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PIKE TOWNSHIP

Pike township lies in the northwest corner of Marion County, and is bounded on the north by Hamilton and Boone Counties, on the east by Washington township, on the south by Wayne township, and on the west by Hendricks County. The township contains forty-four sections, or twenty-eight thousand one hundred and sixty acres of land. Its surface is in some parts rolling, in others nearly level, and in some parts rather swampy. The buttonwood ponds were formerly numerous in some localities, but these are unknown to-day, for the industrious farmers have cleared up these places
and tile-drained them, so that excellent crops are raised on these lands. The soil of the township is generally of a good quality, and well adapted to farming and stock-raising. It is watered by Eagle Creek, which enters the township on the north line, about two and one-half miles east of the northwest corner, and runs in a southwesterly course until it reaches the Wayne township line, about one and one-quarter miles east of the west line of the township. Fishback Creek enters the township near the northwest corner, and empties into Eagle Creek one-half mile below Trader's Point. The country along this stream is the most broken part of the township, and is called the hilly country of Fishback. The creek derived its name from Freeman Fishback, who was an early settler on the farm now owned by P. Beck. Some of the finest springs of the county are along this stream. Bush's Run, a small stream, heads near the north centre of the township, and empties into Eagle Creek three-quarters of a mile below Trader's Point. Little Eagle Creek, which is somewhat of a noted stream, has its source near the south line of Boone County, and it enters this township about one mile east of the centre of the north line. It runs just east of New Augusta, and empties into Big Eagle near Mount Jackson, in Wayne township. This stream is the second in size in Pike. Crooked Creek enters the township near the northeast corner, and takes a southwesterly direction until just north of Old Augusta, where it bears to the southeast, and leaves the township about one-third of a mile southeast of Old Augusta. Staton's Creek heads a little south of Old Augusta, runs in a southwesterly course, and empties into Little Eagle on or near W. H. Guion's farm. It derived its name from Joseph Staton, who was the first settler in the southeastern part of the township. Pike, like the other townships of Marion County, was laid out and erected a separate township by order of the county commissioners on the 16th of April, 1822, and on the same date and by the same authority it was joined to Wayne for township purposes (there being but few inhabitants in either), and the two together were deemed a single township, called the township of Pike and Wayne. This continued until May 10, 1824,¹ when the commissioners of Pike separated
from Wayne (the inhabitants being suflSciently numerous), and an election was ordered to be held at the house of Alexis Jackson for the choice of a justice of the peace on the 19th of June following, David McCurdy to be inspector of election. At this election there were but seventeen votes cast, and John C. Hume was elected the first justice of the peace by a majority of three votes, Mr. Thomas Burns being his opponent for the judicial honors of the township. J. C. Hume at that time lived in the northern part of the township, in the Harman neighborhood, on the south part of the farm now owned by Samuel Hornaday, and Thomas Burns lived in the southwestern part of the township, on the east side of Eagle Creek, on the farms now owned and occupied by his grandsons, Thomas and Oliver Reveal. Following is a list of township officers of Pike from its formation to the present time, viz.:  

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
Abraham Hendricks, June 15, 1822, to June 19, 1824,
Isaac Stephens, June 22, 1822, to February, 1824 removed.
Jeremiah J. Corbaley, May 10, 1824, to June 19, 1824.
(The three preceding served for Pike and Wayne while those two townships were joined as one.)
John C. Hume, Aug. 19, 1824, to May 10, 1827; resigned.
Jacob Sheets, Aug. 27, 1825, to December, 1829; resigned.
Austin Davenport, Aug. 9, 1827, to March 1, 1830; resigned.
Zephaniah Hollingsworth, Feb. 19, 1830, to May 2, 1831; resigned.
William C. Robinson, Feb. 20, 1830, to Feb. 12, 1835.
Jesse Lane, April 9, 1830, to April 9, 1835.
Adam Wright, July 4, 1831, to July 4, 1834; resigned.  Smith Isaac, Oct. 17, 1834, to Oct. 17, 1839.
Nathaniel Bell, April 18, 1835, to April 15, 1845.
Riley B. Hogshire, June 9, 1838, to June 9, 1843.
Daniel Cooper, Dec. 14, 1839, to Dec. 7, 1844.
Daniel Cooper, Feb. 8, 1845, to Feb. 8, 1850.
Benjamin Powell, May 6, 1845, to May 6, 1850.
Nathaniel Bell, May 10, 1845, to July, 1846; removed.
James Haines, Dec. 18, 1846, to Dec. 15, 1851.
John C. Hume, April 12, 1850, to April 12, 1855.
Eiley B. Hogshire, May 8, 1850, to March 15, 1851; resigned.
James Haines, Dec. 22, 1851, to Dec. 15, 1856.
Fletcher I'atterson, April 19, 1853, to April 19, 1857.
John C. Hume, May 8, 1855, to May 3, 1859.
Perry W. Cotton, Nov. 3, 1855, to Nov. 1, 1859.
James Haines, April 20, 1857, to Norember, 1860; died.
Abner A. Wakeland, May 7, 1859, to April 22, 1861; resigned.
Perry W. Cotton, Nov. 7, 1859, to Nov. 1, 1863.
Joseph Patton, Dec. 6, I860, to Sept. 22, 1863; resigned.
John M. Voorhis, April 21, 1863, to Dec. 26, 1865; resigned.
William R. McCune, Nov. 5, 1863, to Nov. 1, 1867.
Abraham Artman, April 20, 1865, to May 24, 1867; resigned.
Joseph F. Trowbridge, April 13, 1867, to Oct. 13, 1879; resigned.
William R. McCune, Nov. 9, 1867, to Nov. 1, 1871.
Mahlon B. Pentecost, April 25, 1868, to Nov. 16, 1868; resigned.
Salathiel F. Pentecost, April 28, 1869, to Jan. 31, 1871; resigned.
Francis M. Hollingsworth, Oct. 28, 1872, to Oct. 28, 1876.
John C. Reed, April 9, 1878, to April 9, 1882.
Francis M. Hollingsworth, July 9, 1878, to April 14, 1880.
Tiry N. Hurdin, Oct. 13, 1879, to June 27, 1882; removed.
James M. Smith, May 11, 1882, to May 11, 1886.
Robert Dunn, June 27, 1882, to April 14, 1884.
 
TRUSTEES.
John H. Wiley, April 11, 1859, to April 11, 1860.
Elihu Culver, April 11, 1860, to Jan. 13, 1861.
William P. Long, Jan. 13, 1861, to April 13, 1861.
James M. Draper, April 13, 1861, to April 17, 1863.
John H. Wiley, April 17, 1863, to April 13, 1867.
James H. Kennedy, April 13, 1867, to Oct. 29, 1870.
Jeremiah Coble, Oct. 29, 1870, to April 10, 1880.
Jasper N. Guion, April 10, 1880, to April 14, 1882.
Jesse A. Avery, April 14, 1882, for two years.
 
ASSESSORS.
John B. Harmon, Jan. 1, 1827, to Jan. 5, 1829.
Jesse Davenport, Jan. 5, 1829, to Jan. 3, 1831.
Joseph Staton, Jan. 3, 1831, to Jan. 2, 1832.
William W. Harmon, Jan. 2, 1832, to May 5, 1835.
Alexander Felton, May 5, 1835, to Jan. 4, 1836.
Smith Isaac, Jan. 4, 1836, to March 7, 1836.
Alexander Felton, March 7, 1836, to Jan. 2, 1837.
William W. Harmon, Jan. 2, 1837, to Jan. 1, 1838.
Smith Isaac, Jan. 1, 1838, to Jan. 7, 1839.
Alexander Felton, Jan. 7, 1839, to Jan. 6, 1840.
Smith Isaac, Jan. 6, 1840, to Jan. 4, 1841.
Alexander Felton, Jan. 4, 1841, to Dec. 6, 1841.
Thomas W. Council, Dec. 10, 1852, to Nov. 20, 1854.
John Bowers, Nov. 20, 1864, to April 7, 1855.
Abraham Logan, April 7, 1855, to Dec. 4, 1856.
James M. Draper, Dec. 4, 1856, to Nov. 20, 1858.
Allen P. Wiley, Nov. 20, 1858, to Nov. 6, 1860.
John M. Voorhis, Nov. 6, 1860, to Nov. 16, 1862.
John Souerwine, Nov. 16, 1862, to Nov. 26, 1864.
Jacob R. Wilson, Nov. 26, 1864, to Oct. 27, 1866.
Joseph Loftin, Oct. 27, 1866, to Aug. 1, 1873.
Samuel H. Sohenok, March 23, 1875, to Oct. 23, 1876.
Joseph Loftin, Oct. 23, 1876, to April 10, 1880.
Jacob Souerwine, April 10, 1880, to April 14, 1882.
Jacob H. Heisay, April 14, 1882, to April 14, 1884.

