MORGAN COUNTY INDIANA
MONROE
TOWNSHIP
THE PIONEERS
Monroe
Township is one of the oldest
portions of the county, and in some respects the most interesting. It
is a fine tract of rolling land, well drained, and the greater portion
of the soil is a rich sandy loam, one of the best kinds for general and
inexhaustible cultivation. The first tract of land entered in the
township was on Section 29, in the northeastern part, by William
Pounds, in 1820; but Mr. Pounds did not come to the township for
several years, and was therefore not the first settler. It cannot be
certainly stated who the first was, but the burden of evidences is in
favor of John H. Bray, who lived to the remarkable age of ninety four
years. He located on Section 28, in the northeastern part of the
township in the year 1822. He was born in North Carolina during the
Revolutionary war, and lived until seven or eight years ago. He was a
young man at the beginning of the present century, and was middle aged
at the time of the war of 1812-15. He was a man of stalwart frame,
and possessed an iron constitution. During his long residence in
the county, he was one of the most prominent and public spirited of the
citizens. Among those who came in soon after him were Jeremiah Hadley,
Charles Allen, Thomas Rubottom, Zimri Allen, James Hadley, John Doan,
Robert McCracken, James Demoss, Henry Brewer, Lot M. Hadley, T. E.
Hadley, Philip Johnson, SamuelHadley, Jonathan Doan, Joseph Hobson,
William Bray, Joshua Carter, Oliver Kimberton, David Collins, Moses
Hougham, Simon B. Hadley, Jesse Overman, Enoch Hadley, Jesse Ballard,
Elijah Tansey, William Tansey, Abel Thompson, John C. Burris, Hiram
Tomlinson, Eneas Ward, Ephraim Doan, William Johnson, George
Crutchfield, John Hadley, George Seaton, Timothy H. Jessup, William
Carter, Martin Davenport, Daniel Beals, Job and Jesse Johnson, Isaac
Hougham, and a little later John P. Lamb, Isaac Hobson, David Lindley,
John Bryant, Samuel Harper, Alfred Elliott, James Reynolds, Jonathan
Mendenhall, Elisha Gregory, Jesse Allen, Nicholas Johnson, John S.
Hubbard, Peter Coble, Aaron Lindley, George Hub-bard, Edward Lindley,
James Lindley, Joshua Lindley, Owen Lindley, Aaron Shaw, Thomas
Edwards, James Pruitt, Benjamin K. Williams, Woodson Lewallen, Iva
Stout, Jesse Baldwin, Eli Vestal, William Wisner, James Marley, Daniel
Ferree, Amos Marker, Joseph Pray, Thomas Nichols and
others. A few of these never lived in the township.
POLL TAX PAYERS
OF 1842
Thomas
Anderson, Zimri Allen, Charles
Allen, Jesse Baldwin, B. Bales, Daniel Carter, William Chambers, Isaac
Chew, Samuel Chew, David Doan, Joseph Doan, Jesse Doan, Robert Doan,
Jonathan Doan, William Doan, James Demoss, John Edwards, Samuel
Edwards, Nathan Edwards, Alfred Elliott, Abe Elliott, Peter Farmer,
Jesse Faulkner, John Ferree, Daniel Ferree, David Greeson, Peter
Greeson, Elias Gregory, Daniel Hornaday, T. M. Hadley, Aaron Hadley, S.
B. Hadley, William Hornaday, James Hadley, Isaac Hobson, Elias Hadley,
David Johnson, Nicholas Johnson, Gideon Johnson, David Lindley, Edward
Lindley, Woodson Lewallen, Owen Lindley, J. T. Marlett, Robert
McCracken, John Marley, James Marley, William McClellan, John
McClellan, Nathan Nichols, James Pitman, George Rubottom, Aaron Shaw,
Iva Stout, Alexander Shore, David Shanafelt, Jesse Tansey, Eli
Townsend, Elijah Tansey, William Wisner, Benjamin Wilson and some
others, whose names cannot be made out.
TOWN OF
MONROVIA
In the
month of June, 1834, Gideon
Johnson and George Hubbard employed a surveyor and laid out forty five
lots on Section 12, Township 13 north, Range 1 west, and named the
village thus founded Monrovia, a variation of the name of the
township.
