From Goodspeed's "History of Knox and Daviess Counties"
published in
1885:
BUSSERON TOWNSHIP
This township occupies the northwestern corner of the county. It was laid
out about 1810, and named in honor of Francois Busseron, one of the
justices in 1790. On the north it is bounded by Sullivan County, on the
east by Widner Township, from which it is separated by Marsh Creek, on
the south by Washington, from this it is separated by Marie Creek, on the
west lies the Wabash. The soil is very fertile, a great portion of which
being sandy loam. Portions, however, are "barrens," from the great
accumulations of sand, the whole being alluvial formation. The township
contains about 35,000 acres of land, of which only about two-fifths is in
cultivation. The Evansville & Terre Haute Railroad and the Wabash River
afford ample facilities for shipping the produce of the township, which
consists mainly of wheat and corn.
SETTLEMENT OF BUSSERON
Thomas McGowen came from Pennsylvania to Knox County about 1798. He was a
gunsmith and worked for Col. Small, and also for Thomas Jones, the
trader, for a time. He came along the old trace. The family came to the
old post on pack-horses, and the goods were sent down the Ohio in
pirogues to the mouth of the Wabash, thence to Vincennes by keel-boat.
McGowen moved to the east fork of the White River below Mount Pleasant.
Here, May 12, 1812, he was murdered by Indians. At a later date William
McGowan, the son, now over eighty years of age, moved to Busseron, where
he now resides. Samuel McClure was from Kentucky; came about 1806 and
settled near the south end of Shaker Prairie; he then took up Government
land. On this was built a fort during the Indian War. John Ochiltree
settled near where McClure afterward settled in 1804. He was a man
remarkable for charity, refusing to sell corn beyond a certain price, and
turning none away for want of money. Abraham Case, a prominent man,
settled in the timber land near Ochiltree's. Hogg's Hill marks the place
of settlement of a man by the name of Hogg. A man named Greenfield
settled a short distance from Shaker Prairie. James Light, an early
settler, was supposed to have been drowned. James Watson lived southeast
of the prairie; he was a blacksmith. George Harper, who was the father of
a large family, lived east of Watson. Lockridge lived in the vicinity of
Harper; he was a hatter. It is remembered by an old resident that George
Balthus wore one of his old hats for years.
KILLING OF JOHN M'GOWAN BY THE INDIANS
As above stated, McGowen, at the time of his death, was living near the
east fork of White River The Indians were known to be dangerous, and
most of the houses were guarded. Two parties were guarding the
neighborhood - one party being at Hawkin's Ferry and one at Maysville on
that particular night. It was the last night the house was to be left
unguarded. McGowan relied on some seven dogs which he had for protection.
In the house besides McGowen's family were two of the Kinmans and a boy
named McGuire. The family were asleep. The first signal of danger was the
quick shot of a rifle which killed McGowen. The Indians had climbed up on
something and fired through an opening in the wall. By the aid of the
flickering light of the fire the Indians had been able to select their
victim. The family awoke to a sense of the danger of an Indian massacre.
Efforts were made to break down the door. For some unaccountable reason
the dogs had kept quiet till now; soon a contest arose between them and
the Indians, and by firing in the direction of the noise the Indians were
driven away. This occurred on the night of May 12, 1812. The deed was
supposed to have been committed by Popin-Dick, an Indian who had been
insulted by McGowen.
INDIAN RELICS
Numerous relics of the Indians and Mound-Builders are found in this
township, particularly near Gray's Pond. Dr. Pugh, of Oaktown, has some
fine specimens found there in an old burying-ground. Among them are three
open dishes like a wash basin, very perfect, three bottle-shaped vessels
with necks, two whetstones, one image, one pestle, several arrow heads,
stone hatchets, a large number of human bones. One large skeleton was
found in a sitting posture, which bore evidence of rank. Some of the
earthenware bore marks of rude engraving.
THE SHAKERS
In about 1805 an organization in New York sent out two elders, who went
through Ohio and Kentucky, and, making several converts, formed a colony
of families and settled in the northwest part of Busseron Township, where
they were soon followed by two female elders necessary to make the
organization complete. The main body of the land was entered by William
Davis, Adam Galagher and Nathan Pegg, as trustees for the Shakers, in
July, 1813. At first they retained separate families, and were not united
as is their custom. In 1811 they moved back to Ohio, where they remained
till quiet from the effects of the war of 1812 had been restored in
Indiana, when they returned, and were prosperous for some time. They once
numbered about 400, and owned 1,300 acres of land. They were successful
in stock raising and horticulture, and had a fruit orchard of about forty
acres. On Busseron Creek they built a saw-mill and a grist-mill, both
propelled by water-power. They manufactured various kinds of lumber, a
great deal of walnut and cedar, and also made cedar cooper-ware. They had
carding and fulling machines, and made all their own clothing, as well as
boots and shoes, for which they tanned the leather. They had a cocoonery,
and manufactured silk to some extent. Cattle and sheep were raised
extensively and successfully. Their town, West Union, consisted of
several buildings, used for various industries, for residences, and
worship. The building used for worship is still standing. It is a frame
structure, about 48 x 50 feet, two stories, and also has an attic, which
is floored, and was apparently used for some special purpose. The ground
floor is all in one room, used for worship, or dancing, as that is their
mode of worship. Entirely around the room extends a seat of walnut plank.
The second story was used by the elders - two males and two females. This
story is reached by two flights of stairs and is divided into nine rooms.
The lower story had no heating accommodations; the second story was
warmed by four "fire-places." The whole building, as well as all their
other buildings for residences, etc., was finished with walnut, and is an
example of remarkably skilled mechanism. The foundation is of hewed
sandstone, three feet high. The most remarkable of the other buildings
was the brick residence, which has been torn down., and from the material
Mr. J. H. E. Sprinkle has built a residence. It was 40 x 50 feet. In the
first story was a hall, which extended through the building from east to
west, and contained two flights of stairs by which the second story was
reached, and six rooms for sleeping apartments. The first story was
arranged so that by folding partitions one-half of the hall and two of
the largest rooms could be thrown into one room, used for evening
prayer-meetings. On the first floor were accommodations for twenty-four
persons to sleep. The second floor was divided into compartments
similar to the first and furnished sleeping room for twenty-eight
persons. The kitchen was in a separate building. The idea that this
building contained dungeons as places of punishment is erroneous, as
their only mode of punishment is by "putting out of unions," or excluding
from full privileges, till full confession should be effected. The other
buildings were mainly of hewed logs.
The Shakers held their property in common. Industry and economy were
their particular characteristics. Their spiritual, moral and temporal
affairs were presided over by male and female elders, the males being
under the care of Isaker Bates and Alexander McKean, and the females
under the care of Rebecca Brazleton and Fannie Price. They were a
peaceable and law-abiding people, and were very punctual, which is shown
by their rule which compelled those tardy at evening prayer-meetings to
enter through the deacons' rooms, which was considered punishment for
tardiness.
THE GREAT PEAR TREE
This historic tree, the "giant of its race", stood on the Ochiltree farm,
Lot 201, now owned by the Wise heirs. This was planted about
three-quarters of a century ago. Several years ago it was "blasted and
riven by lightning." This tree was visited by the Rev. H. W. Beecher some
years ago, and a full description of it given then. It was twelve feet in
circumference at the base, 120 feet high, and had a lateral spread of 120
feet, and bore an average crop of fifty bushels. Another pear tree of
huge dimensions, planted by the Shakers, still stands on the farm of Col.
Sprinkles. This tree is still vigorous, and is supposed to be the oldest
of its kind in the State.
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