OFFIELD, Wm - remembered
Source: Crawfordsville Daily Journal Friday, 24 November 1893
In 1881, while P. S. Kennedy was writing the history of Montgomery County, he wrote Hon. Arch Johnston asking him his recollections of William Offield, the first settler of the county. Mr. Johnston replied and the material facts as set forth in the following letter were embraced in the history which is in book form and which may be found in many private libraries. In running through some old papers yesterday, Mr. Kennedy found the letter, which is here reproduced:
Darlington, Ind., Jan. 12, 1881—Mr. P. S. Kennedy—Dear Sir:--Yours of the 10th, inquiring after Mr. Offield is before me. In the fall of 1820 my father moved from Washington County, this state, to what is now Morgan County, on White River, four miles below the bluffs, about twenty four miles below Indianapolis, and stopped within one half mile of Mr. Offield’s. He (Offield) had raised a crop of corn that summer (1820). I was at a corn husking at his home in the fall. I think Mr. Offield came from Tennessee. I know not where he was born. He was a rather small or medium sized man, rather slender built, about five feet, nine or ten inches in height, would weight about 150 pounds, sandy complected, with blue eyes, was a considerable of a hunter and loved backwoods life. I know nothing of his education, but he had some knowledge of things around him, for he traveled through the woods by the section lines, which were fresh in this country at that time. It was said of him that when he became confused in the woods, he would butt his head against a tree until his senses would come to him. In the winter of 1821 four men, living close neighbors, determined to leave White River on account of over much ague. My father, Thomas Johnston, Jubal Dewees, John Sigler and William Offield all left home in February 1821, to hunt a location. Offield, being a pioneer by nature, went off alone and settled in this county, the other three going to where Greencastle now stands, making his road as he traveled. He hired a young man by the name of Andrew Sigler, to come with him when he moved to take the wagon back that he moved in. Sigler was telling me about the trip only a few years ago. He said when they came to a steep hill, Offield would cut down a small tree and make the butt fast to the hind part of the wagon as a break to go down the hill. Mr. Offield did not remain here very long until he went back to Tennessee, but as I see by the history of the early settlement of this county, he was one of the first commissioners that met March 1st, 1823. it was said that Offield was the first settler in this county. I am very sure that he came here in February 1821. I think the man that wrote the article you sent me is mistaken about Offield’s age. I don’t think he was over 30 when I knew him in 1821; 1841 would be 20 years after, which would make him about 50 years old when the writer stayed overnight with him. This is about all I can recollect about Mr. Offield, as I was a boy and my acquaintance with him but short.
Yours as ever,
Arch Johnston