This township was formed from Wayne in February, 1835, and lies in the
south-east corner of the county. Its length east and west is 6 miles;
its breadth north and south is 4 miles, making an area of 24 square
miles. The principal stream in this township is the Elkhorn, which
enters it about 1 1/2 miles west of Ohio line, and, running a south-
westerly course, leaves the township 1 3/4 miles south of the north-
west corner, about half a mile above the mouth of the stream. Some of
the earlier settlements in the county were made within its limits.
With the exception of Holman, Rue, and a few others in that
neighborhood, and John Cox, the Endsleys, and perhaps a few others in
what is now called Abington, there were probably no earlier settlers in
Wayne county. Thomas Bulla, Jacob Fouts and Jesse Davenport settled
on
the Elkhorn, 4 or 5 miles south-east of Richmond; Davenport and one or
two of the Foutses, lower down, within the present township of Boston
--- all the same year in which the Hoovers settled north of Richmond.
The Hunts, the next year, settled on and near the Elkhorn, several
miles below where Davenport settled.
In the nort-west part of the township, Peter Weaver settled in 1807, on
a part of the section, (19) in the north-west corner of the township;
the land now owned by Christopher C. Beeler, of Richmond. John Collins
, in 1807, settled where Milton H. Beeson lives. James Lamb, a native
of Scotland, on land now owned by Catharine, widow of John Lamb. James
Lamb died in September, 1841 aged 85 years. George Stevenson, on land
now owned by his descendants. Abraham Gaar, from Kentucky, in April,
1807 or 1808, on a quarter, a part of which is now owned by Jeptha
Turner. Jackson Rambo, an early settler, who died in 1816, aged 55
years, and in 1846, his widow, in her 87th year; his land owned after
his decease by James Sulser, now by his sons, Garrison and Hiram
Sulser.
Lazarus Whitehead, in 1806, settled on land now owned by John Sedgwick.
William Burk, on land now a part of the farm of Stephen Farlow.
Wright Lancaster, from N. C., in 1808, on the quarter lately owned by
George and Nathan Farlow, now by Wm. Paddock. Christopher Roddy, a
black-smith, on land now owned by John Raper. Joshua Meek, where now
George W. Stevenson lives. Hugh Cull, in 1806, on the land now owned
by John W. Hort, lately by James P. Burgess. Isaac Beeson, from N. C.
in 1807, where his son Augustus Beeson lives. Robert Grimes, about
1808, on land now owned by his son Robert, and Henry Rodenburg.
Abraham Esteb, on lands where Samuel and John Moore, and Alfred and
Jacob S., sons of John Moore, reside. Jacob Keesling, from Pa.,
afterward Wm. Fourts, on land now owned by Isaac N. Seaney. Armstrong
Grimes on land now owned by Eli Kilmer. Wm. Parsons, where James
Watson resides.
In the north part of the township, Fielding Gaar settled on a part of
section 21, lately occupied by R. Rue, now owned by Justice Kroskopf.
Wm. Williams settled in 1814, where Isaac Bulla resides. He was a
maker of spinning wheels, and removed to Richmond; was also a minister
in the society of Friends. Asa Jeffers settled on land now owned by
Alonzo Osborn and Daniel W. Shaffer. Adjoining this section on the
south, James, William, and Robert Grimes owned the land now owned by
John T. Williams. Daniel Hart, from N. C., settled, in 1814, on the
land now owned by Francis Hendricks. Jesse Davenport, before
mentioned, in 1806, settled on section 22, adjoining Wayne. A part of
his land is now owned by the heirs of George Grimes. Other parts of
the section were owned or settled by Jeremiah Parker, Clark Williams,
and Daniel Clark. Portions of the section are now owned by James
McLain, Samuel S. Brown, Clayton Brown, Joseph Kokayne, Wm. Roberts, W.