From the best information now to be obtained the first white man who settled in this township was James Harman, who was a native of Pulaski County, Ky., and a soldier in the war of 1812. He came to Indiana and first located in Rush County, and in 1820 came to Marion County and settled in the north part of Pike township, on the east side of Eagle Creek, where he lived until the 20th day of November, 1832, when he sold out to Wesley Marklin, and moved to the farm where Richard Carter now lives. He lived there for a few years, and then moved to Boone County, Ind., near Zionsville, where he died. Mr. Harman raised twelve children, some of whom still live in the neighborhood where they passed the years of their youth.

The next settler in the township is supposed to have been David McCurdy, Sr. He was born in Ireland in the year 1777, and at the age of two years he with his mother (then a widow) came to New York, where he lived until 1818. He then came to Indiana and settled near Noblesville, on White River, in Hamilton County, and lived there until 1820 or 1821, when he came to Marion County and settled in Pike township, west of Eagle Creek, on the farm now owned and occupied by James White. Mr. McCurdy owned at one time two thousand five hundred and eighty acres of land along Eagle Creek in this township. In a few years he moved to the southwest part of the township, on the farm which he made his home until his death. He built the first grist-mill in the township, on Eagle Creek, at what is known as the McCurdy Ford, where the citizens got their corn and wheat ground for a number of years, the flour being bolted by hand. He also owned and ran a small distillery just south of the residence of his son Samuel. Mr. McCurdy was married twice. He had ten children by his first wife and ten by the second, equally divided between the sexes. All lived to maturity, and settled in this section and shared in their father's large estate. Mr. McCurdy was honest in all his dealings, kind and liberal to the poor, was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Jones' Chapel, and very liberal in its support. He died at the age of eighty-four years, and was buried at Jones' Chapel Cemetery, where a fine monument marks his grave.

Samuel McCurdy, a son of David McCurdy, Sr., was born in Pike township, Jan. 11, 1840, and lives on the old farm and homestead, where his father died. His residence (built by his father) is the first brick house built in the township. Samuel McCurdy is one of the wealthiest men in Pike township; is extensively engaged in farming and stock-raising. He owns six hundred and thirty acres of excellent land, and has built two miles of gravel road at his own expense. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

John B. Harman, born in Virginia, emigrated thence to Kentucky, thence to Bartholomew County, Ind., and in 1821 came with a wife and two children to Pike township, and settled in the north part of the township, west of Eagle Creek, on the farm now owned by Samuel Hornaday. In 1829 he was assessed on the northeast quarter of section 15, township 17, range 2. In 1837 he sold out, and removed to Boone County. His wife was Mary Findley, to whom he was married in 1817, and they became the parents of six sons and two daughters. After his arrival here he traded with the Indians, and was on friendly terms with them while they remained in this region, but afterwards he saw something of their hostility. He had served in the war of 1812, and volunteered for service in the Black Hawk war of 1832, in which he became a captain. At one time, at the close of a very fatiguing march, he, with about thirty-five men who were with him, was attacked by the savages, and all were killed except himself and one other man, who escaped by leaving their horses and swimming a swollen stream. Capt. Harman died in Boone County in June, 1860.

James Delong was one of the earliest settlers in Pike. He came here in 1822, first settling in the northern part of the township, and in 1823 he bought out Elijah Standridge, on the east side of Eagle Creek, two miles south of Trader's Point. The farm (two hundred and fourteen acres of excellent land) is now owned by Jacob Delong, his second son, who was born on the farm, and has lived on it sixty years, this being the longest continuous residence of any man in the township.

Chesley Ray, Sr., a native of North Carolina, came to Pike township in the winter of 1822-23, and settled with his family (wife and two children) on land now owned by Amos Smith, east of Eagle Creek. Some years afterwards he bought an eighty-acre tract, now land of William Jennings. He was also owner of several other farms at different times. He moved to Illinois, and died there in 1869, in his seventy-first year. He had five children, — three sons and two daughters. His first wife was the second adult person who died in this township, in May, 1826.

Joseph Staton was a Virginian by birth (born in 1796), was married in 1818 to Cidna Tarns, and in 1823 came with his family (wife and three children) to settle in Pike, on Staton's Creek, — their nearest neighbor then being three miles distant. Mr. Staton died at the age of sixty-six years, two months, and fifteen days. He raised four sons and four daughters. His eldest two sons, Reuben and Washington Staton, own the lands on which their father and mother settled sixty years ago.

George Haines, Sr., was a native of Pennsylvania, moved in his youth to Kentucky, and came to Pike township in October, 1824, settling on the farm afterwards owned by Ira Hollingsworth. After a few years he moved to Missouri. He had seven, sons and four daughters, and raised them all. His son George was famed as the largest man in this township, being six feet seven inches high. Another son, Absalom, now approaching his threescore and ten years, has lived in Marion County almost continuously for nearly sixty years.

Abraham McCorkle was a native of Fleming County, Ky. He came to this township in 1824, and entered one hundred and twenty acres of land on the west side of Eagle Creek, in the western part of the township. On this tract he built a cabin, and in 1825 (October 26th), with his wife and child, commenced housekeeping in the woods of this part of the township. He was one of the original members of Jones' Chapel (Methodist Episcopal Church), and donated the ground for the meeting-house and cemetery.

Hon. Robert B. Duncan came to this township in 1824 (when but a lad), and lived with his brother-in-law, William C. Robinson, and also with his uncle, John Duncan. In 1827 he left, and went to the then village of Indianapolis to educate himself He lived with James M. Ray, and worked for his board while at school. His subsequent career is too well known to the people of the county to need extended mention here.

David Wilson, Sr., was born in Pennsylvania in 1801. In 1825 he came to Indiana and settled in this township, on the west side of Eagle Creek, on the land now owned and occupied by Thomas Parker. He owned several other tracts of land in the township. His wife was Annie Railsback, and they raised thirteen children, eight sons and five daughters. David Wilson at one time owned a saw-mill and grist-mill, and carried on the milling business quite extensively for a number of years. He died Nov. 30, 1853, and was buried on his farm. His widow is still living, and is eighty years old. She was one of the original members of Ebenezer Christian Church, and is now a faithful Christian, holding her membership in one of the Christian Churches at Indianapolis, where she lives with her children. Her house was the preachers' home while she lived in Pike township.

John C. Hume was born in 1790 in Harrisburg, Pa., whence he removed with his father to the State of New York in 1804. After a time he engaged in the occupation of civil engineer, and as such laid out the plat of the city of Rochester, N. Y. He was married in 1813 to Martha Rodman, in New York, and in 1815 he removed to Washington County, Ind., where he resided until 1821 or 1822, when he took up his residence in Marion County. He located where the city of Indianapolis now stands, which place at that time contained but a half-dozen log cabins. He was among the first settlers of the county. He served fourteen years as justice of the peace, seven years as probate judge of Marion County, and four years as circuit judge of McLean County, Ill., to which State he removed in 1837. After the expiration of his term of office in Illinois he returned to this township, where he lived uninterruptedly until his death.

