(By W. P. Hendricks, Esq.)
from
Biographical and Historical Souvenir
for the Counties of
Clark, Crawford, Harrison, Floyd, Jefferson, Jennings, Scott and Washington
1889
History of Early Settlers
The first known white man who set foot upon the soil of
Jefferson county, was Captain George Logan, who, after the war of 1812,
settled in what is now Hanover Township. "George Logan was born in
Pennsylvania, during the revolutionary war. His parents moving to Kentucky in
1874, George being but four years old at the time. He grew up from
childhood to manhood on a farm eight miles from Lexington, but before
reaching his majority the evils of slavery so impressed him that he determined
to forsake his home and make a new one where all men were free and their own
masters. Shortly after this resolution was formed, a young Logan, in partnership
with a friend, bought up a lot of country produce with the intention
of floating it down to New Orleans. They accordingly procured two barges, lashed
them together, and with a crew of four men started down the Kentucky river. This
was as early as 1801. A small village marked the present site of Carrolton but
between that point and Clarksville (Jeffersonville), or Louisville, was not to
be seen but the hut encampment of a single white man. Mr. Logan says he
frequently saw Indians along the shore hunting, and occasionally a cap with a
fire where squaws were cooking. The country wa utterly wild. There wa nothing
but heavy timber upon the flats and hills. No person had settled on the bottom
land where Madison now stands, it was all covered with woods. Deer and buffaloes
seemed plentiful, and at night wolves kept up a very dismal howling. In this
trip an incident occured which has something of romance in it, and which
affected the hero's after life very materially
Mr. Logan's boat passed Madison on the last day of February, 1801. The wind blew such a gale that navigation in low barges was both slow and perilous; so a landing was made on the northern bank, about a half mile below the present Hanover landing. The river continued rough with white caps for three days, compelling the voyagers to hug the shore to escape distruction. Young Logan got tired of sitting around on the boats, so he shouldered his gun and walked up the hill. There he soon fell in with a flock of turkeys and shot two of them. The river from the hill was so beautiful that he inwardly resolved to settle right there whenever he entered land. To mark the spot, after fixing the general features of the place in his memory, he carved his name in full, with the date, March 1st, 1801, upon two large beech trees which stood near the verge of the hill. There is no tradition that the Ohio, when a little rill, flowing to join the brimming river, paused, loitering in this enchanting land one sunny day to add yet another charm to the landscape by its meanderings-there is no tradition to this effect, but if thre were it would almost merit credence, for nowhere throughout its entire course does the river present lovlier features, or its hills rise in more calm and gentle majesty. So Logan must have thought, for fourteen years later, in 1815, he passed along the river bluffs in this vicinity searching for the old landscape and the two beeches which bore his name. Some changes had taken place during that time, and the trees could not be found, though Logan was pretty sure he had discovered the proper spot. But here another difficulty presented itself; the land was already entered by one Christopher Harrison. But Logan was not to be balked at the last, so he hunted up Mr. Harrison, who was not a resident, and purchased the place of him." The above is from an interview of Mr. Logan, by Mr. M.C. Garber-now editor of the Madison Daily Courier-published in the Courier Nov. 1st, 1873.
After making the trip to New Orleans, Mr. Logan returned home and fitted out a boat and went up the Missouri river to trade with Indians. He wandered about, living here and there, until the war of 1812-15 broke out, and being in Ohio at that time, he raised there a company for the defense of the settlements, and he was commissioned as the Captain. His company went with the army of Gen. W. H. Harrison to the relief of Fort Meigs, on the Maumee river. After the war, as stated above, he returned to his first love as a home, and purchased the land of the then owner, Mr. Christopher Harrison, who had bought it from the Government.
Mr. Logan looked for the trees bearing his name, time after time, but without success. In the third week of September of the year 1862, one morning after a heavy storm during the night, which blew down a number of trees at some little distance from his house, Mr. Logan sent his farm hands to saw them up for firewood. While engaged at this work one of the men discovered the long sought for mark, on the beech tree, cut there on that March morning, so many years before. Mr. Logan was notified of the find, and came out to the place, and found that he had made his search too high on the brow of the hill, and had thus failed to find his mark. He had the block, which was of the diameter of twenty-two (22) inches, containing the mark, sawed out of the trunk of the tree, and carried to his house, where he always kept it as a relic of his first visit to this country, and as an object of interest which he showed to all of his visitors, to the time of his death, May 12, 1875. It may be still at the old farm, and should be preserved as a memento of pioneer days, by the Historical Society of Jefferson county.
Nomands.--There were many men in those days (some having families) who led nomadic lives. They passed through the country, lived and died, and scarcely left a trace of having occupied it. They depended upon hunting wild game for subsistence and for a living, and in following the chase, to some extent took upon them the habits of the animals which they hunted. They became cautious in their movements, and watchful of even the least change in things around them; the breaking of a twig, the rustle or fall of a leaf, were all noticed by them, and were indications perhaps of great moment to them, as they became proficient in their study of the book of nature. They became good and quick reasoners, more from effect to the cause, than the contrary. They soon became well acquainted with the habits and lives of the animals and birds which they were in the custom of hunting. They could tell the species, age, sex and condition of the animal still unseen, by its trail, and unerringly as the scholar the root of a word he meet in his book.
Their larders and wardrobes were supplied by the meat and skins of the animals they killed. Their other wants being few, principally confined to lead and powder and whiskey, and sometimes flour or corn meal, were easily supplied at the trading house, or village store, in return for meat and pelts or grease. The pelts of animals were then more common as a circulating medium than silver and gold, and constituted the principal source of revenue of the class of people of whom mention has been made. Every storekeeper was ready to take them in exchange for his goods, as he could use them with his creditors as readily as cash. These birds of passage melted away before the advance of the whites in the settlements, and there is now no note of name, time or occupancy except of two who roamed in the northwestern corner of the county. One Glascow, a hunter by profession, had no regular habitation; his home was wherever he chanced to be. When hungry he stopped and cooked his food; when night came he camped at the most convenient and sheltered spot near him. His usual haunt was between Big Creek and Middle Fork. The other was a man named Joe Hensley, who lived with the Indians. He made a clearing on the creek, which still bears his name, within the present cofines of Lancaster township. They both disappeared. Hensley going off with the Indians, and Glascow going to the new frontier. It was reported wome years after that he was killed on Haw Creek, in Decatur or Bartholomew counties.
1804.--The next name, in point of time, is that of John Ryker; and that is only by an incidental mention of him in the sketch of Mr. William Robbins (which see) where he speaks of coming from Kentucky to visit Ryker in the year 1804. Mr. Robbins says he was living near to or at the mouth of Eagle Creek. But as Mr. Ryker entered the N.W. quarter of section thirty, town four north, range eleven east, April 24th, 1809, we suppose that he probably lived on that tract of land.
1805--In the latter part of the spring of 1805, Elder Jesse Vawter, the first Baptist preacher of this county, came to Indiana and made a clearing. He was accompanied by John Reece and six or eight others from Scott and Franklin counties, Kentucky. They landed at a point just opposite Milton, Kentucky. They made their headquarters in the bottom at the upper end of the present city of Madison. Elder Jesse Vawter (deceased March 20, 1838) selected a location for his residence at the top of what is now called "the Michigan Hill," at the point wher the Weyer mansion now stands. A portion of the present Weyer house was built by him later on in life. After making their selections for homes and putting up cabins, they went back to Kentucky and brought their families here in
1806--He planted his corn late in June of this year. I submit the following memorial of Elder Vawter, written by his son, John Vawter, and a sketch of James Vawter, which were printed, and have been preserved by members of the family. As Elder Vawter was a notable man in the Baptist Church--the pioneer of that church we may say--in all of the region of the country for many miles around Jefferson count; besides being one of the very earliest of the settlers of this county, I deem it as only just to his memory that this sketch of his life be inserted in these pages; together with the addenda by his son, James Vawter. Elder Vawter named his home Mount Glad, because he was delivered from his temporal troubles when he settled there.
