D-2
Delaware County, Indiana
KITH AND KIN CONNECTION

On Delaware Township - Excerpts from Our County, Its History and Early Settlement by Townships, John S. Ellis, 1898

Before the lands of this township were placed in the market, and prior to the time when the white men began to settle upon them, a white man by the name of John Boyles, (but more familiarly known to the first settlers as "jack," or "Jacky Boyles,")took up his residence among the Indians, (by whom the land was held) about eight miles northeast of Muncie, at a point on the Mississinewa river is where his cabin (and afterwards his mill) were located. As to the time of his settling it seems impossible to obtain data, but this much we learn, his wife has been heard to say, that she entertained the original surveyors, when they were employed locating the county and township lines, which work was done in 1822. As to how long they had lived here prior to that date we have no means of knowing. Mr. and Mrs. Boyles had both been married prior to their union with each other, he having three daughters and two sons, and she three sons by a previous marriage. Her former husband was a man by the name of Dunn, but any history previous to the facts here stated seem to be entirely in oblivion. His object in settling among these wild people is hard to guess, as from all accounts, he did not belong to that class known as "Indian traders." Living among these people, he contracted many of their habits and fell naturally into their mode of living. Mr. Andrew Black, who remembered him well, says he never knew the water too cold to cause Mr. Boyles to even hesitate when wishing to cross the river, but that he would wade through without seeming to notice it.---It is said by a recent writer that he carried many scars on his person, which he said had been received in fights with the Indians. Mr. Boyles erected a mill here on the Mississinewa river. The mill was built out in the stream, near the west end of the mill-dam, was very crude in its construction, and of none of the "five best known orders of architecture." So perhaps the only special claim it has to notoriety is its being the first of its kind in the country.---An anecdote told by some of the first settlers is that on one occasion a settler went to the mill to get some corn ground, but seeing no one around, at last heard a dog barking somewhere below, and finding his way beneath the building discovered one of Mr. Boyles' hounds, his mouth at the meal spout, eating the meal as fast as the mill ground it, and barking up the spout for more. However, as slow as it was, there is no doubt that it was faster and more convenient than grating the corn on a grater, or pounding it between two stones, as many were compelled to do. This mill stood on the west side of the river, about seventy-five rods above where the Albany pike bridge now crosses the Mississinewa and nearly opposite the present "Black's Mills." The land on which Mr. Boyles settled was the east half of the northeast quarter of section 7, and which was formally entered by him on July 25, 1832. The river runs nearly north through almost the entire length of this 80-acre tract This land was subsequently purchased by John Black, on which he erected the present mill in 1845, and which has become as well known as any institution in the county. A few rods east of this mill is the section line of section 8. Mr. Black desiring to obtain a site for his residence, traded three sheep skins to James Thomas for an acre of land east of the mill site and just across the section line in section 8. This was the first of Mr. Black's possessions in No. 8, of which in later years he was principal owner and which is nearly all owned by his relatives still.---But to return to the history of the first settler, (John Boyles). The last known of him, his son William took him to Wisconsin, where he (William) had gone some years before, since which time he has never been heard from by his former neighbors. (Experts from pages 34-35)

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The land office at which the Delaware township lands were entered, was at Ft. Wayne, a distance of some sixty miles by the route that must be traveled. As there was no accommodations to be had on the road with perhaps the single exception of the home of one settler, who had located on the Salimony river, not far from the present town of Montpelier, therefore going to the land office to transact business in those days was no easy matter, and there were in the community but few men with the knowledge of the route, time to spare, and courage to undertake the trip. However, as is usually the case, proper characters seem to come forth to suit every occasion, and so in this. Two men, of whom we have heard much, and of whom we have some personal knowledge, were often employed on these errands of trust and importance. We refer to Jacob Pendroy, of near Albany, and Joseph Luckey, who lived in the northwest part of the township.