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Descendants of John Hill

Generation No. 2

2. Wilburn B.² Hill (John¹) was born 04 Oct 1835 in IN, and died 04 Apr 1915 in Salt Creek Twnshp, Jackson, IN. He married Nancy Jane Lutes 14 Feb 1856 in Jackson Co., IN, daughter of Mary Jane Lutes. She was born 1833 in Indiana, and died 02 Jul 1914 in Salt Creek Twnshp, Jackson, IN.

Notes for Wilburn B. Hill:
History of Jackson County
1896
Chapter 12 and 13

Salt Creek Township

Salt Creek Township - Indians- Wild Game- First Settlers- With Daniel Boone-Early Enterprises-Religious Meetings-Distilleries, etc- Villages of Houston and Freetown.

Salt Creek Township occupies the northwest portions of the county, and is bounded on the north by Brown County, on the east by Hamilton Township, on the south by Brownstown and Owen Townships, and on the west by Lawrence County. In area it is the largest township of the county, containing seventy-five square miles, or 48,000 acres. The surface is rough, hilly and broken, except the two narrow valleys through which flow the north and south branches of Salt Creek. The soil, except in the valleys, is somewhat sterile, and consequently is not best adapted to the growth of those produces requiring excessive fertility. The surface was, and a considerable portion is yet, covered with a dense growth of the native trees.

INDIANS
At the time the first settler made his appearance in Salt Creek Township the Indians had practically abandoned this territory, although they were occasionally seen in small bands, and not infrequently called at the cabins of the settlers for the purpose of obtaining ammunition.
This it is said was at one time a favorite hunting spot of the Piankeshaw tribe, and many of their implements of warfare and join the chase have been found here. For a few years after the first settler came to this county, detached bands wandered up and down the streams of this section, locating for short periods where the game was most abundant. But these few were soon driven beyond the Father of Waters, and later were compelled to find homes in the Rocky Mountains, where they are fast disappearing and will soon be entirely extinct.

WILD GAME
At the time of the coming of the first settler wild animals were very numerous. Bears were often seen, and frequently killed Deer were almost as numerous as hogs, and could be shot from the doors of the cabins. The distressing and mournful howling of the wolves was no uncommon sound. Turkeys were as numerous as quails are today, and their meat, in sweetness and flavor, far surpassed that of the tame ones-so says the old hunter. Squirrels were so numerous that companies were organized for the purpose of destroying them, in order to protect the cornfield. Hogs not infrequently went wild, and when attacked were as savage and ferocious as the bear or panther. The deer were quite plentiful in this township for many years, and in fact they have been hunted and killed within the last few years.

FIRST SETTLERS
One of the first to settle in Salt Creek Township was JOHN LUTES, who built a small log cabin a half a mile north of Houston. George Wagoner settled a quarter of a mile east of Houston; JOSHUA BROWN a mile to the west, and William Winkler and Samuel Stockdell were in the same neighborhood. A few years later came James Acton and George Gable, James Mulkey, Michael Rudolph, Solomon Cox and Joseph Young. Contemporaneous with the settlement made at Houston, which was some time prior to 1820, other settlements were made on "Muddy For" and at Finley's. At the former were Joel Jackson, Phillip Highnote, Thomas Scott, John Scott, Arthur Martin, John Blerings, Silas Mahuron, Jesse Isaacs and Squire Sims. At Finley's were William Elkins, Drury Elkins, James Stephens and the Fleetwoods. The other names that deserve mention among the pioneer settlers are James Russell, Joseph Johnson, Richard Johnson, William Johnson, Elisha Monroe, Conway, Thomas King, Elias Arthur, Simon Franklin, Frank Stephens, John Dobson, JOHN HILL, William Tabor, Jesse Burrell and William Colyer. But few of the above are yet living, and their children are now the old settlers of the township. All have passed the meridian of life and many have lived out their three score years and ten, and are fast approaching the end.

LAND ENTRIES
The following were the only land entries made in Salt Creek prior to 1825. Elisha Moore, 1821; JOHN LUTES, 1823; Michael Rudolph, 1821; George Waggoner, 1821; Leonard Houston, 1824; JOSHUA BROWN, 1821; William Winkler, 1821.

WITH DANIEL BOONE
It is told by Uncle Johnnie Isaacs, now a resident to Courtland, that while Daniel Boone was returning from North Carolina to his El Dorado in Kentucky, in the year 1773, he was joined at Powel's Valley by several families, and among those were Polly Hannon and Jesse Isaacs, the latter at that time but a few months old. While they were crossing the Cumberland Mountains, they were attacked by a large force of Indians and several of the parties were killed. This so discouraged the adventurers, that they retreated to a settlement on Flinch River, TN, but Mrs. Hannon could not be persuaded to stop until she had reached her home in North Carolina, and with Jesse Isaacs then a babe in her arms, she traveled day and night through the dense forests filled with wild beasts and savage men, with nothing to guide her but the compass. After days and nights of persistent travel, she reached the old home in safety. With her children she came and settled in Salt Creek Township, but her race was then run, and in a few years she passed away, and is said to have been the first white person buried beneath the sod of Salt Creek Township.

