History of Clay County
Indiana Transcribed by Charlotte
Slater
The first articles
of commercial importance were ginseng; “yellow root," honey, maple
sugar, venison, deer and coon skins. These articles were exchanged at
the nearest market places for groceries, shoe leather and what few dry
goods the pioneers needed. The majority of families
manufactured their own wearing apparel, and the spinning, wheel was to
be seen in almost every household. The houses, in which the
pioneers made their homes, were of a similar kind to all early
habitations erected in a new country. The majority of them
were rude structures of unhewn logs, covered with clapboards rived from
some convenient oak, and containing but a single apartment.
They were daubed with clay mortar and afforded a tolerable shelter from
the rain and cold. At one side of the room a very large fire-place was
erected, from which rose a stick and mortar chimney. The
unthinned wilderness supplied an abundance of fuel, and in that day
with such splendid facilities for destruction, quantity was an object
of little importance. The family food was cooked by the
open fire, cook stoves being at that time unknown. The furniture for
the interior was simple and inexpensive, and provided without much
difficulty. There was no neighborhood rivalry in the matter
of ornamentation or extravagant display. In the absence of
a more convenient and sightly bedstead, one was frequently improvised
by inserting the ends of two small poles between the logs at a proper
distance apart, while the ends within the room were laid upon forked
sticks driven into the ground through holes made in the puncheon
floor. Upon these was laid the foundation for the bed
proper.
In many instances, the furniture for the entire house was of this cheap
and primitive character. If a light were needed at night, it was
supplied by a tallow dip or by burning shellbark hickory.
Notwithstanding the crudeness and unalloyed simplicity of all these
arrangements, notwithstanding the extreme toil and hardships of life in
the wilderness, here was to be found home, happiness and personal
liberty. No prince could have greater affection for his palace, nor
lord for his castle, than these dauntless pioneers cherished for their
cabins.
Flour and meal were first obtained at a little mill on Croy's Creek, in
Putnam County. The mill ceased operations in an early day, after which
the settlers of this part of the country took their grist to a little
mill in the village of Beelsville, in the same county.
The first mill of any kind operated in this township was constructed by
James Green for his own use. It was operated by hand, ground very
slowly, but seems to have been extensively used by the citizens of this
and adjoining townships, until better machinery was put in operation
elsewhere. Green afterward erected a small water-mill on Burch Creek,
which manufactured meal only. It was a rude log building, and contained
but one buhr, which was kept running almost constantly in order to
supply the increasing demand for meal. It was built in
1832, and
kept running thereafter about ten years, at the end of which time it
was abandoned, on account of better mills having been built in the
county.
In the year 1836, a mill was built in the northeastern part of the
township, on Croy's Creek, from which it received its motive power. It
was constructed by Shiel York, and manufactured both meal and flour,
the latter of which was bolted by hand, each person bolting his own
grist. The mill was partly frame and partly logs, and was in successful
operation about ten years.
An early industry of the township was the distillery of Samuel Stigler,
erected some time prior to 1840, and kept in operation for about eight
or ten years after that date. This enterprise afforded a ready market
for the surplus corn of the neighborhood, and at the same time supplied
the inhabitants with a grateful beverage, which they were not
accustomed to doing without. In those good old days, before revenue on
distilled spirits was known, a gallon of the stuff could be obtained
for from 15 to 17 cents, the price of a bushel of corn of first-rate
quality. Shiel York operated a small distillery in connection with his
mill, but did no extensive business, owing to his limited facilities
for work. Both these distilleries have long since disappeared, and at
the present time no vestige of either remains to mark the spots they
occupied.
David Stunkard erected the first steam saw-mill in the township a
number of years ago, and did a large business in manufacturing and
shipping walnut and poplar lumber. The mill stood in the northwest part
of the township. It ceased operations many years ago, having outlived
its usefulness. The last owners were David and James
Stunkard.
Another early steam saw mill stood in the northeast corner of the
township. It was built and operated by a man by name of Zeller, who did
a good business with it until improved portable mills were brought to
the country, when it was abandoned and allowed to fall into decay. A
number of smaller mills have been erected at different times throughout
the township, and several are in operation at the present time.
OTHER EARLY EVENTS.
The first orchard in Jackson was planted by John Tucker, on his farm in
Section 29. Several trees of this orchard are still standing, and bear
good fruit. Samuel Stigler, William Slack and Amos Hedges set out
orchards shortly after their arrival in the county.
