return to Township Histories

FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP

     The township of Franklin lies in the southeast corner of Marion County, being bounded on the north and west respectively by the townships of Warren and Perry, on the south by Johnson County, and on the east by the counties of Shelby and Hancock. The township is traversed diagonally from southeast to northwest by the line of the Cincinnati, Indianapolis, St. Louis and Chicago Railway. The principal stream is Buck Creek, which enters the township across its north line a short distance west of its northeastern corner, flows through the eastern part of Franklin in a general
southward direction, nearly parallel with the eastern line, and leaves the township at a point near its southeastern corner, joining its waters with those of Big Sugar Creek in Shelby County. Wild Cat and Indian Creeks, Big Run, and several smaller streams are tributaries of Buck Creek which flow in a southeastwardly direction through Franklin township to their junctions with the main stream. Another stream, which also bears the name of Buck Creek (sometimes called Little Buck Creek), and is a tributary to White River, flows from its sources in Franklin southwestwardly into Perry township. The surface of Franklin township is, like that of other parts of the county, nearly level in some parts, in others rolling, and in some parts hilly. The soil is, in general, excellent, well adapted to most of the purposes of agriculture, and the farmers working it are well rewarded for the labor they bestow upon it. The total population of the township in 1880 was two thousand six hundred and nine, as shown by the returns of the United States census of that year.

     Franklin was laid off and erected a township of Marion County by the board of county commissioners on the 16th of April, 1822, and on the same day, and by the same authority, Decatur, Perry, and Franklin were (because none of the three were then sufficiently populated for separate organization) joined together as one township. This union of the three townships continued until the 12th of August, 1823, when Decatur was made separate and independent by order of the commissioners. Then Perry and Franklin remained joined together as one until May 12, 1824, when, upon petition, and it being made to appear to the commissioners that Perry and Franklin had each a sufficient number of inhabitants for separate organization, the board ordered that Franklin be taken from Perry, and that an election be held on the 19th of June following, at the house of William Rector, for the purpose of electing a justice of the peace, John Ferguson to be inspector of the said election.

Following is a list of township officers of Franklin from its erection to the present time, viz.:
 
JUSTICES of THE PEACE.

Peter Harmonson, June 28, 1822, to June 6, 1827 (for Perry, Decatur, and Franklin, until their separation).
Henry D. Bell, Jan. 3, 1824, to Oct. 6, 1827.
James Greer, Oct. 27, 1823, to Oct. 22, 1832.
Marine D. West, Aug. 24, 1829, to May, 1831; removed.
Isaac Baylor, Aug. 10, 1831, to June 24, 1836.
James Greer, Dec. 24, 1832, to Dec. 24, 1837.
Benjamin Morgan, April 18, 1836, to April 15, 1846.
Isaac Baylor, Aug. 1, 1836, to Aug. 1, 1841.
James Clark, Feb. 5, 1838, to Feb. 2, 1843.
Patrick Catterson, Sept. 20, 1841, to Sept. 20, 1846.
Alexander Carson, March 9, 1843, to March 9, 1848.
Benjamin Morgan, April 25, 1848, to Aug. 3, 1850; resigned.
Daniel McMullen, Nov. 7, 1846, to Nov. 7, 1851.
William M. Smith, April 19, 1848, to April 19, 1853.
William Power, Nov. 23, 1850, to Nov. 23, 1855.
Daniel McMullen, Nov. 17, 1851, to May 28, 1858; resigned.
James A. Hodges, April 19, 1853, to April 5, 1856; resigned.
William Power, May 5, 1856, to April 19, 1860.
Thomas J. McCollum, July 16, 1858, to July 16, 1862.
Lewis B. Willsey, April 19, 1860, to April 17, 1864.
James Morgan, April 18, 1860, to April 16, 1864.
George W. Morgan, July 16, 1862, to Jan. 29, 1864; resigned.
Richard L. Upton, April 16, 1864, to Aug. 27, 1864; resigned.
Jefferson Russell, April 15, 1864, to April 15, 1868.
John T. Rynearson, April 17, 1864, to April 17, 1868.
James Hickman, Aug. 24, 1866, to Aug. 24, 1870.
Lewis B. Willsey, April 17, 1868, to April 17, 1872.
John T. Phemister, Oct. 25, 1870, to November, 1875; died.
George W. Morgan, Oct. 24, 1874, to November, 1875; died.
John Wilson, Nov. 22, 1875, to Oct. 25, 1880.
John Porter, Dee. 30, 1875, to Oct. 25, 1880.
Lewis B. Willsey, Oct. 25, 1880, to Oct. 25, 1884.
John H. Peggs, Oct. 26, 1880, to Oct. 25, 1884.
 
TRUSTEES.
John H. Randsdell, April 7, 1859, to April 16, 1863.
James A. Ferguson, April 16, 1863, to April 14, 1865.
Waller M. Benson, April 14, 1865, to April 20, 1868.
James L. Thompson, April 20, 1868, to Oct. 26, 1874.
Hiram H. Hall, Oct. 26, 1874, to April 8, 1878.
James L. Thompson, April 8, 1878, to April 19, 1880.
R. C. M. Smith, April 19, 1880, to April 14, 1882.
John Wilson, April 14, 1882, for two years.
 
ASSESSORS.
George L. Kinnard, Jan. 1, 1827, to Jan. 7, 1828.
William Rector, Jan. 7, 1828, to Jan. 5, 1829.
John Bellis, Jan. 5, 1829, to Jan. 2, 1832.
Ahira Wells, Jan. 2, 1832, to Jan. 7, 1833.
John Bellis, Jan. 7, 1833, to May 5, 1835.
John H. Messinger, May 5, 1835, to Jan. 4, 1836.
Benjamin Morgan, Jan. 4, 1836, to March 7, 1836.
William Townsend, March 7, 1836, to Jan. 2, 1837.
Benjamin Morgan, Jan. 2, 1837, to Dec. 6, 1841.
Bernard Leachman, Dec. 16, 1852, to Nov. 13, 1858.
James Morgan, Nov. 13, 1858, to Oct. 18, 1860.
Joseph S. Carson, Oct. 18, 1860, to Oct. 30, 1862.
Hiram H. Hall, Oct. 30, 1882, to Oct. 21, 1872.
Richard C. M. Smith, Oct. 21, 1872, to Aug. 1, 1873.
Richard C. M. Smith, March 18, 1875, to April 14, 1880.
James H. Gibson, April 14, 1880, to April 14, 1882.
Joseph N. Cunningham, April 14, 1882, to April 14, 1884.

