In the preparation of a book designed to embrace the essential features of a local history, many difficulties are to be met and overcome with which the casual reader is wholly unfamiliar; the labor, therefore, is one of no small magnitude, notwithstanding its apparent insignificance, viewed from a home standpoint. The chief difficulty in the author's work arises not so much from a want of materials, in many instances, as from a superabundance of them in a crude state, undigested, and, as a consequence, unarranged. To select and combine, modify and remodel, displace and readjust what is deemed to be valuable and appropriate, adapted to the plan contemplated-rejecting what is considered inappropriate and unessential, in view of the purpose to be subserved, or yet wholly incompatible with propriety, requires patience, judgment, skill-the exercise of which in judicious combination, are qualifications seldom found; nor does the Editor flatter himself that he possesses these qualifications in an eminent degree, beyond an honest determination to be governed by his own convictions of duty in the premises. In this field we have facts and incidents without number, some pertinent to the purpose of our work, but disconnected from the line of narrative advisable to be observed in the proper arrangement Some branches are presented in a state of completeness, requiring little change, while others, though full to excess in detail, require the exercise of discreet judgment and accurate discrimination in their collation and blending In this particular held, many difficulties have interposed to prevent the rapid collection of material sought for, of the class conceived to be most valuable and desirable, as well as most essential to the well-being of society; hence the labors bestowed upon this work have been excessive and of unusual duration, in consequence of the loss by fire of many valuable records without which it would be impossible to obtain in their fullness the facts and proceedings connected with the organization of the county and townships with the progressive developments of organic life during the first twenty years of its history.

Among the authorities from which information has been drawn, touching the primitive and subsequent history of this portion of the great Northwest, the following may be cited, with confidence that they cannot be gainsaid: "D Couvertes et Etablissements des Francais, dans L'Ouest et dans Le Sud de Amerique Septentrionale," by Pierre Margry, the great French historian and archaeologist, to whose indefatigable labors the unearthing of so much valuable material pertinent to the early history of this country is due, the collection embracing the official details of all the early French discoveries and settlements prior to the incoming of the eighteenth century. Another valuable aid has been found in the collections known as the "New York Colonial Documents," contained in eleven super royal octavo volumes a fund of information nowhere else so readily attainable. Parkman's "La Salle," "Jesuits in America, "Pioneers of France in the New World," "Old Regime in Canada," and "Conspiracy of Pontiac," "Chambers" and "Encyclopedia Britannica," Sheldon's "History of Michigan," Bancroft's "History of the United States," "Western Annals," Dillon's and Tuttle's "Histories of Indiana," Colden's "History of the Five Nations," Schoolcraft's "Indians of North America," Thatcher's "Indian Biography," Drake's "North American Indians," Drake's "Tecumseh," Burnett's "Notes on the Northwestern Territory," Victor's "American Conspiracies," "American Archives," and "State Papers," and numerous others of great historic value; Foster's "Pre-Historic Races," Baldwin's "Ancient America," McLean's "Mound Builders," Force's "Pre-Historic Man," "Indiana Geological Reports," etc These and similar authorities have been brought into requisition and gleaned from because of their superior merit, the statements therein having long been recognized as every way reliable.

In the collection of material of a strictly local character, we have been cordially assisted by the narratives of many who were early and intimately related to the incidents in which their names occur; by the suggestions and references of others, and by the hearty co-operation of the masses more or less interested in the work.

