HENDRICKS COUNTY INDIANA
MIDDLE TOWNSHIP
TOPOGRAPHY
Middle township is
located in the north tier of
townships, being bounded on the north by Boone county, on the east by
Brown and Lincoln townships, on the south by Lincoln, Washington and
Center townships and on the west by Center and Union. The township was
originally located in what was known as the "black swamps," the greater
part of it being deficient in natural drainage. Artificial drainage
has, however, largely remedied this defect in the last ten years. The
intense growth of deciduous trees, oak, poplar, walnut, maple, ash and
many other species, were evidence of a rich virgin soil. There are no
large streams; the soil surface is nearly level; wheat and oats and
corn are the main crops.
SETTLEMENT
In the first
organization of Hendricks county,
Middle township, as it is now, was geographically located in the north
central portion of the County and was one of the nine civil divisions.
It included not only its present area,, but also all of what was
afterward known as Union township. Its location and physical condition
had much to do in determining its settlement and progress. Some
physical defects in the land above mentioned had the tendency to make
settlement here slower than in other parts of Hendricks. The first
settlement made in the township was in the year 1830 by Lemuel McBee.
His cabin and first clearing were in the western part of what is now
Pittsboro.
Richard Richardson
was next, whose cabin, in section
6, township 16, was on the spot where Miles Hession recently resided.
In three years' time other settlements were formed by the following
families: The Spicklemires,. Samuel Hill, the Hales, Thompsons, Wells,
Holtsclaws, Jonas Lipe, Hezekiah Dunick, Philip Waters and Jack Parker.
This group of early pioneers erected the first cabins and formed the
nucleus of community life. At this time no roads were known except
neighborhood trails, marked by blazing the trees., the one leading
through the township from Indianapolis to Crawfordsville being the most
prominent and bisecting the township. The herculean task of the
pioneers was now begun. The rearing of cabins, rolling logs, cutting
out highways and constructing bridges was begun. A great percentage of
the pioneers came from Mason, Fleming and Bourbon counties, Kentucky,
and from Ohio, the Carolinas and Virginia, a splendid stock. The
Watsons, Dillons, Weavers, Reynolds, Walters, Philips, Moneys, Smiths,
Crabbs, Veaches, Kennedys, Craggs, Touts, Jones, Caywoods, Hughes,
Herods in the succeeding decade came and entered or bought land. The
township was organized in 1833 and James Parks was the first justice of
the peace.
DEVELOPMENT
OF TOWNSHIP
Since the
beginning of the seventies improvements
have steadily advanced in Middle township. The sickle, scythe and
cradle, used by. the pioneers and wielded by muscular power, were
relegated to the past when the reaper, mower, binder and other modern
implements came into operation. The description of the other townships
of the county apply equally well to this township, for the development
has been the same. The farms, rich in alluvial soil, are well drained
and cleared of stumps and rocks. Miles of wire fencing have taken the
place of the old rail fence. Farm houses and barns, many of them
spacious and modern, contribute largely to the wealth of the community.
Twenty two miles of gravel road and twelve miles of rock road have been
constructed in the township and turned over to the county to keep in
repair. Seventy five miles of post roads make possible the excellent
system of rural free mail delivery.
PITTSBORO
The town of
Pittsboro was originally platted by
Simon T. Hadley and William Matlock. It was first called by Mr. Hadley
Pittsburg, and afterward changed to the present name in order to have
the name of the town and post office agree.
Pittsboro's first store was in a
small log room and kept by Basil Tout.
It was located on the corner lot now owned by the bank. He was
succeeded by James Hoadley and James Barker. John Vaughn built a frame
building on the lot where the Sawyer block now stands in 1844. He kept
a general store, with plenty of whiskey for sale. Vaughn sold out to
John C. Parker, who, early in the fifties, erected a brick store on the
corner where the Hayworth block now stands. It burned in 1884. Thomas
Hoadley, one of the first physicians, built a two story frame where A.
C. Dunn's property is now located.
Aaron Keith was
the first man in the town who made
furniture. Elias Leach and Isaac B. Waters were other early craftsmen.
In 1867 the Big Four railroad was built through Pittsboro and then
Degan a new era of prosperity. Business became better and the town
grew. In 1873 Daniel Feely established a stave factory and operated it
until 1886. Thousands of cords of oak, elm and ash were brought from
the sloughs, cut into staves and shipped to outside markets. Many
farmers paid off mortgages by disposing of surplus timber.
THE
PRESENT PITTSBORO
Pittsboro is now a
thrifty and well ordered town of
about five hundred inhabitants. The social and commercial, as well as
religious, tone of the town is excellent. The community is
advantageously located on the Ben-Hur interurban line and the Big Four
railroad, and consequently much business is transacted with other
markets.
The Pittsboro Bank was organized in
1897 by Isaac Palmer, Jesse Smith
and Steve Cline, the two latter acting as president and cashier,
respectively. The present officers of the bank are: E. W. Sawyer,
president; C. G. Olsen, vice president; Glen C. Tolin, cashier; Miss
Alcie Ridgway, assistant cashier. The capital stock is $10,000; the
deposits amount to $84,000; and the surplus is $4,000. The bank was
chartered in the year 1905 under the new banking laws.
Pittsboro Lodge
No. 342, Independent Order of Odd
Fellows, was organized on January 22, 1870. John N. Shirley, William N.
Crabb, Lewis Watts, James Adams, Amos Hoak and J. M. McLean were the
charter members. It was the outgrowth of the Brownsburg lodge. The
lodge erected its present home in 1874. The lodge is now in good
condition, having a membership of over one hundred.
Pittsboro Lodge No. 428, Free and
Accepted Masons, was instituted in
1871 by John Burton, deputy grand master. Its home was in the second
story of E. A. Parker's store building, then occupied by A. C. Weaver.
This lodge did not last long. It became defunct in 1882, when the grand
lodge called in its charter. The present lodge, No.
620, was instituted by Jacob Smith with thirteen charter
members. Beginning under dispensation in: 1893, was
chartered in due and ancient form May 25, 1899.
Its first: officers were: Sabert S. Offutt,
worshipful master; Chester H. Weaver, senior warden; W. D. Lewis,
junior warden; George D. Junken, secretary. Its present membership is
seventy one. The stated communications are the first and
third Tuesday evenings of each month at their hall in the Sawyer block.
Thomas Ashby Post
No. 451, Grand Army of the
Republic, was organized in the old school building September 8, 1886,
with the following charter members: A. C. Weaver, W. D. Lewis, R. T.
Dorman, H. T. Kirk, E. M. Weaver, J. M. Wills, S. S. Wills, W. H.
Milam, George W. Tidrick,. W. B. McClung, Jacob C. Waters, Lewis
Buergelin, Thomas Brooks, Charles P. Cox, Joe Williamson and Samuel
James. At eight P. M., April 8, 1886, a delegation of comrades came up
from Danville and assisted in the organization. The first officers of
the post were: A. C. Weaver, post commander;. William D. Lewis, senior
vice commander; Richard T. Droman, junior vice commander; Henry T.
Kirk, officer of the day; Ellis M. Weaver, officer of the guard; James
M. Wills, adjutant; S. S. Wills, quartermaster; George W. Tisrick,
sergeant major; William B. McClung, quartermaster sergeant.
Thomas Ashby
Woman's Relief Corps. No. 231 was
organized March 25, 1899, with eighteen charter members. Mrs. Marian
McVey French was installed first president; Etta Jordan Palmer,
treasurer, and Mrs. Eva Lewis,, secretary.