Henryville State Bank and checked out as needed. I secured a loan of $20.00 of this money, giving my note for the amount with interest at six per cent. This and many other phases of the financial department afforded ample opportunities for practical exercises for the Arithmetic work of the seventh and eighth year work.

The work of the Librarian was most exacting. We used the card system in all of the book loans outside of the school room. This kept the Librarian rather busy each morning and evening checking up the books and giving the proper credits for the books read. After our organization, I offered a book as a prize to the pupil who would read the books aggregating the largest number of pages before the term closed. The prize was given to Edith L. Dement, a sixth year pupil, who read seventeen books aggregating nearly 5,000 pages. She had some close competitors.

Spelling And Debating

We had numerous spelling bees during the term, some of Friday afternoon and some of evenings. While no great honors came to the school this year, yet I feel that the foundation is laid for some more definite results next year. The two from our class A sent to the local contest won second and third. These were Laura Blankenbaker of the seventh year and Grace Hartley of the eighth year.

Ciphering was also given much attention owing to the interest which the contests afforded. Almost every time that we had any special exercises, quite a number wanted to cipher. Not only were the four fundamentals used as a basis for the drill, but problems of a practical nature were used together with problems that occur in the Arithmetic classes. The greatest difficulty in this line was the overcoming of the pernicious habit of adding what I call the "Woodpecker" fashion. I have found this in several schools, but never to such an extent as here. Some of the upper grade pupils declared that they could add in no other way. Two eighth year pupils were quite expert in this method of adding (?), but a demonstration one morning soon convinced them that with all their skill they could add only about half as fast as they could by a better method.

The art of debating is fast going out of this section. Perhaps it should for all I know, but there are some features that are commendable from a pupil's point of view. Our debating was somewhat limited, but we had some interesting discussions.

The Library

One hundred fifty-five books were obtained from the Public Library Commission at a cost of $2.56 for six months. Many of these books were read by the pupils, patrons and citizens of the district. Some were used in the preparation of the institute work of the township.

Just before Christmas we decided to secure as many magazines and papers as possible and keep them at the school house for reference when needed and supplement our regular reading. The pupils were asked to bring the periodicals to school as soon as they were read at home and left there till school closed. We used a leather punch and provided each paper with a string with which to hold it. The space between the door and the first window was chosen to hang them. They were so arranged that the title of each paper could be easily seen. This made a very nice exhibit. As soon as the next number of any paper was secured the old one was taken down and filed away and the new one put on exhibition.

Weekly - Monthly - The Farmer's Guide. Home and School Visitor. The Literary Digest. The Gentlewoman. Indiana Farmer. The Teacher's Journal. Current Events. The Mexican Enterprise. The Saturday Evening Post. Successful Farming. The Pathfinder. The American Woman.

We did not get all the numbers of each paper but in addition secured some back numbers of others. We had one special Friday afternoon exercise devoted to a study and recitation based entirely upon the paper that each pupil liked best. It seems to me that these are educational resources that ought to be conserved.

Educational Report 47 Chestnut Grove Junior Audubon Society

The pupils decided to comply with the conditions of The National Association of Audubon Societies of New York City and form a local society. The required fee of ten cents for each member was sent to Mr. Gilbert Pearson, Secretary. In return we secured for each member the beautiful Audubon Societies' Button, a set of ten colored pictures, together with the outline drawings and descriptive leaflets as listed below:

These outline pictures of the birds were of special interest to the pupils as they were required to be colored as the pictures sent with the outlines. The following are the by-laws of the society:

Article IV. The annual fees of the Society shall consist of ten cents for each member; and the money shall be sent to the National Association of Audubon Societies in exchange for Educational Leaflets and Audubon Buttons.

A subscription to Bird-Lore, an illustrated bi-monthly magazine, was included in our membership. Among the most helpful books and bulletins that we had access to were "Attracting Birds about the Home," "Handbook of Birds of Eastern North America."

Mcknight Fort

N MARCH, 1809, William McKnight and his son, John, came to Washington County from Mercer County, Kentucky. William entered a quarter section of land about 1% miles west of New Philadelphia, which now belongs to Raleigh Elliott.

After a patch of ground had been cleared and some corn planted Mr. McKnight, with the help of the few people who then lived in the community, erected a log house. This house was 40 feet long and 20 feet wide. It contained two large rooms which were twenty feet square. In this the family lived until 1812.

During the year 1812, an attack of the Indians being feared, the people decided to build a fort on the MeKnight farm. So another house the same size as the one then standing was built just north and about 20 feet from it. The roof of each building slanted toward the open space between the two houses, so as to make the outside walls as high as possible. A stockade was constructed at each end and joining the two houses. There were two bastions, one at the northeast corner, and the other at the southwest. Hence all four of the walls were protected. The people at the fort were supplied with water from a spring about 100 yards north of the fort. During the war of 1812 three or four families lived in the fort most of the time.

About % mile west of the McKnight Fort was a larger one known as the Thompson Fort. It stood near the place where Albert Winslow now lives. The stockade surrounded about. one acre of ground and a spring was inside the fortification. This fort instead of having bastions had two block-houses. As this fort was considered the stronger of the two, it was intended, in case of great uprising of the Indians, for all the white people in the community to go to the Thompson Fort. Nine or ten families lived there during the war of 1812. No signs of this fort remain today.

It is said that the early settlers in this community treated the Indians very kindly which perhaps is one reason that neither of these forts was ever attacked, as the Indians knew how to return good for good.

After the war was over the McKnight Fort was converted into a dwelling, and William McKnight lived there the remainder of his life. After his death his son, Robinson, and grandson, Charles, lived in it. It was used as a residence until the spring of 1898.

After standing empty for a few years the roof fell in, and the building was in such a bad state of decay that it was torn down about four years ago. No signs are left today except a part of the two chimneys which were made of stone.

The part of the structure that is shown in the picture is the house which was first erected and the man standing near is William R. McKnight, the grandson of William Mc- Knight, who built the house.

