Waterloo Township

Waterloo Township

"TTTATERLOO TOWNSHIP was formed by the V V County Commissioners at their February session, 1821, of territory taken from Harrison and Brownsville Townships, as follows: "All that part of Harrison Township which lies east of West Fork of Whitewater River be attached to and form a part of a new township to consist also of all the balance of Brownsville Township which remains in Fayette County after the establishment of Union County, making the Union County line the eastern boundary of said new township, which new township shall be styled Waterloo Township."

All of the territory of the township as it now is which lies east of a line parallel to the eastern boundary of Jennings Township was taken from Brownsville Township, and the rest from Harrison. In position it is the northeastern township of the county, Wayne County lying north of it, Qnion east, Jennings and Cohuersville Townships south, and the West Fork of Whitewater River west. It is a small subdivison having an area of a little more than sixteen square miles. The face of the country is rolling. Its principal streams are West Fork and Nolan's Fork; both are on its western border. Simpson's and Williams Creeks - small streams^drain portions of the land. The extreme southeastern portion of the township is crossed by the C. H. & I. R. R., and within its confines are situated the hamlet of Waterloo and the major part of the hamlet- of Springerville.

Original Land Purchasers

Excepting the northern tier of sections - fractional 31 and whole 32, 33, 34 and 35, which are in Township 15 north, Range 13 east - the lands are in Township 14 north. Range 13 east. Of the former John Tharpe purchased the northeast quarter of Section 32, October 24, 1811, and on the same date Matthias Dawson purchased the southeast quarter of the same section. Thomas Sloo, Jr., purchased the southwest quarter of the same section October 28, 1811.

Section 33 sold in 1813, Jonathan Higgins purchasing the northeast quarter September 6, 1813; James Parker the southeast quarter on the same date. Jonathan Coleman purchased the northwest quarter December 6, 1813, and December 22, 1813, Nathan Roysdon the southwest quarter.

Abraham Vanmeter purchased the northwest, the southwest and the southeast quarters Section 34, the former two June 14, 1814, and the latter June 26, 1816.

Matthias Dawson, whose name is connected with several of the original entries given above, was a native of Virginia, and when a small boy while engaged in plowing or otherwise tending corn was quietly captured by two Indians, and himself and the horse borne away. He remained in captivity with the Indians for many years, and in their journeys had been to this region of country when it was yet the red man's home and formed part of his possessions. The chief, or the one of authority under whose care and charge Mr. Dawson had been reared, it is said, promised him the land he subsequently had to purchase of the Government (in the vicinity of Waterloo). Mr. Dawson, after the battle of Fort Wayne, was released, and then settled on his possessions, which he improved, living here for a number of years, when he removed to St. Joseph County, this State, and there closed his life.

Nathan Roysdon, a native of North Carolina, removed to Indiana Territory in 1808, and not long thereafter settled on the south half of the southwest quarter of Section 33. He died in Waterloo Township in 1832, aged sixty five years. He was the father of William Roysdon, deceased, and the grandfather of Stephen and John H., of this county.

John Tharpe settled on his lands early. He emigrated from the State of Kentucky, and was a brother to Moses, who resided west of West Fork, and in

The Heatons, Ebenezer and Daniel, were related and came here from Warren County, Ohio, settling upon their lands about the year 1814. Both improved their entries, Ebenezer passing his life here, while Daniel, after remaining here for years, removed further west, stopping for a period in Hamilton County, thence removed to Howard County, this State.

Joseph White, the father of the venerable D. H. White, of the township, in the very beginning of the century started on foot from the State of Maryland and journeyed to the county of Warren, Ohio, where he made a purchase of a sixty-acre tract of land, which he sold during the war of 1812, in which he had been drafted, to pay for a substitute. In the fall of 1814 he moved his family to the present site of the son above referred to, where his remaining years were passed.

Abraham Vanmeter settled quite early, coming here from Ohio. John M. Layson was from Kentucky here. The Parlows were from Randolph County, N. C, and in 1807 settled some miles east in Union County, where a number of their descendants now reside. In

1814 Benjamin Dungan and family settled in the township and entered land, and at the same time his brother Isaac settled on a part of the land. They were natives of Virginia. B. F. Dungan, now of this township, is a son of Benjamin.

Archibald Reed was an early settler, coming from North Carolina. He removed to Connersville, where for many years he kept tavern, and died in that city. James Satton was from Ohio. James Rumilley (or Rumbley) was from the State of North Carolina- Subsequently he sold his entry to Erwin Boyd, who came from Kentucky, purchased land, returned, and while en route, bringing his family, was taken sick and died. The widow, Sarah Boyd, with several children, settled on the land in 1822. Mrs. D. H. White was a daughter. Joshua Simpson was a Carolinan.