EARLY SCHOOLS
In the fall of 1823 the first schoolhouse was built in Salt Creek Township. This was a small log house 19x20 feet, that stood one-half mile north of Houston, within a few feet of the residence of DANIEL LUTES. George Sires was the first teacher. The pupils who attended this school were Henry, DANIEL & JOHN LUTES, Thomas, William and John Brown, John and Margaret Wagoner, Elizabeth, Robert, John, Martin and Isaac Taber, Thomas Shetton and Frank and Thomas Elkins. The second house was built in Houston, and was a log structure but little better than the first. Other early teachers were JOHN HILL and David Winkler, and to these all the leading families sent their children. The township at present has the largest enrollment of any in the county, the number in 1884 being 629, with an average daily attendance of 379, which is but little more than 50 percent of the enrollment and not more than 35 percent of the enumeration. While there has been much progress in the last half century these figures plainly show that there is room for more. There are at present sixteen districts in the township requiring seventeen teachers. The school at Houston is a township-graded school. The house was built by the township assisted by a stock company made up of many of the leading citizens of the township, who had associated themselves together for the purpose of encouraging higher education. This school is a credit to the township, and has given encouragement to many a poor boy with a bright intellect and noble heart, but with no means at his command. The average compensation of the teachers is $2.25 per day, which is the highest wages paid by any township of the county.

EARLY ENTERPRISES
The first settlers of this township had their corn ground at Leesville, now in Lawrence, there being no mill in the township at that time. It is said that the first mill built in the township was the Bales Mill, located about four miles below Houston in the latter part of the twenties. A few years later one of the LUTESES built a horse-mill at Houston. This was succeeded by a water mill on the Taber Branch of Salt Creek. About the year 1835 Daniel Cummings built a mill below Freetown, on the Muddy Fork. A steam-mill was built at Lower Houston by a man by the name of Callback, followed by Cole and Setzer. A mill was operated by HENRY LUTES and John Cross in the sixties. Prior to this mills were operated by Finley and Fleetwood in the lower part of the township. Richard Acton built a mill half a mile northeast of Freetown in 1859, with a sawmill attached. This was sold to Scott Bros. In 1863, and from them it was bought by the present proprietor.

EARLY MEETINGS AND CHURCHES
It is claimed by the settlers of Muddy Fork that the first religious meeting was held at the house of John Blevins, in the year 1823. William Mahuron was the expounder of the faith on that occasion, and it is said that every settler of Muddy Fork was present and took part in the exercises. The first church organized was a Methodist, and the meeting for that purpose was held at the residence of JOSHUA BROWN, one mile southwest of Houston, in the year 1824. The members were JOSHUA BROWN and wife, D. Elkins and wife, Samuel Stockdell and wife, the HILLS and Actons. The first minister was Rev. Armstrong, who was terror to the evildoer, and served his Master with energy and enthusiasm. There was no house built by this denomination until 1842, when a hewed log church was built one half mile northeast of Houston. This was long ago succeeded by a large frame building. A Christian Church was organized at ELISHA BROWN'S in the year 1834, and a church house was erected one mile west of Houston in the year 1844. Robert Foster was the first Christian minister.
The Dunkards were organized here at an early day. The principal members were Leonard Houston, the Rudolphs and Wagoners. A New Light Church was organized at Flat Top some time in the forties. The United Brethren built a log church at Freetown, about the year 1855. The Methodists were organized at Finley's Mill at an early day and near the same spot where the Olive Branch Missionary Baptist Church now stands. The only church house now standing in Freetown was constructed frame building. The Christians built a log church near Freetown in the latter part of the fifties. Nearly all these old houses have now rotted down and passed away, and nothing save the hallowed memories of those who worshiped there remain. But there are those who can look to the little building and give thanks that it was within those sacred walls that they first knew what it was to feel the Divine forgiveness. Where these old houses once stood others have been erected in their stead, and it can now be truly said that Salt Creek is the township of many churches.

DISTILLERIES AND TANNERIES
The only whisky manufactured in the township was by JOHN LUTES and David Bowman, who built a log still house a quarter of a mile below Houston in 1836 or 1837. This was successfully operated for about ten years, and then discontinued, and the retailers have since been compelled to go beyond the limits of their own township to procure their stock. In 1857 or 1858 James Mann and Cyrus Hunter commenced tanning the skins of wild as well as those of domestic animals. This tannery was sold in a few years, and has since been operated by Boone Wright. Luther Highnote built a small tannery on the road leading from Freetown to Houston; his tanning was done, it is said, by the "hog-trough method," and his annual product was necessarily small.

