Perry Township

Perry Township - including Fayette

Perry Township is situated in the south tier between Eagle and Harrison townships. It is bounded on the north by Center and Worth townships, on the west by Center and Harrison, on the south by Hendricks county, on the east by Eagle and Worth and contains less than twenty-one sections of land and is mathematically located as follows, viz: part of section 20, and sections 21, 22, 27, 28, 29 and 32 to 36 inclusive ; town 18 north, range 1 east, also sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 8 to 12 inclusive; town 17 north, range 1 east. The first clearing made in this township was in 1830 by Jesse TURNER who erected a cabin and batched, hunted and is said to have raised the first crop in the township. He is reported to have spent his winters in the city of Jamestown. Probably the second settler was Jesse SMITH, who came in 1832; Alexander FORTNER and Aaron SMITH in 1834, followed by Joseph POYNER and family which seems to the be the first in the township. Elias and Edmund SHIRLEY, followed by John K. EDWARDS, and his father, Eli SMITH and his father. D. W. and B. H. SMITH and their father, Peter KENE, G. W. LUMPKINS, Daniel LEAP, Thomas LEAP, E. WOLLEN, E. THORNLY, Elijah S. WILLIAMS, Thomas JACKSON, Joseph BELT, followed by the SLAIGLES, GLENDENINGS, SULLIVANS, DICKERSONS, CHAMBERS and the PENNINGTONS.

Churches

The Baptists held the first religious services in private houses. A few years later a society was formed known as Mt. Tabor, a house was built and is known far and wide as old Mt. Tabor. It is located one-half mile north of Fayette, northeast corner of section 10. South of this church the same denomination (Baptist), built a new church and called it Cynthiana. There was a great religious stir in the Baptist church of the young country when Mt. Tabor was established. We submit here the report showing the spirit in which they entered into the work. It was first constituted on the third Saturday of July, 1835, in the fifth year of the county of Boone. The following sister churches of the county were represented: Eagle Creek church, by George DODSON, Thomas BRADLY and John PHILLIPS; Thorntown church, by John TURNER and Squire OSBORN; Mt. Gilead church, by Jacob JONES and Lewis DEWEES; Union church, by Thomas HEATHEN and Hampton PENNINGTON; Big White Lick, by Parsley SHERLEY, Ezekiel SHIRLEY and Abraham SPEKELMAN; Little White Lick, by James PARSELY and Caleb SHERLEY. We, the above representatives of the above churches, being convened at the house of William TURNER, having examined into the society of organizing a church, and finding the articles of faith to be in accordance to our church, we find them duly qualified to keep house as a regular Baptist church with the following named brothers and sisters as constituted members thereof: Edmund SHIRLEY, Benjamin SMITH, Lewis SMITH, Daniel SHIRLEY, James SMITH, William SMITH, William EDWARDS, William TURNER, Philadelphia SHIRLEY, Susan SMITH, Nancy SMITH, Elizabeth SHIRLEY, S. R. Francis NASH, Matilda TURNER, E. P. HARDING. We, therefore pronounce them a regular Baptist church and give them the right hand of fellowship, this, the third Saturday in July, 1835. Thomas W. BRADLEY, clerk. Elder George DODSON, Moderator.

The members of this society prior to organization met at private homes for worship, as was the custom of the beginning of each church society. Afterwards they built a log house which served them for many years for worship and many happy gatherings were held there. In lieu a frame meeting house was built at a cost of $800 and seated four hundred people. It was well located on a high piece of ground with the cemetery near by in which many of the pioneers are at rest from their arduous toil. There were three other churches organized in the township. In the center of the township the Baptist (Means) have at this date a church of one hundred and one members and is reported as losing ground. Mt. Tabor is now reported with a membership of sixty-six standing still. Cynthiana church south of Mt. Tabor, Baptist (Means) with a membership of one hundred and twenty-six, growing. The Methodist church in the northern part of the township with a membership of forty-four.

Schools

The first round log school house in the township was located in the southwest part near No. 3 of this day. The first school was in 1836, Mr. SCHENCK the teacher. Other private schools were established and continued until the public school system came when there were eight schools irregularly established over the township. Under the present system there are seven schools measuring up to the age in which we live.

Roads

The first road established was the Indianapolis and Lafayette state road which enters the township at the middle of the east line of section 1, township 17 north, range 1 east, runs in a northwest direction and passes out at the northeast corner of section 21, township 18 north, range 1 east. All other roads were slowly made as settlements were established until now there are many good roads leading in every direction and decorated with beautiful homes and well tilled farms. To see this country today one would hardly think that it was the wild forest and swamp marshes of seventy-five years ago. The hand of man hath wrought a wonderful change in the wilderness.

Fayette

Fayette is located on Whitelick, in Perry township, and in the southern part of it near the Hendricks county line and in section ten. The town is well located on an elevated, well-drained piece of land. The town contains two stores, school house and several good private residences. Fayette was laid out on the land originally owned by Edwin SHURLEY and Mr. TURNER. The merchants are Mr. McDANIEL and SHURLEY; doctors, W. T. EVERTS and JOURDEN. Drug store by Josephus DODSON. Former merchants were Thomas J. LUMPKINS and Thomas FITCH. Fayette is the voting place of Perry township, and is the center of considerable trade, not only in Boone but also of Hendricks county. Dr. W. E. EVERTS, who has a fine practice, also has charge of the postoffice. Fayette contains some three hundred inhabitants, of sober, industrious habits. The settlement here on Whitelick dates back to the thirties. The town, however, is not quite that old.

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.