Of those entering land, and whose date of settlement is not given under the above head, William Hiers, Henry Holland, John Sleeth, Abraham Vanmeter and James Rumilley all were residents of what is now the township in 1819.

Daniel Fiant emigrated from Berks County, Penn., and about the year 1816 settled in what is now Union County, Ind. , coming some years subsequently to this couuty. His death occurred near Waterloo in 1866, aged eighty-six years. His wife Saloma died one year later in her eighty sixth year.

though subsequently a Virginian, was a resident of the township many years. In the war of 1812 he served in the Eighteenth Regiment, Heavy Artillery Regulars. He reared a large family, and his death occurred in 1878.

John Hubbell, Sr. , a native of New Jersey, at the age of eight years, with parents, settled in Pennsylvania, and subsequently removed to Butler County, Ohio, where John was married, and in 1817 located in this township, where he resided during the remainder of his life. The father, John, Sr., was a Revolutionary soldier.

Daniel Skinner, a son of a Revolutionary soldier, a native of Pennsylvania, settled in the township in 1819, upon land where a son, William R., now resides. He was chosen the first Justice of the Peace of the township, which office he held for sixteen years.

Josiah Lambert, a native of Virginia, with family located at Columbia, while yet Ohio was a Territory; subsequently he removed to Warren County, Ohio, where Clayton, a son (now a resident of this township), was born in 1802. In 1822 Clayton settled on the land where he now resides.

Robert Holland, a native of Ireland, emigrated to America in 1816; subsequently located in Hamilton County, Ohio, and in 1822 settled in this township. His death occurred in 1857. He was the father of Robert and William A. Holland, now residents of the township.

About the year 1810 or 1811 William McGraw, a native of Bourbon County, Ky., settled on a portion of Section 33. He removed to Hancock County, this State, in 1858, and there died in 1874.

In 1817 William Hart, a native of New York, though from Pennsylvania here, located in the township. Later he assisted in clearing ofif the timber from the site of the city of Indianapolis.

The following copy of a "poll-book of an election begun and held at the house of Joseph Ruby, in the township of Waterloo, in the county of Fayette, and State of Indiana, on the first Monday in August, A. D. 1825, for the purpose of electing a Governor and Lieutenant-Governor, one Senator for the counties of Fayette and Union; one Representative, one Clerk, two Associate Judges, one Recorder, and one Coroner for the county of Fayette, at which time the following persons appeared, and voted, to- wit: "will

In Section 10 there stood one of the earliest built schoolhouses in the township. It was erected in time for the winter school of 1815, and the first master in it is thought to have been Elijah Holland. A Mr. Taylor and Absalom Heaton taught in this house or in another erected a little later, in Section 17, probably a mile southwest of the Daniel H. White farm. The latter two teachers are remembered as having taught in the last mentioned building, which may have been only a cabin vacated by some family, and not built for school purposes, yet it was so used. The former building was not occupied long, and possibly Heaton and Taylor held no school there. In the south part of the township later teachers, but very early, were one Hardin and Alexander Wilson. Not far from 1821 a regularly built frame schoolhouse stood near the river, in the northwestern part of the township, in which at this time school was held by an Irishman by the name of Gray. Probably in 1827 or thereabouts the frame building heretofore referred to as standing in the grave-yard at Springerville was built and occupied as a schoolhouse.

"The interests of the educational affairs of the township are managed by B. F. Dungan, who also has the experience of a previous term. Foiu- schoolhouses, taking them as a township, are the best in the county - well an-anged, large and commodious. Educational matters are looking up in this township; but it is in need of some fencing, shade-trees and well fixtures. This latter all townships are in need of, as the health of the pupils is of first importance. I would recommend that the wells and springs be well cared for, and that they be within the school grounds if possible. The platform of wells should be of stone rather than boards. A previous Trustee built the houses, and left them in good order. Number of males, 149; females, 113; total, 202."

Waterloo Village

Waterloo is situated in the northwestern part of the township on the east bank of Nolan's Fork - the hamlet consisting of a few dwelling-houses only with one industry - a blacksmith shop. A plat of the place was recorded October 28, 1841. Among those licensed in its earlier history as merchants, hotelkeepers, etc., by the County Commissioners were: William Port as a merchant in 1825, and later as a merchant and grocer; Joseph Flint as grocer and liquor dealer in 1829; Robert Scott and Louis Beaks as the same in 1830; John M. Turner as a tavern-keeper and liquor dealer in 1837. Some of these licenses were renewed yearly for quite a period - William Port's especially. For a time the people, it seems, were of the opinion that too much liquor was being sold, and in 1830 the Commissioners when granting license issued no liquor license in Waterloo Township.

