Sugar Creek Township

SUGAR CREEK TOWNSHIP

Sugar Creek Township occupies the northeast corner of the county It is six miles from east to west, and five and one-half miles from north to south. It contains thirty-three sections, and is bounded as follows: On the north by Clinton County, on the east by Washington Township, on the south by Jefferson Township, and on the west by Montgomery County It is drained principally by Sugar Creek, which enters the township from Washington Township at section twenty-five. Flowing west it leaves the township at section thirty-one, and enters Montgomery County. About one-half of the township lies on each side of the creek. The Indianapolis, Cincinnati & Lafayette Railroad passes through the township, entering at the southeast corner. It passes through Thorntown and leaves the township where sections sixteen and seventeen unite. Wolf Creek flows northwest and enters Sugar Creek near the center of the township. Prairie Creek enters Sugar Creek at a short distance northeast of Thorntown. Morrison's Creek flows from the northeast and enters Sugar Creek at section thirty, on the west side of the township. Some of the finest land to be found anywhere can be seen here That part known far and wide as " Sugar Plain" is the garden spot of the township and perhaps county. The township is number one as a rule, and coupled with this we find it is highly cultivated, has excellent buildings, commodious barns and other evidences of thrift and prosperity. Originally there was some of the finest timber here, such as walnut, poplar, oak and ash. A few remaining trees and stumps tell what it must have been in its former state. Thorntown, the only town in the township, located on Sugar Creek is a town of some note. In another place we will say more about it under the head of "Sketch of Thorntown." The township up to the year 1828 was in the Indian Reserve, a strip of land ten miles square, occupied and owned by a tribe of Miami Indians. They remained until the year 1833 or '34. Here may yet be seen some of their burying grounds. Thorntown was at one time the headquarters for French traders as early as the year 1800. They kept up a trade with the Indians and early trappers. At one time near Thorntown the Indians raised corn. Some of the people living there now remember seeing the hills where the corn grew, as well as other evidences of cultivation. Sugar Creek Township is historic ground. Here the Indian wooded his dusky mate, danced the war dance, sung the songs of the hunter, smoked the pipe of peace and buried their dead in a sitting position. Those who were actors then have long since gone to the happy hunting grounds. After the Government came into possession of the Reserve the land was offered for sale at Crawfordsville in November, 1829. Among the early purchasers were Cornelius Westfall, William Kenworthy, Samuel Lucas, paying from $1.25 to $4.00 per acre for it. The first settler was Geo. Harness, with the small family of wife and twelve children. This must have been in the year 1830. Mr. Harness seems to have had a hard time. After he and his wife had worked in harness in more ways than one he finally lost his land. He lived to the age of 108 years, dying in 1876 on the Michigan Road in Clinton County, Indiana. This township was organized in 1831. The first election was held at the house of William Kenworthy, April, 1832, when Benjamin Sweeney and Jas. Van Eaten were elected Justices of the Peace, and Green Foster and David Laudrum, Constables. About this time quite a number of families came; among them were Joshua Burnham, Jas. Scott, Joshua and Jas. Van Eaten, John Skeen, Wm. Gypson, Isaac Gypson (now living). Later came Samuel Brenton, Hugh Moffitt, Jeremiah Moffitt, Mr. Benson, Mr. Baker, Mr. Blue, Wm. Childers, John Miller, Adrian Ball, Isaac Corbet, Benj. Lewis, John Furgeson, Abraham Utter, Wm. Turner, Nathan Maroney, Wm. Payne, Robert Cook, Robert Morrison, Thos. Goldsbury, Eli Goldsbury, Samuel Cass, Adam Boyd, Wm. Auden, Asa Fall, J. S. McConnell, Samuel Van Eaton, Elish Riley, Geo. Osburn and Oliver Craven.

The first mill was built by John G. Pierce, on Prairie Creek, in the spring of 1833. This was a saw mill. Silas Kenworthy built the first grist mill on Sugar Creek. Bonham Kester built the first carding mill in 1837. The first steam flouring mill was built in 1856 by David Binford and Henry Wetheral, just south of Thorntown. The first white child was born at the house of Green Forster in 1831. The first death was Jemima Harness, October, 1829. The second death was Mary A. Westfall. She was the first person buried in the old cemetery north of Thorntown. The first marriage was that of John Pauly and Emily Sweeney, in July, 1832. The first religious meeting was held at the house of Cornelius Westfall, by Claybourn Young. The first church organization in the township was in 1832; Stephen Ball was the preacher. Soon after the Presbyterians organized with Clayburn as minister. This was in 1833. A few years later the Quakers built a log house that served them several years, when they built their present commodious house on the site of the old one west of Thorntown. The Christians, in 1842, organized a society, and first held meetings in private houses, as all other organizations did. The Missionary Baptist was the last to form a society. This they did a few years later. All now have houses to worship in in different parts of the county. The first tan-yard was started by Zachariah Gipson, in the summer of 1832. The first merchant was A. H. Baldridge. Isaac Morgen kept the first tavern. The first tailor was Robert Hamil. The first carpenter was John Alexander, the first blacksmith Moses McClure and the first shoemaker Thomas Young. The first hatter was Samual Daily. The first wagonmaker was George McLaughlin. The first potter, Oliver Craven, now living in Thorntown. The first saddler was Mark A. Micham and the first doctor was Mr. Farmer, followed by Drs. Amons, Davis, Ephraim Rudasill, W. P. Davis, Martin W. Gentry and J. J. Nesbitt, who was afterwards County Treasurer. He died in Ohio in 1864. The first attorney was Rufus A. Lockwood, followed by Jacob Angle, and John S. Davis. The first postoffice was opened at the house of Wm. Kenworthy, east of Thorntown, in 1832. Robert Hamil was the first postmaster proper in Thorntown. The first schoolteacher in Thorntown was Jefferson Hillis. Mrs. Polly Gipson has been the longest resident in the place. She is the daughter of James Scott who came in 1829. Oliver Craven has served as Justice of the Peace over forty years. The population of the county in 1870 was 3,138. In 1880 it was 3,015. There are ten school houses, nine of which are brick and one frame. The number of school children in 1884 was 535. Number of voters in 1886 was 713. Value of school property $12,600. The following have served as Trustees: N. W. Weakley, William Kirby, J. T. McCorkle, M. E. McCorkle, Joseph Cones, G. W. Cones, Robert Reese, I. N. Wilson, A. C. Clark and J. M. Wilson, elected April, 1866.

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.