The first death in the township was a child of Levi Cromwell, who died
in the year 1834. The interment was made in the Zenor Graveyard, the
first ground set aside for the burial of the dead. The second cemetery
was laid out in the year 1840, and is known as the Union Graveyard. It
lies near the central part of the township, and is the principal place
of burial at the present time. Many of the early pioneers mentioned
sleep in the somber shades of these quiet cities of the dead. Some
of their graves are marked by appropriate monuments, reared by the
loving hands of a grateful posterity, while others have finished their
life work, and "sleep the sleep that knows no waking " in graves
unmarked by the simplest epitaph. Croy Creek Graveyard is in the
northwest part of the township, and was laid out as early as 1838 or
1839. There is another cemetery in Section 36, at the Lutheran Church,
which was first consecrated to the burial of the dead about fourteen
years ago. The first marriage solemnized in Jackson took place about
the year 1832, the contracting parties being William Slack and Margy
Loudermilk.
ROADS.
Of the roads existing at
that early period, very little can be said, because they were few—if
perchance there were any which truth will permit to be dignified by the
application of so respectable a title.
The township was divided at an early day into several road districts,
each two miles wide; yet it was impossible that much could then be done
in the way of this class of improvements. Highways were petitioned for,
granted by the County Board, and laid out and worked at periods, but
the labor put upon them was in the nature of things productive of only
temporary benefit. During wet seasons of the year, they were almost
impassable for any kind of conveyance or vehicle, on account of their
muddy condition. No plank roads were ever laid within this township,
nor were any pikes ever constructed, although the need of such highways
has always been apparent. Corduroys were built in many places, and
traces of them may yet be seen. Such conveniences as modern bridges
were of course unknown in the early day. The water-courses within the
township were in most places easily fordable, except during rainy
seasons, when they became raging torrents, and swept away everything of
a movable nature upon their banks. If a bridge over any stream was
found necessary, one was quickly constructed by throwing from bank to
bank the trunks of two trees parallel with each other, upon which were
laid slabs flat side down, split from other trees, thus proving a safe
and substantial passage until carried away, which was frequently the
case, by some extraordinary freshet. The township at the present time
is well supplied with highways intersecting each other at proper
intervals, all of which are in fair condition. What the country
especially needs is a thorough system of pikes, which could be
constructed at moderate cost, as there are extensive deposits of gravel
in several localities, which are easy of access.
SCHOOLS.
Education in the
mysteries of books is acquired with a difficulty in all pioneer
settlements, which may differ in degree, but not in kind. It is not a
matter of wonder that the means of learning should be limited to the
smallest and rudest proportions; the wonder is that under such
circumstances they should exist at all. With any other people they
probably would not. But American settlers, wherever they went, carried
with them the ruling idea that their first duty was to build themselves
homes, and the next to establish schools for the education of their
children. The first school in what is now Jackson Township was started
in the Zenor settlement and taught by one Ezekiel Jenkins, in a little
cabin erected for church and school purposes, as early as the year
1832. William Slack, Alfred Bowling and B. H. Witty afterward taught at
the same place.
The second schoolhouse was built a few years later, and stood in the
western part of the township on Cory’s Creek. It was first used by
Alfred Bowling, and afterward by his brother Bluford, both of whom were
connected with the educational interests of the township for several
years. The Union Schoolhouse was built in Section 17, and. like those
referred to, was used for church purposes also. The first teacher
employed in this building was Alfred Bowling. Elias Helton was also an
early teacher at the same place, and did very efficient work
considering the difficulties under which he labored. The Heany
Schoolhouse was built at an early day, and stood on land which belonged
to a Mr. Brackney. The first pedagogue here was William Heany, who
taught some years prior to 1846.
All of the first schoolhouses were log structures built by private
means and labor, and the teachers were paid by subscription. The
curriculum of study embraced reading, writing, arithmetic, with
Webster's Spelling Book, while here and there a more ambitious pupil
would venture on a timid excursion into the mysteries of grammar and
the wonders of geography. The latter study, when it was taught, was
learned to great extent by the singing method in which the whole school
would join in thundering chorus. Spelling was a favorite study, and
there were classes graded along from the simple word of two letters to
the mighty jawbreaker of seven and eight syllables, reserved for the
champion of the spelling matches. Prior to 1846, the schools were
supported entirely by subscription, and in no instance were they kept
open for a longer period than three months in a year. The teacher's
compensation varied from $8 to 112 per month, board included, which
meant a certain number of days spent with each patron during the term.
Beginning with 1846, public schools, for which teachers were paid from
the public fund, commenced to make their appearance; but were few and
far between for a number of years.
They have gradually increased with the constantly multiplying
population until the present day. Terms have lengthened, the wages of
teachers have increased, the old log houses have disappeared, and in
their place have come substantial frame structures with all the
appliances for comfort and instruction which the ingenuity of the age
has
suggested. The number of school edifices in the township is now
eleven. Of this number nine are frame and two are brick. One of them,
the Center Schoolhouse, near Asherville, is a large two-story building,
in which the township graded school is taught. During the school term
of 1882-83, each of the eleven buildings was open upon the full term of
seven and a half months. The schools were last taught by Alfred Davis,
S. S. Wheeler, C. F. Bummel, Albert Payne, James Knox, R A. Bullock,
McLean Johnson, J. P. Koehler, — Ferguson, Henry Bence, William Long
and W. E. McCullough. For 1882-83, the revenue for tuition was $1,395.
