in the new country one of them sickened and died. It would seem that such a misfortune was enough to discourage the stoutest heart. There he was, in an unbroken wilderness, with a family dependent upon him for support, and his team broken up. But without waiting to mourn over his trouble, he patched up a set of old harness and tended his crop with the remaining ox, thus snatching victory from defeat.

Among the old and distinguished citizens of this township of the olden days none deserves a more honorable mention than James Blair. An early settler in the county, he showed himself to be a man of energy and public spirit, and took an active part in every enterprise connected with the interests of the county. Mr. Blair was a soldier of the war of 1812, and had the honor of serving in the marine corps with Com. O. H. Perry in his engagement on Lake Erie, and received a medal from the Congress of the United States in testimony of his gallantry. He laid off the town of Perrysville in 1826, which he named in memory of his brave Commander, whom he long outlived. He died in the year 1861.

John Chenewith came to this county in 1824, and settled in this township on the waters of the Wabash, where he established himself as a farmer and raised his family, one of as many substantial and intelligent qualities as any in the township. He died in 1857. Thomas Chenewith, of this family, was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1851, and Isaac Chenewith served in the State Senate in the years 1844-5.

George Hicks is one of the wealthiest farmers in the township, and is a son of one of our revolutionary soldiers under Washington.

Thomas Smith is also a wealthy farmer, and a citizen of libera

enterprise. He is now erecting one of the finest dwellings in

the county.

A story is told of Rev. Joseph S. Barwick, a Methodist preacher who once traveled the Perrysville Circuit, that while repairing their old church he held one of his meetings in a pork house where two of the brethren would not follow him. This of course stirred the righteous anger of the preacher, and in his prayer he prayed, "Lord bless Brother Jones and Brother Roseburgh and convert them over again. As for me and my house we are not ashamed to worship thee in a pork house, but they are." The brethren were a little huffy over the prayer, but "Joe" didn't care worth a cent.

Perrysville, the capital town of Highland township, is situated on the west bank of the Wabash River, and one mile north-east of the Evansville, Terre Haute & Chicago Railroad. Being surrounded with a rich and productive country, as an inland village it has always been a place of considerable business.

There are now in the place four dry goods and two drug stores, four grocery stores, one foundry, one woolen mill, one carriage factory.

The "Perrysville Stove and Machine Works" is worthy of special notice. The proprietors, H. S. Comingore & Son, have engaged chiefly in stove manufacturing, and the article they are making meets the public wishes, and sells extensively over all this part of the county.

The woolen mill of Riggs & Hepburn turns out blankets, jeans, flannels and yarns of a prime quality and well manufactured. They are doing a large and profitable business.

The place is well supplied with physicians. The oldest is Dr. E. T. Spottswood, who has been in practice here since 1823.

Dr. Lewis Frazee came in 1863; Dr. L. S. Baxter, Dr. D. B. Johnson and Dr. George M. D. Frazee; the two latter began in 1870. They constitute an intelligent class of physicians for such a quiet place.

Population 700.

Gessie is a new town on the E., T. H. & C. R. R., having been laid off in March, 1872, by Robert J. Gessie, from whom it is named. Mr. Gessie was born in Cumberland county, Pa., in 1809, and emigrated to Columbus, Bartholomew county, in 1833. In August, 1837, he removed to Perrysville, in this county, where he engaged for a time in selling goods, but has been living on his farm, near the present town of Gessie, since 1847.

This town is located five miles north-west of Perrysville, in the midst of a fine farming country, and is altogether a thriving village. The morality of the neighborhood is evinced by the fact that no intoxicating liquors are allowed to be sold within its limits. Among its improvements are a steam grist-mill, the M. E. Church, and a substantial school building.

CHURCHES.

M. E. Church, at Perrysville; T. C. Stringer, pastor; number of members, 160; number attending Sabbath school, 100; superintendent, Joseph Benton; value of church property, including parsonage, $5000.

United Brethren Church, at Perrysville; Rev. J. W. Nye, pastor; number of members, 97; number attending Sabbath school, 110; superintendent, J. W. Nye; value of church property, $2060.

Howard Chapel M. E. Church; two miles north of Gessie;

Rev. W. G. Vessels, pastor; number of members, 35; number attending Sabbath school, 40; superintendent, Horatio Talbot ; value of church property, $1500.

M. E. Church, of Gessie; Rev. W. G. Vessels, pastor; number of members, 15; number attending Sabbath school, 40; superintendent, J. A. Lewis; value of church property, $2,000.

Cross Roads United Brethren Church; two miles west of Perrysville; J. W. Nye, pastor; number of members, 50; number attending Sabbath school, 60; superintendent, Daniel Pettigrew; value of church property, $1500.

Presbyterian Church, at Perrysville; number of members, 22; value of church property, $1500.

M. E. Church; four miles north of Perrysville; Rev. T. C. Stringer, pastor; number of members, 20; number attending Sabbath school, 46; superintendent, D. Briles.

Hopewell Regular Baptist Church, two miles north of Gessie; Rev. Samuel Johnson, pastor; number of members, 30; value of church property, $800.

Unity Lodge, No. 344, F. and A. M.; number of members, 30; J. F. Compton, W. M.; W. L. Rayborn, Secretary.

Charity Lodge, No. 32, I. O. O. F.; number of members, 14; John Dunlap, N. G.; Richard Curtis, Secretary.

Waterloo Grange, No. 118, P. of H.; four miles north of Perrysville; number of members, 73; organized April, 1873; Jas. R. Dunlap, Master; Milton Wright, Secretary.

Highland Grange, No. 228, P. of H.; at school house No 3; seven miles north of Perrysville; Isaac Rouse, Master; George Sparks, Secretary.

Gessie Grange, No. 1079, P. of H.; number of members, 36; J. R. Johnson, Master; H. A. Fox, Secretary.

SCHOOL REPORT.

Number of school houses in township, 12; number of pupils enrolled in township, 888; average attendance at school, 351; number of teachers-male 10, female 5; average daily compensation of teachers-male $2.44; female $2.40; value of school property in township, $30,000. William Ferguson, Trustee.

Highland Graded School; number of pupils attending during the year, 300; value of school buildings, $15,000. J. F. Compton, Principal.

DIRECTORY OF HIGHLAND TOWNSHIP.

Anderson, C. W.; boot and shoemaker (jour. workman); Perrysville. Born in Ohio 1817; settled in V. C. 1874. Rep. Universalist.

ADAMS, JOHN L.; house moving, raising and squaring; Perrysville. Born in Ill. 1845; settled in V. C. 1866.

Ayres, Charles D.; boot and shoemaker; Perrysville. Born in Pa. 1820; settled in V. C. 1848.

Ayers, G. F.; school teacher; Perrysville. Born in V. C. 1852.

Rep.

Bocker, F. W.; tanner; 11⁄2 m n Perrysville. Born in Germany

1837.

Briles, Daniel; farmer; 4 m n Perrysville.

settled in V. C. 1841. Rep.

Born in Ind. 1827;

Methodist.