The Lusk Family

The Lusk Family. . , Salmon Lusk and his descendants were accomplished pioneers with land ethic not embraced for another 100 years., Salmon Lusk , Salmon Lusk was born in Vermont in 1788. After serving in the War of 18 12, he was paid in land; a practice common in the young cash-poor country. He initially settled in Vermillion County, and with a partner, John Beard, operated a ferry and mill. He married John's daughter, Mary and in 1826 finished a new mill at the Narrows of Sugar Creek., The Lusk Community , Mills were an essential part of the frontier. A mill was needed to grind the farmers grain into flour and meal. Many covered bridges are associated with mill sites. Millers wanted business from both sides of the creek. Many of Indiana's first communities started with a mill. While farmers waited for their grain to be ground other business was conducted. By 1830 a general store provided goods from the East. A post office opened in 1837 with Salmon Lusk serving as postmaster. Prior Wright and his wife operated a tavern north of the mill. Taverns provided a meal and overnight accommodations for farmers, mill workers and travelers., Lusk Springs became a center of commerce. A pork processing plant salted and packed pork into barrels. A warehouse stored surplus flour and pork for shipping. Beginning in 1833, as many as 20 flatboats were annually constructed at the site. Each spring when the creek thawed, the boats would leave Lusk Springs laden with bags of flour and barrels of pork for markets as far away as New Orleans., The Lusk Legacy , In addition to the mill operation, Salmon Lusk owned 1400 acres of land. Some of this he farmed, but a large portion was left untouched. This ran counter to the attitude of the time that believed resources were inexhaustible and available for human benefit. When Salmon died in 1869, his son John continued to preserve the forests. John died in 1915 leaving behind one of the largest stands of virgin timber in Indiana. In 1916, much of the Lusk property became Turkey Run State Park. The original Lusk property makes up one third of Turkey Run State Park. We benefit from the foresight of one of Indiana's earliest pioneers.