This township was formed in March, 1834, from the townships of Jackson
on the south and Perry on the north. Its northern boundary is 6 miles
in length; its width is five miles, with the exception of the two
eastern sections taken from the southern tier in the formation of
Harrison. It contains an area of 28 square miles. Martindale's creek
crosses the township at a distance averaging about three-fourths of a
mile from the east line. The West river crosses it about the same
distance west of the center, touching the east border of Hagerstown,
and receives the waters of Nettle creek half a mile below the town.
Some of the best lands in the county lie in the valleys of these
streams.
The years in which most of the early settlers made their settlements,
is not remembered by any of the oldest inhabitants. As the sales of
the lands west of the Twelve Mile Purchase did not commence until 1822,
it is presumed that most of the early settlements were made in the
eastern part of the township, many of them soon after the peace of
1814-15. Some, however, settled on the west side of the line of the
Purchase several years before the lands were offered for sale. Samuel
Baldridge, from Kentucky, unmarried, settled, in January, 1814, 3 miles
east of Hagerstown, and was one of the earliest settlers in Jefferson
township. Jonathan Platts, from N. J., settled early 1 1/2 miles
south-east of town. He was an early justice of the peace, and at
several sessions president of the board of justices, which, from 1824
to 1828, was substituted for the three county commissioners; and from
1829, for several years a county commissioner. Philip Baltimore
settled early 1 mile east of town, where Miles Conway now lives. Isaac
Pierce, from Tenn., settled 1 1/2 miles northeast from Hagerstown,
where now his son Isaac A. Pierce resides.
David and Aaron Miller, brothers, settled 3 1/2 miles south-east of
town, on Martindale's creek, and removed with their families about 30
years ago, to St. Joseph Co. Both were German Baptist preachers. Sons
of Aaron were David, Benjamin, Solomon, Issaac. David, The elder, had a
son Aaron. George Castator was an early settler, now 102 years of age,
and lives in town with his son, Elijah Castator, a cabinet-maker.
Benj. Parsons, from N. J., settled about 1817, 2 miles east of town,
and died in 1864 where now James Martindale, a Baptist minister,
resides. He had twelve children: Sarah, wife of Frederick Jenks;
Amos, who married Jane Matchett; Martha, wife of Samuel Newcomb; and
Harriet, wife of John Thornburg, resided in the township. John Miller,
and afterward is brothers Jacob and Samuel, settled 2 miles south-east
of town. Jacob had served in the war of 1812, and was under Gen. Hull
at the surrender at Detroit. Among others who settled south-east of
the town, were Daniel Petty, who, about the year 1832, settled on land
bought of Aaron Miller, where he and his son John now reside. H.
Kinsey, C. A. Bradbury, G. G. Hindman, R. Martindale, J. Martindale, W.
Fox, L Strickler, M. Conway, and others own lands in the east part of
the township, the first settlers on which are not ascertained.
Joseph Bowen, a native of Delaware, from Lebanon, O., in 1822, settled
1 1/2 miles east of town; was a Methodist preacher; died in 1863; land
now owned by Rebecca E. Bowen, a grand-daughter. Wm. Brown is said to
have settled early east of town; part of the land now owned by Abraham
Replogle.
In the north-east part of the township, David, Andrew, and Michael
Fouts settled, and still reside there. The first settlers on the lands
now or lately owned by M. Veal, J. Morris, M. Smith, A. Bailey, John
and Wm. C. Bowen, S. McLucas, A. Strickler, E. Brown, and others, not
ascertained.
Hugh Allen settled in 1820, one mile south-east of town. Joseph
Manifold, Jun., his son-in-law, now resides on the farm. Joseph
Manifold, Sen., from Tenn., about 1820, settled east of and near town;
land now owned, probably, by the present settlers, B. L. & M. E.
Manifold, and by Robert and Franklin G. Newcomb. Hugh Murphy settled 2
miles north-east from town, where J. Funk resides. Samuel Pollard, of
Ky., 2 1/2 miles from town; land now owned by E. Petty and Joel
Replogle. Isaac McLanahan, near and south-east of town; land now owned
by David Lantz.
