HISTORY OF DECATUR COUNTY INDIANA ITS PEOPLE, INDUSTRIES AND INSTITUTIONS LEWIS A. HARDING 1915 COUNTY OFFICERS. COMMISSIONERS. The first board of county commissioners met on May 14, 1822, at the home of Thomas Hendricks, in Greensburg, and were sworn in by H. H. Talbott, clerk of the county. through appointment by Governor Jennings. This board was composed of Williams Harlwrd. William Parks and Seth Lowe. The first action of this board was to divide the county into three township, Fugit, Washington and Adams. The first day of June was then fixed for holding township elections. Superintendents of the school sections were then named as follow: Thomas Thorp, James McLain, Thomas Hen- dricks, Nathaniel Robins and Paul Brown. Enoch McCarty was appointed tax lister and John Hopkins, treasurer. THE BOARD OF JUSTICES. The second board of justices met on March 2, 1835, it being composed of the following: Zachariah Garton, Ezra Lathrop, James Howard, R. M. Jamison, Thomas Powers, John Hazelrigg, Tbeophilus Lee. Samuel Will- iams, James Johnston, David Jewitt, Nathaniel Robins, W. E. Crawford, J. G. Kindall, John Scriptor, John Plymate, Enoch James, Dan Barker and James Lewis. The only new members upon this board in the next twelve years were Henry Critzer, Robert Kennedy, Dan Barker and Ebenezer Douglas. STATE SENATORS. 1861 — Richard Robins, senator, Decatur county. GREENSBURG NATIONAL BANK. Although the youngest national bank in Greensburg, the Greensburg National Bank now ranks second in deposits and is growing at a rate that would indicate its assumption of a more commanding position at no distant date. The institution was organized under the national banking law on June 18, 1900, by the following stockholders: Webb Woodfill, Benjamin F. McCoy, M. Covert, Harry T. Woodfill, Charles P. Miller. Robert B. J.Whiteman, Isaac Sefton, George B. Davis, Nelson JNIowrey, Cal. Crew, Mar- shall Grover, John M. Bright, Oliver Deem, Joseph B. Kitchin, James M. Woodfill, Will H. Robins, Will C. Pulse, Elizabeth A. Hamilton, John W. Deem, David A. Myers, Max Dalmbert, Blanche McLaughlin and Mary McLaughlin. THOSE WHO CAME THE NEXT YEAR. Newcomers in 1821 were as follow: Sand Creek township- Daniel Herron, Nat Robbins and William Rob- bins. Marion township- Dudley Taylor and John Robbins. BEGINNING OF LAW AND ORDER. The following grand jury was empanelled and charged on Monday, October 7, 1822: John Hopkins, foreman; Alley Pryor, Joseph Henderson, Nathaniel Robbins, Fielding Lamasters, Lewis Pleakenstalver, Isaac Dar- nell, Robert Harbord, John M. Robinson, Griffe Griffiths, John House, Will- iam M. Smith, Tobis Donner, Joseph Rankin, John Forsyth and Andrew Horsley. WYNCOOP. The business interests of the town in 1915 are contined to a general store, owned by E. A. Gibson, and a blacgsmith shop, operated by Clyde Purvis. The station agent, Orlando Robbins, also buys grain. The post- master is Mr. Gibson. The tnwn has less than a dozen houses and a popula- tion of about thirty. MARION TOWNSHIP. Marion township, originally a part of Washington township and later of Sand Creek township, was organized by authority of the county commis- sioners on May 2, 1831, ... SETTLEMENT. The first settlers of Marion township, as indicated by the original land entries, were: John Robbins, Sampson McConnell, Abisha ]\Iatherly, John McConnell, James Parnell, John Hazelrigg, Dilliard Hazelrigg, John Line- ville, Thomas McLaughlin, Jonathan Thompson, Isaac Ricketts, Dudley Anderson, W. White and Thomas Fortune. Other early-comers were John Myres, John and Hiram Fortune, Sarah Anderson, James Hooten. Dudley Taylor and John Morton. SAND CREEK TOWNSHIP. Sand Creek township was organized by the board of justices on May 2, 1825, ... FIRST SETTLERS. Elijah Davis was the first settler in Sand Creek township, so far as can be ascertained. He took out a claim in 1820, the only man to do so that year. In 1821 three others bought government land and made homes for themselves in this township. They were Daniel Herron, Nat Robbins and William