Harrison Township

Harrison Township - including Milledgeville & New Brunswick

Harrison Township is one of the southern tier of townships lying between Perry and Jackson. It has an area of a little over twenty-five sections, the boundary at the northwest and northeast corners being irregular. It is bounded on the north by Center township, on the west by Center and Jackson townships, on the south by Hendricks county, on the east by Perry township, and in the United States survey contains a part of sections 21 and 28, also sections 22 to 27 inclusive, and sections 33 to 36 inclusive, in town 18 north, range 1 east and sections 6 and 7, in town 17 north, range 1 east. The second prime meridian passes through this township. The surface is nearly level and is drained by the headwaters of Eel river flowing southwest into Jackson township, thence into Hendricks county. Other small streams in the south and southeast flow into the same county. In Harrison township there is quite a prairie, known as Stoner's. It is the only one in the county. The early settlers avoided the prairie and took to the woods thinking that the former would never be tillable. There were two great obstacles confronting the pioneers of Boone county, viz: the almost impenetrable forest with its heavy timber and dense undergrowth of brush and the water that abounded everywhere. The battle was two-fold, clearing the forest and draining the land. The arduous labor was performed and the beautiful farms in Harrison township today are a monument of the toil of these brave men and women. James S. DALE bears the honor of driving the first stake for a home and he erected the first cabin. He was followed by George JOHNSON, William BUTTERY, R. M. CUMELS, Philip SICKS, Caleb SHERLEY, John SCOTT, A. HILLIS, John McCORMACK, William ABNER, William JOSEPH, Nick YANT, James and Noah CHITWOOD, William and James EDWARDS and many others until the land was reclaimed. The first death reported was the wife of David JAMES in March, 1837. Among the early marriages were William JOHNSON to Isabella DALE; G. T. BUTTERY to Barbara SCOTT and Jeremiah CRAVEN to Miss James. The first election was held at the cabin of W. LOGAN, in 1836, when William BUTTERY was elected as justice of the peace. The first meeting was held at the home of George H. JOHNSON in 1835 where a few pioneers gathered to hear a Baptist minister. Early religious meetings were also held at the home of George SHEEKS. Soon after the pioneer log house was erected for worship and served its day. In this way homes, schools and churches came up out of the woods and water.

Roads

There is no state road, no railroad or traction line in this township. It is the only township in the county that has not one or more of these outside helps in its development. The citizens have the honor of all that they possess and they have much of which to be proud. There are three good roads leading to the county-seat. They are crooked, showing that they were started in the woods and had to dodge the bogs as in other parts of the county. It was a case of necessity and will doubtless always remain, to show future generations what their fathers had to do to get a start in this goodly land. It is so beautiful now we would have nothing to remind us of the wilderness if it were not for the crooked roads. It would be well to hold to the monument and never straighten the roads in honor of our forbears.

Churches

As soon as the people got a little out of the brush and too numerous to congregate in the small homes for church services, they began to build log church homes for worship. It was not long until there were half a dozen scattered over the township representing different denominations. In the report of the Board of Missions of the Presbyterian church of 1911, it gives the churches of that date and their conditions, viz: In the northeast part of the township is located the Baptist (Means), with a membership of fifty-one and the church losing ground. A little southwest of this church is located the Methodist Protestant, membership one hundred and twenty, losing ground. In the east part of the township the Baptist church with a membership of sixty-one, growing. West of this is the Disciples church with a membership of one hundred and eighty-six, standing still. In the southwest corner is located the Baptist (Primitive), membership fifteen, losing ground. Towards the southeast corner is located the Brethren, membership, fifteen, losing ground.

Schools

Pleasant CRAWFORD is reported as the first school teacher in Harrison township. The usual round log house and subscription were provided and the school began in good hope. It is supposed that Mr. CRAWFORD got tired of boarding around among the patrons and married and set up a scriptural excuse for closing the school. Thus ended the first school in the township in the year 1837. But this did not end the desire of the people for an education for other schools were established and they continued part free and part subscription until the public school system of the state came in 1852. Schools were then multiplied until there were nine in the township. Under the concentration system of our day, the enrollment of school children for the year was two hundred and fifty-five and only seven schools with seven teachers.

Milledgeville

The above village is situated five miles south of Lebanon, rather in the north part of Harrison township. It was laid out by G. O. P. CRAWFORD on section 26. Its first tradesmen were W. H. CAMPBELL, Henry TOMLINSON, J. E. PERNELL, Henry ULIN, William HIGGINS, John BARTLETT and Theodore DICKERSON. The doctors were Henry TOMLINSON, Melvin LEACHMAN, E. W. S. HILLIGOSS and James TURNER, with others located later. The postmaster is known as John BARTLETT. The office was discontinued but restored in 1886. The blacksmiths were William EDWARDS, John TROUTMAN and ____ EDWARDS. The village contains a good brick school house, Protestant Methodist church and several good dwelling houses. The postoffice was formerly kept by J. P. PINNELL, who was probably the first one here.

New Brunswick

This town is in the southwest part of Harrison township and about seven miles southwest of Lebanon, in a rich, fertile part of the county, containing several good residences. Christian church, brick school house, postoffice, store, doctors, etc. Among the first merchants here were Samuel VEST & Son, Doctor HORNER, Mr. SEXTON, Aaron FRAZEE, Colonel LECHTER, Franklin WALTERS & Son, D. M. WATTS. I. W. SMITH was postmaster and merchant in the eighties. The doctors who have practiced here from time to time are Doctors HORNER, George and William KANE, W. E. EVERTS, James LEACH and T. N. BOUNELL. William H. CROSE was the old veteran wagon-maker. The blacksmiths, William DALE, O. C. WILSON and Joseph CHITWOOD. The first postmaster was Nelson WATTS. The town was laid out in 1850, on the lands of Joseph and Nathaniel WAINWRIGHT.

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.