Dunn.27s Settlement Hanover, Indiana

williamson dunn, founder of dunn s settlement, later come known hanover

judge williamson dunn, mercer county, kentucky, purchased land area of modern hanover federal government on november 28, 1808. following year, dunn resettled entire family area, , became first residents of town called dunn s settlement, later come known hanover. steady flow of settlers followed, of whom scotch-irish presbyterians. these settlers had largely emigrated ireland virginia, kentucky, , area of hanover. among these settlers in dunn s settlement christopher harrison, later serve indiana s first lieutenant governor , play key role in planning of state capital in indianapolis. harrison built homestead @ logan s point, spot george logan had hoped build home years before. when in 1815 logan returned attempt find spot had marked in 1801, 2 men met. logan bought land , settled there permanently, while harrison moved salem, indiana. next year elected lieutenant governor.

williamson dunn s residence, hanover s first building.

although of fledgling town s population presbyterian, nearest church located in charlestown, 25 miles west. in 1819, presbyterian minister thomas c. searle (january 15, 1787 – october 15, 1821) moved nearby madison. while served religious needs of presbyterians in wide area of land in southern indiana, realized large portion of proselytized scotch-irish presbyterians dunn s settlement. according historian frank baker, 1820, there 21,000 baptists, 20,000 methodists, 2,700 presbyterians in kentucky. while statistic refers kentucky , not indiana, nonetheless indicative of similar situation across river in indiana. therefore, while dunn s settlement small, concentration of presbyterians living there significant when considering overall small number of presbyterians in area. on march 4, 1820, searle founded hanover presbyterian church. wife, native of hanover, new hampshire, admired church s congregants; therefore, church adopted name did. before long, town adopted name hanover, although officially named south hanover because post office in existence in shelby county town of hanover. when other town of hanover ceased support post office, south hanover s name shortened hanover.

following founding of church, plans initiated construction of church edifice. williamson dunn donated land , funding cause. however, in october 1821, searle died, , ministerial post @ hanover presbyterian church remained unfilled until 1823.