    The old Michigan road, traversing the territory of Franklin township diagonally in a northwesterly direction, had been cut out and underbrushed (but not graded or grubbed) through a great part of this region as early as 1820, and it was over the route of that road that many of the pioneers came to Marion County. The first settlements within what is now “Franklin township were made by people who came" over this old thoroughfare and located not far from its line, in the east and southeast parts of the present township, along the valley of Buck Creek.

     It is believed (though the fact cannot now be established by absolute proof) that the first white settler within the present boundaries of Franklin township was William Rector, who came here from Ohio in the year 1820, and built his cabin on lands bordering Buck Creek. It was at his house that the first election of the township was held (as before mentioned) on the 19th of June, 1824. On the earliest assessment-roll of the township which can now be found (that of the year 1829) the name of William Rector appears assessed on one hundred and sixty acres of land, the northeast quarter of section 10, township 14, range 5; also on two oxen and three horses. He was an extensive dealer (for those times) in hogs, of which he drove large numbers to Lawrenceburg and Cincinnati. Mr. Rector was a prominent man in the Methodist Church, and was a member, and leader of the first class of that denomination in the township, which was organized at his house in 1827. He had three sons and several daughters. Having remained an inhabitant of Franklin township for more than a quarter of a century, he, about 1848, sold out his possessions here and removed with his family to Iowa. One of his sons afterwards returned to Franklin township and married a daughter of Isaac Baylor, one of the pioneers of this region.

     Maj. John Belles (who received his title from service in that grade in the war of 1812) came from Scott County, Ky., in 1820, and first stopped on the Bradley farm, just south of the city of Indianapolis, where he remained two years, during which time his wife died, leaving him with a family of five sons and three daughters. In 1822 he moved into Franklin township, and settled on the line of the old Michigan road, near where it crosses the line dividing the town ships of Franklin and Warren. The land on which he located was still owned by the government, and he did not become a purchaser until a number of years later. At this place he erected his first dwelling, which was constructed of rails, with a wagon cover hung up in front for a door. His third son, Caleb, was at this time twelve years old, and the cooking and household duties fell on him for a few years, until his father married a widow by the name of Snell, who was a sister of Dr. John Sanders and William Sanders, of Indianapolis. He erected a more comfortable house in which to live after his marriage, and commenced keeping a tavern.

     When Maj. Belles settled in Franklin township his nearest neighbor was a man named Doyle, who lived midway between Indianapolis and the Belles tavern stand, which was six miles southeast from the town. This tavern was a very popular one with the traveling public, and there was always an extra effort made by travelers to reach it for lodging at night.

     After the capital of the State was moved to Indianapolis the representatives and senators from the southeast part of the State made it a point to stop with the major on their way to and from the General Assembly. Maj. Belles continued to keep this tavern until his death in 1838. His son Caleb settled on the school section in 1838. His wife was Lewis O'Neal's daughter Mary, to whom he was married in 1836. The farm of Maj. John Belles was bought by William Morrison, after which it passed through other hands, and is now owned and occupied by William Sloan.

     Although the first settlements in Franklin were among the very earliest made in Marion County, and although within four years from the time when the pioneer, William Rector, built his lonely cabin in the solitude of the Buck Creek Valley the township had become sufficiently populous to entitle it to a separate and independent organization, it appears certain that the greater part of the people living here at that time were but squatters rather than permanent settlers; for, even as late as nine years after the first settlement, it is shown (by the assessment-roll of 1829) that only eight hundred and seventy-five and one-half acres of land was assessed to resident owners or holders, and only eight hundred acres to non-resident owners, leaving more than nine-tenths of the area of the township still in possession of the government. The roll referred to shows that in the year 1829 only nine persons, residents in Franklin township, were assessed on lands, while those who paid the poll tax, but were assessed on no real estate, were thirty-nine in number, named as follows, viz.:

     Following are given the names of the resident landholders of Franklin township in 1829 (excepting William Rector, who has already been mentioned), together with a description of the lands on which each was assessed, as shown by the assessment-roll, viz.:

     John Ferguson, the east half of the northeast quarter of section 28, township 15, range 5, and the west half of section 27 in the same township. Mr. Ferguson was appointed by the county commissioners inspector of the election held at the, house of William Rector in June, 1824, which was the first election held in Franklin after it became a separate and independent township.

     Jeremiah Burnet, the west half of the northeast quarter of section 3, township 14, range 5. Also one horse, two oxen, and a silver watch.

     Thomas Berry, the west half of the northwest quarter of section 3, township 14, range 5.  

    Peter Carberry, fifty acres in the west half of the southwest quarter of section 15, township 14, range 5. Carberry came to this township in 1826, and settled where the village of Acton now is.

     Jacob Rorick, the east half of the southwest quarter of section 3, township 14, range 5.

     Daniel Smith, the southeast quarter of section 10, township 14, range 5.

     George Tibbitts, the west half of the southwest quarter of section 10, township 14, range 5. Mr. Tibbitts came here from the south part of the State in 1824. He was a tanner by trade, and built a tannery on his lands in 1828. In 1845 he sold out his property in Franklin township to Samuel Parsley and moved to Iowa.

     Daniel Skelly, the east half of the northwest quarter of section 3, township 14, range 5.

      Reuben Adams came to Franklin township in 1825, cleared a piece of land, and put in a crop. In 1826 he brought his family here, and died in the same year. He had nine sons and two daughters. His daughter Lorinda married James Skelly about 1830. His son, William Adams, settled on a farm which he afterwards sold to John Smither, who sold to Samuel McGaughey. It is now occupied by John E. McGaughey.

     Lewis O'Neal emigrated from Kentucky in 1825, and settled in Franklin township, near New Bethel, on one hundred and sixty acres of land which he purchased from the government about four years later, and which is now owned and occupied by George Adams and Isaac Shimer. O'Neal's daughter Mary married Caleb Belles Nov. 10, 1836. Richard, son of Lewis O'Neal, married Charlotte Vickers. He died in Indianapolis. Susan O'Neal married Harvey Sebern in 1839. Kitty, another daughter of Lewis O'Neal, married Eli Maston and removed to Kentucky.

    James Pool emigrated from Ohio to Marion County, Ind., in 1828, and settled on forty acres of land which he afterwards sold to William Faulkner, and he to David Brumley.

    Benson Cornelius came to this township in 1827. He was assessed on no land in 1829, but he settled on an eighty-acre tract, which he sold to Henry Childers about 1840. Childers sold to Havenridge, and he to John Hill, who is the present owner.

    Israel Jennings made his settlement in this township in 1827. He was not assessed on any lands in 1829, but he became the owner of the eighty-acre tract on which he settled. About 1840 he sold it to Isaac Collins, the present owner.