Elmer, and others. On the section adjoining, south, (27) John
McCombs,
afterward John Ray, settled where now Wm. Ray resides. Jonathan
Townsend, on the land now owned by Edward Timberlake. Jacob Keesling
bought the south part of the section, now owned by Joseph M. Bulla,
David Fouts's heirs, and Nathan Druley.
In the north-east part of the township, (sec. 26) Wm. Jones settled on
the north half, now owned by Joseph M. Bulla, Wm. Feazel, and Benj.
Brown. The south half, early owned by Jacob Keesling, now by Joseph M.
and William Bulla, William Feazel, Henry H. Highly. Section 23, west
half, first owners not remembered; north quarter now owned chiefly by
Andrew Gifford; the south quarter by Jacob Shaffer, James Watson, and
Edward Scarce. The north-east quarter is owned by Nathan Druley. The
south-east quarter, formerly owned by James Hartup and Samuel Watts,
now by Wm. Wolf and Wm. Watson's heirs. Daniel shaffer, from Virginia,
came to the Whitewater country in 1809, and settled, in 1811, on
section 24, on Ohio line, where he now resides, at the age of about 85
years. His wife died the 1st of January, 1867. On the quarter south,
John Raper from Va., settled early; land now owned by James W. Shaffer,
and the heirs of Joseph Doran. Adam Zeek settled on the north-west
quarter, which is now owned by his heirs, and David and Wm. Wolf.
Henry Tinkle, on the quarter south, afterwards Benj. G. Moore, now
owned by Harbin H. Moore. On the section south, (25) John Hollett
settled on land lately owned by Jacob Shaffer, now by Joseph Bosworth.
Thomas Taylor, on the south-east quarter, where he now resides, at the
age of 86 years. He first settled near the Falls of Elkhorn.
In the south-east part of the township, (sec 36,) Joshua Benton settled
on the quarter owned by David Fouts's heirs, on Ohio line. Jeremiah
Girton on the quarter owned by Nathan Druley. On the section west,
(35,) James Holman settled where Dennis Druley lives; John Jordan,
about
1810 south-east qr.; sold out about 1813, to John Esteb, from Pa., and
removed to Perry township, where he died; land now owned by wm.
Esteb's
heirs, Levi G. Druley, and Edward Ryan. Absalom Rambo, on the south-
west quarter, now owned chiefly by Nathan Druley and Sylvester Girton.
Joseph Cravens settled about 1818 at or near where Charles and
Richard
Allen own, on the corner section of the township; the north half of the
section owned by Levi Druley. On a part of the section west, Thomas
Wyatt, from Tenn., early, on land now owned by John Druley. He was a
Revolutionary soldier and pensioner, and died at a very advanced age.
Isaac Conley, on the quarter adjoining the town, now owned by his
son,
John J. Conley, where he died in 1864. He had early settled a mile
north-west of town, on a small farm, where he also caried on for a few
years the tanning business.
Wm. Holman settled on the south-east qr. of section 34, adjoining town,
now
by Nathan Druley. John Miller, one of the first settlers on the south
-west qr., where his son Wm. Miller lives. The north-west qr., land
now owned by David Fouts's heirs; first settler not remembered. Thomas
Ward, early on section 33, here Ira Starr lives. Thomas Young, where
Peter Shidler now lives. John Brattan, from N. C., where Levi Stanley
lives. Sec. 3, south-west of town, Samuel Beck, from N. C., on the
south-east qr., where Wm. Davenport lives. James Fisher, north-east
qr., now owned by Wm. Seany and Oliver H. Fouts. Owen Seany, Sen.,
from N. C., about 1809, south-west qr., where he resided until his
death, in 1831. Pleasant Seany lives on the farm. Owen Seany, Jun.,
on a part of north-west qr., where he died in March, 1871; land
previously, tthough perhaps not first, owned by Thomas Cuppy. Section
next west, (4,) Peter Mellender, 1 mile west from town; land lately
owned by Isaac Mellender, his son, now by Polly Mellender. John Rife,
(not first,) on the land now owned by his son, Jacob Rife, a German
Baptist (Dunker) preacher. Isaac Esteb, on the north-west corner of
the section, now owned by his son Isaac M. Esteb's heirs. Benj.
