Washington Township

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP

This township occupies the west center of the north tier of townships. Sugar Creek passes through from east to west. About one-third of the township lies north and two-thirds south of the creek. Spring Creek flows from the southeast part to the northwest, entering Sugar Creek in section thirty, at the S. Titus farm. Prairie Creek enters the township from Center at section ten, flows west and leaves the township at section seven, where it enters Sugar Creek Township. About one-third of this township was originally embraced in the "Indian Reserve," which was bought by the Government in 1828. This township contains thirty-five and a half sections, and nearly all is of the very best land. Here, where well cultivated fields are now found, originally stood some of the finest timber. The Indianapolis, Cincinnati & Lafayette Railroad runs across the southwest corner of the township. Hazelrigg station is named after the late H. G. Hazelrigg, who formerly owned the land in and about the station. Mechanicsburg (Reese Mill P. O.) is located in the eastern part of the township near where Brown's Wonder unites with Sugar Creek. The first settlers began to arrive here about 1832, when the township was organized. The following are the names of some who came first: The first election was held at the house of John S. Polk, April, 1832, when John Slocum and J. S. Polk were elected Justices of the Peace, sixty votes being cast. John Pauly and Wm. Brown were elected constables at the same time. Among the first settlers were John N. Fall, John Wilky, Joshua Allen. Wm. West, Able Pennington. The above named persons came before the sale of land in 1829. After that time the following persons came: Joshua Burnham, Benj. Crose, James Scott, Samuel Reese, John Slocum, Thos. McCann, Wm. Pauly, Jas. Turner, Benj. Sweeney, John Morehead, Jacob Skeen, Abram. Buckhalter, Samuel and James Foreman, John Kersey, Benj. and Stephen Titus, Nathaniel Titus, Samuel Cason and John Cradlebaugh. Among other settlers are John Riggins, Robt. Slocum, the Becks, Sleighbecks, Chambers, Thornberrys, John Graham, the Buntins, Goldsbeys, Bowens, W. W. Phillips, Campbells, Nathan Garrett, Richies, Bonam Stout, Jas. P. Mills, Samuel Long and Jos. Hollingsworth. The first grist mill was built by David Ross in 1831, on Spring Branch. Bonam Stout built the first grist mill at Mechanicsburg in 1838. John and Noah Hardesty built the mill now known as the "Adney" mill on Sugar Creek in 1840. Michael and Augustus Chase built the Ben Crose mill. The first church was a log structure built by the Baptists in 1835, on the David Ross farm. The first meetings were held at the house of Wm. Pauly about the year 1830. The first school was taught by Daniel Ellis. Jas. P. Mills built the first tanyard in the township. The township has improved rapidly during the last few years. A system of. drainage has been built in every direction, and much of the land is in a high state of cultivation. Mechanicsburg, the center of quite a local trade, was laid out in 1835 by Jas. Snow. Hazelrigg Station is also a very good town. The Cason graveyard, in the south part of the township, is one of the oldest burying places, as well as Bethel. Here many monuments are erected to the memory of the pioneers. A small cemetery is located on Brush Creek in the northwest part of the township; also one south of Pike's Crossing. Pike's Crossing is five miles north of Lebanon, at the crossing of the Frankfort and Lebanon Pike and the Strawtown and Thorntown Road. There is a postoffice and several nice residences here. The farms show every evidence of thrift and prosperity. The population in 1870 was 1,391; in 1880 it was 1,352. Number of voters in 1886 was 349; number of school children in 1886 was 441. There are ten brick school houses in the township. The following have acted as Trustees: John Higgins, H. G. Hazelrigg, Robert Slocum, B. F. Lumpkins, J. S. Harrison, Albert Helm and Robert Herr, elected in April, 1886. Washington Township is the only one in the county that has a Township House, that is, a place where the voting is done and other township meetings held. It is a brick building, centrally located, on or near the site of the old Bethel Church, and where there is a cemetery.

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.