The Land Office in Vincennes was opened in 1804, the land in this area had been surveyed and was for sale.  Francis Vigo had purchased much of it.  For what ever reasons the settlers came to a life of ease with out honest labor.  They came with the spirit of independence determined to acquire for themselves and their families the happiness and comfort which reward the labors of free men. 

Richard Steen of Scotch-Irish descent, came from South Carolina with his wife, Nancy McDonald and sons Samuel, James, and John in 1806.  They came in a covered wagon following the Wilderness Road through the Cumberland Gap to the falls of the Ohio River and to here on the Buffalo Trace.  They built their log cabin on the site where Barney Dunn lives now.

Andrew Berry and his wife, Mary McDonald and their four children of Scotch-Irish descent came in 1816 and settled east of Steen's.  He started an Inn for serving the stage coaches traveling from Louisville to Vincennes and points north and west.  Kenneth and Thelma Baker have a home on this site today.  Sometime there was another Inn on Snyder's Hill northwest of present State Road 550.  A post-office was established at Berry's Inn and called Berryville.  It remained there until it was moved to Wheatland.

Abner Robinson, a Quaker, came to New Orleans about 1812 up the Mississippi River to the Wabash River from Pittsburg and settled awhile in Kentucky near Evansville.  He purchased land in 1825 and settled west of Steen's on the Buffalo Trace.  Other early settlers were James Young, D.W. Ballow, the Richey family, Andrew Whitenack, and the Jackson family.  Sim Harbin built a little hourse-mill and a small still-house.  Mr. Merrill, Jesse Harbin, A. Westfall, the McKinleys, the Dunns and the Jordans were living here at an early time.  In 1830, Solomon Wetzel, a native of Virginia, was a stage coach driver on the Buffalo Trace at $15 to $20 per month.  He was also a carpenter and a mill wright.  He worked until he had enough money to buy a farm and settled here. 

Regardless of educational background or economic status, certain problems were common to all, namely, acquiring food, shelter, protection, clothing, health, education, religion, and government.  Material was plentigul for homes but had to be prepared by hand.  Water from streams or springs was used until they had time to dig wells.  Wild game, fish, fruits, and nuts were available just for the hunting and preparing.  Bee trees were numerous.  When a man found one he put his mark on it.  That meant others were to leave it alone.  Fevers, agues, malaria, typhoid, dysentery, and scarlet fever were a few of the diseases that plagued the early settlers.  They made medicines from roots and plants.  They had to help each other.  They were without a doctor until Dr. J. Lytton came in 1859.

Schools were held in homes or outside until log buildings could be erected.  Records show that as early as 1811 preachers came from Daviess County and held services in the Steen home.  The Smyrna Presbyterian Church was the first church organized in 1831 in Steen's grove by Revs. R. Hawley and S.R.A. Alexander.  The first elders were Samuel Steen and John Richey.

The trusty rifle or shotgun was used for protection, as well as, for killing wild game.  Records do not show any Indian problems in this immediate area.  However, Caroline Nicholson recalled seeing a lone Indian on horseback ride into the field to the hill across from her house.  He dismounted, looked around and after awhile rode away.  He came for several years at about the same time each year.  He never talked to anyone.  Then he was seen no more.

There were many squatters in the eastern states of the United States.  As people migrated westward they also migrated west.  A story handed down from generation to generation is that squatters settled on a knoll about a mile west of the Smyrna Church between the railroad and the Buffalo Trace.  They seemed to survive well without any visible means of support.  One night a posse on horseback led by Dr. J. Lytton ran them out and burned their shacks.  They never returned.

The Women used the 'walking wheel' and the small wheel for spinning yarn and linen thread.  They wove materials and rugs on a loom.