    John Messinger came from Decatur County, Ind., to Franklin township about 1824. He was not a land-owner in 1829, but became such immediately afterwards, and built on his land the mill known as the Messinger mill. In 1840 he sold his property in this township and removed to Iowa.  

   John Miller came to Franklin township about 1826, and located on lands which he purchased three or four years later. In 1853 he sold out to William Miller, who afterwards sold the land to Thomas Porteus.  

   Josiah B. Toon settled in this township in 1828. His name appears on the assessment-roll of 1829, but he was not at that time assessed on any real estate. M. S. Toon came to the township in 1830, and his father, John Toon, in 1831. The first wife of M. S. Toon was a daughter of James Davis, one of the earliest settlers in Warren township.

    Willis Smither (who also married a daughter of James Davis, of Warren township) came to Franklin township in 1827. The assessment-roll of 1829 does not show that he was then a land-holder, but when he came to the township he took up and settled on the land on which he now lives. His brothers John and Lewis had come to this township some time before him, but neither of their names appear as land-holders in 1829. John Smither bought the farm of William Adams (son of Reuben Adams), and afterwards sold it to Samuel McGaughey.  

   William P. Smith settled in this township, near New Bethel, in 1826. In 1829 he paid no tax on real estate, but was assessed only on one horse and one silver watch. Only four other persons in the township were the owners of silver watches at the time, viz., Jeremiah Burnet, Maj. John Belles, George R. McLaughlin, and James B. McLain. Mr. Smith was one of the first school-teachers in the township. He afterwards became the owner of lands which he sold to David Marrs. Marrs sold the farm to Knowles Shaw, whose widow still owns and occupies it.

    John Leeper came from Dearborn County, Ind., about 1832, and settled in this township at the "Pigeon Roost," on land now owned and occupied by Isaac Golden. Joseph Leeper, son of John, settled on land now owned and occupied by Oliver Holmes.

    Stephen Glasco migrated from Rush County, Ind., to this township about 1837, and settled on lands, a part of which are now owned by Jonas Hamlyn. A part of the Glasco tract passed to the ownership of John Maze.

    Richard Hamlyn came from England to America with his wife and children in 1849; located in Hamilton County, Ohio, remained there several years, and in 1857 came to Franklin township, where he bought the farm owned by George Dillender. He died about 1865. His son Jonas came to this township from Franklin County, Ind., in 1860, and bought from William Leeper a tract of land which had been first located and settled on by Stephen Glasco. John Hamlyn, son of Richard and brother of Jonas, married Amanda Clark (half-sister of James Clark) in 1859, and settled on the farm which his father had owned, and on which he (John) still lives. Elizabeth, sister of Jonas and John Hamlyn, is the wife of Isaac Golden, who owns and lives on the farm on which John Leeper settled at the "Pigeon Roost."

    Joseph Wheatley came to this township about 1830, and located on a farm which had been entered by Marine D. West. The farm is still owned by the Wheatley family.

    George Eudaly, a native of Virginia, came from Kentucky to this township in 1830, and afterwards settled on what was known as the Nosseman farm, the land of which had been entered by a Mr. Chowning, and sold to John Nosseman, who came here from Virginia. Neither Chowning, Nosseman, or Eudaly appear on the assessment-roll of 1829. The land which they owned in succession is now owned and occupied by Henry Laws.

    William Beckley came to this township from Kentucky in 1832, and lived for about one year on the David Morris farm; then bought from James Griffith the farm he now lives on.

    Joseph Perkins came here in an early day, and settled on and owned the farm where Joseph Clark now lives. Alexander Perkins, son of Joseph, married a daughter of William Griffy.

    George Hickman was a settler who came from Ohio in 1836, and bought a tract of land extending from the eastern border of Franklin township across the eastern line into Hancock County. It was in that county, on the eastern part of his land, that he first built his cabin, but he soon afterwards made his residence on the west part of his tract in this township, where he is now living at the age of sixty-eight years.

    Jacob Springer, a carpenter by trade, came from Ohio in 1833, and settled on the old Michigan road near New Bethel. His two sons, John J. and David, are now living in the township. John J. Springer owns and occupies the land which Ephraim Fray received as his portion of the estate of his father, who settled on a tract of one hundred and sixty acres on Buck Creek in 1828. The farm of the elder Fray was divided between his son Ephraim and his daughter, Susan Fray.

   James Clark came here from Jennings County, Ind., in February, 1835, and settled on the same farm that he now occupies. The land had been entered in 1832 or 1833 by John Van Cleve.

   James Turner came from Kentucky in 1828, and settled one hundred and sixty acres of land on Little Buck Creek, and on the line of the Morgan trace, now the Indianapolis and Shelbyville road.

   Nehemiah Smith came from Kentucky in 1830, and settled a half-section of land on Little Buck Creek. He died about 1840.

   Abraham Hendricks was married in Kentucky in 1825 to a daughter of Nehemiah Smith. He moved to this township in 1830, and settled eighty acres of land on Little Buck Creek, and now owns and lives on the same, being in the eighty-seventh year of his age.

   Nimrod Kemper came from Kentucky in 1832, and settled one hundred and sixty acres of land on the line of the Morgan trace. He died about 1867. Nimrod Par and Nimrod Kemper, his grandchildren, now live on his old homestead farm.

   Stephen K. Tucker came from Kentucky in 1834, and bought out Hampton Bryan, who then returned to Kentucky. Mr. Tucker still lives on the land which he bought of Bryan.

   W. W. White came from Kentucky in 1824, with his mother and her family, and settled on Lick Creek, in Perry township, where he remained until 1833, when he married and moved to this township, and settled on the eighty acres of land which he still owns and occupies.  

   James McLain came from Kentucky in 1828, and settled on Little Buck Creek, on one hundred and sixty acres of land which he purchased a year or two after his settlement. He erected a horse-mill, which cracked corn for the neighboring farmers for a number of years. After his death his sons James B. and John came in possession of his lands, John having the north half, and James B. the south. The latter removed West and sold his farm here, which is now occupied by Mrs. Wolcott. John McLain died in 1872. His son John now lives on the farm. Another son, Moses G., served in the Seventieth Indiana Volunteer Regiment in the war of the Rebellion, losing a hand in the service. He is now clerk of Marion County.

   George B. Richardson emigrated from Kentucky in 1831, and settled eighty acres of land, and remained on it until 1834, when he moved to New Bethel, Franklin township, where he went to work at his trade of blacksmith. He remained there until 1837, when he bought eighty acres of land of Patrick Catterson, and remained on it several years, after which he sold to Brown, and he to Thomas Schooly, who resides there at the present time. G. B. Richardson moved back to the land on which he first settled, and is still living there.