Robbins. Four years later, when the township was organized, it had grown but little in population, as but nine votes were cast in the first township election held in 1825 for the office of justice of the peace. Just one-third of the male population that had reached the age of twenty-one was then willing to serve the public, there being three candidates for the office. Nat Robbins was elected. James Holmes, John Bagley, Robert Courtney and Samuel Stevens are supposed to have settled in Sand Creek township during the same year, but if they did, they merely "squatted" until they could raise sufficient cash to purchase government land. Other early settlers were John Robbins, Simeon Sharp, Daniel Meredith, William Schultz, John Cann and Samuel De Armond. Samuel Stevens built a brick house in 1834 and about the same time Simeon Sharp opened a tavern where Westport now stands. Elijah Davis and John Robbins both started water-mills and some time after William Robbins built a horse-mill, so that the early settlers were not altogether dependent upon the waters of Sand creek and Millstone creek for their bread. The first church in the township was organized by Samuel Strick- land, of the denomination then styled "Campbellites." WESTPORT. BUSINESS DIRECTORY. The Business and professional interests in Westport in 1915 are as fol- low: ... livery barn, Albert Robbins; ... WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP. On May 14, 1822, the county commissioners established Washington township ... Others who found homes for themselves in Washington township before the organization of the county were Rev. John Strange, John House, Samuel Anderson, Jeptha Conner, William Bell, Daniel McCormick, Joseph English, John Messinger and David Messinger. Most of these settled in the southeastern part of the township. Still others who settled in the town- ship about this time were: Abraham Garrison, Thomas Chinn, Benjamin Walker, Benjamin Drake, Otha White, Paris Aldrich, George Hopkins, Robert Elder, John Hazelrigg, Matthew, William and James Elder, Thomas Doles, John and Elijah Davis and John Robbins. THE CITY OF GREENSBURG. FIRE DEPARTMENT. The present drivers are James Robbins, driver of the hook-and-ladder wagon, and Robert Alexander, driver of the hose wagon. These men stay in the fire-engine house and receive sixty dollars per month. WATERWORKS. The Greensburg waterworks was organized in 1889, and the plant was completed in 1890. The Greensburg waterworks is a private corporation, with the following officers: David A. Meyer, president ; Harry Emmert, vice- president and general manager: B. Kitchin, secretary and treasurer; Will J.H. Robbins and W. W. Woodfill, who complete the board of directors. BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY IN 1915. Attorneys — T. E. Davidson, J. K. Ewing, Oscar G. Miller, Goddard & Craig, E. E. Hite, Tremain & Turner, Lewis A. Harding, William F. Rob- bins, Osborn & Hamilton, J. H. Parker, M. C. Jenkins, F. Gates Ketchum, Roy E. Glidewell. Groceries (wholesale) — W. H. Robbins & Company. FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. In a ponderous volume, entitled "Church Record," the history of the beginning of Methodism in Greensburg has been preserved. While Rev. Charles Tinsley was pastor of the First Methodist church in 1881, he pre- pared a "History of Methodism in Greensburg, Indiana," which appears on the first few pages of the above mentioned "Church Record." His account was undoubtedly prepared with a view of presenting the main facts and the historian uses it verbatim: "John Robbins, who is living at this date (September 13, 1881), in Greensburg, states that he settled near Mt. Pleasant Methodist Episcopal church, March 28. 