ELDER JESSE VAWTER He was born in Virginia, Dec. 2, 1755. His fathers name was David, his mother's that of Mary. His father died while he was yet a youth and left him to obtain a livelihood by the energies of his own mind and individual industry. At an early day he was called into the service of his country. While in the tented field he was attacked with military fever, of which his life was despaired of by his many friends; but God was pleased to prolong his days and he lived to see the armies of his country crowned with success. In the year 1782, he emigrated to North Carolina (now Sullivan county, Tennessee). While here he took an active part as a soldier and officer in the offensive and defensive war measure against the Cherokee Indians, who committed many cruelties on the frontiers of those times. In the year 1787 he visited the country then known by the name of the Levisa country, a name by the writer of this memoir well recolected, afterwards and now known as Kentucky. After his return home he prepared for removing to the new world, and in the year 1789, with his wife and six small children, removed into the State of Kentucky, settled in Woodford county, where he resided until 1795; at which time he purchased a small tract of land on the north side of North Elkhorn, and removing to it, resided thereon until the year 1806. having lost his lands by a superior claim in the law, he determined to abandon the State. In the fall of 1806 he removed his family to a residence prepared by him near Madison, known as Mount Glad, now occupied and owned by Messers, Flint, Wilbur and T. Hite. On this last named place he continued to reside until himself and companion were too old and advanced in age to keep house any longer, and finally broke up housekeeping and sold the farm and mansion, a spot dear in the recollection of his children and numerous acquaintances. A short time afterwards, the partner of his youth, of his joys and his many labors and conflicts, sunk under disease and old age, and after months of excruciating pain, died within a few hundred yards of the spot where the subject of the present memoir breathed his last. He died March 20th, 1838, in the 83rd year of his age.
Memoir written by John Vawter.
Sketch of James Vawter, written by himself. Addenda to a memoir of Elder Jesse Vawter, written by John Vawter.
The underwriter, JAMES VAWTER, was born in East Tennessee, April 2nd, 1783; came with his father to Kentucky in 1790; lived in Kentucky eleven years; came to Indiana in 1805. "I built my first cabin in the winter 1806-7, on the hill where the big engine house stands, and kept bachelor hall until Oct. 1816; and then got married to Judge John Watt's daughter of Boone county, Ky; have raised a large family of sons and daughters (11 of them). In 1814-15-16 I was sheriff and collector of county and territorial taxes. I have the duplicate, which no man would take and collect for it. It was Jefferson, Jennings, Switzerland, Ripley and Scott, all in one county."---He died Oct. 25th, 1873, 90 years, 6 months and 21 days old.
Mr. James Underwood came to Jefferson county in company with Elder Jesse Vawter in the spring of 1805, and settled about four miles north of the present day city of Madison, on the headwaters of Crooked Creek. The first graveyard in the county was upon his farm, and is still at times now used for the interment of the descendants of the old settlers. He was buried there. It still bears the name of the "Underwood Graveyard."
There is the name of one Colby Underwood, among the old settlers; when he came, and whether he was a brother of James or not, we are not able to tell.
1806.-Mr. Ralph-called Rafe-Griffin, came to Indiana Territory in 1806, and took a pre-emption claim in the north-west quarter of section 31, town 4, north of range 11 east. He afterward sold his right to Mr. John Thomas, who made the last payments upon the land and received the patent.
The house-still standing, January 3, 1889-was built the same year, and was made with the view of using it as a fort, as the Indians were quite troublesom. There were loop-holes arranged for firing the guns through. On either side of the door, about eighteen inches from the floor, a heavy hickory withe was put through the logs and securely wedged from the outside, forming on the inside of the wall a bow, into which a heavy wooden bar was placed, with which the door could be made fast, and which secured it from any attack from the outside. The logs of the house are still quite solid. It is the oldest house in the county. Mr. James Griffin, still living in this county, was born in this house in the year 1808.
An Indian Scare-At the time of the close of the war of 1812-15, and the establishment of peace between the United States and England, communication between the different parts of this country was very uncertain, and at times exceedingly slow. For instance, the battle of New Orleans was fought on the 8th of January, 1815, and peace had been effected on the 24th day of December, 1814, and the treaty signed, though it was not ratified by Congress until February 18, 1815. So it happened that the news was late in arriving at Madison, but the few citizens who were here were happy on account of it, and celebrated in the usual manner of the American citizen, by firing off guns and yelling. The residents of Ryker's Ridge, hearing the noise, supposed that it was an Indian attack upon the town, and after placing their families in the block house at Col. Rykers' farm, and the house of old Mr. John Thomas-the house just previously spoken of as Griffins's-the men went to town to help their neighbors repel the Indianas. When they arrived in town and learned the news, they staid and helped to celebrate, and as whisky was pretty plenty and entirely free, they became very drunk and delayed their return home till after night. As they came along the ridge whooping and yelling, the women, supposing they were Indians after scalps, closed and barricaded the door at Thomas' house, and prepared for a fight. When the men came to the house and sought admission, the women, not recognizing them, refused to let them in, but as no immediate attack was made upon the house, did not open fire on them, but continued to parley with them until they were finally recognized and admitted, amid great rejoicing. So rounded up the last Indian scare in the settlements of Jefferson county, in the summer of 1815.
George Richey came from Garrard county, Kentucky, and settled on Clifty three miles from Madison, in 1806.
Bazaleel Maxwell came from Kentucky, and settled in the vicinity of Hanover in this year. He was followed by relatives of the name of McCulough and Tilfords, who brought with them a preacher by the name of McClung-See Rev. Love H. Jameson's letter at another place.
1807-In the spring of this year Mr. Archibald Dinwiddie removed to this county near to where Hanover now stands, from Henry county, Ky. The Indians were so troublesome that he returned to Kentucky. In 1809 he again came to the place which he had selected in this county and settled down and remained there till he died. The settlers built a fort or blockhouse upon his farm after his return.
In the "Tract Book" of lands in Jefferson county is found an entry of "the S.E. Quarter of Section 20 Township 4, North Range 10 East, July 15th, 1808," "located by James Edwards." The patent was issued to him but has never been recorded. When he first came, here, there is no means at present to finding out, but it must have been previous to the date of the patent, either in that spring or during the year of 1807.
The settlers, within the bounds of Jefferson county, previous to the year 1808, all made their homes on the tops of the hills; at least all of whom we have any account did so.
1808-Mr. William Hall squatted upon the ground, whereon the city water-works engine-house now stands, in the spring of this year. He cleared a few acres of land and built a cabin in the spring of this year. He sold out his claim in the next year to Mr. Jonathan Lyon. This was the first settlement on the bottom; all previous to this had located on the hill-tops.
John H. Wagner, blacksmith, came in May, 1808. See sketh.
Mr. Mason Watts also came to the county in this year. He was the first white man who settled in Marengo township. He lived there for many years, but afterwards went to Ripley county. His wife made for herself the first loom made in the county, out of a white walnut tree, doing the entire work with her own hands, so says the authority for this sketch. Mr. Watts was a man noted for his great strength, and prowess as a hunter. He followed hunting as his profession.
In this year, "Gentleman Christopher Harrison"-- as he is called in the court records of the county-is supposed to have come to this county, There is an inscription, "Christopher Harrison, July 8th, 1808," upon a beach tree which stood in front of his cabin, near to where Hanover now stands, which was supposed to have reference to the date of his arrival at that place. (See sketch of Harrison.)
1809-There seems to have been a great drawing to Jefferson county in this year, and the settlers spread out more over the county now withing the present bounds of the county. We find them in the limits of what are now Hanover, Shelby, Monroe, Madsion, Lancaster, Republican, and Graham townships. Previously there had been only a very few outside of what is now Madison township. We find the names of John Paul, Lewis Davis and Jonathan Lyons, the propietors of the town of Madison, and Joseph Lane, at the north end of Dugan's Hollow, on the top of the hill. He afterwards entered land in the present confines of Monroe township, seven miles north of this place and one mile east. He removed to it and lived there till he died. He gave the land for the Hebron church and graveyard, and was the first person buried there. His grave is unmarked and is now unknown.
Thomas Hughes and David Hughes his son, settled in Republican township, near to where Kent now stands, but becoming alarmed by the Indian raids, removed to Madison and afterwards to a farm of Col. John Paul, at Clifty, where they remained until the year 1814, when David Hughes removed into what is now Lancaster township. He was from North Carolina.
Mr. William Robbins-see his sketch-came to Indiana Territory this year and settled in what is now Shelby township.