In the south-west part of the township the following named persons are
said to have been early settlers: Adam Stonebraker, 1 mile south of
town, where now I. Stonebraker resides. (SK.) Wm. Murray, who built
a
carding-machine and a saw-mill, and afterward a woolen factory. A
saw-mill is still there; the property owned by his heirs. Wm. Felton,
a native of Pa., from Ohio, about the year 1821, near town; built a
saw-mill and a corn-cracker. He died there at a great age. His wife
also died there. John Mason, from Ky., in 1818, to Washington
township, settled 2 1/2 miles south-west from Hagerstown, in 1822,
where Charles Gwynn now resides. (Sk.) Moses Miller settled near
Jackson line; land now owned by Jacob Mason. Abel Johnson and Jacob
Dilling; lands owned by Daniel Dilling, Moses Schmuck, and Jacob Mason.
John Lail, where Henry and Frederick Dilling reside. Wm. Campbell,
from Ky., in 1823, where his son John L. lives. William is in Kansas;
Robert died in Huntington co.; James is a baker in town. Isaac Zook,
about 1830; land since owned by David Replogle, now by Jacob Hoover.
Abraham Zook bought land of Wm. McLucas, now owned by Martin Fouts.
Wm Jennings settled 2 miles west of town; now lives in town; farm owned
by M. Shultz. Samuel Eiler settled 1 1/2 miles west from town; was
born in Canada West; married Susanna Snyder; removed to Montgomery Co.,
Ohio, in 1811; thence, in 1823, to where he now resides, at the age of
about 81 years. He is a member of the German Baptist Church. Jonas
Hoover, born in Penn., in 1788, removed to Ohio in 1809, and about the
year 1823, settled one mile west from Hagerstown, where he still
resides. His children were Mary, deceased, Joshua, Aaron, Catharine,
John, Alexander, Betsey E., Priscilla.
John or Isaac Zook (?) is said to have settled on the land adjoining
town, now owned by R. & F. G. Newcomb, near where their flouring-mill
stands. Thomas Cooper, on land now owned by David Bowman. Samuel
Zook, on land afterward sold to Jacob Dilling, now owned by Henry
Dilling and Frederick Dilling's heirs. Wm. Brown settled early
south-west of town (?); land since owned by Jacob Mason, now by Abraham
Replogle.
In the north-west part of the township were the following: John Small,
from N. C., settled before the land sales, above and near town; sold to
Abraham Teeter, and removed to Henry Co., where he and his wife both
died. Jonas Harris, also before land sales, settled near and north of
town, on land now owned by R. & F. G. Newcomb, and removed to St.
Joseph Co., and died there. His son Henry resides in the township.
Enos Boyd settled on a part of the school section. David Hardman, a
mile west of town, in 1823; sold the land (now owned by Oliver Stout)
and bought of Enos Boyd the farm on which his widow, Susanna Hardman,
lives. He was a German Baptist minister, and died in 1863, aged 66.
Jacob Heaston, in 1823, settled west of and near town, and removed
many
years ago to Huntington co.
Abraham Teeter, a native of Pa., from Montgomery co., O., in 1823,
settled near town; land now owned by Archibald B. Knode. He removed,
about 1840, to where he now resides, 2 miles above town, on land
bought
of John Small, before mentioned. His sons were John, who married and
died; Daniel, who owns the grist-mill with his father; David who owns
the steam saw-mill; Jacob and Zachariah, machinists in town. His
daughter Sally married John Zook, who owns a grist-mill 1 mile above
Teeter's. Zachariah Albaugh, a native of Maryland, from Ohio, in 1826,
settled in the north-west part of the township, where he died March 6,
1871, aged 76 years. He had been a German Bapist Minister since 1836.
He married, in 1826, Christina, a daughter of John Ulrich. Henry
Crull, a native of Pa., removed from Ohio, in 1833, to the farm where
he now lives, 2 miles north-west from Hagerstown. His sons, living in
the township, are William, who is married and lives in town, and has a
farm 2 miles west, first settled by Israel Hardman; George, who is
married and lives on the homestead with his father, and David,
unmarried. John Street settled 2 1/2 miles north-west of town, where
R. Halderman now lives. Wm McLucas where now E. Raffe resides, 1 1/2
miles north from town. Martin Keever, on land now owned by his heirs.
