MONROE may properly be termed the southern township of the county, as it is the central one of the three townships which form the southern boundary. Center Township bounds it on the north, Perry on the east, a portion of Henry County on the south, and Salem Township on the west. Buck Creek is the principal stream. It flows from southeast to northwest, in a devious course, finding an outlet in White River, near Yorktown. No-Name Creek, in the western part of the township, flows in a northerly direction, forming a confluence with Bell Creek in Salem Township. Flat Spring Creek has its source in a series of springs in the southeast part of the township, and, flowing nearly west, discharges into Buck Creek. Juba Branch is a small stream in the northeast corner of the township, finding an outlet in White River, after a winding and irregular course.
The soil presents the usual variety. Along Buck Creek and its vicinity, it is a wet, loamy prairie. Here, too, occurs the only important deviation in the character of the surface. While in nearly all other localties it is a level upland, it is here of a gently undulating character, terminating in sheer bluffs along the margin of the stream, some of which are as high as forty feet, and quite steep.
Toward the central and northern, as well as the northeastern, portions, the soil is composed principally of clay and black loam, with a sub-stratum of blue clay five or six feet below the surface. In the southeast, the soil is almost entirely composed of clay, and, the surface being level, a large amount of ditching and underdraining has been rendered necessary to its successful cultivation. The same is true of nearly every quarter of the township, as land sufficiently undulating to afford natural drainage is the exception. Large sums have been expended in this improvement, and thousands of acres have been benefited and rendered more fertile in consequence.
Of the timber which once covered the soil, red, white and burr oak hickory, beech, sugar-maple, etc., were the prevailing varieties. A half century of civilization has resulted in the disappearance of much of this timber, especially such as could be utilized in the economy of the farm, and oak, ash and walnut are now at a premium, from their scarcity.
THE MOUNDS.
Evidences of an ancient people exist in many localities in the valley of the Mississippi and its tributaries--a race whose existence antedated the Columbian period, and who left no traces of their origin or destiny. Their history is lost to the world, and all attempts to penetrate beyond the few unsatisfactory relics we occasionally find, result in conjecture or confusion. They were evidently a different race from the North American Indian, as their works proclaim them to have been less nomadic in their habits, and more disposed to erect permanent habitations.
To them has been given the name of the "Mound-Builders"--the most appropriate, perhaps, as the numerous earthen mounds at various points west of the Alleghanies are the most enduring monuments to their memory, and the most substantial tokens of their former existence.
In Section 35, Township 19 north, Range 10 east, there are five of these earthen mounds, four of which are on the farm of Isaac Lenox, and lying within an eighty-acre tract. The first is situated at the northern extremity of the tract, and is divided about equally by the line between his farm and that of Valentine Carmichael. It is about
twenty feet above the level of the ground surrounding it, and is quite steep on the sides facing the north and northwest.
At a distance of twenty rods from this, and in a direct southwest line, rises another mound, identical in constrnetion with the first, excepting that it presents its steepest declivity on the west side. This mound is fully twenty-five feet high. Southwest of this, in a direct line, rises another, of equal height with the last mentioned, and this, also, is steepest on the west side. Near the southeast corner of his farm, there is another, and in a direct line with this, on the farm belonging to Mrs. Mary J. Clark, is another, all closely resembling each other in construction.
On the mound near the southeast corner of the Lenox tract, several large mulberry trees were growing when the locality first became settled by white men, and for many years it was known as "Mulberry Hill."
The uniform character of these mounds, and their close resemblance to what are recognized as ancient earthworks, perhaps entitle them to a place in that category, although they have hitherto escaped the attention of our archaeologists.
The fact that there are gravel-beds, more or less extensive, in each, has led to the opening of one of them (the central mound on the Lenox farm) for the repairing of the roads. During the progress of these excavations, human bones have, from time to time, been exhumed. Several years ago, a skeleton of gigantic proportions was unearthed, and bones have been found in several different parts of the mound. No charcoal--usually a part of the contents of these ancient earthworks has ever been discovered, and there has been a marked scarcity of stone implements---only one of these having ever been found. This was dug up in 1873, by two sons of Isaac Lenox. It was heavy at one end and smoothly polished, resembling what is conceded by archeologists to have been used for a pestle. It differed from these only in one particular. In the heavy end--which was five or six inches in diameter a hole had been bored about an inch deep, and about three-fourths of an inch, or perhaps an inch, in diameter. It was used by the family for cracking hickory-nuts, and was finally lost.
The theory of the artificial construction of these mounds seems to be strengthened by the character of the soil of which they are composed. It is very loose and light, as far down as it has ever been penetrated, and is altogether different from the soil of the surrounding country. From this fact, too, we may safely conclude that the altitude of the mounds is less now than at the date of their completion, the tendency of the loose material being to blow away in times of high wind, and thus, little by little, reducing the height.
Perhaps, in a manner its gradual, their builders passed from the face of the earth, or, perhaps, overcome by the savages of the North, they retreated toward the South, from which direction the abundance of their works proclaim them to have proceeded. In either event, we, can only certainly know that they have vanished from the localities that once echoed to their tread, and that a race of red men, totally different in their habits, succeeded them, only to be dispossessed, at a later day, by the agriculturist, whose plowshare turns the sod of the once hallowed burial-ground, and whose industry makes "the wilderness to blossom as the rose."