   Samuel Smith came from Kentucky to Fayette County in 1820 with his father. He moved into Rush County in 1821, and remained there until 1834, when he married, and moved to this township, and settled on the fractional quarter-section of one hundred and fifteen acres where he now resides.  

  William Powers came from Kentucky to Rush County in 1821, and remained there until 1834, when he came to this township and settled eighty acres of land, and lived on it until his death, about 1870. Samuel Smith now owns the land.

   Jacob Mathews came from Ohio in 1833, and settled on eighty acres, where he lived until his death, about 1872. He was the father of Harvey R. Mathews, of this township.

   James Tolen came from Ohio in 1833, and settled on eighty acres of land, where he lived until his death, about 1873. It is now owned by Andrew Collins. James Tolen, son of Jacob, settled eighty acres adjoining his father's farm, and now lives on the same.

   Nathaniel Smith emigrated from Kentucky to Rush County in 1821, and came to this township in 1834. He was married to a daughter of Patrick Catterson, and settled on Little Buck Creek, where he commenced a tannery, and carried it on until about 1854, when he closed out and removed to Brazil, Ind.

   John Graham came from Pennsylvania in 1821, and settled on Lick Creek, in Perry township, where he died in an early day, leaving a wife, two daughters, and four sons, of whom William M. Graham was the oldest. He was born in December, 1824; was married to Emily Kelley, of Perry township, in 1848, and moved into Franklin township in 1850, and settled on eighty acres of land entered by Patrick Catterson in 1833, and sold by him to Charles B. Watt in 1834. Graham is now living on the same land.

   Ethelbert Bryan settled in 1836 on the farm now owned by Shepler Fry, who came here in 1854, and purchased from Bryan. Mr. Fry's farm is the most thoroughly underdrained and the best cultivated of any in the township.

   William Morris came in 1834, and settled on the farm since well known as the David Morris farm.

   Thomas P. Moore came from Kentucky in 1834, and settled on the farm where his son Daniel now lives.

   William C. Adair came to Franklin township in 1836, and settled on land now owned by John Fike.

   Morgan Bryant, a comparatively early settler in this township, located on the land now owned and occupied by William McGregor.

   Thomas Craft made his first settlement in this township on land which had been previously entered by James Fisk. John Craft, son of Thomas, now owns a part of the tract.

   Jacob Smock came to Marion County from Jefferson County, Ind., Jan. 1, 1837. He at first located in Perry township, where he remained two years, and in 1838 came to Franklin township, and entered the land on which he now lives, and which was the last tract entered in Marion County.

   New Bethel, a village of one hundred and fifty inhabitants, situated in the northern central part of the township, was laid out by J. H. Messinger for Mary Adams in the year 1834, the town plat being recorded on the 24th of March in that year.

    The first store in the village was opened by Davis & McFarland, who were followed in the business successively by Greer & Toon, Patrick Catterson, Samson Barbee, Lewis B. Wilsey, the last named commencing in 1850. Another store was opened by Richard O'Neal and W. G. Toon, who sold out to Wilson, who was succeeded by Harlan & McMullen, and Harlan & Silvers, who continued till 1863. J. C. Van Sickel commenced merchandising about 1865, and continued till 1869, when he sold to L. B. Wilsey and John Wilson. In 1872 Wilsey sold his interest to Wilson, who in 1875 sold to David Brumley, who in 1876 sold a half interest to Henry Brown. In 1877 Brumley sold his remaining interest to A. Helms, and he in 1879 sold to Henry Brown, who is still in trade. The other store of the village at the present time is carried on by John Wilson and Henry Bond.  

    The pottery business was established by Patrick Catterson at the commencement of the village in 1834. Mrs. James Pool now has a jar made by Catterson in 1836. The first blacksmith of the village was George B. Richardson. The first wagon-maker was Jacob Springer. A saw-mill was built at this place in 1835 by John Smither, Lewis O'Neal, and Jacob Springer.  

    The first physician of the village was Dr. Lawrence. Then came Drs. Hoyt, Orsemus Richmond, and William Presley. The last named practiced in New Bethel and vicinity from 1845 to 1847, after which he moved to Indianapolis. During the last year of his practice in New Bethel he was associated in partnership with Dr. S. M. Brown, who has from that time to the present remained in practice as the physician of the village and surrounding country. In 1852, Dr. Brown was married to Mahala Brady, who died in 1867. She was a daughter of Henry Brady, Esq., a pioneer settler of Warren township.

    Poplar Grove is a cluster of five or six houses located on the railroad in the northwestern part of the township. There was once a post-office there, but it was discontinued, and now the place has no pretensions to the name of a village.  

     Gallaudet is not a village, but merely a post-office and station on the Cincinnati, Indianapolis, St. Louis and Chicago Railway.

    The village of Acton is situated in the southeastern part of Franklin township, on the line of the Cincinnati, Indianapolis, St, Louis and Chicago Railway. The land which forms the site of the village is a part of the tract originally owned by the pioneer settler, Peter Carbery, but which in 1852 was owned by Thomas Wallace. The village was laid out in that year by John E. Stretcher, surveyor, for Thomas Wallace and Thomas Ferguson, the town plat being recorded October 22d in the year named. There would probably never have been any village at that point but for the building of the railroad, which was at that time approaching completion, and which was opened for travel in September of the following year. The original name of the town was Farmersville, which was afterwards changed to Acton, to avoid confusion in the mail service, as there was already a post-office named Farmersville in the State.  Upon the establishment of the post-office at Acton, John Daily was appointed postmaster; and his successors in the office have been (in the order named) Joseph Pierson, Samuel Rosengarten, Reuben Conway, Joseph Brenton, George W.
Morgan, N. T. Parker, George W. Vaughn, D. W. Pierson, John Foley, and (again) D. W. Pierson, who is the present incumbent.

    The first merchants of the village were John Albright and William Duval, who opened their store in a log building in 1852. The next was John Daily, who opened in 1853, and continued until 1855, when he sold to Joseph Pierson and William Leeper. The latter sold his interest in the store to Pierson, who carried on the business until 1858, when he sold out at auction and removed to Iowa.

    Salathiel T. Pierson commenced merchandising at Acton in 1853, and continued till his death in September, 1855.

    Dugald McDougall commenced in 1854, and continued about one year. James Morgan and Peter Swigart commenced at about the same time. John Threlkill commenced in 1855, and continued in trade about three years. N. J. Parker commenced about 1858 and continued till 1864. Rev. Thomas Ray was a merchant in Acton from 1858 to 1860, and Warren Stacy from 1860 to 1866. The three general stores of the village at the present time (January, 1884) are carried on respectively by D. W. Pierson, George W. Swails, and James W. Swaila. The first physician of Acton was Dr. William Scott, who came in 1855, and remained but a short time.

