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Pioneers of Marion County Indiana Township Indiana Township Histories - Page 289 Chapter XXV. Indiana Township - Its Geography and Early History - Names of Early Settlers - Alexander May - A Milling Expedition - Eleven Miles to borrow Meal - George Henry - Out of Provisions and Money - Working on Sunday - In a Storm - Mush and Milk - Only Potatoes - A Perilous Adventure. This township is technically described as town. 74, range 19. It is a southern township, and its exact location may be defined as the south-west quarter of the south-east quarter of the county. It is bounded on the north by Knoxville, on the east by Liberty, on the south by Monroe county, and on the west by Washington township. Off the streams the prairie is almost level. The prairies are not large, and timber is abundant and convenient to any part of them. Coal is plentiful along many of the small streams, and the veins are from three to six feet thick. Those worked most are on the lands of Daniel Sherwood and Alexander May. Indiana was declared an organized township by the board of county commissioners at their regular session, January 6, 1847, and the place for holding elections was appointed at the house of Alexander May, which was about a mile east of the center of the township. The first election held in this township, (of which there is no preserved record,) took place at Mr. May's cabin, August 1st, 1844, which, it will be observed, was a precinct election. Benj. Sherwood and John Riddle served as clerks. The first named person was elected township precinct clerk; Alexander Indiana Township Histories - Page 290 May and John T. Pierce, justices, and Allen Lowe and Samuel C. Nicholson, constables. At this election, and just previous thereto, there was a strife between parties in favor of Pierce and Lowe on the one hand, and May and Nicholson on the other, as to which pair of constables should receive the largest number of votes. Knowing the beneficial effects of something good to drink in the way of winning friends, Alonzo Smith and Samuel Coolly had prepared a barrel of "mathoglin" as a treat to the supporters of Pierce and Lowe, and won the victory by three votes. The first election of which there is any preserved record, was held at the house of Benj. F. Williams, in Barkersville (now Attica,) April 5, 1852. Fifty-three votes were cast, and the following officers elected: Harvey Manners and W. T. Smith, justices; Nathaniel Coclerece, Samuel M. Cooly and Jacob Bonebreak, trustees; Noah Bonebreak, clerk, and Allen Lowe and John Camplin, constables. Indiana was so named in consequence of a large majority of first settlers being from that state. The following is a list of their names and date of settlement: Alexander May, Noah Whitlatch, Wm. Carlisle, George Henry, Allen Lowe, Samuel Coolly, Wm. Shanks, Samuel Nicholson and John Riddle in 1843; Jeremith Gullian, Benj. Sherwood, David Sweem and Jas. Cade, in 1844; Isaac Kelsey and Lewis Pierce in 1845, and John Bonebreak in 1846. Indiana Township Histories - Page 294 Chapter XXVI. Indiana Township continued - David Sweem - Straitened - Circumstances - A Night in the Wilderness - Unknown Remains - A Lost Traveler - Indiana P. O. - First School - First Preaching - First Wedding - A Romantic Incident - A Claim Difficulty - Attica - James Barker - He fights the Dragoons. Instances have been related of the scarcity of tools and such other articles, the use of which could scarcely be dispensed with, and the distance sometimes traveled to obtain the loan of them. Mr. Samuel Coolly relates to us an instance of his Indiana Township Histories - Page 295 own experience in borrowing. Good water could not be had without digging for it; and this could not be done without a spade or shovel to do it with, and there was no such tool in the country nearer than twelve miles. It belonged to Amos Strickland, who lived in what is now Monroe county. Mr. Coolly went and obtained a loan of the spade, (the handle of which was about 18 inches long,) and started on his return, intending to make the trip in one day. But, on reaching the timbers of North Cedar, the night came on and gradually grew into impenetrable darkness. Mr. C. became bewildered, but the horse he rode - a white one, and about the only object he could see - carried him to the bank of the stream. To attempt to ford it in that unknown and dark place required a stronger nerve for adventure than the wanderer possessed; so he concluded to remain there till morning. Having tied his horse, he laid down by a tree near at hand. But neither to rest nor sleep. All night he heard the prowling of wolves and other wild animals in the vicinity. The horse evidently saw or scented them for he was desperately restless, snorting, pawing and neighing continually. Added to this trouble were great swarms of mosquitoes that were bolder and more blood thirsty than the wolves. Morning came at last, and Mr. Coolly found his way across the creek and reached home without meeting with any other serious adventure. The above story revives the recollection of one relating to a like adventure of less fortunate termination. In '44 or '45 Allen Lowe was driving some cattle across a trackless prairie, near the western line of the