The Military History was chiefly prepared by Prof. E. Tucker, of Randolph County, assisted by the records, and by the well-preserved remembrances of many officers and others who participated in the minor and major conflicts to which their narrations relate. Prof. Tucker has also collected and arranged much valuable material for which, however, he has received credit in the appropriate places. We are also under personal obligations to Fred. E. Putnam, John Brady, Thomas S. Neely, Minus Turner, A. M. Klein, Boyd Linville, J. H. Wysor, Adam Wolfe, Volney Willson, Warren Stewart, Hon. Marc. C. Smith, Eleazer Coffeen, Dr. Robert Winton, Judge Walter March, Judge J. S. Buckles, Carlton E. Shipley, Robert Gordon, J. W. Heath, L. Wilcoxen, James Boyce, George W. Spilker, John Marsh, J. F. Nickey, Cal. S. Wachtell, J. A Husted, William F. Jones, Dr. G. W. H. Kemper, Prof. H. S. McRea, A. W. Clancey, Maj. T. S. Walterhouse, Capt. Frank Ellis, Capt. George W. Greene, N. F. Ethell, S. A. Wilson, Joshua F. Truitt, C. W. Moore, all the County Officials, Mrs. J. W. Burson, Mrs. Thomas Kirby, Mrs. Minus Turner, "Aunt Katy" Simmons, "Aunt Patsy" Branson and many others not now remembered-to all of whom we acknowledge ourselves indebted for valuable information imparted.

Mr. L. H. Newton has had almost entire control over the Department of Township History, to whose laborious research, extensive experience and discreet judgment in the collection of pertinent material and blending it into interesting narrative, the Editor is, and the public will, be, individually and collectively, indebted. Mr. Newton, in his special field, acknowledges his obligations to the following persons for assistance rendered: In Washington Township-to David Heal, for his personal assistance and influence in securing the co-operation of the people of his neighborhood, whose names are not now remembered. In Union Township-to Liberty Ginn, David Brandt, William A. Long, Wilson Martin and William H. Younts. In Niles Township-to Richard Berry, Dudley Hance, Price Thomas, John Barley, Samuel Clark and Samuel McDonald, Trustee. In Delaware Township--to Alfred B. Strong, William Black and George W. Jones, Trustee. In Liberty Township--to William J. Moore, John Simmons and William Ribble. In Hamilton Township-to Joel Russell and the Township Records in possession of Duncan Williams, Trustee. In Harrison Township-to James Rector, Trustee, John Parker and O. P. Jones. In Mt. Pleasant Township-to George W. Parkison, J. H. Koontz and John Jones. In Salem Township-to David Van Metre, Terrell Summers, Jacob Richman Samuel G. Sunderland and John Shoemaker. In Monroe Township-to Anda Gibson, Isaac Lenox and A. J. Fleming, Trustee. In Perry Township-to Z. W. Cecil, Peter Dragoo, W. A. Scott, Boyd Linville and Dr. S. V. Jump.

That many errors remain that have escaped the scrutiny of revision, there is no doubt, but the Editor relying upon the best sources of information at his command, feels satisfied, that, while he makes no claim to perfection in his judgment of what ought or what ought not to be written, fair criticism will not materially detract from the reliability of his statements, or the propriety of his judgment in the selection or arrangement of them. Thus supported, he submits what he has written to the candid consideration of the public.
March 1881 T. B. HELM, Author and Editor

INTRODUCTION

Among the developments of this last half of the nineteenth century few have impressess themselves with greater distinctness upon society than recognition of the essential worth to the world of local, as opposed to general, history. This important field, until within the past few years, was ever cultivated. Recently, however, the demands of the times have opened avenues to this rich mine of unwrought material, and now invite the operator's transformation for the public good. In times past, recourse was seldom had, in the preparation of general history, to the collection collection of local facts, except such as connected themselves intimately with the annals of the State or nation; hence, we have rarely seen much in them of strict1y local signifigance. Now, the case is different, and that which most interests us is so arranged as to present in review the facts and incidents coming under our own observation, or connected with the past of our own neighborhood, township and county. Of this class of material the history of the State or nation should, in the future, abound, thus adapting them to the wants of the individual reader. In the work which follows, therefore, it has been the purpose to present, as a prelude to the narration of what has taken place in the immediate vicinity of our own homes, a review, first, of the progress and incidents of discoveries which antedate the settlement of the American Continent, of the United States and of the State of Indiana, so far as the same relate to the territory under consideration, by means of which review the reader may, without difficulty, trace the events through the periods of discovery and settlement, down to the time their county became a separate and independent jurisdiction. Following this, will be found a brief account of the aboriginal tribes, who, subsequent to the date of discovery and prior to the date of permanent settlement by the white people, traversed our forest wilds and floated the light canoe along the channels of the creeks and rivers that still course through the townships of our county until their waters mingle with the waters of the great Southern Gulf--something also of their manners, customs, exploits and migrations, with so much detail as may be necessary to fix their identity as the antecedents of present settlers. Incident to the transition from savage to civilized life in this county, will be found a recital of the events that characterize the struggle for Indians and the white race; the displacement of the native race by representatives of civilization in the territory northwest of the Ohio. These coincident narratives embrace the military transactions induced by the coming together of the aggressive and the protective elements concerned in the issue between barbarism and humanity, and refer mainly to the salient points of campaigns and the issues of battles, with the ultimate consequences thereof.

