In this township, more than any other in the county, where the Indian villages, the Indian battlefields, the first trading posts and the first settlements. While the first settler in the county was John Vannest, in Clinton township, in 1816, Eugene township was more rapidly settled at the beginning than was Clinton. It was in Eugene township that the Groenendykes, Thompsons, Porters, Armours, Colletts, Hepburns, Colemans, Malones, Naylor, Shelbys, etc. settled, all on the Big Vermillion River. Most of these have numerous and prominent descendants. Although the first mill in the county is claimed for Clinton Township, -- built by John Beard in 1819 or '20, -- probably the first large and reliable mill in the county was built by John Groenendyke, about the same time or shortly after, on the Big Vermillion, at the point in the northern portion of the village of Eugene still occupied by the largest and best mill in the county.
The following list of early settlers is not designed to be a complete catalogue; it is only a chronological classification of some of the most important arrivals, from the data available.
1816. -- Noah Hubbard, with a wife and a large number of children. After residing here many years he became a Mormon and went to Missouri, to join his people, then to Nauvoo, Illinois, remaining with them until they were driven away from there, about 1847, when he returned to this county and began preaching the peculiar doctrine. Rejoining the Mormon colony at Council Bluffs, Iowa, he died there. His wife, Catharine, then returned to this section of the country, and finally died near this county, in Illinois. Their daughter Pamelia, married a man named Curtis.
1818. -- Isaac Coleman settled three miles
south of Eugene, on the little prairie since known by his name. Judge J. M. Coleman came to the township a subsequent year, from Virginia, settling on section 16, 17 north, 9 west and was long intimately associated with the Colletts. He had helped to lay out the city of Indianapolis, and also the town of Terre Haute, where he also built the old court-house. in this county he was one of the first grand jurors and associate judges. He afterward moved to Iowa City, where he built the State house, died and was buried.
This year came Major James Blair, who settled on the northeast quarter of section 16, 17 north, 9 west; and at his cabin on this place was held the first court in the county. Mr. Blair had been a sharp-shooter on Lake Erie under Commodore Perry, in the war of 1812, when he was detailed to shoot at the Indians in the rigging of the British war vessels; but at the very first fire of Perry's artillery the Indians were so frightened that they hastily "scuttled" down into the hold, and there were no Indians for Mr. Blair to do his duty upon. As his vessel sailed past the British men-of-war, he could see the glittering tin canisters down through the muzzles of their guns. For his faithful services, Mr. Blair received a medal from the Government. On one occasion, after he became a resident of this county, he was a candidate for the Legislature, he attended a shooting-match, participated, and aimed so well that every man present voted for him at the ensuing election! On still another occasion he played an amusing trick upon the simple-minded pioneers and Indians, in the settlement of a controversy between them. See section on Indians.
Blair married a daughter of Judge Coleman, resided for a time on Coleman's Prairie, and then moved up the river and founded Perrysville, which place he named in honor of his brave commander, Commodore O. H. Perry, remaining there until his death.Both Blair and Coleman had an intimate acquaintance with the Indians, and lived in friendship with them for a number of years. It frequently fell to their lot to act as peace-makers between the Indians and what were termed the "border ruffians," who were much the worse class of the two. These two pioneers always spoke in the highest terms of Se-Seep, the last chief who lived in the vicinity, who was said to be 110 years old when he was foully murdered by a renegade Inidan of his own tribe. Like the fading autumn leaves, the aborigines of the forest died away. The guns and dogs of the white man frightened away the game from their hunting grounds, or destroyed it, and the virtue of a dire necessity called upon them to emigrate, to make room for the ax and plow, the cabin and the school-house, of the incoming white man.
1819. -- John Groenendyke came from near Ovid, Cayuga County, New York, first to Terre Haute in 1818, and the next year to this county, settling on the Big Vermillion where Eugene now stands. He was the father of James -- who built the "Big Vermillion," the first large grist-mill in the county already referred to -- and Samuel, and the grandfather of Hon. John Groenendyke and his cousin Samuel, and also the grandfather of the present Colletts. The name was originally Van Groenendycke, which the express agent at Eugene, Samuel, has abbreviated still further to Grondyke -- a word of two syllables, the first syllable being pronounced groan. The first family of this line came to America from Holland with the Knickerbockers in 1617, settling in New Amsterdam (New York).
1821. -- James Armour settled here soon after Mr. Groenendyke, and assisted in building the mill; he moved to Illinois over twenty
years ago. Alexander Arrasmith, born in Kentucky, in 1795, emigrated to Sullivan County, Indiana, in 1818, and in 1821 (or 1824 according to one authority) to this county. He died at his residence two and a half miles south of Eugene, January 15, 1875, having been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church for forty years. He was the father of Richard Arrasmith, born in Sullivan County in 1818, and of Thomas Arrasmith, a wagon-maker at Newport.
1822. -- William Thompson, father of James, John and Andrew, and of Mrs. Jane Shelby, from Pennsylvania, settling near the big spring a mile south of Eugene, since known by his name. Their descendants have been economical, industrious and fortunate, accumulating a large amount of property. This year also came Benjamin Shaw, from Vigo County, but originally from Kentucky, and settled near Eugene, and afterward on the Little Vermillion, about five miles west of Newport, where he died nearly half a century afterward. The widow, nee Elizabeth Elliott, who was born in Shelby County, Kentucky, October 21, 1802, survived until November 19, 1884, when she died in Terre Haute, a member of the Baptist church. After the death of her husband she moved to Eugene and lived there until 1879. They were the parents of ten children, three of whom survived their mother, namely, Mrs. Wilson Naylor, Mrs. John Groenendyke and Robert E. Shaw, who was born here in 1829; they all reside in Terre Haute. Andrew Tipton, born in Kentucky in 1800, came here in 1822, and remained until his death, and J. W. Tipton, from Ohio, settled on the Wabash River. His daughter Polly married Mr. Johnson, and died April 2, 1876, in the eighty-second year of her age, a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church.