Jesse Thornburg. John Lewis settled 2 miles north; land now owned by
J. Charlton's heirs. Absalom Cornelius, from Va., settled where
Clinton Kelly resides. Joseph Stover entered the lands now owned by
Samuel G. Newcomb and David Brown. Daniel Wagneer, near and north-west
of town, sold to Joseph replogle, from Pa., in 1831. Samuel Replogle,
about 1828, bought of Atticus Siddall, ________ Holly, and others, the
land where Samuel N. Replogle resides.
Absalom Cornelius, mentioned above; John Ritter, from Ohio, settled 3
miles east of Hagerstown; Peter Hardman, from Ohio who settled in the
township; and David Wagner, from Ohio, who settled 1 mile north of
Hagerstown; all removed to South Bend; and Cornelius afterward removed
to Oregon;
William Gebhart a native of Chester Co., Pa., settled in 1848, in the
south part of Jefferson. Andrew Fouts, born in Montgomery Co., Ohio,
in 1831, settled where he now lives, in the east part of the township.
John McCullough, from Pa., in 1820, settled in the east part of the
township, where his widow Elizabeth McCullough now resides, and where
he died in 1840, aged 46 years. Their Children are Amanda, Esther,
John, Samuel, Elizabeth, Louisa, Nancy, Jane, George W., Thomas B.
Samuel Gibson came with his father from Tenn., at about the year 1814
or 1815, and settled in the east part of Jefferson, and several years
after, removed to Madison Co., where he still lives. His son Samuel
resides 3 miles north-east from Hagerstown.
Eli Petty, son of Daniel, born in Winchester, came to Jefferson in
1831, married Elizabeth, a daughter of Jesse Thornburg, and resides 2
1/2 miles north-east from Hagerstown.
Samuel Replogle, from Penn., settled about the year 1827, on the place
now owned and occupied by his son Samuel, one mile north-east from
town, and where his widow still resides. Their children were,
Catharine, (deceased;) John David, (dec.;) Abram, living 2 1/2 miles
east from town; Samuel, Philip, Elizabeth.
David Lantz, a native of Pa., from Ohio in 1833, settled where he now
resides 2 miles south-east from town. His children were, Elizabeth,
Harry, John, Sarah, Amanda, Leah, (deceased,) and Melinda.
Robert and Franklin G. Newcomb, from Montgomery Co., Ohio, removed to
Hagerstown in 1842, and about eight years thereafter engaged in the
milling business, which they have continued until the present time.
Joseph Replogle, from Pa., in 1827, settled, in 1831, one mile north
from town, and now resides in town. His children living are, Joel,
Elizabeth, Sarah, Mahala, Benjamin, Christina.
Peter Waltz, a native Pennsylvanian, settled near Germantown in 1823,
and after 10 or 12 years, removed to Madison Co., and a few years
later, to this township, and died at the residence of his son Solomon,
2 1/2 miles south-west from Hagerstown, aged 75 years.
David Hardman, a native of Ky., from Ohio in 1823, setteld 1 1/2 miles
west from town, where he died in 1863, at the age of 66, and where his
widow now lives. He was an elder in the German Baptist Church.
Martin Shultz, from penn., settled in 1831, near Hagerstown, and now
lives about 2 miles west from town.
Daniel Burkett, from Pa., built the first grist-mill one mile below
town, on Nettle creek. Another was built by Wm. Brumback about a mile
above town, and has passed through several hands to David and John
Ulrich, its present proprietors. About the year 1847, George Gillespie
bought the woolen factory previously owned by Edmund Taylor, and
converted it into a flouring-mill. In 1854, it passed into the hands
of Robert and Franklin G. Newcomb, its present owners. Its Capacity is
about 150 barrels per day. An oil-mill and a clover-huller, and later
a saw-mill, were built by Abraham Teeter, just above town, on West
river. (?) In 1838 or 1839, Geo Gillespie bought the property,
continued the saw-mill, and built in the place of the others a
grist-mill, which he rebuilt about the year 1858 or 1859. One-half of
Gillespie's interest passed to John Springer, who sold the same to
Nehemiah Cheeseman, and the other half to Archibald B. Knode. In 1864,
the property was purchased by R. & F. G. Newcomb, who rebuilt the mill
in 1867. A saw-mill was built at an early day, by Frederic and Peter
Waltz, near the line of the township. Mark E. Reeves afterward built
on this power a grist-mill, now owned by John and Daniel Zook. Samuel
Burkett built in 1870, in town, a steam saw-mill, now owned by stephen
Mendenhall. A saw-mill was built 2 miles above town, on or near the
site of Teeter's grist-mill, by John Small, before he sold to the
Teeters. David Teeter has a steam saw-mill near the same place.
