Shelby County Indiana
Washington Township, Shelby County, Indiana,: Township 11 North - Range 6, 7 East
May 5, 1915
Page 6 Column 4
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Contributed by Virginia Latta Curulla
July 18, 1895
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WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.
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Special Correspondence to the Democrat.
Washington Tp., July 16, 1895.
W. W. Brants new fence is in full progress.
Jacob Yanzer, of Norristown, is on the sick list.
Colored Camp meeting will continue over next Sunday.
Mole Horseman has returned from his trip to Kentucky.
Chas. Thompson, of Columbus, is visiting his mother, at Bynum.
Wilber Stafford has returned from Bugaboo. He will remain with his parents until cold weather.Lock has the chain;
Lock has the wind;
Lock has the gall;
To falcify or deny all.
On the Fourth eight Flat Rock boys went to Columbus on their wheels to witness the races.
Miss Winterrowd, of Shelbyville, was visiting friends at Norristown last week. She says everything looks so Mazy."The mountains look on Marathon
And Marathon looks on the sea."
Elza looks on the Hill
And wanders and says, is this me?
Will Lovett, of Norristown, is Buckleing on the whole armor and sings "I am going back to Dick-sies next Sunday."
Rev. O. D. Maple, of Shelbyville, is visiting his parents at Bynum. He thinks of remaining until the close of camp meeting.
Bertha Vangorden made the purchase of a new organ a few weeks ago. She says she has learned to play Samuel's march.
Riley Hogue was the guest of Miss Collins one evening last week. That's right, Riley, kill two birds with one stone when you can.
Kate Hawkins, the daughter of Thos. Hawkins, was visiting friends and relatives at Bynum last week. She has a new bicycle.
Misses Katie Middleton and Gertie Hendrickson were visiting their old schoolmate, Everett Maple, last Sunday. Come again.
Mr. Chas. Rohm, of Hord, was the guest of Miss Jessie Achingback last Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Chas. has the staying qualities, boys.
Our merchant, Will Morris was trying to Cheet um last Sunday at the Camp Meeting at the cave. Don't try to run a skin game on the boys, Will.
Thomas Bone Jr., says he will never go back to the woods at Geneva, but from now on I shall sit by the Brooklet and hasten to her Julia songs.
The surprise at Mr. McNigh's for his daughter Minnie, last Tuesday evening, was a complete success. There was about fifty percent. A large amount of ice cream and cake was devoured.
Lute Murphy and C. Hawkins went to Columbus on the Fourth. We understand that they expected to join a number of boys from Shelbyville, at Norristown, but the boys didn't show up.
The ice cream supper at Ben Molding's last Wednesday evening, was well attended. A large amount of cream and cake was disposed of, after which followed a number of the usual plays, lead John Maze, the renowned singer.
Our worthy trustee, Mr. C. A. Porter, is doing some repairing on the school house at Winterrowd, by putting on a new roof. We are glad to see Mr. Porter take so much interest in having the property in good repair when the time comes for him to turn it over to his successor.
Shelbyville, Indiana, Thursday, February 23, 1893
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WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.
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Moore & Bristol will begin there [sic] new factory as soon as the weather permits.
A snide show has been making its rounds in this township, visiting the school houses and burning up Porter's wood.
The doctors are reaping harvest, riding nearly day and night.
James Patterson and Vince Brockman have opened the sugar camp on Jeff Eberhart's farm.
Frank Talbert has sold out his possession and wheat to Lew Bland for $400 on Mrs. John Eberhart's farm.
Wirtz & Young are doing a thriving business in saw-mill at Flat Rock, running day and night.
Mrs. Monroe Spurlin, of Shelbyville, has been visiting here mother, Mrs. Sullivan.
Nading & Nading will in a short time erect a new elevator at this place. Then the farmers won't have to scoop corn.
J. D. McFerron is building a new weighing office and has the ground staked off for the new elevator, on which work will commence next week.
The canning company will not put out peas this season as once requested, on account of not getting enough to justify them in putting them out and buying machinery for them.
Copied by Phyllis Miller Fleming
Wednesday, August 15, 1888
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Copied by Phyllis Miller Fleming
Thursday, January 28, 1886
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H A R P E R ' S F E R R Y.
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HARPER'S FERRY, Jan. 25, 1885 [typo?]
Church at New Bethel next Sunday.
John Chesser spent Sunday in Hope.
Some of our boys will graduate this winter.
Charley Trowbridge spent Sunday with friends west of town.
John B. Conover and wife spent Sunday with Barbara Hawkins.
Marcus and Dillard Conover spent Sunday with their grandparents.
J. D. McFerran is spending a few days with friends in Carroll county.
Rebecca Cowan is visiting her son, Martin, in Carroll county at present.
Mrs. Phoebe McFerran spent Sunday with her mother, north of town.
Magill stock down this way is at a big discount. In fact his friends are few and far between.