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
In the fall of 1821, Monroe received its first white resident. This was Jonathan Mills, who was formerly a citizen of Greene County, Tennessee, from where he removed to Greene County, Ohio, in 1814 or 1815. In 1819, he settled in Wayne, County, Indiana, where he remained until his removal to this township. He was a thorough specimen of the backwoodsman, and dreaded a thickly settled neighborhood, often remarking that he did not want to awaken in the morning to hear the crowing of any one's chickens but his own.
He was fond of the chase, and never cleared more than just enough land to raise the necessaries of life for his family, and, in every instance, when his neighborhood began to be settled, he sought a new location. He never communicated his intentions to any one, but, after settling his accounts with his creditors, would pack up and leave without ceremony.
In the summer of 1821, he visited his brother-in-law, Valentine Gibson, then residing in Randolph County, Indiana, and, after his return, he decided upon his removal. The first intimation his relatives had of this event was in the following spring, when they made their regular trip to Crull's mill, in Wayne County, and were informed by Mr. Crull that Mills had gone away during the preceding fall. Four years later, his kinsmen, Garret, Boater and Robert Gibson, came, to the township to locate land, and learned the whereabouts of Mills through Judge Lewis Rees, then residing in Perry.
The land upon which Mr. Mills settled was subsequently entered by his nephew, Garrett Gibson, and is now owned by Frank Anderson.
About the year 1830, Mr. Mills again concluded that civilization was making its way too rapidly into his domain, and left as unceremoniously as he came. When next they heard tidings of him, he was living near Anderson, Ind., and, several years later, they again heard from him, and learned that he was living at or near South Bend. After this, his place of residence was never discovered by his relatives, and it is not known where he died, or what became of his family.
John and James Mansfield came from Wayne County, Indiana, and settled on the west side of Buck Creek, in 1826, where they afterward entered the land on which they settled.
In many cases, the settlers were not able to purchase their lands immediately upon their arrival, and held their claims by a pre-emption law, or what has been designated as "the squatter's right," until they were able, by the sale of coon-skins and other marketable articles, to accumulate sufficient cash to purchase or enter them.
The right of "squatter sovereignty" was one that was held in high respect, and when, occasionally, a speculator purchased a tract upon which a claim had been made, and improvements begun, he found himself in a very unpleasant situation; and, should he attempt to make the place his home, he soon found that his neighbors were his enemies, and the place too uncomfortable to live in.
In many cases, a munber of years elapsed between the date of settlement and the date of purchase, and often extensive improvements were made while the settler was yet without a title to his home. The Mansfields were, identified, for a number of years, with the history and improvements of this township, but afterward moved away---James to Center Township, and John to Perry, where his name occurs in connection with the early mercantile interests of that township. He served in the Mexican war as Captain of a company, and was killed on the Santa Fe road by a party of Indians.
The next settlers in the township were William, Garrett and Robert Gibson, who settled, in the fall of 1826, on the tracts which each entered at a subsequent date. They were all married men, and had families, excepting Robert, who was married at a later date to Miss Sarah Heaton, in Randolph County. They were all good citizens, and all remained in the county until their decease.
Valentine Gibson was the next. He came from Randolph County, Indiana, in the spring of 1827, and settled upon a tract of land which has since been divided, and is now owned by Lewis Rees, John Lenox and others. At the time of his arrival, he had eight children, viz.: Elisha, Anda, Malinda, Absalom, Sarah. Louisa, Asahel and Mary; and five were born in this township. He was an industrious man, and spent the remainder of his life in the improvenmnt and cultivation of his farm. His son, Anda, was a lad sixteen years of age at the time of his father's arrival. He grew to maturity here, and is still an honored and respected citizen of the township.
About the year 1828, Isaac Branson, formerly of Randolph County, Indiana, settled upon the land which he entered at a later date. When he came, he found the following families living here, in addition to those already mentioned: Amasiah Beeson, John Crmn, John Lenox, Henry Taylor and John Hedge. They had evidently all been living here for several years at that time, as each had made clearings more or less extensive on their lands, and instituted other improvements.
MEMORANDA OF LAND PURCHASES.
As a more concise manner of presenting a full list of the early settlers, we have referred to the county tract-book for the dates of entry, which are as follows:
Town 20 North, Range 10 East.---Section 31--Edmund Aldridge, January 19, 1831; Ralph Heath, October 17, 1830; Enoch Tomlinson, November 15, 1831; Jesse McKinney, November 15, 183l; William Hutton, February 6, 1836.
Section 33--Patrick Carmichael, December 10, 1835.
Section 34--Charles Mansfield, September 25, 1832; William Clark, August 25, 1832; John Mansfield, September 25, 1832; Samuel Andrews, September 25, 1832; Jacob Whitinger, December 7, 1833; Anda Gibson, September 13, 1834; Amasa Harrold, September 29, 1834; James Mansfield, February 2, 1836; Henry Whitinger, March 5, 1836; Samuel Heaton, March 5, 1836.
Section 35--James Collison, July 13, 1833; Christian Acker, November 18, 1833; John Acker, November 18, 1833; Garrett Gibson, April 27, 1835; William Heaton, January 15, 1836; William Abrams, February 20, 1836.