1822, four miles south of Greensburg. The first Metho- dist sermon he heard in the county was about September of the same year by Rev. James Murray, of the Connersville circuit — then of the Ohio con- ference — at the double log cabin of Col. Thomas Hendricks [in Greens- burg]. Mr. Robl)ins immediately afterward received authority by letter from Mr. Murray to iirganize a class, which he did at his own house, and from this [grew] the first religious organization in the county. After this he [Robbins] attended the organization of the Baptist church at Sand Creek. "The members of this first Methodist class were John and Ruth Rob- bins, Robert Courtney, Elizabeth Garrison, John H. Kilpatrick and Mary, his wife — seven persons, and soon afterward [they were joined by] Jacob Steward, A. L. Anderson, Mary Garrison, Tamzen Connor, Lydia Groen- dyke, Rev. Wesley White and wife Elizabeth, and James and Polly Arm- strong. "When the Greensburg class was formed Jacob Stewart was transferred to it. [Where he had previously belonged is not stated,] The Robbins neighborhood has remained a preaching place ever since. In 1834 a log church was built and called Mt. Pleasant — it was about twenty-four by thirty feet, and in 1870 this was replaced by the present frame of about thirty-six; by fifty feet, at a cost of three thousand dollars. [This is the church four miles south of Greensburg.] The most remarkable revival at this place was conducted by Landy Cravens, when sixty persons united with the church. Rev. George Winchester, the present [1881] pastor of the Greensburg church, to which this society belongs, says it is the strongest society on the circuit. It now [1881] has a membership of eighty and is properous. [This whole paragraph seems to have no connection with the Greensburg church, but it given just as Rev. Tinsley wrote it.] "Aaron Wood succeeded Mr. Murray for two months in the fall of 1823. He preached at Greensburg, Robbin's, McClain's, Emlie's, John Mil- ler's and John Shultz's in the county. Mr. Wood attended camp meeting on Shultz land, Septeiuber 22, 1823, but, meeting Jesse Hale at John Havens' house, he found he [Wood] was in the bounds of Mr. Hale's circuit and withdrew. [At this point in the narrative of Rev. Tinsley he gives a list of the pastors of the Greensburg church from 1822 to 1866, and then a list of those serving the First Methodist church up to the time his article was written in 1881. The complete list of pastors will be given later in the chapter.] "Father Robbins and Ezra Lathrop recollect the preaching of Jesse Hale at Col. Thomas Hendricks' house, where all preachers were welcome. Mr. Hendricks was a Presbyterian, yet a generous-hearted gentleman. His first cabin was situated near where Porter's old saw-mill stood. He built the first house on the public square and invited the preaching to that house. John Havens, a local preacher, who supplied the circuit, probably organized the first class. It consisted, perhaps, of Jacob Stewart and wife, Silas Stew- art and wife, John Ford and wife, Jared P. Ford and wife, Martin and N ancy Jamison, Isaac Plue and Plue. John F. Roszell and his brother Nehemiah were members in 1826. John Ford was class leader and a good one. The Roszells and Plues were blacksmiths— the former the first in the county. METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCH. In July, 1877, fifty-two members of the Centenary church withdrew their membership and at once proceeded to build a church on Broadway across the railroad. ... The main families to throw their support to this third branch of Methodism in Greensburg were those of Gideon Drake, John Robbins, J. E. Roszell, James L. Fugit, Calvin H. Paraniore, D. Patton, B. Roszell, John A. Turner and C. Boring. J. MT. PLEASANT CHURCH. The first Methodist sermon preached in the county was delivered by James Murray, in September, 1822, in the home of Thomas Hendricks, then the only house in Greensburg'. The first class to be organized in the county was at Mt. Pleasant, about ftmr miles south of Greensburg. The story is told that John Robbins. one of the early settlers, was at work near his cabin, when two men approached on horseback and bid him the time of day. They talked for a while and then Robbins said: "You men look like Methodist ministers." The strangers admitted that they were and said that they were on their way to