Union Township

Union Township - including Gadsden, Northfield & Rosston

Union Township is the middle township on the eastern border of Boone county and contains twenty-five sections of land. It is bounded on the north by Marion township, on the west by Center and Worth, on the south by Worth and Eagle, on the east by Hamilton county. It is composed of sections 25 to 36 inclusive of town 19 north, range 2 east and sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9 to 16 in town 18 north, range 2 east.

The township is well drained naturally. Big Eagle creek flows through the central part of the township, from the north to the north. Finley creek comes in from the northeast and Mount's Run from the extreme northwest entering Eagle creek near the south border. It is next to Eagle township in being blest with good natural drainage. Before the Indians gave up their hunting and fishing grounds along Eagle creek the pale faces began to clear away the timber for their cabin homes. Among the first that came were the LANES, Jesse, Edward, John and Samuel as early as 1826. Among the neighbors were Ben CRUSE, Henry and John KOONTS, Jacob JOHNS, George WALKER, Riley HOGSHIRE, George SHIRTS, John DAVIS, James RICHARDSON and scores of others for the neighborhood filled up rapidly after the first cabin was raised and it was about as jolly and good natured and sociable a settlement as could be found and as active in organizing the county.

The first religious meeting held in the township was in 1832 at the cabin of Mr. SEDGWICK conducted by Thomas BROWN. The first election was held in 1834 and John BERRY was elected the first justice of the peace. The first mill was set up on Eagle creek by Hiram McQUINDY and began to grind the corn for their pones.

The first church erected in the township was by the Methodists near the center. It with the pioneers has passed away. The next church was by the Baptists west of it, where it still stands in a growing condition with one hundred and eighty-seven members. Later came an increased number of church buildings. Christian north of the center with one hundred and five members and growing. Methodist church at Big Springs with thirty-six members, losing ground. Methodist northwest of Northfield, six members, losing ground. Just north of this church is the Disciples church with seventy members, losing ground. In the center of the township is the Seventh Day Adventists with twenty-nine members and growing. In the southwest corner is the Lutheran church with twenty members, losing ground, and the Methodist with forty-nine members, standing still, according to the report of the Home Mission Board of 1911.

With the corner stones of civilization, the home, the mill, the church and the school laid there was a foundation upon which the structure could be raised. The Indian had none of these hence he never advanced except as he imitated the white man. Between these pillars of strength first were blazed ways through the woods, then the timber was cut away, grades began, corduroy over the bogs, which were the seed from which came the highways of our day. The Michigan road which crosses the township from the south to the north bearing west was the first great improvement. The men and women that bore these hardships of pioneer life are gone to their reward.

Roads

The first great public highway through this township is the Michigan road which enters the township near the southeast corner of section 14 and passes out at the northeast corner of section 28. The Lebanon and Noblesville on the line between town 19 and 18 north. There are besides these, a number of good roads all over the township. It should be mentioned here in connection with the early history of the township that there were three taverns along the Michigan road. It was a great thoroughfare and there were numbers of public houses strung along to accommodate the throngs that were pressing north and westward. This road was lively in the early days with the ox and horse teams and it is alive to this day with the modern automobile when there is a speedway on at Indianapolis. It is stated that one auto per minute passed during the afternoon of Friday May 29, 1914. The Anderson, Lebanon & St. Louis Railroad passes through the northern part of the township from east to west.

The soil of this township is very fertile, well drained and produces abundantly all the products grown in this latitude. The farms are beautiful and homelike with all modern improvements. There is nothing to prevent the people from being happy and contented and prosperous.

Gadsden

Gadsden is located in Union township, on the Midland railroad, in the center of section 31, town 19 north, range 1 east. It is the second station out from Lebanon, Heath being the first. A branch of Eagle creek, called Mt. Run, takes its rise and meanders slowly along between it and the school house located in the northeast corner of the section, a half mile north and a half mile east by road. Considerable trading is done at the flourishing department store here for neighborhood trade, and from out the smithy's shop, a necessary adjunct of all country places, his cheery anvil rings out early and late. With good roads the scattered farm houses in sight are within easy reach from this station for all visitors to the country. It maintains a weekly correspondent to the county pioneer paper in Lebanon, which furnishes the country side with news of its happenings.

Northfield

Northfield was laid out in the year 1834. Jesse Lane was the proprietor. It is situated in Union township, on the Michigan road. Big Eagle crosses the Michigan road just north, and Findly creek on the south. Among the first settlers and business men were as follows: Hiram McQUIDY built the first horse mill or corn cracker. A. SANBURN was the first postmaster. First merchants were Mr. LONG, Chance COLE, Jacob TIPTON. Doctors were KNOWLTON, McLEOD, PRESLY and Samuel HARDY. First blacksmith was Mr. ROBINSON; first school teacher, Mr. BRAY; first justices of the peace were _____ SANBURN and Riley B. HOGSHIER. The first church was built by the Methodists. A church called Adventists, was built here in 1886 and dedicated in December of that year by Rev. COVERT, of Howard county. It is a very good frame building; cost eight hundred dollars. Northfield is the voting place of Union township and for three-quarters of a century has had a postoffice. Among the early families of the place were George SHIRTS, Hiram McQUIDY, Mr. SANBURN, Jacob TIPTON and Mr. ROBINSON. The first tavern was kept by Hiram McQUIDY. The town contains a good brick school house and Methodist Episcopal church. Northfield was once the home of Jonathan H. ROSE, also that of Jacob TIPTON. The postmaster in 1887 was Henry NICHOLS.

Rosston

Rosston is situated in Union township, on the Michigan road, in the center of section 34, township 29 north, range 2 east. It derives its name from the ROSS brothers, whose farms adjoin it. T. M. ROSS, with sixty acres on the north; J. J. and M. ROSS, with thirty acres due west; N. ROSS, with fifty-six acres south, and with him T. M. ROSS, with thirteen acres more. Rosston is a mile north of Northfield, bearing west. It was laid out about the time the Anderson & St. Louis railroad was surveyed. There is quite a little trade here, especially since the railroad was finished from Anderson to Lebanon, January 22, 1887. There are two variety stores and a Masonic Lodge No. 528, chartered May 23, 1875. The first religious meetings held in Union township were at the home of S. SEDWICK, whose farm borders Rosston on the east.

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.