Eagle Township

Eagle Township - including Clarkstown, Hamilton, Royalton & Zionsville

Eagle Township is situated in the southeast corner of the county and was the first settled in the county by white men, not even excepting Sugar Creek township. It was the best naturally drained of all the townships. Big and Little Eagle creeks flow through the township from north to south. Fishback comes in from the northwest and Long Branch from the east. Another reason for the early settlement was the fact that the Eel River Indians held their reserve in the northwest part of the county until 1828, and the lands were not offered for sale until 1829. Among the earliest settlers in the township we would name Patrick H. SULLIVAN, the oldest settler in Boone county. Jacob SHEETS, John SHEETS, David HOOVER, Austin DAVENPORT, Jesse DAVENPORT, Nathan and William CARR, James and John McCORD, Frederick LOWE, George DYE, Jacob and John KING, James, William and John HARMON, followed in a few years by Washington and Thomas MILLER, Ben COX, Peter GREGORY, William and Jas. MARSH, Daniel and Hugh LARIMORE and a host of others until the township was occupied. The first marriage in the county was in this township in the home of the first probate clerk, David HOOVER. Elijah CROSS captured his fair daughter, Polly. The first election was held at David HOOVER's house and Jacob SHEETS was elected the first justice of the peace. James McCOY was the first preacher, a Baptist in faith, as early as 1825. The first probate court of the county was held at David HOOVER's home and Austin DAVENPORT was the first sheriff. The first mill was built on Eagle creek by Jacob SHEETS. George DYE also built a mill on Eagle near Zionsville.

Eagle Village, about a mile east of Zionsville was the first important trading point and held the position until the railroad was built early in the 50's. The Eagle Village Light Infantry figures in the early history of Boone at this point where they rallied every month under the command of Capt. J. F. DAUGHERTY.

Among the pioneer ministers of this locality were James McCOY, George DODSON, Isaac COTTON, Robert THOMAS, George DYE, George BOROMAN, George W. DUZAN, William KLINGLER and William GOUGE. All have gone to their rest long ago and are waiting for the sound of the trumpet on resurrection morning. Their bodies with their pioneer comrades mouldered away in the early burial places, one at Eagle Village, one just south of Zionsville, known as the Bishop grave yard, one at Eagle Creek Baptist church and one on the Michigan road near the old Bethel church known as the Bethel grave yard. It is stated that the first brick house built in the county was on the Michigan road between Eagle Village and Clarkstown and was erected by Austin DAVENPORT in the year 1835. Eagle claims the first cabin, first brick house, first marriage, first judge and the first mill. Among the early doctors were William N. and George W. DUZAN, H. G. and Jeremiah LARIMORE, Warner F. SAMPSON, S. W. RODMAN and N. CROSBY.

This township contains twenty-four sections and is located as follows, to-wit: Sections 21, 22, 23, 24, 28 to 36 inclusive, in town 18 north, range 2 east and sections 1 to 12 inclusive, in town 17 north, range 2 east. In addition to the good drainage attracting the early settler, was the good roads for that day which enabled him to get there. First among these were the Michigan road, and the road leading from Indianapolis to Lafayette. While there were settlements made before these roads yet they greatly aided in the later influx of population and the commerce and general traffic of the country. The I. C. and L. Ry. came in 1852, entering the township at the southwest corner of section 12, running north and west and passing out at the southwest corner of section 21. In the beginning of this century came the traction entering the east part of section 12 and joining the Big Four at Zionsville and paralleling it the rest of the way to Lebanon. With all these road facilities added to the general good wagon roads throughout the township, the people could move about with pleasure any day in the year. This was a marvelous change to those who could remember the almost impassable roads of pioneer days. The first mill in the township and it must be the first in the county was built by Jacob SHEETS on the banks of Eagle creek soon after he settled in 1824. It was first designed as a "Corn Cracker," but afterwards burrs were added to grind wheat, and bolting to manufacture flour. The second mill in the township was built by George DYE and located on Eagle creek where Zionsville now stands. He added to this a sawmill. Both of these mills had a wide scope of territory to serve and developed a large business and were very lucrative at that early date.

Churches

The first public religious meeting was held at the home of David HOOVER, the sermon being delivered by James McCOY, a traveling minister of the Baptist faith. There were no church buildings in the township until after the founding of Eagle village, northeast of Zionsville on the Michigan road. It with Clarkstown are the oldest villages in the township. They promised to be flourishing, but the forming of Zionsville killed both. But in this village it is stated that the first church house was erected, but it passed away with the village. It is stated that the mother of the churches in Boone county was the Regular Baptist church constituted in the year 1829, with the following members: George DODSON, Elizabeth KING, Frederick GRENDELL and wife, John KING, Thomas and Polly DODSON, Robert DODSON, Mary DODSON, Samuel LANE and wife, Edward BRADLY, David MARSH, John DULIN and wife, Squire DULIN and wife, James PETERS and wife, Robert DULIN and wife. The first clerk was James BRADLY. The first house was a rough log building, but it answered the purpose of worship. The second house was erected about 1850, costing about $600. This church is now reported dead in the Mission Report of Boone county of 1911.

There are three other churches in the township outside of Zionsville. These churches are located in and near Royalton in the southwest part of the township. The Baptist (Means), twenty members, losing ground. The Methodist Protestant, with nineteen members, losing ground. The Methodists, one hundred and twenty-six members, growing.

Schools

The first school -- it is stated by good authority that the first school was on the banks of Eagle creek near the Marion county line. If the information is correct about this school it is not only the first school in Eagle township but it is also the first school in the county. It is placed in date several years before the school that was established on the William BEELER farm in 1832. The third school established was on the farm of William DYE north of Zionsville. Miss Anna MILLER, doubtless the first lady teacher in the county taught a subscription school in Zionsville soon after its organization. When the schools took a new start under the law of 1851, the number of schools increased to nine in the township and under the present system these schools have been reduced to five outside of Zionsville.