Educational Report 49

"About sundown one evening at McKnight's Fort a young woman went out to milk a cow, and while thus engaged was terribly frightened to observe a big Indian peering at her from behind a distant tree. She was not long in finishing her work after that, and though very nervous, sauntered as if nothing had crossed her mind toward the fort. She entered, closed the door, and told what she had seen. Instantly preparations were made to warmly receive the visitors. The port holes were manned and arms and ammunition were quickly prepared. It soon transpired that William Tokay had impersonated an Indian to see what effect it would have on the fort."

Concrete Bridge Over Rush Creek, Jefferson Township. Built 1914. Cost $4703.00. By the end of 1915 there will be 28 of these bridges in the county.

Agriculture

N ANY rural community, agriculture is the dominant industry. Agriculture determines the modes of life, the ways of thinking, the basis of comparison. The problems in arithmetic can be more readily comprehended if they are cast in terms of the farm. The actual market price of a commodity bought or sold by a person may transfer a problem from the text to life. The language becomes at once interesting, if based upon actual experience. If the teacher knows his district in every detail - its farms, its houses, its acreage in wheat, corn and oats - he can make a concrete application of this subject.

But aside from making the work concrete, the dominant community interest may be made to serve another purpose. It may dignify work by creating respect for the industry in particular. Somehow, the things at hand have not been appreciated. The occupations of the fathers do not appeal to the sons. There is a belief that something better is to be found. Hence, there is a lack of respect for the calling of the father, and a lack of respect for manual labor. The boys and girls should be taught early that labor is honorable, and that idleness is disgraceful. They can be shown that brain and muscle can accomplish just as much on the farm as in the city, and the opportunities for success are as great.

The aim for presenting farm life in a community should be bringing the boys and girls into closer touch with Nature, encouraging a love for it by actual observation, teaching how farm products grow and are harvested, realizing something of their importance to the rest of the world, increasing their natural love and sympathy for animal life, and the appreciation of the beautiful in their own immediate environment.

Educational Report 51

HE industrial work has been carried on in the Claysville School for three years during | which time a creditable equipment has been collected. The exhibit consists of the apparatus and materials collected for the study of agriculture and articles made and used by the Domestic Science Class.

Washing Bus Cest

The work was done largely by the pupils themselves. The boys brought the different soils, clay, loam and sand, - dried and screened them. The rack for the perculation bottles was made from boards left from the school buildings. The perculation bottles were made by removing the bottoms from quart bottles. This was done by saturating a cord with kerosene, tying it around the bottle about an inch from the bottom, and burning it. The bottles should be held bottom up; and after the string has burned, put into a pan of cold water. Sometimes it is necessary to tap them lightly with a hammer. To these were added three lamp chimneys, a graduate, some blue litmus paper, some filter paper, a yard of muslin, some shallow pans, a ball of twine and some tin cups.

Egg testers and seed corn testers were made from dry goods boxes. A small kerosene lamp was used in the egg testers. A garden seed tester was made from two shallow pans and some blotting paper. Much of this work was done during recess periods on rainy days.

As many weed seeds ripen in the early summer, the weed seed collection was made before school began. A more complete collection was obtained from the United States Department of Agriculture. It contained the seeds of one hundred different weeds. A small hand lens was used in studying seeds. Some bulletins from the Michigan Station gave drawings and descriptions of many weeds, and enlarged drawings and descriptions of their seeds.

Samples of commercial feeds were obtained from the local feed stores. Fertilizers were obtained from Swift & Company and Armour & Company. The latter also furnished samples of phosphate, potash and dried blood.

Tall glass jars or bottles with wide mouths and screw caps in which all samples were placed were purchased from the local druggist. The labels for these bottles were printed by the girls. They used a small rubber stamping outfit (letters one inch high).

Ten ears of corn, a bunch of alfalfa, and a bottle of maple syrup were brought from home by the boys. The corn was selected after three weeks of corn scoring. The syrup was made by the boys in a local camp.

In addition to the things named above we had an illustration of the composition of milk, plants mounted with passe partout and oats treated for smut.

These things presented enough material for endless study and discussion, and aroused an interest in closely related subjects. For example, - the scoring of seed corn led to a discussion of gathering and storing of seed corn, the eggs, trap nest and tester led to the study of the housing and feeding of poultry; and the silk cabinet and woolen exhibit led to the discussion of textiles.

Work in domestic science was discussed in class. The girls did their baking and sewing at home, then compared results at school. The bread, the aprons, the dust caps and doilies were made without help. The boys and girls of the third grade helped to make the sewing bags and doll dresses. In connection with their agricultural work, the boys learned rope splicing.

March 10.1975

The rubber stamping outfit mentioned above is useful in many ways. We used it to print a daily program, word cards for Primer, charts, number cards and word study cards.

In addition to school room work, we made inspection trips. One was taken to a nearby orchard to study pruning, distance to set trees, etc. Another was made to the woods 'to study forest trees. Swine were studied from a "pig-pen" not far from the school house.

In one of the pictures is a volley ball and net purchased by the school. Volley ball is a game enjoyed by boys and girls both large and small.

Mr. Rutherford is an experienced teacher who has had the six weeks' course in agriculture at Purdue University. He has aroused a wonderful community interest in the district. The patrons are so well pleased with his work that they have insisted that he be returned next year. This will make his fifth year in this school community.

Source changes here: from Centennial History of Washington County, Indiana : Its People, Industies and Institutions : with Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records of Many of the Old Families, by Stevens, Warder William, published 1916; 7,751 words in this source stream.

Washington Township

The first adv.enturer, who became for a time a settler of Washington township, was Jesse Spurgtn. His home was in North Carohna and .he came west in 1804 on a prospecting tour. He stopped a while at the "Lick," east of Salem and went back to his old home, telling many wonderful stories about the Indiana territory. In the spring of 1805 he brought his family west. They first built a small cabin on the southwest quarter of section I4. where he resided until 1808. The lands being then subject to entry he relocated on section 25, where he lived a few years and then pushed on to the Illinois frontier.

