Early Days in Floyd County

In our sketch last week we referred particularly to the first settlements and the first settlers around the falls of the Ohio, closing with a sketch of the life of Robert Lafollette, the first white man who settled within the present limits of Floyd county.. Mr. Lafollette's family was followed into this section by Clement Nance, Sen., and his family, who settled on what is known at the "Oatman Farm," a few miles below New Albany, on the river road. It was his daughter, who was afterwards married to Patrick Sheilds, that was the first white woman that ever crossed the "Knobs." He lived to a ripe old age, and was always actively identified with the interests of the county, holding a number of important and responsible offices, all of which he filled with honor.. The Oatman family followed that of Nance, from the best information we can glean, shortly after. An old settler tells us a little love affair between Oatman and one of Mr. Nance's daughters, and what came of it: Oatman fell in love with Miss N., but for some reason his suit did not meet the favor of the father, and his visits to the young lady ceased.. Now, Nance had not taken the precaution to preempt his land when he "squatted" upon it; because he had to go to Vincennes, through an almost unbroken forest, to do so, and settlers were coming in slowly, and he did not fear that his "claim" would be "jumped.". Oatman found out that the land was not entered; and so determined if he could not get the girl he would the land. Accordingly, in company with John Paul, he quietly left for Vincennes one fine morning early in 1807, entered the land, and got the patent for it. At the same time John Paul entered and got the patent for all the land upon which the present city of New Albany now stands, except that lying above the "Grant Line.". On returning home Oatman produced his patent for the "Oatman Farm," and took possession of it. In consequence of this an ill-feeling always existed between Mr. Oatman and Mr. Nance. To say the least of it, Oatman's act was not a very gallant one.. The settlements now rapidly increased, particularly along the river bottom below the city, and in what are now Georgetown and Greenville townships. In March, 1812, Samuel Miller crossed the ferry which landed in the woods at the foot of what is now Upper Fifth street, and settled on the Miller farm one mile below the city on the Budd road.. At this time the only persons who lived within the present limits of New Albany were James Mitchell and Martin Trueblood, the ferrymen, whose log cabin stood where the Conner house now stands, at the foot of Upper Fifth street; old Man Trueblood, father of Martin, who had a small log mill on Falling Run creek, near the present depot of the Louisville, New Albany, and Chicago railroad; a man named Magrew, whose cabin stood at the corner of Lower First and Water streets, on the site of the large warehouse of Capt. H.J. Reamer; and a man named March, whose cabin occupied a place near Trueblood's mill. March left soon after and did not return.. Trueblood's little mill did not last long to grind the corn for the few settlers; as a flood in the creek in 1812 washed out the dam, and it was never repaired. A few of the logs of this old dam may yet be seen sticking out from the bank of the creek in which they were imbedded over fifty-five years ago.. When Mr. Miller arrived here in 1812, the following persons lived on "the bottom," that is, on the river road between Middle Creek and New Albany: John Hickman, George Oatman, widow Oatman, John Oatman, Beverly Hurst, Joshua Wilson, and Jesse Wilson, George Oatman lived on what is now known as the Stoy farm, John Oatman on the Mrs. South farm, Beverly Hurst on the Collins farm, and the two Wilsons below, not far from Middle Creek. Joshua Wilson afterwards bought George and John Oatman's farms, and Jesse Wilson bought Beverly Hurst's farm, and the two Wilsons built the brick house on the Collins farm, and the brick house on the Stoy farm, both being commenced in 1817, and finished complete in 1820. These were two of the first brick farm houses ever built in Floyd county, and both are now occupied and in excellent repair, though over fifty years old.. On the 13th day of October, 1813, Joel and Abner Scribner purchased the land on which the city of New Albany stands, The purchase was made of John Paul, and consisted of eight hundred and twenty-six and one-half acres. The Scribners paid for this tract of land eight thousand dollars. They proceeded immediately to plat the town of New Albany, and advertised the lots for sale. The following is a copy of their advertisement, which was published in handbill form:. New Albany: This town is just laid out, with spacious streets, public square, markets, &c., is situated on the bank of the Ohio river at the crossing place from Louisville to Vincennes, about two miles below the falls, in the Indiana Territory, and affords a beautiful and commodious harbor. The beauty of the prospect is not surpassed by any in the Western country. The bank adjoining the river is high and not subject to inundations. At the distance of six hundred and sixty feet back from the bank is a second rise of about twenty feet, from which there is an extensive view up and down the river. There is a sufficient number of excellent and never failing springs for the supplying of any number of inhabitants.. These advantages, together with that of the country around being dry, and clear of any stagnant water, being sufficiently distant below the falls to avoid the fogs and any noxious exhalement arising therefromin the warm season, and the winds generally blowing up the river at that time, are a sufficient reason to induce a belief of the healthfulness of the situation.. The advantages New Albany has in point of trade, are perhaps unrivalled by any town on the Ohio, as it is immediately below all the dangers which boats and ships are subject to in passing over the falls, and is the only eligible situation for a depot for all the exports and imports of a great part of the Territory, and may export and import while and river is low and the markets good, as well as when the water is high.. From the vast quantity of excellent ship-timber, the great abundance of iron ore within a few miles, and the facility with which hemp is raised, it is presumed this will be one of the best ports in the United States for the building of vessels as well as the leading them. The erection of a saw mill to go by steam is contemplated this fall, and a grist and flour mill next summer.. Lots will be sold at auction on the first Tuesday and Wednesday in November next. The terms of payment will be one-fourth ready money, and the remainder in three annual installments, to be secured by deed of trust, or otherwise. One-fourth part of each payment to be paid into the hands of trustees, (to be chosen by the purchasers), until such payments shall amount to five thousand dollars, the interest of which to be applied to the use of schools in the town for the use of its inhabitants forever.. Manufactories of iron, cotton, hemp, wool, &c., are much wanted, as is all kinds of mechanism. THE PROPRIETORS. New Albany, July 8, 1818.