ARRINGTON TOWNSHIP---BOUNDARIES---FIRST SETTLERS AND INCIDENTS---UNCLE JIMMY SIMMS---TOPOGRAPHY---CHIEF PRODUCTIONS---MILLS---SIMS---CINCINNATI AND COVINGTON---EARLY SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS---CHURCHES---OFFICERS, ETC.
ARRINGTON TOWNSHIP has the following boundaries: On the north, by Indian Prairie Township; on the east, by Lamard and Big Mound Townships; on the south, by Four Mile Township; and on the west, by Four Mile and Hickory Hill Townships. Within its limits are comprised Congressional Township 1 south, Range 6 east, and sixteen sections of Township 2 south, Range 6 east. The township took its name from the large and beautiful prairie included within its borders, and the prairie was named in honor of Charles Arrington, one of its first settlers. Previous to his arrival, however, there came Thomas and George Walton, brothers, and Joseph White. They were all natives of the north part of England. They had heard of the glorious land of liberty and plenty, and in the year 1818 crossed the ocean, and pushing for the far West, passing State after State, never resting their weary limbs until they reached beautiful Arrington, when they halted, satisfied that this was the place to make their homes. But poor Thomas did not have long to enjoy the expected pleasure and happiness surrounding his new abode, for in but two short years he died, his death being the first in the township. His brother and Joseph White lived here, and died many years later. Charles Arrington came from Tennessee, bringing his family with him. He resided here about twenty years, and moved to Williamson County, Ill., where he probably lived until his death. John, a son of Joseph White, was the first child born in the township; he was born about 1824. James Simms located here in 1821, after having lived in Big Mound Prairie for a few years. He was born March 7, 1792, in Buckinghamshire, England, and was twenty-seven years of age when he sailed for America, being about five weeks in crossing the ocean. He is still living, and is yet a resident of Arrington. He still possesses a retentive memory, a strong voice, and is remarkably active for one of so advanced an age. He has several children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren living, most of whom are residents of the township. James and Lewis Warmick and PeterandHenry Ooley came from Kentucky, and located here at an early day. James Turner was also an early settler, and a man by the name of Dewey came about 1824. Dewey came up the creek in a boat of some kind, on which he had his furniture and cooking utensils, and during the trip his skillet was lost in the stream, and this circumstance, if it served no other purpose, gave at least a name to the creek, and Skillet Fork has retained it ever since. William Simms, a brother of James, of whom we have spoken, and his nephew William, James Edge and his two sons, John and Cornelius, all brought their families and settled here very early. They came from Ohio. A man by the name of Eddings and his son came from Tennessee, and located here at an early day also, but after a short residence left for some more northern county. Among other old settlers were James Cissna and Richard Grant, the latter of whom came from England. Isaac Harlan and William Harlan, both of whom came from Kentucky, and a man by the name of Tubbs, who emigrated here from Ohio. After 1850, many families came here from Ohio and the Eastern States. Thomas Wilson and family, Israel Foracre and family, George Hilliard and M. M. Wheeler were among those who came about that time. M. M. Wheeler settled in the county in 1823, and located in this township in 1852, after residing in Barnhill and Leech Townships. The settlements in Arrington have been quite rapid during the late years, and the township shows a present population of upward of 1,600.
Arrington Prairie is about ten miles in length by two to three in width, and is included almost wholly by this township. The soil is somewhat varied, being loamy in some places, but is generally made up of a yellowish clay, possessing strong productive qualities, and yields abundant crops of everything that can be grown in this section. It is particularly adapted to wheat-growing, and a look across the prairie just before harvest, one might think that every acre was devoted to the cultivation of that staple cereal.
The principal water-course is Dry Fork, which enters the township in Section 2, Town 1 south, Range 6 east, and flows through its entire length, due south, and leaves it from Section 14, Town 2 south, Range 6 east. Its numerous small tributaries, with those of Skillet Fork, which barely crosses the corner of Section 7, Town 2 south, Range 6 east, afford ample drainage to the entire section. Dry Fork derives its name from the fact that there are no springs in it, and it contains water only during wet seasons. It ofttimes overflows, however, doing considerable damage to crops, etc., on lands lying adjacent to its banks. The only timber in the township lies along the streams, and it consists chiefly in oak, hickory, sweet gum, elm and maple. Good water is usually found at an average depth of twenty feet, though in some places wells have to be sunk considerably deeper.
It was not long after the first settlement in Arrington that a mill was put up. Mills were among the first things claiming immediate attention. The early pioneers had to eat, and some kind of an arrangement by which their corn could be converted into meal was therefore a matter of supreme importance. The first mill in this township was put up by Jonathan Whitson. It was a horse mill, and was located a short distance northwest of the present little town of Cincinnati. About the same time, Wesley Staton erected a water mill on Dry Fork, and Benjamin Mabery built the dam. No traces of either one of these are now visible. A steam grist and saw mill was built about twenty years ago on Section 36, Town 1 south, Range 6 east, by John Walton and Alfred Denny. It is known as Covington Mills, and is at present operated by Simms & Stanley.
