From Goodspeed's "History of Knox and Daviess Counties",
published 1885:
JOHNSON TOWNSHIP
This township was organized between 1812 and 1823, with some slight
changes made since. It is bounded on the north by Vincennes, on the east
by Harrison, on the south by White River and Decker and on the west by
Vincennes Township. The township is divided from north to south by the
Evansville and Terre Haute Railroad; the eastern or central portion is
drained by the river Du Chien or Deshee. This formerly discharged its
waters into ponds and swamps west of the railroad, and the water finally
found its way into the Wabash near the boundary line between Decker and
Vincennes Townships. Recently a large ditch was dug on the boundary line
between Decker and a portion of Johnson Township, thus discharging the
water into White River at Deckertown. The western portion of the
township, with the exception of the Chimney Pier Hills, is comparatively
low and marshy. The eastern and middle portions are more elevated and
quite sandy. The parallel sand ridges bear unmistakable evidence of
fluviatile formation.
EARLY SETTLERS
Frederick Mehl, or Mail, came to the county while it was in possession of
the French and Indians. As the French and Indians fraternized he learned
the French language as a matter of protection. He was from Philadelphia
and obtained Donation 52, to which Isaac Mehl obtained a deed in 1797.
Frederick Mehl was the father of Charles, Isaac, Solomon and Frederick,
all of whom have been identified with the development of the township.
They have all been closely confined to agricultural pursuits. George
Catt, grandfather of J. P. Catt, came from North Carolina to Virginia;
thence to Knox County and settled on an old French claim, lying
immediately east of Purcell Station. He came all the way from Virginia in
a wagon, bringing his family with him. George Catt, son of the former,
was born about 1800, and settled on a portion of the land owned by his
father. He was a ranger in time of the Indian War, but was not at the
battle of Tippecanoe. He was a farmer and miller. Moses Catt, the brother
of George Catt, was never the owner of land, was somewhat given to
bibulous habits. He lived in the "barrens" in the western part of the
township. "Boss" Catt went to New Orleans and was lost sight of by his
friends. Isaac Catt, brother of J. P. Catt, lived west of the railroad.
He owned a small tract of land, but depended mainly on his gun for a
living. He killed great numbers of deer and turkey. Other of the Catt
brothers were Solomon and Hiram, the former died in Harrison Township;
the latter is still living near the old farm of the grandfather.
Thomas Johnson settled in the township about 1800. He lived on the farm
now owned by Noah Purcell. Later he moved to the south side of the
township, where he died; his son, Thomas Johnson, still lives there.
Jonathan Purcell, the grandfather of the Purcell family of this township,
came to the county from Virginia and settled near Bruceville. His son,
John Purcell, bought the farm now owned by Noah Purcell over seventy
years ago. He obtained it of Thomas Johnson, before mentioned. He lived
on the farm till his death, when the farm came under control of Noah
Purcell, who still resides there. Andrew Purcell lived on the farm on
which Purcell Station and post office is located and after whom the
station was named. Others of the Purcell family have lived in the
township. Isaac Minor, who lived a short distance north of Noah Purcell,
settled there over half a century ago. Anthony Cary settled on Cary's
Prairie and gave name to the prairie. He owned a French cart and lived
the simple indifferent life of a pioneer. Shepard built a cabin on the
edge of Chimney Pier Hills, and in this kind of hermitage he and his wife
remained for many years. John Pea lived about two miles east of the
railroad. He was a man of sterling character, a Presbyterian. A beech
tree in the vicinity still bears the names of John and Henry Pea. Phillip
Board and Frank Mahoney were from Kentucky. They settled on small tracts
of land near the Chimney Pier Hills, and lived mainly by hunting. Other
settlers were J. Thorn, Joe Decker, Asa Decker, Jacob Pea, John Dubois,
Samuel N. Wilson, James S. Mays, William Flower, Henry Barkman, John Coon
and Isaac Coon.John Beadle, who is still living, is a kind of connecting
link between the past and present. Daniel Frederick, who has always lived
within a short distance of the place of his birth, is, according to his
own story, ninety-six years old in October.
MILLS AND OTHER INDUSTRIES
The first mill in Johnson Township was built by George Catt on his farm.
It was a horse-mill, and by it he was able to make an indifferent flour
or meal from ten or fifteen bushels of grain per day. This was built
about 1820, and was run for thirteen or twenty years. The flour was
bolted by hand. It was no uncommon thing for person to come to mill and
have to wait two or three days for their grist, during which time they
would either camp out, or would be taken care of by friends. The next
mill was built on the Deshee (Du Chien) by Jacob Pea. This was a
water-mill, and was used both as a grist and saw mill. At a later date it
was changed to a steam-mill. Vast quantities of lumber were sawed at this
mill and hauled to Vincennes. Other owners of mills on the Deshee (Du
Chien) have been Isaac Coon, Becker and John Drennon, who also had a
still-house.
During the winter of 1832-33, Capt. B. V. Beckes camped with his soldiers
on the river Deshee (Du Chien) while awaiting orders. He built huts for
his men and stalls for his horses. Previous to the late war the swamps
west of the railroad were a resort for horse thieves till broken up by
the "Regulators". Large wooden shoes, not unlike snow shoes, were fitted
to the horses' feet that they might pass over bogs and quagmires to
higher ground beyond, and thus to avoid pursuit. The assessor's report
for 1884 shows 5,023 acres of wheat, 5,753 acres of corn, 903 acres of
oats, 1,147 acres of timothy, and 912 acres of clover. This indicates
that there is less than half the township under cultivation.
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