Washington Township

Washington Township - including Mechanicsburg & Hazelrigg

Washington Township is in the northern tier of townships and bounded on the north by Clinton county, on the west by Sugar Creek and Jefferson townships, on the south by Jefferson and Center, on the east by Center and Clinton. It contains thirty-five and one-half sections of land, twenty-five of which were included in the Eel River Indian Reserve. Half sections 13 to 18 and sections 19 to 36, in township 20 north, range 1 west, and sections 1 to 12 and west half of 16 to 18 inclusive, in township 19 north, range 1 west. Its surface is generally level with good natural drainage with the exception of a few sections in the south part of the township. Sugar creek enters the township about the middle of section 24, flows west bearing a little south and passes out of the township from section 30. Its tributaries are Spring and Prairie creeks. Spring creek enters the northeast part of the township from Center, flows southwest through the center and enters Sugar creek in section 30. Prairie creek drains the southwest part of the township and passes into Sugar Creek township near the southwest corner of section 6. The land was covered with an excellent growth of timber, the sugar maple prevailing.

The people began to settle as early as 1829, indeed some crowded in on the Indians before they got moved, after they sold their farm of one hundred square miles to Uncle Sam. The township was not organized until 1832, but before that time many homes were established. Among the first may be mentioned John N. FALL, John WILKY, Joshua ALLEN, William WEST, and Able PENNINGTON, who ventured to come as early as 1829. Soon after came a long list, among whom we can name, Joshua BURHAM, Benjamin CROSE, James SCOTT, Samuel REESE, John SLOCUM, Thomas MCCANN, William PAULEY, James TURNER, Benjamin SWEENEY, John MOREHEAD, Jacob SKEEN, Abraham BUCKHALTER, Samuel and James FOREMAN, John KERSEY, Benjamin and Stephen TITUS, Nathaniel TITUS, Samuel CASON, John CRADLEBAUGH, James P. MILLS, John HIGGINS, Robert SLOCUM, Anthony and Wilson BECK, John GRAHAM, W. W. PHILLIPS, the CAMPBELLS, SLEIGHBECKS, CHAMBERS, THORNBERRYS, BUNTINS, BOWENS, RITCHIES and many others that soon followed.

This township was blessed with water power. The first mill was built by David ROSS in 1831 on Spring creek. Bonam STOUT built the first grist mill at Mechanicsburg in 1838. John and Noah HARDESTY built the grist mill later known as the ADLEY mill on Sugar creek below Mechanicsburg. Michael and Augustus CHASE built the mill known later as the Ben CROSE mill.

The first religious meetings were held at the home of William PAULEY, as early as 1830. The first church house built in the township was a hewed log house, erected by the Baptists in 1835. The church interest increased until there were six churches in the township. Two Methodists, one south of Pike's Crossing, now reported to have 32 members and losing ground; one at Mechanicsburg with a membership of 68, also reported as losing ground. The Disciples church at Mechanicsburg with a membership of 148, and in a growing condition. The Christian church (Salem), in section 9, with 67 members, losing ground. The United Brethren near the northwest corner, with 82 members and losing ground. The Brush Creek church at Brush Creek cemetery, dead.

Schools

The first school was taught in a log cabin by Daniel ELLIS in 1832. The educational interest was extended over the township until ten were established to accommodate the demand for education. These under the modern system of centralizing have decreased to eight schools, one with two rooms. The following have served as trustees, viz: John HIGGINS, H. G. HAZELRIGG, Robert SLOCUM, B. F. LUMPKINS, J. E. HARRISON, Albert HELMM, Robert HERR.

Roads

The first main roads of the township are the Thorntown and Strawtown road on the line between towns 19 and 20 north and the Indianapolis and Lafayette road which enters the township near the southeast corner of section 9 and runs northwest in a direct line towards Lafayette. It has been vacated north of the Thorntown and Strawtown road and follows the latter into Thorntown thence on to Lafayette. Washington now has many miles of good gravel roads leading in every direction and enabling the people to go in any direction any day of the year.