Clarkstown (name changed to Hamilton)

This once thriving little town was situated on the Michigan road, just north of where Little Eagle crosses the same. It kept this name for years, when it was changed to that of Hamilton, about the year 1838 or 1839. It was first named after Walter CLARK, of Ohio. It was laid out on the land of Jacob HOOVER in or about the year 1833. The following were the first citizens: Frederick LOWE, who built the first house and kept public house; Elias BISHOP, John and George LOWE, the DUZANS, Jacob HOOVER. The first blacksmith was CRITCHFIELD. The first doctors were W. N. DUZAN, George SELDERS, George W. DUZAN. The first merchants were Jacob HOOVER, John DUZAN, Oel THAYER, Zachariah OWSLEY. Zachariah TURPIN kept a grocery. The first tanner was James SHEETS. The first carding machine was built by Jacob HOOVER and Moses LYONS as early as 1837 and has been kept up ever since; is now owned by Paul D. LIEBHARDT, with a sawmill attached. Andrew HOPKINS, Clinton OSBORN and Allen BROOK were the saddlers and harness-makers. The town has been allowed to go into decadence. There are only a few dilapidated houses remaining that mark the site of the once flourishing town of Clarkstown.

Royalton

Royalton nestles among the hills of Fishback and Eagle creek and near the Marion county line on the south, in Eagle township, southwest of Lebanon. Among the first merchants were John RODMAN, Doctor HORN, John W. VAUGH. The early doctors were Doctor HORN, Doctor ROSS and Doctor GRAHAM. First hotel was kept by John SMOCK; first blacksmith shop was that of Thomas SMOCK; first postmasters were Doctor HORN, John MCCABE, J. W. VAUGH; first shoe-makers, Jeremiah WASHBURN and Daniel THOMPSON. Samuel JONES was the first to sell whiskey in Royalton. Mr. STROWMIRE was the principal merchant in the eighties. There is a postoffice kept here; also trades of various kinds going on. It was near here the famous FORMAN murder occurred nearly a century ago in Marion county, and no wonder with whiskey which could be bought at Royalton.

Zionsville

Zionsville is located in Eagle township in the southeast part of Boone county, on the banks of Eagle creek, just below the junction of Big and Little Eagle creeks. It was organized and laid out in 1852, on the completion of the Indianapolis, Cincinnati and LaFayette railroad now known as the Big Four and belonging to the New York system. It was named in honor of William Zion of Lebanon. It is about half way between Indianapolis and Lebanon.

Among the first business men were John VAUGHN, John SMITH, DAUGHERTY and NICHOLS, B. M. GREGORY, merchants; C. H. TINGLE, J. M. BIGGERS, grocers; J. M. BRADLEY, PERRELL and PERRELL, druggists; CROPLEN and MILLS, undertakers; M. S. ANDERSON, wagonmaker; doctors, S. W. RODMAN, Samuel HARDY, N. CROSBY, M. S. LARIMORE, F. LONG, G. W. DUZAN and H. T. COTTON; J. O. HURST, dentist; attorneys, Jesse SMITH, H. D. STERRETT, M. M. RIGGINS, John A. POCK and C. N. BEAMER. The first hotel was kept by John MILLER. John HOLMES built an extensive grist mill in 1854. It was afterwards perverted into a distillery and operated a short time and failed. M. S. DAVENPORT built and operated the first tan-yard.

The thriving town grew rapidly from the beginning, owing to the railroad and the beautiful rich country that surrounds it. The country was rolling and easily and naturally drained and developed into productive farms. Zionsville soon became an extensive trading center. Beautiful dwellings, extensive business rooms, excellent school buildings and churches evidence the energy and thrift of her citizens. The census of 1910 gives the population to be eight hundred and forty and the third town in size of the county. There are few towns of its size that can boast of better school buildings and facilities and none have more beautiful locations for such. There are four churches in the town, Methodist, Presbyterian, Christian and Christian Union, all of which support ministers and are alive in the work. In addition to these, the enterprising citizens have established Zion Park and maintain it from year to year by ten days of program each August with the best of talent for religious and intellectual instruction. Zionsville is above the average of towns of its size for its beautiful location, business enterprise and the social and moral character of its inhabitants.

As Zionsville was an afterthought, not coming until after the location of the railroad, it does not figure in the early settlement of the county. Eagle village on the Michigan road claims that credit. This was the first town established in the county by white men. It was noted in the early day for its energy and push. It was the first hotel center of the county and led off in many enterprises. The building of the railroad was its death knell. The laying out and building of Zionsville on the railroad so close was more than it could endure. Its most enterprising men moved to the new city and took their business with them and soon the town was gone. The fact that Eagle Village flocked to the new city gave it a great boom, and it soon became very lively and pushed forward rapidly, so that its friends thought it would become the metropolis of the county. It pushed forward for a few years until, Lebanon got out of the mud and other towns along the railway line began to wake up and move into life.

Zionsville at this juncture settled down to business and became one of our steady growth substantial towns. It soon became a center of trade for a considerable area of rich country and business of all lines was established to supply the demand. Mills, shops, stores and industries of all kinds necessary to meet the wants of the people were established and are maintained to this day. Zionsville is a live town with energetic business men, up-to-date schools, spiritual churches, beautiful residences and a hopeful outlook for the future.

Submitted by: Amy Davis

Source Citation:  Boone County Township Histories [database online] Boone County INGenWeb. 2006. <http://www.rootsweb.com/~inboone> Original data: Hon. Leander M. Crist. "The History of Boone County, Indiana," Indianapolis : A. W. Bowen, 1914.