In 1839 or thereabouts Drs. Richardson and Chapman were the physicians of the village, Reuben Hawkins and Isaac Kline were the blacksmiths, and Joseph Forrey inn-keeper (Eagle House). Not far from this period Dr. Richardson built a sawmill on Nolan's Fork, which was then in operation. This was subsequently owned by John Grewell and still later , ^ by John Troxell, in whose hands it fell into disuse. Nearly sixty years ago Waterloo was a Methodist preaching place on the old Whitewater Circuit. Prior to the war of the Rebellion there was built at Waterloo a frame church by subscription, in which all denominations were to hold worship. It was probably used more frequently by the United Brethren Society. All religious societies there have long since passed into history, there being no church building or organization now in the village.

On the night of May 14, 1883, Waterloo was visited by a terrible storm, concerning which we quote from one of the county papers: " The hamlet of Watei-loo was badly damaged. Only three buildings were left standing, these three beiug at the north end of the one street the place afforded. Every other building, barn or dwelling, was either roofless or totally destroyed. The place contained about 100 inhabitants, about seventy-five of whom were rendered homeless, and yet but one person wasinjttred, and he slightly."

The earliest Methodist class or society in the township, and among the first in the county, was that out of which grew the church styled Robinson's

Chapel. This chapel building is a large frame, located in the northeastern part of the township, and at which is a burying- ground of considerable age. As far back as we can trace the history of the original class or society, it was an appointment along with Waterloo, a class at John Quinns, Brownsville, Bethel, Alquina. Veatches (Mt. Garrison), and others further south. The old Whitewater Circuit was formed in 1806 or 1807; just at what time the class at Robinson's was organized or first visited by the preachers who traveled the circuit, in the absence of records we cannot state, but it was some years before the formation of the Connersville Circuit in 1822. Sixty years ago the village of Brownsville, just east in Union County, was among the most flourishing societies on the circuit; the preacher often lived there. A meeting-house at Robinson's was built early; we find a reference to it in the decade between 1820 and 1830. The present house of worship there was built in 1845. The following list contains the names of some of the earlier preachers who traveled the old Whitewater Circuit and circuits growing out of it, on which Robinson's was an appointment:

In the church -yard sleep many of the pioneers of Waterloo Township and the neighboring country. One of the earliest graves marked by a tombstone upon which is an inscription that is legible, or one at all, is that of Catharine, daughter of H. and M. Henry, who died January 14, 1828, aged fourteen days.

Among the remains of the aged resting here are those of William McGraw, who died in 1871, aged eighty-three years; Martha, his wife, died in 1858, aged fifty-nine years; David Pearson, died in 1847, aged sixty-seven years; Hannah, his wife, died in 1867, aged eighty years; Jane Ridgley, died in 1842, aged about ninety years; Elizabeth Perry, died in

1855, aged fifty-eight years; James S. Hamilton, born in 1792, died in 1878; Eliza, his wife, born in 1797, died in 1872; Matthew Robinson, died in 1841, aged sixty-one years; Eleanor, his wife, died in 1864, aged eighty-one years; Thomas Harbin, died in 1866, aged seventy-one years; Mary, his wife, died in 1868, aged seventy-two years; Robert Holland, died in 1857, aged seventy-seven years; Margaret, his wife,died in 1851, aged sixty-three years; Daniel Skinner, died in 1871, aged ninety years; Nancy A., his wife, died in 1865, aged eighty years; John Thomas, died in 1866, aged seventy-one years; John M. Layson, died in 1861, aged seventy-six years; Sidney, his wife, died in 1855, aged sixty-four years; Catharine Little, died in 1855, aged eighty-six years; Henry Henry, died in 1859, aged eighty-two years; Margaret, his wife, died in 1867, aged seventy-five years.

On either side of what is called Four Mile Creek, in eastern Indiana and western Ohio, from 1804 to 1808 settled fourteen families, coming principally from the States of Virginia and Pennsylvania. These people were members of the German Baptist Church before their emigration. Elder Jacob Miller, who is thought to have been the first German Baptist minister who preached west of the Great Miami River, came occasionally from Bear Creek, in Ohio, and here preached for this membership, which was organized by him, with the assistance of John Hart and Mr. Bolton. In subsequent years the church increased in numbers, two districts were formed and a second meeting-house was erected in the southern part of Union County, this State. Subsequently a membership was formed in this township, among whom were John Moyer, Samuel and Elizabeth McLinster, Salome Fiant, Sarah Moyer, Mrs. Daniel Fiant (the first member of this denomination in the community), Daniel Jamiey soon after, Susannah Strong, Catharine Priser, Martin Fiant, Mrs. Fiant, John Moss, Elizabeth Dise, Jonas and Mary Fiant, Samuel and Catharine Crick, Ada Simpson, John Fiant and wife Hannah, Polly McPherin, Lewis Paten and wife Elizabeth and Susannah Ward.

