SETTLEMENT OF JENNINGS COUNTY
November 16, 1887 - North Vernon Plain Dealer
No Author given - William G. Norris was Editor and Proprietor of the paper at the time this was written.
Settlement of Jennings County
The first land in Jennings County entered by patent from the United States, and consequently the first land owned
by any white man, was entered by Robert Russell, September 9, 1811. It was the northeast quarter of section 15, township 5, range 8, 160
acres, and now belongs mostly to James C. Shepherd, though a few acres are held by Mary F. Shepherd.
The second tract entered was southeast quarter of section 10, township 5, range 8, 160 acres, by John H. Graham,
May 10, 1812. The settlement of Mr. Graham gave his name to the stream which flowed through his land, and it is still known as Graham Creek.
A part of this land also belongs to James C. Shepherd and his residence is situated upon it. The remainder belongs to George B. Lewis,
Thomas J. James and Lucinda Barclay.
The third entry was the northeast quarter of sectiom, same township and range, by Isaac Hall, August 7, 1812, and
and is now the property of WM. H. Lawrence and Wilfred Wilkerson. The fourth was by Solomon Deputy, December 27, 1813 the southeast quarter
the southeast quarter of section 30, now owned by Solomon Deputy. The fifth, October 25, 1814, now held by Pierson COnkling, Mary F. Shepherd
and E. R. Shepherd, the northeast quarter of section 25. These tracts are all in the same congressional township, and were all land entered
previous to 1815.
On the 20th day of May, 1819, Vawter and McClure entered the land where Vernon now stands, and considerable quantities
were soon after taken up in that part of the county. In 1820 Nicholas Amick entered largely near where Scipio now stands, taking up in all
about 2300 acres. Section 34, in which North Vernon is situated was entered: The northeast quarter by Alanson Andrews in 1829 and 1831; the
southeast quarter by Andrew Young in 1818; the east half of southwest quarter by John Newland in 1825, and the west half of this quarter by
Wesley Todd in 1831.
Elihu Galloway, the southest quarter of section 12, town 8, range 9, September 15. It is now owned by the Albright
heirs and Robert Elliott.
Allen Campbell, the southeast quarter of section 28, town 7, range 9, now owned by Friends church, Nathan Engle, Hannah
Walton, J. V. Milhous and Wm. Kuntz.
Lewis Foutz, the southeast quarter of section 17, town 7, range 9, now owned by the Hutton family.
Isaac Ellis, the southest quarter of section 3, on the 11th of September. This is in Columbia township and is now owned
by Hiram Elliott.
In Bigger township two settlements were made one year earler. On February 10th, 1816, Isaac Hollman entered the northwest
quarter of section 9, now owned by Thomas COnboy. David Little, O.S. Edwards, James Silver and Dr. Kendrick. And on September 11th, 1816, Wm.
McClure, ser., entered the northwest quarter of section 24 now owned by John M. Stanley, and Thomas and Luther Bland.
The last tracts entered were in 1852, as follows: September 28, northwest fourth of southwest quarter of section 15, town
7, range 8, now owned by J.C. Burt and situated in Center township. August 10th northeast fourth of northeast quarter of section 14, town 7, range
9, now owned and occupied by Samuel M. Chaille, of Campbell township. May 20th, the west half of the southwest quarter of section 1, town 6, range
9, owned by John H. Johnson, of Bigger township. On the same day, the northwest fourth of the southeast quarter of section 8, town 7, range 8, in
Geneva township, now owned by Wm Schuyler.
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