ADAMS TOWNSHIP.

THIS township is situated in the southeast corner of the county. It is seven miles from north to south and five from east to west, and contains thirty-five square miles. The township derived its name from Abraham Adams, who was one of the first settlers, coming here in 1823, and locating near New Columbus. Among the other first settlers we find the names of John Adams, Reason Sargent, William Penn, John, Andrew, and David Ellsworth, Levi Brewer, Thornton Rector, William Nelson, Manly Richards, Stephen and James Noland, Peter Jones, Bridge, Sawyer and Hudson, (the three latter of the Indian murder.) Of those who came soon afterward, and located in different parts of the township, we find the names of Thomas Bell, Hiram Birch, Joseph Smith, David Rice, John Coopman, John and Moses Surber, John Blake, William Sloan, Stephen Norman, Isaac Cooper, Thomas, William and Garrett McCallister, Ralph Williams, John Markle, James Collier, Stephen and Henry Dobson, Morris Gillmore, Thomas Shelton and William Stanley.

The election was first held at the house of Abraham Adams then at the house of Manly Richards, About the year 1830, the precinct was permanently located at New Columbus. The second precinct was established at Markleville in 1870. The following have served as trustees: William Sloan, Jacob Festler, John Boram, J. H. Dailey, Randall Biddle, Nelson Prichard and John Justice. There are ten school houses in the township, eight frame and two brick; the former are twenty-two by thirty, and cost $600 apiece; the latter are twenty by forty, and cost $1,200 each.

The total number of school children in 1858 was five hundred and eighty-four, and the total number in 1874 was five hundred and thirty-eight. The number of polls in 1872 was three hundred and twenty-three, of which one hundred and forty-one were cast at New Columbus, and one hundred and eighty-two at Markleville. The population

of the township in 1850 was one thousand three hundred and nine; in 1860 it was one thousand four hundred and fifty-three, and in 1870 it was one thousand five hundred and seventy-six.

The number of acres of improved land in 1870 was ten thousand nine hundred and seventeen. The total value of farms and farming implements for the same year was $759,257; value of live stock, $117,282; and value of all productions, $208,969. The number of bushels of corn raised in 1870 was ninety-one thousand one hundred and sixty-three. The number of miles of pike finished is fifteen. The number of Maronic lodges is two, with a total membership of sixty-nine. The number of Granges is four, with a membership of one hundred and ten. The number of post offices two; the number of saw mills, three; grist mill, one; physicians four; churches, seven; local preachers, four.

Fall Creek and Lick Creek pass through the township. Among the prominent men that have filled county offices from this township are Thomas Bell, Thomas McCallister, Joseph Peden, Peter Festler, John McCallister and G. W. Hoel.

The hilliest part of the county is in this township, on Fall Creek, between Columbus and the Henry county line. In this township lives the oldest man in the county, John Coopman, aged ninety years. It was in this township that the noted Indian murder occurred in 1824, which caused so much trouble to the infant settlement. The first marriage that took place in the township was in the year 1825, the parties being Adam Ellsworth and Sally Rector. The first school teacher was C. Hudson; the first physician Dr. Horn. The first meetings were held at the private houses of Abraham Adams, Peter Jones, and Reason Sargent. There was a meeting at the house of Peter Jones on the day the Indian bodies were discovered. Among the first preachers were James Havens, Mr. Hoel, Saul Reger and D. F. Stright.

Those serving as Justices of the Peace, are as follows: Hiram Birch, William Nelson, Moses Surber, J. M. Zeke, M. Armstrong, Thomas McCallister, Joseph Peden, Josephus Poindexter, Andrew Bray, Samuel Williams, G. W. Hoel, John Justice, Edgar Poindexter, James Moneyhun, and J. A. Sebrell. The last two are now serving.

We omitted to mention in the proper place the names of George and William Sebrell, who also served as justices. Otherwise the list is thought to be nearly or quite correct. There are but very few of the early settlers of the township now remaining in it. Among those few are Kitty Williams, daughter of Abraham Adams, John Coopman, John Blake, Ralph Williams, Thornton Rector, William Sloan, J. F. Collier, and Morris Gillmore.

ANDERSON TOWNHSIP.