Their house of worship, a frame structure, was built in 1868, the building committee being Jonas and John Fiant and Isaac Pritchard. Prior to the building of the church edifice, meetings were held in dwellings and in barns. Among the ministers who have served the charge have been John Moyer, William Moss, Abraham Moss, Daniel Miller, Daniel Brown and Jacob Rife. Preaching is held once in four weeks. Present memberships in the neighborhood of fifty.

About the year 1838 the frame house now occupied by Henry Schriver in the hamlet was built by Thomas Simpson, Jr., in which the postoffiee and a store were kept by Mr. Simpson. License was granted him to vend merchandise and groceries by the County Commissioners in January, 1839. Probably ten years prior to this goods were sold in that locality by William McKimmey (the records show that William A. McKemmy was licensed as a merchant in the county in January, 1835). James Culley was subsequently a merchant at this point. Among the blacksmiths of that vicinity, and about the period of which we are writing, were John Hoffy and Mortlo Bemington.

The ground now occupied as a grave-yard at Springerville was owned in a very early day by William Dawson (entered by Thomas Dawson) and the first burial made on the site of the grave-yard was a small child of Charles Hubbartt, which was drowned in a spring. This occurred quite soon after the settlement of that vicinity. This tract of land was in subsequent years purchased by Thomas Simpson, Jr., and although public burying there had been made for years, and the yard was in the hands of Trustees, no deed was made for that purpose until after Mr. Simpson became possessor of the land, when he deeded a half acre to Charles Hubbartt, John Hubbell and Henry Holland as Trustees of the burying-ground. In the corner of the grave-yard, at about this time, was erected the little frame building, yet standing there, for a schoolhouse, church and

William Walker, Sr. , aged eighty-two years; Jane, his wife, seventy-two; Joseph Felker, sixtyeight; Eve, his wife, seventy -four; Joseph White, eighty-three; Mary, his wife, seventy-six; Daniel Cline, eighty-three; J. Hubbell, Sr., ninety-two; Barbara, his wife, eighty; Henry Holland, seventy-three; Jane, his wife, sixty-nine; Abner Chenanlt, seventyeight; Mary, his wife, seventy-three; Samuel Frazley, fifty-one; Catharine, his wife, sixty-three; Jonathan Davis, a soldier of the Revolutionary war, eightyfive; Michael Petro, eighty-three; Ivah, his wife, fifty-nine; Montgomereys, Rigges, Mongers, Browns and manv others.

Halfcentdey Citizens

Thomas Simpson and wife, William Simpson and wife, William C. Jones and wife, John Hubbell and wife, Jonas Fiant and wife, John Fiant and wife, David Fiant and wife, D. H White and wife, Albert Layson and wife, Daniel Burris and wife, Joseph Sutclitf and wife, Henry McMullen and wife, Alexander Vanblair and wife, David Lyons and wife, William Montgomery, Clayton Lambert, J. D. Monger, Jacob Heider, Jacob Troxell, Joseph Cole, W. R. Skinner, Mrs. Roysden, Mrs. Wolverton, Mrs. Job, Mrs. Peyton, Mrs. Cook, Mrs. Thomjjson Cook, Irvjn White.

Source changes here: from History of Fayette County, Indiana : Her People, Industries and Institutions, by Barrows, Frederic Irving, published 1917; 3,837 words in this source stream.

Waterloo Township

Waterloo township came into existence after the creation of Union county, the organization of which by the legislative act of January 5, 1821, resulted in the detachment of several sections from the eastern side of Fayette county, leaving the latter county with its present limits. When the commissioners of Fayette count}^ divided it into townships at their first meeting, February 8, 1919, they organized the northeastern part of the county as Brownsville township. This township, which disappeared with the organization of Waterloo township, was given the following limits: Beginning at the southwest corner of section 16, range 13; thence north four miles to the Wayne county line; thence east to the Indian boundary line of 1795; thence with the said line in a southwesterly direction until it meets the line dividing sections 17 and 20 of township 14, range 14; thence due west to the place of beginning.

Fayf.Ttf. Coixtv. Indivna

As before stated, the creation of Union C(iunt\- l)ront;-|il ahuiu the organization of Waterloo township, the new township inchuhng all oi that part of Brownsville township in Fayette county, to which was addcil that part of the original Harrison township east of White Water river. This was done at the February, 182 1, session of the county commissioners. No change has been made in the limits of the township since the organization.