Stephen Gullefer, a Virginian by birth, came to Pike township in 1827. In 1829 he was assessed on the northwest quarter of section 7, township 16, range 3. His son, Aaron Gullefer, was born in the Shenandoah Valley, Va., in 1796; emigrated with his father to Ohio; thence to Wayne County, Ind., in 1821; thence moved to Pike township in 1827. He owned lands on Little Eagle Creek, near Bethel Methodist Episcopal Church, and elsewhere in the township. The farm he lived on is now owned by Henry Gullefer and Jacob Heine. Aaron Gullefer was married in 1821 to Lydia Hollingsworth. They had three sons and three daughters. Mr. Gullefer died in 1852.

Joseph Loftin, Sr., was a North Carolinian by birth. He emigrated thence to Wayne township, Marion Co., about 1826. In 1830 he moved from Wayne to the northeast part of Pike township, and settled on lands which are now owned by the Loftin family, and the homestead farm occupied by Joseph Loftin's youngest son. He had ten children, five sons and five daughters. Three of the sons became physicians. The eldest, Hon. Sample Loftin, has been treasurer of Marion County. Joseph Loftin, Jr., a native of Wayne township, and now fifty-six years of age, is one of the most prominent men of Pike township. He was township assessor for about fourteen years, trustee for two years, and in 1882 was elected county commissioner. He was engaged in school-teaching for a number of years, and taught the first school at the school-house called Poplar Cottage, a name given to it by him because it was a very low building of poplar logs. Mr. Loftin is active in politics, and bears the reputation of being one of the best-informed men in the county on political matters.

Nicholas Hightshue was born in Germany in 1794, and settled in Maryland in 1805. From there he moved to Perry County, Ohio, and in 1829, with his wife and five children, settled in the northwest corner of Pike township. They raised seven children, two sons and five daughters, all of whom are still living. Nicholas Hightshue served through the war of 1812. He was one of the original members of Ebenezer Christian Church, and served as an elder for many years. He died in 1858, and his wife in 1859.

The Hollingsworth and Klingensmith families were the most numerous of any in Pike township. There were twenty-four Hollingsworths and twenty-two Klingensmiths, voters, on the registry roll at one time in 1865-66. The Hollingsworths were Republicans and the Klingensmiths Democrats. The Hollingsworths were members of the Christian and Methodist Churches, while the Klingensmiths were mostly members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Zephaniah Hollingsworth was born in South Carolina, near Charleston, on the 6th of September, 1787, and was married to Polly Dayley on the 12th of October, 1806. In May, 1807, he, with his wife and son, George D. (who was then only six weeks old), emigrated to Montgomery County, Ohio. Polly rode a pack-horse, carrying her babe, and their bedding and wearing apparel, the distance being nearly six hundred miles. They remained in Ohio until May, 1828. They settled in this township, on Little Eagle Creek, near Bethel Methodist Episcopal Church, on the land now owned by W. H. Broughard. They reared five children, — three sons and two daughters, — who all lived to maturity. Only two are now alive, — the oldest son, George D. Hollingsworth, and the daughter Jane.

George Hollingsworth, born near Charleston, S. C., in 1801, emigrated at the age of six years, with his father to Ohio, and in 1819 moved thence to Randolph County, Ind., from which place he came to Pike township. His name appears, with that of Zephaniah Hollingsworth, on the assessment-roll of the township for 1829, but neither of them were then assessed on any real estate. Both paid poll-taxes in the township in that year, and Zephaniah Hollingsworth was assessed on two horses. The lands on which George Hollingsworth settled were located on Little Eagle Creek, and he built a saw-mill on that stream, which was one of the early mills of the township. He died in 1860, having reared a family of ten children, of which the youngest is Sylvanus Hollingsworth, who was born in this township, and now lives on the farm on which he was raised. He is engaged in farming and stock-raising, and is regarded as one of the leading agriculturists of the township.
Joseph Klingensmith, Samuel Rodebaugh, and Peter Anthony came to Pike township with their families (each having a wife and four children) in 1829. They were from Western Pennsylvania, and passed down the Ohio River with their families and household goods on a flat-boat to Cincinnati, where they disembarked, sold their boat, and finished their journey to this township by wagons, arriving in the early part of August in the year named. Joseph Klingensmith settled near where New Augusta Station now is, on the land now owned by Simon Klingensmith, his second son. Samuel Rodebaugh settled east and south of the centre of the township, on the land now owned by Joseph Rodebaugh. Peter Anthony settled near the centre of the township, on the farm known as the Daniel Meyers farm. Of this party of early settlers, but two who were then adults are now living, — Esther Klingensmith, who is eighty years old, and lives on the old farm, with her son Simon; Sally, wife of Samuel Rodebaugh, is also one of the survivors, is eighty-one years old, and lives on the old farm with her youngest son, Joseph Rodebaugh.

Simon Rodebaugh, son of Samuel and Sally Rodebaugh, was born in Pennsylvania, and was nine years old when his parents came to this country. He lives in the eastern part of the township, on some of the land his father entered. He owns three hundred and fifteen acres of good land, is a good farmer, and is somewhat extensively engaged in the business of stock-raising.

Joseph Klingensmith, Jr., was a native of Pennsylvania. He came to this township in 1835, and entered one hundred and sixty acres of land in the eastern part of the township, and just south of the centre east and west. His oldest son, Oliver, now owns and occupies the land. He is a good farmer, and is extensively engaged in the manufacture of drain-tile. He ran the first tile-mill in the township; is treasurer of the Marion County tile-maker organization. He has also been engaged quite extensively in the saw-mill business.

Emanuel Meichal came to Marion County in 1828, and first located in Wayne township. In 1833 he came to Pike, and settled between one and two miles northeast of Old Augusta, on the Michigan road. He is a North Carolinan by birth, is now seventy-four years old, and has lived in this township for half a century, except about two years when he resided in Hamilton County.

Wesley Marklin came to this county from North Carolina in November, 1832, and settled on the north line of Pike township, east of Eagle Creek. His wife was Margaret Green, to whom he was married in 1832. They have raised one son and three daughters, and have lived together as man and wife more than fifty-one years. He is now seventy-four, and his wife sixty-seven years old. He has been a great hunter, and some have called him the Daniel Boone of Pike township.

Thomas Burns was an early settler in Pike. He owned a large farm in the southwestern part of the township, and in connection with Jedediah Read, one of his neighbors, carried on the first tan-yard in this township. He was an enterprising man and a good farmer. The farm on which he lived is now owned and occupied by his grandsons, Thomas and Oliver Reveal. They are energetic and enterprising citizens, and are extensively engaged in farming.

A. B. Smock was a son of Peter Smock, who came to this township in 1826, and bought eighty acres of land near the centre of the township, on what is now the Zionsville and Pike township gravel road. The land is now owned by Newton Pollard. A. B. Smock served during the Mexican war in the Fourth Indiana Regiment. He also volunteered in the late war of the Rebellion in Capt. Black's company. Sixty-third Regiment Indiana Volunteers. He has at different times been extensively engaged in the saw-mill business, is now a retired farmer, is sixty-three years old, and the only Mexican soldier living in the township.

Thomas B. Jones came from Franklin County, Ind., to Marion County in 1824. He was married to Jane Speer, daughter of Robert Speer, Sr., Jan. 18, 1826, by Jeremiah Corbaley, Esq., of Wayne township, where they then resided. In the spring of 1826 they moved to this township and built a cabin on the west side of Eagle Creek, one-quarter of a mile southwest of where Jones Chapel (Methodist Episcopal Church) now stands. They raised eight children (six daughters and two sons), of which four daughters and the two sons are still living. Aunt Jane Jones, as she is called, is still living, and makes her home with her son, J. T. Jones, west of Clermont. She is in her seventy-ninth year, is a regular attendant at church, and has been for sixty-five years. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Craig Jones was a native of Kentucky. He came to Marion County in 1821 and lived with his brother, John B. Jones, in Wayne township, near old Union Christian Church. He was married to Sally Speer Sept. 30, 1830, and in October following they settled in Pike township, on the east side of Eagle Creek, on the farm now owned by the Davenport heirs. They lived there thirty-two years; then went to Iowa, lived there seven years, came back to Indiana, and settled in Hendricks County. Mr. Jones died July 7, 1880. They had no children of their own, but raised several orphans. Aunt Sally, as she is called, is now living in Clermont, Wayne township. She is now in her seventy-second year, and has been a member of the Christian Church for fifty-six years.