The little town of Arrington, called also Simms, or Sims as the Post Office Department spells it, was laid off in the summer of 1882 by James Hilliard, County Surveyor, on land belonging to John Simms, and the post office took his name. The original plat consisted of about twelve acres, and there have been no subsequent additions. The town is located on Section 9, Town 2 south, Range 6 east, and is on the line of the Louisville, Evansville & St. Louis Railroad. A post office was created at this point in 1882, and J. M. Logan was appointed the first Postmaster. He was succeeded by S. S. Palfreeman, the present one. There are two general stores here, kept by J. M. Logan and Bright & Burkett. Cincinnati and Covington are two rival little towns situated on opposite sides of Dry Fork. Whether they will reach the proportions of the cities of the same name on the Ohio we cannot say. Covington has a post office called Pin Oak, with Elizabeth Potter as Postmistress.
The early settlers of Arrington gave due attention to school matters, as we find a good school in successful operation at a very early day. The house was built by the Regular Baptists in 1828 or 1829, for religious purposes, and it was used by them for some time after the first term of school had commenced. The school was run on a subscription plan, and the first term opened with a man by the name of French as teacher. French was a brother-in-law to Charles Arrington. He taught for about three years, and was succeeded by Jeptha Blisset and Jackson Armstrong, and during a term taught by one of these latter the house was burned down. This school was located on Walton or Big Creek, and was called the Walton Creek School. The Mud Prairie Schoolhouse, a little cabin concern, was the second one erected in the township. It was located in Mud Prairie, and was built by the people generally. Among its early teachers were James Gaston, Jacob Borah, William Gash and Rodina Baldwin. A little log cabin with a rock chimney was next built on Dry Fork, and called the Dry Fork School. Its early teachers were John Jones, Edward Terrell, Jacob O’Feather and John Deene. The following items show the status of the schools of this township at the present day:
Number school buildings, 9; number pupils enrolled, 300; number teachers employed, 16; average pay of same, males $30; females $25; estimated value of school property, $4,000.
The religious history of Arrington is, in the main, the same as in other portions of the county. Elsberry Armstrong was probably the first one to preach to the scattered inhabitants of this section. He delivered his discourses in the Walton Creek Schoolhouse, which was used for religious purposes for several years. He was of the Regular Baptist denomination, as were also William Watkins, old man French, who taught school also, and Robinson Eskridge, all of whom were early preachers in this township. The Mount Zion Church, a frame structure located on the Johnsonville road in Section 34, Town 1 south, Range 6 east, was the first church building erected in the township, except the Walton Creek Schoolhouse, which, as before stated, was built by the Baptists for church purposes. The Mount Zion Church was built by the Methodists, sometime before the late war, and it has since been used by them. The Dickeyville Baptist Church was built by the Missionary Baptists about 1868, and is located on Section 30, Town 1 south, Range 6 east. Both of these churches have a strong membership, and are in a prosperous condition.
The political vote of Arrington shows the parties to be about equally divided, with a small majority, perhaps, on the Democratic side.
Following is a partial list of the officers of this township since township organization:
Supervisors---W. L. Beeson, 1860-62; Richard White 1863-66; R. T. Forth, 1867; Daniel Wingate, 1868-71; Thomas Davis, 1877; N. N. Borah, 1878; William Schwarberg, 1879-82; M. T. Berry, 1883.
Assessors---A. C. Womack, 1860-62; James Cissna, 1863; J. D. Stephens, 1864-67; E. E. Cates, 1868; S. N. Pasco, 1869; J. D. Stephens, 1870; A. J. Hale, 1871; H. M. Twadell, 1877; T. R. Tolbert, 1878; David Mills, 1879-80; D. P. Truax, 1881; H. M. Twadell, 1882; E. J. Dezouche, 1883.
Collectors---A. J. Hale, 1860-62; W. P. Smith, 1863-64; W. L. Beeson, 1865-66; T. W. Hill, 1867; W. P. Smith, 1868-69; James Cissna, 1870; A. W. Womack, 1871; Levi Wheeler, 1877; A. G. Borah, 1878; James Smith, 1879; William Harris, 1880; Marion Berry, 1881-82; William Burkett, 1883.
Town Clerks---J. W. Hilliard, 1860-62; J. W. Gardner, 1863-64; J. W. Hilliard, 1865-66; A. G. Borah, 1867; W. E. Harlan, 1868-70; A. G. Borah, 1871; T. L. Dickey, 1877; S. S. Palfreeman, 1878; Joseph Gaston, 1879; S. S. Palfreeman, 1880; John Howerth, 1881; Lewis Tunnel, 1882; J. D. Harlan, 1883.
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