1823. -- Lewis Jones located here probably about 1823, and died many years ago. J. A. Jones, born in 1821, was brought here in 1823.
1824. -- Jones Lindsey, born in Ohio in 1818, came here this year. The next year there arrived Oliver Lindsey, born in the same State in 1807. Both are still living in this county. Judge Rezin Shelby, who became very wealthy, died many years ago. His wife, nee Jane Thompson, who came two years previously, was born in Pennsylvania in 1798, and died but a few years ago. Their son, Major David Shelby, died in the last war.
1825. -- The parents of James Sheward, who was born this year. Ezekiel Sheward died fifteen or eighteen years ago.
1826. -- William Fultz, Sr., born in Pennsylvania in 1805, with his wife Nancy, came to Eugene Township either this year or in 1828, locating on Sand Prairie. They had thirteen children, and are not now living. The parents of Joseph Holtz, who was born in Ohio in 1822, came to the county this year. John Holtz, born in the same State the same year, settled here in 1834.
1827. -- Samuel W. Malone, born in Ohio in 1810, came to Helt Township, this county, in 1824, and to Eugene in 1827, where he is still living, running a hotel. W. M. Newman, born in Virginia in 1811, still living here. Mariin Patrick came some time prior to 1827. Hiram Patrick, born here in 1829, is still here, and William Patrick, born in this county in 1831, lived here many years and went to Missouri. Thomas Patrick is yet aother old resident. This year or previously came the father of John Ross, who was born in Ohio in 1829, and brought here the same year.
1828. -- Ignatius Sollars, who died in June, 1833. Nancy, wife of Truman Sollars, died September 15, 1869, aged fifty-seven and a
half years. Mrs. Jane Case, widow of Philo Case, was born in Pennsylvania in 1809, and died here long ago. Matthew Cole, born in Ohio in 1824, was brought to this county in 1828, as was also Jesse Smith, from Tennessee, the year of his birth. The latter died long ago. This year came also W. L. Naylor, and the next year Lewis T. Naylor, who is living here. Both were born in Ohio, W. L. in 1821, and Lewis T. in 1826. Benjamin Naylor, another old resident, was born also in 1826. Jacob Iles, who died many years ago, was the father of James B., born in 1829, and Jacob H., born in 1833, both in this county.
1829. -- John Hepburn, Sr.., who was born in Virginia in 1800, died here about 1880. John Hepburn Jr., was born in this county in 1833. William Hepburn was born in Ohio in 1823, and was brought here in 1829. (The above name is pronounced heburn.) Enoch W. Lane, born in Ohio in 1798, died over thirty years ago.
1830. -- John Sims, born in Virginia in 1808, lived a mile and a half south of Eugene a number of years ago. "Crate" Sims, his son, was born in Virginia the same year. Charles S. Little, from Virginia, located near Eugene in 1830, and died in 1852, at the age of sixty-three years. His wife, whose maiden name was Rachel Moore, died, seven miles southwest of Newport, in 1881, aged eighty-one years. (See sketch of Rufus P. Little.)
Rev. Enoch Kinsbury came from Massachusetts to Eugene abut the year 1830, and organized the Presbyterian church which still survives at that place. His wife Fanny G. taught school there for a time. Their eldest son, James G. Kingsbury, one of the editors and publishers of the Indiana Farmer at Indianapolis, was born at the residence of Dr. Asa R. Palmer two miles north of Eugene, in 1832. The same year the family removed to Danville, Illinois, where Mr. Kingsbury organized a church and preached for many years. He also acted as a home missionary, preaching in neighboring counties both in Indiana and Illinois, till the close of his life in 1868.
1831. -- Harrison Alderson, who died in early day. His wife Elizabeth, born in Virginia in 1822, has also been long deceased.
1832. -- Phil and Milo Hosford, Twins, born in New York in 1811. Milo died in January, 1880, a man having always been noted for equanimity, humility and trustworthiness. Was long in the employ of Samuel Grondyke. Joseph Wigley, this year or previously; now dead. William was born in this county this year. Either this year or next came Joseph and Sarah Moore, from Ohio; the latter is still residing here. She was born in Maryland in 1803.
1833. -- Isaac A. Brown, Sr., born in Tennessee in 1816, settled "Brown Town," and is still living. Has weighed in his life-time over 300 pounds. W. F. Shelato, a resident, was born in this county in 1833.
1834. -- John Rheuby, either this year or before, from Illinois, where he had settled in 1826. William Rheuby was born in this county in 1834. J. W. Boyd, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1828, died a number of years ago.
1837. -- The parents of Edward B. and Joseph Johnson; father died many years ago. Edward B. was born in Indiana in 1830, and Joseph in this county, in 1834. Goldman M. Hart, born in Tennessee in 1809, died in 1886; widow survives. James C. Tutt, born in Virginia in 1816, now living in the southern part of the county.
1839. -- Barney Vandevander, born in Illinois in 1827, is a resident of Eugene.
Other pioneers, whose years of arrival are not given, are: Zeno Worth and Shubael