Henry County, Indiana
Genealogy and History
History of Henry County, Indiana : together with sketches of its cities, villages and towns, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens : also a condensed history of Indiana, embodying accounts of pre-historic races, aborigines, Winnebago and Black Hawk wars, and a brief review of its civil and political history. Chicago: Inter-State Pub. Co., 1884, 944 pgs.
In the Commissioners' Court, June 11, 1822: "Ordered by the board, that all that tract of land contained in the following boundaries shall form and constitute a new township, to be known and designated by the name and style of Henry, to wit: Beginning at thee northeast corner of Dudley Township, and running thence west twenty miles to the western boundaries of Henry County; and thence due north to congressional township's line, dividing of townships 17, 18; and thence east with said line to the line dividing Wayne and Henry counties; thence south with the line dividing said counties, to the place of beginning. The new township of Henry shall, from and after the first Saturday of July next, enjoy all the rights and privileges which to separate and independent townships do or may properly belong and appertain."
Thus was formed a township six miles in width by twenty in length Ð soon to be reduced, however, by the formation of other townships. At present Henry exactly coincides with the limits of a congressional township. The first election was ordered to be held at the house of Samuel Badson, July 6, 1822, for the purpose of electing two justices of the peace. Charles Jamison was appointed Inspector; William Shannon and Samuel Badson were chosen Justices of the Peace; Asahel Woodward, Thomas Watkins, and Micajah Chamness, Fence Viewers. This township is watered by Blue River, Duck Creek and Flat Rock Creek. The surface is somewhat variable on account of the streams. A large part of the land is bottom-land of the best quality. The soil is generally good, and the farms in excellent condition. Asahel Woodward, Charles Jamison, Alan Shepherd, William and Andrew Shannon, - Whitinger, George Hobson and David Cray were the earliest settlers. Woodward settled in April, 1819, and the others mentioned within the same year. Asahel Woodward is said to have been the first white man who raised a crop of corn in what now constitutes Henry County. William Shannon settled in the spring of 1819, on an eighty-acre tract adjoining the land afterward taken up by Shepherd. In 1820 he sold out to Shepherd for $50, and the latter proceeded to erect a hewed-log house, 20 x 20 feet, on the lot. The house, which is now standing on the J.C. Hudelson farm, was at that day the best in Henry County. Alan Shepherd, and Englishman by birth, came to Henry County with his family in October, 1819, and settled on and three-fourths miles north of New Castle. He had been here a short time previously, and selected a site for his cabin and engaged Charles Jamison to build it. The Woodward and Jamison families were then the only settlers at New Castle. There was an Indian cabin about eighty rods from the Shepherd cabin. The Indians seemed friendly, though they objected to the white men hunting and fishing. The Shepherd family consisted of Mr. and Mrs. Shepherd; Nathan Powell, a Revolutionary veteran of eighty, who was the father of Mrs. Shepherd; Alan Shepherd, Jr., a boy of eight or ten years; an infant son, Samuel; and Eliza and Martha Ward, daughters of Mrs. Shepherd by a former marriage. Martha (now Mrs. Andrew J. Lytle) is still living in New Castle. Alan Shepherd was one of the first commissioned officers of Henry County. He died in 1832. William McDowell, for many years Court Bailiff of the county, was an early settler west of town. Judge Abraham Elliott came from Wayne County to Elliott farm in 1823. Meshit Luellen was an early settler south of New Castle. Moses Finch located where thee County Asylum now is in 1823. Many other early settlers have found mention in thee history of New Castle. During the year 1821 seventeen persons made purchased of land in Henry Township. Their names and the date of each purchase were as follows: Aug. 15, Alan Shepherd, William C. Drew, Thomas Symons, Christopher Bundy, Joseph Hobson, William Shannon, Joseph Newby; Aug. 16, George Hobson; Aug. 20, Asahel Woodward, Thomas Woodward; Aug. 2, Robert Hill; Aug 27, Joseph Holman; Aug. 31, Aaron Mills; Sept. 21, Ann Ward, Caleb Cummins; Sept. 24, Joseph Hiatt; Oct. 17, William Blount, Sr. Other early settlers chiefly at new Castle, are mentioned elsewhere in this work. The township, having the county-seat within its borders, naturally grew quite rapidly, and in early years it was probably improved more rapidly than any other portion of the county. The population of Henry Township in 1880 was 3,656, of whom 1,357 resided outside of the limits of New Castle. The township officers for 1884-Ô5 are: D.A. Tawney, Trustee; C.C.. Perdiew and Jesse N. Hall, Justices of the Peace; J.W. Sanders, Constable.
CHURCHES.
Methodist Episcopal Church.
Sugar Grove Methodist Episcopal Church was organized at the house of William Conner, in the winter of 1830, under the ministry of Rev. Fairchild. The first members were: William and Mary Conner, Emsley Brooksire, Joseph Allen, Hannah McDowell, Nancy Conner and Mary Langley. Joseph Allen was the first Class-leader. Meetings were held at the houses of William Conner and Emsley Brookshire several years.
About 1838 a log meeting-house was erected, and later a frame building, which was destroyed by fire. The present house, also frame, was next erected, at a cost of about $1,000.
The pastors have been: Revs. Swank, Farnsworth, Robert Burns, Ansel Beech, Constant B. Jones, James Scott, E. Whitten, Davidson, L. Smith, Bruce, Davis, Beamer, Greenman, J.C. Medsker, Dale, C. Martindale, M. Mahan, N. Gilliam, Harrison, Powell, Miessie, McKaig, R.B. Powell, H.C. Klingle, W.S. Boston, Newton Wray, M. Mahan. The present Class-leader is Moses Bowers; Trustees, Moses Bowers, Samuel Fisher, John McDowell. The Sunday-school was organized about 1844. The number of pupils is now about fifty.
McDonald Methodist Episcopal Church. Ð The church, located on section 33, in Henry Township, was organized about 1835. Among the early members were: Hugh McDonald, Wiley Ballard, Woodside, William Woolen, David Templeton, Jonas Moss, John Black, William Shelly, Ephraim Anderson, George Adkinson, William Davis, Samuel Low, James Smith, John Welsh, and their wives. A Sabbath-school has been maintained about thirty-five years. The church now has about twenty-five members. The first meeting-house was a small log building, the logs being unhewn. This was used until the present church was built.
Wesleyan Methodist. Ð Duck Creek Wesleyan Methodist Church was organized in August, 1843, by Rev. Emsley Brookshire. The first members were: E. Brookshire, Miles and Sarah Lamb, Benoni Pressnal, Jane Pressnal, Preston Kennard and Sarah lamb. Thee first officers were: Preston Kennard, Steward; Jeremiah Pressnal, Clerk; Miles Lamb, Class-leader. The class first met at the house of Miles Lamb, and afterward at the Brookshire school-house. The first church Ð a log building Ð was erected in 1847. In 1863 the present house was built, at a cost of $1,200.
The pastors have been as follows: Revs. Mifflin Harker, Daniel Worth, Elmsley Brookshire, Orland Haywood, - Summers, Wilson Payne, John Harrison, J.L. Fall, Absalom Parris, J.W. Johnson, L. White, William Talbert, P.W. Bilberbach, C.S. Smith. There were revivals under the pastorate of Haywood, Fall and White. The present membership is about fifty. The present officers are: B.F. Vanmatre, class-leader; W. Bennett, Clerk; P. Lamb and W.H. Conner, Stewards. The first Sabbath-school was organized in 1844. Shubal Julian was the first Superintendent.