township, when some of them shied off, as though frightened at some object. Going to see what had been the cause of it, Mr. Lowe found a coat and pants, and, upon further search, the bones of a human being, scattered over several rods of ground. The bones were gathered up and buried, and the clothing was taken to Alexander May's where it still remains to be identified by whoever Indiana Township Histories - Page 296 might come in search of the lost one. It was woolen stuff, and had been somewhat crisped by prairie fire. Evidently some poor wandered had become bewildered, perhaps overwhelmed by a snow storm, and there alone, exhausted and dispairing, had given himself up to the sleep of death and his flesh to feed the ravenous wolves. The liability of becoming bewildered on the prairie was much greater in the winter than in the summer, owing to snow storms, the dreary sameness of the landscape, and the obliteration of all paths by the snow. One night in the winter of '44 and '45 a man and team came to Allen Lane's and begged for shelter and food. He was from Bloomfield, and had been on a tour of observation through the country, had been bewildered and without food for two days and nights. His appearance and that of his team proved the truth of his statement of his famished condition, and he was readily provided for till sufficiently recruited to go on his way. The first post office in this township was kept at Alexander May's, but at what date we have been unable to learn. Benj. Sherwood, P. M.; mails from Knoxville weekly. The first school was taught by Fletcher Cain, in a little cabin near where Attica now is, in '45. Number of scholars, 16. Harvey Manners taught near the same place in '47-8. John B. Hays taught two miles south of Attica the same year. Hessey May also taught a school at her own house at an early date. The first gospel preaching was done by Rev. Jas. L. Warren, in the summer of '43, at the residence of Noah Whitlatch. On this occasion the Dr., having sent an appointment to preach there at 11 o'clock A. M. on a certain Sabbath, walked the distance between his residence, in Lake Prairie, and the place appointed, but arrived too late. The people had collected, waited a long time, and then dispersed. After they were all gone the Dr. made his appearance, weary and heated with his Indiana Township Histories - Page 297 long journey. After having come so far he was not disposed to return without accomplishing his mission, so he announced that he would preach at night if the people could be notified of it. Thereupon runners were sent abroad to notify them, and he was enabled to hold forth to a goodly number of hearers. The first persons married were Samuel Nicholson and Eleanor May, daughter of Alexander May, at the residence of the latter, June 1st, '44. A little romance is connected with the matrimonial transaction, that, as it was the first may as well be related here: The wooing had been going on for some time, and had ripened into an engagement; after which Samuel, with a view to improve his worldly circumstances preparatory to assuming so responsible a relationship, went down the river to work for higher wages than could be obtained at home. He was accompanied by Samuel Coolly and the two Samuels hired as deck hands on a steamboat bound for St. Louis. In April Coolly returned, expecting Nicholson soon. But weeks passed, and no Samuel came. The month of May - that period so congenial to the sentimental influences of the spirit of Cupid - passed day by day and week by week, bringing no intelligence from the absent lover to his waiting and more than anxious bride elect. Whether he had been drowned, murdered, died of sickness, or had intentionally deserted her, were questions that tortured her to a degree that any reliable intelligence of the worst would have afforded some relief. At length, having abandoned all hope of his return, the sorrowing Eleanor and her father took up their luggage and started for a visit to the place and friends of their nativity in the State of Indiana. But, to their surprise, and to the happy relief of the affectionate girl, ere they had gone half a days' journey, they met the truant lover on his return. The intended visit was instantly abandoned, and the trio returned, and the union of the happy pair was consummated at the date above mentioned. Indiana Township Histories - Page 298 The next wedding was that of a sister of Eleanor, to Tyler Overton, in December, '44, on which occasion Mr. Overton made an adventurous winter trip to Oskaloosa for the license. After the township began to settle up more rapidly, the people clubbed together, as described in the fore part of this book, for the government and protection of their claim interests; and out of this arose a little neighborhood trouble that might be worth relating: In '47 a man named Jacobs, who had been employed as surveyor in this part of the county, but who now resided at Fairfield, sent to Lewis Pierce for several numbers of unclaimed land. Pierce responded by sending several numbers, but, either intentionally or by mistake, included several of claimed lots, among them those of Alex. May, Benj. Sherwood and Isaac Kelsey. These, with others, Jacobs entered at the land office. So soon as this was discovered a great excitement