.\11 of the land in Waterloo townshi]> had been entered prior to the organization of the county in i(Si9 with the exception of jj.-irl of section J. .\ complete list of the land entries of the township follows:

The name of Matthias Dawson is perhaps the best known of any in connection with the early history of this township. He was a native of Virginia and, when a small boy, was captured by the Indians. He remained a captive for- many years and in the western- trend journeyed to this region when it was yet the unrestricted heme nf the red race. The story is told that the chief promised Dawson the land which he subsequently had to buy from the government, in the vicinity of Waterloo. After the battle of Fallen Timbers Dawson was released and settled on his possessions, living here for a number of }-ears, finally removing to St. Joseph county, where he died.

The state, of Ohio doubtless furnished more settlers in this part of the county than any other. Among those who w^re early settlers are the following: Jonathan Higgins, 1812; Jonathan Coleman, about the same year; Ebenezer and Daniel Heaton settled on their land in 1814. Daniel, after remaining here for many years, removed to Howard county, Indiana; .Abraham Vanmeter and James Sutton were also early settlers from Ohio.

From Pennsylvania came some sturdy pioneers among whom were the following: Samuel C. Vance, one of the earliest; Daniel F"iant, 1820; Henry Henry, of Irish descent, but a native of Penns3dvania ; Daniel Kline, 1825; William Hart, 181 7; John Hubbell, 1817; Daniel Skinner, chosen the first justice of the peace of the town.ship, settled in 1919.

John Tharpe, a native of Kentuck}', settled on his land at an early date. He was a brother of Moses Tharpe, who resided west of the west fork of White Water river and in 181 3 had a child stolen by the Indians.

One of the early pioneers was Joseph White, who in the very beginning of the century, started out from his home in Maryland and journeyed to Warren countv, Ohio, where he made a purchase of sixty acres. This he sold during the War of 1812, in which he was drafted, in order to pay a substitute. In the fall of 1814 he removed his family to what is now \\'aterloo township.

Nathan Roysdon removed from North CaroHna to Indiana Tcrritorx in 1808, and not long thereafter settled in the south half of the southwest quarter of section t,i,. He died in Waterloo township in 1832. Tiic Hardin and Grew-ell families were very early settlers in the northern part of the township, near the Wayne county line. The Farlows came from North Carolina and settled over the line in Union county. In 1814 Benjamin Dungan and family settled in the township and entered land, and at the same time his brother, Isaac, settled on a part of the same. Another faniil)- from Carolina was James Rumbley. He sold his entry to Erwin Boyd. The widow of Erwin Boyd, with several children, settled on the land in 1822.

There were several who entered land, hut whose date of settlement is not known. Among them are the following: Henry Holland, John Sleeth, William Hiers, Abraham Vanmeter.

Other permanent settlers of the tnwushi]) nf win on little is known were James Hamilton, William C Jones, Robert Holland, William McGraw and John Ruby.

At a general election held at the home of Joseph Ruby, on the first Monday in August, 1825, for the purpose of electing a governor and lieutenant-governor, one senator for the counties of Fayette and Union one representative, clerk, two associate judges, recorder and coroner, the following men appeared and voted: Alfred Coleman, Joseph Dawson, Thomas Williams. Jonathan Williams, Jacob Vanmeter, John Brown, Benjamin Williams, Samuel Dawson, Joseph Camblin, Thomas Dawson, Nathaniel Blackburn, John Swazey, Mathias Dawson, Charles Wandle, Jonathan Coleman, Daniel Skinner, William Port, Isaac Stagg, Francis McGraw, Eli Dawson, Abijah Holland, Steven Wandle, William Robinson, Matthew Robinson, Henry Henry, Joseph White, William McGraw, John Blackburn, James Beeks, Isaac Dungan. Benjamin Dungan, Cornelius Cook. Robert Holland, Elijah Dills, Zachariah Dungan. Aaron Haugham, Nathan Roysdon, Enoch Chambers, Hezekiah Bussey.

Early Schools

The first school in the townsliip was most likely erected in section lO in the fall of 1815, the first teacher being h^lijah Holland. Only a year or two later school was-held in a cabin in section 17 and it is ix)ssible that Absalom Heatou: and a^man by the name of Ta\lor were among the first teachers there, as they were among the very first in the township. In the northwestern part of the township, not far from 1821, the people were \ ery nuich interested in education, and instead of erecting the usual primitive t3'pe of school house, a frame building was erected. A man 1>3' the name of Gray was one of the pioneer teachers.

