Fountain County History - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

Written by your Fountain County INGenWeb coordinator, Karen Bazzani Zach == NOTE: THIS IS A WORK IN PROGRESS :)

Sources: History of Fountain County, Indiana by H.W. Beckwith (1881) ; Wikipedia "Fountain County, Indiana."

Fountain County was the 53rd county of Indiana and was made from Montgomery and Wabash Counties. The first settlers came in Spring 1823 but the official date for Fountain was not until December 30, 1825.

Originally, there were but five townships (Cain; Richland; Shawnee; Troy and Wabash) but it was soon discovered more would be needed and six others were added (Davis; Fulton; Jackson; Logan; Millcreek and Van Buren).

Supposedly, the name was derived from Major James Fontaine who was killed in October 1790 in a battle with Native American Indians near present-day Ft. Wayne, Indiana. This could be true but I've always wondered if there's another story!

The first commissioners were: Lucius H. Scott (Parke County); William Clark (Vigo); Daniel C. Hultz (Hendricks); Daniel Sigler (Putnam) and John Porter (Vermilion - sic). They were to meet at William White's in Fountain County on the first Monday in May 1826, being informed by the Parke County Sheriff.

Within 12 months, the above would see to it that the "necessary public buildings" would be erected.

Section 5 of the December 1825 act noted that all suits in courts would be prosecuted to final issues.

There would be a county officer election meeting at the home of Robert Hatfield (electing five justices of the peace).

The first real estate purchased in Fountain was purchased long before the county was established in 1820 by Edmond Wade (Sec 28, Twp 21, Rg 6). Eber Jenne entered land in Twp 18, Range 9 the next year. In 1822 several entries came about as the settlers were sure there would be a new county: David Strain; Leonard Loyd; James Boggs; Daniel Tarney; Benjamin Hodges; John Shewy; William White; Robert Hetfield; John Barlett; Jonathan Birch; Abner Crane; William Cochran; James Button; William W. Thomas; James Thomas; Elijah Funk; Moses Jewitt; Abner Rush; John Simpson; Jeremiah Hartman; James Graham; Martin Harrold; Thomas Patton; William Cloud; Alexander Logan; John Rusing; John Nugent; George Johnson; Enoch D. Woodbridge; Jesse Osborn; Andrew Lopp; Daniel Richardson; Isaac Coleman; Isaac Shelby; Rezin Shelby and Jonathan Crane. Isaac Romine.

Jonathan Birch and John Colvert settled on the north fork of Coal Creek (now VanBuren Township) the spring of 1823 and father down William Cochran and Thomas Patton cleared land and raised the first crops.

In Wabash Township, members of the Forbes and Graham families also had a corp that summer. A Colonel Osborn, a Mr. Lopp and William Cade settle in the Osborn/Lopp Prairie areas and also had cabins and crops that year.

That fall, McBrooms, Cains and Walkers arrived coming by way of "Strawtown on the White River;" to Thorntown following Sugar Creek; From there they followed the Indian trace down Sugar Creek to Crawfordsville which they followed to the head waters of Coal Creek and following that stream, "they found their land of promise!" Four men living quite a ways apart travelled to each others property, cut logs, and built small cabins in order to weather the winter." Since the soil was rich they raised some corn along with beand and potatoes and with plentiful game, none went hungry or suffered in anyway.

A mill was one of the first items needed and in the fall of 1824, a Mr. Kester and McLaughlin built one about where Hillsboro is today but about the same time on further down Coal Creek Corse's Mill was built, just a little shed, a brush dam, and a wheel attached to an upright shaft but it was a blessing to the men of the area since they would not have to take their grain far away to be processed. Capacity: 5 bushels of corn/day.

Absolom Mendenhall was the first justice of the peace and was in Fountain in 1823. Quite a busy man, he wrote deeds; settled disputes; married people; cried sales and did the public business for many years. He was said to have had complete "common sense; sterling integrity and a great intuitive sense of justice." He went on to become a state senator.