Roads were built.  Taxes had to be paid.  The land was divided into districts.  Then a local man was appointed supervisor.  On September 7, 1841, the "Fourth District commencing at the center of Flat Creek Bridge and crossing thence to the line dividing Lot 107 and 108.  Said Road to include all the land on the farms of Robert Elliot, James Young, Simon Nicholson, Andrew Nicholson, Widow Steen, Richard Steen, John Steen, Andrew Berry, Richard Merrill, Washington McKinley, William Robinson, John McKenen, Jacob Haines, and Nathaniel Burres and all other that may hereafter Settle on any of Said farms or that lives near or to this road than any other who are not otherwise Named".  The document has each of these names listed on the number of days they were to work to maintain the road.  this was sto be credited to paying their road taxes.  The amount varied from 12 for Widow Steen and Nathaniel Burres each to 108 for John Steen.  They could also work more than their assignment and receive credit.  This document was signed by D. P. McDonald, Auditor of Knox County.  Seven names were added later.  The only ones readable were Richard Steen and Thornton McKinley.  At this time, the Fourth District was a part of Palmyra Township.  There were other ways to pay taxes.  Another receipt reads. "This certifies that John B. Ducate is entitled to a credit for four days labor on his road district for serving as Inspector of an Election held in Wheatland on Tuesday, October 10th, 1876.  Witness our hands this October 11th, 1876.  Signed J.B.S. Ducate, R. Merrell, O.O. Fuquay, Inspector Judges".  Money was still in short supply at this date. 

In 1851, a petition was drawn up and carried to the County Commissioners by Andrew Berry and on March 5, 1851 Steen Township was separated from Palmyra Township.  It was bounded on the north by Washington and Vigo Townships, on the east by Daviess County, on the south  by Harrison and the west by Harrison and Palmyra Townships.  It contained over 21,000 acres.  It was named for the first settler, Richard Steen.

During the Civil War, Steen Township met its quota and sometimes surpassed it in every call for volunteer soldiers.

The coming of the railroad caused the demise of the flat boat traffic on the White River.  Produce was shipped out and needed supplies were brought in on the railroad.  It also, was a means of travel for the people.  Mail reached its desstination much faster.

This was an agricultural community.  Old day books and receipts tell the story of the times.  Wages were paid in products raised on the farms, namely, butter, milk, salt pork, flour, corn, lard, potatoes, tallow, mutton, molasses and meal.  Corn was an important food of these early people.  Mills were neccessary for grinding it.  They were powered by water or oxen.  In the winter the water froze and these mills had to close.  From the ground corn they made corn dodger, pone, Jonny cake or hoecake, and mush.  Bear grease was often used for shortening.  Cold mush fried and eaten with syrup or honey was a good dish.  Whole grains of corn were made into hominy.  Fruits were dried for winter food.  Grapes were made into wine.  Potatoes, turnips, and cabbage were buried to keep for winter.  Cooking was done over an open fire.

During World War II, there was a shortage of food.  Farmers were asked to increase their acreage.  They responeded by cleaning fence rows and building terraces on hilly fields.  Fields were made larger.  This practice has continued to the present time.  Farm machinery has increased in size.  Today all of it is mechanized. One farmer can produce a greater amount of food.  With the increased use of fertilizers, insecticides, and herbicides farmers have increased their yields and as a result have produced too much food.  The government is asking them to reduce their acreagel  It has introduced the PIK program in 1983.

In 1860, the population of Steen Township was 767.  It increased to 1,686 in 1890.  In 1980, it had decreased to 1,071.

Coal has been mined in this area from bank mines, small wagon mines, shaft mines to now the strip mines.  Many acres of good farm land is being lost, hopefully to be reclaimed in the near future.  Trees are lost with the farm land.

There have been many other changes through the years.  Some descendants of the early settlers are living here.  Paved highways, cars, and airplanes have made transportation faster.  Large semi-trucks have replaced the trains in hauling produce and the mail.  Telephones have helped communication.  Radios and televisions are in every home.  Gas and electricity have helped in many ways.  We are coming into the computer age.  The residents of Steen Township are the pioneers of the future.

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