Mr. Alex. Chambers and son, William, settled in Republican township and built a block house. See sketch of William Chambers.
Willliamson Dunn settled at Hanover during the year. See sketch.
1810-Thomas Jameson settled on lands owned by Alexander McNutt, immediately opposite to Clifty Falls, on the south side of the creek. At this place the Rev. Love H. Jameson was born May 17th, 1811. He is still living at Indianapolis, his sight almost gone, a worthy and honored Christian and a humble follower of his Master; patiently awaiting the Master's call and doing His will. He has faithfully preached "The Word" for many years, to the salvation of many souls, He is the beloved father of many in Christ. He is gentle, peaceful, and Christlike in his life and character.
John Booth and Samuel Burnett-both tavern-keepers-are supposed to have come to this county in this year, Robert M. Trotter, a hatter, Joshua Wilkinson, a carpenter, John Sering and---Strickland, in the town of Madison, which was laid out in this year. William Ramsay built his mill in what is now Republican township. From these mills came the P.O. Name, Ramsey's Mills; this was afterwards changed to the present name of Kent.
1811-The increase of population this year seems to have been principally at Madison, where the first sale of lots was made in this year, in February.
Dawson Blackmore, a hatter by trade, came to Madison in 1811, June 14th, and built a log house on Walnut street, between Second and High, which was intended for, and was used as a fort, having loopholes pierced through the logs, through which to shoot if attack was made. Four and five families would frequently be there in the night time for safety. In a narrative by Blackmore, in 1850, he says: "The persons who were here then (i.e., when he came) where John Paul, Robert Trotter, a hatter, and family, John Sering, Jonathatn Lyon and family, John Booth and family, first tavern keeper, Samuel Burnett, best tavern, Joshua Wilkinson, carpenter, Vawter family, and Joseph Strickland." At what dates Trotter, Booth, Burnett, Wilkinson and Strickland came to the territory is unknown, but it must have been early in 1811, or perhaps in 1810, as Blackmore found them here when he came.
In another place the statement is made that Gen. Alex. Meek was admitted to practice as an attorney, at a court held at Wagner's log cablin, so that Meek can be called an inhabitant at that time.
In the early history of the Methodist Episcopal Church in this county, is found a statement of the forming of a class in the month of July of this year, consisting of James McClean and wife, Thomas Hughes and wife-formerly mentioned as coming in 1809-a Mrs. Cole, and George Burton. The arrrival of these in the bounds of what is now Jefferson County is not now to be ascertained.
In the same sketch, Judge Sparks is mentioned as having preached the first sermon in a house in the town of Madison.
In this year Blackmore enumerates the cabins in Madison (See Madison.)
Thomas Roseberry, Sr., settled in the present confines of Graham township in this year. "He purchased land from Robert Russelll, an old pioneer who proceded him."
1812-During this year there was quite an addition to the population of the county. In October of this year, Williamson Dunn, of Hanover, organized a company of rangers, under the provisions of an Act of Congress approved January 8, 1812, "authorizing the President of the United States to raise companies of rangers, etc." consisting of a captain, three lieutenants, one ensign, four sergeants, four corporals and sixty privates. As twenty-five of these came from Kentucky with Ristine, who was the first lieutenant, the remainder belonged to Jefferson county, making forty-six men of war from this county in actual service.
William Hendricks came to Madison during this year; Rufus Gale and son, Elmore Gale, came to Madison AUgust 12, of this year, and settled on a farm in the western part of Madison.
Samuel Demaree also came this year, and settled on Indian Kentucky.
Henry Ristine came from Kentucky with twenty-five men to join Capt. Dunn's company of rangers. After his term of service expired, he settled here in Madison, and established a tannery on the ground now occupied by Dietz's tan yard, on Aulenbach Avenue. He also kept a tavern on the south-east corner of Mulberry and Main streets. He went from here to Crawfordsville, where he died.
Among early names on the court records in the year 1812 are: Samuel Smock, William Cotton, and Williamson Dunn, Judges of the Common Pleas Court. Isaiah Blankinship's name appears on a jury of enquiry on mill seat of George Shannon, Sr., March 20, 1812. Blankinship was near Ramsey's Mills in Republican township. Thursday, June 18 mention of Wm. Ramsey's Mill is made in a petition for a road. Same day Samuel Burnett, license for a tavern, one year. Friday, 19 an order appointing Elisha Golay Inspector of Jefferson township. Jesse Gray, Inspector of Madison township. He lived out near Wirt. Thomas Taylor Inspector of Washington township. October 23, 1812, the names of Robert and James Trotter, John M. Johnston, James Hicks, Abraham Fisk, Thomas McFarland, John Eads, David and Eenezer Hillis.
The following names are found composing the first Grand Jury of record. June term, 1812. Common Pleas Court.
CHRISTOPHER HARRISON,
Foreman
JONATHAN LYONS,
GARSHOM LEE,
PAUL FROMAN,
HENRY SELLARS,
DAVID CUMMINS,
JAMES WATSON,
JOHN M. JOHNSTON,
JOHN RHOADS,
DAVID McKAY,
THOMAS HUGHES,
JAMES EDWARDS,
JOSHUA CANE,
MATTHEW WISE,
JOSHUA WILKINSON.
The Grand Jury October 1812 was:
LINSFIELD BRANHAM,
Foreman
WM. VAWTER,
JOSEPH LANE,
JAMES UNDERWOOD,
JOHN HALL,
JOHN BRANHAM,
JOHN RYKER,
ALEXANDER CHAMBERS,
JAMES WARD,
THOMAS STRIBLLING,
JAMES McLANE,
JACOB RHOADS,
JOHN RANDALLS,
JOSHUA WILKINSON,
RICHARD HOPKINS,
GIDEON UNDERWOOD
ARCHIBALD DINWIDDIE.
The Linsfield Branham spoken of above was the father of Hon. David C. Branham, a well known citizen of our county, a citizen of our county, a sketch of whom is in another place. John Branham, mentioned above, was a cousin of Linsfield, and left this county at an early day and went to Vernon, Indiana, where he raised a large family.
Richard Hopkins came from Virginia and brought with him a number of slaves, whom he freed. He came to this State because he was convinced of the wrong of slavery, and desired to free his slaves, which he could not do in Virginia. He settled upon the farm now owned by John W. Scott, on Ryker's Ridge. After remaining here for a few years, he went to New London, which loomed up at that time as the coming city of the State and the West. He remained there until his death.
1813-Wm. L. Reynolds came to Madison during this year. He is said to have driven the first dray ever seen in the town. He afterwards located near Dupont. See sketch of J.L. Reynolds.
In this year the first settler in what is now Lancaster township, made his appearance, in the person of James Hays, (from Columbiana county, Ohio) at the place where Landon's mills now stand.
1814-Arnold Custer, with three sons, James, Jesse and William, came to Jefferson county during this year. He cleared four acres of ground and erected a log cabin on the present site of Mud Lick. It was the farthest settlement north of the present Michigan road. In the following year they returned to Kentucky and brought the family. He was the oldest grandson of William Custer, the pioneer of that family in America. He had twenty-four sons, from came all of the host of Custers in this country. He was a citizen of Virginia. Arnold Custer was a relative of Daniel Boone by marriage, their wives being both named Schull.
When Arnold Custer and his sons first came to this State they camped alongside of a big oak tree which had been blown down, and that they made their home till they built their cabin and it was ready for use. He came from near the salt works in Kentucky, and when he brought his fa mily over to his Indiana home, he brought a cargo of salt on horseback, for his own use, and for sale to the citizens. In 1815 he and his sons went to where Vernon now is and cleared a patch of ground for Col. John Vawter. They built a cabin there, which stood near to where the Jennings county court house now stands. Arnold Custer and his sons may be termed pioneers of two counties of Indiana.
Indians--They were always on the lookout for Indians, and prepared for an attack. On one occasion, during their first sojourn in Indiana, they all went to bed at night full of Indian fancies. Clothing was scarce, and they had to do their own mending. The shirt of one of the boys needed some repairs. He concluded to do it that night, so he arose from the bed and taking a bundle of bark lighted it at the fire and sat down to mend his shirt. He made no noise, and was attent upon the business in hand-every motion he made was reproduced in grotesque shadow upon the walls and inner surface of the roof of the cabin. One of his brothers awaking, saw the shadows, and having Indian on the brain, immediately aroused the rest. They all seized their guns ready for the slaughter of the Indians who had so daringly entered their castle. In the dim and uncertain light, they were near to shooting the shirt mender before the mistake was discovered.
