Individual Details

Marriage

May 1828 - Thomas FERGUSON at al, vs Elizabeth Dennis. Filed 9-11-1826. Samuel Ferguson, dec's., left will dated 2-8-1814, for which letters of adms. with will annexed were granted to widow, Elizabeth Ferguson. Widow, Elizabeth late Ferguson now wife of John Dennis. Children: Thomas Ferguson, Athel Ferguson, Nancy late wife of Ebenezer Paddox,Letha late Ferguson wife of John Hall, Elizabeth late Ferguson wife of Joseph Chambers, Polly late Ferguson wife of Daniel Heaton, Sarah late Ferguson wife of Ebenezer Goble, Levinah late Ferguson wife of Archibald Reed, John Ferguson, James Ferguson, Melinda Ferguson, William Ferguson and Rosannah Ferguson: the last five named being minors by David Heaton their guardian. Will of Samuel Ferguson names children: Thomas, Athel, Nancy, Lethy, Elizabeth, Polly and Sarah, married at that time; also Levinah, Melinda, and Rosannah not married at the time. Will signed: Samuel (mark) Ferguson with witnesses: Thos. Ferguson, Thos. Pound and Elizabeth Goble.

Property

Ebenezer Goble purchesed land August 14 and Samuel Goble, on August 20, Jacob Parkhurst on August 13, and Samuel Furason on August 11.

Residence

Henry County formed from Delaware new purchase in 1822.

At the first meeting of Board of Commisioners...Ebenezer Goble and Samuel Fergason were appointed Overseers of the Poor and Daniel Heaton, Shaphast McCray, and Jacob Parkhurst first "Fence viewers in and for Wayne Township,"...

page 919 Ebenezer Goble on Grand Jury in August term of circuit court

Property

W1/2 of NW quarter in section 27 in township 16, range 9, in district Brookville in Indiana containing 80 acres. E 1/2 of NW quarter of section 27 in township 16, range 9 in Brookvile district in Indiana containing 80 acres

Residence

Knightstown, IN, Its Early History
Nathan H. Ballenger
(1823 - 1905)

His Paper Read Before the Henry County Historical Society 31 Oct 1899

My subject today is of necessity, essentially local, and will not therefore be alike interesting to all my hearers. But to me it has many points of deep interest. While it is not the place of my birth, it is the place of my childhood, youth and manhood. Here is the place of my early contest with nature in its rude attire. Here I saw the forest melt away before the axe man's unrelenting arm, saw the first rude cabin reared and demolished afterwards to give place to the stately mansion of the well-to-do pioneer.
Here I entered the primitive of schools the county, taught in log cabins with puncheon floors and greased paper for windows. Here I gave chase to the wild boar, deer and turkey, all of which have given place to the onward march of civilization. Here my father toiled late and early for his family's comfort and happiness and passed to the beyond in a good old age. Here my mother sat up late beside the little wheel and distaff, drawing the flaxen thread that became web and wool of my Sunday suit. Oh, hallowed places of my hearts fondest recollections, how shall I forget that?
All history at best is but a shadowy picture of the past, a mere skeleton, lacking the life and spirit of the present happening.
In the summer of 1821, a part of the land near Knightstown was bid off at the land sale at Brookville. Among the purchasers were the following named; Samuel Ferguson, Walter M. Carey, Abraham and Daniel Heaton, William Macy, Jacob Parkhurst, Thomas Estell, Henry Ballenger, Japhet McCrey, Samuel Goble, John Dailey, John Freeland, Ebenezer Goble, Charles Smith, Edmund Lewis, John Lewis, with nearly all of whom I had the personal pleasure of a personal acquaintance.
There were very few settlers near Knightstown prior to the sale of the land. A man by the name of Jackson had squatted at a spring a little south of Raysville on the old Indian trail leading from White Water to White River, with whom my father put up while prospecting for land in that part in 1821, about whom he felt best to be on his guard, as Jackson piloted him around in search of land with gun in hand. We have no further history of this man. He probably kept abreast of civilization for reason easily surmised.
Tradition speaks of John Dille as having squatted on the same trail, now the old State road, some two miles southwest of Knightstown, of whom William Lewis, of Knightstown, had some acquaintance in Virginia, and that he had eluded the laws of the State, taking his chances among the Indians long before any other white man located in these parts, that he had visited his father once in 1822, and afterwards was hea4rd from no more.
The first permanent settlers in Wayne Township were near, but not in the present site of Knightstown. Daniel and Abraham Heaton and John Lewis, on the east side of the river, Samuel Furgason, Samuel and Ebenezer Goble on the west side. Samuel Furgason seems to have platted a town at the mouth of Montgomery creek on the old State road, one mile southwest of Knightstown, which has long disappeared, and no vestige of it now remains. This place was called "West Liberty." A compound word full of meaning to them, as it was at this time the extreme west of civilization, and which the utmost liberty of occupancy prevailed, with no one to dispute rights to land or forage. The creek was named after the brave Montgomery, who gave his life for his country's liberty.

Property

Two land purchases in Henry County, Indiana. 2nd Meridan Township 016N Range 009E: first section 27 W1/2NW1/4, second section 28 E1/2NW1/4. Both are 80 acres each purchased at the Brookville land office.

Census

Male, 1 5 and under 10 years
1 10 and under 15 years
2 15 and under 20 years
1 20 and under 30
1 50 and under 60 years
Female, 1 5 and under 10
1 15 and under 20 years
1 40 and under 50 years
One in Agriculture

Census

This household two households from son Samuel Goble age 32.
Ebinezar Goble age 63 farmer real estate $5500, born Ohio
Sarah age 57 born Kentucky
John age 26 farmer born Indiana
Wilson age 23, born Indiana
Elizabeth age 20 born Indiana
Washington age 18 born Indiana

Census

E Goble age 74 farmer born Ohio real estate $1000 personnel estate $8000
Sarah age 68 born Ohio
W. C age 28 a Plasterer born Indiana, real estate $1000 personnel $200