Mechanicsburg

James SNOW laid out the town of Mechanicsburg near the junction of Browns' Wonder and Sugar creek, in 1835 (post office Reese's Mills). It is a center of considerable trade and beautifully located between the two streams on high lands for Boone County. There are three cemeteries located in the township where many of the pioneers are laid to rest. One at Brush creek, one south of Pike's Crossing and one at the Precinct house known as Bethel. Pike's Crossing is located where the Thorntown and Strawtown road crosses the Lebanon and Frankfort road. It has a post office, store, blacksmith shop and several fine residences. In the fall of 1831, Enoch DAVIS laid out a town in the southwest quarter of section 31 where the Indianapolis and Lafayette state road crosses the Thorntown and Strawtown road with a spirit of opposition to the young Thorntown on the banks of Sugar and Prairie creeks. He laid off lots, built a dwelling and store house in which the first stock of goods in the township was sold. A post office was also established. The plan of holding against Thorntown failed and Mr. DAVIS went down with it. The first election was held at the home of John S. POLK, on the first Monday of April, 1833, in which John SLOCUM and John S. POLK were elected justices of the peace, receiving twenty-six and twenty-five votes respectively. John PAULEY and William BROWN were elected constables. The southwest boundary has been changed a time or so since the organization of the township for various reasons political and for taxation for railroad purposes and otherwise. The present boundary includes sections 17 and 18 off of Jefferson and the west half of section 16, off of Center.

This thriving town, so beautifully located on a high piece of ground near the junction of Brown's Wonder and Sugar creek, was laid out in the year 1835 by James SNOW. It is near the Clinton county line and also near the line dividing the townships of Clinton and Washington, being, however, in the latter, on the road leading from Lebanon to Frankfort, about nine miles from the former and seven miles from the latter. The town contains many handsome residences, three churches, school house, etc., and is the center of a fine local trade. It has been called "The Burg" longer than the oldest inhabitant can recollect. It has a population of about two hundred. The village is well known throughout the country, as its flouring mill, at one time owned by George RYAN, was patronized by farmers far and near, not only of this, but by those of the adjoining county of Clinton. It is well supplied with fresh groceries, dry goods, ready-made clothing, boots, shoes and notions from its various shops and stores. A good drug store, conducted by E. E. ARMSTRONG, deals out drugs, patent medicines, school books, stationary, paints, oils, cigars, tobacco and notions. This is the home of the well-known and valued citizens -- Dr. Jesse S. REAGAN, Dr. WALKER, Nathan GARRETT and many others. Dr. C. D. UMBERHINE, a graduate of Rush Medical College, is still in practice here. Frank MOORE and W. H. BROWN, who have plenty to do the year round, are its blacksmiths. William KELLER is justice of the peace and works at shoemaking during odd spells. J. S. MOORE ran the wagon shop and kept postoffice. Frank MILLS was familiarly known as "Handle," from his varied duties, mail carrier, goods hauler and generalissimo of all work for everybody. Hart Lodge No. 413, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, is the oldest secret society in the town. The membership own their hall and are in a good condition. The religious denominations are the United Brethren in Christ, Methodist Episcopal and Christian. In the eighties the pastor of the first-named church was Rev. Perry COOPER; of the second, Rev. Jesse HILL, and of the last-named, Rev. HOWE, of Irvington. In recent years the Christian church replaced their structure with a fine, substantial brick building. All are in a good condition.

Hazelrigg

This town is located on the Indianapolis, Cincinnati & LaFayette Railroad, six miles northwest of Lebanon, in the southeast corner of Washington township. It was laid out on the land originally owned by H. G. HAZELRIGG and named in his honor. It has been a stopping and shipping point of some note since its inception. While a railroad station it has all the marks of a country village store, blacksmith shop, postoffice and the usual number of dwelling houses. The Presbyterians established a church there, but the house is used now, if at all, more as a social center. Over the store established by S. KLEPFER, however, is a public hall, used for general purposes, such as lectures, meeting of a religious character, etc. Hazelrigg is located in a fine part of the county. The people here could illy[transcriber error?] do without a postoffice and other conveniences such as elevators and silos throughout the neighborhood to save grain and provender. The population is steadily on the increase from eighteen souls upwards.

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.