Jonathan Ingo came to this township in 1829 with George Coble, and settled near the site of Old Augusta. The farm was afterwards owned by David Boardman and Thomas Council, and is now owned by Mr. Collins.

Seth Rodebaugh, son of Christopher Rodebaugh, was born in Pennsylvania in 1796, and was raised by his uncle, Adam Rodebaugh, who came to Ohio in an early day. He was married to Mary Hollingsworth July 9, 1817, and in March, 1818, moved to Randolph County, Ind. In 1825 he, with his wife and four children, came to Marion County, and settled in Pike township, on Little Eagle Creek, on the farm now owned and occupied by Jacob Meyers. Rodebaugh sold to Meyers in 1844 or 1845, and went West. He died during the “Border Ruffian War" in Kansas. His wife and children remained in this township, Mrs. Rodebaugh living with her children, of whom she had eight, six daughters and two sons. She is now living with her daughter, Mrs. Laycook. She is eighty-five years of age, the oldest person in the township.

Daniel Cooper was born in Virginia in 1793, and moved to Ohio with his father in 1809. He served in the war of 1812, and in 1830 came to Indiana and settled in the northwestern part of Pike township, on Fishback Creek. He served as justice of the peace for several years, and was a school teacher of some prominence in the early day of the township. The farm of Daniel Cooper is now owned by Elijah Cooper.

Samuel Cooper, of Perry County, Ohio, a carpenter by trade, came to this township in 1830, and entered eighty acres of land in the northwest corner of the township on the Lafayette road. Fishback Creek runs through the land he entered. In 1831 he, with his wife (Elizabeth Moore, to whom he was married in December, 1827) and two children, moved to his land, where a cabin was soon erected, and they were at home in the woods. They raised eleven children who lived to maturity, seven sons and four daughters. Aunt Betsey, as she is called, still lives, at seventy-five years of age, on the farm they entered. Mr. Cooper died April 1, 1864.

John Moore, a son of John Moore, Sr., was born in Perry County, Ohio, June 9, 1816, and came to Indiana in 1832. He settled in Pike township, on the farm now owned and occupied by Pluman Reck. Mr. Moore now resides in the southwestern part of the township, on the west side of Eagle Creek. He owns a farm of over three hundred acres, which he has acquired by his own industry and economy. He is extensively engaged in farming and stock-raising. He has served as inspector of elections for thirty-five or forty years, and is an elder in the Presbyterian Church at Clermont.
Enoch Reade was born in Jackson County, Ohio, in 1814, and in 1828, with his father's family, came to Hendricks County, near Plainfield, where he lived until 1831. In August of that year they came to Marion County, and settled in Pike township, where Marion Wiley now lives. He was married to Ruth Hume, daughter of J. C. Hume, Oct. 16, 1834, and in 1837 moved to Illinois with a number of other early settlers of this township. He remained in Illinois five years, then returned to this township, and settled on the farm where A. P. Wiley now resides. He raised five children, who are still living. Mr. Reade is now and has been for a number of years living on the Lafayette road.

Alexander Felton came to Pike township Sept. 2, 1832, and settled on the farm now owned by Leander Felton. He taught school the following winter in a house owned by Zephaniah Hollingsworth, in his own yard, used for loom-house, etc. For many years afterwards, during the winter, he taught in different places, working on the farm in summer. He was an advocate of temperance and freedom for all races and color, standing up for the anti-slavery cause when it cost something to do so. He did not, however, live to see the liberation of the slaves. He died Sept. 2, 1854. His widow died Feb. 17, 1883, at eighty years of age, having lived fifty-one years on the old homestead.

John Bowers was a son of David Bowers, Sr., born in Dearborn County, Ind., Aug. 28, 1818. He came to this township in 1833, and settled on land, now the 6. W. Aston farm, on the Michigan road. John Bowers was married to Elizabeth Gullefer Oct. 27, 1844. They had five children, — three sons and two daughters, — who are all living in this vicinity on good farms, to which they were assisted by the liberality of their parents.

Mr. Bowers was one of the early school-teachers of this township when the qualifications required of a teacher were a knowledge of spelling, reading, writing, and ciphering to the single rule of three, but his qualifications exceeded those of the ordinary teacher, for he was master of the arithmetic that was then used in the schools. Mr. Bowers owns and occupies the land entered by Allen Harbert and William Groves in the southeast centre of the township, — one hundred and eighty acres of good land. He is a model farmer and stock-raiser; is an exemplary member of the Methodist Church, in which he has held several positions, having acted as classleader the most of the time for the last forty years.

John Miller, son of William Miller, a Revolutionary soldier, was born in Fleming County, Ky., in 1801, and was married to Cynthia Wilson, Feb. 23, 1828. He came to Indiana in September, 1833, and settled in this township, half a mile northwest of where the village of Trader's Point now stands. He is the only man ,in this township living on the land which he entered from government. He and his wife have lived together fifty-five years and raised six children. Mr. Miller is eighty-three years of age, and the oldest man in the township. His wife is seventy-two years old. Mr. Miller has been a member of the Christian Church nearly sixty-eight years, and his wife fifty-eight years in the same church with her husband.

Isaac N. Cotton (a son of John Cotton, who came to this township in May, 1838) was born in Wayne County, Ind., in 1830. He now owns and lives on the farm of his father. He is an excellent farmer, raises fine-wool sheep, is quite extensively engaged in raising bees, and is the president of the Indiana State Bee-Keepers' Association. He is also a member of the Swine-Breeders' and Wool-Growers' Association of the State of Indiana. He attended the Marion County Seminary from 1849 to 1851, crossed the plains with an ox-team in 1852, and remained in California two years. After his return to this county he engaged in school-teaching in the winter season and farming in the summer. He was at one time township clerk; was revenue assessor for the three north townships of Marion County; represented the county in the State Legislature in 1859, and was elected again in 1880.

William P. Long was a native of Hamilton County, Ohio, whence he came with his father, Daniel Long, to Indiana in February, 1832, and settled in Rush County. In February, 1848, he was married to Sarah D. Rees, and on April 1, in the same year, came to Pike, and settled in the southwest corner of the township, on the farm entered by James Sandusky. He is one of the elders of the Christian Church at Clermont, is a good farmer and citizen, and takes a great interest in the educational interests of the township. He has been inspector of elections at different times, and was captain of a company of the Indiana Legion during the war of the Rebellion.

John W. Riley was born in Maryland in 1830, and in 1835 came to Marion County, Ind., with his father, Samuel J. Riley, and .settled on Pall Creek. From there he moved with his parents to Perry township in 1836, and settled in the western part of the township, on the east side of White River. In the war of the Rebellion he served two years as first lieutenant in the Ninth Indiana Cavalry, and in the battle of Sulphur Trestle, Ala., he (with a detachment of one hundred and eighty-five men) was taken prisoner. He was commissioned captain by Governor Morton in the Indiana Legion. After the war Captain Riley returned to his farm in Perry township and remained there until 1869, when he moved to Pike township and bought a farm on the Michigan road, one and a half miles north of Old Aususta. He now owns over four hundred acres of good land, is a prosperous fanner, and somewhat engaged in raising graded short-horn cattle. He was a charter member of Hosbrook Lodge, F. and A. M., and served as Worshipful Master eight years.