---Mr. Luckey was a very quiet man, illiterate, so far as books were concerned, but intelligent, and the soul of honor. Mr. Andrew Black states that the first time his father (John Black) saw Mr. Luckey he engaged him to enter land, handed him his money without any hesitancy, feeling perfectly satisfied that he was honest, courageous and capable. He added that but with few words Mr. Luckey threw his trusty rifle across his shoulder and strode into the forest in the direction of Ft. Wayne, returning in due time with his business all in good shape. Mr. Luckey was a noted woodman and a successful hunter. He afterwards emigrated to the state of Missouri. Jacob Pendroy entered many tracts of land for settlers in Niles, as well as in his own township, and like Mr. Luckey, always in a satisfactory way.---One of the first roads opened for public travel in Delaware township was from Deed's Mill at Smithfield, to the village of Albany. This road ran parallel with, and one mile west of the county line. It was opened in 1833, but was both ill shaped and ill kept until it was formally surveyed, straightened, and improved generally, in 1840. Another of the early roads was that from Muncytown via John Boyles's mill, and terminating at Granville. This road was on or near the present line of the Muncie and Granville pike, never getting perhaps more than a half mile from that line. Near Muncie it crossed White river at the present Elm street bridge crossing and recrossing the line of pike several times.---All the records from which could have been gleaned the necessary information touching early road making, as well as other early history of the township, were destroyed by fire, and the oldest record now extant, begins with the year 1853. The first road therein mentioned was one for which a petition was presented to the trustees at a meeting of the board on the 3rd day of June of that year. The road was to "begin at the Albany state road and run south on the section line to the road leading from Sheller's shop to the county line."A committee consisting of Joseph Godlove, John Shafer and Samuel Thomas were appointed to view the road, and on June 25, 1853, made their report, "that in their judgment the road would be a public benefit," and it was accordingly ordered opened. Other roads followed this with similar histories.---As near as we can ascertain, the first stock of goods brought to the township and offered for sale to the public, was in the year 1834, when Granville Hastings opened a store in a building near the present site of Zehner's mill in section 16. He came from Wayne county, Indiana, and one of his first steps after arriving here was to make preparations for the erection of a mill at this point, and it is said that among his merchandise he brought a quantity of flour, an article which in those days was regarded as quite a luxury, and not to be indulged in except on stated occasions, such as weddings, or the reception of special personages, the ministers at quarterly meetings, and for the purpose of an occasional pie or dumplings and crust for chicken pot-pie.---Mr. Hastings employed a number of men to dig a race and construct a mill-dam, paying them a barrel of flour for a month's work. He completed his saw mill, but died before completing his grist mill.---The next store in the township was that opened by Uriah Pace at Albany in 1836, in a little log building that has long since disappeared. Speaking of Mr. Pace, reminds us of an anecdote that was told in 1852, when Franklin Pierce was the candidate on the Democratic ticket for president, and William R. King for vice-president. It was said that an old gentleman, who lived north of Albany, inquired of a neighbor as to who was nominated. (Now, it happened that Bennett King lived just east of Albany, and Mr. Pace was frequently called Piere) so the neighbor informed the inquirer that the candidates were Pierce and King. After some thought the gentleman said: "Well, I don't know much about Bennett, but I expect he will make a good vice-president, but I am well acquainted with Uriah and know him to be a good man, so I shall vote the ticket straight." Shortly after Mr. Pace opened his store John Mitchell opened a little grocery, at which was sold the first liquid refreshments in Albany.---In 1838 William Krohn, an intelligent German, came to Albany and engaged in merchandising for a number of years. He was an enterprising merchant, and kept a stock of goods much superior to that found in small villages in the early times. Mr. Krohn finally sold his goods business and practiced law in the community during the remainder of his life.---About 1841 or '42 Jacob Powers established a store in Albany, but sold to his clerk, Abraham Shank, shortly afterwards, who continued the business about a year, and left for other parts. Abel, Elisha and Samuel Bergdoll opened a store in Albany about 1836, but retired from the business a few years thereafter.---The first physician of the township was Dr. Isaiah Templin. Besides, we are told that Mrs. Boyles occasionally looked after professional calls in this science, and her right to do so was perhaps never questioned by an examining board.