Snakes and milk sickness were two harsh realities to the settlers. Whole families would die from drinking milk from a cow with the "slows" or as sadly discovered by many area folks, eating the meat after the animal died or was killed. My own (kbz) direct ancestor, Nathaniel Morgan was a Justice of the Peace and school teacher in Jackson Township from about 1835 on. He lost his beloved wife, Elizabeth Summers, and their first two sons to milk sickness in late June and early July, 1849. They are buried side by side in Wolf Creek Cemetery. Many other families side by side can be found in most of the county cemeteries. It was not a given drinking the diseased cow's milk that all would be sick but instead the disease attacked at will. An early settler noted: "As to snakes, there ws no end to them .. like Pharaoh's frogs of old, they were everywhere... in the forest ... in the yard ... in the house and among the children. They were killed by the hundreds in a day's time.

In the early days of the county, as was true in almost every place settlers came, the door was always open. If a traveller need food and rest, they were invited in. Stories of what was happening in the outside world were relished. Along with that time of camraderie, corn huskins, house/barn raisings, quilting bees, a wedding and any such public affair were exciting and pleasant times.

My (kbz) great grandfather mentioned above was highly educated for the times and it was a desire for the Fountain County early settlers to have their children go to school. No sooner than one or two cabins were built, a school master and school building were procured. The teacher would board around at the homes of his pupils. Nothing fancy was taught, just readin', writin' and rithmetic', all needed to suffice in an ever-growing world.

One of my favorite early Fountain County stories is that of James C. Davis who walked to Terre Haute to procure a license to marry Sallie Johnson, daughter of early settler Archibald Johnson. James was the son of Enos Davis who settled in Fountain County in the fall of 1823. This was the spring (April) the next year. On the way back, James Davis stopped at a new minister's home who had just settled in. John Hibbs walked the rest of the way (up through Wabash Township) with Davis and performed the wedding ceremony. They lived happily ever after, raising several children who aided in populating Fountain County. This was likely the first or one of the first weddings in the county. Usually a dance would accompany the early weddings and the musician would be exhausted as dancer after dancer got to "cut-out" and rest but the fiddler continued on. One of my most unliked piece of Fountain County history is also related to a wedding of a cousin of mine, Florence Sowers. Just five hours after her wedding (at the beginning of their charivari) to Henry Davis Lawson, the paper wads meant to be a joke shot into their bedroom hit her in the temple and killed her.

Leonard Keep was charged $500 as bond for a liquor license which cost him $5 for the year. Stephen Taylor and Joseph Collier were used as sureties for the bond. This was granted at the first commissioner's meeting. Also at that meeting the town of Covington was appointed the county seat with much controversy surrounding the decision. Covington is located on the far side of the county and quite inconvenient for business purposes, including the collecting of state and county revenue (in 1826, for each horse, the owner paid .37 1/2 cents. An ox was only .18 3/4. Carriages depending on their size were 1.00 or 1.50. A brass clock 1.00 and a silver watch .25. A gold watch was 1.00. That very meeting a highway was discussed and plans got underway to build a road from Covington to Crawfordsville (Wm. White; Benjamin Kepner and Edward McBroom were appointed to see to that). They were assisted by William Crawford, surveyor of Montgomery County.

It wasn't until March of 1827 that the board of justices ordered "a frame building 20' wide and 26' long, two stories high, lower story 10' in the clear, 2nd story 8' in the clear, three openings in front and back in each story, two windows in back and front of lower story, also in 2nd story with single architrave-casing also a solid cornice, the cant-mould to protect 4", the facia to protect 10" the bed-mould to protect 4". Two panel doors, six panels each; windows in lower story to be 15 lights, 8 x 10 each; windows in upper 12 lights in each. There shell be two good and sufficient floors, laid on good solid sleepers; the plank of said floors not to exceed 9" in width, and one and one-fourth inches thick; good and sufficient joists..." Abraham Griffith gave the lowest bid at $335. It was built on Lot No. 120, in Covington. After this building was abandoned, James G. Hardy used it as a grain business - it was known as "Hardy's Corner." David and Lew Wallace; as well as many other men practiced law there.

Following the courthouse, a jail was needed and it was built using 14" thick oak boards raised on a foundation of excellent stone. Peter H. Patterson built ("Undertaker") the jail at the rate of $181.50. Not long after this the board of justices was replaced with a board of commissioners, with Frederick Paine, Sam Archer and Isaac Coleman appointed. They served until November 1832. William Lamb was the first auditor and Baker Spence the first elected treasurer of the county, although there had been basically the same office earlier on, the first appointed treasurer being James Prevo. This election was in 1841. The original court house lasted a short time and a second one was started in November of 1830 "on the center of the public square." Commissioners Reuben Reagan, Joseph Potts, George W. Benefield and Zabina Babcock, were ordered to evaluate what the seat of government should be for Fountain County. After much work and examination they decided it would remain in Covington. The building of this court house was $33,500. It was the fall of 1859 before it was ever completed. Of course, there was a new jail about this time, as well.