Section 36--Thomas Hackett, June 1, 1832; Stewart Bolton, October 23, 1833, Samuel Cecil, Sr., October 25, 1834.
Town 19 North, Range 10 East.--Section 1--Boater Gibson, May 10, 1830; Daniel Keesling, December 1, 1832; John W. Rhodes, September l3, 1833; Jacob Keesling, June, 7, 1836.
Section 2--Valentine Gibson, October 26, 1828; William Clark, December 4, 1833; David Beard, June 1, 1836; Elisha Gibson, June 1, 1836; John Gibson, August 30, 1836; Boyd Linville, May 27, 1837.
Section 3--Benjamin Antrim, March 31, 1827; Isaac Branson, October 25, 1831; Abel Williams, October 20, 1832; Jacob Whitinger, Jr., April 30, 1833; John Crum, March 14, 1834; French Triplett, September 18, l834; John R. Palmer, November 14, 1835; Absalom Gibson, January 8, 1836; Henry Whitinger, February 3, 1836.
Section 5--William Owen, March 17, l834; George W. Finley, April 5, 1834; Abner McCarty, January 6, 1836; Robert Heath, Jr., August 9, 1838.
Section 6--Aaron Ross, July 2, 1831; James McKimmey April 11, 1832; Harvey Heath, May 31, 1836.
Section 7--William Tomsett;, March 23, 1836; Ephraim Bundy, April 25, 1836; Thomas Fleming, July 13, 1836; Richard S. Taylor, August 8, 1836; John Losh, Sr., September 26, 1836; Bluford Jones, February 13, 1837.
Section 9--John Gibson, November 19, 1835; Enos Strawn, November 19, 1835.
Section l0--Amasiah Beeson, January 15, 1827; Peter Simmons, January 27, 1829; John Mansfield, July 19, 1830; Andrew Carmichael, September 28, 1832; Allen Beeson, February 25, 1836; Lemuel Underwood, February 25, 1836; John Branson, June 29, 1836.
Section 11--John Lenox, October 25, 1831; Daniel De Witt, December 25, 1834; Henry Taylor, June 23, 1835; Samuel M. West, February 25, 1836; William Culbertson, April 4, 1836.
Section 12--Robert Gibson, October 26, 1828; William Gibson, February 22, 1831; Alexander Cheesmam, November 25. 1835; William Townsend, February 26, 1836; John H. Payton, October 26, 1836.
Section 13--Daniel Andes, September 14, 1830; William Cheesman, Novemberr 28, 1831; Isaiah Love, February 19, 1836.
Section 14--Jonathan Beeson, May 11, 1830; Jonathan Harrold, December 25. 1830; Homer Brooks, March 13, 1832; Henry Boner, February 8, 1834; Joseph Brown, Octber 14, 1835.
Section 15--John Crum, July 34, 1827; Rebecca Goble, July 1, 1829; William Mansfield, February 22, 1831: Andrew Carmichael,
September 25, 1832; David Williams, June 4, 1832.
Section 16 Reserved for school purposes.
Section 17-Jacob Bowers, October 1, 1835; Philip Shively, June 14, 1836; Edward Jones, August 4, 1836.
Section 18 -William Haines, May 3, 1834; John Tuttle, March 23, 1836; Adam Banks, February 15, 1836; Samuel Andes, June 8, 1836; Henry Richman, June 8, 1836.
Section 19---William Clevenger, November 23, 1832; Michael Thompson, December 16, 1834; Eliakim Wilson, December 28, 1835.
Section 20--James Jones, August 17, 1835; Jesse Raider, July 22, 1835; George Heinecker, October 12, 1835.
Section 21--Abel Williams, October 17, 1831; David Williams, June 4, 1832.
Section 22--Michael Bannon, June 21,1230; Temple Smith, August 17, 1833; John Rutledge, April 23, 1834.
Section 23--Zenas Beeson, September 10, 1828; James Mansfield, January 22, 1829; Samuel Brown, July 16, 1829; John Howell, November 9, 1829; Aaron Stout, November 24, 1831; John Mansfield, August 24, 1832; William Underhill, February 13, 1836.
Section 24--David Ogle, September 14, 1832; James Ogle, December 26, 1834; Elisha Ogle, February 18, 1836; Jonas Turner, August 15, 1836; Jonathan Turner, December 17, 1836; James Shockley, December 26, 1834; Valentine Gibson, December 23, 1835.
After the year 1837, there was no more Government land in the township, all having been entered by the settlers whose names appear in the foregoing list. Not many years later, settlements began to be made on the school section, which was sold out in small tracts by the township authorities. After the first break was made in the wilderness, others were not long in following the lead of the few hardy pioneers who first began the work, and, before the date which closes our memorandum of land purchases, there was a thrifty little colony here, and many important improvements had been instituted and carried out. Orchards had been set out, ground cleared, and crops raised and garnered, and the discomforts of the backwoods overcome to a great
extent.
Rude cabins as yet were almost without exception the prevailing style of architecture and all the appointments of the household were in keeping with the times. Later years witnessed many improvements, and superior buildings took the place of the log cabins of earlier days.
THE FREEHOLDERS OF 1840.
The following memorandum from the tax duplicate of 1840 is valuable, as it shows the property-owners of the township at that date, and the amount of taxes paid by each. The list is as follows:
CEMETERIES.
