Blue River Township - The time has now come when the first permanent settlement
is to be planted in Johnson County. In 1814 a young man by the name of John
Campbell, born and reared in Tennessee, went to find a home north of the Ohio.
Fate directed his footsteps to the vicinity of Waynesville, in the State of Ohio,
where he married Ruth Perkins, a native of South Carolina. In 1817 he moved to
Connersville, and in 1820 to the "new purchase" on Blue River. It was as early as
the latter part of February, when, with his wife and four sons he set out through the
wilderness to become the first settler of a county that was yet unformed and unnamed.
Four little girls belonged to his household, but these were left behind to follow on
horseback, when the home was prepared for them. A neighbor, Benjamin Crews, went
with him and helped to clear a path and drive his domestic animals and team. The road
which they cut must have been the most primitive of paths, for, when two years after,
Alexander Thompson, Israel Watts and William Reynolds came over the same general
route, they found a wagon road to Flat Rock, south of Rushville, but thence on they were
compelled to cut their own way.Campbell reached the Blue River on Saturday, the 4th of March, and at once began
the erection of a pole cabin, on the tract of land lying immediately south of the present
site of Edinburg, and the same spring cleared a small field which he enclosed with a brush
fence to keep out his own stock, in time to raise a crop of corn. Crews returned to Connersville
for his family and moved to Campbell's neighborhood the same spring, arriving on the 17th of
April. On a spot already selected by him, which afterward proved to be on the Bartholomew
side of the line, he encamped the evening of his arrival. That night his son Jonathan, a lad eight
years of age, while lying down and looking at the moon, through the limbs of a large tree, "saw
something reach out a hand and pull up a limb," to which he at once called his father's attention,
who said it was a coon. The next morning, on inspection, the tree was found to be hollow, and
Benjamin Crews at once cut it down, and as it fell crashing to the ground, a she bear and her two
cubs tumbled to the earth from their den in a hollow limb. The dogs at once mounted the old beast,
but cuffing them right and left, she made her escape, leaving her cubs in the hands of their captors.
Stripping the horses of their halters the two young bears were soon securely tied, but the horses
now thoroughly alarmed at the unwonted commotion, and finding themselves at liberty, took the
back track for the White Water country and ran eight miles before being overtaken and recaptured.John Campbell's neighbors were Crews and Richard Beny, the latter who lived a little over a mile
below him, but within the present limits of Bartholomew County, whither he had removed the
year before. But he did not have to wait long for others to come in. A half dozen or more families,
it is said, moved into the Blue River woods, the same spring, but this is not certain. A large
number did come in during the year. The lands since incorporated, in part, into Blue River Township,
were surveyed in August of that year, and on the 4th of October, the same year, were exposed for
sale at the land office in Brookville. That day these purchases were made of Blue River lands
(which were the first within the county) by James Jacobs, William W. Robinson, and John Campbell,
(who afterward lived in Sugar Creek), and on the day following, John Campbell, the first settler, and
eight others made entries. Thirty-nine entries in all were made before the close of the year, covering
a total of 4,400 acres.As far as now known, eighteen families moved into the new settlement during the year, of which
Henry Catsinger, Simon Schaffer, Jesse Dawson, Zachariah Sparks, Elias Brock and Joseph Townsend,
were Kentuckians; William Williams, and as already stated, John Campbell, were Tennesseans; Amos
Durbin was from Virginia; John A. Mow and Joshua Palmer, were from Ohio; Isaac Marshall and John
Wheeler were from North Carolina; Samuel Herriott, from Pennsylvania, while the native places of
Louis Bishop, Thomas Ralston and Richard Cormorave are unknown.The second year of settlement, twenty-seven families are known to have moved in. Elisha Adams
came from Kentucky and moved to the north end of the township, and founded the Adams
neighborhood. Richard Foster and John and William, his brothers, Patrick Adams, Patrick Cowan,
Arthur Robinson, Curtis Pritchard, David Webb, William R. Hensley, William C. Robinson, James
Farrell, John Adams, John P. Barnett, Jacob Cutsinger, Isaac Harvey (a Baptist preacher), Lewis Hays,
William Rutherford, Jefferson D. Jones, Thomas Russell and Samuel Aldridge, all Kentuckians; and
Isaac Collier, Israel Watts and Jonathan Hougham, Ohioans; and Alexander Thompson, from Virginia;
Jesse Wells and Thomas Doan, from North Carolina, and William Reynolds, from Tennessee, moved in.
