PUTNAM COUNTY, INDIANA
RUSSELL TOWNSHIP
Russell township was one of the first settled. David Swank, who came in
1820 and built his cabin on what is still known in the neighborhood as
the "Swank farm." in the northeastern part of the township. was the
first settler. In the same year came Allen Elliott. who settled on Big
Raccoon. near the center of the township; Austin Puett. who settled
near the site of Portland Mills: and Clark Butcher. who also settled on
Big Raccoon.
In 1821 came John Anderson. John West fall. Christian Landis. Andrew
Robertson. B. Rosencranze. William Sutherlin. John Gleason. Samuel
Steele. Thomas Thompson. Jacob Beck and a brother. John Doherty and
Andrew Boyd. . John Kosher built his cabin on Ramp creek and removed
his family thither in 1822. The year 1822 marks the arrival. also. of
John Guilliams. Jacob Bickle and A. B. Denton. From 1822 to 1825. Mark
Homan. R. V. Garrott. Thomas Page. I. Aldridge. Jacob Stid and Thomas
Norman became residents of the township.
Within the next five years. the ancestors of the Wilsons, the Evanses,
the Clodfelters, the McGaugheys, Spencers, Burketts, Forgeys, Blakes
and many others were added to the pioneer population.
The first birth which occurred in the township is a matter of dispute.
The priority belongs either to a child of Christian and Matilda
Dearduff. or to Miss Guilliams. the wife of John McGaughey. who was
born about the year 1823. The first marriage was that of John Guilliams
and Miss Lydia Kosher. which took place in July. 1822. They were
married by the Rev. Mr. Quinlet. The manner in which this wedding was
conducted serves to illustrate the character of the times. and the
simple habits of the pioneers. Mr. Guilliams. who was busily engaged in
plowing corn. made arrangements with his intended wife that. on the day
of the marriage. when the preacher should arrive. and she should be
ready. she should inform him of the facts. In due time the preacher
came. and a child was dispatched to notify the groom that all
things-were ready. Hitching his horse in the field. he repaired to the
house where the ceremony was performed. when he returned to his labor.
as though nothing unusual had taken place.
Daniel Anderson. who ministered unto the people of the township during
the years of 1824 and 1825. was their first preacher. He was followed
by William H. Smith. Lorenzo Dow. and others of the noble band which
they represent. The first school house was built on the farm of John
Fosher. in 1823. in which the first school was taught the same year.
The first mill in the township was built by Jacob Beck and was long
known as Beck's Mill. This was erected in 1820 and 1821. The buhrs of
this mill were made by John Guy. from a boulder which lay near the mill
site. The next was Swank's Mill. built in 1823. James Secrest opened at
Blakesburgh the first store from which goods were sold in Russell
township. In 1823 John Kosher established a tan-yard on Ramp creek.
which was the first in this portion of the county. Col. James Blake
erected a "Sang Factory" at the same place. and operated it from 1826
to 1830. This factory gave employment to all who were not otherwise
employed. in digging "sang." which found a ready market. Jesse Blake.
also. had an interest in this factory. The f1rst church was built at
Russellville in 1830. When the town was laid out in 1828. arrangements
were made for the erection of a church. which was completed two years
later. The first Fourth of July celebration was held on the farm of
John Dougherty. near Portland Mills. in 1828. Gen. George K. Steele
acting as marshal of the day. Drs. James B. Clark. Copeland. Winslow.
Rogers and John Slavens were the first practicing physicians in this
community.
The only town in Russell township is Russellville. It was laid out in
1828. but was not incorporated until early in the eighties. About that
time it Was reached by the Indianapolis. Decatur & Western
railroad. which so added to its population that it was deemed proper to
make an incorporated town of it. In early days its leading citizen was
Jacob Durham. who emigrated from Kentucky and set up the first
blacksmith shop. Later he became the village merchant. was postmaster.
justice of the peace and filled various places of trust and
responsibility. As a business man Mr. Durham was very successful.
Although his early educational advantages were somewhat meagre. yet he
was a man of unusually sound judgment and intelligence. He was alike
shrewd. industrious and enterprising. He bought groceries in New
Orleans. iron in Pittsburg. and dry goods in Philadelphia. These all
reached Montezuma by water. and were carted overland to Russellville.
His son recalls seeing his father set out for the market in
Philadelphia. making the entire trip on horseback. He accumulated a
snug fortune. much of which was represented by some of the finest
farming lands in the county. About 18fKi he retired from active
business and removed to Greencastle. where he resided in a beautiful
suburban home till his death. August 11. 1864.
The present town officers are: Robert Brumfield. Romulus Boyd. Roy
Carter. trustees: John Oliver. marshal; Samuel Brown. treasurer: George
Scott. clerk.
There are three churches. Methodist. Presbyterian and Christian. and a
handsome new school building with provisions for the lower grades and
four grades of high school work. Russellville is also plentifully
supplied with secret. fraternal and benevolent orders.
The Masonic Lodge, No. 141, of which Ernest Simpson is worshipful
master and J. N. Fordyce, secretary.
Odd Fellows, Lodge No. 841; W. P. Byrd, noble grand; Jonathan Tage,
secretary.
Knights of Pythias, Lodge No. 310: Samuel Cox, chancellor commander;
Burton Long, keeper of records and seal.
Modern Woodmen, Camp No. 5616: R. S. Redlen, venerable consul; Thomas
Walden. clerk.
Ben Hur, Court No. 60: James Fordyce, chief; Frank Kennedy, secretary.
The newspaper of Russellville is published weekly and called The
Searchlight. Erasmus Parrett is the editor. There is one bank called
the Russellville Bank, of which James Durham is president and Ernest
Durham, cashier.
The commercial and industrial facilities of the place are represented
by one flouring mill, two sawmills, an elevator, lumber yard, two
hardware stores, three general stores, one grocery store, two
restaurants, three barber shops, a furniture and undertaking store,
meat market, drug store, millinery store, shoe shop and blacksmith
shop. Three physicians guard the health of the inhabitants, who number
approximately five hundred.
The list of Russellville's postmasters and the dates of their
appointment, follows: Jacob Durham, March 29, 1832; James B. Brumfield,
August 5, 1850: William H. Durham, May 5, 1853; James L. Wilson,
February 24, 1865; Uriah Brown, April 24, 1866; Joseph H. Orear, May 8,
1867; Joseph T. Hopkins. November 12, 1867; William M. Darter, April
27, 1882; William M. Darter, December 5, 1882; William H. Long. June
26. 1885: William H. Long, September 3, 1885; Uriah Brown, January 3,
1889; J. W. Harvey, June 10, 1889; Charles W. Winn, July 27, 1893: J.
R. Whitson, June 14, 1897; Nelson F. Scribner, June 22, 1901.
Source: Weik's History of Putnam County, Indiana By Jesse William
Weik