GREENFIELD — Brown Township is located on the northeast side of Hancock County, Indiana, and includes the towns of Shirley, Wilkinson, Nashville, Warrington and Willow Branch. On May 19, the Hancock County Historical Society hosted a roundtable discussion on the history of Brown Township.
Brown Township was originally included as a part of Blue River Township. Later it was set off as a part of Green Township. In 1836, it was organized as a separate township with its present dimensions. It is six miles east, and west by five miles north and south. The first land entry in the township was made by Pryor Brown (for whom the township was named) on July 3. 1830. The first school house in Brown Township was built by Moses McCray in 1834.
Brown Township residents have preserved several unique buildings within their communities including the Jane Ross Reeves Octagon House — one of the few remaining octagon houses in the country. Brown Township’s most famous resident was Col. H. Weir Cook who was Indiana’s first Flying Ace. He was born in Wilkinson on June 30, 1892. Cook flew both in World War I and World War II. He flew in the 94th Aero Squadron in France during WW I and received the Distinguished Service Cross Twice, and was credited with seven kills. He was killed during World War II in 1943 in the South Pacific while on a submarine bombing mission. The Indianapolis Airport Terminal bears his name, and the entire airport facility was originally named in his honor until 1976.
