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The following has been copied from a manuscript prepared by George Strelby Cottman for Drusilla Cravens, probably between 1910 and 1920. Mr. Cottman, father of Evans Cottman, former science teacher at Madison High School, was involved in considerable research of this type for Miss Cravens who envisioned a very complete history of Jefferson County at this time. [Transcribers note: This is transcribed from a typewritten copy from the Madison-Jefferson County Public Library]

This township in the northwest part of the county has thirty-two square miles. It would have corresponded exactly to a Congressional township (T5 R 9) but for four square miles off the northwest corner, which, according to D.M. Elliotts, the Vawters of Vernon secured for Jennings County …”that their Vernon home might become central enough for a county seat.” This region was not populated as early as some other parts of the county. John Paul, in 1811, entered a quarter-section about a mile northwest of the site of Lancaster, but this did not represent a bona fide settler. The first residents of whom tradition tells us were John Welsh, John Card, and James Hays w hose dates of arrival are placed at 1812 and 1813. Of the two first, next to nothing is known, but Hays established—where the town of Lancaster stands—the first grist mill in the township, and the mill, continuing in operation for many years, has perpetuated the name of its founder to a later generation. He also established and operated a distillery. Hays was a Virginian from Harper’s Ferry.

A sheet in our possession containing a list of names and designated as “Pollbook of an election held in the Township of Lancaster.. on the eleventh d ay of June in the year 1818” contains thirty-one such names as follows: (spelling of names is as listed in the pollbook—some incorrect) James Hays, Daniel Marshall, James McCall, Lewis Wagnor, Jesse Williams, David Sutton, Samuel Robeson, James Hardsook, Alias Thomas, Amos Davis, Joseph Kenady, Remembrance Williams, James Chambers, Nathaniel Fuell, William Anderson, P.G. Manus, Richard Loring, Solomon Smith, John Kiniere, William Delap, Samuel Glasgow, Abam Long, Oliver Linley, Robert William, Thos. Chineth, Jacob Minton, James Greer, Wm. Minton, Hezekiah Stout.

Whether this list is supposed to comprise all the voters in the township at that time we cannot say, but we hear of other early-comers, some of whom, it is claimed, arrived prior to 1818. Alexander McCallister, in a reminiscent article, says that he came from Kentucky in 1817, and he mentions as his neighbors, in addition to some of the above, (though he may have had in mind a later date) James Bland, Benjamin Badgely, Moses Allen, Aaron Rowlinson, and David and W. Hughes. James Bland he credits with being the first one. Perry Magnus, he says, was the first justice of the peace, “but not having proper ability to discharge the duties of the office he soon resigned, and a man by the name of Delap was chosen to fill the place.” The first school teacher was William Hughes, who dedicated the first log school house with its puncheon floor, split-log benches and windows of greased paper. The first roads ran parallel with the creeks.

The second mill of which we hear was one built by Joseph Rankin, on Camp Creek, near the site of Dupont, in 1825. Subsequently the mill was rebuilt on a larger scale, but when completed and ready for operation, it was totally wrecked by freshet. Rankin was said to have been a large land-owner and to have planted the first orchards in the township. At a later date another mill was built, two miles east of Dupont, and successfully operated for many years.

The Indians still lingered in the vicinity and there is a tradition that they had a cabin just south of the little settlement of “Bulltown,” near the Houghton schoolhouse. McAllister says they were a Delaware band and that they were “peaceable and domestic,” the occupation of the women being basket-weaving. The oft-referred to “White Eyes” was their chief, and there has survived a local story that a Dr. Buell Eastman tried to cure him of his thirst for fire-water by drugging his liquor. It is safe to say the doctor’s experiment was not a success.

Lancaster, the first town in the township, was laid by James Stott, and the original plot exhibited for record in 1815. Stott advertised his new town as having “seven never-failing springs,” and is “a fine country around,” and an interesting feature of his announcement, as it appears in the Western Eagle of that date is the comment that “if the seat of county government should be fixed central, of course Lancaster will be preferred.” It may be noted here, that in a letter written to John Paul in 1815—by Dennis Pennington, a well-known legislator—reference is made to the proposed removal of the Courts from Madison to some more Central point showing that the question was then being agitated. At one time Danville (in Smyrna Twp.) a town now extinct—also aspired to that distinction.

Although Lancaster never acquired the County business, it did become a place of note, and at one time was, next to Madison, perhaps the chief business center in the County. The first industry there—antedating the town indeed, was the water gristmill of James Hays.

As previously said, he also had a distillery. Later, there was considerable manufacturing here of wooden articles such as wagons, farm implements, and furniture.
This may have been because the town was in the heart of a finely-wooded district, there being today more woodland in this township than in any other in the county.

Dupont, the only other center in the township was laid out in January 1839, and owed its origin to Madison and Indianapolis railroad then building. This factor gave it the ascendancy over Lancaster and it long has been the more important place. By the census of 1910, it is credited with a population of 300 and Lancaster 110.