The next man to locate in the township was George Brock. He was burn in \'irginia and came to Clark's grant in 1805. He remained on the grant two years, putting in considerable time hunting and prospecting "back in the wilderness." In the summer of 1807 he finally located a piece of land that was to his liking, it being section 8, just north of Salem. He and his two sons-in-law, Fred NeidifTer and Adam Barnett, each built cabins on this land in the fall of 1807 and moved their families up from the grant early the following spring.

Roger Thompson located on the creek just north of Canton. His cabin was of round logs, sixteen by eighteen feet, stick and clay chimney, no windows excejjt a port hole, with door made of puncheons. William Gordon, afterward a merchant of Salem, located on section 9, northeast of Salem. I'hilbert Wright took up lands two and one-half miles southwest of Salem, on Blue river. Benjamin Brewer entered the land where Salem now stands.

After 1809 the township was settled up quite rapidly. The Quakers moved in and most of them found homes northeast of Salem. In 1810 Micajah Calloway, a noted Indian fighter and hunter, came to the county with lames Davis and settled about four miles north of Salem.

Col. Henrv Dawalt came to the county in 1809 and settled in section 14, a short distance east of Royse's Lick. He was a Pennsylvanian of German descent, a brave man of great energy and decision of character. He lived for a time in Salem and kept hotel on South I\Iain street where he had a big wooden squaw for a sign. He was at one time commissioned captain of a company of rangers and stationed on the frontier. He was in command of the party that went in pursuit of the Indians who committed the Pigeon Roost massacre. He also had charge of the company that pursued the redskins, that murdered the Sohdays in Jefferson township. In muster days he was successively elected major, lieutenant-colonel and colonel, and took great delight in training his men. For several years he filled the office of county commissioner. He died on September 20, 1864, aged ninety-one.

The Reyman Family

The Reymans were early comers and prominent in the development of the country. Joseph Reyman was a Virginian and located just north of where Salem now stands, March 20, 181 1. They cut a couple of forks and set them upright in the ground and then placed a pole on top a little higher than a man's head, over which was stretched their wagon sheet, and then with bark and evergreen boughs they stopped up the ends of the improvised tent which gave the family shelter until a cabin was built. Reyman was an expert with tools and put in most of his time at cabinet work. He built the first frame house in Salem and as long as he was able to work kept busy at his trade. He died on August 26, 1835, at the residence of his son, Lewis J., a mile and one-half north of Salem. John W. Reyman, a son of Joseph, was also a cabinet-maker for many years, when he became the owner of the old Reyman homestead and engaged in farming. He operated a shop which stood a short distance west of the Canton bridge, a mile west of that town. Before settling down on the farm he followed flatboating for several vears, running boats down White river from the vicinity of Millport. He accumulated considerable wealth, for the time, and loaned his money all over the county. He purchased and put in operation the first reaper and mower combined that was ever brought to the county, about 1854. It was a great wonder, drawn by four horses and people from all parts of the country came to see it operated. He represented the county in the Legislature in 1856. He lived in Salem for a number of years, but died on the old homestead, at the residence of his son, William, almost one hundred years old.

Among the prominent men who assisted in developing the county was Cadwallader \\'. Jones. He was from North Carolina and located in the rounty in 181 2. The Indians were numerous and hostile at that time, and after he put up his caliin a few miles east t3f Salem they ran him to Hensley's fort for a time. The last time the savage's made a raid in Jones' neighborhood was in 1815, when they succeeded in getting away with a number of horses. The band was pursued by a company of the settlers, but they succeeded in getting back west without being overtaken. On this raid the Indians k'.lled John Huffman and wife who lived on the head waters of Silver creek and carried off their two children. One of the children was rescued about five years afterward, but nothing was ever heard of the other one. Jones was a flatboatman for a few years, making several successful trips south from the north part of the county. He built and loaded his boats near the mouth of Delaneys creek. Jones was a great hunter and used to spend much time roaming through the unsettled parts of the county with Micajah Calloway in quest of game. Next to Beck he probably killed more deer, bear and wolves than any other man in the county. He and John Pyles killed a number of elk, while hunting in the northeast part of the county and in the low lands that formed the Muscatituck bottoms. His death occurred on May 5, 1876, when he was over eighty-four years old. He was a powerful man, over six feet high and was classed among the Washington county giants.

Judge Godlove Kemp, for a long time one of the associate judges of the county, was among the earliest settlers. He came from Maryland during the winter of 1808-9 and settled on the southeast quarter of section 8, just north of Salem. Here his son, William, was born on February 17, 1811, said to be the first child bom in the township. The judge next lived for a time at Royse's Lick and from there located at the big spring west of Salem, where the pumping plant is now located and the place has always been known as the Kemp spring.

Andrew Pitts was just six weeks moving from his old home in North Carolina to the Ohio Falls, where they arrivetl in .April, 1800. He located a farm to his liking adjoining what is now Salem on the east. With their wagon covers they constructed a sort of tent in which they lived until a cabin could be erected. The cabin stood on the hill, on the south side of the Salem and Charlestown road and was not torn down until 1880. After the Pigeon Roost massacre, Pitts joined the company that went in pursuit of the savages and while the scare lasted Mrs. Pitts with her children went up the creek bank toward the Lick and for several days remained concealed in the cliffs and rocks on the south side of the stream. To make their first clothing they went to Louisville and bought cotton which was carded, spun and woven by the women folks, and then made into shirts and dresses. The men wore buckskin pants. LTnless there was a deep snow their stock thrived

Adventures Of The Lindleys

Some of the Lindleys were celebrities in the early settlement of the county. Samuel Lindley came to the county in the fall of 1808 and settled just north of where the Quaker church and school house stand. He afterwards located just east of the Hicksite church on the farm now owned by one of his descendants, William Lindley, the land having now been in the family over one hundred years.

Another early settler locating in the vicinity of Salem was William Lindley, Sr.. a relative of Samuel, who built the first two-story double log house in the county, about 1811, on the brow of the hill on the west side of South Main street, about a furlong from the creek. It was at his house that the commissioners met to locate the county seat. He built the first watermill near Salem, three years before the town was laid off, it being located in the bend of the creek about a quarter of a mile below the forks of Brock creek and the Lick branch of Blue river.

