Union County, Indiana Families

FOLLIS, EIKENBERRY, KINGERY, LANDIS and WEBB

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Located in southeast Indiana on the southwest Ohio border 40 miles west of Dayton, Ohio and 40 miles northwest of Cincinnati, Ohio formed in 1821 from part of Franklin County, Indiana

Using selected text from Merle RUMMEL's Four Mile COB we know fourteen Brethren families came from from the Blackwater River area of Virginia and Pennsylvania in the late 1700's and early 1800's into southwestern Ohio then into Union County following Elder Jacob MILLER from Virginia who preached west of the Great Miami River in Montgomery County, Ohio from the Bear Creek Church. The Four Mile Church of the Brethren was the first Brethren church in Indiana. Its records were destroyed in a late 1890's house fire. The only record was data gathered by Elder Jacob Rife in 1903. Some early family elders and ministers included Joseph KINGERY elected in 1809, William MOSS, married Mary EIKENBERRY, 1838 pioneer preacher and elder moved to Mexico in Miami County, John WHITENECK, married to Lucy KINGERY, elected in 1842 moved to Wabash County in 1847 and started the Somerset Church, Heil HAMILTON, married to Nancy KINGERY, November 1,1845 moved to Howard County, Isaac LAWSHE 1850 minister and elder moved to Somerset to join John WHITENECK, Edward M. COBB, son of Rebecca FOLLIS, June 29, 1891 who was at Cottage Grove and later became a Progressive Brethren, as well as deacons Joseph KINGERY, Samuel KINGERY, Henry EIKENBERRY, and Daniel EIKENBERRY. The EIKENBERRY's stopped at Eaton, Preble County, Ohio some KINGERY's stopped northeast of Dayton in Greene County while some stopped near Bear Creek in Montgomery County where Dayton is located before arriving at 4 Mile in Union County.

In 1812 Governor William Henry Harrison reviewed the local milita at the village of Boston just north of the Four Mile settlement.

On December 16 at 2 am the ground shook for two days. It happened again January 23, 1813 and February 7 toppling trees, reversing the flow and changing the course of the Mississippi River, leaving oxbows in Tennessee. It was estimated at 8.3 on the Rictor scale now known as the New Madrid Earthquake.

1816 was the year that had no summer expressed as "1816 and froze to death". There was a killing frost at least once during every month. It snowed June 7 with 3 nights of killing frosts. By June 11 the corn was withered and dead in the field. It was replanted and killed again August 20. Winter started September 27. Snow was two feet deep, deer was trapped in the snow and so many died they couldn't be depended upon for meat. The cause was a volcano on the island of Tambora, Java.

In 1832 a Cholera Epidemic struck in which every family lost some!

James Whitcomb Riley

His most famous poem "Little Orphant Annie" written about Mary Alice Smith born near Liberty, Indiana September 25, 1850 while the FOLLIS family was living in Union County, Indiana. Whether they knew and were aware of the poem's inspiration is unknown. I have read that thousands of people would gather to hear Riley read his poem's at picnic like gatherings similar to music concerts today.

James Whitcomb Riley's wrote a couple of poems somewhat connected to the my families. He wrote a poem called 'Mongst The Hills O' Somerset which some claim is Somerset, Wabash County, Indiana where he worked a summer as a sign painter. Most believe he was referring to Somerset, Pennsylvania which probably has the hills not really found in the flat to rolling land near Somerset, Indiana.

Which KINGERY family the following poem was written about is unknown. James Whitcomb Riley born Oct. 7, 1849 near Greenfield, Hancock County,Indiana, due east of Indianapolis, would have written this poem well after my last direct KINGERY ancestor Martin died in 1865.

Kingry's Mill

On old Brandywine-- about
Where White's Lots is now laid out,
And the old crick narries down
To the ditch that splits the town--,
Kingry's Mill stood. Hardly see
Where the old dam ust to be;
Shallor, long, dry trought o' grass
Where the old race ust to pass!

That's be'n forty years ago--
Forty years o' frost and snow--
Forty years o' shade and shine
Sence them boyhood-days o' mine--!
All the old landmarks o' town.
Changed about, er rotted down!
Where's the Tanyard? Where's the Still?
Tell me where's old Kingry's Mill?

Don't seem furder back, to me,
I'll be dogg'd! Than yisterd'y,
Since us fellers, in bare feet
And straw hats, went through the wheat,
Cuttin' 'crost the shortest shoot
Fer that-air old ellum root
Jest above the mill-dam-- where
The blame' cars now crosses there!

Through the willers down the crick
We could see the old mill stick
Its red gable up, as if
It jest knowed we'd stol'd the skiff!
See the winders in the sun
Blink like they wuz wonderun'
What the miller ort to do
With sich boys as me and you!

But old Kingry--! Who could fear
That old chap, with all his cheer--?
Leanin' at the window-sill,
Er the half-door o' the mill,
Swoppin' lies, and pokin' fun,
'N jigglin' like his hoppers done--
Laughin' grists o' gold and red
Right out o' the wagon-bed!

What did he keer where we went--?
"Jest keep out o' devilment,
And don't fool around the belts,
Bolts, ner burrs, ner nothin' else
'Bout the blame machinery,
And that's all I ast!" says-ee.
Then we'd climb the stairs, and play
In the bran-bins half the day!

Rickollect the dusty wall,
And the spider-webs, and all!
Rickollect the trimblin' spout
Where the meal come josslln' out--
Stand and comb yer fingers through
The fool-truck an hour er two--
Felt so sorto' warm-like and
Soothin' to a feller's hand!

Climb, high up above the stream,
And "coon" out the wobbly beam
And peek down from out the lof'
Where the weather-boards was off--
Gee-mun-nee! w'y, it takes grit
Even jest to think of it--!
Lookin' 'way down there below
On the worter roarin' so!

Rickollect the flume, and wheel,
And the worter slosh and reel
And jest ravel out in froth
Flossier'n satin cloth!
Rickollect them paddles jest
Knock the bubbles galley-west,
And plunge under, and come up
Drippin' like a worter-pup!

And to see them old things gone
That I onc't was bettin' on,
In rale p'int o' fact, I feel
kindo' like that worter-wheel--,
Sorto' drippy-like and wet
Round the eyes-- but paddlin' yet,
And in mem'ry, loafin' still
Down around old Kingry's Mill!

Internet Links

• James Whitcomb Riley
• James Whitcomb Riley Biography
• "Little Orphant Annie"
• Union County, Indiana GenWeb
• Another Union County, Indiana GenWeb

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