The number of children in the township between the ages of six and
twenty-one years is 838, nearly all of whom attend the different
schools.
CHURCHES.
The good seed carried by
emigrants is usually sufficient to begin the work of raising society to
a higher level of civilization, and their transforming power
counteracts those demoralizing influences which tend to social
degeneration and disruption. These Christian influences are active in
their conflicts with evil, and attractive in social power, and they
usually act as a nucleus around which will gather those influences
necessary to carry society onward to a state of comparative perfection.
We may see by comparison with the past how much has been done in this
respect. The progress and triumph of Christian truth, the great
superstructure on which all society which approximates perfection must
rest, is also made apparent. It is thus seen that no other power but
Christian truth can vitalize, expand, harmonize, direct and control the
forces which underlie and build up the great fabric of society. This
was true of the early settlers of Jackson. It is much to their credit
that they were mostly a Christian people, and laid the foundation of
religious organizations in an early period of their occupation of the
country. The Methodist circuit riders were the forerunners of
Christianity in the wilderness of this part of the county. They
traveled over the country on foot or horseback, gathering the scattered
settlers together, preaching the Gospel to them and forming them into
societies. Ministers of the United Brethren Church came in an early day
and assisted in the good work of establishing the cause of Christ on a
firm basis. They made their regular rounds, preaching at private
houses, groves, schoolhouses, or any place where they could succeed in
gathering an audience. Among the earliest Methodist preachers was
Reverend Bridges, a pious and able minister, whose life was spent in
going about doing good. He preached at the Croy Creek Schoolhouse,
where a small society was formed in an early day, and at the residence
of Thomas Wheeler and others. Reverend A. W. Hedge and James Scarlet
were among the earliest preachers of the United Brethren Church. The
former organized a society at the Zenor Schoolhouse, which was kept up
for a number of years. Reverend John Dunham preached for
this and other societies during the early days of their history.
Scarlet organized a class at the Union Schoolhouse as early as 1840,
which consisted of a good membership. To this society belonged in an
early day Nathan Clifton and wife, Alexander Helton and wife, James
Scarlet and wife, Margy Slack, and several others whose names were not
learned. The society passed through many vicissitudes, but has always
maintained an organization. A building was erected in the year 1855, a
short distance east of Whittington, and served the church until about
three years ago, when a re-organization was effected, and the building
remodeled. The society is known as the Union Church, and numbers fifty
members at the present time. Their house of worship is a model of
neatness, and with improvements recently added represents a capital of
about $1,500. The pastor in charge at the present time is Rev. William
Malston.
Mt. Olive Methodist Episcopal Church was organized about the year 1857,
at the residence of Stephen Loudermilk in Section 29, near the
southwest corner of the township. The original membership consisted of
the following persons and their families, to wit: Stephen Loudermilk
and wife, Joseph Dietrick and wife, A. B. Wheeler and wife, John
Gibbons and wife, and Alfred Bowling. After its organization the
society was moved to a neighboring schoolhouse where services were held
for one and a half years, at the end of which time a neat temple of
worship was erected on land donated for the purpose by A. B. Wheeler.
The house is frame, 26x36 feet in size; cost about $800, and was
dedicated by Rev. Samuel Denney. Rev. Joseph Asbury who effected the
organization was the first pastor, and preached for one year. He was
succeeded by Rev. Mr. Cunningham, who remained the same length of time,
then came Emery E. Brandt, who was followed by Samuel Denney. Since the
latter's pastorate, the church has been ministered to by the following:
William Davis, — Gaskins, John Bruner, Mr. Coffman, — Reynolds, —
Baxter and J. V. Moore, the last named being pastor in charge at the
present time.
The Croy Creek Methodist Church is one of the oldest and most
influential religious organizations in the township at the present
time. It has a substantial membership, including many of the best
citizens of the county, and is reported in good condition. The society
meets in a neat frame building, capable of seating from 250 to 300
persons.
Asbury Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church is an aggressive society,
which meets in a substantial house of worship situated a short distance
north of Whittington, on the Brazil & Bowling Green road. It has a
good membership and is ministered to at the present time by Rev. J. V.
Moore. In addition to the foregoing the Lutherans have a society and
house of worship in Section 36, and the Christians an organization at
the village of Ashersville.
POPULATION.
The population of the
county in 1830 was 1,616; in 1840, 5,567; in 1850, 7,800; in 1860,
12,121; in 1870, 19,084; in 1880, 25,839. The ratio of increase from
1830 to 1840, was 244; from 1840 to 1850, 40; from 1850 to 1860, 57;
from 1860 to 1870, 60; and from 1870 to 1880, 35 per cent.