    Dr. Johnson located in the village in the fall of 1855, and remained about one year. Dr. Samuel McGaughey, who was reared and educated in Franklin County, and married a daughter of Madison Morgan, of Shelby County, Ind., located in Acton in 1856, and has remained in practice in the village and vicinity until the present time. Dr. T. N. Bryant came about 1857. He was in partnership with Dr. McGaughey for about a year, after which he removed to Illinois, but returned to Marion County and located in Indianapolis. Dr. Philander C. Leavitt, who resided at Pleasant View, Shelby Co., at the opening of the war of the Rebellion, entered the service of the United States as a private soldier, was promoted to surgeon, and soon after the close of the war located in Acton, where he remained in practice till his death in 1882. Dr. J. W. Spicer, who is now in practice in Acton, located in the village about 1879.

    Acton is now a village of about three hundred and fifteen inhabitants, and has four churches (three Protestant and one Catholic), one school-house (built in 1876, at a cost of six thousand dollars, one graded school, three physicians, three general stores, one boot and shoe-store (by Henry Baas), one drug-store (by John Curry), two wagon-shops (by Daniel Gillespie and Hamilton Brothers, two blacksmith-shops, a steam saw-mill (built in 1853 by John McCollum & Sons, and now operated by A. H. Plymate), a steam flouring-mill (built about 1860 by Jacob Rubush, John Ferrin, and Solomon Hahn, and now operated by Mr. Hahn), a Masonic lodge, and a lodge of the order of Odd-Fellows.

    Pleasant Lodge, No. 134, F. and A. M., was organized at Pleasant View, Shelby Co., in May, 1852, with eight members. About four years after the organization it was removed to Acton, where a frame building, twenty-five by fifty feet in size, was erected, and the upper story fitted and furnished as a lodge-room, while the lower story was rented for store purposes. In 1873 the building was destroyed by fire, with a total loss of the furniture and records of the lodge. In 1875 a brick building, twenty-four by sixty feet in size, was erected on the same site, at a cost of four thousand one hundred and sixty dollars. The lower story is occupied as a store by D. W. Pierson, and above it is the Masonic Hall. The lodge has now a membership of fifty. The present officers are William Cooper, W. M.; William T. Cummins, S. W.; John Hanahan, J. W.; Austin Daugherty, Sec.; Solomon Hahn, Treas.; George Clover, S. D.; Dr. J. W. Spicer, J. D.; John Means, Tiler.

     Acton Lodge, No. 279, I. 0. 0. F., was instituted June 20, 1867, with the following-named members: J. C. P. Stage, E. T. Wells, Joseph Fittsgeval, C. C. Weaver, Charles J. Phemister, J. G. Clark, Allen Drake, S. Rosengarten, John A. Johnson, William C. Nicholas, John Porter, James H. Clark, Joseph R. Johnson.

    The lodge now has fifteen past grand officers, sixteen active members, and property valued at about one thousand dollars. The hall is in the second story of the building, over the store of George W. Swails. The present officers of the lodge are: John Craft, N. G.; James Matthews, V. G.; J. Swails, Sec.; G. W. Swails, Treas.; Charles C. Weaver, Per. Sec.

    The grounds of the Acton Camp-Meeting Association, adjoining the village of Acton on the northwest, being the southeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 16, township 14, north of range 5 east, were purchased of the Rev. John V. R. Miller for about one thousand dollars, and laid out and buildings erected for camp-meeting purposes about 1859. The buildings were destroyed by fire about 1863; were rebuilt, and again burned about three years later, when the present buildings were erected. The camp-meetings held yearly on this ground are very largely attended, as many as forty thousand people having sometimes been present in a single day.

    The Union Agricultural Fair Association of Franklin township was first organized as a grange association, and its name afterwards changed to the present one. Hitherto the fairs of the association have been held on grounds (about twelve acres) rented for the purpose on the farm of John P. Overhiser, about three miles west of Acton; but this arrangement was not intended to be a permanent one, and the fairs will be held in future on grounds adjoining the village.

    The Methodist Episcopal Church at Acton was first organized at the house of William Rector, on the northeast quarter of section 10, township 14, range 5 east, about the year 1827. It was formed by the following-named members:  William Rector and wife, George Tibbitts and wife, John Walden and wife, Jeremiah Burnett and wife, with William Rector and George Tibbitts as leaders. About 1830 they built a house of worship on the land of William Rector, which was twenty-eight by thirty-six feet, and constructed of hewn logs, as was the custom in that day. The church was served by the following-named preachers or pastors (in what order cannot be given) Revs. James Havens, Francis McLaughlin, Elijah Whitten, David Burt, Jacob Miller, John V. R. Miller, Landy Havens, George Havens, David Havens, James Corwin, Baherrell, and Greenly McLaughlin, with William Rector as exhorter or local preacher.

    About 1846, William Rector moved to Iowa, and the class began to decline and became quite weak. In 1852 they organized a class at the school-house, one and one-half miles southwest, where the village of Acton was laid out in the same year. They continued to hold their meetings in the school-house until the fall of 1855, at which time they had a church edifice sufficiently near completion to hold their services in, but it was not dedicated until June, 1856. In the fall of 1853 they held the quarterly meeting in the warehouse of John Daily, in Acton. After the class was moved from Rector's chapel to Acton, John Daily, William Crosson, Henry McRoberts, David Rayburn, Joseph Brenton, and C. C. Butler were class-leaders up to 1860.

    They had for pastors or preachers the Rev. George Havens for 1853, Rev. Thomas Ray for 1854-55, Rev. John V. R. Miller for 1856, Rev. John Brouce for 1857, Rev. Chivington for 1858, Rev. Patrick Carlin for 1859, Rev. Elijah Whitten for 1860, Rev. F. S. Potts for 1861, Rev. R. Roberts for 1862-63, Rev. M. Mitchell for 1864, Rev. A. Lotten for 1865-66, Rev. J. H. Tomlinson for 1867-68, Rev. Henry Wright for 1869, Rev. B. P. Morgan for 1870, Rev. Thomas W. Jones for 1871-72 (number of members at this time, sixty-five). Rev. F. S. Turk for 1873-74 (number of members at this time, eighty). Rev. E. S. Spencer for 1875-76 (number of members at this time, one hundred and twelve), Rev. P. S. Cook for 1877-78, Rev. William Nichols for 1879-80, Rev. R. L. Kinnear for 1881, Rev. Albert Cain for 1882-83. Present number of members, one hundred and thirteen. The church building was burned Dec. 24, 1879, the fire being caused by a defective flue. They commenced to rebuild is May, 1881, and completed the building so that it was dedicated on the 31st of July of the same year. The building is a brick structure, thirty-four by forty-eight feet, and cost three thousand dollars.