There was also a Zachariah Lindley who came in about the same date as the others, who was a celebrated hunter and Indian fighter. He volunteered under General Harrison and was at the battle of Tippecanoe, serving most of the time as a scout and aid to General Harrison. In the battle of Tippecanoe he was twice wounded, in the arm and in the leg, the arm wound being a very serious and painful one. Lindley often criticised General Harrison for putting so much confidence in the celebrated Indian chief who commanded them. In the afternoon before the fight the Prophet came to General Harrison's headquarters to fix terms of peace, and .seemed exceedingly friendly. Negotiations were entered into, the same to be completed on the following morning. The old Indian was shown around the camp and obtained all the information he desired. Lindley said Harrison was thus thrown off his guard and the Indians rushed in upon them in the early morning unexpectedly, plying the tomahawk and scalping knife with merciless fury. It was only by heroic efforts that the whites escaped a complete rout and massacre. Lindley said that when General Harrison looked ufn^-. his dead the next morning he wept like a child.

On the i6th of June, 1876, Lucy G. Clark, widow of Marston G. Clark, died at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. Wesley Smith, about one mile south of Salem. She was in her ninety-eighth year and had lived in and around .Salem from 1814. She was a very remarkable woman and had passed through all the trials and triitulations of pioneer life. She has a number of descendants still living in Salem. Her maiden name was Lucy Green Harper. Her father was James Harper, a nephew of John Harper, who settled Harper's Ferry, Virginia. Her great-grandmother, the wife of William Harper, died in 1803, at the age of one hundred and thirty years. She died sitting in her chair spinning flax. She first saw Louisville in December, 1798, when she and her husband came west, at which time there was but one brick house in the town, surrounded by a few log cabins. While living where Jef¥ersonville now stands, where her husband operated a ferry lor several years, she was upon one occasion attacked by a band of drunken Indians, who threatened to kill her and the children, but She barred her door and threatened to shoot some of them if they tried to force an entrance, when the\- left without doing any damage.

The family came to Salem in 1814, and first stopped in Brewers fort. In the fall of 1814 the Indians made a raid through the county, when every able-bodied man in the town shouldered his rifle and started in pursuit. The wife moulded bullets, baked bread, prepared some meat and handing her husband his rifle told him never to come back until they had driven the redskins out of the county for good. They pursued the Indians for eight days, but never overtook them. When the town lots in Salem were sold they bought a lot in South Main street, put up a two-roomed cabin on the same and opened up the first hotel in the place.

A Skirmish With The Indians

The Zink families came to the county at an early date and figured pnimineiitlv in the development of the country. They located down Blue river southwest of Salem in 1814. Daniel Zink, a Revolutionary soldier, came from Kentucky with several of his boys. One of them, John Zink. was a meml)er ui (.'(ilonel Dawalt's company of rangers which chased the Indians engaged in the rigeoii Rdost massacre. In passing through what was known as the "falling timber" in Jackson county, then a part of this Cduntv. t'oliinel Dawalt's C(im|)aiiv liy sduie means, got ahead of the Indians and tinning back came suddenl}' upDU their camp. It was decided to cliarge the redskins and kill as manv as ] ossible. which was dmie. The Indians were c(iin]ik-tely sur])ii-ed an<l atteri])te(I to get away, leaving most of the horses ihe\ had stc.leii and the idinider tlicx had taken in the settlements behind, linth ])artKs became scattereil thrMUuh the wnods. Zink, who was a \(iiing man nf i.ii;hteen. and Tlionia- riiMni]ison were together. .\ bunch of Indians were discovered about one hundred and twenty-five yards distant, one huge fellow having taken his position on the trunk of a fallen tree. He was in fair range and Thompson and Zink both took aim at him and pulled triggers. Both guns snapped and the noise was heard by the Indians, who yelled lustily but held their position. While Zink was "picking his flint," getting his gun in shape to fire, he exposed his hips to the Indians from behind the small tree which sheltered him when an Indian fired, the ball entering Zink's body, inflicting a mortal wound. He was so crippled that he could not walk. He told Thompson to go ahead and assist all he could in the fight ; that he was bound to die anyway. Thompson refused to go and possibly allow the savage who did the shooting to return and scalp and brain his victim.

.\s darkness approached Thompson carried Zink about two hundred yards away from the scene into a dense thicket, where he left his wounded .companion, to hunt other members of the company and get their a^istance. Thompson did not find anyone until next morning, when they came to Zink'.s assistance. Zink was a powerful man and hearing Indians round about, no doubt on his track, he had succeeded in pulling himself several hundred yards by his hand, laying hold of brush and saplings, by the time Thompson and others came for him next morning. With some poles and withes a stretcher was made and upon this the wounded man was carried to Valonia, where he died on September 6, 18I2. On September 7, his body was brought back to the Brock settlement, just north of Salem, and buried in a graveyard, the first one established in this part of the county, situated about forty rods west of the concrete bridge that spans Brock creek, just north of Salem.

Dr. Simeon Lamb was one of the very earliest settlers and the first practicing physician in the county. He stopped at Royse's Lick in the fall of 1806. Royse. the man who first made salt and for whom the lick was named, was at the lick as early as 1803, trading with the Indians. Doctor Lamb's practice was not very extensive nor remunerative and to eke out an existence he started the fir.st store in the township and county. He nccu]iied a small one-room cabin and all his stock of goods to begin with \\:is lirduglit from Tj)uisville on h(irse1)ack and lodged on a shelf which rested rm ]iins li\- the side of the doorwa}-. Tliere the Doctor resided until Salem \\as Incated when he got a tip from the commissioners as to where the ciinnly '^eat would iiroliably lie located, when he built the first shelter that was put up in Salem, fie was al^-o the first merchant in the new town.

opening a store with a man named Mendenhall. His sons, Jeremiah and David, entered land up Highland creek, some two and one-half miles northwest of town. Dr. Lamb was the only physician in the whole country for many years and received calls from all the settlements round about, often being called forty miles to administer to the relief of the afflicted.