Robert Hetfield was the first recorder having served from 1834-1841. The first Sheriff is usually thought of as John Corse but truly Isaac Col(e)man held that appointment before (July 1826 - an allowance was given to Isaac Colman, former sheriff of the county for his services.")

Daniel Rodgers was the first appointed clerk of the circuit court with William B. White first elected.

Henry Ristine was the first representative to the state legislature followed by John Beard then Robert Taylor. Amos Robertson was the 1826 Senator, followed by James Blair then Benjamin F. Wallace. John R. Porter was the first judge and in 1830 oversaw the first murder charge against John Richardson. The jury (William Cochran; Samuel Trullinger; Alexander Logan; Benjamin Wade; Jacob Bever; Robert Miller; David Sewell; Jesse Osborn; Caleb Abernathy; James Stewart; Stephen Harper; Samuel Garver; Conrad Walters; John Ralston and Bennet Seibird. Edward Hannegan, prosecuting attorney. End result: "This jury has found a verdict of guilty. John Miller, foreman." The next day the counselor moved for a new trial, which, "being submitted without argument, was overruled." The prisoner was sent to the Fountain County jail to "remain until the 12th day of next November and that upon that day, between the hours 12 and 2 the sheriff of said county shall take the said John Richardson from thence to the place of public execution, and there hang him by the neck until he be dead, dead, dead." Signed - September 30, 1830. John R. Porter. Upon that day, John Richardson indeed hung for his crime. Judge Porter grew up in Berkshire County, Massachusettes having read law with a Judge Dewey who was a Mass. Supreme Court judge. In 1820, he came to Paoli, Indiana in Orange County, afterward moving to Vermillion County near Eugene, Indiana. He joined some family members there. "Purity and good judgment," is said to have been what he carried throughout his time on the bench.

The first probate judge was Jonathan Birch (1829-33) followed by Mitchell C. Black (1833-1840). The Common Please court began in 1852 with David Rawles as the first judge, followed by Charles Tyler; Isaac Naylor; Joseph Ristine and Albert Thomas.

A Poor House was also among the worries of county officials. Although records show that the county took care of its indigent as early as 1837, it was not until 1862 that a building was actually erected, and it was mainly used for the Covington schools versus a place for the poor to call home. In 1881, the county had $131,650 invested in buildings used for education. Right at 7,000 pupils attended school. Attica and Covington are said to have had first-class schools that were a source of great community pride.

An interesting note or two is in accordance to the 1880 census. Potatoes rounded out to over 25,000 bushels; fruits almost 22,000 bushes; close to 600,000 pounds of bacon; 228,000 pounds of pork. Farmers produced 46,410 pounds of wool; 3,237 pounds of tobacco, 2,595 pounds of maple sugar; 7,061 gallons of cider; 5,866 gallons of vinegar; 758 gallons of wine; 8,270 gallons of sorghum mollasses and 5,166 of maple molasses. There was close to 21,000 acres of wheat that yielded almost 470,000 bushels; about 34,000 acres of corn yielding 967,770 bushels; 3,648 acres of oat yielding almost 93,000 bushels; 407 acres of rye (74,490 bu) and 735 acres of potatoes (28,766 bu). 8,623 acres were meadow with of course hay and seed, and clover with 26,229 acres in pasture. Now, this is great -- there were 136 pianos, 205 melodeons/organs and 1,772 sewing machines. Fountain was extremely high on the piano list. In that year, there were 637 miles of "wagon roads," 14 bridges, 51 miles of railroad and Fountain was 45th in population in the state but 20th in land value.

Almost 3 million dollars was spent by 1880 on railroads covering 51 miles of land. Today, (2016) there is one active (Norfolk-Southern running through Attica) in the county. Snoddy Mills was one of the most active using the early railroads as their main source to haul coal. Transportation prior to the 1880s was mainly on the river (Wabash & Erie canals). Not a literal war, but pretty close, was between Attica and Covington where Attica was begged to let open the locks and level-up the water. In the winter of 1825-26, the western part of Montgomery County was split-off to make Fountain. Isaac Coleman, a young man not yet 30, gave the property for the county seat courthouse in Covington. The feud began and went on for decades. This became a mute problem when the railroads came in to existence, however and thankfully so as the fuss was a long-standing one!

