MORGAN COUNTY INDIANA
RAY
TOWNSHIP
THE BUTLER CREEK SETTLEMENT
It is not
certainly known who was the first permanent settler in Ray
Township. Neither is the exact time of the first settlement known. A
settlement was made in the western part of the township on Butler Creek
in 1821 certainly, and probably in 1820. The settlement of Owen County
had an earlier date than that of Morgan County, and Gosport was one of
the oldest points. Ephraim Goss, Sr., had located there as early,
probably, as 1818, and others had selected farms near him. Then down
the river were several other settlements, especially in the vicinity of
Spencer, where several scores of families had established themselves.
Before there was a white family in Morgan County, and even before the
purchase of the soil from the Indians, the country had been visited by
numerous home seekers from the older localities down the river and
elsewhere. Then, as soon as the purchase became known, the territory
was invaded by prospective pioneers and speculators. As early probably
as 1820, and certainly as early as 1821, several families established
themselves, as above stated, on Butler Creek, about a mile north of the
river and near the western boundary of the county. This, so far as can
be learned, was the first settlement in Ray Township.
There is a tradition to the effect that several years before this colony was
formed, a professional hunter
and his family had lived a year, or more on the banks of this creek.
One thing is certain. After the settlement had been formed, and even
after several years had elapsed and other portions of the township had
permanent families, the remains of an old cabin and other
evidences of human occupancy were still plainly discernible on the
creek. Some have stated that the name of this family was Butler, and
that the creek received its christening from that circumstance; but the
better opinion seems to be that the stream took its name from a Mr.
Butler who lived thereon across the line in Owen County at a very early
date. The families of James McKinney, Solomon Tucker and Thomas
Thompson were, so far as is now known, the first to locate permanently
in what is now Ray Township. The three families, no doubt, moved
there in 1820, and the following year, when the land was thrown
into market, each entered a tract of land where his log cabin had been
previously built. The old settler, Philip Hodges, thinks these families
were the first in the township, but which was first, or whether either
was first, he does not certainly know. He did not move to the township
until 1824, but he had passed up the river on more than one occasion on
a tour of inspection a year or two before the land was thrown into
market, and possibly before the New Purchase had been secured by treaty
with the Indians in October, 1818. When he first became aware of the
presence of these families in the township, he no longer
recollects.
The first tract of
land entered was the east half of the southwest
quarter of Section 22, on the 16th of February, 1821, by Abner
Alexander. The second was the west half of the northwest quarter of
Section 27, on the 29th of May, 1821, by Solomon Tucker. The third was
the northeast quarter of Section 23, on the 9th of March, 1821, by
William Anderson. The fourth was the west half of the southwest quarter
of Section 22, on the 20th of July, 1821, by Daniel Gross. The fifth
was the east half of the northwest quarter of Section 27. on the 27th
of July, 1821, by James McKinney. The sixth was the west half of the
southwest quarter, on the 4th of August, 1821, by Thomas Thompson. A
few other entries were made in 1821, by Wiley Williams, Joseph Ribble,
David Fain in the eastern part, and Philip Hodges on Section 14. Fred
Buckhart bought land on Section 8 in 1822, and Ephraim Gross, Jr., on
Sections 2 and 35, in 1823. Solomon Watson and Scott Young bought land
in the northwestern part in 1823. Joshua Crow bought on Section 27
in 1823. Philip Hodges and Charles D. Seaton bought on Section 3 in
1824. Vordaman Fletcher purchased a tract on Section 13 the same year.
Jacob Johns and Benjamin Freeland bought on Section 34, in 1824, and
Fred. Stigerwalt, Thomas Sandy and William Ashore on Section 35 the
same year. William Thompson, Abraham Lafaver, John Thompson, Levi
Walter, Levi Whitaker, Elijah Bowen, Richard Fletcher, Joseph Rhodes,
John Vickery, John Berry, Amos Meyers, Elisha Boyd, Henry Ratts entered
land in the township later in the twenties. Among the entries in the
thirties were the Whitakers, Jefferson Farr, William Deal, Abe Riley,
James Johnson, William Voshels, P. Howell, Samuel Fletcher, Presley
Asher, William Guy, Peter Ester. Joseph Yount, Jacob Beaman, Dabney
Miller, Joel Eliott, Anderson Poseley, John and William Duckworth, J.
