Alamo history - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal 16 December 1869  (thanks to Kim H

Correspondence of the Cincinnati Gazette.

This township (Ripley) is situated in the western part of Montgomery county, and was settled by emigrants from Butler county, Ohio, in the year 1824. Many of them built the first cabins in old Butler, and helped hew out her grand old forests—but. wishing homes for their children, they came here, and, with their brave hearts and strong arms, commenced life anew amid the unbroken forests of Rock River or Sugar Creek.

About the same time a few settlers came from Warren county, Ohio, and a few years later, say from 1830 to 1840, scores of emigrants came from Hamilton county, Ohio, principally from Colerain township. So you see we have a young Ohio out here in Indiana.

As it might be interesting to some of your readers, in those counties I have spoken of, I will mention a few of the names of the early pioneers of this township; Charles Swearingen, and his two sons—John and Joseph.  Robert Gilkey, and his six grown up sons—John, Samuel, James, William, Daniel and Squier. Charles Rountree and his sons—John, Meredith, Jonas and Wesley. William Denman and his family. All these were from Butler. Of these but few are living to tell the story of hardships and privation of the old settlers. All that survive are Joseph Swearingen, William Denman, William and Daniel Gilkey. Mr. Denman is the oldest survivor, and is now eighty-six years old, and in feeble health. He will soon pass away. Many of those hardy veterans lived to sec their sons and grandsons settled around them, on good farms, and one of them, Charles Roundtree, lived to see a numerous progeny of great grandchildren, all enjoying good homes and the sweets of civilized life, and in a vicinity seldom excelled for its good morals and literature.   

  From Warren came the Palmers, Ramseys, Elmores, McKinseys, and a little later the Smiths and O'Nealls. None of those old men are now living. Thomas and Matthias Elmore, sons of Jacob Elmore, still survive.

Mr. Abijah O'Neall, who came here about the year 1836, still lives on the "home farm," and enjoys one of the finest situations in the county. The numerous immigrants from Hamilton county were the Bolsers, Werts, Campbells, Ammermans and a host of others, and are still living.

Old George Bolser, the soldier, hunter and hero, who came here in the spring of 1838, and opened the way for the stream of immigration that has poured in since, and who erected the mansion in which I now write, has gone to his rest, and has left the most numerous progeny of any of the "old settlers."

I must not forget to mention the name of Toliver Larsh, who came from Preble county, Ohio, forty-five years ago, and still resides on the old homestead, but is failing rapidly. Jefferson Larsh, of the Eaton Register, is a nephew of his.

And Capt. Samuel Watson, who came from Butler county, in the year 1826, must have honorable mention among the rest. He is seventy-four years old, walks as straight as an arrow, and to all human appearances has many years to enjoy among his old friends and young ones.