The first merchants were Gideon Johnson and Ira Hadley, each of whom
owned a store. If one began selling before the other, such fact is not
now remembered. In 1837, Mr. Johnson sold out to Thomas Edwards &
Co., for $600, Lots 1, 2, 13 and 14, Block 3, together with all the
appurtenances thereunto belonging. This company was composed of Thomas
Edwards, I. B. Edwards and C. G. Hussey. This company owned about
§2,000 worth of a general assortment of goods. About the time this
sale was effected, John Carter laid out an addition of sixteen lots to
the town. Mr. Hadley still continued his business, taking in a partner
in 1838. Mr. Johnson must have opened another store soon after his
sale, as he took out a license in 1839 to sell merchandise. Eli Vestal
was an early merchant in the village. Henry and Noah York engaged in
the same pursuit early in the forties. Irvin Caveness was the first
tavern keeper. Samuel Wilhite and John Valentine were probably the
first blacksmiths. A man named Half hill opened a saddle and harness
shop, and John Edwards began making wagons. The growth of the village,
though not rapid, was steady and permanent. For several years,
beginning about 1842, there was no store in town. This is said to have
been due to the hard times resulting from the crash of 1837. Owen
Johnson opened a store about 1845, and soon afterward Ira Hadley
resumed his business, which had been temporarily abandoned. Collins, an
Irishman, opened a store about 1850. Milton Lindley was engaged in the
same pursuit about the same time, or possibly before. Benjamin Young
came in with goods a little later, and Porter & Breedlove still
later. After them came Samuel Hadley, Joseph Fulghman, M. B. Shaw,
Butler & Mendenhall, Mendenhall & Thompson, W. B. Thompson,
Philips & Johnson, R. P. Johnson & Co., and several others,
whose names are forgotten. A steam grist mill was built in the town not
far from the year 1837, and was the first of the kind in the eentral part of the
State. But the machinery was too rude to compete yet with the numerous
powerful water mills, and the mill proved a failure, and was soon
abandoned, and the machinery was removed. George Hadley built a
wool carding establishment about 1840, the motor being cattle on an
inclined plane. It passed to Silas Gregory, who conducted it until
about 1850. No spinning or weaving was done. A man named Dunning
manufactured saddles quite extensively in the forties. Halfhill
followed the same occupation. Ira Fowler owned a distillery some
distance south of town, where lovers of ardent spirits could secure
their favorite potations. Mershon was a cabinet and coffin maker, and
was probably the first undertaker in the town. Mr. Caveness kept a shoe
shop in connection with his tavern. William Wisner conducted a tannery,
beginning about 1836. It is said that Joseph Pray started the business,
but soon sold out to Wisner. A saw mill was conducted in
connection with the steam grist mill. Harris & Goddard built
the present steam grist mill in 1856. A woolen mill was added to it.
John McDaniel bought both mills about 1861, but soon sold out to
Charles Smith, who made money during the war. Hadley & Taylor
succeeded Smith. In about 1868, the two mills were separated, each
being owned by different parties. John Stanton bought the woolen mill,
and Hadley & Taylor owned the grist mill. Mr. Taylor is the present
owner of the grist mill. The woolen mill was an important industry.
Spinning and weaving was done. Flannels, jeans and other cloths were
manufactured. Various other industries have flourished from time to
time, but the above are the more important.
PRESENT
BUSINESS
INTERESTS
Dry goods,
Samuel Philips, Pacely
Thompson; drugs, J. C. Hiatt & Co., McCracken Brothers; groceries,
Hobbs & Johnson, Wilson Brothers, Fish & Son, S. H. Henley ;
hardware and agricultural implements, Hobbs & Johnson; milliners,
Johnson Sisters, Alma Jeffries, Mattie Hubbard; barber, Henry Book;
grist mill, Albert Taylor; harness, J. H. Hunt; livery, Daniel Brewer;
photographer, Mr. Calvert; tile factory, John M. Davis; carriages and
wagons, Henry Binkley; undertaker, Jerry Wellman. A newspaper was started in the town
about 1880, by a man named Stotzell. After a checkered career of about
six months, it became defunct. Late in the sixties, the village
became the " incorporated town of Monrovia." Ordinances were adopted,
streets were drained, sidewalks were built, etc., but after a few years
the municipal government was abandoned.