Civilization being in the ascendent, the physical geography and the geology determined by the arbitrament of arms as the abode of peace, became important considerations touching the prosperity of the future. Therefore, a reasonable space has been appropriated to the presentation facts as the most recent and careful developments of science have brought forth, with their bearing upon the area under review. Here, then, where the evidences of nature's economy are numerous, the discuss interesting feature of local as well as general history, and the attentive reader will find himself amply repaid by a careful perusal of what has been written for his edification. In intimate connection with the department just considered, is an examination of the prehistoric remains so numerously found along the margin of White River, and of a class well defined that few, if any, better or or more extensive have been brought to the attention of observers in other portions of the State. The study of archseology, in connection with paleontology, has recently developed a most absorbing interest among the devotees of science; hence, to this fact are we indebted for many of the most valuable discoveries that have, step by step, brought to us a more intelligent comprehension of the question, "Who and what were the Mound Builders?" Until within the last quarter of a century, little progress had been made in unearthing and investigating the evidences thus found to be remaining to us of the present day, that, in the very remote past, this country was inhabited and traversed by a race of intelligent human beings, of whose existence and character we have no historic information other than those memorial remains which just now excite the wonder and speculation of the thinking world. That many who may read these results of our labors in this field will not appreciate or give even a passing thought to what we have written, is expected; but, if anything is found therein calulated to elicit inquiry and promote investigation, the purposes of this work will have been, in a measure, subserved. However this may be, our labors will not be lost upon the coming generations, for it has been the aim not so much to speculate and advance plausible theories as to present an intelligible statement of facts with rational deductions. Following this, when the problem of successful settlement has been demonstrated, and the propriety of organization made manifest, the reader's attention will be directed to an examination of the successive steps taken by our pioneer fathers in bringing order out of chaos--in combining, for the purposes of law and order, the heterogeneous elements of society. This department embraces the legislative enactment authorizing the county organization, with amendatory provisions necessary to complete the organic structure. Under this head, also, may be found other germs of organic life emanating from the machinery of the structure itself, with a carefully prepared digest of the proceedings incident to the development and growth of the body politic--the progressive transitions from the embryonic to the mature state of our local jurisdiction.

Then, in the appropriate place, the separate or divisional history of the county by townships or settlements is given. In this department will appear the dates of settlement, the leading characters in the process of transition from the inorganic to the organic state, who have left their impress on society after the succession; the notation of facts and incidents which have combined to mark the stages of succession; the early improvements of landed and other interest; the erection of churches and schoolhouses, with the names of persons instrumental in bringing them forth; in short, every essential feature necessary to make that department complete and reliable. Finally, the department of "Incidental Miscellany" presents a brief digest of information, valuable for reference, which under any other arrangement would be lost, being simply statements of fact not requiring elaboration, but without which the history would not be complete. What has been written, therefore, is the result of great labor and diligent research among the records and files in the archives of this county. Such other avenues to reliable information as came within the range of investigation have been traversed with whatever of success the source afforded. Accuracy of detail in the presentation of facts eliminated from the masses of crude material, has been the object of the editor in every step taken, his sole aim being to perpetrate in form only that which was in its time strictly true, without embellishment. As such, this work is now presented for the consideration of an appreciating public.