Pioneer Incident-The grandmother of Arnold Custer had been to the house of a neighbor to warp a piece of cloth. When on her return she was captured by a band of Indians. They went so close to her own house that she heard the cry of her child. She was taken to Quebec and there sold, but managed to escape, she made her way back to her former home in Kentucky. When she arrived home she found that her husband in some way had heard of the prisoners being carried to Quebec and had started to go for her. She immediately started back upon the weary road to the Canadas, seeking her husband. When she had traveled some few days she saw some men who were burying a body in a field near the road. She went over to them and found that it was her husband, who had been attacked with fever but a few days after he left home, and had died the day before, after a lingering illness of several weeks.
Mr. James Jackson settled near Kent in November of this year. Gideon Gordon and Bill Thicksteen were also settlers in that neighborhood in this year.
The Benefiels, two brothers, from Kentucky; McLeland, also from Kentucky, settled in what is now Shelby township, in the fall of this year. Mr. Wm. C. McLeland came here that year. All of these settled near to and around Buchanan's Station or blockhouse.
Buchanan's Station was built in 1813 by William Buchanana, Joh and David, his brothers, and George Benefiel, upon the land of the three Buchanan's. The fort was a square building of sixty feet front, built solid, and pierced with loop-holes for firing from. The upper story-rather the roof-projected over the wall of the main building, so as to overlook the sides. There were four block houses in a line, extending about 300 or 400 feet, in which the families of the country congregated and lived when danger of an Indian raid was feared. It was at this time the extreme frontier of the country in that direction, and was garrisoned the greater part of the time, for three or four years, by the rangers under Capt. Dunn and Capt. Hillis.
It was situated about three miles north-east of Canaan on the line dividing Jefferson and Ripley counties.
DR. ISRAEL T. CANBY was a large owner of town property in Madison. He came here about 1816, and lived here for many years, removing from here to Crawfordsville, some time about 1830. He was the father of Gen. R. Canby of the United States Army, who was killed by the Modocs in the lava fields. Gen. Canby was a boy when the doctor, his father, came here, and entered West Point from here.
Early County Roads-The early roads of the county were merely traces through the woods, but they sufficed for the use of the inhabitants, for there was but little matter to be transported and transportation was principally on horseback. Wagons were rarely used, and these of the heaviest and most cumbrous kind. The early settlers of this county, for the greater part at least, had but little possessions in the way of household goods, and these were carried on horseback from their former homes. After wagons and Dearborns came into tolerably general use, roads were cut through the forests. The first one leading out of Madison to the north, was up the point of the hill at the head of Mulberry street. Traces of this may be still seem along the point. This led to the Vawter neighborhood on the top of the Michigan Hill, and thence to where North Madison now is, and out to the neighborhood of Wirt. The road up to Ryker's Ridge was up the river to Eagle Hollow, and up Eagle to the first long hollow putting into it from the left, and up this on to the ridge. At this point, the Lawrenceburg road bore off to the east, going up the next long hollow coming down from the right. Later, the State road was made up the hill on the west side of Irish Hollow; coming to the top of the hill just opposite to the present toll-gate on the North Madison pike, and thence west of northm, through Wirt and Dupont. Just at the top of the hill, and between this road and the railroad, on the west side of the railroad cut, stood the first church built in the county, a Baptist metting-house, built by the Vawters principally, and called Mt. Pleasant.
Early County Roads-The early roads of the county were merely traces through the woods, but they sufficed for the use of the inhabitants, for there was but little matter to be transported and transportation was prinicpally on horseback. Wagons were rarely used, and these of the heaviest and most cumbrous kind. The early settlers of this county, for the greater part at least, had but little possessions in the way of household goods, and thses were carried on horseback from their former homes. After wagons and Dearborns came into tolerably general use, roads were cut through the forests. The first one leading out of Madison to the north, was up the point of the hill at the head of Mulberry street. Traces of this may still be seen along the point. This led to the Vawter neighborhood on the top of the Michigan Hill, and thence to where North Madison now is, and out to the neighborhood on the top of the Michigan Hill, and thence to where North Madison now is, and out to the neighborhood of Wirt. The road up to Ryker's Ridge was up the river to Eagle Hollow, and up Eagle to the first long hollow putting into it from the left, and up this on to the ridge. At this point, the Lawrenceburg road bore off to the east, going up the next long hollow coming down from the right. Later, the State road was made up the hill on the west side of Irish Hollow; coming to the top of the hill just opposite to the present toll-gate on the North Madison pike, and thence west of north, through Wirt and Dupont. Just at the top of the hill, and between this road and the railroad, on the west side of the railroad cut, stood the first church built in the county, a Baptist meeting house, built by the Vawters prinicipallym and called Mt. Pleasant.
After this, was opened up the Graham road, going up Crooked Creek valley to the head of it, and rising the hill there at the place of Mr. James Wilson, and from there on the range line due north for about seven miles. This was the route of communication for all of the north part of the county. The road extended over to Graham Creek in Ripley county. The Michigan road was laid out in the year 1831, and work was commenced upon it in that year. It led from Madison through Indianapolis to Michigan City on Lake Michigan.
The road to Hanover and the west of the county went along the river and up the hill into Hanover; from there it branched off to Lexington to the west, Ramsey's mills to the northwest, and thence through to Graham Township, and to the south into Saluda.
The roads in early times were like angel's visits; "few and far between."
The first attempt at sepplementing nature, in order to have a firm road that would uphold the travel during the soft times of the winter season and the wet spells of the spring and summer, was the corduroy. This was by splitting rails out of trees, or taking saplings or logs, and putting them across the road on a dirt foundation, which would support the wagons, and prevent "stalling in the mud."
Those who have traveled upon this species of raod need no reminder of the trials and suffering connected with them; and to those who have been accustomed to the advantages of good pikes, it would be an utter imposibility to give such a description of them as to make them fully understood. As has been said: "Seeing is believing; but feeling is the naked truth." Demonstration, by a ride for a few miles upon such a road, is the only way by which appreciation of them could be had. When first placed in position, these rails are covered by a small thinness of dirt, but the rains and shaking of travel soon recovered from this, and the naked rails are left, each one giving its own peculiar jar and jolt.
The necessity of good roads was an axiom ever before the commonuity, and about 1850 to 1854 plank roads were made from Madison to Greensburg, Brownstown, Hanover, Lexington and Vevay. After these roads were tried for a few years, and found to be impracticable on account of the expense attending the repairs needed upon them, they were finally abandoned, and the present system of gravel, or macadamized roads, took their place. The county is now well furnished with these, running from Madison as the center, to all parts of the county, thus making communication, throughout the entire space of it, practicable at all times of the year.
There was an old soldier of the "war of twelve" who formerly lived in Milton township. He was an annual candidate for the Legislature, and always had his tickets printed with the picture of a soldier in the position of "Attention," upon them. His hobby was "the My-shag-in road." His plan was to make a roadbed of charcoal, by making a pit the entire length of the road, and placing the wood in it, burn it, thus leaving the charcoal as the road. Had he succeeded in his plan, there would have been a road resulting from it, far ahead of any we now have, in all of its parts.
This was an entirely new departure, and was looking upon in that day as a chimera of the brain of a man who was what would now be called a crank. Whether it was an original idea of his or not, it has been tested since then, and is found to be of great worth and permanence as a road material. This man's name was Samuel Welsh.
Abolitionism-This county was settled largely by a class of people coming from slave States, who were convinced that human slavery was a sin, and for that reason fled from it in order to raise their families in a territory where its blight would not affect their children. As the Act of Congress passed July 13, 1787, establishing the territory north-west of the Ohio rive, provided: "Article 6 There shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in the said territory, otherwise than in the punishment of crime." These men made Indiana their home.