Royse made salt at the then business center of the county until 1810, when Moses Hocket and Judge Kemp bought him out and enlarged the plant, having forty-eight large kettles constantly employed in the making of .salt, supplying the whole country. The capacity of the plant was three bushels per day. People often came to the works for salt and remained sometimes two or three days before their turn came to be supplied. It sold for twelve dollars per bushel. For some twenty years these salt works were operated, agents being appointed by the government to superintend the leasing and operating of the same.

A man named Hoggatt built the first grist-mill on section 8. about forty rods southwest of the Friends church. It was a horse mill. This null was built in 181 1, and in the fall of the year was operated day and night. They ground both corn and wheat; to make flour the bolting was done by hand, the si f tings being caught in a large ash trough. Samuel Lindley purchased the plant from Moses Hoggatt and operated it successfully for a number of years. James Young built a horse mill on his farm north of Salem in 1814 and ran it for several years. The first saw-mill in the town.ship was built by William Lindley about a mile southwest of where Salem now stands, in 181 2. It was of the "up-and-down," sash saw pattern. Lindley sold this mill to James Rodman, who added a grist-mill to the plant. The sawmill was on the south side of the river, the grist-mill on the north, and there was a bridge made of huge hewn logs and heavy, sawed flooring just below the mill. For many years this mill supplied Salem and much of the surrounding country with flour and meal and lumber for building purposes. The finest walnut and poplar trees were found in great abundance nearby, some of the poplars measuring six and seven feet across the stump. In 1833 it was thought that the cholera scourge was caused by the stagnant held in this mill dam and one night a band of men collected on the spot and tore out the dam and it was never rebuilt.

.A.bout 1820 the Cauble brothers built a saw- and grist-mill about two and one-half miles dc.iwn the river from Salem, iust north of the old Wright place. It changed hands a number of times but was operated until about 1873," when it was allowed to rot down. Another mill was built a mile farther down, just west of the Philbred Wright place, in 1835, and was run until 1870, when, most of the smaller mills in the country became unprofitable investments. A steam mill was built by the Nixons at Brushville, about 1838, in the northwest corner of section 6. It was afterward owned b}- the Stanleys and Caubles. The first engine was a rotary pattern and a failure. It was burned, but was rebuilt and operated until 1869, when the machinery was removed to Harristown, where a mill was operated until 1895, when it too was allowed to go down for lack of patronage.

John Paynter had a stump mill which he operated some four miles southeast of Salem, on the Martinsburg road, the only one of its kind in the township. The first tread mill operated in the township was on Joshua Hitchcock's farm, some two and one-half miles north of Salem, in 1816. It had a wheel thirty feet in diameter. A chain belt encircled this wheel, and the power to ojierate the mill was generated by oxen walking on the wheel, which was set one edge near the ground, the opposite side being elevated about ten feet. One of the first water mills .built in the township was on Blue river, about a half mile above the bridge west of Canton. Nathan Trueblood was the proprietor. It was an overshot wheel, the water to propel the same being carried in a mill-race from a dam about a half mile up the stream. It was later converted into a steam mill and was first run as such on January 12, 1849, and continued in operation until 1870, remnants of the building and machinery still are to be found there.

Mathew Coffin entered section 9, in 1810, and a few years later built the first tannery in the county. The building was a two-story brick, thirty by sixty feet, which stood and was operated until i860, when it was blown down by a great storm. A one-story building was erected and the Barnetts continued to operate the plant until 1883, when it was allowed to fall into ruins. Andrew Weir built the second tannery in 1823, which was one of the most extensive ones in the township and was situated just north of and adjoining the present corporation line of Salem and on the north pike, .\bram Dennis owned a tan-yard across the creek on South Main street and another was run by Benoni Morris and Sons just east of the old Robert Morris home.

The first tan-yard was built in 1820 by Oliver Scott, on the west side of Water street, in the Ijlock just north of Poplar street. Scott committed suicide and the y.ird was abandoned about 1850. There was one on the north end of High street operated by Zachariah Coffin and run till about 1865, and another on North Main in Nixon's addition. The last tan-yard in the county was known as the Hanger & McMurrain plant, along the creek on the north side of Mulberry street. It was owned by George Telle before Hanger & Mc^Iurrian got it. P"or a number of years there was a tannery just west of where the Canton bridge crosses Blue river, owned by a man named Penhale.

George Brock, AVilliam Gordon and John Fleenor, northeast of Salem, operated the first distilleries, each having one copper still. A number of others were run in different parts of the township, in fact there was one located in almost every neighborhood.

The Last Bear

There were plenty of deer and bear in the township up to 1825. The 'last bear killed near Salem was in the fall of the above year. It was discovered in the cemetery, which was then surrounded by heavy timber. A number of citizens shouldered their guns and started in pursuit and after a hard chase the bear was overtaken and shot by F, D. Badger. It weighed o\er four hundred pounds when dressed.

Ernest E. Thilenius came to this country from Germany about the year (844, and lived for awhile with Mr. Caspar in Jefferson township. He bought the farm just below the Mill Creek church, known as the Colglazier farm, or Mill farm, the first mill in this locality being there, and from which Mill creek took its name. Thilenius was a large, fine-looking man, with a keen eye, a noted hunter, and an expert swordsman. His wife was a fine ladv, a musician and a skillful performer on the pianu. Thilenius's everyday sport was with his gun or guns, for he had a number of them. He had a large cut sawed off of a tree, which he set in his lot and the face of it was perforated with bullets till it was full of lead. His sport was to throw up a bottle then shoot it with his rifle. (ir tie a dollar to the limb of a tree in the wind and then shoot it off.