Biographies of many of the early settlers are found on this GenWeb page. Some of the earliest were: Alexander; Bilsland; Cade; Corse; Funk; Glascock; Hawkins; Kepner; Lopp; Nebeker; Patton; Rush; Scott; Shelton; Simpson; Strayer. Kentucky; Ohio; Pennsylvania; and Virginia were the main places where the settlers hailed, but John Simpson came from the West Indies. The list could go on and on, but suffice to say once the land became known as plentiful, good, rich property, it was gobbled up and the folks came in droves! Each individual had to have strength and fortitutde to continue persevering in those early days.

Game aplenty in the early days consisted of venison, opossum, raccoon, squirrel, rabbit, wild turkey, pheasants, pigeons, ducks and more. Coffee of several sorts could be made: flour, wheat, potato, bread, crust, meal and sassafras coffee, along with spicewood, sassafras tea and sycamore chipped tea. One settler, John Gillam had a very large family and squatted the land near the courthouse. He would do any job for a mere amount of money to try to feed his wife and children. Joseph Griffith and son, Barton were the first to actually settle on that spot. He later moved to Illinois and died there; however, his son, Barton remained and became clerk for Joseph Sloan, whose business he largely managed. Other businesses in Covington were Daniel Landers who came from Indianapolis to begin a branch store. Sloan made a trip to procure supplies, returned and he, John Gillam, and the Griffiths build a store immediately in order to protect what was purchased. Others aiding in the building of this first "business" were Baum; Bilsland; Nebeker; Whitley; Shelby; Steeley. 14 x 18 and one story made of unhewn logs, daubed and plastered was quickly erected. The store was a great success, somewhere the women could buy their goods and the men could sit and blab.

David Rawles saw the potential in the little community and brought his family by keel boat to the area. He built a hotel. 16 x 24, one story, with extra strong doors, round logs, clapboard roof and puncheon floor with a small room on the rear for his wife to cook. Next came the attorney, including Andrew Ingram, Dan Rogers. John McKinney began a tannery, and others built other types of stores. The first society was likely the "Callisumpkin," which some of the early men began to hold court proceedings. David Rawles served as judge; the attorneys were already there and James Whitley was constable. Dr. (John) Hamilton returned late one evening after making a call, and the constable served him up saying he had brushed flies from his face when fewer than a dozen were bothering him. Dr. secured Rogers as his lawyer and the trial was presided over by "Judge Rawles." Guilty was the result, and the doctor was to remove a large stump (which is how many were actually removed in these mock-trials). The Dr. refused, not wanting to strain himself because of his profession and paid a man $5 to remove it. The Callisumpkin Society in a very odd way gave entertainment as well as aide in creating Covington, the town.

The second JP, as well as long-time Post Master was Jacob Tice who hailed from Middlesex County, New Jersey. A tailor, he followed that trade in a rented building for a short time. When ready-made clothing reduced the tailors custom he sought another livelihood, which brought his to the above mentioned.

David Wallace, father of reknowned Lew Wallace, author of Ben Hur, and David's brother, Frank became merchants in Covington, Frank mainly overseeing the store, while David made a practice of law. In 1832, as a resident to the county seat of Fountain County, David was elected Lt. Governor of Indiana and in 1838, Governor. His wife and child are buried in the Covington Cemetery. He remarried and then made his home in Indianapolis.

About 170 people were living in the town in the 1830 census. By the late 1830s and early 1840s, Dr. Hamilton; Isaac Coleman; Dan Mace and James Carleton went out to obtain a railroad. However, problem after problem arose and Dr. Hamilton lost a fortune $6,000 to the cause. "The Great Western Railroad" turned into a ghost!

In 1842, the Wabash & Erie Canal, began at Lafayette and took four years to finish at Covington.   Covington business men gave full credit on scripts for the canal that were only partially paid for.  Joseph Sloan began with a fortune but had great deficits in it when the canal finally came through.  The canal was all closed up as the last boat cleared at Covington was on October 26, 1872 and the last cleared in the general area was the “Goodman” on November 13, 1875, bound from Lodi to Lafayette.