The first store in the township was a mile southwest of the Dupont site, on the Versailles and Lexington road—long since vacated but which can still be traced through the township. This store sold whisky, among other things, was the first voting place, and the militia met there for the periodical musters. There were also two early taverns in that part of the township—one on the State Road near Dupont and the other near the intersection of the State Road and Middlefork Creek.

The town of Dupont was laid out in January 1839 by James Tilton, who was from Wilmington, Delaware, and who named the place, it is said, in honor of the well-known powder manufacturers. One of the first industries in that locality was a tannery which, tradition says, was established by V. Rawlinds as early as 1833.

Lancaster village and its neighborhood are notable as being an active anti-slavery center prior to the war, which phase of its history has already been covered by the chapter on antislavery and the discussion of the Eleutherian College. The Hoyts, Nelsons, Tibbetts, and others in the immediate neighborhood of Lancaster town, made a rallying center for those who shared the antislavery sentiment, and this attracted hither Thomas Cravens from Ohio, who was the father of Eleutherian College. This old stone building still stands crowning College Hill,” and over looking the quiet village that lies among its other hills among the valley of Big Creek, and the place and its traditions might well make the setting for a romantic tale.

In the memorable John Morgan raid of 1863, the guerilla chieftain and his mounted force entered the township and passed through Dupont. As they approached the village there was general panic among the residents who owned horses as it was well known that the invaders would appropriate fresh animals. The story goes that one Phillip Winchester, the owners of a very fine horse, had ridden to town and tied his nag to a post. When the raiders appeared Winchester ran for his horse and mounted, but an officer of from a distance ordered him to halt. At this juncture an old man named McCain yelled from out of the midst of a group: “Don’t Shoot: don’t shoot! This distracted the attention of the rebels and Winchester quickly taking advantage of the diversion, clapped heels to his horse and was off. The officer, recovering, angrily demanded to know who had been the cause of the flurry, but McCain discreetly held his place.

Churches

Of early churches of this township we have few records. One known as the Lancaster Presbyterian Church while taking its name from the township when formed fell within Monroe Township when the latter was formed and is sketched elsewhere. In 1846, an Independent Baptist Church (Anti-Slavery Baptist Church) was formed of the anti-slavery people who deprecated the negative attitude of the pulpit—generally-on that, to them, most important question. The part they took in the history of the Middle Fork Baptist Church (Lancaster Twp.) has been mentioned. The church was located on Neal’s Creek. Says one correspondent: “Thomas Craven, the first pastor, came from Ohio on horseback and preached once a month. He was paid a hundred dollars a year. There were very few members of the church, but everybody went to meeting.” The church was moved to Lancaster probably in 1847 before the establishment of the Eleutherian College, of which Mr. Craven was the head, and here services were held in the new college building for several years after its completion.

There is also mention of a “Seceders” or Scotch Presbyterian Church built in the thirties where Dr. James Brown of Madison, and Dr. Arnett of the Hanover neighborhood, used to preach. The congregation was largely composed of Scotch immigrants from North Carolina. These, it was said, “Held all-day services and sang only psalms.” [Editor’s Note, this was probably the Big Creek Associate Presbyterian Church, which was renamed the Mt. Pleasant Associate Presbyterian Church,]

Lancaster Baptist Church was formed July 30, 1859 at Byfrield’s schoolhouse with the following membership: Wm. And Cornelia Conway, Phannel Steedman, John, Sarah, Samuel and James Peterson, Mary McElroy, Aaron and Julia VanCleave, Levi and R.J. Jennings, Susan Wright, Wm. Brazelton, S.C. sand Lucy Graham, Elder Thomas Hill, minister, Elder M.S. Phares, clerk, and Daniel and Jane Rector. The successive pastorates during the first 24 years of its existence were filled by Elders Thomas Hill, T.D. George, Thomas Hill, Wm. A. Chambers, John Chambers, John E. McCoy, John Chambers, W.Y. Monroe, G.W. Thompson, J.N. Spillman and W.MM. McGuire. The church still exists. (The preceding from J.C. Tibbets History of Coffee Creek Association)

Lancasster M.E. Church—we are told—dates back to the middle fifties and has had a history of vicissitudes. The original Methodist Congregation having gradually decreased in numbers was succeeded by one of the Christian denominations, and this in turn was followed by services of the United Presbyterians. The Methodists then reorganized and—their old building having been torn down—held services in the Eleutherian College building. The trustees of the Christian denomination had not only razed the building but had sold the lot to J.B. McConnell who donated it to the Methodists who a few years ago built the present Church.

