Early Industries, Games, etc. — Departures from primitive methods of husbandry were very slowly made during the first years of the new west's history. Up to 1830 the farmers of Center Township sent to New Harmony to procure plows to break their lands. The establishment of Presley Pritchett's blacksmith shop in Evansville, and of Col. Seth Fairchild's in Mechanicsville, were great improvements in the County, but it was some time before all wants of this kind were conveniently supplied. New Harmony was also the favorite resort for those who had wool to be carded. The German socialists there were progressive and ingenious enough to have these valuable improvements. There were no cotton gins in the country until Nicholas Robinson, of Big Creek in Gibson County, put up one. That of Saunders Hornbrook, in Scott Township, was the first and perhaps the only one in this immediate vicinity. The first horse-mill was built by Charles McJohnston some time prior to 1830. In this Township in early days there were no industries pursued aside from farming except a tannery, the Negley Mill already described, and some still houses. The making of whiskey became quite an industry. The market for corn was limited, and the distillers offered better prices than the merchants and traders. Up to 1825 the woods of Center Township were full of all kinds of game.

          Churches. — In the early days the settlers of Center Township attended divine worship in the log cabins of pioneers, or at the school-houses whenever a minister of the gospel pushed his way into the wilderness and announced his readiness to expound the word of God. Annually they went to the camp-meetings held by the Presbyterians and Baptists. In early days the Baptists predominated in this locality. The Wheelers were about the first to preach the doctrines of Methodism in the Township, though the gifted John Schraeder preceded them in the County. For a long time the house of John Ingle was the regular place for the assemblage of Methodists throughout the surrounding country.

          Blue Grass Methodist Episcopal Church. — In his will, the pioneer, Charles McJohnston, made a valuable bequest "to help to build a house to worship God in." Mr. McJohnston was a Methodist in Ireland; there at his father's house he had seen John Wesley, and had heard the great man preach, but by the terms of his will this house was to be free to all Christian denominations. It has, however, been a distinctively Methodist church, because the church-going portion of this community is so largely of that denomination. The church was erected under the supervision of Charles McJohnston, the now aged son of the benefactor, in 1846. It was a neat frame structure, and when finished was dedicated by that illustrious pioneer preacher, Rev. Robert Parrett. The first preacher was Rev. Charles C. Danks, and the first class was composed of about twenty members. In 1882, on the site of the old church, a handsome, commodious brick edifice was erected, at a cost of $6,000, and was dedicated by that powerful and learned man, Rev. Joseph Wood. Charles McJohnston has ever been a devoted, faithful member, and much of the church's prosperity has been due to his great liberality. The church is now exceedingly prosperous, having about eighty active members. It has always been on the Blue Grass circuit. Rev. Samuel McNaughton is the pastor now in charge.

          German Methodist Church. — This denomination began to hold services about 1843, first at the houses of members, then at the Richter school-house, a rude log building, when finally in 1849 a church building was erected. This stood on the edge of German Township; was a frame structure, all the material, except the flooring, being sawed by hand. In 1859 another building, also a frame, was erected near the site of the present church, at a cost of $1,000, which served the congregation until April 29, 1888, when a handsome new brick church, costing $3,000, was dedicated to the service of God. Among the early ministers were Revs. Muth, Smoker and Wittenbach, and of later times Revs. Koerniger, Beer, Baker, Bruening, Lukenmeir and Speckman, now in charge. The first class was composed of but four families, the Gottschalks, Millers, Molls and Karts. The membership now numbers about seventy-five. Since 1847 Rev. Ulrich Schraeter, a local preacher, has been a true and faithful friend to the church, and by his many good deeds has won the love of all its people. The Sunday school is very prosperous, with about eighty regular attendants. There is another church of the same denomination in the Township near the Hooker schoolhouse. It was built in 1886, is a comfortable brick structure, and cost about $1,700. It has a good membership, is prosperous and belongs to the same circuit as the church last mentioned.

          German Evangelical Church. — In late years this denomination has built a small, neat frame church on the Petersburgh road near Mechanicsville. The congregation is weak in numbers, but composed of highly respectable citizens. Among its early leading members were Jacob Kunz, Nicholas Keil, and Mrs. Rech.

          Kratzville Methodist Episcopal Church. — At least fifty years ago the Methodists had a preaching place at Samuel Kirkpatrick's, in German Township, and frequently used for the purpose of divine service the Kirkpatrick school-house. When the Germans came in and changed the social aspect of that neighborhood, the preaching place was moved to the Kratzville road, and then, about fifteen years ago, a neat church was built and has been known generally as "the Ridge church." A class was organized in very early times. Among its members were Mother Grimes, Mrs. Robert Smith, Mother Short, and Henry Morgan. Among the old-time preachers were Revs. J. N. Ryan, William Ingle, Isaac Owen, and some others. Among the early members in the neighborhood of the new church were: Lewis Short, Webster Goldsmith, Oliver Goldsmith and Jackson Reed. The congregation is prosperous at present, though not large.

          Blue Grass Catholic Church. — Among the Irish settlers in the central part of the Township were a few faithful followers of the Roman Catholic Church. Under the leadership of Richard Raleigh, these people succeeded, about 1846, in building a frame church of comfortable size and neat appearance. The membership has always been small. Priests from Evansville occasionally hold service here.

          Towns. — The principal village in the Township is Mechanicsville, commonly called Stringtown, because its houses are strung along the road, and known officially as Zipp's postoffice. At a very early date, the point where the Petersburgh road left the State road was selected as a good place for a smithy and wagon shop. It was a busy place in early times, and when a post-office was established, old man Zipp, then a resident of the town, was appointed postmaster, arid thus gave the place its present official designation. At present there is a small general store, several blacksmith, wagon and carriage shops, but beyond this the place is unimportant. Mr. Ira Fairchild, a son of Col. Seth Fairchild, and grandson of Jonathan Fairchild, who came with his family from New York to Indiana in 1818, thus pictures the early days of this village: "In 1829 my father removed to Mechanicsville and opened a blacksmith's shop, which he carried on two or three years, when he purchased the old Hutson distillery, removed it to the State road and converted it into a smithy, which was a famous institution in its day. This house was built of heavy hewed logs, 30x40 feet square, had five forges and worked a force of seven or eight hands. All the livery horses of Evansville were brought there to be shod, and all sorts of iron work was done. At this time Mechanicsville seemed in a fair way to outstrip Evansville in the race for position. Thomas Smith had built a saw-mill on Pigeon Creek, and on the hill where he afterward kept tavern he carried on a cabinet shop, working several hands, and supplied the demand for furniture for miles around. It was in this shop that that the distinguished John Ingle, Jr., learned his trade, which he plied for several years industriously before he became an attorney at law. The village also boasted of a well-kept hotel, a wagon shop, and country store, and was withal a place of very considerable local importance."

          McCutchanville, in the northern part of the Township, was brought into existence about 1845 by the establishment of a post-office and the appointment of Mr. McCutchan as postmaster. It is without present importance.

Source:
History of Vanderburgh County, Indiana
Brant & Fuller, c.1889
Pages 602 - 604