In 1831, the first death in the township occurred, the victim being a child of Garrett Gibson. The body was taken to the Rees Cemetery, in Perry Township, for interment. The first, death of an adult person was that of Nathan Branson, who died at the house of his brother Isaac. His remains were taken to his former home in Wayne County, Indiana. About the year 1833, the first cemetery was established, on land donated for the purpose by one of the brothers Beeson, in the northeast part of the township, near the Christian Friend's meeting-house. The first interment at this point was one of Mr. Beeson's children. It is still used as a public burial-ground, and is quite thickly dotted with the marble, headstones that mark the last repose of loved ones.
The cemetery on the Mansfield farm was first consecrated by the interment of one of their family, and, after a few years, that corner of the farm began to be used for burial purposes by others of the neighbors in the immediate vicinity, but was never formally donated to the township for a public cemetery. The property is now owned by Miles Harrold.
The Tomlinson Cemetery was established, like that on the Mansfield farm, by being first consecrated by the death of one of the family. About the year 1835, it was formally donated as a public burialground, and contains all that is mortal of many who were identified with the early settlement and improvement of the township.
MILLS.
For a period of several years following the first settlement, one of the greatest inconveniences under which the settlers labored was the remoteness of mills at which they could have corn ground. Crull's mill, in Wayne County, was one of the nearest, and the one that received the greatest amount of patronage from residents of this locality.
In 1831 or 1832, Amasiah Beeson erected a small mill on his farm, and turned the water of Buck Creek into the race, turning an old-fashioned, central-discharge wheel. He supplied it with a good set of buhrs for grinding corm, as that was the staple commodity of the time, there being but little wheat raised. Subsequently, however, he added a run of buhrs for grinding wheat, and always set his customers to work at shaking the bolting-cloth when they brought wheat to be ground.
Mr. Beeson operated the mill for a number of years, and finally sold it to Alfred Moore. By him it was conveyed, at a later date, to Aquilla West, and was operated by the latter gentleman for a number of years, and the buhrs were sold to a firm who were erecting a mill on the Mississinewa, after the frame-work of this one was decayed and half ruined.
About thirty years ago, Clark & Goble erected a saw-mill on land then owned by Anda Gibson. It was operated by steam power, and had a sash-saw, capable of cutting up from twenty-five hundred to three thousand feet of timber per day. It passed through the hands of various owners, and finally to the possession of the present proprietor, Jeremiah West. The mill has not been in operation for several years past.
At McCowen's Station there are two saw-mills in operation at the present time, conducted by William Hiatt and A. J. Nottingham, respectively, but there are no flouring-mills in the township.
ORGANIZATION.
There are no early documents in the Trustee's office from which the date of organization of the township can be determined; nor can it be established by the County Commissioners' records, as the earlier volumes were destroyed by fire some years ago. Probably the erection of this territory into a civil township occurred not later than the year 1830 or 1831, but the oldest records in the Trustee's office are of the year 1853. In the preceding year, three Trustees were elected after the adoption of the revised constitution of the State, to attend to the civil and school affairs. They were assisted by a Clerk and Treasurer until 1860, when the offices of Clerk and Treasurer were abolished, and their duties relegated to one Trustee instead of three.
Patrick Carmichael was elected Treasurer in 1853, and served in that capacity until the office was abolished.
Enos Strawn was the Clerk in 1853, and served one year. His successor, Miles Harrold, was elected in 1854, and served until 1860.
The Trustees of the township, from 1853 to the present time, have been as follows:
1853--Joel Triplett, Miles Harrold and Robert Mansfield.
1854 and 1855--Joel Triplett, Anda Gibson and Brackenridge Reynolds.
1856 Brackenridge Reynolds, Anda Gibson and Robert Mansfield.
1857--Isaac McLain, Anda Gibson and William Bridges.
1858--Isaac McLain, Anda Gibson and Samuel Drummond.
1859--Miles Harrold.
1860-66--Patrick Carinichael.
1867-73--W.F. Watson.
1874-77--George W. Himes.
1878-80--A. J. Fleming.
SCHOOL DIRECTORS.
1866--James Driscol, District No. 1; J. S. West, District No. 2; Thomas Clevenger, District No. 3; James McKimmey, District No. 4; Jonathan Andes, District No. 5; James Wright, District No. 6; Robert Brown, District No. 7.
1867--John Abrell, District No. 1; Samuel West, District No. 2 Joel R. McKimmey, District No. 3; George W. Lake, District No. 4; Andrew Andes, District No. 5; Thomas A. Shaw, District No. 6; Robert Brown, District No. 7; Charles Hill, District No. 8.
1868---Philip Hawk, District No. 1; Samuel West, District No. 2; J. R. McKimmey, District No. 3; James McKimmey, District No. 4; George Houck, District No. 5; Isaac Lenox, District No. 6; Jonathan Turner, District No. 7; Charles Hill, District No. 8; Aaron Hill, District No. 9.
1869--Philip Hawk, District No. 1; Samuel West, District No. 2; Joel R. McKimmey, District No. 3; James McKimmey, District No. 4; George Houck, District No. 5; Isaac Lenox, District No. 6; Plenny Dowty, District No. 7; D. W. Hickman, District No. 8; James Rinker, District No. 9.