attend conference. Robbins wanted them to stop a while and organize a class, but they stated that they had no time to spare then, but that they would gladly do so on their return. One of these horse- men was John Strange, an early minister. When conference was over the men returned and organized a class in Robbins' cabin. Another story is to the effect that Robbins himself organ- ized the first class at the direction of James Murray. At any rate, the mem- bers of this first class were John and Ruth Rol)l)ins, B. Courtney. Elizabeth Garrison, J. H. Kirkpatrick and his wife Mar\- and Nat Robbins — seven persons. Later additions were James and Polly Armstrong, Jacob Stewart, A. L. Anderson, Nancy Anderson, Mary Garrison, Tamzen Connor, Wesley and Elizabeth White and Lydia Groenendyke. THE THIRD NATIONAL BANK. The bank was organized on December 4, 1882, by John E. Robbins. Samuel A. Bonner, Thomas M. Hamilton, Abraham Reiter, E. B. Swem, M. L. Miers, Charles Zoller, Seth Donnell, William Kennedy. E. F. Dyer, James DeArmond, James Hart, Walter W. Bonner and Louis Zoller. The first officers were John E. Robbins. president : Thomas Hamilton, vice- president ; Cortez Ewing, cashier, and Walter Bonner, bookkeeper. The original directorate was made up of the following: E. Robbins, Morgan J.L. Miers, James Hart, A Reiter, E. B. Swem and Charles Zoller. The bank was capitalized for $50,000. Since its organization the Third National Bank has always enjoyed the careful attention of an active board of directors. With the exception of Mr. Miers, all members of the first board are dead. Following are members of the present directorate : Charles Zoller, Frank R. Robbins, Morgan L. Miers, Louis Zoller, John T. Meek, George P. Shoemaker and Walter W. Bonner. GREENSBURG NATIONAL BANK. The bank's original capital stock was $50,000, but in 1906 its business had increased to such an extent that the capitalization was raised to $75,000. First officers of the institution were James M. Woodfill, president; Will H. Robbins, vice-president; Joseph B. Kitchin, cashier, and Dan S. Perry, assistant cashier. Deposits of the Greensburg National Bank, according to its latest finan- cial statement, were $310,938.49 and its surplus and undivided profits amounted to $31,399.43. The present officers of the bank are James M. Woodfill, president ; Will H. Robbins, vice-president ; Dan S. Perry, cashier, and Robert Woodfill, assistant cashier, succeeding A. J. Lowe. THE UNION TRUST COMPANY. The Union Trust Company of Greensburg, although one of the young- est, ranks second in amount of deposits among the financial institutions of the county. It secured its charter on Octo1)er 25, 1905, and opened for business on the north side of the public square on January 30, of the following year. Its first officers and directors were as follow: John Christian, presi- dent ; Walter W. Bonner, vice-president ; Harrington Boyd, secretary-treas- urer, James Lathrop, Charles Zoller, Frank R. Robbins, James M. Woodfill, William H. Robbins and Daniel S. Perry. SECRET SOCIETIES AND FRATERNITIES. IMPROVED ORDER OF RED MEN. Pequonnock Tribe No. 185. Improved Order of Red Men, was organ- ized on May 13, 1894, with the following charter members: John F. Childs, A. P. Bone, W. L. Bennett. William H. Rybolt. George S. Dickey. Wilham Bruner, George Keshng, Wilham Weathers, J. B. Conover, W. A. Lawson, T. Powell, Dan Styers, R. F. Thomas, Branson Beeson, John Riley, Smith J.Riicv, George Beeson. Perry Robbins, William A. Brooks, John Abbott, A. L. Dickey, William Folks, Brack Chance, J. R. Patton, Dr. L. W. D. Jerman, Taylor F. Meek, J. W. Roberts, Charles Reed. John I. Rodman, Frank Pickett, P. I. Clark, O. H. Rybolt, Harry Reniger, R. H. Look, D. E. Biddinger, J. W. Fletcher, Joseph Reingar, Charles Phillips, Cyrns Wat- ers, E, A. Cavett, Charles S. Short. DEGREE OF POCAHONTAS. Pequonnock Council No. in. Degree of Pocahontas, is an auxiliary of the Red Men's tribe of Greensburg. The charter for this order was granted on October 20, 1898. The meetings are held