The Northwest part of the county was not settled as early as other portions because it had no navigable streams and was far away from White River, which was the major transportation system of that day.
Settlement began in the 1830’s after the invention of steam power. The name of the first settler is not known. The Staley’s arrived around the year 1825. Other early residents were the Treats, Shoemakers, Pruitts, Johnsons and Brewers.
Early teachers were local residents who had very little education themselves. They taught reading, writing and arithmetic. Punishment to students who misbehaved was done with a hickory stick. These old instruments of punishment were always present and usually hung on a wooden hook over the fireplace so that they became seasoned and hard. The early settlers believed in “spare the rod and spoil the child.” The first actual schoolhouse was located near Eminence around 1835.
Baptists were the first permanent religious organization in Adams Township. Eminence was a thriving village of about 350 people. It was laid out in 1855. Joseph W. Ray was probably the first merchant.
Around 1878, the entire town was destroyed by fire.
Other towns located in Adams Township include Crown Center and Little Point. I70 runs through Adams Township and it is bordered by Hendricks County on the north; and Putnam County to the west.