Clinton Township

CLINTON TOWNSHIP

This township is the east center and in the north tier of townships adjoining Clinton County. It contains thirty-three square miles, six miles from east to west and five and one-half miles from north to south. Sugar Creek enters it at the north-west corner, cutting off about one section. Mud Creek; and Brown's Wonder flow through the township in a north-western direction and empty into Sugar Creek, the former just north of the center of the township in the edge of Clinton County, and the latter entering near Mechanicsburg in Washington Township. Tarepin Creek, or branch, also flows in the same direction. The soil is productive, and rapid improvements are being made in the way of ditching. The streams above referred to drain it naturally and afford an outlet to the countless ditches now being put in. The timber of this township at one time must have been grand, as there are yet standing some fine specimens of oak. The demand for walnut, poplar and cherry has about exhausted this once bountiful supply. The pioneers of this township had this to contend with in making their farms. Some of the finest timber was burned up and destroyed. There was no demand for lumber at that time. No doubt there has been enough timber burnt and destroyed to pay for the land at fifty dollars per acre. Among the early settlers of this part of the county we mention Jas. H. Sample, Geo. Fall, Henry I. Bennett, Robert Stephenson, A. B. Clark, Hoza Aldridge, Resin V. Garrett, Thos. Abernathy, Wm. West, David Evans, John Tucker, Jesse Scott, Hiram Roberts, Jesse Perkins, John Caldwell, Wm. I. Bennett, Newton Cassadav, John M. Burns, Hiram Brenton, Alexander Caldwell, Geo. Mognett, Jas. Downing, Hugh Wiley, Abner Knotts, J. A. McDaniel, W. H. Evans, John Evans, Obid Hardesty, Robert Perkins, F. C. Phillips, Hugh Sample, John M. Wiley, Frank Downing, Hiram Powell, Jos. Stephenson, Hugh McDonald, Ozias Robinson, Samuel Downey, John R. McDonald, E. Swope, Matthew McLear, Marian Evans and Andrew Burns. Among the early ministers were John Reynolds (Presbyterian), John Bonner, Wm. Turner, Wm. Hall, Carson Buckhalter (Christian), and Henry I. Bennett, who yet resides in the township. The following among the early schoolteachers: Jas. H. Sample, Hiram J. Roberts, Henry I. Bennett, Jas. Mulligan and John Foley. Mr. Mulligan is yet living in the township and has served as County Surveyor several years. Clinton Township was first settled in the year 1834. The first election was held in 1835, at the house of Newton Cassadav, when a man by the name of Maxwell was elected the first Justice of the Peace. It is said that Hugh Sample, son of Jas. H. Sample, was the first child to see the light of day in this township. He is yet living two miles west of Elizaville, on the Thorntown road. This event occurred in 1837. Among the first marriages were John Stephenson to Miss Adams, Eris Stephenson to Margaret Wylie and John M. Burns to Miss Wylie. The first religious meeting was held at the house of A. B. Clark; this was in the year 1835. There was nothing like a permanent society organized till a year or two later, when the old school Presbyterian formed a society and held meetings at private houses. Houses of worship were erected in due course of time. There are now five churches in the township, viz: Hopewell (Presbyterian), in the southwest part of' the township on the Thorntown and Strawtown road, in section 31; Mud Creek, or Salem is situated on Mud Creek in section 27; there is here, as well as at Hopewell, a cemetery where many of the pioneers are buried. The Baptists have a church at Elizaville, as also have the Christians. The Presbyterians have a brick church in the same town. The number of school children in the township in 1885 was 527; number of school houses, 10. The Thorntown and Strawtown Road passes through this township from east to west. This has been a road or "trail" for sixty years. The number of voters in 1886 was 359; the number of school children in 1884 was 527; number of school houses, 10; population in 1870 was 1,220; in 1880 it was 1,487. The following persons have served as Township Trustees: John Caldwell, Wm. Wylie, John M. Burns, Ephraim Davis, Reuben Eaton, Wm. Brenton, A. C. Kern, J. C. Tomlinson. Mr. A. C. Kern was elected the second time in 1886 and is now acting.

Source Citation: Boone County History [database online] Boone County INGenWeb. 2006. <https://sites.rootsweb.com/~inboone> Original data: Harden & Spahr. "Early Life and Times in Boone County, Indiana." Indianapolis, Ind. Carlon & Hollenbeck. 1887.

NEARING THE END
MR. HARDEN GETS AROUND TO CLINTON WITH HIS WORK

The above township is the only one but what I have been in in former years, and the only one that I was wholly unacquainted in, Mrs. A. C. Coombs being the only person that I ever was at all acquainted with, and her not for thirty-five years—then a little girl at Eagle Village. She is the daughter of T. P. Miller, now of Indianapolis. Clinton is well watered by the streams of Mud Creek and Brown's Wonder, flowing a little to the east of north, entering Sugar Creek about three miles apart. Three churches in Elizaville, Hopewell in the northwest, and Salem in the northeast, furnish places for the people to worship. All very good sized and well-built edi­fices. They consist of three Presbyterian, one Christian and one Baptist. The cemeteries at Hopewell and Salem are quite well cared for, kept in good order, and some tasteful monuments mark the resting places of loved ones gone.

Elizaville has two active saw-mills, two stores, two black­smith shops, two doctors, and in fact all the needed mechanics that go to make up a lively little business center. I passed by the old mill on Brown's Wonder, built in early times by John Caldwell. It has been idle for several years. His widow is living yet on the old homestead. A. C. Coombs, long a citizen of Lebanon, has been here several years. He lives in the southwest corner. He and his wife, who so kindly cared for me, I will long remember. W. H. Evans was born here. His father was one of the pioneers of Clinton. Riley Colgrove, ex-sheriff, has been here twenty years. He has a good farm and buildings, and enjoys life full as well as his prototype, Charley Riley.

William Brenton, one of the live young men of Clinton, has just completed and moved into his fine residence. I found him grading and beautifying the surroundings. F. C. Phillips, a little farther east, is here to stay; is well informed on matters generally, and a night at his house was pleasantly spent. West of Mr. Brenton you will find O. G. Curtis. His father was an early settler. He is one of the men who reads and does his own thinking. Farther east is J. A. Powell, also one of the go-ahead young farmers of Clinton. His wife is the daughter of John M. Burns, so long and well known by the people of Boone County in public and private life. Riley Perkins, in the west part of the township, has a fine farm and buildings, and is an independent thinker and voter. We lack about one hundred thousand such men in Indiana. Marion Caldwell is erecting a fine residence here. He is one of the rising young men of Clinton. Hiram Brenton and his aged wife live here. He is one of the old pioneers, and was here before the town was laid out.

Source: "Early Life and Times in Boone County Indiana," pp 430-431, Samuel Harden, Indianapolis, Ind. Carlon & Hollenbeck. 1887.

Transcribed and Submitted by: Peggy (Curtis) Smith - February 24, 2007