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Harrison Township
HARRISON TOWNSHIP
This township occupies a place in the south tier of
townships. It is bounded on the south by Hendricks County,
on the east by Perry Township, on the west by Jackson
Township, and on the north by Center Township. It contains
nearly twenty-four sections, about one section being taken
off the northwest corner. If this corner was full it would
be square, and would contain twenty-five sections. The
surface is level to a great extent. The headwaters of Eel
River have their source here, flowing out of and through the
extensive prairie known as "Stoner's Prairie." It was
thought at one time that the above lands could not be
cultivated, but that idea has long since exploded and many
acres are now profitably tilled. An extensive system of
drainage has been introduced with good results. New
Brunswick and Milledgeville are both in Harrison. They each
contain several business houses, churches, postoffices, etc.
The population of the township in 1880 was 1,401; number of
school houses, 9; number of school children in 1884 was 414;
number of brick houses, 4; number of frames, 5. Harrison was
settled about the year 1834 by the following persons: James
Dale, George Johnson, William Butey, R.
M. Cumels, Philip Sicks, Caleb Sherley,
John Scott, A. Willis, John McCormack,
William Abner, William Joseph, Nick. Yount,
James Chitwood, William and James Edwards,
Joseph and George Keeth, Fleming Dickerson,
Bennet Cline, Jacob Huff, Geo. Walters,
Jos. Shepherd, Nathaniel Scott, G. W. Scott,
Geo. Sheeks, J. Ingram, Noah Chitwood,
Seth Goodwin, Daniel Turner, Jacob Dinsmore,
J. B. Fear, Daniel Logan, W. H. Crose,
Wm. Britton, the Shirleys. The first election
was held at the cabin of W. Logan in 1836, when Wm.
Buttery was elected Justice of the Peace. Among the
early marriages were Wm. Johnson to Isabella Dale,
G. T. Buttery to Barbara Scott, and Jeremiah
Craven to Miss James. The first land entered
was by James S. Dale, who also built the first cabin.
The first death was the wife of David James in March,
1837. The first settlers of Harrison Township had many
disadvantages to contend with. The surface of the land was
covered with water, and where there was no prairie a heavy
growth of timber and brush confronted them, and now and then
a den of rattlesnakes chimed in to make music for them.
Here, as well a in other townships, the first meetings were
held in private houses. The first meeting was held at the
house of Geo. H. Johnson in 1835, where a few
pioneers gathered to hear a Baptist minister preach. Early
meetings were also held at the house of Geo. Sheeks.
Soon after a log house was built, which saw its day and then
gave way to a more modern structure. Harrison Township now
contains several frame edifices of different orders, where
the citizens gather to hear the gospel preached. The
population of Harrison in 1870 was 1,209; in 1880 it was
1,401. The number of voters in 1886 was 332. The following
have served as Trustees: J. M. Shaw, Sampson
Sheeks, W. H. Clements, G. W. Scott, Ora
Knowlton, Jas. H. Pinnell, M. P. Higgins,
W. R. Ragsdale, H. C. Ulin, J. S. Black,
J. H. Acton, John Huffman, and Samuel Scott
now acting, was elected April. 1886.
Source Citation: Boone County History [database
online] Boone County INGenWeb. 2006. <http://www.rootsweb.com/~inboone>
Original data: Harden & Spahr. "Early Life and Times in
Boone County, Indiana." Indianapolis, Ind. Carlon &
Hollenbeck. 1887.
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