SCHOOLS
OF
MONROE TOWNSHIP
It is not
positively known where the
first school was taught, as several years elapsed after the first
settlement before an attempt was made to establish a school in the
township, owing to the fact that within a mile or two in Brown
Township, good schools had been started some years before, and the
older children in Monroe could attend there during the winter months,
and the younger ones during the summer months, which was then regarded
as sufficient schooling for large and small children for the year. It
is likely that terms of school were held in private residences before
the first established school
came into
existence. The first school of which any distinct remembrance is had
was taught in the West Union Church east of Monrovia during the winter
of 1832-33 by Joshua Lindley. He was paid by subscription, and had a
full school. David Lindley taught in the church after him. At the end
of about three years, the Quakers built a schoolhouse adjoining the
church, and in this building Evan Hadley was the first teacher. After
that date the school was one of the best in the northern part of the
county. A schoolhouse was built west of Monrovia about 1836. A school
was also started up in the southeastern part and another in the
northeastern part about the same time. In each of these neighborhoods,
however, terms of school had been taught in private houses for several
years before the public schools were firmly established. The first
teacher in Monrovia was a well educated man named Butterfield, who
taught a three months' term during the winter of 1837—38, in a
schoolhouse that had been erected the summer and autumn before.
Mr. Butterfield
was an educator in
advance of his time, and was regarded as a "crank" on the subject
of his own theories of public instruction. Instead of being really
" cranky," he simply earnestly favored and publicly advocated a system
of education, which has since developed into the high schools of
to-day. The only difference between his theory and the present system
was the manner of obtaining funds for the support of the schools. It is
stated that he favored public taxation for the support of the schools
for the masses, but as his theory in this respect was unpopular in
his day, or more specifically at Monrovia, he took the next best course
he could, and urged the support -of public schools by systematic rate
bills and tuition. He was very energetic, and issued a printed
circular, advertising his school, specifying the branches taught,
the tuition required and asking for pupils who were promised unusual
advantages in acquiring a higher education than could be secured at the
insignificant subscription schools then starting into life throughout
the township. But there were three serious obstacles in the way of the
success of the enterprise of Mr. Butterfield: First cost
considerable to attend his school. Second—There was no demand for
advanced education. Third, the theories of Mr. Butterfield were
regarded
as unusual, suspicious, if not unjust. The result was that the
school was a failure, and Mr. Butterfield left in disgust for more
promising fields. Within fifteen years after he left, the very system
he had advocated became the most popular and judicious plan of
public education ever established up to that time. The common
school system of to-day is the child of this advance. This school of
Mr. Butterfield's was taught in a portion of the " Monrovia House," yet
standing and in use.
The first schoolhouse in Monrovia was
erected about 1858, the town children before that going east and west
to the district schools. The house built was an ordinary frame
structure, which was used until the two storied brick building was
erected about four years ago. The house is 28x64 feet, has four rooms
in which four teachers are necessary to instruct the town youth, cost
about $4,000, and is a credit to the town, which surpasses any other in
the county, in proportion to population, in activity in the cause of
education. The school is thoroughly graded, and
competent instructors are
employed. Soon after
the last war, the citizens of Monrovia and vicinity organized a
Teachers' Institute, which is still in existence. The citizens
subscribed liberally to support the institute, encouraged the valuable
course of instruction and drill afforded the teachers, and those
citizens who were competent lectured to the assembled teachers on
questions of education and school government. In view of the
difficulty attending an organization of this character, the great
expense, the small-ness of the town, and the limited number of teachers
likely to attend, the enterprise has been remarkably prosperous,
the
influence much more widely felt than was thought possible, and the zeal
of teachers and citizens in the cause of education places the
little town head and shoulders above every other portion of the county.
Not content with this excellent showing, the teachers and citizens, in
March, 1882, organized the " Monrovia Normal and High School
Association," every public spirited citizen of the vicinity subscribing
from $5 to $25 for its support. This association is yet in its infancy,
yet the future will, no doubt, record its important achievements.
CHRISTIAN ORGANIZATIONS
It is
likely that the first religious
class organized in Monroe Township was the one known as the West.
Union Meeting of Friends, which had its origin late in the twenties,
from the older or parent class of Friends in Brown Township. Among the
members were George Rubottom, William Johnson, Aaron Lindley, Jerry
Hadley, William Allen, Ashley Johnson, Philip Johnson. Eli Townsend,
Jesse Baldwin, Jonathan Doan, Sr., Jonathan Doan, Charles Allen,
Lot Hadley, Silas Gregory and others. Their frame church was built
in 1832. This class is yet in existence.