1870--John Abrell, District No. 1; Henry Snyder, District No. 2; Joel R. McKimmey, District No. 3; James Shaw, District No. 4; E. C. Emmons, District No. 5; Robert Turner, District No. 6; Moses Lutz, District No. 7; Isaac McLain, District No. 8; James Jones, District No. 9.
1871--Lewis Johnson, District No. 1; Samuel M. West, District No. 2; William Miller, District No. 3; J. B. Clevenger, District No. 4; John A. Abbott, District No. 5; Robert Turner, District No. 6; Moses Lutz, District No. 7; Isaac McLain, District No. 8; Andrew Andes, District No. 9.
1872--W. P. Ross, District No. 1; S. M. West, District No. 2; John A. Bates, District No. 3; Robert W. Heath, District No. 4; Noah Harrold, District No. 5; Garrett Ross, District No. 6; Jonathan Turner, District No. 7; Henry Hill, District No. 8.
1874--Isaac Brown, District No. 1; James Oard, District No. 2; William Miller, District No. 3; Robert W. Heath, District No. 4; J. A. Williams, District No. 5; John Driscol, District No. 6; David Evans, District No. 7; D. W. Hickman, District No. 8; Hiram Bell, District No. 9.
1875-76--John Abrell, District No. 1; James Oard, District No. 2; John A. Bates, District No. 3; Robert W. Heath, District No. 4; N. Branson, District No. 5; John Driscol, District No. 6; Jonathan Turner, District No. 7; D. W. Hickman, District No 8;. Edward Beckncr, District No. 9.
1877---Lewis Johnson, District No. 1; James Oard, District No. 2; Abraham McConnell, District No. 3; George W. Bates, District No. 4; John Hartley, District No. 5; Robert W. Turner, District No. 6; John Werner, District No. 7; T. H. Johnson, District No. 8; George M. Ball, District No. 9.
1878--Alfred Mechling, District No. 1; James Oard, District No. 2; William F. Miller, District No. 3; J. B. Clevenger, District No. 4; John Hartley, District No. 5; William Gibson, District No. 6; John Werner, District No. 7; D. W. Hickman, District No. 8; G. M. Ball, District No. 9.
1879 80--Isaac Lenox, District No. 1; James Oard, District No. 2; John Bates, District No. 3; J. Heath, District No. 4; D. M. Tuttle, District No. 5; John Driscol, District No. 6; John Werner, District No. 7; J. T. Holsinger, District No. 8; Isaac Needham, District No. 9.
ROADS.
About the year 1837, the New Castle and Marion road was surveyed and laid out by the authority and at the expense of the State. It passes from New Castle, in Henry County, directly north through the township, to Muncie, and thence north to Marion, in Grant County. Some ycars ago a stock company graded and graveled the road from Muncie to William Watson's farm, but finally suffered it to get out of repair, and for several years it has been neglected, and the collection of toll abandoned.
The Yorktown and New Burlington road was probably the next highway laid out by the County Commissioners. It crosses the township in an east and west direction.
In 1853, there were nine road districts in the township, laid out by the local authorities, and Supervisors appointed for each district. At a session of the Trustees, held June 25, 1853, the following sums were ordered paid to the Road Supervisors for their services:
Thomas Shaw, Supervisor in District No. 5, $2; Joel Brown, Supervisor in District No. 6, $2; Patrick Carmichael, Supervisor in District No. 7, $1.87; William Hightower, Supervisor in District No. 8, $3.50.
At a subsequent meeting of the Trustees, held February 26, 1855, Lewis Rees presented a petition, signed by the requisite number of freeholders, praying for a change in the road running from Muncie to "Masterson's Machine"--"the change to commence at the northeast corner of John Lenox's farm, thence north seventy rods, thence west till it intersects the old road at Adam Losh's cabin."
At the same meeting a petition, duly signed, was presented by Jacob Bowers, praying for a change in the road running through Ananias Heinecker's, George Clevenger's and Jacob Bowers' farms, "the change to commence on the east side of said Heinecker's farm, where the road crosses the section line, thence running due north to the road leading from Esquire Bowers', Buck Creek, and vacating so much of said road commencing at, Samuel Clevenger's east line, and running through Jacob Bowers' and George Clevenger's lands to said Heinecker's."
The committee appointed to view these roads and decide upon the propriety of granting the petition, reported favorably at the next meeting of the board, and both roads were accordingly ordered to be located agreeably to the request of the petitioners.
At various times between this date and 1860, roads were laid out and opened in response to petitions from the citizens, until the township was finally well supplied with convenient avenues of export for its products.
MERCHANTS.
The first stock of merchandise in the township was kept in a little log cabin on the farm of Enos Strawn, its early as 1845. There was but little cash in the settlement, and the proprietor was compelled to exchange his goods for such articles as furs, poultry, etc., or the products of the spinner's looms commodities which could ultimately be converted into cash or more goods; but the prevailing system of barter and trade proving unprofitable, the goods were moved to another locality by the proprietor, and the enterprise abandoned.
Several years later, Charles McCowan erected a frame building at the junction of the Yorktown and New Burlington and New Castle and Marion roads, in which a stock of goods was exposed for sale by Mr. Ralstead. Although his trade was more profitable than that of his predecessor, it was not sufficiently extended to justify him in remaining, and after a short time he followed the example of the pioneer in his line, and moved away. The next attempt at merchandising was at McCowan's Station, and an encouraging amount of patronage has made this feature a permanent fixture in the township.