Jarvis, very early on the south-west qr., at or near where Zachariah
Osborn lives. He died in 1862, aged 82 years.
In the south-west part of the township, Joel Moore is said to have
settled on the qr. now owned by Samuel Moore. His son John moore and
sons, Jacob and Alfred, own and live on the east half of the section
north, 932.) Samuel Jobe, a Baptist preacher, on the land now owned by
Samuel Osborn's heirs. Lazarus Whitehead, in 1805, where now John
Sedgwick lives; land on west line of the township. Isaac Beeson,
probably, where his son Augustus now resides.
The first Physician resident in the township is not remembered. Among
those who have at different times lived and practiced here, were Drs.
Stevens, Butler, Wheeler, Hiram Bull, David S Evans, and Wm H. Evans.
Present practicing physicians, John J. Rife and Wm. F. Miller.
The first Merchant is supposed to have been a McMaster. According to
the recollection of early settlers, the following succeeded McMaster,
very nearly in the order named: James Iliff, Baxter & Dunham, Jacob W.
Fisher & Wm. Fouts, Bull & Haines, Wm. & John Russey, ----- Irvin.
From 1839 to 1845, the following are on record as having paid for store
licenses: In 1839, Doughty & Widup, Joseph F. Chapman, Isaac Craig,
until 1845, (perhaps later.) In 1844, Strattan & Burbank, John
Strattan; in 1844 and 1845, Harvey & McCullough, Aaron Druley. There
have also been named, Samuel & LeRoy McWhinney, Hiram Bulla & Joseph
Druley, Smith, Druley & John Deal, John Druley, John Steele, Jacob F.
Rinehart, Robert Swishey & Frank Templeton, David Jenks. Present
merchant, Jacob F. Rinehart.
The following names of jusices of the peace appear in a number of old
dockets now in the office of J. F. Rinehart, Esq. The years in which
their respective records commence are also given. Isaac Esteb, 1819;
James P. Burgess, 1829; Abraham Cuppy, 1834; Joseph A. Simpson, Stephen
McWhinney, 1835; Isaac Mellender, 1839; Wm. Druley, 1841; Alfred
Moore,
1851; John H Stearns, 1854; James Esteb, 1856; Jacob F. Rinehar, 1869.
Present justices, Jacob F. Rinehart, James P. Burgess.
The first Grist-mill in the county was built by Charles Hunt, in 1807,
on the Elkhorn, about a mile above its mouth, now near the west line
of
Boston township. It was a tub mill, and, a cheap one, called in those
days "corn-cracker." He afterward built a new mill, which, after four
or five years, was destroyed by fire. A steam saw-mill on the same
site, is now owned by James and John Ensley. (Since the above was
written, John Ensley has died.) Jesse Davenport built a grist-mill on
the falls of Elkhorn creek, believed to have been the third one in the
county. A few years later he built a saw-mill at the same place.
These mills are but a few rods above the present mills, on the Richmond
and Boston turn-pike. There are at present a grist-mill and a saw-
mill, called "relief Mills", owned by Samuel S. Brown, Wm. A. Elmer,
and John Wolf. A steam saw-mill was built in 1837, by Eliphalet
Stanley, at Boston, and sold soon after to Jacob W. Fisher and Wm.
Fouts, who sold to Smith Rader, and he to Irvin and others. James L
Harris, half a mile north of town, built a steam saw-mill, which is now
owned by Wm. T. McCoy. There was for a time attached to it a run of
burr stones for grinding corn. A lath-machine is now attached. There
are at Boston two tile factories; one owned by Sylvester Girton, the
other by Wm. Hart.
