Henry County, Indiana
Genealogy and History
History of Henry County, Indiana : together with sketches of its cities, villages and towns, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens : also a condensed history of Indiana, embodying accounts of pre-historic races, aborigines, Winnebago and Black Hawk wars, and a brief review of its civil and political history. Chicago: Inter-State Pub. Co., 1884, 944 pgs.
Greensboro Township was named after a North Carolina town from which many of the old settlers of this locality came. The township was founded Sept. 7, 1831, and then included "all that part of the territory of Henry Township west of the range line dividing townships 9 and 10." Thus it was seven miles from east to west and six from north to south. In 1838 the northern part of Greensboro was given to Harrison, and an addition of four square miles made to Greensboro from Wayne and Franklin Townships.
This township is well watered and fertile. The principal streams are Blue River, Montgomery's Creek and Six-Mile Creek. A considerable portion of the surface is rolling. Gravel is abundant and the soil good. Farms and improvements show that the people are industrious and thrifty. The population of the township in 1880 was 1,445, of which number 223 were in the town of Greensboro.
The following named persons made entries of lands now included within this township in the year 1821: Samuel Hill, Thomas McCoy, Levi Cook, Lewis Hosier, John Harvey, Sr., John Harvey, Samuel Pickering, Jacob Elliott.
Settlement commenced in 1821 and for many years progressed but slowly. Jacob Wood, Samuel Pickering and others came in the summer of 1821. Jacob Elliott came out and built a cabin in the fall of 1821, and went back for his family with which he returned in 1822. Jonas Pickering came from Ohio and cut a road from New Castle to the river, near Greensboro. Other early settlers were Ephraim Copeland, Reuben Edgerton, the Ratliffs, Jonathan Pickering and others. They were chiefly Friends.
Among the earliest mills in the county was one built by Elihu Davis about a mile south of Greensboro.
There are now about 400 voters in the township, of whom forty-five are Democrats and about fifty-five Greenbackers, and the remainder Republicans.
The first settler in the vicinity of this place was Jacob Wood. The first who built a house in the town was Thomas Regan. He also had the first saw-mill and the first dry-goods store.
Christopher Bundy, one of the first settlers, was keeping hotel in Greensboro in 1823. His improvement was then about the only one in the place.
The town of Greensboro was platted by Jehu Wickersham, in February, 1830. it is situated on the east bank of Duck Creek, about seven miles north of Knightstown, in the midst of a very fertile farming county.
In the days of anti-slavery agitation the town was a noted place, being the home of many determined Abolitionists. In old Liberty Hall, many noted men from far and near made enthusiastic speeches in favor of relieving the condition of the black man.
Greensboro postoffice was established about 1833. The following list of Postmasters is nearly, if not quite, complete: Wm. Reagan, Richard Henderson, Mrs. Richard Henderson, Reuben Swain, J. W. Crowley, George Darr, Robert H. Polk, Jabez H. Newby, Clayton Thornburg, John W. Fawcett and Wm. H. Loring (since 1872).
The business interests of Greensboro in 1884 were as follows: L. D. Bundy and Wright & Camplin, general merchants; A. J. Kern, hardware dealer; Moffitt & Saffell, and L. R. Allison, drugs and groceries; Samuel Gipe, wagon shop; Albert Wilson, carriage shop; Alfred Weeks, harness shop; Wm. Newton, shoe shop; William Dillon, Gary & Feezer, Alfred Templeton, blacksmiths; D. C. Wilson and Reuben Koontz, pump shops; Macy & Cook, undertakers.
Early schools were conducted under the direction of the Friends' Meeting. The township now contains seven school districts and about 375 school children. The value of school property is about $5,550. The average pay of teachers is $40 per month. The schools of the town of Greensboro employ four teacherss and have about 175 pupils.
Masonic.-Greensboro Lodge, No.175, F. & A. M., was instituted May 13, 1855, with the following charter members: John Polk, W. M.; J. W. Crowley, S.W.; Owen Evans, J.W.; Ezra Foster, Sec.; J.A. Unthank, Noble Butler, Jacob S. Elliott, E. P. Austin, H. Wilson and C. B. Austin. The lodge has now about fifty members and is in a prosperous condition. The present officers are: r. A. Smith, W. M.; Quinton Hinshaw, S. W.; L. H. Swindle, J. W.; J. T. Elliott, Sec.; N. P. Henley, Treas.
Odd-Fellows.-Greensboro Lodge, No. 247, was organized Dec. 11, 1865, with the following charter members: A. H. Shank, (N. G.), Chas. Jessup, W. H. Macy, S. H. Byers, and Jesse B. Jessup. The lodge is now in good condition, having fifteen members and $800 in the treasury. The present officers are: W. H. Brown, N. G.; A. M. Meredith, V. G.; W. H. Vaucannon, Sec.; Seth Hinsaw, Treasuerer. Trustees-Seth Hinsaw, Wm. Saint,and W. H. Vaucannon.
This is an old but small village, situated in the northern part of Greensboro Township, adjoining Harrison Township. It was founded in 1836 by James Atkinson. Wm. O'Neal kept the first grocery store and Alphonso Freeman the first dry-goods store. The first physician was Dr. Moss.
A small village on the L., B. & W. Railroad, in the northern part of Greensboro Township, was laid out in Setember, 1882, by C. C. Hinsaw, John Payne and Wm. McDixon. A store was then erected by C. C. Hinsaw, who still carries on business here. The place now has about 100 inhabitants, two stores, a blacksmith shop, a harness shop, a stone mason and two physicians.
Showalter & Bouslog have a general store, and C. C. Hinsaw a grocery and hardware store.
Kennard postoffice was established Oct. 1, 1882, and C. C. Hinsaw appointed Postmaster.
A saw-mill and planing-mill was built in 1883 by F. M. Rickett, who is carrying on a prosperous business.
Duck Creek Meeting.-Duck Creek Friends' Meeting was organized in 1823. Among its first members were: David Bailey, Rice Price, Joseph Ratliff, Eli STafford, Samuel Pickering, Thomas Kirk, the Henshapos and Jacob Wood. A log building was used as a meeting-house at first. In 1828 the meeting was divided and two distinct organizations formed, both of which retained and still retain the same name. The "Hicksites" erected a church of their own. Among their first members were: Levi Cook, Hugh Mills, John Copeland, Absalom Hiatt, John Hiatt, James Hiatt, Jacob Wood and James Pickering, all dead. They now have thirty members. Nathan Smith, Minister.
The "Orthodox" Friends erected a frame meeting-house, which they still occupy, in 1832. The number of members is now 130. Mary Saint has been the minister for several years. Joel Wright has been at the head of the meeting for some time.
Methodist Episcopal.-The Methodist Episcopal church of Greensboro was organized about 1842. A frame building was soon after erected on the site of the present church. In 1871 the old church was torn away and in its place the present one was erected at a cost of $1,500. There are now about forty members. Rev. Milton Mahin, Pastor. The Trustees are: Thomas Howren, Richard Dymond and William Vaucannon.