SCHOOLS.
In the winter of 1830-31, William Abrams taught the first school in the township, in a log cabin on the farm of Robert Gibson, and for a small stipend imparted the rudiments of an education to his neighbors' children. Two years later a deserted cabin on the farm of Samuel Heaton was occupied for the same purpose, and Mr. Corneel taught the school during the winter of that year. Schools were taught thereafter wherever a deserted cabin could be found until 1838. In that year the first schoolhouse was erected on the farm of Peter Olum. This was a hewed-log structure, and the rudeness of previous "temples of learning" led the children to regard this as a very fine edifice indeed. Hitherto the schools had been supported entirely by private subscriptions, but, shortly after the erection of this building, the appropriation of the public funds of the township enabled them to conduct a free sehool for about two months of the term, and private subscriptions made up the necessary amount for the remaining month.
This building, too, was the scene of another important event. In 1852, an election was called to be held at this house, to decide the question whether or not a tax should be levied for the erection of free schools. A personal canvass of the township was made several days previously, by both the friends and the enemies of the proposition, and, on the day of election, they assembled at the polls in full force. Promptly at the time allowed by law, the polls were declared closed, and not a minute too soon; for, within a hundred yards of the house, four men, known to be opposed to the system of free schools, were descried coming up to vote. The ballots, when counted, exhibited a majority of two votes in favor of the measure, and very soon thereafter was inaugurated one of the most signal of the public improvements in the township.
School districts were immediately established, beginning at District
No. 1, in the northeast part of the township. District No. 3 was probably the first in which a schoolhouse was erected, for, by reference to the Trustee's records, we find that, at their meeting held May 21, 1853, Solomon Clevenger was allowed $12.97 for finishing a Schoolhouse in District No. 3. At this time, there were six schoolhouses in the township, five of which were relics of the old system of "subscription schools,"" and were converted upon the introduction of the new regime and used
until they could be replaced by better buildings.
At the April meeting of the Trustees, 1854, Lewis Rees was allowed $224 for building a schoolhouse in District No. 1, and, March 31, 1854, Daniel Courtney was allowed $224 for building Schoolhouse No. 4. At the September meeting, 1856, Daniel Courtney was allowed $725 "for building schoolhouses,"" but the record does not indicate the districts in which they were erected.
The total amount paid for school affairs by the Treasurer, from the 1st day of April, 1854 to the 31st day of March, 1855, was $664.50, and the balance left in the treasury was $48.19. In 1853, the amount paid for teachers' salaries was $178.11½, as follows: John N. Breenson, $37.66; John H. Heath, $46; Solomon Hodson, 49.08; Robert Mansfield, $45.37½.
As the old log schoolhouses began to decay they were replaced by substantial frame buildings, and, from year to year, new houses were erected, until each of the nine districts of the, township, were supplied. In two districts, the frame houses have been replaced hy neat brick buildings.
The following is an abstract from the report of the Township Trustee for the year ending August 31, 1880:
Number of white pupils admitted into schools within the year, 408;
average attendance, 288½ length of school taught, in days, 140; number of white teachers employed--males, 6; females, 3; total, 9; average compensation of teachers per day--male, $2; female, $1.80; number of brick schoolhouses in township, 3; number of frame schoolhouses in township, 6; estimated value of schoolhouses, grounds, etc., $4,800;
estimated value of school apparatus, $150.
ACCOUNT OF REVENUE FOR TUITION.
Amount on hand September 1, l879 ...................................$2,340 47
Amount received in February, 1880 ........................................856 59
Amount received in June, 1880 ...............................................822 53
Miscellaneous receipts .............................................................500 00
Total ...................................................................................$4,519 59
Amount expended since September 1, 1879 ................... $2,351 25
Amount on hand at date of report .......................................$2,168 84
Amount received within the year ........................................... 504 87
Total .................................................................................$ l,130 37
Amount expended within the year. ................................... $1,555 26
Amount overdrawn at date of report .....................................$124 89
The following persons are the teachers in the various school districts of the township for the term of 1880-8l:
District No. 1, V. G. Carmichael; District No. 2 (West Schoolhouse), William Koons; District No. 3; (Corinth Schoolhouse), George Himes; District No. 4 (McKimmey Schoolhouse), Joseph Swearingan; District No. 5 (Cowan Schoolhouse}, S. W. Heath, Mrs. Anna Heath; District No. 6 (Lenox Schoolhouse), Bruce Fleming; District No. 7 (Macedonia Schoolhouse), Margaret Marshall; District No. 8 (McLain Schoolhouse), C. A. Fleming; District No. 9 (Bowers Schoolhonse), Minnie Benedict.
CHURCHES.
Bethel Methodist Episcopal Church.--The first religious services in the township were held by the Methodists. Revs. James Havens, John Null, John Birt and others preached at private house as early, perhaps, as 1828. The first organization, however, was formed about the year 1830, and the class then organized continued to meet at the house of Boater Gibson and other members of the class for a number of years. Subsequently, a log house of worship was erected within half a mile of the present church, and occupied until 1869 or 1870. The present frame church was completed and dedicated at that time. Regular services have been continued by the society since its organization, and the church is now in a prosperous condition. Rev. A. J. Carey is the present Pastor.