in the Red Men's hall. The membership at present includes seventy persons. The officers serving the lodge at this time are : Sarah Robbins. Pocahontas ; Mary Robbins. Weno- nah; James B. Towler, Powhatan; Jacia Pool, prophet; Lottie Dowdle. keeper of records ; Lydia McMillan, keeper of wampum. PEQUONNOCK HAYMAKERS. Pequonnock Haymakers' Association No. 185J4 was chartered on May 15, 1895. The meetings are held on Wednesday evenings in the Red Men's hall. The membership at present totals one hundred and five. The present officers are: Dola Robbins, chief haymaker; Frank Murdock, assistant chief haymaker ; Arthur Murdock, overseer ; Dallas Land, past chief haymaker William M. Snell, collector of straws ; Charles Dowdle, keeper of bundles William Best, R. C. West and James M. Duncan, trustees. The Daily Review Printing Company is composed of Will H. Robbins, a well-known farmer and capitalist : Dan S. Perry, cashier of the Greensburg National Bank ; David A. Myers, prominent attorney and ex-judge of the Indiana appellate court ; Fred L. Thomas, well known telephone man, and A. M. Willoughby, who has been continuously with the Review for thirty years. The first steam threshing machine to be used in the county was tried out by Jackson & Butler on the J. E. Robbins farm, one mile south of Greens- burg, July 12, 1859. Several hundred farmers, coming from all parts of the county, were present to witness the test. From 1847 until 1863 there is no record of any further advancements in the matter of good roads. On December 2, 1863, John E. Robbins and fifty-one other citizens of Decatur county filed their petition with the board of county commissioners for an order allowing them to build a turnpike along the line of the Vernon road from a point where it leaves the south line of the corporation of the city of Greensburg, to a point where it crosses the line between Washington and Marion townships. William Robbins, Sr., a soldier of the War of 1812 and probably of the War of 1776, died in 1834, and was buried at Alt. Pleasant cemetery, alongside his wife. There is a headstone with an inscription to some extent obliterated. He was the father of William Robbins, Jr., who was the father of John E. Robbins, deceased ; James G., Merritt H. and Mrs. William Styers, all residents of Decatur county. This family came to Kentucky from Virginia, and to Indiana at an early date. CIVIL WAR. FIFTY-SECOND REGIMENT. Major, William T. Strickland. Company B — Captains, W. T. Strickland and William T. Stott : first lieutenants, James A. Cunningham, William T. Stott, James C. Alden and William B. Robbins; second lieutenants, William T. Stott and Edwin Alex- ander. SEVENTY-SIXTH REGIMENT (THIRTY DAYS.) Colonel, James Gavin; lieutenant-colonel, John T. Wilder : adjutant. Irvin Robbins quartermaster, Samuel A. Bonner. ; ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-THIRD REGIMENT. Colonel, John C. McOuiston ; lieutenant-colonel, DeWitt C. Walters; majors. D. C. Waters and Irvin Robbins. Company A — Captains, Irvin Rol)bins and Hugh Weston ; first lieu- tenants, Hugh Weston, John H. Kirby, Nathan Thorp and William H. Stout; second lieutenants. Green B. Roszell, Nathan Thorp, William H. Stout and John Castor. The first water-mill in Sand Creek township was owned by Elijah Davis and the first horse-mill, by William Robbins. Robbins built one of the first water-mills located in Slabtown, six miles east of Greensburg. This mill, which is called Layton's mill, is still running, but steam is now used to operate it. MEEK ICE COMPANY. The first artificial ice plant in Greensburg was established by John E, Robbins, on West Railroad street. He conducted the plant for several years and then disposed of it to the Meek Ice Company in 1912. The plant has a daily capacity of forty tons and employs twelve men in the factory and on the delivery wagons. They not only supply the city of Greensburg, but have; built up a large trade with the smaller towns of the county as well. The delivery outside of the city is done with an automobile truck.