Marion Township

MARION TOWNSHIP

Marion Township occupies the north corner of the county. It is bounded on the east by Hamilton County, on the south by Union and, on the west by Clinton Township and on the north by Clinton County. It contains forty-six sections. It is drained by the headwaters of Big Eagle flowing south, leaving the township at section twenty-three, where it enters Union Township. The Michigan road passes through the entire township, bearing to the northwest, entering at the south side, midway of the township, leaving at the northwest corner, where it enters Clinton County. The land is fully up to the average of the other sister townships, and in fact in any other improvements, such as ditching, building, roads, schools, houses, etc. Big Springs, on the line between Marion and Union, is principal trading place and postoffice, and has been for many years. The township originally was covered with the finest growth of timber, and that of the best and most valuable kinds, such as poplar, oak, walnut, and ash. The Air Line Railroad cuts off a little corner at the extreme northeast, and where Terhune, a new town, is located. It is a trading place, also containing a postoffice and other mechanical shops, stores, etc. Kimberlain and Slab Town are both small villages. The latter on the Michigan Road, in the south part of the township. Among the first to move in this township were Edward Jackson and Caleb Richardson, who came in 1831, settled on Big Eagle, followed soon after by William and John Parr. Alfred Srite, William Lane and Lewis Harris settled in the south part of the township in 1833. In the spring of 1834 came Mr. Turpin, John Burns, Milton Hickson. Settled in 1835, Joseph McCoy, John Runo. A little later came the Stephensons. Jacob Johns, followed by Samuel Evans, Jesse Baker, Joseph Kimbal, Robert McNulty, John Wright, John Beard, John King, Samuel Moore, John Moore, John Write, James Moore, Smith Castor, Robert Bell, Richard Cornell, Samuel Meyers.

Perhaps the first school taught in Marion was in the winter of 1833. In the year 1836 a log school house was built near Big Springs, and from that time until this the school matters have moved along, steadily, progressing, until now beautiful and well arranged houses dot the township, happily, well clad children flocking to the school in every direction, with books, slates and other necessary school outfit. In 1833 a few straggling urchins have been seen trudging through the snow until the little log house in the woods, a goose quill and a spelling book, a complete supply of the then needed equipment. Marion has made similar progress in other directions as well. Good roads have taken the place of the blazed paths; the wild waters are confined to ditches; the few truck patches have given way to well-cultivated fields that spread out in every direction.

The population of Marion in the year 1870, was 1,786; in 1880, it was 2,307. Number of voters in 1886 was 726; number of school children in 1885 was 899; number of school houses thirteen. The following have served as trustees: Richard Cornell, P. E. McNeal, James A. Richardson, Joseph N. Sample, J. A. J. Sims, Robert Bell, William Bell, W. F. Cobb, and Josiah Stevenson, now acting, elected April, 1886.

Submitted by: Jane A. Heine

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.