Waterloo

The village oi Waterloo, located on the east bank of Nolan's Fork, one of the most thriving commercial and social centers in the county, has gradually faded into history and now nothing remains of the place with the exception of three or four houses. William Port, a merchant and grocer of 1825, appears t(. liave lieen the first Imsiness man in the village: Joseph Flint was a grocer and liquor dealer in 1829, as was also Robert Scott and Louis Beaks the year following : John M. Turner was the keeper of a tavern and a saloon in 1837.

The first physicians of the village were Doctors Chapman and Richard- S(in, who were there in 1839 and for several years after. Doctor Richardson, during the years of his practice, erected a saw-mill on Nolan's Fork. The mill was subsequently owned b\' John Grewell and later by John Troxell. in whose hands it fell into disuse.

The village reached the crest of its prosperity in the decade preceding the (rivil War, During this time there were two hotels in the village that had more than a local reputation. One was known as the Turner hotel, of which "Dad" Turner was the proprietor, and the Eagle, of which Joseph Forrey was the owner. The building of the latter hotel is still standing. Robert Watt conducted a dry goods store, and John Gruelle was the owner of a grocery and saloon. Two physicians, whose names were Gillum and Rose, the latter also a dentist, practiced in the period just before the war. The saw-mill was owned and operated by John Fawcett and the blacksmith was Jacob Heider. The greatest numl)er of people the village ever had is estimated at seventy-five to one hundred.

The village lost its existence much more (|uickly than it gained it. On the night of May 14, 1883, it was visited by a cyclone and only three buildings in the entire village were left standing, they being at the north end of the one street that the place afforded. Every other building, barn or dwelling, was either unroofed or totally destroyed. About seventy-five people were rendered liomeless yet, mar\-eli)us as it may seem, only one person was injured.

The Waterloo postoffice, established May 4, 1825, was the second one in the county. Following is a hst of postmasters with their dates of service and the time the office was discontinued: William Port, 1825-1844: Amos

The following poem was written l)y William Dunuan to be read before the Beeson Literary Societ)- about 1887, and is a true picture of the ancient village of Waterloo. The author was l)orn a mile and a half north of Waterloo, September 3, 1842. the son of Joseph and Rebecca (Chambers) Dungan. He lived on the farm until the >ear before the Civil War and then moved to Harrisburg and lived there about four years. He then moved to Beeson's Station, Wavne county, lived there until i8r)2. when he moved to Connersville, where he is still living.

The historians are very much indel)ted U> Mr. Dungan for his valued assistance, especially for his hel]) in writing and securing the history of the Baptist churches of the county.

It was built on the banks of Nolands Fork, Almost as old as great New York: Where once the thistles and briers srew, Xow stands the town of W.aterloo.

The gushing springs on the great hillside Once were her glor.v and her pride. The Reilman's arrows once thickly flew Where now is standing Waterloo.

The old brown church that stood in town One Sabbath day was torn down. This wicked act the people did do Who lived in the town of W.iterloo.

Thus the Louse where worshipijed the great aud good Was scatteral abroad for kindling wood. Go, stand on the hill and take a view O'er the mouldering town of Watei'loo.

Her glory and grandeur are fading away ; Her eminent structures are on the decay. -Alen of renown there are hut few Dwelling today in Waterloo.

Oh, look at the creek with its rock-bound shore. Where once was heard the cannon's roar. But the cannon bursted and its fragments flew All over the town of Waterloo.

The village of Springersville, as platted and surveyed July 27, 1840, was located in the southeastern part of Waterloo township. Thomas Simpson was the proprietor of the townsite, which was surveyed by William Dickey. About 1838, Thomas Simpson, Jr., erected the first building in what later became the village and in which he conducted a general store. On May 16, 1840, he became the postmaster of the village and served in this capacity for nine }ears. James Culley was another early merchant. What once gave promise of being a thriving village has now dwindled down to a mere collection of about twelve scattered houses, a church and a blacksmith shop.

The postmasters who hax-e had charge of die jjostoffice include the following: Thomas Simpson, Jr., 1840-1849; Nicholas Remington, April 2, 1849-November 14, 1849 (discontinued); Avarenas Pentecost; November 2, 1849 (re-established) to May 22, 1850 (discontinued); Alvar E. Pentecost. May II, 1852 (re-established) to May 5, 1853 (discontinued).

Chattkr Viit

^ in e\er\' other county in the southtraces or hridle paths thron.t;h the wocds, across the prairies. It was accidental line, the ]iiotieers who laid theni iiind, and that was to i;et the shortest the \arious settlements or to the mills and villages of the county.