THIS township is six miles square, and is the only square township in the county, excepting Van Buren. The number of inhabitants in 1850 was one thousand three hundred and forty-six; in 1860 it was two thousand five hundred and thirty; in 1870 it was four thousand seven hundred and thirteen, and in 1874 estimated at five thousand five hundred. In 1870 it had three hundred and seventy-one foreigners and ninety-one colored persons. The number of acres of improved land, in 1870, was one hundred and six thousand six hundred and eleven; the value of farms and farming implements, $1,049,974; value of live stock, $97,053; total value of all products, $207,899. The number of bushels of corn raised in 1870, was ninety-six thousand one hundred and forty one. It has fourteen school houses, five of which are brick. The total value of school property, including grounds, houses, etc., is $14,300; value of school property in the city of Anderson, $8,000. The number of school children in 1858, including Anderson, was eight hundred and fifty-four. The number in 1874, including

Anderson, was sixteen hundred and forty-four. It contains five grist mills, eight saw mills, three planing mills, two heading and stave factories, three cooper shops, four wagon shops, two chair manufactories, one spoke and hub factory, two furniture rooms, two lumber yards, three harness shops, two tanyards, two hardware stores, three hotels, eight dry goods stores, fourteen groceries, four drug stores, four shoe stores, eight general assortment stores, five churches, one post office, twelve physicians, eighteen lawyers, five local preachers, one telegraph office, two express offices, three stove stores, three agricultural warehouses, three grain warehouses, two printing offices, six shoe shops, one carriage shop, one wagon and carriage shop, three wagon shops, one foundry one pump shop, one marble shop, two photograph galleries, two bakeries, three banks, one flax mill, five blacksmith shops, two jewelry stores, one revenue office, two Masonic lodges, one Odd Fellows lodge, six Granges, three building and loan associations, three millinery establishments, one gunsmith shop, one wholesale liquor establishment, three livery stables, four butcher shops, one temperance society, I. O. G. T., and one book store.

This township was settled about the year 1820. Among the first settlers were William and John Allen, John Berry, Alford Makepeace, Dr. Wyman, William Curtis, N. Berry, Andrew Jackson, Joseph Howard, R. N. Williams, W. B. Allen, G. T. Hoover, William Beard, John and Thomas Harmison, W. G. Atherton, William Roach, Judge Mershoon, J. W. Westerfield and Joel Blackledge.

Among those who have served as Justices of the Peace, we find the following: John Berry, John Allen, J. M. Zeke, Oren Todhunter, Henry Wyman, Joel Blackledge J. P. Sharp, David Williamson, John Renshaw, P. H. Lemon, G. W. Bowen, Henry Whitmore, W. H. Mershoon, Andrew Jackson, Asa Pratt, William Roach and Edward Schlater.

Among the first merchants in Anderson were Connor & Makepeace. The first lawyer was C. D. Henderson. The

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first blacksmith was Mr. Bane. The first hotel was kept by John Berry.

White river passes through this township from east to west. Kill Buck comes into the township at the north and empties into White river near the railroad bridge. Prairie Creek has its source in this township, and flows south into Fall Creek, near Pendleton. There are three miles of the hydraulic canal in this township, which terminates at Anderson. It contains twenty-five miles of pike and seventeen miles of railroad. In this township is Anderson, the county seat, which will be spoken of more fully in another place. The general surface of the county is level, with the exception of a few bluffs along White river and Kill Buck. The fact that this township contains the county seat will keep this ahead of the other townships as far as population and business is concerned; the soil, however, is no better than is found elsewhere.

BOONE TOWNSHIP.

This township derived its name from Daniel Boone, of frontier notoriety. It occupies a central position in the north tier of townrhips. It is six miles from east to west, and five from north to south, and contains an area of thirty square miles.

Among the first settlers were Thomas Brunt, Wright Smith, John W. Forest, John Tomlinson, Dudley Doyle, John Moore, William Rieves, Peter Eaton and Robert Webster.

The population of the township in 1850 was two hundred and ninety-nine; in 1860 it was six hundred and seventyeight; in 1870 it was ten hundred and seventy-eight; and in 1874 estimated at twelve hundred. It contains eight school houses valued at $3,150, including grounds, maps, etc. In 1858 it contained two hundred and ninety-six