TOWN FOREFATHES - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Perhaps no township in the county retains so many of its early settlers and pioneers as Riplev. A majority of the lands are still in the hands of the first settlers, or their children. Here still reside the aged veteran, who ecame here when this was an unbroken wilderness, who can point out to you the original location of the moccaisan-footed Indian's trail—can show you where the tirst clearing was made, and where the cabin of the lirst settler stood. "With what pleasures these old heroes—for heroes they are—recite their toils, hardships, and privations of those early days. By your leave, dear reader, the Tattler will briefly mention a few of the pioneers of Ripley, not pretending to strict accuracy as to dates and figures.

Standing on an eminence, near Yountsville, overlooking his magnificent farm is the beautiful residence of Abijah O'Neal, Esq. Mr. O'Neal, though seventy years of age, still retains all the energy and vigor of bis early manhood, and the stranger who should see him at work ou his farm, would not suppose him to be over fifty. Mr. O'Neal camc to this country from Ohio, thirty-five years ago. Unlike most of the early settlers, he brought some capital with him, and immediately set about building a tirst class flouring mill, which was a real benefaction to this then mill-less region. His was the first good mill in the country, the statements of the Trifler a week or two ago to the contrary, notwithstanding. There wore no canals, or railroads then. He purchased wheat at twenty-five cents per bushel, and to sell his flour, had to transport it in wagons to Peru, Ft. Wayne, Indianapolis. Springfield, III., and wherever else he could find a market, he received returns for his flour only once a year, and it netted him only from $1.50 to $2.00 per barrel. Think of that, ye anti-railroad men, who long for those good old Jackson times. Mr. O'Neal is a native of South Carolina. His father was a slaveholder but an anti-slavery man and manumitted his slaves and moved to the then young State of Ohio, saying that he would go to the end of the world but that he would get rid of a poison that he regarded as more deadly than that of the fabled Upas. Mr. O'Neal has represented this county in the Legislature, and has been prominent in county politics for thirty years. He knows all about slavery and his twin brother, bogus Democracy, and hates them both with an honest, an inveterate hatred. Ilis character for benevolence, hospitality and honesty are too well known to need another word

Judge Robert Taylor came to his county 45 years ago, purchasing a tract of 4 or 500 acres of land west of Yountsville, which is still owned by himself and sons, and on which he still resides. He is now prostrated by a paralytic stroke, from which he is not expected to recover. He is now about 90 years of age. I know but little of his history, from the fact that for years his hearing has been so bad that to converse with him was a matter of difficulty. For many years, he was Probate Judge of this county. His sterling integrity and good ommon sense won golden opinions from all.

—Samuel Watson has resided here more than forty years, on the same spot where he first built his humble cabin. He and his excellent wife still retain perfect health of body and mind, though they have been married forty-seven years. Mr. Watson is the youngest old man I ever knew. Though seventy-two, his step is as firm and his body erect as a boy of 20. He commenced his career as a bound boy, being apprenticed to a wheel-right. He was sent, by his master, as a substitute in the war of 1812, and served under Gen. Harrison at Ft. Meigs. Being paid off he came home and paid over every dollar of his wages to his master, who in the largency of his heart gave Sammy 12 1/2.cents, all in one piece! Mr. Watson made all the chairs on which our fathers sat, and the wheels, "little and big," on which our mothers spun, thirty and forty years ago. By his industry and economy he has acquired a competence. He is a great reader, and is thoroughly informed on all subjects. He is one of those sterling characters whose integrity, honesty, and simple habits, some of those flippant writers who make sport of the "Tattler's clothes" would do well to copy. —

Toliver Larch has probably trodden these hills longer than any other person now living. lie, too, is about seventy, still hale and active—still able to knock about his farm—walking, it is estimated, twenty miles every day. He came here in 1823, with no capital but his own stout arms and brave heart, and lived the first winter with "Uncle Johnny Stonebraker" in an open camp, on land now owned by Wm. McClelland. Only three sides of this camp were enclosed, while in front they kept a roaring fire of logs day and night. He says that he enjoyed himself better that winter than he ever has since, though he now lives in a style befitting his ample means. Mr. Larsh (sic) kept "Bach" living alone and claring land for himself and others for 15 years. He first settled and improved the farm now owned by Jesse Titus, but selling it he purchased, partly of the government and partly second-hand, the magnifcent half section on which he still resides. He still points out through field and wood the routes he mowed through the nettles, from his own camp to those of Johnny Stonebraker and Johnny Swearingen, his two only neighbors and tells of his solitary rambles' mid wolves and rattlesnakes. Mr. Larsh is of French descent, his ancestors living at Kaskaskia, when the great West was a howling wilderness. Though a man of sound common sense, and splendid natural abilities, his life has been too active to admit, of extensive reading. Though somewhat eccentric, he has the biggest heart of any man in Indiana, in fact he is all heart—there is no gizzard about him. He is a type of that noblt- manhood which is fast passing away.

"Ill fares the land to hastening ills a prey,

Where wealth accumulates, and men decay,

Princes and lords may perish or may fade

A breath can make them as a breath has made,

But a bold peasantry, their country's pride,

When once destroyed can never be supplied."

There are other pioneers in Ripley, but to notice them now would crowd your space, [will speak of George Fruits, M'm. Denman and others in a future article. TOM TATTLER.