The Christian Friends' Society.--In 1832 or 1833, this reformed order of the Society of Friends formed their first organization in the township, at the house of Valentine Gibson, and met at private houses for two years. At the end of that time, they erected a log meeting-house on a lot donated from the Beeson farm. They used this as a house of worship until it began to decay, and then erected a hewed-log house in its stead, which they occupied until about fifteen years ago--the date at which the present brick church was completed. This church is also used by the Christian denomination in the east part of the township.
Mount Zion Methodist Episcopal Church.--In the year 1863, John W. Heath and Thomas W. Tuttle donated a lot in the northwestern part of the township, upon which a neat frame church was completed in the same year, at a cost of $1,200.
The class was organized about forty-five years ago, and held meetings at private houses-principally those of John McClintock, John Brown and Ralph Heath--for a period of fifteen years, their first house of worship (a log structure) having been completed about thirty years ago. This building was located on the farm of Jesse McKimmey.
The present house of worship is 40x60 feet. It was remodeled, at an expense of $700 in the fall of 1879, and is now a very handsome church. It has a membership of about one hundred and fifty souls, and is under the pastoral care of Rev. Milton Wayman. D. R. Armitage, Monroe West and A. W. Ross are the present Trustees; Clark Gibson, Harvey Reed and David Lykins, Stewards.
Corinth United Brethren Church.--This church was erected in 1865, on land donated by Joel R. McKimmey. The class was organized about twenty years prior to that date, but the meetings were held at private houses and a schoolhouse in the neighborhood until the church was completed. Rev. Mr. Rutherford was the Pastor at the date of its completion, and Bishop Edwards preached the dedicatory sermon. The church has prospered since its organization, and has a large and increasing membership. Rev. Mr. Cook is the present Pastor.
West's Chapel, Methodist Episcopal.--The class was organized in 1867, and, in 1869, received a donation of ground from John Fuston, upon which they erected their present house of worship in the same year.
Rev. Eli Rammel was the Pastor at that time, and remained two years. His successors have been Revs. John Pittenger and F. A. Fish, 1872; John, 1873; Rev. John Kane, 1874; Rev. A. G. McCarter, 1875; Rev. J. W. McDaniel, 1876; Rev. D. C. Woolpert, 1878; Rev. Thomas Sells, 1879, Rev. Milton Wayman, 1880.
Church of Christ, Mount Tabor.--Services were held here at an early day by ministers of this denomination, but only at irregular intervals, and without organization. The first society was organized in 1870, and in the same year, Jacob Bowers, on of the members, donated a lot, upon which the present church was erected, and dedicated in November, 1870, by Rev. G. W. Thompson, the Pastor in charge at that time. It is a frame building, and cost $2,000.
Mr. Thompson remained until the close of the year 1870, and was succeeded as follows: Rev. Samuel Matthews. Rev. William Trowbridge, Rev. John A. Mavity, Rev. Daniel Franklin, Rev. Charles Blackman. There were intervals during tis period in which no services were held.
Rev. Daniel Franklin again took charge in January, 1880, and still occupies the pastoral relation. The present membership of the church is between 120 and 130 souls.
United Brethren (McCowan Class).--This society was organized in 1874, at McCowan's Station, by Rev. M. R. Harris.
The meeting for organization was held in a warehouse belonging to the Fort Wayne, Muncie & Cincinnati Railroad Company, and this building afterward became their regular place of meeting, and was used as such for more than a year. They subsequently met at private houses, and, in 1879, made arrangements to occupy a building in which a wagon-shop had formerly been conducted, and in which their meetings are now held.
The church now in course of construction will be occupied by this denomination jointly with others, according to the terms of the will of the late Charles McGowan,
Rev. Cook is the Pastor now in charge of the class; Michael Wright is the Class-leader; John Rinker, Elder Steward: and Mrs. Jane Wright, Class Steward.
My Note: Information beneath the picture of chapel: Erected for church and school purposes, from a fund bequeathed by Charles McCown, Esq. Sketch contributed by S. W. Heath. Engraving contributed by C. M. Tuttle. (See also below.)
Union Church, McCowan's Station.--On August 29, 1872, Charles McCowan executed his last will and testament, and, among other bequests, made the following:
"Item 3--I give, devise and bequeath $6,000 to Jacob Stiffler, George Houck and Andrew J. Fleming (Trustees), to be used by them in the erection of a two-story brick building, in the town of McCowan."
It was further stated that one story should be finished for a school, and the other for a church. Work was begun immediatly, but was afterward suspended until the summer of the present year (1880). The building is now under cover, and well along toward completion. It will be occupied by all the religious organizations who choose to use it, and the lower story will be used for a township graded school.
SOCIETIES.
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Cowan Lodge, No. 561, was organized October 3, 1878, and worked under dispensation for thirteen weeks, at the end of which time it received a charter from the Grand Lodge of the State. The charter members were: J. W. Houck. J. W. Jones, J. W. Polan, J. H. Abbott, J. H. Hartley, C. M. Kiger, T. J. Cheesman, Shem Bowers, H. P. Brown, Samuel Brown and Peter Quirk.
On the night of institution, four candidates were initiated, and, in 1879, two were admitted to the lodge by initiation, and one by card. The active membership of the lodge is reduced to eight at the present time.