The first road that was surveyed and cut out through this township was the Lafayette road. It was surveyed and cut out in 1831 and 1832 from Indianapolis to Lafayette. The next was the Michigan road from Indianapolis to Michigan City; this was surveyed by George L. Conard in 1832. Some of the citizens are still living who helped cut out these roads. The Lafayette road runs in a north-westerly direction through the township, and in some places passed through the swampiest land in the township. In, such places it was “corduroyed," and in open, wet winters or in the spring this road was impassable for teams and wagons, and in those days it was a great undertaking to go to Indianapolis, a distance of ten or twelve miles, and often required two days to make the round trip to mill or market with a small load. In 1859 to 1862 the Lafayette road was graded and graveled by Aaron McCray, Isaac Meyers, John Bowers, and Manning Voorhes, at a cost of twelve hundred dollars per mile; in these four years twelve miles of this road was graveled, and it was made one of the best thorough-fares of the county. Since that time the Michigan road, the Zionsville, and other roads in this township have been graveled, and there are now about thirty-five miles of gravel roads in the township, fully half of which are free roads. Quite an improvement has been made in the other roads of the township, all the wet and low places being graded and graveled. In the summer of 1877 the first iron bridge was built in this township across Big Eagle Creek, on the Lafayette road at Trader's Point, at a cost of twelve thousand dollars.

The first grist-mill of the township was built by David McCurdy on Big Eagle Creek, at the McCurdy ford. The next mill of the kind in Pike township was built by John Trester on Crooked Creek, nearly one-half mile southeast of Old Augusta, on the farm now owned by Byron K. Elliott. Lewis Mitchell built the third grist-mill in 1832, about one mile south of the site of the village of Trader's Point. The first saw-mill was built by Henry Groves on Little Eagle Creek, on the farm known as the Cropper farm.

Harrison Button built the next saw-mill on Fishback Creek, on the farm he now owns and occupies. Other saw-mills were built in this township by Stephen Gullefer, George Hollingsworth, James McCurdy, and others. These were all propelled by water-power. The first steam saw-mill was built by Marchant Rodebaugh on the Zionsville road, on the northeast corner of the farm now owned by Ezra Meyers. Rodebaugh sold out to Jacob Souerwine. The first distillery in the township was built by David McCurdy, Sr., just south of the house that Samuel McCurdy now lives in. This was built about 1827. The second distillery was built by Joseph Klingensmith, near the house now owned and occupied by Simon Klingensmith. The third distillery in the township was built by Richard Miller and Gay, and was sometimes called "Sodom." This was on the bank of Eagle Creek, just below the McCurdy ford. All of these mills and distilleries are matters of the past in the history of Pike township.

The first post-office in this township was named Piketon, and located at Adam Wright's house, on the farm now owned and occupied by Zachariah Bush, on the Lafayette road. The mail was carried on horseback from Indianapolis to Lafayette. The mail contractor was a man named Bentley, and his son Joseph carried the mail for a number of years on this route. The second postmaster in this part of the township was Christopher Hines, under whom the office was removed to the farm now occupied by P. M. Hollingsworth. Piketon post-office was continued and kept at Mr. Hines' until 1853, when an office was established on the Indianapolis and Lafayette Railroad at Augusta Station (now New Augusta), and the Piketon office and also the office at Old Augusta were discontinued. Mr. Rudicil was the first postmaster at Augusta Station. The present postmaster there is Dr. E. Purdy.

Villages. — The oldest village in Pike township is Old Augusta, situated in the eastern part, near the Washington township line. The first settlements in its vicinity were made by George Coble, Sr., and Jonathan Ingo. George Coble was a native of North Carolina, who came to this township in 1829. He entered and settled on one hundred and sixty acres of land one-quarter of a mile east of where New Augusta now is, and lived there until his death, which occurred a few years ago. He was a zealous member of the Lutheran Church for many years, and was respected by all his neighbors. He raised a family of five children, of whom Jeremiah Coble, the youngest, was born in this township, and now owns the farm on which his father settled. He has served eight years and six months as trustee of the township, and in that position gave satisfaction not only to his own party, but to his political opponents. He was a charter member of Hosbrook Lodge, P. and A. M.; has served as its secretary for ten years, and was re-elected at its last stated communication. He also holds the same position in the Knights of Honor at New Augusta. He is a member of the
Lutheran Church.

Old Augusta was laid out in 1832 by David G. Boardman and James Fee; and Riley B. Hogshire built and owned the first dry-goods and grocery-store that was opened in the place after the town was surveyed. The store was on Washington and Walnut Streets, and is now owned and occupied by John Darling as a residence. The next who engaged in the merchandising business in the place was a Mr. McCalley, who, in connection with his store, was licensed to sell whiskey, this being the first licensed place in the town. It was on the west side of the street, where Joseph Martin's blacksmith-shop now stands. The next store was opened by James Evans, one square south of where Joseph Johnson's store now stands. Mr. Evans continued in the business for a number of years, then went to Noblesville, and was engaged in merchandising there until a few years ago, when he was elected to Congress. Riley Hogshire, Sr., again purchased a large stock of goods, and carried on the business very successfully for a number of years, then sold out to his son, Samuel H. Hogshire, who was also successful in bu.siness. There have been quite a number since that time
engaged in selling goods at Old Augusta. At the present time there are four stores in the place, the proprietors being Joseph Johnson, Arthur Wakelin, Leander Cox, and B. F. Berry.

The first blacksmith-shop in Old Augusta was opened by Elias Fee, on the east side of the street, near the centre of the village. He sold out to Thomas Council, who carried on the business, in connection with that of wagon-making, for a number of years.

The first physician in the village was Dr. James M. Blades; the next. Dr. Woodyard. Sample Loftin (ex-county treasurer) practiced medicine here for sixteen or seventeen years. George Dusan was a resident physician here for a number of years, and lived where Mr. Stucker now resides. Dr. Almond Loftin practiced medicine here for ten or fifteen years.  

Dr. E. Purdy was located here in practice at one time, and is now at New Augusta. The last physician of this village was Dr. Sanford Hornaday, who was a graduate of the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Indianapolis. Dr. Hornaday moved West in the early part of 1883, and settled in Winfield, Kansas.

The first church built here was by the Methodists. The second was built in 1845 or 1846 by the Christian congregation. The first school here was taught in 1832 by a Kentuckian named Lynch, in a cabin just north of the town, on the north side of Crooked Creek, owned by a man named Lakin. The next school taught in this vicinity was by David G. Boardman, in a cabin on the land belonging to Elias Fee.

At that time the cabin stood about one-quarter of a mile southwest of the village, where the orchard is on the Adam Rodebaugh farm. Old Augusta is now a place of little importance, having been eclipsed by the newer town of Hosbrook, which enjoys the advantage of railway communication.

The village of Hosbrook (otherwise known as New Augusta) is on the old Lafayette and Indianapolis Railroad, ten miles northwest of Indianapolis. It was laid out in 1852 by William Hornaday, who was administrator of the estate of Christopher Hornaday, deceased, on which estate the town was laid out. The railway-station and post-office established at that place bore the name of Augusta Station. The first postmaster was Ephraim Rudacil, who was succeeded by Joseph Klingensmith. The office remained in the Klingensmith family the most of the time until 1882, when Dr. Ephraim Purdy was appointed and is still the postmaster. The name of the office was changed in 1878 to New Augusta. The first store at this place was owned by Thomas Council & Son. Soon after Council's store was opened, Ephraim Rudacil and Jacob and Simon Klingensmith built a large store and warehouse, and did a large business in selling goods and buying and shipping grain. Rudacil sold out to Joseph Klingensmith, Sr., after which the firm continued in the grain and merchandising business for a number of years and then sold out. The business afterwards passed into the hands of Reuben Klingensmith, who dropped the grain business but continued the store trade until 1879, when he closed out his stock of goods at private sale and retired to his farm. The two stores of the village are now carried on by George Avery, Robert Avery, and Marshall Hollingsworth. There is also a drug-store, owned by Nelson Klingensmith.

Dr. Ephraim Purdy was the first resident physician and surgeon of the town, and he is still here in practice. Dr. W. B. McDonald, who is also in practice here, is a graduate of the Indiana Medical College. He served three and a half years at the City Hospital in Indianapolis, the last two years as superintendent. He located at New Augusta in 1877. Dr. George Coble, who graduated at the Indiana Medical College in 1882, is located at New Augusta and associated with Dr. McDonald. In 1872, Henry and William Pollard built a large flouring-mill at this place, and afterwards added a saw-mill to the establishment. The flour-mill and two saw-mills are now owned by William H. Neidlinger. Besides what has already been mentioned, the village contains three churches (Methodist Episcopal, Evangelical Lutheran, and Christian), several mechanic shops and trades, three lodges of secret benevolent societies, and about two hundred inhanitants.

