HISTORY OF RIPLEY TOWNSHIP - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

    The date of the erection of the first cabin within the present limits of Ripley township, though not positively known, may be placed at some time during the summer of 1820, thus making it one of the pioneer townships of the county.  This first claim was taken out near what is now Yountsville by Wilson Claypool.  His cabin was built upon the bank of Sugar Creek above what is known as Indian Ford.  Claypool, however sold the land with its improvements to John Swerengen who settled here in October 1822, coming from Ohio.  In June of the same year, Mickelberry Ham came with his wife and four children from Kentucky and built a cabin near the mouth of Mill Creek. This cabin was very primitive; its floor was the solid earth, its furniture, such as unskilled hands with a limited number of tools could fashion, was of the green trees, and in its windows paper was saturated with the fat of the game slain in the vicinity.  About this time Daniel Hopkins took up his abode in the wilderness, living near where Yountsville now stands.

    By 1825 there were quite a number of residents in this township.  Since these early settlers usually possessed a roving character, after making a few limited improvements, they sold their lands to those of a more settled disposition.

    In September 1825, Joe Swerengen, who became an undertaker at Alamo, came with his father from Butler County, Ohio where he was born in 1808.  This family made the first fanning-mill in the county.  The wheat had been previously prepared for grinding by the primitive and tedious process of throwing it into the air in which the same manner that the children of Israel adopted while in the Egyptian captivity.

   Cincinnati was for several years the “supply depot” of these pioneers. There they would take their bacon, sugar made from the trees, abundant in this township and such of their grain as was not needed for home consumption. These they exchanged for the necessities of life which their county didn’t produce.

    The first organized settlement was made at Alamo in 1836. Alamo was officially laid out in 1837, on land of Samuel Truax. The establishment of this village was the result of an attempt at speculation made by Mr. Truax and Mr. Boyce.  Mr. Boyce was a surveyor who figured in the original of several village sin Indiana at that time. The plan was a simple one; they would describe a village, with streets named in honor of some revolutionary hero with blocks and lots all regularly numbered with a city square.  Describing it as a promising location for young men with energy.  They would advertise it in the eastern papers and wait until the greater portion of the lots were sold to persons who thought they ad bought a good business location in a thriving western village. The promoters would then watch their grief as they viewed their lot – the only recognizable feature a small stake driven into the ground. This plan did not succeed in Alamo; however, the lots were sold at auction to any one who would buy.

    The first store was built in 1840 by Noah Grimes, who figured largely in the earlier enterprises of the little village; Stub(b)ins and Mille(i)gen built one soon after. By 1880 it had three stores, one harness shop, three blacksmiths, two wagon shops, an undertaker, and a saw mill, the business of each compared favorably with those of other small towns. Barney Deets erected the first cabin in the city of Alamo.

    Yountsville, lying upon the banks of Sugar Creek in the northeastern portion of the township, dates its existence as an important business place back to the year 1840, when Allen (Adam) and Dan Yount began, though on a small scale, the manufacture of woolen goods.  In the beginning they simply operated a carding mill.  In 1849 a new and larger mill, a wooden structure was built. Looms were put in this mill and they began doing their first spinning and weaving.  In 1864 a two-story brick mill, 50’ by 75’ (still standing) with turbine wheel, was built on Sugar Creek where Mill Creek joins it.  

     The business done by the mill was about $75,000 per year in the height of production. Dan Yount is an example of a business man who has succeeded without advertising. Scarcely ever losing a customer, he knew no need of printer’s ink.  In 1875 Dan Yount took his son, Andrew and son-in-law, Wycliff Whitehead into the business.

 After the death of Dan Yount, September 30, 1890, the business was reorganized as a stock company, under the name of Yount Woolen Company The business never prospered, due to changed conditions, and finally, in 1905, the mill was closed down and remained idle ever afterwards. The J. Snyder’s flouring mill which was also located in Yountsville, did a thriving business.

    Thus, this little humming industrial center, set up in the wilderness by the foresight, industry and integrity of Dan Yount, having fulfilled its mission, eventually succumbed to the onward march of a developing country.  Today not one business is in operation in Yountsville.

    Methodism, the pioneer religion in many portions of the northwest, was the first to be preached in this township. What is now Yountsville Methodist Church was in 1836 included in the Coal Creek Mission, which then had nearly 20 members. In July 1842, the society at Yountsville was organized by John Smith, presiding elder and Daniel Demont, circuit rider – a result of a revival held during the summer.  A house of worship was built in which its society still worships. At Alamo there were originally three church buildings: Presbyterian, Methodist, Episcopal and Union.  By 1880 the Union Church had closed its doors. Today the Christian Church is the only one in Alamo.