By the close of this year, the lands contiguous to Blue River were taken up, and a line of settlement
extended nearly across the south side of the township, while John Campbell, an Irishman, had laid the
foundation of a settlement at the mouth of Sugar Creek, and Lewis Hays and William Rutherford had
joined John Adams' settlement higher up the creek.In 1822, fourteen families moved in. Of these Able Webb, James Connor, Hezekiah Davison,
William Hunt, James M. Daniels, John Shipp, William Barnett, David Durbin, Hiram Aldridge and
Thomas Russell were from Kentucky; Charles Martin and Samuel Umpstead were from Ohio; and it is
not ascertained whence came Baker Wells and Samuel Johnson, who came in this year. In 1823, William
Freeman moved from Bartholomew County into the township, and Richard Shipp and John Hendrickson
also moved in. All these were Kentucky born. By the close of 1823, there were at least sixty-three
families living in the township.Transcribed by Cheryl Zufall Parker
THe unnamed wife could be Rebeckah Dungan marriage date 23 Oct 1823
Wounded in Civil War
In Civil War Hume Iowa A private in the 18th Iowa Infantry
on 1880 census as farmer
on 1880 census as farmer
Johnson County, Indiana
Marriage Records
1851-1875
Valume 2
Name: James R. Wright
Spouse: Mary E. Hougham
Marriage Date: 13 Jul 1867
OSPage: 93
County: Johnson
Johnson Co. Court Records 1823-1853 H 977.241 Hol
Page 573. James S. White the guardian of Jennetta R. and Mary L.White and of
Elizabeth K. Israel (late White) petitioned the court to sell theirinterest in
real estate in sections 4 and 5, township 11, range 5. M.P. Adams,William H.
Barnett and JOHN S. HOUGHAM were appointed to appraise it. August15, 1851.
SOLAR COMPASS
John S. Hougham (1821-1894, Franklin Indiana) graduated from Wabash College in 1846 and from 1848-1867 was Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy at Franklin College in Indiana. Also during this time he served as the Johnson County Surveyor and the City of Franklin Civil Engineer. From 1868-1872 he was the Chairman of Philosophy and Agriculture at Kansas State University. From 1872-1876 he was the Chairman of Agricultural Chemistry at Purdue University. The rare solar compass was made about 1860. At this time Hougham advertised as a maker of mathematical instruments in the Indiana State Gazetteer. R. Elgin
Johnson Co. Court Records 1823-1853 H 977.241 Hol
Page 573. James S. White the guardian of Jennetta R. and Mary L.White and of
Elizabeth K. Israel (late White) petitioned the court to sell theirinterest in
real estate in sections 4 and 5, township 11, range 5. M.P. Adams,William H.
Barnett and JOHN S. HOUGHAM were appointed to appraise it. August15, 1851.