Mt. Zion Sabbath School was one of the early religious influences in Lancaster Township. It was organized in 1844, at Houghton School House, which was the principal meeting place of the settlers of that locality. Harry Weis, the first superintendent was followed by Jacob Nichols, Wm. Clist and others. Nathan Chapman was Secretary. Here the Rev. M.B. Phares preached and here John K. Frances, John Valibe, and Wesley Wiley taught

Biographical

The Spann Family- A large and well-known family identified with Lancaster and Monroe Townships, is that of the Spanns. Jesse Spann, the founder of the family here, came to Jefferson County in 1816 and settled on a half-section of land near Lancaster village stands. His grandson, S.D. Spann, from whom these facts are gleaned, says that when Jesse came the only other settler in that region was James Hayes. He had a family of nine children—John L. Moses, Solomon, Willis, Jenny, Anne, Sally, Emily and Harriet. Several of these remarried In Jefferson County, and some, in turn, reared large families. One of the sons, John S., was a member of one of the early Indiana legislatures, and also a general of the militia of Jennings County.

Jesse Spann had been a soldier for the Revolutionary war, and the grandson describes him as “a fine specimen of manhood, six feet, one inch tall, and weighing 210 pounds. I remember him,” he says, ”as an old man in the dress of continental days, and he reminded me of the pictures of
George Washington. He used to talk with me of the days of 1776, when I was a small boy, and I never forgot the impression his words made.” He died at the age of 91, and both he and his wife are buried in the Middlefork graveyard. He received a large tract of land at Charleston, S.C., for military services, but never took possession of it himself. About 1840, several men of the family loaded up a flatboat with mules for the southern market by way of defraying expenses, and started downriver from the purposes of looking after the South Carolina property, but at the Falls of the Ohio the boat was swamped, the mules lost, and trip frustrated. Nothing further was ever done and the land, which would ultimately be worth several fortunes, was lost.

Moses Spann, a son of Jesse, removed to land of his own in Monroe Township, which he occupied for more than half a century, dying there in 1886 at the age of 88.His son, Leonard D., lived on this place until 55 years old. He was educated at the country school, then taught for several terms. He married one of his pupils, Laura Theresa Driggs, when she was sixteen years old, and they reared to maturity a family of nine children. Mr. Spann served in the Civil War, first in Company A, 9th Regiment of Indiana Legion, and the nin Company C, 34th Regiment, Indiana Volunteers, his entire service being from April 1861 till November 1865.

Asa Smith. This pioneer, a native of Vermont, came from Garrard County, Ky., to this country about 1817, and took up a half section of land extending southward from the site of Dupont. His wife, a Jewett from “Vermont is described as “as a scholarly woman and a great reader, who left her impress upon many of her descendents.” Asa Smith had been as lave-holder in Kentucky but when he came to Indiana he set his slaves free. Some of them followed him and settled in Madison, where their descendents may yet be found. There were seven children in the Smith family, six of them being girls. One of these married John L. Spann, and another, Moses Spann; one married Benjamin Shrewsbury, who lived near Dupont. One to John Kern of Terra Haute and was the grandmother of U.S. Senator John W. Kern of Indianapolis. The only son, John C. Smith, became a well-known Methodist minister, and was the author of a book entitled, “Early Methodism in Indiana.” He is characterized by Mr. Spann as “a scholarly gentleman, gifted by nature and fitted by education.”

The Anti-Slavery Group. Of these men and women who added a distinctive feature to the history of Lancaster Township we have nothing like a complete biographical account, there being a number of members of the Neal Creek Anti-Slavery society of whom little has been preserved. Conspicuous in the movement were the Tibbetts, Hoyts, the Nelsons, and Cravens, and Samuel and Joseph F. Tibbetts, who came from Maine to Ohio, thence to Indiana in the thirties, are said to first promulgated here the anti-slavery doctrine.

James and Daniel Nelson, brothers, probably preceded Tibbetts, James coming first, brought there by a soldier’s claim located on Neal’s Creek. They are spoken of as “sturdy New Englanders, noted for their thrift and strong anti-slavery principles, who demonstrated the success of the cheese-making industry even in that early day, finding read sale for their products in Madison, and continuing through many years. What was known as the Nelson School house, on Neal’s Creek was the cradling place of the ”Neal’s Creek Anti-Slavery Society.

Lyman Hoyt came from Vermont to Lancaster in 1836. He was the first postmaster of the village and a justice of the peace. Prior to his incumbency as post-master the people went to Dupont or Madison for their mail, and for several years after the establishment of the office mail came only once a week and by a roundabout way. Mr. Hoyt was as ardent, a temperance advocate as he was an abolitionist and he was largely instrumental in abolishing liquor selling from his neighborhood. All property conveyed by his had a clause in the deed prohibiting the sale of intoxicants on the land under penalty of forfeiture. In the same spirit, he opposed slavery by refusing to see the products of slave labor, wearing only homemade fabrics and consuming maple of cornstalk syrup instead of southern molasses. He was one of many in the county who experimented in silk production when that industry was being promoted in the late thirties and early forties, David Zenor of Graham Township and Thomas Jameson of Monroe also produced silk as noted in the sketches of those townships.) Mr. Hoyt also had a factory in Lancaster, at one-time, where he manufactured hay rakes, scythe, handles, and the other woodenware.