Officers, 1878--C. M. Kiger, N. G.; J. H. Hartley, V. G; T. J. Cheesman, Secretary; J. W. Houck,
Treasurer.
Officers, 1800--D.L. Trowbridge, N. G.; Shem Bowers, V. G.; C. M. Kiger, Secretary; J. W. Houck, Treasurer.
The McCowan Lyceum.--This society was organized in December,
1880, for the purpose of social, moral and intellectual improvement. The lecture department is under the leadership of C. A. Fleming; H. C. Haymond is the leader of the news department; G. W. Himes is the leader of the debating department, selecting questions and managing the discussions; Miss Rosa Tuttle is the leader of the literary department; and John F. Clevenger conducts the musical department.
The officers are: S. W. Heath, President; L. B. Fleming, Vice President; J. Swearingen and Mattie Veal, Secretaries; Charles Houck, Treasurer; William Neff, Marshal; Joe Clevenger and Charles Johnson, Ushers; John Hartley, Marion S. Tuttle, and John S. Clevenger, Executive Committee.
TOWNSHIP EXPENDITURES--1879.
Amount expended on roads ..............................................$121
Amount expended for road implements ............................ 15
Amount expended for repair on schoolhouses ................ 83
Amount paid for fuel ...........................................................127
Amount paid to teachers .................................................2,427
Amount paid for transportation of paupers ........................ 2
Amount paid for sheep killed .................................................7
Amount paid Trustees for services ................................... 90
Total ............................................................................$2,872
VILLAGES.
Cowan Post Office (McCowan's Station).--This is a station on the Fort Wayne, Muncie & Cincinnati Railroad, and is located near the center of the township.
H. Clay Haymond and Dr. D. L. Trowbridge are the proprietors of the two village stores; Charles Johnson is the village blacksmith; William Hiatt and A. J. Nottingham are the respective proprietors of the saw-mills; John Hartley owns and operates the tile-factory; Dr. D. L. Trowbridge and Dr. Pryor are the resident physicians; and William Neff is the village carpenter. Clay Haymond is the Postmaster, and agent for the Fort Wayne, Muncie & Cincinnati Railroad.
Richwood Post Office is a small hamlet in the west part of the township. There is a store at this point, kept by David Lykins; Elias Good is the Postmaster and toll-gate keeper, and David Lykins, Jr., has the blacksmith-shop.
Pleasant Hill is a small village in the extreme southern part of the township, on the line dividing it from Henry County. There is a general merchandise store at this point, owned by Lewis L. Hickman.
Macedonia is a small village in the southeast part of the township. William Suit is the proprietor of the store at this point, and Mr. Gross is the village Blacksmith.
POPULATION.
In 1850, the population of Monroe, according to the United States Census returns, was 720. Ten years later, it was 1,119. In 1870, there were 1,236 native American citizens in the township, and 11 of foreign birth. June 1, 1880, the number of citizens returned by the census enumerators was 1,435.
Mr. McCowan was an early settler in Delaware County, and a man of generous instincts. As fortune smiled upon him, he invested his means in enterprises which would benefit others as well as himself; and the handsome edifice at the village of Cowan is an enduring monument to his name and public spirit. He was born in Union County, Indiana, in 1814, and came to Delaware County in, 18331. He had no means, and was dependent upon his own resources and labor for whatever degree of success he attained in the world. He worked as a farm hand in the employ of Thomas Kirby for a number of years, and, during his life, Mr. Kirby was always his friend and adviser. He worked hard, and from his earnings He always made it a rule to save a portion, at least. As his surplus accumulated, he invested it in land, and purchased a farm of 240 acres. He was fifty-two years of age when he married Miss Susan Wright, an estimable lady, who survives him. This marriage was blessed by one son Elmore, who died at the age of two and a half years; and one daughter Margaret, who died at the age of fifteen months. By his strict integrity and honest dealing with all men, Mr. McCowan won the confidence and esteem of all who knew him. He crowned his life work by bequeathing to his neighborhood, from the hard earnings of his busy life, the largest fund ever donated in Delaware County, by a private individual, to a public enterprise. This fund ($6,000) was to be used in the erection of a church and graded school building, which is an honor to the donor and an ornament to the village.
was born Janury 29, 1804, in Clinton County, Ohio, where he received his education and grew to manhood. In the twentieth year of his age (June 3, 1823), he married Hannah Hale. Thirteen years later (October, 1836), he came to Indiana, in the prime, of a vigorous manhood, to carve for himself and family a home from the forests of Delaware County. He settled in the west part of Monroe Township, and there, cleared and improved a farm, upon which he lived during the residue of his life. He was a noble Christian gentleman, and was a prominent minister of the Protestant Methodist Church. He was kind of heart, a good neighbor, and all who knew him united in pronouncing him a good man. He was the friend of all public improvements, and every enterprise that had for its purpose the moral or commercial well-being of the community, was sure to receive his encouragement and co-operation. He took an active, though unselfish, interest in political affairs. and labored eanestly for the success of his party in all its campaigns. He died April 4, 1852, in the sixty-ninth year of his age, deeply lamented by those who had known and loved him in life.
His son, Darlin M. Tuttle, is a prominent resident of the township in which his father settled forty-five years ago. He is a good farmer, an enterprising man, and has the esteem and confidence of all who know him.