From the beginnino- of the history of the state the Legislature has passed acts to encourage road making. F,\ery able-bodied citizen from the beginning of the history of Fayette count}- has 1)een compelled by law to work a certain number of days on the road or ])ay an equivalent in taxes. This law still prevails in the state. The early commissioners' records are largely taken up with petitions for new roads or changes in roads ah-eady estalilished. In fact, at least half of the minutes of their meetings are devoted to the (juestion of roads. While the county itself was l)us\- in laying out roads, the state was also interested in providing what were known as "state roads." Two so-called state roads passed through Fayette county. One came u]) the White Water \alley from Lawrenceburg by way of Brook- \ille, passed through Connersville and Waterloo, and thence on north through Centerville, in Wayne count}-, to Winchester, in Randolph county. The other road started from Liberty, in Union county, passed through Fayette county and thence west, through Rush count}-, to Lidianapolis. (r8)

Toll Roads

The contour of the county does not readily lend itself to the making' of good roads. It is very rolling over a considerable portion of its extent and this necessitates a much hea\ier outlay to construct roads. The era of toll roads began about the middle of the fifties, following the legislative act of May i, 1852, which made it possible for counties to have a larger road fund. This act furnished the basis for the thousands of toll roads which were built throughout the state. It seems queer in the year 191 7 to think of a pri\ate company, oftentimes of less than a half dozen citizens, building a road - a public highway - and then charging as much per mile for citizens to travel on it as we of tofla\- ha\'e to pay for the best service on the railroads. Such, however, was the case and it was not until the nineties that the taxpayers of ]<"ayette count}' saw the last toll-gate disappear.

It is not profitable to follow the history of the many private toll roads constructed through Fayette county during the fifties and sixties. By 1856, there were no less than thirteen of these pay-as-you-drive roads in Fayette county, aggregating a total of seventy-five miles. The longest road was from Connersville to Fairview, a distance of eleven miles; the shortest was the Benton\nlle-Milton road of two miles. The average length of these roads was between six and seven miles. As late as 1885, seven of these roads were still privately owned, or rather maintained, by pri\'ate jiarties.

The old toll roads were gradually acifuired b\' the county and placed under the super\'ision of the township road super\isors and all disappeared before the close of the nineties. 1'he history of highway legislation within the ]iast few years has been one of confusion ; in fact, so many laws affecting roads have been jiassed that it is difficult to follow the xagaries of some of them. .\t the present time there is a three-mile law which permits a county to build a road of such a length under certain stipulated conditions. There are sixteen three-mile roads already constructed in the county. 'Phese mads are named after the person who was instrumental in having them constructed and are as follow: George A. Looney, Orange township; Charles H. Flwell, Posey township ; Charles IT. Flwell, Fairview township ; Janies H. De .\rniond. Orange: William M. Gregg. Connersxille town.ship: D. W. Moore, Jackson township; Lewis Matney, Orange township; Alherl Rees. Conners\'ille township; George Lambertson. Posey township; C". \\'. Martin, Connersville township; James McCann. Connersville townsliip; Will Beeson, Posey township; Falmouth-Glenwood. Fairview township; C. A. Ryman, Posey township; Jesse Chrisman. Harrison township; Albert Collins, Connersville townsliip. Tliere are in 1917 about four hundred miles of impro\'ed roads in the count}-; in January. 11)17. there were thirteen miles in tlie course of construction.

The law prorates a certain amount of tiie automobile tax to the various counties of the state in proportion to the number of miles of "improved highways", the definition of such a road being somewhat confusing". The 1917 Legi^ature is considering several riidical changes- in the roath laws of the state, the chief desire of the T-egislature being to frame some kind of a statute which would put the state in a position to share the federal appropriation provided for in the Bankhead act of 1013. The interest in good roads has never been more prominently before the people of the state than it is at the present time and it is safe to say that within the next few years Fayette county will have roarls which can Ije used at all times of the year to the best advantage.

The question of bridges is and always has l)een a very ex))ensive consideration .in the .county .owing, to the pre.sence of the White W"ater river and the many .streams which ha\e to be bridged. The first bridge over the river in the county was built at Connersville between the years 1838 and 1842, by .Minor Meeker, H. B. Woodcock and James Veatch. This bridge stood until 1887, ^vhen it was replaced by the present structure, an attractive, substantial frame covered liridgc with an arched ceiling and lighted by electricity. Tlie hrst and only bridge across the river between Connersville and the northern line of the county is still standing. It 'is located ;it Waterloo and was built by the Canton (Ohio) Wrought Iron Compan_\- between the years 1881 and 1884 at a cost of $16,637.37. One span had to be replace<l after com])lete destruction by a cyclone. The third bridge across the river is just below Xulltown and the first bridge there was constructed by the Canton firm two years prior to the btnlding <ii the Waterloo bridge. The Xulltown liridge was destroyed in the s])ring of \<)\7^ ])y the most destructive Hood which has occurred since the count\- was organized. The county commissioners at once took stejjs to rejjlace it and a four-.s])an steel bridge was constructed llie same year, During the past three years the county has had to Imild a number of bridges which were swept out in the spring of 1913, and this has necessitated a heavy outlay. Likewise many of the highways suffered se\erely on account of the liigli waters at that time.