From Linda Chesser: Nearly all the people mentioned in the article above, "Harper's Ferry," were of Washington Township Shelby County, Indiana, and related. I believe "Harper's Ferry" to be the name of the writer's column or the fact that these citizens' ancestors were mostly from the area which became West Virginia in 1867 and not a place in Shelby County. John Franklin Chesser, the eldest child of William H. and Margaret Jane (Clark) Chesser, was my husband's first cousin, twice removed. William H., b. 1837 d. 1906, was a brother of George W. Chesser, b. 1840 d. 1872, my husband's great-grandfather. They were sons of James P. and Sarah (Spurling) Chesser. Margaret Jane (Clark) Chesser's mother was Mary Ann (Van Benthuysen), the original name of the family burying ground which became Patterson Cemetery in Jackson Township, Shelby County. John Franklin Chesser, whose great-grandparents were John and Sally (Hawkins) Chesher, married Ida May Cobb 05 Mar 1896 Coles County, Illinois, and settled at Mattoon, Illinois. Ida's mother was Louisa (Walker) Cobb, b. 1832 in Nineveh Township, Bartholomew County, Indiana. She had married James Cobb in Bartholomew County in 1853 where the Walker family resided. James and Louisa Cobb moved to Cobb County, Illinois, before 1867.
Note: Nineveh Twonship no longer exists in Bartholomew County because it and an adjacent township were taken by Camp Atterbury. If anyone has a question regarding the other citizens named in the column, please refer them to me and I will try to answer. All the connections would make this response too long, but I have them.
Washington Twonship is bounded on the north by Hendricks and Addison, on the east by Noble Township, on the south by Bartholomew County and on the west by Jackson Township. It is five and a half miles in breadth and six in length. The first settlers were
Philip Fix
Jonathan Winans
Joseph, Jacob and David Winterowd
James Van Bentusen
John and Thomas Clayton
Thomas Cochran
Joseph, Isaac, Samuel and Ithamar Drake
John Eberhart
Samuel Walker
Zachariah Vansickle
William Deiwert
John J. Lewis
Harvey Pope
George Conger
Adam Mow
William Hays
Thomas Wooley
David and Thomas Maze
William and James Bone
Mathew Floyd
Enoch Krimble [Trimble - pmf]
Moses Billingsley
Joseph Jones
Aaron and James Fix
Joshua and Jesse Spurlin
Claiborne and Joel Williams
Martin Warner
John M. Coleman and
Thomas Watson.
The first farms cleared were in the center of the
township. In 1837, a road was cut through the woods to Shelbyville. The first mill was Drake's now Girton's. Washington
was organized as a township in March, 1845.
This township is better watered than any other in the
county. The soil is a sandy loam of superior quality. There is a great deal of good bottom land; at the same time
the face of the country is gently rolling and undulating in every direction. The lands have been remarkably well
ditched and tiled. The people are prosperous, and there is not a tract of land which is not owned by the people
living on it. There are five turnpikes, and the other roads are all in good repair. On Flat Rock River, near the
Shelbyville and Norristown pike, there is a cave which has attracted much attention as a natural curiosity. Two
of its chambers have been explored, and they are 100x50 feet each. Near the cave is a beautiful island in Flat
Rock River. It covers an area of about two acres, and adds greatly to the beauty of the landscape. Near this spot
and overlooking this scenery is the residence and farm owned by Dr. John F. Maddox, of Shelbyville. There
is a good stone quarry near the cave, and formerly there was a limekiln. There are many beautiful farms in Washington,
and many comfortable and attractive homes; among others, the following deserve special note:
William Carney
Christopher Birton
Samuel D. Spellman
Leander E. Nelson
Arthur Floyd
Thomas Thompson
Adam Girton
Clinton Doddes
Mrs. Peter Arnold
John Nading
Mrs. John Wrench
David Maze
John Coleman
Wilson W. Rosencrans
Benjamin Peak
Caleb Morris
Andrew Maple
Joshua Higgins
John Banker
David Girard
Charles Porter
William Cochran
Obediah Conover
Henry Lemaster
Martin Stevens
John Young
Samuel Wherritt
Jacob Guile
Mrs. Alexander Murphy
Martin Higgins.
The Jeffersonville, Madison & Indianapolis Railroad
passes through the western part, and has two stations in this township, Lewis Creek and Flat Rock, which are also
postoffices. Flat Rock was laid out January 4, 1855, by Thomas Wooley. Besides the depot, it has a church,
a store, a schoolhouse and blacksmith-shop. Norristown, in the southeastern part, is the largest town, and well
situated. It was founded November 23, 1851, by David and William Winterowd and Henry Deiwert. It has
several stores, two churches and an excellent school building. There are eight school buildings in Washington
Township, five of them being substantial brick buildings. The school at Norristown is a graded school.