This feeling of the wrong of slavery was only strengthened by their residence here, and finally developed into what was known as the "Underground Railroad." This incorporal corporation had two distinct routes through Jefferson County. The eastern route having its entrepot in the region of Eagle Hollow, and route of travel by way of "Ryker's Ridge," along Indian Kentucky Creek through Shelby township, thence towards Canada. The western route had its entrepot in Saluda township; route of travel through Hanover, Smyrna, Lancaster and Monroe townships into Ripley county. There were many stations along each of these routes. At each station there was generally a change of conductors. A very lively business was carried on along this road. Many of the active employees are still living.
Many of them were known to the detectives of those days, but so well and secretly did they carry on their work, and so true were they to each other, and to what they held to be the great principle of right for which they strove, that but few convictions were ever made under the law, which they were breaking, or at least disregarding. They will have their reward. It was very seldom that a convoy was seen during daylight. The mode of operating has never been fully divulged, but it ought to be; and a full history of this work and the men engaged in it would make a most facinating book.
Mr. Logan's boat passed Madison on the last day of February, 1801. The wind blew such a gale that navigation in low barges was both slow and perilous; so a landing was made on the northern bank, about a half mile below the present Hanover landing. The river continued rough with white caps for three days, compelling the voyagers to hug the shore to escape distruction. Young Logan got tired of sitting around on the boats, so he shouldered his gun and walked up the hill. There he soon fell in with a flock of turkeys and shot two of them. The river from the hill was so beautiful that he inwardly resolved to settle right there whenever he entered land. To mark the spot, after fixing the general features of the place in his memory, he carved his name in full, with the date, March 1st, 1801, upon two large beech trees which stood near the verge of the hill. There is no tradition that the Ohio, when a little rill, flowing to join the brimming river, paused, loitering in this enchanting land one sunny day to add yet another charm to the landscape by its meanderings-there is no tradition to this effect, but if thre were it would almost merit credence, for nowhere throughout its entire course does the river present lovlier features, or its hills rise in more calm and gentle majesty. So Logan must have thought, for fourteen years later, in 1815, he passed along the river bluffs in this vicinity searching for the old landscape and the two beeches which bore his name. Some changes had taken place during that time, and the trees could not be found, though Logan was pretty sure he had discovered the proper spot. But here another difficulty presented itself; the land was already entered by one Christopher Harrison. But Logan was not to be balked at the last, so he hunted up Mr. Harrison, who was not a resident, and purchased the place of him." The above is from an interview of Mr. Logan, by Mr. M.C. Garber-now editor of the Madison Daily Courier-published in the Courier Nov. 1st, 1873.
After making the trip to New Orleans, Mr. Logan returned home and fitted out a boat and went up the Missouri river to trade with Indians. He wandered about, living here and there, until the war of 1812-15 broke out, and being in Ohio at that time, he raised there a company for the defense of the settlements, and he was commissioned as the Captain. His company went with the army of Gen. W. H. Harrison to the relief of Fort Meigs, on the Maumee river. After the war, as stated above, he returned to his first love as a home, and purchased the land of the then owner, Mr. Christopher Harrison, who had bought it from the Government.
Mr. Logan looked for the trees bearing his name, time after time, but without success. In the third week of September of the year 1862, one morning after a heavy storm during the night, which blew down a number of trees at some little distance from his house, Mr. Logan sent his farm hands to saw them up for firewood. While engaged at this work one of the men discovered the long sought for mark, on the beech tree, cut there on that March morning, so many years before. Mr. Logan was notified of the find, and came out to the place, and found that he had made his search too high on the brow of the hill, and had thus failed to find his mark. He had the block, which was of the diameter of twenty-two (22) inches, containing the mark, sawed out of the trunk of the tree, and carried to his house, where he always kept it as a relic of his first visit to this country, and as an object of interest which he showed to all of his visitors, to the time of his death, May 12, 1875. It may be still at the old farm, and should be preserved as a memento of pioneer days, by the Historical Society of Jefferson county.
Nomands.--There were many men in those days (some having families) who led nomadic lives. They passed through the country, lived and died, and scarcely left a trace of having occupied it. They depended upon hunting wild game for subsistence and for a living, and in following the chase, to some extent took upon them the habits of the animals which they hunted. They became cautious in their movements, and watchful of even the least change in things around them; the breaking of a twig, the rustle or fall of a leaf, were all noticed by them, and were indications perhaps of great moment to them, as they became proficient in their study of the book of nature. They became good and quick reasoners, more from effect to the cause, than the contrary. They soon became well acquainted with the habits and lives of the animals and birds which they were in the custom of hunting. They could tell the species, age, sex and condition of the animal still unseen, by its trail, and unerringly as the scholar the root of a word he meet in his book.
Their larders and wardrobes were supplied by the meat and skins of the animals they killed. Their other wants being few, principally confined to lead and powder and whiskey, and sometimes flour or corn meal, were easily supplied at the trading house, or village store, in return for meat and pelts or grease. The pelts of animals were then more common as a circulating medium than silver and gold, and constituted the principal source of revenue of the class of people of whom mention has been made. Every storekeeper was ready to take them in exchange for his goods, as he could use them with his creditors as readily as cash. These birds of passage melted away before the advance of the whites in the settlements, and there is now no note of name, time or occupancy except of two who roamed in the northwestern corner of the county. One Glascow, a hunter by profession, had no regular habitation; his home was wherever he chanced to be. When hungry he stopped and cooked his food; when night came he camped at the most convenient and sheltered spot near him. His usual haunt was between Big Creek and Middle Fork. The other was a man named Joe Hensley, who lived with the Indians. He made a clearing on the creek, which still bears his name, within the present cofines of Lancaster township. They both disappeared. Hensley going off with the Indians, and Glascow going to the new frontier. It was reported wome years after that he was killed on Haw Creek, in Decatur or Bartholomew counties.
1804.--The next name, in point of time, is that of John Ryker; and that is only by an incidental mention of him in the sketch of Mr. William Robbins (which see) where he speaks of coming from Kentucky to visit Ryker in the year 1804. Mr. Robbins says he was living near to or at the mouth of Eagle Creek. But as Mr. Ryker entered the N.W. quarter of section thirty, town four north, range eleven east, April 24th, 1809, we suppose that he probably lived on that tract of land.
1805--In the latter part of the spring of 1805, Elder Jesse Vawter, the first Baptist preacher of this county, came to Indiana and made a clearing. He was accompanied by John Reece and six or eight others from Scott and Franklin counties, Kentucky. They landed at a point just opposite Milton, Kentucky. They made their headquarters in the bottom at the upper end of the present city of Madison. Elder Jesse Vawter (deceased March 20, 1838) selected a location for his residence at the top of what is now called "the Michigan Hill," at the point wher the Weyer mansion now stands. A portion of the present Weyer house was built by him later on in life. After making their selections for homes and putting up cabins, they went back to Kentucky and brought their families here in
1806--He planted his corn late in June of this year. I submit the following memorial of Elder Vawter, written by his son, John Vawter, and a sketch of James Vawter, which were printed, and have been preserved by members of the family. As Elder Vawter was a notable man in the Baptist Church--the pioneer of that church we may say--in all of the region of the country for many miles around Jefferson count; besides being one of the very earliest of the settlers of this county, I deem it as only just to his memory that this sketch of his life be inserted in these pages; together with the addenda by his son, James Vawter. Elder Vawter named his home Mount Glad, because he was delivered from his temporal troubles when he settled there.
ELDER JESSE VAWTER He was born in Virginia, Dec. 2, 1755. His fathers name was David, his mother's that of Mary. His father died while he was yet a youth and left him to obtain a livelihood by the energies of his own mind and individual industry. At an early day he was called into the service of his country. While in the tented field he was attacked with military fever, of which his life was despaired of by his many friends; but God was pleased to prolong his days and he lived to see the armies of his country crowned with success. In the year 1782, he emigrated to North Carolina (now Sullivan county, Tennessee). While here he took an active part as a soldier and officer in the offensive and defensive war measure against the Cherokee Indians, who committed many cruelties on the frontiers of those times. In the year 1787 he visited the country then known by the name of the Levisa country, a name by the writer of this memoir well recolected, afterwards and now known as Kentucky. After his return home he prepared for removing to the new world, and in the year 1789, with his wife and six small children, removed into the State of Kentucky, settled in Woodford county, where he resided until 1795; at which time he purchased a small tract of land on the north side of North Elkhorn, and removing to it, resided thereon until the year 1806. having lost his lands by a superior claim in the law, he determined to abandon the State. In the fall of 1806 he removed his family to a residence prepared by him near Madison, known as Mount Glad, now occupied and owned by Messers, Flint, Wilbur and T. Hite. On this last named place he continued to reside until himself and companion were too old and advanced in age to keep house any longer, and finally broke up housekeeping and sold the farm and mansion, a spot dear in the recollection of his children and numerous acquaintances. A short time afterwards, the partner of his youth, of his joys and his many labors and conflicts, sunk under disease and old age, and after months of excruciating pain, died within a few hundred yards of the spot where the subject of the present memoir breathed his last. He died March 20th, 1838, in the 83rd year of his age.