The Methodist
class at Monrovia was
organized soon after 1840, by Rev. H. S. Dane, who was the pastor for a
number of years. Some of the members were Edward Lindley, Walker
Caveness, Isaac Johnson, William Mull, Joel C. McClellan, C. Marvin, D.
C. Doan, James R. Williams, William Best, A. M. Dilley, J. K. Best,
James Hudson, L. B. Lewis and others. The pastor in 1856 was Rev. J. R.
Williams. Their church was built about 1850.
The Christian Church at Monrovia was
established in the sixties. Among the leading members were Jeremiah
Wellman, Dr. Reagan, Joseph Allison and Robert McCracken.
The Methodist Church in the
southeastern part of the township was organized about 1835, some of the
early members being James Demoss, Thomas Grisham, Peter Farmer, Simon
Hadley, William Tansey, Able Tansey, Jesse Tansey, William Hornaday and
others. Meetings were often held at the houses of Thomas Grisham and
James Demoss. After a number of years, their church was built. The
Antioch Methodist Church east of Monrovia was established at a later
date. Their church is worth about $700. The township
has excellent religious advantages.
THE
UNDERGROUND RAILROAD
One of the
things of which the
citizens of Monroe Township boast is the position taken by the older
residents on the question of slavery. The anti-slavery sentiment came
to the county with that noble class of Christian people, the Friends and
from the earliest settlement until slavery was blotted out of the
nation, no opportunity was lost to strike it a blow. Anti-slavery
societies were organized at an early day, and public measures were
adopted to bring the enormity of the " institution " squarely before
the public eye. The Friends posted themselves thoroughly on the
question from a social, moral and Biblical standpoint, and managed
to " worst" those of sufficient courage to meet them in public
debate. The Underground Railroad was an organization to assist
runaway slaves, escaping from their masters, on their way to Canada.
The Friends everywhere were prominently connected with this route, or
routes, rather, as hundreds of different paths extended from the
Southern States to the dominion of the British Queen. The procedure was
a violation of the law of the land, but the Friends and Abolitionists
knew they were right morally, and deliberately disobeyed the law. The
routes were called " underground" because they were usually only
operated at night to avoid detection and pursuit. Slaves that were
worth from $600 to $1,200 each were not permitted to leave their
masters without an effort being made to capture them. Bloodhounds were
used, and every other measure to secure their return. The Friends
constantly thwarted the slave catchers. A slave who made up his
mind to run away would ascertain about the route to be taken, and get
the name of the first Friend on the route, and just where his residence
could be found. Then, under the cover of night, with his little bundle
of clothes on his shoulder, he would resolutely turn his face
northward, and make for the first station on his way. If that point was
reached about morning, the agent of the railroad would feed the tired
traveler, and then secrete him in some safe place about the premises
until night came, when horses would be hitched to carriages or wagons,
and the runaway would be rapidly driven northward ten or fifteen
miles to the next station. If considerable time yet remained before
morning, the agent of the second station would hitch up as the first
agent had done, and convey the slave to the third station, and the
first agent would return home. In this way, after the lapse of many
weeks, often through the direst dangers of pursuit, the slave would be
safely landed in Canada, where pursuit would end, and where the hunted
man would draw his first breath of freedom. Two or three routes
extended across Morgan County, all of them passing through Monroe or
Brown Township. All of the Quakers were ready to assist runaway
slaves, as were many Abolitionists who were not Quakers, but only a few
men in the county were really members of the organization called "
Underground Railroad." The leading members in Monroe Township were
Jonathan Doan and his sons and relatives. They were known to take many
a runaway to some point in Marion or Hendricks County. On one
occasion, they conveyed a load of five slaves northward. They no doubt
helped off scores of them. Eli J. Sumner, of Mooresville, was a
prominent Abolitionist, but he did not belong to, the railroad,
though he did not hesitate an instant if a slave called upon him for
assistance. William Bowles was the agent at Morgantown; Mr. Kelso also.
Several at Martinsville afforded assistance, though none there were
members of the organization. Many now claim to have been connected with
the road who at the time were either neutral or inclined to capture the
runaways and return them to their masters and get the large reward.