VILLAGE OF HOUSTON
This little village is constituted of Upper and Lower Houston. The former was laid out by David Bowman in 1853, and the latter by Hiram Noe in 1853. It was named in honor of Leonard Houston, one of the early settlers of that section. Merchants: Hiram Noe, C. Durland, David Bowman, John Cross, William Rodman, JOHN BROWN, Ira Cornett, ___Houghland, Hester & Tigert, Harrison Harbaugh, H. F. Noe, LUTES BROS., Charles Rosenbaum, Jonathan Dodd, Hise & Foster, Dr. G. W. Gibson. Blacksmiths: S. J. Owens, Thompson & Henry, and Caleb Selzer. Physicians: Drs. Thompson, Wort, Moneghan, Rodman, G. W. Gibson and D. J. Cummings.

GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC
Houston Post, No. 136, G. A R., was organized in 1882, with the following most prominent among its members: DR. D. J. CUMMINGS, G. W. Gibson, C. W. Thompson, WILLIAM HILL, M. Cross, W. Ingle, Andrew Thompson, Richard Pruett, James Smith and Eli Thompson.

FREETOWN
Freetown or Freeport assumed the dignity of a town March 15, 1850, at which date the plat was recorded and acknowledged by James Ireland, as proprietor. The first goods were sold by George Rosenbaum, who was the only merchant until 1853, when Richard Acton began merchandising. Those that followed were Charles Knight, R. W. Hudson, Henry Cook, John Wilson, Jesse Browning, T. M. & S. Wheeler, Michael Motsinger, Cross & Lucas, Wheeter & Wilkie, Acton & Denny. Blacksmiths and wagon-makers: Manuel Bros., S. A. Thompson, Cross & Son, G. W. Wheeter, staves, spokes and headings.

GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC
The only secret society now in existence at Freetown is the Freetown Post, No. 153, instituted a short time after the organization of Houston Post. The following is a partial list of members: Isaac Smith, John Brock, Wilber Acton, J. N. Culbertson, W. H. Taylor, W. M. Scott, John Sprague, John Gorbel, Eli Bower, Jesse D. Lucas, George M. Lucas, L. M. Cross, Samuel Reedy, William S. Bell, B. F. Harbaugh and William Stockdell.

SPRAYTOWN
Spraytown is located in the northeast portion of the township, and was named in honor of a man by the name of Spray, who was the first to sell goods there. The second merchant was B. F. Auld, who was followed by John Louster, now a merchant of Seymour, who was extensively engaged in buying and shipping stave and spoke timber, besides keeping a small stock of goods. G. W. Wheeler was also engaged in the timber business. WILKERSON CROUCHER. M. England was the blacksmith. A man by the name of Gough owned a mill, and R. M. Coffman a saw and heading-mill.

More About Wilburn B. Hill:
Burial: Unknown, Houston Cemetery, Jackson, IN

More About Nancy Jane Lutes:
Date born 2: 1833
Burial: Unknown, Houston Cemetery, Jackson, IN

More About Wilburn Hill and Nancy Lutes:
Marriage: 14 Feb 1856, Jackson Co., IN

Children of Wilburn Hill and Nancy Lutes are:

John W.³ Hill, d. Unknown; m. Sharlett, Bedford, Lawrence, IN; d. Unknown.

More About John Hill and Sharlett:
Marriage: Bedford, Lawrence, IN

3.	ii.	Daniel Thomas Hill, b. 02 Aug 1859, Salt Creek Twnshp, Jackson, IN; d. 13 Aug 1916, Salt Creek Twnshp, Jackson, IN.
	iii.	Ellen Hill, b. 22 Jun 1861; d. 1941; m. William W. Goble; d. Unknown.
4.	iv.	Elizabeth L. Hill, b. 30 Sep 1862, Houston, Jackson, IN; d. 05 Dec 1937, Houston, Jackson, IN.
5.	v.	Henry Sheridan Hill, b. 1864; d. Unknown.
6.	vi.	Charles W. Hill, b. 1866; d. Unknown.
	vii.	Amanda Hill, b. 1869; d. Unknown.

Notes for Amanda Hill:
Amanda died at age 5 years, 5 months, 6 days.

	viii.		Howard Hill, b. 1871, Houston, Jackson, IN; d. Unknown; m. Ann Combs; d. Unknown.
	ix.		Anna Hill, b. 1876; d. 27 Sep 1877.

Notes for Anna Hill:
Anna Hill died at 1 year, 8 months, and 7 days.

Vernon Hill, b. 1879; d. Unknown.

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