The earliest Blacksmith in Hagerstown, perhaps the first in the
township, was David Stoneacre; the next, Peter Cable and John Eiler,
and soon after, Charles Retz. There are now Fist & Jewett. David
Weaver was probably the first wagon-maker; now, D. & M. W. Philabom
advertise carriages and buggies. Joseph Arment is said to have been
the first cabinet-maker. James Walker also was an early one. Elijah
Castator and Samuel S. study now supply the people with furniture. The
pioneer saddler and harness-maker, not ascertained; W. E. Lloyd and
another now carry on this business.
Jacob and Zachariah Teeter have in town a Planing Mill, and a Machine
Shop for repairing engines and other machinery. The establishment is
to be enlarged by the addition of an Iron Foundry, and the increase of
its capacity for the manufacture of machinery.
There is also a Barrel Factory, operated by steam power. The name of
its proprietor not given.
The first Physicians were Thomas J. Buchanan and G. G. Winchell,
partners, the latter residing in Hagerstown; Buchanan, a few miles
distant, in Henry Co. In 1835, Dr. B. removed to town, in the place of
Dr. Winchell, who had left, and in 1840 returned, and practiced here
for several years. Dr. Augustus Weaver came about 1837; John Clymer,
about 1840; Calvin West, and about 1842 or 1843, and died here; Dr.
Spencer, about 1846 or 1847; Dr. Widiken, about 1850; Samuel J. Ford;
Drs. McElway and Genther, both dead. The present physicians are,
Samuel J. Ford, J. Read, _________ Thornton; Daniel Smith, (eclectic;)
N. F. Canaday, (homoeopathic;) C. N. Blunt, J. M. Thurston.
The first Store was kept by Levi Antrim, about 1820, in a hewed log
house, yet standing, near Newcombs' grist-mill. An early store is said
to have been kept at David Hardman's, and another below town, by
Hastings. Wm. Baker bought out Antrim in 1831. James Gray came about
1833; Joseph Hawkins, soon after. Mark E. and James E. Reeves, in
1836, bought out Hawkins, and James took charge of the store; sold is
interest to Mark in 1840, when Mark came. Among the large number who
followed, were A. B. Knode, Wm. Lewis, Gillespie & Co., Wm Arnold,
Christopher Taylor. Present merchants: Dry Goods-Beck & Stonebraker,
Stonebraker & Brumback, Nehemiah Cheeseman, D. P. Slifer.
Druggists--Walker & Dilling, Allen & Co., Walter Rogers. Hardware--H.
Shiveley & Co. Stoves and Tin-ware--E. Brown. Grocers--Wm. Dolley,
Wilson Thornburg, H. D. Root, H. Lontz, John Lontz, Hannibal Matthews.
An important branch of the trade of this place is the pork packing
business of Wiggins & Cheeseman, which has for years furnished an ample
and a ready market for the great staple product of the farmers of the
surrounding country.
The first Lawyer is said to have been John Davidson; the second, John
Curtis; later, David Reed. The present attorneys are Wm. W. Woods and
Daniel W. Mason; the latter being at present Prosecuting Attorney.
Wm. Baker was an early Justice of the Peace, supposed to have been the
first in the township, and Thomas Burns the next. The present justices
are Robert Gardner, Sylvester Baldwin.
Members of the Legislature elected from this township, Jonathan Platts,
Joseph Hawkins, Wesley Williamson, Wm. C. Bowen.
The town of Hagerstown was laid out by Jacob Ulrich and Jonas Harris,
March 8, 1832, and the survey recorded Nov. 15, 1832. An addition was
made Oct. 15, 1838, by J. Ulrich, Henry Herman, and George Gillespie &
Co.