The White Water Canal

The histor)- of Fayette county prior to the Ijeginning of th.e (7i\-il War is replete with references to the White Water canal, and it is not too nuich to sa}- that the building of this canal through the count}' and its suljse([uent use meant as much to the early prosperity of the county as any other single factor. While actual work on the construction of the canal did not begin until 1836, the agitation for an artificial waterway down White Water to the Ohio river began as early as 1822. In that year a convention nt delegates from Randolph, Wayne, Fayette, Lhiion, Franklin and Dearborn comities met at Harrison, Ohio, to consider the practicability of constructing a c;inal down the White Water \-alle3'. The newspapers were enthusiastic in favor of the canal, Augustus Jocelyn, the editor of the PJrookville Wc.^hrn Agrlcuhnnst, being the most active champion of the proposition. '!"he consensus of opinion among the delegates at the con\-ention was heartilx' in favor of taking steps toward a preliminary sur\ey, and tine beginning of actual work as soon as possible.

Shortly after this meeting was held, Colonel Shri\-er, an engineer of the United States army, began a survey for the canal, but died befoix- he had it completed. y\fter a short suspension of the survey, the work wns resumed by Colonel Standbury, also an engineer of the regular arm\% and within a short time he completed the survey. His estimates of the cost somewhat dampened the ardor of the advocates of the canal, and as a result the question lay dormant until 1832, in which year the citizens of the valley petitioned the Legislature for another survey, and the following year that body authorized a preliminary survey. It was made in the summer of 1834 by competent surveyors and their report was submitted to the Legislature by William Goodwin on December zt^. 1834. The survey began at Nettle Creek, near Cambridge City, followed the west fork of White Water to BroOkville, thence down the river to Harrison, and from there to Lawrenceburg on the Ohio fixer. The total length of the canal was seventy-six miles, the fall of four Inindred and-ninety-one feet necessitating se\-en dams and fifty-six locks. The estimated cost was $14,908 per mile, or a total cost of $i,i42,T26 for the entire canal.

As uiight have been expected there was much opposition In the canal. and it \\as only by tlie most ingenious arguments tliat tlie conslructinn of tlie waterway was finally ordered. The discussion in the Legislature, in the press and among the citizens of the state culminated in the act of January 27, 1X3(1, known as the mammoth internal-improvement hill. The White Water canal was only one of a number of canals, highways and railroads which were provided for by this act. but it is the unly one with which this

The first .school in \\'aterloo townshi]) dates from 18 15, the buildingbeing erected on section t6 and the hrst teacher being Elijah Holland. About two years later a school house was built in section 17. although this second Ijuiiding may have been originally erected as a dwelling. At least it was used for school purposes and it is known that Absalom Heaton and a man by the name of Taylor taught in it. The first building- mentioned seems to lia\-« been in use only a short time as a school house. In the southern portion of the township log school houses made their appearance before 1820

'J1ie first frame hnildins.;- f(jr school purposes seems to have lieen erected ahout iSji. It stood in the northwestern part of the township near the river. -\n Irishman by the name of (".ray was ])rohal)ly the first teacher in this frame huildini;-. .\t the ancient villat^e of Sprinoersville there stood a frame building in tiie cemetery, which building seemed to have been used for both school and church, purposes. There lia\e never been more than four school houses at any one time in this township. As far back as 1879 a total of 262 pupils were enrolled in the township schools, but by 1887 the enumeration had dropped to i^<), while in loK' there were only 140 enumerated in the entire township.

In 10 '3 the countv superintendent and township trustee. T. O. Simpson, eft'ectetl a consolidation of tlie four schools of the township and a modern brick building was erected in the eastern part of section 0 to accomodate all the pupils of the townshi]). .\n accredited high school was established and three years of high-school work are now gi\en b\- the two high-school teachers, l-'ay O. Burns and Lon Ranch, both of whom are graduates of Indiana I'niversity. The two grade teachers in the school are Efifie Squires and MarY Greer. This is the only township in the county with only one school building - one of the \ery few townships in the state where complete con- .solidatioii has been perfected.