Fountain County Centennial, Richard Henry Lee Chapter, Daughters of the
American Revolution, 1926. No page numbers.
Van Buren Township
Mrs. H. H. Glascock
Originally, Van Buren Township was a part of Cain, Shawnee, Richland,
and Troy Townships, but in 1841 through the efforts of John G. Lucas, Dr.
Isaac Spinning, and Daniel Glascock, the township was organized and named for
President Van Buren, much against the wishes of many of the old line Whigs.
The first settlement in this township, also said to be the first in the
county, was made in February 1823, by three families: Jonathan Birch, John
Colvert, and William Cochran. IN 1822 they came and purchased land, then cut
out a road, connecting with the old Terre Haute road, and made preparations
to erect houses. Birch is said to have built the first cabin in the county,
a half mile west of Stone Bluff. Colvert built the second, one what is now
State Road No. 10 and the Dixie Highway. These three families formed the
first neighborhood in the township.
The second company of settlers came the latter part of the year 1832,
and located on Osborn's Prairie, west of Coal Creek. This settlement, like
the first, was a company formed for mutual assistance. Gen. Jesse Osborn was
the leader. He and his company cut a road through the forest from
Crawfordsville, and were in the wilderness for some time, thinking that they
were the first and only white settlers for miles around, till one day they
heard the sound of an ax and maul, from the east. These two companies of
settlers met for the first time on the banks of Coal Creek.
These early settlers came principally from Ohio, Maryland, Virginia and
Delaware.
The first road in the township was laid out by William Cochran, and was a
trail blazed through the forest from what is now Veedersburg to Covington,
for a merchant who was transporting goods across the country from Cincinnati
to Covington.
The first mill in the township was built in 1824, on the south branch of
Coal Creek, by John Course. He told his neighbors if they would donate their
services in building this dam and mill, they should have their grist ground
without regard to who was before them, and the man who did the most work on
the mill without pay was to have the first flour made by the mill. This
prize went to Joseph Glascock, who was a leader among his fellow-men at a
very early period in the county. No man did more, perhaps, to develop the
resources of the county and to cultivate a law-abiding peaceable spirit in
its people, than he.
The first religious service in the township was held at the camp of
William Cochran, before he had his cabin completed. This service was
attended by the Cochrans, Colverts, and Birches, and was conducted by William
Crovins, a Methodist Minister, in 1824. IN 1824, the fist society was
organized with eight members. The first pastors were Cord Emmet, Rev. Biggs,
and Elder Strange.
The first school house was built near Coal Creek in 1825. Among the first
teachers were Dr. Moses Fowler, Wm. Keeling, John Jack, Jacob Furr, and
Sanford Cox.
The first dry goods were sold in the township by John Walker. He was
succeeded by Joseph G. Luca, in 1825, who carried on the mercantile business
until 1870.
Isaac Spinning of Van Buren Township cast the first vote in the county.
The first death in the township was Erasmos Greenley, in 1824. He is
buried on the farm now owned by Edward Greenley, a great-nephew.
The first post-office was located on the Covington and Crawfordsville
road, south of Veedersburg, and the postmaster was Jacob Strajer.
The first township officers were: Hara Applegate, John Wertz, and Judge
Joseph Coats, trustees; J. G. Lucas, Treasurer; Jacob Turner, Esq.
At first, the people were forced to market their produce and purchase
most of their goods elsewhere. The great trading points were Cincinnati and
Louisville. It consumed four-fifths of the price of a load of pork to market
it. A Barrel of flour brought on the market at New Orleans, just as many
silver dollars as it took to cover the head of the barrel.
The only person born in Van Buren who ever attained national prominence
was Daniel W. Voorhees. He served a number of years in the U.S. Senate, and
was a member of the Senate committee that fought for the appropriation of
national funds to build the Congressional Library Building in Washington,
D.C., which was built at a cost $6,500,000.00, and is one of the most
beautiful buildings in the world.
The first bridge built in the county was in Van Buren Township, over Coal
Creek, at White's Mill. It was completed in 1826.
Among the settlers who came to the township before 1830 were: Cochrans,
Whites, Colverts, Birches, Pattons, Rushes, Galloways, Romines, Cranes,
Boords, Campbells, Walkers, Simpsons, Glascocks, Reeds, and many others.