SOLAR COMPASS
John S. Hougham (1821-1894, Franklin Indiana) graduated from Wabash College in 1846 and from 1848-1867 was Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy at Franklin College in Indiana. Also during this time he served as the Johnson County Surveyor and the City of Franklin Civil Engineer. From 1868-1872 he was the Chairman of Philosophy and Agriculture at Kansas State University. From 1872-1876 he was the Chairman of Agricultural Chemistry at Purdue University. The rare solar compass was made about 1860. At this time Hougham advertised as a maker of mathematical instruments in the Indiana State Gazetteer. R. Elgin
WILLIAM RUNKLE, son of Lewis and Elizabeth Runkle, was born in
Culpepper County, Va., on the 13th day of march, 1813. Lewis Runkle
was a native of Shenandoah County, Va., and son of Peter Runkle, who
bore a distinguished part in the War of the Revolution. Lewis Runkle
emigrated to Indiana in 1826, and later, moved to Iowa, where his death
occurred about the year 1854. He was by trade a tanner, but after coming to
Indiana, turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, which he carried on until
his death. his wife died in Bartholomew County in 1849. Mr. and Mrs. Runkle
were the parents of ten children, four of whom are now living. William Runkle
spent the years of his youth and early manhood in Virginia and Indiana, and grew
up amid the active scenes of pioneer life. His early educational training was
received in the old-fashioned log schoolhouses. He remained with his parents
until twenty-five years of age, and then began farming for himself, first on rented
land, and two years later on 120 acres which he purchased in Needham township,
where he now lives. In 1837 he married Mary Hougham, daughter of Aaron and
Catherine Hougham, natives respectively of Kentucky and Tennessee. Mrs. Runkle
was born in Fayette County, December 18, 1818, and died in Johnson County. Two
children were the result of this marriage. Mr. Runkle's second marriage was solemnized
in 1873, with Rachel McClean, daughter of Daniel and Nancy (Farnsworth) McClean,
of Green County, Tenn. To this union no children were born. His wife died February 5,
1876, and on the 13th of February, 1877, he married Sarah Ann McClean, a sister of his
former wife.
on 1880 census as farmer
Is Wilson Thompson named after the Wilson Thompson named here????
Life And Travels Of Elder William Conrad
TO WILLIAMSTOWN AGAIN.
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We next will call the readers' attention again to the Church of Christ–Particular Baptists at Williamstown. I would state that this Church, during the time of the refreshing season and ingathering of the Lord's redeemed about Raysfork and Forklick Churches in 1819, 1850, and 1851, it was in a state of trouble and affliction, owing to the unguarded course of some of their members in their walk and deportment, as their record book shows. But, at length the troubles in the Church subsided, and the Church had a time of rest and frequently refreshing seasons, with some additions, as she traveled on in her pilgrim state up to the years of 1866 and 1867, since which time there has been no additions by experience and baptism, and but few received by letter and relation up to the present date, September, 1874. They remain at present in apparent peace and quiet, and generally in attendance at their regular meetings, and seem to give full attention to preaching.
I must say that I know of no church or people whatever claiming to be the children of God, the Church of Christ, that are under so strong obligations of thanksgiving to God for such abundant supply of the ministry of the Gospel of Christ for so many years, and so favored quite soon after her organization.
To say the least, they have been blessed with as able and faithful ministers from afar as well as near by, to labor for them in their house for regular worship, and from house to house among the brethren; and the writer feels it due not only to the Church but also due to the Lord's servants to give at least a few of their names. Among the first who came among us was Elders Joel Morehead, Thos. Threlkill, Lewis Conner, Lewis Corbin, Absalom Graves, Ficklin, Brice Fields, Wm. Glasscock, William Hume, Thos. P. Dudley–up to 1849; William Rash, Allen Emery, Robert Ricketts, Aaron Huffum of Indiana, Joel Hume, Wilson Thompson of Indiana, Wilson T. Pence of Ohio, John Parker of Ohio, Wm. S. Hickey, Jas. W. Dudley, John Clark of Virginia, Abraham L. Thurston of Indiana, John Crabtree of Ohio, E. H. Burnam of Missouri, Philip McInturf of Virginia, Samuel Williams of Ohio, often up to 1860. E. Stephens and Exhorter Beuford Rice, whose work and labor of faith and love was more singularly and wonderfully blessed in bringing into the Church the despondent sheep and lambs of any that labored among the four churches–Forklick, Raysfork, Twincreek, and Williamstown.
We now leave the four churches for the present and attend more close to our own history.
on 1880 census as farm labourer
Name Business Name Occupation Location City State Year
Chas Hougham Farmer Franklin Johnson Indiana 1890Ed Hougham Farmer Franklin Johnson Indiana 1890