    The officers of the church at this time are: Trustees, Jonas Hamlyn, David Rayburn. Frederick Doke, and Jacob Tolen; Secretary, Austin Daugherty. Jonas Hamlyn was class-leader from 1875 to 1881. David Rayburn is the class-leader at the present time. The present stewards are James Copeland, Herbert E. Hamlyn, Charles Doke, W. S. Clover. Connected with the church is a Sunday-school having an average attendance of seventy. Jonas Hamlyn has been for five or six years and is at present the superintendent.

    The New Bethel Baptist Church was organized on the 7th of April, 1827, with eight members, as follows: James Greer, Lewis O'Neal, David Woods, James Davis, Elizabeth Greer, Aohsah Woods, Catharine O'Neal, and Elizabeth Davis. The Rev. Abraham Smock was called to the pastorate of the church, and served until December, 1832, during which time there was a number added to the church.

    In the year of the organization (1827) they built a hewn-log house, twenty-four by twenty-eight feet, with a large fireplace and split slabs for seats. In this they felt they had a comfortable place to worship God.  In January, 1833, the Rev. John Richmond was chosen pastor for one year. In February, 1834, the Rev. Thomas Townsend became pastor for one year. In June, 1835, a council met with the church and ordained Ebenezer Smith to the ministry. From 1835 to 1838 they were without a pastor. Townsend and Smith (being members of the church) supplied them alternately. In 1838 they called Townsend and Smith to supply the pulpit on alternate Sabbaths, and they served until 1848.  

    In 1842 the church by a council ordained John Ransdell to the gospel ministry. In 1843 the church built a frame building, thirty-six by forty-eight feet, at a cost of one thousand dollars. In 1848 the Rev. Madison Hume was called to the pastoral care of the church, and continued until 1852, when the Rev. Michael White was called to the pastorate. In May, 1853, Rev. James S. Gillespie was called to the pastorate, and he continued his services until 1859, when the Rev. J. H. Razor was called to the care of the church. In 1860, Rev. Stewart became their pastor. In 1863, Rev. J. H. Razor was again called to the care of the church.

    In 1866 the Revs. James M. Smith and A. J. Essex hold a meeting of two weeks, at which meeting ninety-three were added to the church, seventy-eight of them by baptism. At the same time the Rev. James M. Smith was called to the pastoral care of the church. While he was pastor they erected a new church building of brick, thirty-six by fifty feet, at a cost of four thousand dollars.

    In 1869 the Rev. F. M. Buchanan was called to the pastoral care of the church, and served them until 1880. The Rev. N. Harper was pastor in 1881 and 1882. In 1883 the Rev. T. J. Conner was called to the pastorate. The membership at this time is one hundred and seventy-three. The Sunday-school has an average attendance of seventy-five, with John Grames as superintendent.

     The Baptist Church at the Forks of Little Buck Creek was organized on the 8th of June, 1833, at the house of Nehemiah Smith, by a council from the following-named churches: Lick Creek Church, Abraham Smock, Thomas Townsend, Thomas Bryan, Jacob Smock, and Luke Bryan; Bethel Church, Joel Kemper, Lewis Smither, and John J. Belles; Pleasant Run Church, John Perry and William Herring. The council was organized by electing Abraham Smock moderator and Thomas Townsend clerk, after which they adopted articles of faith, which were signed by the following-named constituent members: Elijah Vise, Susan Vise, Nehemiah Smith, Sarah Smith, William Forsythe, Sarah Porsythe, Edmond Lovitt, Mary Lovitt, Abraham Hendricks, Susan Hendricks, Frank Smith, Rebecca  Perkins, Elizabeth Vise, Susan Vise, Francis Vise, Nathaniel Vise, Polly Vise, Benson Cornelius, Deborah Cornelius, Thomas McFarland, Betsy McFarland, and Sarah Wikoff.

    The first pastor of the church was the Rev. Thomas Townsend, who served them for two years; then Rev. Abraham Smock served them for two years; then Ebenezer Smith. (Here the records are missing.) Since 1868 the following-named ministers have served the church as pastors, viz.: Peterson K. Par, Daniel Caudle, and Robert Thompson. P. K. Par and Robert Thompson are now serving the church alternately as pastors. Services are held once a month. The church has now thirty-six members. Nimrod Par is church clerk.  

    The Presbyterian Church at Acton was first organized in Perry township. On the 30th of March, 1833, a few Presbyterians met at the house of Mrs. Mary Sebern, one and one-half miles north of where Southport now stands, and, after a sermon preached by the Rev. Dr. Woods, from Proverbs xxviii. 4, the New Providence (now Acton) Presbyterian Church was organized. John S. Sebern and Otis Sprague were the first elders, and Samuel Brewer the first deacon. They were all ordained and installed on the 31st of March, 1833, having been elected on the preceding day.

    The church at its organization consisted of twenty-four members, set apart by the Indianapolis Presbytery from the Greenfield (now Greenwood) Church, and one by letter from the only Presbyterian Church in Indianapolis at that time. The following are the names of those forming the organization: Samuel Brewer, Eleanor Brewer, Thomas C. Smock, Rachel Smock, Ann Smock, Abraham V. Smock, Simon French, Mary French, Eliza McFarland, Benjamin McFarland, Mary McFarland, John A. Brewer, Lemma Brewer, Phannel Graham, Paulina White, Jane E. McCollum, Mary Sebern, Phebe Sebern, Samuel Sebern, John Sebern, Deborah W. Sebern, Andrew C. Mann, Sally Mann, and Otis Sprague, Of this number the following now survive: Samuel Brewer and Eliza McFarland (now Thomas).

    In 1838 a division took place in the church, and twenty members, including one elder, went with this branch, and seventeen, including two elders, went with the New School branch. There was no hostile feeling manifested by either.  From 1838 to 1844 the church had been irregularly supplied with preaching, having had only one regular supply (Rev. Sayers Gaglay) for about two years. In 1845 the church (then numbering forty-five members) elected and called their first pastor after the division. He was the Rev. B. P. Wood, who continued to serve them one-half the time until 1850.  

    In 1845 and 1846 they built a house of worship on the farm of Joseph Wallace, one and one-half miles east of Southport. The house was twenty-eight by thirty-six feet, a wooden structure, and cost about five hundred dollars. In 1851, Rev. Henry Coe served as pastor one-half his time. In 1852 there were but thirty-nine members, and in this same year there was a division of the church for the sake of convenience, one portion going west to the Bluff road, in Perry township, and forming the Union Church, and the other portion (seventeen members) going east to Acton, in Franklin township, and forming what is known as the Acton Presbyterian Church.