A sorghum mill was built in 1866, by John J. Conley, near town. It has
the capacity to manufacture 100 gallons of syrup per day. During the
season, which continues through-out the fall months, about 4,000
gallons are made.
A Baptist Church was formed in 1806 or 1807, in what is now the west
part of this township, composed chiefly of settlers on and near the
Elkhorn creek, and is familiarly known as the "Elkhorn Church." It was
the earliest church organization in the county. The number of its
members was small. Richard Rue, Lazarus Whitehead, Charles Hunt, and
Isaac Esteb, and their wives, are believed to have been among its first
members. Lazarus Whitehead was their pastor, and was the first
minister with a charge in the county. Their meeting-house is near
Elkhorn creek, about a mile above its mouth. Probably none of its
first members are now living.
The friends, soon after the Baptists, formed a society, and built a log
meeting-house abut 2 1/4 miles north of Boston. The house had a stick
and clay chimney, and was warmed by a charcoal fire in the center.
Few
persons living remember the names of their early members. Only two
have been mentioned, as certain: John Clark and Jeremiah Parker.
A Methodist Episcopal Church, in the north-west part of the township,
was formed early, 1807 or 1808. Hugh Cull, who settled there about the
time Rue and Holman came, was a Methodist preacher. He early invited
the few families in the neighborhood to come to his cabin, and preached
to them. As soon as the itinerant ministers came within reach of him,
he invited them to his home. They formed a class at his house, which
was a regular preaching place for many years. This church still
exists, and , it is believed, has been regularly supplied with
preaching until the present time.
A second Methodist Episcopal Church in the township was formed at the
town of Boston. The date of its organization has not been ascertained.
An old inhabitant, and one of the early members, names the following
as having joined at the time, or very soon after the class was formed:
Jacob Meek, Peter Mellender, Nicholas Druley, Samuel Druley, James
Holman, Samuel Beck, Joseph Craven, Andrew Jones, Absalom Rambo, John
Esteb, James Esteb, and probably the wives of some or all of them.
They built a frame meeting-house in or about the year 1838. As in some
other places mentioned in our history, a separation was caused by anti
-slavery agitation. The church was greatly enfeebled by the division--
-- so much so, that for many years it could hardly be said to have an
existence. Although it has recently been reorganized, its membership
does not exceed about twenty-five in number.
The Free Methodists organized a church some five or six years ago.
Some of their early members were Ira Starr, Harbin H. Moore, John
Druley, Wm. Miller, Emsley Davenport.
The Universalist Church was organized in July, 1869. In 1868, they
built a brick meeting-house jointly with the Free Masons, who occupy
the upper story.
The town of New Boston was laid out by James Iliff, Stephen McWhinney,
Wm. Druley, Samuel Shinn, proprietors.
The plat and survey were recorded August 30, 1832.
Downey Lodge, No. 233, of Free and Accepted Masons, was organized under
a charter granted May 25, 1858. Charter Members: Nicholas Druley, W.
M.; John H. Stearns, S. W.; Joseph M. Bulla, J. W.; Joseph Clengenpul,
S. D.; Joseph T. Druley, J. W.; Louis Pigg, Tyler; J. M. Jones,
Present Officers: John I Rife, W. M.; W. P. Druley, S. W.; John Moss,
J. W.; Joseph S. Benhem, S. D.; Erasmus Stover, J. D.; Samuel Oler,
Treasurer; Samuel I Johnson, Secretary; Charles Allen Taylor.
Rinehart Lodge, 310, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was organized
June 11, 1868. The charter was granted May 20, 1868, on application of
Jacob F. Rinehart, Henry Hawkins, Enos Geary, Philip Schneider, and
Charles Corns. First Officers: Jacob F. Rinehart, N. G.; Oliver H.
Toney, V. G.; Samuel J. Johnson, Secretary; Henry C. Fouts, Per.
Secretary; Levi G. Druley, Treasurer.Secretary.
History of Wayne County, Indiana
Andrew W. young
Pages 151-158