Memoir written by John Vawter.
Sketch of James Vawter, written by himself. Addenda to a memoir of Elder Jesse Vawter, written by John Vawter.
The underwriter, JAMES VAWTER, was born in East Tennessee, April 2nd, 1783; came with his father to Kentucky in 1790; lived in Kentucky eleven years; came to Indiana in 1805. "I built my first cabin in the winter 1806-7, on the hill where the big engine house stands, and kept bachelor hall until Oct. 1816; and then got married to Judge John Watt's daughter of Boone county, Ky; have raised a large family of sons and daughters (11 of them). In 1814-15-16 I was sheriff and collector of county and territorial taxes. I have the duplicate, which no man would take and collect for it. It was Jefferson, Jennings, Switzerland, Ripley and Scott, all in one county."---He died Oct. 25th, 1873, 90 years, 6 months and 21 days old.
Mr. James Underwood came to Jefferson county in company with Elder Jesse Vawter in the spring of 1805, and settled about four miles north of the present day city of Madison, on the headwaters of Crooked Creek. The first graveyard in the county was upon his farm, and is still at times now used for the interment of the descendants of the old settlers. He was buried there. It still bears the name of the "Underwood Graveyard."
There is the name of one Colby Underwood, among the old settlers; when he came, and whether he was a brother of James or not, we are not able to tell.
1806.-Mr. Ralph-called Rafe-Griffin, came to Indiana Territory in 1806, and took a pre-emption claim in the north-west quarter of section 31, town 4, north of range 11 east. He afterward sold his right to Mr. John Thomas, who made the last payments upon the land and received the patent.
The house-still standing, January 3, 1889-was built the same year, and was made with the view of using it as a fort, as the Indians were quite troublesom. There were loop-holes arranged for firing the guns through. On either side of the door, about eighteen inches from the floor, a heavy hickory withe was put through the logs and securely wedged from the outside, forming on the inside of the wall a bow, into which a heavy wooden bar was placed, with which the door could be made fast, and which secured it from any attack from the outside. The logs of the house are still quite solid. It is the oldest house in the county. Mr. James Griffin, still living in this county, was born in this house in the year 1808.
An Indian Scare-At the time of the close of the war of 1812-15, and the establishment of peace between the United States and England, communication between the different parts of this country was very uncertain, and at times exceedingly slow. For instance, the battle of New Orleans was fought on the 8th of January, 1815, and peace had been effected on the 24th day of December, 1814, and the treaty signed, though it was not ratified by Congress until February 18, 1815. So it happened that the news was late in arriving at Madison, but the few citizens who were here were happy on account of it, and celebrated in the usual manner of the American citizen, by firing off guns and yelling. The residents of Ryker's Ridge, hearing the noise, supposed that it was an Indian attack upon the town, and after placing their families in the block house at Col. Rykers' farm, and the house of old Mr. John Thomas-the house just previously spoken of as Griffins's-the men went to town to help their neighbors repel the Indianas. When they arrived in town and learned the news, they staid and helped to celebrate, and as whisky was pretty plenty and entirely free, they became very drunk and delayed their return home till after night. As they came along the ridge whooping and yelling, the women, supposing they were Indians after scalps, closed and barricaded the door at Thomas' house, and prepared for a fight. When the men came to the house and sought admission, the women, not recognizing them, refused to let them in, but as no immediate attack was made upon the house, did not open fire on them, but continued to parley with them until they were finally recognized and admitted, amid great rejoicing. So rounded up the last Indian scare in the settlements of Jefferson county, in the summer of 1815.
George Richey came from Garrard county, Kentucky, and settled on Clifty three miles from Madison, in 1806.
Bazaleel Maxwell came from Kentucky, and settled in the vicinity of Hanover in this year. He was followed by relatives of the name of McCulough and Tilfords, who brought with them a preacher by the name of McClung-See Rev. Love H. Jameson's letter at another place.
1807-In the spring of this year Mr. Archibald Dinwiddie removed to this county near to where Hanover now stands, from Henry county, Ky. The Indians were so troublesome that he returned to Kentucky. In 1809 he again came to the place which he had selected in this county and settled down and remained there till he died. The settlers built a fort or blockhouse upon his farm after his return.
In the "Tract Book" of lands in Jefferson county is found an entry of "the S.E. Quarter of Section 20 Township 4, North Range 10 East, July 15th, 1808," "located by James Edwards." The patent was issued to him but has never been recorded. When he first came, here, there is no means at present to finding out, but it must have been previous to the date of the patent, either in that spring or during the year of 1807.
The settlers, within the bounds of Jefferson county, previous to the year 1808, all made their homes on the tops of the hills; at least all of whom we have any account did so.
1808-Mr. William Hall squatted upon the ground, whereon the city water-works engine-house now stands, in the spring of this year. He cleared a few acres of land and built a cabin in the spring of this year. He sold out his claim in the next year to Mr. Jonathan Lyon. This was the first settlement on the bottom; all previous to this had located on the hill-tops.
John H. Wagner, blacksmith, came in May, 1808. See sketh.
Mr. Mason Watts also came to the county in this year. He was the first white man who settled in Marengo township. He lived there for many years, but afterwards went to Ripley county. His wife made for herself the first loom made in the county, out of a white walnut tree, doing the entire work with her own hands, so says the authority for this sketch. Mr. Watts was a man noted for his great strength, and prowess as a hunter. He followed hunting as his profession.
In this year, "Gentleman Christopher Harrison"-- as he is called in the court records of the county-is supposed to have come to this county, There is an inscription, "Christopher Harrison, July 8th, 1808," upon a beach tree which stood in front of his cabin, near to where Hanover now stands, which was supposed to have reference to the date of his arrival at that place. (See sketch of Harrison.)
1809-There seems to have been a great drawing to Jefferson county in this year, and the settlers spread out more over the county now withing the present bounds of the county. We find them in the limits of what are now Hanover, Shelby, Monroe, Madsion, Lancaster, Republican, and Graham townships. Previously there had been only a very few outside of what is now Madison township. We find the names of John Paul, Lewis Davis and Jonathan Lyons, the propietors of the town of Madison, and Joseph Lane, at the north end of Dugan's Hollow, on the top of the hill. He afterwards entered land in the present confines of Monroe township, seven miles north of this place and one mile east. He removed to it and lived there till he died. He gave the land for the Hebron church and graveyard, and was the first person buried there. His grave is unmarked and is now unknown.
Thomas Hughes and David Hughes his son, settled in Republican township, near to where Kent now stands, but becoming alarmed by the Indian raids, removed to Madison and afterwards to a farm of Col. John Paul, at Clifty, where they remained until the year 1814, when David Hughes removed into what is now Lancaster township. He was from North Carolina.
Mr. William Robbins-see his sketch-came to Indiana Territory this year and settled in what is now Shelby township.
Mr. Alex. Chambers and son, William, settled in Republican township and built a block house. See sketch of William Chambers.
Willliamson Dunn settled at Hanover during the year. See sketch.
1810-Thomas Jameson settled on lands owned by Alexander McNutt, immediately opposite to Clifty Falls, on the south side of the creek. At this place the Rev. Love H. Jameson was born May 17th, 1811. He is still living at Indianapolis, his sight almost gone, a worthy and honored Christian and a humble follower of his Master; patiently awaiting the Master's call and doing His will. He has faithfully preached "The Word" for many years, to the salvation of many souls, He is the beloved father of many in Christ. He is gentle, peaceful, and Christlike in his life and character.