Thilenius sold the farm in 1846. His wife and little son, Hugo, went back to Germany and Thilenius himself died in lllinciis. It was reported that he was a nobleman and had been banished for some talk against the crown. Thilenius's house nf Sunda\s was a iilace nf gathering ior sightseers, both from Salem anil the ^nrriTunding countr\'. He had seats and tables around his fine springs. The tables were well 'supplied with the best of wines and liquor and ;dl were in\ited to drink. Thilenius was a finely educated man and a splendid scribe. He built a number of buildings and employed several hands and was quite an architect and splendid at drawing portraits. Thilenius's sale was attended by a vast assembly attracted by curiosity. Wrestling and foot races were among the sports of the day. A number of persons were influenced by the fine wines and brandies on the day of the sale. Thilenius went to Salem about three times a week. He rode a gray nag and always rode at a lope, when he imbibed too freely and got on the "warpath" it was safest to keep out of his way. Thilenius fattened a number of wild hogs on his mast, then had a day to butcher, invited his neighbors in with their guns and every fellow got what he could kill. Peter Colglazier says he made eight dollars that day as his share of the sport.

There are four towns in Washington township, Salem, Canton and Norris, formerly Harristown, and Oxonia, first called Hitchcock. The latter was named first for William Hitchcock who operated the first store, a short time after the railroad was extended west from Salem. Subsequent merchants were W. Trueblood, P. D. Diefendorf and David Dennis. Some ten years since the name of the place was changed to Oxonia and Clarence Dennis runs the store and is station agent.

Harristown was founded on July i8, 1850, by Thomas M. Harris. Seventeen lots were laid off, John H. Trueblood opened the first store and the first building was built by Harvey Rodman. At the present time the town is called Norris and Miss Ella Norris is station agent and Jacob L. Garriott operates a general store. For a number of years the place supn ported a good saw- and grist-mill, but it was abandoned.

Canton was once a business village, situated four miles northeast of Salem. Eli Overman was its founder, who, in October, 1838, laid off thirty-five lots on the line running between sections 11 and 12. In 1850, about the time the town was most prosperous, Charles Albertson added ten lots and Mr. Overman one hundred and six more.

The first permanent settler in this vicinity was Alexander Little, who came from Mercer county, Kentucky, in 1807 or 1808, and built a log cabin in section 11, which was later purchased and occupied by Robert Green.- Roger Thompson came from Kentucky in 1809 and located one-half mile north in section 1. Arthur Parr came in 1809, and built a cabin in section M. and others who came in the next year or two, settling in the immediate )iei,s;hl;orhnoil were Jo^epli Aloore. J. H. Trueb!oo<l, Dr. Benjamin Albert- d'he settlement developed rapidly ami was tirst called Greensburg, and sometimes alsu called Ey/- iiarlxjr, but the town \va,> named Canton, when the postoffice was established, upon the sugge>tion eil Juhn .S. llarned, who became the lirst postmaster and continued m that capacity for thirty years. He also operated the lirst slure here in the early twenties, in a hewed log building- that stood on the lul now owned by R. D. .Mead.

Succeeding merchants were; Harneil ^: Overman, and later 1 rueblood & Harned, w In > kept a store about 1830, across fruin Gahert's present store; Charles i'uule and Dr. Benjamin Albertson, who was also the lirst physician; John I'arr and later Parr & Tatlock; Robert Aloore, John \\"ilsuu, Charles OMUgtun and Reuben Wilson, wdio erected a brick, two-story building at an early date, which was torn down in 1840; John Wilson and Samuel Slade were also early merchants, and later Gray Brothers. John H. Truebluod. h'. C. Tatlock, E. W. Cadwell, W. T. Albertson and brother, B. r. True) ill )od, James dddwell and Airs. Wilson conducted stores here. At the present time a large general store is kept by Albert Winslow, and James L'ahert conducts a grocery store, while Robert Clegg runs a blacksmith shop.

Vvashixgtox Couxtv. Ixdiana. 55I

extensively in the nursen- business. In 1820 Green & Overman built a horse mill, the grinding being done with home-made buhrs in the upper story, while the horse, sweep and drive-wheel occupied the lower room. A canning factory was built here in 1003 and operated four years, when it was removed to Salem.

Dr. Benjamin Albertsun was the first physician, and his son, Edmund, was the next. Doctor Carthon. Doctnr Huston and Doctor Todd lived in succession in the same building, and later Doctor Grouts, Doctor Herrod and Dr. J. J. Mitchell were practicing physicians. Drs. Edmund Albertson and .S. H. Herrod were known as men of rare ability in their profession. The latter w^as one of the best geologists in the state, and at the time of his death- had gotten together a very rare and vMuable collection, which was taken to the Borden Museum.

In February, 1873, the town suffered a large fire which destroyed much valuable property. Gray Brothers lieing the heaviest losers, their store and contents being valued at ten thousand dollars. The postmasters succeeding Harned, were John Randolph, Henry Dosh, John Anderson, Charles Albertson, John H. Trueblood, J. F. Sawtell, John Dennany and O. A. Tatlock, who continued in office until the rural free delivery supplanted the postoffice here.

The Methodist church was built in 1829, first as a union church, but later rebuilt and redcdicated by Reverend Jackson. Thomas Jordan, William Shanks and Rastus Coffin were among the first preachers here. This building was torn down and a new one built in 1899. The Christians built a new church about 1900, and both these denominations now have good congregations at Canton.

The first permanent settlement in this tnwnship was made by William McKni,^ht and his son, John, on section 8. in the spring of 1809. They made a tour of this western countrx in the summer of 1808 and after selecting lands went hack to Kentucky, where they had heen li\ing. In the spring of i8(.i() tliey located here and' erected a cabin, where they and their descendants ha\e since resi<led. William R. McKnight being the present occupant, at an ad\anced age. In iSiTi a new house was erected and it is Still in use with some additions to the same. Their nearest neighbors were the Shipmans .ind Duidaps, who had settled just east of Royse's Lick. .\t that early d;ite se\eral persons were C(^nstantly employed at the lick and as fast as salt could be made it was sold for twtJ dollars a bushel, as scarce as nionev was. It took six liushels of wheat to buy one n{ salt and the wheat gr(jwer had to put a lot of work on this six bushels before he had it sicklcd. Hailed out and winnowed to m,ake it read\- for the exchange. McKnight offereil ,1 man named r.l)-the a tem|iorary home on a corner of his farm in order to ha\e a near neighbor. He cleared up a sm.'dl lot and ])lanted it to corn but sinne bears found it antl destroyed the whole crop. The next morning. McKnight, who was an exjierienced hunter, went out aii<l killed f..ur of the bears.

