Buck Creek history includes graveyard tales

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Pate Jeffersonon writes, “Thanks for the history of Mt. Comfort. We’ve lived on County Road 500N since ’74 and have never really thought of Mt. Comfort as more than a crossroad. Since I retired a few years ago my brain has switched gears a bit, and I get weird ideas that wake me up at night, and one morning last year I woke up at 2 a.m. with the thought of doing a history on Buck Creek Township, so the wife and I rode around a little and took a few pictures, and I put together a short video. Didn’t want to bore people. You may smile or throw up when you watch it, depends on your sense of humor.”

Thanks for the video, Pete. I am sure our readers will enjoy it.

Buck Creek Township took its name from the stream that runs through it. Some say that many bucks roamed its banks.

Buck Creek Township was first settled in 1822. The first land entry was made in 1822 by George Worthington.

Buck Creek Township was struck off from Sugar Creek Township in 1831 and added to now nonexistent Union and Jones townships. In 1853 Buck Creek Township assumed its present size.

The first grist mill powered by water began operating in 1854 on Buck Creek near Mt. Comfort. A steam corn cracker began operating in 1860. Later saw mills began serving the community. Dr. James Hervey, father of the State Board of Health, was from old Mt. Comfort. Dr. Abraham Shortridge, second president of Purdue University, was from Mt. Comfort.

The graveyards in the township have interesting histories also. That of Cochard graveyard includes the story of immigrants going west who camped at the site as they crossed the area. Two little daughters of the family became ill and died. The family buried them under a cedar tree, and their names are unknown.

David and Sophie Offenbacker and family built a cabin on the ridge in the northwestern section of the township.

Their infant son died, and they buried him under a maple tree with a sandstone marker. The stone disappeared, and nothing remains of the Offenbacker graveyard.

Enough. I have told you all that I know and some things I don’t. Talk to me.