Religious Societies.--The German Baptist Church (known also as Dunkers
and Tunkers,) was organized about the year 1824; its members residing
in the townships in Henry Co. Among its early members were David and
Aaron Miller, Benjamin Bowman, John Ritter, Jonas Hoover, Samuel Eiler,
David Hardman, Benj. Hardman, John Ulrich, Jacob Caylor, Henry Crull,
and Samuel Cripe. Meetings were first held at private houses, in
groves, barns, & c., until their meeting-house was built, 1 1/2 miles
south-west of Hagerstown, about the year 1843. Their first preachers
were David and Aaron Miller, and Benj. Bowman, the first ordained
elder; succeeded by John Bowman, David Hardman, Zachariah Albaugh,
Daniel Bowman, Jacob Bowman, John Holler, David Bowman, Lewis Kinsey,
Wm. Lindley, Daniel Smith. All but Holler, Kinsey, David Bowman, and
Smith, became elders. Early deacons were Jacob Caylor, Benj. Hardman,
John Hardman, John ulrich. This church has, for the accommodation of
its members, three other meeting-houses: one, 6 miles north-west of
Hagerstown, in Henry Co.; one, 5 miles south-west, also in Henry Co.,
and another, 4 miles north-west, in Jefferson township. The members
attending worship in these different houses constitute but one church.
Preachers are elected by the members of the church, male and female.
Elders are chosen from the preachers, who, after sufficient trial,
have
given evidence of faithfulness and ability. The office of elder is
the
highest in the church. Deacons are chosen in the same manneer as
elders.
A Statement of the religious views and customs of this peculiar people
may be interesting to those residing in the remote parts of the
county. The fundamental principles of their faith are the same as
those recognized by most of the leading denominations in this country
as evangelical. Their order of worship, generally, is also similiar to
that practiced by others. Their communion seasons are less frequent;
occurring about once a year in each branch of the church, and being
observed only in the evening. The bread and wine they do not regard as
the Lord's Supper. The supper is an ordinary meal. Before eating they
wash each other's feet, in imitation of the example of the Savior,
which they consider as binding on his professed followers. During the
ceremony they sit with their faces from the table. When the number is
large, the service is performed by several of the members; and the
washing is preceded by a salutation and a kiss. These are followed by
others with towels, whose service is accompanied with the like
salutation and kiss. Those of each sex are served by persons of their
own number. After the giving of thanks, all standing, they seat
themselves at the table. After the supper is ended, and the table
cleared, the bread and wine are served, the partaking of each being
preceded by the giving of thanks. This, as has been observed, is the
communion.
The Dunkers, or Tunkers, (from a word signifying dip,) believe that
adults alone are proper subjects of baptism, on the profession of faith
and repentance, and that no other is Christian baptism. This rite is
performed by taking the applicant into the water, who, having kneeled,
is dipped three times, face foremost, once in the name of the Father,
once in the name of the Son, and once in the name of the Holy Ghost.
They believe this to be in accordance with the Savior's teaching.
They enjoin plainness in dress, and the avoidance of what is not
essential to bodily comfort. While they admit that religion does not
consist in dress, they consider the style of dress as an index of the
state of the heart. Besides, uniformity in dress tends to unite the
rich and the poor more closely in the bonds of Christian fellowship.
They are particular in having the men sit with their heads uncovered,
and the women to keep theirs covered, during devotional exercises.
One
of their rules is never to allow any of their members to become
chargeable to the public for their support. They have the privilege of
voting for public officers, but they accept no civil office, for
several reasons, one of which is that they hold it wrong to take or
administer an oath. They are also averse to bearing arms, and to the
use of force even in self-defense.
A Methodist Episcopal Church, (Olive Branch,) 2 1/2 miles north-east of
Hagerstown, was organized-- date uncertain--perhaps about the year
1828. Among the early members were Joseph Bowen, Samuel Pollard, Isaac
Pierce, Charles Conaway, and their wives, Joseph Manifold, James
Hartup, Joel Bowen, Jonathan Shaw. They built a frame meeting-house
perhaps about the year 1837 or 838, which was destroyed by fire about
the year 1839; and the present brick house was built immediately after.
Allen Wiley is believed to have been the first preacher. After him
were George Gatch, Richard Robinson, Stephen Beggs, John C. Smith,
Joseph Tarkington, David Stiver, Ansel Beach, Landy Havens, Miltideus
Miller, Robert Burns.