---While the township was yet very sparsely settled, ministers of the Methodist Episcopal church were sent out as missionaries by the conference, and held services at private houses throughout the settlement. About the year 1835 a class of this denomination was organized at the home of Jacob Pendroy, in the south half of the northwest quarter of section 1, and continued to meet at his house and at the houses of the other members of the class for three or four years. A log house was then built on a portion of John W. Strong's farm for the combined purpose of church and school, but as yet the church had no regular pastor. After a few years, however, the meeting place, was transferred to Albany, where about the year 1848 the society erected a frame church building in the south part of the town. In the meantime the class had been given a place in the Granville circuit and regular appointments for preaching. In 1870 Andrew Black donated a lot in section 8 upon which Delaware Chapel was built (and a society formed also by the Methodist Episcopal denomination), at a cost of about $1,200. This is a neat frame building, pleasantly situated on the Albany pike near Black's mill.---Union Chapel, also a Methodist church, was erected about 1845 on land owned by John Pittenger and donated by him to the society. This was a frame building, and was occupied until 1870, when it was replaced by a brick building. Early in the fifties a Methodist Episcopal class was organized in the eastern part of the township, and about five years later erected "White Chapel" on the northwest quarter of section 23, and about two and a half miles south of Albany.---For a number of years after the first settlement of the township there were no public burying grounds, (or graveyard) and the cemetery near Granville, in Niles township, or Bethel, north of Albany, was used as the resting place of the Delaware dead, or they were laid away on some retired spot of the home farm. At an early date there were several interments near the junction of Mud creek with the Mississinewa river, and this afterwards became a public burial ground, but many who were buried here were afterward removed to the cemetery donated to the township by Alfred B. Strong.---In 1850 Wm. Black deeded a piece of land in the n. w. corner of section 4 to the County Commissioners, to be used as a public burying ground. The first person buried here was a young son of Joseph Stafford, and the second was Mr. Stafford's wife. Another cemetery is at Union Chapel, north of the village of DeSoto, and still another, the "God Love Grave Yard," on the northwest quarter of section 16.---Schools in Delaware township, like in most new countries, were crude, but effective, and indulged in for a few weeks each winter, provided some one could be found with the required capabilities for teacher, which was a reasonable knowledge of "reading, writing and ciphering" as far as the "single rule of three"or (simple proportion). He must also possess a good. strong right arm and plenty of courage to back up his edicts. It has been said that the first, school in the township was taught by Joseph Godlove in his kitchen. As to whether he had any other rooms in his house than the kitchen we are left to guess. These were the days when on Christmas the school teacher was expected to treat or take a ducking, and it is said Mr. Godlove refused to treat his school til he saw the hole cut in the ice, when he changed his mind; perhaps he intended to treat anyhow, but wanted to see how far his school would carry their demands.---It was a common practice in these early times for the school teachers to board by turns with the patrons, and in order to equalize matters he was expected to board the most where the greatest number of pupils were sent from. While this arrangement was just, it was not always pleasant, as the teacher generally had some choice as to his boarding house, but, poor fellow, he was supposed to say nothing, but patiently bear his troubles. The week the teacher was to board at our house was always looked forward to with much interest. Mince pies were baked, "crulls"were fried, the best apple bury was opened, and a general talk had between the mother and children as to proper conduct in the presence of the teacher. And, oh; how proudly the mother would sit, the bright knitting needles flashing in the firelight, as they were dexterously plied by her nimble fingers, while she listened to Mary and John rehearse their lessons to the "teacher." And, now, will some one tell us why a boy in the forties or fifties obtained as practical an education in two to four winters, of sixty-five days each, as they do now in nine or ten years, of six to nine months each? We pause for a reply.---In the year 1846 the cabin in which William Venard first settled, near the center of what is now the town of Albany, was converted into a school house, and a three months term of school taught by a man whose name has been forgotten.---In the following year (1837) the first building erected expressly for school purposes was built on the farm of Adam Keever, some two miles south of Albany. This was a hewed log building, much superior to the buildings in which the schools had been held formerly. This house became noted as being the first representative of the free school system in Delaware township, for, in the winter of that year the term began, and the public money, or "congressional fund," belonging to the township, was appropriated to pay the teacher. (Excerpts from pages 36-41)


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