S. Johnson, Elijah Duckworth, William Adkins and others.
The first colony
in the township then was on Butler Creek. The second
was in the northwest corner founded by Ephraim Goss, Jr., who entered a
tract of land there in January, 1823, and the following spring came out
and built a log cabin, into which he moved his family. He had scarcely
become established before he was joined by Solomon Watson, Levi
Walters, Vordaman Fletcher, Ike Fletcher, Abe Fletcher, Philip Hodges
and others. Mr. Hodges came to reside in the township in 1824. He came
up the river with a yoke of oxen, but no wagon, in 1824, to the land he
had just entered on Section 3. He immediately went to work cutting down
trees, cutting out logs and hauling them with the oxen to the spot
selected for his cabin. All this was done in one day. The next day Mr.
Hodges was assisted by Levi Walters, John Asher, John Matlock and
others, who helped him erect the hewed-log cabin, his first home "in
Morgan County. The building was one of the typical sort, with
puncheon floor, clapboard roof and door, and the indispensable
fire-place. All this work was done in one day. Soon after this, the
family, then consisting of the mother and two children, were moved into
this backwoods home; here the family lived for many years. Mr. Hodges
bought the first tract of land in the New Purchase. It was on the first
day of the public sale of land at Terre Haute on the 4th of September,
1820. Col. John Vawter was the " crier " of the sale. Mr. Hodges bid in
at the Government price of $1.25 per acre in Township 11 north, Range 1
east, now in Washington Township, about two miles east of Martinsville,
the west half of the northwest quarter of Section 1, and the east half
of the northeast quarter of Section 2, the two lots aggregating
151.45 acres. Immediately after the hammer fell, the crier said to
Mr. Hodges: " You are the first freeholder in the New Purchase." This
fact was not thought as much of then as it is now.
POLL TAX
PAYERS OF 1842
Hiram
Alexander, Tobias Butler, William Deal, Elijah Eaton, James Farr,
Jefferson Farr, Ephraim Goss, Hezekiah Guy, Isham Guy, Philip Hodges,
James Johnson, Amos Myers, Enoch Myers, Solomon Myers, James McGinnis,
Cyrus Marsh, Thomas McGinnis, James D. Newton, Bartholomew Pearson,
Caleb Stirewalt, Adam Stirewalt, Elijah Watters, John Worthen, William
Worthen, Levi Whitaker, Jr., G. B. Whitaker, Scott W. Young. This is
not a complete list, but is the best that can be given.
INCIDENTS
AND IMPROVEMENTS
The
settlement and improvement of the township was slow but sure. A
good industrious class of people came in largely from the Southern
States, many of whom left there, as they did not care to rear their
families where slavery was regarded as a "divine institution." The
free States settling upon the north side of the Ohio River was the
point of attraction, and the southern half of Indiana and Illinois
received large ascensions to the pioneers. Many species of wild animals
infested the forests of Ray Township, even for several years after the
first settlement. Deer, especially, were very numerous; scores were
often seen in one herd, and almost every cabin had venison
steak at all meals. Corn
bread, venison, fat pork, wild honey or maple syrup or sugar, wild
turkeys, potatoes, pumpkins and wild fruits constituted the principal
pioneer diet. Occasionally light wheat bread could be had, but this was
a delicacy not the commonest. Ephraim Goss, Jr., was one of the most
successful hunters in the township. His uncle, Ephraim, Sr., who
lived in Owen County, was a famous hunter, and on more than one
occasion killed bears. The nephew had learned much of the chase from
the uncle, and finally became almost as skillful. If he killed any game
larger than deer in Ray Township, such fact is not now known. Philip
Hodges relates the following incident of Mr. Goss: One season, during a
period of several weeks, the wolves had been very troublesome. At times
they would venture so close to the cabin or the stable as to
endanger the swine, fowls, calves and sheep, and all these domestic
animals had to be carefully watched during the day, and penned securely
up in high substantial in-closures at night. This caused a great deal
of trouble, which Mr. Goss concluded, if possible, to terminate. He
selected a point where the wolves would be likely to pass, and there
built a high log or pole pen held firmly in place by stakes. Fresh meat