    The first pastor at Acton was Rev. William A. Holliday, who gave one-half his time. In 1856 the church building was moved from the Wallace farm to Acton. It was refitted, and in it they held their church services until 1870, when they built a brick church building, thirty by forty feet, at a cost of four thousand five hundred dollars.  In 1856, Rev. P. R. Vanetta served them as pastor, and the membership was eighteen. The Rev. John Gilchrist served the church from 1857 to the close of 1859 as pastor (membership increased to thirty-nine); Rev. A. C. Allen served as pastor till the close of 1861, at which time he enlisted in the United States volunteer service (membership, forty-two).

    In 1863 the Rev. James Gilchrist supplied the pulpit. In 1864, L. G. Hay served the church one-half the time. In 1865, James Gilchrist again became pastor of the church one-half of his time, and served until the close of the year 1867. The Rev. L. G. Hay became pastor in 1868, and continued to the close of 1870. The Rev. James Williamson was pastor of the church from 1871 until 1882. Rev. L. B. Schryock was called and accepted the pastorate for 1884. The membership at this time is ninety-six.

    In 1873 the membership had increased to seventy. A Sunday-school was organized in 1857, with Jacob Smock as superintendent. Jacob Rubush has been superintendent of the Sunday-school the greater portion of the time from 1870 to 1884. The average attendance is eighty.  

    The following are the names of the officers of the church from its organization: Elders, John S. Sebern, Otis Sprague, Simon Smock, Samuel Brewer, Peter Smock, James Clark, William H. Boyd, Sylvester Ellis, Samuel S. Sebern, Jacob Smock, Thomas L. Clark, Samuel Potter, Jacob Rubush, A. H. Plymate, and William Cooper; Deacons, Samuel Brewer, Andrew O. Mann, Samuel Moore, Jacob Smock, William J. Colley, Henry Baas, Malcomb A. Lowes, William Hutchinson, William R. Lowes, John N. Clark, John M. Clark, and William P. James; Trustees, John V. Sebern, Andrew C. Mann, Thomas C. Smock, Samuel Moore, Jacob Smock, William J. Colley, Thomas Wallace, Samuel McGaughey, Jacob Rubush, Jehu, John, and William H. Smock.

    The present officers are: Elders, James Clark, Jacob Smock, Jacob Rubush, A. H. Plymate, William Cooper, and Thomas L. Clark ; Deacons, John N. Clark, William R. Lowes, and John M. Clark; Trustees, Jacob Rubush, Samuel McGaughey, and William H. Smock.

    The Big Bun (Anti-Missionary Baptist) Church, was organized at the house of Knowles Shaw, one-half mile east of the village of New Bethel, on the 11th of February, 1848, with ten members, viz.: Willis Smither, Hester Smither, Lewis Smither, Obadiah Davis, Mary Davis, Caleb Belles, Mary Belles, Albert Hickman, Amanda Hickman, and James Tolen. They called the Rev. Emmons Hurst to the pastorate of the church, and he was the only regular pastor until 1853, at which time the Rev. Erasmus D. Thomas became pastor, and has continued in that capacity to the present time without any interruption. They have regular services once a month.

    This church used school-house No. 5 (known as the township house) as a meeting-place until the fall of 1849, when they had a house of worship erected. It was a frame structure twenty by thirty feet, and cost one thousand dollars. As time passed this building became too small for the increasing congregation, and in 1871 they built a more commodious house of worship. It is a brick structure, thirty-six by fifty-four feet, and cost four thousand three hundred dollars. The membership at this time is ninety-two.

    The Buck Creek Christian Church was organized on the 21st of August, 1860, at Murphy's school-house (No. 7), with the following-named members, viz.: James Eaton, Sarah Eaton, Alexander Helm, Elizabeth Helm, George B. Richardson, Sarah Richardson, Ashley Sutherland, Elizabeth Sutherland, King Parrish, Maria Parrish, Zerviah B. Anderson, William H. Richardson, Catharine Helm, Isabelle Hall, Sarah Hittle, Nancy Mathews, and Nancy J. Baker. Their pastors have been John Brown (one year), Butler K. Smith (one year), J. H. McCuUough (two years), Amzi Atwater, Charles Shoat (one year), J. L. Parson (one year), W. H. H. Blark (one year), Elijah Goodwin (two years), M. T. Hough and H. T. BuflF (alternately, one year), W. R. Lowe (one year), M. T. Hough (two years), H. T. Mason (one year), A. H. Carter (one year), John A. Mavity (one year), W. R. Couch (two years), W. H. Boles (one year), J. M. Camfield (three years), and C. W.
Martz, the present pastor, who is now on his second year of service.

    Their first place of worship was the school-house where they first organized. In 1861 they built a house of worship on the northwest corner of the east half of the southeast quarter of section 28, township 15 north, range 5 east, — a frame structure, thirty-two by forty-four feet, which cost one thousand dollars. In 1880 they built their second house of worship on the same grounds. It is a brick building thirty-two by forty-two feet, and cost two thousand eight hundred dollars.

    The present membership of the church is one hundred and twenty-four. Meetings are held once a month. They have a good Sunday-school, with seventy-five scholars in attendance, and sessions are held every Sunday the year round. The superintendent is John M. Toon. The present officers of the church are: Trustees, Henry J. Toon, Joseph Harris; Elders, Henry J. Toon, Joseph Harris, and James E. Greer; Deacons, Ebenezer Smith, Obadiah Eaton, and John M. Toon.

    The Acton Baptist Church was organized at Acton on the 13th day of January, 1866, with twenty-five members, viz.: John N. Eades, Elisha Baily, Mary Baily, William Everett, William Morgan, Nancy Morgan, Sarah Morgan, Mrs. Everett, Mahala Everett, Susan Morgan, Nancy Phemister, John Morgan, John T. Phemister, Sr., James M. Smith, Elizabeth J. Smith, Joseph C. Smith, George W. Crossen, Mary Crossen, Thomas Foster, Permelia Foster, Martha Baas, Delila Jenkins, Jane Keeler, Cumi Keeler, Nancy Leavitt. At the same time the Revs. James M. Smith and A. J. Essex held a meeting of some two weeks' duration, and added thirty-four to the church, the Presbyterians giving them the use of their house of worship for the meeting. At the close of this protracted effort the church called Rev. James M. Smith as their pastor, who continued to serve the church half his time until June, 1869, when Rev. F. M. Buchanan was called to the pastorate, and continued half his time until January, 1873.