Thomas Thom])son ami sons, Thomas and John, came tn the townshiij in the fall of iScx) and settled on section 7, just east of McKnight's. .\rthur Parr, the Revolutionarv soldier, and his son, Enoch, settled on the east side of Canton in the fall of i8oc). Daniel Gray settled on sect'oii n. in 1810. and aliout the same date came James Rodman. Jacob Cirriott, Mcxander Huston. Sanuiel Huston. David iMiuts, Solomon IJowers and others. James Rodman entered land in section 18 and his s,,n, Thom.i-. w.is born there. Thomas Rodman was a precociou- youth and ni.an.i-ed to L;ct .m .appointment to West I'oint. from which institution lie w;is graduated with high honors and while in the s^-rvice iiuented what was known .as the Rodman gun. He recei\ed his first in-truction in surxeying and engineering from Professor Morrison. lust before the - nil War his faiiiou-- gnu \\;is Hrst cast in I'ittsliurglranil tried out In- the ,i,'Overnment. Its weiglit was forty lliousand puunds. The jji-inciple of its construction was new^cooling from the inside first. 'rhi> yun, proving to be a great success, was taken to Washington, D. C. Ko(hiian was also the author of a large illustrated, volume on "(iuns and Gunnery,"''- involving a discussion of terms used in the higher mathematics.

By 1 815 there were probably twenty families in the township. Samuel Blankenbaker, Thomas Hodges, John Hartley, Fort Fordyce and others came in about 1814 and 181 5 and after this date the township filled up rapidly. There were five forts in the township, as follows: One on the Parr farm, just east of Canton; one at Thompson's in section 7; one at McKnight's, in section 8 ; one on James Rodman's farm, and another on the Hensley place. The strongest fort, where the largest number of settlers sought protection when there were warring bands of Indians in the county, was on the Thompson farm. It was called "Fort Dublin." as the people who Iniilt it were mostly of Irish descent.

In Franklin township there have lived men of considerable note and many have gone forth into the world and won fame. The Parrs and Rodmans have been spoken of, brief mention of others will be made here. William P.aker was born in A'ermont, June 11, 1790. He was in the War of 1 8 12 - one of the "Green Mountain boys" - and was in several battles and skirmishes. He came to l*"ranklin township in 1826 and worked at his trade all his life - that of brick mason and plasterer. He settled near New Philadeljjhia. He Iniilt a number of brick houses in dififerent parts of the county. He helped build the first Christian church in Salem, the large brick de]Jot burned by (len. John Morgan and several residences. When he located in the townsliip he raised enough money to pay for his farm, but had to go in debt for farming implements and improvements. For this money he executed a bill of sale to William Herron and John Parr. At that time a debtor could be confined in jail for debt, or he might have the limits of the county by giving bond not- to go outside of it. The money came due and Baker could not pay. His property was all sold, but the amount realized did not pay the debt. Sheriff Wright was ordered to arrest Baker and place him in jail. Richard Lockwood, having implicit confidence in Baker's honesty, came t(i Salem and went his bail for the jail limits. Baker lived to he about ninet\- years old.

Boyhood Home Of A Governor

John M. Bless was born and reared in this township, won a reputation as a teacher and rose to the important position of state superintendent of schools. The township boasts of the honor of having produced one of Indiana's best governors in the i>erson of Winfield T. Durbin. His father operated a tan-yard at New Philadelphia for a number of years and young Durbin was brought up and became an expert in the business. He was afterwards a successful business man in the northeast part of the state, a colonel in the Spanish-.-Xmerican War, where he won honors that landed him in the gubematorial chair. The Hustons were early comers and played an important part in the development of the township. Gen. John Milroy was a very prominent man in the development of the eastern part of the county. He was an uncle of Gen. Robert Milroy, of the Civil War. Samuel Taylor was one of the first settlers in the eastern part of the township, in 1815. James Pringle had just put up a log cabin and the Fordyces had stopped where South Boston now stands.

The east end of the township was called by the name of "Falling Timber," as a terrific cyclone passed through that part of the county and blew down all the large timber. The pea vines were then thick in the woods and all kinds of stock thrived upon them. When savages would come in and steal a horse they could usually be traced by the path they made through the pea vines.

In 1816 game was still plentiful in the township such as deer, bear, wolves, panthers, wild turkeys and pheasants. A few years previous some elk were killed along the small creeks that headed up in the knobs. Hogs were turned loose on the range and grew fat on the mast, there being all sorts of chestnuts, beech nuts and acorns on the knobs. This made a softer, tenderer and greasier pork than the corn-fed hogs.

Robert McClelland was another old settler of Franklin township. He died on October 18, 1876, at the age o^ eighty-four. He was a soldier of the War of 1812. He was under Gen. Joe Davis, who drove back the .savage hordes from the frontier. He was also with Col. Richard M. Johnson and his Kentuckians at the battle of the Thames. The Thompsons were prominent people in the township from the time it was first settled. Boone Thompson for se\'eral \ears conducted a fair on his farm just west of McKnight's and before the present county fair association was organized.

Friendly Relations With The Indians

There were never any Indian villages in the township after white settlers came in. Indians frequently passed through this section of country, but did no damage except stealing an occasional horse. Old Ox and his followers made frequent trips from their wigwams at the lick to this town over in the northeast corner of the county. In 1822 William Robinson found a silver nose jewel on his farm which early settlers recognized as having formerly been worn by the old chief when he was wont to bedeck himself in gorgeous array.

There are two creeks in Scott county named for chief Ox. His wife was noted for her ugliness, their daughter for her beauty. There came a man into Ox's home who later achieved considerable distinction and was of great service to the white settlers. McCullough was his name. McCullough came from the east. He had met such financial reverses that he was compelled to take to Indian trading (a favorite occupation for soldiers of fortune in those early times.) McCullough fell in with this family of Indians, and while living with them he took sick and came near dying. He was nursed back to health by the Ox girl who later became Mrs. McCullough.