There are five churches within the limits of the township. Among the citizens of this part of the county
who have risen to eminence in public life, the following may be enumerated: James Van Bentusen was a member
of the Constitutional Convention of Indiana; Christopher Girton and Samuel D. Spellman were members of the Legislature;
Andrew Winterowd was County Treasurer, and John Conger, Thomas Clayton, William S. Endsley and Christopher Girton
served as County Commissioners.
Atlas of Shelby Co., Indiana, Chicago: J.H. Beers & Co, 1880, page 15.
Copied by Phyllis Miller Fleming
March 4, 1876
Shelbyville, Ind.
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WASHINGTON TP. ITEMS.
NORRISTOWN.
F. M., has been playing ghost and got beat.
Some of the boys got mad at Aunt Thenia and took the big gate off of the hinges one night and set it up in front of the door.
F. M. went sparking to widow K's. Rode a colt; the colt baulked coming home; he had to get off and lead. He got home after daylight, well and hearty but was awful tired.
I notice another letter in my Volunteer from "Cruiser." He tells bigger lies and more of them than he did before. He makes fun of Taylor Walker because he is a poor man, and can't keep as good a team as those who are rich. Taylor does the best he can, he is a good neighbor and honest.
The young men do not contemplate giving a ball in anybodys hall this week. He misrepresents and makes sport of Hen. Spellman and Wm. Maze. They are both industrious hard working men, trying to make an honest living. They don't have their father to pay drunken expenses for them.
The readers of your paper are well satisfied with my articles as they are all true, and esteem it a higher toned sheet than the Volunteer, else why so many Democrats take it? There is no such street as Mink street nor no such alley as Ginger-bread alley. One truth he told, Uncle Dave gives a good square meal because he has plenty to eat and Aunt Thenia is a very good cook. In fact, she is hard to beat.
John Kimberlin's brains are about as much elevated as "Cruisers" and he makes about as good use of them. These little lies do not do much harm but when it comes to slandering and flouting as good a man and citizen as Uncle Goerge Wooley, and casting slurs at his religious principles it is most too much, as he is a conscientious and exemplary member of the M. E. Church and no man can say aught against him and tell the truth. The circumstance mentioned happened over one year ago, and was done by Johnny Kinberling and was forgotten until brought to notice by this "Cruiser." Mr. Hoop had better learn whether Cruiser's letter contains truth or lies before he puts them in his paper, or some fine day he will have a nice suit on his hands for libel as Cruiser s not responseible for anything he does or says....
LEWIS CREEK.
Since the weather moderated the firm of Patterson, Higgins & Spurlin have shipped considerable grain from this point. That's business!
There is a protracted meeting in progress at the brick school house, 1-1/4 miles west of here known as the Washington Tp. precinct. Service by the Revs. Hunter and Glass. There was three persons taken into full connection last Sunday. These brethren are doing a good work in this neighborhood.
Dr. Butler is still able to be out, he is a clever gentleman and good physician.
Some of our folks are sorely puzzled over the Beecher--Tilson case, say they don't exactly understand it, can't see through it.
Our "Jakey" has got a new hat and he is the proudest fellow you ever seen over it.
W. G. Clayton, ex-Trustee of Washington Tp, is moving from this neighborhood to shelbyville. Sorry to loose Wm. from our midst, he is a good citizen. Success to him wherever he goes.
Cruiser, of the Volunteer, says Abnernatha is their Tuff Creek trapper, and traps for a living. He is moving into our neighborhood, and if trapping is all he does for a living he will soon starve out.
Early last Wednesday morning we discovered a black pony tied to a stump on the bands of Lewsi Creek, near the toll-gate. That pony stood there quietly during the entire day and until the shades of night drew on. Now what worried us was, where was the rider? Visions of Coroner's inquests, dragging the Creek &c. in search of the dead body of some one who was tired of sitting of the "ragged edge," was beginning to fill our mind, when lo! the rider appeared and he and the pony soon disappeared. Query; -- where was that rider all day?
Mrs. Puffenbarger was buried here on Tuesday. No funeral services.
Representative Patterson, is at home, lying very sick. His aged mother is also quite sick, having been confined to her bed for a long time.
CAVE MILLS.
Andrew Maple, an old and influential citizen of this part of the county, has bought property in Shelbyville and will move there in the fall, his sons taking charge of his farm.
The Christian denomination are preparing to build a very neat Church at Floyd's Cemetery, 1/2 mile west of here.
There is a heavy gorge of ice forming at Nelson's dam and extending to Copeland's Mill. If there should be a sudden rise in the river Nelsons' dam would be in great danger as it is somewhat damaged already.
April 14, 1864
Page 3, col 2
Township Elections -- Official.
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Union Copperhead
WASHINGTON.
Trustee.
John Banker........128 .....................
Constable.
R. A. Nadding......127 Elza Swaninger.....54
Wm. Young..........122 .....................
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