was manifested among the aggrieved parties. A meeting was called, and a committee appointed to arrest Pierce and bring him to trial. In case he was proved guilty of intentionally violating the rules of the club in this transaction, and should refuse to make full reparation, his punishment should be refered to the decision of Judge Lynch. The committee went and found Pierce; but he evidently had anticipated being sent for, and had prepared himself for the emergency; for, on being invited to accompany the committee, he promptly refused, and backed his refusal with the presentation of a revolver. The committee consisted of only three persons and they were not rash. They respected his backing, returned to head quarters and reported progress. The report was necessarily accepted, but the progress was not deemed satisfactory, so a reinforcement was sent and Pierce was persuaded to honor the meeting with his presence. Finding himself in close quarters, Pierce, though the evidence was strong against him, plead innocent of any intentional Indiana Township Histories - Page 299 wrong, and promised to have it righted. With this promise, he was released for the time being; and it is probable that he immediately set about fulfilling this promise, for it was not long after that that Jacobs received intelligence of the state of affairs, and was also informed that the club would visit him at Fairfield. At such a distance he might scarcely be supposed to fear an attack; but such was the terror inspired by threats of the organizations - they having proved themselves capable of fulfilling them in a number of instances - that distance was not deemed safety. So Jacobs wrote to the claimants that he would deed them their land on the receipt of the entrance money, and interest on the same at the rate of six per cent. annually. The club agreed to this proposal and peace was restored. On the 26th of July, '49, James Barker and Nathaniel Cochreece caused to be surveyed on the northwest quarter of section 11, a town that was called Barkersville, in honor of one of the proprietors. Surveyor, James Rousseau. James Barker erected the first house in the survey, a one-story brick, that is now occupied by Wm. Thomas. Barker also sold the first goods, and was at the same time, first postmaster. Mail once a week. It was first carried from Knoxville, in a pocket handkerchief, by M. M. Marks. B. F. Williams afterwards bought Barker's store, and also took charge of the postoffice. Present post master T. S. Cathcart. Mails daily. The first hotel was kept by a German named Michael Himmelhaver. Fare, ten cents per meal. The house still stands, near the Attica House. The first school in town was taught by Hessey May and the Rev. Mr. Neur organized the first M. E. society there. Not long after Barkersville had been in existence, its principle proprietor, James Barker, for whom the town had been named, became so infamous in a criminal attachment for another man's wife, that the name was regarded as a disgrace to the town, and by common consent it was changed to Attica. Indiana Township Histories - Page 300 Attica now has three stores, one hotel, and three potteries. The clay for the manufacture of the ware is obtained from land near by, owned by Wm. Sharon. James Barker was noted as a desperate character in this locality. After having acted upon the free love principle by deserting his own family and domesticating himself with another man's wife, with whom he lived for some time, he disappeared altogether, in such a way that his disappearance is still shrouded in mystery. It is supposed by some that he met with a secret and violent death at the hands of an enemy. An anecdote is related of Barker that we may as well close this chapter by recording, though we are not able to give the exact time or place: With a wagon stored with articles for trade with the Indians, including whisky, he came into the new purchase long before the time stipulated for settlement, hoping to evade the notice of the dragoons and do a good business. But one day he discovered a squad of these prowling guardians of the treaty approaching at a distance. Quickly as possible he drew his wagon into a brushy hollow, then took a jug of whisky and went out to meet the troopers. On meeting them the captain told him he must get out of the territory or he would have his wagon and team confiscated. Barker swore he wouldn't. "What will
you do?" asked the astonished captain. Population of Indiana by the U. S. census of 1870: Native - 1321
Index to names mentioned in the Indiana Township Histories section Barker, James -
Indiana Township page 299, 300 Cade, Jas. - Indiana
Township page 290 Gullian, Jeremiah - Indiana Township page 290 Hays, John B. -
Indiana Township page 296 Jacobs - Indiana Township page 298, 299 Kelsey, Isaac - Indiana Township page 290, 298 Lane, Allen - Indiana
Township page 296 Manners, Harvey
- Indiana Township page 290, 296 Neur, Rev. Mr. -
Indiana Township page 299 Overton, Tyler - Indiana Township page 298 Pierce, John T.
- Indiana Township page 290 Riddle, John - Indiana
Township page 289, 290 Shanks, Wm. - Indiana
Township page 290 Thomas, Wm. - Indiana Township page 299 Warren, Rev. Jas.
L. - Indiana Township page 296
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