/Vfter the Pigeon Roost massacre Ox and McCullough were camped on the Slayton farm later owned by Ira Rutherford, county auditor. When Ox heard of this massacre, although being innocent of any part in it, he became so alarmed that he fled the country, making his way to Tennessee. McCullough remained and afterwards became General Harrison's trusted interpreter in his campaign against the Indians. It is not definitely known what became of McCullough. He was probably killed in the battle of Ft. Meigs.

William McKnight always said the reason the early settlers in Franklin township were never molested was because every band of redskins that passed through the settlement were well received and treated kindly. McKnight was over in the Pigeon Roost neighborhood the day before the massacre occurred. When he returned home he said it seemed that the knob country was ali\e with Indians, although he saw none of them and he felt very uneasy about conditions over east. The following day Capt. Henry Dawalt came to AIcKnight and told him of the massacre. McKnight joined the party, which now consisted of thirteen men and they struck out up the Muscatatuck in pursuit of the savages. They soon struck their trail and followed it up until they came up with the Indians near where the town of X'allonia now stands. The French had established a trading post there, known at the time as the "French Stores." Shots were exchanged, when the Indians fled.

Among pioneer industries .\nthony Head operated the first blacksmith shop. He also made guns and lived on section 7. In 1831, Richard Lockwood started a tannery at New Philadelphia. Some years after he renio\ed to New Albany, where he operated a large tannery until after the Civil War. Tan-yards were opened up and successfully operated in different parts of the township by William Hamilton. Charles Kendall, Benjamin Rodman, John R. \'ance and Caleb Lockwood. In an e^rly da}- buckets, tubs, barrels and churns were manufactured extensi\ely in the township. Huge racks were made, as large as a big load of ha}', inti 1 wliich barrels were packeil and hauled to the Ohio Falls, where they found a ready market.

John Markwell, Jacob Garriott. .\nthony Hinkle. John Robertson and others conducted early distilleries. Samuel Hartley was a blacksmith by trade, but for many years put in all his time making augers, which he sold as fast as he could turn them out. .\ Hartley auger was the best that could be had. in that day.

New Philadelphia, for several \ears. supported a flouring-mill. It was built and operated by Benjamin Lockwooil, in connection with a tannery. Both were burned on February 15. 1873. entailing a ln-^s of over five thousand dollars to the owner. The tan-ward was partially rebuilt and continued to be operated a few years afterward.

Some I if the hne>t oak and chestnut timber that ever grew in Sduthern Indiana was to be found in I'ranklin township. Trees often niea-iu-ed six feet acmss tlie stuni]i. A great indiistr\- for man\- years was the ri\'ing and sha\'ing nf chestnut shingles, which were carried by wagon loads to the Ohio ri\-er where there was alwa\s a ready market. A shaved chestnut shingle w.as said to outla^^t anv other made, ^hich of this tine chestnut timber was made into raiU for fencin;^. \mo- I.ru-kenour liad the rc]ir.tation of ha\-ing the tin'.st fenced farm in the countw r.ail- all made from large chestnut trees. These rails were easy to split and lasted a \vhi>le lifetime.

Another prominent man in the township was Samuel Milroy. He operated a mill- just below where Franklin church now stands and also had a distillery. There were two other distilleries on adjoining sections, one owned by a man named Foutz and another by Bowers. Milroy went to Delphi when he left Washington county and became very prominent. He deeded the land on which Franklin meeting house and cemetery were located to the Presbyterians in 1827. When the church was built a resolution was passed opening the doors to all religious organizations and. the rule has always been observed. . >

Early Churches. ' , '

The first religious worship held in the township was at William McKnight's house, by the Covenanters, in 1813. The first church built in the township was "Franklin." The township then was large. The west line extended a mile further west than it does now and it reached to Clarke county, including all of Polk and Gibson townships. Franklin church was first built of hewn logs, in 1826. At the time of building this church donations were solicited from every one in the settlement and as whisky was more plentiful than money with some [jcojile. several kegs of this article were subscribed toward defraying the expenses incurred in erecting this primitive house of worship. This whisky was sold in Salem to the taverns. George Garner was the last survivor of those who assisted in building this church and vouched for the above facts. Rev. J. Martin was the first Presbyterian preacher who occupied the pulpit ; Judge Patrick the first Methodist and Rev. William McCoy the first Baptist.

The Methodist church at New Philadelphia was built in 1836 and the Preshvterian in 1844. There was an old Baptist church in the southeast corner of the township at an early day and a Methodist at Conoways. At the present time there are in the township two Baptist, three Christian, two I'resbyterian, two Methodist, one Saints and one Holiness - eleven churches in all.

The first school house was erected in 1820, in section 9, west of New rhila(k'l]]hi.L. it \\,-l^ made of hewn logs, sixteen Ijy eighteen feet, with l;iri,''e chimney in (me end. op])()^ite to which was a door hung on wooden hinges and the rej^nlation l;itcli. The fir^t teacher in this house was Alex- ander Huston, who came from Kentucky in 1816, and located in section 8. Other early teachers were Elijah Swaim, John Coffey, Alvin Poor, John Scott. Thomas Dias, Monroe Applegate, Dempsey Trowbridge, MolYat Wilson and A. Fitzpatrick. Some of these had a limited education, while others were classical scholars.

Most of the early teachers were Irish or Scotch and some of them were inebriate and unreliable. Spelling was taught day and night. The spelling school was the social pastime in the neighborhood in winter time. To be a good reader one was looked upon as being a good scholar. The one who could master the arithmetic was considered fit to take charge of any school, providing he could write well and make a good quill pen.

The first election held in Franklin township, after everybody in the county quit voting at Salem was in a private house where Boston now stands. Everybody went to Beck's mill for their grinding, or the old horse mill in the Quaker neighliorhood. Later on there were several horse mills in the township.

At the present time there are in Franklin township four general stores - one at New Philadelphia, run by Mrs. H. H. McClelland, and three at South Boston operated by Robert Mull. Jasper Calloway and N. H. Thompson. Doctor Blankenbaker is a practicing physician at New Philadelphia.