Hosbrook Lodge, No. 473, F. and A. M., was organized June 7, 1873, with the following-named officers: John W. Riley, W. M.; Joseph F. Trowbridge, S. W.; F. M. Hollingsworth, J. W.; Stephen Gullefer, Treas.; Jeremiah Coble, Sec.; Jesse Dun, S. D.; Joseph Loftin, J. D.; John S. McCIain, Tiler. The lodge owns property valued at one thousand dollars.

Augusta Lodge, No. 511, I. O. O. F., at New Augusta, was organized Nov. 18, 1875, by Grand Sec. B. P. Foster, with T. J. Dawson, D. R. Walker, Henry M. Hessong, G. W. Bass, Peter Smith, W. H. Neidlinger, Jasper N. Guion, Allen Avery, Jonathan A. Guion, Henry Lowman, R. S. Hollingsworth, Perry Hanes, and C. H. Felton as charter members.

The first oflicers were T. J. Dawson, N. G.; William H. Neidlinger, V. G.; D. R. Walker, Per. Sec.; J. A. Guion, Rec. Sec; G. W. Bass, Treas. The present oflScers are Wyatt Farrington, N. G.; A. V. Lewis, V. G.; G. N. Gullefer, Rec. See.; W. H. Neidlinger, Per. Sec.; Perry Haines, Treas.

Knights of Honor Lodge, No. 176, at New Augusta, was chartered Oct. 20, 1875, with Ephraim Miller, Jacob Miller, William Meyers, I. S. McClain, B. F. Abrams, John Coble, ""folney Kenney, Samuel Coble, J. M. Neidlinger, D. C. Kindrey, W. H. Neidlinger, and J. N. Harden as charter members.

Its first officers were J. N. Harden, D.; William Meyers, V. D.; J. McClain, P. D.; B. F. Abrams, A. D.; W. H. Neidlinger, R.; E. Miller, F. R.; John Coble, Treas.; Volney Kenney, G.; D. C. Kendrey, G.; Samuel Coble, Chap.

Its present officers are Jeremiah Coble, D.; S. Klingensmith, V. D.; B. F. Abrams, A. D.; W. D. McDonald, R.; W. H. Neidlinger, F. R.; Henry Dobson, Treas.; F. M. Mathes, P. D.; James Nelson, I. G.; Samuel Coble, 0. G.; John Hessong, Chap.

The present total membership is twenty-six. The lodge owns property worth six hundred dollars.

The village of Trader's Point was laid out by John Jennings and Josiah Coughran in 1864. They erected a flour-mill, with four run of burrs, — three for wheat and one for corn. It was at first a watermill, with a raceway nearly three-quarters of a mile long, and cost, with water privilege, machinery, and construction, about thirty thousand dollars. The mill was run to its full capacity for several years as a grist- and merchant-mill. In 1868 or 1869, Mr. Jennings sold out his interest to his partner, Mr. Coughran, who continued to run the mill until the panic of 1873, when Mr. John Irick bought the mill at assignees' sale, and afterwards sold it to James Skillen, of Indianapolis, who ran the mill for a few years, after which it fell back to the Irick estate, and in 1881 John Jennings again became the owner. He remodeled it, put it in good repair, and sold it to Mr. Coffin, of Indianapolis, who sold it in the fall of 1883 to a Mr. Jennings, of Kokomo, who is preparing to put it again operation.

The first store in Trader's Point was opened by Clark Jennings, who did a good business. He was followed by John Ray, who sold out to Lewis Wiley, Wiley to Harry Morris, he to James Kirlin (one of the oldest merchants in this county), and Kirlin to J. B. Grossett, who did a good business for a number of years, and finally sold out and went to Kansas.

The second store building was erected by John Jennings, Chesley Ray, and the Rural Lodge, I. O. O. F., in 1873. This store did a prosperous business, and in 1874, Ray bought Jennings' interest in the store, and now carries on the business. He is also the postmaster of Trader's Point.

The first blacksmith at Trader's Point was Presley Jennings. Lewis Gass is now running the shop started by Jennings. Another shop is carried on by James Wells. A cooper-shop was started here by Alfred Parker, who followed the business for a number of years.

The first physician to locate here was a young man from Ohio named Howard. The present physician is Dr. Lewis O. Carson, who came in May, 1877. He is a graduate of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Indianapolis, is also a graduate of the Medical College of Indiana, and of the medical department of Butler University. He has a lucrative practice, and is a successful physician and surgeon.

Rural Lodge, No. 416, I. 0. 0. F., of Trader's Point, was instituted on the 22d of May, 1873, with Christian Lang, James Troutman, W. R. Clinton, Nelson Starkey, A. B. Smock, A. D. Huls, John R. Wilson, Lewis Parker, John Caldwell, Enoch Reade, John H. Rcade, James A. Davenport, G. W. Howard, J. F. Hickey, Isaiah Voris, and A. B. Conarroe as charter members. The first regular meeting was held at their hall on the 10th of June, 1873, at which time oflBcers were installed as follows: Christopher Long, N. G.; W. R. Clinton, V. G.; J. F. Hickey, Sec.; G. W. Howard, Per. Sec.; A. B. Conarroe, Treas. The hall is twenty-one by fifty feet in size, valued at one thousand dollars. The lodge has now eleven members and the following-named officers: John Caldwell, N. G.; A. S. Huls, Y. G.; A. D. Huls, Sec.; Harrison Hollingsworth, Treas.

Pleasant Hill Methodist Episcopal Church. — The first meetings of the citizens in the northwestern part of the township for worship were at the residences of J. C. Hume and Orlos Babcock. Mr. Hume then lived on the south end of the farm now owned by Samuel Hornaday. The meetings were conducted generally by a Rev. Bramble, who was a local Methodist preacher. In 1828, Abraham Busenbariek donated one acre of land at the southeast corner of his farm (opposite the residence of David Dolong) on which to build a school- and meeting-house. It was built and named
Pleasant Hill, and the charge was then added to the Danville Circuit, and Joseph Tarkington was the first circuit preacher who preached in this township. The original members of this pioneer church were John C. Hume, Patty Hume, Mrs. Rodman (mother of Judge Rodman), John and Mary Rodman, James Brazilton and wife, Orlos Babcock, and Jemima Babcock. The Rev. Bramble continued to preach for this church for some years, in connection with the preachers of the circuit. Joseph Tarkington remained with the church for two years, and was succeeded by the Rev.
E. Farmer, who remained for the years 1830-31. The Rev. Charles Bonner was on this circuit for the year 1832, and was succeeded by the Rev. Thomas Bonner for 1833. The Rev. Asa Beck was assigned to this circuit for the years 1834-35. He was succeeded by Isaac Welsh and John Edwards for the year 1836. Hezekiah Smith was assigned to this circuit in 1837, and remained in 1838. He was followed by Enoch Wood and Wesley Dorsey, 1839-40; MilesHufacre and James L. Belot, 1841-42; Daniel F. Straight and Jacob Meyers, 1843-44; Robert Calvert, 1845-46. This is as far as the names of the preachers have been ascertained.

The congregation continued to meet at the old building until 1853, when they built a new meeting-house on the farm of Silas White, Sr., just south of his residence, on the west bank of Eagle Creek, and called it Pleasant Hill Church. The first Sunday-school was held in this part of the township in 1830, at the residence of James Duncan, on the Lafayette road (where Nelson McCurdy now lives), a quarter of a mile north of Trader's Point. The school was conducted by James M. Ray, of Indianapolis. The first Sunday-school was organized in the old Pleasant Hill school- and meeting-house, and John Alford, Sr., was superintendent for a number of years.  

The Pleasant Hill Church is still an organization) but meets at Brooks' Methodist Episcopal Chapel at Trader's Point, the old Pleasant Hill Church having been replaced by a new church at the Point, built in 1873, for the better accommodation of its members. The history of this church was given by Silas White, Sr., who came to this township in 1828, on the 26th of November. He is now seventy-nine years of age, and has been a regular attendant at church for fifty-two years.

Jones Chapel, Methodist Episcopal Church. — The first meeting of this organization was held at Thomas B. Jones' house in 1828, and conducted by Joseph Tarkington, who was then on this circuit. The names of the members in the first organization were Thomas B. Jones, Jane Jones, Polly Jones, John Jones, Mary Jones, James M. Jones, Jemima Jones, Sarah Jones, A. B. McCorkle, Nancy McCorkle, David McCurdy, Mary A. McCurdy, Stacy Starkey, Margaret Starkey, Margaret Wilson, Susan Plummer, William Davis, Jane Davis, Richard Douty, Alexis Jackson, Mary Jackson, Benjamin Morning, Margaret Morning, Charles Tomlinson, Edna Tomlinson, Mary Tomlinson, Nancy Davis, Sarah Parish, Margaret McCall, Elizabeth Coughran.

The preachers to the Jones Chapel congregation were those of the circuit and some local preachers, and are named, as nearly as they can be ascertained, in the history of the Pleasant Hill Methodist Episcopal Church, to which reference may be had. The church was built on a tract of two acres, donated by Abraham McCorkle for that purpose and for a burial-ground. The first person interred in that ground was Jemima Jones.

Bethel Methodist Episcopal Church was first organized by holding meetings at Robert Ramsey's (where James C. Meyers now lives), and at Abram Wells' residence (where Leander Felton now lives). The original members were Robert Ramsey, Jane Ramsey, Abram Wells, Nancy Wells, Samuel Ewing, Sarah Ewing, Fanny Felton, Nancy Felton, Stephen Gullefer, and Betsey Gullefer. The first preacher who preached for this class was the Rev. Bramble. All the Methodist Episcopal Churches of this township were in the Danville Circuit, and all had the same circuit riders. The list of preachers is given in the history of Pleasant Hill Methodist Episcopal Church.

In 1832, Aaron Gullefer donated land for a meeting-house, and Zephaniah Hollingsworth gave land for cemetery purposes. Matilda Starkey was the first person buried in this ground, in June, 1832. Stephen Gullefer, Sr., was the second person buried here, in July, 1832. The first sermon preached in the meeting-house was at the funeral of Stephen Gullefer, Sr., by the Rev. John Klinger. Soon afler the completion of the church a Sunday-school was organized, and is still one of tlie best organizations in the township. Stephen Gullefer is the present superintendent. In 1832 the Washingtonian Temperance Society was organized here, with Samuel Frazier, Leonard West, Samuel Ewing, and others as leaders of the organization.

This organization was maintained for several years, when the Sons of Temperance was organized, with Samuel Frazier as leader of this organization, which was kept up for several years.

The Methodist Episcopal Church at Old Augusta was organized in 1833 by Rev. Thomas Brown, who was on the circuit at that time, but meetings had been held prior to that in the cabins of James Fee, Elias Fee, and Michael Mitchell. The first preachers who met with the early settlers here were Bramble and White. When the meetinghouse was built the Rev. Thomas Brown preached the dedicatory sermon. The first members in the church were James Fee, Nellie Fee, Elias Fee, Mary Fee, Samuel Fee, Simon Boardman, Margaret Boardman, Thomas Bonner and wife, Esther Bowers, James Hubbard (who is still living in Washington township at the age of ninety-nine years), Nancy Hubbard. A. G. Boardman and John Bowers became members soon after the church was organized. The same preachers were employed here that preached at Pleasant Hill Methodist Episcopal Church. There was a Sunday-school soon afterwards organized, with Samuel Fee as superintendent, and an attendance of twenty scholars. Mr. Fee was succeeded as superintendent by A. G. Boardman in 1837. He continued in that capacity while the church and school remained at Old Augusta, which was till about 1871, when, for the better convenience of members, a new house was built at New Augusta, and the organization was transferred to that place.

North Liberty Christian Church was organized in May, 1841, by the Rev. Thomas Lockhart, who is now in his eighty-ninth year and is still preaching. The officers of the church were Samuel Frazier and Leonard West, elders, and James Haines and Isom Lawrence, deacons. The original members of the church were Asa Hollingsworth, Susannah Hollingsworth, Ira Hollingsworth, Deborah Hollingsworth, Jonathan Hollingsworth, Kuhn Hollingsworth, Daniel Hollingsworth, Emily Hollingsworth, Samuel Frazier, Martha Frazier, James Haines, Mary Haines, Allison Pollard, Mary Pollard, Thomas Turley, Mary A. Turley, John Fox and wife, William Draper and wife, Mary Draper, Mrs. Avery, wife of Andrew Avery, Constantine Evans and wife, Leonard West, Anna West, Harrison Denny, George L. Sanders and wife, Martha Finney, Amanda Jones, William Starkey, Nancy Starkey, Rebecca Kemple, Elizabeth Hawkins. These are the names as far as can be had from memory of the first organization. Daniel Hollingsworth and wife, Thomas Turley and wife, Samuel Frazier, Rebecca Cropper, and Deborah Hollingsworth, who were original members of this church, are still living.

The formation of this church (which was one of the strongest Christian Churches in Central Indiana) was the result of a protracted meeting which was held in May, 1841, at Bell's school-house at night, and in the woods by day for eighteen days. The meeting was held by Thomas Lockhart, assisted by Jeflferson Matlock, both of Hendricks County. Lockhart continued to preach for this church for thirty or thirty-five years. Other preachers were L. H. Jamison, B. K. Smith, Asa HoUingsworth, Samuel Frazier, Elijah Goodwin, George Snoddy, John 0. Kane, James M. Mathis, the Rev. Chalen, W. B. Hopkins, Thomas Conley, Joseph Sadler, John Brown, Matthew Council, John Hadley, W. R. Jewell, J. B. New, Nathan Hornaday, George Smith, Robert Edmanson, W. R. Couch, Irwin Brewer, Rev. Becknal, S. K. Houshour, John Barnhill, Aaron Walker, and others whose names do not appear on the church record.

For a number of years a good Sunday-school was taught at this place, with Leonard West as superintendent; but many of the members of the church have died, others have moved away, and there has been no church organization here for seven years. The house has been abandoned except for funeral occasions. Leonard West donated one acre of land for church purposes, and James Haines donated an acre for a burial-ground.

Ebenezer Christian Church (so named by the Rev. Alexander Miller) was organized in 1834 by the Rev. Jesse Frazier, with Sally Jones, Annie Wilson, Daniel Barnhill, Elizabeth Barnhill, Lewis Mitchell, Chesley Ray, Jane Ray, Nicholas Hightshue, Alexander Miller, and Mary Miller as original members. Its first elders were Alexander Miller and Chesley Ray. The Rev. Jesse Frazier continued to preach to this church for a number of years. The first meetings were held alternately at the residences of Lewis Mitchell and Alexander Miller, and in the spring of 1834 they built the first Christian Church of this township, Annie Wilson donating the ground. Her husband furnished the lumber and helped to build the church. It is still an organization, with a membership of one hundred and fifty. The same preachers who preached in North Liberty Christian Church preached also for the Ebenezer Church except “blind Billy Wilson," who preached for this church many years ago. The present officers of the church are Thomas T. Glidenell and James G. Dickerson, elders; James A. Snyder and John Black, deacons; F. M. Hollingsworth, clerk; and James A. Snyder, treasurer. A Sunday-school was organized many years ago in connection with this church, with John Miller as its first superintendent. Its last superintendent was Marshall S. Glidenell, who held the office at the suspension of the school about three years ago.

Old Augusta Christian Church was organized in 1846, with Joseph Loftin, Sr., Mary Loftin, T. W. Council, Hester J. Council, B. F. Berry and wife, Simeon Head, Malinda Head, John Sheets, Mary Sheets, John Moss, Peter Daubenspeck, Alexander West, Temperance West, Thomas Reveal and wife as members. Council, Moss, and Reveal were chosen elders. This church was prosperous for a number of years, and was ministered to by most of the same preachers who served North Liberty and Ebenezer Churches. By reason of the emigration of some of the leading members of this church and the death of others, it ceased to be an organization for a number of years; but in the last few years, through the earnest efforts of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Stacker and some others, it has been revived, with Mr. Stucker as elder, and it now has regular service every Sunday and also a good Sunday-school.

The Christian Chapel at New Augusta was built in 1872 by subscription at a cost of twenty-five hundred dollars, and the church was organized by the Rev. W. R. Jewell, with William Pollard and Henry Dobson as elders, Hardress Avery and B. F. Abrams as deacons, and Milo Johnson clerk. The members were Allison Pollard, Mary Pollard, Eliza Gutherie, Alice Souerwine, Henry Pollard, Ann Pollard, Henry Dobson, Sarah Dobson, Rachel Pollard, Hardress Avery, Nancy Avery, B. F. Abrams, Caroline Abrams, Allen Avery, E. A. Avery, Henry Pollard, Candace Pollard, Mary A. Broughard, Sarah A. Pollard, James Holley, Harriet Holley, Rachel Cropper, Sarah Cropper, and Anna Crull. The Rev. Mr. Jewell continued to preach for the church for one year, and was followed by J. M. Canfield, who preached one year, Robert Edmonson one year, then Jewell one year again, L. H. Jamison one year, R. T. Brown one year, W. R. Couch one year, H. R. Pritchard one year, Walter S. Tingley one year, then a vacancy for two or three years. The Rev. Mr. Gilchrist is now preaching for the congregation. The church numbers about one hundred. It has had a good Sunday-school since the organization of the church, with some one of its most prominent members as superintendent. The present superintendent is William Pollard.

Prospect Presbyterian Church was organized about 1835, at Burns' school-house, by the families of Thomas Burns, Thomas McMannis, James Moore, James Duncan, John Duncan, Joseph Patten, and some others. In a few years after the organization they built a house for worship on the northwest corner of James Duncan's land (where the Rural Academy now stands), and the first preacher who occupied the pulpit there was the Rev. Stewart, who continue to preach for this church for a number of years. After him the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher (the noted Brooklyn divine) preached here, and he was followed by the Rev. Reed, who preached for the church for a number of years, and the Rev. Long, who was the last minister of this church. As some of its leading members had moved to the West, and others had died, the house was sold for a school-house, and is now known as Rural Academy.

Hopewell Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized at the residence of John Klingensmith, in 1836, by the Rev. Abraham Reck. The members of the organization were John Klingensmith, Susan Klingensmith, Peter Anthony, Hannah Anthony, George Coble, Sarah Coble, Jacob Klingensmith, Joseph Klingensmith, Esther Klingensmith, George Klingensmith, Cecilia Klingensmith, Michael Kepple, Polly Kepple, Jacob Souerwine, Elizabeth Souerwine, Isaac Meyers, and Catharine Meyers. They continued to meet at Klingensmith's residence until 1840, when a house of worship was built on Klingensmith's land, of which he donated one acre for that and cemetery purposes. This house was never entirely finished, but was used to hold meetings in until 1855, when the old house was sold and the congregation then met at centre school-house (where Newton Pollard's residence now stands). They met here until 1859, when a new house of worship was built at Augusta Station, Joseph Klingensmith donating the land for church purposes. This house was used until the congregation was too large for it, and a new brick meeting-house was built at a cost of five thousand dollars. It is one of the finest church edifices in the county outside the city of Indianapolis. In the spring of 1880 the new house was opened for worship, and the Rev. A. V. Hurse, of Rochester, Ind., preached the dedicatory sernjon. This church has always been prosperous, and now has a membership of about one hundred communicants. It has had preaching regularly since its organization. Its first preacher was Abraham Reck, who wasfollowed by Ephraim Rudacil, Samuel Good, John Livingood, Eusatius Hinkle, Philo Ground, Ephraim Wisner, M. J. Sterewalt, Jacob Wisner, W. C. L. Lower, John Hursh, and J. C. 5'"'b; these preachers preached from two to six years each. Since the organization of this church it has manintained a good Sunday-school, for a number of years some one of its leading members acting as superintendent. Its present superintendent is Elias Klingensmith.

Schools. — The first schools of this township were taught in the cabins of the early settlers, and some of the scholars had to walk several miles to attend school. The first school of the township was taught by George L. Conard, in a cabin on David McCurdy's land, on the west bank of Eagle Creek, near where James McCurdy's saw-mill was built, on the farm now owned by James White. The second school was taught in a cabin on the land of Capt. John B. Harman. The next school in this part of the township was in Pleasant Hill school and meeting-house, on the southeast corner of the Busenbarick land.

The next school was in the southeast part of the township, in the Staton neighborhood, in a cabin on the land now owned by Thomas Ramsey, where James C. Meyers lives, on the Lafayette road. This school was taught by Hugh Wells. The next school was taught by Oliver Shirtliif, in a cabin where Jones Chapel now stands, on the land then owned by Abraham McCorkle. Then the Burns school-house was built, on the east side of the creek, in 1830 or 1831.

When the township was sufficiently settled several school-houses were built, with better accommodations for the scholars than the cabins had afforded. They were about sixteen by twenty feet in size, and high enough for the large scholars to stand upright. The doors were hung outside; holes were cut in the walls and greased paper pasted over them, and they were called windows. The furniture consisted of split poles with legs in them for the scholars to occupy, and they were called seats. The requirements of a Hoosier schoolmaster was to be able to teach spelling, reading,
writing, and ciphering to the single rule of three. They were paid very small wages for their work, usually receiving six to ten dollars per month and board themselves, but the teacher was always a welcome visitor at the homes of the patrons of the schools, and generally boarded among the scholars.

The teachers in the days of the log school-houses were George L. Conard, Oliver Shirtliff, Claiborne Lewis, Daniel Cooper, William Martin, Hugh Wells, William Harbert, Alexander Felton, Richard Miller, David Boardman, James T. Morgan, David Moss (now Gen. Moss, of Noblesville), Daniel Griffin, and others whose names are yet familiar to some of the older inhabitants of this township. In 1843 a new set of teachers, with new rules and regulations for the government of schools, came upon the stage of action. Among these reformed and more humane teachers were
Nancy Felton (who was the first female teacher of the township), William Paten, John Bowers, Alfred Hawkins, Harriet Huffman, Oliver Felton, Joseph Loftin, John Laycock, Mary A. Hightshue, Samuel Martin, Patsey Bell, James Dobson, and others.

In 1853-54 the township was divided into twelve school districts, frame houses were built, and the teachers required to furnish a certificate of competency from the county board of education to teach all the common school branches, and maintain a good moral character. This was the inauguration of the free-school system. The teachers were paid by the month out of the township school fund, and corporal punishment was almost entirely abandoned.

The township now has twelve school-houses, as good as any township in the county. The value of the school property in 1883 was ten thousand dollars. The school enumeration for 1883, between six and twenty-one years of age, was: males, four hundred and eighteen; females, four hundred and two; total, eight hundred and twenty. There are fifteen teachers employed at the twelve school-hoftses, at an average of forty-six dollars per month, and the school terms are six or seven months. The teachers are Jesse C. Smith, Whitaker, M. S. Glidenell, Ella Jennings, Henry Green, John
Vantine, M. J. Wagle, John McKinsey, F. M. Klingensmith, Edward Hungate, Jesse Dunn, Plackard, John Barnhill, and Kate Davidson.

¹ From that time until 1834 small parts of the counties of Hamilton, Boone, and Hendricks were included in this township, but in the year last named the matter was brought before the Legislature by the Hon. R. B. Duncan, and the northern and western lines established as they are now. Another change was made by which three sections of land originally belonging to Pike were thrown into Washington township, thus establishing the township lines as they are at present.

Sulgrove, B. R., History of Indianapolis and Marion County, Indiana, Philadelphia: L.H. Everts & Co., 1884, 785 pgs., pgs. 596-612.