     The Rev. H. C. McCaleb was pastor half his time for the years 1873 and 1874 Rev. T. J. Murphy was pastor for the year 1875, and the Rev. D. D. Swindall in the same way for 1876. In the year 1877 the church had no pastor. The Rev. C. King was pastor in 1878 and 1879. The church was without a pastor in 1880. The Rev. James M. Smith was again called to the pastorate, and served one-fourth of his time for the years 1881 and 1882. The Rev. F. M. Buchanan was again called to the pastorate, and is now acting as such one-fourth of the time. The present membership is ninety-nine. Sabbath-school sessions are held every Sabbath. The number of scholars in attendance is fifty-two. T. J. McCollum is superintendent of the Sunday-school, and has been since 1868 except one year (1875). The trustees of the church are William McGregor, L. F. Montague, and Henry T. Craig; Deacons, T. J. McCollum and J. F. McCollum; Clerk, L. P. Montague.  

    The Koont Zion Methodist Episcopal Church was organized as a class in the year 1832, at the house of James McLain, with about fifteen members, principally of the families of McLain and Perkins. In 1836 they built a log meeting-house on James McLain's land, and this was used as a house of worship till about 1853, when they erected a frame building, in which they continued to hold their services for about twenty years, when the church organization ceased to exist. The location of this church is near the west line of the township, and near its centre from north to south.

    The Methodist Chapel, so called, of the Methodist Episcopal Church is located in the northwest corner of Franklin township. The first class at this place was organized about 1838, at the house of Nathaniel Owens, its members being principally of the families of Owens, Reyburn, McLaughlin, Stoops, and Arnold. Soon after the organization, they built a log church on land then owned by Simon Peters (now by Cottman). About 1860 this old building gave place to a frame church, which was erected on the same site. In this they worshiped about ten years, after which the organization went down, and services were discontinued. The church building is still standing, and although no preaching is held there, it is used as the meeting-place of a flourishing Sabbath-school of about fifty scholars, not under charge of the Methodist denomination, but under the patronage and superintendency of a daughter of F. M. Churchman, Esq.

    The Church of the United Brethren, which worshiped in a church building located near the centre of the township, was organized about 1855, at the house of Isaac Collins. The greater part of its members were of the Collins family. Their first meetings were held at Collins', and in the school-house for a year or two, when they erected a frame church building which is yet standing, though the church organization became dismembered and ceased to exist several years ago.

    The oldest burial-ground in Franklin township was opened on land of William Rector, at the place where the Rector Chapel was built. It is not now known who was the first person interred in this ground. It is not used now, no burials having been made in it for several years.

    In the graveyard at New Bethel the first interment was that of Reuben Adams, on whose land the burial-place was laid out. It was at first a plat of about one acre, which has since been increased to about two acres. The ground is now nearly filled with graves, and contains some handsome monuments.

    At the Methodist Chapel in the northwest corner of the township is a burial-ground of about one acre, which is well filled with graves though not crowded. One of the first interments in it was that of the wife of Simon Peters.

    The graveyard at Mount Zion Church, near the west line of the township, contains about one acre, and is only partially filled. The first interments here were made about 1835.

    At the Little Buck Creek Church is a burial-ground still in use, which was laid out on land entered by Nehemiah Adams. The first burials in this ground were made about 1833.

    A burial-ground was opened on the David Morris farm in 1835, and is still in use. It is not in connection with any church, and there is no house of worship near it.

    The cemetery at Acton is a ground of about two acres, a part of the old Leeper farm, purchased from William Leeper, and laid out as a cemetery in 186fi. The lots in this cemetery are all sold, and many fine monuments have been erected in it. Improvements are constantly being made in the ground, though it is yet far from being completed in accordance with the design, which is based on the modern idea of cemetery embellishment.

    Schools, — Very soon after the pioneer settlers had established themselves and their families in their rude log cabins, and cleared a sufficient space of ground to raise crops enough to insure them a subsistence, they took measures (inefficient though they were) to provide for their children the means of acquiring some of the rudiments of education by opening primitive schools, which were usually taught by persons who were employed at farm labor during the summer, and who during the winter taught school for a term of six weeks to two months, receiving a mere pittance
for their services. The first schools were taught in the east part of the township in the Buck Creek settlements, but others were opened very soon afterwards in other parts, as soon as enough settlers had come in to form a neighborhood school. Thomas Townsend and William P. Smith were the first two persons who taught school in Franklin township, but it is not certainly known which of these was the pioneer. Peter Townsend, Abraham Smock, and Price N. Batts (son-in-law of Reuben Adams) were among the other early teachers of the township. The first schools were usually taught in deserted cabins which had been built by "squatters" who, after a temporary occupation, had deserted them and moved away. Where log buildings had been built as places of worship, they were also invariably used for schools. And as the township became a little more thickly settled, each neighborhood of two or three miles' radius had its school-house. They wore all nearly the same, — a low log building of about eighteen by twenty-two or twenty-four feet in size, with a log cut out on two sides, leaving openings which, when covered with greased paper in place of glass, formed the windows of the house. In one end of the school-room was a fireplace plastered with clay or mud, sometimes communicating with a "stick chimney" on the outside, and sometimes having no chimney at all, except a hole in the roof. The floor was of puncheons, the seats and benches of split logs, with the split sides dressed to comparative smoothness. A high, rude, and uncomfortable writing desk (or more properly shelf) was formed |in a similar way. None of the requisites or equipments of the modern school-room were found in these houses. Everything was rough, uncomfortable, and discouraging to both pupil and teacher, yet the schools taught amid such surroundings were the best that could be had in those days, and in them many a child acquired the rudiments of education, and laid the foundation of an honorable career.

    About 1836, under the Congressional township school system, rather better school-houses were built on about each four square miles of territory through the township. These houses were built by the people of the neighborhood, while the fund derived from the sale of the school lands aided in maintaining in different schools in them for short terms. Upon the establishment of the present system, Franklin took a place abreast of the other townships of the county in the improvement of its schools.

    Franklin township has now eleven school districts, and the same number of school-houses (seven frame, and four brick). Schools are taught in all the houses, and two of them are graded schools. There are also four private schools taught, with an average attendance of forty-four. In 1883, fourteen teachers (nine male and five female) were employed in the public schools. Six teachers' institutes were held in the township during the year. The average total daily attendance of scholars was 371; whole number of scholar admitted to the schools, 625; average length of school terms in the township in 1883, 114 days; valuation of school-houses and grounds, $14,500.
 
Sulgrove, B. R., History of Indianapolis and Marion County, Indiana; Philadelphia: L.H. Everts & Co., 1884, 785 pgs., pp. 519-533

[1] By T. J. MoCollum, Esq.