A Christian Church was organized about the year 1830, in the south-east
part of the township. Among its earliest members were the brothers
Jacob, John, and Samuel Miller, Mrs. Worl, Mary, wife of Daniel
Bradbury, Mahala Wilcox, Margaret Felton. Their first preachers are
said to have been James and Robert Burns, succeeded by Elijah
Martinadale, Samuel Miller, John Robertson, Elisha Ashley; present
pastor, James P. Dikes. (It is proper to state that churches of this
order are sometimes distinguished by the names of Campbellites and
Disciples. The church sketched below is said to be one of a different
order, which is said to have originated soon after the beginning of
the
present century.)
The Christian Church in Hagerstown was organized in 1867. The
ministers officiating were Wm. T. Warbington and James T. Lynn. Of the
fifteen members who joined at the time of its formation, were---Wm.
Stonebraker, James McNeill, James W. Strode, Charles Earl, and their
wives, the wife of Daniel W. Mason, the wife of Jacob Bowman and
daughter, James Stonebraker, Jane Beck. They worshiped in Melodeon
Hall until 1869, when they built their present brick meeting-house,
corner of Washington and South Market streets, at a cost of about
$12,000. Present pastor, Wm. T. Warbington. Trustees--Wm.
Stonebraker, Archibald B. Knode, Morrison Baldridge, Solomon Miller,
George Hindman. Membership is about 150.
The Methodist Episcopal Church in Hagerstown was formed in the spring
of 1840. Present, John Sullivan, preacher. Of those then uniting
were--Willis P. Davis, Manlove L. Reed, Greenbury Savoy, Andrew Pierce,
Thomas Livingston, and their wives. Within about one year after,
Elijah Van Sandt, Silas Ruggles, Bezaleel Taylor, James Linn, Joseph
Manifold, Thomas Test, and their wives. Of their preachers whose names
are remembered, were John Kiger, John Sullivan, M. Miller, Caldwell
Robbins, _______ Davidson. present preacher, _______ Roberts. Their
present meeting-house, on Perry street, north of College street, was
built 1841.
The Presbyterian Church in Hagerstown was organized Nov. 20, 1852, by
Rev. Robert Irwin and Rev. R. B. Abbott, pastors of Union and Hopewell
churches, a committee appointed by the Presbytery of Muncie. Among
their first members were Parker Jewett, David Robertson, Washington
Robertson, and their wives, Betsey Sennington, Maria Henry, Elizabeth
Houston. John Shearer and David Robertson were chosen elders; Parker
Jewett and Washington Robertson, deacons. Their first minister was R.
M. Overstreet, for about two years. His successors have been R. B.
Abbott, Wm. Armstrong, Wm. H. Holliday, H. K. Kennigh, H. M. Shockley,
George Long, John H. Aughey, S. S. Potter, and J. M. Lawbach.
Hagerstown Academy was built in 1860, under the direction of the
trustees, Robert Gordon, Charles Bowers, and John Zook. The cost of
the property was about $3,500. A new and larger building is in
contemplation. Scholars are advanced from the primary department to
the highest grade of academical instruction.
First principal of the graded school is James McNeill. Board of
instructors--Joseph L. Logan, principal; Sanford Bowman, teacher of the
academic department; Rebecca Castator, teacher of the intermediate
department; Sallie Stober, teacher of the primary department.
Attendance, about 250.
The present trustees are Wm. Stonebraker, Samuel Study, Morrison
Baldridge.
The first Temperance Society in the township, and one of the earliest
in the county, was formed about the year 1831, in a log school-house on
the farm of Jonathan Shaw, now owned by Eli Petty. Among its members
were Samuel Taylor, a Baptist minister, Joseph Bowen, a Methodist
minister, Jonathan Platts, Jonathan Shaw, Isaac Pierce, Thomas Pierce,
Andrew Pierce, Sarah Cheeseman, Joel, Jeremiah, and Wm. Bowen, Sarah
and David Platts.
The first Sabbath-school in the township was taught in the same
school-house. It was formed and conducted by Joseph Bowen, Jonathan
Platts, Jonathan Shaw, Elizabeth Pierce, and others.
History of Wayne County, Indiana
Andrew W. young
Pages pg 272-284