    The first school established in 1828 was taught by James A. Gilkey. Mark Truax offers us a realistic picture of the first schoolhouse.  “The name of this institution of learning was the Potato Hole.  Its walls were the usual round logs with their clay chinking and the accompanying fireplace and stick chimney. Its window light was greased newspaper.  There were no desks. The seats were benches made  oaken slabs with pink legs inserted in auger holes. The summit of study was Pike’s arithmetic and Murray’s grammar. No series of readers were in use in the pioneer schools of that day. Scholars brought such books as their homes afforded and they read from them.”

    The Alamo schools soon grew beyond the puncheon-floor stage and were modern enough to use the famous McGuffey Readers. School records survive bearing the names of Davis, Gilkey, Galloway, Roundtree and Swearingen as teachers. In 1869 the Alamo Academy was built, the trustees being James A. Gilkey, Thomas Elmore, JM Simpson, Philips Sparks and John W. Copner.  The school ran quite successfully for a few terms, when a number of adverse circumstances combined to break up the interest felt in it by the citizens and the building was bought by the township for common-school purposes. In 1893 the Yountsville school was built, which later consolidated with the Alamo School. This school is the only one in operation in Ripley Township today.

    This township claims that within its borders lived one of the oldest men in the state, or even the United States; he was George Fruits, who was born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1762 and moved to Kentucky during its early history. He participated in some of the earlier Indian Wars. He died August 6, 1876 at the age of about 114 years. The fact that he did not use stimulants or tobacco is evidence that a man may live without their aid and die at a ripe old age.

    In 1859 a good road connected the town of Yountsville with Crawfordsville and the same year the Yountsville covered bridge was opened with fitting ceremonials.  There were speeches and toasts and “sweet strains of music were rendered by the Yountsville Silver Cornet Band.”  The citizens were looking forward to the day when their town might rival the county seat and become the textile center of western Indiana. This plan never got off the ground and the village died.

    Wesley Roundtree, of Alamo, a genial, well-to-do and intelligent farmer was born in Butler County, Ohio in 1825, and moved to Ripley in 1827 with his parents, Charles and Sarah (Hayes) Roundtree.  Young Wesley was given what education was afforded by the limited common school system of his day, and made use of all the means usually falling within the reach of a backwoods farmer’s boy. He owned 280 acres of land and was happy in the company of his better half  Florence S, the accomplished daughter of Dr. (Iral T) Brown, of Alamo whom he married February 5, 1872.  They had no children.  Mr. Roundtree joined the Masonic Fraternity in 1856; signed the first temperance pledge he ever saw and was an uncompromising enemy of King Alcohol.  In politics he was a Republican.

    Abijah R. Bayless, a liveryman of Alamo and the son of William and Elizabeth (Grant) Bayless, was born in Trenton, NJ Feb 24, 1818.  His parents moved to Butler County, Ohio when he was but one year old and in October 1828, they moved to this township. At an early period of his life, Mr. Bayless was taught the shoe-making trade.  He worked at this trade, together with farming, until his marriage, Nov 1, 1838 to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Joseph and Sarah Patterson. She was born October 22, 1817. He then gave his entire attention to farming until 1843.  Then he came to Alamo a city of the woods, where he again followed shoe-making for nine years. He then returned to the farm, which he tilled until 1870 and then returned to Alamo and went into the dry-goods business.  Two years later he again returned to shoemaking. In 1880 he started a business of fine horses and carriages for the accommodation of the public. Mr. Bayless’s public educational advantages were limited, yet he improved such as he had, and was a thinking man. Born and reared a Democrat, he voted that ticket until 1856 and then, believing human slavery to be unjust, he voted for Fremont and became a radical Republican. Eight children were born to this venerable couple. Mary A (Sparks).  William T.  John G (both members of the 135^th Ind. Inf).  Jas. F.  Harriet A (Craig), Alice E (Riley) and Sarah E, an infant having died.  Mr. Bayless was a believer in man’s universal salvation, he was one of the originators of that church here. He had been township treasurer; and he was a prominent member of the Masonic order.

    Joseph B. Tylor of Yountsville, son of Judge Robert Taylor, was born here in 1828, his father having moved here in 1826.  Mr. Taylor was the proprietor of 240 acres of good farm land which his nephew, JW Taylor worked. Mr. Taylor lived with his nephew. In his youth he was quite delicate and his manhood was what might be expected of a broken-down youth. Mr. Taylor’s political faith was Democratic; he wasn’t connected with any church of other organizations, and traveled this weary world alone.  

