History  of  Liberty  Township

Liberty Twp, Shelby Co, IN:  Township 12 North - Range 7, 8 East
per Plat Directory distributed by the Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service, 1997.

The  Shelbyville  Republican
 Tuesday, March 7, 1911
Page 1
-------------
REMONSTRANCE  HELD  GOOD.
------------
         The County Commissioners on Monday had a remonstrance before them presented by residents of Liberty township.  The remonstrance was to prevent the commissioners from granting liquor license to any one in that township for two years.  The remonstrance had the signature of 282 persons, seventy-nine more than were necessary, and it was held good by the commissioners.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming


The  Shelby  Union  Banner
 Thursday, March 19, 1885
page 1
-------oOo-------
"GOAT  RANCH"  GLEANINGS.
------------
          We have one jig dancer in our neighborhood and that is the Doctor.
          If a man strikes his wife he should pay for it.  But did he do it?
          Born, to Mr. and Mrs. Millard Bales, a daughter weighing eight pounds.
          Newton Treese, of Bugaboo, has commenced work for George McColley for the coming season.
          Dr. Mann's time will soon expire for building fires for Miss Buena McNeely, at school house No. 4.
          William Demoss, formerly of the "Crainery," has moved into the house vacated by John W. Green.
          Mr. Clell McNeely, one of our enterprising young men, started on Friday to attend college at Valparaiso, in this State.
          School will close on Friday at the Love school house.  Friends and patrons are invited to be present.
          Among the many correspondents for the Democrat at Cynthiana, the one who signs his name "Ball" made a mistake.  He should sign his name "Calf," which would be more appropriate to his droppings.
          Marion Heck has erected for himself a hennery thirty feet in front and as far back as possible.  Success to you, Marion.
          Willie, son of  Jasper Heck, is talking of going to Minnesota for his health this spring.
          We have our eyes on the man who caused so many men to be dragged to Shelbyville before the grand jury.  We as a body advise him to load up and pull out.  A word to the wise is sufficient.
          Daniel Callahan, while practicing on a pair of roller skates, met with a serious accident.  He fell and the skates lit on top of him and came very near breaking his neck.  Fatal results were feared.
          Why can't a man get up like a man in a debate and make a speech as he should and not "bullyrag" his opponent as some of our most talented "spouters" do?  But we need not expect anything else when we have got only half a chairman.
          R. G. McDuffee and  J. W. Green have formed a co-partnership in the poultry usiness, and will soon be able to fill all orders.  Correspondence solicited.
          Then Thomas Trackwell went out to open his sugar camp, he began to look around and to his surprise he had neither barrel nor vehicle to bring in the water with, so he had to fall back on something else.  After cogitating awhile, he concluded to make his spiles long enough to run the water right into the kettle.
CURRYCOMB.
Copied by Phyllis Miller Fleming

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

         Liberty Township is bounded on the north by Hanover Township, on the east by Rush County; on the south by Noble Townshp and on the west by Addison Township. It is four miles in extent from east and west, and six miles from north to south. It has rare natural advantages, and as early as 1829 more than one-half the land was taken up, and by 1835 it was all entered. Any one passing through this part of the county cannot fail to notice the general air of prosperity, thrift and improvement in every direction.  There is a valuable German element in the western part of the township, that has done much for the development of the country.  Conn's Creek and Buck Creek are the principal streams.  The soil is above the average of the county, sufficiently rolling for advantageous cultivation, rich and productive.  The earliest settlers of this part of Shelby County were

Joshua Ensminger
Daniel French
Jacob Creek
Dr. John Haymond
Jedidiah Tingle
Henry Moore
Louis, Henry and Marcus Misener
Josiah Chapman
Kemble E. Midkiff
Rev. Henry Fisher
Rev. Thomas Jones
Jacob, Michael, Thomas and Jesse Youngman
Ira L. Bartley
Elijah Byland
Samuel Love
William McNeilly [McNeely -jb]
Samuel Monroe
John Ballard
Wesley Burker
William Trackwell
David Robertson
Abraham, Leonard, Micager and Bennett Powell
John Wykoff
Aaron Momack [Womack -jb]
John Steers
Philip Ensminger
St. Clair Ensminger

         There are six churches in the township three Methodist Episcopal, one Universalist, one Christian and one Catholic.  Of the seven school-buildings, five are brick houses of considerable architectural taste, and with every modern convenience.  Cynthiana, Middletown and Waldron are the towns.  Cynthiana was founded by the Youngman brothers and Thomas Spurgeon, August 19, 1835.  Here Blue Ridge Post Office is located.  The town is situated upon a commanding eminence and has a store, a Methodist Episcopal Church, and a steam saw and grist mill.  Thomas Spurgeon started the first nursery in the county at this point, which was the means of introducing a large number of good orchards.  Middletown is an old place, having been founded June 19, 1829, by Thomas Hayman.
         The first merchant here was David Leggett, now a banker in Greensburg, Ind. Joseph Cummins for a long time kept a tavern here. Middletown now has one church, two dry-goods stores, two groceries, one drug store and a blacksmith-shop. Waldron is quite a pretty place on the Indianapolis, Cincinnati & Louisville Railroad.  Its former name was Stroupville, and it was founded March 27, 1854. Conn's Creek Post Office is located here.  It has a railroad station, a Methodist Episcopal Church, a Universalist Church, three dry-goods stores, two drug stores, one grocery, two tin and stove stores one wagon-shop, and  David Grubbs carries on a considerable grain trade.  One of the best temperance organizations in the county is located here.
         There are some very fine farms in Liberty, with substantial houses and commodious barns.  The following may be named as instances:

Washington Chapman's
Leonard Powell
J. J. Curtiss
Lewis Fairbanks
James Haymond
Elza Rucker
--------- Zobel
William Higgins
John Waggoner
William Stockhart
Greenley Wilson
Liberty Seeley
Bennett Powell

         The late Samuel Love was one of the first Justices of the Peace in Liberty, and is affectionately remembered as a man of sterling integrity and moral worth.  Among citizens of this township who have risen to eminence are Messrs. J. J. Curtis,  J. M. Brown and  George Brown, who were elected to the Legislature.  Mr. Curtis also served as County Commissioner.  Benjamin F. Love, a son of Squire Samuel Love, has attained a conspicuous position in the legal profession. ~ ~
From the Atlas of Shelby Co., Indiana, Chicago: J.H. Beers & Co, 1880, page 14.
Copied by Phyllis Miller Fleming

The  Shelby  Union  Banner
 April 14, 1864
Page 3, col 2
Township Elections -- Official.
----------
LIBERTY.
Union.                                                       Copperhead
Trustee.
Wash. Chapman.......90 Elzy Rucker.......148
Constable.
F. M. Mayhew........86 D. V. Robertson...134
E. B. Hendricks......2 Henry Hill........152
Copied by Phyllis Miller Fleming
Township History Index       Township Map       Main Page