John Booth and Samuel Burnett-both tavern-keepers-are supposed to have come to this county in this year, Robert M. Trotter, a hatter, Joshua Wilkinson, a carpenter, John Sering and---Strickland, in the town of Madison, which was laid out in this year. William Ramsay built his mill in what is now Republican township. From these mills came the P.O. Name, Ramsey's Mills; this was afterwards changed to the present name of Kent.
1811-The increase of population this year seems to have been principally at Madison, where the first sale of lots was made in this year, in February.
Dawson Blackmore, a hatter by trade, came to Madison in 1811, June 14th, and built a log house on Walnut street, between Second and High, which was intended for, and was used as a fort, having loopholes pierced through the logs, through which to shoot if attack was made. Four and five families would frequently be there in the night time for safety. In a narrative by Blackmore, in 1850, he says: "The persons who were here then (i.e., when he came) where John Paul, Robert Trotter, a hatter, and family, John Sering, Jonathatn Lyon and family, John Booth and family, first tavern keeper, Samuel Burnett, best tavern, Joshua Wilkinson, carpenter, Vawter family, and Joseph Strickland." At what dates Trotter, Booth, Burnett, Wilkinson and Strickland came to the territory is unknown, but it must have been early in 1811, or perhaps in 1810, as Blackmore found them here when he came.
In another place the statement is made that Gen. Alex. Meek was admitted to practice as an attorney, at a court held at Wagner's log cablin, so that Meek can be called an inhabitant at that time.
In the early history of the Methodist Episcopal Church in this county, is found a statement of the forming of a class in the month of July of this year, consisting of James McClean and wife, Thomas Hughes and wife-formerly mentioned as coming in 1809-a Mrs. Cole, and George Burton. The arrrival of these in the bounds of what is now Jefferson County is not now to be ascertained.
In the same sketch, Judge Sparks is mentioned as having preached the first sermon in a house in the town of Madison.
In this year Blackmore enumerates the cabins in Madison (See Madison.)
Thomas Roseberry, Sr., settled in the present confines of Graham township in this year. "He purchased land from Robert Russelll, an old pioneer who proceded him."
1812-During this year there was quite an addition to the population of the county. In October of this year, Williamson Dunn, of Hanover, organized a company of rangers, under the provisions of an Act of Congress approved January 8, 1812, "authorizing the President of the United States to raise companies of rangers, etc." consisting of a captain, three lieutenants, one ensign, four sergeants, four corporals and sixty privates. As twenty-five of these came from Kentucky with Ristine, who was the first lieutenant, the remainder belonged to Jefferson county, making forty-six men of war from this county in actual service.
William Hendricks came to Madison during this year; Rufus Gale and son, Elmore Gale, came to Madison AUgust 12, of this year, and settled on a farm in the western part of Madison.
Samuel Demaree also came this year, and settled on Indian Kentucky.
Henry Ristine came from Kentucky with twenty-five men to join Capt. Dunn's company of rangers. After his term of service expired, he settled here in Madison, and established a tannery on the ground now occupied by Dietz's tan yard, on Aulenbach Avenue. He also kept a tavern on the south-east corner of Mulberry and Main streets. He went from here to Crawfordsville, where he died.
Among early names on the court records in the year 1812 are: Samuel Smock, William Cotton, and Williamson Dunn, Judges of the Common Pleas Court. Isaiah Blankinship's name appears on a jury of enquiry on mill seat of George Shannon, Sr., March 20, 1812. Blankinship was near Ramsey's Mills in Republican township. Thursday, June 18 mention of Wm. Ramsey's Mill is made in a petition for a road. Same day Samuel Burnett, license for a tavern, one year. Friday, 19 an order appointing Elisha Golay Inspector of Jefferson township. Jesse Gray, Inspector of Madison township. He lived out near Wirt. Thomas Taylor Inspector of Washington township. October 23, 1812, the names of Robert and James Trotter, John M. Johnston, James Hicks, Abraham Fisk, Thomas McFarland, John Eads, David and Eenezer Hillis.
The following names are found composing the first Grand Jury of record. June term, 1812. Common Pleas Court.
CHRISTOPHER HARRISON,
Foreman
JONATHAN LYONS,
GARSHOM LEE,
PAUL FROMAN,
HENRY SELLARS,
DAVID CUMMINS,
JAMES WATSON,
JOHN M. JOHNSTON,
JOHN RHOADS,
DAVID McKAY,
THOMAS HUGHES,
JAMES EDWARDS,
JOSHUA CANE,
MATTHEW WISE,
JOSHUA WILKINSON.
The Grand Jury October 1812 was:
LINSFIELD BRANHAM,
Foreman
WM. VAWTER,
JOSEPH LANE,
JAMES UNDERWOOD,
JOHN HALL,
JOHN BRANHAM,
JOHN RYKER,
ALEXANDER CHAMBERS,
JAMES WARD,
THOMAS STRIBLLING,
JAMES McLANE,
JACOB RHOADS,
JOHN RANDALLS,
JOSHUA WILKINSON,
RICHARD HOPKINS,
GIDEON UNDERWOOD
ARCHIBALD DINWIDDIE.
The Linsfield Branham spoken of above was the father of Hon. David C. Branham, a well known citizen of our county, a citizen of our county, a sketch of whom is in another place. John Branham, mentioned above, was a cousin of Linsfield, and left this county at an early day and went to Vernon, Indiana, where he raised a large family.
Richard Hopkins came from Virginia and brought with him a number of slaves, whom he freed. He came to this State because he was convinced of the wrong of slavery, and desired to free his slaves, which he could not do in Virginia. He settled upon the farm now owned by John W. Scott, on Ryker's Ridge. After remaining here for a few years, he went to New London, which loomed up at that time as the coming city of the State and the West. He remained there until his death.
1813-Wm. L. Reynolds came to Madison during this year. He is said to have driven the first dray ever seen in the town. He afterwards located near Dupont. See sketch of J.L. Reynolds.
In this year the first settler in what is now Lancaster township, made his appearance, in the person of James Hays, (from Columbiana county, Ohio) at the place where Landon's mills now stand.
1814-Arnold Custer, with three sons, James, Jesse and William, came to Jefferson county during this year. He cleared four acres of ground and erected a log cabin on the present site of Mud Lick. It was the farthest settlement north of the present Michigan road. In the following year they returned to Kentucky and brought the family. He was the oldest grandson of William Custer, the pioneer of that family in America. He had twenty-four sons, from came all of the host of Custers in this country. He was a citizen of Virginia. Arnold Custer was a relative of Daniel Boone by marriage, their wives being both named Schull.
When Arnold Custer and his sons first came to this State they camped alongside of a big oak tree which had been blown down, and that they made their home till they built their cabin and it was ready for use. He came from near the salt works in Kentucky, and when he brought his fa mily over to his Indiana home, he brought a cargo of salt on horseback, for his own use, and for sale to the citizens. In 1815 he and his sons went to where Vernon now is and cleared a patch of ground for Col. John Vawter. They built a cabin there, which stood near to where the Jennings county court house now stands. Arnold Custer and his sons may be termed pioneers of two counties of Indiana.
Indians--They were always on the lookout for Indians, and prepared for an attack. On one occasion, during their first sojourn in Indiana, they all went to bed at night full of Indian fancies. Clothing was scarce, and they had to do their own mending. The shirt of one of the boys needed some repairs. He concluded to do it that night, so he arose from the bed and taking a bundle of bark lighted it at the fire and sat down to mend his shirt. He made no noise, and was attent upon the business in hand-every motion he made was reproduced in grotesque shadow upon the walls and inner surface of the roof of the cabin. One of his brothers awaking, saw the shadows, and having Indian on the brain, immediately aroused the rest. They all seized their guns ready for the slaughter of the Indians who had so daringly entered their castle. In the dim and uncertain light, they were near to shooting the shirt mender before the mistake was discovered.
Pioneer Incident-The grandmother of Arnold Custer had been to the house of a neighbor to warp a piece of cloth. When on her return she was captured by a band of Indians. They went so close to her own house that she heard the cry of her child. She was taken to Quebec and there sold, but managed to escape, she made her way back to her former home in Kentucky. When she arrived home she found that her husband in some way had heard of the prisoners being carried to Quebec and had started to go for her. She immediately started back upon the weary road to the Canadas, seeking her husband. When she had traveled some few days she saw some men who were burying a body in a field near the road. She went over to them and found that it was her husband, who had been attacked with fever but a few days after he left home, and had died the day before, after a lingering illness of several weeks.