    John A. Clark, Alamo, son of Elijah and Elizabeth (Smith) Clark, was born in Rockingham County, Virginia, both parents being born in Virginia. In 1838 he came with his parents to Ripley township, settling on Section 36.  His father being a miller, John, was brought up to that profession. In 1864 he took possession of the Clark Mills on Sugar Creek where he remained until 1874.  Then he moved to Alamo and built the Alamo Champion Steam Planing Mills and ran them with good success until June 5, 1876, when they were destroyed by fire, entailing a loss of about $7,000.  In November 1878 he removed to Harveysburg and took charge of the Bodine Mills and in 1879 returned and ran the planning mill at Alamo, which had been rebuilt, while his son, William E, took charge of the old Clark Mills. On Jan 27, 1853 Mr. Clark was united in marriage to Elizabeth A. Ammerman who was born Jan 27, 1837 in Hamilton County, Ohio.  They had three children: William E, born November 18, 1854 married to Miss Ella Hurtt; Elbert A, born May 26, 1876 died July 4, 1864 and another dying in infancy.  Mr. Clark was trustee of his township for four years, commencing in 1870 and was a prominent Democrat.  He joined the Alamo Lodge, AF & AM March 31, 1858 and IOOF Jan 11, 1868.  He has held all offices.  He was united with the Disciples or Christian Church.

    Dan Yount, manufacturer of woolen goods, Yountsville, son of Andrew and Eve (Sink) Young (sic – Yount) was born in Montgomery County, Ohio Nov 3, 1807.  His ancestors came from Germany about 1740 and settled in North Carolina. At 11 years of age Dan began work in a woolen mill then owned by his father near Dayton Ohio. In 1827 he settled in Tippecanoe County about fives miles south of Lafayette. In 1835 he moved to Attica, Indiana where he lived for about a year.  Early in 1840 he removed to what is now Yountsville, erecting in company with his brother, Adam, a small carding-mill.  April 30, 1830, Mr. Yount was married to Sarah Price (of Welsh descent), born in Maryland 1811. She died greatly respected June 19, 1878.  They had five children. “Uncle Dan,” as he was familiarly known was brought up in the faith of the Society of Friends but in July 1842, there being no such organization here, he united with the Methodist Episcopal Church.  His politics were Republican.

    Frank Hammel, a Yountsville farmer was born in Wayne County, Indiana, March 3, 1834 and moved to this county in 1846. He was the son of George and Susan (Merideth) Hammel, his father having emigrated from Germany about 1825.  Mr. Hammel was educated at what once was called the “Farmer’s Institute,” but is now only known in history and the memories of its students.  At the age of 18 he began teaching, working on the farm in summer.  His first school was taught in District No 5 (Ridge Farm ?) of this township.  October 4, 1862, he was married to Miss Sarah Gilkey.  They had three children.  Mr. Hammel was a member of the Masonic fraternity and owned 80 acres of land in Sec 1.  He was a Republican.  

 George W. Bowers was a farmer near Alamo and a trustee of the township. Son of David and Catherine (Grimes) Bowers, he was born in Putnam County Nov 3, 1840 where Dec 6, 1866 he was married to Miss Sarah J. Denham of this township who was born September 25, 1849. In 1867 he settled in Ripley Township and owned and tilled 88 acres of its land. Mr. Bowers took a lively interest in political issues and was an active member of the Ripley Grange.  In religion Mr. Bowers followed the teaching of Martin Luther. There were three bright boys in this family.  Charles A, born Sept 8, 1826; Homer D, Feb 23, 1870 and Pearl O. April 24, 1877.  Mr. Bowers was a man well spoken of by his acquaintances and was president of the Detective Association which was organized at Alamo in 1880.  

    Allen Byers, a farmer of Yountsville and the son of James and Sophronia (Barns) Byers, was born in Hamilton County, Ohio Sept 18, 1847. At a very early age he was by their death deprived of both parents.  He lived with his grandparents until his marriage on Feb 10, 1870 when he was united in marriage to Miss Mary L. Little, daughter of Ellic and Naomi (Fletcher) Little. They had three children: Estella, born Sept 6, 1871; James E, born Dec 10 1876 and Coral E born July 2, 1879. Mr. Byers and wife were descendants of old Virginia stock; the records of their arrival in America were lost.  Mr. Byers arrived in this county in March 1870 and lived on his farm of 102 acres in Sec 1. He was a member of the IOOF and his politics were Democratic.

---

 

Alamo began as a speculative town after settlement in Ripley Township had advanced to the point that a trading center was necessary. Samuel Truax recognized this and in 1836, he laid out a town at the corner of his acreage. The town was named for the site of the massacre in Texas’ war for independence.

 The town’s major industry in early years was cooperage. Noah Grimes opened the first store there in 1840. A pottery factory was o located at the eastern end of the town.  Through the 19^th century and into the early 20^th century, Alamo served as a local trading center. It has remained the largest community in Ripley Township.

 Alamo’s economic activity failed to develop most notably because of the lack of railroad service.  Today it is a quiet residential (ends here).

Below we have two photos that accompanied the history: