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MAP OF JAY COUNTY INDIANA.
HISTORY
OF
JAY COUNTY,
INDIANA.
BY M. W. MONTGOMERY
.PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR,
BY CHURCH, GOODMAN &
CUSHING,
51 & 53 La Salle-st,
Chicago.
COX & DONOHUE,
Binders,
53 La Salle-st., Chicago.
Dedication.
To the PIONEERS OF JAY COUNTY, for their enterprise and fortitude in civilizing the wilderness, and to her VOLUNTEER SOLDIERS, for their gallant efforts to crush this wicked Rebellion, this Book is respectfully dedicated.
M. W. MONTGOMERY.
page: [iv][View Page [iv]] page: [v][View Page [v]]PREFACE.
THIS Book is not written for the present generation. He who reads it
without keeping this in view, will be disappointed. Not that it possesses any merit which
cannot be appreciated at the present time, but because it narrates those events which grow
in interest as they recede into the past. There are two periods in the history of Jay
County of great interest to her people, viz: that of its Early Settlement and that during
the War against the Rebellion. To preserve for future generations of her citizens a
correct narration of these epochs, is the object of
THE AUTHOR.
July 20th, 1864.
page: [vi][View Page [vi]] page: [vii][View Page [vii]]CONTENTS.
- First Family in Jay County, 13
- The Second Family of Settlers, 26
- Orman Perring—The Hawkins Family, etc. 45
- The Fugitive Slaves, 54
- William Simmons—Lost—Found, 62
- Nancy Hawkins—The Oldest Cabin—Incidents, 67
- The Pioneers of 1830, 73
- Settlers and Incidents, 81
- New Settlers and their Experiences, 100
- Wild Animals—Indians Fire-Hunting—First Election—Lawsuit—Schools, 104
- Organization of the County, 119
- Courts—Officers—Attorneys, 128
- Township History, 147
- Rev. I. N. Taylor—Limberlost Church, 179
- Liber College, 189
- Farmers' Academy—General Items, 205
- Jay County and the War, 220
INTRODUCTION.
In 1820 the presence of a white family in the territory now embraced within the limits of Jay County had never been known. The aborigines had ranged its forests uninterrupted in their wild pursuits. In its wilderness they chased their game, they paddled their rough canoes upon its streams, and here and there they kindled camp-fires, built the wigwam, engaged in their savage revelries, or fought their battles. But with the first encroachments of civilization upon their hunting grounds, they took their departure. The flint arrow-head, the tomahawk and the stone battle-axe are the only mementos they have left us. Now, much of their forest is cut away, and civilized men, with all the institutions of society and progress, occupy their places. To delineate the causes and primary agents which have wrought out this noble transformation is the pretension of this little volume.
To gather fresh from the lips of the pioneers, while they still remained, the story of their early trials, was necessary to the completeness of the work. They are fast passing away. While this work has been going through the press, one venerable pioneer—Samuel Grissell—has departed, and he will never read the pages in which he took so lively an interest. Had the work been delayed a few years, the history of the early settlement of Jay County would have been wrapped in the uncertainties of tradition. One thing has embarrassed the author at every step: Most of the persons named herein are now living, and he who speaks of living men, bares himself to showers of arrows from the quivers of criticism.
page: x[View Page x]When the work was commenced, four years ago, very little was known by the people of the county, generally, concerning its early settlement. Less than half a dozen persons then living in the county knew who was the first settler, and wrong impressions widely prevailed upon that, as well as very many other subjects. Some have boasted of their knowledge of the early history of the county, yet they could not tell who was its earliest settler, or even who was the first in their own township. To brush away false traditions and reveal facts, has been a leading object in preparing these pages. Much difficulty has attended the investigation. It has required patient, persevering labor to ascertain the truth about many disputed points. To accurately fix a single date has sometimes required days of inquiry and cross-examination. To gather the histories of the companies, while they were bravely facing the foe, has also been a difficult task, but they make a record highly flattering to the patriotism of the soldiers. Jay County has never offered a bounty. Her financial condition has been such as to render this course necessary, unless she should overwhelm herself with debt. At the opening of the war she was without public buildings, or money to erect them. The building of a jail and purchase of a poor farm were a necessity. Other public buildings must soon be built. Thus, while many other counties have given tens of thousands of dollars to induce their citizens to volunteer, the patriot sons of Jay have gone forth uninfluenced by other motives than pure love of country, which is patriotism in its noblest sense. Nor has there been less volunteering on this account. The number to be drafted in the county under the call of the President in July for 500,000 men, shows that the county is equal to her sisters, which, no bounty being offered, reflects the highest honor upon her people. The number of men to be drafted is 203, distributed among the townships as follows: Richland, none; Knox, 19; Penn, 15; Jefferson, 28; Green, 27; Jackson, 19; Pike, 32; Wayne, none; Bear Creek, 5; Madison, 17; Noble, 24; Wabash, 17.
page: xi[View Page xi]How strangely have the fortunes of war scattered the One Thousand Soldiers from Jay! From Gettysburg to Charleston, from Rich Mountain to Pea Ridge and New Orleans—everywhere over the extended theatre of the war have her soldiers fought. In every contest their devotion to their country's cause has been self-sacrificing, and their bravery unfaltering. A crown of glory and the gratitude of their countrymen await them. The author regrets exceedingly that circumstances beyond his control compelled him to omit any history of the fractional companies, only so far as the lists of the members indicate. Company F, 40th Ohio regiment, has traversed Western Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee, and is now participating in the grand operations of Gen. Sherman before Atlanta. Their record is a noble one, of which their children's children will be proud. A sketch of the hard-fought battles and brave deeds of company C, 19th Indiana regiment, would itself make a volume. It is their all-sufficient, crowning glory that they participated in the battles of Cedar Mountain, Gains' Farm, Second Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorville and Gettysburg, and are now in the struggle before Petersburg. The repeated efforts of the author to obtain a history of company E, 7th Indiana Cavalry, have been constantly baffled by some strange caprice of the mails.
The author now presents the result of his labors to the people of Jay County. That the work is imperfect, he fully realizes. When several thousand dates and as many names are given in so small a compass, it would be very strange if errors did not occur. Out of the abundant material that has been gathered, the chief difficulty has been to determine what not to say. But he rejoices in the consciousness that, through it all, he has been constantly governed by an honest purpose to do justice to the subject, so far as his poor abilities would permit. He hopes the reader will find as much pleasure in the perusal as he has found in the preparation.
The author's acknowledgments are due to many persons page: xii[View Page xii] for information which they have kindly furnished. First among these are Mary Studabaker, Mary Brooks and Nancy Hawkins—that daring trio, the oldest pioneers of Jay County. B. W. Hawkins has given much valuable and varied information. Without his aid no correct history of the early settlement of the county could have been written. The patient research and friendly interest of Hon. J. M. Haynes have added many facts which would not otherwise have been obtained. From the complete diary of Hon. Theophilus Wilson the sketch of New Corydon is gathered. The history of other villages is not so fully given, because no one has kept so faithful a record of them. Mr. Wilson also furnished other acceptable items. Rev. I. N. Taylor has also contributed a large share of facts, and J. C. Lotz statistics from Washington City. The many pioneers whom the author has consulted and the many others who have written him, have placed him under obligations. The principal facts given in the histories of the respective military companies have been kindly furnished by the following persons: Company C, 39th Indiana, James M. Bromagem; company B, 34th Indiana, Major Nimrod Headington; company E, 89th Indiana, Captain J. P. Winters, Sergeant J. W. Jackson and Elias Loofbourrow; company H, 100th Indiana, Major J. W. Headington and Rev. E. Tucker; company F, 75th Indiana, Lieutenant Joseph Lewis, Lieutenant G. W. McGriff and Charles A. Black; company B, 11th Indiana Cavalry, Lieutenant R. C. Harper; company C, 19th Indiana, George M. Rathbun; company F, 40th Ohio, Francis McLaughlin, at Lancaster, and the members of the company in the field; the One Hundred Days Men, George G. Montgomery and Captain G. W. Fairchilds. In the Miscellaneous List, valuable services have been rendered by Provost Marshal Cowgill, of Wabash, and G. W. Abel. To all these the author owes his thanks; and to his ever gracious Heavenly Father, through whom all blessings come, he would express his profound gratitude.