Mr. James Jackson settled near Kent in November of this year. Gideon Gordon and Bill Thicksteen were also settlers in that neighborhood in this year.
The Benefiels, two brothers, from Kentucky; McLeland, also from Kentucky, settled in what is now Shelby township, in the fall of this year. Mr. Wm. C. McLeland came here that year. All of these settled near to and around Buchanan's Station or blockhouse.
Buchanan's Station was built in 1813 by William Buchanana, Joh and David, his brothers, and George Benefiel, upon the land of the three Buchanan's. The fort was a square building of sixty feet front, built solid, and pierced with loop-holes for firing from. The upper story-rather the roof-projected over the wall of the main building, so as to overlook the sides. There were four block houses in a line, extending about 300 or 400 feet, in which the families of the country congregated and lived when danger of an Indian raid was feared. It was at this time the extreme frontier of the country in that direction, and was garrisoned the greater part of the time, for three or four years, by the rangers under Capt. Dunn and Capt. Hillis.
It was situated about three miles north-east of Canaan on the line dividing Jefferson and Ripley counties.
DR. ISRAEL T. CANBY was a large owner of town property in Madison. He came here about 1816, and lived here for many years, removing from here to Crawfordsville, some time about 1830. He was the father of Gen. R. Canby of the United States Army, who was killed by the Modocs in the lava fields. Gen. Canby was a boy when the doctor, his father, came here, and entered West Point from here.
Early County Roads-The early roads of the county were merely traces through the woods, but they sufficed for the use of the inhabitants, for there was but little matter to be transported and transportation was principally on horseback. Wagons were rarely used, and these of the heaviest and most cumbrous kind. The early settlers of this county, for the greater part at least, had but little possessions in the way of household goods, and these were carried on horseback from their former homes. After wagons and Dearborns came into tolerably general use, roads were cut through the forests. The first one leading out of Madison to the north, was up the point of the hill at the head of Mulberry street. Traces of this may be still seem along the point. This led to the Vawter neighborhood on the top of the Michigan Hill, and thence to where North Madison now is, and out to the neighborhood of Wirt. The road up to Ryker's Ridge was up the river to Eagle Hollow, and up Eagle to the first long hollow putting into it from the left, and up this on to the ridge. At this point, the Lawrenceburg road bore off to the east, going up the next long hollow coming down from the right. Later, the State road was made up the hill on the west side of Irish Hollow; coming to the top of the hill just opposite to the present toll-gate on the North Madison pike, and thence west of northm, through Wirt and Dupont. Just at the top of the hill, and between this road and the railroad, on the west side of the railroad cut, stood the first church built in the county, a Baptist metting-house, built by the Vawters principally, and called Mt. Pleasant.
Early County Roads-The early roads of the county were merely traces through the woods, but they sufficed for the use of the inhabitants, for there was but little matter to be transported and transportation was prinicpally on horseback. Wagons were rarely used, and these of the heaviest and most cumbrous kind. The early settlers of this county, for the greater part at least, had but little possessions in the way of household goods, and thses were carried on horseback from their former homes. After wagons and Dearborns came into tolerably general use, roads were cut through the forests. The first one leading out of Madison to the north, was up the point of the hill at the head of Mulberry street. Traces of this may still be seen along the point. This led to the Vawter neighborhood on the top of the Michigan Hill, and thence to where North Madison now is, and out to the neighborhood on the top of the Michigan Hill, and thence to where North Madison now is, and out to the neighborhood of Wirt. The road up to Ryker's Ridge was up the river to Eagle Hollow, and up Eagle to the first long hollow putting into it from the left, and up this on to the ridge. At this point, the Lawrenceburg road bore off to the east, going up the next long hollow coming down from the right. Later, the State road was made up the hill on the west side of Irish Hollow; coming to the top of the hill just opposite to the present toll-gate on the North Madison pike, and thence west of north, through Wirt and Dupont. Just at the top of the hill, and between this road and the railroad, on the west side of the railroad cut, stood the first church built in the county, a Baptist meeting house, built by the Vawters prinicipallym and called Mt. Pleasant.
After this, was opened up the Graham road, going up Crooked Creek valley to the head of it, and rising the hill there at the place of Mr. James Wilson, and from there on the range line due north for about seven miles. This was the route of communication for all of the north part of the county. The road extended over to Graham Creek in Ripley county. The Michigan road was laid out in the year 1831, and work was commenced upon it in that year. It led from Madison through Indianapolis to Michigan City on Lake Michigan.
The road to Hanover and the west of the county went along the river and up the hill into Hanover; from there it branched off to Lexington to the west, Ramsey's mills to the northwest, and thence through to Graham Township, and to the south into Saluda.
The roads in early times were like angel's visits; "few and far between."
The first attempt at sepplementing nature, in order to have a firm road that would uphold the travel during the soft times of the winter season and the wet spells of the spring and summer, was the corduroy. This was by splitting rails out of trees, or taking saplings or logs, and putting them across the road on a dirt foundation, which would support the wagons, and prevent "stalling in the mud."
Those who have traveled upon this species of raod need no reminder of the trials and suffering connected with them; and to those who have been accustomed to the advantages of good pikes, it would be an utter imposibility to give such a description of them as to make them fully understood. As has been said: "Seeing is believing; but feeling is the naked truth." Demonstration, by a ride for a few miles upon such a road, is the only way by which appreciation of them could be had. When first placed in position, these rails are covered by a small thinness of dirt, but the rains and shaking of travel soon recovered from this, and the naked rails are left, each one giving its own peculiar jar and jolt.
The necessity of good roads was an axiom ever before the commonuity, and about 1850 to 1854 plank roads were made from Madison to Greensburg, Brownstown, Hanover, Lexington and Vevay. After these roads were tried for a few years, and found to be impracticable on account of the expense attending the repairs needed upon them, they were finally abandoned, and the present system of gravel, or macadamized roads, took their place. The county is now well furnished with these, running from Madison as the center, to all parts of the county, thus making communication, throughout the entire space of it, practicable at all times of the year.
There was an old soldier of the "war of twelve" who formerly lived in Milton township. He was an annual candidate for the Legislature, and always had his tickets printed with the picture of a soldier in the position of "Attention," upon them. His hobby was "the My-shag-in road." His plan was to make a roadbed of charcoal, by making a pit the entire length of the road, and placing the wood in it, burn it, thus leaving the charcoal as the road. Had he succeeded in his plan, there would have been a road resulting from it, far ahead of any we now have, in all of its parts.
This was an entirely new departure, and was looking upon in that day as a chimera of the brain of a man who was what would now be called a crank. Whether it was an original idea of his or not, it has been tested since then, and is found to be of great worth and permanence as a road material. This man's name was Samuel Welsh.
Abolitionism-This county was settled largely by a class of people coming from slave States, who were convinced that human slavery was a sin, and for that reason fled from it in order to raise their families in a territory where its blight would not affect their children. As the Act of Congress passed July 13, 1787, establishing the territory north-west of the Ohio rive, provided: "Article 6 There shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in the said territory, otherwise than in the punishment of crime." These men made Indiana their home.
This feeling of the wrong of slavery was only strengthened by their residence here, and finally developed into what was known as the "Underground Railroad." This incorporal corporation had two distinct routes through Jefferson County. The eastern route having its entrepot in the region of Eagle Hollow, and route of travel by way of "Ryker's Ridge," along Indian Kentucky Creek through Shelby township, thence towards Canada. The western route had its entrepot in Saluda township; route of travel through Hanover, Smyrna, Lancaster and Monroe townships into Ripley county. There were many stations along each of these routes. At each station there was generally a change of conductors. A very lively business was carried on along this road. Many of the active employees are still living.
Many of them were known to the detectives of those days, but so well and secretly did they carry on their work, and so true were they to each other, and to what they held to be the great principle of right for which they strove, that but few convictions were ever made under the law, which they were breaking, or at least disregarding. They will have their reward. It was very seldom that a convoy was seen during daylight. The mode of operating has never been fully divulged, but it ought to be; and a full history of this work and the men engaged in it would make a most facinating book.
RETURN TO TABLE OF CONTENTS Transcribed by Sheila Kell