was placed therein, and the trap was so contrived, that when an animal
entered the doorway to get the meat the trigger would be struck and the
gate would fall, closing securely the means of egress. When all had
been made satisfactory, the trap was baited and left to perform its
work. Ere many days had elapsed, a large wolf was found in the trap. An
opening was made, through which the animal thrust its head in an effort
to escape, when the gate was pushed down on its neck, pinning it fast
against the log. Here its mouth was securely tied up, and a chain was
tied tightly around its neck, after which the gate was opened, and the
animal permitted to jump out. Several large dogs had been standing
about, anxious, no doubt, for a chance at the wolf, but they were put
off until after the fierce animal had been led home. It was then
resolved to ham-string the wolf, cut the ropes around its mouth, and
let it fight the dogs. This was done, and the half crippled animal was
savagely attacked by the big dogs. But the curs soon learned " to go
slow." The double row of long white teeth would snap together like a
steel trap, and cut the skin of the dogs like a knife. After the fight
had been witnessed for a long time, the wolf was shot. This was rather
cruel sport, but the spectators, of whom Mr. Hodges was one, greatly
enjoyed it.
PARAGON
This
village started up early in the fifties. J. D. Newton, who had
been selling goods a few miles northeast, started a store there about
1852. His brother Thomas conducted the store, which was continued about
fifteen years. Near the close of the war, Scott & McMillan
opened a store. Lehman & McMillan succeeded them. Newton, Hodges
& Co. began about 1870. Since then the leading merchants have been
Raber & McCord, Samuel Rosengarden, Frank Cunningham, drugs; J. W.
Prater, drugs; Clarence H. Jones, drugs, and others. The present
merchants are Mr. Raber, J. K. Stout, William Brown & Co., Goss
& Co. Andrew Fletcher was the first blacksmith; P. M. Blankenship,
the first carpenter.
The following men have owned saw
mills: P. M. Blankenship, George and
Henry Lincoln, Goulding & Harden, Levi Frederick, T. & H.
Myers, J. W. Prater, and at present Philip Blankenship. Ed
Robinson owned a grist mill in town for two or three years, beginning
about 1871, at the end of which time it was moved away. Dr. Charles
Holman was the first physician and J. D. Newton the first Postmaster.
The village has a population of about 250. It has
important lumber interests.
SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES
Where and
when the first school was taught in the township cannot fully
be determined. The first one, so far as known, was taught in the
settlement in the northwestern part in the year 1832, by Levi
Johnson. This could not have been the first in the township. In all
probability, school was taught in the southern part as early as 1828,
and possibly earlier. In 1840, there were four established schools,
all, of course, being supported by subscription. Soon after
Paragon started into life, a schoolhouse was built there, and Joseph
Fletcher became the first teacher. This house was erected by Perry M.
Blankenship. It was used until about 1866, when a larger house was
built on the same lot. The present fine brick school building was
constructed in 1882, at a cost of about $2,500. I. E. Kerlin was the
first Principal. He had two assistants. The township, as a whole, has
good schools.
The first sermon in the township was
preached in 1822 by Rev. Thomas
Thompson, a minister or elder of the Dunkard Church, and one of the
earliest residents of the township. He preached at his own and at his
neighbors' cabins quite often, but so far as can be learned no
organization was effected.
A Baptist Church
was organized on the northern boundary of the township
late in the twenties, among the members being Levi Asher, William
Manon, Elijah Bowen, John Durham, John Burnam and others. Perhaps a
majority of the members lived in Ashland Township or in Owen
County. It was called the Samaria Baptist Church. A Lutheran Church was organized in Ray
Township in the forties, Lewis
Tucker, Henry Miller, Ambrose Seachrist and others belonging. A Christian Church was organized west of
Paragon in the forties, and
for many years used a frame dwelling that had been vacated for a
church. The class built a church in 1859. Perry M. Blankenship was one
of the leading members. The Methodists have a class at Paragon of a
later origin.